In England:
Premier League clubs put their Premiership status on the line this weekend as fourth round ties of the FA Cup got underway in England.
It was Leeds United which caused the first upset of the weekend by holding Premiership title contenders Arsenal to a one-all game at the Emirates Park.
Winger Lloyd Sam was an absentee for Leeds United.
Striker Albert Adomah saw Sheffield Wednesday trounce his Bristol City 3-0 in another FA Cup duel at the Ashton Gate.
Patrick Agyemang missed out of QPR's 0-1 defeat by Blackburn Rovers to injury.
Ghana right-back John Pantsil lasted the entire duration as Fulham went goal crazy at the Craven Cottage by thrashing lower division side Peterborough 6-2.
A second string Blackpool side exited the competition in a rather shocking way loosing 2-0 to Southampton.
Goalkeeper Richard Kingson was rested for the tie.
Striker Asamoah Gyan could not help Sunderland maintain their status in the FA Cup as they slipped to a 1-2 defeat at home to Notts County.
Chelsea whitewashed Ipswich Town 7-0 to ease the pressure of Carlo Ancelotti.
Michael Essien witnessed the entire proceedings from the bench at the Bridge.
Italy:
Udinese nearly caused a major upset at the San Siro but surrendered a 4-3 lead on the 90th minute to their host AC Milan.
Midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah worked tirelessly in midfield for the full 90 minutes while Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu replaced Almen Abdi after 75 minutes.
Kevin-Prince Boateng missed the action due injury.
Sulley Muntari warmed the bench for Inter Milan as an Esteban Cambiasso double propelled Manager Leonardo to a second win in charge.
The Argentinean stroke twice within four minutes to beat Catania 2-1.
Ex-Ghana captain Stephen Appiah replaced Paolo Sammarco after 72 minutes in Cesena's scoreless stalemate with Genoa at the Stadio D. Manuzzi.
Striker Richmond Boakye-Yiadom was an unused substitute for Genoa.
Dominic Adiyiah played 81 minutes for Reggina which failed to find the net against Sassuolo on Saturday.
The game ended 0-0.
Fiorentina signing Salifu Amidu was an 84th minute substitute for Vicenza in their 1-1 draw with Empoli.
Isaac Cofie played his first game for Piacenza in the Serie B in a 2-1 victory over Varese.
Spain:
Quincy Owusu-Abeyie broke into the Malaga starting eleven for the first time under Manuel Pellergrini in the one-all draw with Athletico Bilbao at La Rosaleda.
The ex-Arsenal man was replaced after 74 minutes.
Derek Boateng continued his impressive show in the La Liga this helping Getafe to run away a vital away from Osasuna.
The Valencia-pursuit was the engine room of the Getafe midfield in that pulsating draw.
Jeffery Sarpong brought some flair and skill into Real Sociedad's when he subbed Paco Sutil on the 68th minute.
The former Ajax youngster nearly levelled the scoring for Sociedad but his effort missed the target by inches.
In the Segunda Division, Villarreal B humbled Granada FC 2-0 in an eventful encounter at their own backyard.
Jonathan Mensah watched the action from the substitute bench but Ransford Osei once again missed out of the Granada FC first team squad.
Others:
Samuel Inkoom played 64 minutes FC Basel in their 0-4 reverse to German Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund in an international friendly.
Andre Ayew lasted the entire 90 minutes while Jordan Ayew was introduced on the 46th minute when Marseille crashed out of the Coupe De France loosing 3-1 to Evian Thonon Gaillard.
In the Portuguese Liga, left-back David Addy was conspicuously missing from Academica's when they shared the spoils with Ferreira by drawing nil-nil.
Bernard Kumordzi's Panionios slide in the Greek Super League continued over the weekend as the George Boateng and Christopher Katongo led FC Xanthi to shock them 2-0 at home.