Chelsea 2 - Arsenal 1 (Premier League, March 23, 2008) (MOTD highlights here.) Almunia easily saved a Ballack free-kick after six minutes at the Bridge. Arsenal dominated the early exchanges and Van Persie blazed over on 15, seconds later Cudicini was forced to come out but Eboue was unable to take advantage. On 25 Drogba ran through but failed to control. Five minutes before the break Gallas should have put the Gunners in front at the back post, the linesman had though flagged for offside. (First-half highlights here.) Early in the second-half, Drogba ran through again but was unable to finish, Gallas did well to put him off. Bacary Sagna broke the deadlock just before the hour mark, heading home at the near post from a Fabregas corner, his first goal in English football. With twenty minutes to go, seconds after a double substitution by Avram Grant, Didier Drogba equalised with a fine finish. And the Ivorian turned the game round, and potentially crushed Arsenal’s title hopes, with the second, Almunia could have done better with Drogba’s finish. (Second-half highlights here.)

Manchester United 3 - Liverpool 0 (Premier League, March 23, 2008) (Longer highlights here.) (MOTD highlights here.) In the sixth minute at Old Trafford, Rooney was played in by Anderson but Reina narrowed the angle and blocked well. Midway through the first-half Ronaldo hit the post after ghosting in at the back post, the chance was flagged for offside. Minutes later Steven Gerrard saw a vicious shot deflected for a corner. On 32 minutes Reina juggled a Giggs cross. And two minutes later the Liverpool goalkeeper was at fault for Wesley Brown’s opener, the United right back headed in a Rooney cross, as Reina flapped. Seconds before the break Javier Mascherano was sent-off for receiving his second yellow card for dissent (first yellow here). United dominated the early part of the the second-half, Ronaldo went close with a free-kick and Rooney should have scored when played in by a superb ball from Van Der Sar. Seconds after coming on Tevez should have doubled United’s advantage but Reina again saved from close range. Two goals in three minutes finished the game, Cristiano Ronaldo headed his 34th of the season after Reina flapped again. (The corner was won after Ronaldo missed an easy chance, Reina pushed his shot onto the bar.) And Nani bagged the third after a one-two with Rooney followed by a great finish into the corner.

***

Gretna 0 - Celtic 3 (SPL, March 23, 2008) Goals by Scott McDonald, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Georgios Samaras proved enough to secure the points for Celtic, as they closed the gap on leaders Rangers.

***

Real Madrid 2 - Valencia 3 (La Liga, March 23, 2008) David Villa silenced the Bernabeu when he received the ball after Sneijder had been caught out in possession, before coolly slotting home past Casillas. Valencia’s lead was only momentary, as Raul restored parity with a header minutes later. Madrid’s comeback was complete ten minutes after the break when Guti fed Raul to slot home his second. But a resurgent Valencia drew level when Villa steered home a penalty, and Los Che turned the match on its head when Arizmendi bagged an 88th minute solo winner to give Barca new hope in the title race. Special mention to Hilderbrand, who made a string of terrific saves for Valencia.

Barcelona 4 - Valladolid 1 (La Liga, March 23, 2008) (Longer highlights here.) Samuel Eto’o put Barca in front at home against Valladolid. Gonzalez equalised seven minutes later from the spot. Iniesta put Barca 2-1 up three minutes into the second-half. Bojan Krkic got the third on 62 from close range. And the young Serbian added the fourth with eight minutes to go after unselfish play from Eto’o.

Athletic Bilbao 1 - Getafe 0 (La Liga, March 23, 2008) Etxebarria’s first-half goal was enough for Bilboa in the battle of the UEFA Cup hopefuls.

Racing Santander 2 - Recreativo Huelva 0 (La Liga, March 23, 2008) (Longer highlights here.) Racing took advantage of a red-card for Recre defender Caceres 25 minutes from time, to claim a late win thanks to late goals from Orteman and Smolarek (who scored into an open goal after the keeper had gone up for a corner). Racing moved up to fifth place in the table.

Zaragoza 1 - Almeria 1 (La Liga, March 23, 2008) (Longer highlights here.) Oliveira headed the home side in front just eight minutes after team mate Gabi had been sent-off, but Almeria snatched a point when Negredo stabbed in from close range in injury-time.

