Weekend round-up: Giantkillers have their day

It may have had something to do with the FA Cup. Yet the series of shock results across Europe this weekend showed that the 'magic' was more than just an English phenomenon.

Setback for United
It all started on Saturday lunchtime, when the wheels came off the Manchester United FC bandwagon with a 2-0 defeat by Middlesbrough FC in the FA Cup fourth round. Late goals by Noel Whelan and Andy Campbell inflicted another setback on a United side beaten by Liverpool FC in the league in midweek.

Holders out
The Merseysiders were themselves a cup casualty, the holders going down 1-0 at Arsenal FC. But more surprising were the FA Premiership scalps taken by first division Walsall FC, West Bromwich Albion FC and Manchester City FC. Walsall upset Charlton Athletic FC 2-1 at the Valley, City thrashed Ipswich Town FC 4-1 and WBA were 1-0 victors at home to Leicester City FC.

Barcelona stumble
In Spain, FC Barcelona fell off an already shaky pedestal when they subsided 1-0 against Club Atlético Osasuna. A late goal by Alfredo Sánchez condemned the Catalans to a second successive Primera División defeat - and the white-handkerchief treatment from the Nou Camp fans.

No happy ending
There was no happy ending for leaders Real Madrid CF either - they were denied maximum points by Real Betis Balompié in a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabéu. Yet RC Deportivo La Coruña and Deportivo Alavés failed to take advantage: the Basques were humbled 4-0 by RCD Mallorca, while third-placed Deportivo could only draw 1-1 at Athletic Club Bilbao. This left RC Celta de Vigo and Valencia CF as chief beneficiaries, the teams now in second and fourth positions beating Real Sociedad and UD Las Palmas.

Inter drop points
In Italy, Scudetto hopefuls Internazionale FC were also ruing dropped points after a 1-1 draw at AC Venezia. When Christian Vieri grabbed his 14th goal of the campaign, it seemed the visitors were on their way to a routine win. But the bottom club fought back to equalise through Filippo Maniero.

Red faces
There were more red faces at neighbours Milan AC. They threw away a two-goal lead to go down 3-2 to Udinese Calcio at San Siro. And the silly season continued with victories for two relegation fighters against sides chasing UEFA Cup berths. Torino Calcio edged past S.S. Lazio 1-0, while Parma AC beat Bologna FC 2-1.

Inter slip
Inter's slip allowed AS Roma to take over the Serie A leadership. The champions were too strong for Piacenza FC, and Juventus FC consolidated third place with a 3-1 success at AC Chievo Verona.

Bayern thrashed
In Germany, too, the sound of jaws dropping as 1. Bundesliga champions FC Bayern München crashed 5-1 at FC Schalke 04. Emile Mpenza, Ebbe Sand, Jörg Böhme, Nico van Hoogdalem and Niels Oude-Kamphuis were on target against the team who denied them the title on the last day of the 2000/01 campaign. Bayern stayed fifth in the table, eight points behind joint leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen and BV Borussia Dortmund. They dispatched FC Hansa Rostock and Hertha BSC Berlin, 2-0 and 3-1 respectively.

Galatasaray top
Nor was Turkey immune to the Goliath treatment as MKE Ankaragücü saw off third-place Fenerbahçe SK 3-2. Add to that the stalemate between Diyarbakirspor and previous leaders Besiktas JK which allowed Galatasaray SK - 4-1 winners against Rizespor - to take the top slot.

Winter champions crowned
While in Greece, Olympiakos Piraeus FC lost 1-0 to FC Aris Thessaloniki yet preserved their one-point advantage over AEK Athens. The capital club fell for the third week running, against Aris's local rivals FC PAOK Thessaloniki. Consequently, Olympiakos were crowned winter champions.