SPORTS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2014 Bayern extend record runs

BERLIN: Leaders Bayern Munich extended both of their unbeaten league records with a 2-0 win at Nuremberg yesterday as the European champions remained 13 points clear in the . The 39-point gulf between the two teams in the league table was evident, leaving runaway leaders Bayern with 56 out of a possible 60 points this sea- son. This was Bayern’s 45th unbeaten Bundesliga match, dating back to October 2012, and their 29th unbeaten away league game to extend their records after a rare win in Nuremberg. “I quickly noticed why Bayern had only won once in six years at Nuremberg,” said Bayern coach Pep Guardiola. “Nuremberg were aggressive and played very intensively, they had two or three clear chances. “After we went 2-0 up, things got easier for us, but the pitch made things difficult and was- n’t good for our possession.” Despite the heavy surface, Bayern still enjoyed more than 60 percent possession-down from the average of 75 they are accustomed to-while defeat dropped Nuremberg back into the bottom three. “The first-half cost us a lot of strength and the belief wasn’t as great,” admitted Nuremberg coach Gertjan Verbeek. “It was almost impossible to come back after they went 2-0 up soon after the break.” Bayern needed just 17 minutes to take the lead at Nuremberg’s Grundig Stadium when Germany star Mario Goetze put David Alaba in space down the flank and the Austria left-back flicked in a cross for Mario Mandzukic to volley home. The Croatia striker then turned provider when FRANCE: Bastia’s French defender Francois-Joseph Modesto (left) vies he put captain Philipp Lahm in space to fire home with Marseille’s Tunisian forward Saber Khalifa (right) during the French on 49 minutes as Bayern counter-attacked. League One football match. — AFP It should have been more when GERMANY: Nuremberg’s Mike Frantz (right) and Bayern’s Mario Goetze challenge for the ball during a German hit the post ten minutes later, but Bayern were in First Division Bundesliga soccer match. — AP complete control. Third-placed enjoyed a 5-1 Marseille brush win at Werder Bremen with Poland striker Robert Lewandowski and attacking Henrikh aside Bastia Mkhitaryan both scoring twice. Aberdeen end Celtic’s Dortmund made their pressing game count PARIS: Marseille gave their Wahbi Khazri came close to when defender Marcel Schmelzer pounced on a Champions League aspirations a reducing the deficit two minutes mistake on the left and slid his pass in for hopes of double repeat timely boost as they cruised to a 3-0 after half-time when he fired against Lewandowski to hit the top right-hand corner with home win over Bastia in France’s the outside of the post but Bastia’s 26 minutes gone. Dortmund doubled the lead at : Holders Celtic crashed out of the any hopes of an Old Firm derby this season and the League One yesterday. day was to get worse shortly after as Bremen’s Weser Stadion when Arminia’s as Aberdeen pulled off a shock 2-1 Parkhead club’s hopes of a domestic double. Dimitri Payet struck twice in the Landreau limped off with an ankle Mkhitaryan scored his first league goal since fifth round win at Parkhead yesterday to inflict the “I don’t think I can single out any player apart first half before Andre-Pierre Gignac injury. His replacement Jean-Louis September when he held off a challenge from Glasgow giants’ first domestic defeat since from maybe James Forrest and Anthony Stokes added his 11th of the campaign to Leca’s first task was to pick the ball Holland’s Eljero Elia and blasted his shot into the September. who can come out the game with any credit at all,” guide Marseille to within two points out of the net as Gignac netted left-hand corner four minutes from the break. The Hoops have been almost unstoppable this Lennon said. “We never really got a spell of pres- of third place. Marseille’s third on 55 minutes, slot- Veteran centre-back Manuel Friedrich then season with ‘keeper Fraser Forster setting a new sure. We have been talking about the lack of goals With Marseille out of both domes- ting home the rebound after volleyed home just after the break to claim his first club record of 13 clean sheets in a row as Neil scored against us this season but the problem tic cup competitions, the league rep- Giannelli Imbula’s venomous 25-yard Bundesliga goal for two years. Lennon’s side won 14 consecutive games. This today was the back four and midfield, who as two resents the only avenue to European strike cannoned back off the cross- Lukasz Piszczek’s shot clipped the cross bar on trend looked set to continue when Anthony Stokes units were very poor.” football next term for Jose Anigo’s bar. 56 minutes, but Dortmund grabbed their fourth fired Celtic into a ninth minute lead as he showed Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes thought it good control and skill to fire past Jamie Langfield. had been a superb team performance. “Everyone side, who appear to be trending Florian Thauvin missed a glorious when Mkhitaryan curled in his second after Marco However, the Dons arrived in Glasgow as the last sacrificed a lot of themselves and worked extreme- upwards after a third win in five. chance to add his name to the score- Reus’s superb back-heel pass on 62 minutes before Successive victories had seen Bastia sheet just after the hour as he side to score against the Hoops back in November ly hard and had the resolve and attitude to come Lewandowski added a late fifth. and buoyed by their League Cup semi-final win back from going a goal behind,” McInnes said. looking to break into the top half of volleyed off the mark following Bremen midfielder Levent Aycicek scored a late the table at the Stade Velodrome but another Mendy delivery but it mat- over St Johnstone last weekend. “We felt we could exploit then at set plays and consolation on his Bundesliga debut, but there diverted an thankfully we did that. I think it was a victory we the visitors fell behind on 13 minutes tered little as Marseille strolled to vic- was precious little else for Werder fans to enjoy. as Payet exchanged passes with tory. On Friday Saint-Etienne climbed header on to the bar before Russell Anderson end- more than deserved.” The Dons will be joined in This was the 12th time this season Bremen have ed Forster’s run of 19 hours and 23 minutes without today’s draw for the quarter-finals by Rangers, who Gignac before scuffing a shot that above Lille into third on goal differ- conceded three or more goals and coach Robin deceived goalkeeper Mickael ence after a goalless draw at losing a goal as he volleyed Aberdeen level in the thrashed fellow League One side Dunfermline 4-0 Dutt is under increasing pressure with his side 13th 38th minute. on Friday night. St Johnstone booked their place in Landreau. Toulouse. However, Lille, who are and just three points from the relegation places. There was little the league’s without a win in their last five match- Celtic then found themselves trailing in a game the last eight with a 4-0 win away to Forfar while In the basement battle, Eintracht Frankfurt record appearance maker could do es, could regain control of third place for the first time since November 2 when Peter Dumbarton defeated Alloa 1-0. League Two side about Payet’s second though as the if they avoid defeat at second-from- moved up to 12th with a 3-0 win at home to bot- Pawlett sent a superb angled shot past Forster in Albion Rovers’ remarkable run continues after a 2-0 winger curled in a sumptuous long- bottom Sochaux later on Saturday. tom side . the 49th minute. The Hoops haven’t been defeated win over Stenhousemuir and Stranraer and range effort on 25 minutes to take Leaders Paris Saint-Germain travel Freiburg were held to a 1-1 draw at home to domestically since Morton knocked them out of Inverness CT will have to do it all again following a his season’s tally to seven. Landreau to title rivals Monaco today in a top Hoffenheim while sixth-placed VfL Wolfsburg the League Cup in September but couldn’t find a 2-2 draw at Stair Park. Hibernian’s 112-year Scottish prevented Marseille from increasing of the table clash at the Stade Louis II, enjoyed a 3-0 win at home to Mainz 05. way back into the game. Cup hoodoo continues as Championship side Raith their lead as he turned a Gignac while the Bordeaux-Lorient fixture On Friday, second-placed Bayer Leverkusen Virgil van Dijk missed a golden chance to head Rovers defeated Terry Butcher’s side 3-2 at Easter effort round the post before the has been called off after heavy rain enjoyed a 1-0 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach Celtic level and Rooney hit the post for Aberdeen Road. Dundee United host St Mirren in today’s final burly striker headed over from a left the pitch at the Stade Chaban- with South Korea’s Son Heung-Min scoring the sec- as the Dons joined Rangers in the last eight to end fifth round match. — AFP Benjamin Mendy cross. Delmas unplayable. — AFP ond-half winner. — AFP

Preview Preview Sherwood hopes Townsend Fletcher targets sprint finish return puts Spurs back on track from misfiring Man United

LONDON: Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood hopes the stages of his reign, but he will have to be at his sharpest to MANCHESTER: Manchester United midfielder Darren ed to go and that was fine. I am looking forward to seeing eagerly-anticipated return of Andros Townsend against outwit Everton boss Roberto Martinez. Fletcher admits it is imperative his side finish the season him.” Meulensteen has already come under pressure after Everton today will revitalise his side’s bid to qualify for the The Spaniard has made a big impact at Goodison Park strongly as the misfiring champions prepare to host strug- a dismal start to his reign at Craven Cottage, but he claims Champions League. Townsend was back in full training since replacing David Moyes following the Scot’s move to gling Fulham at today. he still has the backing of owner Shahid Khan. this week for the first time since suffering a hamstring Manchester United in the close season. United have endured a difficult campaign in the Fulham have won just three times in 11 games since he injury against West Ham in December which brought an Martinez was careful not to change too much too soon, defence of the title they won so convinc- took charge in November, with their FA Cup defeat to abrupt halt to the winger’s remarkably successful start to but he has gradually transformed the team’s previously ingly last season under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson. League One strugglers Sheffield United in midweek the the season. conservative gameplan into a more expansive style that With 14 matches left, United have little chance of latest embarrassing loss. “I have been in contact with him After entering the campaign as a relatively unheralded has earned plaudits and points in equal measure. retaining the title as they lie 15 points behind leaders (Khan),” Meulensteen said. “We are keeping good dialogue member of Tottenham’s squad, England international “When you are in a dressing room you can be open- Arsenal. But Scotland international Fletcher is keen to and he has given me his full support. Townsend burst onto the scene with a string of superb minded or find it difficult to face change,” Martinez said. stress the importance of amassing as many points as they “He told us to remain focused and optimistic. There are performances for both club and country. “Footballers are creatures of habit, they are not open to can between now and May to try to qualify for the a lot of games and points to play and that’s what I intend The 22-year-old’s nine-match spell on the sidelines change too easily. Champions League with a top-four finish. “We need to fin- to do. “It’s important to get the owner’s support, but it’s could have been a major blow for Tottenham, but “Our example is not the norm. You have a group of ish the season on a bit of a run and with confidence,” even more important that I know the job I need to do with Sherwood’s team performed well enough to earn him the players very confident in what they do and from day one Fletcher said. the players. “That is what makes the difference and will manager’s job on a permanent basis following Andre they have been open about new ideas. “Slowly you put in “That will help us achieve something this season and turn things around. Life throws challenges at you and you Villas-Boas’s sacking. With sixth-placed Spurs still firmly in little tweaks to make us more diverse and give us more also help us at the beginning of next season. We need to need to accept it and rise to it.” the hunt for a top-four finish in the Premier League, dimensions and the change from week to week depends lead into the new season on a bit of a high. “We want to Former Everton defender Johnny Heitinga is set to Townsend’s return is perfectly timed as fifth-placed on how the group reacts to it.” — AFP get back to winning ways because there aren’t many make his Fulham debut, while club record signing Kostas Everton visit White Hart Lane this weekend. games left this season and we have got to finish in the top Mitroglou will have a knee injury assessed before the “He’s in the squad so we’re hoping that he’ll be in and four. “Seasons and runs can be turned on one result, one match. — AFP around selection,” Sherwood said. “He’s done enough cup win, one massive performance and these can be the training now for us to be confident that he can be catalysts for success. dropped back into the squad. He’s looked magnificent. “We have got to reflect on that and realise it has been “The results don’t suggest that he has (been missed), but I done before. We finished the 2005-06 season on a high think whenever you’ve got a player like Andros, he can and went on a winning run to achieve a bit of success. change a game in an instant. “All of a sudden, it carried on to the next season “It’s great to have him back and we’re pleased to wel- because that was the standard that we had set, that is come him back to the squad. But the rest of the team has what we knew we were capable of. done very well over the recent period.” “There is no doubt about it, we need to get back to Townsend’s return is a welcome boost for Spurs, who that. The goal is always to respond and be successful.” will be without Erik Lamela, Vlad Chiriches and Sandro United manager David Moyes is expected to have Phil through injury today. Tottenham could certainly do with a Jones back from concussion for the visit of bottom-of-the- boost after the embarrassing 5-1 home defeat to table Fulham, but Jonny Evans (calf) and Marouane Manchester City was followed by a 1-1 draw at Hull. Fellaini (groin) are set to miss out. Moyes has revealed that Neither Spurs nor Everton can afford a defeat this he attempted to persuade Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen weekend and Sherwood acknowledged the significance of to remain with the club when he took over at Old Trafford. the showdown in the race for a place in the Champions Meulensteen was first team coach at United under League. “It’s important because it’s the next one and it’s a Ferguson, but left shortly after Moyes’ arrival to become team who are in and around us,” he said. Guus Hiddink’s assistant with Russian club Anzhi “I think possibly the team who finishes fourth will be Makhachkala. The Dutchman returned to English football the one who takes the most points off the teams in and with Fulham in November 2013 as assistant coach and was around them, and that includes Everton. then appointed manager when Martin Jol was sacked “It’s very, very important and I’m glad that the players three weeks after his arrival. think it’s as important as I do because they’ll be reminded “Rene helped me when I first came here,” Moyes said. “I that it is a crucial game and it could be a springboard for had several conversations with him. He helped me, told us to go on a nice run again.” Sherwood, a surprise choice me about the club, how it runs, and the players. to replace Villas-Boas, has impressed during the early Andros Townsend “In the end I would have liked him to stay, but he want- Darren Fletcher