KweséESPN reviews the best and worst of Africa's stars across Europe's major leagues this weekend.
ENGLAND
Wilfried Zaha was Africa's star performer in the Premier League this weekend when he struck a ninth-minute equaliser en route to inspiring Crystal Palace to a 2-1 victory away at champions elect Chelsea. Cesc Fabregas had opened the scoring for the league leaders after five minutes, but Palace took all three points after Christian Benteke bagged the equaliser. Ghana's Jeffrey Schlupp was also in action for Sam Allardyce's side as they moved four points above the relegation zone.
In the Merseyside Derby, Sadio Mane endured mixed fortunes as he opened the scoring - becoming the first Liverpool player since Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge to score in both games against Everton in a season - but was replaced with injury before the hour-mark. Idrissa Gueye struggled to contain the home side as the Reds ran out 3-1 winners, while Joel Matip was also in action for the Reds.
On Sunday, Alex Iwobi and Yaya Toure both came off the bench as Arsenal twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Manchester City, while Wilfred Ndidi opened his Premier League account with a thunderous opener as champions Leicester City downed Stoke City 2-0 to further ease their relegation concerns.
FRANCE
Title contenders AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain contested the French League Cup final this weekend, with the capital club running out 4-1 winners following a rampant display that bodes well for their championship hopes. Serge Aurier was preferred to Thomas Meunier down PSG's right flank, while it was a chastening afternoon for ASM substitutes Nabil Dirar and Almamy Toure.
In league action, OGC Nice closed the gap on the two leaders with a come-from-behind victory against Girondins de Bordeaux. Younes Belhanda, Jean Seri (pictured) and Malang Sarr were all in action for the hosts, but it was Mario Balotelli who stole the show with a goal and an assist.
Prejuce Nakoulma continued his fine form for Nantes with a double as they downed Angers, who responded through Famara Diedhiou, while Benjamin Moukandjo scored the only goal of the game as strugglers FC Lorient beat Caen 1-0. The win takes Les Merlus off bottom spot, boosting their hopes of an unlikely survival.
Democratic Republic of Congo attacker Firmin Ndombe Mubele bagged a late equaliser for Stade Rennais as they salvaged a 1-1 draw with Olympique Lyonnais at home. Les Rouges et Noirs were reduced to 10 men when Algeria stopper Ramy Bensebaini was sent off in the fifth minute, but held on before striking late through the lively Mubele.
SPAIN
Real Madrid remain a nose ahead of Barcelona at the top of La Liga after downing Zou Feddal's Alaves 3-0 at the Bernabeu, with their rivals thumping Granada 4-1 away in Sunday's late kick off. Chelsea loanee Jeremie Boga, who is eligible for the Cote d'Ivoire, equalised for strugglers Granada after Suarez's opener, but Barca retook the lead through Paco Alcacer and the home side lost their way when Uche Henry Agbo was dismissed in the 82nd minute.
Thomas Partey shone on Atletico Madrid's right flank as they won 2-0 away at Malaga to leapfrog Sevilla into third.
GERMANY
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang took his goal tally for the season to 24 in 24 games after opening the scoring for Borussia Dortmund in their 1-1 derby draw at Schalke. Nabil Bentaleb, Benjamin Stambouli and Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting all featured for the home side.
Despite his remarkably haul, Auba remains tied with rival Robert Lewandowski in the race for the golden boot after the Pole struck a hat-trick in Bayern Munich's 6-0 demolition of Augsburg. The win keeps Bayern 13 points clear of nearest contenders Leipzig, who returned to form in some style with a 4-0 home win over 10-men Darmstadt. Naby Keita has been one of the Bundesliga new boys' breakout stars this season, and he opened and closed the scoring for Leipzig as they moved up to 52 points - four ahead of third-placed Hoffenheim.
ITALY
AS Roma cut the gap on Juventus to six points as they beat Empoli 2-0, while the leaders were held 1-1 at Napoli. Mohamed Salah (pictured) has been in excellent form since returning from Egypt's Nations Cup campaign, and contributed the assist for Edin Dzeko's second as the second-placed Giallorossi moved up to 68 points after 30 matches.
Kwadwo Asamoah again featured at left-back as Juventus drew at the San Paolo, with Marek Hamsik equalising for the home side after Sami Khedira's opener. Kalidou Koulibaly started at centre-back for the Partenopei, with Faouzi Ghoulam coming off the bench.
Khouma Babacar scored the only goal of the game as eighth-placed Fiorentina beat Bologna 1-0, while wonderkid Franck Kessie contributed an assist as surprise package Atalanta demolished Genoa 5-0 away to consolidate fifth spot.