Groningen 4-1 Heracles
Vitesse 2-0 VVV Venlo
Sparta 1-2 Roda
NEC 0-1 Waalwijk
NAC 4-0 Willem II
Den Haag 1-5 PSV
AZ 1-1 Feyenoord
Utrecht 2-3 Heerenveen
Twente 1-0 Ajax
PSV and Twente have opened up a bit of a gap back to the rest after both won at the weekend. The Eindhoveners went top for all of two hours on Sunday after an Ola Toivonen-inspired demolition job on Den Haag. The 23-year old Swede struck four times past ADO who finished with nine men in a game interrupted for 25 minutes when the referee called a halt to proceedings shortly after sending off Lex Immers due to some utterly vile chanting aimed at him. By that time, PSV were already 4-0 up through Toivonen's first-half hat-trick - an object lesson in being in the right place at the right time - and Otman Bakkal who volleyed in early in the second half. Ricky van den Bergh had already been sent off and Immers followed only for the referee to intervene. When play resumed, Karim Soltani pulled one back, but Toivonen nodded in his fourth two minutes later. An entertaining clash in Enschede was settled by Bryan Ruiz's header early in the second half as Ajax failed to truly test Sander Boschker in the Twente goal. Steve McClaren's side are looking very good to at least match, if not better, last season's second place finish.
There's a four-point gap back to Ajax from PSV and then a further five points to fourth placed Feyenoord who drew with champions AZ on Sunday. The Rotterdammers dominated the first half, but only had Sekou Cissé's fifth-minute goal, tucked neatly through the legs of Sergio Romero, to show for it. And they paid for their profligacy when Brett Holman slammed in a cracking shot from 20 yards out ten minutes into the second half. Utrecht have been dropped by the leaders after they were surprisingly beaten at home by struggling Heerenveen. Viktor Elm and two from Michal Papadopoulos put the Friesians three up with twelve minutes to go and they almost blew it. Tim Cornelisse pulled one back nine minutes from the end and Jacob Mulenga another in the last minute, but Heerenveen were just about able to hang on.
Waalwijk won for just the second time this season as they rolled over NEC who are now in trouble. Derk Boerrigter got the goal just after the half hour and they hung on, uncharacteristically, despite Hans Mulder being sent off ten minutes from time. VVV Venlo join NEC in the bottom three after defeat on Saturday, Dalibor Stevanovic and Claudemir helping Vitesse to a 2-0 win. Heracles and Sparta's recent good form came to an abrupt end as both lost. Heracles went in front against Groningen on Friday night, Bas Dost striking on 15 minutes, but the previously hapless Groningen turned it round in grand style. Leandro Bacuna equalised within four minutes and Andreas Granqvist added a penalty just before the break. Tim Matavz added two more in the second to end a miserable run for the Northerners. Sparta went down at home to Roda, Blodiszar Bodor with the winner after Rydell Popeon's penalty cancelled out Mads Junker's opener and Willem II also went down hard, beaten 4-0 in Breda. All four went in before the interval, Kurt Elshot, Kees Kwakman, Matthew Amoah and Leonardo blowing the Tilburgers off the park.
The home of football sarcasm
Monday, 9 November 2009
Friday, 6 November 2009
Ligue 1 round 12
PSG v Nice
Valenciennes v Montpellier
Le Mans v Auxerre
Nancy v St Etienne
Monaco v Grenoble
Lorient v Boulogne
Sochaux v Lens
Lille v Bordeaux
Toulouse v Rennes
Lyon v Marseille
Top game is the Sunday night match at the Stade Gerland where Marseille make the trip to Lyon. Marseille still have that game in hand, so their position in seventh is a little false while Lyon are very much in second. Worries about recent form were partly quelled by the draw with Liverpool in midweek, but problems at centre half continue with Jeremy Toulalan still deployed there rather than in midfield. There'll be no Miralem Pjanic, Francois Clerc or Anthony Reveillere as well. Marseille put six away in the Champions League and approach this in good form. It could be a tough night for OL. Bordeaux go to Lille in what looks a straightforward fixture for the champions, but not as straightforward as Monaco's trip to The Worst Team In Europe™. That'll be Grenoble then. It's an important phase of the competition for Montpellier in terms of trying to prove their early season form wasn't just a blip. A trip to Valenciennes will test their mettle.
Auxerre are going well, unlike their opponents this week, Le Mans. In a similar vein, Sochaux welcome Lens to the Stade Bonal. There are some interesting mid-table clashes, none moreso than Rennes's trip to Toulouse. PSG have a visit from Nice, Boulogne go to Lorient and Nancy take on St Etienne in the remaining games.
Valenciennes v Montpellier
Le Mans v Auxerre
Nancy v St Etienne
Monaco v Grenoble
Lorient v Boulogne
Sochaux v Lens
Lille v Bordeaux
Toulouse v Rennes
Lyon v Marseille
Top game is the Sunday night match at the Stade Gerland where Marseille make the trip to Lyon. Marseille still have that game in hand, so their position in seventh is a little false while Lyon are very much in second. Worries about recent form were partly quelled by the draw with Liverpool in midweek, but problems at centre half continue with Jeremy Toulalan still deployed there rather than in midfield. There'll be no Miralem Pjanic, Francois Clerc or Anthony Reveillere as well. Marseille put six away in the Champions League and approach this in good form. It could be a tough night for OL. Bordeaux go to Lille in what looks a straightforward fixture for the champions, but not as straightforward as Monaco's trip to The Worst Team In Europe™. That'll be Grenoble then. It's an important phase of the competition for Montpellier in terms of trying to prove their early season form wasn't just a blip. A trip to Valenciennes will test their mettle.
Auxerre are going well, unlike their opponents this week, Le Mans. In a similar vein, Sochaux welcome Lens to the Stade Bonal. There are some interesting mid-table clashes, none moreso than Rennes's trip to Toulouse. PSG have a visit from Nice, Boulogne go to Lorient and Nancy take on St Etienne in the remaining games.
