Schalke tops Borussia Dortmund 2-1

SCHALKE CLAIM DERBY WIN AGAINST DORTMUND

Gelsenkirchen - FC Schalke 04 emerged victorious in an electrifying 145th Ruhrderby, overcoming arch rivals Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at the Veltins Arena.The hosts were largely in command before the break and Cameroonian internationals Joel Matip and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting put them into a two-goal lead. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pulled one back for Dortmund, but the visitors were unable to make their second-half dominance count, eventually paying dearly for mistakes before the break. 

One-two punch 

Schalke settled into their rhythm quickly against their Ruhr district opponents, repeatedly passing their way towards the Dortmund goal in the opening stages. Sidney Sam gave Dortmund a first serious warning only two minutes into the game, seeing his effort saved by Roman Weidenfeller, before Choupo-Moting was thwarted. The BVB keeper was eventually beaten in the ninth minute, however, when Royal Blues centre-back Matip was left to head home. It was the wake-up call BVB needed, with Jürgen Klopp's men slowly starting to find a way into the game in. Both Kevin Großkreutz and Ciro Immobile saw their sides' first attacking efforts blocked after 15 minutes of play, but it were the home side who remained the more threatening side. They were soon able to double their advantage when Choupo-Moting took advantage of a poor clearance from Adrian Ramos to lash in a second. 

Aubameyang strikes 

Dortmund had been victorious in three of the sides' four previous meetings at the Veltins Arena, and they nevertheless responded well to the setback, as Ramos set up Aubameyang to sweep home from inside the box and notch in this fixture for the second season running. Lukasz Piszczek then came close to levelling matters shortly before the break, with Ralf Fährmann doing well to keep the Polish right-back's effort out. The visitors kept up their momentum after the interval, breaking forward with pace and purpose and as they began to enjoy the larger share of the possession. Immobile and Piszczek from distance, as well as Aubameyang with a free-kick, all sent purposeful efforts towards the Schalke goal, but none could beat an alert Fährmann on his 26th birthday. 

No joy for Kagawa 

Intending to add creativity to his Dortmund attack, Klopp threw on Shinji Kagawa near the hour stroke of the hour, with the Japanese settling into the five-time champions' offensive midfield, but clear-cut goalscoring chances became increasingly difficult to come by as the game wore on against a stiff Royal Blues defence. The Japanese international was at the heart of most of Borussia's action as Schalke's disciplined back line largely held the Schwarz-Gelben to long-range efforts. Dortmund threw bodies forward in the dying stages, but it was Schalke that almost grabbed a third through Huntelaar in added time. The final whistle sounded soon afterwards to signal Schalke's first home win of the season and allow Jens Keller's side to equal Dortmund's record of 30 Revierderby victories.

Arsenal, Tottenham draw for North London derby 1-1

Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rescues Gunners after Nacer Chadli's strike but Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey limp off

The Emirates is rarely a place for fiery passions but the home fans make an exception here for north London derbies.

Those Arsenal fans roared their team on in confident expectation. They knew the victory should be theirs. Their team had largely dominated against their neighbours. They had by far the better of the attacking play and they had a sprinkling of delightful offensive players in Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla, a trio who would grace almost any team, anywhere in the world.

Only Younes Kaboul and Hugo Lloris, giants in the Tottenham defence, stood between them and three points. Surely the goal would come? Surely such an array of talent would be enough to overpower Spurs? 

And yet it was not to be. Arsenal’s infamous brittleness had cost them again. Games they should win, they draw; games in which they ought to be competitive, they end up being comprehensively beaten. It is almost pointless to single out the individuals — yesterday it was Mathieu Flamini, losing the ball in front of his own penalty area — as almost all the team are serial offenders.

Spurs will be grateful for their draw. But until Arsene Wenger can address the vulnerabilities he has in shielding his defence — and he shows no sign of wishing to do so — there will be many more Groundhog Days like this. 

There was much speculation as to whether Ozil would return to his favoured central role — or be shunted out to the left. As it was, he started out wide, but swapped the position regularly with Jack Wilshere, the two of them undertaking the wide left duties as though it were an undesirable job-share.

