By Timothy Collings
London - Mali midfielder Mahamadou Diarra scored Real Madrid's winning goal at Real Betis on Saturday as Africans again played prominent roles in the European club leagues.
On a quieter than usual weekend by recent standards, Diarra's first goal for his Spanish club was the highlight performance in La Liga where Real briefly held the leading position.
Diarra, who moved from Lyon in August, headed the winner in the sixth minute of Real's 1-0 success in a generally dour encounter.
It was Real's third win in four league games and took them top, above champions Barcelona for just 24 hours.
Barcelona lost their perfect 100 percent record when they were held at the Nou Camp stadium 1-1 by Valencia.
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The visitors led and threatened to steal a notable victory before clever play by Cameroon international striker Samuel Eto'o, who created the equaliser for Andres Iniesta with a delicate header.
There were more assists by African players in Spain with Eto'o's fellow-Cameroonian Pierre Webo creating a goal for his Osasuna team-mate Juanfran with a clever through pass in injury time at the end of their 2-0 victory at Celta Vigo.
In England, Shabani Nonda scored his first goal for new club Blackburn Rovers in their away victory at Middlesbrough.
The Congolese forward, who is on loan from AS Roma, headed home the winner in the 27th minute for a 1-0 victory that hoisted Blackburn up to 10th.
Senegalese striker Henri Camara opened the scoring for Wigan Athletic with a controversial goal, in the 29th minute, at home to Watford.
Camara's goal was at first disallowed for offside, but it stood after the referee overruled his assistant.
Wigan failed to hold on to the advantage, Watford equalising in the second half. It finished 1-1.
In France, another Senegalese striker, Mamadou Niang hit a second-half goal, but it was not enough to prevent Olympique Marseille suffering their first defeat of the season, 2-1 at Nantes.
Niang's goal, a superb 25-metre shot in the 78th minute, proved only to be a consolation as his side missed a chance to go to the top of Ligue 1.
Another Senegelese player, midfielder Badare Sene, scored the 72nd-minute goal which earned Sochaux a 2-2 draw at Le Mans. Sene's goal, a strong volley after a through ball from James Leroy, left the Le Mans goalkeeper with no chance.
In Germany, Tunisian Jawhar Mnari fired Nuremberg ahead from 25 metres after 10 minutes of their match with Energie Cottbus.
The African was allowed to break from midfield and then produced an unstoppable shot to give his side the lead.
Nuremberg conceded an equaliser, however, with seven minutes remaining alhtough they maintained their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season.
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