EPL

Emphatic United bounce back

After falling to Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals, Manchester United sent a strong message to their rivals after brushing aside Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 at Old Trafford.

Man of the Match Marouane Fellaini and the returning Michael Carrick netted twice early on before Wayne Rooney provided the knockout blow on 34 minutes.

Manchester City’s title ambitions suffered a massive blow after going down 1-0 at struggling Burnley. George Boyd fired in a half volley on 61 minutes to condemn wasteful City to a disappointing loss; only five of their 21 shots found the target.

Chelsea 1 – Southampton 1

Arsenal 3 – West Ham 0

Everton 3 – Newcastle 0

La Liga

Messi double keeps Barca top

Barcelona was able to hold on to their slender lead after winning 2-0 at Eibar. Argentine starlet Lionel Messi struck contrasting goals in both halves — a 31st minute penalty and a rare diving header from a corner on 55 minutes.

Real Madrid defeated Levante 2-0 at home on a Gareth Bale double. Both goals ironically came from missed first half opportunities from Cristiano Ronaldo. The win means Los Blancos remain a point below leaders Barcelona.

Espanyol 0 – Atletico Madrid 0

Sevilla 3 – Elche 0

Celta Vigo 1 – Cordoba 2

Serie A

Leaders efficient in win

Juventus easily defeated Palermo 1-0 in Sicily as preparation for their second leg encounter against Borussia Dortmund. Spanish import Alvaro Morata struck the only goal of the game on 70 minutes for an underwhelming score line in the champions’ favour.

Napoli has lost some ground in the race for Champions League places after falling to Hellas Verona 2-0 on Sunday. The Neapolitan club remain level on points with third place Lazio — who plays on Monday — but has an inferior goal difference. Veteran striker Luca Toni turned back the clock with twin strikes for Hellas, one in each half.

Internazionale 1 – Cesena 1

Sassuolo 4 – Parma 1

Genoa 0 – Chievo 2

Bundesliga

Free-scoring Bayern comfortable again

Bayern Munich inched closer to a third straight championship after trouncing Werder Bremen 4-0 at Weserstadion. The leaders rested star players, but there was no apparent fall in chemistry when Robert Lewandowski (2), David Alaba, Thomas Muller all netted for the Bavarians.

Schalke surrendered fourth place after having to steal a point in their 2-2 draw with Hertha Berlin in the nation’s capital. Cameroonian Joel Matip’s last minute equaliser broke Hertha’s hearts but the result means Hertha is now four points above the drop zone.

Augsburg 0 – Mainz 2

Borussia Dortmund 0 – Koln 0

Wolfsburg 3 – Freiburg 0