The midweek round of matches produced 23 goals in all, which is round about average, with eight sides keeping their goals against column to zero. The gap that Cañizares had opened up over the rest slipped a bit as he let in two goals for the second match in a row, but he is still two points ahead of Víctor Valdés and Sanzol, both of whom kept clean sheets. It was in fact a week for surprises, with Casillas's Real Madrid being held to a goal-less draw by Lainez's Zaragoza, and leaders Deportivo losing 0-2 at home to Leo Franco's Mallorca, who were next to bottom.

A first win too for bottom club Espanyol, with Toni replacing the suspended Lemmens in their 0-1 win at Racing, and a 2-0 victory for Roa's Albacete, who were lying fourth from last before the day's games. Atlético Madrid's Burgos also kept a clean sheet in his side's 4-0 drubbing of Westerveld's Real Sociedad. There were two goalkeeping changes this week as well as Toni, with Málaga's Calatayud making a promising debut in the first division in place of the injured Arnau, and Murcia's Sánchez Broto coming back in to take over from Juanmi, who had gastric enteritis. (31.10.03)