Chelsea heads into its Champions League showdown against Barcelona with a goalkeeping crisis after its top two goalies were hurt in the 1-0 win at Reading on Saturday night.
Czech star Petr Cech had surgery for a skull fracture after being hit in the face by the knee of Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said Cech was lucky to be alive after the collision in the first minute.
Backup Carlo Cudicini was also hospitalized after being knocked unconscious in a collision with Reading defender Ibrahima Sonko while jumping to catch the ball in the 89th minute. Defender John Terry had to finish the game in goal. Portuguese Hilario, who has yet to play for the Blues in a competitive game, should start for Chelsea in goal against Barcelona on Wednesday.
The Reading-Chelsea game was decided on an own goal in the 45th minute. Both sides finished with 10 men as Chelsea's teenage star, John Obi Mikel, sent off in tears on his first EPL start and Reading's Andre Bikey ejected in the 83rd minute.
Manchester United stayed top of the Premier League on goal difference ahead of Chelsea after coming from behind to win, 3-1, at Wigan.
FRANCE. Five-time defending champion Lyon needed a late goal from Brazilian star Juninho to beat St. Etienne, 2-1, and improve its league record to eight wins and one tie in nine games. Marseille conceded a late penalty in a 1-1 tie at short-handed Lens and fell five points behind Lyon.
GERMANY. Werder Bremen took over first place in the Bundesliga on goal difference with a 6-0 win over Bochum. Bremen, defending champion Bayern Munich, a 4-2 winner over Hertha Berlin, and Schalke all have 13 points, one ahead surprise Alemannia Aachen and Borussia Moenchengladbach, captained by American Kasey Keller. Bayern's maligned offense broke out as striker Lukas Podolski scored his first Bundesliga goal for Bayern and Roy Makaay, Claudio Pizarro and Willy Sagnol added goals in the win over Hertha, which went into the game in first place. With its 2-1 loss to Schalke, winless Hamburg slumped to second from the bottom after seven games.
ITALY. Reggina shocked Serie A leader Roma, 1-0, on Nicola Amoruso's 49th-minute goal, allowing Inter Milan to take over first place thanks to its 2-1 win at Catania on goals by Serbian Dejan Stankovic in each half. Palermo went into the weekend tied with Roma for first place but fell at home to Atalanta 3-2, on Fernando Tissone's goal in the 56th minute.
SPAIN. Barcelona showed it's not about to easily relinquish its la Liga title, downing third-place Sevilla, 3-1, and opening up a three-point lead at the top. Ronaldinho scored twice, and young Argentine Lionel Messi contributed a virtuoso solo goal. Valencia, which was tied with Barcelona, dropped its first game of the season, falling at Celta, 3-2.