Barça unbeaten when Iniesta scores

Iniesta celebra el gol de dimarts contra el Celtic / FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB
The midfielder has scored 42 goals for the first team, and in those games, Barça have won 37 times and drawn five

His first goal was in the 2003/04 season, in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey against Levante, and the last was against Celtic last Tuesday in the Champions League

Iniesta’s golden goals

Season 2003/04
2 goals = 2 wins

Season 2004/05
2 goals = 2 wins

Season 2005/06
1 goal = 1 win

Season 2006/07
9 goals = 8 wins, 1 draw

Season 2007/08
4 goals = 2 wins, 2 draws

Season 2008/09
5 goals = 4 wins, 1 draw

Season 2009/10
1 goal = 1 win

Season 2010/11
9 goals = 9 wins

Season 2011/12
8 goals = 7 wins, 1 draw

Season 2012/13
1 goal = 1 win

 

Andrés Iniesta’s goals are worth their weight in gold. Not only was there his priceless finish in 2008/09 at Stamford Bridge that sent Barça into the Champions League final. There have been many others, and in fact, in not one of the 42 games in which he has scored have Barça been beaten. There have been a spectacular 37 wins and five draws.

His first goal for the first team came in the return leg of the Copa del Rey 2003/04 match against Levante. Since then, every goal he has scored has been of remarkable value. Last Tuesday in the Champions League against Celtic he scored his first of the present season, a 44th minute equaliser after Samaras had opened for the visitors, and which spurred the team towards yet another comeback.

9 out of 9 in 2010/11

So, one goal and one win this season. But last term, 2010/11, Iniesta scored nine times, eight in the league and once in Europe, and Barça won each time that happened. The same occurred in all of the 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06 and 2009/10 seasons.

Even when Barça haven’t won on the back of an Iniesta goal, they have least secured a draw. Two of his goals against Chelsea have meant important draws, in 2008/09 at Stamford Bridge and last season at the Camp Nou. Another case was in the 2006/07 season, when Barça were at home to Valencia, and the other two came in 2007/08, away to Olympique Lyon and Espanyol. He may not be a striker, but Iniesta’s goals are clearly very important for ensuring games end the right way.