Goals from Filippo Inzaghi, Kaka and Andriy Shevchenko helped Milan to a comfortable victory over city rivals Inter at the San Siro, while Juve needed an 80th-minute penalty by David Trezeguet to seal a 2-1 home win over Bologna.
Lazio returned to winning ways when a deflected Sinisa Mihajlovic free kick secured a 1-0 win over Chievo at the Olympic Stadium, and Parma’s good start continued with a 1-0 victory over Sampdoria that took them up to fourth place.
AS Roma are third after being held to a 0-0 draw at Siena with Lazio moving above Inter to fifth after five matches.
In Spain, Valencia stayed a point ahead of Deportivo Coruna and three clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table.
Ricardo Oliveira scored with a stunning volley in the 15th minute to give Valencia their second major scalp in succession following last week’s victory over Real Madrid.
Depor crushed Atletico Madrid 5-1, striker Walter Pandiani scoring for the sixth straight match, while a second-half double from Ronaldo earned below-par Real a 2-1 home win over Espanyol.
The Spanish champions took the lead in the 53rd minute when Raul turned and crossed for Ronaldo to finish from close range.
Luis Figo missed a penalty but Real doubled their lead eight minutes from time when David Beckham chipped over a cross for the unmarked Ronaldo to head home.
England’s big three all won to move five points clear of the chasing pack, Arsenal remaining top following a battling 2-1 victory at Liverpool.
Australian forward Harry Kewell put Liverpool ahead but Brazilian Edu equalised and French midfielder Robert Pires sealed Arsenal’s win with a superb curling shot from 25 metres.
Manchester United climbed into second place, a point behind Arsenal, following a routine 3-0 home victory over 10-man Birmingham City, while Chelsea needed a late header by Argentine striker Hernan Crespo to secure a 2-1 win at Middlesbrough.
The big-spending London club are level on 19 points with champions United, whose goals against Birmingham were scored by Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy from a penalty, England midfielder Paul Scholes and Wales winger Ryan Giggs.
Werder Bremen leapt to the top of the Bundesliga standings with a spectacular 5-3 home victory over VfL Wolfsburg.
Prolific Brazilian striker Ailton paved the way for the win with two first-half strikes as French midfielder Johan Micoud provided the creative inspiration.
ITALIAN SERIE A RESULTS
Results of Italian Serie A soccer matches played on Sunday:
Ancona 0 Udinese 3
Empoli 0 Modena 3
Inter Milan 1 AC Milan 3
Juventus 2 Bologna 1
Lazio 1 Chievo Verona 0
Lecce 1 Brescia 4
Parma 1 Sampdoria 0
Perugia 0 Reggina 0
Siena 0 AS Roma 0
FRENCH LIGUE 1 RESULT
Olympique Marseille 3 Bastia 1
Nantes 1 Stade Rennes 0
Sochaux 0 Paris St Germain 1
En Avant Guingamp 1 Monaco 2
AC Ajaccio 2 Olympique Lyon 4
Nice 0 Strasbourg 0
AJ Auxerre 3 Lille 0
Le Mans 0 Girondins Bordeaux 0
RC Lens 0 Metz 2
Toulouse 2 Montpellier 2
Spanish Primera Liga results Results of Primera Liga soccer matches played on Sunday:
Barcelona 0 Valencia 1
Malaga 2 Celta Vigo 1
Murcia 1 Albacete 0
Real Madrid 2 Espanyol 1
Real Mallorca 1 Osasuna 1
Real Sociedad 1 Sevilla 1
Valladolid 0 Racing Santander 4
Played Saturday:
Deportivo Coruna 5 Atletico Madrid 1
Real Betis 1 Athletic Bilbao 1
Villarreal 1 Real Zaragoza 1
—Agencies