BEFORE May, no one had heard of Deportivo Alaves FC.

The small club, from the Basque region of north east Spain, may have been promoted to La Liga - Spain's top division - for the first time in its history but outside of the country they were as well known as Wycombe Wanderers are in Madrid.

Then, thanks to an unforgettable, glorious UEFA Cup final against Liverpool, it all changed.

The Spaniards, on the wrong end of a thrilling see-saw classic, made friends throughout the soccer world with their thrilling brand of non-stopping attacking football.

And if tonight's match, when Alaves take on Wanderers at the Reebok, is half as good then the people of Bolton will be in for a treat.

The current side is said by supporters to be the best one in the club's history and that's even without star striker Javi Moreno.

The poacher, who scored twice against Liverpool before - for some reason - being substituted, was snapped up by AC Milan in the close season.

But it does not make Alaves much weaker. The club still has more than enough talent in reserve.

Take striker Ivan Alonso. The Montevideo born frontman struck 14 goals last season and was the link-man who set up many of Moreno's goals. Not bad considering he is just 22.

One man familiar with Bolton fans will be Jordi Cruyff.

He has flourished since leaving Old Trafford and played a key part in Alaves' UEFA campaign.

Obviously, having links with Manchester United, the Bolton crowd will take to Cruyff like a rabbit to water but the 26-year-old has seen it all before and won't be fazed.

Alaves have other stars too.

Ibon Begona is a tenacious midfielder, uncompromising defender Antonia Karmona (whose potential deul with Michael Ricketts could be interesting) and striker Bogdan Mara - a Romanian international bought from Dinamo Bucharest during the summer - will be trying to prove he is the man to replace the departed Morena.

If Bolton needed a proper test before embarking on arguably the biggest season in their history, then this is it.

Alaves always approach matches in the same way. They want to win and to win well, preferably scoring as many goals as possible.

Colin Hendry, Gudni Bergsson and the rest of the Wanderers team will have to be on form to stop them. Just ask Liverpool.