De Bruyne stars as Wolves trim Bayern's lead

VfL Wolfsburg's ex-Chelsea winger Kevin de Bruyne produced another top-class performance in Sunday's 2-0 win over strugglers Hamburg to trim Bayern Munich's lead to four points in the Bundesliga.

The 23-year-old Belgium international provided superb passes for veteran striker Ivica Olic and attacking midfielder Aaron Hunt to score either side of halftime as Wolfsburg earned their eighth straight win in all competitions.

Pep Guardiola's Bayern had opened a seven-point gap after Saturday's 4-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt, but second-placed Wolfsburg kept up the pressure on the Bavarian giants.

This was another impressive display from De Bruyne, who also created two goals in Thursday's Europa League win over Krasnodar and last week's 4-0 league win at VfB Stuttgart.

The Belgian has provided assists for nine league goals this season since joining Wolves from Stamford Bridge after a season on loan at Werder Bremen.

Later on Sunday, last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund need three points at home to third-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach to get off the bottom of the league table after five straight defeats.

Dortmund booked their place in the Champions League's last 16 with two games to spare in Tuesday's 4-1 win over Galatasaray, but Jurgen Klopp's side are enduring their worst start to a league season in the club's history.

After Freiburg and Werder Bremen both picked up wins on Saturday, Dortmund dropped to last place for the first time in seven years having picked up just seven points in their opening 10 league fixtures.

On Saturday, Bayern romped to victory at Frankfurt as Germany winger Thomas Mueller claimed a hat-trick.

Germany defender Jerome Boateng also set a new Bundesliga record of 50 games unbeaten in matches in which he has played for Munich.

Having been rested for Wednesday's 2-0 home win over Roma, which confirmed Bayern's place in the Champions League last 16 as group winners, Mueller opened the scoring from a Franck Ribery pass at the second attempt on 23 minutes.

The 25-year-old then boosted his tally with two goals in three second-half minutes before Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri grabbed their fourth on 86 minutes.

Werder Bremen's 2-0 win at home to VfB Stuttgart lifted them up to 15th, which put Dortmund bottom for the first time since August 2007.

Bremen have now won their last two games under caretaker coach Viktor Skripnik as Austrian defender Sebastian Proedl and midfielder Fin Bartels scored Werder's goals.

Hoffenheim dropped to fifth after a lively 4-3 defeat at home to Cologne while Leverkusen, who won 2-1 at Zenit St Petersburg on Tuesday to stay top of their Champions League group, were held to a goalless draw at home to Mainz and drop to sixth.

Schalke are 11th after suffering their third defeat in the six matches since Robert di Matteo took charge as they lost 2-0 at Freiburg thanks to goals by Christian Guenter and Jonathan Schmid.

Augsburg moved up to seventh with a 3-0 win at mid-table Paderborn as midfielder Tobias Werner scoring twice while Hanover 96 are fourth after Friday's 2-0 win at Hertha Berlin.

Bale on target; Suarez inspires Barca

Gareth Bale scored on his return to the Real Madrid starting line-up for the first time in a month as the European champions beat Rayo Vallecano 5-1 on Saturday.

Barcelona remain just two points behind the league leaders thanks to two assists from Luis Suarez as they came from behind to snap a two-game losing streak in La Liga with a 2-1 win at Almeria.

Bale took just nine minutes to make his mark as he slid in to turn home Toni Kroos's low cross before Sergio Ramos's fortunate looping effort doubled Madrid's lead.

An awful attempted backpass from James Rodriguez gave Rayo hope just before halftime as Alberto Bueno reduced the arrears, but Kroos restored the hosts' two-goal advantage with his first goal for the club.

Karim Benzema added a dubious fourth despite being clearly in an offside position before Cristiano Ronaldo registered his 23rd goal of the season thanks to some generous goalkeeping from Cristian Alvarez.

