Seventh opening day win in a row in the league

FC Barcelona have done it again. With Sunday’s win against Athletic the blaugranes have now won their opening fixture of the campaign for the last seven seasons. The run began back in 2009/10 with the visit of Sporting Gijón to Camp Nou, the blaugranes winning by a comfortable 3-0 margin that day.

The following season they started the season away from home, winning 3-0 again, this time at the El Sardinero stadium against Racing Santander. The next year Villarreal came to Camp Nou and were conquered, the blaugranes beginning in style with a 5-0 win.

In 2012/13 the campaign against started at home. Real Sociedad were the visitors and they were dispatched 5-1 by Tito Vilanova’s side. Two seasons ago Barça recorded their best ever result on opening weekend in the last 10 years, beating Levante 7-0 at Camp Nou. Last season the first league game was again in Barcelona for the blaugranes, Elche coming to town and then leaving with a 3-0 defeat in their pockets.

The last time Barça won in Bilbao on the first day of the season came back in 2003/04 when Philip Cocu’s goal gave them victory in San Mamés. On Sunday it was the turn of Luis Suárez to keep the run going for Luis Enrique’s side.