Arsenal and Madrid march on

United held
Unbeaten Arsenal moved nine points clear in the English Premiership with eleven games remaining as they beat Charlton Athletic FC 2-1. Goals in the first four minutes from Robert Pires and Thierry Henry saw the home side race 2-0 ahead. However, Claus Jensen's 59th-minute free-kick halved the deficit and Arsenal had to cling on. "It's a good lead but seven games ago we were three points behind Manchester United [FC] so we want to be careful," said Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger.

United slip
United slipped to third after being held 1-1 at Fulham FC. Sir Alex Ferguson rested Ryan Giggs and Ruud van Nistelrooij from his starting lineup but all appeared well when Louis Saha gave United the lead against his former club after 14 minutes. However, Luis Boa Morte equalised in the 64th minute and United are now behind Chelsea FC, 1-0 winners at Manchester City FC, on goal difference.

Zidane inspires
In Spain, a Zinedine Zidane-inspired Real Madrid moved eight points clear in the Primera División with a 4-2 victory against RC Celta de Vigo. Sasa Ilic gave Celta the lead but the home side hit back with goals from Ronaldo, Zidane and Luís Figo. Savo Milosevic set up a nervous finish with Celta's second, but Zidane struck again in added time.

Valencia loss
With second-placed Valencia CF losing 2-1 at RCD Espanyol and RC Deportivo La Coruña, in third, succumbing 3-2 at home to FC Barcelona, Madrid are firmly in the driving seat. Barça were again inspired by Ronaldinho who scored either side of Javier Saviola's effort to put his side three up, only for Walter Pandiani to pull two goals back.

Roma romp
In Italy, AS Roma kept their title hopes alive with a 4-1 victory against Parma AC. However, AC Milan's 1-0 win against S.S. Lazio, courtesy of Massimo Ambrosini's 75th-minute strike, keeps them five points clear. Champions Juventus FC are third, six points off the pace, after a 3-0 win against Ancona Calcio.

PSG held
Paris Saint-Germain FC missed a chance to close the gap on the top two in France when they drew 1-1 with AJ Auxerre on Sunday evening. Indeed, seven of the top eight sides in France played out draws - leaders Monaco and second-placed Olympique Lyonnais were held 1-1 by Toulouse FC and RC Lens respectively while FC Sochaux-Montbéliard moved fourth with a 2-1 victory against SC Bastia.

Seven clear
Bremen moved a step nearer their first Bundesliga title in eleven years with a 2-0 win against BV Borussia Dortmund that keeps them seven points ahead of FC Bayern München. Valérien Ismael gave Bremen the lead with a deflected free-kick. Ailton then fired his 20th league goal of the season after Dortmund had lost Tomáš Rosický to a broken arm. Bayern stayed in touch as Roy Makaay and Bastian Schweinsteiger goals secured a 2-0 win at home to VfL Wolfsburg but VfB Stuttgart are 12 points adrift in third spot after being held to a goalless draw by FC Schalke 04.

Joy for Middlesbrough
Finally, one side who have already booked a place in European competition next season are Middlesbrough FC who won the English League Cup final in Cardiff by beating Bolton Wanderers FC 2-1. The victory, which secures a berth in the 2004/05 UEFA Cup, gave the Teesiders the first major piece of silverware in their 128-year history.