Spain’s La Liga is one of the best football leagues, boasting some of the top players in the world. Stars such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suárez all ply their trade in the Spanish top flight.
“La Liga” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by European Football
Here’s a look at the five players who have been working hard during their finishing training and have produced the most shots on target during the 2017-18 La Liga season to date:
Lionel Messi (Barcelona) – 53 Shots on Target, 19 Goals
It won’t come as a surprise to see that Barcelona’s Lionel Messi has had the most shots on target in La Liga so far this season and currently tops the goalscoring chart too as the Catalan club are currently 11 points clear of Atlético Madrid at the top.
The Argentine has already scored four more goals than any other player this season and don’t be surprised if the number 10 races clear come the end of the season.
The La Liga odds suggest the title race is already over, and with such a big lead at the top Messi may consider saving his energy towards the end of the season ahead of the 2018 World Cup in the summer, as were the claims four years ago.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) – 35 Shots on Target, 6 Goals
The reigning FIFA Ballon d’Or holder, Euro 2016 and 2016-17 Champions League winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, isn’t have the best of times in La Liga this season.
Defending champions Real Madrid are 19 points behind rivals and league leaders Barcelona and are in a battle just to finish in the top four right now.
Ronaldo himself is having a tough time in front of goal himself, with his late brace in the 7-1 thrashing of Deportivo La Coruña over the weekend only taking him up to six on the season.
At least he’s delivering in the Champions League, which is perhaps the competition that makes the difference between Zinedine Zidane being in charge of the world football giants or not to start next season.
Luis Suárez (Barcelona) – 34 Shots on Target, 15 Goals
With Real Madrid struggling badly in front of goal this season Barcelona currently have the top two goalscorers in La Liga with Luis Suárez only behind teammate Lionel Messi, and three ahead of Iagos Aspas in third.
The Uruguayan has been lethal in front of goal since moving to Camp Nou after the 2014 World Cup, winning the Pichichi Trophy in his second season.
His brace in the 5-0 thrashing of Real Betis over the weekend has seen Suárez score 100 La Liga goals in his first 114 matches – quicker than Lionel Messi to reach the century!
Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo) – 26 Shots on Target, 12 Goals
Currently third in the top scorers chart is another former-Liverpool player. Iago Aspas failed to score a single goal in his 14 Premier League appearances on Merseyside but has been on fire since moving back to his homeland, with Celta Vigo, now in his third season with the Galician club.
Aspas’ conversion rate of 46% from 26 shots on target makes him the most lethal scorer on our list.
Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid) – 22 Shots on Target, 6 Goals
The French striker isn’t having the most productive season in Diego Simeone’s side, amid strong speculation that he will be joining Barcelona in the summer. Atlético Madrid themselves are having a fine season, currently second in La Liga.
Griezmann is currently Atléti’s top scorer with his six goals, but the team has a number of players who chip in across the course of the season – Ángel Correa is on five and Kevin Gameiro on four goals.
