Paulinho buys a foul in the midfield with a smart pirouette. That should allow Barca to see this one through.
90' +2
SAVE! Alcacer brilliantly picks out Messi on the edge of the box. The Argentine dances past the first challenge, instead of shooting, and then prods an effort straight at Pacheco. He might have done better.
90' +1
There are three minutes of added time. Alaves are still attacking, but their momentum has waned somewhat. Barca look set for a hard-fought three points.
89'
E. Demirović enters the game and replaces Rubén Duarte.
SUB! Duarte is replaced by Ermedin Demirovic as Alaves look for an unlikely leveller.
87'
Or can they? Alaves have pushed Barca all the way back to their own byline. Pique hacks the ball out for a throw-in.
And the ball is launched into the area, dropping for El Haddadi to shoot. He wants handball as Umtiti blocks. The referee is unimpressed.
86'
Barca are still on top, but there's a little less urgency to their play now. Surely Alaves cannot spoil the party with a second goal...
84'
L. Messi has scored a goal for Barcelona!
GOAL! Astounding! It's Messi, of course! Pacheco somehow kept out his last free-kick, but this time he can only palm the ball into the top corner. What an effort. 2-1.
83'
Alaves throw bodies at the ball on the edge of the area and, as a number of Barca players hit the deck, the hosts are given a free-kick in a very good position. Unsurprisingly, Wakaso is among the guilty parties.
82'
Good goalkeeping again from Pacheco. Iniesta flicks Suarez in on goal, but the Alaves stopper is there first. He has been superb.
Minute
Description
80'
Barca are probing. Iniesta attempts another sprint down the left, but he's halted. Rakitic then looks for the big switch to Roberto, in space, but his pass lacks accuracy.
78'
WIDE! Messi cuts inside from the right and crosses for Paulinho, who can only direct a header wide. From around 15 yards, that wasn't much of a chance.
77'
CHANCE! Alaves are living dangerously now. Duarte inadvertently nods Suarez in on goal, but the Uruguayan hammers his strike over the top. He could and should have done better.
75'
M. El Haddadi enters the game and replaces J. Guidetti.
SUB! Guidetti, the goalscorer, is heading off for Alaves and his replacement is former Barca man Munir El Haddadi, who is greeted with light applause.
74'
SAVE! It's all Barca now. They win a free-kick, but Pacheco holds Messi's powerful curler.
72'
L. Suárez has scored a goal for Barcelona! Assist by Andrés Iniesta.
GOAL! The pressure was building! Barca are level! Suarez hammers a volley against Pique, across the goalkeeper and into the net, via the desperate Maripan. 1-1.
Whether that goal is Suarez's will be up for debate, but it owed so much to Iniesta. He accelerated away down the left and superbly picked out the forward with a cross. Rolling back the years...
70'
It's another corner as Roberto gets in behind. Can they make anything of this one?
SAVE! How have Barca not scored? Alaves scramble the corner clear, but back comes Roberto. His cross is brilliantly controlled by Pique, who plays in Paulinho. A superb double save from Pacheco keeps the Brazilian at bay, with his defenders on hand to acrobatically clear from under the crossbar.
69'
Further frustration for Barca as the corner comes to nothing. They are just starting to run out of time.
68'
SAVE! What a stop! After a frantic passage of play in which both sides waste their final ball, Messi does not. He feeds Suarez, and Pacheco has to be out quickly to block a low finish.
67'
Poor from Gomez! Sobrino plays a lovely reverse pass to Guidetti on the edge of the Barca box, but he opts against shooting. A pass to Gomez leads to Rakitic easily dispossessing the midfielder.
66'
Paco Alcácer enters the game and replaces Philippe Coutinho.
SUB! A mixed full debut for Coutinho will not be remembered fondly if his team-mates do not find an equaliser. Paco Alcacer is on for the Brazilian to aid their bid.
65'
SAVE! Pacheco holds well as Paulinho shoots hard and low. And Barca are going to make another change...
64'
Pacheco is not a popular man. Rakitic can only block a clearance and send the ball through to the goalkeeper, who once again takes his time to get to his feet and play the ball out. It is a little early to be time-wasting...
63'
Alfonso Pedraza enters the game and replaces H. Pérez.
After two failed attempts at delivering from the right, an Alaves player pumps a shot high and wide from distance.
SUB! Perez makes way and on comes Alfonso Pedraza, with Alaves looking to retain an attacking threat.
62'
BLOCK! And they nearly do! Gomez appears to be in through the middle, but he cannot find his footing and instead turns a pass into Duarte's path. A powerful shot is diverted behind.
61'
Barca have given the ball away so many times in promising positions, but Alaves' own attacking has not been quite so ruthless in the second half. They need to punish these errors.
59'
SAVE! The full backs are starting to make a difference. Alba hits the byline and pulls a cross back towards Messi, who can only stab tamely at Pacheco.
58'
Rakitic plays a lovely pass inside the full back for Roberto to cross. The delivery is deflected, though, and Pacheco claims, dropping to the floor to the frustration of the Camp Nou crowd.
