Barca's offensive paradox

Spain possesses top strikers but Barca's conversion rate of shots into goals is 11%, causing them to drop to fourth in La Liga.

According to Spanish newspaper Marca , Barca have had 338 shots with 127 on target in 16 La Liga games and five Champions League games since the start of the season. As a result, they have scored 40 goals, including 30 in La Liga and ten in the Champions League. On average, the La Liga champions need 8.5 shots to score a goal. If only shots on target are counted, this efficiency is three shots per goal.

Xavi's team has a conversion rate of 11% of their shots into goals. If only counting shots on target, this rate increases to 31%.

The statistics, according to Marca , are very bad when considering the quality of Barca's current attacking stars, including Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres and Joao Felix. These are also the three players leading the list of Barca's goalscorers this season. Specifically, Lewandowski has eight goals in La Liga and one in the Champions League, Torres has three goals in La Liga and two in the Champions League, and Felix has two goals in La Liga and three in the Champions League.

Barca striker Robert Lewandowski dribbles past goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga and defender David Lopez during the 2-4 loss to Girona in the La Liga round of 16 at the Olympic Stadium, Barcelona on December 10. Photo: Reuters

According to Opta , Barca have averaged just 1.86 goals per game in La Liga under Xavi - the worst statistic among all coaches who have led Barca for at least 20 games since the 2003-04 season. Above Xavi are Frank Rijkaard (1.95 goals per game), Ronald Koeman (2.08), Ernesto Valverde (2.51), Gerardo Martino (2.63), Pep Guardiola (2.71), Luis Enrique (2.96) and Tito Vilanova (3.14).

Barca's attack continued to show poor form in their 2-4 home loss to Girona in round 16 of La Liga last weekend. Xavi's team played better with 54% ball possession, 31 shots with 11 on target, but only scored two goals, by Robert Lewandowski and Ilkay Gundogan.

Barca's only worse finishing since the start of the season was in their 1-0 win over Sevilla at the end of September. That match, Barca had 18 shots but failed to capitalize, and only took three points thanks to an own goal from defender Sergio Ramos. Their poor ability to capitalize on their chances was also the reason why Barca lost their first El Clasico of the season. They had 15 shots but only scored once, and lost 1-2 to Real at the end of October.

The wastefulness of the attack has been the reason why Barca have not won by a large margin in La Liga, since crushing Real Betis 5-0 in round 5 on September 16. This was also Barca's most effective match, when they scored from 17 shots, of which nine were on target.

The attack is ineffective, but Barca's defense is no longer as solid as when they won La Liga last season . After 16 rounds, Barca has conceded 18 goals. Last season, Barca only conceded 20 goals - the best defensive figure in the league, far ahead of the second-placed team Atletico with 33 goals conceded.

Cristhian Stuani scores the winning goal for Girona in a 4-2 win over Barca in the La Liga round of 16 at the Olympic Stadium, Barcelona on December 10. Photo: Reuters

After the match against Girona, Xavi admitted that wasteful attack and many mistakes in defense were the reasons for Barca's defeat. This result left Barca in fourth place in La Liga with 34 points, equal to Atletico but having played one more game, five and seven points behind Real and Girona respectively.

On December 13, Barca traveled to the Belgian club Antwerp in the final round of Group H of the Champions League. With just one point to maintain the top position, Xavi can calculate his forces to aim for the away match against Valencia in round 17 of La Liga on December 16.

Hong Duy

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