Barcelona moved back into first place in Spain's La Liga with a 3-1 win over Real Zaragoza on Sunday, but the victory was potentially costly as Barca fears Argentine teenager Lionel Messi will be sidelined for up to three months after suffering a foot injury during the game.
The 19-year-old Messi limped off in the first half, and initial reports suggested the player broke the fifth metatarsal in his left foot that would keep him out for 2-3 months. Further tests will be carried out on Monday.
Barca is already without top striker Samuel Eto'o, out until the New Year with a knee injury. It not only faces a tough challenge in La Liga this season from Sevilla and improved Real Madrid but currently stands third in its UEFA Champions League group behind Chelsea and Werder Bremen.
Ronaldinho was back to his inspirational best, scoring the first two for Barca against Zaragoza, including the key second in the 86th minute, and setting up the third for Javier Saviola after his shot came back off the bar.
Sevilla dropped to second place, one point behind Barcelona, with a 0-0 tie at Racing Santander. Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy hit all four goals, including a first-half hat trick, as Real Madrid won, 4-1, at Osasuna and moved into third place ahead of Zaragoza.
ENGLAND. Didier Drogba continued to show why he may be the best striker in Europe at the moment as the Ivorian scored a hat trick to up his total to 14 goals in all competitions this season and give Chelsea a 4-0 win over Watford. The victory extended the Blues' unbeaten streak at home in league play to 50 consecutive games. Manchester United stayed three points ahead of Chelsea with a 1-0 win at Blackburn on Louis Saha's goal. Arsenal moved to third, a further seven points back, with a game in hand, after beating Liverpool, 3-0, on goals by midfielder Mathieu Flamini — only his second since arriving in the EPL two seasons ago — and defenders Kolo Toure and William Gallas.
GERMANY. VfB Stuttgart moved into first place in the Bundesliga for the first time in two years after coming from behind to win 2-1 at Hannover 96. Two goals in five minutes after the break from Thomas Hitzlsperger and Cacau gave Stuttgart the win and and a one-point lead over Werder Bremen, which was upset at home by Borussia Dortmund, 3-1. Schalke 04 is tied for second with Bremen after its 4-0 win over Mainz, while Bayern Munich got a much-needed boost with a 3-2 victory at Bayer Leverkusen and moved into fourth place.
ITALY. Inter Milan and Palermo remained tied for first place in Serie A, four points ahead of Roma. Inter got a stoppage-time goal from Julio Cruz to beat Parma, 2-1, away, while Palermo defeated Torino, 3-0, with goals by Eugenio Corini, David Di Michele and Amauri. Roma added to AC Milan's misery by winning, 2-1, at San Siro Stadium on a pair of goals by Francesco Totti.
NETHERLANDS. PSV defeated Ajax, 1-0, in Amsterdam to take over first place, one point ahead of Ajax. Midfielder Tim Simons scored on a header off an Edison Mendez free kick for the game's only goal. PSV has now won eight of the last 11 meetings in Amsterdam.