MILAN, 9 May 2005 — Juventus took a big step toward a 28th Italian League title with a 1-0 victory over rivals AC Milan which moves them three points clear with three games remaining.
A 28th minute header from French forward David Trezeguet, who glanced home an acrobatic overhead kick from Alessandro Del Piero, gave Juventus a deserved victory over the defending champions at the San Siro yesterday.
Juventus, coached by former Milan boss Fabio Capello, lead on 79 points with Milan on 76.
Milan were second best for large parts of the game but were furious that referee Pierluigi Collina turned down an appeal for a penalty in the 75th minute when Cafu appeared to be pulled down by Gianluca Zambrotta.
Third-placed Inter Milan won 3-0 at lowly Brescia with two goals from Nigerian Obafemi Martins but the battle for the fourth Champions League qualification slot remains tight with Udinese and Sampdoria winning to remain level on 59 points.
Sampdoria beat Lecce 3-0 in Genoa while a Vincenzo Iaquinta goal gave Udinese a 1-0 win away to Lazio. Parma’s battle against the drop was boosted with a 2-1 victory over Roma which moves them to four points clear of the relegation zone - level with crumbling Roma on 40 points. Roma have not won in their last ten games, picking up just two draws.
Fiorentina also climbed out of the bottom three with a 2-1 win away to fellow strugglers Chievo - Fabrizio Miccoli and Valeri Bojinov on target for Dino Zoff’s side.
Livorno, beaten 6-4 at Parma last week suffered another high scoring defeat with a 6-3 loss at home to Siena after having defender Fabio Galante sent off in the 18th minute.
Arsenal See Off Liverpool to Cheer Everton
In London, Arsenal look virtually certain to finish as Premier League runners-up after beating Liverpool 3-1 in a fluctuating match at Highbury yesterday. The result also means Everton have clinched fourth place to qualify for the Champions League for the first time.
Goals from Robert Pires, Jose Antonio Reyes and Francesc Fabregas put Arsenal six points ahead of Manchester United with two games left and their superior goal difference means they look certain to qualify directly for the Champions League.
Defeat ended Liverpool’s hopes of finishing fourth and winning a place in Europe’s premier club competition for next season with their city rivals Everton now certain of playing in the Champions League third qualifying round.
Celtic Return to the Top With Win Over Aberdeen
In Glasgow, Celtic moved back to the top of the Scottish Premier League courtesy of a 2-0 home win over Aberdeen thanks to a John Hartson double yesterday.
Celtic are two points clear of city rivals Rangers with 89 points from 36 games and two matches left. Rangers beat Hearts 2-1 at Ibrox on Saturday to move on to 87 points.
Hartson, Scotland’s joint PFA Player of the Year, struck twice in the second half to take his tally to 30 this season.Wales forward Hartson opened the scoring after 47 minutes as he bundled home at the back post with defender Andy Considine helping the ball on its way after a free kick by Alan Thompson. Sutton held play up well in the 71st before dragging the ball across goal for Hartson to tuck in a simple second.
Bremen’s Champions League Hopes Take Big Hit
In Frankfurt, Werder Bremen lost virtually all hope of returning to the Champions League when they suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.
Dortmund took the lead with a Tomas Rosicky goal in the first half and two bad misses from French playmaker Johan Micoud condemned Bremen, last season’s double winners, to a costly defeat.
With two games to play, Bremen are in fifth place with 53 points, five behind VfB Stuttgart in the third and final Champions League qualification slot. Bayern Munich, who clinched their 19th German championship last weekend, lead the standings with 71 points following a 4-2 win over Mainz on Saturday.
Schalke are in second on 60 points thanks to their victory over Arminia Bielefeld, with Stuttgart third on 58 and Hertha Berlin fourth with 56. Borussia Moenchengladbach held on for a goalless draw away to Hamburg SV in yesteday’s other game to make all but certain of their first division future.
Villarreal Reclaim Fourth Spot, Numancia Relegated
In Madrid, Villarreal reclaimed fourth spot and a slim advantage in the race for a Champions League place with a 2-0 win at Malaga in the Primera Liga yesterday.
Argentine playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme broke the deadlock when he steered home just after the hour and fellow midfielder Santi Cazorla made sure of victory when he fired a spectacular 25-meter drive into the top corner four minutes later. The win left Manuel Pellegrini’s side level on 58 points with Sevilla, who lost 1-0 at local rivals Real Betis in the city derby on Saturday.
Espanyol moved up to fifth on 56 points and condemned opponents Numancia to relegation with a 3-0 win at Montjuic. The result left the Sorians anchored to the bottom with 24 points, 11 adrift of safety with just three games to play.
Numancia have only spent three seasons in the Primera Liga during their 60-year history, having previously enjoyed a two-year spell in the top flight between 1999 and 2001.
