FCBARCELONA.CAT

02.09.2009 11:50

Ibrahimovic maintains the tradition

Jesús Carrillo

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has continued an FC Barcelona tradition by marking his league debut for the club with a goal.

The Swedish striker dived to head home against Sporting de Gijón on Monday evening and followed in the footsteps of some of the great players to have played up front including Samuel Eto'o, Hristo Stoichkov, Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Johan Cruyff and Gary Lineker.

Romario and Rivaldo

One of the most spectacular starts to life at Barça came from Romario as he netted a hat-trick in the first game of the 1993-94 season against Real Sociedad. Rivaldo also made impressive start to his time at the club in 1997-98 when he scored twice in Anoeta against the same opposition.

Stoichkov, Lineker and Eto'o

Some years before Stoichkov had netted the only goal in a 1-0 against Espanyol in Sarrià in 1990, while Gary Lineker showed his prowess in front of goal when he scored twice against Racing Santander at the start of the 1986-87 season. Samuel Eto'o also netted against the Cantabrians in his first match for the club in the league as he tucked home a penalty in the 2004-05 campaign.

Cruyff and Kluivert

Both Johan Cruyff and Patrick Kluivert joined Barça after the team had already played the first league in the respective seasons, but the two Dutchman both still opened their account at the first time of asking. Cruyff netted against Granada in 1973-74 while Kluivert scored in a 2-2 draw in the Santiago Bernabéu in 1998-99.

Ronaldinho and Henry

Two of the great goalscorers for the club did not score in their first appearances but did not have to wait long. Ronaldinho hammered home a goal against Sevilla after midnight in 2003 while Henry scored against Levante in his sixth game when he went on to net a hat-trick.