| 1996–97 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Josep Lluís Núñez | ||
| Head Coach | Bobby Robson | ||
| Stadium | Camp Nou | ||
| La Liga | Runners-up (inUEFA Champions League) | ||
| Copa del Rey | Winners | ||
| Supercopa de España | Winners | ||
| UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | Winners | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Ronaldo (34) All: Ronaldo (47) | ||
The1996–97 season wasFC Barcelona's 98th season in existence and 68th consecutive season in the top flight of Spanish football,La Liga.
Before being dismissed by the club as head coach in May 1996,Johan Cruyff sought to reinforce the club for the upcoming season. While bids forZinedine Zidane,David Ginola,Ryan Giggs,Aron Winter, and goalkeeperJosé Francisco Molina all proved unsuccessful,Laurent Blanc,Juan Antonio Pizzi andLuis Enrique did join the club.
The team enjoyed a decent season, winning bothCopa del Rey andUEFA Cup Winners' Cup, but extended its run without winning the league title to three years, coming second toReal Madrid. The season's end saw major departures:Bobby Robson was replaced as coach byLouis Van Gaal andRonaldo, the club's top scorer with 47 goals, made a surprise switch toInter Milan.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| In | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | from | Type |
| FW | Ronaldo | PSV Eindhoven | U$20,0million[4] |
| DF | Laurent Blanc | AJ Auxerre | free |
| MF | Luis Enrique | Real Madrid | free |
| FW | Juan Antonio Pizzi | CD Tenerife | free |
| FW | Hristo Stoichkov | Parma | €2.4 million |
| MF | Goran Vucevic | CP Merida | loan ended |
| MF | Giovanni | Santos FC | €5.5 million |
| GK | Vítor Baía | FC Porto | €6.5 million |
| DF | Fernando Couto | Parma FC | €5.5 million |
| Out | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | To | Type |
| FW | Jordi Cruyff | Manchester United | - |
| MF | Gheorghe Hagi | Galatasaray SK | - |
| FW | Meho Kodro | CD Tenerife | - |
| MF | Juan Carlos Moreno | Albacete Balompié | - |
| DF | Thomas Christiansen | Real Oviedo | - |
| MF | Toni Velamazán | Real Oviedo | - |
| DF | García Pimienta | CF Extremadura | - |
| In | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | from | Type |
| MF | Emmanuel Amunike | Sporting Lisboa | €3.0 million |
| Out | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | To | Type |
| FW | Robert Prosinecki | Sevilla CF | - |
| MF | Jose Mari Bakero | CD Veracruz | - |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid(C) | 42 | 27 | 11 | 4 | 85 | 36 | +49 | 92 | Qualification for theChampions League group stage |
| 2 | Barcelona | 42 | 28 | 6 | 8 | 102 | 48 | +54 | 90 | Qualification for theChampions League second qualifying round |
| 3 | Deportivo La Coruña | 42 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 57 | 30 | +27 | 77[a] | Qualification for theUEFA Cup first round |
| 4 | Real Betis | 42 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 81 | 46 | +35 | 77[a] | Qualification for theCup Winners' Cup first round[b] |
| 5 | Atlético Madrid | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 76 | 64 | +12 | 71 | Qualification for theUEFA Cup first round |
| 1 September 1996 (1996-09-01)1 | Oviedo | 2–4 | FC Barcelona | Oviedo |
| Oli Barjuán | Report | Stadium:Carlos Tartiere Attendance: 21,000 Referee: Barrenechea Montero |
| 7 September 1996 (1996-09-07)2 | FC Barcelona | 2–1 | RCD Espanyol | Barcelona |
| Giovanni Pizzi | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 90,000 Referee: Megia Davila |
