After signing Kylian Mbappe, Actual Madrid appeared all set to defend their La Liga crown and go away financially-crippled Barcelona within the mud.
Nevertheless, barring sporadic slip-ups once in a while, it’s been all Barca within the opening 13 rounds.
Regardless of slumping to a irritating 1-0 defeat at Actual Sociedad final day out, Los Blaugranas headed into November’s worldwide break as pacesetters, six factors away from Los Blancos.
For these desirous to observe the joy of La Liga, you’ll be able to catch all of the motion of , together with Barcelona’s resurgence underneath their new administration.
Not enjoying this formidable Barcelona frontline to their strengths is like having a Ferrari however leaving it within the storage.
That’s the place Xavi Hernandez had dropped the ball regardless of main the Catalan powerhouse to the league title in 2022/23, and it price him dearly.
Barcelona realised they wanted a distinct sort of supervisor, one able to accepting the membership’s ongoing monetary struggles however offensively oriented and in a position to set up a inflexible construction.
The membership sought a first-team coach with a pretty model of play centered on possession, management and recreation domination.
President Joan Laporta desired an lively method, albeit with the adaptability to stay versatile in instances of necessity.
Hansi Flick ticked all of the packing containers.
Undesirable feat
Barcelona registered their first scoring clean underneath the previous Bayern Munich boss within the abovementioned reverse in San Sebastian.
A controversially ruled-out purpose performed a component in halting Barca’s seven-match successful streak throughout all competitions.
Extra importantly, it was the primary time since 2014 that Los Blaugranas failed to aim a shot heading in the right direction.
The shortage of pictures was uncommon and deeply regarding for a workforce famend for its offensive firepower.
Lamine Yamal’s absence diminished the attacking efficiency of Flick’s free-firing squad on the Reale Enviornment.
In response to , the Spanish giants will doubtless should make do with out their talismanic prodigy in opposition to Celta Vigo on Saturday.
Such an underwhelming show sharply contrasted with Barcelona’s earlier kind this season, resembling the workforce’s performances underneath Xavi.
Barca bagged 79 targets in La Liga final time period.
Nevertheless, they’ve already tallied 40 after solely 13 matches this season.
Most targets in La Liga season
Hitting a century of targets in a league season was a bit of cake for Barcelona with ‘prime’ Lionel Messi.
However since La Pulga’s departure, they’ve didn’t smash an 80-goal barrier in three consecutive campaigns.
They’re on track to realize that feat this time period, contemplating they’re already on the midway level.
Nevertheless, the query is – can they shatter Madrid’s document from 2011/12?
With Cristiano Ronaldo main the road, Jose Mourinho’s aspect hauled a jaw-dropping 121 targets.
Barcelona would reply with 118 the next season, however the document nonetheless belongs to their arch-rivals.
There are nonetheless 25 video games left for this unstoppable Flick workforce to attempt to surpass Madrid’s iconic determine.
Most house wins & targets
Each Barcelona’s league defeats underneath Flick got here on the highway.
Nevertheless, their momentary house venue has been a fortress.
They’ve been flawless at house, successful all 5 top-flight outings by an combination rating of 18-3 whereas netting a minimum of three targets in three of the final 5.
With a median of three.6 per recreation, Los Blaugranas are by far probably the most prolific workforce in Europe’s conventional top-five divisions this season.
Nevertheless, a slim 1-0 win in opposition to Getafe in late September could possibly be the scourge of their quest to beat one other flattering document in Madrid’s possession.
Los Blancos fired in 78 house targets within the 1989/90 La Liga season, averaging 4.1 per match.
Given Flick’s costs are scoring at a shocking fee, the remaining 14 house league fixtures could possibly be greater than sufficient to go on a par with Madrid.
Barcelona and Los Merengues boast the joint document for many wins in a single La Liga marketing campaign, with each groups racking up 18 twice.
The final time Barca achieved this was in 2012/13 underneath the late Tito Vilanova.
Resurgent Raphinha chasing Neymar’s document in opposition to Celta
Flick’s choice at hand Raphinha the captain’s armband has remodeled the Brazilian star into one of many deadliest wingers in Europe’s top-five leagues.
Not way back, Barcelona thought of offloading the 27-year-old.
Since Flick arrived, they can not think about life with out the ex-Leeds United ahead.
Raphinha has loved a outstanding begin to the season, tallying seven targets and eight assists in 13 league appearances.
Getting on the scoresheet in opposition to Estadio de Balaidos would see him equal Neymar’s best-ever begin at Camp Nou.
Per , the left-footed famous person wants a brace to overtake Neymar’s document, however one would draw him stage with the Al-Hilal ace.
With Raphinha scoring in 4 of Barcelona’s final 5 video games, discovering the web in opposition to Celta isn’t past him.