Budding and veteran internationals made their mark in Europe with Perugia shocking AC Milan 1-0 and allowing Inter to go three points clear in Italy and Barcelona surrendering a two-goal lead as their winless streak continued on Sunday.
The status quo was unaltered in England and Germany as both Arsenal and Manchester United drew their premier league matches 1-1 while Bayern Munich's draw by the same score in Germany was marked by a record unbeaten run for keeper Oliver Kahn.
The unpredictability of the French league also continued with Olympique Marseille, 2-0 winners at Ajaccio, snatching the lead as their Riviera rivals Monaco and Nice both drew.
The big Dutch derby between Ajax and Feyenoord in Amsterdam also ended 1-1, while Celtic's Henrik Larsson finished up in hospital with a broken jaw sustained during his team's 2-1 win at home to Livingston in the Scottish premier league.
FIRST CALL-UP
Perugia striker Fabrizio Miccoli struck a superb winner in the 1-1 home draw against Milan days after being named in the Italy squad for the first time for the friendly international against Portugal in Genoa on Wednesday.
David Trezeguet, in the France squad to play the Czech Republic in Paris, scored an early winner for Juventus against Empoli from the penalty spot to lift the Italian champions above Milan in second place on goal difference.
Inter pulled clear with a 3-0 home win over Reggina although Christian Vieri, who scored the opening goal, later suffered a knee injury which rules him out of Italy's game against Portugal. His substitute Mohammed Kallon scored the other two.
Argentina veteran Diego Simeone, his country's former captain and only player with more than 100 caps, is showing signs of his best form after being overlooked for the friendly against the Netherlands in Amsterdam.
The fighting midfielder scored his second goal on successive weekends to help Lazio draw 1-1 at home to Torino and could be forgiven if he suggested Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa adds the match
BARCA FRUSTRATION
Dutch winger Marc Overmars, also out of the Amsterdam match, scored Barcelona's second after Argentina's young striker Javier Saviola, who will be there, had headed the opener with a stealthy run to the near post.
Barcelona, scoring twice in 13 minutes, looked en route to a much-needed first league win in five matches under new coach Radomic Antic but Athletic Bilbao hit back to draw 2-2 at the Nou Camp where Barca ended up struggling to avoid a fourth straight defeat.
A roll call of the world's best players -- Raul, Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo, who will be with Brazil in China on Wednesday -- got on the score sheet as Real Madrid crushed Real Betis 4-1 on Saturday.
The goal-scoring quartet will all be in international action on Wednesday with Paul leading the Spanish attack against Germany in Palma, Majorca, Figo in Genoa with Portugal and Zidane at the Stade de France in Paris.
The European champions are only two points behind leaders Real Sociedad, who were held to a 0-0 draw by Espanyol.
In England, substitute Shaun Goater headed an 86th-minute goal with his first touch to earn Manchester City a 1-1 draw away to Manchester United.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has scored eight goals in United's last nine matches, should lead the Dutch attack against Argentina on Wednesday.
Arsenal were held 1-1 at Newcastle United, who equalised through French winger Laurent Robert in the 53rd, five minutes before he was sent off for a second bookable offence. France's Thierry Henry had put Arsenal ahead with his 18th league goal.
Arsenal remain three points clear of United with Newcastle third, eight points adrift of the champions but with a game in hand.
In Germany, a last-minute goal by Hamburg SV's Japanese striker Naohiro Takahara stunned Bayern and ended Kahn's Bundesliga record of more than 800 minutes without conceding a goal. Bayern are eight points clear at the top of the standings.
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