The race for the Pichichi title is hotting up as league football returned after the international lay-off. Diego Forlán laid down the gauntlet on Saturday night with another strike for la Liga's most on-form side Villarreal, taking him to within one goal of Samuel Eto'o. But the following day Ronaldinho (reluctantly?) handed over penalty taking duties to the Camerooni striker, who duly obliged sticking two past Betis keeper Doblas. Oliveira got one at the other end though in a thrilling 3-3 draw to keep up his push for the top spots.

Fernando Torres is the only Spaniard in the top five Pichichis this year, and he too converted a penalty as his side beat struggling Mallorca 4-0. The other three goals in that match were officially scored by Salva, (eight for the season to date), who managed to convince the referee that he had actually got a touch to Colsa's shot which opened the scoring, although from the pictures we saw he probably had his eyes closed at the time. Athletic's Santi Ezquerro takes sixth spot after getting another in his best ever season, and suitors are lining up to take him away from the San Mamés stadium when his contract finishes this summer.

Elsewhere super-sub Michael Owen got his tenth in the league and his thirteenth in all competitions, taking him within two goals of his team mate Ronaldo and two ahead of Raúl, who have occupied the front spots all season. Luxemburgo doesn't seem to have noticed. Maxi looks likely to oust Raúl Tamudo for the first time in several seasons as Espanyol's top scorer, even though the team captain scored his sixth penalty to taker his tally to eight in the league, and Diego Tristán kept Deportivo in the hunt for a European spot with a controversial strike from a clearly offside position against Levante. (04.04.05)