Izuchukwu Okosi
Spanish giants Barcelona slumped to a 1-0 home defeat by struggling Rayo Vallecano Sunday night which pushed leaders Real Madrid a step closer to the La Liga title.
Vallecano is owned by former Real Madrid striker Ronaldo de Lima.
With Real not in action ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg at Manchester City, second-placed Barca missed the chance to go second in the table and saw their game in hand rendered irrelevant.
King of the Match Alvaro Garcia’s early goal from about 20 yards proved enough for Rayo to complete a league double over Barca, and leave ‘the big winners’ Real needing just one more point from their last five games to wrap up another domestic title.
In Italy AC Milan regained top spot in Serie A as Sandro Tonali struck in stoppage time to snatch a 2-1 win at Lazio.
The Rossoneri had seen rivals Inter climb to the summit after beating Roma on Saturday, and fell behind at the Stadio Olimpico as Ciro Immobile fired Lazio into a fourth-minute lead.
Veteran French forward Olivier Giroud, though, was the star for Milan who grabbed his goal five minutes into the second half and when it seemed they would have to settle for a draw, Tonali stabbed the ball in following a knockdown from substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Milan now sit two points clear, although having played a match more, as they chase a first Scudetto since the 2010-11 campaign.
Champions League hopefuls Napoli were left stunned as Empoli scored three times in the last 10 minutes, including a double from Andrea Pinamonti, to come from behind to beat the Partenopei 3-2 at Stadio Carlo Castellani and finally end their own 17-game winless run.
In Ligue 1, Marseille kept themselves on course for Champions League qualification with a 1-0 win at Reims.
Paris St Germain had won the title on Saturday, and substitute Gerson struck late on as Marseille maintained their six-point lead over third-placed Rennes, who earlier in the day had trashed Lorient 5-0 despite having defender Nayef Aguerd sent off.
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