Olympique de Marseille’s charge towards a Champions League spot met a costly roadblock as their seventeen match unbeaten run ended with a shocking 1-0 defeat to Stade Brestois at Stade Francis Le Blé in match-day twenty-five of the Ligue 1 campaign. With the result, l’OM slip to the eighth spot in the table, three points shy of Saint-Étienne in the all-important fourth place.

Coming off the last gasp victory over Internazionale in the Champions League mid-week, les Olympiens manager Didier Deschamps made four changes to his starting eleven with Rod Fanni, Charles Kaboré and Jordan Ayew for Souleymane Diawara, Alou Diarra and André Ayew, as well as welcoming back André-Pierre Gignac to the fold with a stop on the bench. After a first minute penalty call after Brandão was brought down was waived off inexplicably by match-day referee Ruddy Buquet, the hosts began to show up-tempo play and forced l’OM ‘keeper Steve Mandanda to be at his past. Just past the half a defending miscue Benoît Lesoimier delivered a seemingly goal-bound effort that the Marseille ‘keeper pushed away for a corner. From the result effort on the right, Bruno Grougi picked out Paul Baysse choosing the perfect time for his first goal of the campaign as he raised high to head the ball into the net. In search of the leveller, l’OM came within a hushed whisper just past the half-hour as Brandão headed Jordan Ayew’s cross off the woodwork. The goal-scorer served his side well on the other end of the pitch as moments shy of the break he leapt to attention to pull Mathieu Valbuena’s effort off the line with Brest taking the slim margin to change rooms.

Pushing forward after the break l’OM found the sledding harsh against Brest who had dug in to protect the lead. Just past the hour, M. Deschamps signalled André Ayew to take Brandão’s sport with André-Pierre Gignac entering for Morgan Amalfitano with seventeen minutes remaining in regulation time. The balance of time was one-way traffic with l’OM in complete control with the exception of Brest ‘keeper Steeve Elana in the finest of form. With sublime stops of Mathieu Valbuena and André Ayew, the hosts maintained their advantage as time ticked down and in the second minutes of added-time Rod Fanni’s header was cleared off the line by Eden Ben Basat to provide Stade Brestois the shocking 1-0 victory.

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Manchester City capped off a brilliant week and served notice they are focused upon claiming the domestic cross with a 3-0 victory over relegation threatened Blackburn in a score that was tremendously flattering for the vanquished who rarely suggested this was more than a practice grounds affair. With the result the Citizens sit atop the Premier League, five points clear of Manchester United whom face Norwich City on Sunday.

Coming off Wednesday evenings 4-0 demolition in the Europa League, Manchester City manger Roberto Mancini made four changes to his starting eleven with Aleksandar Kolarov, Pablo Zabaleta, Adam Johnson and Mario Balotelli entering for Gaël Clichy, Micah Richards, Gareth Barry and Samir Nasri. In front of the adoring fans, Manchester City dominated from the opening whistle, possessing the ball nearly eighty per-cent and otherwise looking like the jungle cat play with yarn and the only question was when to pounce for the feat. Without the daring work from Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson the score would have been a dreadful as the English international did brilliantly in an evening that was otherwise “target practice” for City’s attacking core. Quick off the whistle City tested Paul Robinson with a series of efforts, each repelled until the half-hour mark when David Silva led a counter the centre of the pitch before supplying Aleksandar Kolarov on the left. Surging towards the by-line the Serbian international delivered a low cross that Mario Balotelli calmly fired into the net from five metres. Up by one the Manchester City attacker churned like the finest of engines but with each advance Paul Robinson stood his ground to main the score through to the break.
The re-start saw no change in the complexion with the only question was when they would breach the net and at the fifty-second minute David Silva’s corner from the right spilt from the ‘keepers mitts with Sergio Agüero wasting no time to pound the gift into the net from ten metres. If the Rovers, even in the most optimistic of light, entertained hope for the comeback the former Independiente man’s goal was the death rattle. With ten minutes remaining in regulation time Edin Džeko, who moments earlier entered from Mario Balotelli, capped the evening with his eighteenth goal of the campaign as he headed Aleksandar Kolarov’s pinpoint cross from on the left by-line in from seven metres as Manchester City strolled to a 3-0 victory.

