Bundesliga » News » Football: Bayer regain fourth in battle for Champions League spot

Football: Bayer regain fourth in battle for Champions League spotBlitztor durch Reus

Bayer Leverkusen regained fourth place in the Bundesliga on Sunday with a 4-1 romp at Nuremberg in their battle to retain their Champions League place for next season.

Goals by Bosnia centre-back Emir Spahic and Poland left-back Sebastian Boenisch for Leverkusen cancelled out Marvin Plattenhardt’s equaliser in the first-half from a direct free-kick which left the visitors 2-1 up soon after the break.

Leverkusen’s South Korea star Son Heung-Min made sure of the victory when he sprinted clear on a counter-attack and drew the defence for Spahic to tap home his second with ten minutes left.

Ex-Germany international Roberto Hilbert grabbed Leverkusen’s fourth seven minutes later having come off the bench.

Leverkusen lead Wolfsburg by a point with just three games left to decide Germany’s fourth Champions League place after Wolves had spent 24 hours in fourth after Saturday’s 3-1 win at Hamburg.

Bayer enjoyed their second straight win since ex-Liverpool captain Sami Hyypia was sacked as coach, while Nuremberg suffered their fourth straight defeat which leaves them second from bottom.

VfB Stuttgart took a big step towards survival with a 3-1 win at home to third-placed Schalke 04 which leaves them four points from the relegation places.

Austria striker Martin Harnik netted twice while Germany forward Cacau also scored as Stuttgart raced into a 3-0 lead before Hungary’s Adam Szalai pulled one back for the visitors with 20 minutes left.

On Saturday, champions Bayern Munich ended a run of three Bundesliga games without victory with an unimpressive 2-0 win at bottom club Eintracht Braunschweig ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final, first-leg at Real Madrid.

Peru veteran Claudio Pizarro, 35, and Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic were on target with late goals in what was only Bayern’s third win in their last seven games in all competitions.

Bayern were without Manchester United-target Toni Kroos and Rafinha, who were both suspended, while left-back David Alaba was missing with a cold.

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer sat out the trip to Braunschweig as he recovers from a calf injury with reserve shot-stopper Lukas Raeder stepping in for the third time.

The victory leaves Bayern on 81 points and 17 points clear of second-placed Dortmund who picked up their fifth straight win.

Borussia enjoyed a 4-2 victory at home to ten-man Mainz 05 as coach Jurgen Klopp faced his former side having coached them from 2001-08.

Dortmund took the lead after just six minutes through a curious goal when Milos Jojic’s strike went in off the upper arm of Borussia’s Oliver Kirch, but despite furious protests the goal stood.

Japan striker Shinji Okazaki scored twice for Mainz to make it 2-2, his second after pouncing on a terrible back pass from Dortmund’s Nuri Sahin. The Japanese international scoring either side of Bayern-bound Robert Lewandowski’s strike for Dortmund.

Dortmund made sure of the three points, which confirmed their Champions League direct qualification, with goals by defender Lukasz Piszczek and Germany winger Marco Reus, who converted a penalty 12 minutes from time after Mainz had centre-back Niko Bungert sent off for a handball.

Ten-man VfL Wolfsburg romped to a 3-1 win at Hamburg as goals by Ivan Perisic, Kevin de Bruyne and Ivica Olic gave Wolves a 3-0 lead just after the break before Hamburg’s Ivo Ilicevic scored a consolation for the hosts who remain third from bottom.

Wolves were reduced to ten men when Brazil midfielder Luiz Gustavo was sent off for a second yellow card on 90 minutes.

Hamburg are facing an historic first relegation from Germany’s top flight.

Freiburg are virtually assured of their survival as their 4-2 win at home to ten-man Borussia Moenchengladbach left them eight points above the relegation places with three games left.

Likewise, Werder Bremen are set to stay in the Bundesliga as their 3-1 win at home to Hoffenheim lifted them up to 11th and nine points from danger while mid-table Hertha Berlin and Augsburg shared the points in a goalless draw.

Ligue 1 » News » Football: Berbatov brilliance inspires Monaco, Ajaccio relegated

Football: Berbatov brilliance inspires Monaco, Ajaccio relegatedAleandre Lacazette lost een schot tijdens Olympique Lyonnais – Saint 脡tienne. (30-3-2014)

Dimitar Berbatov’s delightful goal gave Monaco a 1-0 win against Nice on Sunday to leave Paris Saint-Germain’s title celebrations on ice while Ajaccio’s relegation was confirmed with defeat at Bastia.

