Barcelona set a record this week which will be hard to beat, winning the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi to make it six titles in a year! Pep Guardiola's side came from behind in both the semi-final against Atlante and the final against Estudiantes to win the trophy, Busquets, Pedro and Messi scoring in the first game and Pedro and Messi in the second. Pedro's first was also historic, as he has now scored in all six competitions (Spanish Supercup, European Supercup, Spanish League, Spanish Cup, Champions League and now the Club World Cup), and his last minute equaliser against Estudiantes to take the match in to extra time will also go down in the annals of the club. Messi though produced another wonder-goal - this time with his chest - to win the final and leave his coach in tears of joy at the end of the game. Who would deny him the award as the 2009 FIFA World Player, which he picks up today in Zurich.

The last round of group matches in the new Europa League also took place midweek, with all three Spanish sides going through to the knock-out stage. Athletic Bilbao and Villarreal both failed to score in their respective matches against Werder Bremen and Salzburg, although they were already sure of qualifying before that. Valencia though had to get a result at Genoa, and when David Villa missed a penalty with the scores at 1-1 there were some nervous looking faces. However they needn't have worried - Villa has a reputation of scoring when he misses a penalty, and he obliged once again in injury time with a bit of help from the local goalkeeper to win the match.

Barça had already played their day 15 league match a couple of weeks ago, but the rest of the clubs were in action in the last weekend before the two week winter break. And Real Madrid closed the gap on the leaders to two points after thrashing managerless Zaragoza 6-0, Higuaín and Van der Vaart helping themselves to two apiece before the break and Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema adding two more after the restart. Third placed Sevilla were surprisingly beaten 1-2 by Getafe, Soldado scoring twice to outdo one of the men who replaced him in the Spanish national side, Negredo. Athletic Bilbao's Llorente also sent a reminder to Del Bosque with an assist and a goal against Osasuna, and the other Llorente was on target together with Rossi as Villarreal beat Racing Santander 2-0. (21.12.09)