The Spanish cup gets serious this month, with an all-first division line-up in the fifth round for the first time in several years. As luck would have it the two big Madrid sides were drawn together, Atlético beating Real Madrid 2-0 in the first leg to take an important lead into next week’s return match. Both goals came in the second half, Raúl García converting a penalty and José María Giménez heading the second from a corner. Whoever wins though, their opponents in the next round are all but mathematically certain to be Barcelona after Luis Enrique’s side thrashed Elche 5-0. All three of their star strike force scored, Neymar netting two, Luis Suárez one and Messi converting his first penalty of the season.

For the record, Barça have 26 cup titles, Real Madrid 19 and Atlético 10, but Athletic Bilbao have 23, and they are looking good for at least a semi-final spot (Málaga permitting) after a 2-4 win at Celta, with Aduríz helping himself to two of those, including a penalty. Either Sevilla or Valencia will probably stand in their way after that, although the Ches still have work to do after a late 2-1 victory over Espanyol, Negredo getting the winner with a last gasp penalty after Stuani had levelled it for the Catalans. Sevilla themselves are better placed to go through after a 1-2 win at Granada, Gameiro setting up the first for Deulofeu and scoring the second himself.

Real Madrid got back to winning ways at the weekend after their two recent defeats, a 3-0 victory over Espanyol, including strikes by James and Bale, keeping them a point clear at the top of the table with a game in hand. The two sides immediately beneath them met though, Barcelona running out 3-1 winners over Atlético with goals once again by those three front men, Neymar, Luis Suárez and Messi. Mandzukic got one back in between from the penalty spot, but Atleti drop three points below their rivals in the rankings. It was a relatively low scoring weekend however, the only other “Pichichi” to get his name on the scoresheet being Carlos Vela, who converted a penalty in Real Sociedad’s 1-1 draw at Granada. (13.01.15)

Pichichi League Cup Europe Total (Penalties)
Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 26 0 7 33 (10)
Messi (Barcelona) 16 1 8 25 (1)
Neymar (Barcelona) 12 2 3 17 (0)
Mandzukic (Atlético) 7 3 5 15 (1)
Benzema (Real Madrid) 8 0 6 14 (0)
Vietto (Villarreal) 8 0 5 13 (0)
Bale (Real Madrid) 8 0 4 12 (0)
Bacca (Sevilla) 10 0 1 11 (3)
Griezmann (Atlético) 8 1 2 11 (0)
James (Real Madrid) 6 3 1 10 (0)
Aduríz (Athletic Bilbao) 5 2 3 10 (2)
Stuani (Espanyol) 6 3 0 9 (1)
Gerard Moreno (Villarreal) 2 3 4 9 (0)
Larrivey (Celta) 7 1 0 8 (0)
Alcácer (Valencia) 5 3 0 8 (0)
Jonathas (Elche) 7 0 0 7 (0)
Sergio García (Espanyol) 7 0 0 7 (0)
Baptistao (Rayo Vallecano) 7 0 0 7 (0)
Vela (Real Sociedad) 7 0 0 7 (1)
Pedro (Barcelona) 3 4 0 7 (0)
Raúl García (Atlético) 3 2 2 7 (3)
Aspas (Sevilla) 0 6 1 7 (1)
Bueno (Rayo Vallecano) 6 0 0 6 (1)
Uche (Villarreal) 5 0 1 6 (0)
M`bia (Sevilla) 4 0 2 6 (0)
Gameiro (Sevilla) 2 3 1 6 (1)