Raul's hat-trick for Real keeps the pressure on Barcelona

EUROPEAN ROUND-UP: PRIMERA LIGA: An opportunist hat-trick from captain Raul helped Real Madrid to a 4-2 comeback win at Sevilla yesterday which cut Barcelonas lead at the top of the standings to four points.

Barca, who play the champions in Madrid next weekend, were held to a 2-2 draw at fourth-placed Valencia on Saturday and Real took advantage to move to 78 points with five games to play.

Third-placed Sevilla went ahead in the 17th minute when midfielder Renato headed past Iker Casillas from close range.

Gonzalo Higuain had two good chances to equalise before Raul turned in a low cross from Christoph Metzelder just before half-time.

The 31-year-old striker hooked in a deflected cross on 63 minutes and pounced on a fumble by Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop to make it 3-1 three minutes later.

Substitute Diego Capel pulled one back with just under 10 minutes left before Marcelo raced clear to score Real’s fourth and seal their 16th win in 17 matches since a 2-0 defeat at Barca’s Nou Camp in December.

Barca looked set to suffer their first defeat since the start of March after trailing 2-1 at the Mestalla with only four minutes remaining, but secured a late draw thanks to substitute Thierry Henry.

“Now we have to start thinking about Chelsea. We have to rest and recover well, because now comes the most important week of the season. First it’s Chelsea and then after we go to the Bernabeu,” said coach Pep Guardiola, who insists his team are in rude health despite still fighting for honours on three fronts.

“The players don’t seem tired to me. We are like a machine.”

In yesterday’s late match Atletico Madrid beat Sporting 3-1.

SERIE A: Inter Milan's title charge suffered a blip when substitute Marcelo Zalayeta struck in the second half to give Napoli a 1-0 home win over the leaders last night.

Second-placed AC Milan beat Palermo to cut the gap with Inter to seven points with five games to play. Juventus, in third, trail Inter by nine after drawing 2-2 at bottom side Reggina.

Inter’s defeat was only their third in the league this season while it was Napoli’s first Serie A win since January.