that is overwhelmingly successful in the regular season but doesnt always translate

LONDON - After a perfect end to 2014, Real Madrid opened the new year with its first loss since September.Madrid slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Valencia to end a 22-game winning streak in all competitions. However, Barcelona failed to take advantage as it also lost at Real Sociedad to remain behind leader Madrid in the Spanish league.In England, Manchester United and Manchester City were among a slew of big clubs that needed second-half recoveries against lower-league teams for victories in the FA Cups third round.Here is a look at the action from Europe:___SPAINMadrid took the lead at Valencia when Cristiano Ronaldo extended his season tally to 26 league goals in the 14th minute at Mestalla Stadium, stroking in a penalty kick following Alvaro Negredos handball.But the hosts rallied through a goal by Antonio Barragan in the 52nd before defender Nicolas Otamendi fended off Sergio Ramos to head home the 65th-minute winner.We have been training all week for this, Otamendi said. This was a key game to start 2015.Madrid had not lost or drawn a game in any competition since a 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid on Sept. 13, setting a Spanish record for consecutive wins.Barcelona had the chance to provisionally climb above Madrid into first, but lost 1-0 at Sociedad following Jordi Albas own goal in the second minute. Star forwards Lionel Messi and Neymar came on as substitutes in the second half, but failed to inspire a comeback.Rayo Vallecano also came from behind for a 2-1 victory at crosstown rival Getafe. Eibar, meanwhile, continued its impressive topflight debut by holding on to win 2-1 at Espanyol and move into eighth place.___ENGLANDOn the day Englands top teams entered the FA Cup, world footballs most famous domestic cup competition, there were a slew of close calls for Premier League sides. But only Queens Park Rangers fell at the first hurdle.QPR lost 3-0 to Sheffield United, which is making a habit of producing so-called giant-killings in cup competitions. The team reached the semifinals of the FA Cup last season and has advanced to the same stage of the League Cup this season, where it takes on Tottenham over two legs this month.Man City looked like going the same way as QPR, only for James Milner — a midfielder playing as a makeshift striker — to score in the 66th minute and again in injury time in a 2-1 win over second-tier Sheffield Wednesday.Man United was also unconvincing against Yeovil, which is bottom of the third tier, and needed goals in the final 26 minutes from midfielders Ander Herrera and Angel Di Maria for a 2-0 win.Stoke avoided what would have been one of the biggest shocks in the cups 144-year history, scoring three times in the final 10 minutes to beat non-league Wrexham 3-1. Chelsea also relied on a second-half revival, scoring three goals in a 14-minute burst for a 3-0 win over Watford. Christian Bentekes 88th-minute strike earned Aston Villa a 1-0 victory over Blackpool, which plays in the second tier.Arsenal had it more comfortable, with the defending champions beating Hull 2-0 in a repeat of last seasons final thanks to goals by Per Mertesacker and Alexis Sanchez.___FRANCEFourth-tier Grenoble came from behind three times before producing the first major upset in the French Cup with a 5-4 win on penalties over league leader Marseille.Other top-flight favourites avoided falling at the first hurdle as Lyon, Monaco and Bordeaux all progressed to the round of 32.Marseille and Grenoble were locked 3-3 after extra time after Grenoble captain Selim Bengriba headed home a last-second equalizer to take Marcelo Bielsas side to a penalty shootout.Former Grenoble player Florian Thauvin missed from the spot during the shootout and Nasrallah sent Brice Samba the wrong way to knock out Marseille.After a strong first half to the season that saw it climb to second in the league standings, Lyon picked up where it left off before the Christmas break and quickly built a 3-0 lead against Lens before resisting a late charge to win 3-2.Monaco was in control from the start against second-division side Nimes and won 2-0 with goals from Bernardo Silva and Valere Germain, while Bordeaux defeated Toulouse 2-1.Guingamp began its title defence with a 3-0 victory at fifth-tier side Dinan Lehon, and Saint-Etienne scrapped to a 1-0 win over Nancy. Stitched Dodgers Jerseys . According to the Red Wings Twitter feed, Zetterberg plans to practice with the team on Thursday and is aiming for a second round comeback. Dodgers Jerseys 2020 . 