There was top-of-the table excitement across many of Europe's leading leagues this weekend, with Real Madrid CF rising to the summit in Spain and a last-gasp leveller for Monpellier Hérault SC keeping FC Girondins de Bordeaux in check in France. UEFA.com runs through the highlights.

Spain
Rafael van der Vaart was the hero for Real Madrid as the UEFA Champions League hopefuls geared up for their midweek meeting with Olympique Lyonnais in dramatic fashion. The capital club fell two goals down at home to Sevilla FC but pulled themselves level through Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos before Van der Vaart's added-time clincher. With FC Barcelona drawing 2-2 at UD Almería, the Dutchman's strike lifted Los Merengues into pole on goal difference.

France
The leading duo in Ligue 1 also share the same points total, though for much of Sunday's encounter between Bordeaux and Monpellier, who have played two games more, it looked as if the titleholders would edge clear. Cédric Carrasso saved two penalties for Bordeaux, who also lost Michaël Ciani to a 32nd-minute red card, but they rallied to take the lead through Marouane Chamakh – only for Alberto Costa to equalise at the death.

Italy
No doubting the big game in Serie A, with second-placed AC Milan travelling to face the team one spot and three points behind them, AS Roma. Both clubs hoped to advance their title claims but could only record a goalless stalemate that played right into the hands of FC Internazionale Milano. The champions and pacesetters drew 0-0 with Genoa CFC, however, their third goalless outing in four league matches keeping them four points clear.

Germany
It proved a difficult weekend for the top two in the Bundesliga, with Bayer 04 Leverkusen unable to pounce on a 1-1 draw for frontrunners FC Bayern München at 1. FC Köln. That opened the door for Leverkusen to return to the summit, but they suffered their first league defeat this season – after a record run of 24 games unbeaten – in a 3-2 reverse at 1. FC Nürnberg. Jupp Heynckes' men now lie third, a point shy of FC Schalke 04.

England
There was a change at the top in England as Manchester United FC took over courtesy of Paul Scholes's 100th Premier League goal at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, with previous pacesetters Chelsea FC busy booking themselves an FA Cup semi-final meeting with Aston Villa FC. United's 1-0 win took them two points ahead of both the Blues, who boast a game in hand, and third-placed Arsenal FC, who overcame Burnley FC 3-1. In the cup arena, Portsmouth FC also progressed to the last four, with Tottenham Hotspur FC and Fulham FC requiring a replay.

Elsewhere...
In the Netherlands, FC Twente lifted themselves to the top of the pile courtesy of a 1-0 victory at bottom side RKC Waalwijk, after previous incumbents PSV Eindhoven suffered a 2-1 reverse at NAC Breda. Turkish Super League challengers Fenerbahçe SK moved within two points of Galatasaray AŞ, who travel to face Eskisehirspor on Monday, and SL Benfica climbed three points clear of SC Braga in Portugal.