Only two goals in the first three quarter-final cup ties on Wednesday, the game between Málaga and Athletic ending scoreless, and the other two with single goal victories. The big match though was in the Nou Camp, where Barcelona beat Atlético Madrid for the second time in ten days thanks to a late strike by Messi, but only after Oblak had saved his penalty kick. The return leg is next Wednesday with the winner due to play either Villarreal or Getafe, Marcelino’s team having the edge after Bruno curled in a free kick with five minutes to go. A bit more excitement in the last tie on Thursday, Espanyol (who already knocked out Valencia) beating Sevilla 3-1. Strikes by Caicedo and Lucas Vázquez, and a Sergio García penalty in between, put the locals three up, but an injury time goal by Bacca gave the Andalusians hope of a turnaround.

Wins again for the top three at the weekend, although Real Madrid had to come from behind to beat Córdoba 1-2 on Saturday, Benzema equalizing and Bale getting the winner with a very late penalty. Barcelona had no problems seeing off Elche (making it 18-0 on aggregate in their four meetings this season!), Messi and Neymar netting two each and Pedro rounding things off in a 0-6 victory, and Griezmann scored twice in the first twenty minutes as Atlético beat neighbours Rayo Vallecano 3-1. Meanwhile the two teams battling for fourth place met on Sunday, Valencia running out 3-1 winners over Sevilla to move above them in the table. There were no less than three penalties in the first half, Dani Parejo firing home the first and then scoring in open play, and Bacca converting the second spot kick but seeing the third saved by Diego Alves. Villarreal are also up there as well though, and they remain just three points behind Valencia after a 1-0 victory over Levante, Vietto once again the scorer. And elsewhere Espanyol confirmed their current run of form with a 3-0 win over Almería, Stuani netting a brace and Caicedo coming on to complete the scoring. (26.01.15)

Pichichi League Cup Europe Total (Penalties)
Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 28 1 7 36 (10)
Messi (Barcelona) 21 2 8 31 (2)
Neymar (Barcelona) 14 2 3 19 (0)
Mandzukic (Atlético) 8 3 5 16 (2)
Benzema (Real Madrid) 9 0 6 15 (0)
Bacca (Sevilla) 12 1 1 14 (4)
Bale (Real Madrid) 10 0 4 14 (1)
Vietto (Villarreal) 9 0 5 14 (0)
Griezmann (Atlético) 10 1 2 13 (0)
Stuani (Espanyol) 8 3 0 11 (1)
James (Real Madrid) 6 3 1 10 (0)
Aduríz (Athletic Bilbao) 5 2 3 10 (2)
Gerard Moreno (Villarreal) 2 4 4 10 (0)
Caicedo (Espanyol) 6 3 0 9 (0)
Pedro (Barcelona) 4 5 0 9 (1)
Jonathas (Elche) 8 0 0 8 (0)
Larrivey (Celta) 7 1 0 8 (0)
Sergio García (Espanyol) 7 1 0 8 (2)
Vela (Real Sociedad) 7 1 0 8 (1)
Alcácer (Valencia) 5 3 0 8 (0)
Raúl García (Atlético) 4 2 2 8 (3)
Gameiro (Sevilla) 2 5 1 8 (1)
Aspas (Sevilla) 0 7 1 8 (1)
Baptistao (Rayo Vallecano) 7 0 0 7 (0)
Dani Parejo (Valencia) 7 0 0 7 (1)