| 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 goalscorer | League:  Rivaldo (19) All: Rivaldo (28)  | ||
| 
 | |||
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.
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.
  | 
  | 
Transfers
Summer
Winter
| Name | Nationality | From/to | Type | 
|---|---|---|---|
| In | |||
| Winston Bogarde | AC Milan | ||
| Out | |||
| Christophe Dugarry | Marseille | ||
| Hristo Stoichkov | CSKA Sofia | ||
Competitions
La Liga
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barcelona (C) | 38 | 23 | 5 | 10 | 78 | 56 | +22 | 74 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage | 
| 2 | Athletic Bilbao | 38 | 17 | 14 | 7 | 52 | 42 | +10 | 65 | Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round | 
| 3 | Real Sociedad | 38 | 16 | 15 | 7 | 60 | 37 | +23 | 63[lower-alpha 1] | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round | 
| 4 | Real Madrid | 38 | 17 | 12 | 9 | 63 | 45 | +18 | 63[lower-alpha 1] | Qualification for the Champions League group stage[lower-alpha 2] | 
| 5 | Mallorca | 38 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 55 | 39 | +16 | 60[lower-alpha 3] | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[lower-alpha 4] | 
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 2 RMA 2–0 RSO; RSO 4–2 RMA
 - ↑ Real Madrid was qualified directly for the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League as holders.
 - ↑ MLL: 9 pts; CEL: 5 pts; ATM: 2 pts
 - ↑ 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
Matches
| 31 August 1997 1 | FC Barcelona | 3–0 | Real Sociedad | Barcelona | 
| Rivaldo  Giovanni  | 
Report | Stadium: Camp Nou | 
| 8 September 1997 2 | Valencia CF | 0–3 | FC Barcelona | Valencia | 
| Report | Anderson  Rivaldo de la Peña  | 
Stadium: Estadio Mestalla | 
| 13 September 1997 3 | FC Barcelona | 2–1 | Deportivo La Coruña | Barcelona | 
| Enrique  Anderson  | 
Report | Luizão  | 
Stadium: Camp Nou | 
| 27 September 1997 4 | Sporting de Gijón | 1–4 | FC Barcelona | Gijón | 
| Bango  | 
Report | Enrique  Rivaldo  | 
Stadium: Estadio El Molinon | 
| 5 October 1997 5 | FC Barcelona | 3–2 | CD Tenerife | Barcelona | 
| Óscar  Enrique  | 
Report | Juanele  Paz  | 
Stadium: Camp Nou | 
| 14 October 1997 6 | RCD Mallorca | 0–1 | FC Barcelona | Palma de Mallorca | 
| Report | Enrique  | 
Stadium: Estadio Son Moix | 
| 18 October 1997 7 | SD Compostela | 2–2 | FC Barcelona | Santiago de Compostela | 
| Penev  Nacho  | 
Report | Óscar  Rivaldo  | 
| 26 October 1997 8 | FC Barcelona | 2–0 | Racing de Santander | Barcelona | 
| Óscar  Enrique  | 
Report | Stadium: Camp Nou | 
| 1 November 1997 9 | Real Madrid | 2–3 | FC Barcelona | Madrid | 
| Raúl  Šuker  | 
Report | Rivaldo  Enrique Anderson  | 
Stadium: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu | 
| 9 November 1997 10 | FC Barcelona | 1–2 | Real Valladolid | Barcelona | 
| Pizzi  | 
Report | Eusebio  Peternac  | 
Stadium: Camp Nou | 
| 13 November 1997 11 | Athletic de Bilbao | 3–0 | FC Barcelona | Bilbao | 
| Ziganda  Alkiza Urzaiz  | 
Report | Stadium: Estadio San Mames | 
| 16 November 1997 12 | FC Barcelona | 3–2 | Celta de Vigo | Barcelona | 
| Eggen  Rivaldo Pizzi  | 
Report | Cadete  Sánchez  | 
Stadium: Camp Nou | 
| 22 November 1997 13 | Real Oviedo | 1–0 | FC Barcelona | Oviedo | 
| Pompei  | 
Report | Stadium: Estadio Carlos Tartiere | 
| 1 December 1997 14 | FC Barcelona | 3–1 | CP Mérida | Barcelona | 
| Anderson  Enrique Rivaldo  | 
Report | Sinval  | 
Stadium: Camp Nou | 
| 6 December 1997 15 | Real Zaragoza | 1–2 | FC Barcelona | Zaragoza | 
| Aragón  | 
Report | Barjuán  Rivaldo  | 
