Barcelona don win title, but Alavés dey fight for survival

Weekend don end well well for FC Barcelona. Dem not only win Clásico against Real Madrid, but also secure 29th La Liga title. Monday dem parade for streets of Catalan capital. But players don switch off party mode and focus back on football.

Although this Wednesday visit to Mendizorroza, home of Alavés, no get any meaning for title race, plenty other reasons to continue winning streak wey don reach 11 games for league. Barça don win league with majestic 91 points, 14 more than nearest rivals. But three games still remain: this one away to Alavés, last one at home against Betis, and finally away to Valencia.

Win those three games, and Barça go reach magnificent tally of 100 league points. That one only happen two times before: Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho for 2011-12 and Barça under Tito Vilanova for 2012-13.

But that no be all. Ferran Torres dey eye Zarra Trophy for top-scoring Spaniard. He currently tied with Lamine Yamal wey out until end of season. Joan García dey strong for Zamora trophy for goalkeeper with best record.

But e no go easy. While pressure don off for Catalans, Alavés dey desperate for any point dem fit get. Since Quique Sánchez Flores take over as manager of Basques for early March, team form don improve small, but only very small. Dem only lose two of last seven matches, and beat both Celta and Mallorca. But dem still third from bottom at end of weekend, and don drop one place lower after Levante win their game on Tuesday night.

As things stand, Alavés go play second division football next year. But things tight well well for bottom half of table. Nobody safe, and every single point go matter between now and end of season.

Now title secure, Hansi Flick fit opt to rest some key players. Especially those wey fit benefit from down time after fixture-packed campaign and with World Cup just around corner. But Flick no offer clues for press conference. The closest he come to reveal anything na comment say if Joan García no play, Szczesny go take place, no be Diego Kochen. But that na if García no play, wey German no say na case.

All we know for sure na say Raphinha go miss game through suspension, and Lamine Yamal through injury. Andreas Christensen don fully fit again, and e fit be time for Dane to return to action. Flick fit also interested to use three remaining games to give minutes to some less-used members of squad, or to many young talents from La Masia.

Alavés prepare to welcome Barcelona with guard of honor at Estadio de Mendizorroza. Barcelona land in Basque country still in celebratory mood after dominant 2-0 win in El Clásico. Hansi Flick side don be best team for Spain this season and couldn’t write better script than defeat Real Madrid to clinch back-to-back league titles.

But Catalans still get three games remaining this season and fit hit 100 points. Next na relegation-threatened Alavés. Quique Sánchez Flores side dey drop zone, but upsetting Barça fit see dem surge up to 13th on table given how congested e be.

Alavés undoubtedly get more on line for Wednesday bout, but gap in quality between both sides remain too glaring to ignore. Even without Lamine Yamal, Barcelona no miss beat for recent weeks and continue to collect wins for fun. Yes, celebrations likely compromise Barça preparations for Wednesday clash, but dem don fire on all cylinders of late and morale no fit better.

E fit be closer match than for regular circumstances, but Barcelona remain too much to handle for struggling Alavés. Prediction: Deportivo Alavés 0-2 Barcelona.

Facundo Garcés remain suspended and no go play again this season. Striker Lucas Boyé stand out as only confirmed player unavailable through injury. Toni Martínez, wey get seven goals for last seven appearances, leave pitch prematurely with apparent injury at weekend. Still, given importance of clash, e expected to be included in XI.

Midfielder Jon Guridi na another injury doubt but hope dey say e fit feature, even if na just cameo from bench. La Masia graduate Carles Aleñá don back from suspension and fit face boyhood club, but place for XI fit be usurped by fellow former Barça player Denis Suárez.

Only Flick know how much e go rotate side, but changes expected with league title already destined for Barcelona trophy cabinet. Both Alejandro Balde and Jules Koundé don lose starting jobs for recent months, but fullback duo fit get nod from beginning here. Flick midfield pivot remain unchanged with Gavi continuing to feature prominently since returning from injury.

Raphinha fit make first start after returning from hamstring injury wey sideline am for over month. But with Marcus Rashford delivering impressive performances on right wing for recent weeks, Brazilian suppose take back usual spot on left wing. Robert Lewandowski go lead line as e enter what go likely be final three games of Barcelona career.