MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2015 SPORTS Wolfsburg rout Bremen

BERLIN: VfL Wolfsburg cemented second Aubameyang claimed his fifth goal in as place in the Bundesliga yesterday with a 5- many league games on 78 minutes and cel- 3 thumping of Werder Bremen with Bas ebrated by donning a ‘Batman’ hat, playing Dost taking his tally to 11 goals in six up to his ‘caped crusader’ nickname, which games. earned him a booking. Team-mate Marco Wolves’ Dutch striker Dost is on an Reus wore a ‘Robin’ mask to play his side- incredible scoring run with nine goals in his kick. Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Reus added last four league games and two in as many Dortmund’s goals as Borussia created 31 Europa League games. shots on goals compared to Schalke’s mea- Bremen suffered their first defeat of gre three. 2015 after a fairytale run of five previous The defeat drops Schalke, who were wins and a draw has taken them from last missing several stars with injury, to fifth to ninth in Germany’s top flight. while neighbours Dortmund are now just “We always belived in the win. We have eight points adrift of a Champions League repeatedly proven we can always come place for next season. back quickly,” said Dost, who scored four Bayer Leverkusen built on their shock goals in Wolves’ 5-4 win at Bayer Champions League win over Atletico Leverkusen a fortnight ago. Madrid on Wednesday with a 1-0 win at The game at Werder’s Weserstadion home to strugglers Freiburg to go fourth. began at a frantic pace as the scores stood Veteran midfielder Simon Rolfes, who at 2-2 with 18 minutes gone. Bremen took a will retire at the end of the season, grabbed half-time lead after an own-goal from a first-half winner to give Leverkusen their Wolves’ Portugal midfielder Vieirinha from a first league win in four games. shot by Werder’s Felix Kroos, brother of Augsburg dropped to sixth after their 1- Germany star Toni. 0 defeat at Hertha Berlin as ex-Chelsea Dost then played a part in Wolves’ three striker Salomon Kalou scored a late winner second-half goals, netting in the 47th and at the Olympic Stadium to claim his sixth 50th minutes before giving Daniel Caligiuri goal of the season. a simple tap-in. Stuttgart stay bottom after their 1-1 The weekend’s results mean the league’s draw at Hanover 96 while Hoffenheim are top three have a settled look about them two points from a European place after with three months left of the season. their 2-0 win at home to Mainz. Leaders Bayern remain eight points Ten-man Hamburg drop back to just clear, while Wolfsburg appear just as above the relegation places after their 2-1 unlikely to be caught with a ten-point lead defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt. On Friday, over Borussia Moenchengladbach. Bayern Munich celebrated their 115th Gladbach cemented third with a 2-0 win birthday with a 4-1 win over Cologne to go at home to relegation-threatened 11 points clear at Munich’s Allianz Arena. ITALY: Lazio’s Miroslav Klose (center) scores against Sassuolo during a Serie A soccer match at Reggio Emilia’s Mapei stadium. —AP Paderborn with goals either side of half- Arjen Robben netted his 17th goal in 19 time by USA international Fabian Johnson league matches this season with a crisp and Patrick Herrmann. header with 20 minutes left to remain the On Saturday, Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick league’s top scorer. Anderson inspires Lazio, Aubameyang played Borussia Dortmund’s Captain Bastian Schweinsteiger and ‘superhero’ by scoring their opening goal in Franck Ribery put Bayern 2-0 up inside the 3-0 home win over Schalke 04 in the 10 minutes. Nigeria international Ruhr Valley derby. Anthony Ujah scored for Cologne just Samp end winless run Dortmund are tenth after picking up before half-time before Robben and their fourth consecutive league win having Robert Lewandowski extended Bayern’s started February bottom of the table. lead.—AFP MILAN: Felipe Anderson hit a first-half wonder a five-game winless run by Sinisa Mihajlovic’s after Sportiello spilled Eto’o’s strike from the strike and set up Miroslav Klose for Lazio’s sec- men. Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o saw a edge of the area. ond in a 3-0 win over Sassuolo as the speculative effort go wide early on but Atalanta Mihajlovic told Mediaset it was a game of Biancocelesti closed to within two points of took a first-half lead thanks to Guglielmo two halves: “I’m happy for the win, but we really third-placed Napoli in Italy’s Serie A yesterday. Stendardo’s tap-in at the back post on the quar- showed two sides of ourselves. “In the first half Elsewhere, Luis Muriel and Stefano Okaka hit ter-hour. we gifted them far too much and thankfully, in second-half goals as Sampdoria ended a five- Muriel by far looked Sampdoria’s best player the second, we turned our whole game around.” game winless streak at Atalanta, while a close- and the Colombian finally pulled the visitors Earlier, Luca Toni and Juanito Gomez struck range header from Spanish striker Rodriguez level with a finely-taken half-volley on 70 min- either side of half-time to help Verona to a 2-1 gave relegation candidates Cesena a useful 1-0 utes. Muriel started the move deep in midfield win at struggling Cagliari, who saw Daniele win over Udinese. and after his deflected ball found Okaka, the Conti hit a late consolation from a free kick on Genoa v Parma was postponed as the visi- Colombian pounced on the Italian’s return pass the edge of the area. The win moved Verona tors, whose game against Udinese last week to beat Marco Sportiello from the left side of the eight points clear of the drop zone, with Cagliari was also suspended, continue to suffer from the area. Okaka secured the points seven minutes - third from bottom - now just one point ahead financial struggles that could see the club’s later when he ran in to tap home the rebound of second-from-bottom Cesena. —AFP future decided by a bankruptcy hearing later this month. Paulo Dybala starred for Palermo but the Italian League results/standings Sicilians failed to score in a league game for only the second time this season after being Cagliari 1 (Conti 90) Verona 2 (Toni 9, Gomez 56); Atalanta 1 (Stendardo 16) Sampdoria 2 (Muriel held to a scoreless draw by Empoli. 68, Okaka 81); Cesena 1 (Rodriguez 76) Udinese 0; Genoa v Parma - postponed; Palermo 0 Empoli Leaders Juventus will look to take their lead 0; Sassuolo 0 Lazio 3 (Anderson 45, Klose 70, Parolo 77). over Roma to 12 points when they meet in the Italian capital on Monday, but in the meantime Playing later the race for the third and last Champions Inter v Fiorentina, Torino v Napoli League qualifying spot is heating up. Lazio travelled to the Mapei Stadium looking Played Saturday for their third win on the trot and Anderson Chievo 0 AC Milan 0 broke the deadlock in style on the stroke of half- time with a superb curling strike that beat Playing today Andrea Consigli at the keeper’s top right hand Roma v Juventus corner. It was the 21-year-old’s sixth league goal this Italian Serie A table after yesterday afternoon games (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals season and on 70 minutes the Brazilian forward against, points): turned provider with a fine delivery from the GERMANY: Bremen’s Jannik Vestergaard from Denmark (rear) and Wolfsburg’s Kevin right for Klose to head past Consigli for his. Juventus 24 17 6 1 51 13 57 De Bruyne from Belgium in action during the German First Division Bundesliga soc- Lazio tripled their lead moments later after Roma 24 13 9 2 37 18 48 cer match. —AP Anderon’s strike from just outside the area rico- Napoli 24 13 6 5 44 30 45 cheted before landing kindly for Manolo Parolo Lazio 25 13 4 8 43 27 43 to feint and then dink the ball past Consigli. Fiorentina 24 10 9 5 36 24 39 German League results/standings Lazio remain fourth but are now two points Sampdoria 25 9 12 4 32 28 39 behind Napoli ahead of their trip to Torino for Genoa 24 9 9 6 36 29 36 Borussia Moenchengladbach 2 (Johnson 18, Herrmann 81) Paderborn 0; Werder Sunday’s late game. Coach Stefano Pioli paid Inter Milan 24 9 8 7 39 31 35 Bremen 3 (Junuzovic 9, Di Santo 16, Vieirinha 29-og) VfL Wolfsburg 5 (Caligiuri 10, 53, tribute to his ambitious side but told Sky Sport: AC Milan 25 8 10 7 35 30 34 Arnold 18, Dost 47, 50). “We played well and we deserved the win but Palermo 25 8 10 7 38 39 34 we put ourselves at risk on occasions in defence Torino 24 8 9 7 27 25 33 Played Saturday when we really should have put the game Sassuolo 25 6 11 8 29 38 29 Borussia Dortmund 3 (Aubameyang 78, Mkhitaryan 79, Reus 86) Schalke 04 0; Bayer beyond doubt in the opening half.” Udinese 24 7 7 10 26 32 28 Leverkusen 1 (Rolfes 33) Freiburg 0; Hoffenheim 2 (Volland 55, Polanski 76) Mainz 05 0; He added: “I’m fortunate to be coaching a Empoli 25 5 13 7 25 27 28 Hannover 96 1 (Stindl 70) VfB Stuttgart 1 (Gentner 52); Hertha Berlin 1 (Kalou 88) squad that is committed and attentive. I want to Verona 25 7 7 11 29 44 28 Augsburg 0; Eintracht Frankfurt 2 (Meier 12-pen, 64) Hamburg 1 (Stieber 45+2). steer this side into port, we’ll see where we end Chievo 25 6 7 12 18 30 25 up at the end of the season.” Atalanta 25 5 8 12 22 37 23 German Bundesliga table after yesterday evening’s match (played, won, drawn, lost, Fiorentina, in fifth and now four points Cagliari 25 4 8 13 32 47 20 goals for, goals against, points): behind Lazio, travel to Inter later Sunday look- Cesena 25 4 7 14 24 47 19 ing to stretch their run of games without defeat Parma 23 3 2 18 20 47 10 Bayern Munich 23 18 4 1 63 10 58 to eight. Sampdoria remain in sixth place but Note: Parma deducted one-point penalty for non-payment of salaries. Two Parma games - VfL Wolfsburg 23 15 5 3 53 27 50 are now on the same points as Fiorentina after against Udinese and Genoa - have also been suspended due to club’s financial difficulties. Bor. Moenchengladbach 23 11 7 5 31 18 40 second-half strikes by Muriel and Okaka ended Bayer Leverkusen 23 9 9 5 37 29 36 Schalke 04 23 10 5 8 32 27 35 Augsburg 23 11 2 10 32 30 35 Hoffenheim 23 9 6 8 36 35 33 Celtic thrash Dons in Eintracht Frankfurt 23 8 7 8 42 45 31 Werder Bremen 23 8 6 9 39 49 30 Borussia Dortmund 23 8 4 11 31 31 28 top of the table clash Hanover 96 23 7 6 10 26 34 27 Mainz 05 23 5 10 8 30 33 25 Cologne 23 6 7 10 21 29 25 GLASGOW: Celtic gave their title hopes a major Aberdeen as he replaced Peter Pawlett in the their wasted chances when from the resultant Hertha Berlin 23 7 3 13 28 42 24 boost as they thrashed nearest challengers Dons midfield. corner Denayer leapt highest at the back post to Hamburg 23 6 6 11 16 33 24 Aberdeen 4-0 at Parkhead yesterday to open up The away side came close to opening the head home Armstrong’s in-swinging kick. Paderborn 23 5 8 10 23 43 23 a six point gap at the top of the Scottish scoring in the ninth minute when McGinn col- Celtic had a great chance to increase their Freiburg 23 4 10 9 24 32 22 Premiership. lected a quickly-taken free-kick from Hayes and advantage five minutes after the break, but VfB Stuttgart 23 4 7 12 24 41 19 Both sides entered the fixture in excellent curled an effort that looked to be sneaking in Johansen over hit his pass to Griffiths and the form, but it was the Dons, unbeaten in 13 before stretched to tip it on to the opportunity was lost. games, who started brighter as they took advan- bar. From the corner Reynolds got his head on The Dons responded and Andrew Considine tage of Celtic’s lethargy following their Thursday the end of Kenny McLean’s wayward shot but his couldn’t direct his header on target as he met a night Europa League clash with Inter Milan. effort went narrowly over. Pawlett cross at the far post. Montpellier edge Nice Niall McGinn, Mark Reynolds and Adam A rare mistake from Scott Brown allowed Griffiths thought he had given his side some Rooney all enjoyed chances before Celtic took Hayes to dispossess the Celtic captain on the breathing space in the 56th minute when he PARIS: Nice found the back of the net for one point behind Monaco. the lead against the run of play in the 37th halfway line and after a surging run forward his latched on to a flick-on from Johansen to finish the first time in five games but couldn’t Earlier, a Yacine Bammou strike offered minute from Jason Denayer’s close range head- inviting cross into the box trundled just by the past Brown but his effort was chopped off for keep their lead in a 2-1 defeat against Nantes their first win of 2015 when they er. A rejuvenated Celtic emerged after the break far post. offside. There was to be no denying the Celtic Montpellier yesterday. beat Guingamp 1-0 in a hard-fought and had an effort chopped off for Hayes then strolled past Efe Ambrose to clip a striker in the 63rd minute when he expertly Eric Bautheac’s penalty after 36 minutes Brittany derby. On Saturday, leaders Lyon offside before he despatched a 63rd minute cross to Rooney, but his header failed to test despatched a penalty beyond Brown after put the visitors in front but Bryan Dabo were stunned 2-1 by Lille in their first penalty past Dons ‘keeper Scott Brown. Gordon in goal before the ‘keeper smothered a Johansen had been brought down in the box by fired a rapid equaliser just before the break. defeat in 12 games on Saturday. Their Gary Mackay-Steven added a third in the 69th shot from Ryan Jack. Reynolds. Lucas Barrios, who initiated the play with a defeat gives Paris Saint-Germain the minute before rounded off the Aberdeen were well on top but a momentary Mackay-Steven added to Aberdeen’s hurt six deft backheel, pounced on a deflected chance to climb above OL into top spot if scoring for Celtic, who head into Wednesday’s lapse of concentration cost them dear in the minutes later when he drove at the retreating Souleymane Camara attempt to grab the they can win at in-form Monaco later rearranged fixture with St Johnstone capable of 37th minute. A poor kick-out from Brown Dons defence before unleashing a low 20-yard winner in the 66th minute. Sunday. Lyon, however, remain four points opening a nine point gap at the top. allowed Johansen to release Griffiths, whose shot that went in off the post. The former Borussia Dortmund for- ahead of third-placed Marseille, who suf- Celtic had made several changes from their shot was turned round the post by the Dons There was still time for Johansen to add a ward’s seventh goal of the season lifted fered a shock 3-2 defeat at home to Caen gruelling midweek encounter in Milan while ‘keeper. fourth in the 80th minute as he applied a fine Montpellier level with Bordeaux in sixth, on Friday.—AFP Jonny Hayes was a surprise inclusion for However, the Hoops made the Dons pay for finish to an Adam Matthews’ cut-back. —AFP