Maybe, just maybe, there will be a match where Lionel Messi or Barcelona do not break some sort of record.
And when that occurs, we’ll start the post with “Barcelona did not make history today.”
This time, it was taken over the reigns as the holders of the longest unbeaten run in Spanish history.
[ MORE: Shots fired! Pochettino questions Arsenal’s mettle ]
The new mark is 35, and shows no signs of slowing. Barca has drawn or won every match since an Oct. 3 loss at Sevilla.
Of course, the 5-1 win came with a Messi hat trick, as Barcelona moved eight points clear of second-place Atletico Madrid with 11 matches to play.
GOOOOAL@
Hat-trick TIME!!!! @TeamMessi easily slots home a third. 1-4 @FCBarcelona. #LaLigahttps://t.co/lntPdNqXsS
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) March 3, 2016
Let’s dig into the details of the 35-match streak, which started with a 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano on Oct. 17 and includes wins over Arsenal, Roma, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Oh, and the first five games of the streak came with an injured Messi.
Wins: 30
Draws: 5
Consecutive wins: 17 (active)
Competitions included: Copa Del Rey, La Liga, UEFA Champions League, Club World Cup.
Teams beaten: Rayo Vallecano (2), BATE Borisov (2), Eibar, Villanovense (2), Getafe, Villarreal, Real Madrid, AS Roma, Real Sociedad, Guangzhou Evergrande, River Plate, Real Betis, Espanyol (2), Granada, Athletic Bilbao (3), Malaga, Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Levante, Celta Vigo, Sporting Gijon, Las Palmas, Arsenal, Sevilla
Teams drawn: Valencia, Bayer Leverkusen, Deportivo, Espanyol, Valencia
Goals scored: 107
Goals allowed: 20
Clean sheets: 17
Times conceding two or more goals: 2
Scoreless draws: 2
Biggest win: 7-0 vs. Valencia (Feb. 3)
Goals by Luis Suarez: 35
Goals by Messi: 23
Goals by Neymar: 19