Bundesliga round 12
Leverkusen v Eintracht
Mainz v Nurnberg
Bayern v Schalke
Monchengladbach v Stuttgart
Bochum v Freiburg
Hoffenheim v Wolfsburg
Hannover v Hamburg
Bremen v Dortmund
Hertha v Cologne
Top game this week sees Bayern host Schalke. Bayern is not a happy club at the moment, two hapless showings against Bordeaux all but knocking them out of the Champions League while Schalke have been doing remarkably well considering the off-field turmoil the club is in. Felix Magath has an amazing ability to insulate his players from such matters, perhaps drawing on experience of being his own chief executive and sporting director while at Wolfsburg. There's still no Franck Ribéry available to Louis van Gaal, but Arjen Robben is in line for a start having come off the bench in midweek.
While tension will be high in Munich, for entertainment you need to be at the Rhein-Neckar Arena in Hoffenheim where the champions are in town. Dietmar Hopp, owner of the Villagers, has targeted European football next season in order to hang onto his top players and they've been going well of late. Wolfsburg's form is patchier, but a good win in the Champions League shows what they're capable of. Zvejzdan Misimovic in particular is in top nick at the moment and Grafite has a job on to get his place back from Obafemi Martins. This should be a great game with plenty of goals. Bremen welcome Dortmund to the Weserstadion in what looks another exciting game and the other front-runners have winnable games, Leverkusen in the Friday game against Eintracht and Hamburg away to Hannover.
Hertha won a game in midweek! No, really. Mind, it was against the frankly awful Heerenveen and they take on another rubbish team this week when Cologne go to the capital. Bochum against Freiburg looks apt in the days following Halloween, as does Gladbach against Stuttgart. Nurnberg are still in trouble and Mainz won't be giving any favours away.
Mainz v Nurnberg
Bayern v Schalke
Monchengladbach v Stuttgart
Bochum v Freiburg
Hoffenheim v Wolfsburg
Hannover v Hamburg
Bremen v Dortmund
Hertha v Cologne
Top game this week sees Bayern host Schalke. Bayern is not a happy club at the moment, two hapless showings against Bordeaux all but knocking them out of the Champions League while Schalke have been doing remarkably well considering the off-field turmoil the club is in. Felix Magath has an amazing ability to insulate his players from such matters, perhaps drawing on experience of being his own chief executive and sporting director while at Wolfsburg. There's still no Franck Ribéry available to Louis van Gaal, but Arjen Robben is in line for a start having come off the bench in midweek.
While tension will be high in Munich, for entertainment you need to be at the Rhein-Neckar Arena in Hoffenheim where the champions are in town. Dietmar Hopp, owner of the Villagers, has targeted European football next season in order to hang onto his top players and they've been going well of late. Wolfsburg's form is patchier, but a good win in the Champions League shows what they're capable of. Zvejzdan Misimovic in particular is in top nick at the moment and Grafite has a job on to get his place back from Obafemi Martins. This should be a great game with plenty of goals. Bremen welcome Dortmund to the Weserstadion in what looks another exciting game and the other front-runners have winnable games, Leverkusen in the Friday game against Eintracht and Hamburg away to Hannover.
Hertha won a game in midweek! No, really. Mind, it was against the frankly awful Heerenveen and they take on another rubbish team this week when Cologne go to the capital. Bochum against Freiburg looks apt in the days following Halloween, as does Gladbach against Stuttgart. Nurnberg are still in trouble and Mainz won't be giving any favours away.
Eredivisie round 13
Groningen v Heracles
Vitesse v VVV Venlo
Sparta v Roda
NEC v Waalwijk
NAC v Willem II
Den Haag v PSV
AZ v Feyenoord
Utrecht v Heerenveen
Twente v Ajax
Some tasty games in the Eredivisie this week, none moreso than at the Arke Stadion in Enschede where free-scoring Ajax are the visitors. Both sides were European winners in midweek. So what wins out, Ajax flamboyance or Twente's pragmatism? Your current correspondent, being a Tukker, will always plump for the latter, but it really does promise a clash of styles and, as any boxing fan will tell you, styles make fights. It's inconceivable to think that Ajax won't score and that Luis Suarez won't get at least one himself, but it's even harder to see them keeping a clean sheet. With Miroslav Stoch and Bryan Ruiz in ridiculously good form, Twente have every chance and, if the person writing this was a betting man, the farm would be on a home win.
AZ are starting to pull things together despite their utter dismantling by Arsenal in the Champions League - Arsenal in that mood can destroy pretty well anybody - and welcome Feyenoord to the Almaarderhout. It's a pivotal game for both sides. If Feyenoord lose it, then they lose touch with the leaders. AZ's issues are well-documented, but they're still capable. PSV go to Den Haag, never an easy trip and Utrecht should be more than capable of getting back in the horse at home to Heerenveen who are so bad that even Hertha beat them in midweek.
Heracles's European push continues at the Euroborg in Groningen and revitalised Sparta are at home to Roda JC. NEC have been doing it tough, but will score a morale-boosting win over Waalwijk, VVV Venlo look good for the points in Arnhem and NAC v Willem II gets the prize for least inspiring game of the week.
Vitesse v VVV Venlo
Sparta v Roda
NEC v Waalwijk
NAC v Willem II
Den Haag v PSV
AZ v Feyenoord
Utrecht v Heerenveen
Twente v Ajax
Some tasty games in the Eredivisie this week, none moreso than at the Arke Stadion in Enschede where free-scoring Ajax are the visitors. Both sides were European winners in midweek. So what wins out, Ajax flamboyance or Twente's pragmatism? Your current correspondent, being a Tukker, will always plump for the latter, but it really does promise a clash of styles and, as any boxing fan will tell you, styles make fights. It's inconceivable to think that Ajax won't score and that Luis Suarez won't get at least one himself, but it's even harder to see them keeping a clean sheet. With Miroslav Stoch and Bryan Ruiz in ridiculously good form, Twente have every chance and, if the person writing this was a betting man, the farm would be on a home win.
