Lacazette fires Lyon to third straight win

Alexandre Lacazette scored twice as Lyon moved within a point of second-place Paris Saint-Germain in the French league by defeating struggling Caen 3-0 on Friday for a third straight win.

Lacazette opened the scoring in the seventh minute by converting a penalty after Caen defender Jean-Jacques Pierre tripped playmaker Nabil Fekir. The Lyon striker then scored a league-leading 15th goal from a corner to double the lead in the 57th.

Lyon forward Yassine Benzia made it 3-0 in the 62nd by burying a first-time effort into the bottom corner.

On Saturday, it's: Nantes v Bordeaux; Bastia v Rennes; Lorient v Metz; Montpellier v Lens; and Reims v Evian.

On Sunday, leaders Marseille visit Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain face Guingamp, Nice host Saint-Etienne and Lille play Toulouse.

Neymar out of Getafe clash

Barcelona have left Brazilian star Neymar out of their squad for Saturday's meeting with Getafe in La Liga "as a precaution".

The Catalan club announced that "the Brazilian has a problem with his left ankle and will not travel to Madrid as a precaution," without giving any further details as to how long he may be absent.

The 22-year-old, who scored in Wednesday's 3-1 Champions League win against Paris Saint-Germain that allowed Barca to go through to the last 16 as winners of their group, withdrew from training on Friday.

Luis Enrique's side head to Getafe in second place in La Liga and lay two points behind Real Madrid before the leaders' game at Almeria on Friday.

Barcelona, who welcome back Daniel Alves after he missed the PSG game due to suspension, have won their last eight games in all competitions.

Real extend record winning run

Cristiano Ronaldo hit a late double as La Liga leaders Real Madrid thumped Almeria 4-1 to extend their Spanish record for consecutive victories in all competitions to 20 on Friday.

Ronaldo struck twice in the last 10 minutes to take his league tally to 25 after first-half goals from Isco and Gareth Bale had seen the visitors go in 2-1 ahead at halftime.

The Portugal winger had been left frustrated for most of the night but he burst into life late on when he knocked in a Karim Benzema cut back from close range before putting away an Isco pass from the centre of the penalty area to wrap up the victory.

Real lead the standings with 39 points from 15 games, five points more than Barcelona who visit Getafe on Saturday.

The European champions travel to Morocco next week for the Club World Cup with two more wins than the previous best which was Barca's 18 victories from October 2005 to January 2006.

Real last failed to win when they were beaten 2-1 by city rivals Atletico Madrid in a La Liga game in September.

"Almeria caused problems for us throughout the game but in the end our quality showed through and we deserved the win," Real coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters.

"We found it difficult to keep possession as we lacked the necessary composure on the ball and Almeria worked hard.

"We are now in good form and there are a lot of positive signs ahead of the Club World Cup."

ISCO SHINES

Real have had to cope with injuries to Luka Modric, Sami Khedira and James Rodriguez which have allowed Isco to enjoy an extended run and he got his second La Liga goal of the season.

The midfielder put Real ahead with a superb curling effort from the edge of the area after 34 minutes before Almeria drew level with a sweetly struck long-range volley by Verza. Bale then nodded in a cross by Toni Kroos to restore Real's lead.

Real's Iker Casillas kept them in front with an excellent penalty save to deny Verza midway through the second half, after Marcelo had fouled Edgar Mendez, before Ronaldo's late double gave the visitors a more flattering scoreline.

Almeria, who sacked Francisco Rodriguez last Tuesday and named Juan Ignacio Martinez to replace him following the Real game, started at a high-tempo unlike the display against Eibar last Monday when a 5-2 defeat cost the coach his job.

But the home side were eventually outclassed by Real, with the defeat keeping them in the relegation zone on 10 points.

Atletico complete signing of Correa

Atletico Madrid on Saturday announced that they have completed the signing of young Argentine midfielder Angel Correa after his transfer was postponed in the summer because of a heart problem.

Correa, 19, underwent successful surgery in New York after the illness was detected during a medical with Atletico in May and has now secured his transfer from Copa Libertadores winners San Lorenzo.

Reigning Spanish champions Atletico, who are third in La Liga ahead of Sunday's home meeting with Villarreal, confirmed that Argentina under-20 international Correa has signed "for the remainder of this season and the following four campaigns."

Correa, who helped San Lorenzo win the Argentine title last year, is therefore tied to Atletico until 2019.

Barca held to goalless stalemate

Barcelona lost ground on Real Madrid when they were held to a 0-0 draw at rain-lashed Getafe on Saturday and slipped four points behind the La Liga leaders.

Real jetted off to the Club World Cup in Morocco after Friday's 4-1 win at Almeria extended their Spanish record winning streak to 20 matches and Barca struggled against some gritty Getafe defending at the Coliseum in the Madrid suburbs.

Barca forward Lionel Messi was unable to convert the few chances that came his way and add to his 13 La Liga goals this season although he came closest for the visitors when he curled a 52nd-minute free kick against the crossbar.

The Argentina captain has hit the frame of the goal eight times in Spain's top flight this term, twice as many times as the next most frequent, Real's Karim Benzema.

Barca goalkeeper Claudio Bravo had little to do apart from leaping superbly to his left to palm a shot from Getafe forward Angel Lafita around the post in the 33rd minute.

Real have 39 points from 15 matches, four ahead of Barca in second. Third-placed champions Atletico Madrid can draw level on 35 points with Barca with a win at home to Villarreal on Sunday.

Wolfsburg close to Zhang signing

Wolfsburg are set to sign China midfielder Zhang Xizhe from Beijing Guoan, the Bundesliga club said on Saturday.

"There are only a few details to clear up," the club's general manager Klaus Allofs said.

Zhang, 23, is expected in Wolfsburg Saturday with the club hoping to officially present him this week as a new player. "Although it's a big leap from China to the Bundesliga we believe he can make it," Allofs said.

Wolfsburg are currently second in the Bundesliga, seven points behind Bayern Munich. They play Paderborn at home on Sunday.

Hoffenheim's Suele tears knee ligament

Hoffenheim defender Niklas Suele could be out for the rest of the season after tearing a cruciate knee ligament in Friday evening's 3-2 defeat of Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.

The club confirmed on Saturday that the 19-year-old Germany Under-21 international has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Suele went down when chasing Haris Seferovic for the ball in the seventh minute of the game against visiting Frankfurt.

He was immediately taken to Heidelberg University Orthopaedic Hospital where the tear was confirmed.

"We're all devastated for Niklas," Hoffenheim club football director Alexander Rosen said.

"He is a great lad who has undergone an incredible development so far. We will support him in every way we can and help see him through his challenging phase in his career."

The victory has put Hoffenheim up to seventh place, a place and two points ahead of Frankfurt, ahead of the rest of the weekend programme.