Soccer: Werder Bremen eight in front

AC Milan and Werder Bremen have all moved closer to securing their domestic titles, but the championship race in Spain is still wide open.

* In Italy, Brazilian Kaka headed an 80th-minute winner as AC Milan beat Siena 2-1 after Andriy Shevchenko had put them in front in the 26th minute with his 21st league goal of the season.

Siena equalised before the break when former Italy forward Enrico Chiesa scored with a penalty given for hand-ball, but they had midfielder Simone Vergassola sent off after 79 minutes for a second booking after a foul on Kaka, who then headed the winner.

"These are three very important points that help take us nearer to our dream," Shevchenko said. "It's a dream we think about every day." An injury-time equaliser from Igor Tudor gave third-placed Juventus a 2-2 draw at Parma, and a Francesco Totti goal handed AS Roma a 1-0 win at Modena.

With five games remaining, Roma are nine points adrift of Milan with a match in hand, but face a stiff task.

* Runaway Bundesliga leaders Werder moved eight points clear, despite a 0-0 draw at home to Hanover, after second-placed Bayern Munich lost 2-0 at rivals Borussia Dortmund.

The leaders, heading for a fourth title and the first since 1993, dominated the northern German derby, but failed to score.

VfL Bochum stayed on course for a Uefa Cup place with a 2-1 win at bottom club Cologne, who face almost certain relegation.

* Valencia reclaimed the leadership of the Primera Liga after a last-gasp strike by leading scorer Mista earned a 2-2 draw at home to Real Sociedad after they had trailed by two goals.

With five games to go, Valencia and Real have 70 points, but Rafa Benitez's side lead the table by virtue of their better head-to-head record against the reigning champions.

Ten-man Real got their title bid back on track. Goals from Santiago Solari and Ivan Helguera gave them a battling 2-1 win at city rivals Atletico Madrid after defender Francisco Pavon conceded a penalty and was sent off after the break.

"The victory gives us a real confidence boost and a lot of motivation for the forthcoming games," said Real coach Carlos Queiroz, who has been under pressure after a run of poor form.

Basement side Murcia were relegated after a 1-0 defeat at home to Real Betis. Brazilian free kick expert Marcos Assuncao scored the only goal in the third minute.

John Toshack's side are 16 points behind Real Mallorca, who sit just above the relegation zone.

* In England, Newcastle paid a heavy price for the point they took from a tough 0-0 draw at Aston Villa when forwards Craig Bellamy and Jermaine Jenas came off injured.

Newcastle, down to 10 men after 10 minutes, pulled level on points with Liverpool in the tight premier league race for England's fourth Champions League berth.

Both sides are on 50 points, with Liverpool, held 0-0 at home by Fulham on Sunday, retaining fourth place on goals scored, although Newcastle have a game in hand. Villa remained in sixth place on 49 points.

- AGENCIES