European football review - Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga, Le Championnat

Argentine playmaker Lionel Messi had already turned in another stellar show by setting up the opening two goals for Samuel Eto'o when he pulled a thigh muscle just before half-time and now faces a month out.

Eto'o was playing only his third game since also returning from a thigh injury, albeit a more serious one which kept him out for three months, but showed he had lost none of his sharpness with two superb finishes.

Eidur Gudjohnsen completed a 3-0 victory with a rare goal while Ronaldinho was again left on the bench, but is sure to feature next week.

Valencia, meanwhile, were suffering their sixth consecutive game without a goal, and the pressure is already piling up on new boss Ronald Koeman, with fans starting to believe the much-criticised hierarchy made a serious mistake in firing Quique Sanchez Flores when the club were in a Champions League place.

Those spots are now occupied by Atletico Madrid and Villarreal, both seven points behind top spot. Atletico could only draw 0-0 at Recreativo, but Villarreal got back on track with a 3-1 win at Getafe, set up by a double for Turkish striker Nihat Kahveci.

Espanyol are a further point behind after Daniel Jarque's early goal was enough to inflict bottom club Levante's eighth straight away defeat of the season.

Bayern clung on to top spot in Germany to be crowned 'winter champions' as the Bundesliga heads into a six-week break, but they signed off with a fourth goalless draw in seven matches, this time at Hertha Berlin.

There was little reaction to the incendiary comments by Oliver Kahn about the ineffectiveness of new signings Luca Toni and Franck Ribery, a verbal blast which saw the veteran dropped for Michael Rensing.

Werder Bremen pulled level on points with Bayern by putting an end to Bayer Leverkusen's five-match winning run with a 5-2 thumping.

Leverkusen actually took an early lead through Tranquillo Barnetta, but were then destroyed by a fine attacking display, including two goals for striker Ivan Klasnic.

They were the Croatian's first goals this year after undergoing a double kidney transplant, which means he has to wear a protective fibreglass shield in matches.

Hamburg are four points adrift in third, and it could have been worse if not for Ivica Olic grabbing an injury-time equaliser to force a 1-1 draw at Karlsruhe.

The year ended on a high note for the two Bundesliga teams from former East Germany as Cottbus moved off the bottom with a 5-1 thrashing of Hanover, and Rostock jumped out of the relegation zone by beating Bochum 2-0.

A third successive Serie A title is looking cut and dried for Inter Milan as they increased their lead to seven points with a straightforward 2-0 win at Cagliari.

Resurgent striker Julio Cruz put them ahead on 57 minutes and the points were made safe 10 minutes from time by Honduran David Suazo, who left Cagliari this summer after eight impressive seasons in Sardinia.

Roma lost ground as they could only draw 0-0 at Torino, who battered the visitors' goal and really should have won easily as Roma offered no threat following the withdrawal of Francesco Totti, whose nagging foot injury flared up again.

Juventus are only a point behind Roma as they won 3-2 at Lazio with a 12th of the season for league-leading striker David Trezeguet and a double by Alessandro Del Piero, restored to the side due to Vincenzo Iaquinta's illness.

Udinese lost ground in fourth as they were beaten 2-0 in Catania, Giuseppe Mascara scoring early and late in a surprisingly easy victory.

French league leaders Lyon stumbled again, and yet again second-placed Nancy failed to take advantage.

Looking tired after their Champions League heroics at Rangers, Lyon followed up last week's defeat at Caen with a 0-0 draw at home to Nice, who had the best chances and should have won when Ederson's late free-kick hit the bar and bounced down on the line.

Nancy had the better of the game at Strasbourg but could only draw 0-0 - their fourth straight match without a win. For the sake of the title race, they must beat Lyon at home next week to close the four-point gap.

Bordeaux stayed in third, ahead of Le Mans on goal difference, as they fought back from two down at home to Marseille to draw 2-2.

Mamadou Niang put the visitors ahead in the first minute and Benoit Cheyrou increased the lead but Marouane Chamakh pulled one back and Brazilian sub Jussie levelled with 20 minutes to go to prevent Marseille recording a first win in Bordeaux for 30 years.

Surprise package Caen moved up to sixth by winning 2-1 at Rennes, who responded by sacking Pierre Dreossi and replacing him with Guy Lacombe.

Lacombe's last job was at Paris St Germain, who might be replacing their manager again soon as they crashed 2-1 at home to Toulouse to drop into the relegation zone after still not having won at home this season.

The match was brought forward and increased security installed after recent trouble at the club's training ground when fans abused manager Paul Le Guen and his players.

Their mood was not improved when Zoumana Camara's back header was intercepted by Johan Elmander just before half time and the Swede added his 10th of the season soon after the break before Pauleta's late consolation penalty.