Not Lewandowski.. Hansi Flick chooses the best Barcelona star against Alaves and warns this duo

Polish striker Robert Lewandowski led Barcelona to a significant victory over Deportivo Alaves on Sunday evening, securing a win away from home in the ninth round of the Spanish League.

With this result, Barcelona increased its points total to 24, sitting at the top of the standings, three points ahead of traditional rival Real Madrid, who is in second place. According to the *Sport* newspaper, coach Hansi Flick expressed his satisfaction with the win over Alaves, especially since this match was the last before the upcoming international break.

Although Lewandowski scored a hat-trick during the match, Flick noted that Brazilian star Rafinha was his standout player. The German coach congratulated the Brazilian winger on his performance, praising him as the main engine and driving force behind Barcelona’s success this season. Flick considers Rafinha to be the best player in the world in his position.

The report also mentioned that Flick had a conversation with the talented Lamine Yamal, expressing disappointment with the young player’s performance, as he did not shine in this match. Flick advised Yamal to speak with the Spanish national team coach about resting during the upcoming international break, citing the player’s evident fatigue. Barcelona faces critical matches after the break in both the Champions League and La Liga.

Despite the victory, Flick remains concerned about Barcelona’s defensive performance. He believes this could lead to significant issues when facing top teams in Europe. The coach specifically urged Pau Coparsi and Hector Faure to sharpen their focus, as Alaves nearly capitalized on defensive gaps in the second half.

Additionally, Barcelona president Joan Laporta immediately congratulated the team after the match, giving special praise to midfielder Marc Casado, who is enjoying a historic season with the club. Laporta remarked that he considers Casado to be the best midfielder in La Liga this season, surpassing all midfield stars from both Barcelona and Real Madrid.