Alaves vs Barcelona - Enrique labels Alaves one of 'revelations' of LaLiga

Posted Saturday, February 11, 2017 by PA

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has labelled Alaves one of the "revelations" of LaLiga ahead of Saturday's meeting at Estadio Mendizorroza in a dress rehearsal for May's Copa del Rey final.

Alaves manager Mauricio Pellegrino led the Basque side to the Copa del Rey showpiece in midweek and masterminded their stunning 2-1 victory at the Nou Camp earlier in the campaign.

Alaves, promoted last summer, have had a respectable start to life in LaLiga after a 10-year absence, currently sitting in 12th place, and Enrique was full of praise for Barca's opponents.

"They are playing very well, they have big numbers, a good position in the league, a newly-promoted team and a new coach," Enrique said at Friday's pre-match press conference.

"It has a lot of value and they are a very dangerous team. It is a circumstance that does not happen often, but I do not think it is important that we are Copa finalists in tomorrow's game.

"Alaves are one of the revelations of the league and that surprise at Camp Nou now is not so much.

"We have 16 games without tasting defeat. It will be complicated and difficult, especially in this state of form. There is no healthy rematch, we know it's a team that got us in the first match and can get us again."

Speculation over the venue for the Copa del Rey final has heightened after rumours suggested that the Bernabeu, home of Barca's El Clasico rivals Real Madrid, will be host of the end-of-season showpiece but Enrique will not be drawn into discussing that possibility.

The Spaniard also refused to talk about their failed appeal over Luis Suarez's red card in Tuesday's semi-final against Atletico Madrid.

"It [playing at the Bernabeu] gives me no concern," Enrique added. "I'm very interested and I understand the position of each club.

"It isn't an issue to me. I have no intention of getting into controversy. As a professional football man I am not the best person to generate this kind of controversy, we are going to try to win, which is what we are here for."

Javier Mascherano is a doubt for Saturday's game after sustaining a thigh injury in midweek while Rafinha could return after a broken nose ruled him out of Tuesday's match.

Alaves' Copa del Rey hero Edgar Mendez, who came off the bench to score the winner against Celta Vigo in midweek, suffered a leg injury and is a doubt for the clash.