FCBARCELONA.CAT

11.08.2009 17:56

Two Super Cups in the 21st century

Llorenç Tarrés

Barcelona have won the Spanish Super Cup seven times, the last two with Frank Rijkaard in the dugout.

After a gap of eight years Barça won the Spanish Super Cup again in 2005-06 and then retained the trophy the following year with wins over Betis and Espanyol respectively.

Great start

The 2005-06 season has gone down in Barça’s history for the League and Champions League double. Yet it also began well when the club won the Super Cup.

In the first leg at Manuel Ruiz de Lopera, the team made up of Valdés, Belletti, Puyol, Oleguer, Sylvinho, Xavi, Edmílson (Gabri), Deco (Iniesta), Giuly (Van Bommel), Ronaldinho and Eto'o pulled off a convincing 3-0 win with goals by Giuly, Ronaldinho and Eto'o to turn the return leg into a formality.

Betis played well at Camp Nou and won 2-1 but never really endangered Barça’s hold on the trophy. Eto'o put Barça into the lead only for two quick goals by Dani to put Betis ahead. It made no difference in the end, however, as Puyol lifted the Cup.

Superiority in the derby

The win the following season was even easier. Barça, on a roll after a summer spent celebrating the Paris final, saw off Espanyol with an aggregate result of 4-0.

The first leg at the Olympic Stadium on Montjuïc was dominated by Barça yet they could only score once through Giuly. At Camp Nou, Barça rolled out the full repertoire and two goals by Deco (the second a wonder strike on the turn) and one by Xavi wrapped things up.