OM's bright start was no match for Lille's tenacity as the race for the third and final Champions League spot took yet another twist.
The hosts seemed to be in charge after 12 minutes when Mamadou Niang hit his 16th of the season - just one fewer than leading scorer Karim Benzema - after Nasri's free-kick met him for a half-volley on the penalty spot.
Nasri could have made it 2-0 soon afterwards, but in fact Lille struck next after a great team move. Makoun sparked it, but it ended at the feet of Mirallas, who fired into an empty net with Mandanda left stranded by a flailing defence.
Mirallas managed a second just three minutes later to give LOSC the lead going into the break. Mandanda couldn't deal with Obraniak's cross, allowing the young Belgian to turn the game around.
Although OM rallied in the second period, Les Dogues still had far more rhythm than their hosts, and they sealed all three points after Makoun capitalised on a goalmouth scramble to hit home unopposed at the far post.
As such Marseille are now fourth, one point behind Nancy, with four games left to go.
With Roma losing two precious points at home against Livorno on Saturday, Inter knew that taking all three from this encounter would see them increase their lead at the top of the standings and virtually end the Scudetto race.
However, before them was a Torino side, under new coach Gianni De Biasi, who needed to get back on their feet after a losing run of five in six games that has seen them edge close to the relegation zone.
All in all, though, the reigning champions did enough to secure all three points.
In the first half Inter proved why they are a 'big team', as they suffered for long stretches during the 45 minutes before managing to hit back at the first given opportunity.
The Granata approached the game with confidence. After just two minutes, Rosina weaved inside the penalty area from the right hand side, but his effort went just wide. The home team kept persisting and in the 13th minute Stellone tried his luck from 22 metres away, but the ball went just inches to the left hand side of Julio Cesar's goal.
However, after a long spell of dominance by Torino, Inter managed to score with their first shot on goal as a Balotelli corner kick found Cruz near the first post, with the Argentinean heading home. This was Cruz’s first goal in 2008.
The goal shocked the Granata and three minutes later Balotelli almost doubled the score when his shot hit the post with Fontana beaten. However that was the last opportunity for the young striker who was replaced by Cesar in the 37th minute as Mancini made a defensive substitution.
Torino started out strongly in the second half, even though they failed to create clear cut opportunities to equalize. The first shot didn't arrive until the 64th minute through Rosina, whose shot from the long distance went over the bar.
Mancini realized that with the Granata piling on the pressure, the best tactic for the Nerazzurri was that of the counterattack, and for this reason he sent Suazo in place of Cambiasso.
As expected, Torino kept pushing forward, but their attack was sterile and without any decent finishing, despite De Biasi's desperate move of sending in Ventola instead for Motta halfway through the second half.
This move did not obtain the desired results: Ventola's first shot on goal arrived only in the 82nd minute when his shot from nine metres away was parried by Julio Cesar.
Inter had the opportunity to close the encounter in the 90th minute when Cesar incredibly headed off-target from just three metres away in front of an empty net. However, despite missing this sitter, the Nerazzurri still managed to hold on until the end to take back home three precious points.
This win sends Inter six points clear of Roma and closer to the league title with only four matches left before the end of the season. On the other hand, Torino succumbed to their sixth defeat in seven games, and are now just four points above the danger zone.
Real Madrid with one hand on the trophy An early goal from Raúl - complemented with a last-gasp finish from Higuaín - was sufficient to see bright-starters Madrid past Racing, although the Santander side threatened on a few occasions in the second period...
It wasn't spectacular for the entire ninety, but Real Madrid were the better side at the Sardinero. They had to weather a few scares, but overall they were worthy of their two-goal victory, and thus took three points with them back to the Bernabéu to bring the Liga title one step closer to the capital.
Racing, meanwhile, passed up some fine chances from set-pieces, particularly late in the first half, and ultimately rued a lack of cutting edge as they lost out at fortress Sardinero.
First Half
Madrid started by far the better side, playing with an uncommon level of pace that saw the hosts pinned back into their own half.
Sneijder and Robinho were particularly active early on, and although Toño had relatively little to do early on, it was clear that a great chance wasn't long in coming.
When it was, it resulted in a goal, and it fell to Raúl. A great cross-field ball from Sneijder met Robinho, who threaded a beautiful low cross goalwards from the left flank. With Toño anticipating a stabbed finish from the captain, Raúl instead made only the slightest contact, and the bail continued on its goalward trajectory to make it 1-0.
Serrano then set about equalising at the other end by setting up Colsa, but the midfielder hit the ball just over the bar. However, Robben and Sneijder had chances of their own at the other end.
