Barcelona go to Mendizorroza on Jornada 36 with Hansi Flick still chasing a finish that would push his team to 100 points. The champions already lifted the trophy after winning the Clásico at Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday, but the season is not done for them yet.
Alavés need the result for a very different reason. They are in a relegation place and must beat Barcelona to stay in contention, which gives the match a sharper edge than the table alone might suggest. For Flick, it is also a chance to keep the final stretch alive for younger players, with Álvaro Cortés expected to make his first-team debut and start against Alavés.
Cortés has spent much of the second half of the season in squad calls without getting official minutes, but this trip looks like the moment his wait ends. The Barça Atlètic captain has also contributed three goals this season, and his inclusion fits Flick’s idea of resting the Cubarsí-Gerard Martín pairing while still fielding a competitive side.
Tommy Marqués and Xavi Espart could also get minutes, adding to the sense that Barcelona are using the last weeks of the campaign to look beyond the title. Espart has already played official minutes this season and started against Sevilla, so the match could offer another step for a group Flick has been trying to bring forward in measured fashion.
The friction in this game is obvious. Barcelona are playing for a points target after already becoming champions, while Alavés are playing for survival. That makes the afternoon at Mendizorroza less about celebration than about two teams with nothing left to protect and everything immediate to play for.
Barcelona can still leave the season with a round number that reflects how far they have gone under Flick. Alavés do not have that luxury. For them, the margin is simple: beat the champions or leave their fate even more exposed.
