FCBARCELONA.CAT

02.03.2009 12:32

Precedent in double season

Jordi Clos

The last time Barça lost two games in a row while League leaders was in the 2005/06 season. The team went on to win both the League and the Champions League.

Barça’s two losses in a row while topping the League table has a precedent in the 2005/06 season. Then Frank Rijkaard’s men had been on a winning streak until they came face to face with Atlético Madrid and Valencia.

Abrupt halt

On 5 February 2006, after 14 wins on the spin, Barça had 52 points and a lead of 12 over Valencia in second place and 13 over Madrid in third. Defeats against Atlético (1-3) and at Mestalla (1-0) meant that lead was cut by 6 points in just a fortnight.

Legendary finish

But Barça bounced back with wins against Betis (5-1), Zaragoza (0-2) and Deportivo (3-2) and continued with their fine form to win the League with four games still to go. Barça finished first on 82 points, 12 more than Madrid and 14 more than Valencia.

Plus Rijkaard’s men were also still in the Champions League, and leaving Chelsea, Benfica and Milan in their wake got through to the final in Paris to beat Arsenal and win Europe’s top trophy for the second time in the club’s history.