Leo Messi's effectiveness in front of goal does not go unnoticed. The Barcelona striker has already scored 13 La Liga goals, a figure greater than what Espanyol have acheived in the 18 games they have played so far this season.
A total of 13 goals and the same number of games played, with 6 assists, are Leo Messi's figures as a Barcelona player so far in La Liga this season.
The 'Pichichi' of the First Division has a goal scoring record of such magnitude that it beats the whole Espanyol team, who are Barcelona's opponents this Saturday, 4th January, in the first big derby of the year.
The Catalan team, Espanyol, have only managed to score 12 goals in 18 games so far this season, a figure that just one Barcelona attacker has managed to beat.
A dozen goals scored and 34 conceded, in two wins, four draws and 12 losses, statistics that explain Espanyol's difficult situaton in the table.
The 12 goals are divided among eight players and only Bernardo, Marc Roca and Darder are in front of goal, with two each, which explains the goal drought that the team's strikers are going through.
However, Messi is choking on 'Perico' territory, since in the total count of goals he has scored in this derby, only 20 per cent have been scored in 'Perico' territory, which translates into only five of the 25 goals scored.