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Andres Iniesta ends long goal drought and other deadly stats as Barcelona ease to La Liga win over Malaga

Stuart Appleby

00:46 22/10/2017

Barcelona eased to victory over Malaga on Saturday night at the Nou Camp to stretch their lead at the top of the La Liga table to eight points.

Gerard Deulofeu and captain Andres Iniesta were on the scoresheet for the hosts as they continued their fine start to the season.

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100 – BARCA QUICK TO GO AHEAD

The amount of seconds it took Barcelona to open the scoring. Rapid.

1 – DEULOFEU’S FIRST STRIKE FOR BARCELONA

Gerard Deulofeu’s first Barcelona goal, a tap-in from a few yards out, shouldn’t have counted after Lucas Digne’s cut-back to the six-yard box came after the ball had clearly gone out of play.

But, nevertheless, the officials allowed it and that made for a sweet moment for the former Everton man, who re-signed for the Catalan club in the summer after Barca activated his release clause.

The goal, in his 16th appearance for the club, is an important confidence-booster for the Spanish international who is still trying to establish himself at the Camp Nou.

Deulofeu, who started his career at Blaugrana, has had a long wait for his first goal.

17 – UNSTOPPABLE ON HOME TURF

Barcelona have now won their past 17 games on the trot at their famous stadium – which is of course the longest run in La Liga currently.

Stat via OptaJose

In it together: A comfortable night’s work for Barcelona.

2 – INIESTA ENDS LONG GOAL DROUGHT IN LA LIGA

It may have been a long time in coming (roughly two years), but it was worth the wait.

The sight of seeing club legend Andres Iniesta, who recently signed a new lifetime deal at the club, score his first goal of the season lifted the spirits of everyone.

The veteran had Lionel Messi to thank as well for the assist, with Iniesta scoring for the first time since November 2015.

500 – HALF-CENTURY FOR MESSI

The legendary Argentine has now been directly involved in 500 La Liga goals for Barcelona.

His assist for Iniesta’s goal was the 140th he has provided in his career.

Accurate.

9 – MESSI AND INIESTA ON CLOUD NINE

More on that assist…

In all competitions, it’s the ninth time Messi has turned provider for his long-term team-mate.

Same wavelength: Messi and Iniesta.

4 – BARCA STRUGGLE TO SCORE AGAINST MALAGA AT HOME

Believe it or not, Barcelona have scored just four times against Malaga in their past four home La Liga matches with the Andalusian side, taking into account Saturday’s result.

In the previous three clashes between the two teams, last season’s match ended goalless, an unlikely source in Thomas Vermaelen got the sole winner back in 2015-16 and Malaga actually won by a single goal during the 2014-15 campaign.

Stat via FC Barcelona FI

Malaga have often provided stubborn resistance at the Camp Nou.

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