European Football: Barcelona sustain their quest

BARCELONA yesterday ensured that the Spanish title will not be settled until next weekend's final round of matches, but they needed an own goal by Osasuna to keep their hopes alive, writes Rupert Metcalf.

Jose Pepin deflected a 58th- minute shot by Hristo Stoichkov into his net to give Barcelona a 1-0 win in Pamplona. Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid by the same score on Saturday, Fernando Hierro striking a fine 52nd-minute winner. Second-placed Barcelona, who have a better goal difference, trail Real by one point.

Torino built a formidable 3-0 lead in the first leg of the Italian Cup final against a weakened Roma side. Silvano Benedetti, a Torino defender, deflected a shot from Andrea Silenzi into his own net for an early home goal, Sandro Cois and Daniele Fortunato added second-half strikes. The second leg is on Saturday.

The amateurs of Hertha Berlin produced a bold performance in the German Cup final, but were beaten by a late Ulf Kirsten goal for Bayer Leverkusen, who had knocked out Hertha Berlin's professional side in an earlier round. Paris St Germain beat Nantes 3-0 in the French Cup final, with all the goals coming in a chaotic second-half in which three Nantes players were sent off.

Austria Vienna won their third consecutive title with a 4-0 win over Rapid Vienna to edge out SV Salzburg on goal difference. Aarau took the Swiss title for the first time, finishing six points clear of Young Boys Berne.