United, Liverpool win in EPL; Madrid advances

With a fourth successive victory, Manchester United's Premier League revival is gathering pace.

Ahead of potentially tricky games against Southampton and Liverpool, United overcame Stoke 2-1 through Juan Mata's winner to stay fourth on Tuesday.

Liverpool remains five points adrift, but captain Steven Gerrard returned to the starting lineup and scored a timely goal in a 3-1 victory at Leicester.

The most emphatic victory of the night in Europe came in Spain, where Real Madrid routed third-tier side Cornella 5-0 to advance to the Copa del Rey round of 16 with a 9-1 aggregate win.

Here's a look at the main action in Europe on Tuesday:

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ENGLAND

At Old Trafford, United lacked creativity without the injured Wayne Rooney and Angel Di Maria.

But Marouane Fellaini met Ander Herrera's cross with a towering header to put the hosts in front in the 21st minute. Steven Nzonzi equalized for Stoke with a powerful shot from the edge of the area, but the 2013 champions' lead was restored in the second half from Mata's inswinging free kick.

Sitting in eighth, Liverpool's form is a far cry from last season — when the team finished second — and the visitors had to come from behind to beat Leicester.

Liverpool went a goal down in the 22nd when Leonardo Ulloa's shot hit the post and rebounded into the net off goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. But Adam Lallana leveled four minutes later and — after Gerrard's goal — Leicester had Wes Morgan sent off for dragging down Rickie Lambert. With a man advantage, Jordan Henderson completed Liverpool's second straight victory in the 83rd.

West Ham stayed fifth after fighting back to edge West Brom 2-1, and Swansea is a place behind after beating Queens Park Rangers 2-0.

QPR is only being kept off the bottom by Leicester, while Burnley provisionally climbed out of the relegation zone by drawing 1-1 with Newcastle. Aston Villa claimed its first league victory since September by winning 1-0 at Crystal Palace, with Christian Benteke scoring his first goal in nine months.

The focus switches to the title race on Wednesday when leader Chelsea hosts Tottenham, second-place Manchester City plays at Sunderland and third-place Southampton is at Arsenal.

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SPAIN

With Cristiano Ronaldo resting, James Rodriguez led Madrid's attack and scored twice in the first half in between setting up Francisco "Isco" Alarcon.

After Javier Hernandez netted the fourth in the second half, Jese Rodriguez came off the bench to score on his return after nearly nine months out through injury.

Holder Madrid and Cornella played their first leg in October so that Madrid can play at the Club World Cup later this month.

In first-leg matches, Athletic Bilbao drew 1-1 at third-tier Alcoyano, and Espanyol won 2-0 at Alaves.

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FRANCE

Andre-Pierre Gignac saw his goal-bound shot saved with just seconds remaining as French league leader Marseille missed several chances in a 1-1 draw at Lorient.

Although Dimitri Payet put Marseille ahead with a curling shot into the top corner in the 32nd, Jordan Ayew equalized five minutes later from the penalty spot after Benjamin Jeannot was floored by goalkeeper Steve Mandanda.

Two-time defending champion Paris Saint-Germain has the chance to move into first place by beating struggling Lille on Wednesday.