ITALY: A fine individual performance from Alvaro Recoba saw Inter Milan win 2-1 at Lecce yesterday and join champions AS Roma at the top of the Italian Serie A.

The Uruguayan's two goals put Inter joint top with Roma, who overcame Atalanta 3-1 on Saturday at the Olympic Stadium.

But the fight for the title remains a three-way battle with third-placed Juventus staying within a point of the co-leaders following a home 1-0 win over Verona sealed by Pavel Nedved's first-half goal.

With seven games remaining, it is too close to call. Inter and Roma are set to meet at the San Siro next week and it is a distinct possibility that two teams could finish joint top, a result that would lead to a play-off for the title with goal difference not taken into account.

If all three teams finished level then a mathematical formula would eliminate the weakest side and the other two would contest the play-off.

Eugenio Corini hogged the limelight at Verona as Chievo met bottom club Venezia. The Chievo playmaker scored an early own goal but redeemed himself after the interval from the penalty spot as the match finished 1-1.

SPAIN: Rayo Vallecano killed Valencia's hopes of reclaiming the Primera Liga lead with a lionhearted performance in their Vallecas stadium.

An own-goal from Valencia defender Mauricio Pellegrino and a header from Sergio Corino gave Rayo a 2-1 victory and three points in their battle against relegation - they have now climbed off the foot of the table.

But they had to hang on desperately after midfielder Pablo Sanz was sent off after 66 minutes.

While Rayo will be delighted to have moved up a place to 20th, with Tenerife now at the foot of the table on goal-difference, the real winners from the match were Real Madrid, who now lead the league despite only drawing 1-1 with Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Saturday night.

Bad news for Barcelona, however, is that Rivaldo has been ruled out of their Champions League trip to Galatasaray after suffering a left-ankle injury.