30 years since the first 'Tenerife' league
Today is Tuesday 7 June, and marks the thirtieth anniversary of one of the most epic Liga victories in FC Barcelona history, the first of two consecutive ‘Tenerife’ leagues that ended in oddly similar circumstances.
It was the 1991/92 season, and although Barça had just won their first European Cup, the domestic title was looking to be headed to Real Madrid, who were going into the final game with a one-point lead over Barça.
They were playing away to Tenerife on the final day, while the Catalans were at home to Athletic Club. Hristo Stoichkov put Barça into an early lead, but it looked like it would be all in vain, as Madrid were winning 2-1 in the Canary Islands.
Another Stoichkov goal meant it was as good as game over at Camp Nou, but in the other game Tenerife were now playing with ten men after Villarrolla was sent off. Barça needed a miracle. And it happened.
With 13 minutes left to play, Tenerife were suddenly pulled level when Ricardo Rocha put the ball in his own net. Moments later they scored again.
The game over at Camp Nou, everyone had their ears pegged to radios waiting to see if Tenerife could hold on. Once the 3-2 win for Tenerife had been confirmed, the stadium, the city and all of Catalonia went crazy. What a way to win the title.
The incredible thing is that a year later, the almost exact same thing happened, with Real Madrid again losing to Tenerife on the final day and allowing Barça to win the trophy. And the season after that, Barça were also crowned champions thanks to the leaders, in that case Deportivo, failing to win their last fixture.
