FCBARCELONA.CAT

16.06.2007 12:42

Rijkaard vs. Flores

David Puig

The game this Sunday will see Frank Rijkaard and Paco Flores come head to head for the third time as coaches. The previous two encounters saw the Dutch coach victorious on both occasions by the same result, 3-0.

The first time these two met was in the season of 2003-04 when Zaragoza visited Camp Nou.. Paco Flores was in charge of the team from Aragon for the second season after having secured promotion to the Liga. Barça ran out winners with a decisive 3-0 victory, with goals coming from Saviola, Xavi and Ronaldinho. This result left Zaragoza in the relegation zone; Flores being replaced shortly after by Victor Muñoz.

The last time these two met was earlier this season. Curiosly, Barça won by the same result, 3-0 despite the team from Tarragona’s fierce resistance. On this occasion, Saviola, Giuly and Iniesta did the damage. The result lifted Barça to the top of the Liga and with the honouree award of being winter champions.

Flores and Barça

Since Paco Flores was first manager in the first division in 1996-97, the current coach of Nastic has come across Barça seven times. Five such occasions were as coach of Espanyol; the club with which he began his managerial career. With Espanyol, Flores achieved his one and only victory against the blaugrana in the season of 2001-02. On this occasion, the Barça team of Carles Rexach was beaten 2-0. On the other six occasions, Paco Flores has been defeated four times and has drawn twice.