European Football Sunday Round-up

Anzhi Makhachkala maintained their two-point cushion over CSKA Moscow at the Russian Premier League summit, with both clubs posting 2-0 away wins today.

Guus Hiddink's Anzhi lost Joao Carlos to a ninth-minute red card, but Gordon Schildenfeld's dismissal seven minutes after the interval evened up the numbers before late goals from Yury Zhirkov and Samuel Eto'o secured the points.

A goal in each half, meanwhile, from Ahmed Musa and Keisuke Honda earned CSKA the triumph at city rivals Spartak Moscow.

Zenit St Petersburg also enjoyed a 2-0 road win, second-half strikes from substitute Konstatin Zyryanov and Viktor Faitzulin sinking Krasnodar and lifting the victors to fourth spot.

Finally, Pavel Ignatovich's third-minute goal was enough to hand Amkar Perm a 1-0 win at Rubin Kazan. The visitors had Zahari Sirakov sent off in the final minute, but there was no time for the hosts to capitalise.

Swedish Allsvenska

IF Elfsborg remain in control at the head of the Allsvenska after a 2-1 win over relegated GAIS today.

Jorgen Lennartsson's side are two points clear after a thrilling win, which was only secured in added time thanks to Oscar Hiljemark's goal.

The Sweden international had opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time but, when Erik Johansson levelled (69), it looked as though IF would be heading back to Boras with just a point.

Hiljemark had other ideas, though, scoring six minutes after Mirza Mujcic saw red for the home side.

News of the result will not have gone down well with second-placed BK Hacken, third-placed Malmo or with AIK who, in fourth, are now five points behind with four to play after losing 1-0 at home to Gefle IF.

Again the game was decided in the last minute, with Jakob Orlov in the right place to pull Per Olsson's side away from the drop zone.

Orebro remain alive, just, after a 2-2 draw with fellow strugglers GIF Sundsvall.

On a dramatic night at the Behrn Arena, Orebro, who are second bottom and now on 16 points, needed a last-minute equaliser to keep GIF - who are 11 points ahead of them in the play-off place - to a draw.

Per-Ola Ljung's side went ahead through Stefan Alander's fifth-minute own goal, but were 2-1 down as Simon Helg and Ari Freyr Skulason turned things around.

There was time for Karl Holmberg to have the final say, although Orebro need a fanciful string of results to keep them up.

Elsewhere, Kalmar FF and Djurgarden shared four goals in an entertaining clash in the south-east.

Joona Toivio's goal early on put Djurgarden ahead, but Jonathan McDonald and Jorgen Skjelvik scored inside three minutes of each other to spin things around.

But Petter Gustafsson was on the spot with eight minutes left to ensure Djurgarden went home with a point.

Finally, second-half goals from Chrisoffer Andersson and Walid Atta helped Helsingborg IF to a 2-0 victory at Mjallby AIF.

Belgian Premier League

Anderlecht's week went from bad to worse as they were beaten 2-1 at Standard Liege today.

John van den Brom's men were humbled 3-0 by Malaga in the Champions League this week, but would have been hopeful of domestic comforts in the defence of their title.

A first-half brace from Frederic Bulot put paid to that, though, with the France Under-21 international hitting back after Milan Jovanovic's ninth-minute opener.

Liege then held on for the win, despite losing Reginal Goreux to a red card (67).

In the day's other game, Club Brugge remained on top of the table thanks to a 1-1 draw with Genk.

On a lively night at Jan Breydel Stadion, Club Brugge went ahead through Carlos Bacca's eight-minute goal and they looked odds-on to get more when Genk lost Anele Ngcongca to a red card after only 14 minutes.

But the visitors had other ideas and Benjamin De Ceulaer levelled eight minutes after half-time.

Turkish Super Lig

Sivasspor missed the chance to claim a share of the Super Lig tonight as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Bursaspor.

The Yigidos started the day three points behind leaders Galatasaray, but ended it two adrift, although they can count themselves lucky to have reduced the deficit at all following a largely dismal showing at 4 Eylul.

They were outplayed for most of the game, with Bursaspor 2-0 ahead through Okan Deniz (13) and Fernando Belluschi (59) heading into the closing stages.

