All first division sides were in action in the cup this week, Real Madrid and Sevilla playing their fourth round second leg ties in order to free them up for international commitments, and the rest just starting their first legs. The early stage of the competition allows coaches to rest some of their stars and give a run out to lesser used players, and Sevilla’s Iago Aspas took full advantage, scoring a second hat-trick against Sabadell to take his tally to six in the competition. Gameiro also netted again in a 5-1 win, and James helped himself to a brace as Real Madrid beat tiny Cornellà 5-0 (nice to see Jesé returning after a nine month lay-off by the way, and also getting his name on the scoresheet). Meanwhile in the first leg matches there were two goals for Espanyol’s Stuani, and one each for Griezmann (Atlético), Alcácer (Valencia) and Gerard Moreno (Villarreal).

The weekend league games produced yet another face-off between Ronaldo and Messi, the former scoring all three goals against Celta in Real Madrid’s record 18 th win in a row, his 23 rd hat-trick also beating the Liga record jointly held by two of the game’s legends, Zarra and Di Stéfano. Messi was not to be daunted though, and he too netted a hat-trick in the local derby against Espanyol the following day, albeit that Sergio García put the visitors ahead early on. Madrid and Barça are, as ever, leading the table, with Atlético third thanks in part to a strike by Mandukic, and Sevilla fourth thanks entirely to an early goal by Bacca. (09.12.14)

Pichichi League Cup Europe Total (Penalties)
Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 23 0 6 29 (8)
Messi (Barcelona) 13 0 7 20 (0)
Neymar (Barcelona) 11 0 2 13 (0)
Benzema (Real Madrid) 8 0 5 13 (0)
Mandzukic (Atlético) 6 1 5 12 (0)
Bacca (Sevilla) 10 0 1 11 (3)
James (Real Madrid) 5 3 1 9 (0)
Aduríz (Athletic Bilbao) 5 0 3 8 (1)
Vietto (Villarreal) 4 0 4 8 (0)
Larrivey (Celta) 7 0 0 7 (0)
Bale (Real Madrid) 6 0 1 7 (0)
Stuani (Espanyol) 5 2 0 7 (1)
Aspas (Sevilla) 0 6 1 7 (1)
Jonathas (Elche) 6 0 0 6 (0)
Baptistao (Rayo Vallecano) 6 0 0 6 (0)
Bueno (Rayo Vallecano) 6 0 0 6 (1)
M`bia (Sevilla) 4 0 2 6 (0)
Griezmann (Atlético) 3 1 2 6 (0)
Gerard Moreno (Villarreal) 2 1 3 6 (0)
Nolito (Celta) 5 0 0 5 (0)
Sergio García (Espanyol) 5 0 0 5 (0)
Vela (Real Sociedad) 5 0 0 5 (0)
Alcácer (Valencia) 4 1 0 5 (0)
Uche (Villarreal) 4 0 1 5 (0)
Gameiro (Sevilla) 2 2 1 5 (1)
Raúl García (Atlético) 2 1 2 5 (1)