Barcelona on course to break outrageous 53-year-old European record amid historic charge to LaLiga title

BARCELONA are eyeing up a 53-YEAR-OLD European record as they close in on the LaLiga title.

Xavi's men extended their lead at the top of the table to 12 points over the weekend after a dramatic 2-1 victory over rival Real Madrid.

It means they are almost certain to reclaim the league title won by Los Blancos last season.

And they may well break a remarkable record in the process.

Barcelona have conceded just NINE goals in their 26 league games, an average of 0.346 goals per match.

If they can continue that ratio up to the end of the campaign, they will go down as the greatest defence of all-time across Europe's top five leagues.

In doing so, they will overhaul the record held by Cagliari's 1969/70 side who conceded 11 in 30 games - an average of 0.381.

The Serie A side's feat came close to being beaten by Liverpool in the 1978/79 season when they shipped just 16 goals in 42 games.

And Jose Mourinho's Chelsea also came within a whisker of the record when they conceded just 15 in 38 matches during the 2004/05 term.

Three AC Milan teams make the 13-side list, along with two Arsenal squads from the 1990s.

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The most recent team on the list - aside from the current Barcelona side - is Atletico Madrid's from the 2015/16 season.

Diego Simeone's men remarkably finished third in the LaLiga table despite conceding just 18 goals in 38 games.

Arsenal also missed out on the Premier League title in 1998/99 despite the Gunners letting in just 17 goals in 38 matches.