Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of the Primera Liga to nine points with a 3-2 victory over Villarreal at the Bernabeu yesterday, after Barcelona were held 1-1 at Athletic Bilbao.

Brazil forward Robinho twice put Real in front only for Giuseppe Rossi and Joan Capdevila to level each time in an open game full of attacking football.

Substitute Wesley Sneijder struck the winner to make it eight consecutive wins for runaway Real.

Barcelona took the lead against Bilbao through Bojan Krkic but failed to kill off the game and were hanging on at the end after Lilian Thuram put the ball in his own net 11 minutes from time.

Real have 53 points, Barca 44 and third-placed Villarreal 38. Fourth-placed Atletico, on 37, lost 1-0 at Real Mallorca while Espanyol, a point back in fifth, lost 2-1 at home to Real Betis.

In Italy, Inter Milan had their Serie A lead cut to five points after the champions could only draw 0-0 at Udinese and second-placed AS Roma won 1-0 at home to Palermo.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini was still pleased with the draw, the first time Inter have failed to win in the league in nine games, after left winger Cesar was dismissed on 21 minutes.

Juventus are 10 behind Inter in third after the league's top scorer David Trezeguet netted twice in a 3-1 win at Livorno.

Brazilian teenager Pato also grabbed a brace in AC Milan's 2-0 win over Genoa, which moved the European champions up to seventh.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily January 28, 2008)