Hansi Flick leads Barcelona to best La Liga start in club history

Barcelona have made the strongest start to a La Liga campaign in the club’s history under Hansi Flick, surpassing the records previously set by Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique.

The Catalan side have won all four of their opening league matches, scoring 17 goals and conceding only two. They have achieved that record despite not having an established centre-forward, and have moved beyond the starts recorded in 1929-30, 2009-10 and 2014-15.

Two of those earlier campaigns ended with Barcelona winning the UEFA Champions League under Guardiola in 2009-10 and Luis Enrique in 2014-15 offering Flick’s side an early reason for optimism as they target major honours this season.

Barcelona have recorded three emphatic victories in their first four matches. They beat Elche and Valencia 5-0 before defeating Rayo Vallecano 5-2 at Spotify Camp Nou. Their narrowest win came against Athletic Club, who were beaten 2-0.

The team have also shown considerable defensive strength. Their only two goals conceded so far were both scored by Rayo Vallecano forward Sergio Camello.

According to the Catalan newspaper Sport, Barcelona ended the opening four rounds with a goal difference of plus 15. That is the best start in the club’s history in La Liga, improving on the previous record of four wins with a goal difference of plus 11.

That earlier benchmark had been achieved by James Bellamy’s Barcelona side in 1929-30, Guardiola’s team in 2009-10 and Luis Enrique’s team in 2014-15.

Barcelona’s start is also level with the second-best opening in La Liga history. Real Madrid registered the same record in 1958-59, scoring 19 goals and conceding four in their first four fixtures.

Real Madrid still hold the competition record. They scored 21 goals and allowed only one during the opening four matches of the 1987-88 season.

Despite their outstanding attacking efficiency, Flick’s Barcelona do not hold the club record for goals scored in the first four games of a campaign. They scored 19 in 1949-50 and 21 in 1950-51. However, neither of those teams won all four of their opening matches.

Flick has also set a personal record during his time at Barcelona. He has become the manager with the most victories in his first 80 matches in charge of the club, reaching 63 wins.

That total puts him ahead of Luis Enrique, who recorded 62 victories during his first 80 games, and Guardiola, who won 61.

Barcelona will attempt to maintain their perfect league record before the next international break. They are due to visit Levante and Sevilla, while Racing will travel to face them at home.

The club will then begin their UEFA Champions League campaign next Wednesday against Feyenoord at Camp Nou.

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