Best league start in five years

Barça and Xavi Hernández can feel very happy indeed with the season so far. After beating Elche 3-0 at Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday, 16 points from six games equates to one of their strongest starts this century.

It is their best record at this stage of the season since 2017/18, when Ernesto Valverde led the team to six straight wins, scoring 20 goals and conceding just two. That was the year Barça almost won the league without losing a game, but were shocked by Levante in the penultimate match.

Barça also had 16 points or more after six games in 2004/05, 2006/07, 2009/10, 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15.

In five of those seven seasons, they went on to win the trophy. In the other two, 2006/07 and 2013/14, they still had a chance of winning it on the final day.

Five wins in a row

After being held at home by Rayo, Barça have collected straight wins against Real Sociedad, Valladolid, Sevilla, Cádiz and now Elche, scoring 18 goals and conceding just one. Following the international break, they'll be looking extent the positive record against Mallorca.

Two more wins would match Xavi's longest streak as manager, which ran from February 20 to April 10, 2022, and included the spectacular 4-0 rout of Real Madrid.