Madrid, December 24:

Julio Baptista scored the only goal in the 36th minute and gave Real Madrid a 1-0 victory over FC Barcelona 1-0 in the Spanish league’s classic derby.

The Brazalian met Ruud van Nistelrooy’s flicked-on pass with a right-footed shot that spun across goal and into the top right of net past goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

With only third victory at the Camp Nou in 24 years, Madrid moved seven points clear of Barcelona, atop the table with 41 points as the league begins its two-week winter break.

Elsewhere, Luis Garcia scored the winner in the 85th minute to rally Espanyol to a 2-1 win over nine-man Atletico Madrid. The win moved Espanyol into third with 33 points.

Nihat Kahveci scored his third goal in two games to rally Villarreal for a 1-1 draw against Recreativo Huelva. The Turkey striker scored two minutes after Javier Camunas’ goal in the 37th. Also on Sunday, it was: Osasuna 3, Mallorca 1; Levante 0, Deportivo La Coruna 1; and Valladolid 0, Real Betis 0.

Italian Serie A

MILAN: AC Milan rule in Europe and beyond. Within Italy, Inter Milan are still the team to beat.

Argentine players Julio Ricardo Cruz and Esteban Cambiasso scored in Inter’s 2-1 victory over Milan in the city derby on Sunday. Milan won the Champions League last season and were crowned the Club World Cup champion in Japan a week ago. Inter are the reigning Italian champions and have now clinched Serie A’s ceremonial winter title with two matches to spare.

Andrea Pirlo put Milan ahead with his trademark free kick in the 18th minute and Inter

responded with goals from Cruz in the 36th and Cambiasso in the 63rd minute.

Hasan Salihamidzic scored first and David Trezeguet added his league-leading 13th goal as Juventus beat Siena 2-0.

Inter lead with 43 points, AS Roma are next with 36 and Juventus are third with 35. Milan have only 18 points.

Premiership

LONDON: Cristiano Ronaldo’s late penalty gave Manchester United a 2-1 victory over Everton on Sunday and the Red Devils again moved within a point of leaders Arsenal in the Premier League.

The victory gave Alex Ferguson’s team 42 points from 18 games, while the Gunners lead the standings with 43 points from 18 games.

Joe Cole fired third-place Chelsea to a 1-0 victory at Blackburn and Newcastle’s Mark Viduka scored a second equaliser three minutes from the end to make sure the Magpies avoided a major upset, drawing 2-2 at home with last-place Derby. Chelsea now have 37 points, and are still six points behind Arsenal.

Beckham eager to play under Capello:

London: David Beckham is eager to play under new England manager Fabio Capello — despite the stormy relationship the two shared at Real Madrid. Beckham has played 99 games for England and hopes to reach his century of appearances in England’s friendly against Switzerland at Wembley Stadium on February 6.

“Fabio is one of the managers players look up to and want to manage them. I hope I’ll be part of his plans,” Beckham said. “I think he is a great appointment for England. Everyone wants someone leading you that has respect and success. He has definitely got that in his career.”

Capello dropped Beckham from Real Madrid when the Beckham announced his move to the Los Angeles Galaxy. But Beckham won back his place and helped Madrid win the Spanish league title last season. — AP