Around The World In 600 Words: Juve loitering with intent as Inter Milan slip up

Champions League / Ben Lyttleton / 12 January 2009 / Leave a Comment

Ben Lyttleton talks us through the most important results from around the major European leagues as Juventus' title bid is very much alive and Real Madrid begin to look a much-improved side under Juande Ramos.

All eyes were on David Beckham as he made his eagerly-awaited Serie A debut for AC Milan in last night's 2-2 draw at Roma. Mirko Vucinic's two goals for the hosts ruined what would have been a dream opening to his Italian career but Beckham played well and was praised by coach Carlo Ancelotti after the game. "He has proved to us that he is a tactically intelligent player who can provide balance to the team," he said.

Although the result left Milan nine points behind leaders Inter Milan, the biggest story in Italy - and indeed across Europe - was the sluggish form of the league leaders. Just as Liverpool seemed unconvincing in their goalless draw at Stoke, so Inter looked off the pace in their 1-1 draw with Cagliari, and Juventus capitalised with their 1-0 win over Siena for a fifth straight win.

Alessandro del Piero's free-kick proved the match-winner, and with Gianluigi Buffon set to return for next week's trip to Lazio, the Juventus title-price of ([4.6]) is shorter than it has been for a while. Inter remain clear favourites at ([1.53]) while Milan, whose double-scorer Alex Pato said could still win the Scudetto, are ([8.4]). Fiorentina had a terrible weekend, losing 2-1 at home to Lecce and having top scorer Adrian Mutu ruled out for a month with another elbow injury. Their price to finish in the top three is now ([4.1]).

The leaders in France also struggled on their return to league action, with Lyon only drawing 1-1 at home to Lorient. They have won once in their last six games, and have now gone four home matches without a win: while their total of 24 goals from 20 matches is hardly title-winning form.

In the past, their title rivals have slipped up when Lyon have lost points, but this weekend, Bordeaux smashed PSG 4-0 to move just one point behind them, while Rennes and Marseille both won to keep the pressure on. Lyon have drifted to ([1.51]) and Bordeaux, whose playmaker Yoann Gourcuff scored one of the goals of the season last night, are now ([5.0]). Lyon's seven-year dominance of the French league finally looks to be under threat at last.

Over in Spain, runaway leaders Barcelona struggled to break down bottom club Osasuna and needed a fantastic late winner from Lionel Messi to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 success. "I was lucky that my shot went in but the most important thing is to keep winning," the Argentine winger, who is up against Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Torres for tonight's FIFA World Player of the Year award, said after the game.

Barcelona remain 12 points clear, a ([1.12]) price, but second are now Real Madrid, who moved up three places after a comprehensive 3-0 win at Real Mallorca. Coach Juande Ramos has injected more cohesion into the side since replacing Bernd Schuster, though he has been helped by the form of Arjen Robben, who scored another excellent goal to get Madrid on their way. Raul also scored on his 500th appearance for the club. Valencia drop to fourth
after an incredible 3-3 draw with a Villarreal side that are now sixth and appear to be struggling at the moment.

Usually Manuel Pellegrini's sides improve in the second half of the season and the Yellow Submarine will have to if they want to beat Panathinaikos and progress in the Champions League.

There was a new name at the top of the Portuguese league, briefly, as Sporting Lisbon beat Maritimo 2-0 on Saturday night. Liedson was their hero, scoring his 126th league goal to move third in Sporting's all-time scoring-list. Benfica, playing 24 hours later, beat Braga 1-0 to go back to top spot and are ([3.4]) for the title while Porto, still favourites at ([1.78]), are one point behind after drawing 0-0 at home to Trofense.