..::Football III::..

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Seaman: Costa refereeing embarrassing

David Seaman says he was "embarrassed" by the performance of referee Mike Dean during Chelsea's 1-0 win over Arsenal.Dean dismissed Gabriel at Stamford Bridge after he kicked out at Diego Costa following the striker's clash with Koscielny.

Gabriel, Costa and both clubs were subsequently charged by the Football Association for improper conduct, violent conduct and failing to control their players respectively.

Seaman was highly critical of Gabriel for being drawn into the incident - having not been involved in the original altercation - but felt the decision to dismiss the defender was the wrong one.

"Gabriel got suckered into it," the former England goalkeeper told Omnisport. "He made a silly decision with a flick, but the most annoying thing about it is a player can get a straight red for a little flick like that."Over the top tackles are not getting punished nowhere near as badly as that, it's just embarrassing, as a footballer I was embarrassed.

"The Rugby World Cup is on and they are flying into each other, and we're sending players off for little flicks. It just really got me angry… and I don't get angry often!"
Seaman says Costa should not be made out to be the villain, as players of his mould have been around for some time.He added: "That's Diego, I know that and I've been retired 12 years! That's his game, he's not just that, he's a great striker and a great finisher.

"[But you] just get on with it, don't get drawn into it, you know what's he's going to be like. "It's passion as well [from Costa], it's not out and out dirtiness, he's trying to win the ball.

"All the stuff that went on that we saw on Saturday goes on at every corner. The scratching and pulling goes on all the time."Just get on with it, a yellow each would've been enough and walk away."

 

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Man Utd defender Rojo has 'no intention' of joining Napoli

Marcos Rojo has no intention of leaving Manchester United despite reported interest from Napoli, his agent Carlos Goncalves has insisted.

Reports earlier on Tuesday had suggested the Serie A side were plotting a January move for the Argentina international, whose representative has since moved to reject the prospect of a transfer.

Rojo, 25, joined United from Sporting Lisbon after the World Cup in 2014 and has featured at both centre-back and left-back during his time at Old Trafford.

His future was called into question in the close-season after he missed the club's pre-season tour to the United States due to passport issues, but he ended up staying in England.

"There is no need to talk about Rojo at Napoli," Goncalves told Radio Kiss Kiss. "This is not the right moment.

"The player is happy and well at Manchester United and has no intention of leaving the club."

The recent injury to Luke Shaw, who has suffered a double fracture in his leg, is likely to boost Rojo's chances of first-team action.

The defender played in 22 Premier League games last season and was handed his first league start of the new campaign in Saturday's 3-2 win over Southampton.

 

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Carneiro leaves Chelsea after Mourinho dispute

Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro has left the club, six weeks on from her highly-publicised dispute with manager Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho had called the club's medical staff "impulsive and naive" for entering the pitch late on in the opening day 2-2 draw with Swansea.

Carneiro and physio Jon Fearn treated Eden Hazard with minutes remaining of the game, leaving the Blues temporarily down to 10 men.

Carneiro was subsequently removed from her position on the Chelsea bench during matches and told to instead work with the players at the Cobham training ground.

But the doctor is believed to have stayed away from the club since the incident on August 8 and posted a message of thanks to well wishers on Facebook two days after the game.

The Football Association are also reviewing complaints that Mourinho used abusive or sexist language towards Carneiro.

 

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Rodgers has four months to keep Liverpool job, says Hamann

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has until Christmas to save his job, according to former Reds midfielder Dietmar Hamann.

The Merseysiders made a bright start to the season but the wheels have come off in recent games after a shocking 3-0 home defeat by West Ham was followed by a lacklustre 3-1 loss to arch rivals Manchester United and a dour 1-1 draw with Norwich City.

Last weekend's stalemate has left the club in 13th in the Premier League and, while Hamann believes it is too early to sack the Northern Irishman after deciding to stick with him in the summer, he has suggested the club’s American owners could have a decision to make over his future ahead of the New Year if their poor form continues.

“The club made a conscious decision in the summer when the assistant manager Colin Pascoe and first team coach Mike Marsh were relieved of their duties and Sean O’Driscoll and Gary McAllister were brought in,” Hamann told talkSPORT.

“They made a decision to stick with the manager and change the backroom staff and if they wanted to change the manager in the summer they would have done or they could have done, because there was a reason to do it after losing to Crystal Palace 3-1 and then losing that last game 6-1 to Stoke.

“They made the decision to stick with the manager, which I have not got a problem with, and after five games it is too early [to sack him].

“Up until Christmas, I don’t think there is a decision to be made. Simply you have to stick with the manager now because if you wanted to change you should have done it in the summer, not after five games.”

 

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Higuain 'the centre of Napoli's world' - Sarri

Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri has described Gonzalo Higuain as "the centre of our world" following his impressive early-season form.

The Argentina international was linked with a possible exit during the transfer window, but has begun the Serie A campaign in style, scoring four times in the opening four matches.

Sarri has hailed him as the pivotal piece in his Napoli puzzle and says he has scope to become more influential during 2015-16.

"Higuain is at the centre of our project. His extraordinary quality makes him decisive," Sarri told Radio Kiss Kiss.

"If he improves a few things he can cause chaos. He's at the centre of our world."

Napoli have secured back-to-back 5-0 victories following Sarri's switch to a 4-3-3 formation, but the former Empoli coach believes it is the defence that will benefit the most as he prepares his side to face Carpi on Wednesday.

"I think 4-3-3 is helping us more in defence than in attack. Ultimately I don't think a change of formation is crucial to the results of a team," he said.

"The physical and mental condition has changed, things have gone in our favour, and that's made everything easier.

"Carpi are a hard team to deal with, we have to be ready. I definitely don't expect a lot of chances, this is not an easy match.

"From a physical point of view we'll probably have to employ some rotation, even if mentally it would be important to stick with the same team for consistency."

 

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Marquinhos should leave Paris Saint-Germain - Alex

Marquinhos should leave Paris Saint-Germain if he wants to fulfil his potential, according to Brazilian defender Alex.

The 21-year-old joined PSG from Roma in July 2013, but has failed to become an undisputed starter due to the stiff competition for places, having made two starts in six Ligue 1 appearances so far this term.

And Alex feels his compatriot might therefore have to leave in order to take the next step in his development, insisting he would have many options if he wanted to move.

"Marquinhos would have a place at any major European club," the current AC Milan defender told L'Equipe.

"His problem at PSG is that he faces competition from two of the best in the world in his position. And Thiago Silva and David Luiz still have five or six years in them. That's a shame for Marquinhos.

"All the big clubs are keen to sign him. Every transfer window he receives some amazing offers. He is still young and has to play and show his worth.

"Had I been in his position, I would quit PSG."

The Brazil international is tied to the Parc des Princes club until June 2019.

 

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Atletico Madrid 2-0 Getafe: Griezmann fires Simeone's men level with Barcelona

Antoine Griezmann scored twice as Atletico Madrid beat Getafe 2-0 to move level on points with leaders Barcelona in La Liga.

The Frenchman's two strikes from close range - his fourth and fifth goals of the season in all competitions - proved decisive as the home side made it four victories from five league games.

Getafe, who suffered their fourth defeat from the same number of matches, could have equalised in the second half, but were left to rue a poor miss from Pedro Leon.

Diego Simeone made six changes to his starting line-up following Saturday's win over Eibar, with Fernando Torres, who scored in that game, and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco among the players brought in.

The breakthrough came after just four minutes. Vicente Guaita punched clear a corner and Gabi fired back into the box, where Griezmann controlled, swivelled and converted from six yards out.

Ferreira Carrasco shot just wide of the post from distance, while Angel Lafita worked Jan Oblak with a powerful long-range effort in a first half that saw three bookings and little goalmouth action.Atletico almost gifted Getafe a route back into the match shortly before half-time.

A dreadful square free-kick from Oliver Torres was played straight to Stefan Scepovic, who raced through on goal and should have done better with his effort that Oblak parried to safety.

Angel Correa - another of the weekend goalscorers for Atletico - came on at half-time - while Jackson Martinez was also introduced early in the second half as he replaced Fernando Torres.

The visitors had another brilliant opportunity to draw level on the hour mark.Victor Rodriguez slipped a pass through for Leon, but the former Real Madrid winger missed the target with only Oblak to beat.

Atletico were only creating half chances at the other end, although Martinez should have done better with a presentable header from Gabi's cross that he diverted well wide.The home side began to increase the pressure as they searched for a second goal to kill off Getafe and Correa cut inside before forcing Guaita into a low stop.

A second for Atletico did arrive in the final minute. Substitute Tiago chipped a clever pass through to Martinez, who squared for Griezmann to apply a simple finish.

 

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Griezmann​

 

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Udinese 2-3 AC Milan: Balotelli on target as Rossoneri survive second half comeback

Mario Balotelli scored a free-kick as AC Milan beat Udinese 3-2 on Tuesday night, but only after surviving a second half comeback from the home side in a five-goal thriller.

The Italy striker opened the scoring after just five minutes as the visitors made a superb start at the Stadio Communale Friuli, before Giacomo Bonaventura doubled their lead in the 10th minute.

Cristian Zapata's goal in the closing minutes of the first half seemed to have decided the match, but Udinese came roaring into the game after the interval.
Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu made it 3-1 shortly after the break and then substitute Duvan Zapata got another on the hour mark to set up a tense finale.

But there was no comeback from the struggling hosts, despite plenty of late pressure, and their hopes were finally ended in injury-time when Bruno Fernandes was sent off for a second yellow card.Victory sent Milan fourth in the table for at least a day, while Udinese have now lost four in a row and look set for a battle against relegation.

Milan started the game superbly and needed only five minutes to take the lead. Balotelli stepped up to take a free-kick in a dangerous position after he was brought down himself and the Liverpool loanee justified Sinisa Mihajlovic's decision to include him in the starting XI with a perfect effort into the top corner.

The visitors did not let up after their early opener and made it two after just 10 minutes. Riccardo Montolivo spotted Bonaventura's clever run behind the Udinese defence and the latter chested down the midfielder's superb pass before slotting home from inside the area.

Milan continued to look dangerous and they should have piled even more misery on Udinese in the 26th minute. Keisuke Honda set up Carlos Bacca with an intelligent pass, yet the Colombia international hesitated too long and his shot was eventually blocked by Manuel Iturra.

The pair combined again 10 minutes before half-time when Honda this time tried his luck from 12 yards after being set up by Bacca, but once again Iturra did just enough to deflect the Japan playmaker's attempt wide with a last-ditch tackle.

There was no denying Milan in the closing seconds of the first half, though.Bonaventura sent his corner to the back post and Cristian Zapata beat his marker to the ball before diagonally heading home for his side's third.

Udinese refused to give up, however, and they pulled one back shortly after the interval. Antonio Di Natale's first touch let him down, but the ball fell kindly to Agyemang-Badu, who fired home to reduce the deficit. The Ghanaian's goal seemed to spur Stefano Colantuono's men on, and they soon got a second shortly before the hour mark when Cyril Thereau set up Duvan Zapata and the substitute had no trouble tapping in from just a few yards out.

Thereau nearly completed Udinese's comeback after a low cross from Di Natale, but Diego Lopez rushed off his line to collect the ball before the Frenchman could get to it To rub even more salt into Udinese’s wounds, the home side were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time when Fernandes received his second yellow card, as Milan held on.

 

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Aston Villa 1-0 Birmingham City: Gestede heads Sherwood's men to victory

Rudy Gestede lifted the gloom at Aston Villa with the only goal on Tuesday to see off fierce rivals Birmingham City 1-0 in the League Cup third round.

Gestede broke the deadlock just after the hour mark with a powerful header from Jordan Amavi's cross, the striker netting his second goal for Villa and first since the opening day of the Premier League season.

Both sides struggled to create any clear-cut chances in the opening half, but Villa finally burst into life after the break with Gestede converting on his first sight of goal.

Victory was greeted with a look of relief from Tim Sherwood at the final whistle as his team booked their fourth-round spot, with the Villa boss hopeful the result can prove a catalyst to ending the side's five-game winless streak in the league.

Championship side Birmingham were quickly out of the blocks at a raucous Villa Park, with Jacques Maghoma and Demarai Gray going close early on.

Birmingham's start stunned Villa – who made four changes from Saturday's 1-0 defeat to West Brom in the Premier League – but eventually Sherwood's men settled into the match and began to threaten.

Gabriel Agbonlahor was first to be presented with an opening as he narrowly missed out on Leandro Bacuna's low cross, and the striker was wasteful once again just before the half hour with a wayward strike.

As half-time approached, Scott Sinclair's pace created space inside the Birmingham penalty area, but the forward was unable to get enough power in his shot and Tomasz Kuszczak saved easily.

Sherwood made two attacking changes at the break by introducing Jack Grealish and Jordan Ayew and Villa immediately posed more of a threat.

A superb throughball from Jordan Veretout released Bacuna on the right and his whipped cross was met by Sinclair, but the striker was unable to turn his header goalwards.

Gestede, a close-season signing from Blackburn Rovers, provided the game's first moment of real quality when he opened the scoring after 62 minutes.

Amavi found Gestede with a tantalising ball from the left and the striker duly thumped his header past the stationary Kuszczak.

Despite taking the lead, Villa failed to control of the match and were lucky not to concede with 16 minutes to play as Clayton Donaldson and Gray played in Maghoma, but Brad Guzan clung onto his shot at the second attempt.

Having survived that let off, Villa twice went close through Sinclair, but the forward was unable to extend the hosts' winning margin.

 

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Sunderland 1-4 Manchester City: Aguero, Sterling & De Bruyne on target for City

Manchester City ran out 4-1 winners over Sunderland in the League Cup on Tuesday, with summer signing Kevin De Bruyne on the scoresheet for Manuel Pellegrini's side.

The struggling hosts were outclassed by the Premier League leaders who were 4-0 up within 36 minutes, prompting a number of home fans to make an early exit from the Stadium of Light.

The result and, in particular, the manner of the performance, is likely to increase the pressure on Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat who admitted ahead of the game that he would step down if he felt someone better was ready to replace him.

Both managers opted for strong starting line-ups, with Sunderland handing a debut to Tottenham loanee DeAndre Yedlin and Manuel Pellegrini including Sergio Aguero, De Bruyne, Yaya Toure and Raheem Sterling.

Despite their abysmal league form, it was Sunderland who started the brighter, Adam Johnson and Fabio Borini both going close within the first five minutes as the hosts piled on the early pressure.

City appeared to be up against it, only to stun the home fans into silence as they took the lead with what was their first real attack of the game.

Patrick van Aanholt's challenge on Jesus Navas looked to be just outside the box, but referee Roger East thought otherwise and awarded the spot-kick which Aguero converted with ease to claim his first club goal in over a month.

Borini then saw what looked like a legitimate goal ruled out for a rather innocuous foul on Nicolas Otamendi, before Sunderland fell victim to another sucker punch.

This time it came in the form of a rapid City breakaway in which De Bruyne and Sterling exchanged a neat one-two, allowing the former to drive in on goal and beat Vito Mannone at his near post.

And there was more misery for the former Arsenal goalkeeper seven minutes later when Sterling's close-range shot rebounded off the post, struck him on the back and cannoned into the net.

Sunderland appeared to have no answer to City's attacking fluency, especially down the right and on 36 minutes the game was effectively over as a contest as the visitors grabbed their fourth.

This time De Bruyne returned the favour for Sterling by playing him in on goal and the former Liverpool man casually bent the ball past Mannone and into the far corner.

It could and should have been even worse for Advocaat's men just before the break, Aguero delaying his shot for too long after successfully rounding Mannone, allowing Sebastian Coates to clear the danger.

The Argentina international again left Mannone floundering at his feet early in the second-half, but this time he opted to pick out Sterling and his dallying allowed Sunderland to clear.

The overworked home goalkeeper was then tested by a low drive from Toure just before the hour-mark as City continued to rampage forward in search of a fifth goal.

Jeremain Lens did at least threaten a response from the men in red and white when he showed some neat footwork before firing straight at Willy Caballero in the visitors' goal.

But when they did finally make the breakthrough, it came too late to be anything more than a consolation, Ola Toivonen converting Yedlin's cross on 83 minutes.

Pellegrini, meanwhile, was able to hand a debut to Manu Garcia midway through the second half and the highly-rated young Spanish midfielder showed some nice touches as City cruised through to the next round.

 

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Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 Guingamp: Zlatan nets first of season as Laurent Blanc’s men ease to victory

Zlatan Ibrahimovic ended his recent goal drought as well as seeing a late penalty saved as Paris Saint-Germain cruised to a 3-0 win over Guingamp in Ligue 1 on Tuesday.

The Sweden international netted his first club goal of the season - at the fourth attempt - for the French champions just as it looked as though he was going to be left exasperated on an otherwise straightforward evening for PSG.

After two draws in their previous league outings, there was a danger the crowd at Parc des Princes could have grown impatient with Laurent Blanc's men, but a star-studded team quickly settled any nerves around the stadium and the result rarely looked in doubt.

Javier Pastore slotted a cool finish home from the edge of the box to make it 1-0 after just 18 minutes, and the lead was doubled by Angel Di Maria's close range finish in the second half.

Ibrahimovic delighted the home fans in the 83rd minute with a brilliantly taken goal, and he could have doubled his tally for the season had it not been for the exploits of Guingamp goalkeeper Jonas Lossl, who pulled off a late penalty save.

Laurent Blanc restored some star quality to his starting line-up, with David Luiz returning to action, as well as Blaise Matuidi, Di Maria and Edinson Cavani stepping up after being named as substitutes in PSG's previous Ligue 1 outing – a disappointing 1-1 draw at Reims.

Cavani, who grabbed a late equalizer at Reims, went close after three minutes, poking Gregory van der Wiel's cross onto the palms of Lossl.

That set the tone for the evening, and PSG soon took the lead.

Ibrahimovic darted through midfield and picked out Pastore on the edge of the box, who stroked a side-footed shot between two defenders and into the corner of the net, past the diving Lossl.

The Sweden star came tantalizingly close to doubling the lead when he met Maxwell's pass with a first-time left-footed chip that just curled away from the target.

The second half began with an onslaught on Lossl's goal, and Ibrahimovic's low, 25-yard free-kick bounced off the keeper's chest, shortly before a last-ditch clearance from Laurent Dos Santos denied the increasingly frustrated striker.

Pastore almost doubled his tally when he robbed Moustapha Diallo of possession and scampered into the box, where he plundered a shot that forced a good save from Lossl.

Di Maria grabbed a share of the glory courtesy of an Ibrahimovic shot that Lossl spilled at his feet, allowing the former Manchester United man to tuck away his first league goal for PSG.

Ibrahimovic finally got on the scoresheet when Di Maria's pass picked him out in the box, and he needed just two touches to fire in past Lossl at the far post, however he could not repeat the feat from 12 yards after Cavani was brought down.

