{
  "id": 17493948,
  "title": "Barca hammer Alaves to retain La Liga top spot",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/barca-hammer-alaves-to-retain-la-liga-top-spot-17493948",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-31T22:28:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/11/01/barca-hammer-alaves-to-retain-la-liga-top-spot"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Barcelona's Raphinha and Lamine Yamal both scored twice each to lead the La Liga charge with a 6-1 rout of Alaves on Saturday. Earlier, Atletico Madrid secured a 2-0 victory over Levante, but Barcelona regained their top spot by humbling the Basque side at Camp Nou. Barcelona's win came after two disappointing matches, including a Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain and a La Liga defeat to Real Madrid. Raphinha and Yamal scored twice in the first half, with Lopez netting one in between. Yamal added an additional goal midway through the second half and substitute Anthony Gordon chipped in the sixth. Mariano Diaz scored one for Alaves late in the game. A minute's silence was observed at the start of each match to remember the 69 victims of a train crash in Toledo earlier in the week. Barcelona's coach Hansi Flick made several lineup changes, including playing Frenkie de Jong at center-back and Brian Fernández making his first start at right-back. The team found their rhythm and dominance once again. Atletico Madrid, second in the standings, earned a solid 2-0 win over Levante but moved back two points behind Barcelona by defeating the Basque visitors at Camp Nou.",
  "summary": "Raphinha and Lamine Yamal struck twice each as Barcelona thrashed Alaves 6-1 to get back on track after two damaging defeats.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}