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Comparing Barcelona’s record with and without Lionel Messi since 2017-18

Planet Football •

Lionel Messi’s public spat with Eric Abidal has made the impossible seem possible: the Argentine superstar’s long-term future may be away from Barcelona.

Abidal criticised Barcelona’s players for not working hard enough under Ernesto Valverde, with Messi hitting back at the club’s sporting director on Instagram, leading to suggestions he could leave the club.

We’ve taken a look at Barcelona’s record with and without Messi since the start of 2017-18, their first season under Valverde.

With Lionel Messi

Played: 129
Wins: 88
Draws: 33
Losses: 8

Goals for: 303
Goals against: 103

Goals per game: 2.3
Goals against per game: 0.8
Win percentage: 68.2%
Loss percentage: 6.2%

Points per game: 2.1

Without Lionel Messi

Played: 26
Wins: 15
Draws: 4
Losses: 7

Goals for: 56
Goals against: 30

Goals per game: 2.2
Goals against per game: 1.2
Win percentage: 57.7%
Loss percentage: 26.9%

Points per game: 1.7


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