1997–98 FC Barcelona season

Last updated
FC Barcelona
1997–98 season
President Josep Lluís Núñez
Head Coach Louis van Gaal
Stadium Camp Nou
La Liga 1st
Copa del Rey Winners
Supercopa de España Runners-up
UEFA Champions League Group stage (4th)
UEFA Super Cup Winners
Top goalscorerLeague:
Rivaldo (19)

All:
Rivaldo (28)
  1996–97
1998–99  

FC Barcelona returned to its previous glorious league ways under the guidance of new coach Louis van Gaal. The highly rated coach, hired from Ajax Amsterdam, brought lethal striker Sonny Anderson and the attacking midfielder Rivaldo with him. But surprisedly Barcelona sold Ronaldo to Inter Milan just before season begin and Sonny Anderson subsequently became the main striker. He introduced his 4-3-3 formation to Barcelona, under which Rivaldo scored 20 goals in the league as centre forward. Under van Gaal at helm in his first season, Barcelona won their 15th La Liga title, 2nd European Super Cup title as well as 24th Copa del Rey title (thus winning a domestic double) but Barcelona crashed out of the UEFA Champions League, following a lacklustre performance in the First Group phase. In fact, Barcelona ended up last in the group, snatching only a single victory, with two draws and three defeats preventing Barcelona from winning the treble.

Contents

Barcelona had a marvelous second half of the season, in which it kept pace with La Liga leaders Real Madrid, before ultimately hunting them down.

Squad

Squad at end of season [1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of Portugal.svg  POR Vítor Baía
2 DF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Albert Ferrer
3 DF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Abelardo
4 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Pep Guardiola (captain)
5 DF Flag of Portugal.svg  POR Fernando Couto
6 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Óscar García
7 MF Flag of Portugal.svg  POR Luís Figo
9 FW Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Sonny Anderson
10 MF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Giovanni
11 MF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Rivaldo
12 DF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Sergi Barjuán
13 GK Flag of the Netherlands.svg  NED Ruud Hesp
14 MF Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Emmanuel Amunike
16 MF Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (1992-2006).svg  YUG Dragan Ćirić
17 DF Flag of the Netherlands.svg  NED Winston Bogarde
No.Pos.NationPlayer
18 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Guillermo Amor
19 FW Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Juan Antonio Pizzi
20 DF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Miguel Ángel Nadal
21 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Luis Enrique
22 DF Flag of the Netherlands.svg  NED Michael Reiziger
23 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Iván de la Peña
25 GK Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Carles Busquets
26 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Albert Celades
27 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Roger García
28 DF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Carles Puyol
29 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Xavi
31 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Mario Rosas
32 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Jofre

Transfers

Summer

NameNationalityFrom/toType
In
Sonny Anderson Flag of Brazil.svg Monaco
Rivaldo Flag of Brazil.svg Deportivo La Coruña
Ruud Hesp Flag of the Netherlands.svg Roda JC
Michael Reiziger Flag of the Netherlands.svg AC Milan
Christophe Dugarry Flag of France.svg AC Milan
Dragan Ćirić Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (1992-2006).svg Partizan
Out
Ronaldo Flag of Brazil.svg Inter Milan
Laurent Blanc Flag of France.svg Marseille
Gheorghe Popescu Flag of Romania.svg Galatasaray
Ángel Cuéllar Flag of Spain.svg Real Betis
Julen Lopetegui Flag of Spain.svg Rayo Vallecano
Goran Vučević Flag of Croatia.svg FC Köln
Quique Álvarez Flag of Spain.svg Logroñés Loan

Winter

NameNationalityFrom/toType
In
Winston Bogarde Flag of the Netherlands.svg AC Milan
Out
Christophe Dugarry Flag of France.svg Marseille
Hristo Stoichkov Flag of Bulgaria.svg CSKA Sofia

Competitions

La Liga

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1 Barcelona (C)38235107856+2274Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2 Athletic Bilbao 38171475242+1065Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round
3 Real Sociedad 38161576037+2363 [lower-alpha 1] Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
4 Real Madrid 38171296345+1863 [lower-alpha 1] Qualification for the Champions League group stage [lower-alpha 2]
5 Mallorca 381612105539+1660 [lower-alpha 3] Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round [lower-alpha 4]
Source: LFP
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. 1 2 RMA 2–0 RSO; RSO 4–2 RMA
  2. Real Madrid was qualified directly for the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League as holders.
  3. MLL: 9 pts; CEL: 5 pts; ATM: 2 pts
  4. Since Barcelona, winners of 1997–98 Copa del Rey, was qualified for the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League, losing cup finalists RCD Mallorca earned a spot in the first round of the 1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

