SPORTS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2015 Derby demolition memories fresh as Real visit Atletico

MADRID: Real Madrid make the short trip across the Spanish capital to face rivals Atletico tomorrow seeking revenge for their 4-0 humiliation at the Vicente Calderon in the league last sea- son. Their biggest defeat in a Madrid der- by in 27 years precipitated a Real col- lapse as they surrendered a command- ing lead in the La Liga title race that allowed eternal rivals Barcelona to claim a historic treble of league, Copa del Rey and Champions League. Real defender Alvaro Arbeloa sparked tensions ahead of the biggest FRANCE: Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette reacts after losing a La Liga game of the season to date by challenge in this file photo. claiming the derby remains the biggest game of the season for Atletico. Lyon seek Reims remedy “We know that the game on Sunday is always the game of the year for PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain renew their rivalry with bitter foes Atletico and we will have to play well,” Marseille at the Parc des Princes tomorrow as Laurent Blanc’s the former Liverpool man warned after MADRID: Atletico’s coach Diego Simeone gestures during a match in this file men bid to retain their unbeaten start going into the internation- Real saw off Malmo 2-0 in the photo. —AP al break. PSG have a four-point lead over nearest rivals Saint- Champions League in midweek. Etienne in Ligue 1 and made it two wins from two Champions Cristiano Ronaldo took his career tal- the Champions League for the second and is also set for a month on the side- League group stage matches with a 3-0 triumph away to ly to 501 goals with a double in Sweden consecutive season by Madrid in their lines. “It is not just 11 or 12 players that Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. “Our start to the Champions and moved level with Raul as Real last meeting back in April. win competitions, there are reserves League is perfect but we’re still not qualified for the next round,” Madrid’s all-time leading goalscorer in However, that defeat ended a seven- behind and now some of those that PSG captain Thiago Silva told Canal+ after the match in Lviv. the process with 323. game unbeaten run against Real. wouldn’t have had so many minutes “Now we have to rest up and starting Thursday we’ll prepare And the Portuguese would love the “Tomorrow will be a special game for will get their chance,” said Argentine ourselves for tomorrow. Marseille have plenty of qualities, it’s vindication of breaking the record at everyone. Lately we have played very defender Javier Mascherano. “Those of always special to play against them.” the Calderon after the criticism he well against them, above all here at us that are fit need to keep going and Wednesday’s performance in Ukraine was arguably PSG’s received for hosting his 30th birthday home and we hope it continues like know that whilst we win games there is most complete display this term, a worrying sign for a Marseille party just hours after the 4-0 defeat this,” added Atletico captain Gabi. less time left until those important play- side languishing down in 15th place, 12 points behind their arch back in February. Real boss Rafael Benitez may be able ers return.” rivals. Despite thumping wins over Troyes and Bastia, OM have Meanwhile, Atletico’s early-season to recall the injured trio of Gareth Bale, Elsewhere, Celta Vigo have the lost four of eight league matches so far and new boss Michel is optimism has been diminished by back- James Rodriguez and Sergio Ramos, opportunity to move top for 24 hours still adapting to the French mentality. to-back defeats against Villarreal and who have all missed the last four on Friday when they host Getafe. “It appears that in French football players preserve themselves Benfica in the past week. games. Leaders Villarreal are favourites to so they don’t play too many matches in a row, and they choose Diego Simeone’s men were beaten Spanish international Koke remains stretch their winning streak to six their matches within reason. This surprises me but I have to get at home in the Champions League for Atletico’s only injury doubt, with league games when they visit Levante used to it,” said Michel, in quotes published by French sports dai- the first time since 2009 by the Simeone tasked with deciding between tomorrow. ly L’Equipe. Portuguese champions on Wednesday. the misfiring Jackson Martinez or Former Manchester United boss “They tell me that when there are big games coming up, “In these moments it is normal that Fernando Torres to partner Antoine David Moyes’s position as Real Sociedad against PSG for example, that this is normal behavior. I have to the team isn’t happy due to the defeat,” Griezmann up front. Barcelona could boss will come under more scrutiny accept it but I have trouble understanding it,” added the former said Simeone. “We will return to train- move four points clear