Barcelona, Chelsea stay ahead

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February 14, 2005 10:50 IST

A round-up of action in Europe's main leagues over the weekend:

ITALY

Juventus beat Udinese 2-1 on Sunday to stay two points clear of AC Milan in the Serie A title race.

Early goals in each half by Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Italy midfielder Mauro Camoranesi helped Juve overcome fourth-placed Udinese to get their title bid back on course following two successive defeats.

Milan kept up the pressure with a 1-0 win at Reggina thanks to Marco Zamboni's 38th-minute own goal, and Inter Milan climbed to third with a 2-0 win over AS Roma, extending their unbeaten run this season to 24 matches.

SPAIN

Barcelona retained their four-point lead at the top of the Primera Liga with a 4-1 win over Real Zaragoza as Real Madrid came from behind to beat Osasuna 2-1.

An own goal by Delio Toledo and strikes by Ludovic Giuly, Samuel Eto'o and Rafael Marquez secured Barcelona's first win at Zaragoza's La Romareda stadium since 1997.

Late goals from Michael Owen and Ivan Helguera enabled Real Madrid to scramble a victory at Osasuna, their seventh successive win.

Trailing 1-0 to a Pierre Webo strike with just 13 minutes to go, Owen headed home from close range and moments later Helguera stabbed the ball in after Osasuna keeper Richard Sanzol had spilled a David Beckham free kick.

Sevilla leap-frogged champions Valencia into third place, nine points behind Real, after a Julio Baptista double helped them to a 2-1 win over Villarreal. Valencia lost 2-1 at home to Deportivo Coruna.

ENGLAND

Chelsea maintained their nine-point advantage at the Premier League summit with a 1-0 win at 10-man Everton, while second-placed Manchester United won 2-0 at local rivals City.

Iceland striker Eidur Gudjohnsen scored Chelsea's winner from close range after 69 minutes at Everton, who had striker James Beattie sent off early in the game for head-butting French defender William Gallas.

England's Wayne Rooney grabbed United's first in the Manchester derby after 68 minutes and a Richard Dunne own goal clinched a 13th win in 15 league matches for Alex Ferguson's side.

Third-placed Arsenal entertain Crystal Palace on Monday.

Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and Sheffield United won FA Cup replays to take their places in next weekend's fifth round.

GERMANY

Bayern Munich were left clinging to the Bundesliga leadership on goal difference after suffering a 3-1 defeat at Arminia Bielefeld on Sunday.

Massimilian Porcello tapped in from close range to put mid-table Bielefeld ahead after 23 minutes on a snow-covered pitch and Delron Buckley made it 2-0 just past the hour.

Brazilian defender Lucio gave Bayern hope with a wonderful free kick but Buckley scored his second to clinch victory seven minutes from time.

Bayern remained top on 41 points from 21 games, with Schalke 04 level on points following their excellent 3-0 home win over VfL Wolfsburg.

Werder Bremen, double winners last season, climbed above VfB Stuttgart into third spot on 37 points after a 2-0 home win over Borussia Moenchengladbach. Stuttgart lost 2-1 at Hamburg SV.

FRANCE

Two extra-time goals by Pedro Pauleta helped struggling Paris St Germain come from behind to beat 10-man Girondins Bordeaux 3-1 and reach the French Cup third round on Sunday.

The Parisians, who fired coach Vahid Halilhodzic last week, trailed 1-0 at halftime. Midfielder Marouane Chamakh headed the goal before being sent off after getting his second yellow card for removing his shirt to celebrate.

A late penalty by midfielder Mahamadou Diarra helped champions Olympique Lyon seal a 2-1 victory at Toulouse, while Argentina striker Javier Saviola fired a hat-trick to inspire Monaco to a 4-2 victory over third division Libourne Saint-Seurin.

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