If you are not a member yet, you can sign up here

A delay to the beginning of the season due to the players' strike, but now things have started it's as if we had never been away! Right from the start Messi and Ronaldo renewed their battle for the Pichichi, and both are once again at the top of our chart. Messi scored three over the two legs of the fraticidal Spanish Super Cup, including the late winner in the Nou Camp to give them the victory over Real Madrid, but not before strikes from Ronaldo and Benzema had given them a fright. Özil, Xabi Alonso, Villa and Iniesta were also on target in an entertaining prequel to the season. And a few days later Barça took their second title in a week, Messi and Fàbregas the scorers in a 2-0 win over Porto in the European Super Cup.

So to the weekend, where Ronaldo laid down the gauntlet with a hat-trick as Madrid thrashed Zaragoza 0-6. Marcelo, Xabi Alonso and Kaká got the others. Barça responded though with a 5-0 win over Villarreal on Monday, Messi netting two after Thiago, Fàbregas and Alexis had started things off. No other team managed to win by more than one goal, although Soldado put in his claim for a place both in the Pichichi rankings and the Spanish national team with a hat-trick in a 4-3 win over Racing. The man who is keeping him out of Spain's side, Negredo, managed a couple himself though against petro-Málaga, and Real Sociedad's Agirretxe also scored a brace to send a message to his coach that they don't have to look further for a new striker.

Otherwise our early leaders are from teams who played in European competitions, with Rossi scoring twice against Odense to ensure Villarreal a place in the Champions League proper. Meanwhile Atlético Madrid have already won through two qualifying rounds of the Europa League, despite the handicap of losing Agüero and Forlán. Adrián and Reyes helped each other to three goals in all, and Elías also scored a couple on the first leg against Vitoria Guimaraes. He won't be getting any more though as he has had to move on as well to make room for Falcao. (30.08.11)

Pichichi League Cup Europe Total (Penalties)
Messi (Barcelona) 2 3 1 6 (0)
Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 3 1 0 4 (0)
Soldado (Valencia) 3 0 0 3 (0)
Adrián (Atlético) 0 0 3 3 (0)
Reyes (Atlético) 0 0 3 3 (0)
Agirretxe (Real Sociedad) 2 0 0 2 (0)
Negredo (Sevilla) 2 0 0 2 (0)
Fàbregas (Barcelona) 1 1 0 2 (0)
Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid) 1 1 0 2 (0)
Rossi (Villarreal) 0 0 2 2 (0)
Elías (Atlético) 0 0 2 2 (0)