All three Spanish sides completed the formalities in Europe this week to reach their respective semi-finals. Messi and Ronaldo got the goals (as usual) as Barcelona and Real Madrid both recorded 0-1 victories against Shakhtar and Spurs in the Champions League, and there were penalties for Rossi and Marco Rubén as Villarreal beat Twente 1-3 in the Europa League.

As anyone who has not been stranded on the planet Zog for the last 20 years will know, all of that set up a two-leg Champions League semi-final between Barça and Madrid, scheduled just days after they meet in the league and then the cup final. The first of those clashes took place on Saturday, the 1-1 draw in the Bernabeu favouring Guardiola's side, who remain eight points above their rivals in the table. Both goals came from the penalty spot, the scorers... Messi and Ronaldo!

Rossi also converted another penalty though in the Monday night victory over Zaragoza, but his side stay six points behind Valencia after Soldado netted his seventh in three weeks in a 0-3 win at Almería. Athletic are now fifth, Llorente heading an important goal in a 1-2 victory over local rivals Osasuna, and Espanyol and Atlético stay in the running for European spots after drawing 2-2, Agüero getting the second for the visitors and Osvaldo both for Pochettino's side. Elsewhere Trézéguet scored his first goal away from home for Hércules, although it came too late to prevent a 2-1 defeat at Levante. (19.04.11)