Barça and City leave their mark, Paris suffer loss
Monday, February 29, 2016
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Barcelona equalled a Spanish record and Manchester City lifted the English League Cup on a weekend that brought a first defeat in 37 Ligue 1 games for Paris Saint-Germain.
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MONDAY
Benfica 2-0 União (Jonas 5 76)
The Eagles wasted no time in taking the initiative in a game postponed for 24 hours after adverse weather conditions in Madeira prevented their opponents from being able to travel. Jonas put them ahead inside five minutes and struck again midway through the second half – his 28th of the season in all competitions – to seal a win that helps Benfica close to within a point of Liga leaders Sporting CP, who were held elsewhere.
SUNDAY
Barcelona 2-1 Sevilla (Messi 31, Piqué 48; Vitolo 20)
Luis Enrique's men equalled Real Madrid's Spanish record run of 34 games unbeaten in all competitions to restore their eight-point Liga lead, but they had to come from behind to do it. Sevilla were the last team to overcome the Blaugrana, on 3 October, and they threatened to repeat the feat when Vitolo turned in from a Benoît Trémoulinas cross. The hosts soon drew level via a superb Lionel Messi free-kick, however, and continued their title surge when Gerard Piqué finished from a Luis Suárez pass.
Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City (aet, City win 3-1 on penalties)
Willy Caballero saved three spot kicks as City won the English League Cup for the second time in three seasons. Following a 1-1 stalemate after extra time at Wembley, Caballero – selected ahead of Joe Hart in domestic cup competitions – denied Lucas, Coutinho and Adam Lallana in the shoot-out before Yaya Touré converted the decisive penalty. Fernandinho had put City in front earlier in the game, but Coutinho levelled with seven minutes remaining to take the game into extra time. However, Manuel Pellegrini's charges came out on top to lift the trophy for a fourth time overall.
Lyon 2-1 Paris Saint-Germain (Cornet 13, Darder 45+2; Lucas 51)
Laurent Blanc's men have finally been beaten in Ligue 1 after a record 36 top-flight outings without defeat, though they remain 23 points clear of Monaco at the head of the standings. Paris were swept aside by Lyon in an excellent first half for the hosts, Maxwel Cornet hitting the opener before a superb solo goal from Sergi Darder. Missing injured duo Ángel Di María and Marco Verratti, the visitors gave themselves hope via Lucas after the break, but Lyon were not to be denied a famous win.
Manchester United 3-2 Arsenal(Rashford 29 32, Ander Herrera 65; Welbeck 40, Özil 69)
Having scored twice on his UEFA Europa League debut, 18-year-old Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford struck two more inside four first-half minutes on his Premier League debut to damage Arsenal's title hopes. Rashford, making only his second ever senior appearance, took his tally to four goals in as many days before former United striker Danny Welbeck nodded Arsenal back into the game. The Gunners went further behind after the break, and although Mesut Özil's volley gave third-placed Arsenal hope, the hosts held on to leave Arsène Wenger's side five points behind leaders Leicester City.
Juventus 2-0 Inter (Bonucci 47, Morata 84pen)
Juve returned to winning ways after two consecutive draws to bolster their Scudetto bid, having been held at Bologna last before their midweek UEFA Champions League draw with Bayern München. The scoreline was goalless at half-time, but Leonardo Bonucci made the breakthrough shortly after the restart, bundling in Paulo Dybala’s free-kick, and Álvaro Morata added a late penalty to send the Serie A leaders four points clear of Napoli, who play on Monday.
Zenit1-0 Kuban Krasnodar (aet)
André Villas-Boas's Russian title holders returned to domestic action with a hard-fought victory in the last eight of the Russian Cup as Maurício's extra-time goal sealed a semi-final berth. The Brazillian midfielder, who joined the Zenitchiki from Terek in January, netted the winner with a 25-metre free-kick following a goalless stalemate in normal time. Zenit will face either Dinamo Moskva or Amkar Perm in the last four.
SATURDAY
Real Madrid 0-1 Atlético Madrid (Griezmann 53)
Atlético became the first side in Liga history to claim three successive wins at the Santiago Bernabéu and dealt a major blow to Real Madrid's title hopes in the process. Antoine Griezmann notched the decisive strike – his first in six league outings – as the second-placed visitors moved to within five points of the leaders. Zinédine Zidane's third-placed side now trail Barcelona by 12 points with 12 games to go.
Wolfsburg 0-2 Bayern (Coman 66, Lewandowski 74)
Franck Ribéry came off the bench to inspire Bayern to a victory that dents Wolfsburg's hopes of returning to the UEFA Champions League next season. The game was in the balance when Ribéry replaced Arjen Robben 11 minutes into the second half. He instigated the breakthrough with a fine run and cross that was volleyed in by Kingsley Coman. Robert Lewandowski, who hit five in nine minutes in the reverse fixture earlier this season, sealed the points.
Southampton 1-2 Chelsea (Long 42; Fàbregas 75, Ivanović 89)
Branislav Ivanović headed in a late winner as Guus Hiddink's men recovered from a goal down to secure a win that lifts them up to 11th in the Premier League. Cesc Fàbregas had equalised with 15 minutes left when his cross crept in, only his third goal in his 40th appearance this season. "We like to be proactive and show the desire is huge to turn a result from negative to positive," said Hiddink. "The players responded."
Empoli 1-3 Roma (Zukanovic og 22; El Shaarawy 5 74, Pjanić 27)
On-loan Stephan El Shaarawy scored twice as Roma moved third in Serie A with a sixth successive Serie A win. The 23-year-old opened the scoring with a fine individual effort, but the hosts levelled via an own goal when Wojciech Szczęsny's clearance hit team-mate Ervin Zukanovic and looped into the net. Miralem Pjanić quickly restored the lead and El Shaarawy sealed it. A late red card compounded Empoli's disappointment.
PSV Eindhoven 2-0 Den Haag (Van Ginkel 72, De Jong 82)
Luuk de Jong struck his 50th goal for PSV as Phillip Cocu's side claimed a ninth successive league win. The home side had to be patient against resilient visitors but once Marco van Ginkel had broken the deadlock with his third for the club there looked only one likely winner. De Jong, returning from a ban that forced him to sit out the draw with Atlético, then made sure with his landmark goal.
FRIDAY
Gent 3-1 Lokeren (Renato Neto 9, Dejaegere 38, Depoitre 90; Harbaoui 42pen)
The Buffalos kept the pressure on Belgian leaders Club Brugge thanks to an east Flanders derby win, Renato Neto lighting the way with an acrobatic finish. Brecht Dejaegere added a second towards the end of the first half, and although Lokeren cut the deficit, Laurent Depoitre's 12th league effort this term ensured that Gent moved level with Club Brugge before the rest of the weekend's games.
No game: Dynamo Kyiv