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Saturday European Rewind: Draw in Milan Derby, Real Madrid earns late win, and more

With a slew of European action taking place on Saturday, it was the Milan Derby which took center-stage in Italy. It was a tale of two halves from the Giuseppe Meazza as AC Milan battled back to earn a point against rivals Inter in a 2-2 draw.

Inter Milan opened the scoring in the 36th-minute as Antonio Candreva’s right-footed finish made it 1-0. Mauro Icardi’s 21st league goal of the season doubled the hosts lead just before halftime. Alessio Romagnoli’s 83rd-minute goal cut the lead to 2-1 for Inter before Christian Zapata leveled the score at 2-2 with the final kick of the ball. Samir Handanovic made four saves for Inter Milan while Gianluigi Donnarumma made two for AC Milan.

The draw keeps the sides where they started in the table with AC Milan sitting in sixth and Inter sitting in seventh.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid fought back for a late three points at Sporting Gijon, while Tottenham and Manchester City rolled to wins in the EPL. Paris Saint-Germain and Nice earned victories in Ligue 1 action, while Borussia Dortmund and Hoffenheim impressed in Bundesliga play. German leaders Bayern Munich were held in a scoreless draw at Bayer Leverkusen.

Here is a rundown of all Friday and Saturday’s European action:

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Tottenham continued their strong run in England by rolling past Bournemouth 4-0 at White Hart Lane. Mousa Dembele’s 16th-minute finish made it 1-0 to Tottenham before Son-Heung Min’s 12th league goal of the season doubled the hosts lead to 2-0 three minutes later. Harry Kane added his name to the scoresheet early in the second-half and substitute Vincent Janssen capped the final score at 4-0 in stoppage-time. Artur Boruc made 10 saves for Bournemouth in the defeat, while the Cherries only recorded one shot on goal. Tottenham remains in second, now four points behind leaders Chelsea. Bournemouth are seven points clear of the relegation zone, despite losing their last two matches.

Crystal Palace fought back from a 2-0 deficit to earn a point against visiting Leicester City. Robert Huth headed the visitors in front after six minutes from a long throw in. Jamie Vardy’s nice turn and curled finish doubled the Foxes lead in the 54th-minute. However, the comeback for Palace started just two minutes later as Yohan Cabaye cut the lead to 2-1. Christian Benteke’s 70th-minute header drew the hosts level, which saw the final score stand at 2-2.

Manchester City rolled off three goals in the second-half to defeat Southampton 3-0 at St. Mary’s Stadium. Despite a scoreless first-half, Manchester City received a 55th minute opening goal from defender Vincent Kompany. Leroy Sane slotted home his fifth league goal of the season in the 77th minute, before Sergio Aguero headed home the Citizens’ third just three minutes later. Southampton only recorded one shot on goal, remaining in ninth place with the defeat. Manchester City jump to third-place at least until Sunday’s matches.

Here are all of Saturday’s Premier League results:

Tottenham 4 – AFC Bournemouth 0

Crystal Palace 2 – Leicester City 2

Everton 3 – Burnley 1

Stoke City 3 – Hull City 1

Sunderland 2 – West Ham United 2

Watford 1 – Swansea City 0

Southampton 0 – Manchester City 3

SPANISH LA LIGA

La Liga leaders Real Madrid received a brace from Isco which propelled them to a dramatic 3-2 road win at Sporting Gijon. Without the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Karim Benzema, Madrid pegged Gijon back twice and got a 90th-minute winner to end a great week. Duje Cop’s 14th-minute finish gave Gijon a 1-0 lead, which Isco canceled out just three minutes later. Mikel Vesga headed Gijon back in front in the 50th minute, which was the midfielder’s first goal of the season. Alvaro Morata headed home Danilo’s cross in the 59th minute which brought the score back to 2-2. Isco’s long-range strike earned Los Blancos all three points, extending their unbeaten run extend to 11 matches. Gijon has now lost three matches in a row.

