FCBARCELONA.CAT

A record breaking league

Barça’s 19th league title will be remembered for the astounding number of records that Guardiola’s side broke. FC Barcelona were proclaimed champions after game 36 and scored 105 goals, something quite unprecedented in the modern era.

Shortly before May 17, FC Barcelona were mathematically crowned league champions. Madrid’s defeat in Villarreal meant a 19th league championship for the club. But the way they won this one was particularly incredible. They managed to break a whole series of records and overcame an especially strong Real Madrid side.

Two games to learn from

Numancia ( 1-0 ) and Racing ( 1-1 ) in the first two games set the alarm bells ringing at the Camp Nou. But Guardiola’s side responded in devastating fashion, winning their next nine games, and a 1-4 win in Malaga finally placed them at the top of the table. Getafe finally put a stop to the winning streak with a 1-1 draw.

Unbeaten run

But the side continued without losing. They went on to win 12 points out of 12 in what was dubbed the Tourmalet, a four-match spell against fellow championship contenders, which put them 12 points clear of second placed Madrid. A ten-match winning steak saw Barça beating all and sundry, with some stunning performances at the Camp Nou, against, for example, Valencia ( 4-0 ), Deportivo ( 5-0 ) and Numancia ( 4-1 ).

Three poor games

But then FC Barcelona hit on a bad spell from February into March. The games with Betis ( 2-2 ), Espanyol ( 1-2 ) and Atlético Madrid ( 4-3 ) suddenly saw Madrid back to within just four points.

Winning spirit

The second Tourmalet was going to prove decisive, especially the game at the Santiago Bernabéu. Madrid had the chance of getting within one point with four matches still to play. But the historic 2-6 win for Barça put the Catalans well back on course for the title, and knocked the wind out of a devastated Madrid, a side that had played intensive, strong football, but which proved insufficient to topple a mighty Barcelona. That night at the Bernabéu, on May 2, 2009, goes down in the annals of club history.

Champions without playing

Party celebrations were prepared for the next game at the Camp Nou against Villarreal. But a late equaliser from the visitors ( 3-3 ) meant the champagne had to be put on hold until May 16, when Madrid went down at El Madrigal (3-2). Barça were already champions with three games still to play.

Guardiola immediately stopped playing Valdés in the league, thus assuring the goalkeeper his second Zamora Trophy . He also used the last few games to test some new blood. All in all, throughout the season, he gave chances to nine different youth players .