Defensive record at halfway stage

50 points and a record-breaking defence. Following a 2-1 win at Betis on Wednesday night, FC Barcelona have completed a simply extraordinary first half of the season, losing just one, and drawing just two of the 19 matches so far and conceding just seven goals in the process, the last being the own goal by Jules Kounde that ultimately had no impact on the outcome in Seville.

Back in 1986/87, when Terry Venables was coach and Andoni Zubizarreta was in goal, Barça let in just eight goals in the first round of matches. 36 years later, they've gone one better.

In fact, it's the second best ever defensive record at this stage of the season. Deportivo de la Coruña went one better in 1993/94 by only conceding six.

Ter Stegen on song

In those 19 games, Marc ter Stegen has only had to pick the ball out of the back of the net more than once in a solitary game. That was the 3-1 loss at the Santiago Bernabéu. In 19 games, the German stopper has kept 14 clean sheets, and in four games he has let in just the one goal. It's a record on a par with Jan Oblak in 2017/18, who was also only beaten more than once in one of the first 19 games.

Lewandowski shining up front

At the other end of the pitch there are things to shout about too. Robert Lewandowski in particular. In his first season with the team, the Pole has scored 14 goals in 16 appearances, the best tally for a Barça debutant since Ronaldo in 1996/97. 

In terms of the league as a whole, his goal last night means he has equalled the 14 goals in 16 games scored by Cristiano Ronaldo, Radamel Falcao and Diego Tristán in their own debut seasons in the competition.