..::Football IV::..

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Guardiola warns rivals: Man City will get much better

Pep Guardiola has warned the rest of the Premier League that his Manchester City team is only going to get better and that he is open to staying beyond the three years in his contract.

The Spaniard has taken England by storm since his arrival, with City winning all six of his Premier League games in charge – including a 2-1 win at Old Trafford against bitter rivals Manchester United.

Guardiola is adamant this is only the start, however, recalling his respective spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich as proof that City are going to be far superior in his third season in charge.

However, he warned that City need to stay the course of a long-term project for that to occur, warning that great sides are only built up over time.

"In my third year here our game will be much, much better than now, believe me," he told reporters. "We won a lot of games now for our enthusiasm – a new coach, we are new and we win a lot of games like that."But to create something stable – less running, more stable, more chance to create – you need time.

"In my first year in Barcelona we won everything, but in my fourth year we played better. In my third year in Munich it was much better than the first year, no doubt about that. "I am pretty sure that in my second and third years here we will be better than now.

"In terms of results it is almost perfect, but the way we play we need time. When we won, six, seven, eight games in a row, the people and you [the media] talk about four titles in one season.

"How many times have people in England won the four titles? Zero. In my first year it is so difficult. But next year and in my last period here our football will be better than now.

"But that happens with all the trainers in the world. The problem for coaches is we don't have time, that is the big problem that we have.

"In the second year, enthusiasm is gone – we are tired of each other. Now is the time you are creating something that is stable, working for tomorrow and working for the future."

 

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Mourinho asks for more time to get the best out of Man Utd

Jose Mourinho says he needs more time to get the best out of his Manchester United side as they gear up for a demanding October fixture list.

The Red Devils face Stoke City at Old Trafford on Sunday before returning from the international break to take on Liverpool, Fenerbahce, Chelsea and Manchester City in the space of nine days later in the month.

And, just 10 games into his United regime, Mourinho claims he cannot be expected to know everything about his players until he has seen far more of them.

“I need time. I need the players to play, I need to see them in different circumstances, I need to understand more about them,” he told a pre-match press conference.

“There are so many, and so much to learn about the players that only when you have worked with them a long, long time will you know them well. There is always a surprise behind the door when you have worked with the team for three or four or five months.”

Mourinho added that Thursday’s narrow victory over Zorya Luhansk in the Europa League at Old Trafford at least gave him another chance to learn even if the competition is something of a hindrance.

“Every game I know more about my players, especially the ones that are on the pitch. Obviously I would like to have other players playing more so I can see more and I can learn more about them.

“But we need the squad, that’s for sure. The Europa League is the competition which most disturbs the domestic competitions because we play Thursdays and it’s really difficult.”

However, the Portuguese refused to pick out October as an exceptionally tough month despite their forthcoming fixtures, pointing to the league setbacks against Manchester City and Watford in September as examples that the Premier League season is never straight forward.

“Every game is massive. Watford was massive and we lost three points, a lot different from the loss against Man City. So every game for me is important, you are right we have some big opponents in October but that’s also refreshing.”

United head into Sunday’s 12:00 kick-off on the back of three successive wins in all competitions, while Stoke are still on the lookout for their first league victory of 2016-17.

 

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Mourinho asks for more time to get the best out of Man Utd

Take your time & get Manchester United back to glory daysThats all what we want​

 

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Barclays Premier Fixtures 2016.10.01

Barclays Premier Fixtures 2016.10.01

Swansea Vs Liverpool

Hull City Vs Chelsea

Sunderland Vs WBA

Watford Vs Bournemouth

West Ham Vs Middlesbrough

​

 

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LA Liga Fixtures 2016.10.01

LA Liga Fixtures 2016.10.01

Granada Vs Leganes

Sevilla Vs Alaves

Osasuna Vs Las Palmas

Deportivo Vs Sporting Gijon​

 

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Serie A Fixtures 2016.10.01

Serie A Fixtures 2016.10.01

Pescara Vs Chievo

Udinese Vs Lazio​

 

[Alucard_SxE]

Atmosphere at Niedersachsenstadion

Die Roten


Aannd it's bundesliga today!!!! IMO german club football has the best atmosphere among the top 4,5 leagues. Every match is a pleasure to watch ​

 

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'He is an incredible player' – FC Dallas show interest in Schweinsteiger

Manchester United outcast Bastian Schweinsteiger is in need of an exit route from the club and could be offered a way out by FC Dallas.

