In a positively brilliant fight to the last gasp, Paços de Ferreira defeated Académica de Coimbra 2-1 at the Estádio da Mata Real. With the result Ulisses Morais’s climb to the tenth of the Liga Portuguesa table, whilst Académica nestle two points above the relegation zone at the twelfth spot.

With a backdrop of heavy rain, the opening forty-five minutes was a scrappy affair, marked with hard challenges and nary a loose ball left unchallenged. The hosts had a number of reasonable chances fall to striker William but each of his efforts were off-course and the match went to the break scoreless.

At the re-start, Ulisses Morais summoned Pizzi in for the highly talented Manuel José, on-loan from Benfica. However, at the forty-seventh minute Académica shocked the home supporters with the go-ahead goal as Rafael’s long free kick from the right was headed in by former SV Ried defender Markus Berger at the near post. Searching for equalizer, Romeu was summoned in for Paços de Ferreira with twenty minutes left on the clock in a move that would pay off late. With Académica looking as if they were going to return to Coimbra with the full three points Ricardo lodged the equalizer with five minutes remaining as he soared high to head in a Baiano’s long cross from the right at the back post. Finally, in the last gasp of the match the hosts found the winner as Romeu got behind the defenders to head in Baiano’s long, searching right wing cross from ten metres out for the shocking 2-1 victory.

Académica de Coimbra returns to play next Saturday as travel to the capital to face Sporting, whilst Paços de Ferreira visits Vitória de Guimarães the following day.

Prepared by J. Davies
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Olympique Lyonnais rebounded from demoralizing losses this past week in Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue to defeat Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 at the Stade Gerland. With the result OL renew their hopes for a Champions League spot as they climb to fourth in the Ligue 1 table, whilst PSG’s woeful campaign continues as they extend their losing streak to three matches and flounder at the fourteenth spot.

For the Parisiens, the brilliance of last years charge led by Paul Le Guen, now leader of Cameroon’s World Cup’s hopes, are best pressed between the pages as this years model will need considerable re-tooling. That withstanding, Les Rouges et Bleu have not been short of quality play in some circles and they shocked the hosts ten minutes after the opening whistle as Stéphane Sessegnon’s low corner from the left was volleyed in by Mevlüt Erdinç at the near post past Lyon goalkeeper Rémy Vercoutre. PSG continued to look confident in the early but OL, after withstanding the pressure began to dominate the run of play after the half-hour mark. With less than ten minutes remaining to the break Kim Källström’s cross into the box found Bafétimbi Gomis but his header was saved by the Parisien ‘keeper Apoula Edel. Moments later, former Porto-man Lisandro López, who departed the Liga Portuguesa champions last summer for €24 million plus transfer, provided Kim Källström the ball but his subsequent effort whistle clear of the goal. OL continued to hunt for the equalizer but were unable to find it prior to the break went to the change rooms with a one-goal disadvantage.

From the re-start Olympique Lyonnais were showing their venomous side as Jérémy Toulalan, upon recipient of Miralem Pjanic’s provision, hushed the home supporters with his effort but still the Parisiens clung to the lead. At the hour, PSG was forced to play a man down as Mamadou Sakho was sent off with a professional foul on Bafétimbi Gomis at the edge of the area. The complexion of the match changed considerable and needed a shift of tactics, PSG manager Antoine Kombouaré summoned Christophe Jallet in for Ludovic Giuly. OL poured forward in the assault with a number of close misses making home supporters if there sides drought would not end this evening. However, with thirteen minutes remaining, OL drew the match level as they victimized the visitors poor defending of a corner. Coming from César Delgado heavy in-swinging effort from left, Dejan Lovren managed to evade his marker to nod the ball within a metre of the back post. Though blocked by Parisien ‘keeper Apoula Edel, Bafetimbi Gomis lvolleyed the rebound in to level the affair. Momentum had clearly turned and with nine minute remaining OL scored the eventual winner on the most peculiar, yet unforgettable goals. Coming from a long free kick from the left that haphazardly came into the box, Lisandro López flicked the ball in what is best described as a “hopeful” effort only to have Cris (Lyon) head the ball above PSG ‘keeper Apoula Edel. Down by one, the Parisiens poured forward for the equalizer. A quick assault by the always-impressive Stéphane Sessegnon came up empty as Younousse Sankhare headed the ball off line. Christophe Jallet later passed up a high probability effort but Guillaume Hoarau was unable to convert. Though Lyonnais was unable to extend their margin of victory, they were pleased to hear the final whistle and grab the full three points with a 2-1 victory.

