LONDON, Dec 16: Lazio’s Stefano Fiore stood among a number of two-goal scorers in Europe’s major soccer leagues at the weekend.

Fiore’s double gave Lazio a 2-1 win away to champions Juventus that keeps them in second place in the standings, one point behind AC Milan in Italy’s Serie A.

Milan won 2-1 at Como to stay in front and city rivals Inter beat Atalanta 1-0 at home to stay in third place, one point further back. Juventus are fifth, six points off the pace.

An equally significant brace came from Sevilla’s Mariano Toedtli, whose two goals in the last 12 minutes at the Nou Camp secured his side’s shock 3-0 win over Barcelona and may have tightened the noose around coach Louis van Gaal’s neck.

Barcelona’s domestic form has been as poor as their record-equalling run in the Champions League has been good and after their sixth defeat they are 13th in the Spanish league standings, 16 points behind leaders Real Sociedad.

Their arch-rivals Real Madrid’s goals all came from different players but they have probably turned a bigger corner with their first home win in two months than their World Club Cup victory over Paraguay’s Olimpia in Japan 12 days ago. Against modest Recreativo Huelva, Real quickly found themselves two goals down but fought back for a 4-2 win that lifted them into third place, eight points behind Real Socieded and four behind defending champions Valencia.

Norwegian John Carew struck twice in 10 minutes early in the second half to give Valencia a 2-0 derby victory at Villarreal.

Manchester United are another big club whose fortunes are turning for the better as the English Premier League season approaches the critical Christmas period.

United, nine points adrift of Arsenal a month ago, climbed to second just one point behind the defending champions after a 3-0 win over West Ham United. Arsenal drew 1-1 away to Tottenham Hotspur in their north London derby.

Cameroon’s Marc-Vivien Foe was the only two-goal scorer in the Premier League when United’s neighbours Manchester City drew 2-2 away to Charlton Athletic in London.

Tall Czech striker Jan Koller hit two for Borussia Dortmund, who beat Energie Cottbus 4-0 as they bid to close the gap that separates them from leaders Bayern Munich in Germany.

Bayern were held 0-0 at home by Schalke 04 and their lead at the start of the winter recess, which ends on Jan 25, was cut to six points.

Brazilian Savio struck twice for Girondins Bordeaux in their 4-0 home rout of Nice, toppling their victims from the lead in the French first division. Olympique Marseille now head the standings after a 2-1 win at Sedan.

Jerome Rothen scored two of Monaco’s goals in their 4-0 home win over En Avant Guingamp that lifts them to third.

Three players hit braces in the Netherlands where two from the exotically named Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink gave PSV Eindhoven a 4-2 win at Ajax that lifted them into first place, two points ahead of the side they beat.

Dutch international Pierre van Hooijdonk and Japan’s Shinji Ono both scored twice as third-placed Feyenoord crushed AZ Alkmaar 6-1.

Back in Italy, Argentina’s Julio Cruz scored both goals for Bologna in a 2-1 home win over Parma that put them level on points with Juventus as they vie for a place in Europe next season.

Brescia’s Igli Tare also scored twice in the lowly Italian side’s 3-1 win over Perugia, their second successive victory after shocking Juventus.—Reuters