FCBARCELONA.CAT

14.01.2008 10:24

First half stats give hope

Sandra Sarmiento

After the impressive win at the weekend, Barca finish the first half of the season with some excellent stats and a point more than at the same stage last season.

All optimistic pointers for the rest of the campaign and close to those which brought Rijkaard his two league titles.

One point more than last season

FC Barcelona have finished the first half of the season with 40 points, 1 wins and 4 draws –one point and one win more than last year, although in the two league title seasons, the team had chalked up 14 wins at his stage.

Solid in defnce

Milito and Abidal’s acquisitions in the summer have helped strengthen the back line and with just 13 goals conceded –only 5 of them at the Nou Camp – Barca boast the league’s best defensive record. The numbers are especially impressive given Barca’s commitment to open attacking football and are indeed, the best yet under Rijkaard. You have to go back to the 90-91 season to better them.

Goalfest at Nou Camp

The Barca fans have been able to celebrate 26 goals in the league at the Nou Camp since September, the same number as the double wining team, with 12 different players getting onto the score sheet. On the road, Messi, Eto’o, Ronaldinho, Henry and co have notched up a further 12 goals to make it 38 in total so far.

Eight wins on the run

In Rijkaard’s first title winning season, the team won 9 home games and drew one in the first half of the season, with a run of 7 wins on the trot only broken by Valencia who took a point from the Nou Camp. This season it was 8 wins on the run, before Madrid broke the run of victories.