The pace is hotting up as the end of the season approaches, with teams playing three league games in eight days. This season though it is a race between the big two for the title, with Ibrahimovic scoring his third in as many matches to give Barcelona a 0-1 win at Mallorca, and Higuaín getting what was to prove the winner for Real Madrid in a 3-2 victory against city neighbours Atlético, despite a penalty later on from Forlán. Higuaín is only two behind Messi for the Liga Pichichi, and they may be the key men in the big derby game in a fortnight's time.

The highest scoring game of the weekend though came on Monday, when Athletic Bilbao beat Racing Santander 4-3 to move level with fifth placed Sevilla. Llorente scored two for the locals, including a penalty, to take his tally for the season in all competitions to 21, and only God knows why Del Bosque keeps on overlooking him for Güiza and Negredo. Elsewhere there were two welcome returns, Rossi coming back to the Villarreal side after some time off for personal reasons to score his second in four days against Sevilla, and Pandiani back at Osasuna after an injury lay-off to score the only goal against Almería. (29.03.10)