New Barcelona manager Quique Setien is already making his mark at the club as his side defeated Granada 1-0 during their La Liga 2019-20 clash over the weekend. The scoreline may not be much emphatic but the performance surely was, with the Catalan giants recording a total of 1005 passes in the entire game, their highest pass-rate since the Guardiola era. This domination in the middle of the park was led by Barcelona’s veteran midfield maestro Sergio Busquets, who had a 92.4 per-cent passing rate as he completed 145 off attempted 157 passes. La Liga 2019-20 Result: Late Lionel Messi Goal Gives Barcelona 1-0 Win Over Granada In Quique Setien's First Match Incharge.

Setien’s first match in charge of Barcelona saw his side complete an astonishing 921 passes off the attempted 1005. This is the Spaniard’s highest passing rate in La Liga, beating his previous record of 719 completed passes out of 788 with Real Betis. This is also Barcelona’s third-highest tally since the Opta began recording passing statistics in 2008-09 season. Their all-time record is 988 passes completed in their game against Levante in 2011. The defending Spanish champions were dominating in the match as they had 82.6 per-cent possession, their eight highest in La Liga, neither Ernesto Valverde or Luis Enrique were able to better this stat. At 61, Quique Setien Barcelona New Coach Gives a Tough Time to Lionel Messi During Practice (Watch Video).

List of Barcelona’s Highest Attempted Passes

Year Opponent Competition Season Total Passes Completed Passes
May 2011 Levante La Liga 2010-11 1046 988
November 2012 Levente La Liga 2012-12 1035 950
January 2019 Granada La Liga 2019-20 1005 921
October 2018 Valencia La Liga 2018-19 993 904
October 2011 Racing de Santander La Liga 2011-12 970 913

Pass Map Against Granada

Under Quique Setien, Barcelona seem to have found a way of dominating game again which they had lost under Ernesto Valverde and to some extent under Luis Enrique’s leadership as well. The Spanish giants have a tough task ahead of them as their development under the new manager will be put to test against Valencia at Mestalla.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 20, 2020 12:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).