Under Louis van Gaal, Barcelona finished 2nd in La Liga, behind Real Madrid, showing improvement after the struggles of 2001/02. The squad featured Rivaldo, Patrick Kluivert, Xavi, and Luis Enrique, blending attacking talent with midfield creativity and defensive organization. Van Gaal’s tactical system emphasized positional play and possession, which yielded strong performances but occasional inconsistency. In domestic cups, Barça had limited success, and in the Champions League, they were eliminated in the second group stage, highlighting ongoing European struggles. The season represented a rebuilding phase, laying the groundwork for further squad evolution while maintaining competitiveness domestically.