Berbatov’s nonchalant fifth-minute lob was the only goal of the Cote d’Azur derby at the Stade Louis II and the victory got Claudio Ranieri’s side back on track after their shock exit from the French Cup to Guingamp at the semi-final stage on Wednesday.

A third successive league win for the principality club means they are now certain to finish in the top three and qualify for next season’s Champions League.

They are nine points clear of third-placed Lille, who go to Marseille later, and seven behind leaders PSG, who do not host Evian until Wednesday having beaten Lyon 2-1 in the League Cup final on Saturday night.

Even if PSG win that game, they will not secure a second consecutive Lige 1 championship until next weekend at the earliest.

For all the money spent last summer, finishing second would be an excellent achievement for Monaco, who were in Ligue 2 a year ago, but coach Ranieri’s future has been the subject of much speculation recently.

However, the 62-year-old Italian revealed that Vadim Vasilyev, the club vice-president, had reassured him over his position after the match.

“You know what he said to me? That I will be here next season.”

This win will come as a relief to him, although it will be best remembered for Berbatov’s outrageous early goal.

The Bulgarian controlled a pass forward from Joao Moutinho on the left of the penalty area near the byline, looked up and nonchalantly lobbed the ball over Nice ‘keeper David Ospina and into the net at the far post for his sixth goal in French football since arriving from Fulham in January.

“That was top class. I think he did it deliberately,” purred Ranieri.

Monaco had chances to increase their advantage in the first half, with Valere Germain striking the post before Ospina was forced into a good save from a free-kick by his compatriot James Rodriguez.

However they couldn’t get a second goal and they were fortunate not to concede an equaliser midway through the second half when Danijel Subasic saved well from substitute Dario Cvitanich and Mathieu Bodmer’s header from the resulting corner was blocked by Subasic and then cleared by Mounir Obbadi right on the line.

The Nice players appealed for a goal to be given, but the officials waved play on and Claude Puel’s side are without a win in five matches.

Ajaccio made the trip across Corsica for the derby against Bastia knowing they had to win to stand any chance of further postponing their inevitable relegation.

But a 2-1 loss left them 15 points from safety with only 12 points left to play for.

“We’ve known for a long time that we would go down so this changes nothing,” Ajaccio coach Christian Bracconi said.

“We were condemned on November 14 – now it’s done! We’ve been living with the idea for weeks. We wanted to delay it but I’m more bitter about this loss today than being relegated.”

Their descent to Ligue 2 after three seasons in the topflight caused predictable delight amongst the fans of their island rivals Bastia.

While second-from bottom Valenciennes moved closer to the drop after a 6-2 drubbing by Nantes, Sochaux’s hopes of surviving the drop received a huge boost with a 1-0 win at Reims.

That left the club managed since January by Herve Renard, who led Zambia to 2013 Africa Cup of Nations glory, on 33 points, two behind French Cup finalists Guingamp, trounced 5-1 by Bordeaux with Cheik Diabate bagging a first half hat-trick.

In an afternoon when goals came thick and fast Lorient and Montpellier shared the spoils in a 4-4 draw.

Football » News » Football: Mauritania advance after historic victory

Football: Mauritania advance after historic victoryCacau k枚pft den VfB in Gl眉ck

Mauritania moved a step closer to a first Africa Cup of Nations finals appearance Sunday with an historic 2-0 victory in Mauritius.

It was the first away qualifying victory by the Mauritanians in 21 attempts spanning 30 years after two draws and 18 defeats.

Defender Demba Sow from French Ligue 2 club Le Havre struck in the first half and midfielder Moulaye Ahmed added a final-minute second goal.

The football minnows from north-west Africa won the first leg 1-0 at home last weekend and qualified 3-0 on aggregate for the April 27 second-round draw.

Sow netted with a 35-metre shot seven minutes before half-time and Ahmed — the star of Mauritanian domestic football — slid the ball in from close range.

Success was particularly sweet for Mauritania after the pre-match setback of star Egypt-based striker Dominique da Silva being ruled out due to an administrative problem.

There were also reported concerns about the funding of the trip to the Indian Ocean island with the sports ministry rescuing the cash-strapped football federation.

The failure of Mauritius to score means striker Kersley Appou, who turns 44 Thursday, must hope for another chance to become the oldest national team goalscorer.

Aleksandar Duric holds the record, netting for Singapore against Malaysia in 2012 aged 42 years and 105 days.

Bundesliga » News » Football: Bayer regain fourth in battle for Champions League spot

Football: Bayer regain fourth in battle for Champions League spotBlitztor durch Reus

Bayer Leverkusen regained fourth place in the Bundesliga on Sunday with a 4-1 romp at Nuremberg in their battle to retain their Champions League place for next season.