Stadium: Estadio La Romareda | 
| 13 December 1997 16 | FC Barcelona | 3–1 | RCD Espanyol | Barcelona | 
| Enrique  Giovanni Barjuán  | 
Report | Esnáider  | 
Stadium: Camp Nou | 
| 20 December 1997 18 | FC Barcelona | 3–1 | Atlético de Madrid | Barcelona | 
| Enrique  Giovanni  | 
Report | Roberto  | 
Stadium: Camp Nou | 
| 5 January 1998 19 | UD Salamanca | 4–3 | FC Barcelona | Salamanca | 
| Zegarra  Brito Silvani  | 
Report | Anderson  Enrique Giovanni  | 
| 11 January 1998 20 | Real Sociedad | 2–2 | FC Barcelona | San Sebastián | 
| Loren  de Paula  | 
Report | Enrique  Anderson  | 
Stadium: Estadio Anoeta | 
| 19 January 1998 21 | FC Barcelona | 3–4 | Valencia CF | Barcelona | 
| Enrique  Rivaldo Cáceres  | 
Report | Morigi  López Ortega  | 
Stadium: Camp Nou | 
| 25 January 1998 22 | Deportivo La Coruña | 3–1 | FC Barcelona | La Coruña | 
| Fran  Abreu Djalminha  | 
Report | Pizzi  | 
Stadium: Estadio Riazor | 
| 1 February 1998 23 | FC Barcelona | 2–1 | Sporting de Gijón | Barcelona | 
| Rivaldo  | 
Report | Cheryshev  | 
Stadium: Camp Nou | 
| 8 February 1998 24 | CD Tenerife | 1–1 | FC Barcelona | Santa Cruz de La Palma | 
| Jokanović  | 
Report | Rivaldo  | 
Stadium: Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez | 
| 15 February 1998 25 | FC Barcelona | 0–0 | RCD Mallorca | Barcelona | 
| Report | Stadium: Camp Nou | 
| 22 February 1998 26 | FC Barcelona | 2–0 | SD Compostela | Barcelona | 
| Figo  Enrique  | 
Report | Stadium: Camp Nou | 
| 2 March 1998 27 | Racing de Santander | 2–4 | FC Barcelona | Santander | 
| Correa  Alberto  | 
Report | Rivaldo  Anderson  | 
Stadium: Estadio El Sardinero | 
| 7 March 1998 28 | FC Barcelona | 3–0 | Real Madrid | Barcelona | 
| Anderson  Figo Giovanni  | 
Report | Stadium: Camp Nou | 
| 15 March 1998 29 | Real Valladolid | 1–2 | FC Barcelona | Valladolid | 
| Chema  | 
Report | Rivaldo  Figo  | 
Stadium: Estadio Jose Zorrilla | 
| 22 March 1998 30 | FC Barcelona | 4–0 | Athletic de Bilbao | Barcelona | 
| Giovanni  Anderson Óscar  | 
Report | Stadium: Camp Nou | 
| 29 March 1998 31 | Celta de Vigo | 3–1 | FC Barcelona | Vigo | 
| Revivo  Mostovoy Mazinho  | 
Report | Enrique  | 
Stadium: Estadio Balaídos | 
| 4 April 1998 32 | FC Barcelona | 2–1 | Real Oviedo | Barcelona | 
| Enrique  Bogarde  | 
Report | Bogarde  | 
Stadium: Camp Nou | 
| 7 April 1998 17 | Real Betis | 0–2 | FC Barcelona | Sevilla | 
| Report | Giovanni  Rivaldo  | 
Stadium: Estadio Benito Villamarin | 
| 18 April 1998 34 | FC Barcelona | 1–0 | Real Zaragoza | Barcelona | 
| Giovanni  | 
Report | Stadium: Camp Nou | 
| 25 April 1998 35 | RCD Espanyol | 1–1 | FC Barcelona | Barcelona | 
| Sergio  | 
Report | Figo  | 
Stadium: Lluys Company Montjuic | 
| 3 May 1998 36 | FC Barcelona | 1–3 | Real Betis | Barcelona | 
| Bogarde  | 
Report | Alfonso  George  | 
Stadium: Camp Nou | 
| 10 May 1998 37 | Atlético de Madrid | 5–2 | FC Barcelona | Madrid | 
| Paunović  Couto Vieri Caminero  | 
Report | Rivaldo  de la Peña  | 
Stadium: Estadio Vicente Calderón | 
| 15 May 1998 38 | FC Barcelona | 1–4 | UD Salamanca | Barcelona | 
| Jofre  | 
Report | Silvani  Pauleta Brito  | 
Stadium: Camp Nou | 
Copa del Rey
Eightfinals
| 15 January 1998 | FC Barcelona | 2–1 | Valencia CF | Barcelona | 
| 20:30 | Enrique  Rivaldo  | 
Gómez  | 
Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 55,000 Referee: Manuel Mejuto González  | 
| 22 January 1998 | Valencia CF | 1–3 | FC Barcelona | Valencia | 
| 20:30 | Angloma  | 
Rivaldo  Giovanni  | 
Stadium: Mestalla Stadium Attendance: 48,000 Referee: Antonio López Nieto  | 
Quarterfinals
| 5 February 1998 | FC Barcelona | 2–0 | CP Mérida | Barcelona | 
