European soccer league round-up (Reuters) Updated: 2005-12-12 09:11
LONDON, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Following is a round-up of weekend action in the
main European leagues:
SPAIN
Barcelona's
Brazlian soccer player Ronaldinho shows his Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball)
award, as European Footballer of the Year, before their Spanish First
Division soccer match against Sevilla at Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelona,
Spain December 11, 2005. [Reuters] | Brazilian
Ronaldinho was again the inspiration for Barcelona, who equalled a club record
after collecting their 11th successive win in all competitions with a 2-1
comeback victory at home to Sevilla.
Ronaldinho, presented with the European Footballer of the Year trophy by his
mother before the match, sped past three defenders to fire the winner after 78
minutes and put the champions level on points with Osasuna at the top.
Samuel Eto's was also on target for Barca after Freddie Kanoute had tapped
Sevilla into a 63rd-minute lead.
Osasuna, second on goal difference, extended their perfect home record to
eight wins by beating struggling Mallorca 1-0 with an early goal from Pierre
Webo.
Real Madrid moved up to third, six points off the pace, after a 2-0 victory
at Malaga gave caretaker coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro a winning start in the
Primera Liga.
Sergio Ramos and Brazilian Robinho scored for Real.
Fourth-placed Villarreal, who have 26 points from 15 games, won 3-1 at Real
Sociedad on Saturday after two goals from Guayre and one by Juan Roman Riquelme.
ENGLAND
Captain John Terry was Chelsea's match-winner for the second time in eight
days as the champions powered 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Central defender Terry, who grabbed the only goal in last week's 1-0 home win
over Middlesbrough, was again on target as Chelsea beat Wigan Athletic by the
same score at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Manchester United's bad week became worse when they were held to a 1-1 home
draw by Everton.
Alex Ferguson's men were unable to bounce back from their midweek Champions
League exit as they slipped from second to third in the Premier League.
James McFadden put Everton in front before Ryan Giggs levelled for United
after 15 minutes.
Liverpool are now Chelsea's closest challengers after two goals from Spain
striker Fernando Morientes earned the European champions a 2-0 victory over
Middlesbrough, their seventh win in a row in the league.
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