Samuel Eto'o maybe sidelined through injury, but the Barça team have continued to score goals as they have netted 31 times in the Cameroon international's absence. Ronaldinho has led the way and he is now top scorer in the Spanish first division.
Since Eto'o damaged his meniscus in the Champions League game away at Werder Bremen, Ronaldinho has scored nine times in the league and leads the way in the Pichiichi charts with his ten goals this term. The team were expected to struggle with the injuries, but without Eto'o the Blaugrana have only been defeated at Chelsea and Real Madrid, as the side were still adapting life without him.
Topping the charts
In the 11 games since playing Werder Bremen, Ronaldinho has scored nine times, netting twice in games against Recreativo, Sevilla, Real Zaragoza and Villarreal and once against Deportivo. His tally this term has seen him overhaul several other contenders for the top scorer prize in Spain and has put him at number one for the first time.
Previous seasons
In season 2003-04, after 12 league games, the former Gremio and PSG star had scored four times and went on to finish with 15 goals. The following year he had managed only two goals after the same number of games and would finish the campaign with nine. Last term he totalled eight goals in 12 games and went on to finish with 17, his record in the Spanish league. If Ronaldinho continues on his current course he will surpass that total this season.
All-round improvement
Not only is Ronaldinho scoring more often in Eto'o's absence, but also his team-mates are looking sharp in front of goal. Eidur Gudjohnsen as four in the league and two in the Copa del Rey, while Andrés Iniesta has two league goals and one in the Champions League and Santi Ezquerro has netted once in the league and once in the Copa del Rey. the average number of goals scored by the team has risen without Eto'o from 2.2 goals per game, to 2.4 goals per game.
(fcbarcelona.com )
(some very amazing stats if you ask me
!)