Alavés managed to avoid relegation thanks to a crucial win against Barcelona on May 13, a result that marked the end of a season full of uncertainty. The Basque team, which had been on the verge of losing, achieved an unexpected victory at the Carlos Tartiere stadium, breaking a streak of 20 games without keeping a clean sheet and the first time in 12 years that the Catalan club did not score against Alavés' goal.
The meeting was especially significant for the Finnish central defender Ville Koski, whose career with Alavés changed radically after his arrival in the winter market. He arrived injured and with just 11 minutes of play in his first three months, and neither coach Coudet nor current coach Quique showed interest in him. However, the Madrid coach saw in Koski a solution for a defense that was making too many mistakes and was on the brink of the Second Division.
Barcelona's visit to Mendizorroza became a turning point. The match required a high defensive level and Koski demonstrated his value, becoming a pillar of the Alavés defense. Since then, he has started 12 of the last 13 games, showing a solid performance that helped the team ensure permanence in the First Division.
The victory against Barça was decisive, since the Catalan club had scored 56 consecutive days in their previous matches. The victory allowed Alavés to consolidate its position and avoid falling. Furthermore, Koski's performance in the last week of the competition was enough for Alavés to decide to exercise the purchase option that was included in his loan, thus ensuring the player's permanence at the club.
With the season concluded, Alavés faces the task of consolidating its squad for the next campaign. The incorporation of Koski, who is now a key piece in the defense, will be fundamental for the club's project. The team prepares for the new season with the certainty that its Finnish center back will continue to be an essential element in the search for stability and performance in the First Division.