Struggling Bilbao back to winning ways in Granada

 Athletic Bilbao held on for only their third win of the season when Aritz Aduriz scored twice in a 2-1 success at Granada in La Liga on Sunday.

Bilbao, Europa League and King's Cup finalists last season, have made a dreadful start to the latest campaign and Sunday's victory leaves them in 14th on 11 points from 10 matches.

Aduriz opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 12th minute in rain-lashed Granada and doubled the visitors' lead 15 minutes later with a low drive from just outside the area.

Youssef El Arabi pulled a goal back for Granada eight minutes after the break but they could not make some sustained pressure count and are second from bottom on eight points.

Espanyol have also made a poor start but managed a second win of the season by beating Real Sociedad 1-0 away with Diego Colotto scoring in the 77th minute.

Deportivo Coruna won 1-0 at home to Real Mallorca thanks to a Bruno Gama effort after 30 minutes and Osasuna stayed rooted to the bottom on five points when they had a player sent off and lost 1-0 at home to Real Valladolid.

German Patrick Ebert netted for Valladolid seven minutes from time after Osasuna had Ruben dismissed for a second yellow card in the 76th.

Levante can climb above Malaga into fourth with a win at Sevilla later on Sunday (2030 GMT) while their mid-table hosts will try to boost their bid to get into Europe again.

Mancini rues missed chances as Manchester City held

Manchester City's defence has stopped leaking goals but manager Roberto Mancini is now concerned about their ruthlessness at the other end after a frustrating 0-0 draw with West Ham United on Saturday.

The Premier League champions dominated possession after a slow start at Upton Park but were guilty of missing some gilt-edged chances as they wasted the opportunity to join Manchester United at the top of the table.

Mario Balotelli, Carlos Tevez and Gareth Barry all fluffed opportunities for City although the visitors were fortunate when West Ham's Kevin Nolan had a goal harshly ruled out.

City have now conceded just two goals in their last five Premier League fixtures having conceded seven in the five before that but they are nowhere near the free-scoring machine that took the league by storm in the early days of last season.

"When you have 65 percent of possession and four incredible chances you deserve to win," Mancini, whose side remain unbeaten in the league, told reporters.

"But I am happy for the performance because we played well. I'm unhappy that we missed these chances.

"I don't think it was a fair result. Not fair at all.

The Italian added: "We conceded a lot of goals when we started the season.

"We've improved our defence but we need to start to score like last year."

It was the first time since April that City failed to score in the league, despite Mancini starting with three strikers in Balotelli, Tevez and Edin Dzeko and throwing on Sergio Aguero from the bench late on in an attempt to seal victory.

"We continue to miss a lot of chances, every game," Mancini said. "It was the same against Swansea, we missed three or four chances in the second half and the same against Ajax.

"We created the chances and we played with three strikers. We tried everything to win but sometimes the game is like this. But, if we don't score, we don't win, this is football."

Adriano joins Barca's list of injured defenders

Barcelona's injury woes in defence took a turn for the worse on Saturday when fullback Adriano strained a leg muscle and was ruled out for around three weeks. The Brazilian pulled up shortly before halftime during Barca's 3-1 La Liga win at home to Celta Vigo and had to be replaced by compatriot Daniel Alves. Adriano, who scored Barca's opening goal at the Nou Camp, joins centre backs Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique on the sidelines and will be unavailable for Wednesday's Champions League match at Celtic. "Adriano suffered a strain to the adductor muscle in his right leg and will be out for approximately three weeks," Barca said in a statement on their website

Ivanovic keeps Serbia in hunt for Fed Cup title

Ana Ivanovic beat Petra Kvitova 6-3 7-5 on Sunday to keep alive Serbia's hopes of winning their debut Fed Cup title.

World number eight Kvitova had been expected to hand defending champions Czech Republic an unbeatable 3-0 lead on Sunday but former French Open winner Ivanovic produced an inspired display to keep the tie alive.

The 24-year old Serb took the first point for Serbia with a forehand winner on her third match point.

"It is amazing to give hope to our team. Overall I am very happy, it was a very high quality match I played today," Ivanovic told reporters.

"I knew today I would be playing better and I started swinging from the beginning and worked well for me. (Kvitova) started swinging again (in the second set), getting few winners down the lines, but I managed to stay calm."

Lucie Safarova will take on Serbia's Jelena Jankovic in the second reverse singles.

The Czechs are hoping to complete a tennis double as the men's team take on Spain in the Davis Cup final later this month.

Neymar scores hat-trick, gets ovation from rival fans

Brazilian soccer player Neymar Neymar scored a hat-trick to lead Santos to a 4-0 win at Cruzeiro in the Brazilian championship, where his performance earned him a standing ovation from the home supporters. The 20-year-old took his tally to 12 goals in the competition even though he has missed a number of games due to international commitments including a three-week spell at the Olympic Games. Neymar opened his account in the 11th minute of Saturday night's game by nonchalantly diverting a low cross into the net at the near post and slotted in another from near the penalty spot after sloppy Cruzeiro defending in the 35th. He then turned provider, setting up the third for Felipe Anderson with a run down the right and low cross in the 52nd minute, and completed his hat-trick in by converting an easy chance set up by Ezequiel Miralles. Santos are ninth in the table with 46 points from 33 games, three ahead of Cruzeiro. "I'm overcome, it makes me want to cry," Neymar told reporters after Cruzeiro fans, who had initially booed their own team, chanted his name and applauded him off the pitch. Ten-man Gremio scored in the last minute to beat Ponte Preta 1-0 and stay third with 63 points, nine behind leaders Fluminense. Gremio had Julio Cesar sent off midway through the second half but Vanderlei Luxemburgo's team took the points when Andre Lima headed in from corner.

Villa shines as Barca go three clear at the top

Barcelona pulled three points clear of Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga when David Villa scored and created a goal for Jordi Alba in a 3-1 win at home to promoted Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Celta have not won at the Nou Camp for 70 years but surprised their illustrious hosts with some neat play and Mario Bermejo levelled at 1-1 three minutes after Adriano's 21st-minute opener.

Villa, who looks to be getting back to his best after a lengthy recuperation from a broken leg, put Barca back in front two minutes after Bermejo's strike.

He sent Andres Iniesta clear with a deft flick and raced into the area to sidefoot his Spain's team mate's low cross into the net for his fifth league goal of the season.

The 30-year-old then produced another delightful back heel to put Alba through in the 61st minute and the referee allowed the fullback's neat finish to stand despite the fact he was clearly offside when Villa made the pass.

Barcelona's World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, who became a father for the first time when his son Thiago was born on Friday, had a quiet night, the La Liga top scorer failing to add to his 13 league goals this term.

Atletico, like Barca unbeaten in all competitions, can join the Catalan club on 28 points with a win at Valencia later on Saturday (2100 GMT).

Third-placed Malaga suffered a first defeat of the campaign when they were beaten 2-1 at home by Rayo Vallecano.

Rayo forward Piti netted twice for the visitors either side of a Martin Demichelis header as Malaga slipped up ahead of their Champions League Group C match at AC Milan on Tuesday.

Champions Real Madrid, whose title defence got off to a shaky start but who have since clawed their way up to fourth, host Real Zaragoza in Saturday's other fixture (1900).

Jose Mourinho's side will leapfrog Malaga, who have 18 points from 10 matches, into third if they avoid defeat at the Bernabeu.

Barca's Pique returns from injury for Celtic trip

Barcelona's Gerard Pique Centre back Gerard Pique has returned to the Barcelona squad after injury and is fit for Wednesday's trip to Celtic in Champions League Group G. "Happy to train with the team again. It felt really good!" Pique said on his official Twitter account on Monday. The Spain international has been out of action with a foot injury since Barca's 3-2 win over Spartak Moscow seven weeks ago and his replacements have struggled at times. He was named in Tito Vilanova's squad for the clash at the Scottish champions but Adriano Correia and Carles Puyol are out injured, while Sergio Busquets is suspended. Group leaders Barca are five points above second-placed Celtic after three wins out of three and are close to securing last 16 qualification.

Les Lions de l'Atlas qualifiés haut la main, en route pour la phase finale de la CAN-2013

Les Lions de l'Atlas se sont qualifiés pour leur 15è Coupe d'Afrique des Nations (CAN) de football, après une victoire méritée (4-0) face au Mozambique, en match du 3è et dernier tour retour des éliminatoires, samedi soir au Grand stade de Marrakech.

