Bouncing Barça await Brøndby

By Andy Hall

Judging by recent performances in the Primera División, the tide seems to have turned for FC Barcelona. The Catalans are in fourth place in the table having lost just once since Christmas and are currently playing some of the most exciting football in Spain.

Barren patch
Barça have been going through a silverware drought since scooping the league title in 1999. The perpetual merry-go-round of managers coming and going since then did little to help the atmosphere at the Camp Nou, where Llorenc Serra Ferrer, Carlos Rexach, Radomir Antic and Louis van Gaal have all tried to steer the side back to its glory days.

Laporta elected
In June last year, Joan Laporta was elected as club chairman, replacing Joan Gaspart. The 41-year-old lawyer promised changes and although he may have lost out to rivals Real Madrid CF in the tug of war to sign David Beckham, he did coax Brazilian ace Ronaldinho to join for a €35m fee in July - a coup that gained support from the club's fans.

Rijkaard arrives
Frank Rijkaard was brought on board to replace Antic despite limited experience as a coach. His first few games with the club gave cause for hope as wins against Athletic Club Bilbao and Albacete Balompié saw the team climb to the top of the table early in the season. Meanwhile, Ronaldinho won over the Camp Nou faithful with a stunning strike in the 1-1 draw against Sevilla FC on 3 September that will certainly be among the goals of the season.

New vision
A lull in form during the autumn saw the team temporarily descend to a mid-table place and Laporta's tactics of providing pre-match entertainment with music and food did little to fill the empty seats in the stadium. However, loaning Edgar Davids from Juventus FC during the winter transfer window was the masterstroke that has revitalised the team. The Dutch midfield player has provided control in the centre of the field, allowing Xavi Hernández the chance to conduct the attack and feed front runners Ronaldinho and Javier Saviola.

Right attitude
Rijkaard's tried and tested 4-3-3 formation, now complete with Davids, seems to be paying dividends - the team has lost just once this year - 3-0 against Real Racing Club Santander on 4 January and recent wins against title chasers Valencia CF and Deportivo La Coruña have lifted spirits in the team camp.

Continued effort
Rijkaard has warned that complacency must be resisted. "We must keep grafting hard," he said. "The players are aware that with hard work, we will reach our objective. Barcelona have always demanded the best but we have to continue step by step and maintain the right attitude."

New confidence
The new confidence is plain to see within the squad. Midfield player Gerard López said following Sunday's 3-2 win at Deportivo: "We are going through a rosy patch and once you gain confidence then everything starts to turn out well." Two-goal hero Ronaldinho added: "The team is playing to the hilt and that is having a positive effect on the results, which seem to be coming our way at the moment."

UEFA challenge
However they will not be banking on good fortune as Brøndby IF come to the Camp Nou on Wednesday a goal down from the first leg of their UEFA Cup third-round tie. Defender Carles Puyol said: "We still haven't won anything and whatever we do, we cannot afford to drop our guard." The tide is turning for Barça and it may yet wash Brøndby away.