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N.E.C. added another chapter to the present campaign highlight reel that included victory over arch rivals Vitesse as well as Feyenoord with a 4-0 demolition of Groningen at Goffert Stadion. With the result the Nijmegen side reignite their Europa League hopes, move to twelfth in the table and only six points off Groningen in the final playoff spot.

Following three trying losses including being thoroughly out-played by Ajax last week, N.E.C. manager Alex Pastoor made three changes to his starting eleven with Nathaniël Will, Ryan Koolwijk and Navarone Foor entering for Pavel Čmovš, Nick Van der Velden and Ryan Koolwijk. Groningen, coming off a stunning defeat of PSV, found the going run as N.E.C. attacking early and did not let up to the final whistle. Barely five minutes after the opening whistle Alex Pastoor’s side was banging on the door as Rens van Eijden nodded Lasse Schøne’s free-kick off the woodwork. The hosts continued to press Groningen and at the twenty-first minutes Leroy George opened the score-sheet as accepted Navarone Foor’s provision from the left before beating Groningen ‘keeper Luciano. With first blood now drawn N.E.C. thirst for more and three minutes past the half-hour mark the margin was doubled as Lasse Schøne volleyed Género Zeefuik’s cross from the right. N.E.C. continued to dominate through the break but despite their dominating play had to be content with the two goal margin as they went to the change rooms.

The complexion of the contest changed little as Pieter Huistra’s visiting side rarely suggested a hint of the comeback. At the sixty-third minute the result was effectively fait accompli as Leroy George poached on a poorly cleared long ball and quickly shuttled it into the net. With thirteen minutes remaining in regulation Leroy George surged forward on the right, turned at the by-line before sending a low cross that John Goossens, who had enter for Navarone Foor seven minutes turned in from the closest of ranges. After seeing a Groningen goal chalked off and the faithful sang out as N.E.C. laid claim the 3-0 victory.

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The opening contest of match-day twenty-three of the Bundesliga saw Borussia Mönchengladbach’s effort to end their long title drought was slowed with a 1-1 draw honours even, with visiting Hamburger SV.

Never sleight of attacking venom, die Fohlen pushed for early with Marco Reus surging down the right barely five minutes into the contest only to his delivery off-course. To the backdrop of the adoring Borussia faithful in full song, Lucien Favre’s men narrowly missed taking the lead midway of the half as Roel Brouwers latched onto a corner from the back-post but his goal-bound effort from ten metres was steered clear by Dennis Diekmeier at the line. The Gladbacher’s continued to be the more impressive of the two sides with Igor de Camargo played in sublimely by Roman Neustädter at the twenty-eight minute only to see HSV ‘keeper Jaroslav Drobný denied the former Standard Liège man. Borussia continued to press for the opening mark and just before the break Juan Arango’s free kick twenty-five metres head on to the goal was deflected into the down left corner of the net by Mike Hanke to claim the one goal advantage.

The re-start saw the complexion change 180° with HSV clearly the aggressors, with Tolgay Arslan missing from fourteen metres before levelling six minutes shy of the hour. Coming via a corner from the left, the ball rattled in the box before the twenty-one year old shuttled it into the net from close range. Lucien Favre’s side seemed to be shaken from their moorings after the equalizer and much of the time focused upon withstanding pressure and unable to mount a charge. Quickly becoming a box-to-box affair with chances meagre, Borussia squandered the winning strike at the death of time when Marco Reus’s delivery from a corner spotted Juan Arango but could not convert with open goal beckoning and the contest concluded as a 1-1 draw, honours even.

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In a daring midnight smash and grab, Olympique de Marseille claimed a 1-0 victory over over Internazionale in front of nearly 38,000 at Stade Vélodrome in the opening leg of their Champions League tie courtesy of André Ayew’s late goal. With the result, l’OM heads to next weeks rubber match at the San Siro with the modest margin whilst many question if Claudio Ranieri’s managerial reign with the Italian side near a end.

