Ajax closing in on title

AJAX took a huge step towards a third straight title as they beat bitter rivals PSV Eindhoven 3-2 away yesterday to go five points clear at the top of the Dutch championship.

Derk Boerrigter scored the winner for the visitors with 13 minutes remaining after Jeremain Lens had twice pulled PSV level.

Ajax have 66 points with four matches remaining, and sit five ahead of Vitesse Arnhem, who gave away a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 at Roda JC Kerkrade on Saturday.

PSV are a further point adrift in third, ahead on goal difference of Feyenoord, who were held to a 1-1 draw by RKC Waalwijk yesterday.

In La Liga, Cristian Tello scored twice as an under-strength Barcelona cruised to a 3-0 win at struggling Real Zaragoza to keep their lead over Real Madrid at 13 points with seven games left to play. Real cruised to a 3-0 win at Athletic Bilbao last night, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a double.

A quick-fire double from Imanol Agirretxe helped fourth-placed Real Sociedad to a 2-0 win at Rayo Vallecano that strengthened their hold on the last Champions League qualification berth in La Liga.

In Italy, second-place Napoli drew 1-1 with third-place AC Milan at the San Siro.