League Titles Draw Near for Favorites
Bayern Munich became the first team to win one of Europe’s five major national championships Saturday when it clinched its 18th German Bundesliga title, and Manchester United, Juventus and Real Madrid closed in on league championships of their own on Sunday.
Manchester United battled hard to get past in-form U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller, but eventually defeated Tottenham Hotspur, 2-0, on goals by Paul Scholes and Ruud Van Nistelrooy to move five points ahead of defending champion Arsenal in the English Premier League.
Arsenal stumbled on Saturday when it allowed a 2-0 lead to evaporate in the final 17 minutes against relegation-threatened Bolton Wanderers and was tied, 2-2, to open the door for United.
Manchester needs only to win its remaining two games to take the title, regardless of what Arsenal does in its final three matches.
Juventus, meanwhile, appears almost certain of retaining the Italian Serie A title it won a year ago. Coach Marcello Lippi’s team edged Brescia, 2-1, with Alessandro Del Piero scoring twice, to move eight points clear of second-place Inter Milan, which was held to a 1-1 tie by Lazio.
Juventus can secure its 27th championship this week if it beats Lazio and Inter fails to win against Atalanta.
European champion Real Madrid also improved its chances of winning the Spanish La Liga championship when it won easily, while the two teams in closest pursuit, Real Sociedad and Deportivo La Coruna, both lost.
Real Madrid rolled over Sevilla, 3-1, behind goals from Ivan Helguera, Zinedine Zidane and Fernando Morientes to move four points ahead with seven games remaining.
Real Sociedad, meanwhile, was beaten, 2-1, by Barcelona, which is fighting to claim a UEFA Cup place next season and keep intact its record of never having failed to qualify for Europe, and Deportivo La Coruna was blanked, 3-0, by Mallorca.
But it was Bayern and its fans who were celebrating Sunday in Germany.
“Our friends at Real should know -- we’re on the way again,” said Bayern commercial manager and former German international Uli Hoeness.
Friedel Honored
American goalkeeper Brad Friedel of Blackburn Rovers was honored Sunday by being named to the All-Premier League team, as selected by the English Professional Footballers Assn.
Arsenal striker Thierry Henry was named Player of the Year by the PFA. Other players on the team:
Stephen Carr (Tottenham), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Sol Campbell (Arsenal), William Gallas (Chelsea), Patrick Vieira (Arsenal), Paul Scholes (Manchester United), Robert Pires (Arsenal), Kieron Dyer (Newcastle), Alan Shearer (Newcastle).
Quick Passes
Jaime Silva, a member of Colombia’s team at the 1962 World Cup, has died at 67 of a heart attack in Tarragona, Spain.... Four players from Honduras national team, Amado Guevara, Ivan Guerrero, Walter Hernandez and Noel Valladares, have quit the team in a dispute over appearance fees.... FK Austria Vienna clinched its 22nd Austrian Bundesliga title.
