TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015 SPORTS Cesena hold Juventus MILAN: Serie A strugglers Cesena kept the Marchisio pounced on a Llorente dummy Italian title race ticking over after holding to fire home from close range. Juventus to a 2-2 draw on Sunday that left Cesena equalised when Franco Brienza the champions seven points clear of title beat Buffon with a low drive from inside challengers Roma. the area after Djuric nodded down a cross. Juventus had the chance to go nine Juventus should won it when Stefano points clear of the Giallorossi after their lat- Lucchini blocked Llorente’s overhead kick est slip-up, a scoreless draw at home to with his hand, but Arturo Vidal’s spot kick basement side Parma-their fifth draw in six flew wide of Leali’s upright. consecutive games. Roma had ended a run of four consecu- But at the Dino Manuzzi stadium, which tive draws with a precious 2-1 win at features an artificial surface, Massimiliano Cagliari last week to close to within seven Allegri’s expensively-assembled side points of Juventus. missed a late penalty and ultimately strug- But after a thrilling encounter at the gled against a Cesena side which has been Stadio Olimpico, Rudi Garcia’s men were fighting to get out of the relegation zone left lamenting a series of missed chances all season. on what was Gervinho’s first game back Roma remain in second place seven since helping Ivory Coast to the Africa Cup points adrift with a five-point lead on of Nations title, alongside new clubmate Napoli after their shock 3-1 loss at Palermo Seydou Doumbia, who made his debut. on Saturday. Ashley Cole, making a rare appearance Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri told in the absence of fellow left-back Jose Mediaset: “We gave them far too much Holebas, had two chances late on to seal space and too many counter-attacks. It was the win, hitting the upright with the first a hard game, but I knew it would be. before he volleyed over the bar in the final “We didn’t underestimate the task, but minute. Garcia hit out at his players when we’re disappointed at not pulling further he told Sky Sport: “If we have any ambi- ahead of Roma.” Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi tions, we should be winning and not hav- Buffon suggested Roma’s earlier setback ing to settle for a result like this. had allowed complacency to creep in. “We only hit the target with four of our “Maybe Roma’s result changed things a 20 shots. We’re not going to score goals like little, but a squad like ours shouldn’t be that.” Genoa, meanwhile, continued to reap affected by results elsewhere,” Buffon told the rewards of signing M’Baye Niang on Sky Sport. loan from AC Milan with the Frenchman “We just weren’t good enough, especial- hitting a brace in a 5-2 drubbing of Verona, ly in the first 20 minutes when we gave as veteran Luca Toni hit a brace for the visi- UKRAINE: Shakhtar Donetsk players run during a team training session at the Arena Lviv stadium. FC Bayern Munich will play against FC away too many counter-attacks.” Fifth- tors. Shakhtar Donetsk in a Champions League, Round of 16, first leg match today. —AP placed Lazio, who won 1-0 at Udinese, had Inter Milan claimed their second consec- been shocked 2-1 at Cesena two weeks utive win, after last week’s 3-0 rout of CL Preview ago, and Buffon was under pressure from Palermo, in a 4-1 drubbing of Atalanta as the early stages when Gregoire Defrel Fredy Guarin scored a brace.—AFP forced him to block his angled drive at the near post. Cesena saw clear chances by Defrel and Bayern hit form, Ze Eduardo go amiss, while Fernando Matches on TV Llorente-partnering Alvaro Morata up front in the absence of suspended Carlos Tevez- (Local Timings) saw a header go over. The hosts’ efforts finally paid off when a UEFA Champions League misplaced Andrea Pirlo pass in midfield Shakhtar await sparked a counter which saw Defrel cross for Milan Djuric to sidefoot under Buffon on PSG v Chelsea 22:45 17 minutes. beIN SPORTS 1 HD UKRAINE: Bayern Munich are confident they the team is now much better.” training in Brazil in January. Brazilian striker Luiz “It was great to test myself against the have returned to top form just in time for their Guardiola will recall midfielder Xabi Alonso Adriano, who netted nine times in the Juventus defence and to score against beIN SPORTS 11 HD Champions League round of 16 first leg against for the game in Lviv after he was rested on Champions League group stage, believes Buffon was pretty special,” said Bosnian Shakhtar v Bayern 22:45 Shakhtar Donetsk today after their biggest Saturday, while winger Franck Ribery and Shakhtar are well-prepared for the visit of striker Djuric. Bundesliga win in 31 years on Saturday. defender Rafinha are in contention after recover- Bayern. “We have paid a lot of attention to find beIN SPORTS 2 HD Juve were back on level terms on the The German champions’ dress rehearsal ing from injuries in time to play against out their weaknesses,” he said. “We want to know half hour after Morata got his head to beIN SPORTS 13 HD ahead of the trip to Ukraine was a resounding Hamburg. Defender Jerome Boateng will also everything about our rivals so there are no sur- Pogba’s cross to beat Nicola Leali, and took beIN SPORTS 1 HD success as they demolished Hamburg SV 8-0 in a make the trip after sitting out a two-match ban prises during the game as they are not always the lead five minutes later when Claudio flawless performance that saw Dutchman Arjen in Germany. pleasant. Robben continue his impressive form by scoring “Our first task is to win. We would never be two goals. WINTER BREAK content with a draw, even against Bayern.” Victory for Bayern, who had won just one of Shakhtar, hosting Bayern in Lviv as their Shakhtar will be without defensive midfielder the previous three league games before hometown is at the centre of a military conflict, Taras Stepanenko who is banned, while striker Saturday’s drubbing of Hamburg, delighted would have wished for an easier challenge in Bernard is an injury concern with a ligaments coach Pep Guardiola after his side made a stut- their first competitive game after a two-month inflammation. “They are in a different pace, play- tering return from the winter break. “Now we winter break. ing competitive games every three or four days,” can focus on our first Champions League game However, Shakhtar, who are looking for their said Adriano. “But still we are in a great physical this year. I am happy that our playing style is first home win against a German side for over 35 shape. There are a few training sessions left so back,” the Spaniard said. “Obviously the mood in years, filled their lack of domestic action by we will be fully prepared.”—Reuters Boca Juniors defeat Olimpo BUENOS AIRES: Title favorites Boca Juniors, Olimpo equalised when midfielder being disciplined by coach Roberto Mancini. with new signing Dani Osvaldo watching Jonathan Blanco was left unmarked at a cor- He could make his debut for the team he from the stands, kicked off their Argentine ner and beat goalkeeper Agustin Orion with a supported as a boy in the Libertadores Cup first division campaign with a 3-1 win over sharp header into the roof of the net one Group Five opener away to Chile’s Palestino Olimpo at La Bombonera on Sunday. River minute before the interval. on Wednesday. Plate also won 4-1 at promoted Sarmiento The outstanding Gago might have scored River’s new signing Gonzalo “Pity” Martinez while title holders Racing Club were the only again five minutes into the second half but laid on two first half goals and Colombian big name club to lose on the opening week- goalkeeper Nereo Champagne uncorked a striker Teo Gutierrez, the 2014 South end of the controversial 30-team champi- brilliant reflex save to tip the Boca playmaker’s American footballer of the year, scored twice onship after a 1-0 home defeat by Rosario shot over the bar. in the second as River romped to victory at Central on Friday. Sarmiento, back in the top flight for the first Substitute forward Sebastian Palacios PALACIOS VOLLEY time since 1982. scored two second half goals to secure Boca’s Olimpo almost went in front in the 62nd On Saturday, Libertadores Cup holders San victory after Argentina World Cup midfielder minute when Juan Cobo looked set to score Lorenzo won 2-0 at home to promoted Colon Fernando Gago had put them ahead with a from a corner but Orion scrambled across and Independiente beat Newell’s Old Boys 3-2 29th-minute penalty. goal to save. in Rosario. “I thought we played well overall even if Palacios came on right after Olimpo’s The unprecedented 30-team champi- we were too hurried up front in the first half missed chance and 11 minutes later volleyed onship, brainchild of late Argentine FA presi- and lost concentration (for their equaliser) Boca in front after latching on to a poor clear- dent and FIFA vice-president Julio Grondona, before halftime,” Gago told reporters. ance by Champagne. has gone ahead despite much criticism with Boca were awarded the penalty when The stocky striker made sure of the result 10 teams promoted from the second-tier PARIS: Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas (foreground) during a training session at their train- defender Ivan Furios held Daniel Diaz in a firm when he tapped home winger Federico Primera B Nacional.