Anthony Gordon scored as Barcelona thrashed Alaves 6-1 in La Liga on Saturday, helping the reigning champions end a two-game losing streak that had prompted an emergency team meeting.
The former Newcastle United winger, who joined Barcelona in the summer for £69 million, came off the bench with around 15 minutes remaining and netted the final goal of the match. It was his third goal for the club, adding to five assists in 13 appearances.
Emergency meeting before Alaves clash
Barcelona had won their first 11 matches in all competitions before suffering defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid in El Clasico. The two-game blip led the squad to hold an emergency meeting, with Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo reporting that players Raphinha and Rodri felt a team event was needed ahead of the Alaves fixture.
A team meal was arranged to strengthen the squad's bond, and the response was emphatic as Hansi Flick's side ran out 6-1 winners. Gordon, who started both losses to PSG and Real Madrid, was dropped to the bench for the Alaves match.
Gordon's social media response
After the victory, the England international posted a message on Instagram with the caption: "Back on track. Big week ahead."
Raphinha and Lamine Yamal both scored twice in the win, with Fermin Lopez also on the scoresheet.
Flick looks ahead to Aston Villa clash
Barcelona now face a challenging week, hosting Aston Villa in the Champions League on Tuesday before an away trip to Atletico Madrid next weekend.
Reflecting on the Alaves performance, Flick said: "I am extremely satisfied. We dominated the first half and created chances by exploiting the spaces. I really liked what I saw. We played well."
Looking ahead, he added: "First, we have to face Aston Villa. We'll be playing at home, and the Champions League is always a special competition with a unique character. We only have two days to recover after today's match. Therefore, our focus is now entirely on the players' recovery, and then we'll begin preparing for the match against Aston Villa."
