Barcelona coach Luis van Gaal was told yesterday his job is safe despite the club's poor league form. Van Gaal was given a lifeline when Barcelona won 4-0 - with a hat-trick from Patrick Kluivert and another from Marc Overmars - at Real Mallorca on Saturday. Club president Joan Gaspart confirmed to van Gaal, after an hour-long meeting early yesterday that the Dutchman would remain in his job.

"Van Gaal continues as coach and there will be no change. I'm not going to talk about what would or would not have happened if we had not won at Mallorca," Barca vice-president Sixte Cambra said.

Real Sociedad lead the league by seven points after their 3-1 win over Recreativo Huelva.

In Italy, leaders AC Milan held on to top spot despite being held to a 0-0 draw at home to Brescia yesterday. Inter moved up to second, level on points with arch-rivals Milan but behind them on goal difference, after securing a hard-fought 2-1 win at Parma.

Luigi Di Biagio gave Inter a half-time lead before Adrian Mutu levelled the scores with his seventh of the season. Alvaro Recoba ensured all three points for Hector Cuper's men by converting a penalty 14 minutes from time.