| 15 September 1996 (1996-09-15)3 | Racing | 1–1 | FC Barcelona | Santander |
| Correa | Report | Stadium:Estadio El Sardinero Attendance: 21,000 Referee: Esquinas Torres |
| 22 September 1996 (1996-09-22)4 | FC Barcelona | 3–2 | Real Sociedad | Barcelona |
| Ronaldo Pizzi Ronaldo | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 80,000 |
| 29 September 1996 (1996-09-29)5 | Real Zaragoza | 3–5 | FC Barcelona | Zaragoza |
| Poyet Enrique López | Report | Stadium:La Romareda Attendance: 34,000 Referee: Mejuto Gonzalez |
| 2 October 1996 (1996-10-02)6 | FC Barcelona | 1–1 | Tenerife | Barcelona |
| Popescu | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 60,000 Referee: Ansuategui Roca |
| 12 October 1996 (1996-10-12)7 | SD Compostela | 1–5 | FC Barcelona | Santiago de Compostela |
| Ohen | Report | Stadium:San Lázaro Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Esquinas Torres |
| 20 October 1996 (1996-10-20)8 | FC Barcelona | 8–0 | CD Logroñés | Barcelona |
| Stoichkov Giovanni Ronaldo Giovanni Stoichkov Clotet Pizzi Ronaldo | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 90,000 Referee: Brito Arceo |
| 23 October 1996 (1996-10-23)9 | Sevilla FC | 0–1 | FC Barcelona | Sevilla |
| Report | Stadium:Sánchez Pizjuán Attendance: 60,000 |
| 25 October 1996 (1996-10-25)10 | FC Barcelona | 3–2 | Valencia | Barcelona |
| Ronaldo Ronaldo Ronaldo | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 90,000 Referee: Japon Sevilla |
| 4 November 1996 (1996-11-04)11 | Sporting de Gijón | 0–0 | FC Barcelona | Gijón |
| Report | Stadium:El Molinón Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Andradas Asurmendi |
| 9 November 1996 (1996-11-09)12 | FC Barcelona | 3–3 | Atlético de Madrid | Barcelona |
| Pizzi Luis Enrique Giovanni | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 95,000 Referee: Dauden Ibañez |
| 18 November 1996 (1996-11-18)13 | FC Barcelona | 6–1 | Real Valladolid | Barcelona |
| Popescu Ronaldo Luis Enrique Bakero Figo Roger | Report | Peternac | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 80,000 Referee: Nuñez Manrique |
| 23 November 1996 (1996-11-23)14 | Athletic de Bilbao | 2–1 | FC Barcelona | Bilbao |
| Jose Mari Guerrero Korino Alkiza | Report | Stadium:San Mamés Referee: Hernanz Angulo |
| 2 December 1996 (1996-12-02)15 | FC Barcelona | 3–0 | CF Extremadura | Barcelona |
| Giovanni Popescu Juanito | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 70,000 Referee: Lopez de la Fuente |
| 7 December 1996 (1996-12-07)16 | Real Madrid | 2–0 | FC Barcelona | Madrid |
| Šuker Mijatović | Report | Stadium:Estadio Santiago Bernabéu Attendance: 106,000 Referee: Juan Manuel Brito Arcero |
| 22 December 1996 (1996-12-22)17 | FC Barcelona | 1–0 | RC Celta | Barcelona |
| Nadal | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 80,000 |
| 4 January 1997 (1997-01-04)18 | Deportivo La Coruña | 0–1 | FC Barcelona | La Coruña |
| Report | Stadium:Riazor Attendance: 35,000 |
| 13 January 1997 (1997-01-13)19 | FC Barcelona | 2–3 | Hércules CF | Barcelona |
| Luis Enrique Ronaldo | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 75,000 Referee: Losantos Omar |
| 19 January 1997 (1997-01-19)20 | Real Betis | 2–4 | FC Barcelona | Sevilla |
| Jarni Sergi Barjuán | Report | Stadium:Benito Villamarin Attendance: 45,000 Referee: Puentes Leiria |
| 26 January 1997 (1997-01-26)21 | FC Barcelona | 6–0 | Rayo Vallecano | Barcelona |