57'
Roberto escapes! He misreads Guidetti's cross, allows it to bounce over his head and turns to see Gomez collect the ball on the corner of the area. Some instinctive defending wins the ball back.
55'
Barca are on top in the sense that they have all of the ball, but Alaves are working hard and keeping the hosts out. Roberto has forced a corner, though...
Pacheco punches clear and Roberto then sends what appears to be an attempt at a shot behind near the corner flag. That is hopeless.
53'
Those changes come just seconds after Digne misreads an Iniesta pass and gives away possession cheaply. Alba is immediately involved in his place.
52'
Jordi Alba enters the game and replaces L. Digne.
Sergi Roberto enters the game and replaces Nélson Semedo.
SUB! Ernesto Valverde switches up the Barca full backs, bringing Sergi Roberto on for Semedo.
SUB! And Jordi Alba is on, too, replacing Digne.
50'
It's a little pedestrian from Barca at the start of this second half. And Coutinho is struggling. Semedo keeps the ball in well by the corner flag and feeds the new man, but he stumbles and the ball runs out for a goal kick.
48'
It's Barca's turn to counter and Coutinho looks for Suarez's run on the right. The pass is too strong, though, and Alaves breathe again.
47'
Barca are pushing the visitors back, but that of course leaves space behind the home defence. Alaves have exploited that on a number of occasions and will surely look to again in this second half.
46'
KICK-OFF: Barca get the second half started. They have 45 minutes to prevent a first league defeat of the season...
45' +2
HALF-TIME: Barcelona 0 Alaves 1
Barca force a corner and it looks as though they will be allowed to take it right at the end of the half...
45' +1
There will be just the one minute of stoppage time - Alaves having just cleared another Barca set-piece.
44'
Replays show Pacheco got a hand to that Messi effort. What a stop. Alaves are clinging on at the end of the half as Barca attack again.
43'
POST! Messi almost brings Barca level! He curls a wonderful, swirling free-kick against the upright, with Pacheco beaten. The forward then dances through the Alaves defence from the right and combines with Suarez, but the final ball runs beyond Messi and behind.
42'
Wakaso may have been booked, but he continues to commit fouls. This is a nasty one on Coutinho. The Alaves players are not happy, but their man might be fortunate to avoid a second yellow.
40'
You don't often see that! Messi miscontrols in a great position. Iniesta's pass was pinpoint, but the Argentine lets the ball slip from his grasp.
39'
Gomez brilliantly plays in Sobrino on the right, but Umtiti comes over to cover and twice blocks an attempted cross to slow the attack.
38'
Laguardia is having a fine game in the Alaves back line. He twice reads Suarez's intentions on the left and prevents an attack. Barca are struggling.
37'
Messi and Iniesta combine on the edge of the area, almost picking a path through the Alaves defence. The visitors clear, though, and they retain a threat on the break. Barca must be careful.
35'
Barca are back on top now, though. Iniesta feeds Semedo on the right and Guillermo Maripan pushes the full back to the floor. Free-kick ina dangerous area...
SAVE! Good stop, Pacheco. Messi sends the free-kick fizzing in and the goalkeeper punches clear. The consequent corner runs behind for a goal kick following Rakitic's flick-on.
34'
After a long wait, Coutinho's corner is poor and easily cleared. There was some shoving in the box, but Alaves escape.
33'
And Duarte now requires treatment. He looks to have landed badly as he flings himself at Coutinho.
32'
BLOCK! Coutinho is so close to a goal on his full debut! He brilliantly tees up Iniesta for a dangerous cross and a poor clearance breaks the former Liverpool man's way. He shimmies past the first defender, but a low shot is blocked by the diving Duarte.
31'
SAVE! Pique is all over the place. He is easily beaten by Sobrino, who streaks away from Rakitic too and takes on Umtiti. A tame shot is easily held by Ter Stegen.
30'
CLOSE! Two wonderful pieces of close control from Messi prompt a Barca attack. Iniesta dips inside from the left and shoots over the top. Messi will be key here - but that goes without saying.
28'
Gomez has been outstanding so far. He beats three Barca players on the left flank and then pressures Pique into an error when he is eventually dispossessed. Alaves are well on top.
27'
Rubén Duarte gets yellow.
YELLOW! That's not quite so good from Alaves. Ruben Duarte clatters Messi and is deservedly booked.
26'
Ter Stegen has looked a little shaky. He was slightly out of position for the goal and now comes to needlessly punch a cross into the box, keeping Alaves' attack alive.
SAVE! That's better! What a stop from Ter Stegen. He leaps up to tip Sobrino's volley away. That was almost 0-2.
24'
Could we have a shock on our hands? Iniesta plays another poor pass behind and there are a few grumbles around Camp Nou.
23'
J. Guidetti has scored a goal for Alaves! Assist by Ibai Gómez.
Enormous credit must go to Gomez for that goal, with a glorious pass catching out the entire Barca back line and ensuring Guidetti remained onside.
