Sports FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 Real beat Sevilla to extend lead

BARCELONA: James Rodriguez headed the opener before going off injured in Real ’s 2-1 victory over Sevilla on Wednesday which extended their lead at the top of La Liga to four points. Real warmed up for the Madrid derby against Atletico on Saturday with three points but it came at a cost with as well as Rodriguez going off injured in the first half. “I don’t think they will make it in time,” Real coach Carlo Ancelotti told a news conference. Marcelo will definitely miss the next game through suspension after picking up a yellow card but they will have back after he completed his suspension against Sevilla. “We may be lacking experience. Ramos, Pepe and Marcelo are among the best players in the world but it doesn’t worry me,” Ancelotti said. “We have lost experience but we will have players with plenty of enthusiasm and that is also very important.” Colombia international Rodriguez nodded home a Marcelo cross after 12 minutes in a copy of the goal he scored last week- end against Real Sociedad. Sevilla caused plenty of problems for the Real rearguard, especially in the first half, and Vicente Iborra hit a post having been played in by Vitolo. They had injury con- cerns of their own as keeper Beto went off on the half hour after a collision with Karim Benzema. Jese, who had come on for Rodriguez, combined with Benzema and Isco before slotting the ball home Real’s second 10 minutes before the break. Substitute Iago Aspas continued his recent hot streak in front of goal with a goal for Sevilla from close range after 80 minutes but it was only to be a consolation. Real lead the standings by four points from Barcelona with Atletico seven points adrift. “It was a difficult BOLTON: Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho celebrates with team-mates Alberto Moreno (left) and Raheem Sterling game against a strong side. It was a step forward as we picked up important points,” Ancelotti added. Sevilla coach Unai Emery was after scoring his side’s second goal during their FA Cup Fourth Round Replay match at the Macron Stadium in disappointed his side did not take their chances. “The most impor- Bolton on Wednesday Feb 4, 2015. —AP tant thing is to create openings when you play in this stadium which is what we did but we didn’t finish them off,” he told a news conference. “We competed for the full 90 minutes but we didn’t get Gerrard’s FA Cup the goals that we deserved. I am satisfied with the work of the play- er and we showed that we were up to the task.” —Reuters dream still alive Atletico’s Godin angry at labeling Sterling, Coutinho send Liverpool through of team ‘violent’ BARCELONA: Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin has hit BOLTON: Liverpool fought back to reach the FA Cup fifth round with a brilliant last-ditch tackle denied Sterling after he was put through on out at the media’s labelling of his team’s playing style as violent 2-1 victory over 10-man Bolton Wanderers to keep alive talismanic cap- goal, with Lonergan clawing away the curling effort from the Reds ahead of the crunch Madrid derby with Real where defeat tain Steven Gerrard’s hopes of a Wembley swansong. The Liverpool cap- youngster that followed. However, it was Bolton that struck a minute could well end their bid to retain the La Liga title. Diego tain turns 35 on the day of the FA Cup final and Reds supporters had before the hour when Martin Skrtel, unable to cope with Clough’s quick Simeone’s side have been playing well but the loss against seemingly already penciled a trip to Wembley into their diaries. But with feet, carelessly gave away a penalty with a cumbersome challenge. Barcelona last month means that they are seven points off Real Liverpool trailing with just four minutes of the 90 left in this fourth- Gudjohnsen confidently stroked the resulting spot-kick past Mignolet, at the top and three adrift of the Catalan side. They were also round replay at the Macron Stadium, the dream of Gerrard climbing the although Bolton’s hopes of hanging on to that lead for the remainder of knocked out of the King’s Cup by Barcelona where they tried to steps to lift the famous old trophy appeared to be in their dying embers. the contest diminished when Danns was shown a second yellow for unsettle their opponents with their physical game and criticism However, Raheem Sterling cancelled out Eidur Gudjohnsen’s penal- lunging at Joe Allen. Rodgers introduced Fabio Borini and Daniel of their style of play has resurfaced ahead of tomorrow’s show- ty before Philippe Coutinho scored a quite brilliant injury-time winner to Sturridge in an attempt to give his side more potency in the final third down with Real. Godin though feels that they have been seal a meeting with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the next