Portés par des milliers de supporters marocains enthousiastes et complètement acquis à leur cause, les Lions de l'Atlas ont vengé leur défaite (2-0) à Maputo en match aller, au terme d'une bataille tactique où l'enjeu l'a emporté sur le jeu.

Pour sa première apparition sur le banc de touche de la sélection nationale, Rachid Taoussi a opté pour un schéma tactique offensif (4-2-3-1).

Dès l'entame de la partie, les Lions de l'Atlas se sont lancés dans l'attaque, créant plusieurs occasions, notamment à la 21è minute lorsque le capitaine Houcine Kharja a failli tromper le gardien de but Rafael Joaa.

Appelé pour la première fois en équipe nationale, Salahedine Akkal, sociétaire de l'AS FAR, a orchestré plusieurs montées en attaque délivrant parfois des balles très dangereuses, mais qui n'ont pas trouvé le chemin des filets.

Les Nationaux auraient pu ouvrir la marque à deux reprises (26è et 33è) mais ils ont pêché par manque de réalisme et d'efficacité.

La délivrance n'a pas tardé lorsque Abdelaziz Barrada (Getafe/Espagne) a repris de la tête un centre de Youssef Arabi pour placer le cuir au fond des filets (39è) faisant vibrer le public.

A la reprise, les joueurs marocains ont opté pour la conservation du ballon et le renforcement des compartiments défensifs et du milieu de terrain, tout en restant entreprenants en attaque, alors que les Mozambicains, gênés par le pressing du milieu marocain, ont éprouvé de grandes difficultés pour s'approcher de la surface des Lions de l'Atlas.

A la 62è minute, le virevoltant Abdelaziz Berrada obtient un pénalty après avoir été fauché en pleine surface de réparation par le capitaine des "Mambas" Hobo Almiro, expulsé sur le champ par l'arbitre camerounais Alioum Sidi (63è).

La mission a été confiée à Kharja qui a offert aux siens un deuxième but soulageant (64è).

Après cette réalisation, les joueurs mozambicains semblaient sérieusement touchés par la tournure des événements et voyaient la qualification s'envoler.

Ils jouaient sans conviction, commettaient plus d'erreurs de passe et leurs offensives étaient sans adresse.

Le deuxième but du Onze national a libéré les joueurs et les a poussé à se donner davantage pour sceller le sort de la qualification en leur faveur.

A la 85è minute, Youssel El Arabi parvient enfin à concrétiser une occasion de but, en inscrivant le 3è but après un centre du flanc gauche de Zakaria Bergdich.

Au temps additionnel (90+4è), Nordine Amrabet ajoute un 4è but qui provoque une ambiance indescriptible au stade et annihile les espoirs des Mozambicains de revenir dans la partie.

Cette qualification, tant attendue par un public marocain assoiffé de performances de son équipe nationale, redonnera sans doute confiance aux joueurs afin d'entrevoir la phase finale de la prochaine CAN (19 janvier-10 février en Afrique du Sud) sous de bons auspices.

Les Lions de l'Atlas disputeront pour la 15è fois de leur histoire la phase finale de la CAN après les éditions de 1972 (Cameroun), 1976 (Ethiopie), 1978 (Ghana), 1980 (Nigéria), 1986 (Egypte), 1988 (Maroc), 1992 (Sénégal), 1998 (Burkina Faso), 2000 (Ghana/Nigéria), 2002 (Mali), 2004 (Tunisie), 2006 (Egypte), 2008 (Ghana) et 2012 (Gabon/Guinée Equatoriale). Ils avaient remporté le titre en 1976 et perdu en finale (2-1) en 2004 face au pays hôte, la Tunisie.

De leur côté, les Mambas tentaient une 5è qualification après les éditions de 1986 (Egypte), 1996 (Afrique du Sud), 1998 (Burkina Faso) et 2010 (Angola) lors desquelles ils ont été éliminés au 1er tour.

Satisfaction pour Taoussi

Le nouveau sélectionneur du Maroc Rachid Taoussi pouvait s'estimer heureux après que son équipe ait réussi à retourner une situation mal embarquée contre le Mozambique.

