Jordi Alba, master of assists
It is eight years since Jordi Alba arrived from Valencia. Having spent seven years at La Masia, he was now back. Only this time to star in the Camp Nou.
He’s a classic Barça wing-back – a defender who likes to move up and support the attack. And he doesn’t half give them that support! His killer passes into the box are lethal, and the stats prove it.
Since 26 August 2012, when he set up Leo Messi to score the winner against Osasuna in the 80th minute, he has been doing it over and over again.
Alba by the numbers
The Messi-Alba tandem has become one of the most deadly in La Liga. The Catalan has lain on now fewer than 21 goals from the Argentinian.
But he also had a fine understanding with Luis Suárez, supplying him with 20 assists.
He’s made 63 assists in total (La Liga 46; Champions League 9; Copa del Rey 8).
Only one current Barça player has more, and that’s Messi with a stratospheric 270.
His top season for assists was 2018/19 with 15, but with four in the first eight games of the current campaign, he’s well on course for setting a new personal best.