JOHANNESBURG: African champions Al Ahly of Egypt forced a 1-1 draw with Orlando Pirates in South African in the first leg of this year’s final.

Veteran midfielder Mohamed Aboutrika scored from a free kick for Al Ahly with Pirates levelling with almost the last kick from Thabo Matlaba.

In Germany league leaders Bayern Munich struggled to beat Hoffenheim 2-1 to equal a 30-year-old league record with their 36th straight game without defeat. Thomas Muller scored the winner 15 minutes from time to send last season’s treble winners to 29 points, one ahead of Borussia Dortmund.

In Italy Napoli and Juventus both won in Serie A to move within two points of leaders AS Roma as AC Milan lost 2-0 to Fiorentina to a chorus of fans’ jeers.

In Spain Real Madrid scraped a 3-2 win over bottom club Rayo Vallecano after unbeaten champions Barcelona scored a 1-0 win at home to Espanyol in Friday’s Catalan derby.

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