Elsewhere in Ligue 1, Reims were held to a third successive draw after their visit to Angers ended goalless.

 

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Ferguson wanted Guardiola, not Moyes as Man United successor


Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Pep Guardiola rejected the chance to succeed him as Manchester United manager in 2013.

Ferguson ended his 26-year tenure with United at the end of the 2012-13 Premier League season, with then-Everton manager David Moyes chosen as his successor.

But just 27 wins in 51 games saw Moyes sacked less than a 12 months into a six-year contract, and Ferguson now says that ex-Barcelona boss Guardiola - and not fellow Scot Moyes - was the first choice for the role.

“I had dinner with Pep Guardiola in New York in 2012, but couldn’t make him any direct proposal because retirement was not on my agenda at that point,” Ferguson said at his book launch on Monday, according to the Daily Telegraph.

“He had already won an enviable number of trophies with Barcelona… and I admired him greatly. I asked Pep to phone me before he accepted an offer from another club, but he didn’t and wound up joining Bayern Munich in July 2013.”

Ferguson said that a host of elite coaches were all considered to succeed him - including current Old Trafford boss Louis van Gaal - but that the timing was not right for most.
"Life is such that the best of theories, or the best of intentions, sometimes don’t translate into practice,” Ferguson said. “Believe me, the United board wanted nothing more than to select a manager who would be with the club for a long time.

“When we started the process of looking for my replacement, we established that several very desirable candidates were unavailable. It became apparent that Jose Mourinho had given his word to Roman Abramovich that he would return to Chelsea, and that Carlo Ancelotti would succeed him at Real Madrid.

“We also knew that Jurgen Klopp was happy at Borussia Dortmund and would be signing a new contract. Meantime, Louis van Gaal had undertaken to lead the Dutch attempt to win the 2014 World Cup.”

United's longest-serving manager said that the process of selecting 52-year-old Moyes was "perfect," even though things did not work out for the now-Real Sociedad coach while he was at Old Trafford.

"Once I'd conveyed it [his decision to retire] to the Glazers, then the process started of looking for successors," Ferguson said, according to the Daily Mail .

"We chose David Moyes. He had been consistent in his job at Everton, had a good spell there - 11 years and showed appetite. No one knew apart from the Glazers, David Gill and myself.

"When we appointed him, the press were enthusiastic for a British manager. Unfortunately, somehow it didn't work out for David. The process was perfect. It was a good process."

 

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Diego Costa given three match ban

Chelsea striker Diego Costa has been given a three match ban for violent conduct by the Football Association, following the club's 2-0 win over Arsenal on Saturday.

The Blues striker did not concede a foul during the clash at Stamford Bridge but argued with both Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel, with the latter receiving a red card after he kicked out at the Spaniard, though his ban for violent conduct was overturned on Tuesday.

During the initial confrontation, Costa appeared to rake his hands over Koscielny's face twice in succession and the FA have now confirmed that the 26-year-old will miss the next three domestic matches, against Walsall in the League Cup and Southampton and Aston Villa in the Premier League.

"An FA charge against Diego Costa for violent conduct not seen by the match officials but caught on video has been found proven following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing," read a statementon the FA's website.

"The Chelsea forward will, therefore, serve the standard penalty of a three-match suspension with immediate effect.

"The charge, which the player denied, was in relation to an incident involving Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny in the 43rd minute of the game on Saturday."

Costa was hailed by manager Jose Mourinho following the game against the Gunners, with the Portuguese crediting his striker as the man of the match after Kurt Zouma and Eden Hazard had given his side victory.

 

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Costa ta punishment 1kak dunna 1ka hodai.Aduma tharame danwath hadei​

 

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Bayern Munich 5-1 Wolfsburg: Lewandowski nets FIVE IN NINE MINUTES as the Bavarians cruise

Robert Lewandowski came off the bench to score five goals in nine minutes as Bayern Munich thrashed Wolfsburg 5-1 at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old was introduced at half-time and fired in a four-minute hat-trick before adding two more in a breathless 15-minute spell from the home side.

Bayern started on the front foot but Wolfsburg stunned the Allianz Arena on 26 minutes as Daniel Caligiuri fired home emphatically following Julian Draxler's pass.

Pep Guardiola's side struggled to break through a resilient away defence and they almost found themselves two down when Josuha Guilovogui hit the post from his own half, with Manuel Neuer stranded.

But the half-time arrival of Lewandowski turned the game on its head as the Poland international became the first substitute to score five times in a Bundesliga match to leave Wolfsburg rattled.

Douglas Costa brought the first save out of Diego Benaglio with a low drive from 25 yards before Arturo Vidal curled over from a similar distance as Bayern settled quickly into their passing game.

Thomas Muller should have done better when he collected Mario Gotze's clever pass only to blast his effort wide of the right-hand post from the edge of the area, but a disciplined Wolfsburg took the lead just after the 25-minute mark, Draxler picking out Caligiuri on the break and the 27-year-old rifled a fierce half-volley past Neuer at the near post.

Neuer almost gifted Wolfsburg a second as he raced towards the halfway line only to miss an interception, but Guilavogui's lob from the centre-circle clipped the upright before bouncing wide.

Guardiola threw on Lewandowski and the change paid dividends almost immediately. Muller was denied by Benaglio after a fine team move involving Gotze and Vidal, and Lewandowski was on hand to poke the ball home on the rebound.

The Poland striker put Bayern in front just a minute later, lashing the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the area, and he sealed a stunning four-minute hat-trick - the fastest in Bundesliga history - as he prodded the ball home after initially hitting the post after being set up by Muller.

Wolfsburg were completely rattled and Lewandowski helped himself to a fourth on 56 minutes as he turned in Costa's cross with a crisp strike.

But the former Borussia Dortmund man saved his best for the fifth - a sensational acrobatic volley which flew past Benaglio and left Guardiola speechless on the sidelines.

Benaglio made a double save to deny Gotze and then Muller from adding a sixth before a combination of the Swiss keeper and Ricardo Rodriguez on the goal-line stopped Lewandowski from scoring again.

Former Bayern man Dante blocked another Lewandowski effort inside the area as the champions cruised through the closing stages to go three points clear at the top of the table ahead of Dortmund's clash with Hoffenheim on Wednesday.

 

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5 Goals in 9 minutes!

Pattama gahillak nehCongratzzzzz LEW!

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Bayern Munich 5-1 Wolfsburg: Lewandowski nets FIVE IN NINE MINUTES as the Bavarians cruise

Lewa BVB walin giyata passe hodama performnce 1ka ekath Wolfsburg lata
perfect striker kenek

 

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Diego Costa given three match ban

dan parakku wadi apitaeth parakku wela hari ban karapu eka hodai.

 

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Gabriel ban lifted by FA

The Football Association has confirmed that Arsenal have succesfully appealed against Gabriel's ban for violent conduct on the grounds of wrongful dismissal, following his red card against Chelsea.

The Gunners defender had been dismissed for violent conduct after kicking out at Blues striker Diego Costa at the end of a continued dispute between the two players.

Costa has subsequently been charged with violent conduct by the FA and could face retrospective punishment following a further collision with Laurent Koscielny.

But a statement released by the FA on Tuesday rescinded Gabriel's ban for violent conduct, though the Brazilian still faces a charge of improper conduct, for which he has until 6pm on Thursday to reply.

"Arsenal’s claim of wrongful dismissal in relation to Gabriel has been upheld following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing," the FA statement read. "The player’s three-match suspension has, therefore, been withdrawn with immediate effect.

"The player is currently subject to a separate FA charge of improper conduct in relation to Saturday's game,"