Under Louis van Gaal, Barcelona rebuilt following Bobby Robson’s departure and Ronaldo’s move to Inter Milan. The squad featured stars like Luis Figo, Rivaldo, Pep Guardiola, and Patrick Kluivert, blending attacking flair with tactical discipline. Barça finished 1st in La Liga, reclaiming the Spanish league title and demonstrating van Gaal’s effective system of positional play and pressing. In domestic cups, Barcelona had mixed success, and in the UEFA Champions League, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Real Madrid. The season marked the start of van Gaal’s successful era, emphasizing youth integration and tactical innovation while re-establishing Barcelona’s domestic dominance.
