TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013 SPORTS Kenyan fan commits suicide after United loss to Newcastle NAIROBI: A Kenyan soccer fan unable to means the champions are now 13 points cope with Manchester United’s loss to adrift of league leaders Arsenal. Macharia’s northern rival Newcastle United committed death is reminiscent of the suicide by a suicide over the weekend, a senior Kenyan Kenyan Arsenal fan in 2009. Suleiman police official said yesterday. John Macharia, Omondi, 29, was found hanging in his flat 28, plunged to his death from a multi-storey after the Gunners were trounced 3-1 by apartment block in Nairobi after David Manchester United in the second leg of a Moyes’ men suffered a second home defeat Champions League semi-final game. in four days, denting the champions’ chance Kibui urged soccer-obsessed Kenyan of retaining their title. fans to support local teams rather than for- “Macharia jumped from seventh floor of eign clubs who do not have a link to the an apartment at Pipeline Estate after realiz- east African nation that is best known in the ing that his team Manchester United lost 1- sporting world for producing middle and 0 to Newcastle at Old Trafford and commit- long-distance champion runners. “The foot- ted suicide,” Nairobi’s County Police ball fans should enjoy the matches... but Commander Benson Kibui said. Newcastle’s they should not commit suicide since life is MUNICH: (From left) Bayern’s Jan Kirchhoff, Mario Mandzukic of Croatia, Claudio Pizarro of , Javier Martinez of Spain and first win at Old Trafford since February 1972 very precious,” Kibui added. —Reuters Bayern’s Thiago Alcantara of Spain stretch during a last training session prior the Champions League group D soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Manchester City in Munich yesterday. Munich will face Manchester today. —AP Man City face uphill task to end Bayern record run

MUNICH: Coach Manuel Pellegrini admits with a 4-2 home win over Czech outfit Viktoria each of his four matches before injury struck, Manchester City face an uphill task to break Pilsen at home a fortnight ago. “We have quali- when they romped to a 7-0 win at Werder Bayern Munich’s record winning streak in the fied for the next round and this is very good,” Bremen on Saturday. It was the Bavarian giants’ Champions League in today’s battle for top spot said Pellegrini. “It would be better to be first in 40th unbeaten match since losing to in Group D. Bayern are on record runs in both the group, but we have already played against a Bayer Leverkusen in October 2012 and the Bundesliga and Champions League and their very strong Bayern Munich team. “They played Guardiola said he was ‘honored’ by his team’s 3-1 win at CSKA Moscow a fortnight ago was better than us (in Manchester) and it will be very performance. France’s Franck Ribery showed he their tenth straight victory in Europe, breaking difficult to beat them 3-0 at their ground. “But is back at his best after a rib injury with two Barcelona’s previous record. we will try to do a very good match and we will goals and two assists in an outstanding display. Bayern have turned the into try to win.” Despite becoming the first German team to something of a fortress of late, winning all 18 Despite beating CSKA Moscow and Pilsen on win the treble of European, league and cup home matches in all competitions since their last the road in Europe this season, City’s away titles under last season, his suc- defeat in Munich last March at the hands of record in the Premier League is poor with only cessor Guardiola is ensuring Bayern maintain Arsenal. Both City and Bayern sides are through two wins in eight away games, including their high standards. “The coach never lets up,” to the knock-out stages and all that remains to Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Southampton. Pellegrini said centre-back Jerome Boateng. “We were be settled is who will finish top of the group. The is hoping to have Spanish playmaker David Silva focused from the start (in Bremen) and we nev- defending champions have won all of their five back from injury. The Spanish attacking mid- er let up, results like that happen when you play group games so far, including a dominant 3-1 fielder has missed City’s last five matches due to at such a frenzy.” Bayern face more international win last October at City, who are three points a calf injury. Germany captain Philipp Lahm competition after the City game as