FCBARCELONA.CAT

22.09.2008 12:05

Double first for Guardiola at El Molinón

Roger Bogunyà

Sunday was a very good day for Barça coach Guardiola. Not only did he achieve his first League win as manager, but it was also the first time he’d ever ended up on the winning side at Gijon’s El Molinón stadium as he’d never won there as a player.

This weekend in Asturias rounded off an excellent week for Josep Guardiola in which his side achieved two wins – the first a 3-1 triumph against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League – and scored nine goals while conceding two.

First League win

In addition to these team successes, Guardiola also reached two individual milestones at El Molinón. First and foremost was his first League win as Barça manager as his side thrashed a pretty abject Sporting Gijon by six goals to one .

And first at El Molinón

This first League win came at a ground which had not been kind to Guardiola as a player. He played there four times and never won: his record reads two draws in the 1992/93 and 1996/97 seasons, and two defeats in 1993/94 and 1994/95 when he was also sent off in the latter fixture.

So Sunday’s win brought Guardiola two birds with one stone: first League win as manager and first victory as player or manager at El Molinón.