Sports
Barcelona's Blistering Start to La Liga Echoes Past Seasons That Ended Trophyless
Barcelona's 5-0 win over Valencia at Mestalla has placed the reigning La Liga champions among the most prolific attacking starts in the club's history. The team has scored 17 goals in its first four league matches, the highest total of any club in Europe's top five leagues at this point in the season. According to Mundo Deportivo, only two seasons in Barcelona's history have seen more goals scored in the opening four fixtures. In the 1949-50 season, under manager Enrique Fernandez Viola, Barcelona scored 19 goals in their first four matches, including a 10-1 win over Nastic de Tarragona and a 7-0 victory over Sevilla. That same team, however, suffered heavy losses to Real Madrid (1-6) and Athletic Club (1-3). The following season, managed by Ferdinand Daucik, Barcelona reached 21 goals in four matches, its best-ever start, highlighted by an 8-2 win over Real Sociedad and a 7-1 victory over Real Madrid. That side also lost away to Atletico Madrid (4-6) and Real Murcia (2-3). Despite those impressive scoring records, neither the 1949-50 nor the 1950-51 team went on to win the La Liga title. Barcelona have reached 17 goals after four matches on two other occasions: under Domingo Balmanya in 1957-58 and under Pep Guardiola in 2011-12. In both cases, Real Madrid ultimately won the league title instead. This season, under coach Hansi Flick, Barcelona have won all four of their opening league matches and currently lead La Liga. The goals have come from a varied attacking structure rather than dependence on a single striker or traditional number nine. Even so, the club's history serves as a reminder that strong scoring starts have not always translated into league titles.