Comparing Neymar's 2014/15 Barcelona Stats to His 2015/16 Numbers
Neymar is heading one way. And that's up.
There is no longer any doubt over the quality of Barcelona's Brazilian star, and when he signs his new contract with the club, it will secure the Catalan side's future.
Barring injury, Neymar will one day become the best player in the world. He is on a constant rise, and even though you don't need to see the statistics to prove it, they can't hurt.
The Brazilian is one of the players whom Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was referring to when he said Barcelona have some footballers who can transform the sport into an art form.
He said in his post-match press conference:
"We played against a team who has the best strikers I have seen. Those three together are absolutely exceptional. From nothing, they can create a chance, especially [Lionel] Messi. He didn't miss a first touch, no matter where the ball came from. At some stage in our sport, we must admire art and they have two or three players who transform normal life into art. I respect that and I believe it is pleasure as well. For me, it is suffering.
"
Messi, five-time Ballon d'Or winner, was the name Wenger picked out, but Neymar was as crucial in eliminating the Frenchman's team from the UEFA Champions League and sending Barcelona through to face Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals.
Neymar set up Messi for the first goal against Arsenal in the 2-0 win at the Emirates, feeding Luis Suarez, taking it back and then playing in the Argentinian.
He scored the first goal in the second leg, which Barcelona won 3-1, finishing coolly after Suarez found him with a low through ball.
Last season, he scored in both quarter-finals, both semi-finals and the final of the Champions League, becoming the first player to do so. He is producing at crucial times. And there’s no reason to believe he won’t continue to do so as this season heads towards its denouement.
Thus far, his goalscoring rate has dipped slightly. Neymar has scored at a rate of 1.42 games per goal this season, while last year ended up at 1.31.
That's 127.9 minutes per goal, compared to 105.23 minutes in the previous campaign.
However, the Brazilian's overall form has been more consistent, and if he follows the same trajectory as last season, we can expect plenty of goals to follow in the weeks ahead.
He has 26 in 37 games, whereas last year he ended up with 39 in 51, across all competitions.
Where Neymar has clearly improved is in his teamwork and creation of opportunities for other players. He is more comfortable than ever alongside Suarez and Messi.
With the Uruguayan unavailable or out of form until early 2016, Neymar took more of the goalscoring onus on his back.
This season, he has been more diligent with regards to his duties on the left wing, including coming back to help defend at times.
Neymar has laid on 18 assists so far this season, in comparison to seven during the entirety of the last campaign.
That’s an assist every 2.06 games, whereas he was setting up a goal directly just once in every 7.29 matches in 2014-15. He has created 127 chances this season, in contrast to the 82 he made last year.
The statistics show Neymar has become more of a team-player, using his individual brilliance to work openings for himself and the other players, too.
In total last season he directly contributed, by scoring or setting up, to 46 goals. This season it’s 44, and there is a maximum of 15 games to go. Nine in La Liga, the Copa del Rey final and five more if they reach the Champions League final.
With Neymar in this form, not to mention his team-mates, you wouldn’t bet against them being there in May.
All quotes obtained firsthand unless specified. Statistics from Opta unless specified.
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