A couple of surprises in the cup quarter finals (first leg) this week, Espanyol handing city neighbours Barcelona their first defeat of the season, Melendo coming on to get the only goal for the locals, and Sevilla winning 1-2 at Atlético Madrid despite Diego Costa’s opener, a Moyà own goal and a late strike from Correa (Joaquín that is) overturning the result. Guedes and Rodrigo got the goals for Valencia in a 2-1 win over last season’s runners up Alavés, Sobrino opening the scoring for them, and Marco Alonso getting a last minute winner for Real Madrid at neighbours Leganés.

Messi and Luis Suárez got two each as leaders Barcelona beat Betis 0-5 on Sunday, and they are now eleven points clear of Atlético, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Girona, Portu saving a point for the Catalans after Griezmann had given Simeone’s side the lead. Third placed Valencia lost 2-1 at Las Palmas, Santi Mina’s opener overturned by a Viera strike and a Calleri penalty, and Real Madrid close up a bit on them after thrashing Deportivo 7-1, with two each from Bale, Ronaldo... and Nacho! Elsewhere there were goals for Williams, Raúl García, Angel, Munir, Willian José, Iago Aspas and Maxi Gómez in what was the second highest scoring weekend of the season, with 37 goals in all. (24.01.18)

Pichichi League Cup ** Europe * Total (Penalties)
Messi (Barcelona) 19 3 3 25 (3)
Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 6 1 11 18 (3)
Luis Suárez (Barcelona) 15 1 0 16 (0)
Ben Yedder (Sevilla) 5 3 8 16 (2)
Aduríz (Athletic) 7 0 8 15 (6)
Bakambu (Villarreal) 9 2 3 14 (1)
Willian José (Real Soc) 9 0 5 14 (2)
Iago Aspas (Celta) 12 1 0 13 (3)
Rodrigo (Valencia) 9 3 0 12 (1)
Gerard Moreno (Espanyol) 8 3 0 11 (2)
Maxi Gómez (Celta) 10 0 0 10 (0)
Stuani (Girona) 10 0 0 10 (1)
Zaza (Valencia) 10 0 0 10 (0)
Santi Mina (Valencia) 7 2 0 9 (1)
Griezmann (Atlético) 6 1 2 9 (1)
Bale (Real Madrid) 6 1 2 9 (1)
Raúl García (Athletic) 5 1 3 9 (2)
Paulinho (Barcelona) 8 0 0 8 (0)
Portu (Girona) 8 0 0 8 (0)
Sergio León (Betis) 6 2 0 8 (0)
Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad) 6 0 2 8 (0)
Calleri (Las Palmas) 5 3 0 8 (1)
Asensio (Real Madrid) 5 3 0 8 (1)
Bacca (Villarreal) 5 1 2 8 (0)
Sanabria (Betis) 7 0 0 7 (0)
Angel (Getafe) 7 0 0 7 (0)
Williams (Athletic) 5 0 2 7 (0)
Munir (Alavés) 4 3 0 7 (0)

* Includes European Super Cup
** Includes Spanish Super Cup