And this derby felt a very Anglo-Saxon affair early on. Certainly the tackling was of a certain vintage. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Wilshere received yellow cards, all too keen to make their impression — literally — on Tottenham, before Erik Lamela added his own Latin mark, cautioned for a late challenge on Kieran Gibbs.

And the football was of variable quality in that first half. What there was, was mainly created by Arsenal. Danny Welbeck was the first to inject some class into the game with a lovely flick past Jan Vertonghen and, leaving the Belgian in his wake, he was only denied by the assiduous covering run of Kaboul.

Welbeck shot unconvincingly at Lloris on 22 minutes but it wasn’t until 28 minutes that Arsenal conjured another clear chance. Aaron Ramsey raced down the right and released Welbeck, who touched the ball back to Wilshere, who in turn struck the ball ferociously from the edge of the box with Lloris well positioned to save. 

Neymar scores hat trick, Messi a double as Barcelona runs riot over Granada 6-0

Barcelona 6-0 Granada: Neymar hat-trick and Lionel Messi's 400th career goal complete rout to go clear at the top

Lionel Messi went through the 400 goal barrier and Neymar scored his first ever league hat-trick for Barcelona as Luis Enrique's team beat Granada 6-0 to stay top of La Liga.

The Argentine is now on 401 career goals for club and country in 524 matches, aged only 27.

Aside from Neymar's treble and Messi's magic there was plenty more to please coach Luis Enrique ahead of Barcelona's trip to Paris to play PSG on Tuesday

The old guard Dani Alves and Xavi Hernandez looked in fine fettle setting up two of the goals and new man Ivan Rakitic scored and was outstanding.

'This was a great way to come back from the midweek draw,' said the Croatina midfielder.

With Rakitic, Sergi Busquets and Xavi in midfield Barcelona didn't really need any help with playing the killer pass but Hector Yuste stepped in all the same to roll the ball straight to Neymar early in the first half and when his shot hit Babin it bobbled past Roberto in the Granada goal to open the scoring. 

Three minutes before half time it was 2-0 when Messi, Alves and Munir combined down the right hand side with Messi tricking his way to the byline before pulling the cross back to Rakitic whose unstoppable header doubled the advantage.

Granada had been desperate to get to half time just 1-0 down but there was little time for them to regret conceding the second before Neymar made it three.

Munir’s run was blocked by the advancing Roberto and the Brazilian, in front of a watching Luis Suarez, showed some more clinical finishing to put the result beyond doubt. 

It had been a far more effective performance from Barca after their midweek failure to muster a single shot against Malaga. Munir could have got on the scoresheet himself but somehow missed an open goal after Mathieu pulled the ball from the byline.

Granada had posed Barcelona’s defence problems. Front pairing of Isaac Success and Youssef El Arabi were both displaying the pace and power to test Barca’s high line and El Arabi hit the bar early on but the miss proved costly as the home side took control.

That control continued in the second half with Munir trickling one effort just wide of Roberto’s far post after another brilliant assist form Messi and following good work form Rakitic.  

The Croatian had been outstanding and was taken off on the hour with Luis Enrique clearly with one eye on the midweek match with PSG.

It was the old master Xavi who inspired the third. Given a rare start he had forced two saves from Roberto but turned supplier with a perfect pass to Alves whose first time cross was headed home by Messi.

Granada had thrown caution to the wind by replacing two holding midfielders with more attacking players and they were leaving more space than ever in and around their penalty area.

It wasn’t long before Neymar scored the fifth after Xavi again played in Messi who crossed for the Brazilian to finish.

And Messi added goal number 401 of his career robbing the ball from Murillo and shooting past Roberto.

Jagielka goal stunned Liverpool as Everton avoid defeat in Merseyside derby 1-1

Liverpool 1-1 Everton: Phil Jagielka stunner in injury time cancels out Steven Gerrard free-kick to clinch Merseyside derby draw
For two proud captains, this was the Redemption Derby. Steven Gerrard and Phil Jagielka have each been on the receiving end of unaccustomed criticism this season but neither Brendan Rodgers nor Roberto Martinez could have done without them yesterday.

