A quarter of a century has passed since Barcelona took a victory lap in the capital, where tomorrow it will try to relive, against Liga de Quito, historic moments that it has already experienced by climbing to 2,850 meters above sea level in search of a national championship star.

In Quito, it won its first of its 15 Ecuadorian championships by defeating España 4-2, a club that has long been lost from the stellar circuits of the country's football. Also in 1966, a 1-1 draw with Aucas at the Olímpico Atahualpa stadium was enough for Barcelona to finish at the top of the table, one point above Emelec.

In 1971, once again at the Atahualpa, it sealed its bicampeonato with a victory over Liga de Quito. And in 1987 and 1989, a 1-0 win and a scoreless draw with Deportivo Quito (in that order) represented toreros consagrations.

In 1995, Argentine Salvador Capitano replaces Dussan Draskovic as coach and leads the canary team to glory. The championship is decided in two games against the young but surprising Espoli team, which loses both matches. Luis Gómez and Carlos Yánez scored in the 2-0 victory on December 19, at the Monumental. Robespierre Pinargote, with an own goal, sealed the title of monarch for the toreros on December 22 at the Atahualpa.

Capitano made history by becoming the first and only coach so far to win the national tournament with both Emelec (1993) and Barcelona. Forward Carlos Alfaro Moreno, current president of the club, scored 12 goals that season for the champion, and Manuel Uquillas, with 24 goals, was the top scorer of the tournament. (D)