Manchester City stayed five points clear in the English Premier League title race while Real Madrid opened-up a six-point lead over Barcelona in Spain. However, European action was overshadowed by the shock suicide of Wales national team boss Gary Speed.
ENGLAND: Manchester City are five points clear after a 1-1 draw at Liverpool as British football mourned the death of Gary Speed. City grabbed the lead at Anfield after the half hour mark when captain Vincent Kompany glanced in a header from a David Silva corner.
But just two minutes later Liverpool were level when Charlie Adam’s shot took a huge deflection off City defender Joleon Lescott for an own-goal.
City were reduced to 10 men when striker Mario Balotelli was sent off for a second bookable offence. Earlier in the day, news broke of the death of 42-year-old Speed who was found hanged at his Cheshire home in north-west England.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish withdrew Craig Bellamy, the Wales striker and a close friend of Speed’s, from his squad before kick-off. On Saturday, Manchester United were denied the chance to keep the pressure on City as Demba Ba’s controversial penalty gave 10-man Newcastle a 1-1 draw. Javier Hernandez opened the scoring early in the second half at Old Trafford, but Ba equalised 15 minutes later. Chelsea got back on track with a comfortable 3-0 win against toothless Wolves; third-placed Tottenham enjoyed a 3-1 win at West Bromwich Albion while Arsenal drew 1-1 against Fulham.
SPAIN: Barcelona crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat at Getafe and now trail Real Madrid, who came from a goal down to beat nine-man derby rivals Atletico Madrid 4-1, by six points. It was the first defeat of the season for the reigning Spanish and European champions as Getafe grabbed the three points thanks to a second half header from Juan Valera. Real beat a robust Atletico with the game turning on the first half dismissal of keeper Thibaut Courtois and a penalty converted by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Atletico put their rivals on the back foot with an Adrian Lopez goal on 14 minutes. The key moment came mid-way through the first half when Karim Benzema was upended by the Atletico keeper who was red carded and Ronaldo coolly slotted in from 12 yards.
Angel Di Maria put Real ahead and then substitute Gonzalo Higuain rounded the keeper for the third.
Atletico were reduced to nine men when defender Diego Godin was dismissed for a foul on Higuain and Ronaldo got his second from the resulting penalty.