Gerrard went first in a pulsating derby, pulling rank on Mario Balotelli to take a 65th-minute free-kick and curl it exquisitely past Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Overtaken by the emotion of it all, the 34-year-old midfielder let out a joyous screech of pure adrenalin and cupped his hand to his ear — a response to the abuse Evertonians had given him all afternoon.

It looked as if it would be the latest Gerrard classic winner until Jagielka improbably stepped forward in the second minute of injury time and hit a 25-yard screamer that would still be travelling if the net had not stopped it. 

‘I have never seen a better strike live,’ said Everton boss Martinez. ‘It was incredible, though it probably it helps it was in the last minute, at Anfield and for my team.’

There was something poignant about both players hauling their team-mates up by their bootstraps for the biggest game of the season for supporters.  Gerrard has suffered a slow start to the season and found it difficult to recover from the twin blows of making a mistake that cost Liverpool the Premier League title last season and then captaining England to their World Cup failure in Brazil.

No wonder he enjoyed his brilliant set-piece goal.

‘I’ll agree with the constructive criticism and I’ve been stifled in a couple of games when people have followed me around and I haven’t been able to shake them off,’ he said.

‘But then people take it too far and say that “He’s 34 and he can’t run and he’s finished”. I can still compete with the best players around.’

After seeing Balotelli miss with a series of free-kicks in the first half, he had no hesitation in grabbing the ball when the Italian had been fouled by Leighton Baines. ‘You get a feeling for free-kicks in certain areas of the pitch and I fancied it,’ he said.  Rodgers was a bit more forthright. ‘I was screaming for Steven to take it because I know his quality in those situations. But he is so selfless he sometimes wants others to have an opportunity.’

The Liverpool boss was adamant that Gerrard’s goal should have been the winner and in terms of possession and chances he was unquestionably right. Everton could have seen Gareth Barry sent off early for a series of indiscretions, starting with a first-minute foul on Adam Lallana and were relieved when Balotelli hit the crossbar from four yards out following Raheem Sterling’s cross.

But the visitors showed tremendous character to pour bodies forward in the closing stages. Just after the stadium announcer told 45,000 fans there would be three minutes of added time, Aiden McGeady whipped a cross into a crowded penalty area.  Dejan Lovren got good distance with his clearing header but Jagielka returned it with interest with a strike that hit Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet’s top-left hand corner like a bullet. 

It was the 32-year-old defender’s seventh Premier League goal in seven years at Everton and, like Gerrard’s, followed plenty of recent criticism for his displays at the World Cup and his club shipping goals.  Martinez said: ‘There has been talk of a World Cup hangover and I think that has been really unfair. He has set high standards and cares like nobody else.

‘It would have been easy for him as a centre-half to stay in his position while we’re chasing the game. But he came forward because of his belief and sense of responsibility he has. He showed the way to face adversity. Nobody deserved to score more than him.’

Given the form of both teams going into the 223rd Merseyside derby, a goal glut was widely predicted.

Everton had conceded 17 goals in seven games and Liverpool had been beaten in three of their five Premier League outings.

The opening was as ferocious as in any previous derby.

Barry was booked for his early go at Lallana and could have been sent off either for handling Sterling’s shot inside the area or clipping Balotelli, both inside the first 11 minutes.

Neither was given by referee Martin Atkinson, who also waved away Everton appeals for a penalty when Alberto Moreno shoved Romelu Lukaku.

Everton were lucky to reach half-time on terms, with Howard making excellent stops to deny Balotelli and Lallana. 

Espanyol scores first win in Liga, beats Getafe 2-0

Espanyol claim Getafe victory

Goals from Sergio Garcia and Christian Stuani handed Espanyol their first win of the season as they leapfrogged fellow strugglers Getafe at the foot of the Primera Division.

The home side had taken just two points from four matches heading into the match, with the visitors just one better off, but los Periquitos built on an improved showing against Malaga last time out to run out 2-0 winners on the night.

It took 65 minutes to part the sides, Garcia netting with a crisp volley, and the result was sealed when Stuani stepped off the bench to finish from 12 yards.

Defeat leaves Getafe ahead of only Cordoba, who are the last team in the division to remain winless.

In a thinly populated Power8 Stadium the contest got off to a scrappy start before Garcia tested Vicente Guaita with a 15th-minute header.

