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Real, Roma and Monaco lead tables
Mitch Phillips |
December 22, 2003 10:13 IST
Most of Europe's major leagues completed their 2003 action at the weekend with winter breaks to look forward to -- except England, where the Christmas and New Year period is a traditionally busy and important part of the season.Manchester United go into the festive season top of the table, while in Italy AS Roma can put their feet up with a healthy lead after AC Milan suffered their first defeat of the season.
French leaders Monaco also slipped up but are still seven points clear going into their three-week rest, while in Spain Real Madrid remain two clear of Valencia after both teams won at the weekend.
Two first-half goals by captain Francesco Totti -- the first a penalty -- gave unbeaten Roma a 2-0 win at Empoli and a six point lead.
Roma have 36 points with Juventus and AC Milan on 30 with Inter Milan and Lazio both on 28.
Milan's unbeaten record went when seventh-placed Udinese beat them 2-1 at the San Siro. Dino Fava put the visitors ahead and Nestor Sensini headed to make it two in the second half.
Andrea Pirlo had missed a penalty for Milan at 1-0 and Cafu's goal 20 minutes from time was not enough.
Lecce, 16th in the standings, took the lead against Juventus through Cedric Konan but David Trezeguet scored a late equaliser for the champions, who had defender Mark Iuliano sent off.
Christian Vieri put Inter ahead in Rome but Bernardo Corradi levelled for Lazio and, after Inter's Matias Almeyda was sent off in the 68th minute, Luciano Zauri won it for the Romans.
Manchester United ensured they would go into the busy Christmas programme on top of the league with a 2-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Rio Ferdinand played in the match two days after hearing he was to be banned for eight months for missing a drugs test but he had little to do as first half goals for John O'Shea and Ruud van Nistelrooy secured the win, despite Gus Poyet's reply.
United's win took them to 40 points and broke the deadlock at the top that on Saturday had seen Chelsea and Arsenal level on 39 points with identical goal differences and number of goals scored.
Chelsea beat Fulham 1-0 with a Hernan Crespo header while Arsenal were made to work hard for a point in a 1-1 draw at Bolton Wanderers.
Real Madrid came from behind to win 3-1 at Real Mallorca and maintain their two point lead over Valencia, who beat Sevilla 1-0.
Fernando Correa put Mallorca ahead early on but Raul headed an equaliser at the end of the first half. An excellent individual goal by Ronaldo and a Luis Figo penalty then completed the comeback.
Real are on 39 points, two ahead of Valencia, who had to scrap for their win which eventually came via a Mista header after 62 minutes.
Deportivo Coruna are third on 33 after a 2-1 home win over Espanyol with three teams -- Osasuna, Villarreal and Atletico Madrid -- on 27.
Monaco suffered their second defeat of the season, losing 1-0 at Stade Rennes, but still go into the break seven points clear of Olympique Lyon and Paris St Germain, who drew 1-1.
Monaco's surprise defeat was their first since August 9 and came thanks to striker Cedric Barbosa's powerful shot from outside the box two minutes after the break.
An 84th minute goal by Eric Carriere salvaged a point for champions Lyon after Pauleta had put visiting PSG ahead late in the first half.
It was a notable point for PSG, who had lost their last 10 games at Lyon's Gerland Stadium, and took both teams to 35.
Sochaux remain fourth, on 24 points, after twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 at Le Mans.
Ajax stay top by virtue of having a game in hand in the Dutch league as they lost 2-0 at Twente Enschede, their third defeat in 13 days.
Blaise N'Kufo got both goals for Twente, to leave Ajax on 37 points, while PSV missed their chance to go above them when they were held to a goalless draw at Vitesse Arnhem.