Barcelona coach Lorenzo Serra Ferrer is tipped for the sack after his eight-man side lost 3-1 at Osasuna while arch rivals Real Madrid moved 11 points clear at the top of the Spanish league with a 3-2 win at Real Zaragoza yesterday.

Deportivo La Coruna remain second on 57 points despite their 2-1 defeat at Celta Vigo on Saturday. Real Mallorca moved level third with Valencia on 53 after coming from two down to draw 2-2 at Villarreal. Valencia only managing a 0-0 draw at Real Oviedo.

Barcelona's Ferrer is tipped for the sack after his side were beaten 3-1 in Pamplona by second bottom Osasuna in a match where three Barcelona players, Portuguese striker Simao on 65, Ivan de La Pena on 87 and veteran defender Sergi on 90 were all sent off.

Yesterday's debacle, their eighth league defeat of the season, comes in the wake of their UEFA Cup semi-final defeat at Liverpool on Thursday.

In Italy AS Roma dispatched Udinese 3-1 yesterday to put themselves back on course for what would be a first league title for 18 years.

Goals from Italian internationals Vincenzo Montella and Damiano Tommasi before the interval and one after from Japanese midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata saw Fabio Capello's side extend their Serie A lead to six points despite Argentinian Roberto Sosa's late consolation for Udinese.

Second-placed Juventus only managed a 0-0 draw in their evening match at Parma although defending champions Lazio, 2-1 victors at home to Vicenza and a point further behind, are also still in contention.

But with seven games remaining and two titanic clashes with Lazio and Juventus next up for Roma this result gives them at least some margin for error.

Lecce and AC Milan shared a 3-3 draw.

Bari now look certain to be relegated following their 4-2 defeat at Bologna despite taking a fourth-minute lead through Paolo Poggi. On Saturday evening Inter Milan pulled off a 4-2 win over Fiorentina at the San Siro.