United storm back to form

Three of the four sides in UEFA Champions League Group D took maximum points from their weekend league matches, with Manchester United FC topping the bill by defeating Chelsea FC, who lost in the Premiership for the first time in over a year. LOSC Lille Métropole disposed of France's bottom club RC Strasbourg, while Villarreal CF claimed an impressive victory over Valencia CF. SL Benfica failed to make it a clean sweep, however, after being held by Rio Ave FC.

Manchester United FC 1-0 Chelsea FC

Manchester United moved back into the English title race on Sunday, with a win that ended Chelsea's 40-game unbeaten run in the Premiership and helped erase memories of defeats against Middlesbrough FC and Lille in their two previous matches. Darren Fletcher scored the only goal in the 31st minute, a looping header from an acute angle that dropped into the far corner. Ruud van Nistelrooij, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney also went close but a single goal proved enough.

United had to withstand a barrage of Chelsea pressure in the second half, but held on thanks to heroics from goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. The win takes United third, ten points behind Chelsea with a game in hand. Paul Scholes returned to the starting lineup after missing Wednesday's UEFA Champions League match against Lille through suspension, with Kieran Richardson making way. United were still without Roy Keane (foot), Ryan Giggs (broken cheekbone), Gabriel Heinze (knee), Gary Neville (groin), Louis Saha (hamstring) and Ole Gunnar Solskjær (knee).

"When we were going forward we were always a real threat to them. The best players on the pitch were all from United," said manager Sir Alex Ferguson. "What we face is young players who have to get consistency, the bones of the team are sitting in the stand, no use to us."

LOSC Lille Métropole 2-0 RC Strasbourg

Lille defeated winless Strasbourg on Sunday to claim their sixth league victory of the season and move into fifth place, 13 points behind leaders Olympique Lyonnais. Peter Odemwingie started up front in place of Matt Moussilou and immediately justified his selection, dispatching a powerful cross-shot on five minutes after a good ball from Hicham Aboucherouane. However, he later left the field on a stretcher after spraining his ankle.

Stéphane Lichtsteiner made it two in the 65th minute, when his cross from the right deceived Strasbourg goalkeeper Stéphane Cassard and went straight in. The win will be especially pleasing for coach Claude Puel who rested a number of first-team players. Mathieu Chalmé, Geoffrey Dernis, Mathieu Debuchy and Moussilou all dropping to the bench after starting in Paris in the victory against Manchester United on Wednesday.

"It was not easy to win after a Champions League game but we had several opportunities to score and never looked like conceding an equaliser. I'm happy the guys approached the game in the right way," said Puel, who has question marks over the fitness of Odemwingie and captain Stéphane Dumont.

SL Benfica 2-2 Rio Ave FC

Benfica suffered a second disappointing result in four days, following up their mid-week defeat against Villarreal CF with a home draw against Rio Ave on Sunday. Captain Simão Sabrosa defied a thigh injury to play on Wednesday, but sat out the Rio Ave match. Goalkeepers José Moreira (knee) and Quim (hernia) are still out, meaning Rui Nereu continued in goal, while Fabrizio Miccoli is still some way from returning to action after a muscle problem.

Cleiton opened the scoring for Rio Ave in the 24th minute, before Petit equalised with a deflected free-kick eight minutes later. Chidi restored the visiting side's lead ten minutes into the second half but, with five minutes remaining, Petit earned a share of the spoils with another free-kick.

Benfica coach Ronald Koeman said: "It was a difficult match. We went behind twice and Rio Ave caused us many problems. However, the championship is long and there is a lot still to be decided. We only dropped two points. We missed Simão because all teams miss good players when they are out."

Villarreal CF 1-0 Valencia CF

Villarreal's understudies came to the fore on Saturday, playing a key role in the 1-0 victory over local rivals Valencia. Striker Luciano Figueroa deputised for the injured Uruguayan Diego Forlán and scored the game's only goal, slotting past Santiago Cañizares after being played in by Marcos Senna. Goalkeeper Mariano Barbosa stood in for another Uruguayan, Sebastián Viera, and produced a string of top-class saves.

Antonio Guayre returned to the wing following an ankle injury, although midfielder Josico and wide player Juan Pablo Sorín were both rested as a precautionary measure due to knee problems. Centre-back Gonzalo Rodríguez was suspended.

Coach Manuel Luis Pellegrini said: "We have played seven games in 21 days and have had several players out injured. Really, we would have preferred to play this game on Sunday but my players, with the support in the stands, overcame these obstacles to match Valencia's physical strength. We used the ball well in the first half but scoring first was the key. We expected Valencia to give us a hard time late on but fortunately Barbosa was superb."