Tearful Serena Dortmund win sets up Li derby; Bayern final17 clash remain18 on top SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

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BARCELONA: Barcelona’s players celebrate after winning during the Spanish league Clasico football match FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid CF yesterday. (Inset) Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward reacts during the match. — AFP Barca down Real; ineffective Bale subbed Celta rout Malaga 5-0 to break 4-game skid

BARCELONA: Gareth Bale had an El Clasico debut the victory, the three points and also for my goal. over, but it was Barca who settled quicker as Real lenge on Gerard Pique. Madrid started the sec- have to endure a nervy final 10 minutes as he to forget as Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Every player wants to play in this game and I will struggled to come to terms with Neymar’s pace ond-half brightly as their pressing higher up the showed great speed to reach Neymar’s pass Camp Nou thanks to goals from Neymar and go home very happy,” Sanchez told GOL TV. “I did- and trickery. It was no surprise that it was the field unsettled Barca. However, the visitors had before lifting a wonderfully judged lob over Alexis Sanchez. Bale had been surprisingly select- n’t have any other option with the goal. I saw the Brazilian who put Barca in front when he collect- Lopez to thank for keeping them in the game as Lopez. Jese gave Madrid a flicker of hope in stop- ed for just his second start since joining the club ‘keeper off his line and I had to try it. Fortunately ed Andres Iniesta’s pass inside the area and Javier Mascherano picked out Neymar with a page time as he collected Ronaldo’s pass to score by Real boss , but struggled to it went in.” sneaked his shot from a narrow angle inside the wonderful pass in behind the Madrid defense low past Valdes, but Los Blancos didn’t have time make an impression as Barca dominated the first- Real, though, were left less than happy with far post with the aid of a slight deflection off Dani and his volley was beaten away by the keeper. to mount another attack as they slipped to their half. Neymar gave the hosts a deserved lead with the performance of referee Alberto Undiano Carvajal. Ancelotti then introduced Asier Illarramendi second defeat of the season. a neat finish from a narrow angle on 19 minutes Mallenco as he turned down two penalty claims The presence of Cesc Fabregas in the Barca for Ramos to improve Madrid’s use of the ball in CELTA ROUT MALAGA before Lionel Messi ought to have doubled the with the score at 1-0. “The team have shown face side had forced Messi into an unusual position on midfield. Real’s pressing very nearly delivered an In another development, Celta Vigo’s Alex advantage when he fired wide moments later. against a very difficult opponent,” said Sergio the right side. However, the Argentine should equalizer as Luka Modric and Khedira robbed Lopez scored twice in a 5-0 rout at Malaga in the Bale was replaced by Karim Benzema on the hour Ramos. “We have put Barca in difficulty, it is not have doubled the lead two minutes later when Iniesta before the Croat fed Ronaldo and his rasp- Spanish league yesterday, breaking a four-game mark and the Frenchman nearly made an instant easy to see them waste time, but there were two he was released through on goal only to unchar- ing drive was turned behind by Valdes. Bale was losing streak for ’s side. Lopez opened impact when he smashed the crossbar with 21 clear penalties and, although I don’t like to judge acteristically slide the ball wide on his trusted left then withdrawn as Ancelotti sent on Benzema in in the sixth minute before Augusto Fernandez minutes remaining. However, Sanchez sealed the referees, there are things against which you can- foot. Madrid did finally create a clear opening two search of an equalizer. Ronaldo was left furious fired in a ball that fell to him in the area to double points 12 minutes from time with a delightful not fight.” minutes before the break when Sami Khedira slid with the referee when he felt he had been bun- the advantage in the 23rd. Lopez headed in a chip over Diego Lopez. Bale’s inclusion was not the only surprise in to meet Cristiano Ronaldo’s cross and after his dled over by Adriano inside the area. rebound of a shot saved by goalkeeper Willy Substitute Jese Rodriguez pulled a goal back amongst Ancelotti’s starting line up as Ramos effort was brilliantly kept out by Victor Valdes, the And seconds later Benzema nearly marked his Caballero in the 64th before Manuel “Nolito” for Madrid in stoppage time, but it was too little was also moved into an unfamiliar central mid- ball appeared to strike Adriano on the arm. Bale’s entrance in stunning fashion as he lashed an Agudo and Charles capped the demolition in the too late as Barca moved six points clear of their field role. The Welshman had Madrid’s first effort miserable first-half was rounded off in stoppage effort from outside the area off the underside of 74th and 81st. Malaga has only taken one point rivals at the top of . “I am very happy for on goal with a left-footed strike that sailed well time when he saw a yellow card for a high chal- the bar. Sanchez ensured that Barca wouldn’t of the last possible 12. — Agencies Hernandez rescues Ten-man Arsenal Manchester United maintain EPL lead