AZ are starting to pull things together despite their utter dismantling by Arsenal in the Champions League - Arsenal in that mood can destroy pretty well anybody - and welcome Feyenoord to the Almaarderhout. It's a pivotal game for both sides. If Feyenoord lose it, then they lose touch with the leaders. AZ's issues are well-documented, but they're still capable. PSV go to Den Haag, never an easy trip and Utrecht should be more than capable of getting back in the horse at home to Heerenveen who are so bad that even Hertha beat them in midweek.
Heracles's European push continues at the Euroborg in Groningen and revitalised Sparta are at home to Roda JC. NEC have been doing it tough, but will score a morale-boosting win over Waalwijk, VVV Venlo look good for the points in Arnhem and NAC v Willem II gets the prize for least inspiring game of the week.
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Liga Sagres Round 9: Braga move clear
Porto 1 - 1 Belenenses
Naval 1º de Maio 1 - 0 Leixões
Sporting Braga 2 - 0 Benfica
Paços de Ferreira 0 - 1 União de Leiria
Olhanense 0 - 1 Rio Ave
Nacional 2 - 1 Vitória Setúbal
Sporting Lisbon 1 - 1 Marítimo
Académica 2 - 0 Vitória Guimarães
Oh how excited their supporters are now. It was not so very long ago that Sporting Braga fans were bemoaning the loss of coach Jorge Jesus to Benfica last summer, and yet Domingos Paciência has stepped into the hot seat and delivered 8 wins in 9 matches - including this weekend's victory in the battle of the top 2 and by far the best sides in the league so far. Hugo Viana gave the hosts an early lead, which was doubled 12 minutes from time by Brazilian striker Paulo Cesar. Benfica's army of South American stars could find no way through the Braga rearguard even after Andre Leone received his marching orders on the stroke of half time. Braga are now the only unbeaten team in the Liga Sagres and sit three points clear at the top.
Porto missed out on the chance to close the gap on O Glorioso after they were held at home by Belenenses; After Lima had given the visitors the lead, Ernesto Farias rescued a point but the 31,000 crowd at the Dragao were far from impressed and for probably the first time in his regime Jesualdo Ferreira is feeling the pressure. Ironically, things in the Champions League are going fine for him but his side just can't click domestically, where they lack the dominance in midfield they had with Lucho Gonzalez and the predatory threat up front of Lisandro Lopez, although Falcao has impressed thus far with 7 goals.
Of course, it could be worse, you could be Paolo Bento, who is also feeling the heat from home fans after his side picked up their third consecutive draw at home to Maritimo. Sitting improbably in fourth are Rio Ave, after they won at Olhanense through an early Joao Tomas strike. Nacional sit just below them on goal difference after they beat Vitoria Setubal thanks to an Anselmo Goncalves winner. Setubal have conceded 18 goals already this season and have a defence dodgier than an Afghani election. Elsewhere there were wins for Naval, Leiria and Academica, who remain bottom despite picking up their first victory of the campaign.
Naval 1º de Maio 1 - 0 Leixões
Sporting Braga 2 - 0 Benfica
Paços de Ferreira 0 - 1 União de Leiria
Olhanense 0 - 1 Rio Ave
Nacional 2 - 1 Vitória Setúbal
Sporting Lisbon 1 - 1 Marítimo
Académica 2 - 0 Vitória Guimarães
Oh how excited their supporters are now. It was not so very long ago that Sporting Braga fans were bemoaning the loss of coach Jorge Jesus to Benfica last summer, and yet Domingos Paciência has stepped into the hot seat and delivered 8 wins in 9 matches - including this weekend's victory in the battle of the top 2 and by far the best sides in the league so far. Hugo Viana gave the hosts an early lead, which was doubled 12 minutes from time by Brazilian striker Paulo Cesar. Benfica's army of South American stars could find no way through the Braga rearguard even after Andre Leone received his marching orders on the stroke of half time. Braga are now the only unbeaten team in the Liga Sagres and sit three points clear at the top.
Porto missed out on the chance to close the gap on O Glorioso after they were held at home by Belenenses; After Lima had given the visitors the lead, Ernesto Farias rescued a point but the 31,000 crowd at the Dragao were far from impressed and for probably the first time in his regime Jesualdo Ferreira is feeling the pressure. Ironically, things in the Champions League are going fine for him but his side just can't click domestically, where they lack the dominance in midfield they had with Lucho Gonzalez and the predatory threat up front of Lisandro Lopez, although Falcao has impressed thus far with 7 goals.
Of course, it could be worse, you could be Paolo Bento, who is also feeling the heat from home fans after his side picked up their third consecutive draw at home to Maritimo. Sitting improbably in fourth are Rio Ave, after they won at Olhanense through an early Joao Tomas strike. Nacional sit just below them on goal difference after they beat Vitoria Setubal thanks to an Anselmo Goncalves winner. Setubal have conceded 18 goals already this season and have a defence dodgier than an Afghani election. Elsewhere there were wins for Naval, Leiria and Academica, who remain bottom despite picking up their first victory of the campaign.
Monday, 2 November 2009
Serie A Round 11: Inter extend lead
Cagliari 3-0 Atalanta
Chievo 1-1 Udinese
Fiorentina 3 -1 Catania
Livorno 0 -2 Inter Milan
Palermo 0-0 Genoa
Roma 2-1 Bologna
Sampdoria 0-0 Bari
Siena 1 -1 Lazio
AC Milan 2-0 Parma
Juventus 2-3 Napoli
This one isn't over already, is it? 11 games in and Inter already have a seven point lead after both Juventus and Sampdoria stumbled at the weekend. Jose Mourinho's men were far from brilliant away at Livorno but they didn't have to be; Milito and Maicon scored in the second half to beat the third-bottom hosts. Juventus lost arguably the match of the weekend; Surrendering a two-goal lead through Trezeguet and Sebastian Giovinco, as a Marek Hamsik double sandwiching a Datolo strike won the match for Walter Mazzari's men, who are recovering their best form as each week under the new coach goes by.
Sampdoria were held at home, to the surprise of a fair few observers, by Bari, who have drawn 6 of their first 11 matches back in the top division. Also goalless was Palermo's match with Genoa - The Grifone dropping out of the top six as a result. AC Milan moved up to fourth thanks to two goals against Parma for Serie A's forgotten hitman, Marco Borriello. Yeah - remember him? One striker in form is Cagliari's Brazilian Nene, who grabbed a brace in their home victory over Atalanta, a jekyll-and-hyde team if ever there was one. Also scoring twice was Marco Marchionni, as Fiorentina brushed aside second-bottom Catania. Siena's new manager Marco Baroni watched his new charges draw at home to Lazio; Roma recovered from a goal down to defeat Bologna at home through strikes from Vucinic and Perotta, ending a run of three straight defeats; Chievo and Udinese shared the points at the Bentegodi with Mario Yepes's second half score cancelling out Antonio Floro Flores's opener.
Chievo 1-1 Udinese
Fiorentina 3 -1 Catania
Livorno 0 -2 Inter Milan
Palermo 0-0 Genoa
Roma 2-1 Bologna
Sampdoria 0-0 Bari
Siena 1 -1 Lazio
AC Milan 2-0 Parma
Juventus 2-3 Napoli
This one isn't over already, is it? 11 games in and Inter already have a seven point lead after both Juventus and Sampdoria stumbled at the weekend. Jose Mourinho's men were far from brilliant away at Livorno but they didn't have to be; Milito and Maicon scored in the second half to beat the third-bottom hosts. Juventus lost arguably the match of the weekend; Surrendering a two-goal lead through Trezeguet and Sebastian Giovinco, as a Marek Hamsik double sandwiching a Datolo strike won the match for Walter Mazzari's men, who are recovering their best form as each week under the new coach goes by.
Sampdoria were held at home, to the surprise of a fair few observers, by Bari, who have drawn 6 of their first 11 matches back in the top division. Also goalless was Palermo's match with Genoa - The Grifone dropping out of the top six as a result. AC Milan moved up to fourth thanks to two goals against Parma for Serie A's forgotten hitman, Marco Borriello. Yeah - remember him? One striker in form is Cagliari's Brazilian Nene, who grabbed a brace in their home victory over Atalanta, a jekyll-and-hyde team if ever there was one. Also scoring twice was Marco Marchionni, as Fiorentina brushed aside second-bottom Catania. Siena's new manager Marco Baroni watched his new charges draw at home to Lazio; Roma recovered from a goal down to defeat Bologna at home through strikes from Vucinic and Perotta, ending a run of three straight defeats; Chievo and Udinese shared the points at the Bentegodi with Mario Yepes's second half score cancelling out Antonio Floro Flores's opener.
La Liga Round 9: Barca slip up
Deportivo La Coruna 1-1 Sporting Gijon
Espanyol 1-1 Valladolid
Malaga 0-1 Valencia
Mallorca 1-0 Racing Santander
Real Zaragoza 2-1 Almeria
Villarreal 5-0 Tenerife
Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Atletico Madrid
Osasuna 1-1 Barcelona
Real Madrid 2 -0 Getafe
Xerez 0-2 Sevilla
So they are fallible after all. After losing to Rubin Kazan a couple of weeks ago, another chink in Pep Guardiola's previously invincible side was found by Osasuna. Seydou Keita had given the Catalan visitors the lead, only for Gerard Pique to score in his own net after Rafa Marquez (liability alert) had given the ball away carelessly. Real Madrid gratefully accepted this opening as two Gonzalo Higuain goals in three minutes gave them a relatively convincing victory over Getafe. Honestly, I don't know why Higuain doesn't start more for El Real - he's clearly good enough. But then, this is Real Madrid, the club who people are talking about this week for wanting to sack Manuel Pellegrini. Its not such an absurd suggestion - people have been fired at the Bernabau for less - and if they beat AC Milan this week he's probably safe for now.
Sevilla stayed a point ahead of Valencia in third position after a less than convincing victory at second-bottom Xerex. Alvaro Negredo scored a great goal and Luis Fabiano added some gloss; Sevilla look a strong side this year. Perotti and Navas on the wings look brilliant, and they're going great guns in the Champions League (not a tough group, mind). Valencia stay fourth after their victory over Malaga, who stay bottom with a worrying return of just four points. The ongoing, and highly amusing, catastrophe at Atletico Madrid continues inspite of the managerial change; Quique Sanchez Flores watched his side showcase their general incompetence this week at Athletic Bilbao, who ended their run of five matches without a win thanks to a first half goal from long-standing Rafa Benitez target Javi Martinez.
Elsewhere, Mallorca leapfrogged Deportivo into fifth after the former beat relegation certainties Racing and the latter was held at home by Sporting Gijon (who took 6000 fans along the coast to the Riazor - a top effort). Its four defeats in five for Tenerife who were on the receiving end of a thumping from a rampant Villarreal, who look finally to have turned the corner recording their second straight league win with goals from Giuseppe Rossi, Llorente, Cani and Pires. Things aren't entirely rosy though; if Santi Cazorla's back injury is as bad as feared, Ernesto Valverde's job will be made considerably harder. Espanyol and Valladolid drew and Zaragoza edged a tight game at home to Almeria.
