Manchester United close gap on Chelsea, Bayern Munich hit seven

Manchester United re-opened the Premier League title race with a last minute 1-0 win at Manchester City. Leaders Chelsea then lost 2-1 at Tottenham Hotspur but Arsenal failed to cash in, frittering away a 2-0 lead at Wigan by conceding three goals in the last 10 minutes.

Real Madrid also got back into the title fray, beating Valencia 2-0 after Barcelona could only draw 0-0 with Espanyol.

Bayern Munich warmed up for Champions League action with a 7-0 drubbing of Hanover 96, helped by a fine hat-trick from Dutchman Arjen Robben.                                                                        

Tottenham Hotspur beat leaders Chelsea 2-1 to provide a big boost to Manchester United's hopes of retaining the title.

United, who started the weekend four points adrift of Chelsea, ended it just a point behind with three matches remaining after beating Manchester City 1-0 with a last-gasp goal from Paul Scholes.

Chelsea, reduced to 10 men after captain John Terry was sent off for a second yellow card, remain on 77 points with United on 76. Third-placed Arsenal, who collapsed in the last 10 minutes to lose 3-2 at Wigan Athletic after leading 2-0, are on 71.  

Spain                                   

Real Madrid proved the La Liga title race was still very much alive when they swept aside third-placed Valencia 2-0 to close to within one point of leaders Barcelona with five matches left to play.

The champions were foiled by their city rivals Espanyol on Saturday, being held to a 0-0 away draw, and had to play the last half hour with 10 men after Daniel Alves was sent off.                                           

Real made the most of Barca's slip-up with Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo scoring to see off a timid Valencia at the Bernabeu. Valencia are a massive 24 points adrift in third.  

Germany                                         

Bayern Munich demolished Hanover 96 7-0 in a fearsome performance ahead of Wednesday''s Champions League semi-final against France's Olympique Lyon, to stay two points clear at the top of the Bundesliga on 63 points with three games left.

Second-placed Schalke 04 kept their hopes alive for a first German championship in more than 50 years with a 3-1 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach with Croat Ivan Rakitic scoring twice, including a penalty.

Improving Werder Bremen, leapfrogged Bayer Leverkusen into third place, coming from 2-1 down to crush hosts VfL Wolfsburg 4-2 and climb to 54 points.

Italy                                           

Mirko Vucinic was the toast of half of Rome on Sunday after his double sent AS Roma back to the top of Serie A with a 2-1 comeback win over rivals Lazio.

But AC Milan's Serie A title hopes were hanging by a short thread after Giampaolo Pazzini's injury-time header sealed a 2-1 home win for Champions League hopefuls Sampdoria.                      

Brazilian defender Maicon broke the deadlock with a spectacular goal to steer Inter Milan to a 2-0 home win over 10-man Juventus that boosted the champions'' title hopes. Roma have 71 points, Inter 70 and AC Milan 64.

France

Olympique Marseille needed a penalty deep into added time to win 2-1 at struggling Boulogne. They stay five points clear at the top and closer to their first league title since 1992.                         

Nigeria defender Taye Taiwo converted the spot-kick, awarded after defender Yoann Lachor unwittingly handled the ball in the area, to put Marseille on 68 points from 33 games.                   

With five matches left, the former European champions lead from surprise package Auxerre who crushed mid-table Lorient 4-1.      

Champions Girondins Bordeaux and Olympique Lyon did their slim title hopes no favours when they drew 2-2 in a tense game in Bordeaux featuring three red cards in the last minute.

Lyon, visiting Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday, lie in third, nine points off the pace. Bordeaux dropped to sixth.