Barcelona 1-1 Alaves: Sergio Aguero taken to hospital as hosts draw first match since Ronald Koeman sacking

Sergio Aguero went down clutching his chest and received treatment for several minutes before being helped off the pitch

Sergio Aguero was taken to hospital for tests after suffering “chest discomfort” as Barcelona drew against Alaves in their first match since the sacking of Ronald Koeman.

Aguero went down clutching the top of his chest and received treatment for several minutes before being helped off the pitch just before half-time.

Barcelona later saidexternal-link he was admitted to hospital to have a “cardiac exam”.

Luis Rioja earned Alaves a point after Memphis Depay’s opening curling effort.

Former Manchester City striker Aguero, 33, was taken away in an ambulance and Barca interim boss Sergi Barjuan told La Liga TV: “I can’t tell you much more. I know he has been taken to a hospital and they are having tests done.”

The Argentine was making his first start for the club since his move in the summer.

Aguero joined Barca on a two-year deal after 10 years at City, a spell which saw him become their all-time leading goalscorer with 260 goals in 390 games.

The point against Alaves keeps Barcelona in ninth place – eight points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid, who beat Elche 2-1 earlier on Saturday.

In front of just over 37,000 supporters at the Nou Camp, interim coach Sergi Barjuan’s side went closest to a first-half opener when Eric Garcia’s downward header was saved by Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera.

Depay was inches away from restoring Barcelona’s lead soon after Alaves’ equaliser, but the Dutchman could only steer his effort from Gavi’s pass against the post.

Philippe Coutinho, who replaced Aguero late in the first half, stung Sivera’s palms with a dipping shot as the visitors held on for their first point at the Nou Camp since 2016.

Line-ups

Barcelona

Formation 4-3-3

1ter Stegen

22Mingueza3Piqué24García18Alba

28González Iglesias5Busquets30Paez Gaviria

2Dest19Agüero9Depay

• 1ter Stegen
• 22MinguezaSubstituted forEzzalzouliat 80′minutes
• 3PiquéSubstituted forLengletat 70′minutes
• 24García
• 18Alba
• 28González IglesiasSubstituted forBalde Martínezat 80′minutes
• 5Busquets
• 30Paez GaviriaSubstituted forPuig Martíat 70′minutes
• 2Dest
• 19AgüeroSubstituted forCoutinhoat 41′minutes
• 9Depay

Substitutes

• 6Puig Martí
• 11Demir
• 13Murara Neto
• 14Coutinho
• 15Lenglet
• 17de Jong
• 23Umtiti
• 26Peña Sotorres
• 31Balde Martínez
• 33Ezzalzouli
• 34Sanz

Alavés

Formation 4-3-3

13Sivera

23Navarro Jiménez5Laguardia22Lejeune3Duarte

6Loum20Pons15Moya

17Méndez9Joselu11Rioja

• 13SiveraBooked at 45mins
• 23Navarro JiménezSubstituted forAguirregabiriaat 20′minutes
• 5Laguardia
• 22Lejeune
• 3DuarteBooked at 82mins
• 6Loum
• 20PonsSubstituted forPinaat 62′minutes
• 15MoyaSubstituted forGarcía Alonsoat 80′minutes
• 17MéndezSubstituted forPellistriat 62′minutes
• 9JoseluSubstituted forSyllaat 80′minutes
• 11Rioja

Substitutes

• 2Rodríguez
• 4Miazga
• 7Sylla
• 8Pina
• 10Guidetti
• 12García
• 14García Alonso
• 18Pellistri
• 19Martín
• 21Aguirregabiria
• 27López
• 31Ferrer Owono

Referee:Jorge Figueroa Vázquez

Attendance:37,278

Live Text

1. Match ends, Barcelona 1, Alaves 1.

2. Second Half ends, Barcelona 1, Alaves 1.

3. Dangerous play by Eric García (Barcelona).

4. Martín Aguirregabiria (Alaves) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

5. Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Víctor Laguardia.

6. Hand ball by Riqui Puig (Barcelona).

7. Attempt saved. Florian Lejeune (Alaves) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Manu García with a cross.

8. Foul by Balde (Barcelona).

9. Martín Aguirregabiria (Alaves) wins a free kick on the right wing.

10. Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

11. Foul by Florian Lejeune (Alaves).

12. Attempt missed. Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Eric García.

13. Attempt missed. Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.

14. Rubén Duarte (Alaves) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

15. Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

16. Foul by Rubén Duarte (Alaves).

17. Substitution, Barcelona. Abdessamad Ezzalzouli replaces Óscar Mingueza.

18. Substitution, Barcelona. Balde replaces Nicolás González Iglesias.

19. Substitution, Alaves. Manu García replaces Toni Moya.

20. Substitution, Alaves. Mamadou Sylla replaces Joselu.