Marcelino’s second stage as Villarreal CF coach was in need of such joy. The victory over FC Barcelona (3-5) had a symbolic value that goes far beyond the three points obtained at the Estadi Olímpic.
The result was of great statistical significance, both for the Yellows and for the Asturian coach. The celebrations in the dressing room were justified.
Five goals in Barcelona 61 years later
Villarreal’s victory was historic, and not only for the Castellón club. Not since 1963 had a team been able to score five away goals against Barcelona in a league match. In other words, you have to go back 61 years to find something like that. Back then it was Real Madrid who managed to achieve that figure on Blue and Scarlet’s territory. They won 1-5.
Two titles… in ‘Copa’ and ‘Supercopa’
Marcelino, for his part, had never managed to beat the ‘Azulgrana’ side in LaLiga. As coach of Valencia CF he had won a Copa del Rey final against FC Barcelona (in 2019, 1-2) and in his time at Athletic Club he beat the Catalan side twice: the final of the Supercopa in 2021 (2-3) and the last 16 of the Copa 2021/22 (3-2 in a single-leg tie at San Mamés).
However, in the league competition, the statistics were very unfavourable. The most they had ever managed in their duels against Barcelona was seven draws.