Barcelona Scrapes 2-1 Win Against Alaves Amidst Scrutiny: Pedri’s Fortunate Return and VAR Controversy

In a less-than-convincing display on Sunday afternoon, Barcelona secured a 2-1 victory against Alaves, prompting questions regarding the performance of head coach Xavi Hernandez and the players.

A silver lining for Barcelona emerged in the form of Pedri, who marked his first start for the club since mid-August after an 84-day absence due to injury. However, the 20-year-old faced a potentially serious incident during the match when Alaves’ Ruben Duarte delivered a strong challenge that Barcelona believed warranted a red card. Despite their appeals, Duarte received only a yellow card, a decision upheld by VAR.

While debates circulate on whether Duarte’s challenge should have resulted in a red card, the fortunate aspect for Barcelona is that Pedri emerged unscathed. Despite the contentious incident, the young midfielder played for 81 minutes, and with no international duty on the horizon, he now has a crucial two-week rest period to recover fully.

The win, coupled with Pedri’s return, provides a mix of relief and controversy for Barcelona as they navigate scrutiny and prepare for upcoming challenges.