Manchester United took over at the top of the Premier League while Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi could be out for up to two months with a knee injury and rampant Bayern Munich extended their perfect start to seven league wins.
Barcelona's 100 per cent start to the season was ended by Catalonian neighbours Girona, who picked up a draw at the Nou Camp, allowing Real Madrid to take advantage with a victory over Espanyol.
Twice former winners Benfica came from behind to beat the English side 2-1 to reach the last 16 of the tournament.\nA round-up of Wednesday's matches.
Leading striker Samuel Eto'o will also miss the Champions League Group C match at Udinese because of a bruised ankle.
Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o finished with 26 goals as he scored in his side's 3-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao.
Zinedine Zidane, Walter Samuel and Michel Salgado will sit out during the match against Real Sociedad
Manchester United visit Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday with manager Alex Ferguson under extreme pressure following Saturday's 4-1 thrashing at Middlesbrough.
Barcelona beat AC Milan on a 1-0 aggregate, after the second leg semi-final ended goalless.
Arsenal beat Villarreal on a 1-0 aggregate after the second leg semi-final ended goalless.
An impudent individual goal from Philippe Coutinho steered Liverpool comfortably into the quarter-finals of the Europa League on Thursday after a 1-1 draw at bitter rivals Manchester United completed a 3-1 aggregate win.
The Manchester United striker was handed a two-match ban following his sending-off in the Champions League match at Villarreal last week.
Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini has warned his players against relying on defence when they play Ajax Amsterdam for a place in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
The Spanish champions went through on 3-2 aggregate after the second leg pre-quarter-final ended 1-1. Juventus and Villarreal also made it to the quarter-finals.
Real Madrid wasted a chance to keep the pressure on the top two in La Liga with a 2-2 draw away to Osasuna where Sergio Ramos was sent off and record signing Gareth Bale substituted.
Villarreal went through to the group stage on a 4-2 aggregate crashing Everton's Champions League.
Barcelona earned a valuable 2-1 away win at Chelsea, with the home side playing most of the match with only 10 men.
Inter Milan staged a fierce second-half fightback to draw 2-2 at Ajax Amsterdam.
Werder Bremen scored two late goals to snatch a 3-2 win at home to Juventus and give themselves a chance of making the Champions League quarter-finals.
Ronaldo was named in the Real Madrid squad for Saturday's home league match against Espanyol after a month out with a calf strain.
Real Madrid striker Ronaldo suffered a recurrence of a calf injury during the 0-0 draw at Villarreal on Sunday.
Villarreal's Brazilian midfielder Marcos Senna tested positive for two banned substances.
Atletico Madrid's Brazilian striker Diego Costa scored twice as they came from behind to beat Levante 3-2 at home on Saturday to go three points clear at the top of La Liga.
Real Madrid are on the verge of reaching the King's Cup quarter-finals after winning 3-0 at Numancia on Thursday while holders Barcelona still have work to do after being held to a 1-1 draw at Celta Vigo.
IMAGES from soccer matches played in the EPL, La Liga and Serie A on Tuesday.
Atletico Madrid secured a berth in the Champions League group stage for next season and Deportivo La Coruna narrowly escaped relegation when they came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at champions Barcelona on the final day in La Liga on Saturday.
Real Betis came from a goal down to earn a 3-2 win at home to Real Zaragoza and stay in the hunt for a spot in the elite league.
Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba handed Olympique Marseille a slender 1-0 lead over Inter Milan in quarter-final, first leg match.
"More than the 4-0 scoreline, the most important effect of our win is the psychological blow," said Ronaldinho.
The Portugal forward will miss Real's league games against Villarreal, Getafe and Elche but will be available for the King's Cup semi-final, first leg at home to holders Atletico Madrid later on Wednesday and the return game next week.
It's been a week now since Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo hobbled off the pitch after injuring his thigh against Villarreal during a La Liga match last Wednesday.
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