| 21:00 | Enrique  Figo  | 
Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Víctor Esquinas Torres  | 
| 11 February 1998 | CP Mérida | 0–3 | FC Barcelona | Mérida | 
| 21:00 | Barjuán  Rivaldo Ćirić  | 
Stadium: Estadio Romano Attendance: 15,000 Referee: José López De La Fuente  | 
Semifinals
| 18 February 1998 | FC Barcelona | 5–2 | Real Zaragoza | Barcelona | 
| 20:30 | Rivaldo  Giovanni Enrique  | 
Garitano  | 
Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 45,000 Referee: Antonio López Nieto  | 
| 26 February 1998 | Real Zaragoza | 0–0 | FC Barcelona | Zaragoza | 
| 21:00 | Stadium: La Romareda Attendance: 34,000 Referee: Manuel Díaz Vega  | 
Final
UEFA Champions League
Second qualifying round
| 13 August 1997 |  Barcelona  | 3–2 |   | Camp Nou, Barcelona | 
| 21:30 | Giovanni  Stoichkov  | 
Report | Babicevs  Abelardo  | 
Attendance: 50,000 Referee: Fernand Meese (Belgium)  | 
| 27 August 1997 |  Skonto  | 0–1 |   | Daugava Stadium, Riga | 
| 20:00 | Report | Anderson  | 
Attendance: 12,000 Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway)  | 
Group stage
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 6 | +7 | 11 | Advance to knockout stage | |
| 2 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 8 | +1 | 9 | ||
| 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 7 | ||
| 4 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 14 | −7 | 5 | 
| 17 September 1997 |  Newcastle United  | 3–2 |   | St James' Park, Newcastle | 
| 20:45 | Asprilla  | 
Report | Luis Enrique  Figo  | 
Attendance: 35,274 Referee: Pierluigi Collina (Italy)  | 
| 1 October 1997 |  Barcelona  | 2–2 |   | Camp Nou, Barcelona | 
| 20:45 | Luis Enrique  | 
Report | Cocu  Møller  | 
Attendance: 82,000 Referee: Hellmut Krug (Germany)  | 
| 22 October 1997 |  Dynamo Kyiv  | 3–0 |   | Olympic Stadium, Kyiv | 
| 20:45 | Rebrov  Maximov Kalitvintsev  | 
Report | Attendance: 100,000 Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)  | 
| 5 November 1997 |  Barcelona  | 0–4 |   | Camp Nou, Barcelona | 
| 20:45 | Report | Shevchenko  Rebrov  | 
Attendance: 52,200 Referee: Hugh Dallas (Scotland)  | 
| 26 November 1997 |  Barcelona  | 1–0 |   | Camp Nou, Barcelona | 
| 20:45 | Giovanni  | 
Report | Attendance: 26,000 Referee: Marc Batta (France)  | 
| 10 December 1997 |  PSV Eindhoven  | 2–2 |   | Philips Stadion, Eindhoven | 
| 20:45 | Abelardo  De Bilde  | 
Report | Abelardo  Giovanni  | 
Attendance: 29,400 Referee: Anders Frisk (Sweden)  | 
Supercopa de España
| 20 August 1997 | FC Barcelona | 2–1 | Real Madrid CF | Barcelona | 
| 21:30 | Nadal  Giovanni  | 
Raúl  | 
Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 120,000 Referee: Gracia Redondo  | 
| 23 August 1997 | Real Madrid CF | 4–1 | FC Barcelona | Madrid | 
| 22:00 | Raúl  Mijatović Seedorf  | 
Report | Giovanni  | 
Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu Attendance: 70,000 Referee: Dauden Ibáñez  | 
UEFA Super Cup
| 8 January 1998 | FC Barcelona | 2–0 | Borussia Dortmund | Barcelona | 
| 21:00 | Enrique  Rivaldo  | 
Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 50,000 Referee: David Elleray  | 
| 11 March 1998 | Borussia Dortmund | 1–1 | FC Barcelona | Dortmund | 
| 20:00 | Heinrich  | 
Report | Giovanni  | 
Stadium: Westfalenstadion Attendance: 32,500 Referee: Piero Ceccarini  | 
Friendlies
| GAMES | 
|---|
| 24-3-1998 COPA CATALUNYA LLEIDA-BARCELONA 1–2
 5-5-1998 COPA CATALUNYA BARCELONA-EUROPA 1–1 /3–4/ PENALTY 25-7-1997 FRIENDLY IF ELFSBORG-BARCELONA 0–3 3-8-1997 FRIENDLY AZ ALKMAAR-BARCELONA 1–2 6-8-1997 FRIENDLY FC TWENTE-BARCELONA 0–1 9-8-1997 FRIENDLY MALLORCA-BARCELONA 1-1 16-8-1997 Joan Gamper Trophy BARCELONA-SAMPDORIA 2–2 /6–5/ PENALTY 27-1-1998 FRIENDLY BARCELONA-PARTIZAN 1–0 12-5-1998 FRIENDLY BARCELONA-SOUTHAMPTON 4–0  | 
