Napoli make Inter wait for Serie A glory

MILAN:

Napoli made sure that Inter Milan will have to wait at least another week to win the Serie A title with a thumping win 4-0 over Cremonese on Friday.

With four matches left in their season, the reigning champions trail Inter by nine points after Scott McTominay, Kevin De Bruyne and Alisson Santos rattled goals past sorry Cremonese in Naples. Filippo Terracciano was credited with an own goal for Napoli's second.

Inter could have had a chance to seal their 21st league crown at Torino had Napoli failed to beat Cremonese, who have dropped into the relegation zone following an 18th defeat of a tough campaign.

Regardless Inter need just four points from their final five games to secure the Scudetto.

Napoli might have no realistic chance of retaining the title but Friday's win put them one step closer to qualifying for next season's Champions League.

Antonio Conte's team are 11 points ahead of fifth-placed Como and Roma in sixth, with that pair facing respective trips to Genoa and Bologna this weekend.

Napoli were in the lead with less than three minutes on the clock through a classic McTominay drive which was set up by De Bruyne.

The match was as good as over as a contest when Rasmus Hojlund's deflected effort went in off Terracciano and then De Bruyne struck moments before half-time following slack defending.

Brazilian winger Alisson then made it four shortly after the break with a jinking run and strike at the end of a counter-attack launched by goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.

Bellerin dents Real Madrid

Hector Bellerin struck deep into stoppage time to earn Real Betis a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid on Friday, dealing another blow to Alvaro Arbeloa's side's slender LaLiga title hopes with five games remaining.

With a game in hand, Barcelona lead the standings ?on 82 points, eight clear of second-placed Real Madrid. Barca face Getafe on Saturday and could stretch their advantage to 11 points.

Real appeared on course for a narrow win after taking the lead in the 17th minute. Federico Valverde let fly from outside the box and Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles could only parry the ball into the path of Vinicius Jr, who reacted swiftly to guide a neat finish just inside the right post.

Jude Bellingham nearly made it 2-0 soon after, but Betis gradually grew into the contest and began to threaten. Andriy Lunin kept the visitors ahead before halftime with three sharp saves to deny Cedric Bakambu and two more to thwart Antony.

Real resumed control after the break but were wasteful. Kylian Mbappe endured a frustrating evening, blazing over from a Trent Alexander Arnold pass and later seeing a goal ruled out for offside after the English full back delivered from the right.

Lunin continued to shine, producing a stunning one-handed save to deny Cucho Hernandez in the 65th minute and another fine stop from Natan nine minutes later. ?Vinicius also squandered a gilt-edged chance after a dazzling run from the left as Real failed to put the game beyond reach.

They paid the price in the 93rd minute. Ferland Mendy lost possession to Antony inside the box, sparking panic in the Real defence. The ball broke kindly for Bellerin, who drove a low effort through a forest of legs and into the net.

Real were left contemplating a draw that leaves them needing near perfection - and several favours elsewhere - to prevent Barcelona from sealing back-to-back titles when the old rivals face each other in El Clasico at Camp Nou on May 10. REUTERS