Results by round

Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAH
ResultWWWWWWDWWLLWLWWWWLDLLWDDWWWWWWLWWWDLLL
Position11111111111122111111111111111111111111

Matches

31 August 19971 FC Barcelona 3–0 Real Sociedad Barcelona
Rivaldo Soccerball shade.svg26'Soccerball shade.svg80'
Giovanni Soccerball shade.svg56'
Report Stadium: Camp Nou
5 October 19975 FC Barcelona 3–2 CD Tenerife Barcelona
Óscar Soccerball shade.svg6'Soccerball shade.svg31'
Enrique Soccerball shade.svg50'
Report Juanele Soccerball shade.svg24'
Paz Soccerball shade.svg28'
Stadium: Camp Nou
16 November 199712 FC Barcelona 3–2 Celta de Vigo Barcelona
Eggen Soccerball shade.svg10' (o.g.)
Rivaldo Soccerball shade.svg60'
Pizzi Soccerball shade.svg66'
Report Cadete Soccerball shade.svg37'
Sánchez Soccerball shade.svg84'
Stadium: Camp Nou
1 December 199714 FC Barcelona 3–1 CP Mérida Barcelona
Anderson Soccerball shade.svg34'
Enrique Soccerball shade.svg70'
Rivaldo Soccerball shade.svg73' (pen.)
Report Sinval Soccerball shade.svg81' (pen.)Stadium: Camp Nou
19 January 199821 FC Barcelona 3–4 Valencia CF Barcelona
Enrique Soccerball shade.svg32'
Rivaldo Soccerball shade.svg49'
Cáceres Soccerball shade.svg54' (o.g.)
Report Morigi Soccerball shade.svg69'
López Soccerball shade.svg75'Soccerball shade.svg87'
Ortega Soccerball shade.svg88'
Stadium: Camp Nou

Copa del Rey

Eightfinals

15 January 1998 (1998-01-15) FC Barcelona 2–1 Valencia CF Barcelona
20:30 Enrique Soccerball shade.svg4'
Rivaldo Soccerball shade.svg66'
Gómez Soccerball shade.svg37' (pen.)Stadium: Camp Nou
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: Manuel Mejuto González
22 January 1998 (1998-01-22) Valencia CF 1–3 FC Barcelona Valencia
20:30 Angloma Soccerball shade.svg68' Rivaldo Soccerball shade.svg26' (pen.)Soccerball shade.svg79'
Giovanni Soccerball shade.svg90'
Stadium: Mestalla Stadium
Attendance: 48,000
Referee: Antonio López Nieto

Quarterfinals

5 February 1998 (1998-02-05) FC Barcelona 2–0 CP Mérida Barcelona
21:00 Enrique Soccerball shade.svg16'
Figo Soccerball shade.svg79'
Stadium: Camp Nou
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Víctor Esquinas Torres
11 February 1998 (1998-02-11) CP Mérida 0–3 FC Barcelona Mérida
21:00 Barjuán Soccerball shade.svg2'
Rivaldo Soccerball shade.svg52' (pen.)
Ćirić Soccerball shade.svg80'
Stadium: Estadio Romano
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: José López De La Fuente

Semifinals

18 February 1998 (1998-02-18) FC Barcelona 5–2 Real Zaragoza Barcelona
20:30 Rivaldo Soccerball shade.svg3'Soccerball shade.svg6'Soccerball shade.svg47'
Giovanni Soccerball shade.svg11'
Enrique Soccerball shade.svg20'
Garitano Soccerball shade.svg1'Soccerball shade.svg40'Stadium: Camp Nou
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Antonio López Nieto
26 February 1998 (1998-02-26) Real Zaragoza 0–0 FC Barcelona Zaragoza
21:00Stadium: La Romareda
Attendance: 34,000
Referee: Manuel Díaz Vega

Final

UEFA Champions League

Second qualifying round

13 August 1997 Barcelona Flag of Spain.svg 3–2 Flag of Latvia.svg Skonto Camp Nou, Barcelona
21:30 Giovanni Soccerball shade.svg27', 70'
Stoichkov Soccerball shade.svg90' (pen.)
Report Babicevs Soccerball shade.svg26'
Abelardo Soccerball shade.svg46' (o.g.)
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Fernand Meese (Belgium)
27 August 1997 Skonto Flag of Latvia.svg 0–1 Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona Daugava Stadium, Riga
20:00 Report Anderson Soccerball shade.svg50'Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway)

