Lorient v Sochaux
Nancy v Grenoble
Monaco v Boulogne
Lyon v Nice
Toulouse v Lens
Valenciennes v St Etienne
Montpellier v Rennes
Le Mans v Bordeaux
Lille v Auxerre
PSG v Marseille
In any normal season, Marseille's trip to the capital would be an obvious pick for game of the week. Not so this time. PSG are just awful, Marseille are not. Away win.
Bordeaux had a week off last time round and get back to it up at Le Mans where they ought not to have a problem. Montpellier's chase suffered somewhat with defeat and they've a tough task at home to Rennes to get back on it and, if they stumble again, there's a host of clubs waiting to take up the baton. Lille are the most likely and come off the back of a good result in Europe in going through against Fenerbahce, but face a tough game this weekend at home to Auxerre who themselves could take up the cudgels. Lyon are another of them and they shouldn't have an issue in beating Nice. Monaco have dropped away a bit, but will beat Boulogne this weekend - Boulogne being absolutely dreadful - and that will put the Monagasques back in the frame.
Grenoble are now 16 points from safety. With 13 games to go, that's an Eiger of a mountain to climb to get out of it. Defeat at Nancy this week and any lingering doubt of their relegation will disappear. Other club's woes down at the bottom have helped St Etienne keep their heads above water and they're at Valenciennes this week and there are mid-table skirmishes in Lorient and Toulouse where the respective visitors are Sochaux and Lens.
The home of football sarcasm
Friday, 26 February 2010
Bundesliga round 24
Schalke v Dortmund
Hertha v Hoffenheim
Mainz v Bremen
Monchengladbach v Freiburg
Bochum v Nurnberg
Stuttgart v Eintracht
Leverkusen v Cologne
Hannover v Wolfsburg
Bayern v Hamburg
Top game needs no real big build-up: it's Schalke v Dortmund in the Friday night game. While Schalke go into the game third and very much in the running for the title, they come into the game on the back of a loss against Wolfsburg. Dortmund had a bit of a wobble over the last few weeks, but battered woeful Hannover last week to restore a bit of confidence. Trying to draw a form line is pretty pointless. This is one of the big derbies in Europe and form counts for little.
Elsewhere, Bayern welcome Hamburg to the Allianz Arena in what looks a tasty clash. Hamburg squeezed through in the Europa League, away goals enough to beat PSV, but could welcome Ruud van Nistelrooy back after he missed last week's stalemate with Eintracht. Bayern haven't been at their swashbuckling best, but are still grinding out the results. With players like Ribéry and Robben, they're always capable of something special, often enough to see them through. Leverkusen continue to lead and their unbeaten record shouldn't be troubled by Cologne who are in terrible form.
Woflsburg came to life last week, a Grafite double enough to beat Schalke, and scored a stunning win in Europe over the week by blitzing Villarreal 4-1. It's far too late to mount a proper defence of their title, but Hannover won't present anything like the challenge the Yellow Submarine did and perhaps Die Wolfe can get something out of this sorry season. Bremen also won well in Europe, also 4-1 against FC Twente, and have been buoyed by Aaron Hunt committing to the club long term. Hopefully, he'll be back for the trip to Mainz who are a tough proposition at home. Stuttgart continue to rise and had a decent result in Europe in midweek with a draw at home to Barcelona. Cacau is man bang in form and angling for a World Cup berth and a decent performance against Eintracht won't hurt. Elsewhere, two of the bottom four have tough away trips to negotiate. Gladbach and Bochum will both start short-odds favourites to see off Freiburg and Nurnberg respectively.
Hertha v Hoffenheim
Mainz v Bremen
Monchengladbach v Freiburg
Bochum v Nurnberg
Stuttgart v Eintracht
Leverkusen v Cologne
Hannover v Wolfsburg
Bayern v Hamburg
Top game needs no real big build-up: it's Schalke v Dortmund in the Friday night game. While Schalke go into the game third and very much in the running for the title, they come into the game on the back of a loss against Wolfsburg. Dortmund had a bit of a wobble over the last few weeks, but battered woeful Hannover last week to restore a bit of confidence. Trying to draw a form line is pretty pointless. This is one of the big derbies in Europe and form counts for little.
Elsewhere, Bayern welcome Hamburg to the Allianz Arena in what looks a tasty clash. Hamburg squeezed through in the Europa League, away goals enough to beat PSV, but could welcome Ruud van Nistelrooy back after he missed last week's stalemate with Eintracht. Bayern haven't been at their swashbuckling best, but are still grinding out the results. With players like Ribéry and Robben, they're always capable of something special, often enough to see them through. Leverkusen continue to lead and their unbeaten record shouldn't be troubled by Cologne who are in terrible form.
Woflsburg came to life last week, a Grafite double enough to beat Schalke, and scored a stunning win in Europe over the week by blitzing Villarreal 4-1. It's far too late to mount a proper defence of their title, but Hannover won't present anything like the challenge the Yellow Submarine did and perhaps Die Wolfe can get something out of this sorry season. Bremen also won well in Europe, also 4-1 against FC Twente, and have been buoyed by Aaron Hunt committing to the club long term. Hopefully, he'll be back for the trip to Mainz who are a tough proposition at home. Stuttgart continue to rise and had a decent result in Europe in midweek with a draw at home to Barcelona. Cacau is man bang in form and angling for a World Cup berth and a decent performance against Eintracht won't hurt. Elsewhere, two of the bottom four have tough away trips to negotiate. Gladbach and Bochum will both start short-odds favourites to see off Freiburg and Nurnberg respectively.
Eredivisie round 26
Den Haag v Roda
Heerenveen v Heracles
Vitesse v AZ
Willem II v VVV Venlo
Ajax v Utrecht
Groningen v Feyenoord
PSV v Waalwijk
Sparta v NAC
Twente v NEC
A bad week in Europe for the remaining Dutch clubs saw the top three in the Eredivisie all bow out. Ajax went down to Juventus, PSV beat Hamburg but lost on away goals and Twente were dismantled by a white hot Werder Bremen. That's a blow, but they remain far and away out in front of the rest domestically. What that says about the relative strength of the league is quite probably obvious.
Back to league action then and the top three are all at home again. The pick of these is Utrecht's trip to Amsterdam to play Ajax. Utrecht have faded a little, but are still a decent side and could spring a shock here. Could do, but probably won't. Twente face NEC who have proved a tricky side for the Tukkers over the years, but you'd still fancy Steve McClaren's men to prevail. PSV, meanwhile, face rock bottom Waalwijk. Home win.
Willem II face VVV Venlo with time against them. They're in rotten form and need to turn it round quick. They simply don't look capable. Den Haag are at home to Roda in the other relegation clash. Heracles and AZ are both well in the frame for European football and AZ can take another step forward with a win over Vitesse who aren't up to much. Heracles face improving Heerenveen. Feyenoord look set for fourth, but if they keep dropping points, they could have a sweat on by the end of the season. Groningen are one of the form teams in the division and can give the chasers something to aim at by turning the Rotterdammers over.
Heerenveen v Heracles
Vitesse v AZ
Willem II v VVV Venlo
Ajax v Utrecht
Groningen v Feyenoord
PSV v Waalwijk
Sparta v NAC
Twente v NEC
A bad week in Europe for the remaining Dutch clubs saw the top three in the Eredivisie all bow out. Ajax went down to Juventus, PSV beat Hamburg but lost on away goals and Twente were dismantled by a white hot Werder Bremen. That's a blow, but they remain far and away out in front of the rest domestically. What that says about the relative strength of the league is quite probably obvious.
Back to league action then and the top three are all at home again. The pick of these is Utrecht's trip to Amsterdam to play Ajax. Utrecht have faded a little, but are still a decent side and could spring a shock here. Could do, but probably won't. Twente face NEC who have proved a tricky side for the Tukkers over the years, but you'd still fancy Steve McClaren's men to prevail. PSV, meanwhile, face rock bottom Waalwijk. Home win.
Willem II face VVV Venlo with time against them. They're in rotten form and need to turn it round quick. They simply don't look capable. Den Haag are at home to Roda in the other relegation clash. Heracles and AZ are both well in the frame for European football and AZ can take another step forward with a win over Vitesse who aren't up to much. Heracles face improving Heerenveen. Feyenoord look set for fourth, but if they keep dropping points, they could have a sweat on by the end of the season. Groningen are one of the form teams in the division and can give the chasers something to aim at by turning the Rotterdammers over.
Monday, 22 February 2010
St Etienne halt Montpellier charge: Ligue 1 reviews
Bordeaux P-P Auxerre
Boulogne 1-3 Le Mans
Nice 1-0 Lorient
Grenoble 0-1 Valenciennes
Lens 3-0 Monaco
St Etienne 1-0 Montpellier
PSG 1-0 Toulouse
Marseille 3-1 Nancy
Sochaux 0-4 Lyon
Rennes 1-2 Lille
With Bordeaux not playing, Montpellier had the chance to go level with the champions if they could beat lowly St Etienne. Substitute Emmanuel Riviere turned in a Blaise Matuidi cross late on to deny the southerners. That slip allowed Lille to close within a point as they won away at Rennes, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with a last-minute winner. Pierre-Alain Frau had given LOSC the lead on ten minutes only for Jerome Leroy to level it quarter of an hour later. Lyon are a point further back after a first-half hat-trick from Michel Bastos helped them to a big win over Sochaux. Lisandro Lopez added a fourth late on for Les Gones. Another hat-trick, this time from Mamadou Niang, saw Marseille to a healthy win over Nancy. His first came ten minutes in, but Nancy were level through Andre Luiz within three minutes. Niang sent OM into half-time in front and added a third twenty minutes from time to wrap up the win. And they still have that game in hand to come.
Down at the bottom, Grenoble lost yet again, at home to Valenciennes, Carlos Sanchez with the only goal of the game. Le Mans won the big six-pointer against Boulogne and did it quite convincingly. Two goals in three minutes around the half-hour put them en route to victory, Mathieu Dossevi and Grégory Cerdan sending Le Mans into half time in good order. Mustapha Yatabaré pulled one back halfway through the second half, but Modibo Maiga sealed it in the last minute. They remain six points behind Nice and safety though as Loic Remy's penalty earned Nice all three points against Lorient.
The pressure on Antoine Kombouaré was eased slightly thanks to a win over bipolar Toulouse. Albin Ebondo was sent off for Les Violets 22 minutes into the game and Guillaume Hoarau scored the resultant penalty. They couldn't add to that despite the extra man, but it's a valuable three points for the Parisians. Monaco's slump continues as they went down heavily up in Lens. Issam Jemaa and Sébastien Roudet sent the Sang et Or into the break two up and a Henri Nsame penalty early in the second half sent Monaco crashing.
Boulogne 1-3 Le Mans
Nice 1-0 Lorient
Grenoble 0-1 Valenciennes
Lens 3-0 Monaco
St Etienne 1-0 Montpellier
PSG 1-0 Toulouse
Marseille 3-1 Nancy
Sochaux 0-4 Lyon
Rennes 1-2 Lille
With Bordeaux not playing, Montpellier had the chance to go level with the champions if they could beat lowly St Etienne. Substitute Emmanuel Riviere turned in a Blaise Matuidi cross late on to deny the southerners. That slip allowed Lille to close within a point as they won away at Rennes, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with a last-minute winner. Pierre-Alain Frau had given LOSC the lead on ten minutes only for Jerome Leroy to level it quarter of an hour later. Lyon are a point further back after a first-half hat-trick from Michel Bastos helped them to a big win over Sochaux. Lisandro Lopez added a fourth late on for Les Gones. Another hat-trick, this time from Mamadou Niang, saw Marseille to a healthy win over Nancy. His first came ten minutes in, but Nancy were level through Andre Luiz within three minutes. Niang sent OM into half-time in front and added a third twenty minutes from time to wrap up the win. And they still have that game in hand to come.
Down at the bottom, Grenoble lost yet again, at home to Valenciennes, Carlos Sanchez with the only goal of the game. Le Mans won the big six-pointer against Boulogne and did it quite convincingly. Two goals in three minutes around the half-hour put them en route to victory, Mathieu Dossevi and Grégory Cerdan sending Le Mans into half time in good order. Mustapha Yatabaré pulled one back halfway through the second half, but Modibo Maiga sealed it in the last minute. They remain six points behind Nice and safety though as Loic Remy's penalty earned Nice all three points against Lorient.
The pressure on Antoine Kombouaré was eased slightly thanks to a win over bipolar Toulouse. Albin Ebondo was sent off for Les Violets 22 minutes into the game and Guillaume Hoarau scored the resultant penalty. They couldn't add to that despite the extra man, but it's a valuable three points for the Parisians. Monaco's slump continues as they went down heavily up in Lens. Issam Jemaa and Sébastien Roudet sent the Sang et Or into the break two up and a Henri Nsame penalty early in the second half sent Monaco crashing.
Top three all stumble: Bundesliga reviews
Hoffenheim 2-2 Monchengladbach
Cologne 1-5 Stuttgart
Nurnberg 1-1 Bayern
Dortmund 4-1 Hannover
Hamburg 0-0 Eintracht
Mainz 0-0 Bochum
Freiburg 0-3 Hertha
Bremen 2-2 Leverkusen
Wolfsburg 2-1 Schalke
The top three were all leading their games this weekend, but all three were pegged back. It's not had a massive effect on the table though, as none of the chasers could take advantage. Leverkusen still lead by a single goal after a pulsating draw at Bremen. Twice they led, first when Eren Derdiyok fired in a superb free-kick on the half hour. Five minutes later, Naldo blasted an effort towards the Leverkusen goal and Rene Adler had a shocker, spilling the ball backwards between his legs where Claudio Pizarro followed in to make sure. Quarter of an hour after the break, Toni Kroos blazed in a beauty from 30 yards to restore the lead and that looked like being enough until Per Mertesacker headed powerfully past Adler from point blank range to earn a deserved point. Wunderkind Thomas Muller put Bayern ahead just before the break with a tidy finish, opening his body out and placing it in the top corner from a Mario Gomez cross. Lowly Nurnberg were gifted a route back into the game by a mistake from Hans-Jorg Butt who spilled a routine catch into the path of Ilkay Gundogan who, at the second attempt, bundled it in. Grafite finally came to life for Wolfsburg as they came from behind to beat Schalke, spoiling Felix Magath's return to the VW-Arena. Die Wolfe played a lot better than recently and could have gone in front early on, Zvjezdan Misimovic smashing a free-kick off the crossbar, but it was a nicely placed Kevin Kuranyi header that opened the scoring on the half hour. Into the second half, Edin Dzeko and Grafite both hit the bar in the space of a second as the Schalke goal led a charmed life, but Manuel Neuer was finally beaten twenty minutes from the end, Grafite heading in a looping cross that tempted Neuer to come just a bit too far. Six minutes later, the big Brazilian left Neuer stranded as he blasted Christian Gentner's cross high into the roof of the net.
Hamburg were held to a goalless draw at home by Eintracht whose neighbours Mainz were also held to 0-0, at home against Bochum. Stuttgart and Dortmund both won big to pull themselves back towards contention. Hannover coach Mirko Slomka labelled his charges "a bunch of schoolboys" after Dortmund dished out a 4-1 kicking. Neven Subotic put BvB in front on the stroke of half-time, but it was Mario Eggiman's own goal on the hour that sent Hannover into a downward spiral. Nelson Valdez added a third and, though Arouna Koné pulled one back, Kevin Grosskreutz made it four a couple of minutes from time. Stuttgart went one better, sticking five past Cologne. Cacau got four of them, three of them before the break. Christopher Schorch got one back a minute out from half-time, but Pavel Pogrebnyak and Cacau's fourth sent Cologne tumbling to defeat. It looked like Hoffenheim were heading towards another defeat, but they turned it round at home to Gladbach. A harsh penalty - no doubt that Christian Eichner handled the ball, but he was outside the box - from Filip Daems put Gladbach ahead and Roberto Colautti made it two early in the second half. Vedad Ibisevic had missed a couple of golden opportunities in the first half and pulled one back to settle an increasingly uneasy crowd at the Rhein-Neckar Arena and a last-minute Carlos Eduardo penalty rescued a point.
Finally, Hertha recorded win number three of the campaign which brings them within sight of safety. They're now just four points adrift of Freiburg and Bundesliga football for the 2010/11 season and it was they who were defeated. After Gustavo Ramos put the Berliners ahead, Cícero struck twice to win it and give his side a fighting chance of staving off what looked even a month ago as the inevitable.
Cologne 1-5 Stuttgart
Nurnberg 1-1 Bayern
Dortmund 4-1 Hannover
Hamburg 0-0 Eintracht
Mainz 0-0 Bochum
Freiburg 0-3 Hertha
Bremen 2-2 Leverkusen
Wolfsburg 2-1 Schalke
The top three were all leading their games this weekend, but all three were pegged back. It's not had a massive effect on the table though, as none of the chasers could take advantage. Leverkusen still lead by a single goal after a pulsating draw at Bremen. Twice they led, first when Eren Derdiyok fired in a superb free-kick on the half hour. Five minutes later, Naldo blasted an effort towards the Leverkusen goal and Rene Adler had a shocker, spilling the ball backwards between his legs where Claudio Pizarro followed in to make sure. Quarter of an hour after the break, Toni Kroos blazed in a beauty from 30 yards to restore the lead and that looked like being enough until Per Mertesacker headed powerfully past Adler from point blank range to earn a deserved point. Wunderkind Thomas Muller put Bayern ahead just before the break with a tidy finish, opening his body out and placing it in the top corner from a Mario Gomez cross. Lowly Nurnberg were gifted a route back into the game by a mistake from Hans-Jorg Butt who spilled a routine catch into the path of Ilkay Gundogan who, at the second attempt, bundled it in. Grafite finally came to life for Wolfsburg as they came from behind to beat Schalke, spoiling Felix Magath's return to the VW-Arena. Die Wolfe played a lot better than recently and could have gone in front early on, Zvjezdan Misimovic smashing a free-kick off the crossbar, but it was a nicely placed Kevin Kuranyi header that opened the scoring on the half hour. Into the second half, Edin Dzeko and Grafite both hit the bar in the space of a second as the Schalke goal led a charmed life, but Manuel Neuer was finally beaten twenty minutes from the end, Grafite heading in a looping cross that tempted Neuer to come just a bit too far. Six minutes later, the big Brazilian left Neuer stranded as he blasted Christian Gentner's cross high into the roof of the net.
Hamburg were held to a goalless draw at home by Eintracht whose neighbours Mainz were also held to 0-0, at home against Bochum. Stuttgart and Dortmund both won big to pull themselves back towards contention. Hannover coach Mirko Slomka labelled his charges "a bunch of schoolboys" after Dortmund dished out a 4-1 kicking. Neven Subotic put BvB in front on the stroke of half-time, but it was Mario Eggiman's own goal on the hour that sent Hannover into a downward spiral. Nelson Valdez added a third and, though Arouna Koné pulled one back, Kevin Grosskreutz made it four a couple of minutes from time. Stuttgart went one better, sticking five past Cologne. Cacau got four of them, three of them before the break. Christopher Schorch got one back a minute out from half-time, but Pavel Pogrebnyak and Cacau's fourth sent Cologne tumbling to defeat. It looked like Hoffenheim were heading towards another defeat, but they turned it round at home to Gladbach. A harsh penalty - no doubt that Christian Eichner handled the ball, but he was outside the box - from Filip Daems put Gladbach ahead and Roberto Colautti made it two early in the second half. Vedad Ibisevic had missed a couple of golden opportunities in the first half and pulled one back to settle an increasingly uneasy crowd at the Rhein-Neckar Arena and a last-minute Carlos Eduardo penalty rescued a point.
Finally, Hertha recorded win number three of the campaign which brings them within sight of safety. They're now just four points adrift of Freiburg and Bundesliga football for the 2010/11 season and it was they who were defeated. After Gustavo Ramos put the Berliners ahead, Cícero struck twice to win it and give his side a fighting chance of staving off what looked even a month ago as the inevitable.
PSV lead cut to one: Eredivisie reviews
Roda 2-1 Heracles
NAC 0-2 Utrecht
Waalwijk 1-2 Heerenveen
VVV Venlo 3-3 AZ
NEC 0-2 Groningen
Feyenoord 2-2 Den Haag
Ajax 4-0 Vitesse
PSV 1-1 Sparta
Twente 1-0 Willem II
For most of Sunday, a day on which the top four were all in action on their own turf, it looked like little was going to change. Twente laboured for long periods against lowly Willem II before Peter Wisgerhof bundled in an ugly goal after a real scramble in the six-yard box as the Tilburgers failed to clear. Ajax were cruising to yet another comfortable win - another four taking them to 69 for the season with ten games to go. They were three up on Vitesse by half time, Siem de Jong with a great late arrival in the box for the first, Luis Suarez with his obligatory goal and Paul Verhaegh heading over his own keeper for an own goal third. Vitesse offered de Jong far too much space early in the second half and he rifled in a fourth. None of this mattered to PSV who were moving serenely on against Sparta with Otman Bakkal volleying in on 14 minutes. One goal has been enough on any number of occasions for them recently, but it does leave you open to something unlikely. And the unlikely finally happened three minutes into stoppage time - virtually the last touch of the game. A cross swung in from the right was met with a neat, glancing header by Rydell Poepon and PSV had failed for the first time to close a game out.
Feyenoord dropped more points, Danny Buijs equalising in the last minute for struggling ADO. That leaves the Rotterdammers eleven adrift of Ajax who are one place above them and eight clear of fifth placed AZ who also drew. They were involved in a six-goal thriller against VVV Venlo. They blew a two-goal lead after seeming to take control with two in two minutes mid-way through the second half. Pontus Wernbloom put the champions ahead on the half hour, but VVV were level ten minutes into the second half through Adil Auassar. Simon Poulsen and Mounir El Hamdaoui struck within seconds of one another just after the hour to re-eastablish control, but Ruben Schaken pulled one back and, quarter of an hour from the end, Michael Uchebo squared it up.
Utrecht had their game held up for the second time in a week due to abusive chanting towards the referee. This time it wasn't the Utrecht fans, but the NAC supporters who were aggrieved over the first half dismissal of Anthony Lurling. NAC were already behind by then, Nana Asare having scored moments before Lurling saw red. After the resumption, Dries Mertens made it safe for Utrecht four minutes from the end. NEC's recent good run came to a shuddering halt at home to in-form Groningen. Even Leandro Bacuna's sending off didn't hurt, Groningen already two up and in control by then. NEC had been unravelled by then anyway. Waalwijk looked good for a point, but were denied by a Gerald Sibon penalty six minutes from time. That was his second of the game having put Heerenveen in front early on. Benjamin de Ceulaer had equalised, but RKC slipped to yet another loss, their twentieth of a rotten season. Heracles slipped to a defeat despite Everton putting them ahead on eight minutes. Davy de Fauw equalised for Roda quarter for an hour from the end and when Anouar Hadouir missed from the penalty spot with seven minutes left, Heracles could have been forgiven for thinking they'd escaped with a point. But if they did lose focus, then they paid for it, Marcel de Jong winning it for Roda in the last minute.
Ten games to go and PSV, still unbeaten, lead by a point from Twente who are six clear of Ajax.
NAC 0-2 Utrecht
Waalwijk 1-2 Heerenveen
VVV Venlo 3-3 AZ
NEC 0-2 Groningen
Feyenoord 2-2 Den Haag
Ajax 4-0 Vitesse
PSV 1-1 Sparta
Twente 1-0 Willem II
For most of Sunday, a day on which the top four were all in action on their own turf, it looked like little was going to change. Twente laboured for long periods against lowly Willem II before Peter Wisgerhof bundled in an ugly goal after a real scramble in the six-yard box as the Tilburgers failed to clear. Ajax were cruising to yet another comfortable win - another four taking them to 69 for the season with ten games to go. They were three up on Vitesse by half time, Siem de Jong with a great late arrival in the box for the first, Luis Suarez with his obligatory goal and Paul Verhaegh heading over his own keeper for an own goal third. Vitesse offered de Jong far too much space early in the second half and he rifled in a fourth. None of this mattered to PSV who were moving serenely on against Sparta with Otman Bakkal volleying in on 14 minutes. One goal has been enough on any number of occasions for them recently, but it does leave you open to something unlikely. And the unlikely finally happened three minutes into stoppage time - virtually the last touch of the game. A cross swung in from the right was met with a neat, glancing header by Rydell Poepon and PSV had failed for the first time to close a game out.
Feyenoord dropped more points, Danny Buijs equalising in the last minute for struggling ADO. That leaves the Rotterdammers eleven adrift of Ajax who are one place above them and eight clear of fifth placed AZ who also drew. They were involved in a six-goal thriller against VVV Venlo. They blew a two-goal lead after seeming to take control with two in two minutes mid-way through the second half. Pontus Wernbloom put the champions ahead on the half hour, but VVV were level ten minutes into the second half through Adil Auassar. Simon Poulsen and Mounir El Hamdaoui struck within seconds of one another just after the hour to re-eastablish control, but Ruben Schaken pulled one back and, quarter of an hour from the end, Michael Uchebo squared it up.
Utrecht had their game held up for the second time in a week due to abusive chanting towards the referee. This time it wasn't the Utrecht fans, but the NAC supporters who were aggrieved over the first half dismissal of Anthony Lurling. NAC were already behind by then, Nana Asare having scored moments before Lurling saw red. After the resumption, Dries Mertens made it safe for Utrecht four minutes from the end. NEC's recent good run came to a shuddering halt at home to in-form Groningen. Even Leandro Bacuna's sending off didn't hurt, Groningen already two up and in control by then. NEC had been unravelled by then anyway. Waalwijk looked good for a point, but were denied by a Gerald Sibon penalty six minutes from time. That was his second of the game having put Heerenveen in front early on. Benjamin de Ceulaer had equalised, but RKC slipped to yet another loss, their twentieth of a rotten season. Heracles slipped to a defeat despite Everton putting them ahead on eight minutes. Davy de Fauw equalised for Roda quarter for an hour from the end and when Anouar Hadouir missed from the penalty spot with seven minutes left, Heracles could have been forgiven for thinking they'd escaped with a point. But if they did lose focus, then they paid for it, Marcel de Jong winning it for Roda in the last minute.
Ten games to go and PSV, still unbeaten, lead by a point from Twente who are six clear of Ajax.
Friday, 19 February 2010
Montpellier continue the chase: Ligue 1 reviews
Monaco 1-2 Marseille
Valenciennes 2-1 Nice
Le Mans 0-0 Sochaux
Nancy 0-0 PSG
Montpellier 1-0 Grenoble
Lille 3-1 Boulogne
Lyon 1-0 Lens
Auxerre 1-0 Rennes
Lorient 1-1 Toulouse
Bordeaux 3-1 St Etienne
Montpellier went level on points with Bordeaux at the top of Ligue 1 for a time over last weekend after beating Grenoble 1-0. Coming off the back of a mighty 5-0 drubbing of Auxerre, GF38 couldn't be underestimated and were certainly not the easy-beats the table would have you imagine. Victor Montano's ninth of the season was enough to see them off. Bordeaux responded by beating St Etienne quite comfortably. Wendel struck twice and Marouane Chamakh got the other in a relatively easy win. Lille kept up the pressure, beating lowly Boulogne 3-1 with Ludovic Obraniak getting two. Marseille beat fading Monaco and Lyon just needed a single goal to beat Lens while Auxerre had a 35-yard lob from Ireneusz Jelen to thank for victory over Rennes as that trio hold position in behind the top three.
Le Mans could only draw with ten-man Sochaux and remain deep in trouble - the bottom three are becoming cut adrift - but better news for Sochaux is that American striker Charlie Davies is back from America after an horrific car accident and is close to resuming training. A goalless draw in Nancy hardly eased the pressure on under-pressure PSG manager Antoine Kombouaré as he looks to ease the pressure that's pressurising his position in the Parc des Princes pressure cooker. His former club Valenciennes got back to winning ways against Nice, Filip Sebo with a late winner while Lorient and Toulouse could only draw.
This week:
Bordeaux P-P Auxerre
Boulogne v Le Mans
Nice v Lorient
Grenoble v Valenciennes
Lens v Monaco
St Etienne v Montpellier
PSG v Toulouse
Sochaux v Lyon
Marseille v Nancy
Rennes v Lille
Bordeaux's game with Auxerre is off, so Montpellier have the chance to close the gap to mere goal difference. Technically, they could go top, but would need to put at least 16 past St Etienne and, while Les Verts are no great shakes, that seems unlikely. There's a big game at the bottom between Boulogne and Le Mans, but they both look doomed anyway, as do Grenoble although they were big winners last time out on home soil and stuttering VA may not fancy this one.
Valenciennes 2-1 Nice
Le Mans 0-0 Sochaux
Nancy 0-0 PSG
Montpellier 1-0 Grenoble
Lille 3-1 Boulogne
Lyon 1-0 Lens
Auxerre 1-0 Rennes
Lorient 1-1 Toulouse
Bordeaux 3-1 St Etienne
Montpellier went level on points with Bordeaux at the top of Ligue 1 for a time over last weekend after beating Grenoble 1-0. Coming off the back of a mighty 5-0 drubbing of Auxerre, GF38 couldn't be underestimated and were certainly not the easy-beats the table would have you imagine. Victor Montano's ninth of the season was enough to see them off. Bordeaux responded by beating St Etienne quite comfortably. Wendel struck twice and Marouane Chamakh got the other in a relatively easy win. Lille kept up the pressure, beating lowly Boulogne 3-1 with Ludovic Obraniak getting two. Marseille beat fading Monaco and Lyon just needed a single goal to beat Lens while Auxerre had a 35-yard lob from Ireneusz Jelen to thank for victory over Rennes as that trio hold position in behind the top three.
Le Mans could only draw with ten-man Sochaux and remain deep in trouble - the bottom three are becoming cut adrift - but better news for Sochaux is that American striker Charlie Davies is back from America after an horrific car accident and is close to resuming training. A goalless draw in Nancy hardly eased the pressure on under-pressure PSG manager Antoine Kombouaré as he looks to ease the pressure that's pressurising his position in the Parc des Princes pressure cooker. His former club Valenciennes got back to winning ways against Nice, Filip Sebo with a late winner while Lorient and Toulouse could only draw.
This week:
Bordeaux P-P Auxerre
Boulogne v Le Mans
Nice v Lorient
Grenoble v Valenciennes
Lens v Monaco
St Etienne v Montpellier
PSG v Toulouse
Sochaux v Lyon
Marseille v Nancy
Rennes v Lille
Bordeaux's game with Auxerre is off, so Montpellier have the chance to close the gap to mere goal difference. Technically, they could go top, but would need to put at least 16 past St Etienne and, while Les Verts are no great shakes, that seems unlikely. There's a big game at the bottom between Boulogne and Le Mans, but they both look doomed anyway, as do Grenoble although they were big winners last time out on home soil and stuttering VA may not fancy this one.
Top three hold station: Bundesliga reviews
Monchengladbach 2-1 Nurnberg
Leverkusen 2-1 Wolfsburg
Hannover 1-5 Bremen
Hertha 1-1 Mainz
Stuttgart 1-3 Hamburg
Bochum 2-1 Hoffenheim
Bayern 3-1 Dortmund
Schalke 2-0 Cologne
Eintracht 2-1 Freiburg
Wins for the top three sees the situation unchanged at the pointy end of the table. Schalke continue the chase of the top two with a comfortable win over Cologne, ending their decent run. Joel Matip put the Royal Blues ahead on the stroke of half-time and Jefferson Farfan wrapped it up late on. They remain tucked in, three points off the pace set by Leverkusen and Bayern. Leverkusen beat the reigning champions, Stefan Reinartz and Eren Derdiyok doing enough to make the game safe before Edin Dzeko pulled one back - things really are going to a script for Die Wolfe - while Bayern were again pulled through by Arjen Robben who is in incredible form. After Mohamed Zidan put Dortmund ahead, the follically challenged Dutchman pulled them apart, having a major role in the two goals he didn't score, Mark van Bommel and Mario Gomez profiting from Robben's work.
Hamburg lead the chase and Ruud van Nistelrooy is off the mark for his new club. Marcus Berg gave HSV a first half lead, Christian Trasch levelled it up for Stuttgart early in the second half, but two in two minutes from van Nistelrooy won it. The rest are nowhere. Dortmund have run into a brick wall and the rest are just too inconsistent - or consistently not good enough. Bremen battered Hannover, four goals to the good by half-time. Cue in rack, tedious second half, but a 5-1 win will suffice any time. Mainz and Eintracht are still duking it out for local bragging rights in mid-table. The former lost points at Hertha, Gustavo Ramos equalising after Aristide Bancé put Mainz ahead, but Eintracht won, coming from behind to beat Freiburg thanks to Halil Altintop's late, late winner. Hoffenheim were beaten again, this time by fast moving Bochum who have pulled well away from danger over the last month. Vedad Ibisevic equalised for the Villagers after Stanislav Sestak had put Bochum in front, but Zlatko Dedic restored the lead and Hoffenheim ended a man short, Luis Dias sent off late on. Gladbach are all but safe too after beating Nurnberg.
This week:
Hoffenheim v Monchengladbach
Mainz v Bochum
Cologne v Stuttgart
Nurnberg v Bayern
Dortmund v Hannover
Hamburg v Eintracht
Freiburg v Hertha
Wolfsburg v Schalke
Bremen v Leverkusen
Big game this week sees Felix Magath return to the VW-Arena with his Schalke side riding high and his former charges languishing. That should be a spicy one. Bayern shouldn't have too many problems in Nurnberg, but Leverkusen will have to watch for Bremen who are beginning to refind their touch. There's a big six-pointer in Freiburg where Hertha are the visitors and lots of mid-table skirmishes elsewhere.
Leverkusen 2-1 Wolfsburg
Hannover 1-5 Bremen
Hertha 1-1 Mainz
Stuttgart 1-3 Hamburg
Bochum 2-1 Hoffenheim
Bayern 3-1 Dortmund
Schalke 2-0 Cologne
Eintracht 2-1 Freiburg
Wins for the top three sees the situation unchanged at the pointy end of the table. Schalke continue the chase of the top two with a comfortable win over Cologne, ending their decent run. Joel Matip put the Royal Blues ahead on the stroke of half-time and Jefferson Farfan wrapped it up late on. They remain tucked in, three points off the pace set by Leverkusen and Bayern. Leverkusen beat the reigning champions, Stefan Reinartz and Eren Derdiyok doing enough to make the game safe before Edin Dzeko pulled one back - things really are going to a script for Die Wolfe - while Bayern were again pulled through by Arjen Robben who is in incredible form. After Mohamed Zidan put Dortmund ahead, the follically challenged Dutchman pulled them apart, having a major role in the two goals he didn't score, Mark van Bommel and Mario Gomez profiting from Robben's work.
Hamburg lead the chase and Ruud van Nistelrooy is off the mark for his new club. Marcus Berg gave HSV a first half lead, Christian Trasch levelled it up for Stuttgart early in the second half, but two in two minutes from van Nistelrooy won it. The rest are nowhere. Dortmund have run into a brick wall and the rest are just too inconsistent - or consistently not good enough. Bremen battered Hannover, four goals to the good by half-time. Cue in rack, tedious second half, but a 5-1 win will suffice any time. Mainz and Eintracht are still duking it out for local bragging rights in mid-table. The former lost points at Hertha, Gustavo Ramos equalising after Aristide Bancé put Mainz ahead, but Eintracht won, coming from behind to beat Freiburg thanks to Halil Altintop's late, late winner. Hoffenheim were beaten again, this time by fast moving Bochum who have pulled well away from danger over the last month. Vedad Ibisevic equalised for the Villagers after Stanislav Sestak had put Bochum in front, but Zlatko Dedic restored the lead and Hoffenheim ended a man short, Luis Dias sent off late on. Gladbach are all but safe too after beating Nurnberg.
This week:
Hoffenheim v Monchengladbach
Mainz v Bochum
Cologne v Stuttgart
Nurnberg v Bayern
Dortmund v Hannover
Hamburg v Eintracht
Freiburg v Hertha
Wolfsburg v Schalke
Bremen v Leverkusen
Big game this week sees Felix Magath return to the VW-Arena with his Schalke side riding high and his former charges languishing. That should be a spicy one. Bayern shouldn't have too many problems in Nurnberg, but Leverkusen will have to watch for Bremen who are beginning to refind their touch. There's a big six-pointer in Freiburg where Hertha are the visitors and lots of mid-table skirmishes elsewhere.
Groenendijk out as NEC move up: Eredivisie reviews
NEC 4-2 NAC
Vitesse 1-2 Twente
Den Haag 3-0 Willem II
Heerenveen 0-2 Ajax
AZ 2-0 Roda
Utrecht 0-0 Feyenoord
Groningen 2-1 Waalwijk
Heracles 0-1 PSV
Sparta 2-0 VVV Venlo
NEC 2-1 Willem II
Contrasting fortunes for Willem II and NEC as they played twice in the week, against each other on Wednesday in the one remaining game to catch up on. NEC are suddenly on a great run, coinciding with the return of Bjorn Vleminckx from suspension. Just a few weeks ago, they were mired in the relegation battle, but after wins over NAC - Bram Nuytinck on target twice as they came from behind - and Willem II - Ramon Zomer and Vleminckx with goals just before half time - sees them just five points off the Europa League play-off places. By contrast, Willem II now look certainties to go down. Stefan Nijland's last minute goal was nowhere near enough to get anything out of the game with NEC and that followed a crushing defeat to fellow strugglers Den Haag last week. Ricky van den Bergh struck twice in an easy 3-0 win for ADO, but it was the NEC game that forced the board of the Tilburg club to act and put Alfons Groenendijk out of a) his misery and b) a job. Mark Schenning takes charge ahead of a tough trip to Enschede to take on Steve McClaren's high-flying Tukkers.
Twente got back to winning ways, but they left it late against Vitesse. Paul Verhaegh put the Arnhemers ahead early in the second half and that looked like being enough until Bryan Ruiz struck eight minutes from the end and Ronnie Stam won it in stoppage time. PSV stay out in front thanks to yet another 1-0 win - Ola Toivonen heading the winner against Heracles. Ajax also won against ten man Heerenveen to keep their hopes alive. Christian Grindheim was sent off twenty minutes from the end with the score at 1-0 - Dennis Rommedahl with another in this Indian summer in his career - and Luis Suarez wrapped it up late on. Feyenoord lost more ground and fourth looks the height of their ambition following their 0-0 draw in Utrecht. The game only notable for the referee calling a halt to proceedings for a time after undue abuse from the crowd.
I think we can say that Waalwijk are down. If not actually, then at least in their minds, RKC are gone. Another loss last weekend, Groningen pulling themselves up the table, and a red card for Charlison Benshop adds to the misery. Sparta keep their heads above the nasty red line on the table with a win over VVV Venlo, Joshua John in the first minute setting them on their way and not suffering too much after Donovan Slijngard was sent off. AZ won, but Europa League play-offs are as good as they will get. Pa-Modou Kah's own goal put them in front against Roda and Rasmus Elm sealed it.
This week:
Roda v Heracles
NAC v Utrecht
Waalwijk v Heerenveen
VVV Venlo v AZ
NEC v Groningen
Feyenoord v Den Haag
Ajax v Vitesse
PSV v Sparta
Twente v Willem II
Wins in prospect for all the top three, all of them at home. Twente have the easiest task on paper against managerless Willem II while PSV have Sparta and Ajax play Vitesse. Differing fortunes in Europe for the trio, Ajax and PSV losing to Juventus and Hamburg respectively while Twente beat Werder Bremen, but they should all be too good for their opponents this weekend. At the bottom, Heerenveen can knock that first nail in for Waalwijk while Den Haag are at Feyenoord in what looks a stonewall 0-0 draw.
Vitesse 1-2 Twente
Den Haag 3-0 Willem II
Heerenveen 0-2 Ajax
AZ 2-0 Roda
Utrecht 0-0 Feyenoord
Groningen 2-1 Waalwijk
Heracles 0-1 PSV
Sparta 2-0 VVV Venlo
NEC 2-1 Willem II
Contrasting fortunes for Willem II and NEC as they played twice in the week, against each other on Wednesday in the one remaining game to catch up on. NEC are suddenly on a great run, coinciding with the return of Bjorn Vleminckx from suspension. Just a few weeks ago, they were mired in the relegation battle, but after wins over NAC - Bram Nuytinck on target twice as they came from behind - and Willem II - Ramon Zomer and Vleminckx with goals just before half time - sees them just five points off the Europa League play-off places. By contrast, Willem II now look certainties to go down. Stefan Nijland's last minute goal was nowhere near enough to get anything out of the game with NEC and that followed a crushing defeat to fellow strugglers Den Haag last week. Ricky van den Bergh struck twice in an easy 3-0 win for ADO, but it was the NEC game that forced the board of the Tilburg club to act and put Alfons Groenendijk out of a) his misery and b) a job. Mark Schenning takes charge ahead of a tough trip to Enschede to take on Steve McClaren's high-flying Tukkers.
Twente got back to winning ways, but they left it late against Vitesse. Paul Verhaegh put the Arnhemers ahead early in the second half and that looked like being enough until Bryan Ruiz struck eight minutes from the end and Ronnie Stam won it in stoppage time. PSV stay out in front thanks to yet another 1-0 win - Ola Toivonen heading the winner against Heracles. Ajax also won against ten man Heerenveen to keep their hopes alive. Christian Grindheim was sent off twenty minutes from the end with the score at 1-0 - Dennis Rommedahl with another in this Indian summer in his career - and Luis Suarez wrapped it up late on. Feyenoord lost more ground and fourth looks the height of their ambition following their 0-0 draw in Utrecht. The game only notable for the referee calling a halt to proceedings for a time after undue abuse from the crowd.
I think we can say that Waalwijk are down. If not actually, then at least in their minds, RKC are gone. Another loss last weekend, Groningen pulling themselves up the table, and a red card for Charlison Benshop adds to the misery. Sparta keep their heads above the nasty red line on the table with a win over VVV Venlo, Joshua John in the first minute setting them on their way and not suffering too much after Donovan Slijngard was sent off. AZ won, but Europa League play-offs are as good as they will get. Pa-Modou Kah's own goal put them in front against Roda and Rasmus Elm sealed it.
This week:
Roda v Heracles
NAC v Utrecht
Waalwijk v Heerenveen
VVV Venlo v AZ
NEC v Groningen
Feyenoord v Den Haag
Ajax v Vitesse
PSV v Sparta
Twente v Willem II
Wins in prospect for all the top three, all of them at home. Twente have the easiest task on paper against managerless Willem II while PSV have Sparta and Ajax play Vitesse. Differing fortunes in Europe for the trio, Ajax and PSV losing to Juventus and Hamburg respectively while Twente beat Werder Bremen, but they should all be too good for their opponents this weekend. At the bottom, Heerenveen can knock that first nail in for Waalwijk while Den Haag are at Feyenoord in what looks a stonewall 0-0 draw.
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Ligue 1 round 23
Monaco v Marseille
Valenciennes v Nice
Le Mans v Sochaux
Nancy v PSG
Montpellier v Grenoble
Lille v Boulogne
Lyon v Lens
Auxerre v Rennes
Lorient v Toulouse
Bordeaux v St Etienne
One thing is certain: Bordeaux will still be top at the end of this round of fixtures. Whether it's on points or goal difference is the only thing open to question. Montpellier are three points behind the champions, but a massive 13 worse off on goal difference, so unless they stick ten past Grenoble this week, Bordeaux will still be top. A few weeks ago, you could envisage a situation where that could happen, but Grenoble were 5-0 winners a week ago and if that doesn't spark a turnaround in form, then nothing will. Even so, Montpellier will start favourites. Bordeaux also face an improved team from the lower reaches of the league; St Etienne. Les Verts pulled to seven clear of the drop zone thanks to last week's 3-0 win over Monaco and are no longer the easy-beats Bordeaux could have expected to face.
Lyon, Marseille (still with that game in hand against Sochaux to come), Lille, Monaco and Auxerre are still all squabbling over third and they were joined by Rennes after their victory a week ago. Something has to give this week as Monaco and Marseille face off in the Principality and Rennes go to Auxerre, AJA being the side beaten so heavily by Grenoble last time out. Lille are at home to Boulogne who are now officially the worst side in the country and Lyon have a visit from Lens.
Le Mans are still in deep trouble and face Sochaux, but it's PSG who are in the deepest mess of all, everything being relevant. They go to Nancy two points behind their hosts. Nice are still in trouble too and face fast fading Valenciennes and the winner of the Lorient v Toulouse clash will suddenly be right back in the European chase, joining that clutch of clubs vying for third. The loser can just about forget it.
Valenciennes v Nice
Le Mans v Sochaux
Nancy v PSG
Montpellier v Grenoble
Lille v Boulogne
Lyon v Lens
Auxerre v Rennes
Lorient v Toulouse
Bordeaux v St Etienne
One thing is certain: Bordeaux will still be top at the end of this round of fixtures. Whether it's on points or goal difference is the only thing open to question. Montpellier are three points behind the champions, but a massive 13 worse off on goal difference, so unless they stick ten past Grenoble this week, Bordeaux will still be top. A few weeks ago, you could envisage a situation where that could happen, but Grenoble were 5-0 winners a week ago and if that doesn't spark a turnaround in form, then nothing will. Even so, Montpellier will start favourites. Bordeaux also face an improved team from the lower reaches of the league; St Etienne. Les Verts pulled to seven clear of the drop zone thanks to last week's 3-0 win over Monaco and are no longer the easy-beats Bordeaux could have expected to face.
Lyon, Marseille (still with that game in hand against Sochaux to come), Lille, Monaco and Auxerre are still all squabbling over third and they were joined by Rennes after their victory a week ago. Something has to give this week as Monaco and Marseille face off in the Principality and Rennes go to Auxerre, AJA being the side beaten so heavily by Grenoble last time out. Lille are at home to Boulogne who are now officially the worst side in the country and Lyon have a visit from Lens.
Le Mans are still in deep trouble and face Sochaux, but it's PSG who are in the deepest mess of all, everything being relevant. They go to Nancy two points behind their hosts. Nice are still in trouble too and face fast fading Valenciennes and the winner of the Lorient v Toulouse clash will suddenly be right back in the European chase, joining that clutch of clubs vying for third. The loser can just about forget it.
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