Second-place Barcelona bounced back from a midweek defeat in Turin to beat Real Sociedad, 3-2, in Saturday’s late fixture. Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute, rifling home from outside the box. Messi’s 29th league goal doubled Barcelona’s lead in the 37th minute before a Samuel Umtiti own-goal gave Sociedad a lifeline. Paco Alcacer’s left-footed finish re-extended Barcelona’s lead in the 44th minute before Xabi Prieto brought Sociedad to within one in stoppage-time. Luis Enrique’s men would hold on for an important win, which sees them remain three points behind leaders Real Madrid. Sociedad drop to seventh-place and out of European qualification with the loss.

Third-place Atletico Madrid used a brace from Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco to defeat visiting Osasuna, 3-0. The Belgian international opened the scoring in the 30th-minute, ripping home from long-range. Carrasco doubled his tally in the 47th-minute, heading home Nicolas Gaitan’s cross to the top-left corner. Filipe Luis’ right-footed effort after 61 minutes stamped the final score at 3-0, despite Madrid missing two late penalty kicks. Osasuna remains in last-place, now 10 points from safety. Atletico Madrid extends their lead to four points over fourth-place Sevilla, and now face an intriguing second-leg quarterfinal tie this week in the UEFA Champions League.

Here are all of Friday and Saturday’s La Liga results:

Athletic Bilbao 5 – Las Palmas 1

Deportivo 2 – Malaga 0

Sporting Gijon 2 – Real Madrid 3

Atletico Madrid 3 – Osasuna 0

Barcelona 3 – Real Sociedad 2

GERMAN BUNDESLIGA

Borussia Dortmund bounced back from consecutive losses to defeat Eintracht Frankfurt, 3-1, on Saturday. Marco Reus’ return to the Dortmund line-up paid off as the German international finished off Christian Pulisic’s assist in the third minute. Marco Fabian drew Frankfurt level in the 29th minute, rifling home from outside the box. However, Dortmund defender Sokratis put the hosts back in front for good just five minutes later from a long-range strike of his own. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang added an insurance strike in the 86th minute to cap the final score at 3-1. Dortmund remains fourth but have some momentum heading into their Champions League quarterfinal tie this coming week. Frankfurt remains in ninth despite being winless in their last seven matches.

Second-place RB Leipzig rolled to a 4-0 home victory on Saturday against visiting Freiburg. Yussuf Poulsen’s 36th-minute header opened the scoring for the hosts before Timo Werner’s right-footed finish made it 2-0 before halftime. Naby Keita’s eighth goal of the season extended Leipzig’s lead to 3-0 in the 51st-minute. Diego Demme headed home Werner’s assist in stoppage-time which stamped the final score at 4-0. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side remain in second-place, while Freiburg remain in sixth.

Following their tough 2-1 Champions League first-leg defeat earlier this week, Bayern Munich dropped points in a 0-0 draw at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday. Despite six shots on goal, Bayern could not get past German international Bernd Leno, who was up to the task. Leverkusen was reduced to 10-men in the 59th-minute as defender Tin Jedvaj saw a second yellow card. Despite being a man up, Bayern were held scoreless for only the fourth time in all competitions this season. Carlo Ancelotti’s side leads Leipzig by eight points, while Leverkusen moves up to 11th place.

Here are all of Saturday’s Bundesliga results:

Borussia Dortmund 3 – Eintracht Frankfurt 1

FSV Mainz 1 – Hertha Berlin 0

VfL Wolfsburg 3 – Ingolstadt 0

FC Augsburg 2 – FC Koln 1

1899 Hoffenheim 5 – Borussia Monchengladbach 3

RB Leipzig 4 – SC Freiburg 0

Bayer Leverkusen 0 – Bayern Munich 0

ITALIAN SERIE A

A brace from Gonzalo Higuain lifted leaders Juventus to a 2-0 road win against bottom-side Pescara on Saturday. Higuain’s 43rd minute finish doubled the visitors advantage after the striker’s opening goal saw Juventus ahead after 22 minutes. Pescara, winlesss since Feb. 19, only created two efforts on goal, while keeper Vincenzo Fiorillo made five saves in the defeat. Juventus moves to eight points clear of second-place Roma, and now prepare for a Champions League second-leg in Barcelona next Wednesday.

