Balogun breaks PSG heart, Napoli maintain lead in Italy, gap widens between Barca and Madrid 

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti marked his return to competitive action after nearly a month out injured with a 15-minute cameo against Reims in which he helped set up his side's goal and was then dismissed for a crude challenge.

Verratti was sent on after the pause at the Parc des Princes following a lacklustre first-half in which the hosts mustered one shot on goal despite fielding the fabled troika of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.

Reims came to the Parc des Princes unbeaten in 11 Ligue 1 matches - a run that had taken them to mid table.

And they played with the attendant confidence allowing their illustrious opponents little space and themselves looking dangerous in possession especially with Nigeria bornFolarin Balogun at the focal point.

With Reims obdurate, PSG tried to play intricately around the sides. And when that failed to yield fruits, they tried through the middle.

That too was a barren land.

In the hope of more guile from midfield, PSG boss Christophe Galtier sent on Verratti.

And his surge from the central zone six minutes into the second-half brought the luck that appeared to have deserted the side.

From Verratti, the ball found its way to Messi. His shot at goal hit his teammate Achraf Hakimi and in the slapstick the ball fell to Neymar who rounded the Reims goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf to open the score.

Elsewhere, Giovanni Simeone scored a late winner as Napoli continued their march at the top of Serie A with a 2-1 win over Roma.

Napoli, who last won the league in 1990, took a 17th-minute lead through Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen.

Stephan El Shaarawy levelled for Roma with quarter of an hour to go but Simeone's 86th-minute strike secured all three points for the home side.

AC Milan slumped to a fourth defeat in five matches in all competitions as they were beaten 5-2 by Sassuolo in the San Siro.

Former Premier League forwards Olivier Giroud and Divock Origi found the net for Milan but the visitors were 3-1 up at the break through Gregoire Defrel, Davide Frattesi and Domenico Berardi with Armand Lauriente and Matheus Henrique on target in the second half.

Last season's champions have now slipped to fifth in the league.

Juventus also fell to a surprise defeat – 2-0 at home to Monza – while Lazio and Fiorentina drew 1-1.

In Spain, Real Madrid are five points behind league leaders Barcelona after playing out a goalless draw at home to third-placed Real Sociedad.

Substitute Saul Niguez scored a late goal to earn Atletico Madrid a 1-0 victory at Osasuna and Valladolid left it even later, scoring in the 90th minute through Cyle Larin to see off Valencia 1-0.

Iago Aspas scored the only goal of the game as Celta Vigo beat Athletic Bilbao.

In Germany, Jude Bellingham captained Borussia Dortmund to a 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen which takes his side to fourth place and within three points of leaders Bayern Munich .

Karim Adeyemi opened the scoring in the first half before Edmond Tapsoba's own goal sealed the victory.

Schalke brought a three-match losing streak to an end but were held to a goalless draw against Cologne and remain at the foot of the table.