..::Football III::..

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Ow machan Deadline Day 1ke hoda deals set 1kak unoth pattaWenger & LvG balagena inne Deadline day 1kema anith kattiya ganna wagehabai magenam echchara kammthak naha oya wadeta.Mokada target miss unoth ahema alternatives attheth nahaanith 1ka late wadi​

aniwa machan ekanam aththa last January wala draxler tath bid karala thibbe anthima mohethe ne wena player kenek gannath bariuna
puluwan tharam ekmanata deals tika karaganna one Mourinho wage

 

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Mascherano: Madrid have made a mistake selling Di Maria

Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano believes that Real Madrid have made a massive mistake by selling Angel Di Maria.

The European champions could pocket a grand total of €84 million from the winger's move to Old Trafford, which was completed earlier this week.

However, Mascherano believes that his fellow Argentine will be sorely missed at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"It’s not an issue that concerns me but I think they’ve lost out,” Mascherano told Mundo Deportivo.

"He’s a player I like a lot. He’s among the top 10 in the world.

"He adds balance to attack and defend and has a great engine. You can use him in many positions."

Mascherano looked set to switch clubs himself at the end of last season, with Napoli having been hopeful of luring the versatile defender to the San Paolo.

However, after a stellar World Cup campaign, the 30-year-old ultimately signed a contract extension with Barcelona, much to Mascherano's delight, given that he did not want to endure a divorce as difficult as the one he went through with former club Liverpool.

“A relationship with a club is like a marriage," he mused. "The two sides have to get along. If in doubt, it’s better to talk about it and not come to the worst.

“I remember leaving Liverpool not as I would have liked and I would regret it for a lifetime if the same thing happened to me with Barca.

“The club sensed something at the end of the season. Obviously I’m very grateful I was told I could continue.

“Before the World Cup I had a short conversation [with coach Luis Enrique] that let me know they wanted me.”

Mascherano departed Anfield in 2010 in acrimonious circumstances, with the player having to publicly deny having refused to play in a game against Manchester City before his exit.

 

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Costa in Chelsea squad to face Everton

Diego Costa is available for selection and has travelled with the rest of the Chelsea squad as they prepare to face Everton on Saturday.

Earlier on Friday Jose Mourinho admitted the Brazil-born Spaniard was a "big doubt" for the match, having sustained a minor muscular injury in training on Wednesday.

But Costa came through a subsequent light training session without aggravating the problem and has therefore been included in the Chelsea squad for the trip to Goodison Park.

"We are trying everything for him to play [on Saturday]," Mourinho told reporters earlier on Friday. "He didn't train for the last two days. Today is the last day.

"We have to try and see if the reaction is positive. If the reaction is positive, we take him and select him on the bench."

Costa has made an impressive start to his Chelsea career, scoring two important goals in his first two Premier League matches against Burnley and Leicester City.

 

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Allegri: Juventus ready to defend Scudetto

New Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri says he and his team are ready and raring to go ahead of the start of their Scudetto defence on Saturday.

Juve get their season under way at Chievo, who crashed out of the Coppa Italia at the hands of Serie B side Pescara last week, but Allegri has warned his players to expect a tough encounter.“We're ready to go and will play with great concentration and attention," he told reporters. "It's not an easy one because Chievo have many new faces.

"They will look to bounce back from their Coppa Italia elimination and cause us problems."It's a tricky encounter at a ground where getting a result is never easy. We need to be on our game for 95 minutes."

Allegri succeeded Antonio Conte, who has since assumed the reins of the Italian national team, and says he found Juventus in good order upon his arrival and insists Serie A is not a two-horse race between his team and Roma."I've come into an environment with rules, discipline and a strong work ethic," he continued. "I'm very happy about that.

"Juve and Roma aren't the only contenders - Inter, Napoli, Fiorentina, AC Milan and Lazio will also be in the chasing pack."

 

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Barcelona to loan out Song to West Ham

Out-of-favour Barcelona midfielder Alex Song will fly to London on Friday to finalise a season-long loan move to West Ham.

The former Arsenal midfielder will hold talks with Hammers officials before undergoing a medical on Saturday ahead of a move that will see him return to the Premier League after a two-year absence.

Song is expected to replace Mohamed Diame at Upton Park, with both Hull City and Everton weighing up a possible move for the Senegal international.

West Ham appear to have seen off competition for Song's signature from Galatasaray, who wanted to sign the 26-year-old on a permanent deal.

Song joined Barcelona from Arsenal in a £15 million deal in the summer of 2012 but has failed to establish himself as a regular first-team starter in either midfield or defence at Camp Nou.

West Ham have already recruited Enner Valencia, Mauro Zarate, Cheikhou Kouyate, Diafra Sakho and Diego Poyet this summer.

 

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Douglas: Barcelona's the pinnacle for me

Barcelona new boy Douglas Pereira says it will be the "pinnacle" of his professional career playing at Camp Nou.

The right-sided player, who will provide competition at full-back for veteran Dani Alves, completed his switch from Sao Paulo to last season's La Liga runners up on Tuesday.

Despite not being on the radar of most European football fans, the 24-year-old is hoping he can make the €5.5 million deal look like a steal for Luis Enrique's men in 2014-15.

"This is the pinnacle for me," he told Barca's official website. "This is everything I could wish for. I am so happy to be able to represent this club.

"I want to thank everyone involved in me coming here and I just hope I can return their confidence in me by performing well on the pitch."

Douglas also admitted he is excited about playing alongside fellow Brazilian player Neymar, who made the move from his homeland to Camp Nou a year ago, and hopes he can build on his own ability in Spain.

"I want to learn, because the style of play here is different to how we play in Brazil," he added.

"They are all big stars here. I've seen them play of course and I’ve played against Neymar in Brazil - he is a sensational player and a great representative for the Brazil team."

 

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Afellay added to Netherlands squad

Ibrahim Afellay and Davy Klaassen have been added to the Netherlands squad for forthcoming matches against Italy and Czech Republic.

Guus Hiddink named his first squad since taking over from Louis van Gaal earlier this week, but has already made alterations to the group.

Tottenham back-up goalkeeper Michel Vorm and Paris Saint-Germain defender Gregory van der Wiel have been dropped from the squad to make way for Afellay and Klaassen.The return of Rafael van der Vaart headlined Hiddink's initial selection for next month's matches, which begin with a friendly against Italy on September 5.

Van der Vaart has not featured for the Netherlands since November 2013, a goalless friendly draw against Colombia.The 31-year-old, who battled hamstring and calf problems last term, has scored seven goals in his last 12 national team appearances.

Van der Vaart is one of five members of Hiddink's squad who did not feature at the World Cup, with Erik Pieters and Jeroen Zoet, along with Afellay and Klaassen, also winning call-ups.

Squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Ajax), Tim Krul (Newcastle United), Jeroen Zoet (PSV)

Defenders: Daley Blind (Ajax), Stefan de Vrij (Lazio), Daryl Janmaat (Newcastle United), Bruno Martins Indi (Porto), Erik Pieters (Stoke City), Paul Verhaegh (Augsburg), Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa), Joel Veltman (Ajax)

Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (Olympiakos), Jordy Clasie (Feyenoord), Nigel de Jong (Milan), Leroy Fer (QPR), Davy Klaasen (Ajax), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg), Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV)

Forwards: Memphis Depay (PSV), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke), Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbahce), Jeremain Lens (Dynamo Kiev), Robin van Persie (Manchester United)

 

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Cuadrado wants to stay, says Della Valle

Fiorentina owner Andrea Della Valle has stated that Juan Cuadrado will be staying at the club this summer, ignoring transfer interest from overseas.

