By the Numbers: FC Barcelona under Hansi Flick
FC Barcelona are working wonders under Hansi Flick. They are top of the league table, and they are doing so by playing brilliant attacking football. It's plain to see just by watching them play, but it's also reflected statistically.
Take a look at these five stats, which show just how good La Liga 2024/25 has been so far.
Top for goals
Barça have rammed in no fewer than 28 goals in their first nine league fixtures... more than three a game. And they are coming from all quarters. Robert Lewandowski leads the way with an astonishing ten goals, but eight other players (Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Pedri, Kounde, Ferran, Pablo Torre and Pau Víctor) have all netted too. Together, that leaves Barça four goals clear of the next team on the list, Real Madrid on 19.
Top for shots
As the great Johan Cruyff said, "if you don't shoot, you don't score." Well, Barça have had 65 attempts on goal this season, six more than the team in second, again Real Madrid. Frustratingly, the Catalans have hit the woodwork with an astonishing 11 of those shots, more than twice as many times as any other team.
Top for corners
Corners are another common stat used to measure a team's attacking success, and here again Barça are out in front. There have been 56 occasions this season when opposing defences have been forced to put the ball over their own back line, three more than Real Betis in second.
Top for possession
It is no secret that the possession game is one of the hallmarks of the club. It's reassuring to know that Flick is keeping that tradition alive, something he specifically told us prior to the Alavés game last week. With 67.65% of possession, Barça edge out Real Madrid and Real Sociedad to claim top spot.
Leaders in opposing offsides
It's not just about going forward, it's also about thwarting opponents at the back. Flick likes to push his back-line forward, and if that can be combined with an effective offside trap, then you have a winning formula. The number of times the opposition is caught offside is not a statistic that tends to get much attention, but it's worth a look in this case because the difference between Barça and the rest is so staggering.
Barça's opponents have been flagged for offside 62 times this season. The team that's second on the list, Osasuna, is way behind on 26. In academic research, that's called a 'statistically significant' difference. A difference so big that it can't be put down to chance alone. There has to be a reason. And that reason is a defence that knows how to do its job. And brilliantly.