Real stretch their lead as Valencia slip up

REAL Madrid took full advantage of a slip-up by title rivals Valencia when they stretched their lead at the top of the Primera Liga to eight points following a 4-2 victory over struggling Celta Vigo last night.

Celta looked anything but relegation candidates as they eclipsed Real in the first half and took a deserved lead thanks to a close-range striker from Sasa Ilic on 18 minutes.

But Real roared back into life in the second half and well worked goals from Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo put them 3-1 in front.

Celta striker Savo Milosevic grabbed a late consolation with a cool finish on the break, but Real had the final say when Zidane notched his side’s fourth in injury-time.

Earlier Valencia had come unstuck when they went down 2-1 to struggling Espanyol at a snowy Montjuic.

Espanyol striker Raul Tamudo scored both of his side’s goals, and although Mista clawed one back for the visitors it was not enough to prevent a defeat that provides a severe dent to Valencia’s title aspirations.

Barcelona earned another victory with a pulsating 3-2 victory over Deportivo La Coruna at The Riazor.

Ronaldinho gave the visitors the lead after 24 minutes, and Javier Saviola doubled their advantage just five minutes later.

Barca started the second half just as brightly as they had ended the first, and looked to have made the game safe when Ronaldinho tapped in his second to make it 3-0 after just three minutes of the second period.

The introduction of substitute Walter Pandiani at half time paid off just two minutes later, as he goaled to reduce the arrears to 3-1.

Pandiani then grabbed a second with a fine header to really rattle the visitors and test their nerves.

Referee Pedro Tristante Oliva then made an impact on the match by firstly sending off Oleguer only to seemingly change his mind and dismiss Thiago Motta for a second bookable offence after an almighty melee involving nearly every player on the pitch.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Barca held on to close the gap on their third-placed opponents to four points.

Midfielder Massimo Ambrosini’s goal gave AC Milan a 1-0 win over Lazio last night that preserved their five-point cushion at the top of Serie A.

The results left the top of the division unchanged, with Milan on 58 points from 23 games, ahead of second-placed Roma on 53 and Juventus on 52.

The game seemed to be heading for a draw before a lapse by Lazio’s defence allowed midfielder Ambrosini enough space to head Clarence Seedorf’s cross past keeper Angelo Peruzzi in the 75th minute and secure all three points for the visitors.

Second-placed Roma dented Parma’s hopes of clinching a Champions League place next season with a 4-1 away victory, while reigning champions Juventus thrashed bottom club Ancona 3-0 in Turin where all the goals came in a one-sided first-half.

Like Parma, Inter Milan’s Champions League aspirations suffered a setback after losing 3-1 to Brescia at the San Siro where angry home fans vented their anger at the team’s performance by pelting the Inter players with missiles.

A first-half penalty from Ernesto Chevanton gave Lecce a 1-0 win over Modena and saw the spirited Puglians pull further clear of the relegation zone, while Sampdoria kept up their push for a UEFA Cup place by defeating Chievo by the same scoreline in Genoa, where Aimo Diana grabbed the winner shortly after half-time.

In the day’s other action, Perugia won for only the second time this season with a 4-2 victory at home to Bologna as they try to retain their Serie A status.

Juventus piled further misery on winless Ancona with a resounding victory at the Delle Alpi stadium.

Argentine-born Mauro Camoranesi’s put Juve in front in the seventh minute with an angled shot before Fabrizio Miccoli swept home Marco Di Vaio’s right-wing cross.

Juve put the game beyond doubt in first-half stoppage-time when Alessandro Del Piero beat Sergio Marco from close range.

German champions Bayern Munich followed up their 1-1 Champions League draw against Real Madrid in midweek with a 2-0 victory over VfL Wolfsburg that keeps the heat on leaders Werder Bremen.

Werder recorded a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund at the Weserstadion to maintain their seven-point lead at the top of the table with Frenchman Valerien Ismael and Brazilian Ailton on target.

Meanwhile, Klaus Toppmoller enjoyed a successful return against former club Bayer Leverkusen as his SV Hamburg outfit ran out 3-1 winners at the AOL Arena.