they travel behind the German side. Pellegrini’s side would could return for Bayern having missed the last to Morocco to play in the Club World Cup and need to better that result at the Allianz Arena to few weeks with a hamstring injury, but Bayern will want to finish their Champions League knock ’s Munich from top spot. are definitely without winger Arjen Robben. group campaign on a high. “The team is happy, City have already pulled off a landmark The Dutchman is recovering from a deep we have a great mentality, but we have to keep achievement by reaching the Champions thigh cut, but the European champions showed playing at that level,” said Ribery with an eye on League’s knock-out stages, at the third attempt, no signs of missing Robben, who had scored in the City clash. —AFP Champions League set for some much-needed drama BERNE: The Champions League is and can use the games to give Milan (8) should get the point visit winless debutants Austria set for some much-needed drama their lesser-used players a run- they need at home to Ajax Vienna for their final match. this week with the conclusion of a out. So far, four games in the Amsterdam (7) and follow Porto (5) have a tough trip to group stage which has been all group stage have been won by Barcelona through from Group H. Atletico and, although the MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s Scottish manager attends too predictable and produced an five-goal margins, six games won “The Dutch have achieved great Spaniards are already through, a press conference at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England yester- embarrassing procession of one- by four goals and 13 matches results and have good technique their Argentine coach Diego day ahead of the UEFA Champions League football match between sided matches. Eight places in the have ended with a difference of and we must take all the neces- Simeone is not known for allow- Manchester United and Shaktar Donetsk today. —AFP round of 16 are still up for grabs, three goals. Despite the group sary precautions,” said Milan’s ing his teams to relax. Benfica and with much of the attention stage’s predictable nature, this unflappable coach Massimiliano Olympiakos (both 7 points) will focused on Group F where season has at least proved more Allegri whose future is the source duel for the second qualifying Napoli, and competitive than last term when of constant speculation. “We have place in Group C where Paris St What went wrong? Arsenal are battling for two spots. 13 of the 16 knockout stage to score a goal, we cannot think Germain are already through. The With Juventus and AC Milan each places had been booked before of playing for the 0-0.” Greeks are firm favorites as they Man United wonder needing a point to qualify against the final round of group matches. have the better head-to-head tricky opponents, Italy could end As expected, Group F has FORMIDABLE REPUTATION record and need only to beat bot- LONDON: Manchester United’s home FAILURE TO STRENGTHEN up with all three of their teams in turned out to be by far the A point also appears to be well tom side Anderlecht at home the last 16, or none at all. toughest. Leaders Arsenal (12 within the reach of Serie A lead- while the Portuguese host formi- defeat by Newcastle United at the week- Fellaini, a £27.5 million ($45 million, 33.2 Benfica’s chances of reaching the points) travel to Napoli (9) need- ers Juventus (6) when they visit dable PSG. end left them 13 points behind Premier million euros) recruit from Moyes’s former final in their own Estadio da Luz are ing a draw, or a defeat by less Galatasaray (4) in Group B, espe- Group A, where Manchester League leaders Arsenal and in danger of club Everton, was the only major new arrival out of their hands and will be pre- than three goals, while Borussia cially as they Turks’ formidable United are qualified, is also set missing out on a Champions League during the close season. Whereas United maturely ended if Olympiakos beat Dortmund (9), will go through if home reputation took a huge for a nerve-wracking finale. place. With Everton having won at Old missed out on targets including Leighton winless Anderlecht, while their they beat pointless Olympique knock when they were thrashed Shakhtar Donetsk (8) are current- Trafford four days earlier, the 20-time Baines, Cesc Fabregas, Thiago Alcantara and compatriots Porto also face an Marseille away, regardless of the 6-1 by Real Madrid. Juventus ly