The Clásico story so far in 2022/23

Barça are about to play the fifth game with Real Madrid this season (the sixth if we also include the preseason friendly in Las Vegas). The Wednesday 9pm CEST kick-off is the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final, while all the others have been in very different circumstances and have produced some very different games. 

No double goalscorer

Barça is a side that doesn't rely on individuals. It's very much a team affair and that is reflected by the fact that all the goals against Real Madrid this season have come from the feet of different players.

Raphinha scored the only goal in Las Vegas, Ferran Torres struck in the 3-1 defeat in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabéu, Lewandowski, Pedri and Gavi netted in the Super Cup Final in Riyadh, the only goal in the Copa del Rey first leg was an own goal by Militao and in the Liga game at Spotify Camp Nou, Sergi Roberto and Kessié were on target.

Real Madrid's goals have been fewer, just five, also including an own goal, unfortunately coming off Araujo. Valverde and Rodrygo have both scored in the league while the only player from either side to have scored twice has been Karim Benzema.

Ter Stegen and Kounde ever-present

There are only five Barça players who have started all four of the official games against Madrid this season, namely De Jong, Busquets, Balde, Kounde and Ter Stegen. And Kounde and Ter Stegen are the only ones who have played every single minute.

Madrid have a large number of players who have started all those games, although only Militao was on for the full 90 minutes of each.

Possession no guarantee

Barça have led the possession in three of the four competitive games, while Madrid dominated that aspect in the cup semi-final first leg (65%). But they didn't win that game. Curiously, there is no statistical correlation between possession and winning the Clásico.

And Sergio Busquets leads the pass count in these matches with 287, followed by De Jong (249) and Carvajal (250). Busquets has also won the most balls, 30, tied with Militao, and two more than Kounde.