Resurgent United back in title contention

A glancing first-half header from ex-Arsenal striker Robin van Persie proved decisive as Manchester United claimed a crucial win in their encounter against the Gunners at Old Trafford, on Sunday.

The visitors were flat in the first half against a spritely United attack, but controlled the game in the second, which was not enough.

Liverpool bounced back from their defeat last week to Arsenal by thumping woeful Fulham 4-0. Uruguayan Luis Suarez was again in sublime form as he scored a brace and forced a Fulham own goal, while Skrtel scored a header to pound more pressure on Cottagers’ boss Martin Jol.

Manchester City proved to be in poor form away from home as they lost their 4th game on the road this season in losing at relegation-threatened Sunderland, 1-0.

Swansea City 3 — Stoke City 3

Tottenham 0 — Newcastle United 1

Chelsea 2 — West Brom 2

Barcelona still firing without Messi

The Barcelona train did not slow down this weekend despite the early exit of star forward Lionel Messi during their encounter versus Real Betis. Neymar, Cesc Fabregas and Pedro all scored for the Catalans for a 4-1 win, while Jorge Molina scored a late penalty for Betis.

Atletico Madrid has dropped points on the road again this season after drawing Villareal 1-1. Atletico took the early lead through an own goal, but this was cancelled out by Ikechukwu Uche.

Meanwhile, in the Spanish capital, Cristiano Ronaldo was his scoring best once again with a second successive hat-trick in his side’s 5-1 thumping of Real Sociedad.

Valencia 2 — Real Valladolid 2

Espanyol 1 — Sevilla 3

Athletic Bilbao 2 — Levante 1

Juventus close points on leader Roma

Juventus closed the gap at the top with a commanding 3-0 win over a toothless Napoli side. Fernando Llorente nodded in the opener before veteran Andrea Pirlo scored a superb free kick in the 74th, five minutes prior to an outstanding Paul Pogba volley from 25 yards.

AS Roma maintained their hold on their Serie A lead, but only just after a 1-1 draw with newcomers Sassuolo. The Romans dominated throughout and may consider themselves unlucky not to have gained three points when Domenico Berardi equalised for Sassuolo in time added on.

Time might be running out for AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri as his team again dropped points in a 0-0 draw at stubborn Chievo Verona.

Fiorentina 2 — Sampdoria 1

Parma 1 — Lazio 1

Inter Milan 2 — Livorno 0

Dortmund slips further behind Bayern

Borussia Dortmund suffered a surprise loss to Wolfsburg Saturday, who had Ricardo Rodriguez and Ivica Olic to thank for second half goals. The previously impressive Dortmund has slipped to four points behind Bayern Munich.

Speaking of the bavarians, Bayern Munich set a new record of 37 games unbeaten after defeating Augsburg comfortably 3-0. Augsburg, who has Bayern to play again in the cup next month, was outclassed by the in-form Frank Ribery and company.

It was end-to-end action at the Bay Arena stadium as Bayer Leverkusen defeated Hamburg 5-3 in an exciting encounter on Saturday. Heung-Min Son grabbed a hat-trick for Leverkusen.

Schalke 04 3 — Werder Bremen 1

Hoffenheim 2 — Hertha Berlin 3

Freiburg 1 — Stuttgart 3