Alaves 0 Barcelona 2: Lionel Messi scored two — including 350th La Liga goal — after missing penalty as Ernesto Valverde starts EIGHT academy graduates in visit to Basque country
With Luis Suarez still out and Ousmane Dembele deal not yet completed, Gerard Deulofeu started ahead of Paco Alcacer
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LIONEL MESSI went from villain to — the only — hero as a poor Barcelona side strolled to victory over Alaves.
Ernesto Valverde started EIGHT players who graduated from La Masia, but made a bizarre decision to start right-back Aleix Vidal alongside the Argentine and Gerard Deulofeu in a three-man attack.
Sergi Roberto, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, Vidal, Messi and Deulofeu all started.
With just Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Samuel Umtiti and Ivan Rakitic having started their careers elsewhere.
Despite the incredible inclusion of so many youth products Barcelona's starting XI at the Mendizorrotza Stadium was a far cry from the world class talent fans have been used to.
Many of the La Masia veterns on show were just that — veterans.
Despite the issues last season,Roberto was once again shifted to right-back as Iniesta, Sergi Busquets and Ivan Rakitic started in midfield.
However, Barca were still far too strong for their Basque opposition from the off.
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Alaves stopper Fernando Pacheco saved well from Deulofeu, Messi and Iniesta within the first 15 minutes.
The visitors were in complete in complete control, but almost fell behind when Ruben Sobrino cut out a short Pique backpass.
However, Ter Stegen was on hand to save well.
Barca were given a golden opportunity to take the lead on 38 minutes when the referee pointed to the spot after Pique was fouled in the box.
But Pacheco dived to his right to save from Messi.
The Argentine wasn't too downhearted and opened the scoring ten minutes into the second half when he fired in from a Jordi Alba pass.
And it was two on 66 after Messi capitalised on a mistake by Alexis, and scored his 350th La Liga goal.
There was still time for Valverde to give Paulinho his bow with three minutes remaining — but there was little time for an impact.
It certainly wasn't vintage Barcelona, but with Ousmane Dembele arriving soon and Luis Suarez returning from injury, perhaps the gloom will slowly lift at the Nou Camp.
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