FCBARCELONA.CAT

Four out of five

The 2007/08 season was an almost total success. Having signed ex Alnimar Reus Deportiu player Lluís Teixidó, the only downside to the year was the failure to win the Copa del Rey.

As for the other competitions, Barça were simply unstoppable. The first win came in the Copa Continental, against Vilanova, who had won the CERS the year before. The final in Qevert (France) was dominated by Barça Sorli Discau, who were already 4-0 up at the interval, and made it five thanks to Lluís Teixidó.

Supercopa, ‘in extremis’

They then won the Spanish Super Cup, in the first leg at the Palau Blaugrana, Quim Paüls side won 4-2 in the return to the venue for José Luis ‘Negro’ Páez. But it was his brother David who was celebrating in the end.

But Reus made things difficult in the return and took a 2-0 lead. But a goal from the new captain Alberto Borregán brought the second trophy of the season to FC Barcelona Sorli Discau.

Early exit in cup

The next challenge was for Quim Paüls to bring back the Copa del Rey from Igualada. The opening game was against Coinasa Liceo, and there was a shock in store for Barça, who crashed out 2-3. The trophy was eventually won by Noia Freixenet coached by Ferran López, who beat Roncato Patí Vic in a classic final.

Big time in Reus

But the end season was when things really counted, with the Euroleague and the OK League up for grabs. Barça won their eighteenth European title in the magnificent Final Four played by Reus, Liceo, Vic and Barça, bringing plenty of colour to the Palau in one of the most spectacular series in the tournament’s history. Barça won the semi final against Vic (2-1), while Reus overcame Liceo (2-1). In the grand final, the side coached by Quim Paüls played the better hockey and got the better of a Reus team that realised the hard way that when it comes to the games that count, Barça are extraordinarily difficult team to get the better of.

The last big title of the season was the OK League, in which they once again came up against their biggest rivals in the final, It turned out to be much harder than some had expected, with Barça missing the injured Panadero. Reus won away to Barcelona in game two, and then won game three as well to put Barça right against the ropes. But the Blaugrana made their experience tell and won away to Reus wile competing with an astonishingly hostile atmosphere in the away pavilion. The series was tied, and the rubber match was played back at the Palau, where FC Barcelona Sorli Discau conquered yet another league championship in front of 4.500 spectators.