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LONDON — Teenage substitute Federico Macheda scored on his Manchester United debut on Sunday to salvage a 3-2 win over Aston Villa and end the team's monthlong winless streak in the Premier League.
The 17-year-old Italian curled the ball past Brad Friedel in injury time to ensure the defending champions ended the weekend a point ahead of Liverpool at the top of the standings with a game in hand. Cristiano Ronaldo scored United's first two goals.
"This is a day of my dreams," said Macheda, who replaced Nani in the 61st.
Macheda was in the squad because striker Wayne Rooney was suspended and Dimitar Berbatov is injured. He entered after Gabriel Agbonlahor put Villa ahead 2-1 in the 58th by heading in a cross from John Carew.
"It was a gamble. Winning is the name of the game at this club," United manager Alex Ferguson said of inserting the inexperienced Macheda. "Yes we take risks, but that is part of football. I love the thrill of them myself."
The stage was set for Macheda after Ronaldo equalized in the 80th by slotting the ball past Friedel.
Ronaldo scored his first goal from a free kick in the 15th minute, and Carew equalized in the 30th.
Liverpool had won in injury time Saturday to move ahead of United and into first place overnight.
United has 68 points, one more than Liverpool and four more than Chelsea, which beat Newcastle 2-0 Saturday.
Also Sunday, Everton beat Wigan 4-0 to strengthen its grip on sixth place and qualification for the Europa League, the UEFA Cup's new format.
Brazil striker Jo, on loan from Manchester City, scored twice and Marouane Fellaini and Leon Osman also found the net.
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MILAN (AP) — Chievo Verona striker Sergio Pellissier scored an equalizer in the 90th minute to complete a hat trick and earn his side a 3-3 draw at Juventus in Serie A.
League leader Inter Milan can stretch its lead over Juventus to nine points in its late match with Udinese.
Inter has 69 points, Juventus has 63 and AC Milan is third with 55 before its game later on Sunday against Lecce.
Genoa remains in fourth place with 54 points, but needed a late Thiago Motta goal to win 1-0 at Reggina.
Fiorentina is two points behind Genoa in fifth after Cesare Prandelli's side beat Atalanta 2-1 on striker Alberto Gilardino's late winner.
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MADRID (AP) — Walter Pandiani scored two goals as Osasuna beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 to move out of the relegation zone in Spain's top division.
Osasuna jumped to 14th with 32 points — two more than Recreativo Huelva, which dropped to 18th, the last relegation spot.
Atletico remained five points adrift of Champions League qualification with 43 points, the same as Deportivo La Coruna, which lost 3-1 at last-place Espanyol.
Ivan Alonso and Ivan de la Pena scored as Espanyol recorded only its second win in 20 league games, but the club remains rooted to the bottom with just 25 points — six from safety with nine games to play.
In Sunday's late games, Valencia played Getafe, while Sporting Gijon faced Racing Santander.
Barcelona leads the standings with 72 points after a 1-0 victory at Valladolid on Saturday, and Spanish champion Real Madrid is second with 66 points after a 1-0 win at Malaga.
Sevilla, which beat Recreativo Huelva 1-0, is third with 57 points, while Villarreal's 3-0 defeat at Almeria left it fourth with 48. Valencia and Malaga both have 43 points.
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PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain moved up to fifth place in the French league with a 2-1 victory over Nice that kept it in the chase for a European spot.
Sochaux was a convincing 3-0 winner over Rennes, earning its third straight home win and moving away from the relegation zone.
PSG has 55 points from 30 matches, trailing league leader Lyon by four points.
Marseille played Saint-Etienne later Sunday and could cut Lyon's lead to a point with a victory.
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AMSTERDAM (AP) — Ajax moved within a point of second-place FC Twente in the Dutch league, beating Roda JC 2-1 to boost its chances of playing in next season's Champions League.
Luis Suarez scored in the second minute to give Ajax the lead, and the Uruguay striker set up Ismail Aissati for his first goal of the season in the 66th. Ivory Coast winger Sekou Cisse pulled one back for Roda in the 72nd.
AZ Alkmaar needs just five points to claim its first league title in nearly 30 years after rallying from a goal down to beat ADO The Hague 4-1 Saturday.
AZ, which last won the title in 1981, leads with 73 points, 11 more than Twente. Ajax is next with 61 points.
SC Heerenveen stayed in fourth place with 55 points after a 1-1 draw at Heracles Almelo, while defending champion PSV Eindhoven beat Sparta Rotterdam 2-0 to remain in fifth with 52.
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FALKIRK, Scotland (AP) — Rangers kept the pressure on Scottish Premier League leader Celtic, getting a goal from Kris Boyd to beat last-place Falkirk 1-0.
Pedro Mendes slipped the ball through to Nacho Novo on the left flank and the Spanish forward cut back for Boyd to score his 25th goal of the season in the ninth minute.
Rangers is within three points of Celtic with eight matches remaining. Celtic beat Hamilton 4-0 Saturday.
