Luis Suarez is a special kind of special.
Statisticians the world over are double-checking the numbers as the Uruguayan’s contribution to Barcelona’s title-winning campaign almost beggars belief.
The striker joined some pretty stellar company by becoming only the third man to score 40 goals in a La Liga season, coming up with a hat-trick against Granada which clinched the league for the Catalan giants.
40 – Luis Suárez is the third player to score 40 goals in a La Liga season, after Lionel Messi (3) and Cristiano Ronaldo (3). Amazing.
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) May 14, 2016
Suarez’s fourteenth goal in just his last five games secured his place as top scorer in Spain this season but the 29-year-old had made it clear that the league title, rather than any personal reward, was his main priority.
“If we aren’t champions, then winning the Pichichi is worth nothing,” Suarez said during Thursdays’ news conference. “Our main goal is to keep a clean sheet. After that, we know that we can make the difference, that is how our last four matches have gone. We are aware that [during the dip in form] we didn’t have the aim and the clarity to win the league crown. But we have improved in both our attack and our defence. We have to be strong mentally.”
Barcelona finished one point clear of arch-rivals Real Madrid with the comprehensive 3-0 at Granada, bringing Barca their second consecutive La Liga title.
Suarez did have to hold off late competition from Cristiano Ronaldo for the Pichichi award as the Portuguese forward also scored two in the first half of Real Madrid’s final fixture in the league but after Ronaldo was substituted in the second half, the gong was guaranteed to go Suarez’s way.