The tactical gem that matched l’OM’s Didier Deschamps against Internazionale Claudio Ranieri played out to perfection with the visitors showing a daring counter strike vision that narrowly missed taking the lead early. The Nerazzurri, a troubled seventh in the Serie A table, were in prime position to the take the lead just past the tenth minute when via a quick assault on the left Diego Forlán was provided a perfect cross from Esteban Cambiasso but the Uruguayan sniper saw his effort wisp over the bar with l’OM ‘keeper Steve Mandanda getting just enough of his mitt on it to shift direction. Following the visitor’s early effort the complexion changed with l’OM more aggressive but unable to truly trouble Internazionale goalkeeper Júlio César and the Nerazzurri passion for the counter consistently looked ready to break the deadlock. A Mathieu Valbuena free-kick just past the half-hour showed great promise but neither Brandão nor Souleymane Diawara had the right touch and the opportunity perished. After Esteban Cambiasso flirted with the go-ahead goal at the forty-fourth minute the contest went to the break scoreless.

At the re-start, l’OM came out with intent but for all the advances the final third was a place of disappointment of les Olympiens. Searching for the right mix M. Deschamps called upon Jordan Ayew for Brandão with seventeen minutes remaining, with Rod Fanni for César Azpilicueta shortly thereafter. Following Dejan Stanković saw a chanced denied by Steve Mandanda, André Ayew began to turn up the heat. After being disappointed with sending a cross wide, the twenty-two year old latched onto the ball on left as time ticked down as sent a beaming effort from the right outside of the his boot that Júlio César pushed wide. Racing out to the corner on the left Mathieu Valbuena stopped the attacker, who shook away from Cristian Chivu to nod the ball to bottom back corner of the net and send the Marseillais faithful into raptures with the 1-0 victory.

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On the backs of Marc Janko’s continued goal scoring spree Porto continued its chase of top of the table Benfica with a reaffirming 3-1 victory over host Vitória de Setúbal at Estádio do Bonfim in match-day nineteen of the Liga Portuguesa. With the result Porto trails their bitter foes by three points with Benfica still to play Vitória de Guimarães on Monday.

Coming off their uncomfortable loss to Manchester City in the Europa League on Thursday, Porto manager Vítor Pereira was looking for a quick response and right on cue Marc Janko answered at the third minute to provide the Dragões they would not relinquish. Accepting a simple throw in on the right, João Moutinho moved to the right of the area before lofting a cross that the Austrian international headed powerful past goalkeeper Ricardo to give Porto the 1-0 lead. After the Setúbal ‘keeper made a sublime diving stop of João Moutinho’s booming drive, Porto doubled the margin at the twenty-sixth minute as Fernando latched onto Hulk’s through ball on the right channel before pounding it to the back of the net from ten metres.

Just shy of the hour, Mr. Pereira called upon Steven Defour for Lucho González, with Cristian Rodríguez and James Rodríguez for Hulk and João Moutinho ten minutes later. With chances sparse Setúbal made the most of what opportunities they were presented and with fifteen minutes remaining in regulation time Albert Meyong halved the deficit as his free-kick dipped over the wall and beyond the outstretched reach of ‘keeper before nestling in the back of the net. Porto wasted little time with their response as three minutes later from the left flank Alex Sandro pushed the ball to Cristian Rodríguez near the by-line, who then cut back for Silvestre Varela for a booming finish and his fourth goal of the campaign. After Helton tipped an effort from Tiago Targino over the bar Vitória de Setúbal was unable to muster another attack and with the final whistle Porto claimed the 3-1 victory.

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N.E.C.’s woes in Amsterdam continued as they were handed a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the defending champions Ajax in match-day twenty-two of the Eredivisie. The result extends the Nijmegen’s side losing streak to three of which they have not breached the opposition’s goal during said time and further raises the concern of relegation once again, whilst Ajax continues its pursuit of successful defending its championship in a highly congested top of the table.

Coming off the disappointing loss to Roda JC, N.E.C. manager Alex Pastoor summoned Pavel Čmovš in for Zoltán Szélesi but soon found hopes for points disappear. In recent play Ajax has had problems converting on opportunity but in front of their home fans against N.E.C. they would show a diamond cutter’s precision. After an early assault served notice, Ajax went in front 1-0 at the fourth minute as Siem de Jong carved out space to the right of the area away from Kevin Conboy before sending a slide-rule provision to the back post that Dmitri Bulykin side footed into the net. Like petrol onto the flames Ajax doubled the margin some three minutes later as a corner from the right say Siem de Jong out jump Bram Nuytinck to head the ball to the back post where Jan Vertonghen thumped it off his chest and into the net. Midway of the half Ajax drove a nail into coffin as twenty-one year old Aras Özbiliz (Արազ Օզբիլիզ), who recently declared his intention of playing for the Armenian national side, split the N.E.C. defenders with a sublime through ball for Dmitri Bulykin who poked this second goal of the young day past ‘keeper Gábor Babos. Four minutes past the half-hour the former Dynamo Moscow man Dmitry Bulykin succumbed to a hamstring injury, forcing Ajax manager Frank De Boer to call upon Nicolás Lodeiro as an emergency striker. The hosts continued to press but without a doubt eased back on accelerator with N.E.C’s lone offering coming at the fortieth minute but Leroy George’s effort from the edge of the area was foiled by ‘keeper Kenneth Vermeer.

At the re-start, Mr. Pastoor searched for inspiration with the additions of Melvin Platje and John Goossens for Género Zeefuik and Leroy George but it was clearly Ajax’s day. As with the start of the contest, Ajax looked faster out of the gate and effectively announced the result was fait accompli at the fifty-seventh minute when Siem De Jong slipped unmarked past the N.E.C. defenders to nod a corner from left into the net. Down by four, an unwarranted mark on ‘keeper Gábor Babos who was otherwise left alone to deal with Ajax’s advance, N.E.C. show admirable spirit as they began to carve out a series of noteworthy openings and certainly made the final half-hour entertaining. Seizing upon a defending blunder by Ajax, Rens van Eijden leapt high at the back post to head his first goal for N.E.C. to cut the margin by three however that would be as close as it would get. The Nijmegen side continued to battle but following a sublime stop by Gábor Babos the final whistle sounded with Ajax earning a comfortable 4-1 victory.

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If not predictable, then a shape of things to come Neil Warnock’s first match since claiming the managerial helm of Leeds ended in victory as Luciano Becchio notched a late added-time goal to send the Whites past Doncaster Rovers 3-2 in a Yorkshire Derby at Elland Road. With the result hopes for Leeds effort to claim a spot in the playoff’s, improbable as it may seem, rise as they sit tenth in the table and three points removed from Birmingham.

Without a doubt Leeds present campaign has been disappointing for the faithful as they have combined a fine vintage attack with the likes of Scottish international Robert Snodgrass and Luciano Becchio with dreadful defending that is more suitable for a relegation threat rather than a promotion hopeful. Yet now with Neil Warnock in charge that table will likely change as the sixty-three year old manager who turned around the Queens Park Rangers will button down their play into top flight contender.

With the new manager in the stands and Neil Redfearn temporarily stewarding the ship all did not start well for Leeds as the Doncaster went in front 1-0 when long ball evaded the hosts defenders before seeing James Hayter played through. Though Leeds ‘keeper Andy Lonergan did well to react to the ball, he was unable to smother it with Mamadou Bagayoko pouncing onto lashed it into the net from just beyond the spot. Clearly lacking the needed quality, Neil Warnock made an unscheduled stop in the change rooms during the break, later revealing a formation change and though the start was slow the result speaks volumes.

