Vitoria-Gasteiz, May 13, 2026, 21:02 (CEST)
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick gave academy product Álvaro Cortés his senior debut in the starting lineup against Deportivo Alavés on Wednesday—this, just days after clinching the LaLiga crown, looked like rotation. Wojciech Szczesny, Jules Koundé, Pau Cubarsí, Cortés, Alejandro Balde, Marc Casadó, Marc Bernal, Roony Bardghji, Dani Olmo, Marcus Rashford, and Robert Lewandowski rounded out the champions’ starting XI at Mendizorroza, according to ESPN and AS.
Timing is key here. Barcelona have secured the league, but their mission isn’t over yet. They sit at 91 points on the LaLiga table, 14 ahead of Real Madrid. Three games left, and if they win them all, they hit the 100-point mark.
Alavés faced a more pressing issue. They kicked off the evening sitting 19th with 37 points, trailing a cluster fighting for survival—Girona, Espanyol, and Levante—all on 39. A home fixture versus the champions, then, brought real relegation jeopardy.
Cortés stands out on the team sheet. According to Claro Sports, the Barça Atlètic captain steps in for his first appearance with the senior squad, lining up next to Cubarsí at the heart of the defense.
Flick made sweeping changes after Sunday’s 2-0 Clásico victory against Real Madrid, a match where Rashford and Ferran Torres both found the net before halftime to secure the title. According to AS, just Cubarsí, Olmo, and Rashford kept their spots from that lineup.
Antonio Sivera started in goal for Alavés, with Ángel Pérez, Nahuel Tenaglia, Ville Koski, and Víctor Parada across the back. Ahead of them: Abde Rebbach, Antonio Blanco, Jon Guridi, and Denis Suárez. Up front, Toni Martínez and Ibrahim Diabaté completed the lineup. Javier Lekuona, covering Alavés for AS, pointed to Koski’s inclusion in defense and Denis Suárez in midfield as the two switches made by the hosts.
The lineup for Barcelona was telling. Andreas Christensen returned after being sidelined with a knee ligament issue since Dec. 21, per the club. Raphinha missed out due to suspension, and Lamine Yamal was unavailable because of injury. The 23-man group also included Cortés, Xavi Espart, and Tommy.
Flick insisted on Tuesday that the goal for 100 points isn’t just talk. “The team, and I, want 100 points,” he said, stressing Barcelona needs to win the final three matches. He also downplayed individual awards, putting team targets first. FC Barcelona
The pick shores up Flick’s position, too. Reuters said Tuesday that the German coach is set to sign an extension with Barcelona, keeping him there through 2028 following the club’s 29th league trophy. “We go to 2028 and then we’ll see,” Flick told the newswire. Reuters
The risk is clear. Barcelona, rotating heavily, can easily fall out of sync. Alavés bring a desperation that champions sometimes don’t possess this late in the season. Lekuona noted “a lot of concern in Vitoria”—especially with direct competitors picking up points, too. Diario AS
Even so, Flick held back from making wholesale changes. Lewandowski remained up front, Rashford kept his starting spot, and Olmo was still in the lineup, which meant Barcelona fielded enough regulars to keep that 100-point drive going instead of coasting through the evening.
Set for a 21:30 CEST start at Mendizorroza, the match had José María Sánchez Martínez assigned as referee. Barcelona’s match centre listed it as LaLiga matchday 36—essentially, the first look at whether the freshly crowned champions would push after sealing the title.
