SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 SPORTS Classy Ronaldo double eases Real past Osasuna

MADRID: Real Madrid maintained their bid for an historic treble as two stunning strikes from helped them to a comfort- able 4-0 win over Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu yesterday. The World Player of the Year opened the scoring early on with a dip- ping effort from the edge of the area and repeated the trick just after half-time with another rasping drive that found the top corner. Sergio Ramos added a third shortly after and Dani Carvajal rounded off the scoring seven minutes from time with a looping header to move Real back to within three points of La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid with four games remaining. Real’s focus now turns to trying to reach a first Champions League final in 12 years when they travel to face Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg. Ronaldo was starting his first league game for nearly a month due to knee and hamstring MUNICH: Bayern’s Franck Ribery of France (center) Bremen’s Theodor Gebre Selassie injuries as coach Carlo Ancelotti made six of Czech Republic (left) and Bremen’s Clemens Fritz challenge for the ball during the changes to the side that started Wednesday’s German First Division soccer match. — AP 1-0 win over Bayern. was left out of the squad as he continues to recover from flu, whilst Xabi Alonso, Pepe and Karim Benzema were all rest- Bayern flatten Bremen ed. Ronaldo took just six minutes to make his Bayern Munich warmed up for Bremen defender Santiago Garcia hit the BERLIN: mark when he collected the ball wide on the Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final, back of the net from a corner, but the left and cut inside to fire a wonderful dipping SPAIN: Real’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his second goal during a Spanish League soccer second leg at home to Real Madrid with a effort was ruled out for offside. effort past the helpless Andres Fernandez in match against Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. — AP 5-2 come-from-behind win against Werder Bayern equalised again when Thomas the away goal. Ramos and Ronaldo then saw Bremen in the yesterday. Just Mueller headed on Ribery’s corner and Emiliano Armenteros’ acrobatic volley went just cross with a solid header to bury the ball in efforts fly just off target as Madrid completely three days before they try to overturn a 1- Pizarro was on hand to stab home his shot wide. the bottom corner. dominated before Ramos ought to have done 0 first-leg deficit against the Spanish to make it 2-2 on 54 minutes. However, Ronaldo put the game to bed in Ronaldo, Modric and Di Maria were better when he volleyed Ronaldo’s clever free- giants, Bayern fell behind twice against And they took the lead for the first time fine style six minutes into the second half as then withdrawn by Ancelotti to keep Bremen at the Allianz Arena before scoring three minutes later when Ribery com- kick over when unmarked inside the area. he found the top corner from a similar angle them fresh for the return against Bayern. four second-half goals without reply. The bined with left-back David Alaba and the Fernandez did well to make low saves from from where he opened the scoring to register And it was one of the substitutes, flattering scoreline failed to mask Bayern’s Austrian international squared for Pizarro Marcelo and Luka Modric just before half-time his 47th goal of the season. Ramos finally got Carvajal, who scored the fourth as he woeful first-half defending, which must to fire home his second. to keep the visitors in the game. his name on the scoresheet just before the timed his run from deep to meet Isco’s sound the alarm bells for coach Pep Germany Bastian And indeed Osasuna even had a chance to hour mark as he broke forward from central cross perfectly before adding a simple Guardiola given the danger of conceding Schweinsteiger then powered home a bul- equalise early in the second-half when defence to meet Angel di Maria’s in-swinging headed finish. — AFP an away goal to Real. let header from a Philipp Lahm cross to Bayern have conceded the first goal in make it 4-2 on 61 minutes before seven of their nine matches since winning Netherlands winger Arjen Robben hit the Preview the Bundesliga title late last month with a top corner of the net to make it 5-2 on 74 record seven matches to spare. minutes, less than 60 seconds after com- Once again the Munich defence was ing off the bench. Liverpool wary of traps in Chelsea title clash left wanting in the first 45 minutes before Second-placed the reigning European champions roared held hosts Bayer Leverkusen to a 2-2 draw LIVERPOOL: Liverpool will attempt to sur- ly outstanding.” Chelsea’s shock 2-1 loss at to a game to lose.” For Liverpool, Jordan back. later with all four goals coming in the first mount the last major obstacle barring their home to Sunderland last weekend has left Henderson will not feature as he serves the “That is the first time that I have been a 45 minutes. path to a first league title since 1990 when their title challenge hanging by a thread, second game of a three-match ban, while bit disappointed and sad about the first Leverkusen held onto their they welcome third-place Chelsea to Anfield prompting manager Jose Mourinho to shift on-loan Chelsea winger Victor Moses is ineli- half-the fans didn’t deserve that,” said Champions League berth to stay fourth today. his focus to the Champions League. gible to play against his parent club. Guardiola. “We were better in the