Round The World in 600 Words: League leaders Inter and Barca stopped in their tracks

Champions League / Ben Lyttleton / 02 March 2009 / Leave a Comment

What do Barca, Inter Milan, FC Porto, Lyon and Hamburg have in common? Ben Lyttleton reveals all as he talks us through the main results and stories across the world's major leagues.

This was the weekend to bet against the league leaders across Europe: in Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Portugal, the top-placed side all failed to win, and the gap was closed behind them. In some cases, the teams are in poor form or seem to be getting nervous, but in others, maybe the rails are coming off their title challenge.

The biggest upset of the weekend, and arguably the most exciting game, was at the Vicente Calderon, where Barcelona were at one stage 2-0 up and 3-2 ahead with ten minutes left, but were beaten 4-3 by Atletico Madrid. Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi scored fantastic goals for the visitors but keeping them out has been a problem this season - they have had only one clean sheet in their last ten league games - and doubles from Diego Forlan and Kun Aguero left Barcelona with one point from their last three league games.

Real Madrid beat Espanyol 2-0 on Saturday night, thanks to goals from Gutiand Raul, and what was a 12-point gap at the top is now down to just four points. "Breaking all the records for scoring goals will mean nothing to us if we don't win trophies," said Henry last week, and he might start getting worried now. Real Madrid's title-price, meanwhile, has come in from [18.0] just weeks ago to [4.1] while Barcelona are [1.33]. Behind them, Sevilla stayed in pole position for third place after coming from behind to beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1.

In Italy, Inter were 2-0 down inside 20 minutes at home to Roma after goals from Daniele de Rossi and John Arne Riise had stunned San Siro. Mario Balotelli scored two goals either side of Mateo Brighi's effort, but Inter coach Jose Mourinho was indebted to Hernan Crespo's late equaliser to secure a 3-3 draw. That left Inter seven points clear of second-placed Juventus, who beat freefalling Napoli 1-0, while AC Milan's troubles continue. After dropping out of the Uefa Cup, they lost 2-1 to Sampdoria and are only two points ahead of Fiorentina in third. Inter remain big favourites at [1.25] with Juventus [8.4]. Milan's price to finish in the top three is now [1.8] with Fiorentina [4.1] and Roma [2.28].

Hamburg started the weekend on top in the Bundesliga, where there seems to be a new leader every week. Martin Jol's side lost 3-1 to fast-improving Wolfsburg, which allowed Hertha Berlin to go top thanks to their 2-1 win over bottom side Moenchengladbach. Hoffenheim, with only one win this year, drew 0-0 with Dortmund while Bayern could only draw 0-0 with Werder Bremen, and have dropped to fifth place, four points behind Hertha. It's Europe's most open league this season, though Bayern are still [1.97] favourites with Hamburg [7.4], Hertha [8.2] and fourth-placed Wolfsburg now in the picture at [13.0].

In France, Lyon drew 1-1 at home to Rennes, while PSG, Marseille and Bordeaux all won to close the gap on the leaders. In Portugal, Porto played out a goalless draw with Sporting while second-placed Benfica beat Leixoes to move three points behind their rivals with a game in hand.

In Argentina, River Plate slumped to a 5-1 defeat to San Lorenzo while Boca Juniors welcomed Martin Palermo back from a six-month injury lay-off and he scored in the 3-1 win over Huracan. In Brazil, Ronaldo was in the crowd to watch his new side Corinthians draw 1-1 with Marilia. One day earlier, he had been fined for turning up late to a team meeting.