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Saviola leads Barça into quarter finals (3-2)

Barça are through to the last eight of the cup after beating Alavés, although with more problems than in the first leg. Saviola, with three goals, was once again the hero of the night.

Javier scored both Barça's goals at Mendizorrotza and went one better tonight at the Camp Nou, the Argentinian thus scoring all five of Barcelona's goals as they dumped Alavés out of the Copa del Rey, 3-2 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate. Leading 2-0 from the first leg, and going 2-0 up early on tonight, it looked like it was going to be plain sailing for the Catalans, but the Basques hit back with two goals of their own to add some emotion to the evening. Barça will learn who they meet in the quarters in Friday's draw.

Two from Saviola

The game got off to a curious start. Barça were already in command of the tie and had no need to overwork themselves, while Alavés were hardly piling on the pressure either. Barcelona were enjoying almost total possession of the ball, with Gio in particular finding plenty of space to move the ball up on the left, but none of it was developing into goalscoring opportunities until a couple of chances fell to Saviola just after the quarter hour. And he took them both in commanding fashion. For the first, he followed through on a Ronaldinho free kick that rebounded off the keeper. The second was a pinpoint header from a Motta cross, a goal of particular merit considering the Argentinian was sandwiched between the two Alavés centre backs at the time.

Two chances, two goals

Alavés pull back It looked like game over at that point, and Alavés seemed to have had all their morale blown out of them. Márquez could have made it three with a free kick that a fully stretched Adrouin managed to turn behind for a corner. And then with their first two genuine forays into the Barcelona half, Alavés levelled the game at two each. Wellington broke the offside trap on 35 minutes and beat Jorquera with an elegant chip, and then in the 42nd minute 42 Arthuro tied the game with a tremendous free kick that bounced in off the post.

Hat trick

After the break, Rijkaard sent Giuly on for Ezquerro in the hope of livening things up on the right wing, but it was Alavés, suddenly sensing the opportunity of making history, that looked the stronger side earlier on, and had two excellent chances to really put the Camp Nou faithful's hearts in their mouths, especially the first when, in the 49th minute, Puyol cleared a Wellington effort off the line. And against a great side like Barça you simply can't afford to make mistakes like that, and Alavés paid the price, because from that moment on, Barcelona retained absolute control of the proceedings. In the 62nd minute practically the entire team was involved a move that ended with Xavi flicking a deft pass on to Saviola, who was able to covert his and Barcelona's third of the night.

Control to the end

By this point Alavés seemed aware that there was no coming back, but still managed to conjure up a few late opportunities to at least get a draw out of the second leg, with Ogbeche unlucky to hit the post. Unconcerned, Barça continued to play the short, passing game and maintain possession, with Zambrotta almost scoring his first goal in a Barça shirt, but it was easily saved. Ronaldinho and Sylvinho combined well on several occasions in the final throes of the match, but there was to be no more scoring on a night that it was mission accomplished for Barcelona as attention now returns to the league.

Cup starts the year at the Camp Nou

Barcelona's Copa de Rey return leg against Alavés tonight is the first game of 2007 at the Camp Nou, with Barça v Nàstic to follow in the league on Sunday. After winning 2-0 at Mendizorroza, Barcelona have already made massive progress in this tie.

In theory, tonight's game against Alavés at the Camp Nou (21:00, Barça TV) should be comfortable enough ride for Barça after the result in the first leg in Vitoria. Two Saviola goals gave Frank Rijkaard's side an important advantage for tonight's encounter, where the biggest danger for Barça will be overconfidence.

Saviola the star: The Argentinian striker is expected to start another game tonight, especially given the absence of Gudjohnsen in the squad. Not only did he get a brace at the Mendizorroza, but Saviola followed that up with Barcelona's only goal in Saturday night's derby at the Olympic Stadium. In other words, he has scored all of Barcelona's last three goals, and Rijkaard will be keen to take advantage of such form.

Zambrotta returns: The Italian full back is back in the side for the first time since pulling a muscle in his left leg in the World Clubs Cup Final in Japan. But despite the return of the former Juventus man, Belletti has been doing so well in that position that he is likely to get another chance tonight, with the Italian perhaps just coming on for a few minutes.

Alavés have something to prove: Deportivo Alavés bounced back from defeat in the Cup to a 3-1 victory against Lorca. The second division outfit is having a torrid time both on and off the pitch, so the win could not have come at a batter time, with the first leg having occasionally appeared farcical, with the home fans more intent on hailing abuse at their controversial president Dimitri Piterman than following anything happening down on the pitch. It was also Fabricio González's first time out as manager, in place of Chichi Cos, who is now technical secretary.