31.01.2011 13:18

Pedro’s scoring on the up

Jaume Marcet / Roger Bogunyà

Pedro Rodríguez continues to show that he is a very special player. His six game run of scoring in La Liga has only ever been equalled by seven other Barça players and the Spanish forward just looks to be getting better and better.

Most goal scorers have a history behind them, in youth and reserve teams, of banging in the goals, but Pedro is different and it’s been his time with the first team that has proved his most productive period in terms of goals. In the 2007/08 season he scored just 6 goals with Barça B in the Third division under Pep Guardiola in 2407 minutes –a goal every 401 minutes. A year later he played 14 times with the first team, failing to score at all and with Luis Enrique’s B team he scored 16 times in 1432 minute at a goal every 90 minutes.

It was in the 2009/10 season that Pedro’s goal scoring feats began, as he bagged 23 in 52 games in his first full season as a first team squad member and he finished 2009 as the only player to ever score in all competitions. This season he’s improved still further with 19 goals in 32 games.

Lobera: “He’s still got the same qualities”

Sergio Lobera, who was assistant coach when Pedro played for Barça C and has a great record as a youth coach at the club during 20 years explained: “he’s not changed anything in his game; he still has the same virtues and qualities he had a few years ago”. So why is he scoring more now? “the principal difference is the superiority in terms of possession that the first team have and their presence in their opponents’ box – that wasn’t so great when he was with the reserves”.

Lobera, who is now in charge of San Roque de Lepe in Segona B, added: “it’s not the reserve teams that most help you. It’s hard to shine really. Pedro has known how to adapt himself to the way the first team works and their dynamic so that he can apply all the virtues he has”.

A goal away from Cruyff

The six game scoring run in La Liga has included goals against Espanyol (2), Llevant (2), Deportivo, Malaga, Racing and Hercules- and has only been bettered at the Club by Ronaldo (9 games), Mariano Martín (8 ) and Cruyff (7), who Pedro can draw level with if he can score against Atletico Madrid on Saturday. The last time that Pedro failed to score in the league was in the 5-0 win over Real Sociedad.

Decisive goals

Pedro’s goals have also proved decisive; of the 42 goals he has scored in his 101 games with the first team, 15 have put the team ahead and this season whenever he has scored, the side have ended up winning. Of his 42 goals, 22 have come at the Nou Camp and 11 between the 60th and 75th minute – his most productive period. So far only Real Sociedad, Zaragoza, Valencia and Atletico Madrid have not received a Pedro goal – and that list could well be reduced by one this weekend!