Seven Straight Wins in La Liga, but There’s More to Achieve
FC Barcelona has launched the La Liga season with an impressive seven consecutive victories, yet manager Hansi Flick insists there is still room for enhancement despite their narrow 1-0 win over Getafe.
Dominance Not Fully Reflected in Scoreline
The Blaugranas secured their latest win thanks to an early goal from Robert Lewandowski. They dominated possession with nearly 80% and recorded 16 attempts on goal. However, the final score did not reflect their control, as Getafe nearly equalized in the dying moments.
This victory places Barcelona among the top three best starts to a league season in the club’s history, surpassing the records set under Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova. With victories over teams like Valencia, Athletic Bilbao, and Villarreal, Flick has matched Ernesto Valverde’s record of seven consecutive wins from the 2017-2018 season.
Aiming for Historical Milestones
Flick is now just one win away from equaling Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s record of eight straight wins at the start of a La Liga season, established in the 2013-14 campaign. Despite achieving these milestones, Flick remains focused on areas for improvement. “To get seven wins is perfect, but we have to do some things better,” he commented.
Praise for Players and Upcoming Challenges
While Barcelona showed dominance, they were wasteful in front of goal, failing to capitalize on multiple chances to extend their lead. Getafe, managed by José Bordalás, showcased a resilient defensive structure and nearly scored on a counter-attack.
Flick praised his players’ commitment and recognized Getafe’s tough defense, stating, “I’m very proud of my players and how they fought for 95 minutes.” Currently, Barcelona sits atop the La Liga standings with 21 points, four points clear of rivals Real Madrid.
Goalkeeping Concerns
In light of first-choice goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen’s recent knee surgery, Iñaki Peña stepped up as a solid replacement. Flick commended Peña’s performance but emphasized the need for experience among the goalkeepers, especially with ter Stegen potentially missing the rest of the season.
“Iñaki Peña is our number one goalkeeper, and I’m happy with him,” Flick asserted. As Barcelona aims to maintain their perfect start, the focus will be on addressing the fine margins that can influence their season’s success.
With a robust foundation already established, the Blaugranas look forward to extending their winning streak and fine-tuning their performance as the season progresses.
