The FC Barcelona forward has five goals in four games to lead the competition
Through five games in this year’s edition of the Copa del Rey, FC Barcelona are on the cusp of yet another appearance in the semi-finals. While football is a team sport and all the players deserve credit for Barça’s fine record, the biggest reason for this year’s success comes down to one man — Munir El Haddadi.
The striker has seen scant action in La Liga this season, his path to the starting line-up frequently blocked by the so-called trident.
Nevertheless, a combination of rotations ordered by head coach Luis Enrique and a smattering of injuries, Munir has been granted plenty more minutes in the Cup. And he’s made it count.
Munir scored his first two goals of the season in Barça’s 6–1 win over Villanovense in the return leg of the Copa del Rey last-32 at Camp Nou.
Then, in the last 16 against Espanyol, Munir — who did not play the first leg — did so in the second, scoring both of Barça’s goals in a 2–0 victory that put them in the quarter-finals.
Which brings us to today.
In Wednesday night’s first leg of the last eight, versus Athletic Club in Bilbao, Munir opened the scoring as FCB went on to claim a 2–1 triumph. It was his fifth goal, tops in the Copa del Rey this season.
Here’s a look at Munir’s stats in the 2015/16 Copa del Rey:
| MUNIR EL HADDADI |  |
| Games played | 4 |
| Games started | 4 |
| Minutes played | 350 |
| Goals | 5 |
| Minutes per goal | 70 |
| Total shots | 15 |
| Shots on goal | 7 |
| Scoring percentage | 45.45% |