By Toby Prince
Three heavyweight rivalries were renewed on Sunday across Europe elite leagues.
Paris Saint German’s Zlatan Ibrahimovich and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo went into Sunday’s encounter with one eye on their respective clubs all time goal-scoring records.
But it was the PSG star striker that stole the headlines as his brace was enough for the Ligue 1 champions to see-off Marseille 2-1 at the Parc des Princes – thereby smashing the clubs goal record.
Ibra moved to 110 goals for the capital club – surpassing former Portugal striker Pedro Pauleta – having converted two first-half spot kicks as the leaders came from behind to extend their unbeaten run against their south-coast rivals to 10 matches.
Michy Batshuayi looked to have ensured Marseille a half-time lead when he nodded home his sixth Ligue 1 goal of the season but Ibrahimovic’s quick-fire double put paid to that.
In Spain, Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon to miss the chance to return to the top of the La Liga standings on Sunday.
Karim Benzema helped Real take an early lead, while Antoine Griezmann had a first-half penalty saved by Keylor Navas – the only shots on target for either side until Luciano Vietto’s 84th-minute equaliser.
The result takes Madrid to second on the log, one point behind Villarreal with 16 points, while Atletico on 13 points are fifth.
A second-half brace from Lorenzo Insigne helped Napoli to earn a resounding 4-0 away victory over AC Milan at San Siro, moving Maurizio Sarri’s men into sixth spot in the league table.
Allan Marques and Rodrigo Ely’s own goal provided the other goals to ensure the Naples-side left Milan with all three points.