Barcelona were leading the race for his signature for months but were reported have been put off by his high price-tag and instead chose to sign Douglas Pereira from Sao Paulo to fill the void on the right flank of Camp Nou's midfield.

Manchester United and Bayern Munich were also heavily rumoured to be chasing the Colombian but, on the eve of Serie A's restart, the Viola chief has confirmed that Cuadrado will remain with Vincenzo Montella's squad this summer.

"I can guarantee that Cuadrado is certainly staying," Della Valle told reporters. "It's a huge gift for the city. I hope it's the strongest Fiorentina in my era in charge."

Montella also expressed his delight that the in-demand 26-year-old will not be ditching the club ahead of the 2014-15 and looked ahead to Fiorentina's opening game of the Serie A season at Roma on Saturday, with kick-off at 20:45CET.

"I am happy, very happy indeed," the coach added. "Cuadrado's an important player for Fiorentina.

"Tomorrow begins a whole new season of expectation. There are no assumptions but there is a belief that must be turned into positive results.

"Roma are among the favourites with Juventus and Inter, whom I think are looking strong. Serie A's a league which looks stronger."

 

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Dortmund set to seal €12.5m Kagawa deal

Borussia Dortmund will seal a deal worth up to €12.5 million for Manchester United misfit Shinji Kagawa within the next 48 hours.

On Thursday Goal reported that Dortmund were in talks to re-sign Kagawa, who has failed to establish himself at Old Trafford since moving from Signal Iduna Park for around €20m back in June 2012.

And now BVB have agreed a deal worth an initial €7.5m with up to €5m in add-ons for the Japan international, who will sign a four-year contract to rejoin his former club.

Confirming talks with United about Kagawa on Friday, Dortmund's youth coordinator Lars Ricken told Sky Sport Germany: "We still have two or three days left [of the transfer window]. Then we will see if he wears the Dortmund jersey again."

Kagawa remains a popular figure at Dortmund, where he won two Bundesliga titles and a DFB-Pokal in his two seasons at the club after joining for €350,000 from J-League club Cerezo Osaka in 2010.

Van Gaal considers the 25-year-old surplus to his requirements at Old Trafford, having already spent over €150m to recruit Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera and Angel Di Maria this summer.

United will also make a final push to sign Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal and Ajax star Daley Blind before the transfer window slams shut on Monday.

 

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Pique, Torres & Mata dropped in new-look Spain squad

Vicente del Bosque has culled eight of the players who flopped as Spain crashed out of World Cup 2014 at the group stage for his latest squad, including Gerard Pique, Juan Mata and Fernando Torres.

Pique came under fire for his performances in Brazil, Mata has yet to blossom since joining Manchester United while Torres' omission is hardly a surprise as he has looked a shadow of the striker he once was throughout his stay at Chelsea.

David Villa announced his international retirement during the World Cup, with Barcelona veteran Xavi following suit shortly afterwards, while Xabi Alonso confirmed he would also focus on club duties ahead of his move from Real Madrid to Bayern Munich.

Pepe Reina's move to Bayern has not helped his efforts at being kept in the Roja set up and his new Allianz Arena team-mate Javi Martinez is left out due to a serious injury picked up earlier in August.

Among the fresh faces in Del Bosque's squad to face France in a friendly and Macedonia in a European Championship qualifier in early September are Santiago Bernabeu struggler Isco and Camp Nou defender Marc Bartra.

A super season with Atletico Madrid has seen Raul Garcia given a nod to join the selection by the World Cup 2010-winning coach, who has also given the chance of gaining senior international debuts to Espanyol goalkeeper Kiko Casilla and Athletic Bilbao centre-back Mikel San Jose.

Diego Costa's knock which makes him a doubt to play for Chelsea this weekend against Everton has not stopped Del Bosque from picking the converted Spaniard in his 23-man party.

"This is a squad for the present, but designed looking toward the future," Del Bosque told reporters. "This is a special list given recent events.

"It comes after our poor showing at the World Cup and we have to look ahead."

Squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Kiko Casilla (Espanyol), David de Gea (Manchester United).

Defenders: Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Raul Albiol (Napoli), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Marc Bartra (Barcelona), Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Mikel San Jose (Athletic Bilbao).

Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea), Raul Garcia (Atletico Madrid), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Ander Iturraspe (Athletic Bilbao), Koke (Atletico Madrid).

Forwards: Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Diego Costa (Chelsea), Isco (Real Madrid) Paco Alcacer (Valencia), Pedro (Barcelona), David Silva (Manchester City).

 

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Pique & Torres drop karapu 1ka nam okhabai Mata wa drop karapu 1ka aparade​

 

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Falcao and James in Colombia squad to face Brazil

Colombia coach Jose Pekerman has included Real Madrid star James Rodriguez and Monaco striker Falcao in his squad that will face Brazil next week.

The World Cup quarter-finalists meet the Selecao in Miami on September 5 as the Gillette Brasil Global Tour resumes following a break for the World Cup.

And Pekerman has is delighted to see the return of Falcao, who missed this year’s World Cup through injury.

"I am very happy to have Falcao back and fully recovered. We will make the right decisions to maintain his performance and protect his future," Pekerman said.

James, who joined Real Madrid after finishing World Cup 2014 as the tournament’s top goalscorer with six goals, will also feature at Sunlife Stadium and Pekerman is convinced he will be a success in Spain.

“James is doing very well, taking the steps of a player who joins a great team," the 64-year-old added. "If [Real Madrid coach Carlo] Ancelotti has signed him it’s because he believes James can adapt.”

Colombia made the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time in their history in July, but were eliminated 2-1 by Brazil in Fortaleza.

The match will be Brazil's first under new coach Dunga.

Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com or by calling the stadium box office on 305-943-6311.

Full squad

Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Arsenal - England), Camilo Vargas (Santa Fe - Colombia)

Defenders: Pablo Armero (AC Milan - Italy), Cristian Zapata (AC Milan - Italy), Camilo Zuniga, (Napoli - Italy), Eder Alvarez (River Plate - Argentina), Santiago Arias (PSV - Netherlands), Carlos Valdes (Philadelphia Union - USA)

Midfielders: Abel Aguilar (Toulouse - France), Fredy Guarin (Inter Milan - Italy), Juan Guillermo Cuadrado (Fiorentina - Italy), James Rodriguez (Real Madrid - Spain), Aldo Leao Ramirez (Atlas - Mexico), Carlos Sanchez (Aston Villa - England), Alexander Mejia (Atletico Nacional - Colombia), Juan Fernando Quintero (Porto - Portugal)

Forwards: Jackson Martinez (Porto - Portugal), Carlos Bacca (Sevilla - Spain), Teofilo Gutierrez (River Plate - Argentina), Adrian Ramos (Borussia Dortmund - Germany), Victor Ibarbo (Cagliari - Italy), Radamel Falcao (Monaco - France), Luis Muriel (Udinese - Italy)

 

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Wenger: Deadline day time is a poker game

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has compared deadline day time to a "poker game" and refused to rule out last-minute deals.

Olivier Giroud is sidelined until the start of 2015 after undergoing surgery on a broken leg and rumours have began to bubble that the Gunners may dip into the transfer market to find cover from the French striker.

Wenger reiterated that he is open to bolstering his attacking options before the window closes on September 1 but was making no promises that the FA Cup winners would see more new faces coming on board.

"We have shown in the last two seasons that, if there are [players to buy], we will do it," the Arsenal boss told reporters.

"The last few days [of the transfer window] are like poker games."

Wenger also kept his lips sealed on whether Arsenal would try to sign Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot, 19, with reports in France claiming that the two clubs held talks on Thursday.

When asked about a potential move for Rabiot on Friday, Wenger told the press: "I'll put one answer: I'm not telling you."

Rabiot's contract with the French champions is due to expire in 2015 and PSG coach Laurent Blanc admitted earlier in August that the player could leave his side before next summer.

 

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Van Gaal: Di Maria will make debut v Burnley

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says the club's record signing Angel Di Maria is ready to make his debut against Burnley on Saturday.

The Argentina international moved to Old Trafford in a deal worth €75 million from Real Madrid on Tuesday, becoming United's fourth senior signing this summer.

And Van Gaal has confirmed Di Maria has immediately become part of his plans for Saturday's visit to Turf Moor as he seeks his first Premier League victory.

"I think he is ready to play," the Dutchman told MUTV when asked about the midfielder's chances of featuring.

Fellow Argentine arrival Marcos Rojo, however, is not ready to make his first appearance in a United shirt as he continues to wait on a valid work permit.

"It's only a matter of time," Van Gaal added. "I'm the manager of the biggest club in the world, but I can't change the law!"

Manchester United have started the season in woeful fashion: before being eliminated from the Capital One Cup to a third division side, they had opened their Premier League campaign with a loss and a draw.

 

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Torres joins AC Milan on loan

Chelsea and AC Milan have agreed terms on a two-year loan deal for Fernando Torres, the Premier League club have confirmed.

The Spain international has endured a troubled career at Stamford Bridge, struggling for form following his then British record-breaking €63 million move from Liverpool, but will now stay with the Rossoneri until 2016. Goal reported the San Siro outfit's interest earlier this week, though there had been fears that the deal could collapse over the 30-year-old's €214,000-a-week wages, but the two sides have worked hard to reach an agreement.

The move, however, is subject to personal terms and a medical, with Torres now en route to Milan to compete the deal.

Chelsea are now likely to be on the hunt for a new striker, with Jose Mourinho having previously insisted that he would need three forwards this season.

 

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Congratulations & Good Luck Torres!​

 

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aniwa machan ekanam aththa last January wala draxler tath bid karala thibbe anthima mohethe ne wena player kenek gannath bariuna
puluwan tharam ekmanata deals tika karaganna one Mourinho wage

Ow bro Mourinho Tranfer Window 1kedi respond karana widiya patta

Ona karana signs tika ikmanata karagannawa

Wenger & LvG ta mona karannath thawa hariyatama 2 days thiyenne​

 

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Valencia 3-0 Malaga: Paco punishes 10-man visitors

Valencia raised hopes of a push for a top-four finish in La Liga this season by recording an impressive 3-0 win over Malaga at Mestalla on Friday night.

Paco Alcacer opened the scoring just after the dismissal of Sergi Darder with a fine finish before Dani Parejo doubled the home side's advantage moments before the interval by converting the rebound from a missed penalty attempt.

Pablo Piatti sealed the points just 11 minutes into the second half when he rounded off a sweeping counterattack, as Valencia temporarily went top of the table.

Los Che had opened their Primera Division campaign with a 1-1 draw at Sevilla that came courtesy of a last-gasp goal from Lucas Orban - and in spite of the second-half dismissal of Rodrigo.

However, it was Malaga, who had beaten Athletic Bilbao 1-0 on match day one, who were reduced to 10 men at Mestalla, with Darder perhaps harshly seeing red just 27 minutes in for an allegedly reckless challenge on Parejo.

Valencia broke the deadlock just moments later when Paco got away from his man before guiding the ball home at the near post with a wonderfully instinctive finish from Jose Gaya's bouncing cross from the left wing.

Los Che made it 2-0 right on the stroke of half-time, Parejo converting at the second attempt after Carlos Kameni had saved the No.10's low spot-kick, which had been awarded for a handball by Weligton.

Valencia then put the outcome of the game beyond all doubt in the 56th minute, with Alcacer deftly laying the ball into the path of the onrushing Piatti, who found the bottom left corner with a sublime first-time strike.

