Inter extend Serie A lead with win over Juve
A first-half own goal from Federico Gatti gave leaders Inter Milan a 1-0 win at home against second-placed Juventus on Sunday, increasing their advantage at the top of Serie A to four points.
Inter scored eight minutes before the break as a cross into the box eluded Benjamin Pavard’s attempt at a scissor kick, and instead struck the stomach of Juve defender Gatti, who deflected the ball into his own net.
The result put Inter on 57 points with a game in hand over their title rivals Juve, who have 53. AC Milan are third with 49 points.
Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri was disappointed and emphasised that his side are not among the title favourites.
Two goals from Charles De Ketelaere propelled Atalanta to a 3-1 home victory over Lazio earlier on Sunday, lifting them to fourth place in Serie A with 39 points, three ahead of Bologna in fifth.
Brazilian footballer Dani Alves on trial in Spain for alleged sexual assault
Former Barcelona and Brazil footballer Dani Alves will go on trial in Barcelona on Monday over a claim that he sexually assaulted a woman in the bathroom of a nightclub in the city in 2022.
The 40-year-old defender was arrested in January of last year in the Spanish city and has been held in prison since then.
Alves initially denied any sexual encounter with the woman whom he said he did not know.
He later said he had consensual sex with his accuser, saying he had denied it originally to protect his marriage.
The case has attracted significant attention not only because of Alves’ profile but because sexual assault is a dominant political theme in Spain, more notably still following the alleged non-consensual kiss Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales planted on the lips of a female player following her team’s Soccer World Cup win last August.
In Spain, a claim of rape is investigated under the general accusation of sexual assault and convictions can lead to jail time of between four and 15 years.A Spanish public prosecutor is seeking a nine-year prison term and for Alves to pay damages worth 150,000 euros ($163,215.00) to the woman.A panel of three judges will chair a trial expected to last three days at Barcelona’s highest courthouse. It will include the testimony of Alves, the alleged victim and about 30 other people.
Llorente goal earns Atletico 1-1 draw against Real Madrid
Atletico Madrid’s Marcos Llorente scored deep in stoppage time to cancel out Brahim Diaz’s first-half opener for leaders Real Madrid as the city rivals drew 1-1 in LaLiga at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.
Real are on 58 points at the summit, two ahead of Girona, who they host on Saturday. Atletico remain fourth with 48 points, two behind third-placed Barcelona.
Leipzig ease past struggling Union Berlin
RB Leipzig beat lowly Union Berlin 2-0 in the Bundesliga on Sunday thanks to goals from Lois Openda and Benjamin Sesko in a match where the visitors finished with 10 men after captain Christopher Trimmel was sent off.
Leipzig struck early after Benjamin Henrichs’ deflected shot was neatly struck into the top
Leipzig are fifth in the standings with 36 points from 20 games, one point adrift of fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund. Union Berlin are 15th with 17 points, two points clear of FC Cologne who occupy the relegation-playoff spot.
Arsenal beat lacklustre Liverpool to close gap
Arsenal spiced up an already intriguing Premier League title race as they beat lacklustre leaders Liverpool 3-1 to slice the gap to two points and move into second spot on Sunday.
Arsenal deserved the points that lifted them above Manchester City although they would not have expected a helping hand from Virgil van Dijk and Alisson whose comic mix-up allowed Gabriel Martinelli to restore their lead in the 67th minute.
Heading for only their second league defeat of the season, both in north London, Liverpool’s frustrations boiled over as Ibrahima Konate was sent off in the closing minutes for a second booking after a foul on Kai Havertz.
Arsenal’s title challenge had waned at the start of the year but a third successive win lifted them to second on 49 points to Liverpool’s 51 with both clubs having played 23 games. Champions Manchester City, who play on Monday, have 46 from 21 games.
For the fourth Premier League game in a row between the sides Arsenal got their noses in front early.
Nice and Brest share spoils in goalless draw
Ligue 1 chasers Nice and Brest played out a 0-0 draw on Sunday, losing further ground in their pursuit of leaders Paris St Germain.
Second-placed Nice have 39 points and are eight adrift of PSG, with third-placed Brest a further three behind after PSG won 2-1 at Strasbourg on Friday.
Both teams had their chances in the first half, with the game momentarily halted around the half-hour mark due to fireworks being set off just outside the stadium.
While the second half also presented opportunities for both sides, neither team seemed to have the momentum needed to secure a deciding goal.
