Barcelona edge closer to La Liga title

The battle for the La Liga title between Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid will go down to the last day of the season, after wins from both teams on Saturday insured the Catalan's slender one-point lead over their rivals at the top of the division was maintained.

Barcelona were in imperious form in the first half of their 3-2 away win at Sevilla, with Argentine striker Lionel Messi continuing his prolific record in front of goal, claiming his 45th strike of the season after just five minutes.

Bojan Krkic extended the lead after 28 minutes, as Barca dominated the possession and passing, before Pedro seemingly put the result beyond doubt with a third after 63 minutes.

But the momentum swung back to the hosts as Sevilla's Fredi Kanoute reduced the deficit six minutes later before Luis Fabiano capitalized on some sloppy defending from a free kick to leave Barca holding on anxiously during the final period.

Despite accruing an astonishing points total of 96 from 37 games, Pep Guardiola's men were still not able to celebrate as champions on the final whistle as Real Madrid kept up the heat with a crushing 5-1 victory over Athletico Bilbao.

The win leaves the side of Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini on 95 points with one game left to play, though Los Merengues had to be patient for the goals to start flowing at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo netted from the penalty spot, his 26th goal in 28 appearances this campaign, on 22 minutes after Fernando Amorebieta was sent off for handling the ball, before Fran Yeste equalized shortly before the end of the first half.

But with Barca leading in their game, Pellegrini's men knew three points would be needed to keep their title dreams alive.

Real Madrid have won 17 of their last 18 games, and the men in white showed a familiar will-to-win as they applied the pressure that subsequently saw four goals scored in 16 minutes.

First Higuain struck on 73 minutes, before Sergio Ramos doubled the lead. France striker Karim Benzema netted a minute later before Marcelo applied the final touches to a dominant display with a goal in the final seconds.

At the bottom of the table relegation also remains undecided as three points separates the bottom five teams.

Valladolid will hope to beat Barca at the Camp Nou in the last game of the season after securing a vital 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Racing Santander.

Bottom-side Xerez kept their hopes alive by beating Real Zaragoza 3-2, while Tenerife's 2-2 draw with Almeria staved off the drop for another week.

Malaga, after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Getafe, most hope to beat Real on May 16 if they are to avoid the fate of relegation.

Inter must wait after Totti secures late Roma win

Roma captain Francesco Totti scored two late goals as his side beat Cagliari 2-1 to ensure the Serie A title race goes down to the last week.

But treble-chasing Inter Milan edged out Chievo 4-3 to hold a two-point lead going into the final round.

Andrea Lazzari gave Cagliari the lead with a 73rd minute strike from a free kick but Tottie soon had Roma level in the Stadio Olimpico with a neat turn and shot.

An 83rd minute penalty from Totti wrapped up three points in a dramatic turnaround.

Inter also lived dangerously at the San Siro after a late Chievo fightback led to a nervy finish for Jose Mourinho's men.

Thiago Motta's own goal gave the visitors the lead before Andrea Mantovani also put through his own net to see Inter level.

Esteban Cambiasso, Diego Milito and Mario Balotelli then scored further goals for Inter who were in total command until late strikes from Pablo Granoche and Sergio Pellissier for battling Chievo.

Inter must now beat lowly Siena in their final match to wrap up the title as they bid for a Champions League, Italian Cup and Serie A treble.

"We have a true final at Siena," said Inter's top scorer Diego Milito. "We have two days to rest and then we will prepare for this game."

AC Milan's poor end to the season continued as they were beaten 1-0 at Genoa.

Giuseppe Sculli's 56th-minute goal settled the match while Milan, who will finish third, had Mathieu Flamini sent-off in the closing moments.

The battle for the fourth place and final Champions League spot will also go to the last weekend after fifth-placed Palermo and fourth-placed Sampdoria drew 1-1 in Sicily.

Samp went ahead against Palermo through a Giampaolo Pazzini penalty in the second half but Fabrizio Miccoli equalized from the spot as well with 20 minutes left.

Like Roma, they are two points adrift with a game remaining.

In other action on Sunday, Atalanta's relegation was confirmed with their 2-0 defeat at Napoli with two goals from Fabio Quagliarella.

Siena and Livorno were already down.

Juventus's 3-2 defeat at home to Parma continued their poor season with a record 14th Serie A defeat and the match was marred by crowd trouble.

The defeat ensures Juve will finish in seventh place and have to play in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League next season.

Sport hit by volcanic ash cloud from Iceland

British sports teams have been hit by travel problems after flights were grounded around the UK because of ash from the volcanic eruption in Iceland.