Goals by Leverkusen’s Bosnia centre-back Emir Spahic and Poland left-back Sebastian Boenisch cancelled out Marvin Plattenhardt’s first-half equaliser as the visitors went 2-1 up soon after the break.

Leverkusen’s South Korea star Son Heung-Min made sure of the victory when he sprinted clear on a counter-attack and drew the defence for Spahic to tap home his second with ten minutes left.

Ex-Germany international Roberto Hilbert grabbed Leverkusen’s fourth seven minutes later having come off the bench.

“We want a Champions League place and we won’t rest until we get it,” said Leverkusen’s director of sport Rudi Voeller.

Leverkusen lead Wolfsburg by a point with just three games left to decide Germany’s fourth Champions League place after Wolves had spent 24 hours in fourth after Saturday’s 3-1 win at Hamburg.

Bayer enjoyed their second straight win since ex-Liverpool captain Sami Hyypia was sacked as coach, while Nuremberg suffered their fourth straight defeat which leaves them second from bottom.

VfB Stuttgart took a big step towards survival with a 3-1 win at home to third-placed Schalke 04 which leaves them four points from the relegation places.

Austria striker Martin Harnik netted twice while Germany forward Cacau also scored as Stuttgart raced into a 3-0 lead before Hungary’s Adam Szalai pulled one back for the visitors with 20 minutes left.

“We’ve shown we can fight, keep things together and beat a team who are better than us on paper,” said Stuttgart coach Huub Stevens.

“That’s a step (away from relegation), but nothing more.”

On Saturday, champions Bayern Munich ended a run of three Bundesliga games without victory with an unimpressive 2-0 win at bottom club Eintracht Braunschweig ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final, first-leg at Real Madrid.

Peru veteran Claudio Pizarro, 35, and Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic were on target with late goals in what was only Bayern’s third win in their last seven games in all competitions.

The victory left Bayern on 81 points and 17 points clear of second-placed Dortmund who picked up their fifth straight win.

Borussia enjoyed a 4-2 victory at home to ten-man Mainz 05 as coach Jurgen Klopp faced his former side having coached them from 2001-08.

Dortmund took the lead after just six minutes through a curious goal when Milos Jojic’s strike went in off the upper arm of Borussia’s Oliver Kirch, but despite furious protests the goal stood.

Japan striker Shinji Okazaki scored twice for Mainz to make it 2-2, his second after pouncing on a terrible back pass from Dortmund’s Nuri Sahin. The Japanese international scoring either side of Bayern-bound Robert Lewandowski’s strike for Dortmund.

Dortmund made sure of the three points, which confirmed their Champions League direct qualification, with goals by defender Lukasz Piszczek and Germany winger Marco Reus, who converted a penalty 12 minutes from time after Mainz had centre-back Niko Bungert sent off for a handball.

Ten-man VfL Wolfsburg romped to a 3-1 win at Hamburg as goals by Ivan Perisic, Kevin de Bruyne and Ivica Olic gave Wolves a 3-0 lead just after the break before Hamburg’s Ivo Ilicevic scored a consolation for the hosts who remain third from bottom.

Wolves were reduced to ten men when Brazil midfielder Luiz Gustavo was sent off for a second yellow card on 90 minutes.

Hamburg are facing an historic first relegation from Germany’s top flight.

Freiburg are virtually assured of their survival as their 4-2 win at home to ten-man Borussia Moenchengladbach left them eight points above the relegation places with three games left.

Likewise, Werder Bremen are set to stay in the Bundesliga as their 3-1 win at home to Hoffenheim lifted them up to 11th and nine points from danger while mid-table Hertha Berlin and Augsburg shared the points in a goalless draw.

Football » News » Football: Blatter repeats backing for winter 2022 World Cup

Football: Blatter repeats backing for winter 2022 World CupAleandre Lacazette lost een schot tijdens Olympique Lyonnais – Saint 脡tienne. (30-3-2014)

FIFA president Sepp Blatter reiterated Sunday his desire for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to be played at the end of the year in the winter rather than in the searing heat of a Gulf summer.

He also repeated his belief that football’s world governing body cannot be held responsible for the deaths of construction workers racing against time to complete venues for this year’s World Cup in Brazil.

Pressure has been building for the 2022 tournament to be moved from its traditional June-July slot due to temperatures which rocket to the high 40 degrees in the Middle East.

A decision will not be taken until 2015.

“The best date would be the end of the year,” Blatter told BeIN Sport television in France.

