FCBARCELONA.CAT

28.08.2009 23:40

Third European Super Cup

Jordi Clos

In Monaco, Barça have won the third European Super Cup in club history. That means they join Liverpool in terms of titles won, a tally only topped by Milan.

FC Barcelona continue to consolidate their place among the elite of European football. In May they joined the small selection of clubs that have won three European Cups, and on Friday they have added their third Super Cup. They did so in Monaco following an intense game with Shakhtar Donetsk. Goal scored by Pedro tipped the game in favour of the Champions League winners against last season’s UEFA Cup winners.

Milan top the list

With three wins, Barça now have as many titles as Liverpool, and only Milan can claim to have won the cup more than the English and Catalan outfits. Behind them there are four teams that have won the European Super Cup twice, Ajax, Anderlecht, Valencia and Juventus, and fifteen one-time winners.

First wins against Germans

Although the cup has been played for since 1973, Barça took 19 years to win it, having lost on their first three attempts against Nottingham Forest (1979), Aston Villa (1982) and Milan (1989). But after finally winning the European Cup at Wembley, Barça then beat Werder Bremen by drawing 1-1 away and winning 2-1 in the return at the Camp Nou.

In 1997, with Louis van Gaal on the bench, Barça won it again, this time beating then champions of Europe Borussia Dortmund. That was the last time that the game was played over two legs and the Cup Winners Cup winners won at the Camp Nou (2-0) before drawing in Germany (1-1).