There were only 18 goals scored in 10 La Liga games last week, with eight of the 10 games featuring two goals or less.
It just goes to show how hard it can be to score, even in one of the best leagues in the world. Hopefully we'll help find you a few goals in this week's La Liga fantasy transfer market!
Tier 1 forward
Add: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Messi was quiet in last weekend's 2-1 win over Real Sociedad -- without a goal or an assist, and taking only two shots. But then he went and put on a show at the Camp Nou on Tuesday, posting his eighth career Champions League hat trick in Barca's 4-0 win over PSV. Messi's still the La Liga fantasy points leader with 111.5, 34 points ahead of Gareth Bale in second place, and will be playing at home against Girona.
Avoid: Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid)
He still doesn't have a goal or an assist in four league games this season, although he did score in Atletico's 2-1 Champions League win at Monaco on Tuesday. His team has only won one of their first four games, and play at fifth-place Getafe this weekend. And believe it or not, Costa has only accumulated 13.3 fantasy points so far this season.
Tier 2 forward
Add: Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo)
Two tier 2 forwards notched braces last week -- Cristhian Stuani of Girona, and Angel Rodriguez of Getafe. But they'll be going up against Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, respectively, this week. Aspas scored one goal last week, and finished third behind those two in fantasy points, thanks in part to three chances created. And Celta are currently third in the table, and host winless Real Valladolid this weekend.
Avoid: Stuani and Angel (for the reasons mentioned above)
Tier 1 midfielder
Add: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
Bale failed to score for the first time this season in Real Madrid's 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao last weekend, but he did deliver his second assist. He also took four shots, and has now taken 16 shots in four games -- third-most in the league, and only two behind Messi. Real Madrid will face Espanyol, who are off to a good start, but I still like Bale's chances, especially playing at the Bernabeu. And he scored a goal in Real Madrid's 3-0 win over Roma on Wednesday.
Avoid: Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona)
Coutinho didn't start last week, only coming on at halftime against Real Sociedad. He did play 81 minutes against PSV on Tuesday, and picked up an assist. But I'm concerned that manager Ernesto Valverde may shuffle his lineup again this weekend.
Tier 2 midfielder
Add: Maxi Gomez (Celta Vigo)
He didn't have a goal or an assist last week, but took a team-high five shots, including two on target. Gomez plays as a forward, has two goals and two assists already this season, and is 11th in the league in fantasy points (59.2). As long as he continues to be classified as a midfielder, he's a really good option.
Avoid: Alex Gallar (Huesca)
He has the second-highest fantasy points per game average in this tier, but Gallar did not start last week in Huesca's 1-0 home loss to Rayo Vallecano, and did very little when he came on as a substitute. Gallar was a great story at the start of the year -- he scored a brace in Huesca's season-opening 2-1 win over Eibar, their first-ever game in the top flight. But they haven't won a game since.
Tier 3 midfielder
Add: Jose Luis Morales (Levante)
He also didn't have a goal or an assist last week, but took two shots (one on goal) and had a team-high four chances created. Morales scored three goals in the first three weeks of the season, and is still eighth overall in fantasy points (63.2). And Levante are playing at home this week, although it's against a tricky opponent in Sevilla.
Avoid: Markel Susaeta (Athletic Bilbao)
I warned you about Susaeta last week, and he finished with just 4.4 fantasy points playing against Real Madrid. Athletic Bilbao have another tough game this week, at Real Betis, who have had 66.1 percent possession over the course of their first four games -- only Real Madrid and Barcelona have had more. I'm predicting another quiet game for Susaeta.
Tier 1 defender
Add: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
Ramos had the second-highest fantasy points total among defenders last week, not including the two defenders who scored goals (neither of whom is in Tier 1). Barcelona's Gerard Pique finished slightly ahead of Ramos, but Ramos is way ahead of him in fantasy points on the season -- in fact, he has over 10 points more than any other defender in the league. And don't forget, he's Real Madrid's penalty taker as well.
Avoid: Pique
He's not a bad fantasy performer -- Pique did very well last week, and is ranked sixth among La Liga defenders with 45.9 fantasy points. But if you want a Barcelona player in this slot, choose Jordi Alba, a fullback who already has a goal and an assist and is second among defenders in fantasy points, behind only Ramos.
Tier 2 defender
Add: Aissa Mandi (Real Betis)
I recommended Mandi's teammate, Zouhair Feddal, in this slot last week, but pivoted to Mandi when I saw that Feddal wasn't in the starting lineup. It paid off -- Mandi finished with 15.3 fantasy points, right behind Ramos (16.1). He already has an assist and six chances created this season, despite being a center back, and is fourth among La Liga defenders in fantasy points (51.7).
Avoid: Feddal
That is, unless he returns to the Real Betis starting lineup. Then he's not a bad choice, but I'd still stick with Mandi.
Goalkeeper
Add: Fernando Pacheco (Alaves)
I know the temptation here is to go with the Barcelona or Real Madrid keeper. But I'm sticking with Pacheco, who delivered a clean sheet at Real Valladolid last week. Alaves are away again this week, but at another newly promoted side, Rayo Vallecano. Pacheco is leading the league in fantasy points at his position, and was a very respectable fifth last season.
Avoid: Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid)
He belongs in the conversation for best goalkeeper in the world, but his fantasy value isn't nearly as high so far this year. Oblak was 16th among La Liga goalkeepers in fantasy points last week, and is only 12th on the season. And his game this week is at Getafe, who have won two and drawn one of their first four games -- in better form than Atletico.
Captain
I'm going with Messi again. It's hard not to, especially after watching his midweek brilliance in the Champions League. Yes, he's been held without a goal or an assist in two of Barca's first four league games. But that only happened nine times in 36 league games last season.