The hosts had started to enjoy the majority of possession but Guaita was not called on to make another save before the half-time break.

Instead it was Getafe who almost stole the lead with their first real chance just moments before the whistle, Pablo Sarabia striking from 30 yards and Francisco Casilla diving to palm the ball round the post.

Casilla was in action again soon after the restart, Michel denied with another long-range attempt.

But it was Espanyol who made the decisive move, Salva Sevilla feigning to shoot from the edge of the area only to dink a lovely pass over the top for Garcia.

The number timed his run and finished first time to grab the lead.

Stuani missed a decent chance to make it safe when heading over from a corner but buried a low right-footed effort in the 82nd minute to ease any lingering nerves.

Udinese wins over Lazio, climbs to 3rd spot in Serie A

Thereau scores lone goal to lead Udinese over Lazio; move into third in Serie A

ROME - Udinese moved into third place in the Serie A with a 1-0 win at Lazio on Thursday.

Forward Cyril Thereau scored in the 26th minute for the visitors, slotting in from the centre of the area between two defenders at the Stadio Olimpico.

The victory placed Udinese within three points of Italian leaders Juventus and Roma, who won their fourth consecutive matches on Wednesday.

Lazio is 15th.

Still seeking his first goal of the season, veteran Miroslav Klose was a constant threat for Lazio but couldn't find the target.

Also, a free kick from Lazio midfielder Antonio Candreva went wide in the 73rd.

Udinese began with its top scorer Antonio Di Natale on the bench although he went on in the 65th when Thereau exited with a muscle problem.

Former Inter Milan manager Andrea Stramaccioni is in his first season with Udinese and has so far guided the club to three wins and one loss.

Udinese is owned by the Pozzo family, which also controls Watford in England and Granada in Spain. The club's best finishes in the Serie A were second in 1955 and third in 1998 and 2012.

Hannover 96 back to winning ways after nipping FC Koln 1-0

Hannover up to third as Hertha get off the mark

Hannover 96 moved up to third in the Bundesliga thanks to a 1-0 win over the hitherto unbeaten 1. FC Köln at the HDI-Arena.

Horn finally beaten

The Reds went in front after only five minutes' play with Joselu turning and shooting past Timo Horn after Jimmy Briand's effort was blocked. Not only was it the first time Horn had been beaten in the Bundesliga, but it was also the earliest goal Köln have conceded since Peter Stöger took charge. The goal gave Tayfun Korkut's men confidence and Marcelo perhaps should have doubled their lead with a volley which he sent over after good work from Leonardo Bittencourt and Leon Andreasen.

Köln responded in kind, pitching their tent in and around the Hannover box for much of the second half, but the hosts had drawn a line that they were not going to let the Billy Goats cross. Ron Robert Zieler was the furthest man behind that line and his authority ensured Hannover's defence was not going to be breached

Malaga deny Barcelona another victory

Barca held to goalless draw by Malaga

Madrid (AFP) - Barcelona dropped their first points of the La Liga season as they were held to an uneventful 0-0 draw away to Malaga on Wednesday.

Sevilla moved level with the Catalans on 13 points at the top of the table with a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad thanks to on-loan Barca winger Gerard Deulofeu's winner, whilst Atletico Madrid are now just two points behind the leaders as they too won 1-0 away at Almeria.

Barca stretched their run without conceding a goal to six games, but lacked the spark they have shown so far this season as Lionel Messi was kept in check by the Malaga defence.

Indeed it was the hosts who came closest to scoring as Luis Alberto's fine free-kick was turned onto the post by Claudio Bravo.

"We weren't precise in the last few metres of the pitch, but at no point did we suffer," said Barca boss Luis Enrique.

"It was the most difficult game for us so far, but that was down to what our opponents did right.

"We didn't play as well as we can and we just have to continue improving and correcting things."

In a first-half of few chances Nordin Amrabat had the only shot on target as his low effort was easily held by Bravo.

Barca were struggling to create clear-cut openings but twice Messi came close from Jordi Alba crosses as he chested the ball inches wide before just failing to stretch for a tap in a minute before the break.

