Real Madrid are clearly missing Cristiano Ronaldo, and they failed to score again this week in 1-0 defeats against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, and Alavés in the Spanish League. Lopetegui’s side have now gone 409 minutes since they last scored, their worst record in over 30 years! Barcelona meanwhile must be grateful that they still have Messi, the little man scoring twice in a 2-4 victory over Tottenham on Wednesday (after Countinho started things off), and again to save a point at Valencia at the weekend.

Elsewhere in Europe Valencia drew 0-0 at Manchester United, and Atlético beat Club Brugge 3-1 with a brace from Griezmann and one for Koke, and on Thursday Betis won 3-0 against Dudelange, Villarreal drew 3-3 at Spartak Moscow, with Ekambi on the scoresheet, and Sevilla lost 2-1 at Krasnodar, Nolito’s opener not enough to prevent their first defeat in the competition this season.

The league though is proving to be one of the closest fought in recent years, with no less than six sides within two points of the leaders, who are now Sevilla after they beat Celta 2-1 (Sarabia and Ben Yedder the scorers there). Barça and Atlético are appoint behind the Andalusians, with Real Madrid, Alavés and Espanyol, who won 3-1 against Villarreal despite a strike by Ekambi. Stuani is the current “Pichichi” in the league after scoring twice for Girona against Eibar (albeit that they lost 2-3), and Muniain also joins our chart after he scored against the old enemy Real Sociedad, although again it didn’t help much as the visitors ran out 1-3 winners in the end. (09.10.18)

Pichichi League Cup ** Europe * Total (Penalties)
Messi (Barcelona) 6 0 5 11 (0)
Ben Yedder (Sevilla) 5 0 4 9 (0)
Sarabia (Sevilla) 2 1 6 9 (0)
Stuani (Girona) 8 0 0 8 (1)
André Silva (Sevilla) 7 0 0 7 (0)
Iago Aspas (Celta) 5 0 0 5 (0)
Benzema (Real Madrid) 4 0 1 5 (1)
Dembélé (Barcelona) 3 1 1 5 (0)
Banega (Sevilla) 2 0 3 5 (2)
Maxi Gómez (Celta) 4 0 0 4 (0)
Roger (Levante) 4 0 0 4 (0)
Bale (Real Madrid) 3 0 1 4 (0)
Griezmann (Atlético) 2 0 2 4 (0)
Ibai Gómez (Alavés) 3 0 0 3 (0)
Muniain (Athletic Bilbao) 3 0 0 3 (0)
Luis Suárez (Barcelona) 3 0 0 3 (0)
Angel (Getafe) 3 0 0 3 (0)
Alex Gallar (Huesca) 3 0 0 3 (0)
El Zhar (Leganés) 3 0 0 3 (0)
Morales (Levante) 3 0 0 3 (1)
Willian José (Real Soc) 3 0 0 3 (0)
Coutinho (Barcelona) 2 0 1 3 (0)
Ramos (Real Madrid) 2 0 1 3 (3)
Ekambi (Villarreal) 2 0 1 3 (0)
Koke (Atlético Madrid) 1 0 2 3 (0)
Franco Vázquez (Sevilla) 1 0 2 3 (0)
Diego Costa (Atlético) 0 0 3 3 (0)
Nolito (Sevilla) 0 0 3 3 (0)

* Includes European Super Cup
** Includes Spanish Super Cup