May 20, 2003	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 17, 1424

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

PARIS, May 19: Real Madrid, who were knocked out of the Champions League last week, returned to winning ways in style on Sunday when they crushed Malaga 5-1 to keep their campaign for a 29th Spanish league title firmly on track.

The win lifted Madrid into second place behind Real Sociedad who defeated Recreativo Huelva 1-0 taking full advantage of previous leaders Deportivo La Coruna’s 2-1 defeat to Valencia.

Sociedad earned their three points when Turkish international Nihat Kahveci scored his 20th goal of the season in the ninth minute.

However, the avalanche of goals expected by Sociedad fans never materialised and they maintained their lead mainly due to some fine saves by their Dutch goalkeeper Sander Westerveld.

“We will suffer a lot until the end of the season but it will be worth it,” said Sociedad’s French coach Raynald Denouix as he reflected on his team’s failure to score more goals.

Sociedad now have 69 points, Madrid are on 68 with Deportivo on 66 with four matches remaining.

Real Madrid’s goals came courtesy of a brace each from Fernando Morientes and Raul with Roberto Carlos adding the other.

Deportivo’s title push suffered a setback when they were beaten 2-1 at home by reigning champions Valencia.

Brazilian defender Fabio Aurelio grabbed both goals for Valencia in the 13th and 63rd minutes with Donato, fast approaching his 41st birthday, replying for Deportivo.

In Italy, Juventus wrapped up the title last week so cash-strapped Lazio stepped into the limelight by claiming a place in the highly-lucrative Champions League after coming from behind to beat Brescia 3-1.

Lazio join Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan in Europe’s premier club competition, although the teams finishing third and fourth will have to take part in a two-legged play-off to qualify for the group stages.

Piacenza were relegated after throwing away a two-goal lead in a 3-2 defeat at Parma and join Torino and Como in Serie B next season while, Juventus, with the title alreay wrapped up, rested key players and lost 2-1 to Reggina.

Bayer Leverkusen moved out of the relegation places in Germany after beating 1860 Munich 3-0 to give new coach Klaus Augenthaler a perfect start in his bid to save last season’s Champions League finalists from the drop.

At the other end of the table, champions Bayern Munich received their trophy and dented VfB Stuttgart’s hopes of finishing runners-up with a 2-1 victory.

Former France captain Didier Deschamps picked up his first coaching silverware after his classy Monaco side outshone Sochaux in the French League Cup final at the Stade de France here.

Deschamps watched his side destroy Sochaux 4-1 in a superb second half display and then set his sights on also grabbing the league title.

Monaco are currently second in the table, three points behind Lyon with two games left.—AFP