Both Spanish teams won through their European play-offs this week, and La Liga will have a full contingent in the two competitions again. Sevilla struggled though against the little known Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League, and they only go through thanks to the away win in the first leg after a 2-2 draw in the Sánchez Pizjuán stadium. Curiously Sevilla’s goalscorers were the same as in the first match, Escudero and Ben Yedder. Athletic Bilbao had less problems on Thursday in their Europa League qualifier, Muniain getting the only goal against Panathinaikos to give the Basque side a 4-2 aggregate win.

As mentioned last week, Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the first four league games of the season after his red card in the Spanish Super Cup, and in his absence Messi got a head’s start on his arch-rival with both goals in Barcelona’s 0-2 win at Alavés on Saturday (it could have been more had he not missed an earlier penalty). Ronaldo’s place in the Madrid line up was filled by Marco Asensio, and he took full advantage, scoring both goals in the Bernabeu stadium to lead the Pichichi chart going in to the two-week international break. It wasn’t enough for them to win however, Valencia holding them to a 2-2 draw which leaves Zidane’s side in fifth spot.

Barcelona are now joint leaders with Leganés (?!?), who beat Espanyol 0-1, and with Real Sociedad, who won 3-0 against Villarreal, Willian José and Juanmi both getting their second of the season to take their team top on goal difference. Atlético are up to fourth after they thrashed Las Palmas 1-5, Correa starting things off and Koke netting a brace, and Athletic are also on four points after a 0-1 victory at neighbours Eibar, Aduríz (who else?) getting the only goal there. Five clubs have yet to pick up a point at the end of week 2, including Celta, who are languishing near the bottom of the table despite having the current top scorer in the league, Maxi Gómez getting his third of the current campaign in a 2-1 defeat at Betis. (29.08.17)

Pichichi League Cup ** Europe * Total (Penalties)
Asensio (Real Madrid) 2 2 0 4 (0)
Aduríz (Athletic) 1 0 3 4 (1)
Maxi Gómez (Celta) 3 0 0 3 (0)
Messi (Barcelona) 2 1 0 3 (1)
Correa (Atlético) 2 0 0 2 (0)
Koke (Atlético) 2 0 0 2 (0)
Stuani (Girona) 2 0 0 2 (0)
Juanmi (Real Sociedad) 2 0 0 2 (0)
Willian José (Real Soc) 2 0 0 2 (0)
Casemiro (Real Madrid) 1 0 1 2 (0)
Raúl García (Athletic) 0 0 2 2 (0)
Escudero (Sevilla) 0 0 2 2 (0)
Ben Yedder (Sevilla) 0 0 2 2 (0)

* Includes European Super Cup
** Includes Spanish Super Cup