FC Barcelona have finished the 2022-23 season as champions of Spain, but there are a number of concerns in the squad going into the next season. One of the areas that require major attention is the forward line, especially the goal-scoring department.
Robert Lewandowski has finished his first season with FC Barcelona as the top scorer for the club and the top scorer in the league, winning himself the Pichichi with some distance. The Pole scored 33 goals for the club in total in all competitions.
As analyzed by Mundo Deportivo, following Lewandowski in the club’s goal-scoring charts are the wingers Raphinha and Ansu Fati. Both of them have scored 10 goals for the club, but there is a significant difference in the time these players have seen the pitch this season.
The Brazilian got 2,925 minutes worth of playtime, while Fati had 1,827 minutes. Thus, Raphinha scored a goal in every 292 minutes, and Fati scored every 182 minutes.
Lewandowski himself scored 33 goals in 3,954 minutes, during the season, and his average comes around to a goal in every 119 minutes.
Thus, while Ansu Fati has been criticized for his lack of form in recent seasons, his record shows him to still be one of the most effective goal-scorers in the squad. Seven of his ten goals have come in La Liga, two in Copa del Rey, and one in Spanish Supercopa.
Furthermore, in addition to these goals, Fati has also set up his teammates with 4 assists, which all came in league matches.
Thus, while selling Fati to obtain some funds and lighten their wage bill seems to be on the minds of FC Barcelona executives, his attacking output shows the player still has the goal-scoring spark present in him which makes him one of the deadliest players in the squad.
The player himself wants to stay and succeed at FC Barcelona, and the club would not be too worse off if he continues with this goal-scoring form.
