Weekend round-up: Ronaldo's dream debut

Ronaldo and Filippo Inzaghi were the players making the headlines after another busy weekend of domestic league action around Europe.

'I can do more'
Ronaldo, who moved from Internazionale FC to Real Madrid CF for €45m on transfer deadline day, struck twice on his long-awaited Madrid debut in the 5-2 victory over Deportivo Alavés yesterday and is already warning his new club's rivals that the best is yet to come. "I'm convinced I can contribute even more," the Brazilian FIFA World Cup winner said. "I just know I can do more. At the very least I'm going to give it everything."

Dream debut
Madrid already led 2-1 thanks to goals from Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo before Ronaldo stole the show, scoring after a cross from the left within a minute of his arrival and adding a second a quarter-hour later. Figo also scored a second to render strikes from Magno and Iván Alonso meaningless.

Celta on top
Elsewhere in the Primera División, Real Betis Balompié were held 1-1 by Sevilla FC in a mesmerising Seville derby, while RC Celta de Vigo moved back to the top of the table after overhauling Valencia CF with a 1-0 win thanks to midfield player Vagner's added-time strike.

Inzaghi treble
Not to be outdone by Ronaldo, AC Milan's in-form striker Inzaghi continued his sensational goalscoring streak, hitting a hat-trick as his side beat Torino Calcio 6-0. Having already scored seven goals in three Champions League appearances this term, the 29-year-old's treble at the San Siro enhanced his reputation further and took his tally 15 goals in nine matches this season.

Zalayeta the saviour
Italian champions Juventus FC needed an 88th-minute equaliser from Marcelo Zalayeta to snatch a 1-1 draw at home to newly promoted Como Calcio, while leaders Inter maintained their 100 per cent league record with a 4-1 win at Piacenza FC, Luigi Di Biagio scoring twice.

Bayern bounce back
In Germany, Giovane Elber and Claudio Pizarro headed two goals apiece as 1. Bundesliga front-runners FC Bayern München averted a looming crisis with a convincing 4-1 victory over VfL Bochum 1848. Having lost their last two matches - against Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the league and Milan in the Champions League - Bayern bounced back with a bang at the Olympiastadion.

Arsenal march on
Arsenal FC maintained their two-point lead at the top of the English Premiership and their record-breaking unbeaten run with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Sunderland AFC. Nwankwo Kanu scored twice to make it 30 games without defeat for the Gunners, who have now scored in each of their last 48 league matches. Liverpool FC are second after Michael Owen scored the only goal in the last minute to sink Chelsea FC.

Auxerre held
AJ Auxerre regained pole position in the French first division yesterday, despite being held 1-1 at home by AS Monaco FC. Zimbabwean striker Benjani Mwaruwari was on target for Guy Roux's side before Shabani Nonda levelled matters to earn a share of the spoils. Newly promoted OGC Nice are a single point adrift of Auxerre after their 2-0 victory over Bastia SC, while Paris Saint-Germain FC moved third with a 5-0 win against En Avant Guingamp.

Litmanen on target
Jari Litmanen scored his first goal since rejoining AFC Ajax to help the Amsterdam club to a 2-1 away victory over Eredivisie rivals Feyenoord yesterday, while Rangers FC emerged from a six-goal thriller against Celtic FC with their one-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League intact after a 3-3 draw with their Glasgow rivals.