ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Week 11

Ces Fabregas scored a 79th-minute equaliser as Arsenal FC returned to the top of the Premier league after drawing 1-1 at Liverpool FC, although the presence of new manager Juande Ramos in the stands could not inspire the Gunners' north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur FC as they lost at home to Blackburn Rovers FC.

Perfect start
Liverpool got off to the perfect start when Steven Gerrard scored with a powerful seventh-minute free-kick. Fábregas missed an open goal after Emmanuel Eboué's shot rebounded off the post early in the second half but made amends eleven minutes from time when he poked in Aleksandr Hleb's through-ball. Nicklas Bendtner missed a similar chance after Fábregas also hit the woodwork but an exciting match ended all square, sending unbeaten Arsenal ahead of Manchester United FC at the top on goals scored.

Tottenham loss
Liverpool, also unbeaten, are sixth, a point behind Blackburn after they piled more pressure on Spurs following Thursday's sacking of Martin Jol. New manager Ramos watched Robbie Keane give the home side the lead on 49 minutes from the penalty spot. Benni McCarthy levelled in the 59th minute and just as the spoils looked like being shared, Christopher Samba pounced in added time to earn Blackburn their fourth consecutive league win and leave Spurs in the bottom three.

Everton victory
Mikel Arteta (26) and Yakubu Ayegbeni (63) were on target as UEFA Cup hopefuls Everton FC sealed a 2-0 win against Derby County FC, who are now bottom after Bolton Wanderers FC drew 1-1 at home to Aston Villa FC in Gary Megson's first match in charge. France striker Nicolas Anelka gave the hosts the lead with a curling free-kick after 22 minutes before Gabriel Agbonlahor hammered in a cross from the right which cannoned off the chest of substitute Luke Moore (57).

Manchester United FC moved to the top of the Premier League with a 4-1 defeat of Middlesbrough FC while Chelsea were even more emphatic in their 6-0 humbling of Manchester City FC.

Tévez salvo
With early pacesetters Arsenal FC not playing Liverpool FC until Sunday, United moved a point clear of the Gunners at the summit with another dominant display at Old Trafford. Carlos Tévez was twice on target as the English champions cruised past Middlesbrough, Nani setting the ball rolling when he opened the scoring after just three minutes. Although Jérémie Aliadière headed the visitors level shortly afterwards, a mistake by Stewart Downing let Wayne Rooney in to restore the hosts' lead past the half-hour and Tévez added two after the break to earn United their fourth consecutive four-goal haul.

Drogba double
Chelsea turned on the style as they hit six goals past third-placed Manchester City. Michael Essien was first on the scoresheet on 16 minutes before Didier Drogba struck either side of half-time. England midfielder Joe Cole scored his first league goal of the season on the hour and forwards Salomon Kalou and Andriy Shevchenko got in on the act late on.

Reading win
David Kitson and Shane Long earned Reading FC a hard-fought 2-1 home win against Newcastle United FC, who had equalised when Michael Duberry put through his own net, while Birmingham City FC twice came from behind to beat Wigan Athletic FC 3-2. Darren Bent had twice given the visitors the lead but Oliver Kapo from the penalty spot, and Liam Ridgewell had each equalised before Kapo struck the winner with nine minutes remaining.

Benjani miss
Elsewhere, Fulham FC were denied a first away victory of the season when Sunderland AFC's Kenwyne Jones cancelled out Simon Davies's first-half free-kick four minutes from the end, while Benjani Mwaruwari had his last-minute penalty saved by Robert Green in Portsmouth FC's 0-0 draw against West Ham United FC.

Bundesliga Week 11

Hamburger SV took advantage of FC Bayern München's goalless draw with BV Borussia Dortmund, moving within four points of the Bundesliga leaders after a 1-0 win at MSV Duisburg on Sunday.

Sell-out crowd
Over 80,000 spectators turned out in Dortmund to watch the visitors miss out on the chance to move six points clear at the top. The sell-out crowd saw no goals but witnessed plenty of commitment in an absorbing first half during which Bayern twice hit the bar, first from Martin Demichelis's thunderous long-range shot and then Miroslav Klose's follow-up. Dortmund raised their game after the break and squandered a number of presentable opportunities, enabling Bayern to return home the more thankful for the point.

