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The 2018-19 La Liga season turned out to be an eventful one for Barcelona as Ernesto Valverde’s side won the La Liga title for the 2nd time in three seasons.
Barcelona were one of the best sides in the 2018-19 Champions League season too, but the Catalans' loss against Liverpool in the 2nd Leg of their Champions League semifinal came as a big disappointment.
Their Spanish rivals Real Madrid went through a disappointing season as Los Blancos lost against the Dutch side Ajax FC in the pre-quarters of the Champions League. Real Madrid also had an ordinary La Liga season due to which Zinedine Zidane was called back to take over the reins of the side.
In addition to this, there have been some wonderful performances from some of the best goal scorers in the Spanish League. Strikers from some of the bottom-ranked teams have also produced some decent performances right throughout the season.
La Liga has continued to produce many exciting forwards since the last few seasons who have played a crucial role during crunch situations. Different strikers have a different style of play and change their game according to the strengths of the opposition.
In the 2018-19 we witnessed forwards who have looked sharp on counter attacks as well as forwards who have looked organized during set pieces. Forwards who can play offensively as well as defensively always give advantage to the side they represent.
Some forwards are strong with the possession style of play which was exactly what we saw in this La Liga season. Charismatic forward Lionel Messi will surely figure in our list but there were others too, who made everyone take notice of their performances. We take a look at 5 such goalscorers who impressed the most this La Liga season.
# 1 Lionel Messi
The Argentine once again took the La Liga by storm with some sensational performances with his attacking style of play. He and Luis Suarez formed a dangerous frontline partnership showcasing their predatory skills with some exemplary performances.
Although Messi had expressed disappointment when the Catalans lost their Champions League 2nd Leg semifinal against Liverpool, the Argentine was the guiding force for Barcelona throughout the season.
The 31-year-old outclassed his opponents with his creative dribbles and superlative finishes scoring 36 goals with 15 assists to his name in 34 La Liga games this season.
Many thought that maybe after the departure of Neymar, the balance of their forward line might get affected, but he teamed up quite well with Suarez in the forward line and his coordination with the midfield looked sharp as ever.
Lionel Messi holds a commanding position in Barcelona’s forward line and has shown that he can decide the outcome of a game with his individual brilliance and capacity to deceive the opposition’s defense with his accelerating runs and crafty dribbles.
Messi was an influential figure in Barcelona’s forward line in the entire season. He also registered 12 goals in 10 games this Champions League season with 3 assists to his name. Messi also looked a sharp operator at the right flank.
# 2 Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez looked a constant threat inside the box for the opposition’s defense. Suarez teamed up quite well with Messi and together the duo formed a deadly partnership in the forward line.
Suarez scored 21 goals in 33 La Liga games this season with 6 assists to his name. His electric runs combined with his counter attacks terrorized the opposition. The Uruguayan also dominated the opposition’s defense with his aggressive style of play.
Messi should consider himself lucky as he has an able partner in the form of Luis Suarez in the forward line who he can bank upon for support during critical situations. The duo outlasted the best defenses with their attacking game.
The former Liverpool player has been a revelation for the Catalans since his arrival at Camp Nou, as the 31-year-old threatened every opposition with his mazy runs and electrifying pace. Luis Suarez also operated quite well at the flanks.
Though Suarez had slowed down a bit mid-season because of fitness issues, he managed to recapture his form. His intensity tends to lift the morale of his side and has been the heart of the forward line. However, he could score only 1 goal in the entire Champions League season.
# 3 Karim Benzema
The flamboyant Frenchman had slowed down a bit mid-season, but the striker regained his touch by producing some decent performances. Benzema had expressed disappointment when Los Blancos couldn't make it to the quarterfinals of the Champions League, but his form in the La Liga would have acted as a morale booster.
Benzema notched up 21 goals in 36 appearances with 7 assists to his name in the 2018-19 La Liga season. Benzema showcased his ability to outrun the best defenses with his pace and trademark dribbles.
The 32-year-old had expressed disappointment when the Los Blancos were out of the La Liga title race, but the enterprising striker has played a vital role in his side’s fortunes in the last few seasons. Benzema teamed up quite well with Gareth Bale in the forward line.
He also colluded well with the midfielders. Zinedine Zidane had stated that Benzema's presence and form tends to lift the side’s morale in crucial games. The striker has set really high standards as far as his fitness is concerned. Benzema also registered 4 goals in 6 Champions League games this season with 2 assists to his name.
# 4 Iago Aspas
Iago Aspas was once again the mainstay in Celta Vigo's forward line as the 31-year-old was an influential figure for his side. The striker looked deadly with his electric pace and speed.
The Spaniard can evade any defense on his day with his aggressive runs and brilliant counter-attacks. Aspas formed an effective partnership with Maximiliano Gomez in the forward line as the duo troubled the opposition's defense with their attacking style of play.
Aspas scored 20 goals in 27 games with 6 assists to his name in the 2018-19 La Liga season and looked dangerous because of his ability to score from difficult positions. Aspas looked sharp during set pieces and has this knack of creating goalscoring opportunities with his skillful dribbling.
Aspas also worked well with the midfield and looked threatening inside the box. Aspas can run through the best defenses on his day as the Spaniard has been an influential figure in Celta Vigo's forward line. In the entire season, the striker operated efficiently at the flanks too.
#5 Cristhian Stuani
The Uruguayan looked absolutely brilliant with his precise finishing and has got the ability to outfox the rival's defense with his creative moves.
Though the 32-year-old’s performances were overshadowed by some big names in the La Liga, Girona FC manager Eusebio Sacristan had stated that the biggest strength of Stuani is the kind of intensity he brings on the field.
He scored 19 goals in 32 games in the 2018-19 La Liga season. Stuani looked sharp with his clever passes and his ability to make constant inroads in the opposition’s defense with his quick counter attacks.
The striker looked impressive during set pieces and always looked to play his natural game which is to attack. The former Middlesbrough FC player has always been a tricky customer because of his deception and speed. Stuani also highlighted his ability to play offensively as well as defensively.
