LONDON, Nov 5: An injury-time goal by captain William Gallas gave Arsenal a 2-2 draw with Manchester United at the weekend to preserve their unbeaten record this season and keep them top of the Premier League.
In Spain, Barcelona and Villarreal closed to within a point of Real Madrid after the champions were beaten by Sevilla, while in Germany, Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga lead was cut to two points when they squandered chances in a 0-0 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.
ENGLAND
The big game of the weekend produced late drama as William Gallas scored in injury time to earn Arsenal a 2-2 home draw with Manchester United, who had led twice.
Gallas, whose own goal gave United a first-half lead, volleyed in expertly but needed the linesman to award the goal that set up a club record unbeaten run of 25 games in all competitions.
Arsenal and United both have 27 points, three clear of Chelsea, who had a comfortable 2-0 win at Wigan Athletic.
The performance of the weekend came at St James’ Park, where Portsmouth scored three times in the first 11 minutes en route to a 4-1 win over Newcastle United – their first there for 58 years – that took them fourth on 22 points.
GERMANY
Wasteful Bayern Munich had their Bundesliga lead cut to two points when they were held to a goalless draw at home by Eintracht Frankfurt, while Hamburg SV beat Hertha Berlin 2-1.
Bayern created and missed 38 chances as strikers Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni had a rare off-day.
Hamburg made them pay as they stretched their unbeaten run to seven league matches with a scrappy win at home to Hertha.
Paolo Guerrero put HSV ahead in the fourth minute but the home side could not add to their lead and Patrick Ebert equalised early in the second half.
The second half was even and Hamburg looked like being frustrated before Bastian Reinhardt got the winner with a late header.
With 12 games played, Bayern lead with 28 points, followed by Hamburg on 26. Werder Bremen are third on 24 after a 1-0 win at home to Hansa Rostock.
SPAIN
Barcelona and Villarreal closed to within a point of Real Madrid at the top of the Primera Liga after they took advantage of the champions’ 2-0 defeat at Sevilla.
Real fell victim to quickfire goals from Mali midfielder Seydou Keita and Brazil striker Luis Fabiano in a pulsating match at the Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday.
Barca had few problems seeing off struggling Real Betis 3-0 at the Nou Camp on Sunday, Thierry Henry putting his side ahead with a neat breakaway strike and Ronaldinho scoring two with trademark free kicks.
Villarreal came from two goals down at the Calderon to snatch a dramatic 4-3 win over Atletico Madrid thanks to two late goals from substitute striker Nihat Kahveci.
Real remain top of the table on 25 points from 11 games, one point clear of Barcelona and Villarreal. Valencia, who won 2-0 at Real Mallorca on Saturday, are third on 21.
FRANCE
Olympique Lyon maintained their four-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 with a clinical 2-0 victory over Valenciennes on Saturday.
Brazilian midfielder Juninho struck five minutes from the interval, tapping in a Karim Benzema cross. Striker Sidney Govou put the result beyond doubt when he lobbed the ball over Valenciennes goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau three minutes from time.
Six-times champions Lyon, who host German champions VfB Stuttgart to keep alive their hopes of progressing from the Champions League group stage on Wednesday, have 31 points from 13 matches.
Second-placed Nancy celebrated their 40th anniversary with a 1-0 win over Girondins Bordeaux.
ITALY
Inter Milan stayed top of Serie A despite being held to a 1-1 draw at fourth-placed Juventus on Sunday.
Substitute Mauro Camoranesi earned the Turin team a draw with a 77th-minute strike after Argentine striker Julio Cruz had given Inter the lead in the first half with a coolly taken finish.
Unbeaten Fiorentina moved up to second with 23 points, two behind Inter, courtesy of a Giampaolo Pazzini goal that gave the Tuscans a 1-0 win at Lazio on Saturday.
AS Roma dropped to third after blowing a 2-0 lead at struggling Empoli on Sunday.
A long-range strike from Ighli Vannucchi and Sebastian Giovinco’s splendid free kick cancelled out the first-half efforts of Roma midfielders Ludovic Giuly and Matteo Brighi.
European champions AC Milan, who were held to a goalless draw by Torino on Saturday, have not won a league game at the San Siro since April.—Reuters
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