Rome - A spate of ifs and buts Monday flooded the commentaries on a Serie A weekend that saw leaders Inter Milan crash to a 1-0 defeat at Napoli, allowing city rivals AC Milan to keep alive their scudetto dreams with five games left. Milan beat Palermo 3-0 and moved to within seven points of Inter, which triggered the regrets of club president and Italy Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

"Without that goal (scored for Inter) with a hand by Adriano in the derby we'd be right behind Inter," Berlusconi said. "But it's also true that with conditionals you go nowhere in football."

London - Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas scored both goals as his side moved closer to a place in next season's Champions League with a 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Middlesbrough on Sunday. The Spaniard finished off a superb move midway through the first half and made sure of the points by rounding the goalkeeper halfway through the second.

The win means fourth-placed Arsenal need just one more victory from their remaining four games to clinch a place in next year's competition.

Rome - Brazil star Kaka converted two spot kicks Sunday to help AC Milan beat 10-man Palermo 3-0 and move to second place above Juventus, who were held to a 2-2 draw at bottom side Reggina. Serie A leaders Inter Milan hold a seven-point lead on city rivals Milan ahead of an away game to Napoli with six games left.

A 2-0 defeat at struggling Bologna halted Genoa's quest for a last available Champions League berth that is currently available to fourth-place Fiorentina after their 4-1 crushing of Roma on Saturday.

London, Apr 26 : Manchester United has stepped up security in their Champions League and Premier League run-ins in order to protect players from food sabotage.

Old Trafford chiefs are so scared that their players could be the victims of food poisoning that they are sending their chefs, together with their own security guard, to all away visits.

Rome - Alberto Gilardino scored a brace Saturday as Fiorentina crushed 10-man Roma 4-1 in a Serie A match that weakened the Rome side's chances to play the next Champions League. Fiorentina moved up to fourth place and currently occupy the last available Champions League berth. Genoa, who play Sunday at demotion-threatend Bologna, trail one points adrift, while Roma lie six points behind Fiorentina with five game left.

Madrid - The 33rd round of the Spanish Liga programme kicked off on Saturday with a 1-1 draw between Euro hopefuls Malaga and Deportivo Coruna. Former Spain striker Albert Luque gave Malaga the lead in the 33rd minute, only for fellow veteran Sergio to equalize for Deportivo just after half-time.

Malaga would have gone fifth had they won. Instead, they continue in sixth place with 51 points, one point above Deportivo but one behind fifth-placed Villarreal and four behind fourth-placed Valencia, who are at home to leaders Barcelona later on Saturday.