cumbed to the very first Stoke attack in Holloway’s final match in charge. Marouane after three minutes when full-back Erik Chamakh and Jerome Thomas were each hand- United 3 Pieters was allowed far too much space Arsenal 2 ed the opportunity to prove a point to their for- down the left. His superb cross found mer club in a defensive 4-5-1 formation that sug- Crouch, who extended his lengthy gested Palace would be happy with a draw.A frame to turn a shot goalwards that was burst of pace in the 14th minute from Thomas Stoke 2 well saved by , only for Palace 0 left Sagna for dead, but Barry Bannan could only defender Jonny Evans to play the direct his header over the bar. rebound against the Stoke forward and Three minutes later, Mesut Ozil should have back into the United goal. given Arsenal the lead after being played in by MANCHESTER: Javier Hernandez res- There may have been a slice of for- LONDON: Arsenal survived a scare to beat Aaron Ramsey, but opted to cut the ball back cued Manchester United and manager tune in the manner of the finish, but Crystal Palace 2-0 yesterday, with a Mikel Arteta across the face of goal rather than shoot. Lifted David Moyes with an 80th-minute win- Stoke would go on to show they penalty and an Olivier Giroud header maintain- by the home crowd, Palace’s confidence seemed ner in a 3-2 victory over Stoke City in the deserved it over the remainder of the ing their lead in the .Yet Arsene to grow and both Mile Jedinak and Adlene Premier League yesterday. The Mexican first half, with Crouch volleying narrowly Wenger will know it could easily have been dif- Guedioura had efforts from distance that tested substitute’s winning goal capped a over and Jonathan Walters’ close-range ferent after Arteta was sent off with 25 minutes visiting goalkeeper Szczesny. Scotland midfield- strong late flourish from United, who shot being saved by United goalkeeper still remaining at Selhurst Park against manager- er Bannan spurned an even better opportunity had equalised only two minutes earlier De Gea. The visitors were growing in less Palace. Wojciech Szczesny produced two after Arsenal failed to clear a free-kick, with his through the ever-dependable Wayne confidence, their hosts struggling to brilliant saves in the space of a minute to deny curler just missing the target. At the other end, Rooney. break down their dogged defending the hosts an equalizer in a spirited display just Santi Cazorla almost found a way through, but But even in victory, and even with a and looking short on attacking ideas, days after manager Ian Holloway left Palace by his cross-shot eluded a queue of players waiting fightback reminiscent of former manag- although Rooney, at least, was perform- mutual consent. in the six-yard box, while Ramsey worked Palace er Alex Ferguson’s glory years, United ing at near his peak. However, it was Arsenal who made it seven goalkeeper Julian Speroni from a similarly tight looked far from their championship- His 25-yard shot after 32 minutes MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s Belgium Adnan wins from their last eight Premier League match- angle. Chamakh then had a glorious opportuni- winning form of last season. Robin van finally brought a save out of Asmir Januzaj (left) vies with Stoke City’s Dutch defender Erik Pieters dur- es to leave Palace in deep trouble in the relega- ty to score against his old club just before the Persie marked his 50th start for the club Begovic, the Stoke goalkeeper turning ing the English Premier League football match between Manchester tion zone. After losing their first match since the break, only to mistime his jump and completely with his 38th goal, cancelling out a Peter miss the ball. But having worked so hard in the his effort over the bar one-handed. Van United and Stoke City yesterday. — AFP opening day of the season against Borussia Crouch opener, only for Marko Persie’s equaliser came in the 43rd Dortmund in mid-week, manager Arsene first half, all of Palace’s efforts were washed away Arnautovic to restore Stoke’s lead just minute, carved out on the right by Nani, Austrian with a free-kick. The Stoke for- throwing on teenage winger Adnan Wenger named a strong side but left Jack inside the opening 60 seconds after the break. before the interval. Hernandez, a sec- whose cross reached Rooney for a pow- ward conjured up a superb shot that hit Januzaj in place of Nani, in a switch that Wilshere on the bench following his slight knock Guedioura’s rash decision to slide in on ond-half substitute, struck 10 minutes erful header. Begovic did well to turn the underside of the United bar and was wildly popular with the home sup- in that game. Mathieu Flamini returned to take Gnabry inside the box handed Arteta an oppor- from time to bring United three sorely- the ball away, but only as far as Van crept over the line as De Gea collapsed porters. Eventually, it required a rare his place in midfield, but the Frenchman only tunity from the spot and he made no mistake to needed points, heading in Patrice Evra’s Persie, who drove the rebound home vainly into the net. United’s frustration defensive error from the visitors to allow lasted seven minutes before limping off, with put Arsenal ahead. Giroud should have put left-wing cross from five yards and from eight yards for his ninth goal in his was obvious and referee Lee Mason had United a route back into the game from winger Serge Gnabry coming on to take his them further ahead eight minutes later after sparking touchline celebrations from last seven appearances against Stoke. to separate Van Persie from defender Van Persie’s 78th-minute corner. Rooney, place. By then, Giroud had already headed over good work down the right from Sagna, but con- Moyes and coach Phil Neville. That should have been a platform for Ryan Shawcross as tempers flared. having slipped away from his marker, a good cross from Bacary Sagna as Arsenal com- nected with shoulder instead of head and United had started the game with an United to build upon, but in the final Soon after the restart, Rooney’s near- did the rest with a well-judged glancing pletely dominated possession. The reshuffle missed the target. Within minutes of that miss, apparent spring in their step after a mid- minute of the half Phil Jones brought post shot was well covered by header into the top-left corner to make allowed Palace to find their feet, with caretaker Palace were handed a lifeline after referee Chris week success over in the Arnautovic down on the corner of the Shawcross but, before the hour had it 2-2, before Hernandez applied the manager Keith Millen having made six changes Foy showed Arteta a red card for bringing down Champions League, but they suc- home team’s area and presented the elapsed, Moyes had seen enough, coup de grace. — AFP from the side that lost 4-1 to Fulham on Monday Chamakh as he raced through on goal. — AFP