File Photo : Barcelona : FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi, left, celebrates after scoring with his teammate Luis Suarez during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Sevilla at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, April 5, 2017.AP/ PTI(AP4_6_2017_000019B)
Madrid: FC Barcelona have their last chance at winning a major trophy this season when they face Deportivo Alaves in the final of the Spanish Copa del Rey on Saturday.
After being knocked out of the quarter-finals of the Champions League and losing the Liga Santander to Real Madrid, Barcelona and coach Luis Enrique could end the season on a high note, reports Xinhua news agency.
It would also be the perfect send off for the Barcelona coach who will sit in the Catlan dugout for the last time in the Vicente Calderon Stadium, ending a successful three-year spell at the club.
The match is also the last to be played in the Calderon, as Atletico Madrid prepare to move to their new Wanda Metropolitan Stadium for the coming season.
Barcelona are the clear favourites to retain the Cup, a competition they have won on 28 occasions, more than any other side in Spain, and which they also won in 2015 and 2016, beating Athletic Club Bilbao and Sevilla in the process. However, Luis Enrique will be without Luis Suarez and Sergi Roberto, both of whom are suspended and consequently has to make changes in both attack and defence.
Lucas Digne will probably play at right back, while Andres Iniesta or Paco Alcacer will occupy the advanced role alongside Leo Messi and Neymar.
Although Barcelona are favourites, it would be an error to write Alaves off out of hand.
Although they lost 0-6 at home to Barcelona earlier in the campaign, that result came just 72 hours after qualifying for the Cup final and the 2-1 win Alaves claimed in the Camp Nou in match-day three is a warning they will be no pushover.
With Theo Hernandez supplying pace on the left and Marcos Llorente (also on loan from Madrid) one of the most promising central midfielders in Spain, Alaves have come to Madrid to cause an upset.
Saturday’s game will also decide which side plays in the Europa League next season. If Alaves win they get a ticket directly into the group stage, but if Barca take the title, Athletic Club Bilbao, who finished seventh in La Liga would qualify for Europe. (IANS)
