Ranking Barcelona’s seasons over the last decade

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Treble win is hard to beat

It’s hard to disagree that the last 10 years have been amongst the best in Barcelona’s history.

The seasons from 2009/10 to 2019/20 should be christened the ‘Messi era,’ but there has been much to admire, and not just from Leo.

I’m going to attempt to rank those 10 campaigns from best to worst, and yes, there will be things I’ve missed, but you’d be reading for days otherwise...!

2014/15

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The second treble in the club’s history, making them the only side to do so.

MSN. Three letters to strike fear into any defence. 122 goals between them, the most in Spanish football history.

Luis Enrique and his mentality, which eventually won over the squad and the fans, deserves endless plaudits.

Moment of the season? Undoubtedly Messi’s Copa del Rey final dribble against Athletic Club.

2010/11

One game away from another treble. This season was almost footballing perfection. Almost. Some of the performances within it were perfect, however.

How can we forget the 5-0 against Real Madrid, or the Champions League final at Wembley when ever Sir Alex said he’d never been on the end of a beating like Barca handed out that balmy May evening.

Knocking out Real Madrid in the semis with that exquisite Messi finish takes some beating, as does seeing Messi, Xavi and Iniesta making up the Ballon d’Or top three.

2011/12

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The first season of Qatar Foundation on the shirts. Yuck.

Pep’s last season, and finishing nine points off the pace behind Real Madrid wasn’t the way for him to bow out.

His final game at Camp Nou, with a four-goal Messi blast v Espanyol, and the hug afterwards. Man, still gets me even now.

Seventy three goals for Leo in the season, an all-time record. 73!!!

A 4-0 Club World Cup final win over Neymar’s Santos, a 9-0 win over L’Hospitalet in the Copa del Rey and a 7-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League with Messi grabbing five.

Fernando Torres breaking our hearts.

2012/13

Tito’s title. 100 points and 115 goals. Despite a relapse and Jordi Roura taking over the side, Tito returned to lead the Blaugranes to the title with a record points total for the club.

Eric Abidal returns after his liver transplant.

Losing at Celtic 2-1 despite having 86 percent possession!

Messi gets the record for most goals in a calendar year after his two goals against Betis.

2016/17

The Remuntada. Surely the most incredible game that Barcelona will ever be involved in. Too many pivotal moments to mention, but Camp Nou at its noisiest and best still gives me goosebumps

An injury-time penalty at Mestalla to settle a five-goal thriller, Messi’s 500th at the Santiago Bernabeu and a Copa final win for Luis Enrique on his final game in charge.

2017/18

Although this will have Roma written all over it for some, I prefer to look at the season as a whole, rather than concentrate on that one match.

This was a season where we came within 90 minutes of going a whole LaLiga season unbeaten. Losing the penultimate match was cruel, though a mid-season friendly in South Africa could be blamed.

Ernesto Valverde or not, it was pretty special, whichever way you look at it.

Neymar leaving for €222m was seismic, but not unexpected, and it was also the season of the behind closed doors game v Las Palmas.

Dembele in.

The 5-0 Copa del Rey final win against Sevilla, in what was one of Andres Iniesta’s last games for the club, was one of the best performances of the season.

2009/10

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The season Zlatan came to town. Not yet a lion, more a cub.

Winners of the UEFA Super Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup and the Supercopa de Espana, meaning an unprecedented sextuple was achieved.

Another LaLiga title to boot, with just one loss all season, on match day 22 v Atletico Madrid.

Losing to Rubin Kazan in the Champions League group stage, and Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan in the semi-finals, despite a legitimate late goal that would’ve sent Barca through but was ultimately ruled out, sparking a finger-waving Special One whirling across the Camp Nou pitch and earning the wrath of Victor Valdes.

2015/16

A 4-0 win at Real Madrid was the beginning of the end for Rafa Benitez, and a month later a third Club World Cup title was in the bag after beating River Plate in the final 3-0.

Messi’s record fifth Ballon d’Or, Real Madrid end our run of 39 unbeaten matches, and another Copa del Rey title.

2018/19

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Strange to have a double-winning season so low down the pecking order, but the manner in which the campaign finished will leave a sour taste in the mouth for a long, long time.

Lessons from Roma were not learned, and Liverpool away was an abject performance. Liverpool at home saw the goal of the UCL season, and were it not for a Dembele miss with the last kick, who knows what might’ve happened.

A 5-1 against Real Madrid, 4-2 win away against Tottenham and 4-0 at Espanyol were some highlights. Knocking Real out in the cup semi-finals was soon forgotten after the loss to Valencia in the final.

2013/14

The introduction of the Senyera away kit was a nice touch, but it was a pretty dismal campaign.

Tata Martino wasn’t the most inspired choice of coach, and despite starting well, he quickly ran out of ideas.

Losing the league at home on the last day summed up the season.

The season when Josep Maria Bartomeu took over the presidency from Sandro Rosell and when Barca received their transfer ban (deferred).

A 4-3 win at the Santiago Bernabeu, which included a Messi hat-trick, was a rare highlight.

2019/20

Partly because we’re yet to really finish the season, though the way it’s looking it’s hardly likely to continue... but where do we even start.

The worst opening to a campaign in 25 years, Valverde’s sacking and Setien’s appointment, both of which were hugely unprofessional.

Continuing poor performances, social media scandals, apologies from coaches for belittling the players, Abidal’s row with Messi.

Good riddance to the current season I say!

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