Raul and Real retain as Ronaldinho era ends at Barca

Real Madrid’s winning run in La Liga continued as the Merengue retained their title with ease. It was the first time the club had achieved that feat since 1990, when a mythical team containing legends Emilio Butragueño, Michel and Manolo Sanchis won the last of their five straight crowns in a period of total domination.

While the Santiago Bernabeu was in raptures, storm clouds were settling over Camp Nou. Barcelona were in transition and failed even to make the top two, conceding the runners-up spot to swashbuckling Villarreal. It would prove to be Frank Rijkaard’s final season on the bench, as at the end of the year he stepped aside to give an opportunity to a Barcelona B coach by the name of Josep Guardiola.

CHANGES

As with most seasons, the elite clubs in the Spanish Primera Division flexed their financial muscle during the summer transfer window. Real Madrid acquired the Dutch duo of Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben and also solidified their defence with Pepe from Porto and Gabriel Heinze from Manchester United. In what was probably the most eagerly-anticipated transfer of the summer, legendary Arsenal striker Thierry Henry joined Barcelona to join an already star-studded forward line, while Yaya Toure also arrived from Monaco. Some of the most impressive business of the window was conducted by Atletico Madrid, as although they allowed Fernando Torres to join Liverpool, they shrewdly spent the funds on Diego Forlan, Simao, Raul Garcia, and Jose Antonio Reyes. Real Valladolid, Almeria, and Real Murcia joined La Liga from the Segunda.

SUMMARY

Despite taking La Liga in his debut season, Fabio Capello’s efforts were deemed insufficient for those in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Italian was summarily dismissed from his post once the title was in the bag (just months later he would take the reins with England) and in came former Barca, Madrid and Germany star Bernd Schuster, his first taste of life on the bench with one of Europe’s elite having previously…

Source link : https://www.footballcritic.com/season-reviews/raul-and-real-retain-as-ronaldinho-era-ends-at-barca-la-liga-in-2007-08/77

Author : [email protected] (Dan Edwards)

Publish date : 2024-07-27 12:00:00

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