FC Barcelona has 4 more points, has scored 20 more goals, and conceded two fewer than Real Madrid. But the white team is unbeatable in their own way.
Real Madrid is the undisputed leader not only in Spain but also in Europe. It's a ranking they excel in, that of penalties.
Only in LaLiga, Real Madrid has been awarded 12 penalties in 30 matches. That is, one penalty in their favor every 2.5 matches.
Real Madrid Stands Apart
Barça, on the other hand, has had 6 penalties awarded. That is, 1 penalty every 6 matches.
It is striking that the team that enters the area the most and scores the most goals is not also the one most benefited by penalties. But that's how it is set up in Spain.
Moreover, Real Madrid's records are not limited to Spain. No other team in Europe has been as benefited by the awarding of penalties. In this ranking, Real Madrid stands apart.
However, it is also true that Madrid players seem determined to refuse to win by penalty. They have missed a staggering 5 out of the 16 penalties awarded in all competitions in 51 matches this season. That is, almost one miss out of every three attempts.
In Real Madrid, Mbappé and Vinícius have each missed two penalties. The fifth penalty was missed by Bellingham.
Real Madrid is closely followed by Bayern Munich, with 15 penalties in their favor, but they have only missed one.
Barça Has a Penalty Specialist
Liverpool has converted 12 of the 13 penalties awarded in their favor into goals. Salah missed against Real Madrid in the same match where Kylian Mbappé also missed his shot.
Barcelona adds 4 more penalties to those awarded in LaLiga by adding the rest of the competitions. 10 in total. And all 10 scored.
Dani Olmo and Rapinha each scored one. The rest, the next 8, were handled by specialist Lewandowski. No one misses for Barça from the penalty spot.
Real Madrid comes from three seasons with four misses after three other seasons without error from the penalty spot.