For those of you who think Barcelona have always played the beautiful game.....

[Oscar Arce]

Remember well after Sid was kicked into the net Ken McNaught's mocking 'fighting' stance to the goalkeeper.
Great night, Barca were indeed animals though.

[andyh]

A fantastic night.
After celebrating Shaw's goal, I remember noticing I had lost my watch (digital, no less) and thinking my dad would kill me.
Amazingly, amongst all the legs and feet up at the back of the Holte End I managed to find it.       

[Zhong Yi]

Also, wasn't Maradonna one of the unused Barca subs and asked for Gary Shaw's shirt at the end?

no way!!! is that true?

[PeterWithe]

Barca were animals that night, and the Spanish national team around that time were too.
Only a few months later Sid has his leg broken by a vicious tackle in a pre-season friendly in Spain.

Wasn't it against Athletico Madrid and the player who did it was Mexican?

[dave.woodhall]

Also, wasn't Maradonna one of the unused Barca subs and asked for Gary Shaw's shirt at the end?

no way!!! is that true?

No. He was ill with hepatitis.

[SarkGrime]

Barca were animals that night, and the Spanish national team around that time were too.
Only a few months later Sid has his leg broken by a vicious tackle in a pre-season friendly in Spain.

Really? Then it can only have been
http://www.bdfutbol.com/t/t1983-847.html
Hugo Sánchez.

Wasn't it against Athletico Madrid and the player who did it was Mexican?

[dave.woodhall]

I think the team were named FC America or something like that.

[PeterWithesShin]

This was the first game I stood on the Holte, i'd always been in the seats with the rest of the family before this. I just remember thinking we'd never score despite dominating and that the Holte seemed absolutely massive to little young me.

[Damo70]

Since I started going in 1979 I have never seen a dirtier side than the Barcelona team that night. I remember the Albion being a bit naughty in a league cup game in 1984 but nothing really comes close to that night. I remember the Noses winning the Attari soccer six at the NEC the same night (surely the only time two teams from the same city have won a trophy in that city on the same night?) and Maradona being out with Heppatitus and not having a clue what the Super Cup looked like until Ken McNaught lifted what looked like a school prefect of the year shield. I think they've had a proper cup made since. Wonder what the Attari trophy looked like?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

First time I've seen the highlights from the game, that elbow from Withey was a classic, really caught him a beaut. Great night, we left it late but we deserved the win. We just never knew when we were beaten and it's tragic that we never built on that side. Barca really were dirty bastards, the worst I've ever seen against the Villa.

[Salsa Party Animal]

I agree Barcelona is the dirtest team ever I have seen. I wonder what it will be like if Barcelona of early 80s play FC Porto in last few years. It will make a Ice Hockey match look like Teddy Bear Picnic.

It is amazing to see the different of Barcelona in 80s and modern team.

[Salsa Party Animal]

It would be nice to see what those thugs in Small Heath or Leeds of the 70s would do if they play Barcelona of early 80s.

[D.boy]

Cheers for posting that footage. I was sat in the lower trinity 1 row from the pitch along with my mom and cousin. Barcelona tried to kick us off the pitch all night and were the dirtiest team I have ever seen at Villa Park. I recall a challenge in front of us were one of their players got a shove in the back (possibly by A.Evans) and ended up head first over the hordings. Punches were suddenly coming over my head from behind as some folk tried to give him a slap.
The blokes face was a picture after Withe floored him as Shaw scored. They deserved all they got.
I still have the press cuttings/match reports in a scrap book. 

[Fuse]

Also, wasn't Maradonna one of the unused Barca subs and asked for Gary Shaw's shirt at the end?

no way!!! is that true?

No. He was ill with hepatitis.

He did ask for his shirt though. Shaw has told me that himself.

[ADVILLAFAN]

I think the team were named FC America or something like that.

Probably Club America - reportedly the most hated team in Mexico.