La Liga Goal King Karim Benzema

As is the case with so many football-related competitions in Spain, the battle for the La Liga Golden Boot has been a battle between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Karim Benzema was looking to carry on from last year and score the goals that would hand his Madrid side yet another league title, while Barcelona – after some budgetary adjustments – brought in Robert Lewandowski to bring some cheer back to the fans at the Camp Nou. The idea was that he would also help his new club win a league title for the first time in four seasons. Barca are not used to going so many years without a league trophy, of course. The last time the club experienced such a La Liga drought was back at the start of the 2000s when the Galacticos of Real and Rafael Benitez’s Valencia were claiming all the silverware.

Lewandowski may not have scored in the opening game of the season when Barca were held to a goalless draw by Rayo Vallecano. But he scored in the first minute of the next one. Just as Guardiola has adapted his ‘tiki-taka’ tactics at Manchester City in an attempt to bring the club the Champions League, Barcelona – now under Xavi, one of the originators of ‘tiki-taka’ – decided that a traditional number nine was what was needed to finish off the intricate build-up play and score the goals to blow away the opposition. The result has been the Poland captain claiming the Golden Boot and Barcelona winning the league.

Once Lewandowski scored his first goal for his new club he virtually didn’t stop for the next few months. The fact that he was given a four-year deal at the age of 34 shows just how much they see him being a major part of the club’s success over the next few years. His professionalism and leadership qualities were desired almost as much as his goal-scoring record. With a number of the senior players leaving the Camp Nou over the next few years, Xavi looks at Lewandowski as a potential future captain.

There has been a significant drop in goals scored since his return from the World Cup though. His tally is still impressive, but Lewandowski is used to scoring upwards of 50 a season. That has not been the case this year, but there seems to be little to worry about. Even with his injury history, his fitness levels are incredible for a player of his age and he will undoubtedly be a major weapon for Barca as they defend their title next season.