Not a great start for Spanish clubs in the European competitions, with only five goals between the seven teams competing. Barcelona were the only side to win their match, Ronaldinho's penalty wrapping up their tie at Werder Bremen, although Luis García's goal for Espanyol in Teplice looks like being enough to take them through to the UEFA cup league stage.

Quite the reverse at the weekend though, with 29 goals including two seven goal thrillers. Arango's hat-trick turned the scoreline around for Mallorca against Real Sociedad, and his third in particular is a candidate for goal of the season. Nené's hat-trick for Alavés (including two penalties) was not however enough to even earn them a point in a 3-4 defeat against Getafe. Riki got two for Bernd Schuster's team to take them to the top of the pack for the first time in their history.

Eto'o carries on his personal crusade to win the Pichichi that was so cruelly wrenched from him last season, although this time his strike against Atlético was scant consolation in their first league defeat of the season. Meanwhile Deportivo are riding high, Tristán and Sergio scoring at Valencia to cancel out Villa's penalty and Miguel's debut goal and take their side level with Getafe at the top. (19.09.05)