Weekend Sports Wrap - Milan Win Serie A Title after a 7-year Drought

ITALY

AC Milan won their 18^th Scudetto title, and first in seven years, in spite of a 0-0 draw with AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Needing only a point from the remaining three fixtures to win the title, the Rossoneri built an impregnable defence line to keep the home side from scoring. The draw saw Massimiliano Allegri’s side open a 9-point gap over second placed Inter Milan who were to play later. When they did, Leonardo’s men crushed Fiorentina 3-1 reducing the gap to six points with two matches remaining, but Milan have a superior goal difference and head-to-head record over their city rivals.7

ENGLAND – United almost there

Manchester United need only a point from their last two matches to win a record 19th English Premier League title after beating Chelsea 2-1 to move six points clear of the defending champions.

A Javier Hernandez goal only 36seconds into the match and a Nemanja Vidic header in the 23^rd minute were enough to give United the win as they turned on the style at their Old Trafford fortress. Frank Lampard scored the consolation goal for the Blues after 69minutes.

United only need a point from their last two fixtures against Blackburn away and Blackpool at home to win their 19^th title and eclipse their bitter rivals Liverpool’s league tally.

Arsenal’s title hopes were crushed and gnashed after Kenwyne Jones, Jonathan Walter and former Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant gave the Potters a 3-1 win over Wenger’s men. Robin van Persie scored the consolation for Arsenal.

In the race for fourth and automatic Champions league qualification spot, Manchester City’s poor run against Everton continued when the Toffees came from a goal down to beat the Eastland club 2-1 at Goodison Park.

Yaya Toure opened the scoring for Roberto Mancini’s side just before the half hour mark but a goal each from Sylvain Distin and Leon Osman in the second half completed a comeback for the Toffees as they registered their seventh win in eight matches against the billionaire club.

Tottenham failed to exploit City’s loss as they drew 1-1 with relegation-threatened Blackpool at White Hart Lane in a game which saw Gareth Bale being stretchered off after a clash with Charlie Adam. Tottenham and City clash on Tuesday night and a win for City will not only clinch the fourth spot but also move them just two points behind Arsenal with two games left to play. Liverpool, who have an outside chance of qualifying for the European premier competition travel to Fulham Monday night as they look to continue with their late resurgence.

SPAIN

Barcelona’s march towards their third successive La Liga title received momentum after the Catalans bounced back from last weekend’s loss to Real Sociedad with a 2-0 triumph over city rivals Espanyol. Andres Iniesta scored for the Blaugrana in the first half and Gerard Pique doubled the lead three minutes into the second half to give Pep Guardiola’s men the win and restore their 8-point gap over Real Madrid with only three games to play. The Catalan giants need only one point from the remaining three matches to be crowned champions.

Before Barca got onto the pitch, Real gave Sevilla a 6-2 crushing defeat at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. Cristiano Ronaldo was on target four times as Mourinho’s men ran riot while Kaka and Sergio Ramos scored the other two. Alvaro Negredo scored Sevilla’s two consolation goals. Ronaldo’s four-goal performance saw him overtake Lionel Messi in the race for the Pichichi. The Portuguese, who has scored 59 goals in 60 La Liga games for Real Madrid, has 33 goals, two ahead of the Argentine who has failed to find the back of the net in the last two matches.

GERMANY 

With Borussia Dortmund already crowned 2010/11 Bundesliga champions, attention was shifted on the race for clinching a spot in next season’s Champions league football. Bayern Munich’s German international Mario Gomez hit a hattrick while Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery scored a brace each to help the Bavarians hit relegated St Pauli 8-1and also qualify for the Champions league.

Andries Jonker's side could still clinch the second and automatic Champions league qualification spot if they beat Stuttgart in the last game of the season and second place Leverkusen lose to SC Freiburg.

Champions Borussia Dortmund suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Werder Bremen.

FRANCE 

Two-time French league champions Lille extended their lead at the summit of Ligue 1 table to four points with a narrow 1-0 win over relegation threatened AS Nancy. The much sought after Lille winger Eden Hazard converted a delightful freekick on the stroke of half-time to give Les Dogues the win which puts them on course of winning their first Ligue 1 crown since 1954.

Second-placed Olympique Marseille lost 3-2 at Lyon but still have a chance of clinching the title as four games still remain.

Auxerre reduced their relegation worries with a 1-0 win over Montpellier while 2008-09 Ligue 1 champions Girondins Bordeaux were humiliated 4-0 by Sochaux. 

And That's thesteifmastertake!!