Inter Milan edge nine-goal thriller as Real Madrid chalk up a century

Andrea Stramaccioni made a winning start as Inter coach (EPA)

Andrea Stramaccioni, Internazionale's third head coach this season, got his reign off to a winning start yesterday with a thrilling 5-4 victory over Genoa at San Siro which boosted their hopes of European qualification. The win moves Inter up to seventh in Serie A, four points off a European place.

Unbeaten Juventus moved within two points of Serie A leaders Milan by beating Napoli 3-0 last night. Leonardo Bonucci, Arturo Vidal, and Fabio Quagliarella scored the second-half goals. Milan were held to a 1-1 draw at Catania on Saturday.

In Spain, Real Madrid maintained their six-point lead at the top of La Liga with a commanding 5-1 victory at Osasuna on Saturday. Madrid have now scored 100 league goals this season, and have eight games remaining to break their own Spanish top-flight record of 107, set by the title-winning 1989-90 side under John Toshack.

Second-placed Barcelona, meanwhile, defeated Athletic Bilbao, recent conquerors of Manchester United, 2-0 at the Nou Camp, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi getting their goals.

In Germany, the former Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia has become Bayer Leverkusen's caretaker coach until the end of the season after Robin Dutt was sacked yesterday. Hyypia will work alongside Bayer's Under-19 coach Sascha Lewandowski.