The visitors were similarly short of ideas in the second period provoking coach Luis Enrique to replace Pedro and Neymar with youngsters Sandro and Munir El Haddadi in search of a breakthrough.

However, it was Malaga who enjoyed their best spell shortly after those changes as Roberto Rosales fired wide when well-placed at the edge of the box before Bravo produced a stunning save to turn Liverpool loanee Alberto's free-kick onto the post.

Malaga 'keeper Carlos Kameni the nearly gifted Barca the opener moments later as he spilled Gerard Pique's header towards goal, but the Cameroonian smothered the ball before it crossed the line.

The hosts got a lucky break seven minutes from time when captain Weligton somehow escaped a red card for pushing Messi in the face, but they held on to claim a well-earned point.

Sevilla picked up their fourth consecutive win as Deulofeu volleyed home at the back post after just 18 minutes at the Sanchez Pizjuan.

And Unai Emery's men were only denied a more convincing victory by a series of fine saves by Enaut Zubikarai in the second-half.

Atletico will host Sevilla on Saturday in a top of the table clash as they moved up to third thanks to a hard-fought 1-0 win away to Almeria.

The champions had to rely on their threat from set-pieces once more as Miranda rose highest to thump home Koke's corner.

Miranda's goal was the sixth out of seven Atletico have scored in the league so far that came from a set-piece, but boss Diego Simeone insisted he isn't worried at his side's inability to score from open play.

"To get a corner you have to attack. The team is working well to generate this possibility," said the Argentine, who will return to the touchline on Saturday after completing a five-match ban.

"It doesn't worry me to win by scoring from set-pieces because it is part of the game."

Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao's disastrous start to the campaign on the domestic front continued as they lost 2-1 at struggling Rayo Vallecano, thanks to two goals from on-loan Atletico striker Leo Baptistao.

Germain scores as Monaco overcome Montpellier 1-0

Germain fires Monaco to victory

Valere Germain's last minute goal gave Monaco a 1-0 victory at Montpellier in Ligue 1.

Just when it seemed the game was destined to end goalless, substitute Germain received the ball from Layvin Kurzawa and netted to give Monaco a second away win of the season, which moves them into mid-table.

Montpellier were the first side to threaten in the fifth minute - but Kevin Berigaud, under pressure from Ricardo Carvalho, shot over from 12 yards.

The visitors, unbeaten in league play in Montpellier since 1990, hit back four minutes later when Geoffrey Kongdobia shot over - and in the 15th minute Kurzawa picked out Joao Moutinho but the unmarked Portugal international headed straight at Montpellier goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren from eight yards.

Berigaud had a goal for Montpellier ruled out for offside in the 20th minute, before play swung to the other end where Jourden smothered an effort from Fabinho.

The home side's best first-half chance came six minutes before the interval when Anthony Mounier shot wide, after the ball broke for him when goalkeeper Daniel Subasic came off his line to deny Lucas Barrios.

Monaco's Geoffrey Kondogbia tried his luck from 25 yards out but the impeccable Jourdren collected in the 58th minute.

Mounier found space on the left in the 64th minute and crossed for Souleymane Camara, who headed over, then the same player fired a half-volley straight at Subasic.

Camara went close again with a header but his glancing effort from Mounier's delivery ended up going just wide.

However, the visitors finished strongest and after Jeremy Toulalan had seen a superb 20-yard volley from a corner hacked off the line by Morgan Sanson, they won it when Kurzawa set up Germain, who finished emphatically from 10 yards.

Bastia, Nantes share a point in a scoreless draw

Nantes held at Bastia

Nantes continued their topsy-turvy start to the season as they were held to a goalless draw by Ligue 1 strugglers Bastia at the Stade Armand Cesari on Wednesday night.

The hosts, who have won just one match so far this term - a 1-0 win over Toulouse in Corsica last month - at least managed to keep their second clean sheet as they fended off a penalty and fought on with 10 men for the majority of the match after Yannick Cahuzac saw red five minutes before the break.

The point moved Nantes level on points with fifth-placed Metz, while it meant a leap out of the relegation zone for Bastia, who are now 16th.

Chaker Alhadhur had a good chance to hand the visitors the lead after 12 minutes but his 25-yard effort flew harmlessly over the bar in the only action of note in a quiet opening quarter of an hour.

