Barcelona faced a disappointing 1-2 defeat against Las Palmas last night in their first official match after celebrating their 125th anniversary.
The festive mood following the grand celebration at the Gran Teatre del Liceu seemed to linger, affecting their performance on the pitch.
However, this loss is not an isolated incident when it comes to the club’s significant anniversaries. Historically, Barcelona’s celebratory milestones have often been marred by defeats in their subsequent matches.
Since Joan Gamper founded FC Barcelona on 29 November 1899, the club has marked several major anniversaries in grand style. These include the silver (25th), golden (50th), diamond (75th), centenary (100th), and the recent 125th celebration.
Remarkably, the pattern of post-anniversary losses dates back decades, with only the 75th-anniversary celebrations breaking this trend.
A look back at the trend
On the occasion of the centenary (100th anniversary) in 1999, Barcelona suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat against Atletico Madrid. The loss came from a solitary penalty, leaving fans disappointed after the momentous celebrations.
Barcelona do not have a good record in their anniversary matches. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Similarly, during the 50th anniversary in 1949, Barcelona played against Espanyol in a league match but lost 1-2, dampening the festive spirit.
The trend goes even further back to their 25th anniversary in 1924, when Barcelona faced Terrassa in the Campionat de Catalunya.
That match ended in a 0-1 defeat, marking another instance of an anniversary celebration followed by an underwhelming result.
Interestingly, the only exception to this series of post-anniversary disappointments was during their 75th-anniversary celebration.
On that occasion, Barcelona managed to leave fans with a more positive memory. Unfortunately, the 125th anniversary has followed the historical pattern, adding another defeat to this peculiar trend.
Despite the loss, these milestones remain a testament to Barcelona’s rich history and enduring legacy in football. However, it is clear that their celebratory matches often leave fans hoping for better results on the pitch.