Fernando Llorente opened the scoring for the hosts before Andrea Pirlo produced a wonderful free kick to double the hosts advantage; Paul Pogba sealed the points emphatically.

Juventus climbed above Napoli and to within one point of Serie A leaders Roma with a 3-0 victory over Rafa Benitez’s men on Sunday.

Fernando Llorente’s second-minute strike set the hosts on their way to a sixth consecutive home win, with Andrea Pirlo’s sublime free-kick and a stunning Paul Pogba volley wrapping up the points after the break.

Angelo Ogbonna’s late sending off took some shine off Juve’s fourth league win on the bounce, but the defending champions now have the summit in their sights after securing second place outright.

For the visitors, the result ended their five-match winning run in all competitions as they failed to capitalise on Roma’s draw with Sassuolo.

Juventus made two changes from the midweek draw against Real Madrid in the Champions League, while Napoli made three after beating Marseille in the same competition.

Both teams had won their three previous games but it was Antonio Conte’s men who made the decisive start.

Pogba’s bouncing shot was tipped behind by Pepe Reina and from the short corner, Arturo Vidal’s shot was flicked on to Llorente by Carlos Tevez and the Spaniard made no mistake from close range after only two minutes.

It would have been two but for a tremendous save by Reina. Pirlo’s deep cross was headed across by Pogba towards Leonardo Bonucci six yards out but his point-blank header was somehow saved by the goalkeeper and Napoli scrambled clear.

More than 20 minutes passed before Napoli registered a shot on target but Lorenzo Insigne’s effort on the turn was easy for Gianluigi Buffon.

Insigne almost provided an equaliser after 32 minutes when he found space in the area but his left-foot drive whistled past the post, while Reina had to be alert to thwart Llorente’s near-post header.

The back and forth contest almost swung in favour of Benitez’s team just before the break and again it was Insigne who provided the danger with a dipping long-range strike that landed on the roof of the net.

The early exchanges of the second half were dominated by Napoli and the impressive Insigne once again provided the main threat. His curling free-kick after 50 minutes had to be tipped wide by Buffon.

Napoli had only failed to score once in the league all season and Marek Hamsik went close after 63 minutes but lashed into the side netting from inside the area.

Pirlo added the second with typical finesse, the midfielder’s inch-perfect free-kick flying into the top corner from 25 yards.

And the impressive Pogba got on the scoresheet after 80 minutes with a spectacular 30-yard volley.

Ogbonna’s obstruction of Dries Mertens saw him dismissed for a second booking with seven minutes left, but Juventus were home and dry by then.

According to Goal

The ex-Gunner headed home from a corner in the first half to give his side the lead, before the hosts held on for an important victory against Arsene Wenger’s below-par team.

Robin van Persie scored against his former club for the third game in a row as Manchester United edged Arsenal 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday.

It was no surprise that Van Persie was Arsenal’s nemesis; the striker has now scored in the last five matches between the two teams and his 27th-minute header was responsible for deciding this encounter, inflicting a blow to the momentum Arsene Wenger’s men have built up this term.

Neither side were at their best during the much-anticipated fixture and, although Arsenal improved after the break, they lacked cutting edge with Wayne Rooney going closest to scoring in the second half when he shot just wide.

One goal was enough for David Moyes’ side, though, who are now unbeaten in nine matches. Arsenal however – who entered the match on the back of wins over Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund – failed to reinstate their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Van Persie headlined Manchester United’s four changes from their goalless draw against Real Sociedad on Wednesday, while Michael Carrick and Jonny Evans also came in after overcoming calf and back niggles.

A sickness bug forced Arsenal into two changes, Thomas Vermaelen and Mathieu Flamini coming in for Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky, who were not even among the replacements.

Arsenal shaded a cagey opening in which United’s Rooney was the only player to test a goalkeeper, albeit with a relatively tame effort from distance.

Van Persie breathed life into the contest, though, converting the first genuine chance of the game from a Rooney corner. The Netherlands star rose above Oliver Giroud and produced a soaring header that crashed into the top-right corner, too well-placed for Kieran Gibbs – who was on the line – to do anything about.

