The year is coming to an end, and Barcelona seems to be en route to finish it at the top of La Liga. Los Blaugranas managed to get away from Sevilla and Atlético, who are now tied in second place of the competition, while also cementing their spot as the best Catalan team out there with their emphatic 4-0 win against Espanyol.
That win for Los Blaugranas saw Lionel Messi reaching a couple of milestones, as the Argentine ace became the first player to score at least ten goals in 13 consecutive La Liga seasons. Surely, the man will keep that streak going, as there seems to be no end to his talents.
Lionel Messi becomes the first player in HISTORY...
— SPORF (@Sporf) December 8, 2018
...to score 10+ goals in 13 consecutive @LaLiga seasons...
....another record broken. pic.twitter.com/CPAKF12DvB
This was quite a special brace for "La Pulga".
1 - Barcelona's Lionel Messi has scored two direct free-kick goals in a La Liga game for the first time ever. Spectacular. pic.twitter.com/nggxGftamF
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 8, 2018
We turn our heads to the game between Huesca and Real Madrid, where los Blancos secured their spot among the top four teams in the Spanish league. After quite a while away from those spots, Bale's volley lifted Los Blancos past Alavés and Levante. Furthermore, Bale's goal saw the Welsh ace end his longest goalscoring drought in the Spanish top flight.
Gareth Bale has scored in LaLiga for the first time in 802 minutes.
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 9, 2018
A stunning goal to end the 10-game, 100-day drought. pic.twitter.com/wTwgxT1IZa
La Liga standings
Barcelona extended their lead at the top, Atlético caught up with Sevilla, Real Madrid is close to the league's podium and Real Betis is back in contention for a spot in European competitions.
| Pos. | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid | 32 | 25 | 6 | 1 | 70 | 22 | +48 | 81 | WWWWW | |
| 2 | Barcelona | 32 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 64 | 37 | +27 | 70 | LWWWW | |
| 3 | Girona | 32 | 21 | 5 | 6 | 67 | 40 | +27 | 68 | WLWLW | |
| 4 | Atlético Madrid | 32 | 19 | 4 | 9 | 59 | 38 | +21 | 61 | LWWLL | |
| 5 | Athletic Club | 32 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 52 | 30 | +22 | 58 | DDLWW | |
| 6 | Real Sociedad | 32 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 46 | 34 | +12 | 51 | DDWWW | |
| 7 | Real Betis | 32 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 40 | 38 | +2 | 48 | WWLLL | |
| 8 | Valencia | 32 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 35 | 34 | +1 | 47 | LWWDL | |
| 9 | Villarreal | 32 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 51 | 55 | -4 | 42 | WDLWW | |
| 10 | Getafe | 32 | 9 | 13 | 10 | 38 | 44 | -6 | 40 | DDLWL | |
| 11 | Osasuna | 32 | 11 | 6 | 15 | 37 | 46 | -9 | 39 | LLWLL | |
| 12 | Sevilla | 32 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 41 | 45 | -4 | 37 | WWWLD | |
| 13 | Las Palmas | 32 | 10 | 7 | 15 | 30 | 39 | -9 | 37 | LLLLL | |
| 14 | Deportivo Alavés | 32 | 9 | 8 | 15 | 28 | 38 | -10 | 35 | WLLLW | |
| 15 | Rayo Vallecano | 32 | 7 | 13 | 12 | 27 | 39 | -12 | 34 | WDDWL | |
| 16 | Mallorca | 32 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 38 | -12 | 31 | LLDWL | |
| 17 | Celta de Vigo | 32 | 7 | 10 | 15 | 37 | 47 | -10 | 31 | WLDWL | |
| 18 | Cádiz | 32 | 4 | 13 | 15 | 22 | 45 | -23 | 25 | LLWLW | |
| 19 | Granada | 32 | 3 | 9 | 20 | 33 | 61 | -28 | 18 | DWLLL | |
| 20 | Almería | 32 | 1 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 64 | -33 | 14 | LDLWD |
Pichichi race
Lionel Messi is once again La Liga's top scorer and the best candidate for the Golden Boot trophy. "La Pulga" is tied at ten goals with Christian Stuani, but those eight assists give him an edge over the Uruguayan.
