A statistical look at the two best attacks in the world.
With La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona continuing their fierce rivalry and mammoth spending in the transfer market again this summer, CaughtOffside takes a look at the statistical performances of their attacking players, which have both been widely hailed as the best two in the world.
While Real Madrid have forked out around £63m to sign Colombian World Cup star James Rodriguez from AS Monaco, Barcelona have parted with a massive £75m to sign Player of the Year Luis Suarez from Liverpool. The deals are worth £138m in total, and these two world class talents will now be lining up alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Gareth Bale and Neymar next season.
How to pick apart two such superb sets of attacking players? Based on the most important attacking statistics, goals and assists, from last season, there does seem to be a clear winner, but which one? See below for a player-by-player comparison and total numbers for each position.
Right flank:
Real Madrid: Gareth Bale (22 goals, 16 assists)
Barcelona: Pedro (19 goals, 8 assists)
The most expensive player of all time, Real Madrid wide-man Gareth Bale went some way to repaying his £85m transfer fee with an impressive debut season at the Bernabeu. Although the Welshman is not at Cristiano Ronaldo-like figures just yet, he will surely only improve, and is currently something of a cut above Barca winger Pedro on the right-hand side.Left-flank:
Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo (51 goals, 14 assists)
Barcelona: Neymar (15 goals, 11 assists)
An unfair comparison perhaps, given their slightly different roles in their respective teams, but Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo batters Neymar here with a superior assists record and far, far superior goals record with 51 to Neymar’s 15. The Brazilian youngster could still reach those numbers in the future, with the 22-year-old still adapting to a more competitive league, while Ronaldo is undoubtedly at the peak of his game.Number 10:
Real Madrid: James Rodriguez (10 goals, 12 assists)
Barcelona: Lionel Messi (41 goals, 11 assists)
Again, a slightly unfair comparison due to the difference in the way the two players play, as well of course as the relative strengths of the two teams they were playing with last season. Rodriguez will undoubtedly improve at Madrid with the likes of Ronaldo and Bale around him, and is also one for the future given his age and experience at the moment. Messi’s stats are modest by his standards, but he remains one of the deadliest attacking players in the world.Striker:
Real Madrid: Karim Benzema (24 goals, 14 assists)
Barcelona: Luis Suarez (31 goals, 12 assists)
Upfront, Barcelona new-boy Luis Suarez looks the winner, with a total contribution towards 43 goals against Karim Benzema’s 38. The Uruguayan forward was in sensational form for Liverpool as he netted 31 times in just 33 games, and some reports suggest he had also been eyed for some time by Real Madrid as an upgrade on Benzema, despite the Frenchman also boasting fine statistics.Total numbers:
Real Madrid: 107 goals, 56 assists
Barcelona: 106 goals, 42 assists
Real Madrid come out on top based on stats from last season, with their superb attacking quartet combining to contribute a total of 107 goals and 56 assists, compared to 106 goals and 42 assists from Barcelona’s players. The numbers should make for intriguing reading at the end of next season when these world class performers have all played together for a full campaign.