What. A. Chance.

Pablo Machin's side break with pace and purpose and probably should be a goal up.

Sergio Busquets is caught out of position as Deyverson launches a quick counter. The forward cuts the ball back to Lucas Rioja who sees his right-foot shot saved by Barxca keeper Neto.

A great pass from Clement Lenglet sends Ansu Fati racing through on goal but Barca's teenage star fluffs his lines, placing his effort wide of the bottom right corner.

And on his 18th birthday as well.

Big chance gone.

Alaves' tactics seem to be to try and soak up Barcelona pressure and then hit them on the break.

There have been one or two misplaced passes from Ronald Koeman's side so far, who don't look like they have hit their stride.

Lionel Messi sets off on one of those runs from the right side, to the centre of the pitch just outside the Alaves area, but then the ball just runs away from the Argentine wizard.

Alaves are looking pretty compact with their five-man defence, shuffling across to snuff out the danger.

A fairly quiet start with both sides probing down the flanks.

Plenty of firepower in that Barca team tonight coming in from out wide with Ousmane Dembele and Ansu Fati both trying to make darting runs in behind.

And away we go.

Alaves make a couple of changes to the side that won at Real Valladolid last weekend.

Joselu and Lucas Perz drop out and are replaced by Deyverson and Luis Rioja.

Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman makes three changes to the side that lost 3-1 in El Clasico to Real Madrid last Saturday.

Sergino Dest, Pedri and Philippe Coutinho drop out as Sergio Roberto, Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann start.

Barcelona XI: Neto, Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba, Busquets, De Jong, Dembele, Messi, Fati, Griezmann

Image source, @alaveseng

It seems slightly weird to have to scroll down the La Liga table into the bottom half to see the name of Barcelona.

Ronald Koeman will be hoping that things are on the up for his side after they bounced back from their El Clasico defeat to Real Madrid with a 2-0 win at Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Barca currently have two victories from their opening five league games and a defeat here would be the first time they have lost three on spin since April 2016 under former boss Luis Enrique.

Good evening and welcome to our coverage of Alaves v Barcelona.

Believe it or not both sides come into this fixtures on seven points albeit Barca, who are 13th in La Liga, have played a couple of games less and have a superior goal difference to their hosts.