Sport

How the leagues are shaping up across the continent

European Round-up/ Spain : Valencia opened a two-point lead over Real Madrid in the battle for the runners-up spot when they…

Mon Apr 17 2006 - 01:00

European Round-up/ Spain: Valencia opened a two-point lead over Real Madrid in the battle for the runners-up spot when they beat Espanyol 4-0 and Real were held to a 1-1 draw at Getafe.

Real took the lead thanks to a strike from Julio Baptista, but the home side grabbed a deserved point when defender Manuel Tena scored seven minutes from time.

Barcelona will have a chance of retaining their league title next week if they can win their match at Sevilla and Valencia slip up at Athletic Bilbao. With five games left Barca have 73 points, 11 ahead of Valencia. Osasuna are a point behind Real after their 1-1 draw with basement side Malaga.

Italy: A header from Fabio Cannavaro five minutes into injury-time earned Juventus a 1-1 draw at Cagliari on Saturday, leaving the reigning Serie A champions five points clear of AC Milan with four games remaining.

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Fiorentina regained control of fourth position, a 3-1 win at relegated Treviso moving them one point clear of AS Roma, who surrendered a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 in the Sicilian capital Palermo.

Fourth position brings a coveted spot in the Champions League qualifying round together with third place, which is currently occupied by Inter.

Germany: Michael Ballack struck his 13th goal of the season to lead Bayern Munich to a 2-0 win over Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday, Substitute Mehmet Scholl scored the second. The result keeps the champions four points clear of Hamburg SV with four games left.

Hamburg enjoyed a 2-0 win at MSV Duisburg, with both goals coming in the first half.

With 30 games played, Bayern lead with 69 points and remain on course for a 20th German title.

Werder Bremen could only draw 1-1 at VfL Wolfsburg but remain in the third and final Champions League slot with 60 points, six ahead of Schalke 04.

France: A Peter Odemwingie double earned Lille a 3-2 victory over Bordeaux on Saturday and handed the Ligue 1 title to Olympique Lyon. Lyon celebrated their title win with a 1-0 victory at Paris St Germain last night, Frederico Fred scoring the only goal.

Gerard Houllier's side top the standings with 78 points from 34 matches with Bordeaux second on 61 points. With only four matches left Bordeaux cannot catch Lyon.

Lille, who have played 35 matches, are just three points behind Bordeaux in third place.

Stade Rennes, who were beaten 2-1 at Nice yesterday, are fourth on 56 points.

Netherlands: Champions PSV Eindhoven won 6-2 at neighbours NAC Breda in the Eredivisie yesterday and condemned them to the relegation play-offs. PSV finished the regular season top with 84 points from 34 matches, 10 above AZ Alkmaar, who won 4-2 at Heerenveen.

Ajax beat RKC Waalwijk 4-2 and finished fourth with 60 points and will play third-placed Feyenoord in the play-offs.

In a new departure, 12 of the 18 first division teams go into play-offs. Second-placed down to five, already guaranteed Uefa Cup football, battle for a Champions League third qualifying round slot.