Battus (0-2) à l'aller, les Lions de l'Atlas ont su renverser la vapeur en battant leur adversaire (4-0) au retour, ce qui leur permet de valider leur ticket pour la CAN. ''Je suis heureux, je remercie le public et les joueurs. Nous avons prouvé que nous avions du potentiel. J'ai un noyau, une équipe d'avenir. Sur le terrain, nous avons été bien organisés. Tactiquement, le milieu de terrain a fait son travail'' a-t-il déclaré après le match.

Messi, Ronaldo trade blows in 2-2 Clasico draw

Real Madrid failed to secure the victory they desperately needed to trim the gap to leaders Barcelona when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo each struck twice in an attritional 2-2 draw in La Liga on Sunday.

A stuttering start by the champions had left them eight points behind their great rivals after six matches but they made the better start to the 'Clasico' at an electric Nou Camp and Ronaldo fired them ahead deservedly in the 23rd minute.

A defensive lapse by Pepe let Messi in to equalise from close range eight minutes later before the Argentine World Player of the Year curled a stunning free kick past Iker Casillas to make it 2-1 in the 61st.

Real were level within five minutes when Mesut Ozil slid the ball through to Ronaldo and the Portuguese forward beat Victor Valdes for a second time with a powerful low strike.

Barca came close to a winner in an entertaining clash, watched by millions around the world, when substitute Martin Montoya crashed a long-range effort against the crossbar in the 89th minute.

Tigers edge Athletics for 2-0 series lead

Detroit Tigers Don Kelly Don Kelly hit a sacrifice fly to right-field in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Detroit Tigers a 5-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday and a commanding 2-0 lead in their playoff series. Kelly's drive off A's closer Grant Balfour scored Omar Infante to cap a wild finish in which both teams scored late, game-tying runs on wild pitches after Detroit took a seventh-inning lead on a two-run error. Detroit reliever Al Alburquerque, who retired Yoenis Cespedes on a grounder with men on first and third in the ninth for the only batter he faced, took the win. The Australian Balfour got the loss. Detroit moved within one win of advancing to the American League Championship Series, with the best-of-five AL Division Series shifting to Oakland on Tuesday. "They (Detroit) got big hits and did good things at the right moments," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "Both teams made some mistakes that got the other team in the game." The clash between Central champions Detroit and West winners Oakland began as a pitchers' duel with Tigers' starter Doug Fister and his A's counterpart Tom Milone each allowing just one run through six innings. Cliff Pennington put Oakland on top with a run-scoring single off Fister in the top of the seventh. The Tigers struck back in their half of the seventh off reliever Sean Doolittle. With two outs, Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera came to the plate with men on first and second and hit a shallow fly ball to centre. Oakland outfielder Coco Crisp raced in, but the ball bounced out of his mitt and he bobbled it once more before it fell to the ground as Austin Jackson and Infante came around to score and put Detroit ahead 3-2. "They played deep and made the error," Cabrera said. "I feel sorry for him (Crisp). But you need the little things and to get lucky." Oakland leapfrogged the Tigers in the eighth when Cuban rookie Yoenis Cespedes singled, stole second and third before scoring on a wild pitch in the dirt from Detroit reliever Joaquin Benoit with Josh Reddick at bat. Reddick, who had struck out in all six of his previous at-bats in the series, promptly homered to right to give the A's a 4-3 lead. A wild pitch by Oakland reliever Ryan Cook with men on second and third and two outs allowed the Tigers to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth. The A's stranded runners on first and third in the top of the ninth, with Alburquerque retiring Cespedes on a comeback grounder before Detroit ended it in their last at-bat.

Top seeds Azarenka, Sharapova set up China Open final

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus Russia's Maria Sharapova  World number one Victoria Azarenka set up a final date with Maria Sharapova at the China Open after the top two seeds enjoyed comprehensive victories in their semi-finals on Saturday. Sharapova blew away home favourite Li Na 6-4 6-0 before top seed Azarenka saw off the challenge from France's Marion Bartoli 6-4 6-2. Sharapova served three double faults to concede an early break to go 1-3 down in the first set against the Chinese number one Li but sailed through once she found her groove. "It was a really high quality first set with a few ups and downs, and obviously she had the lead in that set, but I came back," the Russian told reporters. "There were a few key moments to that set and after I broke her in the last game, it was important to take that momentum into the second set and keep going." Sharapova, who lost in the quarter-finals of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo last week, was happy to be back in contention. "I came into this tournament not playing extremely well in Tokyo, and I had a couple of days of practice here," she said. "So I was hoping from the first round I'd really step it up and get better and I feel as the tournament has gone on I've been playing and moving better." Belarussian Azarenka, who withdrew before her quarter-final in Tokyo due to health issues, showed no signs of trouble as she powered past Bartoli. Azarenka last won a title in March when she beat Sharapova in Indian Wells while the Russian is seeking her first trophy since winning the French Open in June.