Group stage

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Flag of Ukraine (1992-2006).svg Dynamo Kyiv 6321136+711Advance to knockout stage
2 Flag of the Netherlands.svg PSV Eindhoven 623198+19
3 Flag of England.svg Newcastle United 62137817
4 Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona 612371475
Source: UEFA
17 September 1997 Newcastle United Flag of England.svg 3–2 Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona St James' Park, Newcastle
20:45 Asprilla Soccerball shade.svg22' (pen.), 31', 49' Report Luis Enrique Soccerball shade.svg73'
Figo Soccerball shade.svg89'
Attendance: 35,274
Referee: Pierluigi Collina (Italy)
1 October 1997 Barcelona Flag of Spain.svg 2–2 Flag of the Netherlands.svg PSV Eindhoven Camp Nou, Barcelona
20:45 Luis Enrique Soccerball shade.svg61', 74' Report Cocu Soccerball shade.svg70'
Møller Soccerball shade.svg86'
Attendance: 82,000
Referee: Hellmut Krug (Germany)
22 October 1997 Dynamo Kyiv Flag of Ukraine.svg 3–0 Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona Olympic Stadium, Kyiv
20:45 Rebrov Soccerball shade.svg6'
Maximov Soccerball shade.svg32'
Kalitvintsev Soccerball shade.svg65'
Report Attendance: 100,000
Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)
5 November 1997 Barcelona Flag of Spain.svg 0–4 Flag of Ukraine.svg Dynamo Kyiv Camp Nou, Barcelona
20:45 Report Shevchenko Soccerball shade.svg9', 32', 44' (pen.)
Rebrov Soccerball shade.svg79'
Attendance: 52,200
Referee: Hugh Dallas (Scotland)
26 November 1997 Barcelona Flag of Spain.svg 1–0 Flag of England.svg Newcastle United Camp Nou, Barcelona
20:45 Giovanni Soccerball shade.svg17' Report Attendance: 26,000
Referee: Marc Batta (France)
10 December 1997 PSV Eindhoven Flag of the Netherlands.svg 2–2 Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona Philips Stadion, Eindhoven
20:45 Abelardo Soccerball shade.svg54' (o.g.)
De Bilde Soccerball shade.svg56'
Report Abelardo Soccerball shade.svg32'
Giovanni Soccerball shade.svg66'
Attendance: 29,400
Referee: Anders Frisk (Sweden)

Supercopa de España

20 August 1997 (1997-08-20) FC Barcelona 2–1 Real Madrid CF Barcelona
21:30 Nadal Soccerball shade.svg11'
Giovanni Soccerball shade.svg85' (pen.)
Raúl Soccerball shade.svg5'Stadium: Camp Nou
Attendance: 120,000
Referee: Gracia Redondo
23 August 1997 (1997-08-23) Real Madrid CF 4–1 FC Barcelona Madrid
22:00 Raúl Soccerball shade.svg42'Soccerball shade.svg54'
Mijatović Soccerball shade.svg58'
Seedorf Soccerball shade.svg65'
Report Giovanni Soccerball shade.svg80'Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu
Attendance: 70,000
Referee: Dauden Ibáñez

UEFA Super Cup

8 January 1998 (1998-01-08) FC Barcelona 2–0 Borussia Dortmund Barcelona
21:00 Enrique Soccerball shade.svg8'
Rivaldo Soccerball shade.svg61' (pen.)
Stadium: Camp Nou
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: David Elleray
11 March 1998 (1998-03-11) Borussia Dortmund 1–1 FC Barcelona Dortmund
20:00 Heinrich Soccerball shade.svg64' Report Giovanni Soccerball shade.svg8'Stadium: Westfalenstadion
Attendance: 32,500
Referee: Piero Ceccarini

