There is no reason for alarm or anxiety. The data and the facts show that this Barcelona still has tremendous credibility and to lose faith in a team that has won it all would be as unjust as it is unfortunate. To support the faith of the fans, Catalán news site Sport presented a list of ten reasons to believe in FC Barcelona.
1. They have played 41 matches this season and only lost three.
A team that wins 73% of the games that it plays and has only lost 3 of the 41 it has disputed deserves all the credit in the world. Its regularity is one of its principal credentials to aspire to all titles. Real Madrid has seven games less and has lost twice the encounters.
2. They have earned two more points in the League by week 25 than last year.
It might be that they don’t show the superiority of last season, but their effectiveness is better. Last year by this week they had earned 60 points and suffered two consecutive defeats (Espanyol and Atlético), while now they have earned 62.
3. A great defensive solidarity has left 13 matches with zero goals allowed.
Victor Valdés and his defense have improved the numbers from last season. They have accumulated 13 matches out of 25 with zero goals against. That is to say, Barça has not allowed a goal in over half of their encounters in the League.
4. They have not scored in only three matches, none of which they lost.
This Barcelona might not be the goal-scoring machine of last season, but they are displaying an offensive power that is simply uncommon. Of the 41 matches of this season, they have scored in all, except in the League against Valencia in Mestalla (0-0), and in the Champions League matches against Inter in the Giuseppe Meazza (0-0) and against Rubin Kazan in Russia (0-0). In addition, Messi is the current pichichi of the League with 19 goals. In short, Barça has scored 89 goals in 41 games, or more than two per encounter.
5. The ‘FIFA virus’ has not affected them this season.
The ‘Pep Team’ traditionally has been affected more than others by their international players leaving for their respective matches. In fact, after the four occasions that they have had to go, Barça has won once and drawn three times (Valencia, Athletic de Bilbao and Almería). Fortunately, there are no more international matches to be played until after the end of the season.
6. They have a defined style and are betting on the cantera.
Madrid would like to be able to say that they count on a style that everyone wants to imitate and with a team based almost entirely on home-grown players. However, this is only true for Barcelona. Barça defends a style that counts on attacking play and always wanting the ball. And they execute it with eight of their own canteranos: Valdés, Puyol, Piqué, Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Pedro.
7. The best Ibrahimovic has yet to appear.
Sooner or later, the Zlatan that left his footprint in Calcio, being named the best player in Italy and ‘Pichichi,’ will appear. For now, he has only been decisive in the clásico against Madrid.
8. On the most important occasions, they always show their pride.
If there is something that stands out about this Barça, apart from their footballing identity, it is that they have never failed to play for pride. One just has to look at the elimination in the Copa del Rey against Sevilla, where the team said goodbye by winning 1-0 in the Sánchez Pizjuán and gave a grand performance.
9. Two key pieces return: Keita and Abidal.
Keita should be available against Valencia or later against Stuttgart. Meanwhile, Abidal will have to wait only two more weeks.
10. They depend on themselves, despite a battle against the best Madrid of the decade.
In the capital, they are already labeling them as the best Real Madrid of the decade. Well okay, Barça is tied in the League with this Madrid, who is only the virtual leader, and a tie in the Bernabéu would give the leadership to the blaugrana.
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