The squad might be depleted by injuries, but Barcelona refused to let that stop them from collecting three points from a 3-1 La Liga victory in Vitoria on Saturday.

Particularly in the first half, in-form Alaves made life extremely difficult for the defending champions, but while the Basques were struggling to convert their own chances, Barça brought out all their class to make sure of their own.

Barca went in front when Robert Lewandowski latched on to Gundogan’s pass to dink the ball over the onrushing Antonio Sivera. Gundogan then fired in to double the away side’s lead after the break, before Samu Omorodion’s header for Alaves made it 2-1.

Substitute Victor Roque sealed victory when he converted Hector Fort’s cross, only to be sent off nine minutes later.The 18-year-old Brazilian picked up two yellow cards in quick succession, but Barcelona were able to see out the final 18 minutes with 10 men for their third successive win in La Liga.