European Football

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FT: Fiorentina 3-0 Roma

Fiorentina cruised to a comfortable win over a Roma side reduced to 8 men at the Artemio Franchi. Juan brought Stevan Jovetic down in the penalty area 15 minutes in being sent off in the process. Jovetic stepped up to convert the penalty. Alessandro Gamberini nodded home the 2nd goal on the stroke of half time. With 15 to go, Roma were reduced to 10 after a second yellow for Fernando Gago. It was soon to be 8 men with 5 to go with Bojan handling in the box. Santiago Silva stepped up to convert the 2nd penalty of the game.

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FT: Hamburg 2-0 Nuremberg

Thorsten Fink continued his unbeaten run at the helm of Hamburg as they beat Nuremberg. The win moves Hamburg upto 11th. Daniel Didavi dragged a shot wide 20 minutes in for Nuremberg. Minutes later, Jaroslav Drobny played the ball upfield to Jose Paolo Guerrero to cut past Timmy Simons and slot the ball in at near post. 5 minutes before the break and on ther hour mark, Tomas Pekhart struck the bar twice for Nuremberg before Marcell Jansen broke free to slot the ball past Raphael Schafer for 2-0.

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FT: Heerenveen 5-1 AZ Alkmaar

AZ's 11 match unbeaten run came to a halt with a heavy defeat at Heerenveen. Despite the defeat, AZ Alkmaar remain 3 points ahead of PSV. 15 minutes in, Jeffrey Gouweleeuw picked out Ramon Zomer to head the ball on for Bas Dost to put the home side ahead. Jozy Altidore equalised 5 minutes later when sweeped the ball past Brian Vandenbussche. On the half hour, Luciano Narsingh got ahead of the AZ backline and played the ball for Rajiv Van La Parra to restore the lead. Filip Djuricic converted a Gouweleeuw cross a minute into the 2nd half to make it 3-1. Minutes later, GOuweleeuw picked out Zomer to turn the ball home from six yards. With 15 to go, Viktor Elm played Narsingh throuugh to lob Esteban Alvarado for 5-1.

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FT: Schalke 3-1 Augsburg

Schalke moved upto 4th with victory over Augsburg which leaves them bottom of the table. Klaas Jan Huntelaar opened the scoring 16 minutes in after a Teemu Pukki shot was diverted into his path. On 25, Huntelaar could only hit the side netting from a Christian Fuchs cross. 3 minutes into the 2nd half, Sascha Molders equalised after he poked home a Daniel Brinkmann shot. Schalke were 2-1 up with 25 to go when a Christian Fuchs shot squirmed under Mohamed Amsif. Raul nodded home a corner 5 minutes from time to seal the points.

Matchday 15 of 34

Friday 2 December

Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Hoffenheim

Saturday 3 December

Bayern Munich 4-1 Werder Bremen
Freiburg 1-1 Hannover
Kaiserslautern 1-1 Hertha Berlin
Wolfsburg 2-2 Mainz
Borussia Monchengladbach 1-1 Borussia Dortmund
Stuttgart 2-2 Cologne

Sunday 4 December

Hamburg 2-0 Nuremberg
Schalke 3-1 Augsburg

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FT: Mallorca 1-1 Athletic Bilbao

Mallorca and Athletic Bilbao shared the points at San Moix. The draw moves Mallorca upto 14th while Athletic remain 9th. Alvaro Gimenez opened the scoring 2 minutes in when he stroked the ball home from 12 yards. Fernando Amorebieta headed home a Ander Herrera corner on the stroke of half time to equalise. The 2nd half produced less chances with Fernando Tissone having a shot blocked by Gorka Iraizoz.

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FT: Parma 0-0 Palermo

Parma dominated the game tonight for large spells but were unable to claim the three points at home to Palermo. 20 minutes in, Federico Balzaretti had a close range attempt blocked by ANtonio Mirante. The best chance of the game came 5 minutes later when a Sebastian Giovinco strike hit the post. Balzaretti then set up Ignacio Lores minutes into the 2nd half but he dragged his shot wide. Francesco Benussi had to be alert just past the hour mark to deny a Jonathan Biabiany shot.

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FT: Lyon 3-2 Toulouse

Lyon managed to hold off Toulouse at the Stade Gerland to claim 3 points. Bakari Kone opened the scoring 5 minutes before the break when he headed home a Kim Kallstrom freekick. Ederson made it 2-0 5 minutes into the 2nd half with a neat finish from just inside the box. With 25 to go, Ali Ahamada brought down Lisandro Lopez for a penalty which Lisandro stepped up to convert past Ahamada. Minutes later, Umut Bulut hit back for Toulouse with a long range looping effort catching out Hugo Lloris. With 15 to go, Cris brought down Moussa Sissoko which Sissoko stepped up to convert the penalty but Lyon held on.

