<P> Long - serving coach Carles Rexach was appointed as his replacement, initially on a temporary basis, and managed to at least steer the club to the last Champions League spot on the final day of the season . Despite better form in La Liga and a good run to the semi-finals of the Champions League, Rexach was never viewed as a long - term solution and that summer Van Gaal returned to the club for a second spell as manager . What followed, despite another decent Champions League performance, was one of the worst La Liga campaigns in the club's history, with the team as low as 15th in February 2003 . This led to Van Gaal's resignation and replacement for the rest of the campaign by Radomir Antić, though a sixth - place finish was the best that he could manage . At the end of the season, Antić's short - term contract was not renewed, and club president Joan Gaspart resigned, his position having been made completely untenable by such a disastrous season on top of the club's overall decline in fortunes since he became president three years prior . </P> <P> After the disappointment of the Gaspart era, the combination of a new young president, Joan Laporta, and a young new manager, former Dutch and Milan star Frank Rijkaard, saw the club bounce back . On the field, an influx of international players, including Ronaldinho, Deco, Henrik Larsson, Ludovic Giuly, Samuel Eto'o and Rafael Márquez, combined with homegrown Spanish players Carles Puyol, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi and Víctor Valdés, led to the club's return to success . Barcelona won La Liga and the Supercopa de España in 2004--05, and Ronaldinho and Eto'o were voted first and third, respectively, in the FIFA World Player of the Year awards . </P> <P> In the 2005--06 season, Barcelona repeated their Liga and Supercupa successes . The pinnacle of the league season arrived at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in a 3--0 win over Real Madrid . It was Rijkaard's second victory at the Bernabéu, making him the first Barcelona manager to win there twice . Ronaldinho's performance was so impressive that after his second goal, which was Barcelona's third, some Real Madrid fans gave him a standing ovation . In the Champions League, Barcelona beat Arsenal 2--1 in the final . Trailing 1--0 to a ten - man Arsenal and with less than 15 minutes remaining, they came back to win 2--1, with substitute Henrik Larsson, in his final appearance for the club, setting up goals for Samuel Eto'o and fellow substitute Juliano Belletti, for the club's first European Cup victory in 14 years . </P> <P> Despite being the favourites and starting strongly, Barcelona finished the 2006--07 season without any trophies won . A pre-season United States tour was later blamed for a string of injuries to key players, including leading scorer Samuel Eto'o and rising star Lionel Messi . There was open feuding as Eto'o publicly criticized coach Rijkaard and Ronaldinho . Ronaldinho also admitted that a lack of fitness affected his form . In La Liga, Barcelona were in first place for much of the season, but inconsistency in the New Year saw Real Madrid overtake them to become champions . Barcelona advanced to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, winning the first leg against Getafe 5--2, with a goal from Messi bringing comparison to Diego Maradona's goal of the century, but then lost the second leg 4--0 . They took part in the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup, but were beaten by a late goal in the final against Brazilian side Internacional . In the Champions League, Barcelona were knocked out of the competition in the last 16 by eventual runners - up Liverpool on the away goals rule . </P>

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