05.10.2008 14:15
A game of many records
Marc Guillén
The overwhelming victory and the hunger for goals that FC Barcelona showed against Atlético de Madrid produced some statistics that show just how well Pep Guardiola's side are playing.
The five goals in the first 28 minutes was something that had not been achieved by Barça since
1942. The free-kick from Lionel Messi was Barça's first since November 2007. The win was the team's
sixth consecutive victory. All these records, and more, all came out of the incredible performance
against Los Colchoneros. Below are a few more to enjoy.
Four goals from corners
The first goal against Atlético came with a header from Raf Márquez when
he met a corner. Barça have already scored four goals from corners this season from 64 attempts.
That is an average of a goal every 16 corners. Last season the team only scored twice all term.
First free-kick goal
Messi scored from a direct free-kick after not asking about the wall. The goal was the first
scored in such a manner under Guardiola and, in fact, was hte first that the team have scored since
November 4, 2007, when Ronaldinho netted two against Real Betis.
100 per cent effective
After a start to the season when a debate has been ongoing about Barça's effectiveness in
front of goal, against Atlético the first five shots by the both sides all brought goals. In the
17th minute Barça netted their fourth of the night and Atlético had scored with their first effort.
The fifth shot from Barça saw Andrés Iniesta hit the post and Eidur Gudjohnsen tucked in the
rebound.
The best run of 2007/08
The win against Atlético was Barça's sixth consecutive victory in all competitions and
bettered any run that the team enjoyed last term. To find an equal or greater run then one would
have to go back to the 2005/06 when Frank Rijkaard's team embarked on a sequence of no less than 19
wins-in-a-row.
Attendance record
Against Atlético, the best attendance at Camp Nou of the season so far
was recorded with 75,232 fans turning up to see the victory, while prior to that the best had been
58,534 against Sporting Clube.
Five goals in 1942
The last time that Barcelona scored five goals in under 28 minutes was on November 8, 1942.
That day, Celta were defeated 8-0, and by minute 27 the Blaugrana were 5-0 ahead thanks to goals
from Valle (2), Martín, Trujillo and an own goal from Monaguillo. Johan Cruyff's Barça team went
close when they beat Rayo Vallecano 7-1 with Julio Salinas netted the team's fifth in the 28th
minute.
Eto’o scoring record
Samuel Eto'o's goalscoring exploits continue to impress. Five goals in the league, one in the
Champions League group stage and two in the qualifiers against Wisla Krakow. Overall, the Cameroon
international has netted eight goals in ten games, with seven coming at Camp Nou. The only away
goal he has scored came at Sporting de Gijón.