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We are past the halfway mark of the 2019/2020 season of La Liga, which means now we now know how every player has fared for their respective teams on a consistent basis.
Usual competitors Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid traditionally produce the most goalscorers in most seasons, but this season, it's been different. While Atletico have struggled to find the back of the net regularly, the Blaugrana and the Los Blancos have been dependent on one or two players for their goals.
Nevertheless, La Liga is blessed with attacking talent and we have seen some players from the mid-table sides step up and perform very well. Here, we take a look at the five contenders for the Trofeo Pichichi award this season.
5. Antoine Griezmann
After signing for Barcelona last summer, Antoine Griezmann had a rocky start to life at the Nou Camp. The Frenchman is still learning the trade of playing alongside Lionel Messi and for all his inconsistencies, he has played out of position for most of this season.
He has played on the left wing because Luis Suarez has started most of the time as the out-and-out striker. With the Uruguayan out injured for the rest of this season, maybe we will see the best of Griezmann as he will most definitely play in his preferred center-forward role.
This season, so far, the World Cup winner has scored 8 goals and set up a further 4 assists in La Liga. If the 28-year-old gets back to his best, he could climb up this list rapidly.
4. Gerard Moreno
Villarreal's top scorer this season, Gerard Moreno, has been the Yellow Submarine's shining light this season. A forward who is quite adept in doing almost anything, Moreno is finally replicating what he did for Espanyol in La Liga before joining Villarreal.
The 27-year-old Spanish forward has been playing like a man on a mission and with the UEFA Euro 2020 coming up, he needs to keep his run going as he might just find a spot in Spain's international team. This season in the Spanish top-flight, Moreno has scored 10 goals and assisted a further 3.
The Spaniard's form will define whether Villarreal will get a top-four spot or not and right now, they are just two points off the Champions League spots.
3. Maxi Gomez
Valencia's new signing from last summer, Maxi Gomez has wasted no time as the young Uruguayan has set the world alight with his performances for the Los Ches.
Joining from Celta Vigo - for whom Gomez scored 30 goals in two La Liga seasons - the 23-year-old is someone who can play anywhere in the front three. He is quick, agile, brilliant on the ball, and has the knack of finding himself in goalscoring situations.
The Uruguayan has already scored 9 goals in La Liga this season and provided two assists. Valencia are currently chasing the Champions League spots and Gomez's goals will be very important for that chase.
2. Karim Benzema
Real Madrid's talisman this season, Karim Benzema has been the one who has stepped up since the departure of the influential Cristiano Ronaldo. The 32-year-old seems to be getting better with age as he is the focal point around which Zinedine Zidane's attackers function around.
Benzema is one of the best if not the best at linking up play and bringing his teammates into action, with his infallible touches and cheeky little passes. Not only that, but he is also an incredible goalscorer, who can finish with both feet and head effeciently.
This season in La Liga, the Frenchman has scored 13 goals and set up a further 6 assists, and his performances have been one of the biggest reasons why Real Madrid are currently on top of the table.
1. Lionel Messi
Who else but Barcelona's little magician?
Lionel Messi has started another season on fire and despite the troubles at Barcelona behind the scenes, the Argentine has made sure that he keeps on doing what he does best - score goals, provide assists and run the show on the pitch.
The Argentinian has started mostly on the right-hand side and this season, we have seen him more as a playmaker than a goalscorer. The 32-year-old has already scored 14 goals in La Liga, along with 12 assists; which means he is on top of the list on both the goalscoring and the assisting chart.
The Blaugrana are currently chasing Real Madrid in the La Liga title race and as always, the ever so influential Messi remains a deciding factor in this thrilling title chase.
