AC Milan
A season of farewells and a league title regained.
The 2022–23 season marked FC Barcelona's return to the top of Spanish football, clinching their 27th La Liga title with four games to spare on 14 May 2023. It was a season of transition, as Gerard Piqué retired before the winter World Cup after fifteen seasons and thirty trophies with the club, while captain Sergio Busquets announced his departure at season's end after eighteen years and 32 trophies. Jordi Alba also left after eleven years and nineteen trophies. Barcelona secured their first trophy since 2021 on 15 January 2023, defeating Real Madrid 3–1 in the Supercopa de España final.
- Competition Type
- European Club Competitions (Champions League/European Cup)
- First Major Meeting
- 1950s European Cup era
- Key Eras of Conflict
- Late 1980s, Early 1990s, Mid-2000s
- Shared Distinction
- Two of the most decorated clubs in European history
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The 2022–23 season was shaped by departures and arrivals. On 10 June 2022, Sergi Roberto signed a one-year extension. Two days later, Dani Alves announced he would leave when his contract expired. On 30 June, Barcelona sold 10% of La Liga TV rights to Sixth Street for €207.5 million, generating a capital gain of €267 million. July saw Franck Kessié and Andreas Christensen arrive on free transfers, while Raphinha joined from Leeds United for €48 million and Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich for €45 million. Ousmane Dembélé extended his contract until 2024. On 27 July, Jules Koundé signed from Sevilla for a five-year deal with a €1 billion release clause. The pre-season US tour included a 6–0 win over Inter Miami and a 1–0 victory over Real Madrid.
In Their Own Story
The season's turning point came on 15 January 2023, when Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3–1 in the Supercopa de España final, clinching their first trophy since 2021. In La Liga, Barcelona built momentum with a 4–1 win over Real Sociedad on 21 August and a 4–0 victory over Real Valladolid on 28 August. After a 3–0 win against Sevilla on 3 September, they beat Cádiz 4–0 on 10 September. A 3–0 win over Elche on 17 September gave them 16 points from the first six matches, their best league start in five years. Despite a 3–1 loss to Real Madrid on 16 October, Barcelona recovered with wins over Villarreal (3–0) and Athletic Bilbao (4–0). On 14 May 2023, they mathematically secured the La Liga title with four games to spare, their first since 2018–19.
Reader's Guide
The 2022–23 season was Barcelona's 123rd in existence and 92nd consecutive in the top flight. They competed in La Liga, Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España, UEFA Champions League (19th consecutive season), and UEFA Europa League. Key transfers included Raphinha (€48 million from Leeds), Robert Lewandowski (€45 million from Bayern), and Jules Koundé (from Sevilla). Departures included Gerard Piqué (retired), Sergio Busquets (left at season's end), and Jordi Alba (left after eleven years). The season covered 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.
Did You Know?
- Barcelona clinched their 27th La Liga title with four games to spare on 14 May 2023, their first since 2018–19.
- Gerard Piqué retired before the winter World Cup after fifteen seasons and thirty trophies with Barcelona.
- Sergio Busquets announced he would leave at the end of the season after eighteen years and 32 trophies.
- Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3–1 in the Supercopa de España final on 15 January 2023, their first trophy since 2021.
- Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick in Barcelona's 5–1 win over Viktoria Plzeň on 7 September 2022.