This season has got off to an extraordinary start for Barça. Under Hansi Flick the team has won 11 of its first 12 games, and is now 9 points clear of Real Madrid (who have one game in hand). But it’s not just the wins, but also the way they’re happening, with goals flying in left, right and centre. More than any team in Europe’s Big Five leagues has scored to date.
The 40 goals after 12 games average out at 3.33 every 90 minutes. That’s the second best start ever for FC Barcelona, and we have to go all the way back to 1950/51 to find the even better record of 42 goals.
The nearest any other team comes in the top five European leagues is Bayern Munich (the team Barça put four goals past the week before last). The Bavarians have 32 goals, eight less than the Catalans, albeit in three fewer games. And Paris Saint Germain have 29 after 10 games. Also, aside from Barça, no other team from La Liga makes the top ten.
Scoring goals means nothing if you’re also letting them in at your own end. But Barça are excelling at that too, with just 11 conceded in their 12 games so far. That’s an enormous goal difference of +29, better than any team in Europe, with Bayern again in second place on +25 (seven goals conceded).
The best placed Spanish side in that list is Atlético Madrid, whose 18 goals for and 7 against equate to a +11 difference.
