The Spanish Cup is largely played out in January and February when the European competitions take a break. This week was the turn of the fifth round, first leg, and there was only one name on the lips of everybody, Leo Messi. The Argentinian star took Atlético Madrid apart with a hat-trick, and even the ultras group "Frente Atlético" applauded him off the pitch when he was substituted near the end.

Messi has four in the competition, as do Barral, who scored two against Valladolid, and Luis Fabiano, who got one of Sevilla's goals in their 2-1 win against Deportivo. Kanouté was also on the scoresheet in the Sánchez Pizjuán stadium, and Athletic Bilbao's Llorente got a late equaliser at Osasuna. The top scorer in the cup though is still Poli Ejido's Jorge Molina, who made it seven in all after converting a penalty in the second division B side's 3-2 win over Espanyol. The winner of that tie probably face Barça in the next round!

On to the weekend's league games, and Messi and Eto'o were both on target as Barcelona came back late on to beat Osasuna 2-3. The pair have now scored 39 goals between them to date, and it is difficult to see how Messi (who now tops our table) only came second to Cristiano Ronaldo in the FIFA World Player award! Both have a long way to go though to equal Raúl, who scored his 305th goal for Real Madrid in his 500th league match, now just two short of club record-holder Alfredo Di Stefano.

It was another high-scoring weekend though, with 37 goals in all. Villa got one for Valencia and Joseba Llorente and Rossi one each for Villarreal in a 3-3 draw, and Luis Fabiano helped ten man Sevilla to an epic 1-3 win at Deportivo. Fernando Llorente helped himself to two more (the referee awarding him what others considered an own goal) to give Athletic Bilbao a 2-3 victory at Atlético, Forlán's last minute strike not enough to change the result. And Emanà was also on target for Betis, even though it didn't help as his side lost 1-2 to Mallorca. (12.01.09)