EUROPEAN SOCCER ROUND-UP:MIRKO VUCINIC was the toast of half the Eternal City yesterday after his double sent AS Roma back to the top of Serie A with a 2-1 comeback win over rivals Lazio.
In a highly-charged city derby full of colour, passion and extreme aggression on the field and in the packed stands, Roma prevailed to move a point above champions Inter Milan with just four games remaining.
The result Roma extended their unbeaten run in Serie A to 24 games. The chance of fourth scudetto for Roma looks ever more likely having been unthinkable in February when Inter held a nine-point lead.
AC Milan’s title hopes were hanging by the shortest of short threads after Giampaolo Pazzini’s injury-time header sealed a 2-1 home win for Sampdoria.
The defeat comes at the end of a difficult week for Milan, with rumours swirling that rookie coach Leonardo is on the verge of leaving after just one season despite repeated denials.
Third-placed Milan, who lie seven points behind Roma.
Juventus have sunk to seventh, six points behind the Champions League spots, after Friday’s 2-0 defeat at Inter.
Real Madrid made the most of a Barcelona slip-up to close to within one point of the La Liga leaders yesterday with a 2-0 win over third-placed Valencia at the Bernabeu.
Real’s title challenge appeared to be disappearing when they lost 2-0 to Barca last weekend but the champions’ 0-0 draw at Espanyol on Saturday left the door ajar and Real grabbed the opportunity.
Gonzalo Higuain opened the scoring in the first half as Real overwhelmed the visitors but it needed a second from Cristiano Ronaldo in the 77th minute to make sure of the win, as Valencia belatedly threatened to get back into the game.
Real have 83 points with five left to play, one behind Barca, and proved that the 24-point gulf in class with third-placed Valencia was, perhaps, justified.
Valencia have 59 points, five ahead of Sevilla who occupy the last Champions League qualification slot following their 3-0 win over Sporting Gijon on Saturday.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE STILL ON ROAD
UEFA HAVE confirmed the coming week’s Champions League semi-finals will go ahead as planned, despite the restrictions on air travel.
Barcelona and Lyon have been forced to change their travel arrangements and journey by coach for their respective first legs against Inter Milan tomorrow and Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
Barca had originally planned to fly to Milan today but were forced to change their plans. The party left at around 3pm local time yesterday and spent the night in Cannes before continuing on to Milan today – an overall trip of around 1,000km. Lyon will also travel by road to face Bayern.
