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With the cup now out of the way, it was time for the European competitions to return. And Barcelona shrugged off their disappointing league form with a convincing 1-3 win at Bayer Leverkusen. Alexis scored twice and Messi got the third to give Guardiola's side a big advantage for the second leg. A couple of days later it was the turn of the Europa League sides to make their appearances, with Falcao scoring twice and Adrián also on the scoresheet as Atlético Madrid clocked up a 1-3 victory at Lazio. Valencia also won 0-1 at Stoke City thanks to a screamer from Topal, and although Athletic Bilbao lost 2-1 at Lokomotiv Moscow, Muniain's away goal keeps the Basque side in with a reasonable chance of going through to the last sixteen.

At last the goals are starting to flow in the league, and after the 32 from the week before, a season's best 38 were scored this weekend. Without doubt the most outstanding were the four that Messi got in a 5-1 win against third placed Valencia, silencing the critics who were suggesting he was not at his best. Xavi is also having his most prolific season as far as goals are concerned, and he netted his eleventh of the current campaign to virtually end any hope the Ches had of closing the gap on their rivals. Cristiano Ronaldo stays a goal ahead of Messi in the fight for the league Pichichi though after he got one of Real Madrid's goals in a 4-0 victory over Racing, with Benzema scoring two and Di María getting the fourth on his return after an injury lay-off. Elsewhere there were eight goals in the amazing match between Levante and Rayo, Rubén Suárez's brace not enough to prevent a 3-5 defeat. Espanyol's Alvaro Vázquez signalled his return from injury with the opener in a 1-1 draw at Getafe, and Rubén Castro got both goals as Betis won 0-2 at bottom club Zaragoza. Quite a weekend! (21.02.12)

Pichichi League Cup Europe Total (Penalties)
Messi (Barcelona) 27 5 10 42 (3)
Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 28 4 3 35 (11)
Benzema (Real Madrid) 13 4 4 21 (0)
Soldado (Valencia) 12 3 5 20 (1)
Falcao (Atlético) 14 0 5 19 (6)
Llorente (Athletic Bilbao) 12 5 2 19 (2)
Higuaín (Real Madrid) 14 1 2 17 (0)
Fàbregas (Barcelona) 9 3 3 15 (0)
Michu (Rayo Vallecano) 11 2 0 13 (0)
Adrián (Atlético) 6 1 6 13 (0)
Alexis (Barcelona) 8 1 2 11 (0)
Xavi (Barcelona) 7 2 2 11 (0)
Callejón (Real Madrid) 4 3 4 11 (0)
Koné (Levante) 8 2 0 10 (0)
Jonas (Valencia) 3 4 3 10 (0)
Rubén Castro (Betis) 9 0 0 9 (0)
Rubén Suárez (Levante) 7 2 0 9 (4)
Stuani (Racing) 5 4 0 9 (4)
Villa (Barcelona) 5 1 3 9 (0)
Hemed (Mallorca) 6 2 0 8 (5)
Alvaro Vázquez (Espanyol) 4 4 0 8 (0)