Starting slowly Leeds fell behind 2-0 six minutes shy of the hour as Tommy Spurr’s cross from the left was redirected from the back post El Hadji Diouf to Mamadou Bagayoko for a headed from the closest of close range finishes. Getting off the canvas, Leeds came back with a flourish a minute later as the highly talented twenty year-old Andros Townsend, on-loan from Tottenham, accepted a provision from Danny Pugh, via Luciano Becchio and rifled a low effort to the bottom right corner to cut the margin in half. Billowing with confidence, Leeds marched forward with Robert Snodgrass showing his vast abilities with a perfect cross from the left that Adam Clayton volleyed into the roof the net from seven metres with ten minutes remaining in regulation time. Leeds clearly was in charge of the whip but as time ticked down and five minutes of added-time signalled, Doncaster was settling their host’s onslaught. Further to an extended stoppage due to injuries to Robbie Rogers and Tommy Spurr that required both to be carted off, Luciano Becchio etched his name once again in the hero’s column. Coming in the ninth minute of added-time the Argentine maestro latched onto his own effort that was blocked and from just beyond the area sent the Elland Road faithful into rapture as Leeds claimed a 3-2 Yorkshire Derby victory over Doncaster.

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Valenciennes did well in their trip south as they held Olympique de Marseille to a 1-1 draw, honours event, in match day twenty-four at the Stade Vélodrome. With the result, l’OM sits in a third in the table, level with Lyonnais and Rennes who play on Sunday with Valenciennes nestled in at the tenth spot.

Les Olympiens manager Didier Deschamps, without the services of injured snipers Loïc Rémy and André-Pierre Gignac, as well as maintaining an eye towards their mid-week Champions League clash tinkered with his line-up with Jordan Ayew up-top and in-from striker Brandão on the bench. After Jordan Ayew was unable to connect with a header at the eighth minute, l’OM went in front 1-0 at the sixteenth minute as Alou Diarra raised high to nod in Rod Fanni’s sublime cross from the right. Buoyed with confidence the hosts continued to press with Jordan Ayew’s prospective effort from distance benefited from a mad deflection before bounding off the cross-bar at the twenty-ninth minute. Les Marseillais continued to dominate, excluding Renaud Cohade flirtation with the leveller that saw Charles Kaboré clear the ball off the line, but were unable to add to their lead as the contest went to the break 1-0.

At the re-start, M. Deschamps called upon Benoît Cheyrou for the now injured goal-scorer but said lead did not last long as corner from the left was un-cleared at the back-post with Gil poking the ball through a crowd and into the net. Just past the hour Brandão entered for Jordan Ayew, with Jérémy Morel for Djimi Traore to follow shortly. Jérémy Morel showed a burst of pace from left back and l’OM continued to apply the petrol but the final touch was lacking. In added-time, with the Marseillais urging their side on, Brandão drew hushed sighs as his header of Charles Kaboré’s cross from the left rasped off the woodwork before being played to safety. Following three minutes of added-time match day referee Saïd Ennjim sounded his whistle with the final result a 1-1 draw, honours even.

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Owing much to a dreadful late defending lapse, Porto succumbed to Manchester City 2-1 at the Estádio do Dragão in the opening leg of their Europa League tie.

The defending Europa League champions came out swinging with Hulk the ever present menace of Porto’s attack. After seeing a series of advances thwarted on either end of the pitch, Porto went in front 1-0 as the Hulk sent a perfect low cross from near the left by-line that the mercurial Silvestre Varela out-raced Gaël Clichy to re-direct past ‘keeper Joe Hart from close range. The Dragões maintained their advantage courtesy of goalkeeper Helton’s superb stop of Mario Balotelli as the contest went to the break without further incident.

With City looking bold at the re-start and absolutely holding the upper hand, they managed to smash and grab the leveller as Yaya Touré’s long diagonal cross into the box from the left intended for Mario Balotelli skipped off the shoulder of Álvaro Pereira and past the ‘keeper for an own goal. With the contest now square, play became more contentious but high probability chances were at a premium and it appeared a draw lay in the horizon. At the seventy-eighth minute, Man City manager Roberto Mancini called upon Sergio Agüero for Mario Balotelli and shortly thereafter the travelling Citizens were in rapture as their side claimed a late winning stroke. Gifted the ball deep in the Porto end due to bumbling play on a throw-in, former Olympique de Marseille-man Samir Nasri slid the ball perfectly through the left channel for Yaya Touré, who then sent a low cross that Sergio Agüero turned into the net. For the balance of time, Porto suggested little venom going forward as Manchester City went home with the 2-1 victory.

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