A big surprise in the midweek cup quarter finals, Leganés knocking out their mighty neighbours Real Madrid to reach the semi-finals for the first time in their history! Triple defending champions Barcelona are through though, strikes by Luis Suárez and Messi overturning Espanyol’s first leg lead, and they will meet Valencia, who beat last season’s runners up Alavés on penalties, Munir and Santi Mina amongst the scorers there. Sevilla meanwhile will face Leganés in the other semi-final after they won 3-1 against Atlético, a Griezmann goal not enough as the Andalusians ran out 3-1 winners.

Luis Suárez and Messi scored again at the weekend as Barça came back from behind to beat Alavés 2-1, and they stay 11 points ahead of second placed Atlético, who won 3-0 against Las Palmas, Griezmann starting things off in the Wanda stadium. Real Madrid bounced back from their cup defeat with a 1-4 win at Valencia, Ronaldo converting two penalties for Zidane’s side, and Santi Mina scoring for the locals, who are now just two points ahead of their opponents. Villarreal are fifth after a 4-2 victory against Real Sociedad, Bacca amongst the scorers for the locals, and Diego Llorente and Willian José replying for the Basque side, and Sevilla are now four points below them after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Getafe, Angel netting the equaliser for visitors in injury time. Elsewhere Aduríz scored for Athletic in a 1-1 draw against neighbours Eibar on Friday evening, and five goals to finish things off on Monday, Aspas scoring twice and Maxi Gómez getting a third for Celta, and Sergio León and Guardado replying for Betis. A mention too for Espanyol’s Mario Hermoso, who scored one of the strangest hat-tricks on record at Leganés, two in his own net, and one at the right end later on! If at first you don’t succeed.... (30.01.18)

Pichichi League Cup ** Europe * Total (Penalties)
Messi (Barcelona) 20 4 3 27 (3)
Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 8 1 11 20 (5)
Luis Suárez (Barcelona) 16 2 0 18 (0)
Aduríz (Athletic) 8 0 8 16 (6)
Ben Yedder (Sevilla) 5 3 8 16 (2)
Iago Aspas (Celta) 14 1 0 15 (3)
Willian José (Real Soc) 10 0 5 15 (2)
Bakambu (Villarreal) 9 2 3 14 (1)
Rodrigo (Valencia) 9 3 0 12 (1)
Maxi Gómez (Celta) 11 0 0 11 (0)
Gerard Moreno (Espanyol) 8 3 0 11 (2)
Santi Mina (Valencia) 8 3 0 11 (1)
Griezmann (Atlético) 7 2 2 11 (1)
Stuani (Girona) 10 0 0 10 (1)
Zaza (Valencia) 10 0 0 10 (0)
Sergio León (Betis) 7 2 0 9 (0)
Bale (Real Madrid) 6 1 2 9 (1)
Bacca (Villarreal) 6 1 2 9 (0)
Raúl García (Athletic) 5 1 3 9 (2)
Paulinho (Barcelona) 8 0 0 8 (0)
Angel (Getafe) 8 0 0 8 (0)
Portu (Girona) 8 0 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)
Munir (Alavés) 4 4 0 8 (0)
Sanabria (Betis) 7 0 0 7 (0)
Williams (Athletic) 5 0 2 7 (0)
Llorente (Real Sociedad) 3 1 3 7 (0)

* Includes European Super Cup
** Includes Spanish Super Cup