Madrid keep pressure on leaders Barcelona

European Round-up/SPANISH PRIMERA LIGA: Real Madrid increased the pressure on league leaders Barcelona with a 3-1 home win against Real Zaragoza.

The visitors took the lead in the 21st minute when David Villa went through the flat-footed Madrid defence to rifle in at the near post.

Madrid got back in the game just before half-time when Raul pounced. They then took the lead when Ronaldo headed into an empty net after a Raul shot was parried his way in the 54 minute. Zaragoza had a right to feel aggrieved as Raul looked yards offside when receiving a through ball from Zidane.

The home side wrapped up the points in the 85th minute when substitute Michael Owen curled the ball into the far corner. Former Everton midfielder Thomas Gravesen made his debut as a second half substitute and quickly settled in to the Madrid line-up.

Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o atoned for an early penalty miss by grabbing a late winner to give his side victory over 10-man Sociedad.

The Cameroon international fired a fifth-minute spot kick against the post and Barcelona looked as though they would be made to pay the price as they struggled to break down the crowded Sociedad defence.

Their task was made easier, however, when Sociedad midfielder Xabi Prieto was dismissed just after the hour, but they did not manage to break the deadlock until nine minutes from time when Eto'o headed in from a corner.

Injured Ian Harte's team Levante slipped further down the table, to 14th, after a 4-2 defeat by Villarreal.

ITALIAN SERIE A: Italian champions AC Milan kept the pressure on Serie A leaders Juventus when they came from behind to beat third-placed Udinese 3-1 at the San Siro stadium yesterday.

An upset seemed on the cards when in the ninth minute Udinese's Antonio Di Natale fired a long-range shot that flew into the top corner of Dida's goal.

A defence-splitting pass by Brazilian midfielder Kaka allowed European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko to then stab in a surprise equaliser for Milan.

Udinese midfielder Marek Jankulovski headed into his own net to give Milan the lead after 53 minutes and Kaka dribbled through the defence to add a third a minute before the end.

Juventus drew 1-1 away at Cagliari when Gianfranco Zola cancelled out Emerson's 54 minute strike in the dying stages of the match.

Lazio suffered their first defeat under recently appointed coach Giuseppe Papadopulo when they lost 3-1 at home to Palermo, who moved up to fifth in the division on 28 points. Palermo's victory was bad news for Roma, who are also chasing a European place.