PSV Eindhoven return to defeat

SV Eindhoven ended their winter break in dismal fashion as they were upset 3-1 at home by lowly PEC Zwolle, finishing the match with ten men.

Erik Pieters' return from nine months out with injury was cut short by a red card in the 67th minute, but by the time he departed following a poor challenge from behind on Fred Benson, all four goals had already been scored.

Benson got two of them, putting Zwolle ahead courtesy of some poor defending in the 25th minute and then, after Tim Matacz levelled three minutes before half-time, he put Zwolle back in front nine minutes into the second half after another defensive mix-up.

Wiljan Pluim added a third in the 63rd minute to give Zwolle a rare victory in Eindhoven, and the frustration got to Pieters moments later.

Reports in the Netherlands after the match said Pieters had been taken to hospital after punching a window in anger and cutting his hand.

The result means FC Twente have the opportunity to move three points clear by beating RKC Waalwijk on Saturday, while Ajax or Feyenoord will move level with them in second place if there is a winner between the two at the Amsterdam ArenA on Sunday.

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Atletico Madrid 2-0 Betis: Falcao and Filipe Luis help hosts edge Copa clash

Two first-half goals helped Atletico Madrid beat Betis 2-0 in the home leg of their Copa del Rey quarterfinal.

Radamel Falcao opened the scoring early on before Filipe Luis doubled the lead midway through the first 45 minutes, and a fine performance from on-loan goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois ensured that the score remained that way for the rest of the match.

The hosts named a very strong side for what might be their best chance at attaining silverware this season. Star striker Falcao propelled Atletico to a perfect start, too, as Raul Garcia's whipped cross is thumped into the back of the net by the former Porto forward.

On 23 minutes, after a quiet spell at the Vicente Calderon, Filipe Luis sparked the stadium back into life with a powerful finish, punishing the visitors for failing to clear a Mario Suarez free kick.

Courtois, on loan from Chelsea for the second season running, was on hand to deny the visitors any sniff of a comeback. On 30 minutes he pulled off a wonderful double-save to deny Betis a route back into the clash.

And, after an impressive first half, the goalkeeper blocked superbly five minutes into the second half from a dangerous Jorge Molina shot inside the penalty area.

Betis had the majority of possession in latter 45 minutes but were unable to convert their chances, and Atletico's tight defence deserves acknowledgement for securing the cup win and keeping a clean sheet in the process.

The victor of the two-legged cup clash will face either Sevilla or Real Zaragoza in the semifinals, and los Colchoneros will be favourites to make it into the penultimate round of the competition after this result.

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San Antonio pile more misery on Grizzlies

The San Antonio Spurs made light of Manu Ginobili's absence to overwhelm Memphis 103-82 today, piling on the misery for the struggling Grizzlies.

With Ginobili missing due to a left hamstring injury, the Spurs (30-11) handed Memphis a third straight loss by a margin of at least 20 points.

"It was one of our better games," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich told reporters. "(But) when something like (tonight) happens, it's because the other team is having a tough night."

Tim Duncan netted 19 points and eight rebounds while Tony Parker added 17 and 11 assists as San Antonio cruised after a slow start.

Memphis took a six-point lead after the first quarter but San Antonio took over from there as the home Spurs outscored their opponent 84-57 over the final three quarters.

Rudy Gay led the visitors with 17 points and eight rebounds after returning from a one-game absence due to a death in the family.

It was far from enough for the Grizzlies (24-13) who were hammered 99-73 by the Clippers two days ago and 104-83 by the Mavericks two days earlier.

"I'm at a loss for words right now," said Memphis coach Lionel Hollins. "When you shoot poorly it's a recurrent theme. When you turn the ball over it's a recurrent them and when you don't guard it's a recurrent theme."

All five Memphis starters scored in double figures but they got little help elsewhere.

The Spurs, on the other hand, were firing on all cylinders. They tallied 33 assists while shooting 58 percent from the floor. The victory was their 13th straight at home.

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Real Madrid shrug off league form with Copa del Rey win over Valencia

Real Madrid put themselves on course for a place in the Copa del Rey semi-finals after securing a 2-0 first-leg victory over Valencia at the Bernabéu.