Espanyol 1-1 Valladolid
Malaga 0-1 Valencia
Mallorca 1-0 Racing Santander
Real Zaragoza 2-1 Almeria
Villarreal 5-0 Tenerife
Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Atletico Madrid
Osasuna 1-1 Barcelona
Real Madrid 2 -0 Getafe
Xerez 0-2 Sevilla
So they are fallible after all. After losing to Rubin Kazan a couple of weeks ago, another chink in Pep Guardiola's previously invincible side was found by Osasuna. Seydou Keita had given the Catalan visitors the lead, only for Gerard Pique to score in his own net after Rafa Marquez (liability alert) had given the ball away carelessly. Real Madrid gratefully accepted this opening as two Gonzalo Higuain goals in three minutes gave them a relatively convincing victory over Getafe. Honestly, I don't know why Higuain doesn't start more for El Real - he's clearly good enough. But then, this is Real Madrid, the club who people are talking about this week for wanting to sack Manuel Pellegrini. Its not such an absurd suggestion - people have been fired at the Bernabau for less - and if they beat AC Milan this week he's probably safe for now.
Sevilla stayed a point ahead of Valencia in third position after a less than convincing victory at second-bottom Xerex. Alvaro Negredo scored a great goal and Luis Fabiano added some gloss; Sevilla look a strong side this year. Perotti and Navas on the wings look brilliant, and they're going great guns in the Champions League (not a tough group, mind). Valencia stay fourth after their victory over Malaga, who stay bottom with a worrying return of just four points. The ongoing, and highly amusing, catastrophe at Atletico Madrid continues inspite of the managerial change; Quique Sanchez Flores watched his side showcase their general incompetence this week at Athletic Bilbao, who ended their run of five matches without a win thanks to a first half goal from long-standing Rafa Benitez target Javi Martinez.
Elsewhere, Mallorca leapfrogged Deportivo into fifth after the former beat relegation certainties Racing and the latter was held at home by Sporting Gijon (who took 6000 fans along the coast to the Riazor - a top effort). Its four defeats in five for Tenerife who were on the receiving end of a thumping from a rampant Villarreal, who look finally to have turned the corner recording their second straight league win with goals from Giuseppe Rossi, Llorente, Cani and Pires. Things aren't entirely rosy though; if Santi Cazorla's back injury is as bad as feared, Ernesto Valverde's job will be made considerably harder. Espanyol and Valladolid drew and Zaragoza edged a tight game at home to Almeria.
Gomis returns to haunt Les Verts: Ligue 1 reviews
Marseille 1-1 Toulouse
Boulogne 1-2 Nancy
Bordeaux 1-0 Monaco
Auxerre 2-1 Montpellier
Lens 1-1 Lorient
Grenoble 0-2 Lille
St Etienne 0-1 Lyon
Nice 1-0 Le Mans
Rennes 0-3 Valenciennes
Sochaux 1-4 PSG
It was written in the stars really. Bafetimbi Gomis got the rounds of the kitchen from the Goeffroy-Guichard crowd when he came off the bench in the second half, but he was on the spot when Jeremie Janot spilled a corner at his feet ten minutes from time. Did Gomis have the humanity not to celebrate? Of course not. That lifts OL back to second, but Bordeaux continue to lead after a 1-0 win of their own, over fellow challengers Monaco. Marc Planus gave Girondins the win, stabbing in from all of a foot out. Montpellier and Auxerre come next, the two sides moving in opposite directions and no prizes for guessing who the man was in the game between the two sides on Saturday. You can't leave a man like Ireneusz Jelen unmarked six yards out, but the Montpellier defence did and paid the price on the quarter hour and they repeated the trick fifteen minutes later. MHSC did have chances, but found goalkeeper and woodwork equally immovable and their last real chance went when Alberto Costa picked up his second yellow quarter of an hour from time even though they did get one back three minutes into stoppage time off the head of Nenad Dzodic.
I'm sure the town of Grenoble has plenty going for it, the skiing for one. The football team however... They lost again this week, beaten in equal measure by Lille and themselves. Yohan Cabaye put Lille in front with a well-crafted goal before Grenoble self-destructed on the stroke of half-time, David Jemmali coming up with a potential ankle-breaker on Pierre-Alain Frau. The only surprise then was that it took until the last minute for Lille to put the game to bed, Gervinho waltzing through the defence and finishing in style. Grenoble are on the brink of being record-breakingly bad and it'd now feel something like a shame if they don't become so.
Lens picked up a valuable point as they look to halt their slide. Eduardo dos Santos equalised after Franco Sosa had put Lorient in front just before the break. Boulogne lost to ten-man Nancy. Jordan Loties was dismissed with the scores at 1-1, Issiar Dia having put Nancy in front and Alexandre Cuvillier equalising. Youssouf Hadji, as so often, came up with a winner for Les Chardons. Nice picked up a rare win over ten-man Le Mans. Antonio Géder was sent off after fifteen minutes and Ismael Gace got the goal that won the match five minutes from the break. Rennes were put to the sword by Valenciennes for whom Bobo Balde opened the scoring early in the second half. Fahid Ben Khalfallah and Gregory Pujol wrapped it up. PSG recovered from their swine flu setback with a big win over Sochaux. Jeremy Clément pounced on the rebound from Mevlut Erding's saved penalty for the first, Clément Chantome added the second before Erding finally got on the scoresheet. Stephane Dalmat pulled one back late on, but there was still time for Pegguy Luyindula to make it four for the fit-again Parisians. Marseille could only draw on their return to action against a Toulouse side that played 82 minutes a man short after Yoann Pelé was sent off just eight minutes into the game. And yet Les Violets were ahead twenty minutes later through Moussa Sissoko. They couldn't hold out though and Brandao eventually broke the resistance quarter of an hour from time.