second, but must visit Old English champions have now lost con- Ander Herrera, all of their rivals strength- uphill battle. Swiss champions other result. Should Napoli and have won their last seven league Trafford while Bayer Leverkusen, secutive home league games for the first ened. Arsenal were transformed by the Basel, whose two wins over Chelsea Dortmund both win, they will games without conceding a goal who are a point behind, have a time since 2002. Here, AFP Sports looks £42.4 million record signing of Mesut Ozil have provided the only real upsets, finish level with Arsenal on 12 and would be in the last 16 much easier trip to Real Sociedad at the factors behind United’s alarming from Real Madrid, while Chelsea, Tottenham need a point to progress at the points and the qualifiers will be already had they not conceded a who have mustered only one slump since David Moyes succeeded Hotspur and Manchester City all invested at expense of Bundesliga side Schalke decided by the results between late goal at home to Galatasaray point so far. Bayern Munich’s Alex Ferguson as manager in July. least £50 million in new players-and all are 04. Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer the three teams. Group E will and drawn 2-2. “We made qualifi- home clash with Manchester City, Leverkusen, Zenit St Petersburg and also have a dramatic finish cation more difficult for ourselves which should have been one of now looking down on United. Ajax Amsterdam are also still in with when habitual over-achievers and it’s only right that now we the highlights of the group stage, FLIMSINESS IN CENTRAL MIDFIELD a chance of going through. Basel (8 points) visit spectacu- have to resolve the situation,” said is effectively a friendly as both Not since Roy Keane’s pomp have MOYES’S METHODS Manchester United, Real larly inconsistent Schalke (7) Juventus coach Antonio Conte. teams qualified from Group D United had a real driving force in the Changing-room dissent was not tolerat- Madrid, Paris St Germain, Bayern needing a point to join Chelsea Zenit St Petersburg (6) are with two games each to spare. centre of the pitch and their lack of ed by Ferguson, but Rio Ferdinand openly Munich, Manchester City, in the last 16. favorites to follow Atletico Madrid Matches in Groups A to D will be options in that area has been highlighted questioned Moyes’s methods at the week- Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Despite their dismal domestic through from Group G and give played today and Groups E to H by an Achilles injury that has sidelined end when he said that the Scot’s habit of Barcelona have safely qualified form, seven-times champions AC Russian football a boost as they tomorrow —Reuters Michael Carrick. Moyes has tested two waiting until the last minute before naming different partnerships in United’s last two his starting XI was creating “nervous energy”. matches-Marouane Fellaini and Ryan Moyes pledged not to tinker with Beleaguered Man United Giggs in the loss to Everton, Phil Jones Ferguson’s winning formula, but he has Matches on TV and Tom Cleverley in the 1-0 defeat by already overseen sweeping changes, eye Europe’s silver lining (Local Timings) Newcastle-and neither worked. Giggs’s notably with the introduction of a com- age means that he must be managed pletely new set of coaches. Pundits includ- LONDON: Manchester United will once again look to fied, so it gives me a chance to have a look at that.” UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE the Champions League for distraction from their Moyes will have Wayne Rooney available again after he carefully, while Fellaini is still finding his ing former United defender Gary Neville domestic woes when they host Shakhtar Donetsk in missed the loss to Newcastle through suspension, Real Sociedad v Bayer 04 22:45 feet following his move from Everton have observed that United appear to be tak- their concluding group-phase game today. Consecutive while Marouane Fellaini is in contention after he was Aljazeera Sport +4 and neither Jones nor Cleverley are spe- ing up deeper defensive positions on the home defeats by Everton and Newcastle United have suspended for the trip to Leverkusen. “It is important cialist holding players. Former United pitch, while they have also become more left the defending champions 13 points behind leaders to get through with a game to spare but we realise Man United v Shakhtar 22:45 youth-team player Robbie Savage, now a vulnerable