First division sides entered the Spanish cup this week, although most of our top scorers were rested as the bigger teams played lower ranked opposition, with a second leg to come. Real Madrid had some problems though before they beat neighbours Fuenlabrada 0-2 thanks two second half penalties from Marco Asensio and Lucas Vázquez, and Valencia had to resort to the supersubs to beat Zaragoza by the same scoreline, Rodrigo opening the scoring there. Elsewhere Raúl García saved a draw for Athletic at Formentera, and Sergio León scored twice for Betis against Cádiz. There were four all first division ties though, Las Palmas in particular winning 1-4 at Deportivo, with Momo and Calleri scoring two each for the Canary Islanders, and Lucas Pérez replying for the locals.

Messi’s sixteenth of the season helped Barcelona to a 0-2 win at Athletic on Saturday, and only Valencia are anywhere near to being in touch with them, a 1-2 win at Alavés with a strike from Zaza and a Rodrigo penalty keeping them four points below the leaders. The two Madrid teams are now eight points adrift of the Catalans, Isco’s opener not enough to prevent Real Madrid from an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at newly promoted Girona, with Stuani on the scoresheet there, and Atlético held to a 1-1 draw by Villarreal, Bacca saving a point for the visitors after Correa had given Simeone’s side the lead. Many of our Pichichis added to their totals elsewhere though, including Ben Yedder, Oyarzabal, Angel, Morales, Bardhi, Iago Aspas, Rémy, Lucas Pérez and Gerardo Moreno. It was just one of those weekends! (31.10.17)

Pichichi League Cup ** Europe * Total (Penalties)
Messi (Barcelona) 12 1 3 16 (2)
Zaza (Valencia) 9 0 0 9 (0)
Bakambu (Villarreal) 8 0 1 9 (1)
Aduríz (Athletic) 4 0 4 8 (2)
Ben Yedder (Sevilla) 2 0 6 8 (1)
Rodrigo (Valencia) 6 1 0 7 (1)
Willian José (Real Soc) 3 0 4 7 (1)
Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 1 1 5 7 (2)
Sanabria (Betis) 6 0 0 6 (0)
Maxi Gómez (Celta) 6 0 0 6 (0)
Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad) 5 0 1 6 (0)
Sergio León (Betis) 4 2 0 6 (0)
Asensio (Real Madrid) 3 3 0 6 (1)
Stuani (Girona) 5 0 0 5 (0)
Raúl García (Athletic) 2 1 2 5 (0)
Llorente (Real Sociedad) 2 0 3 5 (0)
Correa (Atlético) 4 0 0 4 (0)
Iago Aspas (Celta) 4 0 0 4 (0)
Moreno (Espanyol) 4 0 0 4 (1)
Angel (Getafe) 4 0 0 4 (0)
Rémy (Las Palmas) 4 0 0 4 (0)
Bardhi (Levante) 4 0 0 4 (1)
Morales (Levante) 4 0 0 4 (2)
Lucas Pérez (Valencia) 3 1 0 4 (2)
Isco (Real Madrid) 3 0 1 4 (0)
Bacca (Villarreal) 3 0 1 4 (0)
Calleri (Las Palmas) 2 2 0 4 (0)

* Includes European Super Cup
** Includes Spanish Super Cup