Bayern, Arsenal, City beaten; Juventus, Paris win
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
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There were league defeats for Bayern München, Arsenal and Manchester City, while domestic cup holders Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain enjoyed more knockout success.
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Bayern 1-2 Mainz (Robben 64; Samperio 26, Córdoba 86)
Bayern suffered their first home defeat of the season, and their first loss in 13 matches in all competitions. Arjen Robben's second goal in three games was not enough to prevent a reverse that left Josep Guardiola's side five points clear of second-placed Dortmund. Bayern had won all of their previous 15 home games this season.
Internazionale Milano 3-0 Juventus (Brozović 16 82pen, Perišić 49) (aet, Juve win 5-3 on penalties)
Holders Juve looked certain to reach another Coppa Italia final when they beat Inter 3-0 in the home leg of their semi-final on 27 January, but they were under pressure from the outset in Milan. Goals early in each half from Marcelo Brozović and Ivan Perišić brought Inter back into contention, before a late penalty from Brozović took the tie to extra time and, ultimately, penalties. There, Rodrigo Palacio crashed Inter's second kick against the crossbar, Juve converting all five of their penalties with captain Leonardo Bonucci scoring the clincher. Juve will play AC Milan in the final at the Stadio Olimpico on 21 May.
Arsenal 1-2 Swansea (Campbell 15; Routledge 32, Williams 74)
Arsenal suffered a second successive Premier League defeat, and a third loss in a row in all competitions, as they went down at home to relegation-threatened Swansea. Arsène Wenger's side have not won in any of their last four matches, since a 2-1 home victory against leaders Leicester City on 14 February. They succumbed despite taking the lead through Joel Campbell's third league goal of the season while Petr Čech picked up an injury late on.
Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City (Lallana 34, Milner 41, Firmino 57)
In a repeat of the English League Cup final, won by City on Sunday, Manuel Pellegrini's side suffered a third straight Premier League defeat as they went down at Anfield. City, who were beaten 4-1 at home by Liverpool in the reverse fixture on 21 November, have now won only one of their last five matches in all competitions.
Levante 1-3 Real Madrid (Deyverson 39; Ronaldo 34pen, Mariño 38og, Isco 90+2)
Zinédine Zidane's side recorded a first win in three Spanish Liga fixtures with victory at Levante, although they had to wait until Isco's added-time strike to clinch the points. Cristiano Ronaldo made it nine goals in his last eight league appearances with the opener from the penalty spot.
St-Étienne 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain (Eysseric 43pen; Cavani 12, Marquinhos 35, Moura 90)
French Cup holders Paris reached the semi-finals of a competition they are bidding to win for a tenth time. The capital club, who suffered a first Ligue 1 defeat of the season at the weekend, took the lead with Edinson Cavani's third goal in four games in all competitions, Marquinhos doubling the advantage with his first strike since 5 April 2015 before Lucas Moura's late clincher.