A pelvic muscle injury had kept Bale on the sidelines for five games prior to his return as a second-half substitute against Liverpool in midweek, and there were positive signs for Welsh boss Chris Coleman as he looked back to his best ahead of his country's crucial Euro 2016 qualifiers against Belgium and Israel.

Bale was on hand to prod home the opener from close range after a neat one-two between Kroos and Ronaldo as Madrid started brightly.

Ronaldo then uncharacteristically blazed over from inside the area and Alvarez did well to turn a curling effort from Rodriguez wide.

However, from the resulting corner Ramos made it 2-0 when the ball fortunately ricocheted off his thigh into the top corner.

Rayo were gifted a reward for their neat possession football two minutes before the break, though, as Rodriguez passed the ball straight to Leo Baptistao and the on-loan Atletico Madrid striker squared for Bueno to slot into an empty net.

Baptistao thought he had brought Rayo level 10 minutes into the second period, but the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside call and within seconds Madrid had put the game to bed.

Ronaldo cut the ball back for Kroos 25 yards from goal and the German World Cup winner bent home his first goal for the club with a low precise finish.

Four minutes later it was 4-1 as Benzema turned home Ronaldo's miscued shot and this time the goal did stand despite the Frenchman being clearly in an offside position.

Bale was denied a sensational second of the night when Alvarez turned his thunderous volley onto the bar, but the 'keeper undid his good work when he allowed Ronaldo's weak effort through his body to round off a 13th consecutive victory in all competitions for Madrid.

Earlier, Barca were bailed out by a superb second-half performance by Suarez after he and Neymar had been left on the bench by boss Luis Enrique as he made five changes from the side that defeated Ajax 2-0 in midweek.

Yet, despite his team's reaction after the break, Enrique was less than impressed by their display.

"The second-half was better for the ambition and attitude shown by the players rather than for good football," he said.

"To have a good season, though, you have to win even when you don't play well in games like today."

The visitors were caught out eight minutes before halftime as Lionel Messi lost possession deep inside the Almeria half and with one pass Barca were undone as Fernando Soriano released Thievy Bifouma and he raced past Marc Bartra before calmly slotting past Bravo.

Enrique had seen enough in the first 45 minutes and swiftly introduced Suarez and Neymar for Munir El Haddadi and Pedro Rodriguez at the break.

It took 15 minutes for the substitutes to make an impact as Suarez acrobatically volleyed against the bar at the back post from a corner.

Suarez was the creator when Barca did eventually level as he turned his marker just inside the area and squared for Neymar to turn the ball home via a deflection off Ximo Navarro 18 minutes from time.

The Uruguayan was inches away from his first Barca goal moments later as he spun and sent a low shot just beyond Martinez's far post.

Suarez then teed up Messi to sent another looping header off the crossbar as the pressure from the Catalans continued.

And they found the winner eight minutes from the end when after another burst from Suarez down the right he picked out the late arriving Alba from left-back to bundle home his first goal of the season.

Moyes to take over Real Sociedad

Former Manchester United manager David Moyes is set to make a return to football with La Liga strugglers Real Sociedad, various Spanish media sources reported on Sunday.

Moyes was sacked in April after less than a season in charge of United as they failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1995.

The Basques have been looking for a new boss since Jagoba Arrasate was sacked last weekend after just one win in their opening 10 league games.

Reports suggest that an official announcement will not be made until after Sociedad's clash at home to La Liga champions Atletico Madrid on Sunday evening with coaches Asier Santana and Imanol Alguacil taking temporary charge of the side.

Sociedad have a history of appointing British managers as John Toshack enjoyed three spells as boss in San Sebastian, while current Wales manager Chris Coleman had an ill-fated six months in charge in the 2007-08 season.

Sevilla fail to close gap at top

A late Victor Casadesus strike earned lowly Levante a 1-1 draw at Sevilla on Sunday as the hosts dropped more La Liga points in their bid for a Champions League place.

