Sunday, 19 October 2014





Paul Pogba cancelled out Simone Zaza's opener but the reigning Italian champions were unable to rack up a seventh successive win Juventus dropped points for the first time in Serie A this season as they were held to a shock 1-1 draw at struggling Sassuolo on Saturday night. Massimiliano Allegri's men claimed a sixth win from as many games prior to the international break when beating Roma 3-2, but failed to find top gear at Stadio Citta del Tricolore. Sassuolo claimed an unlikely lead after 13 minutes through Simone Zaza, a player previously co-owned by Juventus, only for the visitors to respond swiftly courtesy of a stunning Paul Pogba strike. However, Pogba's goal failed to spark the champions into action as they found themselves continually frustrated by a hard-working Sassuolo outfit, who climb off the foot of the table. Roma's 3-0 win over Chievo earlier on Saturday ensures Juve's lead at the summit has been cut to one point, with Allegri likely to view this game as a missed opportunity. Juve had won their previous 13 league matches, their last dropped points coming in a 2-0 loss at Napoli on March 30. Sassuolo, still to win a league game this season, showed no sign of being overawed, despite some early Juventus pressure. Fernando Llorente was first to test Andrea Consigli after 12 minutes, forcing a smart save following a teasing cross from the right, and Roberto Pereyra sent the rebound over the bar.




The club captain scored twice, while Xabi Alonso opened his goalscoring account for the club in a comfortable win at the Allianz Arena Philipp Lahm scored twice and Xabi Alonso struck his first goal for the club as Bayern Munich thumped Werder Bremen 6-0 on Saturday afternoon. Werder travelled to Bavaria having conceded 18 goals in their last three league meetings with Bayern - and the champions were in no mood to forgive them further embarrassment on this occasion with a devastating first-half display. Goals from Lahm (2), Xabi Alonso, Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze (2) secured the points for Pep Guardiola's side, with the Bayern boss having the luxury of taking off several of his star men early ahead of Tuesday's Champions League trip to Roma. Even without Robert Lewandowski - left on the bench after picking up a heavy knock while on international duty with Poland - Bayern had an overwhelming amount of attacking quality for their opponents to handle and continued their unbeaten start to the season in ominous fashion. Werder, by contrast, remain rooted to the foot of the table awaiting their first victory of the campaign. The gulf between the teams in this top-versus-bottom clash was evident from the off - the pattern of the game set as the visitors chased shadows while Bayern zipped the ball around at dizzying speed. Despite their overwhelming possession, the champions were made to wait until the 20th minute before taking the lead through Lahm.





With new signing Jairo making his debut, Mainz made the confident start justified by their unbeaten record. Jonas Hofmann tested Marwin Hitz in the Augsburg goal, while Shinji Okazakis movement up front left the visitors defence chasing shadows. It took 20 minutes for the dominant hosts to open the scoring, and it inevitably came from the inspired Hofmann. His third goal of the season was a thing of beauty, twisting and turning before beating Hitz at his near post. The hosts doubled their lead just three minutes later, debutant Jairo taking advantage of some slack Augsburg defending to place his confident finish into the bottom corner. Augsburg, stung, looked to force a way back through Halil Altintop and Raul Bobadilla, yet the well-organised Mainz defence was foiling their best efforts. The closest they came was five minutes before the break, as Bobadillas free-kick drew a smart save from Loris Karius. Too little, too late Karius was called into action early in the second-half, as Augsburg, and particularly Bobadilla began peppering his goal with shots. One effort from Ragnar Klavan drew a superb save from the young custodian, while the entry of Abdul Rahman Baba at left-back gave Augsburg more pace and width.



Freiburg are still waiting for their first Bundesliga win of the season after they fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to high-flying Wolfsburg.
An early Daniel Caligiuri goal took the wind from Freiburg's sails and his second goal of the game in the 66th minute left Christian Streich's men staring their third defeat of the season in the face.

Sebastian Kerk grabbed a consolation for the hosts in time added on, but it was too little too late as they remained third from bottom with just five points from eight matches.
is former club from close range. A spirited Freiburg tried to hit back with Admir Mehmedi denied by his former Switzerland team-mate Diego Benaglio, but another defensive lapse gifted Luiz Gustavo the chance to
The Wolves took the lead out of nothing in the eighth minute when Kevin De Bruyne sent in a cross for Caligiuri, who was left completely unmarked at the far post to score against
hmake it two. Fortunately for Freiburg, the Brazilian lacked composure in front of goal and sent his shot wide of the post with only Roman Burki to beat. A De Bruyne free-kick from 35 yards hit the crossbar before Burki denied Ivica Olic as Wolfsburg had two further chances before the interval.
Freiburg started the second half strongly with chance after chance going begging before Caligiuri broke their hearts.