Boulogne 1-2 Nancy
Bordeaux 1-0 Monaco
Auxerre 2-1 Montpellier
Lens 1-1 Lorient
Grenoble 0-2 Lille
St Etienne 0-1 Lyon
Nice 1-0 Le Mans
Rennes 0-3 Valenciennes
Sochaux 1-4 PSG
It was written in the stars really. Bafetimbi Gomis got the rounds of the kitchen from the Goeffroy-Guichard crowd when he came off the bench in the second half, but he was on the spot when Jeremie Janot spilled a corner at his feet ten minutes from time. Did Gomis have the humanity not to celebrate? Of course not. That lifts OL back to second, but Bordeaux continue to lead after a 1-0 win of their own, over fellow challengers Monaco. Marc Planus gave Girondins the win, stabbing in from all of a foot out. Montpellier and Auxerre come next, the two sides moving in opposite directions and no prizes for guessing who the man was in the game between the two sides on Saturday. You can't leave a man like Ireneusz Jelen unmarked six yards out, but the Montpellier defence did and paid the price on the quarter hour and they repeated the trick fifteen minutes later. MHSC did have chances, but found goalkeeper and woodwork equally immovable and their last real chance went when Alberto Costa picked up his second yellow quarter of an hour from time even though they did get one back three minutes into stoppage time off the head of Nenad Dzodic.
I'm sure the town of Grenoble has plenty going for it, the skiing for one. The football team however... They lost again this week, beaten in equal measure by Lille and themselves. Yohan Cabaye put Lille in front with a well-crafted goal before Grenoble self-destructed on the stroke of half-time, David Jemmali coming up with a potential ankle-breaker on Pierre-Alain Frau. The only surprise then was that it took until the last minute for Lille to put the game to bed, Gervinho waltzing through the defence and finishing in style. Grenoble are on the brink of being record-breakingly bad and it'd now feel something like a shame if they don't become so.
Lens picked up a valuable point as they look to halt their slide. Eduardo dos Santos equalised after Franco Sosa had put Lorient in front just before the break. Boulogne lost to ten-man Nancy. Jordan Loties was dismissed with the scores at 1-1, Issiar Dia having put Nancy in front and Alexandre Cuvillier equalising. Youssouf Hadji, as so often, came up with a winner for Les Chardons. Nice picked up a rare win over ten-man Le Mans. Antonio Géder was sent off after fifteen minutes and Ismael Gace got the goal that won the match five minutes from the break. Rennes were put to the sword by Valenciennes for whom Bobo Balde opened the scoring early in the second half. Fahid Ben Khalfallah and Gregory Pujol wrapped it up. PSG recovered from their swine flu setback with a big win over Sochaux. Jeremy Clément pounced on the rebound from Mevlut Erding's saved penalty for the first, Clément Chantome added the second before Erding finally got on the scoresheet. Stephane Dalmat pulled one back late on, but there was still time for Pegguy Luyindula to make it four for the fit-again Parisians. Marseille could only draw on their return to action against a Toulouse side that played 82 minutes a man short after Yoann Pelé was sent off just eight minutes into the game. And yet Les Violets were ahead twenty minutes later through Moussa Sissoko. They couldn't hold out though and Brandao eventually broke the resistance quarter of an hour from time.
Leaders stumble, but get away with it: Bundesliga reviews
Dortmund 2-0 Hertha
Stuttgart 0-0 Bayern
Hamburg 2-3 Monchengladbach
Nurnberg 2-2 Bremen
Cologne 0-1 Hannover
Wolfsburg 3-3 Mainz
Schalke 2-2 Leverkusen
Freiburg 0-1 Hoffenheim
Eintracht 2-1 Bochum
Hamburg lost while Leverkusen and Schalke drew with one another, but none of the other clubs could take advantage with draws very much the order of the day. Indeed, the big winners of the weekend were Hoffenheim whose win over Freiburg sees them up to fifth, just three points off the summit. Maicosuel's weighted, curling shot from the edge of the box just before the break was enough for the win. Schalke drew in similar circumstances to the previous week's point against Hamburg. Leverkusen ran into a two-goal lead through Toni Kroos, lovely drive from 20 yards, and an athletic header from Stefan Kiessling. Schalke left it late, Kevin Kuranyi smuggling one through a crowd in the goalmouth seven minutes from time and the comeback was completed with 88 minutes on the clock by Vicente Sanchez, beating Rene Adler to the ball and heading in. If the keeper had stayed on his line, he probably makes the save and Leverkusen win. He didn't. They didn't. Neither did Hamburg, beaten at home by Gladbach despite leading twice. Pitor Trochowski put Bruno Labbadia's side ahead on the quarter hour, but they'd turn round level as Marco Reus used his pace and delicate touch to outstrip the defence and lift it over Frank Rost. Ze Roberto restored the lead with a scorching free-kick, but Danté squared it up with a header from a corner quarter of an hour from time. Eight minutes from time, Rob Friend slid in for the winner.
Bremen were best placed to take advantage of the slips by the top two, but they too were held to a draw. It needed some late, late Aaron Hunt intervention to even get that after Nurnberg took a two-goal half-time lead. A defensive mix-up let Christian Eigler in for the first three minutes into the contest and Albert Bunjaku's header was ruled, correctly, to have crossed the line before being cleared. A combination of Hunt's head and shoulder propelled the ball into the goal 18 minutes from time for 2-1 and he squared it up in style two minutes into stoppages, chesting it down and volleying in one flowing move. Bayern couldn't find a way past Stuttgart, Mario Gomez coming as close as anybody while Wolfsburg were also held, at home to improving Mainz. Obafemi Martins, starting in place of the droppped Grafite, put the champions two up inside 20 minutes, heading the first in off Zvjezdan Misimovic's cross and linking up with Edin Dzeko for the second. It'd be level at half-time, Chadlj Amri given the freedom of the Wolves' penalty area before firing the first in and a wonderful free-kick from Andreas Ivanschitz levelling things up. Misimovic put Wolfsburg back in front, but Tim Hoogland was found with a great ball five minutes from the end and he poked past Diego Benaglio to split the points.
