02.04.2007 12:53
Statistics favour Barça
If Barça can repeat the results of the last ten matches of the first half of the league programme, the third league title in a row will be ours.
The Spanish league is entering its final phase and with just ten games left, the stats could well
be in Barça’s favour. If the team can maintain the kind of results achieved in the last ten
games of the first half of the season, there will be no catching them. Bearing in mind that
Rijkaard had to deal with a number of important injury problems earlier in the season, the signs
are looking good.
The last ten matches of the first half of the season
If we examine the results of the last ten games
of the first half of the season – in other words, matches against the same sides that must
now be faced in the last ten games of the season – we see that Real Madrid collected 21
points, Barça and Valencia, 19 and Sevilla, 17. Given the lead currently enjoyed by Barça, the same
set of results would hand Barça its third consecutive league title.
No direct encounters
Barça also has the added advantage of not having to play against any of the other three teams
currently competing for a top-four finish. In contrast, Real Madrid, Valencia and Sevilla all have
to play each other – Valencia v Sevilla (match day 30), Real Madrid v Valencia (match day 31)
and Real Madrid v Sevilla (match day 33) – and will therefore be taking much needed points
from each other.
With Messi and Eto’o
Barça has been boosted by the return of Messi and Eto’o for this
final phase of the season. Both strikers missed the last games of the first half of the season due
to injury but are now back in top form. Between them, they’ve scored eight goals in the last
three matches and, significantly, with an attacking threesome of Messi, Eto’o and Ronaldinho
in the starting line-up, Barça has not lost a single league match.
The last matches with Rijkaard
The results obtained in the previous three seasons under Rijkaard also give rise to optimism. If
the results of the last three seasons in the last ten league matches are repeated, Barça would be
hot favourites to retain the title. In the 2003-04 season, Barça won six, drew two and lost two; in
the 2004-05 season, it was five wins, four draws and just one defeat; last season Barça won five,
drew three and lost two.