Pro Eleven Headline News
Inter Milan loses to Napoli, AC Milan wins
Inter Milan's lead in the Italian league was trimmed to seven points on Sunday after Jose Mourinho's side lost 1-0 at Napoli and city rivals AC Milan beat Palermo 3-0.
Napoli's Marcelo Zalayeta scored the only goal of a high-tempo, but uninspiring match in which both sides failed to create many chances.
Earlier Kaka converted two penalties to lead Milan to victory over Palermo, while Juventus was held to a 2-2 draw by last-place Reggina.
Reigning champion Inter remains top of Serie A with 74 points, while AC Milan is second with 67, Juventus has 65 and Fiorentina 58.
"It was a victory we had to work for and weren't expected to get," Zalayeta said. "We've failed to win matches that were easier than that this season."
Inter lacked imagination and was outmuscled by a more determined Napoli side, who won its first match since January and the first since ex-Italy coach Roberto Donadoni took over in February.
"Obviously it is emotional to win, especially against a team like Inter, who is top of the table," Donadoni said. "I think our defence did great, especially with rebounds and the second ball into the box."
Striker Ezequiel Lazezzi was the main danger for Napoli and his direct running was a constant problem for Inter's defence, though it wasn't until Zalayeta came on for the ineffectual German Denis, that Napoli made the breakthrough.
Lavezzi ran at the defence before rolling the ball across the face of the penalty area for his strike partner Zalayeta to curl past Julio Cesar.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic appeared tired in Inter's attack while the team's only tactic was to hit the ball long and try to use the pace of Mario Balotelli or the height of Julio Cruz.
"It seemed to me to be a typical 0-0 match. In the first half Inter had most of the ball, but we didn't threaten," Mourinho said. "In the second half it was a different game and without threatening we lost control of the game.
"We are seven points ahead and need three wins from five matches. We have to look at ourselves and win the nine points we need to be champions."
Milan had no such problems going forward and took a 10th minute lead after Palermo defender Mattia Cassani fouled midfielder Massimo Ambrosini and Kaka stroked home the penalty.
"We started the match well with a good rhythm," Ancelotti said. "Palermo always make it difficult for you in midfield, but it was a good day and our midfield competed well.
"Kaka has returned well after two months out, and now the defence is also back to its best as players have returned and it is much more solid."
Ambrosini then helped to increase Milan's lead 10 minutes later, when Filippo Inzaghi headed in his cross from close range.
Early in second half, Palermo defender Cesare Bovo was sent off for a foul on Kaka. Shortly afterward, Federico Balzaretti bundled over the Brazilian in the area and Kaka got up to score with his second spot-kick of the match.
Juventus continued its run of poor form, needing a dubious penalty from Alessandro Del Piero and a scrappy goal from midfielder Cristiano Zanetti.
Having been knocked out of the Italian Cup in midweek, Juventus' season appears to be limping to a finish and Claudio Ranieri's side was fortunate to leave Reggina with a draw.
The bottom side went ahead in the 27th when defender Antonio Barilla was left unmarked to head home midfielder Daniel Adejo's cross.
Shortly after halftime, though, Adejo brought down striker Vincenzo Iaquinta and Alessandro Del Piero brought his team level with the penalty.
Midfielder Emil Hallfredsson put the home side in the lead again when he scored from long range, but Cristiano Zanetti equalized two minutes later after the ball came to him in the box.
"The first half an hour, I can't say I'm surprised we struggled because everyone knows about Reggina's pressing, but after that we recovered well," Ranieri said. "It was an intense match and we had to fight to the end. It certainly wasn't a beautiful match.
"We've welcomed back some players, such as (Mauro) Camoranesi and (Cristiano) Zanetti, but it takes them time to get back to their best."
Genoa's hopes of returning to the Champions League places were hit when it slipped to a 2-0 defeat away to Bologna.
Also Sunday, it was: Lecce 2, Catania 1; Sampdoria 3, Cagliari 3; Lazio 0, Atalanta 1; and Torino 1, Siena 0. Canadian Press
Raul helps Real close Barcelona gap
Captain marvel Raul scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid defeated Sevilla 4-2 on Sunday to cut Barcelona's advantage at the top to four points ahead of next Saturday's 'El Clasico' at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Barcelona had dropped two points in a 2-2 draw at Valencia on Saturday and Real capitalised as Raul gave coach Juande Ramos a win on his first return to old club Sevilla.
"It was crucial that we won this match," admitted Ramos. "We have been winning lots of games but not getting any closer and sometimes it seems like hard work.
"Now we have closed to within four points and have home advantage against Barcelona next Saturday."
Brazilian Renato put Sevilla in front on 17 minutes but Raul levelled just before half-time and then scored twice inside three minutes (63, 66) to complete his hat-trick and take his season's tally to 18.
"It was pivotal to score just before the break," explained Ramos. "We took more risks in the second half because nothing less than a victory was good enough."
Diego Capel gave Sevilla a glimmer of hope with an 80th minute strike but Marcelo scored for Real in the dying seconds to make it 4-2.
Sevilla had beaten Real 4-3 at the Bernabeu in Bernd Schuster's final match in charge and since then Ramos has guided the champions back into the title race with 17 victories in 19 games.
Back in mid-December Barcelona had a 12-point buffer after beating Real 2-0 but that has now been sliced to just four points as the two sides prepare to face off again.
For Sevilla it was a fourth straight league loss and Valencia are just a point behind in fourth.
Real had to do without the suspended Pepe who will not play again this season after picking up a ten-game ban for his violent conduct against Getafe.
In the dug-out, Ramos was jeered by Sevilla fans who used to worship him for winning two UEFA Cups and a Kings Cup but later branded him a mercenary when he resigned to join Tottenham in October 2007.
Supporters printed thousands of fake dollar notes bearing Ramos's face alongside a 'Juan Dollar' caption to emphasise their point.
"We are all professionals and I am open to the criticism from the public," said Ramos. "It is just something you have to deal with in football."
On 17 minutes Diego Perotti floated in a great cross with the outside of his foot and Renato glanced in a header to put Sevilla ahead.
All Real's half-chances kept falling to Higuain, able to play after having a suspension overturned, but the Argentine could not find the equaliser.
With seconds until the break Raul levelled with Metzelder crossing across the face of the penalty area for the alert striker to slide home.
Raul struck again on 63 minutes with a left-footed volley and grabbed his treble three minutes later when goalkeeper Andres Palop fumbled Higuain's cross.
Earlier, Villarreal moved a point behind fourth-placed Valencia in the Champions League race with a 2-1 win at Getafe on Sunday.
It was Villarreal's first away win since a 2-1 triumph at Recreativo Huelva at the end of November and coach Manuel Pellegrini was happy to start winning on the road.
"It is a really important win," said Pellegrini. "It has been a while since we won away from home and we are now right in the Champions League battle along with five or so other teams."
Getafe pulled a goal back from the penalty spot late on but ran out of time and continue to languish one point above the drop zone.
Atletico Madrid stayed within three points of Villarreal with a 3-1 home win over strugglers Sporting Gijon on Sunday.
Racing Santander had humiliated Atletico 5-1 in mid-week but the capital club bounced back with goals from Diego Forlan, Sergio Aguero and Simao, who was also sent off, helping them overcome Sporting.
Gijon, who incredibly still haven't drawn a single game this season with 11 wins and 22 defeats, drop into the bottom three, a point from safety. AFP
