Bad news for Real Madrid in their midweek league match against Betis when Iker Casillas limped off with a muscle strain. The injury is likely to keep him out for a week or so, and he could miss the Champions League return leg at Juventus. Casillas at least managed to keep a clean sheet for the first hour or so though before being replaced by César, and therefore keeps in touch with Valdés, who also kept his goals against column to zero in a Barcelona city derby which finished score-less (thanks in large part to an excellent performance by Espanyol's Kameni. Málaga's Arnau was the only other number one to keep a clean sheet, his fifth since taking over from Calatayud eight games ago.

The Real Madrid keeper should at least be fit for the upcoming international matches against China and Serbia at the end of this month, which is probably a good thing as his number two Cañizares is currently going through a rough patch and was dropped by Valencia's new coach Antonio López just a week after regaining his place from Palop. Luis Aragonés may even decide to replace him with Valdés or with Reina, who moves up to third in our chart this week. (03.03.05)