Real Madrid moved ahead at Real Betis when Gabriel Heinze headed home van der Vaart’s free-kick. Betis almost equalised on the stroke of halftime, but Emana’s effort stayed out thanks to a combintion of post and Iker Casillas. Betis equalised after the break, the ref award a penalty against Marcelo (who was sent off in the process), and although initially saved by Casillas, Sergio Garcia scored on the rebound. Garcia was then later sent off for picking up his second card, and with new impetious Real claimed a last-gasp winner thanks to Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Jonas Olsson earned West Brom their first away win of the season by being in the right place at the right time to score following Greening’s left wing corner.
Goals from Christopher Samba (a flying header) and Roque Santa Cruz (another header) put Blackburn in control before half time, while Michael Owen’s penalty continued his trend of scoring goals which fail to impact on the results of games.
Cesc Fabregas dragged a shot wide against Hull after 14 minutes. Despite holding much of the ball Arsenal failed to score in the first half, Eboue pulled a shot wide late in the half after good skills prized open the opportunity. Hull almost punished the Gunners early after the break but George Boateng’s shot was blocked by Cesc Fabregas. And as is so often the case, minutes later Walcott burst down the right, crossed into Adebayor, and Paul McShane turned the ball over his own line. The Tigers looked shell-shocked and Adebayor should have doubled the lead, but on the hour mark they equalised from nowhere, Geovanni hit a 25-yard screamer to stun the home crowd. Hull then stormed into the lead as Daniel Cousin headed home a corner. In the final stages Arsenal pressed hard for an equaliser, Gallas seeing his header rebound off the bar. Recording the result of the season, Hull move up to sixth, having as many points as Derby got all of last season.
United dominated possession and the had the bulk of the chances against Bolton in the first half, Berbatov’s early header and a Ronaldo free-kick typical of the opportunities which fell to the hosts. But Bolton stayed resolute and should have gone ahead when Muamba fluffed a golden opportunity from Steinsson’s cross. After the break it was more of the same, United pressing with Ronaldo hitting the post as they pushed for the opener. United eventually moved ahead but in completely undeserved circumstances, Rob Styles criminally penalised Samuel’s clean tackle on Ronaldo and awarded a penalty, which Ronaldo took and converted. United’s second however was a moment of pure class, sub-Rooney released Ronaldo who advanced into the box, backheeled to Rooney, and the number 10 curled a beauty in the far corner. In the final stages United were irresistible, and 2-0 flattered Bolton.
Michael Ballack tested Sorensen early on, forcing the keeper to tip over his rasping shot from distance. With the Stoke supporters finding any means by which to watch the game, they watched on as Chelsea made the breakthrough in the 36th minute, Lampard picked out Bosingwa’s run into the box down the right hand side, and the full back controlled a fired home expertly to net his first goal for the Blues. Immediately on the restart Malouda crashed a shot against the underside of the bar, but his effort failed to cross the line. The Blues eventually netted the killer second, Bosingwa’s cross was chested down by Faye into the path of Anelka who cashed in on the opportunity.