After being dropped from Jose Mourinho's senior team prior to the start of the Premier League season, Schweinsteiger has been training with the club's Under-23 reserve side.With no hope of playing in a meaningful match this season, a move to MLS could beckon for the former Germany captain.

FC Dallas president Dan Hunt appears to be a big fan of Schweinsteiger, telling SPOX: "He is an incredible player."I always admired him and the success that his teams had. That is no coincidence, he is a winner."

The club nevertheless face an obstacle in the MLS roster freeze until after the MLS Cup is finished, despite the club still having an open designated player slot.

"That is difficult to predict," Hunt added. "At the moment we only have space for one designated player and we wanted to fill this with a striker. Maybe it will change, we will see.“

Schweinsteiger spent 13 seasons with Bayern Munich before moving to Manchester United in 2015 but quickly lost his spot in the lineup after Mourinho was hired over the summer.

The arrival of the veteran will be a significant boost to FC Dallas' ambitions, with the side currently leading MLS with 53 points through 31 games.

 

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Alcacer: I will score goals for Barcelona

Paco Alcacer is confident that he will find his goal-scoring form soon enough, despite a poor start to life at Barcelona.

Spain forward Alcacer, who arrived at Camp Nou in a reported £25 million deal from Valencia towards the end of the transfer window, is yet to get off the mark for Barca, having made four appearances so far.However, the 23-year-old – who netted 15 goals in all competitions last term – is sure that his form in front of goal will return sooner rather than later.

"It's clear that it is complicated to arrive to a top club like Barcelona with unique players," Alacer, who also added that he has no regrets about joining Luis Enrique's side, told Mundo Deportivo.Wenger is Arsenal's greatest boss

"All the strikers depend on goals but if I play for Barcelona it is because this club saw something to sign me.

"I will score goals. Last year I also had problems to score my first goal but when I score the first, I will score more.

"My team-mates make my life and training easy and help me a lot. I thank all of them. I can understand that they could be haughty because they're big stars but they are humble.

"Barcelona players can improve each player that plays with them. I based my decision to come here on the hopeful project of Barcelona and it is a big step forward in my career. I took a correct decision."

Barca - second in LaLiga, a point adrift of leaders Real Madrid - face Luis Enrique's former club Celta Vigo on Sunday.

 

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Real Madrid confirm Modric knee injury

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has been diagnosed with a cartilage injury in his left knee.

The European champions have not put an estimate on the expected length of Modric's absence but he was not included in Zinedine Zidane's squad to face Eibar on Sunday.

He is also likely to miss Croatia's forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Kosovo and Finland.

Modric completed 90 minutes in Madrid's 2-2 Champions League draw at Borussia Dortmund in midweek and his injury further stretches Zidane's central midfield resources, with Casemiro current recuperating from a fractured left leg.

Madrid are currently top of La Liga after making an unbeaten start to the season, though they have drawn their last two fixtures and are looking to return to winning ways against Eibar.

 

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Swansea 1-2: Liverpool: Milner penalty continues Reds’ winning run

James Milner netted a late penalty as Liverpool came from behind to beat Swansea City 2-1 and pose further questions over Francesco Guidolin's future at the Liberty Stadium.

Leroy Fer's fourth Premier League goal of the season put the Swans, whose last home win came against Liverpool in May, ahead in the eighth minute.

Liverpool lost Adam Lallana to a groin injury during a first half in which they failed to register a shot on target, a far cry from the 5-1 win over Hull City last time out.
But Jurgen Klopp's side quickly addressed that in the second half, as Roberto Firmino headed them level.

And Guidolin, who has not tasted victory in the league since the opening-day win over Burnley, was left empty-handed again when shambolic defending led to Angel Rangel fouling Firmino in the box, Milner scoring his fourth spot-kick of the campaign.Mike van der Hoorn had the chance to equalise deep in stoppage time but volleyed horribly wide from five yards out.

Both sides made one change from their previous outings, Borja Baston earning a first Premier League start for the hosts in place of the injured Fernando Llorente, while Klopp brought in Dejan Lovren for Ragnar Klavan.

