Ronaldo and Higuain keep Real ahead of arch-rivals

Real moved on to 77 points with eight matches left to play, ahead of Barcelona on goal difference, after the champions swept aside Athletic Bilbao 4-1 on Saturday.

Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been ruled out of tomorrow's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Arsenal through injury.

Spain striker David Villa scored twice in the last five minutes to help keep Valencia on course for next season's Champions League with a 3-0 win at home to Osasuna yesterday.

Real Mallorca needed a late goal from Pierre Webo to grab a 1-1 draw away to Almeria, to put them level on 48 points with Sevilla. Villarreal are seventh on 43 points after a 2-0 win away to troubled Real Valladolid, secured with goals from Angel Lopez and Brazil striker Nilmar.

In Italy, midfielder Thiago Motta scored twice to help suspension-hit Inter Milan maintain their slim lead in Serie A with a 3-0 home win over Bologna on Saturday.

Second-placed AS Roma remain just one point behind thanks to a 1-0 victory at Bari. AC Milan remained third after ending a three-match winless streak with a 3-2 victory at Cagliari.

Struggling Juventus missed the chance to join them on 51 points when they were thrashed 3-0 at lowly Udinese.

Ten-man Hanover 96 stayed in the Bundesliga relegation zone after a goalless draw at Hamburg SV yesterday.

Hanover stayed 17th in the 18-team table with 24 points from 29 games, one point behind Freiburg who occupy the relegation play off spot after their 1-1 draw against VfL Bochum on Saturday and four points adrift of 15th-placed Bochum.