Madrid, March 24:

FC Barcelona closed within four points of Real Madrid in Spanish league, picking up a 4-1 win over Villarreal while the defending champions lost to Valencia 3-2.

Bojan Krkic scored two second-half goals and set up the other two for Barcelona. Andres Iniesta and Samuel Eto’o also scored for Barcelona, while Jonathan Sesma added a penalty for Valladolid.

Madrid, which had been trying to maintain its seven-point lead at the top of the standings, lost at home when Javier Arizmendi scored in the 89th minute.

Madrid still with 62 points, followed by Barcelona with 58. Villarreal, who beat Levante 2-1 on Guillermo Franco’s 83rd-minute goal, are third with 56 points. David Villa scored two goals, one from the penalty spot, for Valencia. Villa gave the visitors the lead in the 34th from a Madrid turnover, but Raul Gonzalez headed in an equaliser in the 35th before adding another in the 56th. Cannavaro then pushed David Silva inside the area and Villa converted the penalty to level the score in the 67th. Arizmendi scored the winner in the 89th.

Also, Alvaro Negredo’s 89th-minute goal allowed Almeria to draw 1-1 with Zaragoza and Mark Gonzalez scored to lead Real Betis past Osasuna 1-0.

Premier League

LONDON: Manchester United increased their lead in the Premier League to five points, and Chelsea emerged as the defending champions’ main rival in this season’s title chase.

United beat Liverpool 3-0 to improve to 73 points, while Chelsea took over second place with 68 points by rallying to beat Arsenal 2-1. The Gunners are third with 67 points, and Liverpool fourth with 59.

“It’s going to go right to the end,” said Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, whose team hosts Arsenal on April 13 and play at Chelsea on April 26. Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 34th goal of the season, and Wes Brown and Nani also netted for United.

Didier Drogba scored for Chelsea in the 73rd and 82nd minutes. Bacary Sagna had given Arsenal the lead with his first goal for the team in the 59th minute. Sagna scored by getting ahead of Salomon Kalou and heading in a corner from Cesc Fabregas at the near post.

Drogba levelled with a powerful strike, soon after Chelsea manager Avram Grant sent on former Gunner Nicolas Anelka and Julian Belletti for Claude Makelele and Michael Ballack. Anelka set up Drogba to score his second goal, and he was denied a hat-trick soon after when Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia made a diving save.