Inter Milan's big guns blasted the Italian first division leaders to a 3-1 victory at Brescia yesterday, ensuring they remain two points ahead of closest challengers Chievo and AS Roma, who also took maximum points.
Brazilian Ronaldo opened the scoring for Inter with his first Serie A goal in two years
and after Igli Tare had equalised for Brescia it was Christian Vieri, playing alongside the Latin American for the first time in two years, who sealed victory with two second-half strikes.
Minnows Chievo, however, kept up the chase with a 2-1 home victory over Lecce at Verona, boosting their morale after losing top spot last week largely because of controversial refereeing decisions in their 3-2 defeat by AC Milan and Inter's 4-2 win at Atalanta. Both referees concerned were suspended.
Joint second with Chievo are champions Roma, who owed their comeback 2-1 victory at Parma to goals from Assuncao and Diego Fuser.
In the big evening clash at the San Siro it was honours shared as AC Milan and Juventus drew 1-1. AC Milan took the lead after 23min against the run of play when their Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko scored his 10th of the season, but Juve's Alessandro Del Piero equalised shortly after the interval from a penalty.
At Brescia, Inter coach Hector Cuper had caused a stir, picking his big three of Ronaldo, Vieri and Uruguayan Alvaro Recoba together in the starting line-up for the first time.
And Ronaldo repaid the Argentinian with a well-worked goal after 19min, linking up with Vieri before scoring a goal that was celebrated also by neutral fans in other stadia as the Brazilian ended two injury-blighted years without a goal.
"I am very happy - it's been a wonderful day," said Ronaldo.
At Verona, Chievo striker Massimo Marazzina put his side ahead against Lecce with his seventh goal of the season and a Eugenio Corini penalty sealed the win for the surprise packages.
* Alaves continued their remarkable fairytale rise to the top of Spanish football yesterday when a double from Ruben Navarro saw them beat Real Zaragoza 2-0 to retain their lead at the top of the league.
The Basque outfit moved ahead of champions Real Madrid, who had gone top a day earlier by beating Tenerife 2-0, while Deportivo La Coruna also moved back above Real, and a point behind Alaves, when they edged Valencia 1-0 thanks to a penalty from Diego Tristan.
Ivan Helguera in the first half and an injury-time penalty by Luis Figo were Real Madrid's goalscorers. Barcelona threw away a 2-0 lead and were held to a 2-2 draw by Celta Vigo at the Nou Camp yesterday.
The home side led through Gabri and Javier Saviola, but conceded goals to Edu and Russian international Valeri Karpin.
Bottom side Rayo Vallecano drew 0-0 at home to Las Palmas. Rayo's players have been banned from chewing gum in a cost-cutting drive.
Athletic Bilbao miss out on the chance of going top as they came from behind three times to pull off a 3-3 draw at Sevilla - leading striker Ismail Urzaiz grabbing his ninth of the season to stay top of the goalscorers table.
* A superb double strike by Sochaux' Pierre Alain Frau landed a heavy blow to Lille's French title hopes yesterday, spearheading a 2-1 win. Lille were unimpressed at having two goals disallowed.
Bigspending Lyons beat Bordeaux 1-0 to move within two points of leaders Lens.
Auxerre moved three points off the top when they beat a desperate Monaco 2-0. Monaco are now staring down the barrel of a serious relegation battle, lying two points above second last Lorient.
Defending champions Nantes remain firmly rooted to the foot of the table after throwing away a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 to Montpellier.
- AGENCIES
Inter Milan's big guns blasted the Italian first division leaders to a 3-1 victory at Brescia yesterday, ensuring they remain two points ahead of closest challengers Chievo and AS Roma, who also took maximum points.
Brazilian Ronaldo opened the scoring for Inter with his first Serie A goal in two years
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