An amazing “clásico” on Sunday, with Benzema scoring twice and Ronaldo converting a penalty for locals Real Madrid, but an Iniesta strike and a second Messi hat-trick in a week (including two more penalties) giving Barcelona a 3-4 victory. Messi’s goals take him on to 21 against the old rival, passing Di Stéfano’s previous record of 18, and he is also now the second highest scorer of all time in La Liga, his tally of 236 taking him past Hugo Sánchez, and only the 251 by the mythical Zarra now stands in his way. At the rate he’s going he should be past that as well by the end of the season! Barça’s win takes them to within a point of Madrid in the table, but Atlético go top on head-to-head goal difference after they beat Betis 0-2 earlier in the evening, with Diego Costa once again on target.

Up to that point only fourteen goals had been scored in the eight previous games, with Bacca, Alberto Bueno and Giovani all adding to their totals. However on Monday night we had another seven goal thriller, with Carlos Vela converting a penalty for Real Sociedad in their last minute 4-3 defeat at Almería. Two more penalties for the home side as well, making it six spot kicks and fourteen goals in the last two matches of the weekend!

Real Madrid were in action midweek as well, Ronaldo scoring twice as they rounded off an aggregate 9-2 victory in the Champions League over Schalke. That took him to thirteen for the competition to date, already just one short of the all-time record set by.. guess who? Why Messi of course! Thursday saw the second part of the Euro-derby between Betis and Sevilla, with the latter winning through on penalties after strikes by Reyes and Bacca cancelled out their rivals’ first leg lead. They will be joined in the quarter finals by Valencia, who finished off the job against Ludogorets with a 1-0 win, Paco Alcácer heading the only goal to add to the three his team scored in the first leg. (25.03.14)

Pichichi League Cup Europe Total (Penalties)
Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 26 3 13 42 (9)
Messi (Barcelona) 21 5 8 34 (6)
Diego Costa (Atlético) 23 1 7 31 (4)
Benzema (Real Madrid) 16 2 4 22 (0)
Alexis (Barcelona) 17 2 0 19 (0)
Griezmann (Real Sociedad) 15 3 1 19 (0)
Pedro (Barcelona) 14 3 1 18 (0)
Bacca (Sevilla) 12 0 5 17 (1)
Vela (Real Sociedad) 11 2 3 16 (1)
Villa (Atlético Madrid) 13 2 0 15 (1)
Raúl García (Atlético) 7 4 4 15 (0)
Javi Guerra (Valladolid) 13 1 0 14 (0)
Bale (Real Madrid) 10 0 4 14 (0)
Gameiro (Sevilla) 9 0 5 14 (1)
Aduríz Athletic) 11 2 0 13 (2)
Rakitic (Sevilla) 11 0 2 13 (4)
Fàbregas (Barcelona) 8 4 1 13 (3)
Uche (Villarreal) 12 0 0 12 (0)
Neymar (Barcelona) 7 2 3 12 (1)
El-Arabi (Granada) 11 0 0 11 (1)
Sergio García (Espanyol) 10 1 0 11 (4)
Giovani (Villarreal) 10 1 0 11 (1)
Paco Alcácer (Valencia) 6 1 4 11 (0)
Bueno (Rayo Vallecano) 9 1 0 10 (0)
Jorge Molina (Betis) 7 1 2 10 (1)
Rubén Castro (Betis) 7 1 2 10 (0)
Oriol Riera (Osasuna) 9 0 0 9 (0)
Jonas (Valencia) 9 0 0 9 (1)
Isco (Real Madrid) 8 0 1 9 (0)
Perbet (Villarreal) 8 0 1 9 (1)
Di María (Real Madrid) 3 3 3 9 (1)