Just after the half-hour mark, the Canaries pressed forward for the second time as Issa Cissokho burst into the 18-yard box after being released by Lucas Deaux but - from a tight angle - the full-back saw his effort kept out by on-loan Paris St Germain goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

After 39 minutes Nantes were awarded a penalty after N'Koudou was hauled down in the box by Mathieu Peybernes. In the melee Cahuzac was shown a straight red card for being too aggressive towards the referee.

Chaker Alhadhur stepped up to take the spot-kick but Areola stood strong and chose right as he saved the 22-year-old's effort to keep the scores level at the break.

Areola was called upon again midway through the second half as Serge Gakpe found Cissokho on the right side of the penalty box and his pull back found Alejandro Bedoya, but the American international's effort was held out by.

Deep into the second period Bastia midfielder Romaric made a mistake and gifted Yacine Bammou with a shooting opportunity but, not for the first time in the match, the impressive Areola was on hand to keep the away side at bay.

The Blues almost had the chance to steal a win in the dying minutes as Juan Pino got free on the wing and his powerful delivery towards Hervin Ongenda almost caught out visiting keeper Remy Riou - but he made a great reflex save to prevent the 10 men taking the lead as the points were shared.

Pjanic late free kick lifts Roma over Parma 2-1

Parma 1-2 Roma: Pjanic Late Show Wins It For Giallorossi

Roma beat Parma 2-1 on Wedenesday evening at the Stadio Ennio Tardini in Serie A.

Adem Ljajic’s first half strike for the Lupi was cancelled out by Paolo De Ceglie’s header before Miralem Pjanicscored a late free-kick to seal three points for Rudi Garcia’s men.

The Giallorossi started the more positive and Antonio Mirante in the Parma goal had to be alert to field a couple of early deliveries from Greek left-back Jose Holebas.

Garcia’s side controlled the majority of possession in the opening twenty minutes but the Crociati made life difficult for their opponents by getting numbers behind the ball and as a result neither goalkeeper was tested during this period.

After threatening on a couple of occasions with swift counter attacks, Roma eventually opened the scoring on 27 minutes when Felipe and Cristiano Lucarelli switched off defensively allowing Ljajic enough space to latch onto a Francesco Totti through ball and finish past Mirante.

The first half continued in the same vein with Roberto Donadoni’s men camped in their own half and Roma attempting to pick their way through the numbers to force a second goal.

As it turned out, they were unable to do so and with Parma offering little attacking threat the scoreline remained 1-0 until half time.

Donadoni’s half time instructions appeared to be to press Roma further up the pitch and this allowed his side to be more ambitious going forward in the early stages of the second half.

Ten minutes into the half a long range effort from Antonio Cassano was pushed wide by Morgan De Sanctis and from the resulting corner De Ceglie capitalised on some slack marking to head home an equaliser.

The Ducali persisted with a slightly more open style of play and were almost caught out on 63 minutes when Gervinho broke forward at pace and played a square ball to an on-rushing Totti who fired a left-footed shot narrowly over the bar.

Parma reverted to a more cautious approach as the half wore on and the visitors were finding it difficult against their defensive organisation.

Alessandro Florenzi was introduced as a substitute and almost broke through on goal in the 80th minute but for an excellent last-ditch tackle by Felipe.

A short time later Felipe gave away a free-kick just outside his own penalty area for a foul on substitute Destro and with 88 minutes gone Pjanic stepped up to curl the ball beautifully into the top corner of Mirante’s goal and give his side the lead.

The final minutes of the game were played out and Roma held on for a 2-1 victory which, on the balance of play, was just about deserved.

Toulouse dealt Rennes its second straight loss 3-0

Stade Rennes 0-3 Toulouse: On Target Visitors Brush Aside Rennes

It was the away side Toulouse that ran away with all three points as they looked good their 3-0 win over struggling Stade Rennes.

The hosts started the game as the better of the two as Paul-Georges Ntep had his shot well saved down low by the keeper. The visitors started to find their feet in the match when Dragos Grigore helped the ball on with his head into the path of Adrien Regattin, who had a go, but the keeper managed to keep the game level with a good stop.

