Just three points separate Barcelona and Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga in a thrilling title race, with an equally tight battle unfolding between their star strikers.
Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski leads the league’s scoring charts with 25 goals, while Kylian Mbappe is close behind on 22, adding another layer of intrigue to the championship fight.
This weekend, Barcelona host sixth-placed Real Betis on Saturday, shortly after Real Madrid welcome relegation-threatened Valencia to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Last weekend, Mbappe scored twice in Madrid’s narrow 3-2 victory over Leganes, only for Lewandowski to respond with a brace in Barcelona’s 4-1 win over Girona. The Polish striker lamented missed opportunities for an even bigger margin.
"In the final minutes, there was more space and more chances to score," said the 36-year-old. "With a better final ball, we could have had one or two more goals."
Lewandowski has now scored nine goals in his last nine league games, bringing his tally to 38 in 43 appearances across all competitions this season. Despite his age, he remains confident in his ability to perform at the highest level.
"I know people talk about my age, but I’ve been working hard since I was 21 or 22, and I want to keep playing at the top level for years to come," he added. "Physically, I feel great. Statistically, there’s no difference between now and a few years ago."
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick emphasized that Lewandowski is focused on team success, not just the individual honor of winning the Pichichi trophy.
"He’s fit, 100% committed, and of course, he wants to win the Pichichi," said Flick. "But the most important thing is the team, and that’s what I see—he’s focused on helping the team win."
Mbappe Chasing History at Real Madrid
Just behind Lewandowski, Mbappe has scored 33 goals in 46 matches this season, matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally from his first season at Real Madrid.
A longtime admirer of Ronaldo, Mbappe called it "very special" to equal the Portuguese star’s debut season total. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has suggested that Mbappe could follow in Ronaldo’s footsteps and become a club legend.
Ronaldo remains Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer with 450 goals, but Mbappe isn’t setting any limits on his potential.
Valencia’s visit to the Bernabeu could offer another opportunity for Mbappe to add to his total, especially as the visitors will be missing Jose Gaya, Luis Rioja, and Dimitri Foulquier, who are all suspended.
So far in 2025, no player has scored more league goals than Mbappe’s 12, with Lewandowski trailing on seven.
Player to Watch: Ayoze Perez
Villarreal forward Ayoze Perez has impressed this season, despite struggling with injuries. The Spanish international has netted 12 goals in 22 league appearances, and Villarreal—currently fifth in LaLiga—will need him at his best when they host fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
Last weekend, Perez starred in Villarreal’s win over Getafe, scoring and providing an assist.
Key LaLiga Stats
- 3 – Valencia have lost just three of their 12 league games under Carlos Corberan, a significant improvement from nine defeats in their first 17 matches.
- 7 – Osasuna’s Ante Budimir has scored all seven of his penalty attempts this season.
- 521 – Antoine Griezmann now holds the record for most LaLiga appearances by a foreign player, surpassing Lionel Messi last weekend.
Upcoming Fixtures
Friday
- Rayo Vallecano vs. Espanyol (7pm)
Saturday
- Girona vs. Alaves (12pm)
- Real Madrid vs. Valencia (2:15pm)
- Mallorca vs. Celta Vigo (5:30pm)
- Barcelona vs. Real Betis (7pm)
Sunday
- Las Palmas vs. Real Sociedad (12pm)
- Sevilla vs. Atletico Madrid (2:15pm)
- Valladolid vs. Getafe (4:30pm)
- Villarreal vs. Athletic Bilbao (7pm)
Monday
- Leganes vs. Osasuna (7pm)