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The Euro Preview: Messi looks to increase goal tally after strong start

By Clemente Lisi

BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 2: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona celebrates during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona v SD Huesca at the Camp Nou on September 2, 2018 in Barcelona Spain (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/Soccrates/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 2: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona celebrates during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona v SD Huesca at the Camp Nou on September 2, 2018 in Barcelona Spain (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/Soccrates/Getty Images) /
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Lionel Messi picked up where he left off last season, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s scoring drought at Juventus has put pressure on the superstar.

La Liga

Awaiting to make their Champions League debut next week and just a few weeks into the their season, defending league champion Barcelona look very much like the contender we all expected them to be. No surprise that Lionel Messi is again in top form, scoring four goals in La Liga this season already. 

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While Messi has been snubbed for a series of recent awards, it may just fuel the Argentine to do even better this season. So far, it has. Messi also has two assists in La Liga and is currently joint top scorer with Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema. First-place Barca, who have nine points, play Saturday on the road against eighth-place Real Sociedad. Messi may very well have another multi-goal game. Real Madrid, also on nine points, are away against sixth-place Athletic Bilbao. 

Other matches to focus on this weekend include Valencia hosting Real Betis on Saturday and third-place Celta Viga traveling to play Girona on Monday.

Serie A

While Messi is bagging goals, his former Real rival Cristiano Ronaldo is still searching for his first league goal since signing with Juventus this summer. While Ronaldo vacationed during Portugal’s UEFA Nations League victory against Italy, the break could be rejuvenating for the 33-year-old striker.

The issue of Ronaldo’s scoring drought has become secondary in recent weeks, mostly because Juve are playing well. In first place with nine points after three games, the defending league champions put that perfect record on the line at home Sunday against Sassuolo at the Allianz Stadium. Sassuolo have been one of Serie A’s early surprises, and are currently in second place.

In third place, tied with six points, are Spal, Fiorentina and Napoli. The Partenopei play at home against Fiorentina in another must-watch match that has heavy implications for the top of the table. In another key match, Spal host Atalanta on Monday for a chance to remain near the top of the table.

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Bundesliga

After just two games, three teams lead the way in Germany: Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg and Hertha Berlin. While it’s no surprise to see Bayern there, both Wolfsburg and Hertha are trying to establish themselves as title contenders early on in the season.

That makes Saturday’s Wolfsburg-Hertha game the biggest match of the Bundesliga this weekend. The match at Volswagen Arena will highlight U.S. center back John Brooks, who will be looking to get the better of his boyhood club.

Fourth-place Borussia Dortmund, another contender for the title, led by U.S. international Christian Pulisic, host Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday. Bayern Munich, meanwhile, host 16th-place Bayer Leverkusen the following day in what should be a win for the defending league champions.

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