In a battle of second vs. fifth, Roma and Atalanta shared the points in a 1-1 draw at the Olimpico on Saturday. Atalanta’s only effort on goal, found the back of the net as Jasmin Kurtic’s 22nd-minute effort made it 1-0. Edin Dzeko’s close-range finish leveled the score at 1-1 for Roma in the 50th-minute. Radja Nainggolan struck the bar in the 64th-minute, while Francesco Totti and Salah wasted late chances. The hosts see a six-match winning run snapped, while the visitors have now drawn back-to-back fixtures.

Third-place Napoli used a strong second-half to defeat visiting Udinese 3-0 at the San Paolo. After a scoreless first-half, Dries Mertens netted Napoli’s opener in the 47th minute from inside the box. Allan doubled the hosts lead in the 63rd minute, finishing from the center of the box. Jose Callejon stamped the final score at 3-0, netting his 10th league goal of the season. Maurizio Sarri’s side is now unbeaten in their last six fixtures, while Udinese sees a five-match unbeaten run snapped.

Here are all of Saturday’s Serie A results:

Inter Milan 2 – AC Milan 2

Cagliari 4 – Chievo Verona 0

Fiorentina 1 – Empoli 2

Genoa 2 – Lazio 2

Palermo 0 – Bologna 0

Roma 1 – Atalanta 1

Torino 1 – Crotone 1

Sassuolo 2 – Sampdoria 1

Napoli 3 – Udinese 0

FRENCH LIGUE 1

Paris Saint-Germain opened the round on Friday by defeating Angers, 2-0, at the Stade Jean-Bouin. A brace from Angel Di Maria was all Unai Emery’s side needed to make it six consecutive league victories. Di Maria’s 28th-minute free-kick opened the scoring for PSG, as the Argentine’s left-footed strike found the top-right corner. Di Maria doubled his side’s lead in the 84th minute as he finished off Lucas Moura’s assist. Kevin Trapp made four saves in the clean sheet, while Angers suffered its third consecutive defeat.

Third-place Nice used a second-half brace from Jean Michael Seri to defeat Nancy, 3-1, on Saturday. The Ivorian’s 84th-minute insurance strike stamped the final score at 3-1 after the midfielder put Nice ahead earlier in the half. Seri gave Nice their first lead of the match in the 51st minute, finishing from the penalty spot. Junior Dale put Nancy ahead, 1-0, after 26 minutes, finishing from close range. The lead lasted nine minutes as Mickael Le Bihan drew Nice level, netting his third goal of the season. The hosts have not suffered defeat since Feb. 4, while Nancy remains in 17th with 18 defeats.

League-leaders Monaco received an 81st-minute winner from Radamel Falcao to earn a comeback win over Dijon on Saturday. Falcao’s superb free-kick put the hosts ahead for a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Nabil Dirar drew Monaco level in the 69th-minute after finishing off Falcao’s free-kick, which struck the bar. Cedric Varrault had Dijon ahead 1-0 after 42 minutes, netting his third goal of the season. However, when it mattered most Monaco’s leading goal-scorer came up with the goods. Falcao’s 18th league goal of the season, earned the leaders an important three points ahead of their Champions League tie this coming week. Dijon remains in 19th, sitting two points from safety.

Angers 0 – PSG 2

Nice 3 – Nancy 1

Montpellier 2 – Lorient 0

Rennes 2 – Lille 0

Guingamp 2 – Toulouse 1

Metz 2 – Caen 2

Monaco 2 – Dijon 1

 

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