Sergi Barjuan's career as Barcelona interim coach got off to a nervy start on Saturday evening, as the Catalan giants stumbled to a 1-1 draw with Alaves in La Liga at Camp Nou.
The first half was a tame affair, with the Blaugrana controlling possession and looking the most likely to break the deadlock. The final ball was often lacking however, and Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera was rarely called into action.
The visitors did cause a moment of panic in the Barça area in the first 45 minutes, but a header flashed agonisingly wide of Marc-Andre ter Stegen's far post. The hosts were also left sweating over the wellbeing of striker Sergio Aguero, who was substituted after having trouble breathing towards the end of the half - although he at least was able to walk off the pitch.
Barça needed only four minutes to break the deadlock in the second half, and they did it in style. Memphis Depay collected Jordi Alba's pass on the edge of the box, shifted the ball onto his right foot and bent a delicious curler into the top corner of Sivera's goal to hand the initiative to the hosts.
That lead lasted only two minutes however, as Alaves winger Luis Rioja danced through a series of challenges, played a one-two, rounded Ter Stegen and tapped into an empty net to level the scores almost instantly.
