No Pep, but no problem as Barca claw title back from Madrid

For the second straight season, La Liga’s champions broke the 100-point barrier, as Barcelona wrested the title back off holders Real Madrid.

It was a turbulent season for the Merengue, who after winning the Primera in spectacular fashion the previous term saw Jose Mourinho walk away from the Bernabeu at the end of the campaign amid reports of conflict in the dressing room with senior figures such as Iker Casillas.

Barca’s success, meanwhile, was bittersweet as coach Tito Vilanova battled on two fronts. Pep Guardiola’s successor was diagnosed with cancer in December 2012 but stayed in his post and delivered the Catalans’ best-ever points haul in a near-perfect season. Once more Lionel Messi proved vital to Barcelona’s efforts, as the Argentine continued to consolidate his position as the world’s finest player.

CHANGES

The previous season, Real Madrid stormed to the Spanish Primera Division trophy and broke the 100-point barrier for the first time in the competition’s history. Mourinho had finally got the better of Guardiola. His replacement ensured a seamless transition for Los Cules as Vilanova, his assistant, was given a promotion to the role of head coach. Mourinho and Madrid strengthened with a signing that would prove vital in their Champions League successes in subsequent years, with Luka Modric arriving from Tottenham. Barca, meanwhile, shrewdly acquired Jordi Alba and Alex Song. Deportivo, Celta, and Real Valladolid gained promotion from Segunda B to feature in the top tier this season.

SUMMARY

While Barcelona were rocked by the resignation of Guardiola, under his old assistant Vilanova the Catalans picked up exactly where they left off with the legendary treble winner. Having maintained the squad that Pep built based on the magic of La Masia, Vilanova added young Valencia full-back Alba and enjoyed a scintillating start to life on the bench.

The Blaugrana romped to victory in all but one of their games in the first half of the Liga season, a gripping 2-2…

Source link : https://www.footballcritic.com/season-reviews/no-pep-but-no-problem-as-barca-claw-title-back-from-madrid-la-liga-in-2012-13/72

Author : [email protected] (Dan Edwards)

Publish date : 2024-07-31 13:00:30

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