Another year over and a new one about to begin. There have been ups and downs for Xavi Hernández and his team over the last few months, but the Liga title and the amazing number of clean sheets are what 2023 will probably be remembered for the most. Let’s take a numerical look back at the year.
36 wins
The 36 victories in competitive matches in 2023 are the team’s best return since 2019, when the side coached by Ernesto Valverde won 38.
Two fortresses
20 of those wins were at home, either at Spotify Camp Nou or since the summer at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Again it is not since 2019 that Barça have racked up so many wins in their home stadium(s), when they got 24.
18 comeback points
This has been another year of dramatic comebacks. Barça have gathered no fewer than 18 points from games were they were trailing at some point but found their way back into the game.
Point leaders
Atlético Madrid and FC Barcelona both amassed a grand total of 88 league points in 2023. They are followed by Real Madrid (85), Girona (77), Real Sociedad (73) and Betis (63).
Lewandowski top
The Polish striker was Barça’s top goalscorer in 2023, with 24 in total, plus eight assists.
Jules Kounde most minutes
Only counting the 36 outfield players, the French signing from Sevilla got the most playing time under Xavi, a total of 4,146 minutes. However, the outright leader is naturally goalkeeper Ter Stegen with 4,188 minutes.
Balde and Ferran, most games
Curiously, if we count games rather than actual minutes, Alejandro Balde and Ferran Torres lead the way with 49 each, one more than Raphinha and Kounde, with Ter Stegen and Lewandowski on 47.
Cleanest sheets ever
Barça ended the year having kept 27 clean sheets, thanks to an amazing Ter Stegen and a solid defence before him. In the 2022/23 season, barça got to equal the all-time record for clean sheets in a single season held by Deportivo’s Paco Liaño.
Six La Masía rookies
Héctor Fort, against Royal Antwerp, became the sixth locally raised player to make his competitive debut in 2023. Alarcón did likewise against Betis, Garrido versus Elche, Lamine Yamal also in a game with Betis, Fermín against Villarreal and Marc Guiu by scoring against Athletic Club. If we also count Iñaki Peña, Araujo, Balde, Oriol Romeu and Gavi, as well as Jordi Alba, Ansu Fati, Abde, Eric García and Bellerín, no fewer than 16 La Masia graduates have featured for the team this year.
Zamora and Pichichi
For only the third time in club history, both the league’s top goalscorer and top goalkeeper were Barça players, namely Robert Lewandowski and Marc-André ter Stegen.
