Weekend round-up: Madrid denied in city classic

Albertini at the death

Valencia beat Barça
Madrid are now three points behind unbeaten Primera División leaders Real Sociedad, who the previous day had secured a 1-0 victory against RC Celta de Vigo. Valencia CF are also still in touch with the top two after a fine 4-2 win at FC Barcelona, whose coach Louis van Gaal is again under pressure following the defeat against a side reduced to ten men in the first half when goalkeeper Santiago Cañizares was dismissed.

Milan move clear
AC Milan emulated Real by opening up a three-point lead in Serie A, thanks to Internazionale FC's 4-1 defeat against AC Perugia. Zisis Vryzas scored twice as Perugia stormed into a four-goal lead, Christian Vieri only pulling a late goal back after Inter's Luigi Di Biagio had been sent off. Milan took advantage as Rivaldo's winner helped them past Piacenza FC 2-1, while S.S. Lazio are up to second after beating Udinese Calcio by the same score. Champions Juventus FC are also still in the hunt, four points behind Milan, having cruised to a 4-1 win at high-flying AC Chievo Verona, David Trezeguet scoring a hat-trick.

Henry claims hat-trick
Thierry Henry stormed to the top of the English Premiership goalscorers' chart with a hat-trick in Arsenal FC's 3-1 win against West Ham United FC which took his team five points clear, as well as sending their opponents back to the bottom of the table. Manchester United FC confirmed their status as Arsenal's nearest challengers when they won 2-1 against Chelsea FC, coming from behind to triumph in added time through substitute Diego Forlán. Liverpool FC won for the first time in 12 league matches with a 1-0 victory at Southampton FC, but the former leaders are now 14 points adrift of Arsenal.

Auxerre denied
With most French Ligue 1 sides in League Cup action at the weekend, AJ Auxerre were unable to overhaul leaders OGC Nice, after a 0-0 draw at Montpellier Hérault SC. Auxerre, who still have a game in hand, are fourth, two points off the lead. Elsewhere, RC Lens moved up to ninth as they beat CS Sedan-Ardennes 4-0 and in the only other weekend league game, Le Havre AC are still in the bottom three after a 1-1 home draw with RC Strasbourg.

Climb complete
Panathinaikos FC's nightmare start to the Hellenic National League is now a distant memory as the competition reached the halfway stage. The Athens side lost their first three matches but they have been unbeaten in the 12 games since, and moved into first place this weekend with 3-1 victory at Akratitos FC. Olympiakos Piraeus FC, Greek champions for the last six seasons, were the side knocked off the top, as they were held 1-1 at home by Xanthi FC.