Better scorelines in Europe this week, with Barcelona and Sevilla both drawing 1-1 away against Stuttgart and CSKA Moscow respectively. Ibrahimovic and Negredo were the goalscorers. On Thursday Valencia and Atlético Madrid both won through to the next round of the Europa League, the Chés overturning a first leg defeat against Club Brugge with a first minute strike by Mata and two in extra time by Pablo, and Atlético beating Galatasaray thanks to a last minute goal by Diego Forlán. Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao are out though after they were beaten by Wolfsburg and Anderlecht.

Forlán got two more on Monday as Atlético beat Valencia 4-1 in the league, Agüero also on target for the locals. The Uruguayan striker can never be ruled out for the Liga Pichichi, although he is five behind the leaders, Messi catching up with Villa at the top of the chart after he and Pedro scored against Málaga. Higuaín is also making a challenge after he netted two more for Real Madrid at Tenerife, Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo also the scoresheet in a 1-5 thrashing. Elsewhere Diego Castro scored his ninth of the season for Sporting, his late penalty giving the Asturians a 3-2 win over Osasuna. (01.03.10)