Empoli 4 - 2 Napoli [Serie A]

Three consecutive wins had left Rafa Benitez's side five points off third-placed Roma ahead of its game in hand at the Stadio Carlo Castellani.  However, the Spaniard could only watch on in horror as a woeful defensive showing – including two own goals – led to a sound beating.  Empoli captain Massimo Maccarone opened the scoring with a fierce low shot in the eighth minute before Riccardo Saponara's cross ended up in the net after Napoli...

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Real Madrid 3 - 0 Almeria [La Liga]

Real Madrid kept up the pressure on Barcelona as it moved back to within two points of the La Liga leader with a 3-0 victory over Almeria. After Barca's comprehensive 6-0 win over Getafe 24 hours earlier, the pressure was on for Carlo Ancelotti's side and it ultimately claimed three points with ease despite a lacklustre first-half showing.  While title rival Barca netted five in the opening 45 minutes the previous day, Madrid took time...

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Leicester City 1 - 3 Chelsea [Premier League]

Chelsea came from behind to beat Leicester City 3-1 on Wednesday and move to within one win of clinching the Premier League title for the first time in five years. Lowly Leicester contained Chelsea for much of the opening period and took a deserved lead in stoppage time when Marc Albrighton kept his composure to fire the hosts ahead. Didier Drogba equalised for Chelsea early in the second half before late goals from captain John Terry and...

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Barcelona 6-0 Getafe

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez scored twice as Barcelona thrashed Getafe 6-0 to hand Real Madrid an ominous La Liga title warning on Tuesday.  Getafe had held Luis Enrique’s side to a goalless stalemate in December’s reverse fixture and drew 2-2 at Barca last season, but any hopes of masterminding another surprise result were emphatically curtailed by a devastating five-goal first-half blitz at Camp Nou.  Barca’s rout started with Messi’s...

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Hull City 1-0 Liverpool

Hull City took an important step towards Premier League survival with a 1-0 win over Liverpool that leaves their opponents’ chances of UEFA Champions League qualification in tatters.  As in their goalless draw at West Brom on Saturday, Liverpool’s pleasing work on the ball was undermined by a lack of end product as Mario Balotelli and Raheem Sterling turned in abject performances in attack.  It meant Hull’s breakthrough late in the...

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Valencia 4-0 Granada

Valencia regained fourth spot in La Liga with a straightforward 4-0 victory over relegation-threatened Granada on Monday.  Defeat to Barcelona last time out had opened the door for Sevilla in the race for the final UEFA Champions League spot, the Andalusians capitalising with a 2-0 win over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.  However, an unchallenged Javi Fuego nodded Dani Parejo’s 36th-minute corner home before the Valencia captain doubled...

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Celta Vigo 2-4 Real Madrid

Javier Hernandez’s Real Madrid resurgence continued with a vital brace in Sunday’s 4-2 win at Celta Vigo to keep the capital club within two points of La Liga leaders Barcelona.  The Mexico striker netted the crucial winner in Real’s 1-0 defeat of Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday and he proved decisive once again as Carlo Ancelotti’s men made hard work of a vibrant Celta side.  Former Barca winger Nolito opened...

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Torino 2-1 Juventus

Fabio Quagliarella returned to haunt his former club Juventus, settling a 2-1 win to give Torino their first Turin derby triumph in 20 years and delaying their rivals’ title celebrations.  Victory at Stadio Olimpico coupled with Chievo beating Lazio would have wrapped up a fourth consecutive Scudetto for Juve, but the bragging rights were all Torino’s on Sunday, though a draw in Rome keeps the league leaders within touching distance of...

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Everton 3-0 Manchester United

Roberto Martinez outwitted Louis van Gaal as Everton earned a richly deserved 3-0 victory over Manchester United at Goodison Park.  Martinez has come in for criticism from certain quarters of the Goodison faithful during a testing second season on Merseyside, but the Spaniard got his tactics spot on to earn a morale-boosting win on Sunday courtesy of goals from James McCarthy, John Stones and Kevin Mirallas.  Heeding the blueprint of...

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