On this historic day, a half-century ago, Johan Cruyff made his competitive debut for FC Barcelona, coinciding with the highly anticipated first El Clásico of the season. This momentous occasion marked a turning point in football history. Cruyff’s journey to the Camp Nou was not without its challenges. His signing was agreed upon on August 13, 1973, but he had to wait two and a half months to finally don the Blaugrana jersey. The reason behind this delay was a dispute with the Dutch football federation, led by Japp Van Praag, who disagreed with the timing of the transfer, which ideally should have taken place between July 1 and 31.
Ajax’s president, in a bid to thwart the transfer, did everything within his power to cause delays. It seemed as though approval might not be granted until December, but fortunately, the matter was resolved a bit earlier than expected.
During the waiting period, Johan Cruyff showcased his skills in four friendly matches against Club Bruges, Kickers Offenbach, Arsenal, and Ourense. These friendlies not only helped the fans catch a glimpse of his immense talent but also contributed to repaying part of the transfer fee.
Finally, on October 28, 1973, Cruyff received the green light to make his competitive debut for FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou against Granada. This date would become as significant as the day he was signed, as it marked a pivotal moment in the club’s history.
FC Barcelona entered the match in a difficult position, sitting second from the bottom in the league, just ahead of Sporting Gijón. They had suffered three defeats in the first seven Liga games. The fans had high expectations for Cruyff, and he did not disappoint. Facing a stubborn Granada side, the Dutchman led the way with a magnificent performance, scoring a brace as part of a resounding 4-0 victory. This win initiated an incredible unbeaten streak of 26 games, leading FC Barcelona to clinch the 1973/74 Liga title with five games to spare.
The first goal of the match was scored by De la Cruz just before half-time. Johan Cruyff then marked his competitive debut for FC Barcelona with a goal five minutes after the break, and he completed his double on the 68th minute, after Sotil had notched the third goal.
The historic game took place at the Camp Nou with an attendance of 100,000 enthusiastic fans. The lineups for the match were as follows:
FC Barcelona: Sadurní, Rifé, Torres, Costas, Cruz, Juan Carlos, Juanito, Asensi, Cruyff, Sotil, and Marcial.
Granada CF: Izcoa, Montero Castillo, Falito, Fernández, Toni, Santi (substituted by Cabrera in the 75th minute), Chirri, Jaén, Quiles, Dueñas (substituted by Martín in the 59th minute), and Porta.
The match ended with a convincing 4-0 victory for FC Barcelona, with the goalscorers as follows: 1-0, De la Cruz (44′); 2-0, Cruyff (50′); 3-0, Sotil (59′); 4-0, Cruyff (68′). This historic match was a turning point not only for Cruyff but also for FC Barcelona, as it set them on the path to a successful season and cemented Cruyff’s status as a legendary figure in the club’s history.