SPORTS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2013 German League Preview Leverkusen out to down high-flying Bayern BERLIN: Bayern Munich earned the plaudits with their impres- chance to make a real statement,” added Kiessling after ‘super’ in post match-interviews. But as Dutch winger Arjen sive Champions League mid-week win at Manchester City, but Bayer’s 2-1 Champions League home win against Real Robben, who has scored in Bayern’s last five Champions Bayer Leverkusen are out to end their unbeaten Bundesliga run Sociedad on Wednesday. “We go into this game wanting to League matches, insisted: “Today, we start again at zero” at today. Bayern travel to Leverkusen top of Group D in the win it.” Bayern are closing in on the Bundesliga’s record of 36 Leverkusen. Champions League and second in the German league on goal matches unbeaten-set by Hamburg in 1983 — and Leverkusen Dortmund are at mid-table Borussia Moenchengladbach difference with leaders Borussia Dortmund, but level on 19 goalkeeper Bernd Leno said respect, not fear, must be the eager to go into the international break at the top of the table. points after seven matches. order of the day. Borussia posted an impressive Champions League win of their Leverkusen are just a point behind in third and eager to “Bayern are the best team in the world, but many people own as they floored Marseille 3-0 on Tuesday, but goals are claim the scalp of Pep Guardiola’s Bayern, who are on a 32- forget that we can also play good football,” said Leno with almost guaranteed in Moenchengladbach. None of their last match unbeaten league run. “I don’t think Bayern are unbeat- Leverkusen having won nine of their 11 matches this season. 32 meetings, dating back to 1994, have ended in a goalless able. On a good day we can do it,” said Leverkusen striker “We have a huge opportunity to make a name for ourselves.” draw and Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund are already averaging Stefan Kiessling, the Bundesliga’s top scorer last season. Bayer While Guardiola insisted “it’s not the end, it wasn’t the final,” in three goals per Bundesliga match this season. were the last team to beat Bayern in the Bundesliga, on a bid to dampen expectations after Bayern’s win in Manchester, Fresh from their Champions League win at Swiss champions October 28 last year, when they stunned Munich with a 2-1 the way president Uli Hoeness waxed lyrical would lead impar- FC Basel, Schalke 04 are at mid-table Augsburg today without home win. tial fans to think the result in Leverkusen is academic. Peru winger Jefferson Farfan, who is out for four weeks with a It was Bayern’s only league defeat last season, but with “It was ‘summa cum laude’,” he enthused, using the Latin torn groin. Ex-Holland coach Bert van Marwijk, who took Guardiola’s European champions fresh from their impressive expression for work of the highest standard. “Last season, we charge last week, continues his quest to get Hamburg out of 3-1 win at City’s Etihad Stadium, Sami Hyypia-coached had a great team, but now we have a super, super team,” he the bottom three at Nuremberg tomorrow with the Hanseatic Leverkusen need to show some confidence. “This is our added in a playful reference to his penchant for the word side having already leaked 19 goals this season.— AFP Italian League Preview Spanish League Preview Inter to test Roma as Barcelona, Atletico look to Napoli wait in wings extend magnificent seven MILAN: Roma’s newly-acquired Serie A title credentials face their first serious test when Rudi Garcia’s team visit in-form Inter Milan today. In the final weekend of league action MADRID: Barcelona and Atletico Madrid look to extend their “Tata has not doubted for a second in putting me into the before a break for World Cup qualifiers, second-placed club record starts to the season when they host Valladolid team. I am satisfied with the confidence he has shown in me,” Napoli host promoted Livorno while champions Juventus and Celta Vigo respectively this weekend. Both sides have he told a press conference on Thursday. “Little by little I am host Milan in one of two potentially gripping late games won all seven of their league matches to date and could set a feeling more wanted. I have had two years competing with tomorrow. new Spanish record should they make it eight out of eight. some of the best players in the world in training and learning When former Lille coach Garcia took over Roma at the The Catalans have the chance to open up a three-point gap from them. “I have keep concentrating and learning.” The start of the season the initial aim was to start strongly and at the top of the table as they play first on today night. champions will have to do without World Player of the Year erase the memory of a seventh place finish last season. Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s men continued their fine start to Lionel Messi as he is sidelined with a thigh injury. However, the French coach and Roma have gone one bet- life under the Argentine by also making it two wins from two Mascherano and Jordi Alba are also unavailable through ter, grabbing the league’s attention after winning all of their in the Champions League in midweek with a hard-fought 1-0 injury, but Barca’s defense could receive a significant boost first six games to top the table with a two-point lead over success over 10-man Celtic. Young defender Marc Bartra par- with the return of captain Carles Puyol to the squad for Napoli and champions Juventus. ticularly impressed in Glasgow as he continues to deputize today’s match. The 35-year-old hasn’t played since undergo- Inter sit fourth, a further two points back, having for the injured Javier Mascherano and he is thankful for the ing knee surgery in March but has trained with his team- enjoyed a positive start to the campaign under former confidence Martino has showed in him. mates in recent weeks and could make a return in the week Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri. As matches go, it could be that marked 14 years since his debut. Real Madrid are also in the highlight of the weekend-Roma have hit the net 17 action today as they travel to Levante needing to bounce times and conceded only one while Inter have scored 16 back from last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Atletico which left and shipped only three. Despite having home advantage, them five points off the leaders. Inter were held to a 1-1 draw by Juventus three weeks ago Gareth Bale is once again unavailable due to a thigh and Mazzarri’s men dropped more points in a shock 1-1 strain, but Argentine winger Angel di Maria showed he is draw away to Cagliari last week. more than a capable replacement for the Welshman with two Roma have also seen nine different players hit the net goals and a stunning assist in Real’s 4-0 win over FC this season and Inter centre-back Hugo Campagnaro said Copenhagen on Wednesday. Coach Carlo Ancelotti’s defen- they deserve respect. “They’re a great team and have sive options have also been swelled by the return of Raphael scored a lot of goals while conceding very few. They Varane and Marcelo from injury, but Sergio Ramos will cer- deserve our respect,” Campagnaro told Sky Sport Italia. tainly start after being rested in midweek. Atletico also con- “We’ll have to be on top of our game.” It appears there is lit- tinued their 100 percent start in the Champions League tle reason for Garcia to make major changes and his only thanks to a come from behind 2-1 win away to Porto on injury doubt following a 5-0 rout of Bologna last week con- Tuesday that owed much to Diego Simeone’s men’s expertise cerns Serbian striker Adem Ljajic. from set-pieces. But the Frenchman should not be sweating. Former Simeone will be able to welcome back top-scorer Diego Arsenal striker Gervinho hit a brace last week and, following Costa, who missed the game in midweek due to suspension, a shaky start, seems to have now settled in well. Defeat for whilst Koke will also return having been rested from the start Roma would allow Napoli to snatch top spot, if they over- against Porto. And Koke insists his side won’t be taking any- come league new boys Livorno. It would offer Rafael thing for granted despite the plaudits they have received in Benitez’s men a crumb of comfort after their 2-0 Champions recent weeks. “We take all the compliments calmly and they League defeat to Arsenal in midweek, before which give me even more confidence and desire to keep working. Gonzalo Higuain failed a late fitness test. That confidence I am showing on the pitch,” he told the Although Higuain is expected to return for Sunday’s club’s website. afternoon game, Napoli were quick to dispel suggestions “It will be a difficult game against Celta because we are the Azzurri have become dependent on the Argentinean, coming form two very demanding games. The group is phys- who with three goals is Napoli’s second-top scorer after ically and mentally prepared and we are desperate to go for Marek Hamsik. “Of course he’s a really important player for the three points.” Elsewhere, Valencia will be hoping to us but we can win without him,” said defender Paolo GLASGOW: Barcelona’s Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas extend their four-match winning run when they travel to face Cannavaro.