European round-up: Jude Bellingham scores but Real Madrid drop points, PSG held by Nantes and Milan beaten by Atalanta
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ByOli Gent
Updated 09/12/2023 at 23:07 GMT
Jude Bellingham scored yet again, but Real Madrid dropped two points in the Liga title race as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Betis, who levelled through Aitor Rubial's powerful strike. Elsewhere, Luis Muriel's injury-time winner gave Atalanta a big three points against AC Milan, while PSG scraped past Nantes 2-1 at the Parc des Princes, with Randal Kolo Muani scoring the winner.
‘He needs to take care of his shoulder’ - Ancelotti on Bellingham’s fitness
Jude Bellingham scored once again, but his Real Madrid side were held to a 1-1 draw by a plucky Real Betis at Benito Villamarín Stadium.
Carlo Ancelotti's Madrid arrived in Seville knowing the importance of all three points, with high-flying Girona hot on their heels in the Liga title race, and the dropped points gives the second-placed side a chance to reclaim top spot when they travel to Barcelona on Sunday.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between in the early exchanges, as Marc Roca shot straight at deputy Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, and Luka Modric's header was flicked well wide of Rui Silva's post.
Brahim Diaz had what he thought was a 20th-minute opener ruled out for offside against makeshift centre-forward Rodrygo.
Ayoze Perez and Willian Jose, both former Premier League players, tested Lunin in a first half lacking any real quality in front of goal but, after the break, it was that man Bellingham once more to ignite the spark.
Playing a lovely one-two with Diaz, the Englishman controlled it on his chest before slotting beyond the onrushing Silva to put Madrid a goal to the good.
But on 66 minutes, Los Blancos were pegged back; Aitor Rubial crashed home a rasping drive from the edge of the area to earn Manuel Pellegrini's Betis a share of the spoils.
MILAN LOSE FURTHER GROUND IN SERIE A TITLE RACE
Luis Muriel's winner deep into injury time condemned AC Milan to a first Serie A defeat in just over a month as Stefano Pioli's side fell further behind early pacesetters Inter Milan and Juventus.
Ademola Lookman, the former Charlton and Everton winger, helped himself to two goals at the Gewiss Stadium, sandwiching Olivier Giroud's equaliser on the stroke of half-time, before Luka Jovic equalised for the visitors with 10 minutes to go.
The opener, scored by Lookman on 38 minutes, stemmed from a quickly taken throw from Teun Koopmeiners, which caught Milan napping. Lookman skipped beyond Theo Hernandez on the edge of the area, before unleashing a strike that squeezed through the legs of the backpedalling Fikayo Tomori, with the slight deflection taking it past Mike Maignan.
Giroud, returning from a two-game suspension, notched the equaliser in the third minute of first-half stoppage time, rising highest to meet Alessandro Florenzi's corner, before Lookman doubled his tally 10 minutes into the second half.
The ball fell kindly at the feet of Charles de Ketalaere, himself on loan at Atalanta from Milan, and the Belgian drove to the byline, flashing a ball across the six-yard box. Lookman stole a march on Florenzi and Hernandez, neither of whom went with the forward, who swept into the roof of the net to restore Atalanta's advantage.
A strong run from Christian Pulisic drew three defenders towards him, as the American worked the extra yard to dig out a cross. His low delivery evaded both Giroud and Tijjani Reijnders arriving, but Jovic swept home to level.
Davide Calabria saw red for a second yellow-card offence when he mistimed a sliding challenge on Aleskey Miranchuk, and Gian Piero Gasparini's hosts took full advantage of the extra man, with super-sub Muriel showing excellent control, composure and skill to gather Miranchuk's scuffed pass into him, holding off Tomori, and backheeling beyond Maignan.
UNCONVINCING PSG EDGE PAST NANTES
Paris Saint-Germain extended their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to six points with a nervy 2-1 win over Nantes at Parc des Princes.
Luis Enrique had Randal Kolo Muani to thank for the 83rd-minute winner, with Bradley Barcola's 41st-minute opener cancelled out by Mostafa Mohamed's equaliser.
PSG inevitably had the lion's share of possession, but were wasteful with their opportunities in front of goal, until Barcola notched his first for the club.
The left-winger stood his opponent up before exchanging a quick one-two with the supporting Vitinha. The former Lyon wide man cut inside, before curling a sumptuous effort beyond the reach of Alban Lafont.
Mohamed's leveller came 10 minutes into the second half, as an excellent Florent Mollet corner was powered home at the near post by the forward.
PSG struggled to break down the resolute visiting defence but, with seven minutes left, their resilience was finally breached, as Kolo Muani scored against his former club, after a penalty box melee that stemmed from a deep free kick from Marco Asensio.
The ball was won and nodded goal bound by Lucas Hernandez, forcing Lafont into a terrific reflex save, but Kolo Muani was on hand to hammer home the rebound, refusing to celebrate against his old employers.
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