Ribéry shines as rivals all win

PFC CSKA Moskva 4-3 FC Alania Vladikavkaz

Newly crowned Russian Premier League champions CSKA finished off their league campaign in style on Saturday by defeating Alania in a thrilling encounter. Vágner Love scored twice, with Sergei Ignashevich and Aleksandr Salugin also striking as CSKA claimed the title by six points. With the championship already secure coach Valeri Gazzaev rested goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev and playmaker Daniel Carvalho, while Yuri Zhirkov and Brazilian striker Vágner Love only appeared as second-half substitutes. In their absence Veniamin Mandrykin took the gloves, while young strikers Sergei Samodin and Salugin were both handed a chance.

"Our team had a fantastic season," said Gazzaev. "However, today I am very sorry to see Alania, the team where I worked for eight years, relegated from the Premier League." Ahead of the UEFA Cup meeting with Levski on Thursday, CSKA have no new injury problems, their only casualty being striker Ivica Olic, who is out until the end of the season.

PFC Levski Sofia 4-1 PFC Botev Plovdiv

Levski stayed in touch with Bulgarian Premier League leaders and city rivals PFC CSKA Sofia with an impressive home victory at the Georgi Asparuhov stadium thanks to an inspirational performance from Hristo Yovov. The former Bulgarian international scored the opening two goals in the space of ten minutes towards the end of the first half, while French forward Cédric Bardon and the vastly experienced Daniel Borimirov were on target in the second period. Georgi Andonov scored what ultimately proved to be a consolation for the visitors immediately after half-time.

Levski coach Stanimir Stoilov was still unhappy, however, despite his side's margin of victory and captain Elin Topuzakov lasting the entire 90 minutes after nursing an ankle injury. "I am satisfied with the result but not the performance," said Stoilov. "We have lost our rhythm, probably because of the international break. We played really well only for the first 30 minutes. Then we allowed Botev to take the initiative in the second half because we wanted to play on the counterattack."

Olympique de Marseille 2-1 FC Nantes Atlantique

Marseille ended a run of four games without a win with a 2-1 victory on Saturday against Nantes in France's Ligue 1. The win, their first since defeating UEFA Cup holders CSKA Moskva on 20 October, lifted Marseille into eleventh in the standings. Nigerian playmaker Wilson Oruma contributed their first goal, before Franck Ribéry got the winner in the 73rd minute. This came after Habib Bamogo, on loan at Nantes from Marseille, had drawn the visitors level on the hour.

Matchwinner Ribéry, who helped France to the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in midweek, said: "The three points were very important tonight as we found our attacking game again. Personally, I'm in a positive frame of mind but I can still improve." Coach Jean Fernandez was without key defenders Bostjan Cesar and Nigerian Taye Ismaila Taiwo due to suspension, with Frédéric Déhu partnering Habib Beye at the back instead. Marseille, however, go into their game against Heerenveen with no injury problems.

Sparta Rotterdam 1-2 SC Heerenveen

Fernando Derveld and Klaas Jan Huntelaar both scored in a 12-minute spell either side of half-time to set Heerenveen on course for a 2-1 win at Sparta on Sunday. Yuri Rose later reduced the deficit, but Gertjan Verbeek's side held on to rise to seventh in the Eredivisie standings. However, the win came at a cost for Heerenveen, as Boy Waterman (ankle), Abdelkarim Kissi (ankle) and Paul Bosvelt (hamstring) were all forced off with injuries.

"The injuries to the boys are tough," said Verbeek, who was making his 150th appearance as a professional coach, spread over spells at Heracles Almelo and Heerenveen. "We might have to shake things up on Thursday. We played very badly today while Sparta played the best they could; they did not deserve to lose. We failed to control the game after we went 2-0 up, so in the end we have to be satisfied about the result."

FC Dinamo Bucuresti 1-2 FC Arges Pitesti

Dinamo failed to win at home in the league for the second successive game as they were overcome by Arges. The Romanian First Division leaders were without the injured George Galamaz, Andrei Márgáritescu and Florin Bratu and fell behind on 24 minutes to an own goal from Ivorian defender Mariko Daouda. Dinamo equalised in the 66th minute through Stefan Grigorie, but Cosmin Nastasie scored the winner for Arges ten minutes from time, allowing FC Steaua Bucuresti to cut the gap at the top to two points. Coach Ioan Andone said: "Obviously we are not invincible. Arges defended very well and we did not have the necessary brain to unlock their tight defence".

Dinamo had two players away with the Romanian national team during the international break. Defender Gabriel Tamas played in both of the country's friendly matches, a 2-1 defeat by the Ivory Coast and a 3-0 victory against Nigeria, while Dinamo captain Florentin Petre was a second-half substitute in the latter game, in which he came on to score.