ITALY: Inter Milan reclaimed the Serie A leadership yesterday after a 3-2 win over Piacenza which saw three players sent off and Christian Vieri score twice.
Inter's Ivan Cordoba and Alessandro Lucarelli from Piacenza were red-carded when the referee visited the dressing-room at half-time after a fight broke out following the whistle.
Lucarelli was the second Piacenza player to be sent off after goalkeeper Matteo Guardalben had been dismissed for bringing down Ronaldo as the Brazilian raced in on goal. Vieri converted the penalty and scored the winner seven minutes from time after Piacenza had twice fought back to level the scores.
Juventus closed in on the top three with a 4-0 dismissal of Brescia with goals from David Trezeguet, Alessandro Del Piero, Ciro Ferrara and Edgar Davids.
SPAIN: Real Madrid failed to reclaim top spot in the Primera Liga yesterday, managing only a 1-1 draw with Real Mallorca. Raul gave Vicente del Bosque's side the lead 10 minutes into the second half but the home side came back to take a deserved point through Alberto Luque 12 minutes later.
The result means Deportivo Coruna go into 2002 as league leaders after their 2-0 win at home to Real Betis on Saturday gave them 33 points from 18 games. Real are second, a point back, with Celta Vigo and Betis on 31.
Athletic Bilbao joined them on that mark as they beat Osasuna 1-0 in last night's late game.
