The best teams bring out the best in Hansi Flick

Barcelona are goalscoring machine. The Catalans have been shining under Hansi Flick this term, leading in the La Liga standings and reaching the last eight of the Champions League after eliminating Benfica - and doing so all whilst scoring goals non-stop.

The 'Cules' count 141 goals across all competitions, giving them an average of 3 goals per game. Of the 14 opponents Barca have played against on more than one occasion this season, only three of them have managed to concede less than two goals on average.

Against all odds, the BeSoccer Pro data reveals that the Germany international tends to perform better and score more against his stronger rivals on paper. In sum, it can be said that the best teams bring out the best in Flick.

Valencia tremble, Real Madrid and Sevilla sweat

Valencia, Real Madrid, and Sevilla are the biggest victims of Barcelona's goalscoring abilities. The 'Mucielagos' have gone up against 'Azulgrana' three times this season, twice in La Liga and once in the Copa del Rey, conceding 14 goals (4.6 per match) after losing 1-2, 7-1 and 0-5.

The 'Hispalenses' and the 'Merengues' have both conceded an average of 4.5 goals. Against Sevilla, Barcelona have won 5-1 at home and 1-4 away. Meanwhile, against their eternal rivals, they claimed a 0-4 victory at the Bernabeu, followed by a 2-5 thumping in the Spanish Super Cup final.

Three survivors

As mentioned above, only a restricted number of teams have managed to resist this trend. Las Palmas and Rayo Vallecano are two of the three survivors, both having conceded an average of 1.5 goals per game after Barca scored 3 times across 2 matches with each side.

Getafe did even better, lowering the average down to 1. In September, the 'Blaugrana' sealed victory thanks to Lewandowski's winner. But in the reverse fixture at the Coliseum, the 'Azulones' held the Liga leaders to a 1-1 after Arambarri's opener was cancelled out by Kounde.

While the new format of the Champions League denies teams from meeting the same opponents in the league phase of the tournament, there is the possibility of that happening in the knockout stage, which is what has occurred in Barcelona's case.

Hansi Flick's side go up against Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals of the elite European competition after beating 2-3 in the league phase earlier in the campaign. We shall see whether Kovac's men follow or resist the pattern of conceding at least three goals per game over the two-legged tie.

Barcelona's goalscoring average per game

4.6 against Valencia (14 goals in 3 games)
4.5 against Real Madrid and Sevilla (9  goals in 2 games, each)
4 against Girona (8 goals in 2 games)
3 against Benfica (9 goals in 3 games)
2.6 against Real Betis (8 goals in 3 games)
2.5 against Atletico Madrid (10 goals in 4 games)
2.5 against Osasuna (5 goals in 2 games)
2 against Athletic Club, Real Sociedad and Deportivo Alaves (4 goals in 2 partidos, each)
1.5 against Las Palmas and Rayo Vallecano (3 goals in 2 games, each)
1 against Getafe (2 goals in 2 games)

Goals against opponents faced once this season

7 against Real Valladolid
5 against Villarreal, Young Boys, Red Star Belgrade and Mallorca
4 against Barbastro and Bayern Munich
3 against Borussia Dortmund, Espanyol and Brest
2 against Atalanta and Celta Vigo
1 against Monaco
0 against Leganes