A good result for Real Madrid in their Champions League match, Benzema's goal against his old club Olympique Lyon helping them to a 1-1 first leg draw. It was the first time that Madrid have scored in Lyon in four outings, and for once they look like going through to the last eight. Sevilla will be taking no further part in the Europa League though after they were knocked out by Porto on the away goal rule despite winning 0-1 in Portugal, Luis Fabiano's strike not quite enough after a 1-2 defeat in the Sánchez Pizjuán the week before. That left Villarreal as Spain's only representatives in the last 16 of the competition, goals from Rossi and Nilmar taking them through against Napoli despite going behind early on.

Barcelona extended their lead at the top of the table at the weekend, goals from Messi, Villa and Pedro giving them a 0-3 win at Mallorca on Saturday evening. The terrible trio have netted 56 between them in the league, one more than the total scored by second placed Real Madrid, who were held to a 0-0 draw at Deportivo. Elsewhere Negredo scored the opener as Sevilla to a 2-2 draw at Atlético, and Marco Rubén and Nilmar got the goals as Villarreal drew by the same scoreline at Racing. Llorente's 14th of the season in the league was not enough to stop Valencia taking the three points at San Mamés, but strikes by Caicedo and Rondón helped Levante and Málaga to good wins in their fight to avoid the drop this season. (02.03.11)