Kiko Femenia throws up an arm to block a Neymar cross from the left, and is penalised. Neymar plays a low free-kick across the line of the penalty area for the unmarked Aleix Vidal to run on to - a bit of space for the full-back. Is this the opening goal? No. Vidal's rising shot is palmed over by Fernando Pacheco. Good save, and a smart bit of invention by Neymar. That's the kind of craftiness that Barca will need if they're to break down this Alaves defence.

Now a Barcelona free-kick after a foul on Denis Suarez. Neymar floats it in... but Sergio Busquets makes the kind of false start that would get you disqualified in the 100m, and is flagged offside as he heads wide from around eight yards.

Barcelona's full-backs are playing the role of full-time wingers. Lucas Digne gets forward down the left, and Edgar blocks at the expense of a corner. The Alaves midfielder falls to the ground in pain, but is back on his feet to face the corner. Fernando Pacheco, in the Alaves goal, rather flaps at the set-piece when it comes over, but no harm is done. It's very much a 0-0, this.

Just a glimpse of an opening for Barcelona. From the left, the ball is worked across the face of the penalty area to Aleix Vidal. The full-back blasts at goal... but Theo Hernandez flings himself in the way to block. A Barca corner follows... which comes to nought. Alaves are going to have to continue to show that kind of discipline - but so far, so good for Mauricio Pellegrino and company.

I'd be very interested to see one of those average position graphs for both teams so far. Alaves continue to defend deep, but are holding off Barcelona without too much trouble so far. Neymar slings a hopeful long cross into the middle in the hope of finding a weakness, but Fernando Pacheco catches easily. 

Then Arda Turan breaks down the right and seeks to float over a cross towards Paco Alcacer, but the ball drifts out for a goal kick. Patience is a virtue for the home side right now.

Who will be your La Liga surprise guys this season?

Chris Lord: Athletic Bilbao's young striker Inaki Williams, very pacey. Has the likes Muniain if he stays fit to help him too.

Image source, Getty Images

Ivan Rakitic goes on a run for Barcelona and - just for a moment - the Alaves defence opens up in front of him. "Why not?" Rakitic thinks, and aims a shot for the top corner. It sails well over the bar. Rakitic consoles himself with an analogy involving tickets and raffles.

That scare for Torres aside, though, Alaves are keeping their discipline well in the early stages. Barcelona are going to have to work for this.

A bit more life in the game now. Ibai Gomez breaks for Alaves and lets go with a 25-yard bouncer that gives Barcelona's debutant goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen an easy save. At the other end, Daniel Torres almost runs the ball into his own net as he tries to intercept Denis Suarez's ball across goal and sees it run just past his own post.

On the Barcelona bench, Luis Enrique - like his Real Madrid counterpart Zinedine Zidane earlier - has gone for the white shirt look. While Zidane wore a tie, though, Enrique is tieless and has the top button undone; it's the smart casual look. If there was more happening on the pitch right now, I would not be telling you this.

On the bench, Luis Suarez bites his nails. It's a bad habit, Luis.

Even Deyverson is being dragged back towards his own goal. The Brazilian striker is about 10 yards outside his own penalty to receive the ball as Alaves try to play their way out. Who they're going to play their way out to, I've no idea.

Who will be the surprise guys in La Liga this season?

Alex: Team: Leganés ... natural quality. Player: P. Piatti or N. El Zhar ... passion/vision/skills.

Keep them coming, please.

An early goal would change everything, but it already feels as if the pattern has been set. Neymar tries to weave through for a shot a goal for Barcelona, but Marcos Llorente gets in a block. Alaves' back five is supplemented by four midfielders playing in very defensive positions. It could be a long night for Deyverson, the visitors' lone striker. But let's not judge too early.

Alaves have set out their stall early. All 11 of their players drop to within 40 yards of their own goal as Barca have possession. 

We're off: Alaves get us under way in red shirts and white shorts.

The teams are out on the pitch; the two captains, Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets and Alaves goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco, shake hands. A few minutes behind them, substitutes Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are deep in conversation as they walk out of the tunnel, both in training bibs. 

It's not clear if this was the Barcelona line-up that Pellegrino was expecting to face - no Messi, no Suarez. It's a Barca side who would still be expected to win, though - especially against what looks a pretty defensive Alaves set-up.

It was Jose Bordalas who guided Alaves to the Segunda Division title in May - but he was still sacked the following month, because the club did not feel he was the right man to keep them up. 

Pellegrino, who finished his playing career at Alaves, left his role as head coach of Independiente, in his native Argentina, to return to Spain.

Image source, Getty Images

Alaves boss Pellegrino, you may remember, was part of Rafa Benitez's coaching staff at Liverpool for a couple of years from 2008. Before that, he also played for them briefly, although without great distinction. 

What's intriguing about Pellegrino, though, is that he wasn't the coach who took Alaves up as champions of the Segunda Division last season...