round. and fellow substitute Henderson struck the post with a deflected shot unfairly treated in the media. “Of course all this talk is tiring and “You have to keep your patience and keep the width in the game, espe- while Emre Can rattled the crossbar. Liverpool’s relentless pressure we don’t believe these stories. I don’t know from who or where cially against 10 men,” a relieved Liverpool manager eventually told and Can was instrumental as he lifted a superb ball into they come from,” the Uruguayan told a news conference. told the BBC. “It was a great pass by Emre Can for the first goal and a the path of Sterling, who guided a left-foot volley through Lonergan’s “We compete and we have been doing so for several years. great finish for the second goal. “This is a competition we want to do legs and into the net with four minutes left. With extra time looming Everything that we have won has been the result of work, effort well in and thankfully we’re into the next round against Crystal Palace.” Coutinho then provided a moment of brilliance in added time to com- and being committed but not violent. This talk has to stop.” For His Bolton counterpart , who has engineered a revival in plete Liverpool’s comeback when he struck a quite brilliant long-range years the Madrid derby was almost a foregone conclusion as the club’s fortunes since taking over in early October, was fuming over effort into the top-right corner of the net Atletico struggled to compete with their more illustrious rival the referee Roger East’s performance. “I’m not happy with the referee but Simeone has instilled a new belief that helped them win tonight at all,” stormed the 43-year-old Northern Irishman. “Neil Danns’ Kit deal with New Balance the championship last season and also reach the Champions first yellow card was not a booking and I’m not convinced that our In another development, Liverpool have agreed their biggest ever League final. They were beaten in the final by Real but penalty was a penalty either.” Gerrard, who will leave Anfield for Major kit supplier deal with American sportswear company New Balance to they have had the better of Carlo Ancelotti’s side since starting League Soccer outfit LA Galaxy when his contract expires in the sum- manufacture the team’s official kit from next season, the Premier with a victory in the domestic Super Cup. mer, clocked up his 700th career appearance for Liverpool. League club said yesterday. The five-times European champions agreed They also came out on top in the league and knocked them Only Jamie Carragher (737) and Ian Callaghan (857) have worn a red a six-year-deal with Warrior Sports in 2012 but its parent company New out of the King’s Cup. “When I first came here we were not able shirt with the Liverbird on their chest more than Gerrard. With former Balance has agreed to take over the kit supply from the 2015/16 cam- to win but now we look at the games in a special way and with Liverpool striker Emile Heskey absent with a hamstring injury, Lennon paign. optimism,” added Godin. “The dynamic has changed in the last sprang something of a tactical surprise. Lennon deployed defender Boston-based New Balance has decided to lend their own name to few years. Atletico is more competitive and has been able to Matt Mills as a lone forward with veteran Gudjohnsen and rookie Zach all soccer clubs currently supplied by Warrior, meaning changes for fight against Madrid and Barca.” Atletico will aim to take advan- Clough just in behind as Wanderers mirrored Liverpool’s 3-4-2-1 system. Stoke City, Porto and Sevilla too. British media reports estimated the tage of Real’s injury woes with Sergio Ramos and James Sterling buzzed with intent in the early stages and on 15 minutes he new deal with Liverpool to be worth around 300 million pounds Rodriguez both limping off in their La Liga victory over Sevilla glided past and into the area, forcing Bolton goalkeeper ($457.35 million). “We are thrilled to announce this partnership with one on Wednesday while Marcelo is suspended. With Pepe and Andrew Lonergan to make a diving save. Wheater threatened for the of the world’s leading sportswear brands, which is a record-breaking Luka Modric also in the treatment room, Ancelotti will have a Trotters at the other end when he got on the end of Liam Feeney’s free- deal for the club,” Liverpool’s chief commercial officer Billy Hogan said selection headache. Meanwhile, in-form Barcelona will be wait- kick into the box, but his header was straight at Simon Mignolet in the in a statement on the club’s website (www.liverpoolfc.com). “Like ing to pounce against on Sunday to close the Liverpool goal. Liverpool FC, New Balance has more than 100 years of heritage and a gap at the top if there is a slip-up from Real. —Reuters Liverpool went close early in the second half and Dorian Dervite’s global footprint.” —Agencies