Olympique Lyonnais will head into the winter break as Ligue 1 leaders after ending their four-game winless streak with a 1-0 victory at SM Caen, while Stade Rennais FC leapt up to second for a day at least after they won 2-1 at FC Lorient.

Benzema strike
Lyon needed only a point in Normandy to be sure of ending 2008 on top, but after two draws and two defeats in their previous league outings, Claude Puel’s men were anxious for a more emphatic statement. They were far from being at their best, but a tenth goal of the season from Karim Benzema eventually proved sufficient, the French international striker powering high into the net two minutes before half-time.

Comeback win
That leaves Les Gônes four points clear of their closest pursuers, Rennes, who risk being overtaken by Olympique de Marseille, FC Girondins de Bordeaux and Paris Saint-Germain FC after Sunday’s games. The Brittany club will have enjoyed their win nonetheless, Asamoah Gyan (76) and Moussa Sow (82) striking late on after Jérémy Morel (45) had put hosts Lorient in front.

Lille lift
Toulouse FC dropped to seventh after being held to a 2-2 draw by visitors OGC Nice, who equalised in the final minute through defender Vincent Hognon. LOSC Lille Métropole are up to fifth, in contrast, thanks to their 3-1 success at home against Le Havre AC, while 17th-placed AS Saint-Etienne gave themselves some breathing space at the bottom by seeing off AJ Auxerre 2-0 at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Elsewhere, Grenoble Foot 38 emerged 2-1 winners on home soil against Le Mans UC 72 and the match between FC Nantes and FC Sochaux-Montbéliard ended 1-1.

David Beckham said he is already falling in love with AC Milan as he was officially unveiled after joining the Rossoneri on loan from his Major League Soccer (MLS) club Los Angeles Galaxy. “Amo l’Italia, sono felice qui,” (I love Italy, I’m happy here) he told the press at San Siro.

March departure
The 33-year-old former Manchester United FC and Real Madrid CF midfielder joins Milan officially on loan until June 2009, but the Serie A club and the player confirmed that he will return to the United States on 9 March. “His first game will be the one against AS Roma on 11 January and his last the one at Atalanta BC on 8 March,” said Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani. “However, the door will be always open for him in the future.”

‘It’s great’
“I’m joining the most successful club in the world; it’s a fortunate period in my career,” Beckham said. “Obviously, my favourite team will always be Manchester United. Then I fell in love with Madrid and now I’m starting to fall in love with Milan as well. During my career I have been able to play with the greatest teams in England, Spain and Italy − it’s great. I’m here to work hard and have fun. I don’t want to impose my presence on the team. I know it will be difficult but I’m here to help my team-mates as much as I can.

Maldini example
“The history and the culture of this club were decisive factors for my decision,” added Beckham, who will wear the No32 shirt. “Just look at a player like Paolo Maldini. He is 40 and still representing this club in the best possible way. He is part of the history of this club. It will be a great pleasure for me to play alongside him or players like Kakà and Ronaldinho.

England hopes
Capped 107 times by England, Beckham admitted he asked the opinion of England coach − and former Milan boss − Fabio Capello before accepting the Rossoneri offer, as he is keen to stay in shape during the long MLS close season to protect his England international place. Meanwhile, Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti added: “Beckham’s signing is very important for us. He is a great professional and can cover three different roles in midfield. I’m sure he can be very helpful in the ten games we will have him here.”

Juande Ramos enjoyed his first Liga win as Real Madrid CF coach as the Spanish titleholders moved up to fifth in the standings with a slender 1-0 victory over high-flying Valencia CF, before Club Atlético de Madrid did their best to upstage their city rivals by moving second with a 3-2 win at RCD Espanyol.

Rapid start
Appointed as Bernd Schuster’s replacement last week, Ramos made his reacquaintance with the Spanish game by losing 2-0 at leaders FC Barcelona, but his charges set about Valencia hungry to get back to winning ways. Gonzalo Higuaín was fielded up front, with Raúl González starting on the bench due to illness, and the Argentinian got his name on the scoresheet with just four minutes gone, firing in with his left foot after Arjen Robben had blazed a trail down the right flank.

Red card
Robben’s fellow Dutchman Rafael van der Vaart then curled an effort on to a post, but Valencia gradually recovered and came close through David Villa on more than one occasion in the first half. Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas then made a superb save to deny Rubén Baraja before Higuaín hit the woodwork at the other end, yet Valencia’s chances took a dent when Carlos Marchena received a second yellow card with 23 minutes left. Madrid were able to hold on to move within nine points of Barcelona, who visit sixth-placed Villarreal CF on Sunday.

Late flurry
Atlético are eight points shy, meanwhile, after they were made to wait for their triumph in Barcelona. Maxi Rodríguez set Los Colchoneros on their way with a mere seven minutes on the clock, but Sergio Sánchez put the home side back on level terms in the 58th minute and the scoreline remained unchanged until Sergio Agüero made Atlético’s pressure pay with nine minutes left. Maxi then provided the cushion of a third goal in stoppage time and the visitors needed it too, with substitute Valdo responding almost immediately for Espanyol.

Holders FC Zenit St. Petersburg will mark their return to the UEFA Cup with a daunting tie against VfB Stuttgart while AC Milan’s quest to win the only major European trophy that has so far eluded them sees them meet Werder Bremen in the Round of 32.

Previous meeting
The draw for the last 32 in Nyon saw the 2007/08 UEFA Cup winners paired with Stuttgart. The two teams previously met in the second round of the 1989/90 UEFA Cup, when the Russian side were still known as Zenit Leningrad, but Dick Advocaat’s side will hope for better luck in their encounter in the spring. The 1989 Zenit vintage lost 1-0 at home and 5-0 away against the German side.

Missing trophy
Milan have been European champions seven times, and have also won two UEFA Cup Winners’ Cups and five UEFA Super Cups, with the UEFA Cup the only major continental title they have yet to claim. They will meet Thomas Schaaf’s Bremen in their Round of 32 tie. The two clubs have met in four previous matches, with Milan winning twice and the other two fixtures ending in draws.

Surprise packages
In other ties, ACF Fiorentina will have the honour of taking on AFC Ajax, FC Girondins de Bordeaux meet Galatasaray AŞ and FC Dynamo Kyiv play Valencia CF. The competition’s two surprise packages, FC Metalist Kharkiv and KKS Lech Poznań, both received tough draws against Italian sides. Franciszek Smuda’s Lech will take on Udinese Calcio, playing the first leg at home, while Metalist visit UC Sampdoria in their first UEFA Cup game of 2009.

German Tests Loom for Zenit and Milan … read more »