FCBARCELONA.CAT

09.05.2010 22:45

Win makes up for past defeats

Roger Bogunyà

Regal FC Barcelona took their second Euroleague title this Sunday against Olympiacos – a win they deserved after their defeats in Paris in 1991 and 1996.

Barca lost finals in Paris against Pop 84 in 1991 and controversially against Panathinaikos in 1997 and tonight the team settled the debt with the French capital with their win over Olympiacos. Paris has other happier memories for the club however – it’s where they Rijkaard’s 2006 team won the club’s second European Cup against Arsenal.

20 wins and two defeats

The parallels between the two wins are clear: Regal arrived at the final with the pressure of winning the title for the first time behind them – as Barca did in 2006. Regal come into this final after a brilliant season that has seen them win 20 games in Europe, losing just twice.

Five titles in 814 days

Since Xavi Pascual took over at Barca, -just 814 days ago, on February 14th 2008 – the team have got back into their winning groove, having won a Euroleague, an ACB League, a Spanish Cup, a Supercup and a Liga Catalana title –five titles in all.

Final Four record holders

The defeat in last year’s Final Four was nevertheless a big achievement for Pascual’s team and the experience of the defeat to CSKA undoubtedly helped in setting up tonight’s win. There’s one thing this team don’t lack and that’s experience and their second title, in their record eleventh appearance in a Final Four, puts them up there with teams such as Virtus de Bologne, Cibona and Pallacanestro.