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European league roundup: City win Manchester derby, Real Madrid on top

Things may be getting worse at Old Trafford with Manchester United consigned to its worst 10-game start…

European league roundup: City win Manchester derby, Real Madrid on top

A summer spree of $250 million on new players was supposed to restore the dwindling fortunes of Manchester United.

If anything, things may be getting worse at Old Trafford.

United was consigned to its worst 10-game start to an English league season since 1986 by losing 1-0 at fierce rival Manchester City on Sunday, leaving the 20-time champions in ninth place with just half the points – 13 – of unbeaten Premier League leader Chelsea.

In the Spanish league, the logjam remains at the top after Valencia won and Sevilla lost.

ENGLAND

Sergio Aguero kept Manchester City in range of Chelsea with a second-half derby winner that maintained the club’s recent supremacy over United.

The Argentina striker finished off a sweeping move in the 63rd minute, giving City a fourth straight league victory against its crosstown rival.

United couldn’t hold out after defender Chris Smalling was sent off in the 39th minute for two quick yellow cards and now has just 13 points from 10 matches – its lowest haul since 1986, when Ron Atkinson was fired and replaced by Alex Ferguson.

United manager Louis van Gaal spent huge sums to rebuild the team after last season’s dismal season under David Moyes but is finding results just as hard to come by.

City is six points behind Chelsea, which beat Queens Park Rangers 2-1 on Saturday.

Tottenham also benefited from a red card, scoring two goals in the final six minutes of normal time through Nacer Chadli and Harry Kane to beat 10-man Aston Villa 2-1.

Christian Benteke was sent off for pushing in the 65th, stopping Villa’s momentum after Andreas Weimann’s first-half opener.

SPAIN

Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi scored twice in a 3-1 win at Villarreal to help his team climb into second place in Spain.

Valencia’s win – and Sevilla’s 1-0 loss at Athletic Bilbao – kept the top five teams all within two points through 10 rounds. Real Madrid leads with 24 points.

Mustafi struck in the 64th and 73rd minutes after Villarreal midfielder Manuel Trigueros scored an own goal in the sixth to spoil his team’s strong first-half push. Trigueros got a consolation goal in the 88th.

Bilbao’s Aritz Aduriz netted the 13th-minute winner to ruin Sevilla’s hopes of overtaking Madrid, before the striker left injured in the 28th.

Madrid went top on Saturday after winning 4-0 at Granada and then seeing Barcelona lose 1-0 at home to Celta Vigo.

Sunday’s results put Valencia ahead of defending champion Atletico Madrid in third on goal difference, with both teams one point behind Madrid. Barcelona is in fourth place, ahead of Sevilla on goal difference, and two points behind Madrid.

GERMANY

Patrick Herrmann scored two goals and set up another for Borussia Moenchengladbach to underline its strong start to the Bundesliga with a 3-1 win over previously undefeated Hoffenheim.

Andre Hahn opened the scoring with a volley from Herrmann’s cutback after a flowing team move in the 12th minute.

Anthony Modeste equalized after a defensive lapse in the 30th, but Hahn returned the earlier favor and crossed for Herrmann to restore `Gladbach’s lead two minutes later.

Herrmann claimed his second in the 52nd, pouncing on the rebound after Hoffenheim goalkeeper spilled Havard Nordtveit’s free kick.

Moenchengladbach equaled the club record of 17 competitive games unbeaten set by the 1970-71 team coached by Hennes Weisweiler and stayed four points behind leader Bayern Munich, trailing second-placed Wolfsburg on goal difference. Bayern and `Gladbach are the only remaining unbeaten sides.

Promoted Paderborn moved seventh with a 3-1 win over visiting Hertha Berlin.

ITALY

Sampdoria moved back into third place with a hard-fought 3-1 win at home to Fiorentina as the visiting side missed a penalty, while Udinese lost 4-2 to Genoa in Serie A.

Sergio Romero saved Gonzalo Rodriguez’s penalty after Angelo Palombo had converted a spot kick for Sampdoria.

Luca Rizzo scored his first Serie A goal to make it 2-0 and, although Stefan Savic got one back just before halftime, Eder secured the points for Sampdoria with a stunning solo effort.

Udinese captain Antonio Di Natale scored his 199th league goal after just 23 seconds but Genoa rallied for its third successive victory.

Sassuolo was held to a goalless draw at bottom club Chievo Verona and Atalanta also drew 0-0 at Torino.

AC Milan hosts Palermo later and can move level with Sampdoria with a win, as can Lazio when it entertains Cagliari on Monday night. Earlier Monday, Hellas Verona visits Genoa.

FRANCE

Bordeaux climbed to fourth place in the French league by defeating Toulouse 2-1.

Bordeaux defender Marc Planus opened for the hosts from close range in the 53rd minute before Uruguay forward Diego Rolan doubled the lead 10 minutes later by heading home a cross from Jaroslav Plasil.

Toulouse striker Aleksandar Pesic converted a cross from Martin Braithwaite to pull one back in the 68th.

Nantes slipped to sixth by drawing 1-1 with Rennes while leader Marseille hosts Lens later Sunday.

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First published on: 03-11-2014 at 08:59 IST
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