Barcelona dismantled Valencia 5-0 at the Mestalla on Sunday, extending their explosive start to the season. After just four matches, Hansi Flick's side have scored 17 goals—the highest tally across Europe's top five leagues and among the best goalscoring starts in the club's 125-year history.
The Catalan giants have now matched the pace of two legendary Barcelona eras. In 1949-1950 under Enrique Fernández Viola, Barcelona netted 19 goals in their opening four games, including a devastating 10-1 demolition of Nàstic de Tarragona and 7-0 rout of Sevilla. The following season, Ferdinand Daučík's Barcelona accumulated 21 goals, highlighted by an 8-2 thrashing of Real Sociedad and a 7-1 replay victory over Real Madrid. More recently, Domènec Balmanya's 1957-1958 side and Pep Guardiola's 2011-2012 team also managed 17 goals in their first four La Liga encounters.
The Curse Behind the Goals
Despite their phenomenal attacking prowess, Barcelona's historical precedent carries an unsettling pattern. Neither the 1949-1950 nor 1950-1951 campaigns yielded a La Liga title—both seasons ended with Atlético Madrid claiming the trophy. Likewise, Balmanya's firepower in 1957-1958 and Guardiola's final campaign in 2011-2012, each featuring 17-goal starts, failed to deliver league glory, with Real Madrid winning the championship on both occasions.
This curse raises an intriguing question for Flick's Barcelona: can they break the historical jinx? The club sits atop La Liga after four rounds, commanding performances built on quick transitions and relentless pressing. Their attacking depth—combining Robert Lewandowski's finishing with the pace of Gavi and Pedri—has overwhelmed opponents.
Barcelona's pursuit of a third consecutive league title remains their primary objective. While scoring 17 goals in four matches signals elite-level dominance, the shadows cast by previous record-breaking starts remind Blaugrana supporters that offensive abundance alone does not guarantee silverware. The real test begins now.
