Ferguson on scouting mission

With Manchester United not in action this weekend, Alex Ferguson was in Amsterdam to see Ruud van Nistelrooy play for PSV against Ajax.

PSV moved 10 points clear of their nearest rivals, Feyenoord, with a 1-0 victory secured by Adil Ramzi's goal. Van Nistelrooy may not have scored by he did impress, and twice fired inches wide of the target, to make a summer move to Old Trafford increasingly likely.

Afterwards, van Nistelrooy brushed aside all talk of a move to Old Trafford and insisted he is intent on achieving success with PSV Eindhoven.

Van Nistelrooy, who was replaced after 77 minutes by Yugoslavia international Mateja Kezman, said: "We are close to winning the title. Nothing is more important at the moment than PSV."

The striker, due to hold talks with PSV manager Eric Gerets to discuss his future, was unaware of Ferguson's presence in the Amsterdam ArenA.

He said: "I wouldn't have minded anyway. I have no urge to have contact with another club yet and no, Ferguson didn't try to contact me either."

United's European Cup quarter-final opponents Bayern Munich, 1-0 winners in Manchester last week, managed to hold on to top spot in the German Bundesliga on Saturday despite having two players sent off in a bad-tempered 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund. Dortmund, who themselves finished the game with 10 players, are just one point behind with three more teams within one win of the lead.

Arsenal's European Cup opponents Valencia, beaten 2-1 at Highbury last Wednesday - their third successive defeat - returned to form on Saturday, beating Rayo Vallecano 4-1 away.

Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of the table to eight points after a battling 1-0 win away to Las Palmas. A 58th minute Guti header was parried by the Palmas goalkeeper and Guti scored from the rebound.

Real's rivals, Barcelona drew 4-4 away to Villarreal in a bizarre encounter. Victor struck twice either side of Javier Calleja's flashing left-foot drive to put Villarreal 3-0 after 20 minutes but a brilliant fightback from Barcelona brought them level as Patrick Kluivert turned in from a corner, then converted a Simao Sabrosa cross and Rivaldo controlled a Pep Guardiola pass on his chest before sweeping in.

Jorge Lopez grabbed Villarreal's fourth but there was still time for Kluivert to clinch his hat-trick as he flicked the ball over the goalkeeper.

Juventus kept in touch with the Serie A leaders Roma after a 45th-minute penalty from Alessandro del Piero gave them a 1-0 win at Verona. Juve are now six points behind the leaders, who play Fiorentina this evening.

Lazio missed the chance to catch up on the leaders when their home match with Parma was abandoned after just six minutes due to torrential rain. Around 40,000 fans were at the Stadio Olimpico for the game.

Milan were held to a goalless draw by struggling Napoli, who played the entire second half with 10 men, while Inter needed a last-minute equaliser from Alvaro Recoba to scrape a 1-1 draw at home to lowly Vicenza.

In France, Nantes remain on course for a domestic treble after a 2-1 win at Metz left them two points clear of Lille with four games to play.