Debate continues to rage as to whether or not Pep Guardiola’s class of 2010/2011 are in fact the best football side ever….Rolly investigates.
The stats themselves, courtesy of FC Barcelona.net do much to give weight to this claim. Such a subjective term can only demand statistical evidence from which a conclusion can be garnered.
Barcelona’s records this season have, on many fronts, smashed records left, right, centre and provide frightening data for the opposition. Amongst the most noteworthy of accolades are:
- Most points and goals in the first half of the season: 52 points and 61 goals (17 wins, one draw and one defeat).
- Most away wins in the league: 13 wins, 4 draws and 1 defeat in 18 matches. Equals the wins in the leagues of 2008/09 (13 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats) and 2009/10 (13 wins, 5 draws and 1 defeat, along with Real Madrid with 13 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats). Also Atlético Madrid 1995/96 (13 wins, 5 draws and three defeats).
- Most consecutive away wins in La Liga: 10 games, when winning away to Racing Santander, Atlético Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Zaragoza, Getafe, Almeria, Osasuna, Espanyol, Deportivo and Hercules.
- Team with most away goals in the League: 47 goals (on May 14)
- Longest winning period in La Liga: 16 matches from round 7 to 22.
- Most consecutive matches unbeaten away: 23 away games from February 14, 2010 (Atletico Madrid 2 Barça 1) to April 30, 2011 (Real Sociedad 2 Barça 1), with 18 wins and 5 draws.
- Best away start to the League: 10 consecutive wins against Racing, Atlético Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Zaragoza, Getafe, Almeria, Osasuna, Espanyol, Deportivo and Hercules.
What may also warrant a mention is that Pep Guardiola’s men are unbeaten in six league matches against El Clasico rivals Real Madrid and have only lost once in this season’s Champions League and that was away to Arsenal.
La Blaugrana are also the only Spanish team to ever win every away game in the first half of a League season as they won every game away to Racing Santander, Atlético Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Zaragoza, Getafe, Almeria, Osasuna, Espanyol and Deportivo respectively.
The three-time European Cup winners also matched their biggest away win in history when they crushed Almeria 8-0 on 20/11/2010.
Furthermore Barca have the longest unbeaten period in official matches in Spain: 28 games (23 wins and five draws in 17 League, 5 Cup and 6 Champions League games), as well as the best average away goals in the first half of the League with 61 goals in 19 games at halfway stage of League 2010/11 (3.2 average per game).
Team and individual records also pertain to their dominance and impressively this season Pep’s men have had the most different scorers in official matches.
22 different players have scored in official games, while harbouring the players with the most consecutive wins in the League: Sergio Busquets with 25 wins and Carles Puyol with 21 between the 2009/10 and 2010/11.
Likewise, the Spanish giants have endured the longest period without losing in the La Liga with 31 matches from rounds 3 to 33. This La Liga record was initially held by Real Sociedad with 32 games in 1979/80.
Have your say below. Are Barcelona the best club side ever?
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