“One has to remain realistic. If you change because you can’t play in the summer then you must play in winter at the end of the year.”

Blatter was also quizzed over the deaths of seven men working on the stadiums for the World Cup in Brazil.

“The organisation of the work has been done poorly,” said Blatter.

“This is not the cause of football. The big companies, especially the German and French companies, are responsible.”

Ligue 1 » News » Football: French Ligue 1 results – collated

Football: French Ligue 1 results – collatedAleandre Lacazette lost een schot tijdens Olympique Lyonnais – Saint 脡tienne. (30-3-2014)

Collated French Ligue 1 results on Sunday

Monaco 1 (Berbatov 5) Nice 0

Bastia 2 (Raspentino 32, Squillaci 89) Ajaccio 1 (Camara 4)

Bordeaux 5 (Diabat茅 8, 20, 26, Jussie 48, Rolan 68-pen) Guingamp 1 (Mu. Diallo 29)

Lorient 4 (Aliadiere 31-pen, Monnet-Paquet 87, Aboubakar 90, 90+3) Montpellier 4 (Cabella 26, 81, Niang 56, Deza 78)

Reims 0 Sochaux 1 (Corchia 41)

Valenciennes 2 (Medjani 80, 86-og, Bahebeck 84) Nantes 6 (Audel 24, Bedoya 41, Gakpe 44, 54, Nicolita 89)

Ligue 1 » News » Football: French Ligue 1 table – 2nd update

Football: French Ligue 1 table – 2nd updateAleandre Lacazette lost een schot tijdens Olympique Lyonnais – Saint 脡tienne. (30-3-2014)

French Ligue 1 table after Sunday’s late match (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Paris SG 33 24 7 2 74 19 79

Monaco 34 21 9 4 55 27 72

Lille 34 18 10 6 38 20 64

Ligue 1 » News » Football: French Ligue 1 top scorers

Football: French Ligue 1 top scorersAleandre Lacazette lost een schot tijdens Olympique Lyonnais – Saint 脡tienne. (30-3-2014)

French Ligue 1 top scorers after Sunday’s matches:

25: Ibrahimovic (Paris SG)

16: Aboubakar (Lorient)

15: Cavani (Paris SG)

14: Gignac (Marseille), Lacazette (Lyon)

13: Cabella (Montpellier)

12: Ben Yedder (Toulouse), Gomis (Lyon), Kalou (Lille)

11: Diabat茅 (Bordeaux)

10: Djordjevic (Nantes), Riviere (Monaco), Yatabare (Guingamp)

Ligue 1 » News » Football: Berbatov brilliance inspires Monaco, Ajaccio relegated

Football: Berbatov brilliance inspires Monaco, Ajaccio relegatedAleandre Lacazette lost een schot tijdens Olympique Lyonnais – Saint 脡tienne. (30-3-2014)

Dimitar Berbatov’s delightful goal gave Monaco a 1-0 win against Nice on Sunday to leave Paris Saint-Germain’s title celebrations on ice while Ajaccio’s relegation was confirmed with defeat at Bastia.

Berbatov’s nonchalant fifth-minute lob was the only goal of the Cote d’Azur derby at the Stade Louis II and the victory got Claudio Ranieri’s side back on track after their shock exit from the French Cup to Guingamp at the semi-final stage on Wednesday.

A third successive league win for the principality club means they are now certain to finish in the top three and qualify for next season’s Champions League.

They are eight points clear of third-placed Lille, who were held 0-0 at Marseille, and seven behind leaders PSG, who do not host Evian until Wednesday having beaten Lyon 2-1 in the League Cup final on Saturday night.

Even if PSG win that game, they will not secure a second consecutive Lige 1 championship until next weekend at the earliest.

For all the money spent last summer, finishing second would be an excellent achievement for Monaco, who were in Ligue 2 a year ago, but coach Ranieri’s future has been the subject of much speculation recently.

However, the 62-year-old Italian revealed that Vadim Vasilyev, the club vice-president, had reassured him over his position after the match.

“You know what he said to me? That I will be here next season.”

This win will come as a relief to him, although it will be best remembered for Berbatov’s outrageous early goal.

The Bulgarian controlled a pass forward from Joao Moutinho on the left of the penalty area near the byline, looked up and nonchalantly lobbed the ball over Nice ‘keeper David Ospina and into the net at the far post for his sixth goal in French football since arriving from Fulham in January.

“That was top class. I think he did it deliberately,” purred Ranieri.

Monaco had chances to increase their advantage in the first half, with Valere Germain striking the post before Ospina was forced into a good save from a free-kick by his compatriot James Rodriguez.