Despite this, the home side continued to look bright in the early stages as Paul-Georges Ntep produced a fine cross towards Fallou Diagne, who thrush his head and it and forced a goo save from the man in between the sticks.

After a good spell of play from Rennes, the visitors found their breakthrough three minutes before the break. The ball was cut back to Aleksandar Pesic, and his finish was clinical as he found the bottom left corner of the goal to ensure that Toulouse entered the halfway stage with the advantage.

Toulouse came close to their second twelve minutes into the second half when Tongo Doumbia saw his header hit the upright. Their lead was two though as the ball took a defletion on its’ way to goal off Fallou Diagneto gift the visitors a healthy two goal advantage. It could have been three moments later when Paul-Georges Ntep watched his header just evade the post.

The away side did make it three just a minute later when Wissam Ben Yedder showed composure to finish off a good Toulouse move, and in the process wrapped up the game, making sure that Rennes would not take anything from the game.

The hosts tried to force their way back into the game, but had no luck in the closing stages as Toulouse kept hold of their three goal advantage to emerge as deserved 3-0 winners.

Real Madrid asserts superiority over Elche 5-1

La Liga Wrap: Ronaldo runs rampant for Real

Cristiano Ronaldo produced yet another masterclass to steer Real Madrid to a come-from-behind win, while Celta Vigo survived late drama.

Ronaldo scored four goals as Real routed Elche 5-1 at The Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, with Gareth Bale also on target for the hosts.

Having scored a hat-trick in the 8-2 mauling of Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday, the Portuguese was again in imperious form, though Ronaldo's night had hardly begun as he would have wished - he was at fault for the 15th-minute penalty that gave Elche a shock lead through Edu Albacar.

The Portugal international was punished for making contact with Pedro Mosquera when clearing a corner and Albacar lashed the spot-kick into the top corner, giving Keylor Navas no chance despite the goalkeeper diving the right way.

But a wounded Madrid - and Ronaldo in particular - rallied, with three quick goals of their own through Bale and a double from the FIFA Ballon d'Or winner to lead at the break.

James Rodriguez created the first after 20 minutes with a pin-point cross from the left that Bale met with a glancing header, although Manu Herrera should have done better in the Elche goal as the ball slipped under his grasp.

Real went ahead for the first time eight minutes later when they were awarded a penalty of their own - Mosquera adjudged to have brought down Marcelo.

Ronaldo's emphatic spot-kick gave Herrera no chance and four minutes later the forward scored again with a perfectly placed header.

His third came with 10 minutes remaining before the fourth - a typically cool finish from Bale's pass - arrived in injury time, as Elche simply had no response.

Meanwhile, Sergio Alvarez was the hero as Celta Vigo prevailed 2-1 at home to Deportivo.

Alvarez denied Haris Medunjanin from the spot, saving an 88th-minute penalty after Gustavo Cabral was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area.

The win preserved Celta's unbeaten start to the season, with the club level on nine points alongside Real.

Earlier, Nolito had given Celta a third-minute lead with a low strike into the bottom corner - his second goal in as many games.

Cuenca levelled proceedings for Deportivo 10 minutes into the second half, only for Joaquin Larrivey to restore Celta's lead 18 minutes from time.

Bayern Munich stamp its class on early leader Paderborn 4-0

Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring the second goal for Bayern 

Bayern Munich 4 Paderborn 0: Newcomers given reality check by the Champion.

A Mario Gotze brace helped Bayern Munich secure a comfortable 4-0 win to give high-flying newcomers Paderborn a Bundesliga reality check.

Pep Guardiola's side may have been unspectacular in the opening four games of their title defence, yet Bayern never looked like losing at the Allianz Arena against Paderborn, as Gotze's double, Robert Lewandowski's half-volley and Thomas Muller's close-range finish late on secured victory. 

Paderborn, competing in the Bundesliga for the first time, sat top of the table on goal difference ahead of Bayern prior to Tuesday's game after an encouraging start to the campaign, but they were well beaten by the champions. 

Gotze gave Bayern the lead after just eight minutes, steering home following a fine flick from Muller.  