Kompany winner
Bayern's shortcomings were exploited by second-placed Hamburg, who sealed an efficient win at Duisburg. Still without injured captain Rafael van der Vaart, the UEFA Cup contenders dominated the match without creating too many chances. Nonetheless, Vincent Kompany's close-range effort on 37 minutes proved enough to reduce the arrears on Bayern.

Nothing could separate UEFA Champions League contenders FC Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Saturday but Hertha BSC Berlin and VfB Stuttgart celebrated welcome wins.

Bremen held
Bremen had been hoping for their first win at the Arena AufSchalke in six years as victory would have taken them to within three points of leaders FC Bayern München, who play on Sunday, but it looked like the Bundesliga's second-placed club might suffer their first defeat in six league matches when Carlos Grossmüller put Schalke ahead after 14 minutes. Brazilian defender Naldo replied for the visitors, though, to share the spoils.

Pantelić strike
Hertha scored twice before the break to secure three points at home against VfL Bochum 1848 thanks to an own goal by Marcel Maltritz and Marko Pantelić's sixth league goal of the season. Like the club from the German capital, VfL Wolfsburg leapfrogged Bayer 04 Leverkusen as a consequence of a convincing 3-1 win against 1. FC Nürnberg. The hosts took a two-goal lead by the 34th minute through Greece striker Angelos Charisteas and Grafite and, although Bosnia-Herzegovnia midfielder Zvjezdan Misimović reduced the arrears for Nürnberg after the break, Ashtan Dejagah ensured Wolfsburg moved into seventh place.

Leverkusen slip
Leverkusen slipped to tenth after Andreas Beck's winner gave Stuttgart their first league success in four matches while, elsewhere, Karlsruher SC dropped to fourth after suffering their second consecutive goalless draw at FC Hansa Rostock. In the other Saturday match a last-minute strike by Denmark forward Dennis Sørensen earned bottom-placed FC Energie Cottbus a 1-1 draw at DSC Arminia Bielefeld, who had edged ahead on 78 minutes through Jonas Kamper.

SERIA A Week 9

A second-half header by AS Roma striker Mirko Vučinić condemned AC Milan to their second consecutive 1-0 home defeat as FC Internazionale Milano were held at US Città di Palermo.

Poor start
Although top of their UEFA Champions League Group D, Milan, who have yet to win at home this term, have made their worst start to a Serie A season in 26 years. Serbia striker Vučinić, who was playing in the absence of injured Roma captain Francesco Totti, connected with Cicinho's cross at the near post on 72 minutes to revive his side's title hopes and heap more misery on the European champions who had Massimo Ambrosini sent off.

Lazio loss
The Giallorossi, for whom Daniele De Rossi also missed a penalty, move into second place, three points behind leaders Inter, who were held to a goalless draw at Palermo, and a point clear of Juventus, who lost 3-1 at SSC Napoli on Saturday. Roma's city rivals S.S. Lazio also suffered disappointment at the hands of Udinese Calcio as Gyan Asamoah scored the only goal of the game 12 minutes from time at the Stadio Olimpico to send his side into sixth place.

Doni winner
Empoli FC may have won at Milan last weekend but were this time on the receiving end of a 1-0 scoreline as Cristiano Doni was on target (72) for Atalanta BC, who move up to seventh place as a result. Calcio Catania were also winners thanks to a 2-0 success against UC Sampdoria courtesy of first-half goals by Giuseppe Mascara and Jorge Martìnez, while Parma FC shared five goals with bottom club AS Livorno Calcio to run out 3-2 winners. AC Siena and Reggina Calcio, meanwhile, shared a 0-0 draw.

Two Maurizio Domizzi penalties within eight minutes ensured SSC Napoli came from behind to secure a 3-1 win against old rivals Juventus and move into the top five in Serie A.

Swift equaliser
A win for Juve would have taken them level on points with leaders FC Internazionale Milano, and although David Trezeguet had an effort ruled out for offside late in the first half, the second period was barely a minute old when the French striker linked up with Naples-born Raffaele Palladino to set up Alessandro Del Piero for a powerful finish. Napoli wasted no time in equalising though as Gargano burst into the box and shot past Gianluigi Buffon.

