Partizan and Žilina fire warnings

MŠK Žilina, FC Spartak Moskva and FK Partizan were the big winners on a night when four of the six UEFA Champions League group stage hopefuls in domestic action triumphed, with only CFR 1907 Cluj tasting defeat.

Žilina moved four points clear and remain unbeaten in Slovakia after winning 4-0 at FC ViOn Zlaté Moravce. Tomáš Majtán struck a hat-trick as Pavel Hapal's charges prepared perfectly for their UEFA Champions League match at Olympique de Marseille – both teams currently point-less in Group F.

FC Spartak Moskva, 3-0 victors against Žilina on Matchday 2, made it 13 points from the last 15 available as they won 3-0 at home to FC Alania Vladikavkaz. Ari, Alex and an Ivan Ivanov own goal continued the hosts' recent upturn ahead of their visit from Chelsea FC on Tuesday.

FK Partizan, who travel to SC Braga seeking their maiden group stage points on Tuesday, were also free-scoring as they beat FK Smederevo 5-3 to rise to the Serbian summit with Marko Šćepović scoring twice.

FC Shakhtar Donetsk head to Arsenal FC for the meeting of Group H's 100% records off the back of another success as they won a fourth consecutive league contest. The Ukrainian champions, eight points ahead again this term, overcame FC Metalurh Donetsk 2-0 with Dmytro Chygrynskiy and Alex Teixeira scoring inside 18 minutes.

Bursaspor were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Kardemir Karabükspor despite leading twice in the first half, although the scoreline did extend their advantage in Turkey to three points ahead of Wednesday's game at Manchester United FC.

CFR 1907 Cluj were the only one of the group stage entrants to lose as they succumbed 5-3 at FC Vaslui – not ideal preparation for Tuesday's match at Group E leaders FC Bayern München – with two goals in the final two minutes keeping the margin of the reverse down.