European round-up/SPANISH LA LIGA: Barcelona stretched their lead at the top of the league to 10 points with a 2-0 victory over basement side Alaves at the Nou Camp last night that extended their winning run to 18 matches in all competitions.
Sweden striker Henrik Larsson broke the stubborn Alaves resistance when he poked in from close range two minutes after the break and Argentine teenager Lionel Messi made it 2-0 with a follow-up strike late in the game.
Valencia moved into second place behind the Catalans after a classy double from David Villa gave them a 2-0 win at struggling Real Betis while Osasuna slipped to third after their 2-1 defeat at Villarreal.
Villarreal were fortunate to snatch a first win in four games as two controversial Juan Roman Riquelme penalties in six second-half minutes saw them come from behind to beat Osasuna.
Champions Barcelona lead the standings on 49 points from 20 games, 10 ahead of Valencia and Osasuna.
Real Madrid are three points further back with 36 after claiming their second league win in a row with a 3-1 comeback victory over Cadiz at the Bernabeu on Saturday.
Roberto Carlos equalised for Real in the 67th minute, 12 minutes after Alexander Medina had given Cadiz the lead. David Beckham then scored in the 71st minute before Robinho sealed the three points in the 83rd minute.
The performance of the day came from Bernd Schuster's Getafe who crushed Espanyol 5-0 at the Coliseo, striker Daniel Guiza and left back Mariano Pernia scoring two goals apiece.
ITALIAN SERIE A: Defender Fabio Cannavaro scored twice for Serie A leaders Juventus who came from behind to beat Empoli 2-1 and maintain their eight-point cushion yesterday.
Strugglers Empoli, who sacked coach Mario Somma last week and replaced him with Luigi Cagni, took an early lead through Sergio Almiron, but Italy international Cannavaro twice headed in from corners to seal Juve's 14th consecutive Serie A win at the Stadio delle Alpi - a run that extends back into last season.
Juve have 56 points from 21 matches. Inter Milan lie second on 48 points after beating Palermo 3-0 on Saturday.
AC Milan consolidated third place on 46 points with a 3-0 victory over Siena, Brazilian Kaka scoring twice.
In other matches, Livorno defender Fabio Galante scored with the last kick of the game to secure his side a 1-1 draw with Treviso that allowed them to hang on to fifth place on 37 points, seven behind Fiorentina who beat Messina 2-0 yesterday. AS Roma lie one point further back in sixth after notching up their fifth consecutive win - a 4-1 victory over Udinese.
