Hansi Flick said it's easier to substitute Lamine Yamal when he's scored after the forward starred in Saturday's 6-1 LaLiga win over Alavés at Spotify Camp Nou.

Yamal netted a brace as Barça returned to winning ways after back-to-back defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

The teenager has now started all 18 games for Barça and Spain this season, although he was afforded a short rest against Alavés, with Flick able to take him off for the final 20 minutes with the game won.

"When you score two goals, it's easier to go out," Flick said after substituting Yamal for just the fourth time this season.

"I spoke with him at half time [about managing his minutes]. For us, that he has the confidence back with the one vs. one situations, more time and minutes in the second half [is good], but it also important he has less minutes."

Barça opened the scoring early on through Raphinha before Fermín López added the second in the 23rd minute.

Raphinha's second of the game, and his 17th of the season, made it 3-0 and Yamal capped a fine team move with a brilliant finish from the edge of the box to make it four by half time.

Yamal netted another after the break, a dinked finish over the goalkeeper initially ruled out for offside, and Anthony Gordon scored the sixth late on prior to an even later consolation goal from Mariano Díaz.

It was just what Barça needed after a week which saw their 11-game winning run halted by losses to PSG in the Champions League and Madrid in the league.

"For Lamine it was a great game, but it was good to see the level of the attack: Fermín, Rapha," Flick added.

"This is what I want to see after these two defeats. How we react, it was good and in the right way."

Flick also had praise for his makeshift defence, with midfielder Frenkie de Jong featuring at centre-back and youngster Brian Fariñas, also a midfielder, making his full debut at right-back.

"At the moment we have to think different," Flick said. "Four defenders are out in Xavi Espart, Andreas [Christensen], Jules [Koundé] and Eric Garcìa.

"Hopefully some will come back, but we don't know when yet. So I asked Frenkie if he's able to play there; he said 'Yes, when I can help the team I will do it.'

"The same with Brian. I don't know if he ever played [at right-back], maybe in La Masia, but he also played a good level.

"I am happy for him. He deserved these minutes, this game. He is focused, top in training, very professional. This is what we want from him and the players."

Fariñas, 20, looked especially comfortable playing on the same flank as Yamal, someone he played with at youth level.

"You could see he is connected with Lamine," Flick continued. "It's very important. He helped us a lot today playing this position."

The win took Barça back to the top of the table after Atlético Madrid had leapfrogged them earlier on Saturday.

They have 10 wins from 11 games in LaLiga, while Flick has now racked up 100 victories since taking over in 2024.

"I am really happy about this," he said. "100 wins, it's great. When we started, we hoped we would have 100 games for Barça, so 100 victories is a great situation."

Barça now turn their attention to Aston Villa's visit in the Champions League on Tuesday, with top of the table clash away at Atlético looming next weekend before the international break.