Four rugby league Challenge Cup ties involving French sides set for this weekend have been thrown into doubt.

The Great Britain ice hockey team were due to fly to Slovenia on Friday morning for the World Championships but are now likely to travel by coach.

They hope to have Saturday's opening match against Croatia rescheduled.

"There will be no flights until 1pm on Friday and we don't know even then if we can get out at this time," said GB's Andy Buxton.

"We have booked a Eurotunnel crossing for 5.20pm on Friday and are trying to bump up the waiting list to see if we can get out any earlier.

"The reality is that once off the Eurotunnel we will be in line for an 18-20 hour bus trip, meaning it isn't likely we will be in Ljubljana in time for our opening game against Croatia by 1pm on Saturday.

"We have asked the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) to reschedule our opening game and hope to hear from their organising committee shortly.

"We can assure all our supporters that we are working on this around the clock to try and resolve this problem and will of course keep all interested parties advised of any further progress."

In rugby league's Challenge Cup, Widnes and St Helens are due to host French sides FC Lezignan-Corbieres and Toulouse respectively on Saturday.

Leigh travel to face Limoux on Saturday, with Salford visiting Catalans Dragons the following day.

"We are monitoring the situation and keeping in contact with the clubs," said a Rugby Football League spokesman.

After their flight to Carcassonne was cancelled on Thursday, Leigh opted to drive to Folkestone for an overnight stay before boarding the Eurostar train to France on Friday morning.

Leigh chief executive Allan Rowley said: "Today's volcanic eruption has caused chaos across Europe and unfortunately it became apparent at lunchtime that flying to France was no longer an option.

"Today has been a real challenge for us but, in the end, happily we managed to find some transport and are now on our way to Carcassonne."

Surrey line up surprise bid for Windies star Brian Lara

Surrey are lining up a bid to tempt West Indies batting great Brian Lara out of retirement with the offer of a contract to play Twenty20 cricket.

Lara, 40, has been in the nets at The Oval this week and has begun talks with Surrey's cricket manager Chris Adams and chief executive Paul Sheldon.

"We have been in discussion with Brian regarding his possible involvement with the club," said Surrey in a statement.

"However we have no further comment to make at this stage."

Lara, who has not played competitive cricket for two years and retired from international duty after the 2007 World Cup, is famous for holding two of the most significant batting records in cricket.

His 400 not out against England in Antigua, struck in 2004, is the highest score by a batsman in a Test match, while he also hit 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham at Edgbaston in 1994, the best first-class score.

Surrey already have Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds registered for the domestic English Twenty20 competition, and - depending on his commitments for his country - Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla may also be available.

But rules permit counties to enlist four overseas players in all for the tournament, with a maximum of two featuring in a single game.

If Lara was to make a successful outing for Surrey this summer, it could lead to offers from the Indian Premier League, should the Trinidad and Tobago superstar have his eyes on that competition.

Man Utd striker Wayne Rooney shortlisted for PFA award

Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney is among the nominations for the Professional Footballers' Association player of the year award.

Rooney is joined on the four-man shortlist by Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and Manchester City ace Carlos Tevez.

Rooney and Fabregas are also nominees for the young player of the year award.

Aston Villa midfielder James Milner and Birmingham City's on-loan goalkeeper Joe Hart complete that particular list.

Hart, 22, has spent the season on loan at St Andrew's from Manchester City.

Rooney, who has already scored 34 goals for his club this term, is favourite to capture the PFA prize and make it the fourth successive year it has gone to a United player.

Cristiano Ronaldo recorded back-to-back wins in 2007 and 2008, while Ryan Giggs was handed the honours last season.

Rooney, 24, and Fabregas, 22, will compete to join a select band of players to have won the young player award in the same season as the main honour.

Both Rooney and Fabregas have already won the young player prize in the past. Rooney triumphed in 2005 and 2006, while Fabregas collected it in 2008.

Fabregas is currently injured and will miss the rest of the season after cracking his right fibula during the first leg of the Gunners' Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona.

But the Spaniard remains a key player for the Gunners, whose Premier League title aspirations were seemingly ended by their defeat by Tottenham on Wednesday.

BBC African Footballer of the Year Drogba, 32, has hit 32 goals to leave Chelsea on the brink of the first double in the club's history, while Tevez, 26, has also enjoyed a prolific campaign; netting 28 goals since joining City from neighbours United last summer.

The 24-year-old Milner, who looks like being a key player for England at this year's World Cup, is trying to emulate Aston Villa team-mate Ashley Young, who won the young player accolade last season.