Hertha lost again. Dortmund were the beneficiaries of their generosity this week, Nuri Sahin hitting a penalty and Lucas Barrios making the game safe in the last minute leaving Hertha five points off safety already. Bochum are deep in it as well after defeat to Eintracht for whom Maik Franz scored at both ends. Caio opened the scoring with a vicious, swerving and dipping free-kick from half a mile out before Franz's own goal, a horrible, sliced attempt at a clearance. He made amends after the break, heading in at the right end from a corner. The relief was palpable with the lad almost in tears and generously responding to the crowd's support. With time and patience running out, Shinji Ono went all Jackie Chan with a couple of rash challenges. Both drew yellow cards and the Japanese international was duly sent off. Cologne are also not doing well and lost again. Goal shy in front of their own fans, they again drew a blank at the RheinEnergieStadion meaning Jan Rosenthal's effort on the half hour was enough to signal defeat.
Stuttgart 0-0 Bayern
Hamburg 2-3 Monchengladbach
Nurnberg 2-2 Bremen
Cologne 0-1 Hannover
Wolfsburg 3-3 Mainz
Schalke 2-2 Leverkusen
Freiburg 0-1 Hoffenheim
Eintracht 2-1 Bochum
Hamburg lost while Leverkusen and Schalke drew with one another, but none of the other clubs could take advantage with draws very much the order of the day. Indeed, the big winners of the weekend were Hoffenheim whose win over Freiburg sees them up to fifth, just three points off the summit. Maicosuel's weighted, curling shot from the edge of the box just before the break was enough for the win. Schalke drew in similar circumstances to the previous week's point against Hamburg. Leverkusen ran into a two-goal lead through Toni Kroos, lovely drive from 20 yards, and an athletic header from Stefan Kiessling. Schalke left it late, Kevin Kuranyi smuggling one through a crowd in the goalmouth seven minutes from time and the comeback was completed with 88 minutes on the clock by Vicente Sanchez, beating Rene Adler to the ball and heading in. If the keeper had stayed on his line, he probably makes the save and Leverkusen win. He didn't. They didn't. Neither did Hamburg, beaten at home by Gladbach despite leading twice. Pitor Trochowski put Bruno Labbadia's side ahead on the quarter hour, but they'd turn round level as Marco Reus used his pace and delicate touch to outstrip the defence and lift it over Frank Rost. Ze Roberto restored the lead with a scorching free-kick, but Danté squared it up with a header from a corner quarter of an hour from time. Eight minutes from time, Rob Friend slid in for the winner.
Bremen were best placed to take advantage of the slips by the top two, but they too were held to a draw. It needed some late, late Aaron Hunt intervention to even get that after Nurnberg took a two-goal half-time lead. A defensive mix-up let Christian Eigler in for the first three minutes into the contest and Albert Bunjaku's header was ruled, correctly, to have crossed the line before being cleared. A combination of Hunt's head and shoulder propelled the ball into the goal 18 minutes from time for 2-1 and he squared it up in style two minutes into stoppages, chesting it down and volleying in one flowing move. Bayern couldn't find a way past Stuttgart, Mario Gomez coming as close as anybody while Wolfsburg were also held, at home to improving Mainz. Obafemi Martins, starting in place of the droppped Grafite, put the champions two up inside 20 minutes, heading the first in off Zvjezdan Misimovic's cross and linking up with Edin Dzeko for the second. It'd be level at half-time, Chadlj Amri given the freedom of the Wolves' penalty area before firing the first in and a wonderful free-kick from Andreas Ivanschitz levelling things up. Misimovic put Wolfsburg back in front, but Tim Hoogland was found with a great ball five minutes from the end and he poked past Diego Benaglio to split the points.
Hertha lost again. Dortmund were the beneficiaries of their generosity this week, Nuri Sahin hitting a penalty and Lucas Barrios making the game safe in the last minute leaving Hertha five points off safety already. Bochum are deep in it as well after defeat to Eintracht for whom Maik Franz scored at both ends. Caio opened the scoring with a vicious, swerving and dipping free-kick from half a mile out before Franz's own goal, a horrible, sliced attempt at a clearance. He made amends after the break, heading in at the right end from a corner. The relief was palpable with the lad almost in tears and generously responding to the crowd's support. With time and patience running out, Shinji Ono went all Jackie Chan with a couple of rash challenges. Both drew yellow cards and the Japanese international was duly sent off. Cologne are also not doing well and lost again. Goal shy in front of their own fans, they again drew a blank at the RheinEnergieStadion meaning Jan Rosenthal's effort on the half hour was enough to signal defeat.
Feyenoord thrashed in Classic: Eredivisie reviews
VVV Venlo 1-1 NAC
Heerenveen 3-0 Den Haag
PSV 1-0 Vitesse
Roda 1-2 Twente
Groningen 0-1 AZ
Ajax 5-1 Feyenoord
Waalwijk 0-1 Willem II
Heracles 3-1 Utrecht
Sparta 2-0 NEC
Feyenoord were blown away by Ajax on Sunday at the Amsterdam ArenA in the most one-sided Classic for many a year. Ajax were all over their big rivals from the off and the only surprise was that it took until three minutes before the break for them to go ahead. Demy de Zeeuw was the unlikely source of the opener, making good ground to a looping ball which he stuck through the legs of Rob van Dijk. A minute later, Feyenoord were down to ten as Stefan Babovic smacked Jan Vertonghen across the nose with his elbow, the only controversy being that Luis Suarez got away with a similar challenge on Babovic moments earlier. With the man advantage, Ajax cut loose. Urby Emanuelson scored a stunner from a tight angle just after the break, and Gregory van der Wiel's great run and one-two with Marko Pantelic made it three. Denny Landzaat's delicate chip pulled one back, but De Zeeuw's second restored the advantage. Feyenoord finished with nine, van Dijk sent off in the last minute for pulling down Suarez and the Uruguayan sank the penalty. Ajax remain third, but with a gap growing back to Feyenoord who stay fourth.