| Luis Enrique Sergi Barjuán Contreras Ronaldo Ronaldo Pizzi | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 80,000 Referee: Carmona Mendez |
| 2 February 1997 (1997-02-02)22 | FC Barcelona | 2–2 | Real Oviedo | Barcelona |
| Pizzi Ronaldo | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 85,000 |
| 9 February 1997 (1997-02-09)23 | RCD Espanyol | 2–0 | FC Barcelona | Barcelona |
| Răducioiu Răducioiu | Report | Stadium:Sarrià Attendance: 30,000 |
| 16 February 1997 (1997-02-16)24 | FC Barcelona | 1–0 | Racing de Santander | Barcelona |
| Luis Enrique | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 90,000 |
| 20 February 1997 (1997-02-20)25 | Real Sociedad | 2–0 | FC Barcelona | San Sebastián |
| de Pedro de Pedro | Report | Stadium:Anoeta Attendance: 29,000 |
| 23 February 1997 (1997-02-23)26 | FC Barcelona | 4–1 | Real Zaragoza | Barcelona |
| Abelardo Ronaldo Ronaldo Ronaldo | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 90,000 |
| 1 March 1997 (1997-03-01)27 | CD Tenerife | 4–0 | FC Barcelona | Santa Cruz de Tenerife |
| Felipe Jokanović Jokanović Jokanović Cesar Gomez | Report | Stadium:Heliodoro Rodríguez López Attendance: 23,000 Referee: Carmona Mendez |
| 9 March 1997 (1997-03-09)28 | FC Barcelona | 3–0 | Compostela | Barcelona |
| Blanc Stoichkov Ronaldo | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 85,000 |
| 16 March 1997 (1997-03-16)29 | CD Logroñés | 0–1 | FC Barcelona | Logroño |
| Report | Amunike | Stadium:Las Gaunas Attendance: 16,000 Referee: Mejuto Gonzalez |
| 23 March 1997 (1997-03-23)30 | FC Barcelona | 4–0 | Sevilla CF | Barcelona |
| Óscar Ronaldo Pizzi Enrique | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 80,000 |
| 30 March 1997 (1997-03-30)31 | Valencia CF | 1–1 | FC Barcelona | Valencia |
| Machado | Report | Ronaldo | Stadium:Mestalla Attendance: 45,000 |
| 6 April 1997 (1997-04-06)32 | FC Barcelona | 4–0 | Sporting de Gijón | Barcelona |
| Giovanni de la Peña Ronaldo Pizzi | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 90,000 |
| 13 April 1997 (1997-04-13)33 | Atlético de Madrid | 2–5 | FC Barcelona | Madrid |
| Kiko Kiko | Report | Stadium:Vicente Calderon Attendance: 52,000 Referee: Dauden Ibañez |
| 16 April 1997 (1997-04-16)34 | Real Valladolid | 3–1 | FC Barcelona | Valladolid |
| Fernando Víctor Víctor | Report | Stadium:José Zorrilla Attendance: 36,000 |
| 20 April 1997 (1997-04-20)35 | FC Barcelona | 2–0 | Athletic de Bilbao | Barcelona |
| Abelardo Ronaldo | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 65,000 Referee: Puentes Leira |
| 5 May 1997 (1997-05-05)36 | CF Extremadura | 1–3 | FC Barcelona | Almendralejo |
| Silvani | Report | Luis Enrique | Stadium:de la Hera Attendance: 12,000 |
| 10 May 1997 (1997-05-10)37 | FC Barcelona | 1–0 | Real Madrid CF | Barcelona |
| Ronaldo | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 105,000 Referee: Rodriguez Martel |
| 19 May 1997 (1997-05-19)38 | RC Celta de Vigo | 1–3 | FC Barcelona | Vigo |
| Revivo | Report | Stadium:Balaidos Attendance: 30,000 |
| 24 May 1997 (1997-05-24)39 | FC Barcelona | 1–0 | Deportivo La Coruña | Barcelona |
| Ronaldo | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 90,000 |
| 1 June 1997 (1997-06-01)40 | Hércules CF | 2–1 | FC Barcelona | Alicante |
| Paquito Pavličić | Report | Stadium:Estadio José Rico Perez Attendance: 30,000 Referee: Losantos Omar |
| 15 June 1997 (1997-06-15)41 | FC Barcelona | 3–0 | Real Betis | Barcelona |
| Óscar Stoichkov Luis Enrique | Report | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 70,000 |
