KEY POINTS:
ENGLAND
Leaders Manchester United began their holiday fixtures with a resounding 3-0 victory at Aston Villa as the goals flowed in the premier league.
A double from Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and a thumping Paul Scholes volley, all in the second half, briefly gave United a five-point lead
before champions Chelsea responded with a last-gasp 3-2 win at Wigan Athletic to slice it to two again.
Dutch winger Arjen Robben spared Chelsea's blushes after Wigan had hit back from two goals down.
At the halfway point of the season United have 47 points from 19 games while Chelsea have 45.
Liverpool remained a distant third, 13 points behind United after Craig Bellamy and Xabi Alonso sealed a 2-0 home win over bottom club Watford.
Arsenal stayed in the last Champions League qualifying spot with a 6-2 thrashing of Blackburn Rovers.
FRANCE
Olympique Lyon failed to win a Ligue 1 match for only the third time this season when they were held to a 0-0 home draw by Monaco on Saturday.
The leaders, chasing a sixth consecutive title, enter the winter break comfortably ahead of the pack, with 50 points from a maximum 57.
Lyon have reached the halfway stage 15 points clear of second-placed Racing Lens, who fought back from a goal down to win 2-1 at lowly Nice in a tense match featuring two red cards.
Surprise package Sochaux moved up to third place, 17 points off the pace, by beating Nancy 2-1 with Algeria midfielder Karim Ziani netting twice.
ITALY
Brazilian striker Adriano ended his goal famine as leaders Inter Milan equalled the Serie A record of 11 straight wins with a 2-1 victory over Atalanta on Saturday. Adriano, who netted Inter's equaliser, had not scored in Serie A for nine months.
Unbeaten Inter go into the Christmas break with a seven-point lead over AS Roma who beat Cagliari 2-0 with goals from Brazilians Rodrigo Taddei and Mancini. Inter's run of victories equals AS Roma's Serie A record which was set last season.
Brazilians Kaka and Ricardo Oliveira were on target for AC Milan in their 3-0 win at Udinese, while bottom club Ascoli got their first win of the season with a 3-0 victory over Chievo.
NETHERLANDS
PSV Eindhoven remained on course for a third consecutive title after a 4-0 victory over Willem II Tilburg. Their 12th successive win moved PSV nine points clear at the on top, on 49 after 18 matches, as second placed Az Alkmaar were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Nec Nijmegen.
Ajax Amsterdam remain third on 38 points after throwing away a 2-0 lead at Vitesse Arnhem, capitulating to a 4-2 defeat after conceding four second-half goals.
