Jimenez's late goal keeps Benfica top in Portugal

LISBON, Portugal (AP):

Raul Jimenez scored a late goal to ensure that Benfica reclaimed the lead of Portuguese league with a 1-0 win at Rio Avenue on Sunday.

Jimenez went on as a substitute in the 67th and the Mexican forward found the net in the 73rd when he headed in a ball that had been cleared onto the bar.

The defending champions restored their two-point lead over Sporting Lisbon at the top of the table with three rounds left.

Elsewhere, Joao Pica scored four minutes from time to give bottom side Tondela a 1-0 win at Setubal, boosting its hopes of avoiding relegation.

On a good night for visiting sides, Arouca also won 2-1 at Maritimo, Moreirense won 1-0 at Nacional, and Estoril drew 1-1 at Guimaraes.

Title within reach for Juventus

ROME (AP):

Gianluigi Buffon saved a late penalty and Juventus took a big step towards a fifth consecutive Serie A title with a 2-1 win at Fiorentina yesterday.

If Napoli fail to win at Roma today, Juventus will have sealed the Italian league championship with three matches to spare. If Napoli win, Juventus need only one more point to seal it.

Substitute Alvaro Morata scored the winner seconds after Nikola Kalinic had equalised for Fiorentina late in the second half. Buffon then stopped Kalinic's spot kick in the 90th.

"We're not cheering for anyone," Morata said of today's game. "If we win (the league), it's because we deserve to."

Last month, Buffon broke a 22-year-old Serie A record by not conceding a goal for 974 consecutive minutes.

Levante, Getafe concede late goals

BARCELONA, Spain (AP):

Levante and Getafe both conceded late goals in disappointing draws at home on Sunday that hurt their chances of avoiding relegation from the Spanish league.

Levante couldn't stop Athletic Bilbao from scoring twice in the final minutes to finish 2-2 and remains at the bottom of the standings with only three rounds remaining.

Getafe stayed immediately above Levante after seeing their fightback frustrated when Valencia scored for a 2-2 stalemate.

Villarreal, Liverpool's opponents in the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday, drew 0-0 with Real Sociedad in a lacklustre home match as it stayed in fourth place.

Sevilla beat Real Betis 2-0 in a derby for their first win in six rounds to warm up for a Europa League semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk, also on Thursday.