La Liga Week 4 Awards: Lionel Messi Named Best Player, Karim Benzema Scores Biggest Goal
Spanish soccer fans have witnessed four exciting weeks of La Liga so far. As expected, Barcelona and Real Madrid are fighting for first place in the league standings, but so many others have been standing out as well. The nominees were set for Week 4 and the winners have been named.
Take a look at who stood out in Week 4.
Best Player
Winner: Lionel Messi
Barcelona is usually unbeatable at home at the Camp Nou, and that continued this weekend against Levante. Levante was giving Barcelona a big fight in the second half down by just one goal, 2-1. However, Lionel Messi showed up in a big way. Messi scored two goals in the second half including a game-clinching goal in the 90th minute. Barcelona is now the only 4-0 team in the league.
Best Goal
Winner: Karim Benzema
We almost had a massive upset this past weekend. Granada gave Real Madrid all they can handle, despite a goal being disallowed in the first half by the officials. Last season Real Madrid annihilated Granada 9-1 at home, but incredibly, this game was tied at half time. The eventual score would end 1-0 thanks to a game winning goal by Karim Benzema in the 56th minute of play. The French forward scored the golden goal of the week for Real Madrid extending their winning streak to three games. Benzema now has three league goals, second on the team behind only Cristiano Ronaldo's five.
Best Win
Winner: Atletico Madrid
Barcelona and Real Madrid won their games, as they should have, but Atletico Madrid had the most impressive win of Week 4. The 10-time Spanish League champions got an impressive victory over Eibar on the road. It was a scoreless game at halftime, but Angel Correa and Fernando Torres each found the net in the second half to secure a 2-0 victory. Atletico Madrid has allowed just two goals this year, and remain in third place in the standings.
Best Goalkeeper
Winner: Andrés Fernández
Keylor Navas has been playing great, especially considering he replaced a legend in Iker Casillas, however Real Madrid's defense has made things easy for him. You have to give some love to Granada's goalkeeper, Andrés Fernández. Fernández allowed just one goal despite facing 20 shots, 10 of which were on goal. Fernández was also under heavy pressure all game from the sides. Real Madrid had 10 corner kicks compared to just one for Granada. Fernández kept his team in the game and gave them a chance to win.
Worst Game
Winner: Valencia
Valencia is a draw machine. Last season they actually had fewer losses than Real Madrid, but they suffered far too many draws, 11. Those 11 ties led the league. Wouldn't you know it, Valencia already has three draws in their first four games, the most in the league. Valencia's 0-0 draw in Week 4 (at home) was extremely disappointing considering they were facing Real Betis, a secondary team last season. Constantly trading three points for one won't deliver a championship.
Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter @DamonSalvadore1
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