Real Madrid survive scare to maintain perfect record

REAL Madrid continued their perfect home record and moved three points clear at the top of Primera Division on Saturday night, but they were given a scare by Sporting Gijon en route to a 3-1 victory.

A shock looked on the cards when the mid-table visitors took a 53rd-minute lead through David Barral. However, that goal served to spark Madrid into life and within four minutes they were 2-1 ahead thanks to strikes from Rafael van der Vaart and Xabi Alonso.

Gonzalo Higuain then slotted home his 20th goal of the season in the 68th minute as Madrid made it 14 league wins out of 14 at the Bernabeu this term.

Sevilla, fresh from being dumped out of the Champions League by CSKA Moscow, saw their hopes of finishing in the top four dealt a blow by Dani Osvaldo's brace at Estadi Cornella-El Prat as Espanyol won 2-0.

Taking advantage of Sevilla's misery were Real Mallorca who leapfrogged the Andalusians into fourth with a stunning 4-1 home win over Atletico Madrid.

Victor Casadesus and Aritz Aduritz scored in the first half for Mallorca, either side of Diego Forlan's equaliser. Luis Perea then scored an own-goal to put the hosts 3-1 ahead in the second half before Felipe Mattioni completed the rout in the 90th.

In Italy, AC Milan missed out on the opportunity to overtake rivals Inter at the top of Serie A as they were held to a draw at home to Napoli.

Hugo Campagnaro put a lively Napoli ahead in the 13th minute, but Filippo Inzaghi equalised 12 minutes later.

On Saturday, Inter drew 1-1 at Palermo. Diego Milito put Inter ahead with a penalty, but Edinson Cavani pulled Palermo level before half-time. Inter have won just one of their last six league games. Roma stayed third after beating Udinese 4-2. Luca Toni opened the scoring before Mirko Vucinic took over, netting a hat-trick.

Champions League quarter-finalists Bordeaux consolidated their place at the top of Ligue 1 after they came from behind to beat 10-man Lille at the Stade Chaban-Delmas, while in the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich held on to top spot despite a 2-1 away defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt.