Weekend review
Monday 9 November 2009
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The unpredictability of the German and French title races continue to fascinate with Olympique de Marseille's 5-5 draw at Olympique Lyonnais a case in point. uefa.com rounds up the weekend domestic action.
Bordeaux slide
Six points separate the top eight teams in the Bundesliga while the situation is identical in Ligue 1 after more remarkable events over the weekend. FC Girondins de Bordeaux allowed their rivals back into the French mix following a 2-0 loss to LOSC Lille Métropole but the champions' undoing was quickly shifted to memory at the Stade de Gerland where Lyon surrendered the lead three times against a Marseille side who themselves blew a 4-2 advantage with nine minutes left before being bailed out in added time by Jérémy Toulalan's own goal.
Leverkusen triumph
Leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen attained the greatest satisfaction in Germany with closest competitors Werder Bremen, Hamburger SV and FC Schalke 04 all failing to match their 4-0 Friday cruise against Eintracht Frankfurt after weekend draws. In Italy, FC Internazionale Milano's lead was reduced to five points after they drew 1-1 against AS Roma with Juventus closing in courtesy of a 5-2 rout of Atalanta BC and AC Milan winning for the fourth time in five Serie A matches to climb to third.
Terry winner
The weekend's showpiece game in England was Premier League leaders Chelsea FC at home to champions Manchester United FC. John Terry's second-half strike proved the difference and enabled Carlo Ancelotti's men to surge five points clear at the summit. Sir Alex Ferguson's side are now third on goal difference after Arsenal FC, who have a game in hand on their title rivals, beat Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 4-1 on Saturday. In Spain, the status quo was maintained with FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF separated by a point after winning entertaining encounters, the former 4-2 against RCD Mallorca and the capital club 3-2 in the derby at Club Atlético de Madrid, with chasers Sevilla FC and Valencia CF also successful.
Rubin close
Elsewhere, the Russian title race could have taken a decisive twist with FC Rubin Kazan now able to avoid a last-day test of nerves if they overcome FC Zenit St. Petersburg in their next game. The champions won 2-0 at PFC CSKA Moskva while challengers FC Spartak Moskva lost 2-1 at PFC Krylya Sovetov Samara, thus opening up a four-point gap with two matches remaining. Panathinaikos FC are now two points clear in Greece after beating Levadiakos FC 2-0 – Olympiacos FC only drawing 1-1 with Iraklis FC – with FC Twente remaining ahead of PSV Eindhoven by the same margin in the Netherlands after downing third-placed AFC Ajax 1-0. Free-scoring SL Benfica can pull level with Portuguese Liga leaders SC Braga on Monday night after the pacesetters stumbled to a first league defeat, 1-0 at Vitória SC. FC Porto's 1-0 setback at CS Marítimo keeps them five points behind the Arsenalistas.
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