Ince on target as Inter hit eight

European football

Paul Ince scored his second goal in three games as Internazionale thrashed Padova 8-2 in Italy's Serie A yesterday, while Inter's local rivals, Milan, edged closer to the title with a 1-0 win at Napoli.

With four games remaining, Milan are nine points clear of Juventus - beaten 3-0 at home by Sampdoria on Saturday - and could claim their fourth championship in five years when they meet lowly Torino next week.

Christian Panucci was Milan's match-winner, scoring with a header in the 13th minute, while Marco Branca took his season's tally to 20 with a hat-trick in fourth-placed Inter's goal feast.

In Germany's Bundesliga, Bayern Munich won 1-0 with 10 men at VfB Stuttgart and extended their lead to three points as Borussia Dortmund were held 0-0 at home by Schalke. Jurgen Klinsmann scored the winner for Bayern, who had Dieter Hamann sent off.

Club Bruges won the Belgian title with a 2-1 win over Lierse yesterday, while Belgium's national team coach, Paul van Himst, has been replaced by his deputy, Wilfried van Moer.

Nimes became the first Third Division team to reach the French Cup final when they beat Montpellier 1-0 yesterday. Their opponents on 4 May will be Auxerre, who saw off Marseille in a penalty shoot-out.