Barcelona Fight Back to Claim Top Spot
Barcelona produced a characterful comeback to defeat Deportivo Alavés 3-1 at a vibrant Camp Nou, a victory that propelled them to the summit of the La Liga table. The defending champions found themselves stunned after just one minute of play when Pablo Ibáñez capitalised on a defensive lapse to fire the visitors into an unexpected lead.
The home side's response was swift and decisive. Just seven minutes later, the electric Lamine Yamal drew Barcelona level with a stunning finish. The 16-year-old prodigy met a Raphinha cross with a powerful first-time strike that rocketed into the top corner, igniting the home crowd.
Olmo's Magic Seals the Points
The Brazilian winger was instrumental again in the 26th minute, providing his second assist of the match. This time, Dani Olmo was the beneficiary, expertly curling a first-time shot from inside the penalty area to give Barcelona a lead they would not relinquish. The goal showcased Olmo's impeccable technique and composure under pressure.
With the match entering stoppage time, Olmo put the result beyond any doubt. He combined smoothly with Yamal once more, finishing a clever one-two by calmly slotting the ball home after being put through on goal. This late strike secured his brace and the three points for Barcelona.
Bayern Munich's Record-Breaking Late Show
In Germany, Bayern Munich demonstrated their own brand of resilience, scoring twice in stoppage time to overcome a stubborn St Pauli side 3-1. This remarkable comeback means the Bavarian giants have now set a new Bundesliga record of 44 consecutive rounds at the top of the table.
The league leaders found themselves chasing the game early on, falling behind in the sixth minute to an Andreas Hountondji strike after St Pauli's aggressive press won possession. Despite dominating the first half with over 80% of the ball, Bayern were frustrated, hitting the woodwork twice through Lennart Karl and Tom Bischof.
The pressure finally told on the stroke of halftime when Raphaël Guerreiro drilled in an equaliser from a Luis Díaz assist. The second half followed a similar pattern, with Bayern controlling possession but struggling to break down a disciplined St Pauli defence. Harry Kane even saw a volley cannon off the post late in the game.
Díaz and Jackson Secure Dramatic Win
The breakthrough finally came in the first minute of added time. Luis Díaz rose to head home, giving Bayern a hard-fought lead. As St Pauli pushed for an equaliser, Nicolas Jackson sealed the victory in the dying moments, slotting in a third goal to complete the 3-1 scoreline. This win was a perfect response from Bayern Munich following their midweek Champions League defeat to Arsenal.
The results leave both Barcelona and Bayern Munich on 34 points at the top of their respective leagues, setting up intriguing title races as the season progresses.
