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

December 17, 2018 By Oscar Rojas

Topics: 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?

Pos. Team MP W D L GF GA GD P Form
1 Real Madrid 34 27 6 1 74 22 +52 87 WWWWW

2 Girona 34 23 5 6 73 42 +31 74 WWWLW

3 Barcelona 34 22 7 5 70 43 +27 73 LWLWW

4 Atlético Madrid 34 21 4 9 63 39 +24 67 WWLWW

5 Athletic Club 34 17 10 7 55 33 +22 61 WLDDL

6 Real Sociedad 34 14 12 8 48 35 +13 54 WLDDW

7 Real Betis 33 12 13 8 41 39 +2 49 DWWLL

8 Valencia 33 13 8 12 37 38 -1 47 LLWWD

9 Villarreal 33 12 9 12 54 55 -1 45 WWDLW

10 Getafe 34 10 13 11 41 47 -6 43 LWDDL

11 Osasuna 33 11 6 16 37 49 -12 39 LLLWL

12 Deportivo Alavés 33 10 8 15 31 38 -7 38 WWLLL

13 Sevilla 33 9 11 13 42 46 -4 38 DWWWL

14 Las Palmas 34 10 7 17 30 43 -13 37 LLLLL

15 Rayo Vallecano 33 7 13 13 27 42 -15 34 LWDDW

16 Mallorca 34 6 14 14 27 40 -13 32 LDLLD

17 Celta de Vigo 33 7 10 16 37 50 -13 31 LWLDW

18 Cádiz 34 4 14 16 23 49 -26 26 LDLLW

19 Granada 33 4 9 20 36 61 -25 21 WDWLL

20 Almería 33 1 11 21 32 67 -35 14 LLDLW

Pos.	Team	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	P	Form
1	Real Madrid	34	27	6	1	74	22	+52	87	WWWWW
2	Girona	34	23	5	6	73	42	+31	74	WWWLW
3	Barcelona	34	22	7	5	70	43	+27	73	LWLWW
4	Atlético Madrid	34	21	4	9	63	39	+24	67	WWLWW
5	Athletic Club	34	17	10	7	55	33	+22	61	WLDDL
6	Real Sociedad	34	14	12	8	48	35	+13	54	WLDDW
7	Real Betis	33	12	13	8	41	39	+2	49	DWWLL
8	Valencia	33	13	8	12	37	38	-1	47	LLWWD
9	Villarreal	33	12	9	12	54	55	-1	45	WWDLW
10	Getafe	34	10	13	11	41	47	-6	43	LWDDL
11	Osasuna	33	11	6	16	37	49	-12	39	LLLWL
12	Deportivo Alavés	33	10	8	15	31	38	-7	38	WWLLL
13	Sevilla	33	9	11	13	42	46	-4	38	DWWWL
14	Las Palmas	34	10	7	17	30	43	-13	37	LLLLL
15	Rayo Vallecano	33	7	13	13	27	42	-15	34	LWDDW
16	Mallorca	34	6	14	14	27	40	-13	32	LDLLD
17	Celta de Vigo	33	7	10	16	37	50	-13	31	LWLDW
18	Cádiz	34	4	14	16	23	49	-26	26	LDLLW
19	Granada	33	4	9	20	36	61	-25	21	WDWLL
20	Almería	33	1	11	21	32	67	-35	14	LLDLW