Soccer: Key wins for rivals ahead of big clash

Barcelona and Chelsea head into their Champions League clash at Stamford Bridge tomorrow having increased their leads in the Spanish and English championships to eight points.

AC Milan and Juventus each won 2-1 away to remain neck and neck in Italy, and Bayern Munich stayed top in Germany on goal difference after a 1-0 home win over reigning Bundesliga champions Werder Bremen.

However, French Ligue One leaders Olympique Lyonnaise, 3-0 up on Werder going into the home leg of their Champions League first-round knockout tie, lost 1-0 at Caen.

Barcelona, with Samuel Eto'o bagging his 18th goal of the season, stretched their Primera Liga lead with a 1-0 win at struggling Osasuna.

Second-placed Real Madrid were held 1-1 at champions Valencia, with Brazilian striker Ronaldo breaking an eight-game goal drought to cancel out Pablo Aimar's early strike in a pulsating encounter.

But David Beckham is doubtful for Real's Champions League game against Juventus after suffering a back injury in the game.

Barcelona lead with 62 points from 27 games, Real have 54, and Espanyol are now third after defeating Levante 2-1.

Chelsea eased comfortably clear in the Premiership with a 3-1 win at Norwich City 3-1. But they are sweating on the fitness of winger Arjen Robben following a broken foot. The inspirational Dutchman could play some part against Barcelona, said Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

Second-placed Manchester United stumbled to a 0-0 away draw against 10-man Crystal Palace.

Fourth-placed Everton remain eight points ahead of city rivals Liverpool in the race for a Champions League place, despite losing 1-0 at home to Blackburn Rovers. All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen again played the full 90 minutes for Blackburn as they continued their battle to stay clear of relegation.

In Italy, an Alessandro Del Piero penalty gave Juventus a 2-1 victory at AS Roma to keep them in step with AC Milan, who won by the same scoreline at Atalanta thanks to Andrea Pirlo's last-kick winner.

The teams are joint top of Serie A on 60 points after 27 games, with Sampdoria a distant third 13 points behind.

Juventus' victory came in a bad-tempered game, with Roma disputing both goals from Fabio Capello's team. Capello was back in Roma, where he won the title in 2001, for the first time since leaving the capital for Turin at the end of last season.

Roma claimed Fabio Cannavaro's headed opener for Juventus was offside and that the foul on Uruguayan striker Marcelo Zalayeta that led to Del Piero's penalty winner was outside the box.

Sampdoria overcame Chievo Verona 1-0 while Inter, in fourth, needed an 89th-minute penalty from Adriano to defeat Lecce 2-1.

Michael Ballack struck early to give Bayern Munich a 1-0 win at home to Werder Bremen and keep the Bavarians top of the Bundesliga on goal difference. Bayern's joy at beating last season's double winners was tempered, however, by a thigh muscle injury to Dutch striker Roy Makaay that will keep him out of their Champions League match at Arsenal on Thursday, when they will be defending a 3-1 lead.

Felix Magath's side needed the win to stay ahead of Schalke 04, who kept up the pressure with a 2-0 win away to VfL Bochum.

With 24 games played, Bayern and Schalke have 50 points, followed by Werder on 43.

French side Lyon suffered their second league defeat of the season, 1-0 at Caen, and third-placed Lille lost 3-1 at Bastia.

- REUTERS