But Riza Calimbay's men were rescued by Jakub Navratil (85) and Michael Eneramo`s third of the season two minutes later.

It was a bad night for Besiktas as they were crushed 3-0 at Fenerbache, with the hosts, and Gokhan Gonul in particular, running riot.

The Turkey international scored twice at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, adding to Moussa Sow's opener on a night when Besiktas had Veli Kavlak sent off.

The day's other game between Mersin Idmanyurdu and Kayserispor was also dramatic, with former Bolton defender Gretar Steinsson earning Shota Arveladze's visitors a 2-1 win.

They took the lead through Silva Cleyton and, even though Marcio Nobre levelled for Mersin, Steinsson had something left (77).

Danish Superliga

Superliga leaders FC Copenhagen were denied a win at Esbjerg tonight as Jacob Ankersen's brace earned the home side a point.

Ariel Jacobs' men had trained to Ankersen's first-half opener but, when Cesar Santin and Nicolai Jorgensen struck, they looked set to be heading for a five-point lead at the top of the table.

Andersen had other ideas, though, scoring three minutes from the end, sending good news to Brondby in the process, where second-placed AaB had beaten Drengene Fra Vestegnen 3-1.

Kasper Kusk got them going in the 15th minute and Nicklas Helenius added a second-half brace before Simon Christoffersen netted a consolation.

Randers FC are fifth after seeing off FC Midtjylland 2-1 at AutoC Park.

Denmark Under-21 midfielder Mads Albaek had put Midtjylland ahead nine minutes in, but Randers hit back and had everything wrapped up before half-time, thanks to goals from Jonas Kamper and Ronnie Schwartz.

In the day's other game, AC Horsens drew 1-1 at Silkeborg, with Martin Svensson rescuing the home team in stoppage time after Anders Bjerregaard had scored two minutes after coming on (77).

Dutch Eredivisie

FC Twente stayed three points clear at the top of the Eredivisie after a 3-0 win at home to nine-man AZ Alkmaar today.

Nacer Chadli opened the scoring after 20 minutes and AZ shot themselves in the foot twice in consecutive minutes early in the second half.

The visitors had Adam Maher sent off in the 51st minute and Jozy Altidore dismissed a minute later and after that it was just a question of how many Twente would get.

Dusan Tadic doubled their advantage with a 60th-minute penalty and Luc Castaignos added a third two minutes later.

PSV Eindhoven moved level on points with Vitesse Arnhem in second with a 4-0 win at home to NAC Breda.

Jeremain Lens put PSV in front in the 24th minute and Ola Toivonen got a second on the stroke of half-time.

Mark van Bommel grabbed number three 11 minutes after the break and Georgino Wijnaldum completed the rout five minutes from time.

Champions Ajax slipped up as they were held 1-1 at home to FC Utrecht to fall five points off the early pace.

Ryan Babel put the Amsterdammers ahead in the sixth minute, but Fabian Sporkslede's own goal just five minutes after coming on ensured a share of the spoils.

Bruno Martins Indi scored a 90th-minute leveller to rescue a 2-2 drew for Feyenoord at FC Groningen.

Sekou Cisse put the visitors ahead in the ninth minute, but goals from Leandro Bacuna and Virgil van Dijk had Groningen ahead at the break.

Swiss Super League

Third-placed FC Sion moved within six points of Swiss Super League leaders Grasshoppers tonight thanks to a 3-2 home win over Lucerne.

The hosts fell behind to Stephan Andrist's 20th-minute penalty but equalised on the half-hour mark through Xavier Margairaz.

Serey Die's red card two minutes later looked to have handed the initiative back, but the 10 men forged ahead through strikes from Kyle Lafferty (38) and Arnaud Buhler (74) before Tomislav Puljic's last-minute consolation.

Basle remained two points behind Sion after also posting a 3-2 home triumph, overcoming an early deficit to sink bottom team Servette.

Two goals in as many minutes from Fabian Schar and David Degen overturned Geoffrey Treand's 12th-minute opener before a third goal from Marco Streller seven minutes after the break put the result beyond doubt. Steven Lang grabbed a second for the visitors in the 64th minute but it was not enough.

