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Euro football: Barca lose as Ronaldo breaks another record; Leicester cruise on
April 11, 2016 10:43 IST

Barcelona's lead at the top of La Liga was cut after a second consecutive defeat and LeicesterCity's improbable march towards the Premier League title showed no sign of slowing as they won a fifth straight match.

Juventus stayed six points clear of Napoli after Italy's top two both won and Bayern Munich extended their Bundesliga lead to seven points.

Here is a summary of results from football matches played across Europe over the weekend.

SPAIN

IMAGE: Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts during the match against Real Sociedad in Anoeta, San Sebastian on Sunday. Photograph: Vincent West/Reuters

Barcelona's grip on La Liga was loosened further as the leaders suffered a second straight defeat, a 1-0 reverse at Real Sociedad.

Winger Mikel Oiarzabal headed the only goal in the fifth minute, opening the door for Barca's rivals from Madrid to close the gap at the summit.

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to hit 30 La Liga goals in six consecutive seasons as he inspired Real Madrid to a 4-0 thrashing of Eibar while Fernando Torres was on target once more as Atletico Madrid triumphed 3-1 at Espanyol.

Barca have 76 points with six games to go, three ahead of Atletico and four in front of Real Madrid.

ENGLAND

IMAGE: Jamie Vardy celebrates with teammates after scoring the second goal for Leicester against Sunderland on Sunday. Photograph: Reuters

Two goals by England striker Jamie Vardy kept Leicester City on course for their first top-flight title with a fifth successive win, a 2-0 victory at relegation-threatened Sunderland.

Leicester lead by seven points, with five games to play, after second-placed Tottenham Hotspur scored three times in seven minutes to beat Manchester United 3-0.

United's defeat means Leicester are assured of a top-four finish, meaning they will at least qualify for the preliminary round of the Champions League.

Arsenal lost ground after a 3-3 London derby draw at West Ham United, Andy Carroll scoring a hat-trick for the home team.

Defeats for Sunderland and Newcastle United left them in danger of joining Aston Villa, who are almost certain to be relegated, in the Championship next season.

ITALY

IMAGE: Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne shoots and scores a penalty. Photograph: Reuters

Juventus stayed six points clear of Napoli, with six matches to play, and on course for a fifth successive Serie A title after the top two triumphed.

Paul Pogba scored the winner as Juve, who have dropped only two points in their last 22 games, came from behind to defeat AC Milan 2-1.

Napoli, missing Serie A top scorer Gonzalo Higuain as he began a four-match ban, breezed past bottom club Verona 3-0.

Fiorentina's recent dismal run continued when they lost to smaller Tuscan neighbours Empoli for the first time since 1997, leaving them fifth, while Palermo's poor season continued with a shambolic 3-0 home defeat by Lazio.

GERMANY

IMAGE: Bayern Munich's Douglas Costa celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against Stuttgart during their Bundesliga match at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart on Sunday. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

Bayern Munich closed in on a fourth straight Bundesliga crown when they won 3-1 at VfB Stuttgart to extend their lead to seven points with five matches left.

Stuttgart's Georg Niedermeier put through his own net in the first half before David Alaba and Douglas Costa added two more goals for Bayern in the second period. Daniel Didavi replied for the hosts.

Second-placed Borussia Dortmund drew 2-2 at Schalke 04 in the Ruhr derby while Hertha Berlin, who are third, were held 2-2 by bottom club Hanover 96.

Source: REUTERS
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