 

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Marseille 4-0 Nice: Payet provides Bielsa with home comfort

Dimitri Payet scored twice as Olympique de Marseille romped to a 4-0 victory over Nice on Friday, their first home win under Marcelo Bielsa.

The Chilean coach endured a disappointing start to his reign at the Stade Velodrome, his side giving up a two-goal lead to draw with Bastia before suffering a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Montpellier.However, victory at Guingamp last weekend provided Marseille with a welcome boost and they ran out convincing winners against Nice, with Payet and Florian Thauvin particularly influential.

Nice started brightly, but fell behind in the 19th minute when Payet fired home after an initial effort had been blocked.Marseille duly seized control, Thauvin seeing a goalbound shot cleared away by a defender before doubling his side's lead on the stroke of half-time with a close-range finish from Andre Ayew's cutback.

A third goal arrived three minutes into the second half as Thauvin turned provider, providing the assist for Payet to find the net with a fine diving header.Payet's second looked set to round off the scoring, but Abdelaziz Barrada added a fourth with three minutes remaining, the substitute converting a tap-in to claim his first goal for Marseille.

 

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Augsburg 2-3 Borussia Dortmund: Reus on target as BVB bounce back

Borussia Dortmund kick-started their Bundesliga campaign with an ultimately nervy 3-2 win at Ausgburg on Friday night.

Jurgen Klopp's men slipped to a disappointing 2-0 reverse at home to Bayer Leverkusen in their Bundesliga opener last Saturday.Last season's runners-up were far more assured in Friday's clash at the SGL Arena, although a late rally from the hosts set up a nervy finish.Marco Reus, who suffered the heartbreak of missing Germany's World Cup triumph last month with an ankle injury, was at his influential best throughout.

The forward combined well with Kevin Grosskreutz - who, alongside goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller, made his first competitive start since the World Cup - to score the opener, before providing the corner for Sokratis to make it 2-0 within 15 minutes.

Substitute Ramos grabbed his first Dortmund goal 12 minutes from time, and the strike ultimately proved crucial as Augsburg hit back with late replies from Raul Bobadilla and Tim Matavz.Dortmund fired an early warning when Lukasz Piszczek's cross from the right narrowly avoided the outstretched foot of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The opener duly arrived in the 11th minute when Reus collected the ball from deep and worked his way to the edge of the area. He then played a clever one-two with Grosskreutz before sliding a left-foot shot past Marwin Hitz.

Reus turned provider for Dortmund's second three minutes later. The forward's teasing outswinging corner from the right was met by Sokratis, who leapt superbly to head into the bottom-left corner.

Augsburg showed flashes of the form that took them to eighth in the table last season, Piszczek making a particularly fine challenge to rescue Dortmund when Nikola Djurdjic was bearing down on goal.The visitors remained largely in control, though, and Aubameyang forced Hitz into a smart low save to his left.Djurdjic should have halved the deficit nine minutes before the break, the Serbian side-footing wide when one-on-one with Weidenfeller.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan flashed a shot wide from the edge of the box on the stroke of half-time and Dortmund's pressure continued after the restart when Erik Durm tried his luck from distance but shot wide.

Sven Bender entered the fray in the 73rd minute and earned an immediate yellow card for a poor challenge on Halil Altintop, Bobadilla putting the resulting free-kick just wide.The game then appeared to have been sewn up in the 78th minute. Mkhitaryan's shot from the edge of the box was saved and Ramos - a replacement for Grosskreutz - was on hand to stab home the rebound.

Bobadilla gave Augsburg a glimmer of hope when he provided a deft finish over Weidenfeller five minutes later following a fine cross from Abdul Rahman Baba.
Mkhitaryan then thought he should have had a penalty when he went to ground under a challenge in the area from Ragnar Klavan, before Matavz ensured a nervy ending when he registered his first Augsburg goal with a strong front-post header from Baba's left-wing cross in the 90th minute.