Kaiserslautern (1) 1 - Alavés (5) 4

Kaiserslauten: Georg Koch; Ramzy, Harry Koch (Domínguez 33'), Strasser; Ratinho, Hristov, Djorkaef, Grammozis, Buck (Pettersen 65'); Klose, Lokvenc. 3-5-2.
Alavés: Herrera; Karmona, Téllez (Gañan 78'), Eggen, Geli; Desio, Tomic; Astudillo, Magno (Azkoitia 67'), Ibon Begoña; Iván Alonso (Vucko 55'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 07. Djorkaef. Shot from edge of penalty area which beat Herrera.
1-1. 24. Iván Alonso. Header from wide angle after cross from Geli on right.
1-2. 65. Vucko. Went past three defenders and shot low past Georg Koch.
1-3. 85. Vucko. After Azkoitia set him up following cross from Karmona.
1-4. 89. Gañan. Rounded keeper and scored on counter-attack.

While big budget Barcelona were failing to score in 180 minutes of football, lowly Alavés were getting a goal every 20 minutes against one of the best teams in Germany, Kaiserslauten. A no nonsense side built by Mané, a modest manager who was plucked from the second division, the achievement of Alavés is all the more extraordinary given that they have one of the smallest spending budgets in the Spanish first division. Without the money of even for example a Villarreal to buy players, Mané has cobbled together a team of cast-offs from the larger clubs who have reached one of the pinnacles of European football, the UEFA cup final. Players such as Oscar Téllez and Javi Moreno, not wanted by Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, have risen to achieve full international status, others such as Jordi Cruyff, Eggen and Geli have relaunched their careers at the club based in the Basque capital of Vitoria.

Possibly the largest spending by Alavés this season was on printing their distinctive pink shirts which contain the names of all paid up supporters in microfiche, and it has proved a talisman as they get stronger and stronger every round. Only 200 or so of their supporters turned up to Kaiserslauten, with fans split between this match and the final of basketball's Euroleague, with Tau Vitoria playing the second leg of that competition on the most prestigious day of sporting achievement in the history of the town. After a 5-1 first leg, many fans decided to save their money for the final in Dortmund, and so convinced was everyone that the club would go through to the final that no television company was prepared to transmit the match in Spain. Mané decided to put out a fairly strong team anyway, but decided not to risk Javi Moreno, who had not fully recovered from an injury playing on his debut for Spain a couple of weeks ago, and he took a place on the bench together with Cruyff, who was also rested at the beginning. Club captain Karmona came in for the suspended Contra.

They were surprised early on though by Djorkaeff (who had missed the first leg), the French international surprising Herrera with a shot from the edge of the area in the seventh minute for the opener. Herrera made a vital save a few minutes later from Strasser's header, and Scottish referee Hugh Dallas waved away appeals for a penalty when Eggen brought down Klose. Suddenly that four goal margin didn't look so safe, but the 'Glorioso' reacted halfway through the half, with Moreno's replacement Iván Alonso heading Geli's cross slowly past Georg Koch from a wide angle. Kaiserslauten all but gave up, their fans realising that the game was over and deciding to enjoy themselves anyway. Shortly after the break Mané decided that he could relax, and already thinking of the next weekend's game and the final he started to bring on players who had not played much this season. Vucko came on for Alonso, Azkoitia replaced Magno who was on a suspension if he had picked up a yellow card, and Gañan substituted Téllez.

To top it all the substitutions worked to perfection as Kaiserslauten threw everything forward, and they got three goals between them on rapid counterattacks. Vucko scored within minutes of coming with a brilliant individualist goal, and Azkoitia laid on a second for the young Croatian striker. Then Gañan staked his claim for a place in the final squad with a fourth in the dying minutes. Alavés were the talking point of Europe, having recorded the highest win by a Spanish team in Germany in European history, and they go on to play Liverpool in the final in their first ever participation in a European tournament. It is hard to believe that only six years ago they were in the second divsion B, but the immensely experienced Liverpool, (albeit playing in their first European final in 16 years), should not underestimate their rivals. They have had a taste of European football and they want to come back next year. This is their best chance of doing so.