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COPA DEL REY

Alavés reach first final since famous Liverpool showdown

The Basque side will face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey showpiece after beating Celta Vigo in Wednesday's semifinal. It'll be only the club's second ever final appearance following a memorable 5-4 loss to Liverpool in the UEFA Cup in 2001.

Update:
Alavés
ANDER GILLENEAAFP

Alavés - Barcelona live

Alavés have secured a second cup final spot in their history and a first in the Copa del Rey following a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo on Wednesday.

Until now, the team from Vitoria had only reached the UEFA Cup Final in 2001 when the club lost to Liverpool in a spectacular 5-4 score line; a match considered as one the best European finals ever.

History not in Alavés' favour 

When they face Barça on May 27 (a venue for the match is still up in the air), it will be the 11th time that Alavés have faced Los Cules in the Copa del Rey, with both sides having met each other in five double-legged ties throughout the tournament's history.

Alaves players celebrate during their 2-1 win over Barcelona at Camp Nou in September 2016
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Alaves players celebrate during their 2-1 win over Barcelona at Camp Nou in September 2016

As might be predicted, the statistics are not at all favourable for the Basque team: they’ve lost all five ties, winning just two legs and losing the other eight.

Reasons for optimism 

Despite this, Alavés do have some reason to be optimistic. That’s because along with defeated semifinalists, Celta, they are the only team to have beaten Barça this season. In just the third week of the current LaLiga campain, Alavés came away from Camp Nou claiming all three points after a shock 2-1 away win.