19.05.2009 12:49
Familiar feel to Rome for Barca players
Jesús Carrillo
Rome’s Olympic Stadium will have a familiar feel for a number of the Barca squad who fly out to conquer their third Champions League Trophy on Wednesday, not least boss Pep Guardiola who played for Roma in the 2002-03 campaign.
It’s not just the boss who’ll be in familiar surroundings on Wednesday night though:
Xavi and Puyol with Barça, Sylvinho and Henry with Arsenal, Piqué with Manchester United,
Gudjohnsen with Chelsea and Abidal with Olympique de Lyón have all played at the famous Olympic
Stadium.
Second time for Barca
It’ll be Barca’s second visit, following their 2001-02
Champions League second group stage. This was the team of Bonano, De Boer, Kluivert, Reiziger and
Christanval amongst others and Xavi and Puyol were also involved in the 3-0 defeat Despite losing
to Fabio Capello’s team it was Barca and not Roma who eventually went through to the quarter
finals.
Guardiola
Guardiola has also played in the European Cup in Rome when he was on Roma’s books for
half a season in 2002-03. The game was against Real Madrid in the opening group stage game when he
played 44 minutes in a 0-3 defeat.
Henry hat-trick
Thiery Henry had better luck in his appearance at the Stadium, bagging
his first Champions League hat-trick on 27th November 2002 in Arsenal’s 1-3 win in the second
group stage.
Gerard Piqué with United
The Catalan centre half also knows what it’s like to score at the Olympic Stadium. He
was on the mark for Manchester United in last season’s 1-1 draw against Roma, heading in a
corner on 34 minutes.
Abidal, Sylvinho and Gudjohnsen
Although he’s ruled out of the final, Éric Abidal is another Barca squad member
who’s played in the Champions League in Rome, featuring in the 2006-07 quarter final between
Lyon and Roma. Both Sylvinho and Gudjohnsen have played in Rome, both against Lazio: Sylvinho
featured in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw in the 2000 group stage, whilst Gudjohnsen scored in
Chelsea’s 0-4 demolition in the 2003-04 group stage.