Nontheless, Racing were beginning to show their worth from set pieces, although on two occasions César Navas missed the target with free headers as the Santander men finished the half confidently.
Second Half
For that fine end to the first period, though, the verdiblancos still had some catching up to do.
However, although Tchité and his ilk were still full of pace, Madrid's deep defending was paying dividends. On thos occasions that the marauding Diarra didn't mop up the danger, Heinze was in irrepressible form - ostensibly in a left-back position, but in fact all across the box.
Smolarek and Pablo Álvarez came on as Racing sought to fight back, but in fact Diarra had the first truly fine chance of the second half when Diarra set up Robinho for a near-post shot that Toño had to parry clear.
Madrid were beginning to tire a bit, and Gago - who was otherwise impressive - almost allowed Tchité through on goal, only for Heinze to come to the rescue.
Higuaín came on for Robinho as visiting coach Bernd Schuster himself tried to inject some urgency to proceedings, although the next chance came from Robben. He really should have done better: Sneijder's through ball was deflected high past a sleeping Racing defence to the onrushing Robben, but the ex-Chelsea man, one-on-one, shot wide.
Madrid had the ball in the net ten minutes from time, but Higuaín's poke over the line from one yard was ruled out due to Raúl's impeding the supine Toño, who had kept the original effort out of goal.
The Sardinero side still looked impressive from set pieces at the other end, but belief was beginning to seep out of their play as full time approached, and eventualy even their ability from corners deserted them.
Madrid had done enough for all three points, and this was only confirmed when Gonzalo Higuaín took advantage of Racing's all-out approach to attacking with the closing goal deep into stoppage time. Baptista and Balboa played the one two before the Equatorial Guinean cut it back for the Argentine, who drove the ball low past Toño.
This game was over as soon as it started as a lightning Juventus side struck early to dash Atalanta’s hopes of getting anything from the game. The Old Lady was rampant and in stunning form as she made light work of an Atalanta side who just couldn’t compete with Claudio Ranieri’s side.
First Half
It was a dream start for Juventus who took the lead in just 45 seconds. The Bianconeri kicked off and went forward straight away. Nedved was fouled on the left wing and the referee awarded a free kick. Del Piero swung in the cross which found Legrottaglie’s head. The defender nodded the ball into the bottom corner leaving Coppola with no chance. It was a superb start for the Old Lady who rampant. It was not long before the Bianconeri doubled their advantage. Camoranesi played a high ball towards the far post which was nodded down by Trezeguet to Del Piero, Pinturrichio smashed the ball home on the volley.
It was all Juventus as Claudio Ranieri’s men showed no sign of stopping as they went in search of a third. Trezeguet should have put the tie to bed when he twisted and turned Rivalta but he couldn’t bury the ball past Coppola who scrambled it away. The Bianconeri dominated the game on all fronts as Atalanta were pegged back into their own half and offered little resistance to the Juventus onslaught. The Nerazzurri seemed flat and lacklustre as they played the long-ball game which was easy and predictable for Juve. The home side did have Buffon scrambling across goal after Bellini hit a spectacular volley from distance. However the ball whizzed wide as Atalanta began to bite back.
Ranieri’s men then seemed to step off the pedal as the Nerazzurri tried to find a way back into the game, however the Old Lady was well organised at the back and the home side could not really penetrate the wall of Bianconeri players. Buffon was called into action following Manfredini’s header, it was a good effort by the midfielder but the goalkeeper always had it covered. Floccari could and should have grabbed one back following his header on goal, but it went wide.
Just as Atalanta began to get their hopes up, Juve brought them back down to earth with a nasty bump. Zanetti played Del Piero through with a terrific ball and the striker beat the offside trap as he raced towards Coppola’s goal, he steadied himself and placed it past the ‘Keeper at his near post. It was a cool finish by a man on fire.
Second Half
The home side got the game underway and Gigi Del Neri introduced Marconi and Padoin as the ineffective Langella and Paolucci made way. Marconi did test Buffon with a powerful left foot drive but the ‘Keeper always had it covered. The Bianconeri looked in control as they kept their noses in front. Atalanta huffed and puffed but they couldn’t blow the Old Lady’s house down. Del Piero should have had his hat-trick when he smashed Nedved’s cross on the volley but Coppola made a good save to deny him.
Atalanta were playing better football but they just couldn’t get things going in the final third as poor finishing and a lack of punch by Guarente ensured Juve maintained their lead. There was some concern on the Juventus bench when Trezeguet went down clutching his ankle but it turned out to be nothing serious. Minutes later Trezeguet set up Del Piero for his hat-trick as Juventus wrapped up the game. The Frenchman chipped the ball over the Atalanta defence as Pinturrichio volley home for his third and Juve’s fourth.
