Italy
Juventus strengthened their grasp on a fourth straight Serie A title thanks to a 1-0 win over Genoa yesterday, showing they are also able to juggle their league and European commitments. Carlos Tevez scored the only goal of the game to secure a 20th win of the season for coach Massimiliano Allegri’s men. Their advantage at the top of the table is now such that they can wrap the title up before the semi-finals of the Uefa Champions League, which they will hope to be involved in by beating Monaco in the quarter-finals.
Scotland
Hearts won the Scottish Championship title and promotion to the Premiership without kicking a ball after Hibernian’s defeat to Rangers. A 3-0 victory at Falkirk on Saturday stretched Hearts’ lead over second-placed Hibs to 23 points, and their Edinburgh rivals could not stop their crowning as champions for another week as they suffered a 2-0 loss to Rangers. Former Hearts left-back Lee Wallace put Rangers on the way to a victory before Kenny Miller scored a late second.
France
Monaco kept the Champions League players in sight yesterday with a 3-1 win at Reims in Ligue 1. Joao Moutinho set up goals by Fabinho and Anthony Martial for a 2-0 lead inside the first 15 minutes, and Nabil Dirar struck 11 minutes from full time after Diego had pulled a goal back for Reims. Monaco are fifth with 50 points, two behind fourth-place Saint-Etienne, who beat Lille 2-0 at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Ivorian striker Max Gradel scored twice for the hosts after Lille’s Marcos Lopes was sent off on 52 minutes.
Germany
Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich slipped to a rare defeat yesterday, falling 2-0 at home to third-place Borussia Monchengladbach. Raffael scored in the 30th and 77th minutes to hand Bayern just their second loss in 26 league matches this season. Second-place Wolfsburg failed to take full advantage as they drew 1-1 at Mainz, with Luiz Gustavo equalising after Niko Bungert had headed Mainz in front. Bayern lead Wolfsburg by 10 points and Gladbach by 17.
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