Football: Parma keep pace

European round-up

Hernan Crespo struck a hat-trick as second-placed Parma beat Vicenza 3-0 yesterday to stay four points adrift of the Italian Serie A leaders, Juventus.

In the closest Italian title race for six years, Juventus kept their nerve to win 2-0 at lowly Verona - but the European Cup finalists needed goals in the last minute of each half, from Ciro Ferrara and Vladimir Jugovic respectively, as well as some superb goalkeeping from Angelo Peruzzi, to take maximum points. With four matches remaining, Juventus have 59 points and Parma 55. The two sides meet in Turin next Sunday.

The Uefa Cup finalists, Internazionale, came from behind to win 2-1 at Sampdoria with two goals from Maurizio Ganz. Milan gained a 2-1 home win over Reggiana, who become the first side to be relegated to Serie B.

In the German Bundesliga, the leaders Bayern Munich were held to a 0- 0 home draw by the bottom club, Freiburg, on Saturday. After the game Bayern's former Tottenham striker, Jurgen Klinsmann, apologised for shouting at the coach, Giovanni Trapattoni, and kicking a hole in an advertisement sign after being substituted.

"A lot of things were boiling up inside me... and I had to swallow a lot," Klinsmann said. "It was an over-reaction, something that should not happen to an experienced player."

The Dutch League leaders, PSV Eindhoven, secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Groningen. Second-placed Feyenoord conceded a late goal in a 1-1 draw at home to Twente Enschede and now trail PSV by four points with just three matches remaining.