Bayern Munich clinched the Bundesliga title for the 25th time with four games to spare Sunday, while Chelsea took a step closer to winning the Premier league after nullifying Arsenal's threat in a gritty 0-0 draw.
In Italy, Juventus must wait a little longer before celebrating another Serie A title after losing its local derby to Torino, while in France Lyon kept the pressure on Paris Saint-Germain after a resounding 4-2 win at Reims.
Here is a look at the action in Europe's top leagues on Sunday:
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GERMANY
Bayern Munich clinched a record 25th Bundesliga title with four games to spare, thanks to a little help from traditional rival Borussia Moenchengladbach.
'Gladbach forward Max Kruse scored in the last minute to inflict a 1-0 defeat on second-place Wolfsburg, removing the mathematical possibility of Bayern being caught.
With 76 points from 30 games, Bayern has an unassailable 15-point lead over Wolfsburg.
Bastian Schweinsteiger scored late for Bayern to beat Hertha Berlin 1-0 at home on Saturday, the win that ultimately secured the club's third straight Bundesliga title.
"Retaining the title is a magnificent achievement," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. "All credit to the coach and the team. They've been fantastic throughout."
The treble is still a possibility for Pep Guardiola's side in his second season at the club, with a German Cup semifinal at home to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, before attention turns to Barcelona in the Champions League semifinals.
Guardiola led Bayern to a league and cup double in his first season after taking over from Jupp Heynckes, who had steered the side to the treble in 2013.
Earlier, Paderborn let slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home with Werder Bremen and miss the opportunity to escape the relegation zone.
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SPAIN
Javier Hernandez scored twice as Real Madrid fought back for a thrilling 4-2 win at Celta Vigo on Sunday to keep the pressure on league leader Barcelona.
Four days after Hernandez's late goal put Madrid into the Champions League semifinals, the Mexico striker struck a brace to help Madrid stay two points behind Barcelona with five rounds left.
Celta forward Manuel "Nolito" Agudo scored in the ninth minute to start a five-goal flurry in the first half.
Goals from Toni Kroos and Hernandez put Madrid ahead, Celta's Santi Mina equalized for 2-2 and James Rodriguez restored Madrid's advantage in the 44th.
With Celta pressing forward after the restart, Hernandez used a superb touch to control Sergio Ramos' pass before netting in the 69th to secure victory.
Also on Sunday, Sevilla beat Rayo Vallecano 2-0 thanks to goals from Vicente Iborra and Daniel Carrico to provisionally move past Valencia into fourth place.
Almeria moved out of the relegation zone by beating struggling Eibar 2-0, while Deportivo dropped into the bottom three after drawing 1-1 at Malaga.
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ENGLAND
With a tenacious defensive display, Chelsea held Arsenal to a 0-0 draw to close in on its first Premier League title in five years.
Chelsea is 10 points clear of defending champion Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the standings with five games to go and can seal the title with victories over Leicester on Wednesday and then Crystal Palace next Sunday.
Meanwhile, Manchester United stumbled to after a 3-0 defeat at Everton. The heaviest loss in the league of Van Gaal's first season in charge left United fourth.
Arsenal struggled to break down Jose Mourinho's team, only managing one shot on target when Mesut Ozil's effort was collected by Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
"In the first half we had the right intensity," Wenger said. "But they came to defend well, and they did that well, and everybody knows that."
At Goodison Park, Van Gaal accused his United players of lacking motivation after they slumped to a second successive loss following last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Chelsea.
James McCarthy netted the opener after five minutes between goalkeeper David de Gea's legs, and John Stones doubled the lead in the 35th minute by heading in Leighton Baines' corner before Kevin Mirallas rounded off the victory in the 74th.
"Our motivation, inspiration and aggression was not as high as the opponent," Van Gaal said.
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ITALY
Juventus was prevented from clinching a fourth consecutive Serie A title with a 2-1 loss at Torino in a derby marred by fan violence.
After Andrea Pirlo put Juventus ahead with a free kick, Matteo Darmian equalized just before halftime and former Juve forward Fabio Quagliarella scored the winner in the 57th.
It was Juve's only third league loss this season and the first time Torino has won the league derby in 20 years.
"The fans deserved this victory," Quagliarella said. "It's tough to describe the emotions now."
Before the match, Torino fans attacked the bus carrying Juve's players as it approached the stadium, breaking a window. Juventus supporters retaliated by throwing fireworks at Torino counterparts inside the stadium, injuring several.
Juventus needed a win and a Lazio loss to clinch the title, and Lazio was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Chievo Verona.
Juventus is 14 points ahead of Lazio with six matches remaining. Roma is one point further back in third after a 2-1 loss at Inter Milan on Saturday.
Napoli beat Sampdoria 4-2 thanks to two goals from Gonzalo Higuain, moving it within two points of Roma in the race for third place and the final Champions League berth.
Fiorentina was sixth after losing 3-1 at home to Cagliari, with Duje Cop scoring twice.
In other matches, Hellas Verona beat Sassuolo 3-2; Parma defeated Palermo 1-0 to; Genoa beat Cesena 3-1, and Atalanta and Empoli drew 2-2.
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FRANCE
Alexandre Lacazette scored a league-leading 26th goal of the season as Lyon returned to the top on goal difference from Paris Saint-Germain after a 4-2 win at Reims.
Lyon, which has played a game more than PSG, raced into a 2-0 lead within six minutes through midfielder Corentin Tolisso and Lacazette.
Midfielder Alexi Peuget pulled a goal back, but Lyon reasserted its authority as Cameroonian winger Clinton N'jie made it 3-1 after 20 minutes of a frantic opening spell.
Defender Mickael Tacalfred's own goal in the 90th minute put Lyon 4-1 up, before Gaetan Charbonnier netted an injury-time consolation goal.
Two-time defending champion PSG can move three points ahead if it beats struggling Metz on Tuesday night, where it will look to chip away at Lyon's superior goal difference of + 39 compared to + 35.
Earlier, teenage forward Anthony Martial continued his scoring form with his seventh goal in eight games as Monaco eased to a 3-0 win at last-place Lens to remain third.
Ivory Coast winger Max-Alain Gradel scored his eighth goal in eight games as fourth-place Saint-Etienne won 1-0 win against Montpellier; but Monaco is two points ahead.
