A low scoring weekend on the return from the international break, the fifteen goals that were scored the lowest tally of the season to date. Part of the reason for that though was that neither Ronaldo nor Messi started their respective games, the Portuguese striker left at home by Zidane to save energy for the upcoming Champions League tie, and his arch-rival starting on the bench after missing Argentina’s two games due to an injury. Valverde did have to bring Messi on though after Vázquez and Muriel put hosts Sevilla two up, and in the last two minutes of the match Luis Suárez and Messi both scored to save their side’s unbeaten league record. Real Madrid meanwhile didn’t need Ronaldo at Las Palmas, Bale giving them the lead, and Benzema and Bale again converting two penalties either side of half time. They stay four points behind city rivals Atlético (who they meet next weekend) after Simeone’s team won 1-0 against Deportivo. The suspended Griezmann was another big absence, but Gameiro stepped up to convert a penalty for the three points. The top four are now fifteen points clear of the pack though after Valencia beat Leganés 0-1, Rodrigo the scorer there, and the battle for the Europa League spots is wide open, Betis displacing their city rivals Sevilla for sixth place after a 0-1 victory at Getafe on Monday, substitute Sergio León getting the only goal with two minutes to go. (03.04.18)

Pichichi League Cup ** Europe * Total (Penalties)
Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 22 1 14 37 (6)
Messi (Barcelona) 26 4 6 36 (3)
Luis Suárez (Barcelona) 22 3 0 25 (0)
Griezmann (Atlético) 17 2 4 23 (3)
Aduríz (Athletic) 8 0 11 19 (7)
Ben Yedder (Sevilla) 6 3 10 19 (2)
Willian José (Real Soc) 13 0 5 18 (2)
Stuani (Girona) 17 0 0 17 (3)
Iago Aspas (Celta) 16 1 0 17 (3)
Rodrigo (Valencia) 14 3 0 17 (1)
Gerard Moreno (Espanyol) 12 3 0 15 (2)
Maxi Gómez (Celta) 14 0 0 14 (0)
Santi Mina (Valencia) 11 3 0 14 (1)
Bale (Real Madrid) 11 1 2 14 (2)
Bakambu (Villarreal) 9 2 3 14 (1)
Angel (Getafe) 12 0 0 12 (0)
Zaza (Valencia) 12 0 0 12 (0)
Sergio León (Betis) 10 2 0 12 (0)
Bacca (Villarreal) 9 1 2 12 (0)
Raúl García (Athletic) 7 1 3 11 (2)
Portu (Girona) 11 0 0 11 (0)
Calleri (Las Palmas) 7 3 0 10 (3)
Munir (Alavés) 6 4 0 10 (0)
Asensio (Real Madrid) 6 4 0 10 (1)
Gameiro (Atlético) 6 1 3 10 (1)
Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad) 7 0 2 9 (0)
Muriel (Sevilla) 7 2 0 9 (0)
Benzema (Real Madrid) 5 2 2 9 (2)

* Includes European Super Cup
** Includes Spanish Super Cup