Ten years since historic sextuple
Copa del Rey, Liga, Champions League, Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup and to top it all off, the Clubs World Cup. It was Abu Dhabi, exactly ten years ago today, that Barça completed the most incredible year in its history, winning all six possible trophies. No other team has ever done that.
11 year cup drought ends
The first title that magical 2009 was the Copa del Rey. Barça beat Benidorm, Atlético Madrid, Espanyol and Mallorca en route to the final against Athletic Club, where they bounced back from a goal down wo win 4-1 through Yaya Touré, Messi, Bojan and Xavi, the club’s 25th cup victory, and the first since 1998.
Liga 19
Guardiola’s first season on the Barça bench began awfully, with 1-0 defeat at Numancia and a 1-1 draw with Racing Santander. But they followed that with 21 consecutive games unbeaten and the relentless march towards the title included the famous 6-2 triumph at the Santiago Bernabéu. After three years without winning any of the major competitions, Barça had completed the domestic double.
Roman conquest
After being crowed European champions in 1992 and 2006, Barça won the trophy for the third time with a 2-0 win over Manchester United, the goals coming from Eto'o and Messi. The road to Rome had involved beating Sporting Lisbon, Shakhtar Donetsk and Basel in the group stage, then Olympique Lyon, Bayern Munich and Chelsea in the knockout rounds, including the legendary Andrés Iniesta goal at Stamford Bridge.
More silverware in new season
Following the summer break, Barça were back with a Spanish Super Cup victory against Athletic Club. As in the cup final, the Basques took the early lead, but Xavi and Pedro scored to set up a second leg at Camp Nou that saw two goals from Messi and one from Bojan clinch the fourth trophy of 2009.
Pedro in extra time
Just five days later the European Super Cup was added to the collection with a victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in Monaco. A tight encounter was heading for penalties before substitute Pedro Rodríguez grabbed a winner with just five minutes left.
Champions of the world
Barça had never won the Clubs World Cup in any of its various guises, but that was the final challenge to complete the unprecedented full house. After seeing of Mexican side Atlante in the semi-final, Argentine Club Estudiantes de la Plata were the opposition in the final. Barça were headed for defeat, but again it was Pedro who came to the late rescue to send the game into overtime. With ten minutes left, Messi scored with his chest, with the Barça badge, to win an incredible sixth major trophy in 2009. The greatest year in FC Barcelona history!