Both sides return to play next Saturday as Paris Saint-Germain welcomes Lorient to Parc des Princes, whilst Olympique Lyonnais vists Toulouse.

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Bayer 04 Leverkusen continued its charge toward its first Bundesliga crown with a confident 3-1 victory over Freiburg at the BayArena. With the result, Jupp Heynckes maintain their remarkable unbeaten run throughout campaign and climb back atop the Bundesliga table, two points off nearest challenger Bayern München, whilst Freiburg are just about Hannover 96 in the relegation zone.

Despite the score-line, the early stages of the match was worrisome for host Bayer 04 as Freiburg was bold going forward. After surviving an early scare that saw Freiburg keeper Simon Pouplin deny Stefan Kießling, they began to take the match to the league leaders. Robin Dutt’s side came close to opening the scoring with Cedric Makiadi being stopped by Bayer 04 ‘keeper Rene Adler from point-blank range and later the German international pulled Mohamadou Idrissou’s effort off the line. Die Werkself withstood the challenges and in rapid fire succession put the match out of reach before the break. Six minutes past the hour, in a splendid example of attacking pulse, Stefan Kießling linked the ball to Toni Kroos as he crept into the box. Off loading the ball to Tranquillo Barnetta on his right, the Swiss international sent a delicious cross from the right that Stefan Kießling headed in from six metres out. Not a minute later, budding star Eren Derdiyok latched onto an errant, poorly struck, clearance by the Freiburg keeper and buried the ball into the net from the edge of the area. The onslaught continued as three minutes later Sami Hyypiä, enjoying a renaissance in his career since departing Liverpool, headed in Toni Kroos’ corner from the left to give the hosts a comfortable 3-0 lead.

To their credit, Frieburg continued to fight the good fight after the re-start, though the deficit was a mountain too high to climb. The visitors restored a flicker of hope six minutes past the hour when Felix Bastians surged in from the left channel before sending the ball past Bayer 04 ‘keeper René Adler from an acute angle. Confidence billowed for the visitors with the marker as they surged forward but once again, René Adler culled those hopes and the match concluded without further incident as Bayer 04 Leverkusen grabbed a 3-1 victory.

Both sides return to play next Saturday as Bayer 04 Leverkusen visits VfL Bochum at the Ruhrstadion, whilst Freiburg welcomes fast-charging Schalke 04 to the Badenova-Stadion.

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VfB Stuttgart continued its shocking turnaround under Christian Gross as they ended Borussia Dortmund’s twelve-match unbeaten streak with a 4-1 victory at Neckarstadion. With the result, VfB’s fourth successive triumph including the opening three encounters of the Rückrunde, edges them to tenth in the table whilst BVB holds down fourth

VfB were pleased to welcome Jens Lehmann back into the line-up and per the usual, the great veteran patrolled the posts with his customary styling. On the contrary, Jürgen Klopp’s Dortmunder’s were more than a morsel weary as they were still without the services of first-choice goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller as well as young defender Sven Bender and Jakub Błaszczykowski tried nobly to shake off and injury, it was clear early on the mercurial Polish international was far from fully-fit.

Die Schwaben drew first blood at the quarter-hour in smash and grad fashion as Cristian Molinaro’s cross from the left by-line into the box resulted in Ciprian Marica and Dortmund keeper Marc Ziegler colliding. Former Zenit Saint Petersburg man Pavel Pogrebnyak and BVB defender Felipe Santana charged with on the loose ball that somehow navigated its way across the line to give Stuttgart the 1-0 lead. Though the Russian international raised his arm to claim the goal, replays suggested in edged off the the BVB defender. Pacing was quick as Dortmund stormed forward to level but midway of the half their efforts were thrown as Jakub Błaszczykowski was unable to continue and the enterprising nineteen year-old French Damien Le Tallec striker was ushered in. After the early marker, Patrick Owomoyela and Nelson Váldez came close to levelling BVB but each drifted just off-course and with little attacking pulse for the remainder of the half, the match went to the break with the hosts clinging onto the narrow one goal margin.

