Barça are top of the league while the ‘budgies’ are in mid table
Friday’s Camp Nou derby sees both Barça and Espanyol well placed. Barça are enjoying the best ever start to a season, with ten wins, one draw and no defeats. Meanwhile, Espanyol have 15 points and for the time being are well clear of relegation and have an eye on European qualification. These are the two sides’ stats so far this season:
 |
 |
|
| GOALS FOR |
33 | 12 |
| GOALS AGAINST |
7 | 14 |
| SHOTS FOR | 193 | 126 |
| SHOTS AGAINST |
94 | 99 |
| SAVES BY KEEPER |
31 | 24 |
| CROSSES INTO AREA | 185 | 308 |
| CROSSES INTO AREA AGAINST |
181 | 225 |
| FOULS AGAINST |
180 | 167 |
| FOULS COMMITTED |
131 | 187 |
| PENALTIES FOR |
1 | 0 |
| YELLOW CARDS |
16 | 32 |
| RED CARDS |
0 | 1 |
| YELLOW CARDS AGAINST | 31 | 32 |
| RED CARDS AGAINST |
0 | 1 |
| BALLS LOST |
907 | 1,067 |
| BALLS RECOVERED |
749 | 788 |
| INDIVIDUAL RUNS |
140 | 64 |
| MINUTES OF POSSESSION |
366 | 230 |
| OFFSIDES | 23 | 12 |
*Data provided by OptaSports
The stats from these 11 games show the attacking potential of Martino’s side, who are averaging 3 goals a game, as well as the sensational start to the season from Victor Valdes, who has made more saves than Espanyol’s Kiko Casilla. They also show that Espanyol themselves are a team who attack down the flanks and are also quick to recover possession.