The game always threatened to turn into a rout for Juventus as they showed no sign of applying the breaks. The Old Lady came forward time after time and the home side were lucky the score line didn’t become too embarrassing. Del Piero then made way for Palladino as the whole stadium stood up to applaud the hat-trick hero. It was a well deserved victory for the Bianconeri as they keep up the pressure on Roma.
Kaka ( p.k. ) 1-0 Milan knew they simply had to win this game in order to keep their Champions League qualifying hopes alive, but they were without the injured Paolo Maldini, Marek Jankulovski, Emerson and Ronaldo. Daniele Bonera and Massimo Ambrosini were suspended.
Reggina were minus the injured Jose Montiel and Maurizio Lanzaro, while Emmanel Cascione was serving a ban.
Milan had a half-chance in the first minute, as the ball fell to Christian Brocchi in the area, and the midfielder smashed a half volley into the sidenetting.
Reggina’s intentions were clear from the start, as they sat back and tried to launch counter-raids. A fine eight-pass move ended with Francesco Cozza drilling wide from 25 yards.
Milan broke the deadlock on eight minutes, as Kaka was upended by in the area by Francesco Modesto following a mazy run. The Brazilian picked himself up and sent Andrea Campagnolo the wrong way.
Kaka immediately looked for a second and his cross-shot almost looped over Campagnolo, who tipped the ball over. From the resulting corner, Pippo Inzaghi headed over.
Campagnolo was a busy man and this time he had to save with his feet to deny Kakha Kaladze after Andrea Pirlo's brilliant through pass.
Kaka meanwhile was unstoppable. He raced past Edgar Barreto and shot wide, before volleying another effort over.
Reggina tried to work their way into the game, and Luca Vigiani found space for a shot, but Zeljko Kalac was equal to his effort.
Inzaghi was busy as usual up-front, and he got in front of his man to head wide from Cafu’s right-wing cross. The link-up play between Inzaghi and Kaka was superb at times, and on the half-hour mark, the two combined for the Brazilian to volley a thumping an effort that was excellently saved by Campagnolo.
Just moments later Milan found their second goal, as Clarence Seedorf nutmegged Vigiani before the Reggina midfielder brought him down. Again Kaka stepped up, and again he sent Campagnolo the wrong way, this time placing the ball in the opposite corner.
It seemed all too easy for Milan, but Reggina got back into the game on 39 minutes as Edgar Barreto unleashed a stunning 30 yard strike that flew into the top corner like a ballistic missile.
Reggina could have then found an equalizer as Franco Brienza scuffed a shot wide, following some uncertainty in the Milan defence.
Just before half time, Milan were twice inches away from regaining their two-goal cushion. First Seedorf fired a vicious 30-yard shot inches wide, before Campagnolo pulled off another great save, finger-tipping a Pirlo curler around the post.
Reggina had a blow at the start of the second half, as their goalscorer Barreto was stretchered off in agony with a knee injury, and was replaced by Simone Missiroli.
Inzaghi lost his man inside the box, but could not direct Brocchi’s cross on target, while Kaka went on another slalom run before he was eventually stopped by Luca Tognozzi.
Reggina were still creating chances of their own though every now and then, and Vigiani headed over from just two yards out, following a corner from the left.
Inzaghi was a constant nuisance for the Reggina defence, and he wriggled past Carlos Valdez, before scuffing the ball wide.
Campagnolo again kept his side in the game just past the hour mark, as he flicked Pirlo’s swerving shot over the bar. Inzaghi then raced through on goal following a delightful Kaka back-flick but Campagnolo denied the striker with his feet.
Down the other end a mistake by Alessandro Nesta eventually led to Cozza heading over from just a few yards out.
On 68 minutes Milan finally restored their two-goal advantage as the ball broke to Kaka inside the area, and he curled a low shot into the far corner to complete a superb hat-trick.
Reggina refused to give in, and Cozza forced a smart stop out of Kalac at his near post from a fee-kick, before there were huge claims for a penalty following an apparent hand ball by Kaladze inside the area.
On 73 minutes the game was well and truly put beyond doubt as Inzaghi finally got the goal he deserved. Substitute Alexandre Pato crashed a shot against the post, and SuperPippo reacted quickest to put away the rebound.
Inzaghi then missed a chance to grab a second as he scuffed a volley after more good work by Pato.
Just two minutes from time Milan added further gloss to the scoreline by adding a fifth goal. Pato, who had been lively since coming on, headed into the top corner from substitute Yoann Gourcuff’s cross.
The final whistle sounded soon after, as the Rossoneri stay in the hunt for a Champions League place.
