13.05.2010 13:10
Winning the league in Camp Nou
David Puig
FC Barcelona can clinch the league title in their own stadium for the first time in 16 seasons on Sunday with victory against Real Valladolid meaning they would become champions once again.
Camp Nou has been the setting for title wins on the last day on four previous occasions and the
atmosphere has always been incredible. The first time came in 1960 when Helenio Herrera's side won,
while Johan Cruyff's Dream Team managed the feat in 1992, 1993 and 1994.
1960: Five sgtar performance
At the end of the 1959/60 campaign Barça and Real Madrid went into the
final day level on points, but the Blaugrana were in front on goal difference. Herrera's team were
not too let their advantage go when Real Zaragoza visited as goals from Gensana, Suárez, Segarra,
Eulogio Martínez and Evaristo gave the hosts a 5-0 win.
1992: Tenerife become great friends
In the year of the Olympic Games in Barcelona the end of the season could not have been more
dramatic. Cruyff's Dream Team had to beat Athletic Club de Bilbao in Camp Nou and hope that Real
Madrid slipped up against Tenerife in the Canary Islands. While the Blaugrana played their part and
won 2-0, Los Merengues appeared to have triumphed as well having taken a 0-2 lead, but a stunning
comeback by Tenerife saw them win 3-2 and give Barça the title.
1993: The miracle repeated
A yaer later nobody could quite believe it as the last day of the season
was repeated almost exactly. Barça entertained Real Sociedad needing to win while Madrid headed
back to Tenerife. Hristo Stoichkov scored to giev the Blaurgana a 1-0 win while Los Merengues were
beaten again by Tenerife, 2-0, and once moer Cruyff was celebrating the championship.
1994: The most dramatic conclusion
For a third successive year Barça were left to find out if they would be champions until the
final day. On this occasion Arsenio Iglesias' Deportivo side were the team vying for the title and
they went into the ultimate game ahead by a pont. While FC Barcelona hosted Sevilla in Camp Nou
they had to hope that Valencia could take something from their trip over to Galicia.
It would be difficult to ever see such a dramatic finale to a season ever again.
Barça won 5-2, but only after twice going behind while in Riazor the game between Depor and
Valencia was still goalless in the 89th minute when Serer fouled Nando in the area. The penalty
looked set to give Depor the title only for Miroslav Djukic to fail to score from the spot and the
celebrations began in Camp Nou.
1998: The last time in Camp Nou
The last time that the league title was won in Camp Nou was on April 18, 1998 when Louis van Gaal's
team beat Real Zaragoza 1-0, thanks to a Geovanni goal, and were crowned champions with four games
of the season remaining. It was the club's 15th title and the four that have been won since then
have all been confirmed away from home.