Stat Shows Barca struggle to score from a free-kick for 16 months

One worrying Barcelona statistic caught the journalists' attention ahead of the Athletic Bilbao encounter.

Apparently, Barca players have not been able to score from a direct free-kick for 16 months. It was Lionel Messi’s 50th goal from a direct free-kick, which he netted against Valencia back in May 2021.

Xavi on free-kicks: "We are working on it, we have to get better.”

Many players have tried their luck since Messi's departure -- Memphis Depay, Ferran Torres, Robert Lewandowski and even Gerard Pique at one point. However, nobody could send the ball into the net.