It's a low bar admittedly, but both teams have stepped things up in this second half.

Barca have won a flurry of corners to no avail, while Alaves continue to look threatening on the break - the pace of Luis Rioja in particular is causing the visitors problems.

Lionel Messi is coming on. That's just what you want when you've just gone 2-0 down.

Another half-chance for Alaves as Luis Rioja gets to the byline and sends in a low cross for Pere Pons, who flicks the ball across goal and wide of the far post.

Chance! Ez Abde uses his pace to get in behind the Alaves defence down the Barca right.

He looks to roll the ball across to Luuk de Jong for a tap in, but he overhits the pass an Alaves can clear.

Should have done better there. It wasn't a difficult pass.

Nathanael Mbuku gets a sight of goal for the away side. From the inside-right channel he shoots across goal and Kaylor Navas palms the ball away.

The second half begins.

No changes for either side, though you'd expect Xavi will be pondering one or two if the game continues in the same vein.

Lionel Messi is warming up.

What defender wants to look over and see that?

How crucial was that opening goal just before the break?

PSG look relaxed now and can just tick over, keeping the ball away from the visitors without risking too much.

They are just using the jab here to keep Reims away from them. The away side need to somehow rattle the home cage.

Neat interplay by PSG sees Angel Di Maria attempt a clipped ball over the top on the edge of the box but a desperate header stops it reaching Kylian Mbappe.

We are rolling again in the second half.

What have you got Reims? It has got to be big.

And there goes the half-time whistle.

Alaves will be happy with that - though Pons could have made it even better had he converted that opportunity.

Alaves miss a glorious chance right on half-time!

Another quick counter sees Pere Pons burst into the penalty area in time and space, but he can only shoot tamely straight at Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who didn't have to move.

Alaves get the chance to counter when Gerard Pique gives the ball straight to Pere Pons. He feeds Joselu Mato who is drawn wide, but with not many options in the middle he goes for an optimistic cross-shot that Ter Stegen comfortably saves.

They could have made so much more of that opportunity.

Alaves shipped four against Real Betis last time out so they must be delighted with how things gave gone so far.

Granted they haven't offered much of an attacking threat, but they are not conceding many chances either.

Barca need to up the tempo as we edge towards half-time.

We have a chance! Well, a half one anyway. A Barcelona corner from the right isn't properly cleared and the ball cannons off an Alaves defender but loops just wide with goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco unmoved.

A second corner finds Gerard Pique unmarked, but ball comes off his shoulder and goes well over.

Image source, Getty Images

Shout out to you Marco Verratti.

That was the epitome of "we scored at a good time".

To the changing rooms for some orange segments and a brew lads.