Liverpool continued their revival with a 4-1 home win over Porto while Real Madrid lost 2-3 at Werder Bremen in Wednesday night's Champions League matches.
Roma came from behind to beat Real Madrid while Chelsea were held in Tuesday night's Champions League matches.
The Colombian forward is heading to Italian champions Juventus on loan.
Barcelona's fourth defeat of the season left them seventh in the standings on 14 points after 10 games, 12 points behind leaders Atletico.
Israel international Yossi Benayoun scored a hat-trick as the 2005 champions and runners-up last season overwhelmed Besiktas in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Manchester United's woes deepened as stunning goals by Moussa Sow and Jeremain Lens gave Fenerbahce a 2-1 Europa League win on Thursday that left Jose Mourinho's side facing a battle to reach the knockout stages.
Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld was relieved to see Bayern Munich restore normal service at the Allianz Arena with a 2-0 win over Karlsruhe on Saturday.
Real Madrid football director Benito Floro said earlier this week that he wanted to sign the England midfielder.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Saturday
United are 16th in the standings with a game in hand heading into the international break.
Real Madrid extended their unbeaten run to 25 matches and rejoined Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga when Jese, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric scored in a 3-0 win at Getafe on Sunday.
Barcelona snatched a late 2-1 win at Getafe with Paulinho's strike sending them seven points clear of arch-rivals Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.
Inter, Liverpool sweating on last-16 spots
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar will be among the many high-profile guests gracing the premier Laureus World Sports Awards Ceremony, scheduled to be held in Shanghai on April 15.
Champions Bayern Munich comfortably beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 in the Bundesliga season opener on Friday to lay down a marker as they eye a record-extending sixth straight German league title.
Atletico Madrid demonstrated their remarkable team spirit to come roaring back from two goals and a man down to draw 2-2 at Liga debutants Girona on Saturday, after Antoine Griezmann had been sent off for the first time in his career.
South African winger Bryan Habana and flyhalf Handre Pollard fell just short in their bids for individual records despite helping the Springboks to a 24-13 win over Argentina in the bronze medal playoff at the Olympic Stadium on Friday.
Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich were made to work extremely hard for a 3-1 victory at VfB Stuttgart on Saturday that sent them eight points clear at the top of the table with five games left.
Memphis Depay scored one goal and put in an exhilarating all-round display as the Netherlands outclassed Germany 3-0 in their UEFA Nations League clash.
The 31-year-old said he was no longer physically capable of playing for both his country and German club Schalke 04.
Photos from the Champions League matches played across Europe on Tuesday.
Last season's UEFA Cup semi-finalists marched into the last 32 with their third successive win in the group stage.
Premier League title race looks poised to be one of the most thrilling in years.
Olivier Giroud scored the decisive spot kick as Arsenal beat Chelsea 4-1 in a penalty shootout to win the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.
They easily beat Monaco 3-0 to win the European Cup for the second time in their history.
The Porto coach gave up the chance to parade the European Cup around the Arena AufSchalke pitch to spend time with his family.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Saturday
A slip-up could spell the end of their hopes of making the next round in the Champions League.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is confident Cristiano Ronaldo's three-match ban will be reduced to two so he can play in Saturday's La Liga game at home to Elche.
The Chelsea coach said his side's win over Besiktas had been a great test of character in the face of a hostile crowd.
Borussia Dortmund and Feyenoord, who contested the 2002 final, were dumped by French club Sochaux and Czech outsiders Teplice respectively.
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.
Cristiano Ronaldo's agent has defended the FIFA Ballon d'Or winner after he was criticised for throwing a lavish 30th birthday party on Saturday hours after Real Madrid's 4-0 La Liga drubbing at Atletico.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances