Auxerre 2-0 Grenoble
Lorient 1-1 PSG
Valenciennes 3-2 Marseille
Monaco 1-2 St Etienne
Montpellier 1-0 Boulogne
Nancy 2-1 Sochaux
Lyon 2-1 Toulouse
Lille 1-1 Nice
Le Mans 3-0 Lens
Bordeaux 1-0 Rennes
Valenciennes shocked Marseille at Stade Nungesser as they came from behind to inflict OM's first league defeat. The sides were locked at 2-2 after half an hour following a frantic start to the game. Fernando Morientes gave Marseille the lead before three goals in seven minutes - Milan Bisevac and David Ducourtioux for VA either side of Mamadou Niang's fifth of the season - left it level. Chances flowed throughout, but Rafael Schmitz was the only one to breach either defence with a late winner. That leaves just Lyon and Bordeaux yet to taste defeat and both were winners at the weekend. Lyon came from behind at Stade Gerland, Yannis Tafer and Bafetimbi Gomis with second half goals to overhaul Toulouse for whom Moussa Sissoko had opened the scoring early on. Bordeaux just needed a single goal against Rennes, the Brazilian Wendel heading home midway through the first half.
That leaves the top two with a bit of a buffer zone to the next group which includes Marseille and Rennes. Also in there are Montpellier who won yet again to maintain their great start, Nenad Dzodic with the only goal of the game. PSG came from behind to draw with Lorient, Guillaume Hoarau off the mark for the season when he equalised Arnold Mvuemba's opener. Monaco, though, lost touch a little after defeat at home to lowly St Etienne. Boubacar Sanogo got Les Verts in front and though Sebastien Puygrenier equalised, Gonzalo Bergessio won it in stoppage time.
Fun and games in Auxerre where Ireneusz Jelen and David Jemmali were both sent off on 21 minutes. Grenoble's Jemmali went through Jelen from behind and the Pole's angry reaction sparked a brawl. Once the referee calmed it down, he had little option but to dismiss both players. Auxerre reacted better to the reduction to ten-a-side and second half goals from Benoit Pedretti and Cedric Hengbart left Greonble still seeking their first points of the season. Lille and Nice are both down at the wrong end of the table after a draw, Pierre-Alain Frau equalising late on to Loic Remy's opener. Le Mans pulled themselves away from immediate danger with a comfortable win over Lens. Frédéric Thomas scored twice in the first half and Anthony Le Tallec wrapped it up just after the hour mark. Sochaux are also at the wrong end after defeat in Nancy for whom Youssouf Hadji scored twice - one from the penalty spot. Sochaux could only muster a late consolation from Marvin Martin in reply.
The home of football sarcasm
Monday, 28 September 2009
Hamburg beat Bayern to stay top: Bundesliga reviews
Nurnberg 0-1 Bochum
Dortmund 0-1 Schalke
Cologne 0-1 Leverkusen
Wolfsburg 4-2 Hannover
Bremen 3-0 Mainz
Eintracht 0-3 Stuttgart
Hamburg 1-0 Bayern
Freiburg 3-0 Monchengladbach
Hoffenheim 5-1 Hertha
Ze Roberto punished his former team-mates when Bayern paid a visit to Hamburg this weekend by setting up Mladen Petric for the only goal of the game. Bruno Labbadia had seen his side dumped out of the cup in midweek by third division Osnabruck while Bayern had Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben starting together for the first time. It mattered little. Despite a couple of early scares with Robben prominent, Hamburg dominated and when Ze Roberto got to the bye-line to square for Petric to side-foot home, it was fully deserved.
Hertha are in real bother now as Vedad Ibisevic's hat-trick inside the first quarter of the game had them reeling at the Rhein-Neckar. The Bosnian was brilliant a year ago as Hoffenheim topped the standings at christmas, but their season tailed off after he was badly injured. He's back now and no mistaking, scoring in the first, fourth and twentieth minutes to all but seal the game there and then. Raffael got one back in the stroke of half-time, but Chinedu Obasi and Carlos Eduardo, from the penalty spot, eased the Villagers to a big win. Leverkusen keep pace with Hamburg thanks to a 1-0 win over Cologne for whom Maniche was sent off. The Portuguese received his marching orders shortly after Simon Rolfes had put Bayer ahead. Wolfsburg won a hugely entertaining tussle with Hannover with Zvjezdan Misimovic's early free-kick getting it all started. Hanno Baltisch equalised, but Christian Gentner sent the Wolves in at half-time ahead. Japanese international Makoto Hasebe scored just after the break to give the champions a two-goal advantage, but hapless defender Alexander Madlung put through his own net to give Hannover a sniff. Edin Dzeko popped up with a crucial fourth for his side to win it.
Bremen and Schalke both won to keep pace at the top, over Mainz and Dortmund respectively. It wasn't as fiery a Ruhr derby in Dortmund as you normally expect, Jefferson Farfan with the only goal, sliding between two defenders to get to Halil Altintop's centre. Aaron Hunt gave Bremen the lead over Mainz and two Claudio Pizarro goals in the second half inflicted a big defeat on the promoted side. Stuttering Stuttgart saw off ten-man Eintracht who had Marco Russ sent off. Julian Scheiber had already scored twice by then and Tomas Hitzlsperger wrapped it up after the interval.
Freiburg continue their good form with a 3-0 win over Gladbach who a plummeting down the table. All the goals came in the second half, Mohamadou Idrissou, Yacine Abdessadki and Julian Schuster with them. New Bochum coach Frank Heinemann got his first win thanks to an early strike from Diego Klimowicz which was enough to see off Nurnberg.
