Barcelona trio equal 68-year-old La Liga scoring record

Barcelona’s attacking trio of Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez have equaled a 68-year-old La Liga scoring record after combining for 16 goals in the club’s opening five matches of the season.

Raphinha and Yamal have each scored six goals, while Lopez has contributed four. 

Their impressive form has helped Barcelona make a perfect start to the campaign, with Sunday’s 4-2 away win over Levante making it five wins from five matches.

Yamal was particularly influential against Levante, scoring twice, including a penalty in the 48th minute after opening the scoring in the 19th minute. 

The result further underlined Barcelona’s attacking strength in the early stages of the season.

The trio’s 16-goal haul matches the achievement of Real Madrid legends Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas and Hector Rial, who reached the same total during the first five matchdays of the 1958/59 season.

Only a few attacking trios have scored more goals over the same period. Sevilla’s Guillermo Campanal, Miguel Torrontegui and Jose Lopez hold the record with 24 goals in the opening five matches of the 1940/41 season, while three other trios have managed 17.

Barcelona’s current front three have also matched the club’s own record for goals by a trio after five league matches. 

They join Cesar Rodriguez, Marcos Aurelio and Estanislao Basora, who also scored 16 between them for Barcelona in the 1950/51 campaign.

Over at rivals Real Madrid, a former Real Madrid goalkeeper Santi Cañizares has criticized the club’s forwards for their lack of defensive effort following Saturday’s 4-1 La Liga victory over Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Cañizares acknowledged Madrid’s effectiveness in front of goal but warned that the team must improve in other areas if they want to establish themselves as the best side in Europe. He believes their current approach could expose them against stronger opponents.

The former Spain international was particularly concerned by the forwards’ performances when Madrid lose possession. He argued that the attackers often fail to track back, instead relying on one another to make the first defensive move.

According to Cañizares, this lack of defensive pressure stretches the team, forcing midfielders to retreat closer to the defense. He warned that the resulting gaps can give opposing teams chances against Madrid.

Cañizares described the problem as a competitive weakness that the coaching staff must address. He stressed that defensive responsibility cannot simply be ignored throughout the season and then expected to appear automatically when Madrid face a crucial match.