Arsenal were unable to muster a significant response before the break, but were thankful to see goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny emerge from a nasty clash of heads with Phil Jones in good health.

Manchester United were not so lucky, with defender Nemanja Vidic failing to return after being hit on the head by the hip of his own goalkeeper, David De Gea, on the stroke of half-time.

Arsenal improved after the break but struggled to create clear-cut chances, Mesut Ozil going closest when firing into the side-netting in the 58th minute.

Rooney nearly doubled United’s lead on the hour mark after Arsenal’s defence failed to clear a clever flick-on header from Shinji Kagawa, but, after feigning to shoot and creating space, the England star tugged his left-footed effort past the right post with Szczesny beaten.

A long-range effort from Gibbs tested De Gea when it took a late van Persie deflection while Chris Smalling failed to take advantage of a teasing cross from the goalscorer at the other end.

There was a late chance for Giroud, but his shot on the turn went wide as United held on for a crucial win that sees them rise to fifth in the table.

According to Goal

Barcelona increased their lead at the top of La Liga to three points by overcoming Real Betis 4-1 thanks to goals by Neymar, Pedro and a Cesc Fabregas double.

But it was not all good news for the Catalans, who lost Lionel Messi to a hamstring injury midway through the first half.
It is the third time the four-time World Player of the Year has hurt his hamstring this season, and Barcelona have confirmed he will receive tests on Monday to determine how long he will be out for.
Despite the severity of the scoreline, this was not an easy night for Gerardo Martino’s side, who were under pressure from their hosts in the first half, until Neymar broke the deadlock on 35 minutes.
Less than two minutes seconds later, Pedro doubled the lead to put Barca’s minds at ease, and Fabregas rounded off the victory in the second half by netting a brace.
Jorge Molina scored a penalty in injury-time but it was scant consolation for Pepe Mel’s side, who stay bottom of the league.
Martino fielded an experimental side, starting with Marc Bartra and Martin Montoya in defence over Javier Mascherano and Adriano, while Alex Song was chosen ahead of Sergio Busquets – who had been carrying a knock after the win over AC Milan on Wednesday. Andres Iniesta and Alexis Sanchez were left on the bench.
Barca’s task was complicated by a torrid pitch which impeded their slick passing game and things got worse when Messi limped off midway through the first half.
Moments before the forward appeared to injure his ankle following a challenge with Betis defender Caro, but his club announced via its official Twitter account that it is a hamstring injury.
Barca were grateful to Victor Valdes for keeping out two attempts in quick succession with less than 20 minutes played. First the goalkeeper thwarted Jorge Molina from close range and then dived across his goal to save a near-post header from Juan Carlos.
The more Betis attacked the more they left themselves open and they were caught out with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.
Song played in a perfect through ball for Fabregas on the right hand side and the former Arsenal player played across to Neymar, who side-footed home.
Almost immediately after Betis had re-started the game, Pedro broke down the left wing and raced towards goal, curling the ball into the right hand corner with a fine finish.
The Spain international has played second fiddle to Alexis in recent weeks, but notched his sixth goal of the season.
Pedro was close to getting another goal on the stroke of half-time when Neymar set him up, but Jordi Figueras was able to lunge in and put him off, the ball going wide for a goal kick.
Joan Verdu nearly got one back for Betis a minute into the second half, volleying inches wide of the post and then Markus Steinhofer hit the post from the edge of the area.
Barca soon reasserted their authority, and it took a double save from Guillermo Sara from Neymar to prevent a third.
It was left to Fabregas to put the game out of sight.
On 63 minutes he nudged the ball into the net after receiving a cut-back from Montoya, and with 11 minutes left the midfielder scored his second, ghosting in ahead of defenders to nod in a looping cross from Dani Alves.
Alves gave away a penalty in stoppage time for dragging down Javier Matilla, and Molina converted with virtually the last kick of the game.
Barca have won 12 of their 13 league games and for the first time this season have some breathing space at the top, but things are far less rosy for Betis, and Mel’s time in the dugout could be running out

According to Foxsports