Fuente : UEFA (English)
http://www.uefa.com/

Football Europe: Dazzling Lens light up Ligue 1

/noticias.info/ Paris Saint-Germain FC may lead Ligue 1 after four rounds of matches, but the weekend headlines were stolen by RC Lens as they warmed up for tomorrow's UEFA Intertoto Cup final by registering a 7-0 win against previously unbeaten AJ Auxerre.

European matches
Daniel Cousin, Olivier Thomert and Jussiê were Auxerre's chief tormentors by each scoring twice, with Yohan Demont adding the other. The victory leaves Lens - who tackle CFR Cluj for a place in the UEFA Cup tomorrow - in third place, a point behind PSG and Olympique Lyonnais. Lyon briefly wrested top spot on Saturday as they left it late to defeat AS Nancy-Lorraine 1-0, only for the Parisians to end the weekend on top despite drawing 1-1 against ES Troyes Aube Champagne following the 56th-minute dismissal of Edouard Cissé. AS Monaco FC were beaten 1-0 by FC Girondins de Bordeaux, hardly ideal preparation for Tuesday's UEFA Champions League qualifier against Real Betis Balompié.

Drogba winner
The three English clubs who will also conclude their European qualifying campaigns were all victorious at the weekend as Manchester United FC, Liverpool FC and Everton FC each recorded 1-0 victories against Aston Villa FC, Sunderland AFC and Bolton Wanderers FC. United are one of four teams on maximum points after two matches, the others being Tottenham Hotspur FC, top on goal difference, Charlton Athletic FC and Chelsea FC. The champions defeated London rivals Arsenal FC yesterday, Didier Drogba inadvertently scoring the second-half winner with his knee.

Belgian hopefuls
Belgium's two Champions League candidates RSC Anderlecht and Club Brugge KV registered weekend victories ahead of their midweek return legs in Europe. Anderlecht, who take a 2-1 lead to SK Slavia Praha on Wednesday, remain top of the table with a 100 per cent record after a 3-1 victory over KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen on Saturday, while Brugge saw off promoted KSV Roeselare 1-0 - a scoreline they will have to overturn when they face Norway's Vålerenga IF in the Champions League.

PSV up and running
Barry van Galen struck twice in the second half on Sunday to inspire AZ Alkmaar to a 2-1 win at FC Utrecht that puts them top of the Dutch Eredivisie. Feyenoord joined Alkmaar on six points after three goals in 12 minutes sealed a 3-1 Rotterdam derby against Sparta. RKC Waalwijk are also on six points thanks to a 2-1 home victory against FC Groningen. Champions PSV Eindhoven recorded their first win when coming from behind to beat SBV Vitesse 2-1, while AFC Ajax won their delayed season opener 2-0 at RBC Roosendaal.

Porto triumph
Ricardo Costa scored the solitary goal as FC Porto began their Portuguese Liga campaign with a 1-0 home win against CF Estrela da Amadora on Sunday. Sporting Clube de Portugal won their opening fixture against CF Os Belenenses 2-1 on Friday night but the champions SL Benfica were held to a 0-0 draw by A. Académica de Coimbra. In Scotland, Rangers FC defeated Celtic FC 3-1 in the Glasgow derby, although Heart of Midlothian FC are top courtesy of a 2-0 success against Aberdeen FC.

Trophy success
The first silverware of the season was handed out in Italy and Spain at the weekend as FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale Milano each lifted their version of the Super Cup. Barça lost 2-1 at Camp Nou to Real Betis Balompié but prevailed 4-2 on aggregate. Betis coach Llorenç Serra Ferrer, recognising the slim chance of a comeback, had Tuesday's Champions League third qualifying round trip to Monaco on his mind and understandably rested the majority of his first-choice side. Argentinian midfielder Juan Sebastián Verón struck the only goal of the Italian Super Cup final in extra time to defeat Juventus FC.

Cup action
There was also Coppa Italia action at the weekend, with relegated Atalanta BC turning on the style to defeat AC Siena 4-0 away. Lowly AS Cittadella are also through after stunning Serie A outfit AS Livorno Calcio 3-2. In Germany, 1. FC Köln were the only Bundesliga casualties from the opening two sets of German Cup first-round matches as they lost 3-1 to second division OFC Kickers 1901 on Saturday. VfB Stuttgart also survived a scare as Jon Dahl Tomasson scored an extra-time winner to end the resistance of TSG Hoffenheim. notas_de_prensa_archivo