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Sunday European Rewind: Arsenal beats Man United, Roma stomps AC Milan, and more

Arsenal improved their hopes of a top-four finish in the English Premier League after a 2-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday.

Arsene Wenger’s side used a pair of second-half goals to defeat the Red Devils at the Emirates Stadium. Granit Xhaka’s long-range attempt after 54 minutes put the Gunners ahead, 1-0, following a scoreless first half. Former United striker Danny Welbeck increased the lead three minutes later, heading home from close range.

Jose Mourinho’s side suffered their first league defeat since Oct. 23, and now sit four points behind rivals Manchester City for fourth place. Arsenal pulled to two points behind the Red Devils, and still have a game in hand coming this week.

Elsewhere, Roma defeated AC Milan in the Serie A match of the day, while Liverpool was held scoreless at Anfield by Southampton. Alaves squeaked past Athletic Bilbao in Spain,  while Inter Milan’s recent woes continued in Serie A play. Freiburg defeated Schalke in the Bundesliga’s late match of the day, while Marseille and Nice squared off in France.

Here is a rundown of all Sunday’s action across Europe:

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool was held scoreless at Anfield for the first time in league play since Oct. 17, drawing 0-0 with Southampton. Jurgen Klopp’s men dominated against the visiting Saints, but were unable to beat Fraser Forster in net. The 29-year-old goalkeeper made eight saves, including a huge penalty kick save on James Milner just after the hour mark. Claude Puel’s side failed to record a shot on goal, but happily will take the point from Merseyside. Liverpool goes back to third place, but only sit a point better than Manchester City. Southampton drops to 10th place after earning their second consecutive draw.

Liverpool 0 – Southampton 0

Arsenal 2 – Manchester United 0

League leaders Chelsea host Middlesbrough in the final match of the round on Monday.

SPANISH LA LIGA

Alaves made it five consecutive matches unbeaten after a 1-0 home victory over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. The hosts received a 53rd-minute winner from Theo Hernandez to earn all three points at home. Alaves keeper Fernando Pacheco made six saves in the clean sheet, while the visitors suffered their first loss since Apr. 7. Bilbao remains in sixth place, missing out on the chance to jump up a place in the table. Alaves stays in 10th place.

Espanyol snapped a three-match winless run, defeating Deportivo, 2-1, at the Municipal de Riazor. Gerard Moreno’s 29th-minute finish proved to be the winner for the visitors, who stayed in ninth place. Leo Baptistao’s opening goal after 14 minutes put the visitors up, 1-0, before Moreno scored his 13th league goal of the season. Florin Andone pulled the hosts to within one early in the second-half, scoring from close range. However, that was the closest Deportivo came as Espanyol held on for a 2-1 win. Espanyol’s Diego Lopez made four saves in the win, while Deportivo stayed in 16th after the loss.

Here are all of Sunday’s La Liga results:

Alaves 1 – Athletic Bilbao 0

Valencia 4 – Osasuna 1

Deportivo 1 – Espanyol 2

Malaga 3 – Celta Vigo 0

Leganes welcome Real Betis to town on Monday, in the final match of Round 36.

GERMAN BUNDESLIGA

Freiburg bounced back from a 3-0 loss a week ago, to defeat Schalke, 2-0, at the MAGE SOLAR Stadion. A first-half brace from striker Florian Niederlechner sent the hosts on their way, moving them up to fifth in the standings. Niederlechner’s first goal came 22 minutes in, as his left-footed effort found the center of the goal. The striker doubled his tally and his side’s lead nine minutes later, converting a 31st-minute penalty kick. Schalke only mustered three shots on goal, losing their first match since Apr. 16. Schalke is in 10th place, but is still mathematically alive for a European qualification spot.

In the early Bundesliga match of the day, Hamburg and Mainz shared the points in a 0-0 draw. The hosts were on the back foot most of the match, allowing six shots on goal compared to their two. Hamburg keeper Christian Mathenia was huge, making six saves in the home clean sheet. Mainz dropped to 15th in the standings, but remain a place higher than their opponents. Hamburg remains in the Bundesliga relegation playoff place, and will need at least one win in their final two games to survive.

Hamburg SV 0 – FSV Mainz 0

SC Freiburg 2 – Schalke 04 0

ITALIAN SERIE A

In the mouth-watering match of the day in Italy, Roma cruised to a 4-1 road win at AC Milan. A first-half brace from Edin Dzeko sparked the visitors to an early lead before Roma added two late insurance goals. Mario Pasalic pulled Milan to within one in the 76th minute before Stephan El Shaarawy re-extended Roma’s lead two minutes later. Daniele De Rossi’s 87th-minute penalty kick capped the final score at 4-1 after Gabriel Paletta saw a straight red card for bringing down Mohamed Salah. Milan is winless in their last four matches, now sitting six points from the final Europa League spot. Roma retakes their place in second-place, sitting a point better than third-place Napoli.

Inter Milan’s dreadful run in Serie A continued, as the visitors fell, 1-0, at Genoa. Goran Pandev’s 70th-minute goal was all the hosts needed to hand Inter their fifth loss in their last six matches. Antonio Candreva saw his 87th-minute penalty saved by Genoa keeper Eugenio Lamanna before Inter’s Geoffrey Kondogbia was sent off a minute later. Lamanna made four saves in the clean sheet which saw Genoa improve to five points clear of the bottom three. Inter remains in seventh place, but now sit nine points from the final Europa League spot.

Here are all of Sunday’s Serie A results:

Udinese 1 – Atalanta 1

Chievo Verona 1 – Palermo 1

Empoli 3 – Bologna 1

Genoa 1 – Inter Milan 0

Lazio 7 – Sampdoria 3

Pescara 0 – Crotone 1

Sassuolo 2 – Fiorentina 2

A.C. Milan 1 – Roma 4

FRENCH LIGUE 1

Lyon received a brace from Maxwel Cornet to defeat Nantes, 3-2, at the Parc OL on Sunday. However, the visitors opened the scoring after 19 minutes as Valentin Roniger made it 1-0 from a long-range finish. Nabil Fekir’s 65th-minute penalty drew Lyon level right after the hour mark after the midfielder drew a foul inside the box. Cornet put Lyon ahead, 2-1, just five minutes later, heading home Memphis Depay’s cross to the top left corner. Guillaume Gillet’s third goal of the season pulled the visitors level at 2-2, before Cornet scored the winner in the 80th minute. Lyon stays in fourth place with the win, while Nantes remains in eighth place.

Nice’s Ligue 1 title hopes ended on Sunday, as the visitors fell, 2-1, at Marseille. A 66th-minute goal from Patrice Evra earned the hosts a massive three points in their fight for a European spot. Bafetimbi Gomes opened the scoring for Marseille in the 21st minute, heading home his 18th league goal of the season. Mario Balotelli’s close range finish after 50 minutes pulled the visitors level before Evra’s 66th-minute header stamped the final score at 2-1. Marseille keeper Yohann Pele made four saves in the win, which moves his side into fifth place. The loss was Nice’s first league defeat since Feb. 4, guaranteed them a third place finish this season.

Here are all of Sunday’s Ligue 1 results:

Rennes 1 – Montpellier 0

Lyon 3 – Nantes 2

Marseille 2 – Nice 1

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