second with the point. Goals by Lars Bender and Victory for Brendan Rodgers’s side would His side drew 0-0 at Atletico Madrid in the Rodgers’s biggest selection issue con- half, that’s good for the mood ahead of the Gonzalo Castro for the hosts were can- eliminate Chelsea from the title race and first leg of their semi-final earlier this week cerns striker Daniel Sturridge, who sat out Madrid match, but it will be a completely celled out by a header from Dortmund’s leave Liverpool needing just four points and Mourinho created a storm afterwards by last weekend’s 3-2 win at Norwich City with different game. Oliver Kirch and a Marco Reus penalty from their final two games against Crystal claiming that he would field a second-string a hamstring injury, but he is expected to be “I trust my team and I hope that we can following a clear handball from Bayer Palace and Newcastle United to claim the team at Liverpool to preserve his players for fit to start today. all manage it together.” Bayern blasted defender Roberto Hilbert. crown. next week’s return leg. “We’ll give it another 24 hours,” Rodgers Werder 7-0 in Bremen last December, but VfL Wolfsburg’s own hopes of Should Liverpool win and City lose their Rodgers, however, played down the said on Friday. “He’s working hard with the they got off to a bad start in the return Champions League qualification were game at Palace later on Sunday, however, threat, saying: “Whatever team they put out medical team, so we shall see. If he’s not fit, when Congo midfielder Cedrick Makiadi dealt a blow when they were held to a 2- the Merseyside club could secure the will have cost more than ours and will be we’ve coped before; we’ve managed before found Czech defender Theodor Gebre 2 draw at home by Freiburg. trophy as early as next more experienced.” without a number of players.” Liverpool have Selassie unmarked and he fired the visitors Eintracht Braunschweig remain root- weekend. Chelsea will definitely be without injured scored 38 goals during their 11-game winning into a 1-0 lead after 10 minutes. ed to the bottom of the table after their With Liverpool on a run of 11 straight quartet Petr Cech, John Terry, Eden Hazard streak and need only four more to bring up a Bayern were behind for just 10 minutes 2-0 defeat at Hertha Berlin with USA wins and the title now in sight, these are and Samuel Eto’o, while Ramires starts a century in the league this season. as veteran striker put in a international John Anthony Brooks and heady days at Anfield, and Rodgers has dis- four-game ban for lashing out at Sebastian Their last three victories have all been by a superb pass which Franck Ribery darted Tunisia striker Sami Allagui scoring the missed fears that his players might suddenly Larsson in the loss to Sunderland. one-goal margin, however, and last weekend’s onto and slammed past Bremen goalkeep- capital club’s second-half goals. succumb to the pressure of expectation. “I Cup-tied in the Champions League, success at Norwich was a nail-biting affair. er Raphael Wolf. Striker Shinji Okazaki became the think everyone is talking about pressure, but Nemanja Matic and are Another victory will equal Liverpool’s top- Only a clearance off the line from highest-scoring Japanese player in a sin- that is Manchester City or Chelsea, when you both expected to feature, while Frank flight record for successive wins of 12, which Bremen captain Clemens Fritz denied gle Bundesliga season when he scored spend that sort of money and expect to win Lampard and John Mikel Obi, who will miss was set in October 1990. Chelsea’s domestic Pizarro Bayern’s second after a deft chip his 14th goal to break Shinji Kagawa’s the league,” said the Liverpool manager. the second leg of the Atletico tie through form has deserted them at just the wrong with half an hour played. previous record in Mainz’s 2-0 win at “I don’t think there is pressure on our- suspension, are also in line to play. time, with three defeats in their last six league home to Nuremberg. But Bremen grabbed their second selves, only from what we have within. Look Mourinho kept his cards close to his chest games meaning they have taken only nine when Argentinian striker Franco di Santo Okazaki headed his side’s opening at Tottenham-you spend over £100-odd mil- in his pre-game media conference, telling points from a possible 18. found midfielder Aaron Hunt unmarked goal to break Kagawa’s two-year-old lion ($169 million, 121 million euros) you’d reporters: “You wait for Sunday, and Sunday They are the last side to have beaten and the former Germany international mark. Kagawa, now with Manchester expect to be challenging for the league. you know our team. Liverpool though — 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on slammed home his shot on 36 minutes United, scored 13 goals in his final sea- “We will do the best we possibly can. At “We are going to try to win. That’s the December 29 — and can close to within two past despairing Bayern goalkeeper son for Borussia Dortmund in the this moment in time we have been absolute- simple and objective answer. Nobody goes points of the leaders if they prevail. — AFP Manuel Neuer. 2011/12 season before moving to Old It could have been 3-1 at the break as Trafford. — AFP