Matchday 16 of 38

Friday 2 December

Caen 1-2 Marseille

Saturday 3 December

Ajaccio 2-3 Lille
Brest 2-2 St Etienne
Dijon 0-0 Sochaux
Evian 2-1 Valenciennes
Montpellier 4-0 Lorient
Nice 2-0 Rennes

Sunday 4 December

Bordeaux 2-0 Nancy
Paris St Germain 3-2 Auxerre
Lyon 3-2 Toulouse

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FT: Granada 1-0 Real Zaragoza

Granada have moved upto 12th after victory over bottom team Real Zaragoza. Granada scored the winning goal on the stroke of half time after Fran Rico advanced down the right, his cross hit Odion Ighalo rebounded off Lafita back into Ighalo's path to finish.

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FT: Lazio 3-0 Novara

Lazio scored a convincing victory over Novara to remain 4th. Novara meanwhile remain the drop zone. Giuseppe Biava headed a Hernanes corner past Samir Ujkani 15 minutes in to open the scoring. On 25 minutes, Tommaso Rocchi headed home a Cristian Ledesma freekick to make it 2-0. Novara's best chance came on the half hour when Filippo Porcari was picked out but his shot was blocked by Federico Marchetti. With 20 to go, a Senad Lulic volley went narrowly over the bar. Minutes later, an Alvaro Gonzalez cross was volleyed home by Rocchi for 3-0. With 7 to go, Luigi Giorgi played a sublime cross for Jeda to get a goal for Novara but he headed wide.

Matchday 14 of 38

Friday 2 December

Genoa 0-2 Milan

Saturday 3 December

Inter 0-1 Udinese
Napoli 4-2 Lecce

Sunday 4 December

Catania 0-1 Cagliari
Bologna 1-0 Siena
Chievo 0-0 Atalanta
Fiorentina 3-0 Roma
Juventus 2-0 Cesena
Parma 0-0 Palermo

Monday 5 December

Lazio 3-0 Novara

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Spanish Primera Division

Matchday 15 of 38

Saturday 3 December

Sporting Gijon 0-3 Real Madrid
Racing Santander 1-0 Villarreal
Barcelona 5-0 Levante
Valencia 2-1 Espanyol

Sunday 4 December

Atletico Madrid 3-1 Rayo Vallecano
Real Sociedad 3-2 Malaga
Osasuna 2-1 Real Betis
Real Mallorca 1-1 Athletic Bilbao
Granada 1-0 Real Zaragoza

Monday 5 December

Sevilla 3-0 Getafe

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FT: Hertha Berlin 1-2 Schalke

Schalke have moved level on points with Bayern at the top after victory at Hertha Berlin. Klaas Jan Huntelaar opened the scoring 20 minutes in after he took advantage of a poor clearance from Roman Hubnik and Huntelaar left Thomas Kraft with no chance. Adrian Ramos equalised 5 minutes later after heading home a Raffael corner. Teemu Pukki scored what proved to be the winner just before half time with a stinging shot from the edge of the box. Jose Manuel Jurado had the chance to extend the lead with 5 to go but he spurned over from 6 yards.

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FT: Werder Bremen 4-1 Wolfsburg

Werder Bremen kept the up the pressure at the top with a resounding home victory over Wolfsburg who are struggling. THe deadlock was broken 20 minutes in when a Claudio Pizarro shot was not held by Diego Benaglio which allowed Sokratis Papasthatopolous to steal in. It should have been 2 later but Florian Trinks fired over from a promising position. Pizarro did make it 2-0 on the sroke of half time as he waltzed around a poor Wolfsburg defence and finished past Tim Wiese. It was 3-0 10 minutes into the 2nd half when Markus Rosenberg latched onto a Philipp Bargfrede through ball to sneak the ball past Benaglio. With 20 to go, Rosenberg went close again but was denied by the post. However, minutes later, Pizarro played Marko Arnautovic through to blast number 4 past Benaglio. Wolfsburg did score 5 minutes before time through Marcel Schafer.

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FT: Hannover 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen

Hannover remain unbeaten at home this season after a goalless draw wtih Bayer Leverkusen. The result means Bayer remain 5th but close in on Borussia Monchengladbach and Hannover remain 8th. THe game was poor with notable opportunities coming past the hour. Hannover should have opened the scoring on the hour mark when Jan Schlaudraff advanced forward, all he had to do was pick out the unmarked Lars Stindl but he wasted the opportunity. Minutes later, Sidney Sam had a shot blocked by Ron RObert Zieler.

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FT: Marseille 0-0 Bordeaux

Marseille were held to a goalless draw at the Stade Veldrome against Bordeaux in a match which was poor until the closing stages where Bordeaux had to thank Cedric Carrasso for keeping them in it. In the final 10 minutes, Jussie went close for Bordeaux when his shot was superbly saved by Steve Mandanda but in stoppage time Carrasso ahd to make some flying saves to deny Benoit Cheyrou and Mathieu Valbuena.

