LONDON, NOV 8: Italian champion AC Milan bounced back from its demoralising first round elimination from European competition with a 3-0 Serie A victory over Venezia last night.Yet Barcelona, one of the most impressive of the Champions Cup teams, squandered a chance of going top of the Spanish league by losing 2-1 at home to modest Malaga.Although Lazio stayed on top of the Italian League standings with a 4-0 crushing of Verona, Milan lifted the gloom over San Siro and embattled coach Alberto Zaccheroni with an easy victory over last place Venezia.German striker Oliver Bierhoff and Liberian star George Weah scored the first two goals. Pierluigi Orlandini added the third from the rebound after Andriy Shevchenko's penalty had been blocked by the Venezia 'keeper.The result was even better for the Milan fans because neighbour Inter lost 3-0 at Bologna, its third straight loss with Brazilian star Ronaldo in the lineup.With surprise leader Rayo Vallecano going down 3-2 at home to Real Madrid on Saturday, Barcelona had a golden chance to leap four places to the top of the Primera Liga.But early strikes by Malaga's Brazilian, Agostinho, and Domingo Valcarce stunned the Barca faithful in the Camp Nou and Louis Van Gaal's team slipped to fifth despite a reply from Dutch defender Winston Bogarde.Bologna's Swedish striker Kennet Andersson headed two goals and veteran Italian forwar Giuseppe Signori added another as Inter Milan was humbled again and slipped to sixth place in Serie A. While Lazio was cruising to victory, Roma also came up with 4-0 triumph over Reggina.Argentine playmaker Juan Sebastian Veron, Chilean striker Marcelo Salas and Croatian forward Alen Boksic all scored for Lazio along with defender Paolo Negro.Roma's goalscoring star was Vincello Montella who scored twice although Brazilian Fabio Junior and team captain Francesco Totti also netted.Juventus squandered a chance of moving within one point of Lazio when it was held 0-0 by neighbor Torino while Lecce upset Udinese 1-0.RIO DE JANEIRO: Maverick Colombian striker Faustino Asprilla finally got on the scoresheet for Brazil's Palmeiras at the weekend, scoring twice in a 6-0 win over Botafogo.In Uruguay, five players were sent off as Penarol and Nacional played to a 1-1 draw in the Uruguayan Championship final. Four red cards were shown in the match involving Argentine Championship leaders River Plate.Unbeaten Dinamo Bucharest moved 11 points clear at the top of the Romanian league after their 4-2 win over Onesti at the weekend.Levski Sofia took over at the top in Bulgaria after a Derby win over Slavia Sofia while in Yugoslavia, Partizan Belgrade beat Zemun 4-1 behind closed doors.
