It is the best start to a season ever in La Liga and the best in Barcelona’s history, beating the record set in 2010-11 under Pep Guardiola. They have scored in 37 games in a row, a record. Leo Messi has 28 goals in La Liga already this year, which is as many as Malaga have managed overall. And Malaga are one of the league’s better sides.
With 31 games played in all competitions, Barcelona have won 27, drawn two and lost two games. A total of 92 goals have already been scored, putting them on course to break a record for goals score in the season. Games are being won by more than two goals on average. With the record of 14 away wins in a row nearing, and 17 overall in La Liga, Barcelona have records in abundance in their sights.
It is quite remarkable. Barcelona, if they repeat their first half of the season, would finish with something approaching 110 points. There are only 114 available. Real Madrid set a record for points last season and also hold the record for goals but Barcelona are on the way to smashing those. With 64 goals scored in the league they are netting more than three a game. It is remarkable stuff.
The performances have been sensational, but also seem routine. Winning comfortably at sides like Malaga and crushing Atletico Madrid at home has been done with minimal fuss. Although intriguing is that Atletico have won 16 in a row at home, and it will be a tough visit to the Vincente Calderon for Barca later this season.
And this from a team which was meant to be going backwards after losing Pep Guardiola. The Barcelona coach of the last four seasons, he guided the team through some of their greatest seasons ever. Many believe they are some of the best seasons ever. For Tito Vilanova, and Jordi Roura as well, to have made this team seemingly even better, is remarkable. It was an emotional moment when Guardiola left back in April, and he was replaced in turn by Vilanova. Vilanova did brilliantly, but unfortunately experienced the return of a cancerous tumour and is now battling that once again. Hopefully he will make a full recovery and be back in the hot seat soon, but Roura has taken over with the minimum of fuss and continued things ticking over nicely on the pitch. This is a model team, a model of stability and excellence. This is a team who have fielded at one point this season eleven players on the pitch who all came through their own academy. That is unique in world football among major clubs, and more remarkable still because they are the greatest club in the world.
With a slightly bigger squad than last year they have plenty they can do to keep up. David Villa can’t get near the first team. Jordi Alba is now ahead of Adriano in the team, and at times they don’t even seem to play with centre backs, but converted defensive midfielders and full backs. With Thiago Alcantara and Cesc Fabregas the back up to Andrés Iniesta and Xavi, Barcelona can enjoy their greatest season ever. And one of the greatest in history, quite possibly. History beckons.
