Madrid: Only victory in Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Alaves will salvage some pride from Barcelona’s season and give coach Luis Enrique a successful send-off, whilst the Basques dream of lifting the trophy for a first time.
On a night of goodbyes as Atletico Madrid’s Vicente Calderon hosts its final competitive fixture, Enrique will take charge of Barca for the last time.
A win would complete a clean sweep of the Copa del Rey in his three seasons in charge.
However, in contrast to the previous two years when Cup success was the icing on a successful season having won the treble in 2015 and a league and Cup double last season, Barca this time head into the end-of-season showpiece without a major trophy.
“Although it can be called the lesser of all the trophies, for us another trophy is at stake,” said Barca captain Andres Iniesta.
“It will allow us to end the season on a high.”
Enrique faces a selection headache with both Luis Suarez and Sergi Roberto suspended after being sent-off in a tempestuous semifinal win over Atletico back in February.
Paco Alcacer is expected to be handed a rare big game start in Suarez’s absence up front, whilst the Catalans are hopeful that Javier Mascherano will shrug off a hamstring problem to fill in at right-back. — AFP
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