SPANISH PRIMERA LIGA: A lacklustre Real Madrid lost further ground to Barcelona at the top of the table after they were held to a 0-0 draw at Villarreal last night.
The home side, who had lost their previous three league games, dominated the encounter against Real who appeared to have their minds on Wednesday's decisive Champions League clash against AS Roma.
The result means that Real are now nine points behind Barca, easy 4-0 winners over Malaga on Saturday, and level on points with Espanyol, who claimed a valuable 1-0 victory away to Real Zaragoza earlier yesterday.
Espanyol striker Raul Tamudo marked his return from a month-long injury lay-off by scoring the winner on the half hour when he clipped in on the half-volley after controlling a fine cross from fellow forward Dani.
Sevilla moved to fifth after continuing their fine run of form at home with a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao. Deportivo la Coruna hung on to their eight-year unbeaten record at Racing Santander by the skin of their teeth when a last strike from Walter Pandiani earned them a 2-2 draw.
Real Mallorca produced the fightback of the day when they scored three goals in the final 10 minutes to claim a 3-2 win at home to fellow strugglers Numancia, a result that lifted them off the bottom of the table.
Athletico Madrid overtook Osasuna and are now in sixth place after a 3-1 victory over their mid-table rivals in last night's late game with Fernando Torres, Salva and Gonzalo Colsa scoring for Athletico and Valdo and Richard Morales getting Osasuna's consolation goals.
ITALIAN SERIE A: Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic grabbed a 75th minute winner as leaders Juventus came from behind to beat Lazio 2-1 at the Delle Alpi stadium yesterday.
The win keeps Juventus four points ahead of second placed AC Milan who on Saturday also came from a goal down to win 2-1 at Parma.
Lazio took the lead in the 10th minute through Goran Pandev but Ruben Olivera equalised five minutes before the break before Ibrahimovic gave Juve their 11th win of the season.
Roma prepared for the Champions League clash with Real Madrid in Rome with a 1-1 draw at home to Sampdoria last night.
Roma, who had four players booked in the game, went a goal down after 81 minutes when Biagio Pagano opened the scoring but Francesco Totti converted a 84th minute penalty to ensure the home side took a share of the points.
The result leaves Sampdoria in ninth place with 18 points and Roma in 11th place with one less point than the side from the Italian capital.
Former Italian international Gianfranco Zola scored twice for fourth-placed Cagliari who beat Chievo Verona 4-2 in Sardinia.
Southern Italian teams are enjoying a good season so far and it is Sardinians Cagliari who are the most impressive, inspired by 38-year-old Zola.
A beautiful, curling free-kick from Zola put Cagliari on their way in the 33rd minute and six minutes later the ex-Chelsea playmaker made it 2-0 from the penalty spot.
A first-half hat-trick from Brazilian Adriano helped Inter Milan to a 5-0 win over Messina on Saturday.
