The Centre Circle

With Chelsea involved in the FA Cup and Arsenal not having a game Man Utd had an opportunity to claim top spot in the Barclays Premiership with a win. A bright afternoon in the North West saw a battle between an improving Blackburn side unbeaten at home since Jan 14th when they were defeated 0-1 by Aston Villa, and United licking their wounds after being eliminated from Europe in midweek.

The football was lively at Ewood Park at the start of the game but despite the energy, there were few real chances. Van De Sar made a comfortable save from a Chris Samba header after 8 minutes and after 25 minutes Paul Robinson at the other end blocked a fierce low drive from Valencia. Just after the half hour, Samba picked up an ankle injury and was replaced by Ryan Nelsen. Almost immediately, Nani’s decent effort from the left hand side curled narrowly wide. The best chance of the half came three minutes from the break. Robinson’s poor clearance out from goal found Berbatov who’s clever played in Valencia clear in on goal but the Blackburn goalkeeper redeemed himself making a great save with his legs. Frustration for Ferguson and his troops as referee Peter Walton blew his whistle for half time.

At the start of the second half, it looked as if Sam Allardyce  had geed his players up, as they were bossing the game and seemed to have more energy; unusual for Man Utd being the ones having to play on the break. Ferguson tried to freshen things up 55 mins as Giggs was substituted for Darren Gibson. Man Utd’s first chance of the second half came from a free kick 30 yards out but Nani’s effort sailed over the bar. A few minutes later, Berbatov had a shot blocked and the rebound came to Gibson on the edge of the box but his effort was a couple of yards wide. Finally United were waking from their Sunday afternoon slumber. Scholes’ wonderful ball found Gary Neville who played it back to Berbatov, but the ball seemed to get stuck under his feet and his shot was easily held by Robinson. The United pressure was heavy but Blackburn were defending doggedly and in numbers. Late on Ferdinand picked up a groin injury and Man Utd having used all their substitutes, one wondered if United if would struggle in the final minutes if Blackburn attacked him. Neville’s block from Nzonzi’s shot may have kept the game level, and when the same player’s effort dribbled past Blackburn’s right hand post, you knew it wasn’t going to be United’s day.

So both Chelsea and Arsenal will be delighted with this result, and Ferguson will have to pick up his team before next week’s crucial Manchester derby at Eastlands.

This tightly contested game in Florence ended all square; a blow to Inter’s title hopes and they may lose top spot in Serie A this Sunday when Roma take on Atlalanta. A win for Roma will lift them a point clear at the top.

Fiorentina took the lead in the 11th minute when Brazilian Keirrison neatly finished from a Gianluca Comotto centre. Inter dominated most of the possession but were unable to break through until the 75th minute when Maicon picked a ball from a Sneijder pass and his cross was guided home by Milito. Five minutes late, a carbon copy goal gave Inter the lead, this time substitute Mario Balotelli squared for Samuel Eto’o to finish. The lead unfortunately did not last more than a minute. From a corner, the ball was flicked by an Inter head and in the scramble the player to react first was Fiorentina’s Danish defender Kroldrup  who poked the ball home.

Extended highlights of the game below in Italian.

Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona

Barcelona tightened their grip on La Liga after this victory over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. They now sit 3 points clear at the top of the division with a slightly better goal difference. Yet again it was Lionel Messi who broke the deadlock starting and finishing a move from a free kick on the left hand side, with a little help from Xavi, who played him in with a lovely chipped pass.

Xavi created the second for Pedro who breaking through the Madrid defence opened his body before sweeping the ball past Casillas. Barcelona were never troubled, although Madrid have a late goal chalked off from Raul following a debatable handball.

Goal highlights below…