FC Barcelona is halfway through the season
With the win in Málaga, Barça finished the first half of the Spanish League season in second spot, with an exceptional home record and Leo Messi equalling César’s goalscoring record. However, the away record is not as good as recent seasons.
Barcelona (FCB).- This weekend’s games marked the halfway point in the 2011-12 Spanish League season and Barça sit second, with 44 out of a possible 57 points (five behind the leaders, Real Madrid). FC Barcelona have won 13, drawn 5 and lost just a single game, with 59 goals scored and 12 conceded. At the Camp Nou, Barça have won 9 of their games and drawn the other with 43 goals scored and just 2 conceded. The away figures aren’t quite up to the exemplary standard set in previous seasons, though the high point of the campaign so far came on the road, with the 1-3 win over Real Madrid - the fourth season on the run they have taken points from Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium.
Valdés and Messi put in most minutes
Víctor Valdés and Leo Messi are the only players to have figured in all 19 games. The keeper has played every minute (1,710), whilst the Argentinean has played 1,649. Dani Alves is Guardiola’s next favourite with 1,539 minutes in 18 games, whilst both Éric Abidal (1,386 minutes) and Xavi Hernández (1,341) have played in 17 games.
Messi scoring record
The 22 goals Messi has scored is the joint highest of any Barça player in the first half of a season, matching César Rodriguez’s record from the 1950/51 season. The three times World Player of the Year is the Spanish League’s second highest scorer, one behind Cristiano Ronaldo. Behind Messi in the scoring stakes are Cesc Fàbregas (9), Alexis Sánchez (7), David Villa (5) and Xavi Hernández (5).
Most yellows for Piqué
Barça have not been handed a single red card so far this season and only Pique has been suspended –for just one match- having picked up six bookings. Messi and Sergio Busquets have both seen four yellows, whilst Javier Mascherano, Cesc and Alves have been booked three times.