Three minutes after the re-start, Stuttgart were awarded a penalty as Patrick Owomoyela brought down Ciprian Marica in the area but in the resulting effort, the striker, who chose to take the penalty himself, drove the ball off the crossbar. Die Schwarzgelben squared the match seven minutes later as Kevin Großkreutz broke free in on Jens Lehmann and whilst the veteran ‘keeper was brilliant in coming up to hold off the challenge, the youngster slid the ball to his right for Lucas Barrios to finish. The final half-hour was a spirited affair as neither side were willing to give up a shred of territory. Chances were at a premium until Serbian international Zdravko Kuzmanović curled a superb free kick from a shade outside the area past ‘keeper Marc Ziegler to give Stuttgart the 2-1 lead. In need of the leveller, Jürgen Klopp summoned the highly promising seventeen year-old Mario Götze and Tamás Hajnal into the BVB line-up with five minutes left on the clock. However, BVB were unable to capitalize on their chances and Stuttgart padded the score-line with two markers late. With four minutes in regulation Ciprian Marica took advantage of a rare Dortmund miscue deep in their end, as a simple throw-in was not cleared and after being gifted the ball at the edge of the area, the slotted it past Dortmund keeper Marc Ziegler. At the eighty-ninth minute VfB brought the match to its 4-1 final as Roberto Hilbert charged into the box on the left before sending the ball across to Christian Träsch, who then fired it in from the edge of the area. The stunning return to form now has many questioning whether VfB is ready to repeat last years tour de force and run up the table.

VfB Stuttgart returns to play next Saturday as they visit Nürnberg at the Frankenstadion, whilst Borussia Dortmund welcomes feisty Eintracht Frankfurt to the Westfalenstadion the following day.

Prepared by J. Davies
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Benfica, looking to claim their first domestic title in 2005, kept pace with Braga with a confident 3-1 defeat of Vitória de Guimarães at Estádio da Luz. With the result, Benfica pulls level in points with Braga at the top of the Liga Portuguesa table, whilst Vitória de Guimarães rest at seventh, three points out of the final spot for the Europa League.

As Águias stunning attack was on full display and after being unable to close out some fine quality chances early, Pablo Aimar surged forward and after an opportunistic bounce off João Moreno, the Argentina international sent the ball past Guimarães ‘keeper Nilson. However, fifteen minutes later former Benfica man Nuno Assis shocked the home supporters, as he was the recipient of Yves Desmarets’ defence splitting pass before droving the ball in from twelve metres to level the match. Despite the flourishing goals the affair was also plagued with a serious of dreadful challenges with Ángel Di María victimized on a number of occasions that were surely deserving of a red-card.

After the break, the match belonged to veteran Carlos Martins with two brilliant goals. At the fiftieth minute, after having the ball laid back to him at the edge of the area he promptly drove it to the bottom right corner. Nine minutes later he unleashed a positively stunning drive from well outside the area that glanced off the right post and in. With nineteen minutes remaining his night ended as he was sent off with his second yellow card but despite the man advantage Benfica still controlled the run of play. Though, Guimarães ‘keeper Nilson rose to the occasion to deny the hosts advances they could not break through in the attack and the match concluded with Benfica laying claim to a 3-1 victory.

Benfica return to play in a midweek battle as they welcome União de Leiria to Estádio da Luz on Wednesday evening.

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Defending champions Porto responded to the recent disappointment against Paços de Ferreira with a powerful 4-0 victory over Nacional at the Estádio da Madeira in Funchal, Madeira. With the result, Porto trails front-runners Braga and Benfica by six points in the heated Liga Portuguesa race, whilst Nacional hold down the sixth spot.

