Bayern hit by last-gasp setback

Juventus 1-0 FC Messina Peloro

A solitary goal from Alessandro Del Piero gave Juventus their seventh straight win as the title-holders continued their 100 per cent start to the Serie A season. Del Piero scored on 24 minutes when he left visiting goalkeeper Marco Storari stranded with a fantastic long-range strike. Juventus could have added to their lead but were denied by the excellence of Storari while substitute David Trezeguet hit a post.

"I am happy with the result but we should have killed the game because we were still not certain of winning until the final whistle," said coach Fabio Capello. "Del Piero scored a great goal and I am satisfied with the overall performance of the team." Capello surprisingly included Adrian Mutu as right-winger, while in-form Del Piero justified his selection alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Trezeguet's expense.

Right-back Jonathan Zebina is making progress in his rehabilitation from injury but is short of fitness and yet to return to the squad. However, the visit to Bayern is a possible comeback date. Patrick Vieira was ruled out with a groin problem while Gianluigi Buffon (shoulder) and Alessandro Birindelli (knee) remain long-term absentees.

FC Schalke 04 1-1 FC Bayern München

Bayern failed to claim their first-ever win at the Arena AufSchalke despite taking a 1-0 lead into the closing minutes. Roque Santa Cruz put the German champions ahead on 19 minutes, but Søren Larsen equalised with a stoppage-time penalty. Bayern also lost Martin Demichelis to a red card in the dying seconds. Felix Magath's men looked the better team throughout yet failed to put the match beyond Schalke and were punished.

Bayern went into the game without Bixente Lizarazu (calf), Philipp Lahm (cruciate ligament), Owen Hargreaves and Willy Sagnol (both groin), but Michael Rensing, Claudio Pizarro and Demichelis all returned from injuries. The result meant Bayern lost first place in the Bundesliga to Werder Bremen.

"We failed to cash in our chances on the break and couldn't take the pressure off our defence in the final minutes. I don't mind not being top of the Bundesliga because nobody cares who is top after nine games. Being top after 34 games is what matters," said Magath.

Club Brugge KV 2-1 KVC Westerlo

After two UEFA Champions League defeats and three Belgian First Division games without a victory, Club Brugge finally won again. Gert Verheyen scored seven minutes after coming off the bench to complete the comeback for Jan Ceulemans's side who had fallen behind to Jef Delen's 35th-minute goal. Boško Balaban celebrated his 27th birthday by earning and converting a penalty on the stroke of half-time, before the veteran Verheyen struck on 83 minutes after being set up by Philippe Clement. Westerlo's goalkeeper Ronny Gaspercic was sent off for conceding the spot-kick.

"This was a thrilling climax, not just for me personally, but for the whole club," Verheyen said. "We had to win as we were five points behind Westerlo. We came from behind and luckily we scored at the end. We needed something positive to improve and hopefully that is what we got. Now we have to perform well against Rapid too if we want to make something of our Champions League season."

Club Brugge still have a sizeable injury list to contend with, however. Joos Valgaeren (knee), Michael Klukowski (knee), Rune Lange (calf), Ivan Gvozdenović (knee), Manasseh Ishiaku (thigh) and Sebastian Hermans (ankle) all remain sidelined.

SK Rapid Wien 2–3 SV Austria Salzburg

Rapid lost this key home game to remain six points adrift of the leaders in the Austrian Bundesliga. The title-holders twice led, through a shot from captain Steffen Hofmann that deflected off Salzburg's Thomas Linke, and then through Marek Kincl's seventh goal of the season. However, Salzburg rallied to claim a deserved win and inflict a fourth home league defeat on Josef Hickersberger's men.

It was not the best start to a tough week for Rapid. Tuesday's match against Club Brugge precedes a Viennese derby at FK Austria Wien next weekend, while coach Hickersberger is expected to reveal his decision whether to extend his contract with Rapid or accept an offer from the Austrian Football Association to lead the national team to UEFA EURO 2008™.

Of the game itself, Hickersberger said: "Once in front, we failed to control proceedings. Salzburg were strong and we were lucky they missed their chances in the first half. Helge Payer made some great saves for us. We were better in the second half and tried to dominate, but Salzburg were clever and took their goals well. We have to talk about our situation, performance and mistakes before the match against Brugge."