FCBARCELONA.CAT

30.11.2009 12:01

Barça’s hat trick of wins

Jordi Clos

Barça have won their last three league matches against Real Madrid for the first time since the 1997-98 season. Pep Guardiola featured on both occasions as player or manager.

The 1-0 win over Real Madrid means that Barça have won their last three league meetings. Last season Barça won 2-0 in the Camp Nou with goals from Eto’o and Messi and then 2-6 in the Bernabeu. And this Sunday they made it three out of three for the first time in years.

The precedent

The last time Barça won three “clasicos” in a row was in the 1996-7 and 1997-98 seasons under managers Sir Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal. Robson’s team beat Real Madrid 1-0 (Ronaldo) in matchday 37 and then in the following season, under Van Gaal, 2-3 in the Bernabeu and 3-0 in the Camp Nou.

Featuring Guardiola

The two records are separated by eleven years but have someone in common: Pep Guardiola. He was team captain at the end of the 90’s and has been team manager since 2008. He looks to have the measure of the eternal rival with three wins in three matches.

Thirty years and waiting

In contrast, Real Madrid have not won three leagues matches in a row against Barça since the 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons.