No Beckham, no Real chance

Paris - David Beckham's importance to Real Madrid was graphically illustrated at the weekend when the mighty Spaniards, lacking the Englishman's silky skills, crashed to defeat and lost their league leadership at the same time.

Beckham is recovering from the ankle injury he sustained during Real's 1-0 win over Murcia a week ago which required four stitches.

He missed Saturday's 1-0 loss at Real Sociedad as well as Real's mid-week trip in the Spanish Cup to second division Eibar, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

"There's no doubt that the last two games were disappointing but I don't think that the team is playing worse because I am not there," said Beckham.

"Two or three games haven't gone as well as expected but these things happen and there are no serious problems."

Valencia returned to the top thanks to a controversial 1-0 win at Albacete.

Jorge Lopez got Valencia's only goal, from the spot after nine minutes, but the debate will rage over whether his team mate Pablo Aimar was fouled in the penalty box.

Aimar crashed to the ground after being gently pushed by Albacete defender Francisco Pena, although contact looked to have been made outside the area.

"As far as I was concerned, it was a penalty," said Valencia coach Rafa Benitez.

The three points gave the 2001-02 champions top spot with 43 points from 19 games while Madrid are one point behind.

Valery Karpin scored Real Sociedad's only goal to earn them a precious three points.

Goals were also scarce for Roma who held on to their three point lead in Italy after scraping a 1-0 victory at Perugia.

European champions AC Milan had to come from behind to beat Reggina 3-1 with Brazilian (news - web sites) midfielder Kaka scoring twice, while reigning champions Juventus edged Sampdoria 2-1.

Roma have 39 points from 16 matches, three more than Milan and Juventus, who are tied for second place. Milan, however, have played a game less than their title rivals.

In France, Fabien Barthez's first league game for Marseille, following his loan move from Manchester United, ended in a 2-0 defeat at Auxerre.

Barthez was the hero for Marseille last week after he scored the winning goal in a French Cup tie against Strasbourg, converting his last spot-kick after the game had tied 1-1.

However, the France international was out of sorts against Guy Roux's ambitious hosts, whose win moved them up to fourth.

Marseille now sit in sixth place, 15 points behind leaders Monaco and five points adrift of the Champions League places but with a game in hand on third-placed Lyon.

Paris St Germain keeper Jerome Alonzo boosted the capital side's push for a place in Europe with a string of crucial saves in an unconvincing 1-0 win over Lille.

The on-form Alonzo's heroics proved crucial in a match which PSG won thanks to a 13th-minute own goal by Stathis Tavlaridis.

Paris St Germain are second behind runaway leaders Monaco, who stung fellow Champions League contenders Lyon 3-0 on Friday. -- AFP News

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