体坛英语新闻：Ronaldinho tricks in Milan's big win

BEIJING, Jan. 19 -- Resurgent Ronaldinho netted a hat-trick to help AC Milan hammer 10-man Siena 4-0 on Sunday and close the gap on Serie A leader Inter Milan to six points.

The title race is now very much on after Inter drew 2-2 at Bari on Saturday. Milan has a game in hand and the top two sides will meet in the city derby next weekend.

Juventus is out of the running though after a 0-1 defeat at Chievo, its fifth loss in seven games in all competitions. Gennaro Sardo netted for the dominant hosts in the first half but under-pressure Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara can blame his terrible injury problems, which meant Michele Paolucci started upfront having been recalled from Siena only on Saturday.

AC Milan's Marco Borriello (C) celebrates with his team mate Ronaldinho (R) and David Beckham after scoring against Siena in their Italian Serie A soccer match at San Siro stadium in Milan, January 17, 2010

Claudio Ranieri's AS Roma has leapfrogged former club Juventus into third, 11 behind Inter, after on-loan striker Luca Toni grabbed his first two goals for the club from close range in a 3-0 home win over Genoa.

Roma travels to Juventus next Saturday when a section of Turin's Stadio Olimpico will be closed because home fans continue to chant racist songs about Inter striker Mario Balotelli.

Napoli is fourth, a point above fifth-placed Juventus, following a lucky 0-0 home draw with Palermo in the "Derby of the South" between two of Italy's best-supported teams.

Palermo's Fabrizio Miccoli had a scuffed penalty saved when he became the latest Serie A player to have a laser shone in his face by fans, while teammate Simplicio missed a near open goal.

Poor start

Milan had a poor start to the season under new coach Leonardo but its remarkable renaissance has largely been thanks to Ronaldinho and Marco Borriello, who like Toni could now make a late bid to gatecrash Italy's World Cup squad.

Striker Borriello won a 12th-minute penalty when he was brought down by keeper Gianluca Curci, who was given a straight red card, and Ronaldinho confidently slotted in the spotkick. Borriello soon volleyed in Andrea Pirlo's cross with his wrong foot to prompt a standing ovation at the San Siro.

Ronaldinho then nodded in David Beckham's second-half corner and fired in a superb shot which rekindled memories of his glory days at Barcelona.