What a week our boys had in Europe! On Tuesday a Sergio Ramos inspired Real Madrid won 1-3 at Napoli to reach the quarter finals of the Champions League, Ramos himself heading in two goals from consecutive Kroos corners (the second attributed to a Mertens own goal) to cancel out a Mertens opener, and Morata wrapping things up near the end. And on Wednesday Barcelona became the first team in the history of the competition to overturn a 4-0 deficit, a 6-1 victory against Paris Saint Germain in the Nou Camp taking them through as well. Luis Suárez got the first early on and Messi converted a penalty after Kurzawa had put through his own net, but it was not until the dying minutes that Neymar got two more (including a second penalty), and Sergi Roberto poked home a last second winner. Celta’s first leg Europa League tie against Krasnodar was tame in comparison, but the Galicians ran out 2-1 victors thanks to a late goal by substitute Beauvue after the Russian side had equalized a strike by Daniel Wass.

Ramos did it again at the weekend, another headed goal from another Kroos corner with ten minutes to go giving Real Madrid a 2-1 win over Betis. Ronaldo headed the leveller late on in the first half after Sanabria had given the visitors the lead. The result took Madrid back to the top of the table after Barcelona surprisingly lost 2-1 at Deportivo earlier in the day, a Luis Suárez strike not enough to prevent defeat. Third placed Sevilla were held to a 1-1 draw by Leganés, but Atlético beat Granada 0-1 thanks to late Griezmann header, thereby closing the gap on the Andalusians to five points. Both play Champions League ties next weekend before meeting each other next Sunday. Atleti are now four points clear of Real Sociedad, who lost 0-2 to Athletic Bilbao in the latest Basque derby, Raúl García converting a penalty before Williams rounded things off. Athletic themselves are within four points of the European places, and Espanyol are still in with a shout of a Euro place as well after a high-scoring 4-3 win over Las Palmas, Gerard Moreno and Piatti (from the penalty spot) amongst the scorers there. (14.03.17)

Pichichi League Cup ** Europe * Total (Penalties)
Messi (Barcelona) 23 5 11 39 (6)
Luis Suárez (Barcelona) 21 5 3 29 (0)
Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 19 1 6 26 (7)
Griezmann (Atlético) 13 4 4 21 (0)
Iago Aspas (Celta) 14 2 3 19 (4)
Ben Yedder (Sevilla) 9 5 2 16 (3)
Aduríz (Athletic) 8 1 7 16 (6)
Benzema (Real Madrid) 7 1 7 15 (0)
Gameiro (Atlético) 10 2 2 14 (2)
Neymar (Barcelona) 8 2 4 14 (4)
Morata (Real Madrid) 8 2 3 13 (0)
Arda Turan (Barcelona) 3 6 4 13 (0)
Carrasco (Atlético) 8 2 2 12 (0)
Gerard Moreno (Espanyol) 11 0 0 11 (0)
Sergi Enrich (Eibar) 10 1 0 11 (0)
Willian José (Real Soc) 9 2 0 11 (2)
Juanmi (Real Sociedad) 7 4 0 11 (0)
Raúl García (Athletic) 7 3 1 11 (3)
Ramos (Real Madrid) 7 1 2 10 (1)
Vietto (Sevilla) 6 3 1 10 (0)
Piatti (Espanyol) 9 0 0 9 (1)
Pedro León (Eibar) 8 1 0 9 (0)
Sandro (Málaga) 7 2 0 9 (0)
Bale (Real Madrid) 7 0 2 9 (0)
Sarabia (Sevilla) 6 2 1 9 (1)

* Includes Club World Cup
** Includes Spanish Super Cup