Elsewhere, Moreno Costanzo's penalty 15 minutes from time earned Young Boys a 1-1 draw at FC Zurich. The home team had taken a 30th-minute lead through Marco Schonbachler but had Jorge Teixeira sent off just before the equaliser.

Greek Super League

Greece international Jose Holebas scored the only goal of the game as Olympiacos extended their 100 per cent start to the season into a sixth game.

The 28-year-old Germany-born midfielder was in the right place two minutes before the break, ensuring that Leonardo Jardim's side have a three-point lead heading into the international fixtures.

Surprise package Panionios are keeping pace with them in second on 15 points, and recovered from an early setback to win 2-1 at Giannina today.

Brana Ilic's second-minute goal opened the scoring at he Zosimades Stadium, but Fanouris Goundoulakis levelled from the spot (36) and Andreas Lampropoulos completed the comeback 19 minutes from time.

One side notably absent from the early-season pacesetters is Panathinaikos.

A dismal start - by their standards at least - saw them collect six points from five games, but they enjoyed a return to form tonight, winning 2-1 at FC Xanthi.

They looked set for another glum occasion at first, with Marko Markovski putting Nikos Kostenoglou's men in front, but a timely brace from Lazaros Christodoulopoulos ensured a happy trip back to the capital.

Elsewhere, Zelkjo Kalajdzic and Chigozie Udoji netted as Chigozie Udoji won 2-0 at Aris Salonika.

French Ligue 1

Andre-Pierre Gignac and Zlatan Ibrahimovic each netted twice as the top-of-the-table Ligue 1 clash between Marseille and Paris St Germain finished all square.

Gignac opened the scoring at the Stade Velodrome in the 17th minute and then finished it 15 minutes later, after Ibrahimovic's double had turned the game on its head.

The draw meant Marseille retained their three-point lead at the summit.

Lorient and Lyon produced a tight affair that befitted their respective impressive starts to the Ligue 1 season.

The two clubs have firmly established themselves amongst the leading bunch and that showed at the Stade du Moustoir, with a nip-and-tuck encounter unable to separate them.

Third-placed Lyon took the lead in the first half through Bafetimbi Gomez, but Jeremie Aliadiere ensured Lorient would not be beaten a minute after the break.

Bordeaux drew 1-1 against Brest at Stade Francis-Le Ble.

Eden Ben Basat opened the scoring for the hosts before Cheick Diabate levelled for Bordeaux after the break.

Both sides also hit the woodwork in an even contest, which in the end probably produced in a fair result.

Portuguese Liga

Jackson Martinez scored a wonder goal as Porto saw off Sporting Lisbon 2-0 and ruined Oceano`s first game in charge of the visitors.

The Colombian took in Danilo`s 10th-minute pass, flicked it up off his thigh and, with the goal behind him, lobbed Patricio with a brilliant volleyed backheel.

It was a moment of magic from the striker, but it took until six minutes from time for James Rodriguez to make the win safe from the spot.

Sporting had Marcos Rojo sent off (72).

Porto share the lead with Benfica, while Braga are three points behind following a 4-4 draw with Olhanense.

On a fast and furious night at Estadio Municipal de Braga, Liban Abdi opened the scoring for the visitors with four minutes gone, with Helder Barbosa making it 1-1 five minutes later.

Ivanildo Cassama`s brace then fired the Lions two goals clear, before Douglao reduced the deficit. But an own goal from Ruben Amorim saw Olhanense out to 4-2, leaving it to Antonio Eder and Douglao (90) to rescue a point.

Algeria international El Arbi Soudani scored twice as Guimaraes came from behind to win 2-1 at Academica, who had gone in front through Tomas Marinho and had John Ogu sent off (90).

Joao Tomas scored twice as Rio Ave came away from Estoril with a 3-1 win, with Ricardo Tarantini scoring the other for Nuno Espírito Santo`s side.

Diogo Amado scored for the home team who had Joao Paulo sent off.

Elsewhere, Nacional were beaten 1-0 by Gil Vicente and Rafael Silva`s goal, while Vitoria Setubal and Pacos Ferreira drew 0-0.