La Liga Roundup - Messi hits 50-goal mark for 5th straight season

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Décembre 17, 2018 Par Oscar Rojas

Titres: La Liga, Levante, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema

There were no changes among the top four teams this weekend, but that was irrelevant as soon as Messi stepped in to dazzle fans.

Another week has gone by in La Liga and Barcelona seems to be en route to defend their title properly.

The slow start of the season has not deterred Valverde's men from their goal, and with a brilliant Lionel Messi leading the pack, it's hard to see them not ending the season as the best team in Spain.

This week, Messi's hat-trick stole a number of headlines, especially since he became the most-winning player in Barcelona's history, with his 323 wins surpassing those accomplished by former team-mate Xavi. Furthermore, the Argentine ace scored his 50th goal in 2018, which means that he's repeated that feat in eight of the last nine years.

Lionel Messi now scored...

...50+ goals in EIGHT of the last NINE years!

Voted 5th in the Ballon d'Or though.

Insane. pic.twitter.com/3G2OU4Nl5n
— SPORF (@Sporf) December 16, 2018

Speaking about Barcelona's bitter rivals, Real Madrid earned a hard-fought win against Rayo Vallecano, who made Los Blancos battle for a 1-0 victory. During that game, Karim Benzema managed to silence a few of his critics with the game-winning goal for one interesting reason.

Benzema now has more goals in LaLiga in 18/19 than he bagged in the whole of 17/18. On a mighty six now.
— AS English (@English_AS) December 15, 2018

Pichichi race

Once again, Messi extended his lead as the best striker in the Spanish top flight, with Cristiano Stuani and Luis Suárez a few goals behind.

La Liga standings after 16 games

At the moment this article is being written, there is only one game left to be played in Matchday 16. How will it change the landscape of the Spanish top flight?

Classmt. Équipe J G N P BP BC Diff TB Forme
1 Real Madrid 37 29 7 1 87 26 +61 94 NGGGG

2 Barcelona 37 25 7 5 77 43 +34 82 GGGPG

3 Girona 37 24 6 7 78 46 +32 78 GPNGG

4 Atlético Madrid 37 23 4 10 68 43 +25 73 PGGGG

5 Athletic Club 37 18 11 8 60 37 +23 65 GPNGP

6 Real Sociedad 37 16 12 9 51 37 +14 60 GGPGP

7 Real Betis 37 14 14 9 48 45 +3 56 PNGGN

8 Villarreal 37 14 10 13 64 64 0 52 NGGPG

9 Valencia 37 13 9 15 38 43 -5 48 PPNPP

10 Deportivo Alavés 37 12 9 16 35 45 -10 45 GPNGG

11 Osasuna 37 12 8 17 44 55 -11 44 GNNPP

12 Getafe 37 10 13 14 41 52 -11 43 PPPPG

13 Sevilla 37 10 11 16 47 52 -5 41 PPPGN

14 Celta de Vigo 37 10 10 17 44 55 -11 40 GGPGP

15 Las Palmas 37 10 9 18 32 46 -14 39 NNPPP

16 Rayo Vallecano 37 8 14 15 29 47 -18 38 PGNPP

17 Mallorca 37 7 16 14 31 43 -12 37 NNGPN

18 Cádiz 37 6 15 16 25 49 -24 33 NGGPN

19 Granada 37 4 9 24 38 72 -34 21 PPPPG

20 Almería 37 2 12 23 37 74 -37 18 NPPGP

Classmt.	Équipe	J	G	N	P	BP	BC	Diff	TB	Forme
1	Real Madrid	37	29	7	1	87	26	+61	94	NGGGG
2	Barcelona	37	25	7	5	77	43	+34	82	GGGPG
3	Girona	37	24	6	7	78	46	+32	78	GPNGG
4	Atlético Madrid	37	23	4	10	68	43	+25	73	PGGGG
5	Athletic Club	37	18	11	8	60	37	+23	65	GPNGP
6	Real Sociedad	37	16	12	9	51	37	+14	60	GGPGP
7	Real Betis	37	14	14	9	48	45	+3	56	PNGGN
8	Villarreal	37	14	10	13	64	64	0	52	NGGPG
9	Valencia	37	13	9	15	38	43	-5	48	PPNPP
10	Deportivo Alavés	37	12	9	16	35	45	-10	45	GPNGG
11	Osasuna	37	12	8	17	44	55	-11	44	GNNPP
12	Getafe	37	10	13	14	41	52	-11	43	PPPPG
13	Sevilla	37	10	11	16	47	52	-5	41	PPPGN
14	Celta de Vigo	37	10	10	17	44	55	-11	40	GGPGP
15	Las Palmas	37	10	9	18	32	46	-14	39	NNPPP
16	Rayo Vallecano	37	8	14	15	29	47	-18	38	PGNPP
17	Mallorca	37	7	16	14	31	43	-12	37	NNGPN
18	Cádiz	37	6	15	16	25	49	-24	33	NGGPN
19	Granada	37	4	9	24	38	72	-34	21	PPPPG
20	Almería	37	2	12	23	37	74	-37	18	NPPGP