However they couldn’t get a second goal and they were fortunate not to concede an equaliser midway through the second half when Danijel Subasic saved well from substitute Dario Cvitanich and Mathieu Bodmer’s header from the resulting corner was blocked by Subasic and then cleared by Mounir Obbadi right on the line.

The Nice players appealed for a goal to be given, but the officials waved play on and Claude Puel’s side are without a win in five matches.

Ajaccio made the trip across Corsica for the derby against Bastia knowing they had to win to stand any chance of further postponing their inevitable relegation.

But a 2-1 loss left them 15 points from safety with only 12 points left to play for.

“We’ve known for a long time that we would go down so this changes nothing,” Ajaccio coach Christian Bracconi said.

“We were condemned on November 14 – now it’s done! We’ve been living with the idea for weeks. We wanted to delay it but I’m more bitter about this loss today than being relegated.”

Their descent to Ligue 2 after three seasons in the topflight caused predictable delight amongst the fans of their island rivals Bastia.

While second-from bottom Valenciennes moved closer to the drop after a 6-2 drubbing by Nantes, Sochaux’s hopes of surviving the drop received a huge boost with a 1-0 win at Reims.

There were angry scenes after Valenciennes’ defeat, with disgruntled fans staging a protest.

Sochaux, managed since last October by Herve Renard, who led Zambia to 2012 Africa Cup of Nations glory, on 33 points, two behind French Cup finalists Guingamp, trounced 5-1 by Bordeaux with Cheik Diabate bagging a first half hat-trick.

In an afternoon when goals came thick and fast Lorient and Montpellier shared the spoils in a 4-4 draw.

Premier League » News » Football: Moyes clings to positives after United loss

Football: Moyes clings to positives after United loss

Manchester United manager David Moyes maintains that there are positives for the club’s fans to cling to despite them being out of contention for the Champions League.

Last season’s champions suffered an 11th Premier League defeat of the season when they lost 2-0 at Everton on Sunday.

United were already guaranteed their worst points tally since the start of the Premier League era in 1992 and the result at Goodison Park means that it is no longer possible for them to finish in the top four.

Moyes, however, is adamant that the supporters understand the problems he has faced in taking over from Alex Ferguson and is sure that he can turn the situation around.

“I think everybody knows that we are on track to make changes and do some different things. We are rebuilding. We have got things we want to do,” he said.

“At Everton there were things that were not that good, but there were things that were good. We need to try and get rid of the bad things and do better with the things we should have done.

“The supporters have been incredibly behind the team and supported the team throughout. They understand it has not been good. I recognise it has not been good. It needs to be better.”

Nemanja Vidic is leaving for Inter Milan, and Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand will soon be out of contract, and there were reports in the British media on Sunday that England forward Danny Welbeck will also seek a move at the end of the campaign.

The 23-year-old youth product has two years to run on his contract and is said to be unhappy at Old Trafford.

In response to the reports, Moyes said: “Danny Welbeck is really important to me and I really value him.

“There have been lots of stories. I can only tell you Danny Welbeck is really important to me and really important to Manchester United.”

United only managed two shots on target in a disappointing performance that saw them beaten by a Leighton Baines penalty and a Kevin Mirallas goal.

But despite their lack of attacking thrust, Moyes defended his team’s performance.

“We couldn’t find the telling pass, or clever play in the final third that makes the difference,” said the former Everton manager.

“I thought we did well. We were the better team at 2-0 down in the first half. We had good play, we had good control of the game, we had the bulk of the ball. I thought the two goals we conceded were rank, rotten.”

Everton are a point behind fourth-place Arsenal with three matches remaining and two points behind third-place Manchester City, who have two matches in hand and visit Goodison Park in a fortnight.

Martinez, whose side also won 1-0 at Old Trafford in December, believes that doing the double over United is further evidence of his team’s progress since he took over last year.

But the Spaniard remains grateful to Moyes for the legacy he left behind after his 11-year spell at Goodison Park.

“We knew that since 1969 we hadn’t done the double over United and that’s when we won the league,” said Martinez.

“It tells you this group is ready to develop into something special. It’s a mental thing for the side if you win the double over the champions.

“When I arrived at Everton, I said straightaway I was fortunate to walk into a club where everything was in place.

“Previously I went into clubs and it looked like a bomb had exploded, and the best situation for a manager is to have that (what he found at Everton).

“The younger players have got a big role in this team and if they make mistakes, I take responsibility. David Moyes’s job at Everton has been the platform of the performances we’ve put in.”