Dortmund 0-1 Schalke
Cologne 0-1 Leverkusen
Wolfsburg 4-2 Hannover
Bremen 3-0 Mainz
Eintracht 0-3 Stuttgart
Hamburg 1-0 Bayern
Freiburg 3-0 Monchengladbach
Hoffenheim 5-1 Hertha
Ze Roberto punished his former team-mates when Bayern paid a visit to Hamburg this weekend by setting up Mladen Petric for the only goal of the game. Bruno Labbadia had seen his side dumped out of the cup in midweek by third division Osnabruck while Bayern had Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben starting together for the first time. It mattered little. Despite a couple of early scares with Robben prominent, Hamburg dominated and when Ze Roberto got to the bye-line to square for Petric to side-foot home, it was fully deserved.
Hertha are in real bother now as Vedad Ibisevic's hat-trick inside the first quarter of the game had them reeling at the Rhein-Neckar. The Bosnian was brilliant a year ago as Hoffenheim topped the standings at christmas, but their season tailed off after he was badly injured. He's back now and no mistaking, scoring in the first, fourth and twentieth minutes to all but seal the game there and then. Raffael got one back in the stroke of half-time, but Chinedu Obasi and Carlos Eduardo, from the penalty spot, eased the Villagers to a big win. Leverkusen keep pace with Hamburg thanks to a 1-0 win over Cologne for whom Maniche was sent off. The Portuguese received his marching orders shortly after Simon Rolfes had put Bayer ahead. Wolfsburg won a hugely entertaining tussle with Hannover with Zvjezdan Misimovic's early free-kick getting it all started. Hanno Baltisch equalised, but Christian Gentner sent the Wolves in at half-time ahead. Japanese international Makoto Hasebe scored just after the break to give the champions a two-goal advantage, but hapless defender Alexander Madlung put through his own net to give Hannover a sniff. Edin Dzeko popped up with a crucial fourth for his side to win it.
Bremen and Schalke both won to keep pace at the top, over Mainz and Dortmund respectively. It wasn't as fiery a Ruhr derby in Dortmund as you normally expect, Jefferson Farfan with the only goal, sliding between two defenders to get to Halil Altintop's centre. Aaron Hunt gave Bremen the lead over Mainz and two Claudio Pizarro goals in the second half inflicted a big defeat on the promoted side. Stuttering Stuttgart saw off ten-man Eintracht who had Marco Russ sent off. Julian Scheiber had already scored twice by then and Tomas Hitzlsperger wrapped it up after the interval.
Freiburg continue their good form with a 3-0 win over Gladbach who a plummeting down the table. All the goals came in the second half, Mohamadou Idrissou, Yacine Abdessadki and Julian Schuster with them. New Bochum coach Frank Heinemann got his first win thanks to an early strike from Diego Klimowicz which was enough to see off Nurnberg.
AZ lose again: Eredivisie reviews
Utrecht 1-0 AZ
PSV 3-1 Willem II
Waalwijk 4-1 Roda
Twente 2-1 VVV Venlo
Ajax 3-0 Den Haag
Groningen 1-0 Vitesse
Sparta 0-2 Heerenveen
NAC 0-2 Feyenoord
NEC 0-2 Heracles
It's safe to say that AZ's defence of their title isn't going particularly well. They've already lost as many games this season as they did last time and lie eight points adrift of the pace set by PSV and Twente. Sander Keller gave Utrecht the lead on 14 minutes, heading in a free-kick as Utrecht dominated proceedings, pressing high up the field and stifling the Alkmaarders. Just to make matters worse, AZ midfielder Simon Poulsen picked up a second yellow in the last few minutes as Utrecht keep up the pressure at the top. They play NEC on Wednesday with the Nijmegen side going into that one on the back of a defeat at home to Heracles. Everton and Bas Dost gave Heracles a two-goal lead and even the dismissal of Olivier ter Horst didn't help, Youssef El Akchaoui missing the penalty that came as a result. Win that midweek game and Utrecht will go level with Ajax.
They're likely to end the week behind the Amsterdammers who are enjoying the best goal difference in the league - it's already up to 20 thanks to another three against Den Haag. With ADO fans banned from travelling to the Amsterdam ArenA, they didn't have to witness their side's worst display of an otherwise satisfactory season to date. Demy de Zeeuw gave Ajax the lead half way through the first half and late goals from Marko Pantelic - his first for the club following his switch from Hertha - and Siem de Jong wrapped it up. On Saturday, PSV and Twente both won and it's they that sit atop the standings. PSV recorded a routine 3-1 victory over Willem II, Otman Bakkal, Danko Lazovic and Ibrahim Afellay making it safe in the first half with just a late consolation from Frank Demouge coming back the other way. Twente came from behind at home to VVV Venlo after the visitors took a third minute lead through Achmed Ahahaoui. The reply came from the South American duo Bryan Ruiz, the Costa Rican with an improvised overhead effort, and Douglas, the big Brazilian centre back lashing home from six yards as VVV failed to deal with a corner. Twente dominated throughout. Feyenoord won as well despite being reduced to ten men when Denny Landzaat was sent off. Andwele Slory got the opener just after the hour and though Landzaat saw red a minute from time, Leroy Fer still had time to add a second.
Waalwijk finally got a win and it was worth waiting for. Willem Janssen gave Roda an early lead, but two goals late in the first half put Waalwijk ahead. Fouad Idabdelhay and Charlison Benshop got those and further strikes after the break from Derk Boerrigter and Fred Benson finally saw RKC get off the mark. They're still bottom though, and Heerenveen won at Sparta to maintain the distance to the foot of the table. Paulo Henriques and a Viktor Elm penalty were enough for the Friesians. Groningen beat Vitesse by a single Danny Holla goal to join a clutch of clubs on eight points in the bottom half of the table.
PSV 3-1 Willem II
Waalwijk 4-1 Roda
Twente 2-1 VVV Venlo
Ajax 3-0 Den Haag
Groningen 1-0 Vitesse
Sparta 0-2 Heerenveen
NAC 0-2 Feyenoord
NEC 0-2 Heracles
It's safe to say that AZ's defence of their title isn't going particularly well. They've already lost as many games this season as they did last time and lie eight points adrift of the pace set by PSV and Twente. Sander Keller gave Utrecht the lead on 14 minutes, heading in a free-kick as Utrecht dominated proceedings, pressing high up the field and stifling the Alkmaarders. Just to make matters worse, AZ midfielder Simon Poulsen picked up a second yellow in the last few minutes as Utrecht keep up the pressure at the top. They play NEC on Wednesday with the Nijmegen side going into that one on the back of a defeat at home to Heracles. Everton and Bas Dost gave Heracles a two-goal lead and even the dismissal of Olivier ter Horst didn't help, Youssef El Akchaoui missing the penalty that came as a result. Win that midweek game and Utrecht will go level with Ajax.
They're likely to end the week behind the Amsterdammers who are enjoying the best goal difference in the league - it's already up to 20 thanks to another three against Den Haag. With ADO fans banned from travelling to the Amsterdam ArenA, they didn't have to witness their side's worst display of an otherwise satisfactory season to date. Demy de Zeeuw gave Ajax the lead half way through the first half and late goals from Marko Pantelic - his first for the club following his switch from Hertha - and Siem de Jong wrapped it up. On Saturday, PSV and Twente both won and it's they that sit atop the standings. PSV recorded a routine 3-1 victory over Willem II, Otman Bakkal, Danko Lazovic and Ibrahim Afellay making it safe in the first half with just a late consolation from Frank Demouge coming back the other way. Twente came from behind at home to VVV Venlo after the visitors took a third minute lead through Achmed Ahahaoui. The reply came from the South American duo Bryan Ruiz, the Costa Rican with an improvised overhead effort, and Douglas, the big Brazilian centre back lashing home from six yards as VVV failed to deal with a corner. Twente dominated throughout. Feyenoord won as well despite being reduced to ten men when Denny Landzaat was sent off. Andwele Slory got the opener just after the hour and though Landzaat saw red a minute from time, Leroy Fer still had time to add a second.
Waalwijk finally got a win and it was worth waiting for. Willem Janssen gave Roda an early lead, but two goals late in the first half put Waalwijk ahead. Fouad Idabdelhay and Charlison Benshop got those and further strikes after the break from Derk Boerrigter and Fred Benson finally saw RKC get off the mark. They're still bottom though, and Heerenveen won at Sparta to maintain the distance to the foot of the table. Paulo Henriques and a Viktor Elm penalty were enough for the Friesians. Groningen beat Vitesse by a single Danny Holla goal to join a clutch of clubs on eight points in the bottom half of the table.
Friday, 25 September 2009
Ligue 1 round 7
Auxerre v Grenoble
Lorient v PSG
Valenciennes v Marseille
Monaco v St Etienne
Montpellier v Boulogne
Nancy v Sochaux
Lyon v Toulouse
Lille v Nice
Le Mans v Lens
Bordeaux v Stade Rennes
Top game this week in La République is in Lyon where Toulouse are the visitors. €70m was spent on players at Stade Gerland, although half of that came from the sale of just one player, and they've hit it off quickly and are beginning to look like a team refreshed. No longer do they rely on just one or two players (Juninho and Karim Benzema), rather the goals are coming from all across the field. Toulouse haven't been great so far this season, but they're still capable of getting goals, although André-Pierre Gignac seems to be suffering from second-season syndrome.
Bordeaux are at home to Rennes with the Marouane Chamakh thing still not resolved, president Jean-Louis Triaud entering into a war of words with Arsene Wenger over the Moroccan's future. But Les Girondins march serenely on. Rennes are in fourth, but this looks like a home win. Marseille are back up to third and also have a winnable fixture, away at Valenciennes. Monaco have surged into the top half dozen and are at home to struggling St Etienne this week while Montpellier and Boulogne face off in a battle of promoted clubs, both of whom started the season well. PSG face Lorient with both sides in danger of just falling away a bit.
Grenoble still remain rock bottom, pointless in so many ways, and Auxerre will fancy this is a chance to kick start a so-far miserable campaign. There's a mid-table clash between Nancy and Sochaux, Lens go to Le Mans and Nice make the long trip north to Lille.
Lorient v PSG
Valenciennes v Marseille
Monaco v St Etienne
Montpellier v Boulogne
Nancy v Sochaux
Lyon v Toulouse
Lille v Nice
Le Mans v Lens
Bordeaux v Stade Rennes
Top game this week in La République is in Lyon where Toulouse are the visitors. €70m was spent on players at Stade Gerland, although half of that came from the sale of just one player, and they've hit it off quickly and are beginning to look like a team refreshed. No longer do they rely on just one or two players (Juninho and Karim Benzema), rather the goals are coming from all across the field. Toulouse haven't been great so far this season, but they're still capable of getting goals, although André-Pierre Gignac seems to be suffering from second-season syndrome.
Bordeaux are at home to Rennes with the Marouane Chamakh thing still not resolved, president Jean-Louis Triaud entering into a war of words with Arsene Wenger over the Moroccan's future. But Les Girondins march serenely on. Rennes are in fourth, but this looks like a home win. Marseille are back up to third and also have a winnable fixture, away at Valenciennes. Monaco have surged into the top half dozen and are at home to struggling St Etienne this week while Montpellier and Boulogne face off in a battle of promoted clubs, both of whom started the season well. PSG face Lorient with both sides in danger of just falling away a bit.
Grenoble still remain rock bottom, pointless in so many ways, and Auxerre will fancy this is a chance to kick start a so-far miserable campaign. There's a mid-table clash between Nancy and Sochaux, Lens go to Le Mans and Nice make the long trip north to Lille.
Bundesliga round 7
Nurnberg Bochum
Cologne v Leverkusen
Wolfsburg v Hannover
Bremen v Mainz
Eintracht v Stuttgart
Dortmund v Schalke
Hamburg v Bayern
Freiburg v Monchengladbach
Hoffenheim v Hertha
It goes from bad to worse for Hertha. Bottom of the league, they were dumped out of the cup in midweek by second division 1860 Munich on penalties. Lucien Favre is planning on sticking it out saying "some of the fans still like me" which sounds like the last shred of hope for the Swiss. Defeat in Hoffenheim will see that number of Favre fans diminish further and the Villagers arrive in some sort of form.
Top game, however, is in Hamburg where the visitors are Bayern. Hamburg stumbled last week, but are in free-scoring mood, as were Bayern up until last week. Defensive frailties still plague the Bavarian behemoth, so this one promises goals aplenty. Off-season signing Mario Gomez is unhappy with his lot at Bayern having gone from main man at Stuttgart to bit-part player in Munich. Could it be that Bayern will become their own worst enemies? Leverkusen are still right up there and go to Cologne for a match they should win pretty comfortably. Wolfsburg got back into something like a week ago and a home tie with Hannover will hold few fears.
Elsewhere, Bremen v Mainz promises entertainment. Both sides are in decent form, aren't great at the back, but like to score goals. Nurnberg and Bochum looks a tale of two strugglers, Eintracht against Stuttgart doesn't promise anything, Freiburg are going well and should do well against Gladbach and Schalke's in-fighting and teetering challenge goes to Dortmund.
Cologne v Leverkusen
Wolfsburg v Hannover
Bremen v Mainz
Eintracht v Stuttgart
Dortmund v Schalke
Hamburg v Bayern
Freiburg v Monchengladbach
Hoffenheim v Hertha
It goes from bad to worse for Hertha. Bottom of the league, they were dumped out of the cup in midweek by second division 1860 Munich on penalties. Lucien Favre is planning on sticking it out saying "some of the fans still like me" which sounds like the last shred of hope for the Swiss. Defeat in Hoffenheim will see that number of Favre fans diminish further and the Villagers arrive in some sort of form.
Top game, however, is in Hamburg where the visitors are Bayern. Hamburg stumbled last week, but are in free-scoring mood, as were Bayern up until last week. Defensive frailties still plague the Bavarian behemoth, so this one promises goals aplenty. Off-season signing Mario Gomez is unhappy with his lot at Bayern having gone from main man at Stuttgart to bit-part player in Munich. Could it be that Bayern will become their own worst enemies? Leverkusen are still right up there and go to Cologne for a match they should win pretty comfortably. Wolfsburg got back into something like a week ago and a home tie with Hannover will hold few fears.
Elsewhere, Bremen v Mainz promises entertainment. Both sides are in decent form, aren't great at the back, but like to score goals. Nurnberg and Bochum looks a tale of two strugglers, Eintracht against Stuttgart doesn't promise anything, Freiburg are going well and should do well against Gladbach and Schalke's in-fighting and teetering challenge goes to Dortmund.
Eredivisie round 8
Utrecht v AZ
PSV v Willem II
Waalwijk v Roda
Twente v VVV Venlo
Ajax v Den Haag
Groningen v Vitesse
Sparta v Heerenveen
NAC v Feyenoord
NEC v Heracles
Wednesday:
NEC v Utrecht
It's a big week for Utrecht this week as they take on the champions at home before playing their catch-up game against NEC in midweek. Having lost just once so far this season, they sit four points off the league lead. A maximum haul from these two games and they're right back in the thick of it. And it's a distinct possibility. AZ aren't pulling up the trees and NEC just aren't particularly special. There's more chance of the Nijmegeners getting something from Sunday's game against Heracles then there is against Utrecht.
Feyenoord should get back to winning ways at Breda, Ajax can add yet more goals against the obdurate Den Haag, PSV are big favourites at home to Willem II and Twente will fancy themselves at home to entertainers VVV Venlo. VVV are just coming into some tough fixtures in a row after that flamboyant start, but these next few weeks will see whether they're in it doe the long haul.
Waalwijk still can't buy a win and Roda will look to take advantage and there are two contenders for dullest game of the season where Sparta take on Heerenveen and Vitesse go to Groningen. Four poor sides there and it's difficult to even see a goal in either match.
PSV v Willem II
Waalwijk v Roda
Twente v VVV Venlo
Ajax v Den Haag
Groningen v Vitesse
Sparta v Heerenveen
NAC v Feyenoord
NEC v Heracles
Wednesday:
NEC v Utrecht
It's a big week for Utrecht this week as they take on the champions at home before playing their catch-up game against NEC in midweek. Having lost just once so far this season, they sit four points off the league lead. A maximum haul from these two games and they're right back in the thick of it. And it's a distinct possibility. AZ aren't pulling up the trees and NEC just aren't particularly special. There's more chance of the Nijmegeners getting something from Sunday's game against Heracles then there is against Utrecht.
Feyenoord should get back to winning ways at Breda, Ajax can add yet more goals against the obdurate Den Haag, PSV are big favourites at home to Willem II and Twente will fancy themselves at home to entertainers VVV Venlo. VVV are just coming into some tough fixtures in a row after that flamboyant start, but these next few weeks will see whether they're in it doe the long haul.
Waalwijk still can't buy a win and Roda will look to take advantage and there are two contenders for dullest game of the season where Sparta take on Heerenveen and Vitesse go to Groningen. Four poor sides there and it's difficult to even see a goal in either match.
Monday, 21 September 2009
Trouble mars Saturday action: Ligue 1 reviews
St Etienne 1-1 Auxerre
Boulogne 0-2 Bordeaux
Nice 1-3 Monaco
Lorient 3-1 Nancy
Sochaux 2-5 Valenciennes
Grenoble 0-4 Rennes
Marseille 4-2 Montpellier
Toulouse 2-0 Le Mans
Lens 1-1 Lille
PSG 1-1 Lyon
Grenoble remain rooted to the foot of the table after a 4-0 drubbing from Rennes in a game twice interrupted by flares and fireworks being launched into the pitch. Asamoah Gyan scored twice amid the referee's interventions, one in the first minute and a penalty on the hour with Sylvain Marveaux and Kader Mangane also on target. Down on the Riviera, things were much worse as fights broke out on the stands prompting the police to wade in with their usual Gallic charm. Monaco won again as the game continued despite the bother off the field, Nené with an early penalty and two goals from Alejandro Alonso sealing the deal, Loic Remy with Nice's only score.
Bordeaux remain on top with a 2-0 win at Boulogne, Yoan Gouffran and Yoann Lachor's penalty doing enough for the champions. They're out in front on their own as Lyon could only draw, 1-1 at PSG. Ludovic Giuly put the Parisians in front on the half hour before Bafetimbi Gomis levelled it five minutes from the end. Marseille got back on track with an impressive win over Montpellier who had been going well. Three goals around the half hour blew René Girard's side away, Lucho Gonzalez, Mamadou Niang and Edouard Cissé with the goals which came in an eight-minute burst. Souleymane Diawara made it four just after the break and that was that, the cue going back on the rack at that point. Younes Belhanda and a penalty from Souleymane Camara were consolation for a well beaten Montpellier.
St Etienne and Auxerre both remain at the wrong end of the table after their 1-1 draw. Gonzalo Bergessio put Les Verts in front with Kevin Lejeune equalising twenty minutes from time. Performance of the day was from Valenciennes, 5-2 winners away at Sochaux who ended with ten men following the late dismissal of Vaclav Sverkos. Jeremie Bréchet put Sochaux ahead on three minutes, but Carlos Sanchez levelled it half way through the opening period. Ryad Boudebouz sent Sochaux into the break in front, but the second half was all VA. Gregory Pujol scored twice, either side Johan Audel and Fahid Ben Khalfallah goals and the red card for Sverkos. Lorient beat Nancy quite comfortably, Sigamary Diarra and Kevin Gameiro putting Les Merlus into a comfort zone before some late excitement with Paul Efoulou grabbing one back in the last minute before Olivier Monterubbio's penalty deep into stoppage time restored the two-goal lead.
Toulouse won for just the second time this season, seeing off Le Mans with goals either side of the break from Etienne Didot and the highly rated Moussa Sissoko and there was more fun and games in the northern derby in Lens where Lille were indebted to Adil Rami for rescuing a point after they were reduced to ten men, Yohan Cabaye managing to get sent off a minute after coming off the bench after going through Abdoulrazak Boukari, who had earlier put Lens in front, with a shocking challenge. Lens had much the better chances, but paid for failure to capitalise when Rami met Rio Mavuba's cross and head home.
Boulogne 0-2 Bordeaux
Nice 1-3 Monaco
Lorient 3-1 Nancy
Sochaux 2-5 Valenciennes
Grenoble 0-4 Rennes
Marseille 4-2 Montpellier
Toulouse 2-0 Le Mans
Lens 1-1 Lille
PSG 1-1 Lyon
Grenoble remain rooted to the foot of the table after a 4-0 drubbing from Rennes in a game twice interrupted by flares and fireworks being launched into the pitch. Asamoah Gyan scored twice amid the referee's interventions, one in the first minute and a penalty on the hour with Sylvain Marveaux and Kader Mangane also on target. Down on the Riviera, things were much worse as fights broke out on the stands prompting the police to wade in with their usual Gallic charm. Monaco won again as the game continued despite the bother off the field, Nené with an early penalty and two goals from Alejandro Alonso sealing the deal, Loic Remy with Nice's only score.