Swansea adopted the same positive approach that won them plaudits, but no points, against Manchester City last weekend and Borja missed an excellent opportunity to put them ahead early on, heading well over the crossbar from Wayne Routledge's teasing cross.

But the home side shrugged off that miss, taking the lead two minutes later when Borja's back-post header was touched on by Van der Hoorn and prodded home by Fer.The Dutchman then blazed over the target with an ambitious 13th-minute effort as Guidolin's men continued to press.

Liverpool suffered a further setback when Lallana hobbled off, Klopp eventually introducing Daniel Sturridge, but only after Jack Cork had almost toe-poked past Loris Karius when the visitors were down to 10 men.

Gylfi Sigurdsson's set-piece delivery again exposed the Reds, but Borja's off-target header came as the linesman's flag went up for offside.

Liverpool left if late in the half to present any serious attacking threat, with Jordi Amat making timely interventions to block Nathaniel Clyne's low cross and Sadio Mane's shot on goal, while Sturridge was booked for a dive following minimal contact in the box from Routledge.

Firmino finally had Liverpool's first shot on target in the opening two minutes of the second half and Amat was again on hand to clear the danger when Mane looked to find a way past Lukasz Fabianski.

The Pole was beaten, however, when Jordan Henderson lifted a searching ball in for Firmino to flick a header into the goalkeeper's bottom-right corner after 54 minutes.That set the stage for a spell of Liverpool dominance, with Philippe Coutinho curling narrowly wide from 20 yards following excellent build-up play.

Assiduous work from Milner to dispossess Van der Hoorn created a glorious opening 20 minutes from time, but his pass was slightly behind Mane and the Senegalese's strike was diverted over by Kyle Naughton.

But the pressure finally told six minutes from time as Modou Barrow skied a clearance inside his own box, with Rangel compounding the error by piling into Firmino.

Milner sent Fabianski the wrong way as Liverpool made it five wins in a row in all competitions, while Guidolin's men – who saw Van der Hoorn scuff wide from close range at the death – are six without victory in the league.

 

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Bayern 1-1 Koln: Ancelotti's men drop first Bundesliga points

Bayern Munich dropped their first Bundesliga points of the season as Anthony Modeste's second-half equaliser gave Koln a shock 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena.

Carlo Ancelotti's side had suffered defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last time out and failed to get back on track despite Joshua Kimmich heading his fifth goal of the season in the first half.

Koln came into the game sitting fourth after an impressive start to the campaign and Modesete scored in acrobatic fashion on 63 minutes shortly after Javi Martinez had hit the post for Bayern, who made seven changes after their midweek defeat.

Substitute Thomas Muller thought he had rescued the points for Bayern, but a brilliant save from Timo Horn, as well as Juan Bernat striking against the post, ensured the visitors claimed a point.

Bayern – who had scored four on each of Koln's last two trips to Munich – stay top, but title rivals Borussia Dortmund can move to within one point if they defeat Bayer Leverkusen later on Saturday.Arjen Robben was handed his first start of the season and made a lively start, firing just off-target with two efforts from outside the area.

Rafinha also threatened, driving a shot just over the crossbar, while Mats Hummels should have done better with a close-range header from Robben's corner.

Koln ventured forward when Yuya Osako tested Manuel Neuer from distance in the match's first shot on target and Robert Lewandowski could only fire a free-kick from 20 yards against the wall at the other end.But just as it looked like Bayern would go into the half-time interval frustrated, the in-form Kimmich struck.

Bernat impressively evaded the challenge of Marcel Risse down the left and sent an inviting delivery that Kimmich converted with an accurate diving header from inside the six-yard box.

Thomas Muller replaced Robben for the second half, which started with Renato Sanches forcing Horn into a low stop.

Modeste had a penalty claim turned down as he was challenged by Mats Hummels in attempting to get on the end of Jonas Hector's cross, while Osako headed wide in another chance for the visitors.

Bayern could have made sure of the result, only for Muller to fire wide and Lewandowski to head over in decent chances created by Bernat and Kingsley Coman respectively.Ancelotti's side went even closer when Martinez saw his header bounce off the foot of the post from Xabi Alonso's corner.

Those misses became more significant when Modeste netted his fifth Bundesliga goal of the campaign, stretching impressively to prod in a clever right-footed finish that caught out Neuer as the striker got on the end of Riise's right-wing cross.

