FCBARCELONA.CAT

18.01.2009 11:59

A goals tally from a different era

Roger Bogunyà

With the five goals scored against Deportivo de La Coruña on Saturday evening, FC Barcelona finished the first half of the season with a goals tally of 59 in 19 matches which is something that has not been seen since the 1960's.

The Spanish league has a new record breaker as the Blaugrana's incredible record has no equal in the modern day game and one must go back more than 50 years to find similar statistics.

3.1 goals-per-game

With an average of 3.1 goals-per-game, Pep Guardiola's team have a better record than any team over the past 49 years of league competition. It was back in 1959/60 that Real Madrid managed to record 3.2-per-game at this stage of the season.

The leaders

Going further back there are some even more spectacular statistics as Sevilla 4.2 goals-per-game record in the 1940-41 season and Athletic Club's 4.1 goals-per-game in 1930/31 show. But they are figures from a different era and were managed when team's played with less defenders.

Toshack's team

Since the top flight changed from 18 to 20 teams these figures have not been seen. The last side to come close were John Benjamin Toshack's Real Madrid team in the 1989/90 campagin when they netted 56 goals in 19 matches giving them an average of 2.95 goals-per-game. The current Barça side have three more to their name already.