FCBARCELONA.CAT

05.10.2008 14:15

A game of many records

Marc Guillén

The overwhelming victory and the hunger for goals that FC Barcelona showed against Atlético de Madrid produced some statistics that show just how well Pep Guardiola's side are playing.

The five goals in the first 28 minutes was something that had not been achieved by Barça since 1942. The free-kick from Lionel Messi was Barça's first since November 2007. The win was the team's sixth consecutive victory. All these records, and more, all came out of the incredible performance against Los Colchoneros. Below are a few more to enjoy.

Four goals from corners

The first goal against Atlético came with a header from Raf Márquez when he met a corner. Barça have already scored four goals from corners this season from 64 attempts. That is an average of a goal every 16 corners. Last season the team only scored twice all term.

First free-kick goal

Messi scored from a direct free-kick after not asking about the wall. The goal was the first scored in such a manner under Guardiola and, in fact, was hte first that the team have scored since November 4, 2007, when Ronaldinho netted two against Real Betis.

100 per cent effective

After a start to the season when a debate has been ongoing about Barça's effectiveness in front of goal, against Atlético the first five shots by the both sides all brought goals. In the 17th minute Barça netted their fourth of the night and Atlético had scored with their first effort. The fifth shot from Barça saw Andrés Iniesta hit the post and Eidur Gudjohnsen tucked in the rebound.

The best run of 2007/08

The win against Atlético was Barça's sixth consecutive victory in all competitions and bettered any run that the team enjoyed last term. To find an equal or greater run then one would have to go back to the 2005/06 when Frank Rijkaard's team embarked on a sequence of no less than 19 wins-in-a-row.

Attendance record

Against Atlético, the best attendance at Camp Nou of the season so far was recorded with 75,232 fans turning up to see the victory, while prior to that the best had been 58,534 against Sporting Clube.

Five goals in 1942

The last time that Barcelona scored five goals in under 28 minutes was on November 8, 1942. That day, Celta were defeated 8-0, and by minute 27 the Blaugrana were 5-0 ahead thanks to goals from Valle (2), Martín, Trujillo and an own goal from Monaguillo. Johan Cruyff's Barça team went close when they beat Rayo Vallecano 7-1 with Julio Salinas netted the team's fifth in the 28th minute.

Eto’o scoring record

Samuel Eto'o's goalscoring exploits continue to impress. Five goals in the league, one in the Champions League group stage and two in the qualifiers against Wisla Krakow. Overall, the Cameroon international has netted eight goals in ten games, with seven coming at Camp Nou. The only away goal he has scored came at Sporting de Gijón.