Osasuna 0 - Real Betis 1 (La Liga, March 23, 2008) (Longer highlights here.) Mark Gonzalez earned Betis a valuable away win, scoring off a free-kick early in the second-half. Osasuna had Javi Garcia was sent-off late on.

Levante 1 - Villarreal 2 (La Liga, March 23, 2008) Villarreal took the lead just before the half hour when Matias Fernandez drilled home from the edge of the area, but Angel headed in an equaliser midway through the second-half. The Yellow Submarine stole all three point when Franco struck a late winner.

Real Murcia 4 - Espanyol 0 (La Liga, March 23, 2008) Alonso opened from the penalty spot, before netted his brace after the break. Abel made it 3-0 with another spot-kick, and Richi wrapped up with a late header.

***

Hertha Berlin 1 - Schalke 2 (Bundesliga, March 23, 2008) Goals from Asamoah and Jones put Stuttgart two-up at Hertha Berlin. Chahed converted a penalty but it was not enough to save Hertha’s six-match unbeaten streak.

Arminia Bielefeld 1 - Werder Bremen 1 (Bundesliga, March 23, 2008) Bremen dented their championship hopes, drawing to relegation-threatened Arminia. Kirch poked the ball home the opener for the hosts, Diego netted the equaliser for Bremen from the penalty spot 20 minutes from time.

***

FC Twente 2 - Ajax 1 (Eredivisie, March 23, 2008) Ajax’s title hopes have taken another blow with this defeat. A Douglas og had put the away side in front but late goals from Wilkshire and Elia gave Twente the victory.

***

Lyon 4 - PSG 2 (Ligue 1, March 23, 2008) Lyon met PSG in France’s top match, and the champions moved into a two goal lead after Fred bagged a brace. But the Parisians showed fight, hauling themselves back level through Camara’s header and Rothen’s penalty. Lyon however showed their class and Govou and Juninho scored two late goals to seal the victory.

Rennes 3 - Lens 1 (Ligue 1, March 23, 2008) Jerome Leroy opened the scoring with a delightful chip, before laying on goals for Pagis (following a saved penalty from Briand) and Thomert either side of half-time. Maoulida had brought Lens level.

***

OFI Crete 2 - Skoda Xanthi 0 (Greek Super League, March 23, 2008) Petropoulos’ header and a fine free-kick from Taralidis secured the win.

Panionios 4 - Asteras Tripolis 1 (Greek Super League, March 23, 2008) Panionios went four goals up through Kumortzi, Djebbour and a brace from Choutos, before the visitors pulled one back through Milano.

Levadiakos 1 - Olympiakos 3 (Greek Super League, March 23, 2008) After falling behind to Dibala’s goal, Olympiakos bagged three first-half replies through Galleti, Belluschi and Kovacevic.

Aris Thessalonikis 1 - Larissa 1 (Greek Super League, March 23, 2008)

Apollon Kalamaria 0 - AEK Athens 1 (Greek Super League, March 23, 2008)

***

FC Moscow 0 - Zenith St. Petersburg 2 (Russian Premier Liga, March 23, 2008) Arshavin (lovely free-kick) and Aniukov with the goals.

Shinnik Yaroslavl 1 - Lokomotiv Moscow 2 (Russian Premier Liga, March 23, 2008)

***

Galatasaray 2 - Denizlispor 1 (Super Lig, March 23, 2008) Diabolical goalkeeping gifted Cetin an 88th minute winner for Gala.

***

Standard Liege 2 - Mons 0 (Jupiler League, March 23, 2008)

***

Hajduk Split 7 - Inter Zapresic 2 (Croatian first division, March 22, 2008)

***

Velez Sarsfield 0 - River Plate 2 (Clausura, March 23, 2008) Two goals in the opening 11 minutes, a quality strike from Sanchez and a second from Falcao, saw River beat the early pacesetters in Argentina.

Boca Juniors 2 - Colon 1 (Clausura, March 23, 2008)

San Martin 2 - Independiente 0 (Clausura, March 23, 2008)

***

Fluminense 2 - Vasco De Gama 1 (Carioca, March 23, 2008)

Botafogo 7 - Macae 0 (Carioca, March 23, 2008)

Guaratingueta 0 - Santos 1 (Paulista, March 23, 2008)

Rio Preto 3 - Portuguesa 3 (Paulista, March 23, 2008)

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