Porto grabbed the initiative in Portugal, the champions’ latest 2-0 success at Braga opening up a narrow one-point lead at the top of the Liga Sagres over Benfica and Sporting who could only draw with Belenenses and Nacional.
In Spain Barcelona thrashed Numancia 4-1 to maintain their 12-point advantage over Madrid who limped to a 1-0 win over Deportivo. Meanwhile Jose Mourinho survived life in Italy without suspended top scorer Ibrahimovic when a solitary Adriano strike proved good enough for Inter to defeat Sampdoria while Juventus beat Fiorentina and David Beckham found himself on the score sheet during AC Milan’s 4-1 romp at Bolonga.
