European round-up: Pedro gem moves clinical Chelsea closer to title

Sport360 staff 21:53 30/04/2017

PREMIER LEAGUE

Chelsea took a big step towards the Premier League title with victory over Everton but Tottenham’s dogged pursuit continued.

The gap remains four points with four games left for both teams after Spurs showed they are the cream of north London this season by defeating Arsenal 2-0.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side could not find a breakthrough in the first half but led through Dele Alli’s 22nd goal of the season in the 55th minute.

Moments later Harry Kane tumbled under a challenge from Gabriel and the England striker found the bottom corner from the penalty spot.

A trip to Goodison Park looked to be the biggest test for Chelsea in their final five games and Antonio Conte’s men ultimately eased to a 3-0 victory.

A moment of magic from Pedro in the 66th minute broke the deadlock and Gary Cahill made sure of the points with a close-range finish before Willian marked his entry to the game with a late third.

Manchester City had to fight back from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw with 19th-placed Middlesbrough.

Having gone more than four months without a Premier League win, Boro looked set to follow up their midweek victory over Sunderland by stunning the Champions League hopefuls.

Alvaro Negredo gave Boro a first-half lead, and the hosts were then incensed when City were awarded a penalty for a foul on Leroy Sane, converted by Sergio Aguero.

Defender Calum Chambers put Boro back in front 13 minutes from time only for Gabriel Jesus to grab a point for the visitors.

Middlesbrough look doomed, six points adrift of safety with only three games left, while for City it was a missed opportunity to cement their top-four spot.

Manchester United had earlier dropped points in a 1-1 draw with Boro’s fellow strugglers Swansea.

Wayne Rooney put Jose Mourinho’s side ahead from another disputed penalty on the stroke of half-time but Gylfi Sigurdsson claimed what could be a precious point for the Swans with a 79th-minute equaliser.

United remain outside the top four, one point behind City, who are level on 66 points with Liverpool in third.

LA LIGA

Deportivo La Coruna failed to make certain of their LaLiga status after being held to a 2-2 draw at relegated Osasuna.

A victory at El Sadar would have guaranteed safety, but a late own goal from Juanfran gave the home side a point and left Deportivo eight points clear of 18th-placed Sporting Gijon, who have three games remaining.

Osasuna took the lead after just four minutes when the visitors failed to clear a corner and Jhon Mondragon smashed a half-volley into the net, but Deportivo equalised on 18 minutes when Guilherme dos Santos was left unmarked to score with a diving header at the back post.

Dos Santos scored his second of the game from close range midway through the second half, only for Juanfran – who hit the bar in the first half – to put through his own net 12 minutes from time.

Alaves fought back from a goal down to defeat Real Betis 4-1.

Neither team had much to play for, with Alaves firmly in mid-table and Betis safe, and it was the hosts who took the lead in the 12th minute through Ruben Pardo.

But three goals in 10 minutes early in the second half turned the match on its head.

First Nenad Krsticic equalised three minutes after the break, then Ruben Sobrino put Alaves ahead before Christian Santos netted their third.

That looked to be that but Aleksandar Katai added a fourth with the final kick of the match.

SERIE A

AC Milan suffered a second league setback since their takeover by a Chinese consortium to boost rivals Inter’s bid for one of two Europa League spots in Italy’s Serie A.

Milan travelled to relegation-haunted Crotone looking to make up for a shock 2-1 San Siro defeat to struggling Empoli last week.

But for the second game in succession since Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux bought the seven-time European champions from long-time owner Silvio Berlusconi, Vincenzo Montella’s side disappointed.

Marcello Trotta fired Crotone into an eighth-minute lead at their Ezio Scida stadium and it took until the 50th minute for Milan to level, veteran defender Gabriel Paletta bundling home a messy goal from close range.

Milan pushed for a late winner but the Serie A giants, who saw Juraj Kucka sent off six minutes into second-half stoppage time for a second bookable offence, were forced to settle for a point.

Milan remain sixth, five points adrift of Atalanta in the final Europa League spot.

Inter, enduring an equally tough season under new Chinese owners Suning, host Napoli in Sunday’s late game looking for their first win in six outings.

A home win at the San Siro would pull Stefano Pioli’s men level on points with Milan (59).

Roma’s 3-1 derby defeat to Lazio earlier Sunday left them in second place at nine points behind runaway leaders Juve, but only four points ahead of Napoli, as they chase the second automatic Champions League qualifying place.

Elsewhere, former Roma striker Mattia Destro struck in either half to complete a brace as Bologna moved away from the danger zone with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Udinese.

LIGUE 1 

Florian Thauvin struck a hat-trick as Marseille boosted their hopes of European football next season with a 5-1 victory at Caen.

There was a dramatic start to the game as Marseille scored twice in the opening five minutes through Thauvin and Maxime Lopez.

Ivan Santini halved the deficit after nine minutes, but 19-year-old Lopez (27) restored the visitors’ two-goal cushion as he became the youngest Marseille player to score a brace in Ligue 1 for 30 years.

Thauvin, who is on loan from Newcastle, took his league tally for the season to 15 with further strikes after 63 and 89 minutes as Marseille coasted home.

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