Record-chasing Barcelona and a Real Madrid in free fall
Ernesto Valverde is hunting Gerard Martino's eight game winning start
Real Madrid have made their second worst in the last 11 seasons
The three points Barcelona picked up at Girona leave them a couple of steps away from matching their best ever league start. For now, though, Ernesto Valverde’s side can boast the club’s best numbers after six games, with six wins, 20 goals scored and just two conceded. Real Madrid, meanwhile, don’t have reason to boast about their start to the campaign, given it’s their second worst in the last 11 seasons.
Barça have started at pace this year. Only on six previous occasions have they won all their opening six matches, although their goal difference (plus 18) is much better this time round. Valverde’s entered an exclusive club with Tata Martino (2013/2014), Tito Vilanova (2012/2013), Pep Guardiola (2009/2010), Louis van Gaal (1997/1998), Johan Cruyff (1990/1991) and James Bellamy (1929/1930), the only coaches to win the first six games of the season.
The Catalan side now have the opportunity to go on and match, or better, their best ever start, which was made by Martino’s Barça, who won their first eight matches of the season. That run came to an end in week nine, with a goalless draw away at Osasuna. Valverde’s side can match that run if they beat Las Palmas and two weeks later the record will then pass through Atletico Madrid’s new home, the Wanda Metropolitano. If they match Martino’s record, the final obstacle to go clear would be against Malaga. Nine wins would equal Madrid’s best ever start, which occurred in 1968/1969.
Zinedine Zidane’s side, meanwhile, have not started this season with the same security and, despite Saturday’s 2-1 win at Alaves, they’re experiencing their second worst start in 11 years. Their 11 points are only better than the 10 they picked up in 2012/13 when Jose Mourinho was in charge.
The consolation for Madrid, who have a goal difference of plus five, is that they’ve now won 12 games in a row away from home, matching the record held by Guardiola’s Barça from 2010. Madrid’s problems are arriving at home, at the Santiago Bernabeu, where they’ve not yet tasted victory this season in three league games. They drew with Levante and Valencia and lost to Real Betis. On Sunday they welcome Espanyol.
