Injury update: Barcelona second top-scorer aiming to return vs Las Palmas

Barcelona’s scoring numbers have been far from their best this season, with the team really struggling to find their scoring boots earlier this season. Robert Lewandowski, especially, seemed massively out of form, only scoring eight goals before January.

During this time, Barcelona were relying on goals from everywhere on the pitch, with players like Joao Felix, Joao Cancelo, Raphinha stepping up every now and then, but not consistently enough.

One player who did come up clutch often was Ferran Torres. He claimed to have returned to his level best, and beyond ahead of the season, suggesting that he now had a ‘shark mentality’.

And his performances definitely went under the radar, with consistent output in very little time on the pitch.

Finally, Xavi decided to opt for him regularly in the starting XI over Felix, and the Spaniard was starting to deliver, too, with a hattrick against Real Betis, for example. However, soon after that he picked up an injury against Osasuna in the first-half.

Shark attack vs Las Palmas?

Initial reports had claimed that he would be back in time to face off against Napoli in the Champions League, but it seems the 24-year-old needed more time off.

He has now been out nearly two months, but according to AS, could be back in time to lock horns against Las Palmas post-international break on 30th March.

This will be a huge boost for Barcelona who will have the task of containing PSG in the Champions League quarter-finals, too.

With the left-wing position still highly contested, Xavi would love to have the option of choosing between Torres, Raphinha, Felix, and perhaps even Fermin Lopez vs PSG.

Detailed look at Torres’ numbers

Torres currently has the second-highest goals of any Barcelona player in La Liga, with seven (behind Lewandowski’s 13) in 21 appearances. Out of these, only ten have been starts, which means he has been averaging a goal every 135 minutes.

He is also the joint-top scorer for the club in the Champions League with three goals in six games (three starts), boils down his numbers to a goal every 111 minutes there.

Interestingly enough, Torres also holds the only Barcelona hattrick of the season, with his massive three goals and an assist in the 4-2 win vs Real Betis.

One of the best Barcelona performances of the season. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

He was only one short of Lewandowski’s tally after this match (seven vs eight), but the Pole has really stepped up his game in the last couple of months, too, with five goals and four assists in nine games.