Barcelona in 2023: 10 Key Moments
Barcelona bids farewell to 2023 after securing LaLiga and the Spanish Super Cup, the first two titles for Xavi Hernández as the coach of the Blaugrana, leaving some doubts about whether the winning project can continue evolving in the coming year.
Here are the 10 most important moments of 2023:
January 15
Barça conquers its fourteenth Spanish Super Cup by defeating the eternal rival, Real Madrid (1-3) in Saudi Arabia. It marks the first title of the Xavi era.
March 19
Two months after taking the Super Cup from the white team, Barcelona again defeats Real Madrid, this time in LaLiga, with a late goal from Kessié (2-1). The team begins to confirm its desire to regain dominance in Spanish football.
May 14
With a 2-4 victory at the RCDE Stadium, Barcelona is crowned LaLiga champion with four rounds to go, dominating the competition since the beginning of the season and winning the league for the first time in four years.
May 15
Barça celebrates another league victory through the city streets. The traditional champions' parade this time includes the women's team, which again dominates the domestic competition and, two weeks later, lifts its second Champions League trophy in Eindhoven.
May 28
The Barça fans bid farewell to the Spotify Camp Nou with a 3-0 victory against Mallorca. The new stadium will be operational again at the end of 2024, albeit with only 75% capacity.
August 20
Nearly three months later, Barcelona makes its debut at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, its home for a season and a half, with a triumph against Cádiz (2-0).
October 8
Lamine Yamal becomes, at 16 years and 87 days, the youngest scorer in LaLiga history with his goal against Granada. The young Barcelona forward breaks the record previously held by Fabrice Olinga (Malaga).
October 28
The Rolling Stones pose with the historic Barcelona jersey featuring their iconic tongue, the logo of the British band, as part of a marketing agreement with Spotify. Both the men's and women's football teams would wear this kit in El Clásico against Real Madrid.
November 19
Gavi gets injured in a Spain-Georgia match and says goodbye to the season. The Barcelona midfielder suffered a complete anterior cruciate ligament tear in his right knee, for which he underwent surgery a few days later, leaving the Catalan team without one of its key midfielders.
November 23
Lewandowski and Ter Stegen receive the Pichichi and Zamora trophies, respectively, recognizing them as the top scorer and the least conceded goals goalkeeper in LaLiga for the season. The Polish striker scored 23 goals in the tournament, where Barcelona also had the fewest goals conceded (20).