La Liga Roundup - How Messi and Suárez have embarrassed Real AND Atlético

January 7, 2019 By Oscar Rojas

Topics: La Liga, Getafe, Barcelona, Atlético, Real Madrid, Luis Suárez, Lionel Messi

Los Blaugranas extended their lead at the top of the Spanish top flight, but there's more to talk about after this weekend's games.

Each and everyone of the teams in La Liga has played 18 games now, with Barcelona unsurprisingly leading the pack. What really stands out is that Los Blaugranas did not have the best start of the season, but ended up finding the way to make their opponents surrender time and time again.

Furthermore, the partnership between Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez has been quite productive in the ongoing season, with both footballers leading the goalscoring charts. Their antics have seen them sending the ball to the back of the net 28 times, which is something that only three other teams have been capable of doing.

28 - @FCBarcelona strikers Lionel Messi (16) and Luis Suárez (12) have scored 28 @LaLigaEN goals this season, more than 16 teams in the competition. Duet. pic.twitter.com/mvH2JKalZa
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 6, 2019

In fact, Messi's influence in the team's performance has also eclipsed the entire goalscoring haul accomplished by Real Madrid and Atlético, as these numbers below will show.

Lionel Messi has now contributed to as many goals in La Liga this season as Real Madrid have scored.

Staggering. pic.twitter.com/mEJJqW1tSI
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) January 7, 2019

Pichichi race

In the early weeks of the season, Christian Stuani was the man calling the shots in the Spanish top flight. Now, Messi and Suárez have taken over, with no sign of them being interested in stopping.

La Liga standings after 18 games

Barcelona is now five points above Atlético, with Sevilla and Alavés completing the tournament's top four. Regarding Real Madrid, their season seems to be going nowhere, even with Solari's appointment. Will Los Blancos end the competition away from Champions League spots?

Pos. Team MP W D L GF GA GD P Form
1 Real Madrid 33 26 6 1 71 22 +49 84 WWWWW

2 Barcelona 33 22 7 4 68 39 +29 73 WLWWW

3 Girona 33 22 5 6 69 40 +29 71 WWLWL

4 Atlético Madrid 33 20 4 9 62 39 +23 64 WLWWL

5 Athletic Club 33 16 10 7 53 33 +20 58 LDDLW

6 Real Sociedad 33 13 12 8 46 35 +11 51 LDDWW

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 33 10 13 10 41 45 -4 43 WDDLW

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 33 10 7 16 30 41 -11 37 LLLLL

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

16 Mallorca 33 6 14 13 27 39 -12 32 DLLDW

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

18 Cádiz 33 4 14 15 23 46 -23 26 DLLWL

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	33	26	6	1	71	22	+49	84	WWWWW
2	Barcelona	33	22	7	4	68	39	+29	73	WLWWW
3	Girona	33	22	5	6	69	40	+29	71	WWLWL
4	Atlético Madrid	33	20	4	9	62	39	+23	64	WLWWL
5	Athletic Club	33	16	10	7	53	33	+20	58	LDDLW
6	Real Sociedad	33	13	12	8	46	35	+11	51	LDDWW
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	33	10	13	10	41	45	-4	43	WDDLW
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	33	10	7	16	30	41	-11	37	LLLLL
15	Rayo Vallecano	33	7	13	13	27	42	-15	34	LWDDW
16	Mallorca	33	6	14	13	27	39	-12	32	DLLDW
17	Celta de Vigo	33	7	10	16	37	50	-13	31	LWLDW
18	Cádiz	33	4	14	15	23	46	-23	26	DLLWL
19	Granada	33	4	9	20	36	61	-25	21	WDWLL
20	Almería	33	1	11	21	32	67	-35	14	LLDLW