Another poor haul in the cup semi-finals midweek, with only one goal from the two matches, scored by Osasuna's Valdo. Things finally brightened up at the weekend though, the 32 goals being the best tally in ten weeks or so. Leading scorer Samuel Eto'o returned against the advice of Barcelona's doctors, but he was unable to add to his total in the hour or so he was on the park. Not that it mattered much, with his team mates putting four past Málaga, including two from Giuly to take him on to ten for the season in all competitions. The day before Real Madrid had thrown down the gauntlet to the Catalans with a victory over Villarreal, the new slim-line Ronaldo getting one and setting up the second for Salgado to cancel out Riquelme's earlier penalty.

Eto'o's lead on an all competition basis has been cut to one goal though after Baptista scored two more for Sevilla in Bilbao. Oliveira also got his name on the scoresheet to move level with Forlán on the league only basis, which is what the official Pichichi prize is based on. Betis lost to Real Sociedad though allowing Espanyol to move back up to the Champions League spots, just behind Sevilla. Maxi drove home his thirteenth of the season for Lotina's side against rivals Zaragoza and Tamudo got two more to take him level with the group on ten goals, with David Villa replying for the visitors. Luque was also on target this weekend, taking him level with Diego Tristán as Deportivo's top scorer, but it was a sad night for the Galicians as they crashed 1-4 to Racing, for whom an inspired Benayoun scored a second half hat-trick. (25.04.05)