Radamel Falcao will have a chance to open his account on Monday night when Atletico Madrid take on Athletic Bilbao. We focus on the one that currently tops the chart, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.
Watch Lionel Messi vs Osasuna video highlights
The opening weekend of the 2012/13 Spanish Primera Diviion was more like a walk in the park for Lionel Messi and the entire Barcelona team. Last Sunday, however, the Catalans had a tougher task. In total fashion, Lionel Messi lived up to expectations with a brace to seal Barcelona’s comeback victory away to Osasuna.
The number 10 forward made a rather simple tap in to put Barca level after 73 minutes. Four minutes later, Lionel Messi found the match winner with a shot that hit the bottom left corner of the post.
Barcelona’s record in Pamplona now reads 13W-11D-11L but for Lionel Messi, four goals put him on top of the Pichichi 2013 chart.
“We found a way to respond to their goal. We were able to build play from the back and we did not lose our heads. Luckily, the goals came in the end,” Messi told reporters before concluding:
“We knew that it would be difficult to play here [away to Osasuna] and, luckily, I scored again.”
Seven of Barcelona’s total shots against Osasuna came from Lionel Messi. La Pulga also had 69 touches on the ball and made 41 successful passes to hit number 111 in two La Liga games.
Goals: 4 (2); Assist: 0; Yellow card: 0; Red card: 0; Total shots: 15 (7); Passing accuracy: 111/124 (41/46) Passing accuracy in per centage: 89.5 (89)
Lionel Messi's next La Liga match: Barcelona vs Valencia – September 2, 2012
Pichichi 2013 race – Facts
• Gonzalo Higuain is the only player to hit the back of net for Real Madrid in La Liga this season.
• Cristiano Ronaldo is second behind Lionel Messi in the Shots per Game chart with a 5.5 score. Agirretxe of Real Sociedad, Lass of Rayo Vallecano and T. Hemed of Real Mallorca all produce an average of 5 shots per game.
• Cristiano Ronaldo completed 83 per cent of his passes against Getafe.
• Roberto Soldado exhibited his goal scoring skills on Matchday 2 with his first La Liga goals of the season. The Valencia striker netted a brace in a 3-3 draw against Deportivo La Coruna.
Current La Liga top scorer standings (Top 5)
Lionel Messi (Barcelona): 4 goals (57 per cent of Barca's total)
Tomer Hemed (Real Mallorca): 3 goals (100 per cent of Mallorca's total)
Jorge Molina (Real Betis): 3 goals (50 per cent of Betis' total)
Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid): 2 goal (100 per cent of Madrid's total)
Mikel San Jose (Athletic Bilbao): 2 goals (67 per cent of Bilbao's total)