22 because of a bruised foot and have added forward Sean Collins to the roster on emergency recall from Springfield of the AHL. https://www.cheapdodgersonline.com/545h-austin-barnes-jersey-dodgers.html . Sami Vatanen had a goal and an assist and Anaheim used a four-goal first period to extend their winning streak to six games with a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night. Steve Howe Dodgers Jersey . On Wednesday night, they showed that stellar defence and a little small ball can get the job done too. With pinch-runner Kevin Pillar aboard after Dioner Navarro opened the bottom of the ninth with a single, Anthony Gose dropped down an excellent bunt along the first-base line. David Freese Jersey . - The Chicago Bears have agreed to a one-year contract with free-agent centre Brian de la Puente.PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Sidney Crosby will be back. Evgeni Malkin too. After that, what happens to the Pittsburgh Penguins over another post-season disappointment is anybodys guess. Dan Bylsma, the winningest coach in franchise history, may be out of a job. Ray Shero, the general manager who spent the last half-decade unsuccessfully trying to replicate the success of 2009, could also be gone. When Crosby lifted the Stanley Cup in triumph on that warm night in Detroit five years ago, it was supposed to mark the beginning of hockeys next dynasty. That hasnt materialized. A handful of maddening springs later, it might be time to move on. Bylsma allowed as much Tuesday night after the Penguins fell to the New York Rangers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, a 2-1 defeat that capped a stunning collapse after Pittsburgh grabbed a commanding 3-1 series lead. "You think about it being the last game," Bylsma said. While the Rangers exulted at one end of the Consol Energy Center ice after advancing to hockeys final four, the Penguins solemnly lined up for a handshake after losing a Game 7 at home for the third time in five seasons. This isnt the way it was supposed to go. Not this time. Despite losing over 500 man games to injury — easily the highest total in the NHL — Pittsburgh strolled to the Metropolitan Division title behind the steady and spectacular play of Crosby, who led the league in scoring and is a heavy favourite to win his second MVP award. After surviving a bumpy six-game series with plucky Columbus in the opening round, the Penguins appeared in total control after a 4-2 win in Game 4 against the weary Rangers. Then it all fell apart. A dismal 5-1 loss in Game 5 shifted momentum to the guys in the blue shirts. New York goaltender Henrik Lundqvist did the rest, including 35 sublime saves in the deciding game. Defenceman Matt Niskanen called the debacle in Game 5 a "missed opportunity," one that could lead to significant change in a dressing room that has been among the most stable in the league. "When expectations are high and you ddont win, thats normal," Crosby said.dddddddddddd "Im sure there will be a lot of questions." At the moment, there dont appear to be a lot of answers. Crosby insists hes healthy but lacked his otherworldly sharpness at times, scoring just one goal in 13 playoff games. "It wasnt a lack of effort or competing or anything like that," he said. "Id love to tear it up every series, but its not always the case. It doesnt make it any easier, Ill tell you that. Its tough losing as it is but when youre unable to contribute as much as youd like, its even tougher." Maybe, but its become all too common for one of the NHLs marquee franchises. The Penguins have sold out every home game since Valentines Day in 2007 and play a brand of entertaining hockey that is overwhelmingly successful in the regular season but doesnt always translate in the tight-checking crucible of the playoffs. The leagues top power play during the regular season went just 1 for 20 with the man advantage against New York. Unable to generate much offence from in front of the net, the Penguins spent most of the last three games unsuccessfully peppering Lundqvist from long distance. Its a path that led only to frustration and an all-too-familiar result: the Penguins watching another team skate off the ice in celebration. It happened in 2010, when Pittsburgh fell to Montreal at home in Game 7. It happened last spring, when the Penguins failed to lead the Boston Bruins for a single second while getting swept out of the conference finals. Ray Shero doubled down after seeing his team silenced by the Bruins. He awarded Bylsma a two-year extension, signed Malkin and defenceman Kris Letang to long-term deals and brought back defenceman Rob Scuderi to give the blue line some heft. Different path. Same result. Only this time there will be no doubling down. There will be only change. "Its all tough," Malkin said. "We have great teammates here. We work hard. But 3-1 up in series and last three games we lost, its tough. See you next season, I dont know." Neither does anybody else. ' ' '