Xavi’s Barça are one step away from another LaLiga record
Victory against Almería on Sunday would give Xavi’s Barcelona the best figures in the history of the competition, reaching 62 points in just 23 games.
Xavi Hernández’s Barcelona could end this weekend as the best team in the history of LaLiga after the first 23 weeks of competition. If they manage to beat Almería on Sunday, they will reach 62 points after 23 matchdays - a figure that no other club has managed to surpass at this stage of the competition. Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in the 2010/11 season, and Tito Vilanova’s Barça in 2012/13 jointly share the record with 62 points from the first 23 matchdays.
Xavi’s team is just one win away from equaling the best start in Barça’s history in LaLiga, and the record held by Pep and Tito. Beating Almería would leave Barça with 20 wins, two draws and just one defeat - a total of 62 points out of a possible 69. Not even in the treble-winning season of 2008/09, was Guardiola’s side capable of such figures - at the same stage they had amassed 60 points.
There are a number of factors which have contributed to this season’s Barca enjoying such a spectacular start in LaLiga - a solid defence has enabled them to keep 17 clean sheets. Camp Nou has been an impenetrable fortress - at home, Barcelona have only conceded just one goal, and that was a penalty (Joselu for Espanyol) not from open play. Right now, no team in any of the major European leagues have such convincing numbers - seven goals conceded in 22 games.
Unbeaten at home
In attack, Barcelona have been just as formidable: they are the second top scorers in LaLiga, with 45 goals, just one behind Real Madrid (46) and they have the Pichichi in their ranks - Robert Lewandowski tops the list on 15 goals.
Xavi’s Barca have registered seven consecutive victories in LaLiga and have lost just once away from home - the Clásico at the Bernabéu (3-1) on 16 October.