Barcelona vs Alaves
What do you think? Can lightning strike twice or will there be a farewell salvation for Luis Enrique?
So many questions, yet only one answer sports betting aficionados.
The betting odds suggest the latter in the final of what is known as the Kings Cup; where the kings of Catalonia are up against a club of contrasting fortunes.
For Alaves, the club from the Basque country who were only promoted 12 months ago and before that had been outside the Spanish top-flight for a decade, are playing in the final of a major tournament for only the second time in their 96 year history.
Unlike serial winners Barca, competing in their 39th Copa final, it was unthinkable to imagine Alaves would be one step from glory at the start of this campaign.
Yet they have seen off Deportivo La Coruna, Segunda club Alcorcon and Celta Vigo (who knocked out Real Madrid) to reach the showpiece.
And they are also one of the few clubs to have seen off Barcelona this season.
It was in September when they came away from the Nou Camp both thrilled with a 2-1 La Liga success.
On that occasion, Enrique rotated his squad and brought on Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez but the damage had been done.
There’ll be no Suarez this time as both he and Sergi Roberto are suspended.
Without question they will be missed, for this season has proved that most of Barcelona’s squad players simply haven’t been good enough.
Can Luis Enrique now inspire them to victory in his final game as manager before he is replaced, almost certainly by Ernesto Valverde.
Athletic Bilbao confirmed Valverde’s own departure from San Mames and his arrival in the Camp Nou is set to be confirmed just before or straight after the final.
Of course, this is not just Enrique’s farewell but the farewell to the Estadio Vicente Calderon – the final competitive game before the stadium is demolished and consigned to history.
Can holders Barca make added history with a record 29th Copa del Rey success?
If they do claim the silverware they will have done it the hard way with aggregate victories over Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid en route.
Should they prevail, the team would have accrued six major trophies from nine under Luis Enrique’s stewardship – not a bad record!
But don’t rule out the most unlikely of triumphs –that is if fairytales can really exist at an occasion designed for kings.
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