09.01.2011 12:28

Goal rush in figures

www.fcbarcelona.cat

FC Barcelona put on another exhibition of football as they returned to league action after the festive break with a stunning victory at Deportivo La Coruña and ensured that their 100 per cent away record remained intact.

A host of facts and figures came out of the game in Riazor and below are a few of the most interesting:

- Messi off the mark: Lionel Messi scored his first goal of 2011 as he continued where he left off before the winter stoppage. The Argentinian netted in the 51st minute having not scored since the 15th game of the campaign when he scored against Real Sociedad.

- Free-kick first: Messi's goal was also the first that Barça have scored directly from a free-kick this season. The forward's effort was his fourth goal from a free-kick for the club since he broke into the first team as he has hit them against Atlético de Madrid, Dynamo Kyiv and Almería before.

- Valdés and Iniesta: Goalkeeper Víctor Valdés and midfielder Andrés Iniesta are the only players to have appeared in every league for the first-team this season. Valdés also has the distinct record of having played every minute in la Primera.

- Tackling stats: Pep Guardiola chose to leave Sergio Busquets and Xavi on the bench and gave Javier Mascherano the responsibility of winning the ball back for Barça. The Argentinian took his chance and shone as he won no less than 15 balls in the win.

- Alves on the bench: Dani Alves started the game on the substitute's bench in Riazor and it was the first time that he did so since the Blaugrana played Hércules on rthe second day of the campaign.

- Debut day: Ibrahim Afellay made his league debut in the game against Deportivo as he was given more minutes as a substitute coming off the bench after playing his first game for the club in the Copa del Rey in midweek.

- Away form: The victory against Deportivo ensured that Guardiola's team maintained their 100 per cent record on the road. The triumph was Barça's ninth away win out of nine in the league this season.

- 1973/74 record: Guardiola's Barça team are now just one game away from equalling the 1973/74 side's record of 26 consecutive games without tasting defeat.

- Defensive record: Carles Puyol has surpassed Busquets, Del Sol and Puskas to become the player that has won the most consecutive league games as his appearance in the Depor win took him to 19 wins on the bounce.

- 150 goals: David Villa took his career goals tally in the league to 150 when he scored against Deportivo in minute 26 of the 0-4 win. The Asturian striker has scored 31 goals for Real Zaragoza, 107 for Valencia and 12 for Barça.