Premier League1 hour ago1 minute read

Barcelona's Stunning Start Makes Them Europe's Best

FC Barcelona are the hottest team in Europe after a dominant start to the season, outscoring opponents 33-7.

The EagleEyeOdds deskWritten from the match data, checked against our model before it goes out

A dominant start to the season

FC Barcelona are flying. Hansi Flick's team has started the season in unstoppable form, winning all seven of their opening matches. They enter the first international break as the hottest team in Europe, outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 33-7.

Their attacking play has been devastating. Raphinha and Lamine Yamal are leading the charge, combining for 19 goals and seven assists across all competitions. New signings Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi have also settled in quickly, contributing three goals and six assists between them.

Smart summer transfers pay off

This incredible run follows a successful season last year where Barcelona won LaLiga by eight points. Over the summer, the squad got even stronger. Although Ferran Torres left for PSG, the club brought in Rodri from Manchester City. They also added depth with Gabriel Jesus, who already has two goals in just 37 minutes of play.

Barcelona originally tried to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid for a massive fee. However, missing out on him has proved to be a good thing. Raphinha's current form has been so good that a big-money signing was simply not needed. Instead, the added depth is keeping the team fresh.

Tougher tests on the horizon

While Barcelona's start has been perfect, they have not faced the toughest schedule yet. The highest-ranked opponent they have played is Athletic Club, who are ranked 69th in the power ratings. Athletic Club are also the only team to hold Barcelona to fewer than four goals in a match.

Things will get much tougher soon. After games against Sevilla, Getafe, Galatasaray, and Real Betis, Barcelona will face two massive games. They play PSG and Real Madrid within just six days of each other in late October. That stretch will show if they can maintain this level.

What it means for the next game

Sevilla vs Barcelona (LaLiga, Sat, 19 Sep): Sevilla win 10%, draw 16%, Barcelona win 74%; expected goals 0.91 to 2.65. Our safest pick: Over 2.5 goals.