Things quietened down after last week's scoring spree, and goalkeepers were able to recover some of their injured pride. Only twenty-two goals were scored in all, with seven teams holding their goals against column to zero. With Cañizares back in the Valencia squad but sitting the game out on the bench, Notario moved closer to the top spot with his fourth clean sheet in a row in the league after a scoreless draw against Luque's Recreativo. No goals either in the game between Málaga and Barcelona, where Contreras and Bonano had little work to do.

That was not the case though for Reina, and we are starting to believe he has Irish ancestors after Athletic Bilbao failed to get the ball past him once at San Mamés. The Basques hit the woodwork four times, several balls were cleared off the line, a goal was disallowed and penalty appeals were turned down by the referee. Oh, and Reina stopped a couple or so shots as well.

More comfortable clean sheets for Iker Casillas and Espanyol's Sergio Sánchez, but no prizes for Real Sociedad's Westerveld, whose "gone walk about" act in the second half almost cost his side the game. Finally, some good news about Deportivo's Molina, who has recovered in record time from cancer and is expected to be back in training in a few days time. We wish him all the best. . (14.01.03)