Marseille retain top spot despite Ibrahimovic

Andre-Pierre Gignac scored twice to help Olympique Marseille retain their Ligue 1 top spot on Sunday with a 2-2 home draw to second-placed Paris St Germain despite the best efforts of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Ibrahimovic was on target two times in three minutes midway through an entertaining first half after Gignac's solo effort had put the home side ahead in the 17th. The Swede equalised on 23 minutes with a stunning backheel volley from a corner then put PSG in front two minutes later when he fired a free kick home from 25 metres. Gignac answered in the 37th when he headed home a Benoit Cheyrou corner to keep Marseille at the top of the table on 19 points, three ahead of unbeaten PSG. PSG substitute Kevin Gameiro had the only clear-cut chance of a dull second half but his strike went wide. Former Arsenal striker Jeremy Aliadiere's goal ensured Lorient continued their unbeaten run with a 1-1 draw at home to Olympique Lyon, who stay third on 15 points. Lyon took the lead through France's Bafetimbi Gomis volley in the 23rd minute after a superb collective move. Lorient levelled the score two minutes after the break when Aliadiere tapped in Benjamin Corgnet's neat pass to take his side up to fourth in the table on 14 points. Both sides had a flurry of clear-cut chances in an action-packed clash at rainy Lorient. Lyon, who suffered their first league loss last weekend, were unlucky to see Gomis's half-volley and then a fine lob from Clement Grenier hit the woodwork early on. However, their efforts were rewarded when Alexandre Lacazette volleyed a Steed Malbranque cross to set up Gomis for the opener. Inspired by Aliadiere and Alain Traore, Lorient reacted but the latter's powerful shot from outside the box struck the woodwork. The hosts equalised just after the break and tightened their grip on play although they lacked a finishing touch. Along with PSG and Lorient, Girondins Bordeaux are the other team unbeaten after they recovered from a goal down to draw 1-1 at Stade Brest, their fifth in the last six league games, which put them sixth on 14 points. Well-organised Brest went ahead when Eden Ben Basat ran on behind the defence to shoot past keeper Cedric Carrasso in the 37th minute. Bordeaux wasted several chances and saw an early Cheick Diabate effort hit the post but the player netted a deserved equaliser midway through the second half.

Bundesliga roundup-Injury woe for Hanover's Andreasen

Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus Brief news ahead of this weekend's Bundesliga soccer matches: * Hanover 96 midfielder Leon Andreasen will be out for roughly six months after his encouraging comeback from a long layoff was curtailed by torn cruciate ligaments suffered in the midweek 4-1 win over Nuremberg, the club said. The Danish international, who had recently returned from a two-year injury absence, had scored two goals in five league games and another three in the Europa League. "I suspected something was wrong when it happened. It hurt a lot and the diagnosis is no real surprise," Andreasen told the club website (www.hannover96.de) of the injury to his right knee. "This is a bitter blow, but I have to look ahead and I am sure can come back again," the former Fulham player said. Hanover, third in the Bundesliga, travel to Hamburg SV on Saturday. * Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus has been passed fit by team doctors to make his first trip to former club Borussia Moenchengladbach since joining the Bundesliga champions, but coach Juergen Klopp will leave it late to decide whether he plays. Reus, who joined for 17 million euros ($21.86 million) in the off-season, twisted his ankle during Wednesday's 3-3 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt and looked set to miss Saturday's encounter. "I will wait and see how his foot holds up in full training on Friday before deciding," Klopp said. Dortmund are sixth in the standings, seven points behind unbeaten leaders Bayern Munich. * Bayer Leverkusen defensive midfielder Stefan Reinartz could miss their match against promoted Greuther Fuerth due to a minor groin injury. Leverkusen are eager to improve their position after their 3-1 win at Augsburg on Wednesday gave them a first victory in three games and lifted the side up to eighth. Reinartz came off injured shortly before halftime.

