Luis Enrique chasing record for Barcça's longest unbeaten run

Thanks to the help of a talented team, led by Lionel Messi, who is flanked by Neymar and Luis Suarez, Luis Enrique continues to break records. FC Barcelona are currently on a 23-game unbeaten run, which dates back to the defeat against Sevilla at the beginning of October - 98 days ago. 

If they avoid defeat to Malaga at La Rosaleda this Saturday, they will stretch that run to 24 games, matching the run Frank Rijkaard’s side went on in the 2005-06 season, a run which included 20 wins and four draws. Coincidentally, that side’s unbeaten run came to an end in the month of January when they lost a Copa del Rey game against Real Zaragoza at La Romareda (4-2). 

Luis Enrique, if he manages to get a result in Malaga, will then have another Dutchman in his sights, in this case Rinus Michels. Michels oversaw a 27-game unbeaten run in the 1973-74 season, winning 20 games and drawing seven. As that run unfolded, Barça stretched their unbeaten record to 200 days, as in those years the calendar was not as demanding. 

Michel’s side were eventually beaten against Atletico Madrid (2-0) in La Liga. In three games time, Barça will face Diego Simeone’s Atletico and, if they’ve avoided defeat against Malaga and Athletic Club, will be looking for carry their unbeaten run onto 26 matches. 

However, the absolute record still belongs to Josep Guardiola’s Barça. In the 2010-11 season they went 28 games unbeaten in a run which lasted 124 days. The balance of results was 23 wins and five draws. Strangely enough, that run was also ended in a Copa del Rey game against Real Zaragoza at La Romareda in January (3-1).

So, in less than three weeks, Luis Enrique’s side have the chance to take the record from Pep Guardiola’s side. The Asturian coach could soon be the manager with the longest unbeaten run in the history of FC Barcelona.