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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2018

Wozniacki back on track in Sri Lanka thump England to their Aubameyang, Ozil star as 25with win over Kvitova 26 heaviest one-day international loss 27 Arsenal make it perfect 10

Bayern edge out AEK 2-0 Munich top Champions League group with win at Athens

ATHENS: Bayern Munich’s German forward Serge Gnabry (L) heads the ball with AEK’s Portuguese midfielder Andre Simoes during the UEFA Champions League football match between AEK Athens FC and FC Bayern Munchen at the OACA Spyros Louis stadium in Athens yesterday. — AFP

ATHENS: Quick-fire goals by Javi Martinez and Robert ing,” said Arjen Robben. “We started using our chances the German champions laboured until Martinez scored shot home. Any frustrations in the Bayern ranks disap- Lewandowski yesterday moved Bayern Munich top of and once Javi got the first goal, you could feel the relief. with an athletic half-volley. peared and just two minutes later they struck again. their Champions League group with a 2-0 win at AEK “This was an important win for us.” The result leaves The hosts’ best chance of the match came on 20 Serge Gnabry, a constant threat on the right wing, Athens, as they made it back-to-back victories after a Bayern top of Group E and puts pressure on nearest minutes when Argentinian striker Ezequiel Ponce held played in Rafinha inside the box with a clever backheel, difficult start to the season. rivals Ajax, who earned a 1-1 draw in Munich three off Bayern defender Mats Hummels, but fired wide. At and the Brazilian’s low cross found Lewandowski Dogged defending by the reigning Greek champions weeks ago, to beat Benfica in Amsterdam later yester- the other end, Thiago Alcantara’s pass rolled agonising- unmarked to tap home and delight the travelling fans. left Bayern facing a frustrating draw until Martinez day and join the Germans on seven points, while AEK ly away from Bayern striker Lewandowski. It was Lewandowski’s third goal in two games after finally broke through with an hour gone at AEK, who remain bottom after three straight defeats. Just as it was looking like AEK might earn their first also netting twice at Wolfsburg. Thiago tried an acro- travel to the Allianz Arena in a fortnight’s time. Bayern have never lost a European game in Greece, point in the group stage, Bayern turned the game. batic volley of his own with 15 minutes left which flew “It was very difficult, the pitch was not good, we but despite breaking a four-match winless streak with a Hummels picked out Robben, whose effort was blocked, wide as Bayern kept on the pressure to safeguard the played well in the first half, but the final pass was miss- 3-1 victory at Wolfsburg on Saturday in the , but the ball flew towards Martinez, who slammed his three points. —AFP

victory late on at the Stade de Suisse but dragged an effort narrowly wide of the Young Boys pick Valencia goalkeeper Neto pulled off a right upright minutes into the second half, superb save to divert Sekou Sanogo’s head- with then unable to er onto the post. generate enough power in his header to up first point in Young Boys remain at the bottom of the beat Neto. group, while Valencia’s bid to qualify for the The Swiss side’s sustained pressure paid Valencia draw last 16 ahead of Manchester United or off though as they were awarded a penalty Juventus suffered a blow with the Spanish on 55 minutes when Valencia captain Dani club on two points after three games. Parejo brought down in the Valencia, now with just eight goals in 12 area. It was the second spot-kick conceded BERN: Guillaume Hoarau’s second-half matches this term, were unable to fully by Parejo in three games in Europe, and penalty earned Young Boys their first exploit a Young Boys defence featuring 36- after Hoarau fired the hosts level only the Champions League point yesterday after a year-old Champions League debutant brilliance of Neto allowed a struggling 1-1 draw with Valencia in Bern. Marco Wolfli in goal and missing the sus- Valencia to hold on for a draw. Michy Batshuayi gave Valencia the lead pended Mohamed Ali Camara. The Brazilian turned behind a low strike on 26 minutes in the Group H clash, but for- Marcelino’s side moved in front when from Fassnacht shortly after the Young Boys mer France striker Hoarau converted from Chelsea loanee Batshuayi gathered a pass equaliser, but saved his best for last with a the spot as Young Boys also scored their from Carlos Soler and rounded Wolfli to marvellous fingertip stop to deny Sanogo BERN: Young Boys’ Swiss defender Kevin Mbabu (L) and Valencia’s Spanish mid- first goal in the competition. slot home his second goal for Valencia. before he smothered the rebound at the fielder Ferran Torres vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions League Group H The Swiss champions nearly snatched Young Boys right-back Kevin Mbabu feet of Roger Assale. — AFP football match between Young Boys and Valencia. — AFP