Parallels between FC Barcelona 2003 and FC Barcelona 2022
Remember the 2003/04 season? To refresh your memory, that was the one when Edgar Davids arrived mid-season, and had a similar effect to what’s happened to FC Barcelona this year since Ferran Torres, Dani Alves, Adama Traoré and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were added to the mix.
Like in 2003/04, the season got off to a substandard start, but ended with a remarkable upturn in fortunes. The climax came when a Xavi inspired team, in those days on the pitch and not the dugout, won the Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Winter changes
President Joan Laporta was another factor. 2003 was his first year in charge of the club, and the present season is his first one back in the position.
The tireless energy of Edgar Davids sparked a revolution under Frank Rijkaard. The Dutch midfielder produced wonders in liaison with Xavi Hernández and his countryman Philip Cocu.
Ferran, Alves, Adama and Aubameyang have all spurred the ailing fortunes of the 2022 team, including four-goal sprees against all of Atlético Madrid, Valencia, Napoli and Osasuna.
It’s not unlike the Davids-inspired turnaround in 2004, which included a 3-1 defeat of Atlético Madrid at Camp Nou and wins on the road at Valencia (1-0) and Real Madrid (2-1). In the latter of those games, a fabulous Xavi lon earned three spectacular points in ‘enemy territory’.
Like this season, that was also a campaign in which a number of youngsters were introduced to the senior team. Victor Valdés became the first-choice keeper, Oleguer and Puyol appeared in defence, Xavi masterminded the midfield, and Luis García bloomed in attack.
Gerard López, Gabri and Andrés Iniesta were also gaining prominence is a team surrounded by more established names of the ilk of Ronaldinho, Saviola, Rafa Marquez, Motta and Quaresma.
It is impossible not to draw comparison with the way Gavi, Nico, Adama, Eric, Jutglà an company are being blended into the mix together with the experience of Piqué, Busquets and Alba.
Closing in on Madrid
In 2004, Barça amassed an extraordinary run of 17 league games without defeat to fly up from a lowly 12th at the halfway stage of the tournament to ultimately finish in second.
Remarkably, Barça managed to make up a difference of no fewer than 18 points on Real Madrid, eventually finishing two points above them, although it wasn’t enough to catch Valencia, who lifted the trophy that year.
In 2003/04, Barça are 15 points short of Real Madrid, but do have a game in hand and the game at the Santiago Bernabéu on the horizon, this Sunday at 9.00pm CET. Potentially, therefore, the gap on the leaders could be closed to just nine points… Winning La Liga is clearly a VERY difficult challenge right now, but it’s by no means a total impossibility.
Europa League too
Back in 2003/04 Barça were competing in the UEFA Cup. The run ended at the quarter final stage against Glasgow Celtic and despite the massive improvement in performances, the Catalans ended the season empty-handed in terms of trophies.
In another curious parallel, in 2021/22 Barça are back in the tournament, albeit in a new guise as the Europa League, for the first time since a season that shares a number of curious parallels with the present one.