Barca’s season so far in numbers starring ANSU, Messi & MATS

Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images

A look at the champions’ start to the new campaign

Barcelona have enjoyed a pretty mixed start to the 2019-20 season. The champions have been beaten twice already but still head into the international break in second place in La Liga.

In the Champions League Ernesto Valverde’s side were held to a 0-0 draw in Dortmund and then came from a goal down to beat Inter Milan at the Camp Nou.

We may only be eight weeks in but Barcelona players have already been setting records and making history, here’s a look at the best stats so far:

Ansu Fati: Record Breaker, History Maker

Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images

• Ansu Fati became the youngest player to feature for Barcelona in La Liga since 1941 when he came off the bench against Real Betis in August. The striker was just 16 years and 298 days when he took to the pitch (via Opta).
• The teenager then went on to become the youngest player ever to start for Barcelona at the Camp Nou when took his place in the XI against Valencia, beating Marc Muniesa’s record from 2009.
• Ansu went on to score and assist in the game, making him the youngest player ever to do so in the same match in La Liga history. His goal also saw him become the youngest ever goalscorer at the Camp Nou (via FC Barcelona).
• The goal also makes Ansu the third youngest goalscorer in La Liga history, behind Fabrice Olinga (at 16 years and 98 days) and Iker Muniain (16 years and 289 days) (via Opta)
• Ansu also became the youngest player to feature for Barcelona in the Champions League when he started against Borussia Dortmund in September. The striker was just 16 years and 321 days when he took to the pitch, beating the record previously held by Bojan (via Opta).

Arthur, Suarez and Messi shine in the Champions League

Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images

• Arthur is the midfielder with the best pass completion rate in the Champions League so far this season. The Brazilian has completed 175 of 190 passes (92%) which puts him ahead of Rodri (91%), Toni Kroos (89%), Charles Aranguiz (88%) and Ilkay Gundogan (87%) (via UEFA).
• Luis Suarez’s two goals against Inter Milan mean he has now scored as many Champions League goals this season as he has in the past two campaigns combined (via Opta).
• His brace also takes him to six goals against Italian teams. He has scored more Champions League goals against teams from Italy than clubs from any other country (via Opta).
• Lionel Messi picked up an assist in the win over Inter and has now been involved in 15 goals in his last 17 Champions League outings against Italian teams (via Opta).

Messi and MATS Magic

Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images

• Marc-Andre ter Stegen became the first goalkeeper to register an assist in La Liga in the 21st century with his effort against Getafe (via FC Barcelona).
• The German goalkeeper has also become the first foreign stopper to reach 200 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions (via Opta).
• His penalty save against Marco Reus in the Champions League ensured he has now stopped four of the six penalties he has faced in the competition. No goalkeeper has a better record (via Opta).
• Lionel Messi made his 400th La Liga start against Villarreal. He is only the second non-Spanish player to reach that landmark (via Opta).
• Messi’s goal against Sevilla means he is the first player to score in 16 consecutive seasons in the 21st century in La Liga (La Liga)
• His goal was also the 100th he has netted from outside the box in all competitions (via Opta).
• Messi now has an incredible 38 goals in 37 appearances against Sevilla in all competitions (via FC Barcelona).

And the rest...

Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

• A total of 10 Barcelona players have scored in La Liga this season, more than any other club in Europe’s top five leagues (via Opta).
• Arthur is joint top of the assists charts after eight games in La Liga. The Brazilian has three for the season along with Ander Capa, Dani Carvajal, Santi Cazorla, Angel Montoro and Portu (via La Liga).
• Ousmane Dembele’s goal against Sevilla was the 300th that Barcelona have scored under Ernesto Valverde. Interestingly, the Frenchman also scored their 200th (against Espanyol in December 2018) (via FC Barcelona).
• Barcelona are unbeaten when Arturo Vidal is in the starting XI. The Chilean has made 23 starts, winning 15 and drawing eight (via FC Barcelona).
• Antoine Griezmann’s two goals against Real Betis ensured he became the first Barcelona player to score a brace in his first La Liga game for the club at the Camp Nou in the 21st century (via Opta).

Source: barcablaugranes.com