Alaves 0-2 Barcelona: Another La Liga title so close the Catalans can touch it

Barcelona moved within one win of the La Liga title with a routine 2-0 win at Alaves on Tuesday. 

Carles Aleña and Luis Suarez got the goals as Ernesto Valverde rested Ivan Rakitic, Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba. 

Barca could be crowned champions on Wednesday if Atletico Madrid lose to Valencia. Failing that, they can win the league in front of their own fans on Saturday when they host Levante. 

Goalscorer Aleña hopes they have to wait until Saturday. "It would be nice to win it at Camp Nou," he said after an impressive performance. 

Valverde left Rakitic in Barcelona for Tuesday's trip to Vitoria and named Messi and Alba among his substitutes. 

Despite that, Barca dominated possession in the first half and, with Philippe Coutinho taking the initiative, came close twice through Luis Suarez. 

However, they had to wait until the second half for the breakthrough. Suarez dummied Sergi Roberto's pass and Aleña collected the ball inside the area and calmly turned it home. 

Barca then doubled their lead when they were awarded a penalty following a lengthy VAR review. 

At first it appeared the referee wanted to confirm that either Gerard Pique or Samuel Umtiti was offside in the build up to a disallowed goal, but it served to establish that Tomas Pina had handled in the box. 

Suarez stepped up to bury his 21st league goal of the season. 

Messi was then introduced on the hour mark, replacing Ousmane Dembele, despite Barça having a two-goal cushion and he came close to making it three. 

But there were to be no more goals as Barça closed out another comfortable victory.