Weekend round-up: Celta compound Barça misery

Celta delight
Barcelona, beaten by Valencia CF last week, lost 2-0 to RC Celta de Vigo on Sunday. The home side recovered from missing a first-half penalty to claim three points with goals from Jesus Jesuli and Silvinho. The result leaves Louis van Gaal's side only three points away from the Primera División relegation zone, in stark contrast to their UEFA Champions League form of ten straight wins.

Board meeting
Barça have called a board meeting for this morning where directors will discuss the predicament facing the club. However, Barcelona vice-president Francesc Closa confirmed yesterday that the board would not act hastily regarding the future of Van Gaal. "We have to take things calmly," Closa said. "If a decision is to be taken it will be taken on Monday after a logical analysis of the situation. We're not going to do anything in the heat of the moment."

Madrid held again
Real Madrid CF are now five points adrift of unbeaten leaders Real Sociedad, who defeated Club Atlético de Madrid 2-1 on Saturday, after being held 1-1 by struggling Athletic Club Bilbao. Reigning champions Valencia CF are themselves within two points of Madrid after beating Sevilla FC 1-0, Argentinian playmaker Pablo Aimar settling the game in the first half.

Vieri treble
In Italy, Internazionale FC are back level on points with Milan in Serie A thanks to a 3-0 win against Empoli FC. Gabriel Batistuta made his Inter debut but it was Christian Vieri who starred, scoring a 16-minute second-half hat-trick to seal the win. Milan lost 1-0 at Udinese Calcio, for whom David Pizzaro's 34th-minute penalty was enough despite Nestor Sensini's second-half dismissal.

Lazio beaten
Lazio could have gone top with victory but instead fell to fourth with a shock 1-0 defeat against struggling Reggina Calcio, while Juventus FC claimed third place by beating Piacenza FC 2-0 yesterday in a game overshadowed by the funeral of Juve club patron Gianni Agnelli hours before the match. Club president Vittorio Chiusiano placed a Bianconeri shirt on Agnelli's usual seat at the Delle Alpi stadium.

Bayern return
FC Bayern München had a perfect return to 1. Bundesliga action after the winter break as they extended their lead to eight points with a 3-0 Sunday victory against VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach. The previous day BV Borussia Dortmund lost 2-1 at Hertha BSC Berlin, and SV Werder Bremen climbed to second despite drawing 2-2 at home to DSC Arminia Bielefeld.

Spectacular United
The English Premiership's leading two clubs both enjoyed substantial wins in the FA Cup at the weekend. Arsenal FC, the holders, cruised into the fifth round with a 5-1 win against non-league Farnborough Town FC, a margin bettered by Manchester United FC who overwhelmed West Ham United FC 6-0. Liverpool FC were held 0-0 at Crystal Palace FC but only one top-flight team were beaten by first division opponents - West Bromwich Albion FC losing 1-0 at Watford FC

PSG win thriller
Paris Saint-Germain FC's French Cup campaign remained on course after a thrilling 2-1 win against Olympique de Marseille. RC Lens joined the continued exodus of Ligue 1 clubs by losing at second-division Toulouse FC 1-0, while FC Nantes Atlantique were eliminated 1-0 by holders FC Lorient, who were relegated at the end of last season. Le Havre AC lost 2-1 to Stade Lavallois-Mayenne FC.