FCBARCELONA.CAT

15.02.2010 13:00

Losing to Atlético but winning the League

Edgar Fornós

The last six championship winning seasons for FC Barcelona have all involved at least one defeat to Atlético Madrid. Last season was no exception. Barça lost 4-3 at the Calderón, but went on to lift the trophy.

FC Barcelona games with Atlético Madrid have a history of being thrilling, nerve-racking affairs. With so many uncertainties ahead of the game, there was always a strong possibility that Guardiola’s side could slip up at the Calderón. And so they did, but the positive thing to take out of that is that all six of Barça’s last championship winning campaigns have involved at least one loss to the mattress makers.

Good start and dramatic finale

Last season, Barça also went to the Calderón as Liga leaders, despite just drawing with Betis and losing to Espanyol at the Camp Nou in their previous outings. Barça took an early 2-0 lead, but the home side turned things around and ended up winning a dramatic match 4-3.

Rijkaard’s nightmare opponents

Barça won two leagues under Frank Rijkaard but on neither occasion did they win a single game against Atlético Madrid. In 2004/05 they drew at the Calderón (1-1) and then lost at home (0-2). The following season, 2005/06, Atlético took all six points off Barça, with a 2-1 win at Manzanares and then a 1-3 victory at the Camp Nou.

Typical Atlético Madrid v FC Barcelona

In his first year at the club, Van Gaal learned how Barça and Atlético Madrid have a habit of producing huge numbers of goals. But it was the side coached by Radomic Antic that got the lion’s share of them that season, winning clearly by a 5-2 scoreline.

Unrewarded Romario hat-trick

Romario had an amazing night at the Vicente Calderón as part of Johan Cruyff’s last league winning year at Barcelona. Having gone 3-0 up thanks to the brilliant Brazilian, Barça then witnessed how Atlético Madrid staged an unbelievable comeback and ended up winning 4-3.