Eddie Johnson scored twice as the Seattle Sounders posted their third straight Major League Soccer victory with a 4-2 win against FC Dallas, while Portland Timbers extended their unbeaten run to ten games.
Jose Barkero has labelled Levante's 3-0 victory over Olympiacos as "a dream", putting them in prime position to progress from the last 32 of the UEFA Europa League.
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has left star strikers Peter Odemwingie and Obafemi Martins out of his squad for next month's CAF Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
Radamel Falcao became the first player in a decade to score five goals in a La Liga match as Atletico Madrid thrashed Deportivo La Coruna 6-0, while Levante earlier thrashed Mallorca 4-0.
A raft of midweek international matches will mark the beginning of final preparations for 14 African qualifiers ahead of January's CAF Cup of Nations in South Africa.
Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo both scored twice as Real Madrid cruised to a 5-0 victory at Mallorca, while neighbours Atletico hammered Osasuna to keep pace with Barcelona.
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™
FIFA World Cup Qualifying - Africa
FIFA World Cup Qualifying - Africa
