December 24, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 19, 1423

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LONDON, Dec 23: Inter Milan caught up with city rivals AC Milan at the top of Serie A but the gap widened in Spain with Valencia’s home defeat by Deportivo Coruna in the weekend’s action in Europe’s major leagues. Italy’s Serie A went into its winter break with just four points separating the top five.

Inter won 2-1 at Parma to join Milan at the top on 33 points, one more than Lazio. Milan drew 0-0 with Brescia and Lazio were held 1-1 at home by sixth-placed Bologna.

Uruguayan Alvaro Recoba hit Inter’s winner with a penalty after captain Javier Zanetti’s 56th-minute own goal handed Parma an equaliser following Luigi Di Baggio’s first half opener.

Argentine striker Claudio Lopez put Lazio ahead at the end of the first half but Bologna took a point thanks to defender Cristian Zaccardo’s 25-metre equaliser midway through the second half.

Defending champions Juventus had lost their last two league games but snatched a 1-0 victory at Perugia with an injury-time goal by midfielder Mauro Camoranesi.

Chievo held on to fourth place on 29 with a 2-0 win over bottom-placed Como while Juventus are fifth, also on 29.

Elsewhere in Italy, Bari midfielder Antonio Bellavista was attacked by fans after his side’s 3-0 home Serie B defeat by Livorno.

The attack took place as the player walked to his car outside the stadium and is the latest in a series of similar incidents in the country in recent weeks.

In the English premier league, Arsenal and Chelsea chalked up regulation 2-0 home victories but Manchester United lost for the first time in 11 games in all competitions.

Arsenal eased past Middlesbrough with goals late in each half by Sol Campbell and Robert Pires while Chelsea overcame Aston Villa, with Eidur Gudjohnsen and Frank Lampard on the scoresheet.

Champions Arsenal have 39 points with Chelsea second on 37. Manchester United remain third on 35 after their eight-game winning run was ended by Garry Flitcroft’s goal for Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

Everton are fourth on 33, one point ahead of Liverpool after the teams battled to a goalless draw at Anfield in the 167th Merseyside derby.

Real Sociedad continued to set the pace in Spain, Turkish midfielder Nihat Kahveci scoring twice to inspire his side to a 3-1 victory over bottom club Recreativo Huelva.

Sociedad, with 35 points from 15 games, are seven points ahead of Valencia who were beaten 1-0 at home by Deportivo Coruna.

Dutch striker Roy Makaay scored Depor’s 21st-minute winner and their keeper Juanmi, who had a fine game, saved a Pablo Aimar penalty early in the second half.

European champions Real Madrid came from two goals down to beat Malaga 3-2 and stay third in the standings, while the pressure on Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal eased after his side’s 4-0 win at nine-man Real Mallorca.

Barca, who had lost four of their last five league matches, secure only their fifth league victory of the season to climb to 10th in the table, 16 points behind the leaders.

Olympique Marseille reached the winter break at the top of the French first division despite being held to a 1-1 home draw by Monaco on Friday.

Monaco, seeking their first win at the Stade Velodrome for 23 years, opened the scoring through Croatian striker Dado Prso after 41 minutes, but Marseille equalised midway through the second half thanks to a 30-metre free kick by Daniel van Buyten.

Marseille head into the break on 35 points, one ahead of Nice and En Avant Guingamp, with Monaco fourth, a point further back.

Nice, the early season pace-setters, were held to a 0-0 draw at Strasbourg, while Guingamp beat AC Ajaccio 3-1.

Champions Olympique Lyon are fifth following their 1-1 draw at Sedan, the hosts’ Henri Camara equalising in injury time, level on points with Monaco and sixth-placed Sochaux.—Reuters