Ancelotti brought on David Alaba and Arturo Vidal for Coman and Sanches in an attempt to find a late winner, but Bayern had their hearts in their mouths when Osako appeared to have scored, only to be flagged offside from Salih Ozcan's throughball.Muller thought he had fired Bayern to victory, but looked on in disbelief when Horn somehow got down to push his volley onto the woodwork.

Lewandowski – on his 200th Bundesliga appearance – saw a penalty claim denied after going down under Frederik Sorensen's challenge, while Bernat sent a late drive against the post.

Amazingly, Koln could have won it when substitute Simon Zoller raced clear in stoppage-time to cap a fast counter-attack, but he missed the target when one-on-one with Neuer. Still, the visitors greeted the final whistle with joyous celebrations.

 

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Hull 0-2 Chelsea: Willian & Diego Costa deliver late win for Conte's men

Willian and Diego Costa produced fine second-half finishes as Chelsea tasted victory for the first time in four Premier League outings with a 2-0 triumph at Hull City.

Antonio Conte's side performed fitfully in their 3-4-3 formation during the early stages and Thibaut Courtois was the busier of the two goalkeepers before the break.

Warnings from former Italy boss Conte that the 2014-15 champions could be set for another mid-table finish without improvement this season were cutting a little too close to the bone at that stage but his players showed their quality in a clinical display after half-time.Costa was the provider as Willian netted with aplomb after the hour before the Spain international rifled in his sixth goal in seven league appearances this season.

Chelsea, who move up to sixth, dominated to the extent they were unfortunate not to add further gloss to the scoreline against a Hull side who have added a solitary point since their opening salvo of wins against Leicester City and Swansea City.

There were full debuts for Hull duo Dieumerci Mbokani and Markus Henriksen, along with Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso, while Victor Moses made a first Premier League start for the visitors since May 2013.

He lined-up in an unfamiliar right wing-back position as Conte switched to three at the back but the ragged defending of recent weeks was soon in evidence when David Luiz hauled down Mbokani in the second minute.Robert Snodgrass' attempt from the resulting free-kick clipped the top of the wall and forced Thibaut Courtois into a stunning reaction save.

Hull midfielder Ryan Mason had a pair of shots blocked following a slick move down the right flank before Moses had penalty claims waved away at the other end when Adama Diomande challenged him.

Curtis Davies produced a superb last-ditch tackle to deny Eden Hazard and Courtois saved sharply from a stinging Mason drive to ensure an end-to-end half concluded with the deadlock intact.Hull goalkeeper David Marshall was comparatively under-employed before he turned a swerving Hazard shot behind three minutes after the restart.

Conte's men were firmly on top as the hour approached and Marshall was grateful to see a sliding Jake Livermore clear against his own post after he rushed out to be rounded by Costa, with N'Golo Kante blazing the follow-up over.

The pressure told in the 61st minute, as Hull carelessly ceded possession. Davies limply tackled a rampaging Costa and the Spain striker's pass found Willian to cut inside and pick out the top corner.Marshall got down well to keep out a thudding Costa strike from the edge of the box but the Spain striker made it two seven minutes afterwards.

Hull were looking increasingly ragged in central areas and Nemanja Matic strode through towards goal to have a shot blocked, although Costa was alert to steer in a first-time effort on the rebound.There was a swagger about Chelsea's play for the remainder of the game, with Alonso and substitute Pedro coming closest to a third.

It was a performance to restore some confidence in the early stages of Conte's reign, while shining a light on the damaging uncertainty surrounding Mike Phelan's still interim status in the Hull dugout.

 

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West Ham 1-1 Middlesbrough: Payet stunner rescues point for Hammers

Dimitri Payet's stunning solo goal salvaged a point for struggling West Ham as they ended a run of four consecutive Premier League defeats in a 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough at London Stadium.

Cristhian Stuani's second-half header put the away side ahead and had the home fans fearing a fifth defeat on the spin in Saturday's contest.

However, Payet stole the show for the Hammers, the France international leaving the Boro defence in a daze with a superb run and clever finish to level the match in the 57th minute.

West Ham went closest to breaking the deadlock in a first half that saw few clear-cut chances when Mark Noble rattled the woodwork with a thunderous strike.
The match sparked into life after the interval with goalline technology confirming Stuani's opener before Payet's moment of magic restored parity.

