Mixed fortunes for Neymar as PSG are held at Marseille
EUROPEAN ROUND-UP NEYMAR equalised before being sent off as Paris Saint-Germain were held to a 2-2 draw by Marseille last night.
The Ligue 1 leaders had Edinson Cavani to thank as the Uruguayan striker levelled in the last minute for PSG after the world’s most expensive player had been given his marching orders following two bookable offences in as many minutes at the Stade Velodrome.
Luiz Gustavo had given the hosts a 16th-minute lead but Neymar drew parity 12 minutes before the break. Florian Thauvin’s goal in the 78th minute looked to have inflicted a first defeat of the season on the Parisians until Cavani’s late intervention earned his side a point to move four points clear of champions Monaco in second.
In Spain, Real Madrid ran out comfortable 3-0 winners over Eibar at the Bernabeu to move third in La Liga, five points behind leaders Barcelona.
Paulo Oliviera’s own goal gave Real the lead on 18 minutes, Marcos Asensio doubled their advantage ten minutes later and Marcelo struck a third eight minutes from time to complete a facile victory for the European champions.
Gerard Deulofeu’s controversial early goal set Barcelona on their way to a 2-0 win over bottom club Malaga at the Nou Camp on Saturday.
Lucas Digne weaved into the left side of the Malaga penalty area, but took the ball over the line and out of play before he crossed for Deulofeu to flick the ball in for his first Barcelona goal.
THUMPING
Second-placed Valencia had earlier closed the gap on the Catalans by thumping Sevilla 4-0 at the Mestalla, but Barca never looked likely to slip up after that start and Andres Iniesta’s 56th-minute strike stretched Malaga’s winless run to nine matches.
In Italy, Sami Khedira scored a hat-trick as 10-man Juventus recovered to beat Udinese 6-2 at the Dacia Arena.
A poor start for Juve saw Stipe Perica power home the opener, but Samir’s own goal levelled things up in the 14th minute.
Khedira headed in to turn the match around though before Mario Mandzukic was dismissed for collecting two bookings.
Danilo equalised for Udinese just after half-time but Daniele Rugani nodded in Juve’s third before turning provider for Khedira’s second in the 59th minute.
Three minutes from time the Germany midfielder clinched his first career treble after bursting into the Udinese box and there was even time for Miralem Pjanic to add a sixth late on.
Napoli lead Inter by two points at the top of Serie A after the pair drew 0-0 on Saturday with Juve and Lazio a further point behind.