Os Dragões clearly had their minds on the Taça de Portugal tie against Sporting on 2 February as manager Jesualdo Ferreira summoned new man Rúben Micael, Maicon and Fernando into the line-up. The hosts started quickly and narrowly missed taking the lead as Edgar powerfully headed a cross from the left flank off the bar. Nacional was doing a good job keeping Porto bolted down until the half-hour when Alex was adjudged a questionable penalty and additionally received his second yellow-card forcing his side to play a man down. In the ensuing effort, Silvestre Varela confidently drove the ball into the net, giving Porto the 1-0 lead and continued to apply pressure on the unfortunate hosts. At the forty-second minute, Porto exposed Nacional at the back with Falcao chasing down a through ball on the left channel before sending a cross that Rúben Micael misfired. Before the break, Porto doubled the margin as Fernando led a fast charge down the left before pulling the ball back to Álvaro Pereira on the edge of the area. The Uruguayan international, completely unbothered, deftly chipped a practice grounds cross to the back post the Falcao nodded into the net.

Just before the hour, Nacional goalkeeper Rafael Bracali made a brilliant stop of Silvestre Varela’s effort from the edge of the area but it was not long after that the match was out of the reach. At the sixty-second minute former River Plate man Falcao continued to show his keen ability to score as he cut in between Nacional defenders to deftly flick a cross for the left into the back of the net from five metres out. The goal fest continued as with three minutes remaining Silvestre Varela chased down a long through ball, out maneuvered the Nacional goalkeeper Rafael Bracali moving to the left and sent the ball in to give Porto the 4-0 victory.

Porto returns to play on Tuesday in the Taça de Portugal against Sporting at the Estádio do Dragão.

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Schalke’s revival under Felix Magath continued as they defeated slumping 1899 Hoffenheim 2-0 in Gelsenkirchen. With the victory pull even with Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who play on Sunday, trailing Bundesliga leaders Bayern München, whilst 1899 are in a three-way tie with Wolfsburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach at the ninth spot.

1899, without their first win of the Rückrunde after losses to Bayern München and Bayer Leverkusen, lacked the cutting edge, in what is best described as a “cautious” start to the affair. Die Königsblauen broke the deadlock at the nineteenth minute as Rafinha sent a long ball that Kevin Kurányi chased down and deftly chipped his eleventh goal of the campaign over 1899 goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand. Following the marker chances, were few as Schalke showed extreme patience and were prepared to pounce on the visitors over commitment. A late chance before the break came to 1899 striker Vedad Ibišević but the Bosnia and Herzegovina international was unable to convert.

Four minutes after the break, Schalke doubled its margin as Ivan Rakitić, subject of a number of rumours this week of a possible transfer, delivered a corner that after rattling around the box was dispatched into the net by the highly promising Lukas Schmitz. In the final twenty minutes, 1899 manager Ralf Rangnick gave Prince Tagoe and Adam Jabiri their Bundesliga debuts but his side suggested little chance of breaking through as Schalke clearly was not going to allow a last minute break down as they did last week. Without further incident, the match concluded and Schalke 04 grabbed the full three points with a 2-0 victory.

Both sides return to play next Saturday as 1899 Hoffenheim welcomes troubled Hannover 96 to Rhein-Neckar-Arena, whilst Schalke continues their assualt on the top of the table as they visit SC Freiburg at the Dreisamstadion.

Prepared by J. Davies
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After a series of disappointing performances, Leeds halted its three-match skid with a 2-0 victory over Colchester at Elland Road. The result, in conjunction with Norwich City’s defeat of Hartlepool, maintain Simon Grayson’s narrow three point deficit of the League One leaders, though they have two matches in hand, whilst Colchester hold down the fourth spot.

The Elland Road faithful were in full voice to propel their side on and following the pithy loss to Swindon Town, Simon Grayson wisely restored Argentine striker Luciano Becchio to the starting eleven along with new signings Gary McSheffrey and Shane Lowry. Though Leeds was controlling much of the possession, Colchester was giving no ground and much of the early going lacked a venomous side. Both sides had penalty claims denied until the thirty-eighth minute when Matt Heath was adjudged a penalty for bringing down Luciano Becchio in the area. In the ensuing effort, Jermaine Beckford stepped up and without fail gave Leeds the 1-0 lead as he sent the ball to the bottom left corner of the net. The go-ahead goal clearly invigorated the hosts but they were unable to capitalize on a number of fine chances.

