Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has labelled Barcelona the best team in La Liga, saying they are 'playing a different sport' after their historic start. The Argentine's comments follow his side's 2-1 derby win over Real Madrid, which still leaves them five points behind the leaders.
Barcelona have won all seven of their opening league matches this season, collecting 21 points and scoring 31 goals. That tally marks the club's best-ever goalscoring start after seven games. Only Sevilla's 40 goals from the 1940/41 campaign surpasses it in the competition's history. "It looks like Barcelona is playing a different sport from the one we're playing," Simeone stated. "They didn't have a number 9 striker, then Raphinha showed up and scored 12 goals."
Raphinha, deployed as a central forward by coach Hansi Flick, leads the Pichichi race with those 12 goals, five clear of teammate Lamine Yamal who has seven. Atletico Madrid currently sit second with 16 points from five wins, a draw and a loss. Their next assignment is away to Alaves this Saturday, October 10th, with the hosts sitting sixth in the table.
The head-to-head clash between the two title contenders is scheduled for November 8th at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. Atletico's recent form of two wins and three losses from their last five shows the need for consistency following the derby victory. Barcelona's next fixture is at home to fourth-placed Real Betis on Sunday, October 11th.
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