Bordeaux remain on top with a 2-0 win at Boulogne, Yoan Gouffran and Yoann Lachor's penalty doing enough for the champions. They're out in front on their own as Lyon could only draw, 1-1 at PSG. Ludovic Giuly put the Parisians in front on the half hour before Bafetimbi Gomis levelled it five minutes from the end. Marseille got back on track with an impressive win over Montpellier who had been going well. Three goals around the half hour blew René Girard's side away, Lucho Gonzalez, Mamadou Niang and Edouard Cissé with the goals which came in an eight-minute burst. Souleymane Diawara made it four just after the break and that was that, the cue going back on the rack at that point. Younes Belhanda and a penalty from Souleymane Camara were consolation for a well beaten Montpellier.
St Etienne and Auxerre both remain at the wrong end of the table after their 1-1 draw. Gonzalo Bergessio put Les Verts in front with Kevin Lejeune equalising twenty minutes from time. Performance of the day was from Valenciennes, 5-2 winners away at Sochaux who ended with ten men following the late dismissal of Vaclav Sverkos. Jeremie Bréchet put Sochaux ahead on three minutes, but Carlos Sanchez levelled it half way through the opening period. Ryad Boudebouz sent Sochaux into the break in front, but the second half was all VA. Gregory Pujol scored twice, either side Johan Audel and Fahid Ben Khalfallah goals and the red card for Sverkos. Lorient beat Nancy quite comfortably, Sigamary Diarra and Kevin Gameiro putting Les Merlus into a comfort zone before some late excitement with Paul Efoulou grabbing one back in the last minute before Olivier Monterubbio's penalty deep into stoppage time restored the two-goal lead.
Toulouse won for just the second time this season, seeing off Le Mans with goals either side of the break from Etienne Didot and the highly rated Moussa Sissoko and there was more fun and games in the northern derby in Lens where Lille were indebted to Adil Rami for rescuing a point after they were reduced to ten men, Yohan Cabaye managing to get sent off a minute after coming off the bench after going through Abdoulrazak Boukari, who had earlier put Lens in front, with a shocking challenge. Lens had much the better chances, but paid for failure to capitalise when Rami met Rio Mavuba's cross and head home.
Lehmann boozing, Hertha losing: Bundesliga reviews
Schalke 1-2 Wolfsburg
Bayern 2-1 Nurnberg
Bochum 2-3 Mainz
Stuttgart 0-2 Cologne
Hannover 1-1 Dortmund
Monchengladbach 2-4 Hoffenheim
Eintracht 1-1 Hamburg
Leverkusen 0-0 Bremen
Hertha 0-4 Freiburg
Oktoberfest attracts visitors from all over the world and one particularly high-profile attendee this week was Jens Lehmann. The problem was that he was there just hours before Stuttgart were due to play Cologne, he didn't have permission from the club to be there and he was subsequently dropped. Stuttgart then went and lost, handing Cologne their first win of the season. Sebastien Freis gave Cologne a lead midway through the first half and Wilfried Sanou wrapped it up late on. Hertha assume the position in Cologne's place, going down 4-0 at home to Freiburg, piling the pressure on Lucien Favre. Three first half goals from the Breisgau-Brasilianer set them on their way, Ivica Banovic, Cedric Makiadi and Mohammed Idrissou the scorers. Banovic's second half way through the second period condemned Hertha to bottom spot.
Bochum remain one place above Hertha after a home defeat to Mainz and they compounded Marcel Koller's misery at getting hoofed out of the managerial role by announcing it on the club website before the board had seen fit to inform Koller of their decision. Mimoun Azaouagh put Bochum ahead and they remained in front at the break after Andreas Ivanschitz had equalised and Diego Klimowicz restored the lead. After the break, it was all Mainz and Andre Schurrle bagged a brace to win it.
Up at the top, Wolfsburg got back into winning ways on Friday night with a win over Schalke, and their former boss. Edin Dzeko was back in the groove and swept home the opener half way through the first half. Ten minutes from time, Benedict Howedes headed in under no pressure to level it up, but the celebrations were short-lived as Dzeko put the Wolves back on front within thirty seconds. Bayern scrambled to a win over Nurnberg. A goalless first half disappointed, but Ivica Olic put the Bavarians ahead ten minutes after the break. Eric Choupo-Moting equalised twenty minutes later, but Daniel van Buyten - in the habit of scoring important club goals - nodded in the winner eight minutes from time. Hoffenheim are going well and came from two down against Gladbach to win. They left it late though, three goals going in in the last four minutes. Gladbach led through Juan Arango and Robert Colautti inside twenty minutes and though Sejad Salihovic pulled one back quickly, it looked like they'd hang on. Late goals from Maicosuel, Chinedu Obasi and Demba Ba turned the game on it's head and propelled TSG into fourth place.
Top two Hamburg and Leverkusen were both held to draws, the latter to a dull 0-0 by Bremen, the former 1-1 with Eintracht, Marco Russ equalising Ze Roberto's early strike. Hannover and Dortmund also finished 1-1, Nuri Sahin and Didier Yo Konan getting the goals within a couple of minutes of each other.
Bayern 2-1 Nurnberg
Bochum 2-3 Mainz
Stuttgart 0-2 Cologne
Hannover 1-1 Dortmund
Monchengladbach 2-4 Hoffenheim
Eintracht 1-1 Hamburg
Leverkusen 0-0 Bremen
Hertha 0-4 Freiburg
Oktoberfest attracts visitors from all over the world and one particularly high-profile attendee this week was Jens Lehmann. The problem was that he was there just hours before Stuttgart were due to play Cologne, he didn't have permission from the club to be there and he was subsequently dropped. Stuttgart then went and lost, handing Cologne their first win of the season. Sebastien Freis gave Cologne a lead midway through the first half and Wilfried Sanou wrapped it up late on. Hertha assume the position in Cologne's place, going down 4-0 at home to Freiburg, piling the pressure on Lucien Favre. Three first half goals from the Breisgau-Brasilianer set them on their way, Ivica Banovic, Cedric Makiadi and Mohammed Idrissou the scorers. Banovic's second half way through the second period condemned Hertha to bottom spot.