The top two remain unchanged after both scored single-goal victories on Saturday. PSV weren't at their rampaging best against Vitesse and it was Balazs Dzsudzsak who pounced on a defensive error to settle the match. Twente were cruising at half-time in Kerkrade as Bryan Ruiz and Miroslav Stoch gave them a two-goal lead. Ruiz finished from a tight angle while Stoch needed a deflection to loop the ball over the keeper and in. Some rare lax defending allowed Jeanvion Yulu-Matondo to pull one back early in the second half, but the Tukkers held off a determined Roda side to remain top by two points.
Heracles dragged themselves close to Utrecht by beating them in Almelo after coming from behind. Michael Silberbauer put Utrecht ahead with a free header at the back post from a free-kick, but Heracles turned round ahead thanks to Willy Overtoom who finished from 20 yards after some lovely build-up play and Everton who headed home from point blank range. More silky build-up led to the third and decisive goal, nice little triangles up the left, put in by Darl Douglas as Utrecht failed to clear. AZ left it late to beat Groningen, Jeremain Lens eventually giving the champions the win with a free header five minutes from time. NAC held out for a point in the Friday game despite going down to nine men against VVV. Robbert Schilder was off for a second yellow as early as the 18th minute and Frank van Kouwen gave VVV the half-time lead. Leonardo squared it up for European hopefuls NAC, but they were forced to cling on at the end after Tim Gilissen saw red seven minutes from the end. Sparta's great run continues and they now look in decent order. Erik Falkenburg is in good form and was involved in both goals. He scored the first just before the break, some comic attempts at clearances landing the ball at his feet 12 yards out and he slammed it home. On the hour, another Falkenburg shot took an almighty deflection off Ramon Zomer to the degree that it needs to go down as an own goal. Only a charlatan would claim it as Falkenburg's.
Waalwijk. Another week, another defeat. This time to Willem II, the only goal coming from Christophe Gregoire who initially had his penalty saved, but the rebound fell kindly and he made no mistake at the second attempt. RKC finished with ten after Benjamin de Cuellar was sent off for an ugly, two-footed challenge. Heerenveen pull themselves out of the bottom three with a rousing 3-0 win over ten-man Den Haag. Roy Beerens put the Friesians ahead on 20 minutes and ADO were reduced a man just on the stroke of half-time, Pascal Bosschaart picking up a second yellow. Michal Papadopoulos bagged two after the break to seal the win.
Heerenveen 3-0 Den Haag
PSV 1-0 Vitesse
Roda 1-2 Twente
Groningen 0-1 AZ
Ajax 5-1 Feyenoord
Waalwijk 0-1 Willem II
Heracles 3-1 Utrecht
Sparta 2-0 NEC
Feyenoord were blown away by Ajax on Sunday at the Amsterdam ArenA in the most one-sided Classic for many a year. Ajax were all over their big rivals from the off and the only surprise was that it took until three minutes before the break for them to go ahead. Demy de Zeeuw was the unlikely source of the opener, making good ground to a looping ball which he stuck through the legs of Rob van Dijk. A minute later, Feyenoord were down to ten as Stefan Babovic smacked Jan Vertonghen across the nose with his elbow, the only controversy being that Luis Suarez got away with a similar challenge on Babovic moments earlier. With the man advantage, Ajax cut loose. Urby Emanuelson scored a stunner from a tight angle just after the break, and Gregory van der Wiel's great run and one-two with Marko Pantelic made it three. Denny Landzaat's delicate chip pulled one back, but De Zeeuw's second restored the advantage. Feyenoord finished with nine, van Dijk sent off in the last minute for pulling down Suarez and the Uruguayan sank the penalty. Ajax remain third, but with a gap growing back to Feyenoord who stay fourth.
The top two remain unchanged after both scored single-goal victories on Saturday. PSV weren't at their rampaging best against Vitesse and it was Balazs Dzsudzsak who pounced on a defensive error to settle the match. Twente were cruising at half-time in Kerkrade as Bryan Ruiz and Miroslav Stoch gave them a two-goal lead. Ruiz finished from a tight angle while Stoch needed a deflection to loop the ball over the keeper and in. Some rare lax defending allowed Jeanvion Yulu-Matondo to pull one back early in the second half, but the Tukkers held off a determined Roda side to remain top by two points.
Heracles dragged themselves close to Utrecht by beating them in Almelo after coming from behind. Michael Silberbauer put Utrecht ahead with a free header at the back post from a free-kick, but Heracles turned round ahead thanks to Willy Overtoom who finished from 20 yards after some lovely build-up play and Everton who headed home from point blank range. More silky build-up led to the third and decisive goal, nice little triangles up the left, put in by Darl Douglas as Utrecht failed to clear. AZ left it late to beat Groningen, Jeremain Lens eventually giving the champions the win with a free header five minutes from time. NAC held out for a point in the Friday game despite going down to nine men against VVV. Robbert Schilder was off for a second yellow as early as the 18th minute and Frank van Kouwen gave VVV the half-time lead. Leonardo squared it up for European hopefuls NAC, but they were forced to cling on at the end after Tim Gilissen saw red seven minutes from the end. Sparta's great run continues and they now look in decent order. Erik Falkenburg is in good form and was involved in both goals. He scored the first just before the break, some comic attempts at clearances landing the ball at his feet 12 yards out and he slammed it home. On the hour, another Falkenburg shot took an almighty deflection off Ramon Zomer to the degree that it needs to go down as an own goal. Only a charlatan would claim it as Falkenburg's.
Waalwijk. Another week, another defeat. This time to Willem II, the only goal coming from Christophe Gregoire who initially had his penalty saved, but the rebound fell kindly and he made no mistake at the second attempt. RKC finished with ten after Benjamin de Cuellar was sent off for an ugly, two-footed challenge. Heerenveen pull themselves out of the bottom three with a rousing 3-0 win over ten-man Den Haag. Roy Beerens put the Friesians ahead on 20 minutes and ADO were reduced a man just on the stroke of half-time, Pascal Bosschaart picking up a second yellow. Michal Papadopoulos bagged two after the break to seal the win.
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