Barcelona’s optimism as Ansu Fati leads LaLiga for goals per 90 minutes

The 2021/22 season will surely end up being a mere smudge in the Ansu Fati record books by the time the Spain international finishes his career, but it could end up being one of the most important years of his life. The 19-year-old has had to fight back from multiple major injuries this term and has impressed whenever his health has allowed him to step between the white lines.

After coming on against Real Betis on Saturday night, he immediately looked lively and scored 67 seconds after his substitution. He’d even had another half-chance before then.

That was his fourth goal of the league season, with the other three also coming quickly. When he made his long-awaited return from knee surgery to face Levante in September, the teenager netted in stoppage time after being substituted on for the final 10 minutes, earning an ovation from a jubilant Camp Nou crowd. Later, he scored five minutes into a start against Celta Vigo and 13 minutes into another start against Valencia.

This means that Ansu Fati has scored four goals from 245 minutes in seven LaLiga appearances in 2021/22. He’d have wanted to play much more than that, but his impressive strike rate in so few minutes means he actually leads LaLiga this season for goals per 90 minutes, with 1.47.

That makes him the only player in the competition to average more than a goal per game, with Real Betis academy graduate Kike Hermoso second with one goal from his one 90-minute outing of the year and with Pichichi leader Karim Benzema third with a rate of 0.96 goals per 90 minutes, having scored 26 from 2,429 minutes.

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Xavi’s praise for Ansu Fati

To talk about 90-minute stats for Ansu Fati obviously comes with some caveats, not least the fact that he hasn’t actually completed 90 minutes since July of 2020. But, the fact he is able to make so much out of so little is encouraging.

As Xavi said: “He’s a star and has a knack for scoring goals. Even when he hits it poorly, it can still go in. He has to be in the penalty area as he can make things happen there.”

If Ansu Fati can now just stay fit, the sky is the limit for him and for Barcelona. They’ve managed to secure Champions League football and probably second place while enjoying arguably their most talented player for just 245 league minutes. Next season, they’ll hope for many more Ansu Fati moments of magic.