Things took off in the cup midweek, with no less than fifteen goals in the last three quarter finals. The most exciting was probably at Murcia (with all due respect to Osasuna supporters), where Diego Tristán gave Deportivo what looked like an untouchable lead with two early goals. However Murcia came back to take them to the wire and put in their claim for a place in the first division next season. Tristán got another at the weekend to take him up to fourth equal in the chart, not bad considering he hardly played during the early part of the season. His team mate Makaay is still in front however, and he got another at the weekend to take him on to 22 in all competitions.

Dely Valdés is back on the scoring trail though, and he got two more against Recre on Sunday to consolidate his second place. They won 4-0, as did Mallorca in the cup against a depleted Real Madrid side, with Pandiani getting one to take him level with Tristán and Raúl. The Real Madrid forward has not scored now in five league games, something unusual for him, but thankfully for his manager Roberto Carlos and Figo did to save a point against Espanyol at the weekend. Figo is the fifth Real Madrid player in our chart this week. Elsewhere Atlético's Fernando Torres got his tenth in the league against Barcelona, possibly putting him in with a shout of being included in Spain's squad for the upcoming friendly with Germany (?), and supersub Mista did it again, getting the winning goal for Valencia within two minutes of coming on. (04.02.03)