Only one game midweek, Real Madrid and Sevilla playing out the fixture postponed from week 16 due to Madrid’s participation in the Club World Cup. Ronaldo was still serving out the second of his two match ban, but the Jesé-James connection (must be a joke there somewhere!) put the locals two up before Iago Aspas got one back. Ancelotti lost a couple of players (including James) to injury and suspension in that game though, and at the weekend they were thoroughly beaten by city neighbours Atlético, Tiago, Saúl, Griezmann and Mandzukic getting the goals in a 4-0 win which threw the race for the title wide open. Barcelona took full advantage the following day, beating Athletic Bilbao 2-5 to move to within a point of the leaders in the table, Messi scoring the first and having a hand in the rest of the goals, with Luis Suárez, Neymar and Pedro amongst the scores. Mikel Rico and Aduríz replied for the Basque side. Valencia meanwhile are back up to fourth after a 1-2 win at Espanyol, Dani Parejo being awarded one of the goals by the referee (even though his free kick came off the post before going in off the keeper), and Sergio García making a game of it with a late goal for the locals. Sevilla drop to fifth after they were beaten 2-1 by Getafe, but Villarreal won 2-0 to close to within a point of the Andalusians, Gerard Moreno wrapping things up for Marcelino’s team late on. (10.02.15)

Pichichi League Cup Europe Total (Penalties)
Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 28 1 7 36 (10)
Messi (Barcelona) 23 2 8 33 (2)
Neymar (Barcelona) 16 4 3 23 (0)
Mandzukic (Atlético) 11 3 5 19 (2)
Benzema (Real Madrid) 11 0 6 17 (0)
Griezmann (Atlético) 12 1 2 15 (0)
Vietto (Villarreal) 10 0 5 15 (0)
Bacca (Sevilla) 12 1 1 14 (4)
Bale (Real Madrid) 10 0 4 14 (1)
Aduríz (Athletic Bilbao) 8 3 3 14 (2)
Stuani (Espanyol) 9 3 0 12 (2)
James (Real Madrid) 8 3 1 12 (0)
Gerard Moreno (Villarreal) 3 5 4 12 (0)
Pedro (Barcelona) 5 5 0 10 (1)
Aspas (Sevilla) 2 7 1 10 (1)
Sergio García (Espanyol) 8 1 0 9 (2)
Caicedo (Espanyol) 6 3 0 9 (0)
Raúl García (Atlético) 4 3 2 9 (4)
Jonathas (Elche) 8 0 0 8 (0)
Dani Parejo (Valencia) 8 0 0 8 (1)
Larrivey (Celta) 7 1 0 8 (0)
Vela (Real Sociedad) 7 1 0 8 (1)
Alcácer (Valencia) 5 3 0 8 (0)
Gameiro (Sevilla) 2 5 1 8 (1)