The Stats That Highlight Slumping FC Barcelona’s Worrying Dependence On Injured Pedri

A worrying set of statistics have highlighted FC Barcelona and their head coach Xavi’s dependence on star midfielder Pedri.

The Tenerife native was Barca’s bargain of the century after they paid Las Palmas a paltry €5mn ($5.3mn) for his services in 2019.

Pedri joined the Catalans a year later, and has never shifted from the heart of midfield since Ronald Koeman took a punt on him early in 2020/2021.

This season, Pedri has been vital in putting Barca on course for their first La Liga title in four years. His winners in four 1-0 victories and another 2-1 triumph for the Blaugrana have accounted for an 10 extra points, as they currently lead bitter rivals Real Madrid by seven at the summit.

Unfortunately for Xavi, however, a right thigh knock Pedri suffered in the first half of a 2-2 playoff first leg draw with Manchester United happened at the worst possible time.

Barca went on to lose the second leg 2-1 without the playmaker available, and then missed an opportunity to go 10 points clear in La Liga by losing 1-0 to Almeria on Sunday when Madrid had drawn 1-1 in the derby against Atletico.

Xavi has been upfront and honest about missing Pedri, but stats provided by OptaJose show just how dependent he is on his number ‘8’.

With Pedri, Xavi’s teams since taking over in November 2021 have picked up 90% of their points – 84 from 93 to be exact, with 27 wins, three draws, and one loss.

Without Pedri, they have only mustered 57% – or 31 from 54 points across nine wins, four draws, and five losses.

It doesn’t take a genius to work out that the now under pressure manager needs the 20-year-old back as soon as possible as Barca head into the business end of the season.

After seeming in control for the duration of their campaign once they brushed off an October defeat in El Clasico, Barca are now slumping at the worst possible moment with Thursday’s Copa del Rey semi-final first leg against Real Madrid fast approaching.

Pedri won’t be available, but the club is targeting the March 19 meeting with Los Blancos in La Liga for his return plus those of Ousmane Dembele and Robert Lewandowski as well.