FCBARCELONA.CAT

11.05.2008 18:48

The eighteenth European Cup

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Barça Sorli Discau continue making history in European hockey on winning their eighteenth European Cup. Barça defended last year’s triumph over Bassano and lifted their fourth title in the Palau Blaugrana.

Having beaten Vic in the semi-finals (2-1) and Reus Deportivo in the final (5-2), the team from Barcelona has won its eighteenth European Cup –the eighth in European League format with a Final Four- and affirms them as the dominating team in European hockey.

Fourth title in the Palau

Of the eighteen titles Barça has won, only four were have been lifted in the Palau. The last one dates back to the Final Four in the1996/97 season. That season the Palau Blaugrana held the first final phase of the recently created European League. After beating Igualada in the semis (3-2), Barça won the title in a hard fought game with Porto (4-3).

The other titles won in the Palau were in the eighties, when the final of the European Cup was played over two legs. In the 1984/85 season they won the title against Porto after winning the away game in Portugal (4-5) and sealing the victory on their own ground (6-4). The other goes back to the 1982/83 season with a clear victory for Barça against Sentmenat, in two high scoring games (1-9) away and (14-6) at home.

Two in a row

With this victory in the Final Four in the Palau, Barça Sorli Discau defended European hockey’s maximum competition title won last year against Bassano. Not having qualified for the final phase of the European League in the 2005/06 season, Quim Paül’s team showed their worth and gained the title.

In the semis Barça beat Porto (3-2) with a goal from Panadero in extra time. In the final their rivals were the hosts, Bassano from Italy. Although having to fight back from an early goal by Bassano, Barcelona showed the quality of their side by finishing off with a victory (5-2).

An eighth for Borregán and a first for Teixidó

Although the Barça Sorli Discau players have a wide range of titles, Albert Borregán is the player with most under his belt with a total of eight European Cups. Borregán is also getting close to equalling the nine titles won by Jordi Vila-puig and Sergi Centell.

Lluís Teixidó is the only player in the Barça squad to win the maximum title for the first time. Even though he had won two CERS Cups with Reus and been three times World Champion with the Spanish national squad, among others, Teixidó picks up his first European League title with Barça.