REPORT: La Liga loses goals, even as Barca maintain their level

The first weeks of the season have made it clear that the Spanish league has lost some goalscoring power. While other leagues in Europe see goals rising, in Spain there are fewer.

The numbers reflect a trend from recent years. The Bundesliga has traditionally had the most goals and it still has a lot but it has been overtaken by the Premier League. Even in Italy, there are far more goals than usual. Goodbye catenaccio. France has dipped a little, but it's nothing like Spain.

From the 2017-18 season, 2.69 goals per game, the level has dipped to 2.21. Last season was 2.48 and the year before was 2.58. Each year, the division has lost goalscoring ability.

Barca are the one side that have been able to just about maintain their level. They hit 99 in 17-18 (2.60/game), then 90 the year after, followed by 86. This season they have eight goals in three games, back to the 2.66/game average. That said, it's a small sample size for this season, we'll see how it goes.

By contrast, Real Madrid have dropped off hugely post-Cristiano Ronaldo. In 17-18 they got 94 goals, 2.47/game. They lost 31 goals the following year, after the Portuguese left, down to 62 (1.65/game). It improved a little last season, 70 goals, 1.84. This season they have six goals in four games, 1.50/game. 

In the Premier League there have been 144 goals in 38 games, 3.79/game. Results like Villa 7-2 Liverpool, and Tottenham's 6-1 win over Man United at Old Trafford have kept the goals and entertainment flowing. 

Serie A has 3.5/game, up from 3.02/game last season. Germany have 3.4/game.