Belated victory boosts Lokomotiv

US Città di Palermo 0-2 UC Sampdoria

Palermo suffered an unexpected 2-0 home defeat by Sampdoria on Sunday evening. Andrea Gasbarroni gave Sampdoria the lead on 32 minutes, and although the hosts responded by controlling the second half, Emiliano Bonazzoli doubled the deficit with 17 minutes remaining. Palermo almost found a way back into the game four minutes later but forward Andrea Caracciolo, sporting a protective mask due to a broken nose, could only hit the post.

"We performed well and the match was well-balanced," said captain Eugenio Corini. "But we created few chances to score while Sampdoria broke the deadlock with their first opportunity. We knew that Sampdoria are tough opponents but I am satisfied with our display." Goalkeeper Matteo Guardalben missed out with a knee injury, while Palermo suffered a further setback when defender Cristian Terlizzi limped off after 34 minutes with a muscle strain.

Aalborg BK 3-0 Brøndby IF

Brøndby continue to struggle following midweek European matches, losing at AaB on Sunday night. Martin Retov recovered from the thigh injury which ruled him out Thursday's Group B victory against Petach-Tikva, but it mattered little as two goals from Artim Sakiri and one from Martin Ericsson sent Brøndby crashing.

"Everything went wrong tonight," said midfielder Thomas Rasmussen. "The co-ordination between defence, midfield and attack was simply not good enough and too many players did not work hard enough around the pitch. Nothing was good enough." The only consolation for Michael Laudrup's men is that leaders FC København and third-placed Viborg FF also lost, meaning Brøndby remain second, six points off the summit.

RCD Espanyol 1-1 Athletic Club Bilbao

Espanyol still can't get it right in the Primera División after managing only a 1-1 home draw with basement side Athletic. Coach Miguel Ángel Lotina gave a home debut to Albert Riera, and was further boosted by the returns of Raúl Tamudo and Albert Lopo from thigh injuries. Eduardo Costa was the only absentee, serving a one-match suspension. In the event, Espanyol were just four minutes from defeat, following Luis Prieto's 21st-minute opener for Athletic, when Ferrán Corominas Telechea rescued the Catalans after the visitors had failed to clear Tamudo's header.

"I am very grateful for the crowd's support, even when we were losing," said Lotina. "I don't think I will ever be able to repay what they did for me. They proved they love the club and that will help us a great deal. My team were quite nervous but our efforts were worth a victory. We set the pace and it would have been unfair to lose."

FC Terek Chechenskaya Respublika 0-3 FC Lokomotiv Moskva

Lokomotiv ended a six-match winless streak with a 3-0 victory against the Russian Premier-Liga's bottom club Terek, but it was not enough to bring them back into title contention as PFC CSKA Moskva claimed the championship with a game to spare. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Dmitri Khokhlov and Malkhaz Asatiani all scored, as Lokomotiv now battle for the second UEFA Champions League berth with FC Spartak Moskva, with whom they are level on points.

Vadim Evseev returned to the starting lineup after injury, while André Stéphane Bikey moved to centre-back with Dmitri Sennikov suspended and Vladimir Maminov partnered Francisco Lima in central midfield. Sidelined skipper Dmitri Loskov (back) saw his place taken by Khokhlov. Coach Vladimir Eshtrekov said: "The victory gives us a boost, but it is a pity we did not start winning earlier." Goalkeeper Sergei Ovchinnikov added: "The score does not matter. The important thing is we won."

Maccabi Petach-Tikva FC 2-2 FC Ashdod

Shay David's 81st-minute equaliser earned Maccabi a draw against Ashdod on Monday night. Petach-Tikva conceded in the opening minute of each half, with Omer Golan levelling the scores for the first time in the 25th minute. David, who was introduced on the hour for Asaf Mashiach, then saved the day for a home side missing the suspended Shlomo Tzemah. However, for the second game running, Petach-Tikva finished with ten men as Lokembo Lokaso saw red a minute from time. Having taken eight points from nine matches, Guy Luzon’s men are seventh in the Israeli Premier League, nearer the relegation places than the title-challenging ones.

Stanislav Dubrovin continues to struggle with a hamstring complaint while Salim Toema has started light training again after breaking his leg and could be fit within a fortnight. The other team news concerns 20-year-old midfielder Ron Glik who made his first senior start against Ashdod.