Quick roundup of some of the European leagues…
Valencia 2 – 2 Barcelona
Barça opener was a classic, Iniesta and Leo Messi involved in a series of one-twos that ripped through the home defence. Valencia rallied, Hedwiges Maduro heading home a 43rd minute corner before Pablo Hernandez bagged their second. Thierry Henry was brought off the bench with half an hour to play and scored an 86th minute equaliser to keep the Catalan bandwagon ticking over to the title.
Fiorentina 4 – 1 Roma
Fiorentina took the lead through a 25-yard beauty from Juan Manuel Vargas. The lead was doubled seconds into the second half through an Alberto Gilardino header. Roma then had Pizarro sent off for his second booking, before Gilardino added a third in the 67th minute and Massimo Gobbi grabbed a fourth minutes later. Julio Baptista netted a late consolation for Roma. No Champions League for the Romans next year, me thinks.
Bayern Munich 0 – 1 Schalke
Bayern fell behind at home to Schalke when big Halil Altıntop, unmarked, headed home a Pander corner after 20 minutes. Both sides finished the match with 10-men as Jones and mad monk Ribery bothed picked up early dismissals.
Bordeaux 4 – 0 Vannes
This was the ‘Coupe De La Ligue final‘ for those of you either didn’t know or don’t care. Bordeaux took no prisoners in against lowly Ligue 2 side Vannes, as Wendel, Planus and Gouffran rattled in three goals inside the fist 12 minutes while Gourcuff added a fourth before the break.
Borussia Dortmund 2 – 0 Hamburg
Werder Bremen 3 – 2 Bochum
Sevilla 2 – 4 Real Madrid
Can they do it? Barça’s lead is down to 4 points. Sevilla struck first, Perotti’s brilliant cross with the outside of the boot was headed in by Renato. The buggers in white levelled just before the interval, Raul scoring with a header from Sergio Ramos’ cross. Raul put Real in front when he slid home the visitors’ second on 63 minutes, three minutes later Raul completing his hat-trick as Real took total control of the match. But Sevilla hit back, Diego Capel pulling a goal back 10 minutes from time, only for Marcelo to wrap up the win with Real’s fourth at the death.
Getafe 1 – 2 Villarreal
Villarreal are making a hell of a play for the Champions League next season, taking the lead at Getafe when home keeper Stojkovic spilled a free-kick and Joan Capdevila was on hand to bundle the ball over the line. Joseba Llorente netted the Yellow Submarine’s second minutes before the break. Moral netted for increasingly relegation-threatened Getafe in the second half.
Espanyol 2 – 0 Real Betis
That’s 4 wins and a draw in 5 matches for Barcelona’ss other team. Espanyol scored after just four minutes against Betis, laphead Ivan de la Pena played a perfect ball through to Luis Garcia who made no mistake in front of goal.
Napoli 1 – 0 Inter Milan
Couldn’t care less about this, truth be known.
AC Milan 3 – 0 Palermo
Kaka converted from the spot to put Milan ahead against Palermo. The Rossoneri quickly chalked up their second, Ambrosini crossing for Pippo Inzaghi to head home number two. Palermo’s task became impossible after Bovo picked up a second yellow seconds into the second half. And after an intense period of pressure Kaka was pushed over to win a second penalty which the Brazilian converted.
Ajax 1 – 1 AZ Alkmaar
Newly crowned champs Alkmaar had a fun away day in amsterdam, AZ boss Louis van Gaal even able to field some youngsters, Jeremain Lens taking his opportunity by scoring a fine solo goal after 23 minutes. AZ lost Schaars just before the hour mark, and minutes later Ajax blew the chance to level when Suarez missed a cheeky penalty as the managed to catch his dinked effort. Three minutes from time Luis Suarez had a second chance, this time converting inside the post.
Increasingly middle-aged and increasingly disillusioned by modern football, I want to share with you how good football used to be before it was ruined by money. 