Monaco keeps PSG waiting Preview PARIS: Monaco won 4-1 away to relegated Ivorian striker Tallo shot narrowly wide for lashing the ball high into the net following a Pellegrini wants City Ajaccio in yesterday to keep Paris the hosts shortly after the restart, but the low cross from the right by Paul Lasne, but Saint-Germain waiting a little longer in their opening goal arrived moments later when Monaco made sure of the victory with two bid to secure a second consecutive league Moutinho played a left-wing corner short late goals. to focus on Palace title. before getting the ball back and crossing for First Berbatov turned provider for All the goals came in the second half at the Berbatov to head home from close range. Kondogbia to curl the ball home from 25 LONDON: Manuel Pellegrini has warned his team in superb form of late. Stade Francois-Coty as Dimitar Berbatov con- It was his seventh goal for Monaco since yards for his first Ligue 1 goal, and then Manchester City players to ignore the contro- “I don’t know what Chelsea or other teams tinued his impressive recent form by scoring joining the club from Fulham at the end of Ocampos volleyed home a cross from fellow versy over Jose Mourinho’s threat to field a are going to do in the future. The only impor- weakened team against leaders Liverpool tant thing we can try to do is win our games, twice for the visitors before Gadji Tallo got January and it was followed by another in the substitute Nabil Dirar in stoppage time. and focus on beating Crystal Palace. and we are going to try from now until the one back. 74th minute. The pick of the later games yesterday sees Pellegrini knows City’s challenge for the end of the season,” Pellegrini said. “I think Berbatov then set up another goal for This time the Bulgarian finished coolly from Saint-Etienne, in fourth, go to Evian. On Premier League title will suffer a major set- every team tries to make the best thing for Geoffrey Kondogbia, while Lucas Ocampos close range after latching onto a pass from Friday, Marseille’s hopes of qualifying for back if Chelsea manager Mourinho follows their team. If the other teams are damaged added the fourth late on as Monaco made it James Rodriguez that undid the home offside Europe were dealt another blow when they through on his plan to play his reserves in for that reason it is not the important thing four successive league wins to all but guaran- trap. Tallo got one back almost immediately, could only draw 1-1 away to Nantes. — AFP today’s crucial clash at Anfield. for us. “Liverpool have to win their last three tee second second spot and automatic qualifi- Liverpool are six points clear of third games. If they win the three games of course cation for next season’s Champions League placed City, but Pellegrini’s men have a game they are top of the table and they have the group stage. in hand and a defeat for the Reds against advantage. Claudio Ranieri’s side are now 11 points Chelsea, coupled with a victory for City at “From the moment we lost the game clear of third-placed Lille, who have just four Palace later today would put them firmly against Liverpool they have the first chances matches remaining, including today’s home back in the title hunt. to win it but for that they must win their meeting with Bordeaux. However, with second placed Chelsea five games. They are also seven points adrift of PSG, points behind Liverpool and beset by injuries “All of our players believe they can still do who must win away to relegation-threatened and suspensions, Mourinho has prioritised it. Everyone that is working in football knows Sochaux today if they are to celebrate clinch- the Champions League following his team’s anything can happen, and easily in the last ing the Ligue 1 crown this weekend. 0-0 draw at Atletico Madrid in the semi-final few games when the pressure is a lot.” Laurent Blanc’s men will now have to beat first leg. City’s cause won’t be helped by the the all-time record points tally in the French The decisive second leg looms on absence of Spanish playmakers David Silva top flight in order to become champions this Wednesday and Mourinho has no intention and Jesus Navas, who are both sidelined with of risking further injuries against Liverpool, ankle problems, but Ivory Coast international weekend, which says much about how well leaving City to hope Chelsea’s understudies Yaya Toure should return from injury to bol- Monaco have performed in their first season can somehow snatch a positive result on ster the midfield. since winning promotion back to the top Merseyside just hours before they kick-off at Palace will be no pushover after rising to flight. Selhurst Park. 11th in the table on the back of five consecu- However, it was not a vintage performance Pellegrini and Mourinho have sniped at tive victories. Tony Pulis’s side have already from the principality club in Corsica against each other consistently over the years, yet put a major dent in Chelsea’s title bid with a opponents whose own relegation was con- this time the City boss refused to become 1-0 win in south London recently and firmed last weekend, and there was little involved in a war of words with his old rival. Pellegrini is suitably impressed. between the teams in the first half. Home Instead, he pointed out the Liverpool “Palace will be very difficult because they goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa saved well from result will be irrelevant if City, who got back are a good team, they are playing very well. a Joao Moutinho volley early on, while Danijel to winning ways against West Bromwich At home we had a very difficult game and FRANCE: Monaco’s French forward Emmanuel Riviere (left) vies with Ajaccio’s Franco Subasic was called into action to deny Dennis Albion on Monday, slip up against a Palace just beat them 1-0,” he added. — AFP Senegalese midfielder Ricardo Faty during the French League football match. — AFP Oliech at the other end.