FC Barcelona Defeated Alavés 3-1 At Camp Nou As They Celebrated 126th Anniversary.

Date: November 29, 2025

Match: FC Barcelona 3-1 Deportivo Alavés

I’m not going to lie to you—for exactly seven minutes tonight, I thought the "Birthday Curse" was real.

It was the 126th anniversary of our beloved club. The atmosphere at the partially reopened Spotify Camp Nou was buzzing with history and nostalgia. And then, less than 60 seconds into the match, Pablo Ibáñez tapped the ball into our net after a chaotic corner.

You could feel the air get sucked out of the stadium. It was Stamford Bridge all over again. The ghosts of the 3-0 Chelsea defeat were swirling, and Alavés looked ready to ruin the party just like we feared.

But this isn't the fragile Barca of old. This is Hansi Flick's Barca, and they don't panic—they punch back.

If there is one player who embodies the future of this 126-year-old institution, it’s Lamine Yamal.

With the crowd still groaning about the early deficit, Lamine decided enough was enough. In the 8th minute, he didn't just score; he electrified the game. Latching onto a perfect ball from the returning Raphinha (who, by the way, was absolutely possessed tonight), Lamine buried the equalizer and immediately grabbed the badge.

That goal didn't just level the score; it killed the fear. You could see the Alavés defenders shrink. They realized that their "early shock" tactic had only served to wake up the beast.

While Yamal provided the spark, Dani Olmo provided the fire.

Olmo has been the heartbeat of this midfield since his arrival, and tonight was his masterpiece. His first goal in the 26th minute was a thing of beauty—a calm, collected finish that put us in the driver’s seat. But it was his second goal in stoppage time (90+3’) that made the stadium erupt.

That 3-1 goal was pure relief. Alavés stayed in the game for far too long, and Pau Cubarsí had to make a world-class block to stop Lucas Boyé from equalizing late on. But when Olmo slotted that final ball home (assisted again by Yamal, naturally), the 126th birthday party officially started.

Beyond the goals, there were moments tonight that make you love this team:

Pedri’s Return: Seeing the Magician from Tenerife step onto the pitch in the second half was the best birthday gift we could ask for. The ovation he got gave me goosebumps.

Raphinha’s Grinta: He played like a man who was insulted by the Chelsea result. His assist for Yamal was world-class, but his tracking back was even better.

 Marc Bernal: A massive shoutout to the youngster for making his first start since August 2024. He looked sharp and composed after such a long road back from injury.

So, here we are. The "Birthday Curse" threatened us for 60 seconds, and then we buried it.

We move to the top of the La Liga table (provisionally, until Madrid plays), we have Pedri back, and we have reminded everyone that one bad night in London doesn't define our season.

Happy 126th Birthday, Cules. The cake tastes much sweeter with 3 points.