| 22 June 1997 (1997-06-22)42 | Rayo Vallecano | 1–2 | FC Barcelona | Madrid |
| Klimowicz | Report | Stadium:Vallecas Attendance: 12,000 Referee: Fernandez Marin |
| 30 January 1997 (1997-01-30) | FC Barcelona | 3–2 | Real Madrid | Barcelona |
| 21:30 | Ronaldo Nadal Giovanni Amunike Figo Ronaldo | Report | Šuker Hierro | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 95,000 Referee: Lopez Nieto |
| 6 February 1997 (1997-02-06) | Real Madrid | 1–1 | FC Barcelona | Madrid |
| 21:00 | Šuker | Report | Stadium:Estadio Santiago Bernabéu Attendance: 110,000 Referee: Díaz Vega |
| 26 February 1997 (1997-02-26) | Atlético de Madrid | 2–2 | FC Barcelona | Madrid |
| 22:00 | Caminero Kiko | Stadium:Estadio Vicente Calderón Attendance: 45,000 Referee: Mejuto González |
| 12 March 1997 (1997-03-12) | FC Barcelona | 5–4 | Atlético de Madrid | Barcelona |
| 21:30 | Ronaldo Ronaldo Figo Ronaldo Pizzi Popescu Sergi Figo | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 90,000 Referee: Gracia Redondo |
| 26 March 1997 (1997-03-26) | UD Las Palmas | 0–4 | FC Barcelona | Las Palmas |
| 22:00 | Stadium:Estadio Insular Attendance: 23,000 Referee: Diaz Vega |
| 3 April 1997 (1997-04-03) | FC Barcelona | 3–0 | UD Las Palmas | Barcelona |
| Óscar Luis Enrique Couto | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 35,000 Referee: Ansuategui Roca |
| 28 June 1997 (1997-06-28) | FC Barcelona | 3–2 | Real Betis | Madrid |
| 21:00MET | Figo Pizzi Figo Figo De La Peña | Alfonso Finidi | Stadium:Santiago Bernabéu Attendance: 82,498 Referee: Ansuategui Roca |
| 25 August 1996 (1996-08-25) | FC Barcelona | 5–2 | Atlético de Madrid | Barcelona |
| 21:30 | Ronaldo Popescu Giovanni Figo Guardiola Pizzi de la Peña Luis Enrique Ronaldo | Report | Stadium:Olímpic Attendance: 37,500 Referee: Fernandez Marin |
| 28 August 1996 (1996-08-28) | Atlético de Madrid | 3–1 | FC Barcelona | Madrid |
| 22:00 | Sergi Barjuan Lopez Pantic Esnáider Bejbl Pantic | Report | Stadium:La Peineta Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Ansuategui Roca |
| 12 September 1996 (1996-09-12) | FC Barcelona | 2–0 | Barcelona | |
| 21:30 | Ronaldo Figo Ronaldo | Report | Stadium:Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc Attendance: 35,000 Referee: |
| 26 September 1996 (1996-09-26) | AEK Larnaca | 0–0 | Larnaca | |
| Misos | Report | Stadium:GSZ Stadium Attendance: 6,000 Referee: |
| 17 October 1996 (1996-10-17) | FC Barcelona | 3–1 | Barcelona | |
| Giovanni Giovanni Figo | Report | Zivkovic | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 73,000 Referee: |
| 31 October 1996 (1996-10-31) | FK Crvena Zvezda | 1–1 | Belgrade | |
| 20:30 | Jovicic | Report | Giovanni | Stadium:Rajko Mitic Stadium Attendance: 44,694 Referee: |
| 6 March 1997 (1997-03-06) | FC Barcelona | 3–1 | Barcelona | |
| 21:00 | Popescu Ronaldo Pizzi Blanc | Report | Simpson | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 45,000 Referee: |
| 20 March 1997 (1997-03-20) | AIK | 1–1 | Solna | |
| Simpson | Report | Ronaldo | Stadium:Rasunda Stadium Attendance: 35 049 Referee: |
| 10 April 1997 (1997-04-10) | FC Barcelona | 1–1 | Barcelona | |
| 21:30 | Nadal | Report | Batistuta | Stadium:Camp Nou Attendance: 105 000 Referee: |
| 24 April 1997 (1997-04-24) | ACF Fiorentina | 0–2 | Firenze | |
| 20:45 | Report | Stadium:Artemio Franchi Attendance: 43 600 Referee: |
| 14 May 1997 (1997-05-14) | FC Barcelona | 1–0 | Rotterdam | |
| 20:30 | Ronaldo Couto de la Peña | Report | Fournier Le Guen Cauet | Stadium:Feijenoord Stadion Attendance: 36,802 Referee: |
