A record number of goals this weekend in the first division, 39 in all, well above the previous best of 35 scored on the opening day of the season. Real Madrid got off to an earlier start to the year though, and Raúl scored the first of 2003 in the game against Sevilla which had been postponed from week twelve. Neither Makaay nor Dely Valdés were amongst the goalscorers at the weekend, although their team mates were, with last year's Pichichi Diego Tristán opening the scoring against Celta and Musampa getting one against Real Sociedad. The Basques stay top of the table though, and in the forced absence of Kovacevic it was Nihat once again who helped them earn a point with his ninth of the season.

Fernando Torres joins the San Sebastian front pairing after scoring twice, although it did little good as his side lost 4-3 to Villarreal, for whom Palermo got two as well to make it five now from six games. The same score but the other way round at Santander, where an Urzaiz penalty and two late goals from Etxeberría gave Athletic a thrilling 3-4 win, and five goals in the game between Real Madrid and Valencia, where substitutes Guti and Portillo scored late on after Ronaldo and Zidane had put Madrid ahead twice. Ronaldo and Zidane join the group on seven goals, as do Luque (Deportivo) and Javi Guerrero (Racing). Finally Julio Alvarez struck again after six games without a goal, his free kick giving Rayo a much needed win at Osasuna. (06.01.03)