FC Barcelona's midfield has started the 2016/17 LaLiga season with its shooting boots on. The seven midfielders in the squad have scored a total of nine goals so far, with these goals contributing 28% of the team's total this season in the league.
Rafinha has five and both Arda and Rakitic have two and these goals have contributed to Barça's midfield being the second highest scoring in a decade. The only midfield ahead of them is the 2011/12 squad which had scored ten by this point: Fabregas had five, Xavi four and Thiago one. Taking into account the fact that the majority of Barça's goals tend to come from the fearsome attacking trident, with 20 so far this season, it is important to recognise the midfielders contribution. The nine goals equal the statistics for the 2014/15 season and dwarf last season's figures of no goals scored from midfield at this stage of the season.
Crucial opening strikes
These goals have come at crucial times. Five of the nine strikes have helped Barça score their first goal of the game and have helped the team win difficult fixtures. Rafinha and Rakitic have opened the scoring in four games and in two of them, Athletic v FCB (1-0) and FCB v Granada (1-0) their goals have been enough to secure three crucial points in the league.
