Barcelona FC Honors Legends with Historic Lineup for 100th Anniversary

GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador – As Barcelona SC prepares to face El Nacional on April 18, the club is also celebrating its centenary by unveiling its historic lineup of legends. The match at Estadio Monumental is crucial for Barcelona, who are looking to regain their lead in the championship after a recent loss to Orense.

Kick-off is set for 7:00 PM as the team, known as El Ídolo, seeks to bounce back and collect three critical points. Currently, they sit second in the standings, trailing Independiente del Valle and Vinotinto due to goal difference. Barcelona also has a pending match against Liga de Quito in the CONMEBOL Libertadores.

Barcelona’s head coach, Segundo Castillo, is hopeful to reintegrate Leonai Souza into the squad. Meanwhile, Braian Oyola and Octavio Rivero continue to work through individualized training as the coaching staff manages player fitness ahead of their international match next Tuesday.

“We want to ensure all players are at their best for both domestic and international competitions,” Castillo said during Monday’s training session. The projected lineup for the clash against El Nacional includes José David Contreras; Bryan Carabalí, Xavier Arreaga, Gustavo Vallecilla/Álex Rangel, Mario Pineida; Dixon Arroyo, Jhonny Quiñónez/Jesús Trindade; Joaquín Valiente, Janner Corozo, Gabriel Cortez, and Felipe Caicedo.

In addition to preparing on the pitch, the club also introduced its historic XI to commemorate its 100 years of rich history. This lineup features iconic players who made remarkable contributions to Barcelona throughout the decades. Highlighted in the recognition is José Francisco Cevallos, who was instrumental in helping the team secure titles in 1991, 1995, and 1997.

Also celebrated is Pepe Pancho Cevallos, who was vital during both finals of the CONMEBOL Libertadores in 1990 and 1998. Among the notable legends is ‘Chino’ Macías, who played a key role as a lateral defender during the 1998 finals, alongside Lucía Montanero, recognized for his three national championships and participation in the same Libertadores finals.

The lineup also pays tribute to other influential players including the legendary Argentinean midfielder Matías Oyola, who helped the team avoid relegation and later won multiple LigaPro titles, and Alberto Spencer, who remains the club’s highest goal-scorer and achieved national championship success in 1971.

The full historic XI includes José Francisco Cevallos; Luis Gómez, José Paes, Jimmy Montanero, Luciano Macías; Toninho Vieira, Matías Oyola, Damián Díaz, Washington Muñoz, Alfaro Moreno, and Alberto Spencer. This honors not just their triumphs but their enduring legacy in the hearts of the fans.

As Barcelona SC marches forward in its centennial year, both the upcoming match and the legacy of its heroes serve as reminders of the club’s enduring spirit and determination.