Defences came out on top this weekend, with only 19 goals scored, the second lowest total of the season. There were two scoreless draws, the first between Bizzarri's Valladolid and Contreras' Málaga, and the second in the match of the day between the two Real's, Madrid and Sociedad. With all the big names on show, Ronaldo, Zidane, Figo, Raúl, Kovacevic and Nihat (to name but a few), the stars in the end were Casillas and Westerveld.

Including the above there were no less than eight clean sheets, Juanmi (Deportivo), Sanzol (Osasuna), Reina (Villarreal) and Dutruel (Alavés). The more merit though for the first two, who kept out two of the highest scoring attacks, Barcelona and Valencia respectively.

Mono Burgos didn't make it to the starting line up for Atlético this week, Esteban ably standing in for him at Espanyol. The old rocker is no spring chicken any more, and his double life is starting to catch up with him. The other keeper in the news was Recreativo's César Quesada, who got himself sent off after handling just outside the area trying to stop Adrian Ilie. Almunia came on in his place to make his league debut for the side, but his first touch was to pick the ball out of the net after Ilie beat him with the resulting free kick. (19.11.02).