Casadesus had a shot cleared off the line by Daniel Carrico in the opening minutes but Sevilla gradually took control.

The Andalusian side scored with their first real threat on the Levante goal when Gerard Deulofeu crossed for Vitolo to nod in at the far post after half an hour.

It was a scrappy second half with plenty of stoppages summed up by Casadesus's equaliser. Keeper Beto spilled a cross from a corner and the Levante forward knocked the loose ball home.

Sevilla now have one point from two games after losing to Athletic Bilbao last weekend and are fifth with 23 points, behind Valencia and Atletico Madrid on goal difference.

Levante are third from bottom on nine points.

"It was a strong performance from us. We worked hard and created chances that allowed us to draw," Casadesus told reporters.

"We knew that Sevilla would be strong and attack us. They have different aims to us at the other end of the table but we played well."

Real Madrid lead La Liga with 27 points after their 5-1 win over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday and Barcelona are in second, two points behind, after they came from behind to beat Almeria.

Later Valencia aim to maintain their winning run at home against Athletic Bilbao later on Sunday and champions Atletico take on second-bottom Real Sociedad, with the Basque side yet to appoint a fulltime replacement for Jagoba Arrasate who was sacked last week.

Everton get point with late penalty

A second-half penalty from Leighton Baines secured a 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw for Everton at Sunderland on Sunday.

Dead-ball specialist Sebastian Larsson brought the Stadium of Light to its feet with a fine 67th-minute free-kick but England full-back Baines made no mistake from 12 yards nine minutes later after Connor Wickham had brought down Seamus Coleman.

There was an end-to-end feel for most of the match, but a lack of cutting edge in the final third hindered both teams.

Former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o passed up an early opening, while Sunderland's Jordi Gomez and Everton's Romelu Lukaku came closest to breaking the deadlock before Larsson struck.

Baines missed a penalty in last month's 2-1 defeat at Manchester United but Roberto Martinez's team are now unbeaten over six matches in all competitions since that reverse.

But Everton were grateful for the efforts of James McCarthy, who cleared a goalbound header from Wes Brown off the line in stoppage time.

Liam Bridcutt came in for suspended midfielder Lee Cattermole as Sunderland made four changes to the team that won 3-1 at Crystal Palace on Monday night.

An Everton side fresh from a 3-0 UEFA Europa League win over Lille was bolstered by Coleman, Eto'o and Ross Barkley.

The visitors quickly settled into a fluid passing rhythm and Eto'o linked smoothly with fellow forward Lukaku to blast wide. Wickham won a fifth-minute corner and the Sunderland forward's header from Larsson's resulting delivery brushed the roof of the net.

Everton midfielder Gareth Barry suffered an early end to his afternoon on a stretcher when Gomez caught his right ankle with a late tackle, aggravating a problem the former England international carried into the match.

Sunderland were growing in confidence by the time Sylvain Distin hacked a Gomez cross out of the goalmouth, while Aiden McGeady offered Everton's response by sending a rasping drive narrowly over the top corner.

Barkley and McGeady exchanged passes to force a fine block from Bridcutt in the 35th minute before an error from Barry's replacement Darron Gibson saw Gomez force a fine save from Tim Howard.

Bridcutt largely impressed during the opening exchanges of the second half but the former Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder under hit a backpass, but his blushes spared as Costel Pantilimon rushed from his goal to deny Lukaku.

Larsson then stepped up to curl a trademark effort beyond Howard, aided by a disorganised Everton wall, but Sunderland's lead proved short-lived.

Wickham lunged in to bring down Coleman, who dashed into the area on the end of a wonderful Eto'o pass, and Baines crashed home from the spot.

Sunderland edge three points clear of the relegation zone, although they might have been better off as Brown saw an injury-time header cleared off the line by McCarthy.

