Serie A

The build-up to last night's Milan derby had swirled around the notion that both Inter and AC Milan are at one of their lowest ebbs.

Both clubs are certainly operating in an atmosphere of austerity. But Milan's plight is the most precarious, especially after Rodrigo Palacio's late bit of magic helped Inter take all three points to leave the Rossoneri five points above the relegation zone and a full 17 points from the final Champions League spot.

Meanwhile Gervinho was at his chance-squandering best as Roma took on Catania. But it mattered little as the Giallorossi kept up their pursuit of Juventus with a 4 - 0 win with Gervinho scoring the final goal.

Juventus' 4 - 1 win at Atalanta was their ninth in succession and keeps them five points clear at the top, with the added bonus that third-placed Napoli dropped points in Cagliari.

La Liga

Barcelona did not have Neymar or Messi available but still came away from Getafe with a 5 - 2 victoria. But the Blaugrana were made to fight for the result, having gone 2 - 0 down early on.

But Pedro's nine minute hat-trick before half-time and Cesc Fabregas' double ensured that Barca go into the winter break on top.

Atletico Madrid, who beat Levante 3 - 2, stay second behind Barca on goal difference.

Meanwhile city rivals Real Madrid kept themselves within five points of the leaders after cantera product Jese Rodriguez handed them a 3 - 2 win at cash-strapped Valencia.

Rayo Vallencano may have lost 2 - 1 at Athletic Bilbao but Alberto Bueno did manage an acrobatic finish. On a side note, keep an eye on Athletic this season as they cemented fourth place.

Bundesliga

Bayern Munich decamped to Morocco in order to stroll to the Club World Cup trophy.

There was a danger that their house might get broken into while they were on their mini holiday.

Instead a bouquet has been left on their doorstep by their nearest rivals as Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund all slumped to defeats against Werder Bremen and Hertha Berlin respectively.

While everything is smelling of roses for Bayern, someone might want to lay a wreath at the German Football League headquarters to mark the sudden death of the title race. Das ist nicht gut!

Ligue 1

Leaders PSG needed an own goal from Marko Basa to earn a 2 - 2 draw at home to third-place Lille. 

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Fortunately for the moneybags from Paris, the other moneybags from Monaco failed to take advantage, with Falcao missing a penalty in a 2 - 1 defeat to Valenciennes two nights before. PSG remain three points clear at the top.

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Eredivisie

There was a fairytale story in the Netherlands as a 17-year-old debutante scored two late goals to give Ajax a 2 - 1 win over Roda JC, which also sent the Amsterdam side top.

Take a bow Jairo Riedewald...