Weah rescues Marseilles

George Weah, the former Chelsea and Manchester City striker, scored a superb goal on Saturday to save struggling Marseilles from a third straight French League defeat. The veteran Liberian scored with a half-volley in the 56th minute as his new club rallied to draw 1-1 at Strasbourg.

George Weah, the former Chelsea and Manchester City striker, scored a superb goal on Saturday to save struggling Marseilles from a third straight French League defeat. The veteran Liberian scored with a half-volley in the 56th minute as his new club rallied to draw 1-1 at Strasbourg.

The home side took a 10th- minute lead through Pegguy Luyindula and looked in command until Weah struck. Strasbourg then had defender Yannick Fischer sent off for a tackle on Ibrahima Bakayoko, the former Everton striker.

In Spain, there was a surprise 2-0 defeat for Barcelona at Real Mallorca. Goals from Samuel Eto'o and Ariel Ibagaza, both resulting from defensive errors, gave Mallorca a comfortable win against the Catalans, who were clearly feeling the effects of four tough games in two weeks.

Mallorca were gifted the lead after 11 minutes as the Barca goalkeeper Richard Dutruel failed to hold a long shot from Alberto Luque. Xavi allowed Eto'o to sneak in behind him to poke in a shot. In the 52nd minute the Catalans self-destructed again: Luque tested Dutruel from long range and the Frenchman again failed to hold the ball.

This time Sergi was on the spot to make a simple clearance but he dallied too long and Eto'o nipped in to slip a pass across goal for Ibagaza to side-foot into an empty net.

Deportivo La Coruña's 2-1 victory at Numancia came via first-half goals from Donato and Fernando. The home side clawed one back after 60 minutes through Ruben Navarro but despite intense pressure they could not find the equaliser.

In Germany, Schalke 04 ended Rudi Völler's winning streak by drawing 0-0 with Bayer Leverkusen. The caretaker national coach, who stepped in for Christoph Daum after the Leverkusen coach failed a drugs test last weekend, had won all previous five game in charge.

Bayern Munich drew 1-1 at Werder Bremen as the Brazilian Paulo Sergio put them ahead after six minutes with a spectacular overhead kick. Werder fought their way back into the game five minutes later with another Brazilian, Ailton, converting a penalty after Marco Bode was felled by Bayern's goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.