In the 2017-18 season, Barcelona almost won the La Liga title undefeated. This was Ernesto Valverde’s debut season as a coach for Barcelona and he was one game away from breaking a record set 90 years ago.
Barcelona’sdominance in La Liga
Barcelona was on the brink of creating history under Ernesto Valverde. The Catalans were unbeaten in 37 League games, showcasing their dominance in the league. At that time, Barcelona’s team was a blend of tactical excellence and attacking brilliance. The team was led by Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, with a well-organized midfield and defense.
Barcelona cruised through the season with no hesitation against Spanish teams, this team only suffered 3 draws and 1 loss in the whole campaign. Another testament to Barcelona’s dominance was that they won the League with a lead of 14 points. The Catalans had the best goal difference in the league with the value being 70. Barcelona was the highest goal-scoring team in the league that season with the record being of 99.
Not only the league, but the Catalans were dominant individually as well. Messi was the top-scorer of La Liga with 34 goals with Suárez being the 3rd just one behind the 2nd place. Messi and Suárez were combined top-assister of the league.
The Unfortunate Slip: One Game Away from History
This game made Barcelona fans realize the importance of Messi. This was the only La Liga game in which Messi was not called up deliberately. With the league title being secured, Barcelona’s manager wanted to rotate things. This was the second last game of La Liga and Messi was rested.
Barcelona played Levante away, and the Catalans were stunned with a thrilling 5-4 loss, ending Barça’s unbeaten run. This unfortunate defeat ended Barcelona’s dream of breaking history. Despite this loss, Barcelona won the league and set a record for the longest unbeaten run in a single Spanish league season.
Barcelona’s near-invincible season reminds us how one misstep can change everything, but their incredible run remains unforgettable.