WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2015 SPORTS Reus extension boosts Dortmund

BERLIN: Germany star Marco Reus’s deci- next few weeks.” Having seen Germany’s sion to stay for four more years at relega- World Cup-winner Goetze activate a similar tion-threatened Borussia Dortmund is wel- release clause in 2013 to that which was in come news in their battle to avoid a first Reus’ old deal, Dortmund have learnt their relegation since 1972. lesson. Dortmund fans breathed a collective The 2011 and 2012 German champions sigh of relief upon hearing Tuesday’s news have said no future contracts will be that Reus has signed an extension until allowed to include a release clauses. The 2019, ending weeks of transfer speculation- Reus deal is soothing news for nervous fans both at home and abroad. waiting to hear if Germany midfielder Ilkay Having watched Mario Goetze and Gundogan will also sign an extension. Robert Lewandowski quit for arch-rivals There was also relief in the corridors of Bayern Munich in the last two years, the German Football Association (DFB) in Borussia’s bosses have fought to keep Reus. Frankfurt with the knowledge one of the The 25-year-old left winger had been world champion’s top players will not be linked to not only Bayern, but also moving abroad. Manchester United and Real Madrid after “That is really good news for the Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge Bundesliga,” said DFB president Wolfgang drew attention to Reus’ old contract last Niersbach. “I think it’s great if the majority October. In highlighting a 25 million euro of the national team play in our domestic ($28.25m) release clause in the deal, which league.” would have let Reus leave Dortmund in But the main relief for Dortmund’s boss- June, Rummenigge alerted Europe’s top es is knowing Reus will not be wearing the sides that the Germany star was potentially red shirt of Bayern next season. “We never available. As Borussia slid further down the let ourselves be guided by transfer rumours league table, then hit rock bottom earlier and always saw there was a good chance this month, they seemed destined to lose that this exceptional player opts for a their fleet-footed midfielder. future with Dortmund,” said CEO Hans- But Dortmund-born Reus has snubbed Joachim Watzke. “Marco can shape an era some of Europe’s top sides to help his at Dortmund, as Uwe Seeler did in home-town club. He describes it as a ‘deci- Hamburg or Steven Gerrard did for sion for life’ and will have just turned 30 Liverpool. “The fact Marco had decided to when his contract expires. stay in Dortmund during a sporting crisis With the Champions League last 16, shows a high degree of identification first-leg, clash at Italian league leaders which makes us very proud.” Juventus fast approaching, last Saturday’s Reus wants silverware. He has won 23 3-0 win at Freiburg plus Reus’ signing are caps for Germany, but missed the 2014 welcome boosts for embattled Borussia. World Cup with the eventual champions News of his contract extension was as wel- after tearing ankle ligaments in the final ITALY: Lazio’s midfielder Marco Parolo (center up) fights for the ball with Genoa’s midfielder Andrea Bertolacci during the Italian Serie A football come on Dortmund’s streets his opening warm-up international. Surprisingly, he has match. — AFP goal at Freiburg. yet to win a major title, having played for “I have the feeing that things aren’t over, Borussia Moenchengladbach until May even if the current situation isn’t easy,” Reus 2012. He just missed Dortmund’s double- told BVB.de. “We fall and win together, it’s a winning season in 2012 and lost the 2013 Genoa beat 10-man Lazio decision for life, I’ve considered it for a long Champions League final with Borussia time, but I am pleased. when Bayern lifted the title. “I want to help Dortmund get out of the “Marco Reus could have joined any top ROME: Lazio fell to a 1-0 loss at home to we have good qualities. “It was a balanced tom right corner. Genoa should have sealed current situation and hopefully go on the club in the world, but this decision shows Genoa and missed the chance to move fourth match, we had 10 players but we could still the match early in the second half when Niang attack. “I grew up here, I was born here and that his heart beats for his hometown and in Serie A on Monday after playing most of the have drawn. I’m upset for the team because sent Iago Falque