Super David Villa double sends Alaves packing

Humble Alavés go crashing out of the Copa del Rey competition with their heads held high after being beaten by a Barcelona team in which David Villa shined.

Barcelona didn’t have it easy last night and we can all relate to Tito’s words when he said that this game was no pushover. Alaves surprised Barcelona in the first half and didn’t lay down and let the Catalan team steam roller them. They brought it to the Nou Camp and they came to play.

Alaves scored first within 17 minutes of play and shocked Pinto, who was in goal. The goal came courtesy of Borja Viguera from a near perfect pass from team mate Miki to beat pinto at his far post. It was a peach of a cross that got behind the Barcelona defense and bounced just in front of Martin Montoya for Viguera to meet it sweetly and put it past a dumbfounded José Manuel Pinto.

Barcelona had to wait until 35 minutes to get on the scoreboard and draw via a nice one-two touch with Thiago Alcántara. Adriano picked up the ball on the left and passed it to Thiago who saw Adriano’s run and promptly passed it back for him to put it past the Alavés keeper Herrera.It was great assist by Thiago.

The first half whistle went and it was one goal apiece. Alavés was in this game but Barcelona had a few surprises in store after the break.

David Villa brace

On 55 minutes David Villa took on the role of Leo Messi as the set piece taker.Cristian Tello was brought down just outside the penalty area by Óscar Rubio for which he picked up a yellow card. Villa stepped up to take it and curled it neatly to the young Alavés keeper’s right hand side. It was a great goal and very Messi like in its execution.

David Villa wasn’t done yet and wanted more of the action and just 3 minutes later found the net again to make it 3-1 to Barcelona. A generous Cristian Tello assist, who could have scored himself, gave the opportunity to David Villa to knock his second goal in against Alavés.

The ball came from deep via an inch perfect pass from Thiago to find Tello on the right. Tello ran with the ball to the box and saw Villa advancing on his left and placed the ball at 30 year old Villa’s feet to slip past an advancing Sergio Herrera. The goal could have been given as off-side as both Tello and Villa were slightly in front of their markers. It wasn’t seen and David Villa made it 3-1 to the Catalan giants.

As far as Gerard Deulofeu, Tito had strong words for the youngster who earned some minutes in the second half of the match.

After the cup tie Tito noted:

“You can not expect that any player that is 17 or 18 years old can play in the first team”. “We must demand that he continues to improve.”

Natxo González, the Alavés coach had nothing but praise for his team:

“We leave with our heads held high”.

The Alavés coach admitted that he had dreamt of a comeback but it was near impossible against the best team in the world.