Pace of the match slowed after the break until Leeds doubled its advantage five minutes shy of the hour mark, coming once again from Jermaine Beckford. Following a long ball from Robert Snodgrass, hometown hero Jonny Howson chested the ball down, turned and blazed his effort off the far post with the striker fortuitously pouncing on the rebound from close range. The goal seemed to take the wind out of the visitor’s sails, as they were unable to post much of an attacking threat through the balance of the day. Leeds came close to building on its lead and though each fell short they were pleased to take the full three points with the 2-0 victory.

Leeds return to play this Wednesday in the replay of the FA Cup tie against Tottenham, with Hartlepool in league play on Saturday, whilst Colchester faces Carlisle United on Tuesday.

Prepared by J. Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
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Hertha Berlin continued their noble fight against relegation, fighting to nil draw against VfL Bochum at the Olympiastadion. With the result, the Berliners, still at the bottom of the Bundesliga table, edge to with seven points of safety, whilst Bochum sits at the fourteenth spot.

Since the start of the Rückrunde, the Berliners have put forth an admirable display despite the knowledge that avoiding the drop would require the mightiest of efforts. Though the odds are heavily stacked against them they have fought with every morsel they have and done tremendously well in solving their defending flaws as they have yet to concede a goal in three matches.

The match was in essence a tactical chessboard from the start, where Berlin was wary of the visitors counter attacking vision. Slowly, the Berliners began to probe going forward as the break neared but the Bochumers were absorbed the pressure and did not allow their hosts to break through. After the break, Friedhelm Funkel’s side started to show more confidence and came within a fraction of breaking the deadlock as Raffael’s effort from sixteen metres drifted agonizingly wide. Quickly thereafter Cícero forced Bochum goalkeeper Philipp Heerwagen into a top-shelf save. In the final twenty minutes, Bochum began to pose its own threats but as the score indicates, none was fruitful. With just over a quarter-hour remaining, Slovakian international Stanislav Šesták missed from seven metres and in a last gasp, effort Miloš Marić’s free kick rang off the post. As the final whistle sounded, the match concluded as a nil draw, a deserving result for both.

Both sides return to play next Saturday as Bochum welcomes high flying Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Ruhrstadion, whilst Hertha Berlin continues their fight for survival as they visit stumbling Werder Bremen at the Weserstadion.

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After controlling much of the early going, Bayern München stormed past Mainz 3-0 at a snow crested Allianz Arena. With the victory, Bayern climb back to the top of the Bundesliga table, one point above Bayer 04 Leverkusen who play on Sunday, whilst Mainz continue to impress at the eighth spot.

Bayern took charge of the proceedings from the start but with each turn of the screw Mainz ‘keeper Heinz Müller was up to challenge. The Mainz goalkeeper was under siege with fine quality opportunities handed to Mario Gómez and Ivica Olić coming up empty as Bayern tore apart Mainz with assaults down the right flank. After sustaining a number of tense situations, the visitors situation turned bleak as just past the half-hour mark, Niko Bungert was adjudged a penalty for bringing Thomas Müller down in the area and the spot was pointed to. Up trotted Bayern ‘keeper Hans-Jörg Butt for the ensuing effort but his far-too coy effort down the centre of the goal was stopped by Heinz Müller with ease. After the chance from the spot, the match slowed through the break with neither side able to muster the needed touch.

The second half started at a modest clip as Mainz had made the appropriate tactical adjustments to slow Bayern’s advances. Amongst the backdrop of a winter playground of snowfall, the deadlock was broken two minutes shy of the hour as Daniel van Buyten headed Arjen Robben’s floating cross from the left into the box into the net. Bayern continued to press but fortune did not seem to be in the hosts favour as chances continuously fell a whisper off line. At the seventy-sixth minute, Arjen Robben pushed the ball off to Philipp Lahm who from the right by-line laid it back to Mario Gómez and the former Stuttgart sharpshooter gave his side the comfortable two-goal advantage from ten metres out. With Bayern’s supporters in full song and the matches outcome no longer in question, Arjen Robben sent a superb free kick into the net from twenty-five metres at the eighty-sixth minute for the 3-0 lead.

Both sides return to play next Saturday as Mainz welcomes Borussia Mönchengladbach to Stadion am Bruchweg, whilst Bayern München face the troubling defending champions, VfL Wolfsburg at Volkswagen Arena.

Prepared by J. Davies
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