The value of an in-form striker was underlined as Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao needed goals from pivotal front men to grab vital wins that booked places in the Europa League last 32 on Thursday.
Gonzalo Higuain burst into life by scoring a hat-trick in the final half hour, his first league goals of the season, to help Rafael Benitez's erratic Napoli thrash Verona 6-2 in Serie A on Sunday.
Manchester United agreed to sell Argentine international Juan Sebastian Veron to Chelsea for 15 million pounds.
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was pleased with his side's performance in recovering from 1-0 down with 10 men to beat Lazio 2-1 at Rome's Olympic Stadium on Sunday.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
The Argentine striker joined the Italian club on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
Italy will even be back to four teams in the Champions League group stage this season -- although that is thanks to a controversial re-formulation of the competition by UEFA rather than a significant improvement in performances by Serie A clubs.
The Arsenal forward broke the record just five minutes into the match, taking his tally to 38 with his national side at the Kazan Arena, Kazan.
'So, the Champions League final will be played between two teams who just don't know when they are beaten,' says Suhit K Sen.
Valencia have agreed to sign Mali midfielder Seydou Keita on a contract until the end of June with an option for one more season, the La Liga club said on Wednesday.
Italian champions Juventus fell to their third defeat inside a week with a 2-0 loss to Lazio in Serie A.
Celtic's Henrik Larsson scored once but had a penalty saved as Portuguese underdogs Boavista held the Scottish champions 1-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Cup semi-final.
The Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez double act struck again on Sunday with both players scoring to give Juventus a 2-0 win at AC Milan which strengthened their grip on Serie A.
Real Madrid became the first team to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League.
Triple European champions Manchester United and their under-fire coach Louis van Gaal face a tricky task against little-known Midtjylland in the last 32 of the Europa League following Monday's draw.
In other Champions League matches, Manchester United beat Scottish champions Rangers while Chelsea impressed while beating Lazio.
European champions AC Milan beat Lazio 1-0 at the San Siro on Sunday to join Juventus at the top of Serie A.
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AS Roma's dramatic Champions League elimination by Porto, thanks to a late penalty awarded with a VAR review, was a 'terrible way to go out', their captain Daniele De Rossi said on Wednesday.
Juventus landed a fourth successive Serie A crown, and their first under coach Massimiliano Allegri, with four games to spare by winning 1-0 at Sampdoria on Saturday.
Borussia Dortmund snatched a late goal at Atalanta to progress with a 1-1 draw, while AC Milan and Atletico Madrid, both with three-goal leads from the away legs, completed the formality of qualifying with 1-0 wins at home on Thursday.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
News of all that transpired on and off the football field on Friday
China can challenge for World Cup glory by 2026 , says Eriksson.
Italy coach Antonio Conte is among 130 people who face formal investigation.
Manchester United flirted with calamity before coasting into the Europa League last 16 as debutant Marcus Rashford helped them overcome an early blow with two goals in a 5-1 home victory over Midtjylland on Thursday.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Thursday.
Real Madrid dropped points for the third time in seven games since Zinedine Zidane's return as they were held to a 0-0 draw away to Getafe in La Liga on Thursday, which harmed their neighbours' hopes of a top-four finish.
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