While the status quo was preserved in England and Spain, notable change took place in Germany and Italy as AS Roma became FC Internazionale Milano's newest challengers and FC Bayern München drew level with leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

Italy
A 3-0 home victory for Inter against Cagliari Calcio, coupled with a goalless draw for AC Milan at Bologna FC, initially stretched the Nerazzurri's leadership of Serie A to an ominous ten points. Roma soon cut that to eight, however, and replaced the Rossoneri in second after recording their 19th match without defeat in all competitions, Mirko Vučinić scoring the only goal late on at ACF Fiorentina.

Germany
Like Roma, Bayern are also in a rich vein of form. The Bavarians registered their eighth consecutive Bundesliga win by defeating VfL Wolfsburg 3-1. With Leverkusen only managing a 1-1 draw at VfL Bochum 1848, Bayern's result meant that only goal difference keeps the BayArena club on top. There was further good news for Louis van Gaal's men as third-placed FC Schalke 04 were held to a goalless draw at SC Freiburg.

France
FC Girondins de Bordeaux's 15-game unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt at Stade Rennais FC. A 4-2 loss for the Ligue 1 titleholders was seized upon by unfashionable Montpellier Hérault SC, whose 2-0 win at US Boulogne edged them to within three points of Les Marine et Blanc.

England
Chelsea FC ended the weekend as they started it in the Premier League: two points clear of Manchester United FC. The latter briefly forged ahead following a 5-0 home victory against Portsmouth FC on Saturday – Wayne Rooney scoring his 15th goal in as many games – but were soon replaced at the top by the Blues. Carlo Ancelotti's team defeated Arsenal FC 2-0 at Stamford Bridge thanks to two goals from Didier Drogba, the Ivorian international striker taking his tally to 12 goals in ten starts against the Gunners. Elsewhere, Liverpool FC rose to fourth by overcoming Merseyside rivals Everton 1-0 at Anfield.

Spain
It was a case of as you were in Spain, too, where FC Barcelona maintained their five-point lead over Real Madrid CF. Barça's 2-1 defeat of Getafe CF came despite red cards to Gerard Piqué and Rafael Márquez at Camp Nou, but there was no such drama for Madrid. They eased past RCD Espanyol with goals from Sergio Ramos, Kaká and Gonzalo Higuaín.

Netherlands
There was also a notable development in the Eredivisie as well, where AFC Ajax ended FC Twente's unbeaten campaign with a 3-0 home win. PSV Eindhoven, who are now the only team yet to lose in the division, are three points clear of Steve McClaren's charges at the summit after beating ADO Den Haag 2-0.

Click here to view the latest standings from across Europe