Barcelona favourite to win Copa del Rey against Alaves

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 (Kings Cup) 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. 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.

The side coached by Manuel Pellegrino has been one of the revelations of the season in Spain finishing ninth in the table after winning promotion from the second division last season.

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. Agencies