GOAL! Alaves pick Barca out on the counter again and this time they score! Guidetti streaks clear from inside his own half and beat Ter Stegen, despite a slip as he finished into the bottom-right corner. 0-1.
22'
M. Wakaso gets yellow.
YELLOW! Wakaso's start to this game has been combative to say the least, and he's booked for a foul on Ivan Rakitic.
21'
A crucial Victor Laguardia challenge prevents Messi from slipping a pass through to Suarez in the area, but a foul on Paulinho allows Barca to keep the pressure on.
SAVE! It's comfortable for Pacheco, but Suarez has his first real sight of goal. Messi lifts a delightful delivery into his strike partner, who nods into the goalkeeper's hands.
19'
Both sides are just a little sloppy early on. Wakaso struggles to clear the ball, but Iniesta's poor pass gives possession straight back to Alaves. Digne drags down Alexis Ruano and the teams can regroup.
18'
Coutinho draws a groan from the crowd as he fails to keep the ball in play on the right and clatters into an advertising board. He needs to settle.
16'
SAVE! Alaves break again, following the corner, and this time it's two-on-one. Samuel Umtiti is easily bypassed as Hernan Perez picks out Gomez, but Ter Stegen slides out to make a crucial block.
15'
Magnificent! Messi dances through a challenge 30 yards from goal, pings a pass through to Iniesta and runs towards goal as Suarez take up possession. The delivery is dangerous and a key interception sends the ball behind.
14'
And Barca keep the pressure on. Messi is picked out on the right side of the box but, with the angle narrowing, his left-footed stab clears the crossbar.
13'
Lovely from Coutinho! He stands up a defender and teases a pass through for Semedo in the area. A low cross is turned away, but that was much better from the new man.
12'
Good play from Alaves! They will need to punish every Barca mistake and, sure enough, they pounce on a poor pass. A counter passes through three or four visiting players before Ibai Gomez crosses. It's a dangerous delivery, but Ter Stegen claims.
10'
This time Coutinho looks for the run of Suarez - a player he knows well - but the pass is short and the forward is offside. That was the right idea, though.
9'
Coutinho's early touches have not quite come off. He attempts a cute flick in behind the defence but none of his team-mates read it, allowing Fernando Pacheco to collect uncontested.
8'
Suarez is not happy as he's clattered by Mubarak Wakaso. The referee awards a free-kick, with the Alaves man offering a quick apology. We may see more of that.
7'
CLOSE! Coutinho steps in front of Iniesta as Nelson Semedo looks for his captain, but the attack continues on the left. Lucas Digne dashes forward and hammers a low drive just beyond the far post.
5'
Coutinho appears to be stationed on the right side of the Barca attack in the early stages. His team-mates are just settling into their usual rhythm.
4'
Again Suarez is central to Barca's play as he times his run to get in behind on the left. A deep cross is just beyond Messi.
3'
Barca's first move comes through Andres Iniesta. The home captain plays a pass into Luis Suarez, but the forward - presented with December's Best Player award before kick-off - flicks the ball straight into the path of a grateful defender.
2'
And the visitors attempt an early attack on the right flank, but John Guidetti runs the ball out of play.
Alaves press high and there's a nervy moment for Marc-Andre ter Stegen as he hacks a clearance away under pressure from Ruben Sobrino. A foul on Messi lets Barca off.
1'
KICK-OFF: Alaves get us underway under the lights in Barcelona!
Hello and welcome to the clash between LaLiga leaders Barcelona and Alaves at Camp Nou!
The hosts can restore an 11-point advantage at the league summit with victory here and they will be boosted by the presence of a certain Brazilian.
Yes, after a Copa del Rey debut in midweek, Philippe Coutinho - signed from Liverpool this month - is handed his first Barcelona start. He lines up alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in a very strong home XI.
Messi scored twice as Barca won the reverse fixture 2-0 in August, while the Catalan club also triumphed when the sides met in last season's cup final. Messi opened the scoring that day, too.
Alaves did win 2-1 at Camp Nou last term, but a repeat seems unlikely as the visitors languish just above the relegation zone.
The teams are in the tunnel. This is LaLiga appearance #200 for Messi. Who would bet against him marking it with a moment of genius? He was scintilating against Betis last week.
And here come the players! We are just a couple of minutes away from kick-off...
Well we didn't expect this. Guidetti's goal has Alaves in front - and perhaps deservedly so. Ter Stegen has made a couple of crucial stops, with the Barca back line all at sea.
Coutinho has been a little quiet - barring one fine effort that was deflected wide - but Messi has predictably starred. Only a stunning Pacheco stop and the woodwork kept him from netting an equaliser.
We will bring you all the second half action shortly...
Alaves fought and they fought and led for long periods, but Barcelona's class showed in the end.
That's all from this one as Barca go 11 points clear at the top of LaLiga. Thanks for joining us and, until next time, goodbye!
Guidetti's opener was cancelled out by Suarez with around 20 minutes remaining and then, with time running out, Messi struck the winner with a superb free-kick.
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