Bochum remain one place above Hertha after a home defeat to Mainz and they compounded Marcel Koller's misery at getting hoofed out of the managerial role by announcing it on the club website before the board had seen fit to inform Koller of their decision. Mimoun Azaouagh put Bochum ahead and they remained in front at the break after Andreas Ivanschitz had equalised and Diego Klimowicz restored the lead. After the break, it was all Mainz and Andre Schurrle bagged a brace to win it.
Up at the top, Wolfsburg got back into winning ways on Friday night with a win over Schalke, and their former boss. Edin Dzeko was back in the groove and swept home the opener half way through the first half. Ten minutes from time, Benedict Howedes headed in under no pressure to level it up, but the celebrations were short-lived as Dzeko put the Wolves back on front within thirty seconds. Bayern scrambled to a win over Nurnberg. A goalless first half disappointed, but Ivica Olic put the Bavarians ahead ten minutes after the break. Eric Choupo-Moting equalised twenty minutes later, but Daniel van Buyten - in the habit of scoring important club goals - nodded in the winner eight minutes from time. Hoffenheim are going well and came from two down against Gladbach to win. They left it late though, three goals going in in the last four minutes. Gladbach led through Juan Arango and Robert Colautti inside twenty minutes and though Sejad Salihovic pulled one back quickly, it looked like they'd hang on. Late goals from Maicosuel, Chinedu Obasi and Demba Ba turned the game on it's head and propelled TSG into fourth place.
Top two Hamburg and Leverkusen were both held to draws, the latter to a dull 0-0 by Bremen, the former 1-1 with Eintracht, Marco Russ equalising Ze Roberto's early strike. Hannover and Dortmund also finished 1-1, Nuri Sahin and Didier Yo Konan getting the goals within a couple of minutes of each other.
PSV take Classic honours: Eredivisie reviews
Willem II 2-1 Groningen
Heracles 1-1 Sparta
Roda 2-0 NAC
Vitesse 3-1 Waalwijk
AZ 0-1 NEC
Den Haag 0-1 Utrecht
Feyenoord 1-3 PSV
VVV Venlo 0-4 Ajax
Heerenveen 0-2 Twente
The last time PSV took on one of their big rivals, they edged a seven-goal thriller against Ajax on home soil. On Sunday lunchtime, they went to Rotterdam to face Feyenoord and again came out with an impressive win. Four first half goals promised much and though the second half saw no further addition to the score, there was no lack of entertainment. A rejuvenated Danny Koevermans led the line for PSV and he put his side two up in 20 minutes, only for Andwele Slory to pull one back three minutes later. Otman Bakkal restored the two-goal lead before the break and that broke the back of the Rotterdam resistance and the second period all went a bit Jackie Chan as they strived to get back in it. Somehow, it remained eleven-a-side as PSV closed out a 3-1 win.
Twente keep pace with leaders PSV thanks to a brace from Miroslav Stoch, the Slovakian winger on loan in Enschede from Chelsea. Having lost wide men Eljero Elia and Marko Arnautovic in the off season, Stoch provides the width Twente had been missing for the early part of the season and Heerenveen's miserable season continues. Luis Suarez grabbed another four - that's ten in seven games - as Ajax belted VVV Venlo who were overrun. The first came just three minutes in and three more in the second half completed Venlo's first defeat. AZ were surprisingly beaten, Lorenzo Davids getting the only goal for NEC three minutes from time, AZ failing to clear and Davids curling it in from 25 yards.
Waalwijk look down already after heavy defeat in the Gelredome in Arnhem. Lasse Nilsson put Vitesse ahead, but Waalwijk were back in it through Fouad Idabdelhay before Gijs Luirink spurned a chance to put RKC ahead from 12 yards. Piet Velthuizen saved and Vitesse didn't look back. Santi Kolk succeeded where Luirink had failed to put Vitesse back in front and Paul Verhaegh made it safe early in the second half. Groningen remain in the bottom three after another defeat, this one after going ahead against Willem II who move above them. Groningen were ahead in seven minutes through Koen van der Laak, but two goals late in the first half - Sergio Zijler and a penalty from Christophe Gregoire - gave the Tilburgers the win. Heracles and Sparta battled to a 1-1 draw Ayodele Adeleye put Sparta in front only for Darl Douglas to square it up. Sparta had Emmanuel Boakye dismissed with quarter of an hour to go, but they held on. Mads Junker struck twice in three second half minutes for Roda as they saw off NAC and Utrecht remain in touch at the sharp end with a 1-0 win over Den Haag, Dries Mertens bagging the winner.
