MONDAY, JANIUARY 11, 2016 SPORTS Totti return not enough as Milan hold Roma MILAN: ’s return from injury Roma have dropped two points and the their previous six meetings with Roma and RED CARD death to cap what has been a rollercoaster failed to spark Roma as the title pressure will continue to grow on French their last win at the Stadio Olimpico came That prompted Mihajlovic to kick a week for the Brazilian. hopefuls’ winless run continued Saturday coach Rudi Garcia. in October 2011. The pressure is also on water bottle, a red card offence which is Lazio moved up to ninth place, with after being held 1-1 at home by AC Milan. With Edin Dzeko suspended, Sadiq was Sinisa Mihajlovic, and amid a frustrating considered dissent. Bacca and Giacomo Fiorentina still in second place, a point Totti returned following a near four- handed his second consecutive start by second half AC Milan’s Serbian coach was Bonaventura missed further chances while behind Inter, but now in danger of being month injury layoff when he replaced Garcia and within a matter of seconds the sent to the stands for violent conduct on at the other end Gervinho fired wide. overtaken by Napoli and Juventus. Nigerian starlet Umar Sadiq 25 minutes Nigerian teenager had stung the gloves of the touchlines. However Milan claimed a Earlier, Manchester United target Felipe “That was our best game of the season, into the second half. But after Juraj Kucka Milan’s 16-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi well deserved equaliser on 50 minutes Anderson came off the bench to hit a late we should always play like that because levelled Antonio Ruduiger’s fourth-minute Donnarumma. Sadiq has found the net in when Kucka rose to head Keisuke Honda’s goal as Lazio awoke from their slumber to that’s what I expect from my players,” said opener five minutes into the second half, each of his last two appearances for Roma, floated cross from the right past Wojciech stun title-chasers Fiorentina 3-1 on Lazio coach Stefano Pioli. 38-year-old club legend Totti failed to but the 18-year-old striker was beaten to Szczesny. Milan, who saw Kevin-Prince Saturday. Keita Balde gave Lazio a first-half It was Fiorentina’s second home spark the Giallorossi, who now have only the honour when Rudiger volleyed Boateng make his Serie A comeback after lead in and the visitors looked to reverse of the campaign but coach Paulo one win from their last seven league out- Miralem Pjanic’s free-kick past two years at Schalke, had the momentum have wrapped up the points when Sergej Sousa refused to criticise his players. ings and were whistled off the park at a Donnarumma at the back post. but Mihajlovic’s men were wasteful. Milinkovic-Savic doubled Lazio’s lead two “Once we started the second half, Keita’s sparsely-attended Stadio Olimpico. Sadiq did well to squirm away from two Stunned 1-0 by in midweek minutes into added-on time with his maid- goal began to weigh on us,” said the Roma remain in fifth place at five defenders and set up Miralem Pjanic, only when they had 16 attempts on goal, Milan en Serie A goal. Portuguese. “We tried to pull level but we points behind leaders ahead for the Bosnian to scuff a shot wide, while saw Szczesny smother at Carlos Bacca’s In a dramatic finish to Fiorentina’s first were playing more with our hearts than of their home game against Sassuolo on Rudiger saw a diving header from a corner feet and then Kucka blast over from close home game of the year, Facundo our heads. But I can’t say anything, the Sunday, but it is the second time this palmed on to the woodwork by range after a great move involving Roncaglia reduced the arrears for the hosts lads have had a wonderful first half of the week, following a 3-3 draw at Chievo, that Donnarumma. Milan had won just one of Boateng and Bacca. only for Anderson to hit Lazio’s third at the season.” — AFP

Football Results/Standings

Oxford Utd 3, Swansea City 2; Chelsea 2, Scunthorpe 0; Tottenham 2, Leicester 2; Carlisle United 2, Yeovil Town 2. English Premier League Getafe 19 6 5 8 21 27 23 GP W D L GF GA Pts Espanyol 18 6 3 9 16 28 21 Arsenal 20 13 3 4 34 18 42 Real Betis 19 5 5 9 13 28 20 Leicester City 20 11 7 2 37 25 40 Real Sociedad 18 4 5 9 20 27 17 Man City 20 12 3 5 39 21 39 Las Palmas 18 4 5 9 18 26 17 Tottenham 20 9 9 2 34 16 36 Granada CF 19 4 5 10 20 36 17 Man United 20 9 6 5 24 17 33 Sporting Gijon18 4 3 11 16 29 15 West Ham 20 8 8 4 30 23 32 R Vallecano 19 4 3 12 21 43 15 Crystal Palace 20 9 4 7 23 19 31 Levante 19 3 5 11 14 32 14. Liverpool 20 8 6 6 22 24 30 Watford 20 8 5 7 25 22 29 Serie A results/standings Stoke 20 8 5 7 21 21 29 Atalanta Bergamo 0, Genoa 2; Bologna 0, Everton 20 6 9 5 36 29 27 Chievo Verona 1; Frosinone 1, Napoli 5; West Brom 20 7 5 8 20 25 26 Inter Milan 0, Sassuolo 1; Torino 0, Empoli Southampton 20 6 6 8 26 24 24 1; Verona 0, Palermo 1; AS Roma 1, AC Chelsea 20 6 5 9 26 29 23 Milan 1; Carpi 2, Udinese 1; Fiorentina 1, Norwich 20 6 5 9 23 32 23 Lazio 3. Bournemouth 20 5 6 9 22 34 21 Napoli 19 12 5 2 38 15 41 Swansea 20 4 7 9 17 26 19 Inter Milan 19 12 3 4 24 12 39 Newcastle 20 4 5 11 19 35 17 Fiorentina 19 12 2 5 37 19 38 Sunderland 20 4 3 13 22 39 15 Juventus 18 11 3 4 31 14 36 Aston Villa 20 1 5 14 16 37 8 AS Roma 19 9 7 3 36 22 34 MILAN: Sassuolo’s scores past Inter Milan goalkeeper Samir Handanovic on a penalty kick during a Serie A soccer match at Sassuolo 18 8 7 3 23 17 31 the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, yesterday. Sassuolo won 1-0. — AP England Championship Empoli 19 9 3 7 24 23 30 Middlesbrough 2416 4 4 36 12 52 AC Milan 19 8 5 6 25 23 29 Derby County 25 13 9 3 37 17 48 Lazio 19 8 3 8 23 27 27 Hull 25 14 5 6 36 18 47 Chievo Verona 19 7 5 7 25 21 26 Spot-on Sassuolo Brig & Alb 25 11 11 3 31 25 44 A Bergamo 19 7 3 9 20 23 24 Burnley 25 11 9 5 34 23 42 Udinese 19 7 3 9 18 27 24 Ipswich 25 11 8 6 34 30 41 Sampdoria 18 6 5 7 27 28 23 Sheff Wed 25 10 9 6 36 28 39 Torino 18 6 4 8 22 23 22 Birmingham 25 11 6 8 30 27 39 stun leaders Inter Bologna 19 7 1 11 20 25 22 Cardiff 25 9 10 6 30 26 37 Palermo 19 6 3 10 19 29 21 Brentford 25 10 6 9 37 35 36 Genoa 19 5 4 10 19 26 19 W Wanderers 25 9 7 9 32 32 34 MILAN: Sassuolo striker Domenico Berardi hit a last- The defeat will also be welcomed by Juventus, finger-tipped out for a corner. Inter Frosinone 19 4 3 12 20 41 15 Reading 25 9 6 10 30 28 33 gasp penalty to stun Inter Milan 1-0 and leave the Serie although champions-in fourth at three points off the had a quieter start to the second half and it took until Carpi 19 3 5 11 17 34 14 Leeds 25 7 11 7 26 28 32 A leaders at risk of losing top spot yesterday. Roberto pace-face a tough away trip to Sampdoria in Sunday’s after the hour for Ljajic to fashion the hosts’ next Verona 19 0 8 11 12 31 8 Nott Forest 25 7 10 8 25 24 31 Mancini’s men welcomed Sassuolo looking to build on late fixture. Inter had a lightning start and Gary Medel’s chance, but Consigli performed heroics. Mancini Preston North 25 7 10 8 21 22 31 last week’s 1-0 win at Empoli, which kept the Inter top floated cross sent Icardi through between two defend- replaced Ivan Perisic with Rodrigo Palacio 20 minutes QPR 25 7 9 9 30 33 30 Ligue 1 results/standings with a one-point lead over Fiorentina and Napoli. But ers after just two minutes, but the Argentinian scuffed after the restart and 12 minutes from the finish the Mancini had warned of the danger posed by Eusebio Di his shot wide. Argentine spurned a great chance when he collected Blackburn 24 6 10 8 22 21 28 Nantes 2, St Etienne 1; Angers SCO 2, Caen 0; Monaco 2, GFC Ajaccio 2; Francesco’s visitors, and the Italian who led the Milan Ljajic then spurned a second great chance when he Icardi’s cutback on the edge of the six-yard box. Huddersfield 25 7 7 11 30 3628 outfit to three consecutive league titles in his previous ran on to Icardi’s dummy across the six-yard box to fire But with an empty net in front of him, Palacio saw Fulham 25 6 9 10 40 43 27 Montpellier HSC 0, Girondins Bordeaux 1; Olympique Lyon 4, ES Troyes AC 1; spell in charge was spot on. inches wide of the target. Handanovic first came under his effort blocked by the legs of . Di MK Dons 25 6 5 14 21 33 23 Inter failed to build on a solid start when Mauro threat on the quarter-hour with a fine one-handed save Francesco replaced Sansone with Antonio Floro Flores Rotherham Utd25 6 3 16 30 44 21 Stade Rennes 2, FC Lorient 2; Stade de Reims 1, Toulouse 3. Icardi and Adem Ljajic missed clear chances inside the to keep out Nicola Sansone’s free kick. and moments later the striker’s acrobatic bicycle kick Bristol City 25 4 9 12 22 44 21 opening three minutes. The hosts were undone at the After Ljajic headed over from Icardi’s delivery from from Berardi’s free-kick was somehow blocked by an PSG 20 17 3 0 50 9 54 Charlton Ath 25 4 8 13 21 42 20 last-gasp when Brazilian defender Miranda hauled the right, Handanovic came to the rescue again to alert Handanovic. Bolton 25 2 11 12 19 39 17. Angers SCO 20 9 7 4 19 11 34 down Berardi in the final minute of added-on time. block Simone Missiroli’s close-range effort with his Inter’s desperation was growing and when Ljajic Monaco 20 8 9 3 27 25 33 Berardi made no mistake from the penalty spot, firing chest and before the half hour produced a one-handed collected Geoffrey Kondogbia’s short pass on the left La Liga results/standings Caen 20 9 3 8 21 24 30 over the body of Slovenian ‘keeper Samir Handanovic save to push Berardi’s dipping free kick to safety. flank the Bosnian hit a spectacular dipping effort that Villarreal 2, Sporting Gijon 0; Barcelona 4, Nice 19 8 5 6 32 23 29 to secure a famous win for Sassuolo, who leapfrog AC Sassuolo won another free kick when Jeison Murillo forced Consigli into action. Mancini went for bust when Granada CF 0; Getafe 1, Real Betis 0; O Lyon 20 8 5 7 27 24 29 Milan into sixth place to sit eight points off the pace. clattered into Diego Falcinelli and Berardi’s effort he replaced French Kondogbia with Stevan Levante 2, Rayo Vallecano 1; Real Madrid St Etienne 20 9 2 9 23 24 29 Inter remain top with a one-point lead on swerved just past Handanovic’s far post with the ‘keep- Jovetic and minutes later the striker saw a goalbound 5, Deportivo Coruna 0; Sevilla 2, Athletic Stade Rennes 20 6 10 4 27 23 28 Fiorentina, who suffered a shock 3-1 defeat on Saturday er at full stretch. effort tipped to safety by Consigli following an Club 0. FC Lorient 20 6 9 5 29 28 27 to Lazio, although Napoli, in third also a point off the Inter were under the cosh but should have taken a exchange with Ljajic. On a late Sassuolo offensive, Barcelona 18 13 3 2 44 15 42 Nantes 20 7 6 7 16 18 27 pace, can reclaim top spot with a win away to 43rd minute lead when an exchange of passes between Miranda was unlucky to clatter into Berardi in the area Atletico Madrid18 13 2 3 25 8 41 G Bordeaux 20 6 8 6 24 28 26 Frosinone later in the day. Icardi and Ljajic saw the latter hit a curling effort that but the referee pointed to the spot. — AFP Real Madrid 19 12 4 3 52 18 40 O Marseille 19 6 7 6 28 21 25 Villarreal 19 12 3 4 26 16 39 GFC Ajaccio 20 6 7 7 22 24 25 Celta Vigo 18 9 4 5 28 25 31 Lille 19 5 9 5 15 13 24 Higuain at the double as Sevilla 19 8 5 6 26 21 29 Montpellier 20 6 4 10 22 26 22 Athletic Club 19 8 4 7 27 22 28 Bastia 20 6 4 10 20 26 22 Eibar 18 7 6 5 25 19 27 Sde Reims 20 5 6 9 20 27 21 Napoli go two clear of Inter D Coruna 19 6 9 4 26 23 27 Toulouse 20 4 8 8 24 34 20 Valencia 18 5 8 5 23 17 23 E A Guingamp 19 5 4 10 17 27 19 MILAN: Gonzalo Higuain took his Serie A tally to 18 Malaga 18 6 5 7 13 14 23 ES Troyes AC 20 0 8 12 11 39 8 goals as Napoli cruised to a 5-1 win at Frosinone to go two points clear of Inter Milan yesterday. Napoli went into their first away trip of the year in third place at a point behind Inter and tied on Real win in Zidane’s points with Fiorentina. But Fiorentina’s shock 3-1 defeat to Lazio on debut as head coach Saturday whet Napoli’s appetite, and it grew con- siderably earlier Sunday when Inter suffered a MADRID: Zinedine Zidane’s head-coaching career struck the post with a first-half header. At the shock 1-0 defeat to Sassuolo at the San Siro. got off to a winning start as Real Madrid defeated Camp Nou, Messi scored twice within the first 15 Against a Frosinone side fighting for top flight Deportivo La Coruna 5-0 in the Spanish league on minutes and added his third in the second half. survival, Napoli cruised to a 12th win of the cam- Saturday. Gareth Bale had a hat trick and Karim Neymar closed the scoring late. paign that pushed them two points clear of Inter, Benzema scored twice, including with a back-heel Barcelona had drawn four of its last six match- with Fiorentina now in third place at two points flick. Zidane received a warm welcome at es but was coming off a 4-1 win over city rival adrift.Fiorentina and Inter’s setbacks will be wel- Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, with fans loudly Espanyol in the Copa del Rey. It had been held by comed by champions Juventus, who face cheering the former galactico before and after Espanyol to a scoreless draw in the previous Sampdoria away in Sunday’s late fixture looking for the game. It was a completely different atmos- league round. a ninth consecutive league win that would push phere compared to when Rafa Benitez was in “I’m very satisfied with how the team played them up to second. charge. Benitez was jeered in nearly every game today,” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said. Coach Maurizio Sarri, who celebrated seeing since a demoralizing 4-0 home loss to Barcelona “Everybody was focused from the beginning. The Napoli go clear at the halway stage on what is his in November, a result that ignited a crisis at the players knew how important it was to win these 57th birthday, continued to keep mum over his Spanish giant. three points.” Barcelona dominated Granada, side’s chances of fighting for a first title since 1990. “The fans were behind the team from the first which was only 17th in the 20-team standings. “We’re doing well but there’s nothing to say we’re minute until the end. It was a great atmosphere,” “We could have scored more,” Barcelona the strongest in the league. We don’t have the Zidane said. “But we have to understand that this defender Aleix Vidal said. same certainties as some other teams,” Sarri, refer- was only the first game, we have to keep winning. “But the main thing was to get the three ring to four-time consecutive champions Juventus, The goal is to keep playing well and keep winning points. We are back in the lead, now we’ll see what told Mediaset. games.” Real Madrid moved to within two points happens in the other matches.” “They’ve won four titles in four years, so you of Barcelona, which earlier defeated Granada 4-0 Messi found the net from close range in the FROSINONE: Napoli’s Belgian forward (L) vies with Frosinone’s Austrian mid- could say they’ve got something extra we don’t. with a hat trick by and a goal by eighth minute after a pass from Arda Turan, then fielder during the Italian Serie A football match vs SSC Napoli Neymar. Third-place Atletico Madrid was one bagged his second six minutes later by striking an “I’m the only one who’s been consistent in saying yesterday at the Matusa Stadium in Frosinone. — AFP point behind Barcelona and can regain the lead open net after a pass by Suarez. Messi’s third goal that, even when Juve were down near the bottom when it plays at fifth-place Celta Vigo. Barcelona came after Neymar struck the post and the ball of the table, they would come fighting back with a two defenders and powered into the area to beat ond 5-0 win of the season having routed Lazio will have a game in hand after the 19th round this rebounded to Messi inside the area for his ninth series of wins and that’s what they’re doing.” Zappino down low as the ‘keeper came rushing by the same scoreline in September, but with weekend. league goal. It was Messi’s first hat trick of the sea- Napoli started in promising fashion at out to block. nine minutes remaining Paolo Sammarco Zidane, who thrived at Madrid until retiring in son, and 33rd of his career. He is favored to win a Frosinone’s sun-drenched Stadio Comunale, Raul swung at a short pass on the right side of the 2006, stepped up from Madrid’s B team when record fifth Ballon d’Or on Monday, from a short- Albiol giving the visitors a 20th minute lead when SPILL POSSESSION area to beat visiting ‘keeper Pepe Reina with Benitez was fired this week after seven months on list with Neymar and Ronaldo. he coolly flicked a volley into the net at the back The goals took the Argentinian’s tally to 18 from an angled drive. the job. “It means a lot to me to be here,” Zidane Neymar sealed Barcelona’s victory from close post following a corner. 19 games, an impressive return given the league’s Earlier, Inter coach lamented said. “I want to enjoy this win.” Benzema opened range, scoring his 15th league goal to tie Suarez as Until then it had been a balanced affair, but ‘’ (top scorer) award has been won his side’s wastefulness in a defeat decided by the scoring by using his back heel to redirect the competition’s leading scorer. Ronaldo has 14. the floodgates were soon to open. Higuain dou- the past two seasons with 22 goals. Domenico Berardi’s late spot-kick for Sassuolo. Sergio Ramos’ shot off a corner, then Bale headed Dani Alves, who this week called Spanish media bled Napoli’s lead from the penalty spot on the Coach Maurizio Sarri replaced Higuain with “Maybe we lacked some lucidity when it came to in a cross from Dani Carvajal seven minutes later, “garbage” for the way it covers soccer, came off half-hour after he was fouled by 20 minutes into the second half, putting our chances away, but the penalty that and found the net from close range after a cross the bench in the second half and was loudly and claimed his second in two crazy, second-half and six minutes later the striker hit Napoli’s fifth. came at the end was a terrible mistake. That’s foot- by to open the second half. cheered by the Barcelona fans. minutes that saw captain Marek Hamsik on tar- Jose Callejon’s pressing causing Leonardo ball though,” Mancini told Sky Sport. Bale’s third goal was another header, and The club initially condemned Alves’ comments, get. Frosinone’s defence seemed happy to back Blanchard to spill possession on the edge of the Sassuolo coach Eusebio Di Francesco respond- Benzema’s second came in the game’s last play. but late Friday said it would give its support to the off as Hamsik ran towards the edge of the area area and when he set up Gabbiadini the fledgling ed: “I don’t think it’s right to reduce the outcome of player in case a local association of sports media before unleashing a drive that beat Massimo Italy forward had time to pick his spot before curl- this game to one episode and I don’t want to talk SCORING LATE went ahead with its threat to sue the Brazilian Zappino down low in the 59th minute. Barely 60 ing his shot into the top left hand corner. too much about refereeing decisions. “But I can say Ronaldo’s best opportunity was when he right back. — AP seconds later, Higuain muscled his way through Napoli looked to be heading for their sec- that it was a clear and indisputable penalty.” — AFP