at set-pieces. For his part, Moyes Arsenal in the Premier League and they are seven there is still a job to do,” said United defender Chris Aljazeera Sport 2 HD media pundit, said: “They have missed has emphasized that the club are going points below the Champions League places. Smalling. Aljazeera Sport +8 (Carrick’s) ability to keep the ball, and through a “great transition”. Manager David Moyes has had to face a barrage of “We want to finish in that top spot, so we will still questions about his ability to turn the situation around, be focused going into the match against Shakhtar.” Galatasaray v Juventus 22:45 they do not have another defensive- but in European competition he has found solace. Shakhtar approach the game in second place in the Aljazeera Sport 1 HD minded player in their squad.” LOSS OF FEAR FACTOR United are unbeaten in the Champions League this sea- group, three points behind United and a point above Aljazeera Sport +10 West Bromwich Albion manager Steve son and secured a place in the knockout rounds with a third-place Leverkusen.Mircea Lucescu’s side need to INJURY TO ROBIN VAN PERSIE Clarke said that his side felt no fear about superb 5-0 victory away to Bayer Leverkusen in their match Leverkusen’s result away to eliminated Real Aljazeera Sport +9 Former Manchester City manager visiting Old Trafford prior to a 2-1 win there last outing. They can secure top spot in Group A, and Sociedad to go through and will qualify as group win- Kobenhavn v Real Madrid 22:45 Roberto Mancini said that Van Persie was in September and United’s home ground is with it an advantageous draw for the last 16, if they ners if they win at Old Trafford. Teams are separated by Aljazeera Sport 4 HD the deciding factor in last season’s title losing its capacity to intimidate. Teams who avoid defeat against Shakhtar, and Moyes has called on head-to-head record if they finish level on points and his players to finish the job. Lucescu’s side drew 1-1 with United in October’s Benfica v Paris Saint-Germain 22:45 race as the Dutchman’s 26 league goals had the temerity to take the lead against “It’s important we give ourselves every chance of reverse fixture. Aljazeera Sport 5 HD helped United finish 11 points clear at Ferguson’s United could expect a ferocious progressing even further in the Champions League by Shakhtar have had a week to prepare for the game, Aljazeera Sport +6 the top of the table. His recent absence onslaught as the hosts pushed for an finishing top,” he said. “It won’t make it easier, but it will having played their final match prior to the Ukrainian with groin and toe injuries saw United equaliser, but Newcastle saw out their victo- give us a little bit of an advantage by having the second Premier League’s winter break-a 1-0 win at Bayern Munich v Man City 22:45 held at Cardiff City and Tottenham ry in relative serenity. “Usually whenever game at home (in the last 16). “We will do everything Chornomorets Odesa in-on December 3. Shakhtar Aljazeera Sport 3 HD we can to be top and, as well as that, we’re unbeaten in have never won in England, but they beat Chelsea in Hotspur, before being beaten by Everton. we’re chasing a goal at Old Trafford, espe- Aljazeera Sport +7 He returned against Newcastle, but did cially at the Stretford End, we put teams the group and want to stay unbeaten if we can make Donetsk in last season’s competition and only lost the Olympiacos v Anderlecht 22:45 not appear fully fit. Moyes admitted that under an enormous amount of pressure,” that happen.” Moyes made seven changes for return game after Victor Moses scored a 94th-minute Saturday’s l-0 loss to Newcastle-some enforced-and winner. United, meanwhile, are seeking to register Aljazeera Sport +2 he should have been substituted with 30 said centre-back Jonny Evans. “But with the with a place in the round of 16 already secure, he sug- three group-phase wins for the first time since they last minutes to play, but with United chasing lack of confidence and creativity, we didn’t gested that he could shuffle his pack again. won the competition in 2007-08, and Moyes says he Viktoria Plzen v CSKA Moskva 22:45 the game and Wayne Rooney suspend- produce that. It is hard to put your finger on Asked if he might rotate his squad for the visit of cannot explain why their form has been so much bet- Aljazeera Sport +3 ed, the former Arsenal man stayed on. it.” —AFP the Ukrainian champions, he replied: “We have quali- ter than in the league.—AFP