clear on goal, but the I feel well here, anyone knows me will tell his home club,” said director of sport match in 10 men. The capital side remained they wanted to forget last Sunday’s defeat at Spaniard fired narrowly past the right upright. you it’s important for me to feel good. Michael Zorc. “He is a very important com- sixth following a second successive defeat, Cesena, but we come out of this with a lot of It was almost made to rue its missed oppor- “Sometimes that’s worth more than any- ponent for Borussia Dortmund’s sporting two points and a place above Genoa, which determination.” tunities as Lazio went close to leveling when thing else and I’m looking forward to the future.” — AFP arrested its slide down the table with its first The match turned shortly before the half- Stefano Mauri was sent through by Miroslav win in eight rounds. hour mark when Lazio goalkeeper Federico Klose, but the captain hit the right post. “We “Results aren’t going our way at the Marchetti was sent off following a rash chal- played well but we weren’t very clinical and in moment,” Lazio coach Stefano Pioli said. “I lenge on M’Baye Niang. the future we need to be if we want to remain can’t reproach the lads at all for their per- Replacement keeper Etrit Berisha’s first act up there,” Genoa coach Giampiero Gasperini formances. Now’s the moment to be united was to pick the ball out of his net after Diego said. “It was an important win after picking up and to believe in what we are doing because Perotti coolly slotted the penalty into the bot- so few points in the last few matches.” — AP Messi leads resurgent Barca against Villarreal

BARCELONA: Goals are guaranteed when a Enrique’s job was in danger. “In football you won’t be any lack of effort from us.” resurgent Barcelona hosts a fearless Villarreal can’t live off what you did in the past, nor in the opening leg of their Copa del Rey semi- what will come in the future, there is only the ESPANYOL’S ANSWER: Espanyol has Marco Reus final today. present, and now we are focused on Villarreal,” found its stride after growing pains under Lionel Messi has exploded for 10 goals in a Enrique said. “They have players who can do new coach Sergio Gonzalez. Despite back-to- nine-game winning streak for Barcelona, and us damage when we accumulate many of our back league losses, the Barcelona-based side Sky, BT win EPL TV will face a talented and attack-minded players in their territory.” is playing well with a solid defense supporting Villarreal side that twice led Barcelona before its in-form tandem of strikers. falling 3-2 at Camp Nou two weeks ago. NO PUSHOVER: Villarreal has more than Sergio Garcia, Felipe Caicedo and Christian rights for $7.8bn Crosstown rival Espanyol will visit Athletic enough weapons to challenge for a good Stuani have combined for 30 goals in the LONDON: Broadcasters Sky and BT yester- at a cost. “Sky had the most to risk with this Bilbao in the other semifinal. result at Camp Nou in its first appearance in league and cup so far. Espanyol, however, will day won the UK television rights to broad- TV deal and has been forced to pay over Here are some things to know about the the cup semifinals. be without first-choice holding midfielder cast Premier League football games in the odds to secure prime packages includ- Copa del Rey’s final four: The team was on a club record 18-game Jose Canas because of a muscle injury in his 2016-2019 for a record £5.1 billion ($7.8 bil- ing the Sunday lunchtime kick offs, which winning streak before losing to Barcelona on right leg. lion, 6.9 billion euros), the league said. The typically attracts the highest viewing audi- MAJESTIC MESSI: Messi is playing at his Feb. 1., and it is still in the fight for a fourth- decision comes after a ferocious bidding ence,” said Joshuya Raymond from analysts very best: Torturing defenses with his on-ball place finish in the league that will earn a BASQUE BLUES: Bilbao is the only one of war that has seen BT muscle in on what had CityIndex. speed, scoring with both legs, and continually Champions League berth. the four teams that has struggled to reach this been Sky’s territory and has included “I expect Sky shareholders to react improving his passing to get all his team Coach Marcelino Garcia has forged one of stage. Traditionally strong at home, it has reported bids from America’s Discovery warmly to this latest victory but in the involved in Barcelona’s overpowering