The former Almeria and Valencia boss, now in charge at Spartak Moscow, is coming to the Camp Nou looking to beat Barça after all 12 of his previous attempts ended in failure
All the matches
With Almeria
2007/08 FCB-ALM (2-0). Liga
2007/08 ALM-FCB (2-2). Liga
With Valencia
2008/09 FCB-VAL (4-0). Liga
2008/09 VAL-FCB (2-2). Liga
2009/10 VAL-FCB (0-0). Liga
2009/10 FCB-VAL (3-0). Liga
2010/11 FCB-VAL (2-1). Liga
2010/11 VAL-FCB (0-1). Liga
2011/12 VAL-FCB (2-2). Liga
Unai Emery has to deal with the past. The Spartak boss is bringing his new team to the Camp Nou on Wednesday to face a familiar foe that he has failed to beat in 12 attempts. Neither with Almeria nor with Valencia, and neither in La Liga or the Copa del Rey. Now with Spartak in the Champions League, will his negative record be extended even further?
Draws at home, defeats at the Camp Nou
There is a very clear pattern to Unai Emery’s track record against Barça – drawn matches when he has had home advantage and defeats when visiting the Camp Nou. Five of Emery’s six games at home to the Catalans have ended all square, the only exception being Barça’s 1-0 win at Mestalla in the 2010/11 season.
As for away matches, the record is even more clear-cut. Six games at the Camp Nou, six losses for Emery, conceding 18 goals and scoring just two in the process.
But results aside, Emery’s teams have frequently made things difficult for Barça. At the Camp Nou, Valencia actually scored first on both on their last two visits. Emery seems to have a knack of catching Barça out early, it’s holding onto the lead that has proved difficult.
Tito and Emery, face to face
Neither will this be the first time that Emery has been on one side and Tito Vilanova on the other. They met four times as players in Division 2B. Those games ended in two wins for Vilanova (2-1 with Lleida against Toledo and 1-0 with Elche against Toledo), one draw (0-0 between Toledo and Mallorca) and one win for Emery (2-0 for Toledo against Elche).