But neither side could find a much-needed winner and Middlesbrough remain two points and two places above 18th-placed West Ham, with Aitor Karanka's men themselves now winless in their past five league games.Bilic rang the changes in a bid to halt West Ham's run of defeats including playing without a recognised striker as Michail Antonio replaced Simone Zaza up front.

The Hammers have been beset by injuries this term and their situation worsened in the fifth minute when Sam Byram was taken from the field on a stretcher with a hamstring injury.

Shortly after, Middlesbrough forged the first opportunity when Viktor Fischer flashed a low effort across the face of goal..

West Ham grew into the match and Payet became more influential, with the playmaker seeing a close-range shot blocked before hitting a blistering strike wide.

The home side continued to press and George Friend did well to prevent Antonio's header reaching the target, while Noble saw a low shot from the edge of the area inch past the upright.

Noble then went agonisingly close on the stroke of half-time as his dipping effort clattered the underside of the crossbar.

Bilic introduced Zaza as West Ham looked to build some momentum after the restart, but it was Middlesbrough who gained the upper hand as Adrian parried Jordan Rhodes' strike wide.

And the visitors had the lead from the resulting corner, Stuani rising highest to power a header goalwards that Noble could not prevent going over the line.

Middlesbrough's lead was short-lived, though, as Payet turned on the style with a mesmerising run from the left touchline, taking on five defenders before sliding a sublime reverse finish into the bottom-left corner.Payet was at his best again on the hour-mark, bursting onto Zaza's flick and drawing a foul from Marten de Roon, but the ex-Marseille man could not make the resulting free-kick count.

West Ham continued to mount the pressure and Victor Valdes had to be alert to stop Cheikhou Kouyate smuggling home from a corner.

And the hosts should have had a late winner when Antonio engineered space for himself in the area, but the winger could only blaze his strike over as West Ham's winless streak in the league was extended to five matches.

 

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Sunderland 0-1 West Brom: Van Aanholt denies Baggies away win

David Moyes' search for a first Premier League win in charge of Sunderland continues but Patrick van Aanholt's late goal rescued a welcome 1-1 draw at home to West Brom on Saturday.

Sunderland looked destined to suffer a sixth league defeat of the season after Nacer Chadli's first-half effort gave West Brom the lead, but Van Aanholt – a second-half substitute – saved the hosts with seven minutes to go.

Jermain Defoe's terrible early miss set the tone for Sunderland's wasteful first-half display, with Chadli capping off a swift breakaway to open the scoring 10 minutes before the break.

Sunderland's desperation forced them to pour men forward towards the end and Defoe saw another chance go begging.However, the hosts' persistence paid off late on when Van Aanholt struck to secure Sunderland a morale-boosting second point of the season.

In the build-up, Moyes put Sunderland's run of three successive home defeats down to "nerves and anxiety" and Defoe did little to prove his manager wrong in the fourth minute.

The striker latched on to Duncan Watmore's intricate pass into the centre of the area only to inexplicably drag a shot wide of the target from 12 yards when one-on-one with Ben Foster.

Both sides exchanged blows without causing any significant damage in the following 20 minutes but the hosts did go close again just before the half-hour mark, with Foster doing well to hold on to Lamine Kone's header following a Wahbi Khazri corner.And West Brom made the most of those let-offs by edging ahead 10 minutes before the break.

Matt Phillips spotted the run of Chadli and found the Belgian with a well-placed through ball, the midfielder then applying a fine finish across Jordan Pickford and into the bottom-right corner.

Sunderland received a further blow early in the second half when Jan Kirchhoff was forced off on a stretcher after appearing to pick up a hamstring problem. Van Aanholt was his replacement.

And West Brom nearly compounded their misery with an hour on the clock. Darren Fletcher forced Pickford into a save from 25 yards before Claudio Yacob scuffed wide after collecting the rebound.

Sunderland began to up their intensity shortly after and should have levelled 20 minutes from time, but Jonny Evans made a crucial block to deny Defoe in the middle of the area.

The home side were not to be denied in the 83rd minute, though, as Van Aanholt arrived to meet Watmore's cut-back and scuffed an effort past Foster to rescue a late draw.

 

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Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Bordeaux: Stunning Cavani sends hosts to victory

Edinson Cavani played the starring role as Paris Saint-Germain overpowered Bordeaux to pick up a 2-0 victory at the Parc des Princes.

Unai Emery's side went down 2-0 to Toulouse last weekend and have been left playing catch-up in the early knockings of the Ligue 1 title race behind Monaco and Nice.

But they looked every inch France's dominant side on Saturday, with Cavani scoring a pair of superb first-half goals to put PSG well in command.

Bordeaux had not lost in the sides' previous three meetings but they were comprehensively outplayed in this encounter, with former PSG favourite Jeremy Menez ploughing a lone furrow in attack for the most part.Cavani had chances for a hat-trick in the second half, but he was unable to find a third goal as PSG eased to a fifth win of the Ligue 1 season.

The home atmosphere was taken up a notch by the sanctioned return of PSG's 'ultra' support, who provided a vociferous backdrop, and Emery's players seemed to respond by flying out of the traps and seizing the initiative.

Layvin Kurzawa freed Angel di Maria on the left flank and the Argentine's cross was powerfully headed home by Cavani after he muscled in ahead of his front-post marker.

Bordeaux were ponderous in possession as attempts to hit back were few and far between, while PSG routinely carved open sights of goal, Thomas Meunier seeing a measured volley tipped wide by Cedric Carrasso.

Cavani then produced a moment of magic to double the lead on the half-hour, converting Kurzawa's cross with a neat flicked finish after Lucas Moura had opened up the flank with a backheel of his own.

Bordeaux's best chance came in the first half's dying embers, but Alphonse Areola stood up well to Malcom's effort after Menez had flashed a boot at Gregory Sertic's delivery from the right.

Cavani audaciously again tried to backheel home shortly after the interval as Meunier got behind the Bordeaux defence down the right, but Carrasso was equal to it before the visitors fired a warning as they went straight up the other end and Menez netted, but he was flagged for offside.

Dogged dribbling from Lucas opened up the chance for Cavani's treble after the hour, but Carrasso made the save one-on-one as the Uruguay striker telegraphed his finish.

Di Maria beat Carrasso only to be denied by another offside call, but the ultras were back on their feet as Hatem Ben Arfa was given a rapturous welcome when he replaced Lucas with 12 minutes to play.

Making his first appearance in six games, Ben Arfa was unable to add further gloss to the scoreline on his return from exile but it mattered little as PSG comfortably emerged victorious.

 

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Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Borussia Dortmund: Visitors miss chance to close gap on Bayern

Borussia Dortmund missed the chance to move within a point of Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga table as they were beaten 2-0 by Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena.

Carlo Ancelotti's men dropped two points against Koln earlier on Saturday, but Dortmund failed to take advantage and lost further ground on the defending champons.Admir Mehmedi handed Leverkusen an early lead when he headed home a corner from Hakan Calhanoglu.

And Thomas Tuchel's men were unable to find a way back, Javier Hernandez putting the match to bed 11 minutes from time after a quick counter-attack.The victory marks Leverkusen's first home league win over Dortmund since May 2007, having drawn five and lost four in the fixture since then.

Dortmund, meanwhile, drop to third in the table following their second defeat of the season having taken 12 points from six games and are four points adrift of leaders Bayern.Tuchel started without Mario Gotze in attack, with Christian Pulisic named in the starting XI instead, while Marcel Schmelzer started from the bench as well.

Leverkusen began strongly and went 1-0 up after just 10 minutes through Mehmedi. Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Burki did well to keep out Javier Hernandez’s header after a cross from the left, but the former Freiburg man was beaten from the resulting set piece.

Calhanoglu curled in a sublime corner for Mehmedi and the attacker rose higher than Julian Weigl before heading the ball into the top-left corner past the helpless Burki.

Dortmund immediately went in search of an equaliser and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a fine chance to level the scoring. The Gabon international latched on to Lukasz Piszczek's pass with a clever run in behind the defence, only to aim his low shot straight at shot stopper Bernd Leno.

The hosts went close to doubling their lead on the half-hour mark when ex-Dortmund midfielder Kevin Kampl tried his luck against his former team with a powerful shot from the edge of the box after some sloppy play from Raphael Guerreiro, the Slovenia international's effort going just wide.

Leverkusen remained in charge after the break and had chances to net a second via Wendell and Kampl, with the Brazilian's shot from inside the area narrowly missing the target, before the latter forced Burki into a fine save.