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FT: PSV Eindhoven 1-0 NAC Breda

PSV kept the pressure on table toppers AZ ALkmaar with a narrow victory over NAC Breda. Dries Mertens scored the only goal 10 minutes before the break as he converted a cross past Jelle ten Rouwelaar. NAC's only notable opportunity came just before the hour when a Roly Benavacia effort was comfortably saved by Andreas Isaksson. PSV finished the game with 10 men when Jeremain Lens was shown a second yellow late on.

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FT: Inter 2-0 Fiorentina

Inter picked up a vital win to move away from near the bottom and leapfrog Fiorentina in the process. 5 minutes before the break, Philippe Coutinho played a ball over the top of the defence and just as it looked like a wasted ball, Giampaolo Pazzini managed to nudge the ball past the onrushing Artur Boruc and the ball crept into the goal for 1-0. Yuto Nagatomo made it 2-0 fortuitously 5 minutes into the 2nd half when a Manuel Pasqual attempted clearance rebounded off Nagatomo past Boruc. Alberto Gilardino found himself in a good position minutes later but Lucio took the ball off him just as he was about to shoot. Pazzini was through again 5 minutes before time but he hesitated and his shot was straight at Boruc.

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FT: Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona

Barcelona came from behind in El Clasico to win, halt Real Madrid's 15 match winning streak and move to the top of the albeit having played a game more. Real Madrid came into this match on a high while Barcelona have stuttered at times with their away form woeful in La Liga with many believing that this could be the year when Madrid bring an end to Barcelona's dominance. They started well taking the lead 23 seconds in when a Victor Valdes clearance went straight to Angel Di Maria and the ball fell to Mesut Ozil whose shot was blocked by Sergio Busquets but fell to Karim Benzem to convert the ball past Valdes from six yards. Real Madrid pressed Barca from thereon not giving them a chance to play their fluid passing game and they had a golden oppoptunity to double the lead. A Benzema reverse pass found Cristiano Ronaldo on the edge of the box with Di Maria unmarked to his right but Ronaldo played it selfishly and spurned his shot wide. He was made to pay minutes later when Barcelona equalised. Lionel Messi skipped through tow challenges and threaded the ball through for Alexis Sanchez to latch onto and he drilled the ball past Iker Casillas. 10 minutes into the 2nd half and it was 2-1 Barca. Xavi took aim from 25 yards and his shot took a wicked deflection off Marcelo and wrongfooted Casillas and the ball hit the inside of the post and in. Midway through the half Ronaldo missed a golden opprunity as he somehow headed wide unmarked six yards out and again it was costly as a minute later after a a brilliant Dani ALves cross was beautifully headed home by Cesc Fabregas to round off the game.

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FT: Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Kaiserslautern

Borussia Dortmund missed out on the chance to go top after being held to a draw by Kaiserslautern. The point meant Kaiserslautern move out of the drop zone. 15 minutes in, Robert Lewandowski went close with an acrobatic effort that grazed the bar. Just before the half hour, Kevin Grosskreutz picked out Shinji Kagawa on the edge of the box and curled the ball into the bottom corner to open the scoring. Olcay Sahan equalised on the hour with a fantastic volley that left Roman Weidenfeller with no chance.

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FT: Stuttgart 1-2 Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich have opened up a 3 point lead at the top with victory at Stuttgart. 5 minutes in and it was 1-0 Stuttgart. Cristian Molinaro sent over a cross which was headed back across by Martin Harnik for Christian Gentner to divert the ball past Manuel Neuer. On 15 minutes, it was 1-1. A deflected Rafinha cross was diverted past Sven Ulreich by Mario Gomez. Things turned sour for Stuttgart just before the half hour when Molinaro was shown a controversial second yellow after appearing to make a perfect tackle on Arjen Robben. Gomez ended up scoring the winner just before the hour when he converted a Phillip Lahm cutback. Cacau had a glorious opportunity to equalise with 10 to go after a weak Daniel van Buten backpass but Cacau could only lift the ball over the bar.

Matchday 16 of 34

Friday 9 December

Hertha Berlin 1-2 Schalke

Saturday 10 December

Werder Bremen 4-1 Wolfsburg
Mainz 0-0 Hamburg
Nuremberg 0-2 Hoffenheim
Cologne 4-0 Freiburg
Augsburg 1-0 Borussia Monchengladbach
Hannover 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen

Sunday 11 December

Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Kaiserslautern
Stuttgart 1-2 Bayern Munich

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FT: Bologna 2-2 Milan

Milan dropped points after being held to a draw at Bologna. Bologna opened the scoring 10 minutes in when a quick counter saw Alessandro Diamanti feed the ball to Marco Di Vaio to fire the ball past Marco Amelia. It took 5 minutes for Milan to equalise with a powerful strike from Clarence Seedorf. With 20 to go, Andrea Raggi conceded a penalty when he fouled Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ibra stepped up to convert the penalty. However, the lead only lasted a couple of minutes as a Diamanti anngled drive found the bottom corner.