FCBARCELONA.CAT

21.04.2010 17:54

Dynamo and Chelsea the path to follow

Jordi Clos

On the last two occasions that Barca have lost the first leg of a Champions league tie 3-1, they have gone on to win on aggregate, beating Dynamo Kiev 4-1 and Chelsea 5-1.

A glance at the history books will tell you that the Camp Nou is a difficult place to come even if you bring a substantial advantage from the first leg. A packed stadium creates a terrifying atmosphere than few teams can withstand. Ipswich Town (UEFA 76/77), Anderlecht (Cup Winners Cup 78/79) and Gothenburg (European Cup 85/86) were all knocked out despite winning the first leg 3-0. The same happened to Dynamo Kiev and Chelsea more than a decade ago.

The Dream Team’s finest hour?

Johan Cruyff’s Barca side won four consecutive league titles and the Club’s first ever European Cup, and left behind the memory of some fantastic performances. It’s a difficult choice but many people would choose the match between Barca and Dynamo Kiev in the second leg of the R16 of the Champions League 93/94 as their most complete performance. They overturned a 3-1 deficit from the first leg with goals from Laudrup, Bakero (2) and Koeman and went through to the next round.

The last great comeback

Six years later, Barca – managed by Louis Van Gaal – needed something special after losing the first leg of their 1999-2000 quarterfinal 3-1 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Goals from Dani García, Rivaldo and Figo took the game to extra time. Rivaldo, who had missed a penalty earlier in the match, took his chance in extra time and then Kluivert clinched a 5-1 win that sent Barca through to the semis.