Domizzi penalties
Trezeguet hit the post on 53 minutes and Del Piero fired the rebound over, and Napoli made them pay just past the hour as Ezequiel Lavezzi was fouled in the box by Giorgio Chiellini and Domizzi converted the penalty. Eight minutes later Napoli had another spot-kick was Buffon brought down Marcelo Zalayeta - who moved south after a decade with Juve in the summer - and again Domizzi made no mistake. Inter will look to double their three-point advantage over Juventus when they visit US Città di Palermo in one of the eight Sunday games.

Torino win
Torino moved up to tenth thanks to a 2-0 success against Cagliari Calcio. The Turin-based side, who were level with their opponents at the start of play with eight points from eight matches, took the lead on 69 minutes thanks to playmaker Alessandro Rosina's third league goal of the season and the match was settled four minutes from time when visiting defender Michele Ferri scored an own goal.

LA LIGA WEEK 9

Real Madrid CF continue to set the pace in the Primera División after a 3-1 success against RC Deportivo La Coruña on a night when FC Barcelona kept in touch with victory but Villarreal CF slipped two places after a shock 4-1 loss at Real Zaragoza.

Raúl contribution
Madrid had to come back from behind after Deportivo took the lead in the second minute through Xisco. Ruud van Nistelrooy replied for the hosts from the penalty spot within five minutes but not until eleven minutes from time did the hosts edge ahead, Raúl González coming off the bench to put the Spanish champions in front, before Robinho added a third late on. Real are top with 22 points from nine games, two ahead of Barcelona, who were triumphant against UD Ameira.

Henry opener
Thierry Henry put Barça head on 37 minutes and the result never really looked in doubt as both Geovanni and Henry missed further chances to extend the home side's lead. Lionel Messi converted a penalty ten minutes from time to round off the scoring. It was not such a happy evening for Villarreal, however, who slipped to fourth place after a heavy defeat in Zaragoza. Ricardo Oliveira broke the deadlock (37), Oscar González doubled the lead (50), Diego Milito scored from the penalty spot (67) and Sergio Garcìa made it 4-0 (79) before Robert Pirès grabbed a consolation (83).

Forlán winner
Zaragoza had themselves conceded four goals against Club Atlético de Madrid last weekend and the capital club won again at bottom club Levante UD, albeit by a narrower margin. Diego Forlán (27) grabbing the only goal of the game to take his side up to fifth place in the table.

Dady double
Elsewhere, CA Osasuna came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home against struggling Real Valladolid CF thanks to a double strike from Portuguese foward Dady. Lowly Getafe CF suffered more domestic misery after a 2-0 loss at Real Racing Club Santander, while Real Murcia CF ran out 1-0 winners against RC Recreativo de Huelva.

RCD Mallorca denied RCD Espanyol the chance to join Primera División leaders Real Madrid CF on 19 points after a 2-2 draw which both teams ended with ten men.

Quick turnaround
Espanyol had been on a run of four league victories in a row including last week's defeat of previously unbeaten Madrid, but home side Mallorca led on two minutes as Juan Arango volleyed in Ariel Ibagaza's quickly taken free-kick. However, Arango headed Luis García's free-kick into his own net in the 21st minute and not long after Raúl Tamudo converted a penalty for Espanyol when he was fouled by Sergio Ballesteros, who was sent off.

Güiza equaliser
There was a red card for Espanyol early in the second half when Clemente Rodríguez was booked for the second time, and Mallorca were back on terms 21 minutes from the end as Daniel Güiza ran on to a long ball, turned in the box and shot inside the near post. Espanyol remain in fifth while Mallorca, two points adrift, are now just one place behind.

Athletic held
In the bottom half of the table, lowly Real Betis Balompié came away from Athletic Club Bilbao with a 0-0 draw in today's late game. Among Sunday's fixtures, Madrid play RC Deportivo La Coruña while Sevilla – in the first game under new coach Manolo Jiménez – welcome Valencia CF, one of three sides who could potentially overtake the leaders.

Sevilla success
It was also a bad night for Valencia, who missed out on the chance to go second after losing 3-0 at Sevilla in the late kick-off. Juande Ramos's successor, Manolo Jiménez, had every reason to be cheerful as Frédéric Kanouté (10), Christian Poulsen (73) and Luis Fabiano (86) scored to give the new coach a debut victory.