EUROPEAN ROUND-UP: SPANISH PRIMERA LIGA: A clinical finish from defender Marcelo gave Real Madrid a 1-0 win at relegation-threatened Recreativo Huelva on Saturday night and trimmed the gap to leaders Barcelona back to six points.

Barca had put pressure on the champions with a 1-0 win at Getafe earlier in the day, a sixth straight victory that moved them to 78 points with seven matches remaining and put them a step closer to a first Spanish title in three years.

Lionel Messi struck his 20th league goal this season after 19 minutes in a dominant display at Getafe’s Coliseum stadium.

The Argentina forward picked up Xavi’s pass in the area, skipped around a group of defenders and struck a deflected shot that had enough power to beat goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic.

Brazilian Marcelo scored the winner for Real just after the break when he raced on to Fernando Gago’s pass and finished past goalkeeper Asier Riesgo to give Real a 15th win in 16 matches since they lost 2-0 to Barca at Camp Nou in December.

ITALIAN SERIE A: Zdenek Grygera headed home an injury-time equaliser to give 10-man Juventus a 1-1 draw with leaders Inter Milan on Saturday and keep the title race just about alive.

Jose Mourinho’s Inter, who remain 1O points ahead of second-placed AC Milan and third-placed Juve with six games left, had been on the verge of victory following Mario Balotelli’s 64th minute strike.

If Inter had held on they could have clinched the title next weekend should results have gone their way but they will have to wait a little longer for a fourth straight scudetto.

AC Milan overtook Juventus last night on goal difference following their 5-1 victory over Torino at the San Siro.

A lacklustre Fiorentina wasted the chance to climb into the fourth Champions League qualifying spot when they were beaten 3-1 at Udinese yesterday.

Fourth-placed Genoa’s 1-0 defeat by Lazio on Saturday had opened the door for the Florence club but Udinese secured a comfortable victory.