of Real on should the Basques fail to secure just Real Madrid midfielder, who spoke of certain players asking to sit ing and focus on what is clearly an Saturday when the injury-ravaged their second win of the campaign at a out Thursday’s home Europa League clash against Slovan Liberec, important game for everyone. I don’t European champions travel to Sevilla. Malaga side that has yet to score a goal which OM lost 1-0. think there will be much motivation The blow of losing Lionel Messi for this season. And Valencia will be aiming Recent history is not on the Spaniard’s side either as PSG have needed to play on Sunday.” two months was intensified as Andres to continue their upturn in form with a won the last seven meetings between the two clubs, including a Atletico also have reason to seek Iniesta hobbled off during Barca’s 2-1 third consecutive win when they visit 3-2 victory at the Stade Velodrome in April that effectively sig- revenge as they were eliminated from win over Bayer Leverkusen in midweek Athletic Bilbao.—AFP nalled the end of Marseille’s title challenge. Lyon’s woes in front of goal persisted in their midweek 1-0 Champions League defeat at home to Valencia as last season’s runners-up continue to struggle to overcome a long-term injury to Nabil Fekir. Lewandowski relishing Hubert Fournier’s men enter today’s showdown with fourth- placed Reims, unbeaten in their last five, already eight points adrift of PSG. Bayern- clash “Winning against Reims would be a good remedy to (Tuesday’s) disappointment,” Fournier, whose side have won just BERLIN: aims to add matches against Hoffenheim and has done before. “This is the game every- one of six matches since losing Fekir, told the club’s website. to his incredible goal-scoring run in Darmstadt. Bayern-Dortmund matches are one in Germany wants to see and we’re “There are more expectations than last season, perhaps too Bayern ’s showdown billed as ‘Der Klassiker’ in Germany in looking forward to it. As a striker you many right now for several reasons. against ex-club in mimmick to Spain’s ‘El Clasico’ between always want to score more goals, you can “Alexandre (Lacazette) is a case in point. He’s struggling, just Germany’s ‘Der Klassiker’ tomorrow. Barcelona and Real Madrid. never be satisfied,” said Lewandowski. like the rest of the team, to meet people’s expectations,” Fournier The Poland hot-shot has netted 10 This is the 19th time the teams have Bayern’s Germany forward Thomas said of the reigning Ligue 1 Player of the Year, who has scored times in his last three games alone and has met in the last five years and Dortmund Mueller is just as enthusiastic. “It’s a sum- just one goal this term and was left out of Didier Deschamps’ lat- scored 17 goals for club and country this lead the series with nine wins, two draws mit meeting of the country’s best. The est France squad. season. and seven defeats. whole of Germany’s football community “(But) we’re just four points from second place, so it’s not an He backed up his spectacular five goals Bayern, however, won the match that will be looking in our direction with great irreversible situation,” added the OL coach. Second-placed Saint- in just nine minutes for Bayern against truly mattered by claiming a 2-1 win at excitement on Sunday,” said Mueller. Etienne, who had their five-match winning run emphatically Wolfsburg last week with two more in a 3- Wembley in the 2013 Champions League It seems ridiculous to suggest, but the snapped by Nice last weekend, will aim to get back on track at 0 win at Mainz last Saturday in the final. The Bavarians won both league title race could effectively be as good as Caen, while third-placed Rennes, coming off three successive Bundesliga. meetings last season, but Dortmund took over should Bayern finish the weekend draws, go to mid-table Monaco. He then bagged a hat-trick in the 5-0 both the German Cup semi-final in Munich seven points clear if they beat Borussia Free-scoring Nice have racked up 13 goals over the course of a win at home to Dinamo Zagreb on last April on penalties and the 2014 and third-placed Schalke fail to beat three-match winning streak and will look to continue their ascent Tuesday in the Champions League. Bayern German Super Cup title against Bayern. Cologne at home. The Bavarians have won at home to Nantes. Promoted Angers, one of four teams five top the Bundesliga table with seven wins Dortmund still have their work cut out in the German league title by at least 10 points off the pace, host Bastia, Lorient face Bordeaux, while goal- from seven to lead second-placed their bid to halt Munich’s seemingly points in each of the last three seasons shy Lille kick off week nine against fellow strugglers Montpellier Dortmund by four points after Thomas relentless march to an historic fourth and only dropped points after each of late yesterday. —AFP Tuchel’s team drew their last two league straight Bundesliga title, which no team their title wins had been confirmed.—AFP