Following a painful loss in extra-time to Athletic Bilbao that eliminated them from the Copa del Rey, Barcelona are back in La Liga action for the final game before the international break as they return to the Basque Country to face Deportivo Alavés.
The loss to Athletic was the second 3-2 defeat in extra-time over the last week, but this one was even more painful than El Clásico as it included a devastating injury to young superstar Ansu Fati, who is expected to miss at least two months.
But Xavi and his young troops must move on and a trip to Alavés promises to be tricky against a team fighting relegation and desperate for a good result.