European soccer round-up: Higuain extends Napoli's lead; Villareal drop points

A summary, in pictures, of the football matches played across Spain, Italy and France

Gonzalo Higuain scored twice as Napoli extended their lead at the top of Serie A by coming from behind to defeatSassuolo 3-1 at home on Saturday, while Inter Milan's title challenge faltered with a 1-1 draw at Atalanta.

Jose Callejon cancelled out Diego Falcinelli'searly penalty in the 19th minute before Higuain scored twice to extend Napoli's lead at the top to four points.

Inter are second on 40 points, one ahead of Juventus who are away at Udinese on Sunday.

Maurizio Sarri's side fell behind in the third minute whenNicola Sansone was brought down by Raul Albiol, with Falcinelli slamming the spot kick past Pepe Reina.

But the league leaders drew level when Callejon ended his 26-game wait for a Serie A goal by leaping to head home Lorenzo Insigne's curling cross.

Higuain scored his 19th league goal of the season in the42nd minute when he smashed Marek Hamsik's cross past Andrea Consigli, and made it 20 goals in 20 league matches by finding the back of the net in injury time.

Inter headed to Atalanta having lost two of their last three league fixtures, including a surprise 1-0 loss at Sassuolo last weekend.

They fell behind again on Saturday when Murillo sentthe impressive Boukary Drame's cross past Handanovic but Inter equalised eight minutes later when the off-balance Toloi mis-hit Mauro Icardi's cross into the roof of the Atalanta goal.

In the second half, Atalanta had the better chances but Handanovic kept the scores level with a series of outstanding saves, notably from Luca Cigarini in the 59th minute.

Ciro Immobile marked his Torino comeback with a goal to endtheir four-game winless streak with a 4-2 home victory over Frosinone.

The striker returned on loan from Sevilla on Thursday aftera disappointing spell away from Serie A, and converted a penalty after only nine minutes to the delight of the home fans.

Paolo Sammarco equalised, but two goals from Andrea Belottigave Torino control. A 74th-minute Danilo Avelar own goal had threatened a Frosinone revival but Marco Benassi rounded off Torino's win in the 82nd minute.

Torino move up to 11th on 25 points, level with Atalanta, while Frosinone are 18th on 15 points.

Villarreal held by Betis; Celta beat Spirited Levante

Villarreal missed a chance to climb above Real Madrid into third spot in La Liga and draw level on points with second-placed Barcelona when they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to promoted Real Betis on Saturday.

The stalemate at the Madrigal means Villarreal and Real have 40 points ahead of the Madrid club's game at home to Sporting Gijon on Sunday.

Real are ahead on goal difference, two points behind champions Barca and four adrift of leaders Atletico Madrid.

Atletico visit Las Palmas and Barca, who have played one game fewer than their main rivals, host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Villarreal forward Roberto Soldado came closest to scoring in the second minute when his shot beat Betis goalkeeper Antonio Adan but came back off a post.

Betis, who are still without a coach after Pepe Mel was sacked last weekend and are six points clear of the relegation places, enjoyed long periods of possession but struggled to get past a resolute home defence.

Fifth-placed Celta Vigo held off a spirited fightback from bottom club Levante to secure a 4-3 victory in an entertaining clash in Galicia that trimmed the gap to Villarreal to six points.

Celta cruised into a 3-0 lead at their Balaidos stadium, with Sweden forward John Guidetti scoring twice. Levante fought back to 3-2 with 25 minutes left before the home side added a fourth goal six minutes from time.

Levante left back Jose Luis Morales cracked the ball into the roof of the net with a minute remaining to make it 4-3 but the struggling Valencia-based side ran out of time to find an equaliser.

Celta, who had lost their previous three games in Spain's top flight, moved on to 34 points from 20 matches.

Levante, who have won only three games all season, have 14 points.

Sevilla climbed above Eibar into sixth position on 32 points when Gameiro scored twice in three minutes to give the Europa League holders a 2-1 victory at home to Malaga.

Gameiro struck five minutes before halftime at the Sanchez Pizjuan with a neat lob and the French forward added a second goal, his 11th in the league this term, in the 42nd with a cool finish from Vitolo's cross.

Sevilla surrendered control to Malaga, who are 10th, in the second half and Charles pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute after a well-worked free kick.

The hosts had midfielder Vicente Iborra sent off seven minutes from time after picking up two yellow cards in rapid succession soon after coming off the bench but they held on to move on to 32 points.

Malaga full back Arthur Boka was dismissed in added time after also earning two quick cautions.

Eibar, who entertain Granada on Monday, have 30 points, two ahead of Bilbao in eighth and ninth-placed Deportivo La Coruna who drew 1-1 at Real Sociedad.

Luis Alberto put Deportivo ahead in the 26th minute after poor Sociedad defending before captain Xabi Prieto levelled for the Basques when he won and converted a penalty 15 minutes from time.

Ibrahimovic sends PSG 23 points clear with Toulouse win

Paris St Germain left it late to notch their eighth victory in a row when Zlatan Ibrahimovic's second-half goal earned the runaway Ligue 1 leaders a 1-0 win at Toulouse on Saturday.

Ibrahimovic headed home 17 minutes from time to put the French champions on 57 points 21 games and give them a massive 23-point lead over second-placed Angers who lost 2-1 at third-placed Nice on Friday.

Laurent Blanc's team, however, did not have it all their way at Toulouse's stadium against a side who lie second-bottom of the standings on 20 points.

They also lost midfielder Javier Pastore and defender Marquinhos through injury in an industrious performance.

"It was a tough game but we were expecting it against a team fighting to stay in the top flight. However, we knew that if we stayed true to our principles we would score," PSG defender Serge Aurier told Canal Plus.

Toulouse had the best chances in the first half and Wissam Ben Yedder's header was superbly saved by Kevin Trapp. The striker also hit the bar shortly before halftime.

PSG stepped up a gear after the break and in the 73rd minute, Cavani deflected Lucas's corner kick into the path of Ibrahimovic, who headed the ball past Alban Lafont to net his 16th league goal of the season.

Argentine playmaker Pastore limped off the pitch in the 19th minute with a possible calf injury, being replaced with Cavani and Brazilian Marquinhos picked up a groin injury just after the hour.

St Etienne and Olympique Lyonnais face each other in France's hottest derby at Geoffroy Guichard on Sunday.