Spurs must find a solution - Pochettino

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino knows he must find a solution to his side's poor form after they fell to a 2-1 Premier League defeat by Stoke City at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Spurs striker Harry Kane, making his first league start of the season, had an early header saved but it was one-way traffic after that as first-half goals from Bojan Krkic and Jonathan Walters put Stoke in control.

Nacer Chadli pulled a goal back for Spurs with an exquisite second-half volley, but Pochettino's side failed to find an equaliser and have now suffered three defeats in four league games to drop to 12th in the table with 14 points from 11 matches.

"It was disappointing and frustrating," Pochettino told the BBC. "It is a shame because we started the game great.

"But once we conceded the first goal it all changed, we took rash decisions and looked uncomfortable on the ball and made a lot of mistakes.

"We were more comfortable in the second half but then 2-0 down it is difficult.

"We scored but in the end it was a very disappointing result and in the next few days we will try to find a solution and change our mentality."

Spurs, who beat Asteras Tripolis in the Europa League on Thursday, are six points worse off than they were at this stage last season and Pochettino said they must improve quickly.

"When you are up in a game your motivation is full and maybe we are very disappointed and frustrated and our players feel that frustration," he said.

"We need to look forward, work hard, change and find the solution. That is my job.

"It is clear if you see the result we need to improve a lot. In football you need time but you never get a long time."

A second away win of the season lifted Stoke to ninth with 15 points and manager Mark Hughes could celebrate a job well done.

"I was really pleased with the manner of the performance," the Welshman said. "We had a game plan and executed it to the letter.

"We were always a threat, we had a good shape about us, when we had the ball we broke with pace and precision and scored two goals as a consequence.

Newcastle revival continues

Newcastle United recorded their fourth successive Premier League win with a 2-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion and Tottenham Hotspur's home misery continued in a 2-1 loss to Stoke City on Sunday.

Everton came from behind and survived a late onslaught from Sunderland to win a hard-fought point in a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light.

After a dismal start to the season, goals from Ayoze Perez and Fabricio Coloccini ensured Newcastle's recent resurgence under their previously beleaguered manager Alan Pardew continued at the Hawthorns.

Perez scored his third goal in three games with a sublime backheel from a Daryl Janmaat cross to put the visitors ahead on the stroke of halftime.

Netherlands right back Janmaat then crossed for defender Coloccini to double Newcastle's lead after 62 minutes with a close-range header.

"It was a very disciplined, strong performance which was highlighted by an outstanding goal from Ayoze Perez," Pardew told the BBC.

"You need special moments like that in the Premier League."

Newcastle are now seventh in the table on 16 points from 11 games, a remarkable turnaround for a team who did not record a win until last month.

"We are up the league where a club of this size should be," Pardew added.

Tottenham's fourth home defeat in six league games once again followed a Europa League match on Thursday.

Having won at Asteras Tripolis three days ago, the rigours of juggling continental and domestic competition again proved too much for the north London side against a Stoke side who had previously won just once on the road this season.

Former Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic scored his first Premier League goal with a brilliant solo effort to give Stoke the lead at White Hart Lane after six minutes.

Things went from bad to worse for Mauricio Pochettino's side when Jonathan Walters tapped in Mame Diouf's pass 12 minutes before the interval.

Spurs desperately tried to mount a comeback in the second half and Nacer Chadli's powerful drive made it 2-1 with 13 minutes left but it was too little too late for the hosts.

The defeat piled more pressure on Pochettino with Spurs 12th in the table on 14 points from 11 games. Stoke climbed to ninth with 15 points.

Despite dominating possession for much of the game, Everton fell behind at Sunderland to a stunning 25-yard free kick from midfielder Seb Larsson.

England defender Leighton Baines equalised for the visitors from the penalty spot 14 minutes from time but Everton had James McCarthy to thank for the point after the midfielder cleared Wes Brown's stoppage-time header off the line to deny Sunderland the win.

The draw left Everton 10th in the table on 14 points while Gus Poyet's side jumped a place to 14th, three points above the relegation zone.