Real Madrid create as much as Barcelona. Nine shots off the woodwork explain the gap
Real Madrid have attempted almost as many shots as Barcelona but scored eleven fewer league goals and already hit the woodwork nine times.
Barcelona have built a clear goalscoring advantage over Real Madrid after six La Liga matches, but the final totals do not tell the whole story. Madrid have attempted almost exactly the same number of shots as the leaders and have even registered more efforts on target. The difference is finishing — along with nine attempts that have struck the woodwork.
According to figures published by AS, Real Madrid have taken 126 shots in the league this season, compared with Barcelona’s 124. The numbers for shots on target are just as close: 51 for Madrid and 50 for their Catalan rivals.
The contrast appears on the scoreboard. Barcelona have scored 28 league goals, while Madrid have managed 17. That is an eleven-goal gap despite almost identical totals for overall attempts and shots on target.
NINE ENCOUNTERS WITH THE WOODWORK
Madrid have hit a post or the crossbar nine times, the highest total in La Liga. Barcelona are second with five, while Atlético Madrid have recorded four. Mourinho’s side have struck the woodwork in five of their six league games, with the match against Real Sociedad the only exception.
The defeat to Real Betis provided the most painful example. Madrid attempted 20 shots, put eight on target and hit the woodwork three times, yet failed to score. The attacking output was sufficient to win many matches, but the lack of a finish left the team empty-handed.
The issue appeared again at Elche. Real Madrid led 2-0 and had opportunities to finish the contest, but allowed the hosts to draw level. Carlos Espí eventually rescued the three points by scoring the late winner in a 3-2 victory.
Mourinho has openly acknowledged the problem. After the defeat to Betis, he described the number of missed chances as abnormal. Following the Elche match, he again pointed out that Madrid had failed to kill off a game that should have been settled earlier.
THE STRUCTURE WORKS, THE FINISHING MUST IMPROVE
The statistics do not remove responsibility from Madrid’s forwards. Nine shots against the woodwork cannot simply be counted as nine goals, and creating chances does not guarantee points. They do show, however, that the team are consistently reaching dangerous areas and generating enough attempts.
That distinction matters. Madrid do not need to rebuild their attack or discover an entirely new route to goal. They need to make better use of the opportunities they already produce. If their conversion rate moves closer to Barcelona’s, the scoring gap should begin to narrow quickly.
Barcelona are currently far more clinical. Madrid can still take encouragement from the underlying numbers: the attacking structure is producing, and the shortage of goals is not the result of an inability to create. The final touch has simply been missing too often — with the posts doing more defensive work than some opponents.