| 29 July 1996 | Sparta Nijkerk | 0-4 | FC Barcelona |
| 30 July 1996 | De Graafschap | 1-2 | FC Barcelona |
| 1 August 1996 | ADO Den Haag | 1-0 | FC Barcelona |
| 3 August 1996 | SC Heerenveen | 5-3 | FC Barcelona |
| 9 August 1996Antena 3 Trophy | Atletico Madrid | 1-2 | FC Barcelona |
| 11 August 1996ANTENA 3 TROPHY | Real Betis | 1-1 | FC Barcelona |
| 16 August 1996CITY OF PALMA TROPHY | RCD Mallorca | 1-3 | FC Barcelona |
| 18 August 1996CITY OF PALMA TROPHY | Atletico Madrid | 1-0 | } FC Barcelona |
| 20 August 1996Joan Gamper Trophy | FC Barcelona | 2-0 | San Lorenzo de Almagro | |
| Giovanni Pizzi | Report |
| 21 August 1996Joan Gamper Trophy | FC Barcelona | 2-1 | Inter | |
| Guardiola Pizzi | Report | Ganz |
| 23 August 1996 | ŠK Slovan Bratislava | 2-1 | FC Barcelona |
| 26 November 1996 | Celtic F.C. | 0-1 | FC Barcelona |
| 21 January 1997 | Standard Liège | 2-2 (4-2p) | FC Barcelona |
| 28 May 1997Copa Catalunya | Tarragona | 1-3 | FC Barcelona |
| 28 May 1997Copa Catalunya | FC Barcelona | 5-0 | Mataró |
| 10 June 1997Copa Catalunya | Europa | 3-1 | FC Barcelona |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | La Liga | Copa del Rey | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 1 | GK | Baia | 50 | -58 | 37 | -43 | 5 | -11 | 8 | -4 | |
| 2 | DF | Ferrer | 28 | 0 | 16+2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 20 | DF | Nadal | 38 | 2 | 25+2 | 1 | 4+2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| 15 | DF | Blanc | 37 | 1 | 25+3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 12 | DF | Sergi | 47 | 1 | 34 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 5 | DM | Popescu | 42 | 5 | 26+3 | 4 | 4+1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | |
| 4 | DM | Guardiola | 51 | 1 | 38 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 | 6+1 | 1 | |
| 7 | MF | Figo | 49 | 8 | 34+2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 1 | |
| 10 | MF | Giovanni | 43 | 11 | 24+6 | 7 | 1+4 | 1 | 6+2 | 3 | |
| 21 | MF | Luis Enrique | 49 | 18 | 35 | 17 | 6+1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | |
| 9 | FW | Ronaldo | 48 | 45 | 37 | 34 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 5 | |
| 13 | GK | Busquets | 7 | -3 | 4 | -2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | -1 | |
| 24 | DF | Couto | 35 | 2 | 23+3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | |
| 3 | DF | Abelardo | 30 | 3 | 19+2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 | |
| 23 | AM | De la Peña | 42 | 3 | 17+16 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4+2 | 0 | |
| 8 | FW | Stoichkov | 33 | 7 | 13+9 | 7 | 3+1 | 0 | 5+2 | 0 | |
| 27 | MF | Roger | 21 | 2 | 12+4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | |
| 17 | MF | Amunike | 22 | 1 | 11+8 | 1 | 1+2 | 0 | |||
| 18 | MF | Amor | 35 | 0 | 10+16 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2+4 | 0 | |
| 16 | MF | Óscar | 18 | 5 | 6+8 | 4 | 1+3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | FW | Cuellar | 11 | 0 | 6+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | |
| 19 | FW | Pizzi | 47 | 15 | 5+28 | 9 | 5+2 | 5 | 2+5 | 1 | |
| 26 | MF | Celades | 6 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 6 | MF | Bakero | 5 | 1 | 1+3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | |
| 28 | GK | Arnau | 1 | -3 | 1 | -3 | |||||
| 22 | MF | Prosinečki | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | |
| 25 | GK | Lopetegui | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |