22 Friday, December 15, 2017 SPORTS Riyad Mahrez ran the game at St Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski Mary’s (Picture courtesy: theguardian) (front) vies with Cologne’s Frederik London Southampton had amassed 24 Sorensen (Picture courtesy: xinhua) laude Puel exacted revenge points -- under Pellegrino at the on his first return to same stage, they have just 18. SouthamptonC as Leicester romped Leicester’s joyful travelling fans to a 4-1 Premier League win at St seized on the chance to mock their Mary’s. Shinji Okazaki’s brace and hosts, chirping up with “Aren’t further goals from Riyad Mahrez you glad you sacked Puel?” and Andy King eased Leicester Toothless in attack and past the struggling Saints, who disorganised at the back: Saints’ could only muster a scrappy effort performance mirrored that of from Maya Yoshida. many under Puel last term. Puel was sacked in the Mahrez could hardly believe summer despite last term leading the time and space afforded to Southampton to an eighth-place him by Southampton’s defence as Lewandowski finish and the League Cup final. he cantered through the middle The former Nice boss was out and rifled Leicester’s facile opener. to disprove accusations he had Okazaki had one strike palmed puts Bayern favoured boring football in his away by Forster, then another Saints tenure, and revelled cleared off the line by Mario in his Leicester charges Lemina. laying on plenty of Charlie Austin at least forced 9 points clear entertainment. Kasper Schmeichel into a save but The same after an ineffective corner Saints shortcomings were on the back foot in seconds. Munich Cologne knew they were in that littered Puel’s Schmeichel’s fizzing ball sent Robert Lewandowski for a long evening and efforts Saints tenure were on Jamie Vardy through the middle goal ended the resistance were soon raining in on their display for Mauricio and the England man found ofA rock bottom Cologne as goal. Pellegrino’s men however, with Mahrez down the left flank. Only Bayern Munich extended their From an 11th-minute the hosts finding no fluency Forster’s sharp save denied Vardy Bundesliga lead to nine points corner, Lewandowski smashed in attack and defending a fine goal after he redirected with a 1-0 win. in a shot that took a deflection pitifully. Mahrez’s low centre. With Bayern having and sailed over the bar. New boss Pellegrino’s Leicester hardly had to work to dropped points in only four Two minutes later Franck PREMIER LEAGUE SCORES: Southampton stint now double their lead, a deep corner games this season and Cologne Ribery played a sublime ball Newcastle United 0 Everton 1 appears under real strain: catching Saints napping and managing just three points over the top to Thomas Muller Liverpool 0 West Brom 0 Saints boast just one win Okazaki poking in at the second and no victories from their but his first touch was just too Manchester United 1 AFC Bournemouth 0 and six points in their attempt. And when the visitors first 15 games, this was a total heavy and Horn was able to Tottenham Hotspur 2 Brighton 0 last eight Premier League swept home their third, the home mismatch on paper. save the resulting shot. West Ham United 0 Arsenal 0 games. faithful headed indoors in their But Cologne head coach Niklas Sule was the next to After 17 games droves some seven minutes from Stefan Ruthenbeck had vowed try his luck with a header over under Puel last term, half-time. (espn.in) his players would not “stand in the bar, and from there the front of a big beast like a little golden chances rather dried up. mouse,” and they took away a In fact, the best opening lot of respect, if no points, from during the rest of the half came the Allianz Arena. on the break for Cologne but Bayern had 84 percent of Milos Jojic’s chip was deflected possession in the first half and over the crossbar. 12 shots but Timo Horn was Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes not called upon to make too took action at half-time, sending Leicester cruise many saves. on Kingsley Coman and James But Cologne’s valiant efforts Rodriguez in place of Arturo were undone by a fine move on Vidal and Corentin Tolisso. Barca look to recover sparkle the hour mark finished off by The hosts really should have Lewandowski for his 21st goal taken the lead six minutes after Barcelona the league and have a healthy become increasingly reliant on Barca have developed into of the season. the break but, from Muller’s arcelona have managed five-point cushion at the top the consistency of Lionel Messi a more reliable outfit under The goal maintained his superb cross, Lewandowski to get away with some of the standings over Valencia to keep them ahead of their coach Ernesto Valverde. record of having scored uncharacteristically sent a lacklustreB displays recently despite trundling along in their rivals. (Reuters) in every home game in the close-range header over the and Sunday’s visit of struggling last three games, in which they Bundesliga this season. bar. Deportivo La Coruna offers have drawn twice. Still, the visitors nearly Bayern’s frustration was them a chance to recapture They were held by Valencia secured a point, with Lukas growing but with an hour gone their sparkling early season and Celta Vigo, who have Klunter denied by a fine save they put together an incisive form a week before the ‘Clasico’ proved to be their bogey team by 36-year-old Tom Starke move that Cologne were against Real Madrid. in recent years, while their 2-0 three minutes from time. powerless to resist. (espn.in) Victory over Depor would win at Villarreal in their last see Barca move 11 points clear outing owed a lot to opposing of their bitter rivals before the midfielder Daniel Raba’s GERMAN BUNDESLIGA SCORES: crunch game at the Santiago second half dismissal. TSG Hoffenheim 1 VfB Stuttgart 0 Bernabeu on Dec. 23, as Real, Shorn of Neymar’s speed and Bayer Leverkusen 1 Werder Bremen 0 eight points adrift of Barca flair, and with his replacement Hertha Berlin 3 Hannover 96 1 in fourth, are away on Club Ousmane Dembele still Schalke 04 3 FC Augsburg 2 World Cup duty in Abu Dhabi. injured, Barca have lacked the Barcelona players warmup (file pic) Barca remain unbeaten in excitement of recent years and Dominic Calvert- Calvert-Lewin signs new contract Lewin (file pic) London The 20-year-old, who arrived competitions. verton forward Dominic Calvert- at Goodison Park from Sheffield Everton boss Sam Allardyce told Lewin has signed a new long-term United in August 2016, will remain the club’s official website: “Dominic dealE with the Premier League club. with the Toffees until June 2023. Calvert-Lewin is a really exciting Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin has formed an talent, he’s improving all the time Calvert-Lewin has signed a new impressive partnership with Wayne and he has the athleticism and long-term deal with the Premier Rooney in attack this season, scoring attributes to become a top player in League club. six goals across 28 appearances in all his position. (eurosport).