Real Madrid [ Images ] and Bayern Munich [ Images ] both had their leads cut in the Primera Liga and Bundesliga respectively after suffering away defeats.

Manchester United [ Images ] gained the psychological edge in the Premier League after Arsenal [ Images ] lost ground with a fourth successive draw, while in Italy [ Images ], Inter Milan [ Images ] ended a troubled week by restoring their six-point lead at the top of Serie A.

ENGLAND [ Images ]

Manchester United took pole position in the race for the Premier League title with a 1-0 win at Derby County, while Arsenal stuttered again to draw 1-1 at home with Middlesbrough.

Cristiano Ronaldo [ Images ] got United's winner 14 minutes from time while Kolo Toure's 86th-minute header saved a point for Arsenal.

However, the Londoners' fourth successive draw allowed United to go top on goal difference, with a game in hand.

United have 67 points from 29 matches, Arsenal have 67 from 30 while Chelsea [ Images ] are still in the hunt on 64 from 29 after a 1-0 win at Sunderland.

Liverpool gained ground in the chase for fourth as they came from behind to beat Reading 2-1 at Anfield while Everton lost 1-0 at second-last Fulham [ Images ], where the Merseysiders have not gained a point since 1966, to fall three points behind.

SPAIN

Real Madrid's lead was cut to seven points in the Primera Liga this weekend after the champions lost 1-0 away to Deportivo Coruna on Saturday.

An own-goal from Portugal defender Pepe was all that separated the sides in a dull clash, as Real's Riazor jinx extended to 16 seasons without a win in La Coruna.

Second-placed Barcelona [ Images ], on 55 points, failed to make the most of their chance. They were held to a 2-2 draw at promoted Almeria on Sunday.

Bojan Krkic [ Images ] and Samuel Eto'o twice put Barca ahead but poor defending at corners and the dismissal of Gabriel Milito [ Images ] 18 minutes from time were their undoing.

Villarreal [ Images ] climbed to within two points of Barca with a 2-0 home win over Real Zaragoza, while Atletico Madrid remain fourth on 47 after a comfortable 3-0 home win over bottom club Levante.

ITALY

Inter Milan beat Palermo 2-1 at home on Sunday to restore the champions' six-point lead at the top of Serie A after a troubled week.

Goals by Patrick Vieira and Luis Jimenez settled nerves at the club after coach Roberto Mancini [ Images ] said he was leaving at the end of the season following Tuesday's Champions League [ Images ] last 16 defeat by Liverpool. Mancini changed his mind the following day.

Inter have 67 points from 28 games, while second-placed AS Roma have 61 after coming from behind to beat AC Milan [ Images ] 2-1 on Saturday.

Juventus [ Images ], who are seven points behind Roma in third, beat Napoli in the late Sunday game thanks to an 88th-minute strike by substitute Vincenzo Iaquinta. Fifth-placed Milan are now four points adrift of the Champions League qualification zone.

GERMANY [ Images ]

Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich suffered a shock 2-0 defeat at lowly Energie Cottbus on Saturday, only their second league defeat of the season.

Hamburg SV moved ahead of slumping Werder Bremen [ Images ], beaten 1-0 by VfL Wolfsburg, into second with a 1-0 win over Borussia Dortmund. Bayer Leverkusen [ Images ] climbed to third with a 4-1 win over Nuremberg.

Bayern, who had a seven-point lead going into the weekend, have 50 points, five more than second-placed Habburg. Leverkusen are on 44 and Bremen have 43.

Serbian striker Branko Jelic scored two first-half goals for Cottbus, who moved off the bottom of the table after recording only their fourth win of the season.

FRANCE [ Images ]

Olympique Lyon [ Images ] continued their march towards a record seventh consecutive title with a 3-0 win at Monaco on Saturday.

Lyon scored all their goals before the break, with Kader Keita showing them the way with a superb strike from the edge of the box on 20 minutes.

Striker Fred doubled the advantage from close range and three minutes later, Keita exploited a defensive blunder to flick the ball over Monaco goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier.

Lyon have 61 points from 29 games, six ahead of second-placed Girondins Bordeaux, who beat Racing Strasbourg 3-0.

Third-placed Nancy drew 1-1 at Sochaux and still enjoy a three-point edge over Olympique Marseille [ Images ], who wasted a two-goal lead in a 3-3 draw at struggling RC Lens on Sunday.

NETHERLANDS

Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick to inspire Ajax Amsterdam to a 4-1 victory over Willem II Tilburg.

The result narrowed PSV Eindhoven's lead to four points after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Roda JC Kerkrade.

Jefferson Farfan opened the scorings for PSV Eindhoven midway through the second half but Marcel Meeuwis struck from close range to salvage a point in stoppage time.

Third place Feyenoord cruised to a 4-1 home win over VVV Venlo and have 54 points.