 |
Barcelona’s Francesc Fabregas (right) is tackled by Athletic Bilbao’s Andoni Iraola on Sunday. (AP-Yonhap News) |
BARCELONA (AP) ― Barcelona lost its second straight game without injured star Lionel Messi when Athletic Bilbao handed the defending Spanish league champions a 1-0 loss Sunday.
Forward Iker Muniain scored the winner in the 70th minute on a counterattack, taking a cross from Markel Susaeta before Barcelona could recover in defense.
That left Barcelona even with Atletico Madrid and three points ahead of Real Madrid after both rivals won on Saturday.
It was Barcelona’s first loss in the domestic league following 13 wins and one draw, and came five days after it lost 2-1 against 10-man Ajax in the Champions League.
Barcelona hadn’t lost two in a row since March.
“When you lose there are always doubts and questions that arise, but one game had nothing to do with the other,” Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta said.
“We have to correct our mistakes. It’s a loss. That can happen. We shouldn’t see it any other way.”
England
Chelsea advanced to second place in the Premier League on Sunday, beating Southampton 3-1 after giving up a goal 13 seconds into the game. Defending champion Manchester United and Liverpool lost ground in the title race.
John Terry scored in his 400th Premier League appearance after Gary Cahill offset Southampton’s opening goal by Jay Rodriguez at Stamford Bridge. Substitute Demba Ba added a goal in the 90th.
Chelsea trails leader Arsenal by four points. Manchester City moved to third, two points behind Chelsea, after defeating Swansea 3-0 with two goals by Samir Nasri.
City has won all seven home matches this season.
Italy
Fernando Llorente scored during stoppage time to help Juventus defeat Udinese 1-0 and stretch its Italian league lead to three points.
Roma drew 1-1 at Atalanta, with Kevin Strootman scoring in the final minute to preserve Roma’s unbeaten record.
Mario Balotelli’s free kick helped AC Milan beat Catania 3-1 for its first win in six league matches. A last-minute tying goal gave Sampdoria a 1-1 draw at Inter Milan. Cagliari came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 against Sassuolo, and Chievo Verona beat Livorno 3-0.
Germany
Hannover defeated 10-man Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 to end its seven-game Bundesliga run without a win in a game marked by American Steve Cherundolo’s return from injury.
Mame Biram Diouf opened the scoring with a header from Edgar Prib’s cross in the 24th minute, and Szabolcs Huszti secured the outcome with a free kick in the 68th.
Frankfurt midfielder Martin Lanig was sent off in the 57th when he received his second yellow card for his tackle on Artur Sobiech.
France
Paris Saint-Germain restored its four-point lead over Lille at the top of the French league by beating Lyon 4-0.
Edinson Cavani opened the scoring by heading home a corner from Lucas Moura in the 36th minute.
