BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — After being humiliated at Chelsea, Barcelona hopes it can get back to winning ways when it hosts Alaves in La Liga on Saturday.
The game will give Barcelona the chance to leapfrog table leaders Real Madrid a day before Xabi Alonso's side visit Girona.
Barcelona took advantage of a couple of Madrid misses to reduce the gap in La Liga to one point. However, Hansi Flick's side collapsed after a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday.
“We have to accept defeat and remain positive about what comes next,” Flick said.
Key matches
Flick's main focus will be on improving a defense that was dismantled in London, where it clearly lacked the leadership and smart play of Inigo Martinez, who left for Saudi Arabia last summer.
Right-back Jules Kounde conceded an own goal and centre-back Ronald Araujo was sent off before half-time at Stamford Bridge.
The match against Alaves will be Barcelona's second at the Camp Nou stadium, which is still under renovation. Last weekend it beat Athletic Bilbao 4-0 in its first match at its stadium in more than two years.
Alaves lost three of their last four league matches, two in a row, and finished in 14th place.
After Alaves, Barcelona will have just three days' rest before hosting Atletico Madrid in another Spanish league match between title contenders.
Madrid also has defensive problems. It took a hat-trick from Kylian Mbappe to secure a 4-3 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Madrid previously drew with Elche and Rayo Vallecano in La Liga and lost 1-0 to Liverpool in Europe.
Villarreal is staying close to the leaders. Going into Sunday's match against Real Sociedad, they trail Madrid by three points.
Players to watch
Barcelona fans will be keeping an eye on Lamine Yamal, hoping he puts in another good performance after Marc Cucurella, a former Camp Nou youth team player, ruled him out of the game against Chelsea.
Mbappe is looking to add to his tally at relegation-threatened Girona. The France star leads La Liga with 13 and the Champions League with nine.
Although Villarreal's success is based on team play, young striker Alberto Moleiro has been one of the revelations of the league with four goals and two assists.
Out of order
Pedri Gonzalez has lacked steadiness in Barcelona's midfield at Chelsea as he recovers from a torn muscle that kept him out for almost a month.
If Pedri plays against Alaves again, he could fill the new hole left by Fermin Lopez. On Thursday, Barcelona said the midfielder would miss two weeks with a “minor injury” to his right calf.
Outside the field
Barcelona are due to hold presidential elections next summer to choose a new executive board, and two rival candidates recently announced they would run against incumbent Joan Laporta.
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