It’s exactly thirty years since Barcelona FC handed rivals Real Madrid a loss they have never seen before. At the time, Barcelona pummeled Madrid by 5-0, with wonder player Romário having a massive impact in that game.
One of Barça’s five wonder goals in the historic Clásico victory was Romário’s.
8 January 1994 and exactly twenty years sooner, 17 February 1974, are two dates that will always be essential for Barça’s legends. Dutchman Johan Cruyff was in the team that won 5-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu, and after 20 years assisted the side to a win by a similar score at Camp Nou.
In 1994 the renowned match still couldn’t seem to be known as the ‘Clásico’, but people rather talked about the ’round of the hundred years’, but after a poor display in a loss at Donning Gijón, there was worry among Barça fans that this one probably won’t turn out well for them. They were in for a shock, and an exceptionally lovely one, with one of the best shows of the entire Dream Group era.
Romário’s opener was one of the most gorgeous goal ever to be scored in the blaugrana pullover, with a move that came to be known as the ‘cow’s tail’. However, with Barça leading 1-0 at the break, few might have anticipated the astounding show that was in store after the recess.
Ronald Koeman added a direct free kick, and Nadal and Laudrup assisted Romário in completing his hat trick. It was youthful Iván Iglesias who finished the defeat in the 86th minute, and the famous image of that game was assistant coach Toni Bruins Slot jumping off the bench with his hand held on high, each finger representing every one of the five goals that his team had recently received past their biggest rivals.
The win came only days before the twentieth anniversary of the similarly well known 5-0 win at the Santiago Bernabéu, which Cruyff himself reviewed in an interview on Dutch TV by saying “I was surprised that instead of congratulating us on the win, people were saying thank you.”
On that chilly night in Madrid, it was one of the few games that was televised live to the country at the time. Barça were the league leaders and hadn’t lost in 16 games. Barça were just unrivaled, going on from an Asensi header on the half hour, prior to multiplying their lead with a sublime low drive from Cruyff.
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Asensi covered a performance race to score his second and Barça’s third, then Juan Carlos shot in the fourth before Sotil gestured in the notable fifth.
Meanwhile, this is what Juan Manuel Asensi had to say:
“It was a lovely game and we played really well. On the half hour I scored the first goal from a pass from Marcial. Shortly after, when Johan scored the second, we felt more secure and in control of the situation. In the second half we were on a roll and the other goals came. I scored again, and Juan Carlos and Cholito Sotil also scored. The image I remember most is the Bernabéu fans applauding us as we went into the dressing room. The Madrid players stayed on the field. Afterwards, the coach gave some of us Barça players permission to go to a pub that Benito owned in La Castellana. I remember chatting with Madrid players and fans in the pub. Those were very different times!”
8 January 1994 The Line-up:
FC BARCELONA: Zubizarreta; Ferrer, Koeman, Sergi; Nadal, Guardiola, Amor; Goikoetxea, Bakero (Iván Iglesias, 75’), Romário & Stóitxkov (Laudrup, 47’).
REAL MADRID: Buyo; Paco Llorente, Alkorta, Sanchís, Lasa; Míchel, Milla (Butragueño, 54’), Prosinecki, Luis Enrique; Zamorano & Alfonso (Hierro, 25’).
Goals: 1-0, Romário (24’); 2-0, Koeman (47’); 3-0, Romário (57’); 4-0, Romário (81’); 5-0, Iván Iglesias (87’).
Iván Iglesias Speaks:
“After 30 years, that game is still part of my life, especially when I go to Catalonia. Understandable, it was a historic score by same margin as the one 20 years earlier at the Bernabéu, with Johan on the pitch. I was 22 and had just arrived at Barça and was sat next to Txiki on the bench, commenting on the game. I remember the mosaic made by 120,000 culers, the moment I came on for Bakero… and the goal, of course. A long ball from Romário between the centre back and full back, and I was face to face with Buyo and put the ball between his legs. Imagine the joy, that made it 5-0. And that iconic image of Toni Bruins with his hand open. I feel very fortunate to have been part of that team and for what I learned from Johan. His legacy will remain forever.”
