FCBARCELONA.CAT

27.12.2007 18:37

Recent league comebacks

Berta Brau

In the last few years FC Barclona have starred in some epic comebacks, thanks to which, on more than one occasion, they finished winning a title.

The most recent precedent is season 2005/2006. After eight games Frank Rijkaard’s Barça were sixth with 13 points, four behind leaders Getafe. In that year the azulgranas ended up winning their first league title of the Rijkaard era.

So close - 2003/04

The Dutch coach led another comeback in season 2003/04. In this case no title was won but it was an epic climb up the table which shows that nothing is decided until the last moment. With 20 games remaining in the league, Barça were 12th with 24 points, 18 points behind the then leader Real Madrid. Rijkaard’s men weren’t prepared to finish the league in mid-table and staged a mighty comeback which took them to second position, passing Real Madrid on the way. Real Madrid eventually finished in fourth place, two points behind the azulgrana side. With this achievement Barça avoided the preliminary rounds of the Champions League.

Spectacular rise

But if we go back to season 1998/99 we will find an incredible comeback in which, in only five games, FC Barcelona went from 10th after fourteen games to lead the table after nineteen games. That season, the team coached by Louis Van Gaal ended up winning the league title.