Dortmund struggled to break down Leverkusen at the other end but they almost restored parity with 17 minutes left. Aubameyang outmuscled Omer Toprak and Jonathan Tah before firing a low shot at Leno, with the goalkeeper only just able to prevent the equaliser.

Aubameyang's failure to beat Leno proved costly just minutes later when Hernandez sealed the points after a rapid break. Kevin Volland set up Calhanoglu down the left, and the Turkey international duly found Hernandez, who had no trouble sliding the ball past Burki.

Dortmund did have the ball in the net through Aubameyang late on, only to be denied by the offside flag on a frustrating day for Tuchel and his side.

 

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OFFICIAL: Valencia appoint Prandelli

Valencia have appointed former Italy boss Cesare Prandelli as their new head coach on a deal that runs until June 2018.

The 59-year-old replaces Pako Ayestarán at the helm after he was dismissed, just six months after taking over from Gary Neville."Valencia wish to communicate to fans that they have reached an agreement with Cesare Prandelli, with the Italian being appointed as first team coach through to June 30th, 2018," read a statement on the club's website.

"Prandelli, aged 59, put pen to paper on the deal today alongside VCF Chairwoman LayHoon Chan, and will be in attendance in the presidential box at Mestalla for tomorrow's game between Valencia CF and Atletico Madrid. The new coach will be presented to the media on Monday at 12pmat Mestalla."Later on Monday, Prandelli will take charge of his first training session at the Ciudad Deportiva de Paterna."

The Italian is the club's eighth head coach in a little over four years as Valencia have struggled to recapture the consistency they enjoyed in the previous four seasons under Unai Emery, which yielded three successive third-place finishes.

Having lost their opening four games of the season under Pako Ayestaran, caretaker Voro has steadied the ship with successive wins over newly promoted duo Alaves and Leganes.Voro backed Prandelli's arrival when discussing the Italian's potential arrival before confirmation came.

He said in his pre-match news conference: "Prandelli is a fine coach who has worked at the highest level and led his national team."I do not know him personally, but he is a great coach."

 

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Robben injury nothing serious, says Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti has insisted the injury suffered by Arjen Robben during Bayern Munich's draw with Cologne is nothing serious.

The 32-year-old was making his first start of the season in Saturday's 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena, but had to be replaced by Thomas Muller at half-time.

That sparked fears Robben could be facing another lengthy spell on the sidelines having only recently returned from two months out with a groin injury.

But Bayern reported "slightly bruised ribs" after the match and boss Ancelotti is not overly concerned by the injury's seriousness."He was in pain and could not go on, but it is nothing serious," Ancelotti told the club's website.

Cologne's draw meant Bayern dropped points for the first time in the Bundesliga this season in a week that has also seen them lose to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Ancelotti was disappointed but not particularly worried by the result, which came after Anthony Modeste cancelled out Joshua Kimmich's opener."We are allowed to be disappointed, but we need not worry," he said."We could have won the game, but Cologne had chances to take all three points home as well.

"We started well and had control, but Cologne improved in the second half."
Bayern hit the post twice in the match, through Javi Martinez and Juan Bernat.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Conte: Diego Costa can score in every game

Diego Costa scored his sixth goal in eight games for Chelsea as they returned to winning ways against Hull City in a 2-0 victory at the KCOM Stadium, and his manager was impressed with his performance.

Willian opened the scoring after linking up with Costa, but it was the Spain international who ended Hull's hopes of picking up any points with a curling right-foot finish after latching onto a blocked Nemanja Matic shot. Chelsea return to form with back three.

Antonio Conte is delighted that his striker is continuing to score important goals for his side and went as far as to suggest that he is capable of netting in any game he plays. "For him [Costa] and for us it is fantastic," Conte beamed at a press conference at the KCOM Stadium.

"He has scored 6 goals for us, but I think that Diego has the opportunity in every game to score goals, but it is important not only that he scored a goal, but also that he worked for the team."

"For me, this is the most important thing, together with Willian and Hazard. It is important to work very hard and when you work very hard you have the opportunity to score goals."I am pleased not only for him, but for Willian and Hazard, they played a good game, a good performance, the right intensity. They tried to do what I want.

"I am pleased for all the players because we finished with a clean sheet. It is not normal to concede three or four goals. To finish with a clean sheet is very important."