LONDON, March 8: European champions AC Milan and English pretenders Arsenal were the most impressive winners in weekend action in Europe's major soccer countries.

Milan maintained their six-point advantage over Italian champions Juventus in Serie A by beating Sampdoria 3-1 on Sunday with goals by Andrea Pirlo, Filippo Inzaghi and Brazil's Kaka.

Carlo Ancelotti's Milan, at home to Sparta Prague in midweek in the second leg of the Champions League first knockout stage with the tie 0-0 after the first leg, notched their 10th win in 11 league games and lead with 61 points to Juve's 55.

In England, there was no action at the top of the Premier League but Arsenal were being talked of as one of the Champions League favourites after Saturday's 5-1 win at Portsmouth in the FA Cup quarterfinals.

Thiery Henry and Fredrik Ljungberg both scored twice for Arsenal, who are 3-2 up on Celta Vigo going into the second leg of their European tie at Highbury on Wednesday.

In Spain, Real Madrid, at home to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday following a 1-1 draw in the away leg, lead the Primera Liga standings with 60 points after a 1-1 draw at Racing Santander on Saturday.

Valencia are in second place six points behind Real after their 3-0 win at home to Deportivo Coruna with two goals from Vicente. Deportivo, 1-0 up on Juventus as they go into the second leg of their Champions League tie in Turin on Tuesday, remain third on 50 points.

In Germany, Bundesliga leaders Werder Bremen beat 10-man TSV 1860 Munich 2-0 away on Sunday to stay seven points ahead of second-placed champions Bayern. Dutch striker Roy Makaay scored twice for Bayern, whose 3-1 win at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday will have boosted their confidence for an upset at the Bernabeu.

Third-placed VfB Stuttgart, away to Chelsea on Tuesday 1-0 down from the first leg of their European tie, won 2-0 at Borussia Dortmund and remain 12 points behind Werder.

In France, Monaco, 2-1 down from the first leg of their Champions league tie against Lokomotiv Moscow who they entertain on Wednesday, beat En Avant Guingamp 3-1 on Friday with two goals from Spain's Fernando Morientes.

Monaco stay four points above champions Olympique Lyon, who thrashed AC Ajaccio 4-0 before the return leg on Tuesday of their European tie at home to Real Sociedad who they lead 1-0. -Reuters