Lewandowski hit back at his critics with a 25-yard effort in the 14th minute and Gotze netted his second 12 minutes from time before Muller applied a neat finish to Arjen Robben's 85th-minute cross to end Paderborn's unbeaten start to Bundesliga life. 

Guardiola threatened to ban his players from celebrating Oktoberfest if they failed to beat Paderborn, but Bayern never looked like slipping up as Gotze broke the deadlock after just eight minutes. 

Robben, back after missing Saturday's goalless draw with Hamburg, played Muller into the area and the German forward produced a delightful backheel for Gotze, who stroked a first-time effort into the net. 

Gotze fired a tame effort at Lukas Kruse as he went in search of a second, but Bayern did make it 2-0 after 14 minutes. 

Lewandowski produced a fine first touch 25 yards out, teeing the ball up perfectly for a half-volley that Kruse failed to keep it out.

The hosts continued to attack, as Lewandowski, Gotze and David Alaba all saw chances go begging, while Idir Ouali prodded straight at Manuel Neuer on the counterattack for Paderborn's best chance 24 minutes in. 

Gotze nearly added a third just before the break, as his low drive from the edge of the area deflected agonisingly wide. 

Bayern started the second half in a far more relaxed fashion and that seemingly presented Paderborn with the opportunity to fight their way back into the contest. 

The visitors crafted a good opening in the 58th minute as Rafinha cheaply surrendered possession and allowed Ouali to deliver a teasing cross from the left, but Xabi Alonso crucially poked it behind for a corner. 

Bayern needed Neuer at his best in the 70th minute as Suleyman Koc ran at Alaba and sent a stinging effort towards the bottom-right corner. 

Any hope of a late comeback was ended 11 minutes from time, though, as Gotze smashed in from close range following a clever Robben run down the right. 

And the Dutch winger then played a decisive role again in Bayern's fourth. 

The former Chelsea man darted past his man and fired a low ball in towards the front post to allow Muller to nip in to divert past the helpless Kruse. 

Lille lost top spot after Montpellier draw 0-0

 

Lille concede top spot with Montpellier draw

Unable to find a way past a solid Montpellier outfit at the Stade Pierre Mauroy on Sunday, Lille drew 0-0 and slipped to third place. Still, René Girard's men remain unbeaten in Ligue 1 this season with just a single goal conceded.

Lille topped the Ligue 1 table after last weekend's 2-o win over Nantes, but after Marseille's win over Rennes on Saturday, René Girard's men needed to do better than the 0-0 draw with Montpellier - where the league's top two defences reigned - to hang onto top spot.

Perhaps paying the costs of their mid-week Europa League exertions in the 1-1 with FK Krasnodar, Lille - without injured striker Nolan Roux - struggled to make the most of their chances in the first half despite dominating proceedings and constructing their play well.

Lille menace up front

Switzerland U-21 international Michael Frey, signed from Young Boys Bern in the summer, made his first start for Les Dogues in place of Roux and linked up well with strike partner Ryan Mendes and Portuguese playmaker Marcos 'Rony' Lopes but failed to make the break on several occasions (6', 10', 18').

Belgian Jonathan Delaplace had Lille's best chance but shot across the face of goal after some neat one-touch play with Frey and Lopes (24') and although Lille's forward line seemed to be wearing Montpellier's five-man defence down, raining shots on goal, the sides went into the break with the corers still untroubled.

Sanson impact

Looking for more cutting edge up front, and perhaps sensing that Lille's relentless forward movement could leave them open at the back, Montpellier boss Rolland Courbis switched his 5-4-1 formation to a 4-4-2 with 20-year-old midfield sensation Morgan Sanson coming on for Paul Lasne and Kévin Bérigaud and Victor-Hugo Montaño playing alongside each other up front.

The visitors looked a different side after Sanson's entry into play, and as they began to move forward, left-back Siaka Tiéné carved out his side's best chance of the match as he raced onto Bérigaud's lay-off and launch a curler that had Vincent Enyeama beaten but which flew narrowly wide of the target (60').

Lille's chance to reclaim top spot comes with Wednesday's trip to Nice, while Montpellier, who climbed from 6^th to provisional fourth place with the draw, will play host to Monaco, also on Wednesday.