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Justice done to Deportivo Alaves: Coach Luis Garcia Plaza on club's return to La Liga

Alaves and Levante were locked at 0-0 in their promotion playoff second leg, after the first leg also ended goalless a week ago, before Villalibre netted from the spot after a penalty was awarded

Asier Villalibre’s penalty deep into stoppage time in extra time secured the team's return to La Liga on Saturday Twitter/@JasonRemeseiro

Reuters
Published 19.06.23, 08:04 AM

Football has done justice to Deportivo Alaves after Asier Villalibre’s penalty deep into stoppage time in extra time secured a return to La Liga on Saturday, coach Luis Garcia Plaza said a year after the Basque club were relegated.

Alaves and Levante were locked at 0-0 in their promotion playoff second leg, after the first leg also ended goalless a week ago, before Villalibre netted from the spot after a penalty was awarded for handball following a lengthy VAR review.

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“I think that football has done justice with the promotion of Alaves,” an emotional Garcia Plaza said.

“We were better than Levante in this game — at home (last week) we were not — we created more chances and came close to scoring on many occasions.”

Villalibre kept his cool to become the hero of thenight.

“I was calm, I like to take penalties and I always wait for the goalkeeper to move,” the 25-year-old striker said.

Reuters

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