'Barcelona are the best team in history' - Catalans still believing in Liga success on anniversary of 5-0 Clasico win over Real Madrid
Pep Guardiola's side are currently six points behind their fiercest foes in the Primera Division, but figures associated with the club are optimistic on a very special anniversary
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Editor
November 29, 2010 is a very special day in the history of FC Barcelona.The Catalan club celebrated its 111th birthday and did so in sumptuous style, with an incredible 5-0 win at home to RealMadrid in a Monday-night Clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid had travelled to Catalunya with renewed optimism following their impressive early-season form under Jose Mourinho, and even held a one-point lead going into the fixture.
But goals from Xavi, Pedro, David Villa [two] and Jeffren Suarez inflicted upon the Portuguese his worst-ever defeat. Indeed, in the second half, the Madrid coach didn't even bother to leave the bench.
"The defeat is easy to digest," Mourinho claimed afterwards, in what was one of his shortest press conferences since moving to Spain. For Madrid fans, though, it will have been hard to swallow.
The season ended with four more Clasico clashes in the space of 17 days and although Barcelona got the better of their rivals overall, by claiming La Liga and winning the sides' Champions League duel, Madrid claimed the Copa del Rey with a 1-0 extra-time win over Barca at Mestalla.
Five of the best | The Camp Nou scoreboard on the night of November 29, 2010
One year on, however, Los Blancos boast a six-point lead over the Catalans, after Pep Guardiola's side lost 1-0 at Getafe on Saturday night.Optimism is sky-high in the capital, but with 25 games still remaining in La Liga and a mouth-watering Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu to come in two weeks, Barca have reasons to believe, too, on their special anniversary.
"Many would hand the league over to Real Madrid now and they are letting off fireworks," Dani Alves said at a press conference on Sunday.
"But the challenge is exciting and it fascinates us. And luckily for us there is still a long way to go."
And Barca icon Johan Cruyff added at an event on the same day: "League titles are not decided in December. There are [still] five titles that the club [Barca] can win."
Barcelona vice-president, Josep Bartomeu, added: "We are the best team in history and we will keep working to improve, and demand even more from ourselves."
Guardiola, meanwhile, simply stated: "We will pick ourselves up. We have done well, but we have to do even better."
Barca will show a video montage of the 5-0 win ahead of tonight's rearranged Liga match at home to another capital club, Rayo Vallecano, which kicks off at 21.00CET.
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