16.05.2010 21:00
Unstoppable: 4th title of the season!
Roger Bogunyà
FC Barcelona have won the fourth trophy of an incredible season, and by beating Valladolid have set an all-time Liga record of 99 points.
This team was born to win. Guardiola has continued weaving his magic and 368 days after winning the
cup in Mestalla, the celebrations continue. Barça won an unprecedented six titles in 2010, and it
was exactly a year ago today on May 16 that their second League title was confirmed. They have now
retained the title, while in the meantime, the Clubs World Cup, the Champions League and both Super
Cups have also been conquered.
Making a mark
This team just can’t stop winning. It is often noted that
after a very successful season, it is hard for a team to reproduce the same form the following
year. Not so with Barça, who have continued to stun the world with their gourmet football, in which
every pass, and every shot, is a delight to behold. The hallmark style of maintaining possession of
the ball, wearing down the opposition and always playing to attack has always been present, even
when the side was beaten in the two knockout competitions it has played in this year. In the
League, the statistics speak for themselves, 99 points including the double over nearest rivals
Real Madrid.
A League to remember
Guardiola’s side has been truly remarkable, and this League
title is particularly valued considering how difficult the campaign has been this year. Barça have
been astounding, but Real Madrid have been putting together a similarly brilliant record, and it
all came down to the very last day. FC Barcelona have had to break records to get here. Nobody has
ever gained 99 points in one of the major European leagues, and they have once again had to win no
fewer than 13 games on the road, and just draw five games and lose one. With top scorer Messi and
top goalkeeper Valdés on the park, they have gone unbeaten at the Camp Nou – it’s been
a season to remember for so many wonderful reasons.
La Masia’s seal of identity
It is also especially pleasing to know that all of this has been
achieved with so much homemade talent. The team that has had the most overall possession and shot
the most times at goal has done so with 10 of 21 players that have appeared being products of the
club’s own youth system based at La Masia. Guardiola, the incomparable leader of the team,
has managed to blend the talent of imported stars with local players in stunning fashion, with
everybody learning to combine and respect the club’s philosophy that does so much to reflect
what is so good about football. We can now salute a champion in every sense of the word.