In Germany, things cannot currently go wrong for Shinji Kagawa who had another match to remember when Dortmund visited Nurnberg for the Bundesliga's Friday night game.
The 22-year-old was a decisive factor in the champions' 2-0 win as he not only provided the assist for the second goal by Lucas Barrios, but kept his side from falling behind clearing the ball off the line in the 11th minute.
In what started out as a difficult game against a spirited Nurnberg side, Kagawa created numerous chances throughout the 90 minutes. Having nearly scored with a backheel in the 36th minute himself, his pass to Sebastian Kehl could have led to another goal, but the play was controversially ruled offside. The result propels Dortmund to the top of the table as no other team in the top four was able to win.
Augsburg collected another valuable point on the road after Hajime Hosogai's team managed to record a 2-2 draw at Hoffenheim. The former Urawa Reds man, again playing the full match, had a solid game and showed attacking awareness as it was his cross into the box which led - after flicked on - to Sascha Molders opening goal in the 31st minute.
| STAR OF THE WEEKEND |
| Shinji Kagawa |
 His team may have gotten off to a slow start but Kagawa was a key contributor to Dortmund's victory, which helped them take sole control of the Bundesliga table.
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In the Eredivisie, Vitesse's Mike Havenaar made his first European start, and provided his first assist when he perfectly trapped a low cross before passing to Nicky Hofs who scored with a volley. In the second half Havenaar received a cross from team-mate Michihiro Yasuda before being fouled in the box and earning a penalty, which Alexander Buttner failed to convert. Havenaar was replaced on 81 minutes.
Germany
Shinji Okazaki (Stuttgart): Had a good chance early on in his first start for the Swabians in five games, but wasn't able to leave his mark in the 2-2 draw in Leverkusen until he was substituted in the 76th minute.
Gotoku Sakai (Stuttgart): Didn't make the squad for the 2-2 draw away to Leverkusen.
Atsuto Uchida (Schalke): Found himself outside the matchday squad, watching a 1-1 draw against Mainz from the stands of the Veltins-Arena.
Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg): The Samurai Blue skipper was an unused substitute in a goalless draw at home against Borussia Monchengladbach.
Yuki Otsu (Borussia Monchengladbach): Didn't feature in the Foals' roster for the 0-0 at Wolfsburg.
Takashi Usami (Bayern Munich): Featured on the Bavarians' bench for the 1-1 draw at Hamburg.
Kisho Yano (SC Freiburg): Is taking a trial at second division Swiss side FC Aarau.
Takashi Inui (Bochum): Helped his team winning a free kick which led to Bochum's opening goal in the 19th minute, but was wasteful on numerous other occasions in the narrow 2-1 home win against struggling Hansa Rostock.
Italy
Yuto Nagatomo (Inter): Started at left half but his Inter had their second poor performance of the week, following up the 4-4 draw on Wednesday with a 4-0 loss to Roma on Sunday.
Takayuki Morimoto (Novara): Not included in scoreless draw against Cagliari
England
Tadanari Lee (Southampton): Was not selected for Southampton's scoreless draw.
Ryo Miyaichi (Bolton): Watched Bolton's 2-0 loss to Norwich from the stands.
Belgium
Eiji Kawashima (Lierse): Made his 24th straight full appearance in Belgian play, but his team lost 2-0.
Netherlands
Maya Yoshida (VVV): Full appearance in 3-1 loss at Excelsior
Robert Cullen (VVV): Came on in the second half for his first playing time in three matches.
Yoshiaki Takagi (Utrecht): Watched Utrecht's 2-0 win over Ajax from the bench.
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