Madrid on top of the world, City continue surge
Sunday, December 21, 2014
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Real Madrid CF ended a stellar year with more silverware after clinching the FIFA Club World Cup, while Manchester City FC won again and Borussia Dortmund lost.
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Real Madrid CF hit the heights this weekend, with victory in the FIFA Club World Cup ensuring a successful end to a stellar year. There were notable results elsewhere too, with Manchester City FC moving level on points with Premier League leaders Chelsea FC, Paris Saint-Germain experiencing further frustration in France and Borussia Dortmund losing again in Germany.
• Held 0-0 by Montpellier Hérault SC, Paris trail Olympique de Marseille by three points at the start of the winter break in France.
• Premier League leaders Chelsea do not play until Monday night at Stoke City FC.
Paris v Chelsea: 17 February & 11 March
• FC Shakhtar Donetsk are currently on their winter break, trailing FC Dynamo Kyiv by five points in Ukraine.
• FC Bayern München signed off for the year with a Bundesliga record 45 points, thanks to Arjen Robben's last-minute winner in a 2-1 success at 1. FSV Mainz 05.
Shakhtar v Bayern: 17 February & 11 March
• FC Schalke 04 drew 0-0 at home to Hamburger SV and headed into Germany's winter recess in fifth spot.
• Real Madrid clinched the Club World Cup in Morocco, their 2-0 defeat of CA San Lorenzo de Almagro representing their 22nd competitive win in a row.
Schalke v Real Madrid: 18 February & 10 March
• On their winter break, FC Basel 1893 boast an eight-point cushion in the Swiss Super League.
• FC Porto ended their duties for 2014 on a triumphant note by dispatching Vitória FC 4-0, keeping the pressure on Portuguese leaders SL Benfica.
Basel v Porto: 18 February & 10 March
• Manchester City made it eight consecutive wins in all competitions and are level on points with Chelsea after David Silva scored twice to help beat Crystal Palace FC 3-0.
• FC Barcelona ended 2014 within a point of Madrid after a 5-0 success against Córdoba CF, Lionel Messi striking twice in the last eight minutes.
Manchester City v Barcelona: 24 February & 18 March
• Juventus played on Thursday, prevailing 3-1 at Cagliari Calcio to end the year three points clear of AS Roma, held 0-0 by AC Milan on Saturday.
• Dortmund lost 2-1 at SV Werder Bremen and will begin 2015 second from bottom in the Bundesliga.
Juventus v Dortmund: 24 February & 18 March
• Bayer 04 Leverkusen needed a late Karim Bellarabi goal to draw 1-1 with Eintracht Frankfurt and move up to third in Germany.
• Antoine Griezmann hit a hat-trick as Club Atlético de Madrid rallied from 1-0 down to see off Athletic Club 4-1.
Leverkusen v Atlético: 25 February & 17 March
• Pegged back late in added time, Arsenal FC had to make do with a 2-2 draw at Liverpool FC after recovering from a goal down.
• AS Monaco FC completed a strong finish to the year as Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco's 79th-minute goal earned a 1-0 win at FC Metz.
Arsenal v Monaco: 25 February & 17 March