Statistics
Players statistics
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | La Liga | Copa del Rey | UEFA Champions League | Supercopa | UEFA Super Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 13 | GK | Hesp | 54 | -69 | 36 | -47 | 7 | -5 | 7 | -11 | 2 | -5 | 2 | -1 | |
| 22 | DF | Reiziger | 44 | 0 | 25+4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2 | DF | Ferrer | 38 | 0 | 21+3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4+2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 17 | DF | Bogarde | 24 | 2 | 19 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 12 | DF | Sergi | 47 | 3 | 31 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 10 | MF | Giovanni | 41 | 18 | 21+6 | 9 | 4+1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1+1 | 1 | |
| 26 | MF | Celades | 50 | 0 | 34+2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 21 | MF | Luis Enrique | 47 | 25 | 34 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| 7 | FW | Figo | 51 | 7 | 35 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 9 | FW | Anderson | 37 | 11 | 20+3 | 10 | 4+1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 11 | FW | Rivaldo | 51 | 28 | 34 | 19 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1 | GK | Baia | 3 | -12 | 2 | -8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | DF | Abelardo | 23 | 1 | 13+2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | |
| 4 | MF | Guardiola | 14 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | DF | Couto | 25 | 0 | 13+5 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | MF | Óscar | 23 | 5 | 11+5 | 5 | 3+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | |
| 8 | FW | Stoichkov | 6 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | |
| 14 | MF | Amunike | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 15 | FW | Dugarry | 13 | 0 | 4+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 16 | MF | Ciric | 35 | 1 | 6+15 | 0 | 1+2 | 1 | 5+3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | |
| 18 | MF | Amor | 33 | 0 | 10+12 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | |
| 19 | FW | Pizzi | 23 | 3 | 4+11 | 3 | 0+4 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 20 | DF | Nadal | 33 | 1 | 18+3 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 23 | MF | Iván de la Peña | 22 | 2 | 13+4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 25 | GK | Busquets | 2 | -2 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 27 | MF | Roger | 25 | 0 | 7+11 | 0 | 2+3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 28 | DF | Puyol | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 29 | MF | Xavi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 31 | MF | Rosas | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| 32 | MF | Jofre | 1 | 1 | 0+1 | 1 | |||||||||
- Source:
 
See also
References
- ↑ "FootballSquads - Barcelona - 1997/98". Archived from the original on 2010-12-24. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
 
External links
- FC Barcelona official website at the Library of Congress Web Archives (archived 2010-08-23)
 - FCBarcelonaweb.co.uk English Speaking FC Barcelona Supporters
 - ESPNsoccernet: Barcelona Team Page Archived 2012-05-07 at the Wayback Machine
 - FC Barcelona (Spain) profile
 - uefa.com - UEFA Champions League
 - Web Oficial de la Liga de Fútbol Profesional
 - FIFA.com at the Wayback Machine (archived 2011-12-25)
 - Federació Catalana de Futbol at the Wayback Machine (archived 2009-12-23)