The importance of scoring first

Everyone knows how important it is to score first. And there is no finer case in point than Barça's league season. Every time they have scored first in a game, they have gone on claim the three points.

The only times they have filed to break the opening deadlock were the 0-0 draw on the opening day with Rayo Vallecano and the 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid, when it was Karim Benzema who scored first.

In fact, when Barça have scored first there has been only been one game, the one with Real Sociedad, in which the opposition has even been able to pull back level. On that occasion, Barça ended up winning 4-1.

Almería, first half danger

But the reverse is true of this weekend's opposition, Almería. Only Elche has dropped more points despite scoring first!

Almeria may have led against Real Madrid and Villarreal, but they ended up losing both games, and also ended up drawing with Elche despite scoring first.

Ten of Almería's 15 goals this season have come in the first half. That 67% is the highest percentage of all 20 teams in the competition. So although there is a high probability of them scoring in the first 45 minutes, there is also a high probability of things all going wrong from them after the break.

We've not had any of Barça's famous comebacks this season. Could this weekend bring the first?