Aguero scored four goals in a dazzling display to lead City to a 4-1 win over Spurs in an entertaining EPL game that featured four penalties and a red card. (Getty Images)
Sergio Aguero scored four goals in a dazzling display to lead Manchester City to a 4-1 win over Tottenham on Saturday in an entertaining Premier League game that featured four penalties and a red card.

he champions made it 15 goals against Spurs in their last three meetings thanks to Aguero, who scored twice in each half to take his league tally this season to nine goals in eight games. He also had a first-half penalty saved.

T Aguero opened the scoring in the 13th minute and restored City's lead from the penalty spot in the 20th after Christian Eriksen had equalised.
s red-carded - and the 75th. The only negative for City at Etihad Stadium was the sight of Frank Lampard being carried off on a stretcher in the first half with an apparent
City goalkeeper Joe Hart saved a penalty from Roberto Soldado in the 62nd before Aguero scored in the 68th - from the spot after Federico Fazio w
aleft thigh injury.
ricio Pochettino described Aguero as the best striker in the world on the eve of the game, adding about his Argentine compatriot: When Aguero plays, it is like classical music in my head . it's like Mozart.
Tottenham manager Ma
u





Chelsea pair Oscar and Cesc Fabregas scored the decisive goals as Palace were beaten by Jose Mourinho's league leaders at Selhurst.
After the Brazilian had netted a superb free-kick early on, both sides went into the break with just 10 men after Cesar Azpilicueta and Damien Delaney were dismissed within three minutes of each other, but soon after the restart Fabregas capped a fine team goal to seal the victory, although Fraizer Campbell netted a consolation for the hosts with a minute to play .

eil Warnock's started really brightly and created a couple of dangerous moments within the first two minutes. A fine through-ball by Yannick Bolasie found Fraizer Campbell who forced Thibault Courtois off his line but the Palace striker couldn't find a way around the keeper, and then the two combined again when the winger crossed for Campbell but Azpilicueta managed to clear.

N But six minutes in the Blues took their first chance of the game when Willian won a free-kick 25 yards from goal which Oscar swept it beautifully into the top corner over the fully-stretched Julian Speroni to open the scoring.
he crossbar.
However the Eagles were causing problems in the final third and when Joel Ward played a long ball over the top, Campbell pressured Gary Cahill into a poor back-header and latched onto it, but couldn't get the ball to drop under
t




Sunderland were completely embarrassed by a rampant Southampton side as they concede eight on route to a humiliating lose on the South Coast.
Utter humiliation for the Black Cats as they conceded eight goals in a completely embarrassing display in front of 2’500 away fans. 
h a set piece. The ball was whipped in from the left and Wickham headed over when he should have done better. The deadlock was broken on 12 mins through an outrageous own goal from Santiago Vergini. The ball was played over the top, and under n
Sunderland started the first half surprisingly brightly, passing the ball around comfortably and had the first chance of the game throu
go real pressure Vergini inexplicably struck the ball into the bottom corner leaving Mannone no chance.
lt another blow as they conceded a second goal on 17 mins. A loose pass out of defence by Will Buckley hit Larsson on the back allowing Southampton to attack down the left through Steve Davis and his square pass was tapped in by an unmarked Pelle. Sunderland still continued to pass and create openings but were being limited to long range shots. On
The goal came as a sucker punch to Sunderland as they had started the game confidently but they were de
a23 mins Van Aanholt shot wide after a series of corners as Sunderland were creating some pressure.






Mumbai needed to rebound and rebound in a big way after their heavy defeat against Atletico de Kokata to open the tournament. Personnel changes were needed and rightly effected by coach Peter Reid and boy did they pay off! The first ‘Maha Derby’ was a no-contest as Mumbai pummelled Pune into submission in a 5-0 win at home at the D.Y. Patil Stadium.
It was obvious to everyone watching that Brazilian Andre Moritz made a significant difference after coming on as a substitute in the first game. His reward for his sprightly performance was a start in the ‘Maha Derby’. Tiago Ribeiro didn’t make way, rather found himself at left-back where he slotted in very well indeed and Subhash Singh started in place of the disappointing Diego Nadaya. Nadong Bhutia took the place of injured India international Syed Rahim Nabi.
Pune too made four changes Dudu coming in for Mathani, Wadoo in for Kwang Il Park, Gonzalez on for Gurung and Pritam Kotal on for Magliocchetti.