SOCCER-SPAIN Heroes and Villains

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Context
-------

$_SERVER: Array
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Deprecated
----------
{doc_root}/ssdocs/stats/pichichis2012/pichichisd37.php(52): include_once('/home/soccer/pu...')
{doc_root}/mysimpleads/mysimpleads.php(2): ads_class->__construct()
{doc_root}/mysimpleads/ads.class.php(2): ads_class->connectToDB()
{doc_root}/mysimpleads/ads.class.php(2): include_once()
{doc_root}/mysimpleads/ads.class.php(2)
Methods with the same name as their class will not be constructors in a future version of PHP; db_class has a deprecated constructor

Warning
-------
{doc_root}/ssdocs/stats/pichichis2012/pichichisd37.php(52): include_once('/home/soccer/pu...')
{doc_root}/mysimpleads/mysimpleads.php(2): ads_class->__construct()
{doc_root}/mysimpleads/ads.class.php(2): ads_class->connectToDB()
{doc_root}/mysimpleads/ads.class.php(2): db_class->connect('localhost', 'soccer_user1951', 'eFpCXFr13l%T', 'soccer_user1951')
{doc_root}/mysimpleads/db.class.php(46): spl_autoload_call('fDatabase')
[internal function]: ads_class->{closure}('fDatabase')
{doc_root}/mysimpleads/config.php(60): include()
{doc_root}/mysimpleads/config.php(60)
"continue" targeting switch is equivalent to "break". Did you mean to use "continue 2"?

With the first three places already secured, this season's league is coming to an end, and Messi and Ronaldo were both given well earned rests by their coaches to nurse their respective injuries. It is probably unlikely that either will play next weekend, but in any case the race for the Pichichi award was over several weekends ago, Messi sure of a second title in a row with Ronaldo once again runner-up, and Falcao third. The Atlético striker will not be around next year though as he has already agreed a big bucks move to Mónaco, and he said goodbye to his fans on Sunday with tears in his eyes and large bulges in his wallet!

Several issues are still undecided though, including which team will take the fourth Champions League spot, and Valencia got the edge over Real Sociedad after a 1-0 victory over Granada, Soldado getting the all important goal. The Basque side meanwhile were held to a 3-3 draw by Real Madrid, Xabi Prieto scoring twice to add to his hat-trick in the Bernabeu earlier this season, and Griezmann netting his tenth of the current campaign. Higuaín was one of the scorers for the visitors, possibly his last in La Liga if rumours of a move to Juventus (or elsewhere?) are confirmed.

Whoever misses out on fourth spot will play in the Europa League, where they will be joined almost certainly by Betis after they thrashed Zaragoza 4-0. Rubén Castro got the opener with fifteen seconds, Pabón adding two more and Molina the fourth. Málaga currently occupy sixth spot after a 3-1 win over Deportivo, Isco (another who could be on his way?) one of the scorers, although the Andalusians will have to wait for the appeal against their European ban to be heard on 4th June before they know whether they are in or not.

If the ban is upheld, then the third place in the Europa League could go to one of several teams, including Sevilla, even though they lost 2-1 at Osasuna this weekend. It was a double disappointment for Negredo, for as well as seeing his goal come to nothing, he has also lost his place in the Spanish squad to Soldado. Espanyol also have a remote chance, although they too lost to city rivals Barcelona, Alexis and Pedro getting the goals in the absence of Messi.

Osasuna though are safe, and they therefore avoid the last day bun-fight to avoid the drop. The three relegation spots are between four sides, with Deportivo just needing a win against Real Sociedad in the Riazor to save themselves. If they don't do it though then Celta are best placed, thanks mainly to a 0-2 victory at Valladolid, with Iago Aspas netting the second from the penalty spot. Zaragoza and Mallorca have less chance of staying up, but as they say, "it ain't over until the fat lady sings!" (28.05.13)

Pichichi	League	Cup	Europe	Total (Penalties)
Messi (Barcelona)	46	6	8	60 (5)
Ronaldo (Real Madrid)	34	9	12	55 (7)
Falcao (Atlético)	28	2	4	34 (7)
Soldado (Valencia)	22	2	4	28 (6)
Negredo (Sevilla)	21	6	0	27 (6)
Rubén Castro (Betis)	18	3	0	21 (2)
Jonas (Valencia)	13	1	5	19 (2)
Benzema (Real Madrid)	10	4	5	19 (0)
Aduríz (Athletic Bilbao)	14	1	3	18 (1)
Piti (Rayo Vallecano)	17	0	0	17 (5)
Higuaín (Real Madrid)	15	1	1	17 (0)
Diego Costa (Atlético)	8	6	2	16 (3)
Agirretxe (Real Sociedad)	14	1	0	15 (0)
David Villa (Barcelona)	9	5	1	15 (0)
Vela (Real Sociedad)	14	0	0	14 (4)
Riki (Deportivo)	13	0	0	13 (0)
Postiga (Zaragoza)	13	0	0	13 (1)
Jorge Molina (Betis)	12	1	0	13 (2)
Fàbregas (Barcelona)	10	2	1	13 (0)
Iago Aspas (Celta)	12	0	0	12 (3)
Oscar (Valladolid)	12	0	0	12 (0)
Isco (Málaga)	9	0	3	12 (2)
Santa Cruz (Málaga)	8	3	1	12 (0)
Hemed (Mallorca)	11	0	0	11 (0)
Rakitic (Sevilla)	8	3	0	11 (1)
Alexis (Barcelona)	8	2	1	11 (0)
Griezmann (Real Sociedad)	9	1	0	10 (0)
Özil (Real Madrid)	9	0	1	10 (0)
Pedro (Barcelona)	7	2	1	10 (0)
Susaeta (Athletic Bilbao)	6	0	4	10 (0)