AC Milan made significant gains in Serie A but were dealt a blow by an injury to David Beckham, while the co-leaders continued apace in Spain. UEFA.com rounds up the weekend action.

England
The lead changed hands twice as the top three all triumphed. Leaders at the start of play on Saturday, Manchester United FC dropped to third after Chelsea FC defeated West Ham United FC 4-1 and Arsenal FC won 2-1 at relegation-threatened Hull City AFC. United, though, regained the initiative and opened up a two-point lead over their rivals thanks to a 3-0 defeat of Fulham FC on Sunday which featured two more Wayne Rooney goals. Chelsea have a game in hand.

Germany
A similar script unfolded in the Bundesliga, where the status quo was maintained by victories for FC Bayern München, FC Schalke 04 and Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Schalke assumed control after overcoming VfB Stuttgart on Friday, but were soon two points behind Bayern again following their 2-1 defeat of SC Freiburg. Arjen Robben swung the game in the Bavarian club's favour with two goals, a feat which Stefan Kiessling matched on Sunday as Leverkusen moved within a point of Schalke courtesy of a 4-2 defeat of Hamburger SV.

Spain
Normal service was very much the order of the weekend in the Liga, too. FC Barcelona stole the briefest of marches on Real Madrid CF with a 3-0 win against Valencia CF that came courtesy of a sublime Lionel Messi hat-trick, but were in the ascendancy for only a matter of hours. Madrid responded in kind with a 4-1 triumph at Real Valladolid CF which owed much to Gonzalo Higuaín's treble. Los Merengues stay top on goal difference.

Italy
Milan took full advantage of FC Internazionale Milano's 3-1 loss to Calcio Catania on Friday by defeating AC Chievo Verona 1-0 to reduce the Nerazzurri's lead to a point. Clarence Seedorf's spectacular effort in added time ensured the Rossoneri seized upon their city rivals' setback in Sicily, where Catania struck twice in the last nine minutes after Sulley Muntari (81) was dismissed. AS Roma, meanwhile, twice surrendered the lead in drawing 3-3 at AS Livorno Calcio, for whom Cristiano Lucarelli scored a hat-trick, and trail Inter by six points.

France
The top six in Ligue 1 are separated by just three points after only one collected a maximum return over the weekend. FC Girondins de Bordeaux remain top despite a goalless draw at AS Monaco FC, but do not have to look far over their shoulder to see the chasing pack. It is headed by Montpellier Hérault SC – level on points – and AJ Auxerre – one adrift – followed by LOSC Lille Métropole, who are a further point behind after a 1-0 defeat of Grenoble Foot 38. Olympique Lyonnais and Olympique de Marseille complete the top six having both drawn.

Elsewhere
The 2010 campaigns began in Norway, Russia, and Sweden with two of three respective champions registering opening-day triumphs. Norwegian titleholders Rosenborg BK gained an early psychological march on last year's runners-up Molde FK following a 2-1 defeat of their local rivals, while in the Premier-Liga, FC Rubin Kazan scored two late goals as they overcame FC Lokomotiv Moska 2-0. Swedish double winners AIK Solna, meanwhile, could only draw 0-0 with newcomers Mjällby AIF.