Heracles 1-1 Sparta
Roda 2-0 NAC
Vitesse 3-1 Waalwijk
AZ 0-1 NEC
Den Haag 0-1 Utrecht
Feyenoord 1-3 PSV
VVV Venlo 0-4 Ajax
Heerenveen 0-2 Twente
The last time PSV took on one of their big rivals, they edged a seven-goal thriller against Ajax on home soil. On Sunday lunchtime, they went to Rotterdam to face Feyenoord and again came out with an impressive win. Four first half goals promised much and though the second half saw no further addition to the score, there was no lack of entertainment. A rejuvenated Danny Koevermans led the line for PSV and he put his side two up in 20 minutes, only for Andwele Slory to pull one back three minutes later. Otman Bakkal restored the two-goal lead before the break and that broke the back of the Rotterdam resistance and the second period all went a bit Jackie Chan as they strived to get back in it. Somehow, it remained eleven-a-side as PSV closed out a 3-1 win.
Twente keep pace with leaders PSV thanks to a brace from Miroslav Stoch, the Slovakian winger on loan in Enschede from Chelsea. Having lost wide men Eljero Elia and Marko Arnautovic in the off season, Stoch provides the width Twente had been missing for the early part of the season and Heerenveen's miserable season continues. Luis Suarez grabbed another four - that's ten in seven games - as Ajax belted VVV Venlo who were overrun. The first came just three minutes in and three more in the second half completed Venlo's first defeat. AZ were surprisingly beaten, Lorenzo Davids getting the only goal for NEC three minutes from time, AZ failing to clear and Davids curling it in from 25 yards.
Waalwijk look down already after heavy defeat in the Gelredome in Arnhem. Lasse Nilsson put Vitesse ahead, but Waalwijk were back in it through Fouad Idabdelhay before Gijs Luirink spurned a chance to put RKC ahead from 12 yards. Piet Velthuizen saved and Vitesse didn't look back. Santi Kolk succeeded where Luirink had failed to put Vitesse back in front and Paul Verhaegh made it safe early in the second half. Groningen remain in the bottom three after another defeat, this one after going ahead against Willem II who move above them. Groningen were ahead in seven minutes through Koen van der Laak, but two goals late in the first half - Sergio Zijler and a penalty from Christophe Gregoire - gave the Tilburgers the win. Heracles and Sparta battled to a 1-1 draw Ayodele Adeleye put Sparta in front only for Darl Douglas to square it up. Sparta had Emmanuel Boakye dismissed with quarter of an hour to go, but they held on. Mads Junker struck twice in three second half minutes for Roda as they saw off NAC and Utrecht remain in touch at the sharp end with a 1-0 win over Den Haag, Dries Mertens bagging the winner.
Friday, 18 September 2009
Ligue 1 round 6
Nice v Monaco
Lorient v Nancy
Sochaux v Valenciennes
Grenoble v Rennes
St Etienne v Auxerre
Boulogne v Bordeaux
Marseille v Montpellier
Toulouse v Le Mans
Lens v Lille
PSG v Lyon
Top game this week is at the bottom of the bill. Having lost 'their' title, Lyon have gone away, regrouped and come back better for it. All the new signings are going well and one of those, Miralem Pjanic, got the winner against Fiorentina in midweek. PSG don't have European distractions and they were defeated by Monaco last time out, but they remain a decent side. Bordeaux are ahead of Lyon only by two goals and face promoted Boulogne. Before a ball was kicked this season, you'd have this down as an away win, but Boulogne have started really well. This will be their biggest test to date. Montpellier are in an unlikely third place and face Marseille in a south coast derby this week. Marseille are in fourth, two goals behind MHSC, and this is a huge game for both sides, even at this early stage of the season.
St Etienne may have fancied their chances of getting something from Auxerre in a relegation battle this week, but the Ireneusz Jelen comes back in to the AJA side and they are transformed. You could almost hear Alain Perrin's heart sink a week ago and it's the impish Pole that Les Verts will have to cope with to get something here. They've not coped with players worse than him, so their chances don't look great. Grenoble are bottom and face mid-table Rennes this week, there's a derby of sorts when Monaco go to Nice, Lorient and Nancy go head-to-head level on points in mid-table, Sochaux and Valenciennes both need points, there's a northern derby at Lens where Lille are the visitors and Le Mans make the long trip to Toulouse to face the misfiring Violets.
Lorient v Nancy
Sochaux v Valenciennes
Grenoble v Rennes
St Etienne v Auxerre
Boulogne v Bordeaux
Marseille v Montpellier
Toulouse v Le Mans
Lens v Lille
PSG v Lyon
Top game this week is at the bottom of the bill. Having lost 'their' title, Lyon have gone away, regrouped and come back better for it. All the new signings are going well and one of those, Miralem Pjanic, got the winner against Fiorentina in midweek. PSG don't have European distractions and they were defeated by Monaco last time out, but they remain a decent side. Bordeaux are ahead of Lyon only by two goals and face promoted Boulogne. Before a ball was kicked this season, you'd have this down as an away win, but Boulogne have started really well. This will be their biggest test to date. Montpellier are in an unlikely third place and face Marseille in a south coast derby this week. Marseille are in fourth, two goals behind MHSC, and this is a huge game for both sides, even at this early stage of the season.
St Etienne may have fancied their chances of getting something from Auxerre in a relegation battle this week, but the Ireneusz Jelen comes back in to the AJA side and they are transformed. You could almost hear Alain Perrin's heart sink a week ago and it's the impish Pole that Les Verts will have to cope with to get something here. They've not coped with players worse than him, so their chances don't look great. Grenoble are bottom and face mid-table Rennes this week, there's a derby of sorts when Monaco go to Nice, Lorient and Nancy go head-to-head level on points in mid-table, Sochaux and Valenciennes both need points, there's a northern derby at Lens where Lille are the visitors and Le Mans make the long trip to Toulouse to face the misfiring Violets.
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