Karim Benzema scored just before the interval and an own-goal from Andrés Guardado in the 74th minute gave José Mourinho's side a two-goal advantage ahead of next week's return. The winners will meet the holders, Barcelona, or Málaga, who meet at Camp Nou on Wednesday.

On the other side of the draw, Real Zaragoza host Sevilla on Wednesday, and Atlético Madrid welcome Real Betis on Thursday.

"It is a good result," the Real captain, Iker Casillas, said, "but the way forward in the Cup is very tough. The victory gives us a lift and helps us get over our frustrations in La Liga."

After a poor run of form which has led to Real slipping 18 points behind the league leaders, Barcelona, Mourinho's name was met once again with a mixture of whistles and applause before the start of the 600th top-flight match of his career.

The Brazil full-back Marcelo was back in the side after almost three months out with a foot injury but the first-choice centre-backs, Sergio Ramos and Pepe, were missing through suspension and injury respectively.

Michael Essien burst away on a counterattack and he fed Sami Khedira, who immediately laid off for Benzema and the hosts were 1-0 up in the 37th minute.

Valencia carved the perfect opportunity to equalise midway through the second half, after good work by Ever Banega. But when Casillas parried Roberto Soldado's shot, Jonas fired wide of the gaping goal.

As with the first goal, Real immediately struck back. The substitute Fábio Coentrão's low cross was turned into the net by a combination of Guardado and Gonzalo Higuaín as the two slid in at the near post, the Argentinian getting the final touch with a hand.

Valencia's new coach, Ernesto Valverde, was sent off after the goal, though he was sanguine when asked if he was unhappy with the referee.

"It's a lot easier when you see it on the television," Valverde said. "We have to try and put ourselves in their place. Perhaps when I see it on the television it will hurt more. We had chances to score and this is more painful."

The Valencia goalkeeper, Vicente Guaita, denied Cristiano Ronaldo with two magnificent saves towards the end.

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Copa del Rey Preview: Real Madrid - Valencia

Real Madrid welcomes back Cristiano Ronaldo and Antonio Adan from suspension for Tuesday's Copa del Rey quarterfinal first leg against Valencia at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Defender Sergio Ramos remains sidelined, however, as he serves the second of his five-match ban, while Pepe is injured.

Left back Marcelo could make his first appearance for the club since suffering a broken foot in October, but Fabio Coentrao is the more likely starter.

Valencia is set to be without captain David Albelda, who picked up a calf problem in Saturday's 2-0 win over Sevilla.

Sergio Canales (knee) and Jeremy Mathieu (Achilles) remain out, while Sofiane Feghouli has joined up with Algeria for the African Cup of Nations.

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Málaga v Barcelona – as it happened

Barcelona, the unbeaten leaders, ended the first half of the La Ligaseason with a record 55 out of a possible 57 points when Lionel Messiscored one goal and had a hand in two more in a 3-1 win at Málaga.

An 18th victory in 19 games for Tito Vilanova's side restored their 11-point lead over second-placed Atlético Madrid, who secured a 10th win in 10 home matches this season with a 2-0 success against Real Zaragoza.

Barça's win also extended their lead over Real Madrid to 18 points after the champions, mired in third, were held to a 0-0 draw at the bottom side, Osasuna, on Saturday.

Málaga have the meanest defence in the league but a howler by Ignacio Camacho handed Barça their opener in the 27th minute. Messi intercepted the midfielder's wayward back pass and after leaving the goalkeeper, Willy Caballero, sprawling on the floor stroked the ball into an unguarded net.

It was the World Player of the Year's 28th league goal of the campaign and the ninth straight game in which he has scored, a personal record and one short of the La Liga mark last achieved in the 1996-97 season by the former Barça striker Ronaldo.

Messi sent Cesc Fábregas clear to double the visitors' lead five minutes after the break and then laid the ball into space for the substitute Thiago Alcantara to add an 82nd-minute third.

Diego Buonanotte, another substitute, curled in a free-kick a minute from time for Málaga, who slip to fifth behind Real Betis.

Barça's points haul for the first half of the season is a record for Spain's top flight, and they set another La Liga best by scoring for the 37th match in a row.

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