Friendlies

Statistics

Players statistics

No.PosNatPlayerTotal La Liga Copa del Rey UEFA Champions League Supercopa UEFA Super Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
13 GK Flag of the Netherlands.svg  NED Hesp 54-6936-477-57-112-52-1
22 DF Flag of the Netherlands.svg  NED Reiziger 44025+4040802010
2 DF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Ferrer 38021+30404+201+1020
17 DF Flag of the Netherlands.svg  NED Bogarde 24219230000020
12 DF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Sergi 47331261602020
10 MF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Giovanni 411821+694+1254221+11
26 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Celades 50034+2070500020
21 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Luis Enrique 4725341863431021
7 FW Flag of Portugal.svg  POR Figo 51735561711020
9 FW Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Anderson 371120+3104+10512020
11 FW Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Rivaldo 5128341978602021
1 GK Flag of Portugal.svg  POR Baia 3-122-8001-40000
3 DF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Abelardo 23113+203031100+10
4 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Guardiola 1405+10104+102000
5 DF Flag of Portugal.svg  POR Couto 25013+501+104+100000
6 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Óscar 23511+553+1020000+10
8 FW Flag of Bulgaria.svg  BUL Stoichkov 611+100+100+21000+10
14 MF Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Amunike 100000001000
15 FW Flag of France.svg  FRA Dugarry 1304+30001+300+2000
16 MF Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (1992-2006).svg  YUG Ciric 3516+1501+215+300+200+10
18 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Amor 33010+1202+201+30200+10
19 FW Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Pizzi 2334+1130+400+400000
20 DF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Nadal 33118+304+103+201110
23 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Iván de la Peña 22213+4220200010
25 GK Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Busquets 2-21-1001-10000
27 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Roger 2507+1102+30200000
28 DF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Puyol 0000
29 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Xavi 0000
31 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Rosas 1010
32 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Jofre 110+11

See also

Related Research Articles

The 1997–98 La Liga season, the 67th since its establishment, started on 30 August 1997 and finished on 16 May 1998. On 29 March 1998, Sporting Gijón drew 0–0 with Real Zaragoza while Racing Santander, who were 19th in the table at the time, lost by Athletic Bilbao 4–3, to make Sporting Gijón the first team in La Liga history to be relegated in March, ending the season with a League record low points tally of just 13.

The 1996–97 La Liga season, the 66th since its establishment, started on 31 August 1996 and finished on 23 June 1997. Four or five clubs were relegated to Segunda División at the end of the season as the number of clubs was reduced to 20 starting from the 1997–98 season. This was the last season played with 22 teams.

The 1995–96 La Liga season, the 65th since its establishment, started on September 2, 1995, and finished on May 26, 1996.

The 1997–98 Copa del Rey was the 96th staging of the Copa del Rey.

FC Barcelona did not repeat its successful season in 1998–99, and fell back to second in La Liga, as well as knocked out of the Champions League in the semi-finals.

The 1995–1996 campaign was the 90th season in Atlético Madrid's history and their 60th season in La Liga, the top division of Spanish football. The team won 'The Double' both La Liga and Copa del Rey in a great season for supporters.

The 1997–1998 campaign was the 92nd season in Atlético Madrid's history and their 63rd season in La Liga, the top division of Spanish football.

The 1997–98 season was the 96th season in Real Madrid CF's history and their 67th consecutive season in La Liga.

The 1998–1999 campaign was the 93rd season in Atlético Madrid's history and their 64th season in La Liga, the top division of Spanish football.

During the 1995–96 Spanish football season, Valencia CF competed in La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

The 1982–83 season was Atlético Madrid's 42nd season since foundation in 1903 and the club's 38th season in La Liga, the top league of Spanish football. Atlético competed in La Liga, and the Copa del Rey.

In the 1997–98 season Real Club Deportivo Mallorca competed in La Liga and Copa del Rey.

Celta Vigo contested La Liga and the Copa del Rey in the 1997–98 season. They placed 6th in La Liga, their best result since 1970–71. This qualified them for the 1998–99 UEFA Cup, which would be their first European participation for 27 years. They were eliminated in the Copa del Rey round of 16 by Real Mallorca.

The 1997–98 Real Sociedad season was the 88th season in the club's history and the 30th consecutive season in the top-flight of Spanish football league.

During the 1998–99 season, Deportivo de La Coruña competed in La Liga and Copa del Rey.

During the 1997–98 season, Betis competed in La Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

During the 1997–98 Spanish football season, Valencia CF competed in La Liga and Copa del Rey.

The 1999–2000 season was the 68th in the history of Real Zaragoza and their 22nd consecutive season in the second division. The club participated in the La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

The 1997–98 season was the 63rd season for Real Zaragoza in its history. The club competed in La Liga and Copa del Rey.

References

  1. "FootballSquads - Barcelona - 1997/98". Archived from the original on 2010-12-24. Retrieved 2013-07-10.