Barcelona remain the only unbeaten side in Europe's top five leagues

Barcelona remain the only unbeaten side in Europe's top five leagues

El Barcelona rompió la maldicion en Anoeta tras ganar a la Real Sociedad con los tantos de Paulinho, Messi y Suárez, por partida doble / | LALIGA

Manchester City's defeat at Liverpool left Barça out on their own

Valverde's side have only dropped six points out of a possible 57

If they'd told us after the Spanish Super Cup, we would not have believed it. A directionless Barcelona, now without Neymar, were hammered over two legs by Real Madrid, who won the first trophy of the domestic season. Now, five months later, the Catalans are the only unbeaten side in Europe's top five leagues. 

Ernesto Valverde's side have signed off a spectacular first half of the campaign. Without the injured Ousmane Dembele and the, until recently, unsigned Philippe Coutinho, Barça have become a machine. The protection from Ter Stegen and the defence, the magic of Messi and the nose for goal of Paulinho and, above all, Luis Suarez has provided the key. 

After the first half of the league campaign, Barça have 51 points via 16 wins and three draws (against Atletico, Valencia and Celta Vigo). If they match that in the secon half of the campaign, they will end the season with 102 points, setting a new record. 

It is the ninth time a team in Spain's top flight has ended the first half of the season unbeaten. It happened previously with Barça (2009-10, 2012-13), Real Sociedad (1979-80, 2002-03) and Real Madrid (1966-67, 1968-69, 1988-89, 1996-97). In terms of points, it's the third best record. Barça managed 52 in 2010-11 and 55 in 2012-13. 

In Europe's big five leagues (Spain, England, Germany, Italy, France), no one else can match Barça. Manchester City were also unbeaten until Sunday, when they lost to Liverpool 4-3 in the Premier League. Juventu, Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid all started the season with long unbeaten runs, before eventually tasting defeat. In the second-level leagues, there are two teams yet to taste defeat: Sporting Lisbon and Porto.