Milan Skriniar of Inter Milan celebrates after scoring a goal for his side during the Serie A match against Atalanta in Milan, Italy, March 8, 2021. /CFP
A second-half goal from defender Milan Skriniar was enough to earn Inter Milan a 1-0 win over Atalanta on Monday, with the victory sending Antonio Conte's side six points clear at the top of the Serie A standings.
The league leaders looked nervy in the first half, and had goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to thank for making a fine save to prevent Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata from giving the visitors the lead.
Nine minutes after the interval Skriniar pounced on a loose ball from a corner to fire Inter in front, with Conte's side digging in defensively late on to see out the victory.
The seventh league win in a row took Inter one step closer to a first Serie A title in 11 years. They have 62 points, six clear of rivals AC Milan in second, and 10 ahead of third-placed champions Juventus. Atalanta stay fifth.
Players of Chelsea and Everton in action during the Premier League match in London, UK, March 8, 2021. /CFP
In the English Premier League, Chelsea extended their impressive turnaround under new coach Thomas Tuchel with a 2-0 home win over in-form Everton as Kai Havertz played a key role in both goals on his return to the starting 11.
The German had struggled to show why Chelsea paid a reported 71 million euros ($98 million) for him last year. But it was his shot that Everton defender Ben Godfrey turned into his own net in the 31st minute after a Marcos Alonso cross.
In the 64th minute, Havertz raced on to a long ball from Mateo Kovacic and was brought down by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Jorginho scored from the spot after his trademark skip and jump to send Pickford the wrong way.
Havertz had put the ball in the back of the net himself in the 53rd minute but a VAR check confirmed that he used his arm to control the ball before turning and striking it past Pickford.
The England goalkeeper pulled off a string of saves to prevent Everton - who had won their previous three matches without conceding a goal - from going down to a heavier defeat.
Everton wasted their only real chance to get themselves back in the game when Richarlison miscued as he shot from a promising position in the box, shortly before Chelsea went 2-0 up.
The win tightened Chelsea's grip on fourth place in the Premier League table, four points ahead of Everton who remained in fifth position ahead of West Ham United's match later on Monday against Leeds United.
It was the sixth win in nine league games for the Blues since Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard in late January and Chelsea have drawn the other three, conceding only two goals.