Good evening and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE coverage of the Spanish Liga fixture between Deportivo Alaves and Barcelona. We'll bring you all the action as it happens. Kick off is at 8.30pm GMT.

This is becoming a familiar experience for Barcelona. They started well, but are now being sucked into a slog of a match. They have struggled without Messi a few times this season.

Jony has argued his way into the referee's book. He's not letting the point lie.

Jonny is making the point that he was fouled by Vidal. He's arguing that the Barcelona midfielder pulled back the Alaves player and he might well have a case. The referee isn't having it, though.

Alaves are starting to grow in confidence here. They are sending more bodies forward on the counter attack whenever they win the ball back from Barcelona. Encouraging for the hosts.

Header... over! Barcelona might have done better with that opportunity. They had bodies up from the back ready for a cross into the box, but Vidal heads over the crossbar harmlessly.

Pacheco saves! Another good opportunity for Suarez, with the Barcelona striker played through by Dembele, but the Alaves goalkeeper makes the save with his feet to keep the Catalans out.

Umtiti has struggled since returning from injury a few weeks ago so this is a good opportunity for the French defender to get back up to speed ahead of the Champions League semi finals.

Barcelona started this game really well, but they have since allowed their level to drop and now Alaves are doing a decent job of keeping the Catalans at arm's length. Not much in the final third.

PICTURE: Dembele has been lively early on against Alaves.

Of course, Roberto is playing at left back for Barcelona this evening. Valverde doesn't really have a deputy for Alba, so he has to use Roberto, who usually plays on the right, on the left.

A waste from Roberto! A neat passing move from Barcelona releases Roberto down the left side, but he skews his cross and the ball flashes high and wide of the Alaves target.

Good defending from Duarte to prevent Dembele from getting past him down the right side. The Barcelona winger would have had the freedom to charge into the middle, but the tackle was made.

On target! Coutinho gets a sight of goal and gets a shot away on target, but Pacheco was able to watch the ball all the way and makes the simple save from the Brazilian playmaker.

Baston clips Umtiti in a sliding challenge and Barcelona are awarded a freekick. Some of the home fans have voiced their displeasure at some of the decisions made by the referee so far.

Just for a moment it looked like Roberto's pass down the left channel might have released Suarez in behind. But the Barcelona striker's first touch let him down at the crucial moment.

Coutinho has started this match rather well. The Brazilian has struggled to make an impression this season, but he has come to the boil in recent weeks. See his performance against Man Utd.

Roberto is seeing plenty of the ball down the left side for Barcelona. He has been an outlet for the Catalans, but this time his cross into the middle is blocked by Laguardia.

Barcelona are just taking the chance to knock the ball around the defence and midfield after a good spell from the home side. There is a feeling that Alaves are growing into this.

Busquets gives away the ball cheaply in the centre of the pitch. The midfielder is known for his prudence with the ball, but it must be said that his passing has been looser in recent weeks.

Alaves are hanging on a bit here, but that has been the case since the first whistle. They are just about getting by even though it looks like Barcelona could cut them open at any moment.