Deco sees red as Valencia shock leaders Barcelona
Two quick goals early in the second half from Miguel Angel Angulo and David Silva settled a hotly-contested match, which saw Valencia’s David Albelda and Barca’s Deco sent off for a pair of ugly challenges near the hour mark.
Ronaldinho pulled a goal back for the visitors with a free-kick in injury time.
Real Madrid dropped to fourth after they were held 0-0 at home by Real Betis on Saturday with David
Beckham sent off.
The former England captain was shown a straight red card in injury-time after scything down Isidoro from behind.
Second-place Sevilla went level with Frank Rijkaard’s side after they beat Atletico Madrid 3-1.
Ex Spurs’ striker Freddy Kanoute opened their account, Alves then got the second before Kanoute struck again to made it 3-0.
Atletico’s Ibanez earned a consolation in the dying minutes.
In Italy, AC Milan, who face Celtic in Glasgow tomorrow night in the Champions League, earned a last-gasp 4-3 win in Siena as Ronaldo scored twice and set up another goal on his first start for the club.
Brazilian Ricardo Oliveiro also scored for Milan while former Middlesbrough forward Massimo Maccarone scored twice for Siena.
Palermo’s rapidly fading title Challenge suffered another blow as the Sicilians were held to a 1-1 home draw by lowly Chievo.
Inter Milan won their 16th league match in a row on Saturday with a 1-0 success over Cagliari. Lazio beat
Torino 2-0 thanks to a Goran Pandev double.
Parma — now coached by ex-Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri — saw their relegation woes continue with a 1-0 home defeat by Sampdoria while Fiorentina claimed a 1-0 win at Catania.
Bayern Munich — who visit the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid tomorrow — continued their dismal form as a 10th-minute goal from Alexander Klitzpera gave Aachen victory in the Bundesliga.
Bayern have now won just one of their last five games in Germany.
Leaders Schalke had to settle for a draw after letting slip a two-goal lead against Wolfsburg.
In France, Lille are reeling from a morale-sapping defeat ahead of Tuesday’s visit from United in the Champions League last 16.
Lille were nine minutes away from beating Gerard Houllier’s Lyon at home on Friday night when they conceded an Brazilian Fred equalised.
Dejection then followed disappointment for Lille as Lyon’s Sébastien Squillaci snatched a winner from an 89th minute set-piece.
Lyon are now an incredible 18 points ahead of Lille, who remain third in France’s Ligue 1 with local rivals Lens in second place.
Lyon face Roma in the Italian capital on Wednesday.
Dutch Champions PSV Eindhoven, who host Arsenal tomorrow stopped the rot with a 2-0 win at
Heracles Almelo that will ensure they retain leadership of the Eredivisie.
A run of only one point from their last three games had allowed second-placed Ajax to cut the gap from 11 points to three, but PSV’s win ensured Ronald Koeman’s team will remain on top.
Farfan broke the deadlock after 74 minutes and substitute Diego Tardelli added another in stoppage time.
Porto crushed Naval 4-0 in the Portuguese Premier League on Friday as they warmed up for Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Chelsea and a reunion with ex-coach Jose Mourinho.
Porto who are top, six points clear of Sporting Lisbon, saw Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez score in each half.
Porto doubled their lead through Lucho Gonzalez after Naval goalkeeper Pedro Taborda could only parry a cross from defender Pepe.
Substitute Brazilian striker Adriano completed the rout with the fourth goal when he headed home.
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