Ronaldo faces Schick in battle of top marksmen from last Euros
Bayern Munich eased into the German Cup semi-finals with a 3-0 victory over 10-man VfL Bochum on Wednesday with Robert Lewandowski scoring twice to keep their treble hopes on track.
Barcelona eased into the Champions League quarter-finals with a 4-1 aggregate victory over Manchester City on Wednesday and Paris St Germain joined them after overwhelming Bayer Leverkusen 6-1 over the two legs of their last-16 tie.
The Real Madrid midfielder dislocated his right shoulder during his side's 3-0 defeat by Bayer Leverkusen.
Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg lost 1-0 at home to Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday but eased into the UEFA Cup semi-finals for the first time thanks to their 4-1 lead from the first leg. Zenit, coached by Dutchman Dick Advocaat, had an anxious time defending their advantage as Leverkusen attacked their goalmouth with vigour from the opening whistle.
Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich suffered their first league defeat in 18 months when they slumped to a 1-0 loss at Augsburg on Saturday as Sascha Moelder's first-half strike ended their record 53-game unbeaten league run.
A summary of Saturday's action in LaLiga, Bundesliga and Serie A.
Italy striker Luca Toni scored twice to steer Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich to a 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich powered past third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0 with an impressive display of high-pressing football on Sunday.
Arsenal sailed through the Europa League group stages, winning five of their six group matches and take on Sporting next, who overcame Denmark's FC Midtjylland in their playoff.
Thomas Tuchel is regarded as one of the most progressive tacticians in the game, albeit a coach not afraid to ruffle feathers.
Manchester United's veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs was outstanding in a commanding midfield role as United outclassed the Germans to book their place in the knockout phase of the Champions league.
A wrap of the football matches played across Europe over the weekend.
Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick for Real Madrid illuminated an opening night goals bonanza as the leading contenders began the Champions League group stage with a bang on Tuesday.
Late Tchouameni header gives Real Madrid 2-1 Las Palmas win and top spot
Daniel Sturridge led Liverpool to a great win over Swansea while Gareth Bale helped Real Madrid to go top of the La Liga table, after shock defeats of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, with a 3-0 win over Elche at the weekend. Chelsea clung to top place in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Everton, while Bayern Munich opened a 19-point lead in the Bundesliga with their 14th successive league win while closest rivals Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund lost. Rediff.com brings you a glance of the footballers of the weekend.
Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said there would a 'a new direction' next season with a new coach.
The Spanish giants drew 1-1 at home to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.
Lionel Messi's knack for finding the net continued for an 18th consecutive league match as Barcelona restored their 13-point lead in La Liga.
Bayern Munich demolished Schalke 04 4-0 with two goals from David Alaba to open a 15-point gap at the top of the Bundesliga on Saturday as champions Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen slipped up.
Substitute Joel Pohjanpalo scored a hat-trick in the last 11 minutes to fire Bayer Leverkusen to a 3-1 win at home to Hamburg SV on an afternoon of late Bundesliga drama on Saturday.
Wayne Rooney scored twice against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday to reach 200 Manchester United goals as he enjoys a new lease of life under David Moyes who thinks he can become one of the club's greatest predators.
Wayne Rooney scored twice against Bayer Leverkusen to reach 200 Manchester United goals as he enjoys a new lease of life under David Moyes who thinks he can become one of the club's greatest predators.
Since the billionaire from Russia took control of the London club in 2003, Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti have all left Stamford Bridge after failing to reach the Holy Grail.
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech returned to full training on Tuesday after a knee ligament injury, handing the Premier League club a boost before their Champions League opener against Bayer Leverkusen next week.
Marco Ruben's header put Villarreal up to third in La Liga with a 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, after Valencia fell to a solitary Ivan Rakitic strike in a pulsating encounter with Sevilla.
Mueller scores brace in is 200th Bundeliga match
Lionel Messi played down his impact at Barcelona on Monday, saying coach Pep Guardiola is more important to the Catalans.
Barcelona's bid for a fourth straight La Liga title is foundering due to their erratic away form but Tuesday's 3-1 Champions League victory at Bayer Leverkusen suggests they are unlikely to suffer the same problem in Europe.
Mario Mandzukic scored one goal and created the other as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich pulled 11 points clear of their nearest title rivals with a 2-0 victory at VfB Stuttgart on Sunday.
Rediff.com takes a look at the footballers who are making an impact recently despite a protective gear.
The Londoners have lost three of their last four English Premier League matches including two in a row at home against Arsenal and Liverpool.
Former Germany captain Michael Ballack announced his retirement at the age of 36 on Tuesday to end a career in which he played for Bayern Munich and Chelsea and helped his country reach the 2002 World Cup final.
Bayern Munich slumped to a shock home defeat by Borussia Moenchengladbach in their opening Bundesliga match on Sunday following a blunder by their most expensive new signings.
Former captain Michael Ballack has described as a 'farce' an offer to end his Germany career with a friendly against Brazil in August, saying on Friday he was not being treated with respect by coach Joachim Loew.
Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak was the hero as the Spanish side reached the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the fourth year in a row after drawing 0-0 with Bayer Leverkusen in an open last-16 second leg.
Bayern Munich climbed to the top of the Bundesliga on Saturday after an Arjen Robben goal 12 minutes from time secured a thrilling 3-2 win at Werder Bremen.
AS Roma head coach Jose Mourinho has been suspended for their next four matches in the Europa League.
The first legs of the ties will take place on February 16, with the return match a week later on February 23.
