FC BARCELONA 2014/15 season review
For FC Barcelona - more than a club. Visca el Barรงa
In 2014/15 season FC Barcelona made a long and hard road to reach their dream and made history with second treble. Barรงa became the first team to do the treble twice by following the accompishment of Pep Guardiola's team in the 2008/09 season.
FC BARCELONA SQUAD 2014/15 Goalkeepers:
Marc-André Ter Stegen Claudio Bravo Jordi Masip
Defenders:
Martin Montoya Gerard Piqué Javier Mascherano Marc Bartra Douglas Pereira Jordi Alba Adriano Correia Dani Alves Thomas Vermaelen Jeremy Mathieu
Midfielders:
Ivan Rakitic Sergio Busquets Xavier Hernández Andrés Iniesta Rafinha Alcántara Sergi Roberto
Forwards:
Pedro Rodríguez Luis Suárez Lionel Messi Neymar Junior
Coach: Luis Enrique Martínez
AUGUST On 24 Augus Blaugrana started the season campaign with a 3-0 victory over Elche at the Camp Nou. On 31 August, Barcelona won their first away match at El Madrigal 0:1 versus Villarreal with the lone goal scored by Barรงa B forward Sandro.
SEPTEMBER On 17 September, Barcelona played their first match in the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League against Cyprus champions APOEL. It was the official debut of youngster Sergi Samper for the first team and the 300th match for Dani Alves at Barcelona. In the end of September, Barcelona played second Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes, Paris. It was the first defeat of the season.
OCTOBER On 4 October, Barcelona played against Rayo Vallecano at Campo de Vallecas. Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo made La Liga history by going 630 minutes without conceding a goal, surpassing former Barca goalkeeper Pedro Maria Artola’ record of 560 minutes, set in 1978. On 25 October, Barcelona played first El Clásico of the season at Santiago Bernabéu. This was the official debut match of star forward Luis Suárez due to his ban. Neymar gave Barcelona an early lead but Barcelona couldn't capitalize that. A penalty goal from Cristiano Ronaldo and goals from Pepe and Benzema forced them to a 3-1 defeat. This was the first defeat for Barcelona in 2014-15 season in La Liga. Claudio Bravo's clean sheet run ended at 754 minutes.
NOVEMBER Barcelona played against Celta Vigo and experienced first defeat of the season at Camp Nou. Barca played Champions league match against Ajax at Amsterdam Arenaan won the match by 2-0. On 8 November, Barcelona visited Juegos Mediterráneos to play against Almería. Barcelona earned a hard fought win which brought Barcelona back to second position in the table. After last international break of the year, Barca took on Sevilla at Camp Nou. Barcelona won by 5-1 with goals from Neymar and Rakitic and a hat-trick from Leo Messi. During the second goal of Leo Messi, he broke the record of Telmo Zarra to become the all-time top scorer of La Liga. On 25 November, Barca won by 4-0 goals against APOEL. Messi scored a hat-trick and Suárez got his first official goal for Barcelona. This hat-trick make Messi the all-time top scorer of UEFA Champions League surpassing Raul.
DECEMBER Barcelona played against Espanyol, the first Catalan Derby of 2014/15 La Liga at Camp Nou and won the match by 5-1. Barca played last match of 2014/15 UEFA Champions League group stage. The match was against Paris Saint-Germain at Camp Nou. The lead given by Ibrahimovi for PSG didn't lasted long as goals from Messi, Neymar and Suårez gave Barcelona 3-1 win. By this win Barcelona claimed the top spot of group F of 2014–15 UEFA Champions League.
JANUARY
Barcelona's new year started on 4 January with an away match against Real Sociedad at Anoeta Stadium. It was a disgraceful start for Barcelona as they lost the match by 1-0. On 5 January, Barcelona announced that they had terminated the contract of club's Director of Football, Andoni Zubizarreta. On the same day, Carles Puyol, the Assistant Director of Football quit the Barcelona job. Next day club president Josep Maria Bartomeu called for early presidential election at the end of the 2014-15 season. Barca played the last match of first half of La liga against Deportivo La CoruĂąa at Estadio Riazor and won the match by 4-0. After succesful games against Elche in Round of 16 of Copa del Rey, quarter-finals took place between Barcelona and AtlĂŠtico Madrid and ended with an aggregate win of 4-2. By this win, Barca are through to the semi-finals of Copa del Ray
FEBRUARY
Barcelona played against Villarreal in the first leg of semifinals of Copa del Rey at Camp Nou. Barcelona played match of La Liga against Levante at Camp Nou, it was Lionel Messi's 300 La Liga appearance. Barcelona won the match by 5-0 as Messi scored his 23rd La Liga hattrick, Neymar and Suรกrez scored one each. On 25 February, FC Barcelona flew to the Etihad Stadium of Manchester, England to play first leg of Round of 16 against Manchester City. Barca won the game by 2-1, thanks to a brace from Suรกrez.
MARCH Barcelona played the second leg of semi-finals of Copa del Rey against Villarreal at El Madrigal. Barรงa won the match by 3-1 and through to the final by 6-2 aggregate. On 8 March, Barรงa played match of La Liga against Rayo Vallecano at Camp Nou. Barรงa won the match by 6-1 as Messi scored his 24th La Liga hat-trick. By this hat-trick, Messi own the record of scoring highest number of hattricks in the history of La Liga. Barcelona climbed to the top position of La Liga table with this win. On 18 March, Barca took on Manchester City at Camp Nou for the second leg of Champions League round of 16. Barca won by 1-0 as the only goal was scored by Rakitic. As a result, Barcelona qualified for the quarter final of the champions league by a 3-1 aggregate score. The second El Clรกsico of La liga 2014-15 held on 22 March. Barcelona defeated their rivals by 2-1 at Camp Nou. This match gives Barca a four-point lead over Real Madrid.
APRIL On 18 April, Barca took on Valencia at Camp Nou. Barca won the match by 2-0 thanks to the opening goal by Suรกrez and the late goal by Messi in the injury time. This was the 400th goal of Messi for FC Barcelona. FC Barcelona -Paris Saint-Germain Champions League Quarter finals ended by a 5-1 aggregate score, as a result, Barcelona qualified for the semi final of the champions league. Barcelona reach Champions League semifinals for 7th time in the last 8 years.
MAY On 2 May, Barcelona took on Córdoba at Estadio Nuevo Arcángel. Barcelona won the match by 8-0 as Suárez scored his first hat-trick in La Liga, Messi scored twice and one goal each by Neymar, Rakitic & Piqué. On 6 May, Barcelona played the First Leg of Semi Finals of Champions League against FC Bayern Munich at Camp Nou. Barca won by 3-0 as Messi scored twice in three minutes and one goal by Neymar. On 12 May, Barcelona flew to Allianz Arena Stadium in Munich to play Second Leg of Semi Finals of Champions League against FC Bayern Munich. Neymar scored all the goals but Barca lost by 2-3. Despite losing, Barcelona won by 5-3 on aggregate and booked their place in the final of Champions League. On 17 May, Barcelona clinched their 23rd La Liga title after winning 1-0 against Atlético Madrid at Vicente Calderón. The only goal of Messi was enough to win the title. This was Barcelona's seventh La Liga title in the last ten years. On 30 May, Barca took on Athletic Bilbao to play final of Copa del Rey at Camp Nou. Barcelona won the match by 3-1 and they clinched their 27th title. Messi scored twice and other goal scored by Neymar
JUNE On 6 June, Barcelona played the UEFA Champions League Final, with an opportunity to complete the treble for the second time in 6 years, after having already won their domestic league and cup competitions. Barcelona clinched their 5th Champions League trophy, and 4th in the last 10 seasons, with a 1-3 victory over Italian side Juventus at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. Barcelona completed the historic treble with goals from Rakiti, Suรกrez, and Neymar. Barcelona became the only European club to have won the treble twice.
XAVI Xavi Hernández, a living legend, a hero of the més que un club, left FC Barcelona, the team has been played with for the last 17 seasons, 767 competitive matches at all, scored 85 goals. Xavi leaves his beloved club while holding the current record as the Spanish player with the greatest number of titles ever: 25. his extensive trophy collection also contains 8 Spanish league titles, 3 Copa del Reys, 6 Spanish Super Cups, 4 Champions League titles, 2 European Super Cups and 2 FIFA Club World Cups.
¡Gracias Xavi!
Som i serem.
· ¯ illustrated by Agne· Žiukaiteė