MADRID: Luis Enrique is set to leave a mixed legacy when he departs Barcelona but the coach can go out on a high by lifting a third consecutive Copa del Rey when his side meet Alaves in Saturday’s final.

The former Barca midfielder enjoyed a dream start to life in the Nou Camp dugout, winning the treble in his first season and a league and cup double in his second. But his team have declined in his third campaign, leading Enrique to opt against renewing his contract and announcing his exit in March.

The cup final, which will be the last competitive game at Atletico Madrid’s Vicente Calderon stadium, is their last chance to salvage a season in which they surrendered the title to Real Madrid and fell out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals, suffering a resounding 3-0 aggregate defeat to Juventus.

It has still been an unforgettable season, however, with Barca beating their previous goals record in the league by scoring 116 times and overturning a four-goal deficit against Paris St Germain in the Champions League by winning 6-1.

“It would be a special title,” said Luis Enrique who replaced Gerard Martino in 2014. “I’m happy and more than satisfied for all the years that I’ve enjoyed with this club.”

Barca are yet to lose a Copa del Rey home-and-away series since he took over, a run of 12 straight triumphs. However, in contrast to the previous two years when Cup success was the icing on a successful 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. “We are all thankful for these three years [with Luis Enrique]. We have to win one last title to finish the best possible way.”

Enrique faces a selection headache with both Luis Suarez and Sergi Roberto suspended after being sent-off in a tempestuous semi-final win over Atletico back in February.

Barcelona have been in the Copa final in seven of the last nine seasons, including the last four, and have won it a record 28 times.

Alaves will be playing in the final of a major tournament for only the second time in their 96-year history. The other was the UEFA Cup 16 years ago, when they lost to Liverpool 5-4 in extra time.

Alaves, coached by a former Barca team-mate of Luis Enrique’s in Mauricio Pellegrino, spent the season’s first half hovering above relegation places but ended the campaign strongly, winning three of their final four games to finish ninth on their first season in a decade back in the top flight.

Their impressive campaign has been based on clever loan signings such as midfielder Marcos Llorente from Real Madrid and explosive leftback Theo Hernandez, who is set to move from Atletico to Real later this summer, and experienced Liga players such as Victor Camarasa and top scorer Deyverson.

“We’re a difficult team to face, we have a very competitive squad and a group of players who are very persistent,” Pellegrino told Spanish daily Marca.

“We’re a team that’s going places and do the simple things very well. We’re humble but we’re capable of taking teams on and competing by playing to our strengths.”

Alaves enter the Copa final boosted from having beaten Barca 2-1 at Camp Nou at the beginning of the season. However, Alaves also suffered a Barca backlash when the visitors won 6-0 at Mendizorroza in February.

“They have the mentality of wanting to win every game. That is what they are used to,” added Pellegrino. “We need to play a very complete game to stand a chance.”

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2017