Valencia and Malaga fought for a scoreless draw

Valencia and Malaga did everything it can to earn another three points to improve their standings in La Liga but the game concluded with no one scoring. 

Malaga goalkeeper Willy Caballero figured prominently with his brilliant saves that deny an ever persistent Valencia from scoring.  In the 29th minute, Caballero double saved; first  a free kick by Dani Parejo and then a follow up by Jonas Goncalves which was the best opportunity for Valencia to score. 

Overall, Valencia had more scoring opportunities but its either their on target shots are cleared or no one is there to receive a generous cross.  The two teams have to settle for a point each. 

Late own goal failed to save Lille from defeat by Stade Reims 2-0

Nicolas De Preville is tackled by Pape Souare

Stade Reims remain steady to win against a dangerous Lille side in the latest round of French Ligue 1. Both sides played a highly physical game but still ended with a scoreless draw in the first half. 

The scores came in the dying minutes of the game. Odair Fortes subbed Gaetan Charbonnier and minutes later the substitute scored an unlikely manner in the 73rd minute.  Djibril Sidibe was trying to clear a threatening ball in the box when his clearance hit the jaw of Odair Fortes.  The bounce however went into the net which goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama failed to save.  Then in the 76th minute, Nicolas De Preville header off Floyd Ayite's corner landed on Grezgorz Khrychowiak who headed the ball at pointblank. 

Lille was about to concede the game when Anthony Weber's own goal in the 88th minute gave them renewed hope to just even score a draw at least. 

It turned out that it was only that far their fortune had taken them to and yield the game. 

Manchester City secures a win against Newcastle United in a controversial game

Alvaro Negredo on his lonesom in injury time to seal City's
victory.

Manchester City scored another win albeit a controversial one against a tenacious Newcastle United side 2-0. The Citizens scored in the early minutes of the game when Edin Dzeko latched on to an Alvaro Negredo cross. 

The Magpies could have equalized the game when Chieck Tiote's goal was nullified by referee Mike Jones.  This resulted a howl from Newcastle fans and manager Alan Pardew who confronted Jones at half time.  Jones stuck to his decision as a FIFA rule states that it is still offside even if the player did not touch the ball but he "interfere with an opponent" by "preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or challenging an opponent for the ball"

The controversial offside call. Tiote kicking the ball with Gouffran
 in offside position (dark highlight) 

The game became fierce from then on until it resulted into a very hard Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa foul on Samir Nasri who was carried on a stretcher out of the pitch. 

The game finally become out of reach of Newcastle as James Milner released Alvaro Negredo in injury time who got a lucky ricochet from Newcastle goal keeper Tim Krul to score an easy goal. 

Real Madrid ride on Pepe's header to slip past Espanyol 1-0

Pepe mobbed by team mates after scoring the winning goal

Pepe's bouncing header is what Real Madrid needs to score an important three points against Barcelona City based Espanyol in the latest round of the La Liga. 

The goal came in the 55th minute when Luka Modric fired a free kick from the right hand side from a Christian Stuani foul on Daniel Carvajal.  Real Madrid got another two good chances, the first one from Karim Benzema and the second from Cristiano Ronaldo but both were saved by an outstanding performance of Espanyol goal keeper Kiko Casilla. 

Real Madrid's win move them closer to league leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid which played a nil-nil draw at Vicente Calderon. 

Juventus dominates as Roma suffered 2 red cards 3-0

The much anticipated encounter between league leaders Juventus and Roma was a big disappointment as the Capital team suffered double red cards at the close of their game. 

Juventus scored 17th minute as Carlos Teves saw an Arturo Vidal overlap to his right which he capitalized and the latter delivered after latching into that quick pass.   Then in the 49th minute, an unmarked Leonardo Bonucci poked the ball into the net after a smooth Andrea Pirlo free kick. 

Things went worse for Roma in the closing minutes of the game as two successive red cards were given. First against Danielle De Rossi for the high challenge on Leonardo Bonucci.  It was followed by Leandro Castans handball on former Roma and now Juventus striker Mirko Vucinic.  

Reduced to 9 men, there was nothing Roma could do and Juventus never pushed for more goals as if to emphatize with the plight of its worthy rival. 

Chelsea blanked Southampton 3-0

Eden Hazard celebrates with Ramires after scoring the 3rd goal for Chelsea

Chelsea dominated a tired Southampton side to secure a convincing 3-0 win in the latest round of English Premiere League football.

Earlier in the game both teams displayed excellent defensive game that ended the first half with a nil-nil scoreline.  Things became different in the second half as Oscar and Willian replaced Juan Mata and Andre' Schurrle respectively.   At the 60th minute mark, Oscar shot wide from the left flank which was slightly deflected by Southampton's Calum Chambers. The shot went past Kelvin Davis and hit the lower back post which rebounded and allowed Fernando Torres to nudge a header for the opening goal for Chelsea. 

Then in the 71st minute, the duo of Oscar and Willian played perfectly as Willian received a cross from Oscar from the left before powering a curl that slip past Kelvin Davis to give Chelsea a 2-0 lead.  

Just as Chelsea was secured of three points of the night, Eden Hazard released Oscar to force a one on one with Davis which was completed by the diminutive left winger from Chelsea. Oscar's late goal made the final scoreline.