attack. the most exciting teams in La Liga based on a recently proven vulnerable at its new San Network and Qatar’s beIN Sports. Sky won medium term, there has to be a deeper He has 33 goals in 31 games this season. quick transition from defense to attack. Skilled Mames Stadium. five of the seven packages to maintain a concern on the spiralling prices paid by He scored one goal and took part in four more forwards Luciano Vietto and Denis Cheryshev Barcelona’s rout was Bilbao’s fourth loss in majority share of live broadcast rights with broadcasters,” he added. When the rights on Sunday in a 5-2 thrashing of Bilbao to are having breakout seasons. six homes games. Advancing to the final may BT retaining the other two. were last up for grabs in 2012, Sky won five ensure Barcelona pulled to within one point “We won’t settle for a draw and are going be Ernesto Valverde’s only chance to ensure Premier League chief executive Richard of the seven lots at a cost of £2.3 billion and of Real Madrid in the Spanish league. there with high ambitions,” Cheryshev said. he reaches the end of the season. His team is Scudamore said the deal meant “money currently broadcasts 116 of the 154 match- Barcelona’s win streak has silenced talk of a “We have nothing to lose and we are aware in 13th place in the league, and just four will continue to be invested in putting on es shown live per season in the United team crisis, and rumors that coach Luis that this could be historic for the club. There points above the relegation zone. —AP the best show and new stadiums and heav- Kingdom. Telecommunications firm BT ily in youth. “Clubs are very aware that part secured the rights to 38 games per season of our product is keeping the stadia full,” he for £738 million, helping to arrest the com- added. Crucially, Sky managed to keep hold pany’s decline in the era of the mobile of the bumper Sunday lunchtime slot, but phone. — AFP Ronaldo slump hurts Real as Messi drives Barcelona

MADRID: When Real Madrid forward player in a La Liga match on Jan. 24 and cut Cristiano Ronaldo collected his third FIFA a forlorn figure when he returned for Ballon d’Or award last month he was enjoy- Saturday’s derby after a two-match ban. ing a run of form that was spectacular even He had just one effort on goal, his joint by his standards and the European champi- fewest in any 90-minute La Liga appear- ons were riding high. ance, as Real attempted fewer shots (four) Four weeks later and the Portugal cap- and faced more shots on target (eight) than tain is mired in a rare slump, Real have in any other game this season in all compe- been dumped out of the King’s Cup by titions. Ronaldo’s poor form has prompted Atletico Madrid and their lead over more speculation he may be carrying an Barcelona at the top of La Liga has been cut injury and El Pais newspaper reported he is to a point after Saturday’s humiliating 4-0 still suffering with the tendonitis in his left drubbing at their city neighbors. knee that hampered him at the World Cup Alarm bells are ringing at the world’s finals in Brazil. richest club by income and the sense that Spanish media reported Real president Real’s season may be coming off the rails Florentino Perez held crisis meetings with was heightened by the storm that blew up coach Carlo Ancelotti and the squad this this week after Ronaldo threw a lavish 30th week. To be sure, the team has been ham- birthday party hours after the defeat at the pered by injuries to key performers includ- Calderon. ing centre backs Sergio Ramos and Pepe The Madrid club’s great rivals Barca, by and midfielders Luka Modric and James contrast, are on a nine-match winning Rodriguez. streak in all competitions led by club talis- Saturday’s reverse was their heaviest man Lionel Messi, who Ronaldo beat into defeat since they were thrashed 5-0 at second place in the Ballon d’Or vote. Barca in November 2010 and they will need Argentina captain Messi has scored or a rapid improvement if they are to defend assisted 14 La Liga goals in 2015, at least their European crown this term. Their next twice as many as any other player, while outing is at home to Deportivo La Coruna Ronaldo has netted only four goals since on Saturday before they play their the turn of the year. Champions League last-16, first leg at He was sent off for kicking a Cordoba Schalke 04. — Reuters SPAIN: Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring in this file photo. — AFP