| European football returned this week, although it was not
a good time for Spanish teams, with the big four only getting three goals
between them and Alavés outshining everyone with a 'manita', five goals
against Kaiserslauten. None of the top strikers scored in Europe, although 9
out of this week's 36 in the league did come from the Pichichis. With
Raúl and Javi Moreno both out injured, Rivaldo took advantage to draw
level with Moreno in the league and increase his overall lead with another in
the extraordinary game at Villarreal, although even he missed a penalty before
he finally scored. Kluivert got a hat-trick in that match, saving a point in
the last minute for Barcelona and taking him up to fourth in our chart, and
Víctor got two of Villarreal's four in reply bringing him back in to our
table with twelve. Catanha got another for Celta with his fifth goal in as many
games, and his contribution has helped his side to a record five wins in a row
and eleven games without defeat. The top five have opened up a gap on the rest,
with the most important goal of the rest being Guti's strike to give Real
Madrid a victory at Las Palmas and take Real Madrid eight points clear at the
top of the table. Guti only came in to the side to replace Raúl, and out
of favour with his manager he had not scored in eight games before this one.
Juan Sánchez got his team's fourth to take his tally up to fourteen,
making him Valencia's top scorer ahead of Carew and Mendieta. Málaga's
Darío Silva got his team's winner against his old club to take him on to
eleven goals, level with Mendieta, Figo and Urzaiz, who all drop out of the
chart this week. (09.04.01) |
