Barcelona Look For First Treble
Spanish Giants Already Locked Up La Liga and Copa Del Rey Crowns
Within the span on one week, Barcelona twice had reasons to celebrate, winning the Copa del Rey and then finishing off the Liga domestic league title. Now Josep Guardiola's Catalan giants hope to complete the first treble in club history.
25th Copa Del Rey Title
Barcelona captured their 25th Copa del Rey title on May 13, 2009 with a 4-1 victory over Athletic Club Bilbao at Mestalla Stadium. Gaizka Toquero headed Francisco Yeste's corner past Barca keeper José Pinto to give Bilbao the lead 1-0 after eight minutes. Ivorian Yaya Touré hit a long-range shot at the half-hour mark to equalize.
Lionel Messi pounced on a loose ball to give Barcelona a 2-1 lead after 55 minutes. It was a two-goal lead three minutes later as Bojan Krkic finished off a counter-attack. Xavi Hernández finished off the scoring with a free-kick off the upright after 65 minutes.
Barcelona Collect 19th Liga Championship
Barcelona were secured their 19th domestic Liga championship when second placed Real Madrid were downed 3-2 against Villareal on May 16, 2009 and Barcelona's eight-point lead was uncatchable with two game days remaining. Guardiola rested most of his starters in Barcelona's 2-1 loss against Real Mallorca on May 17, 2009
Fifth Spanish Double
By locking up two titles within three days, Barcelona collected the fifth double in club history following 1952, 1953, 1959 and 1998. And the double secures Barcelona's 25 players and coaching team a premium of 15 million euros. By winning the Champions League, that total would be doubled.
Guardiola Debut, Success As Player
Guardiola's two titles in his debut season pick up on his success as a player. The now 38-year-old won the 1992 European Clubs Cup title with Barcelona as a midfielder as well as six Liga crowns (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999) and six Copa del Rey (1997, 1998).
Barcelona Going After Scoring Record
Barcelona's potent offense led by Samuel Eto'o, Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry has scored 104 goals this season in the Spanish league. With two games left, it looks likely that Guardiola's men should bypass the all-time Liga mark of 107 goals by Real Madrid in the 1990-91 season.
Ranked Number One By IFFHS
On January 23, 2009, the International Federation Of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) ranked Barcelona number one in the list of the greatest clubs of the past 18 years. The All-time Club World Ranking was judged by all the results of the national championships, national cup competitions, club competitions of the six continental confederations and FIFA. On the rankings from the January 1, 1991-December 31 2008, Barcelona were ahead of Manchester United, Juventus, AC Milan and Real Madrid.
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