Fortuna battle back to draw 2-2 against Schalke

Fortuna Duesseldorf's Dani Schahin struck twice in the second half to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga on Friday with the visitors only having themselves to blame for not taking all three points. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Joel Matip gave the Champions League side a 2-0 lead by halftime but Schahin's double, including a powerful 77th minute header, took Fortuna's unbeaten run since the start of the season to six matches. Schalke moved up to third place on 11 points with leaders Bayern Munich, who have 15 after five wins from five games, travelling to Werder Bremen on Saturday when champions Borussia Dortmund, on eight, take on Borussia Moenchengladbach. Promoted Fortuna, still unbeaten along with Bayern and second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, are fifth on 10 points. Huntelaar, last season's Bundesliga top scorer, drilled in a stunning left-foot shot after slipping the ball past two defenders in the 13th minute. Joel Matip added a second goal seven minutes later and Schalke looked to be cruising to an easy victory. However, Schahin cut the deficit three minutes after the break, connecting with an Andriy Voronin corner. With Fortuna seeking an equaliser, Schalke had space on the break and will be kicking themselves for not finishing off their opponents with Huntelaar and Ibrahim Afellay failing to beat keeper Fabian Giefer from point-blank range on three occasions. The hosts' hard work finally paid off in the 77th minute when 23-year-old Schahin beat marker Kyriakos Papadopoulos to drill in a header from an accurate Tobias Levels cross.

Belhanda and Taarabt left out of Morocco soccer squad

Younes Belhanda of Montpellier Montpellier's Younes Belhanda has been ruled out of Morocco's soccer team for the London Olympics with injury while Queen's Park Rangers midfielder Adel Taarabt was not included in the 18-man squad named on Sunday. Midfielder Belhanda, a leading figure as Montpellier won their first French league title in May, has an ankle injury. Houcine Kharjah of Italian club Fiorentina, who captained Morocco's senior side at the African Nations Cup finals this year, was one of two over-age players included in the under-23 squad by coach Pim Verbeek. The other was forward Nordine Amrabat, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation said. A maximum of three over-age players are allowed in the squad but Verbeek declined to pick another. Defender Abdelhamid El Kaoutari from Montpellier and German-born goalkeeper Mohamed Amsif also competed at January's Nations Cup, where Morocco were disappointingly eliminated in the first round. Morocco's under-23 side will prepare in the Netherlands from next week for the tournament. Squad: Goalkeepers: Mohamed Amsif (FC Augsburg), Yassine Bounou (Atletico Madrid) Defenders: Mohamed Aberhoune (MA Tetouan), Zakarya Bergdich (Racing Lens), Abdelhamid El Kaoutari (Montpellier), Zouhair Feddal (Espanyol), Yacine Jebbour (Stade Rennes), Abdelatif Noussair (FUS Rabat) Midfielders: Abdelaziz Barrada (Getafe), Omar El Kaddouri (Brescia), Driss Fettouhi (Istres), Rayane Frikech (Angers), Houcine Kharja (Fiorentina), Imad Najah (PSV Eindhoven) Forwards: Nordine Amrabat (Kayerispor), Soufiane Bidaoui (Lierse), Soufian El Hassnaoui (De Graafschap), Zakarya Labyad (Sporting Lisbon)

Liverpool agree to sign Assaidi from Heerenveen

Liverpool have agreed to sign Morocco winger Oussama Assaidi from Heerenveen, the Premier League club said on their website (www.liverpoolfc.com) on Thursday.

The 24-year-old winger, who has 22 caps, scored 20 goals in 68 games for the Dutch first division side last season. He will now undergo a medical before the transfer is completed.

Brendan Rodgers, the new Liverpool manager, has already signed Swansea City midfielder Joe Allen and Italy striker Fabio Borini from AS Roma for the new campaign.

Liverpool travel to West Bromwich Albion for their first game on Saturday.

Bayern banish final demons with Valencia win

 Bastian Schweinsteiger and Bayern Munich cast aside the bitter memories of their Champions League final defeat in May to begin the new campaign with a 2-1 Group F victory over Valencia on Wednesday.

Schweinsteiger, whose spot-kick miss in the final shootout on home turf allowed Chelsea to score and be crowned European champions, fired Bayern into the lead with a deflected shot in the 38th minute, much to the delight of the 68,000 sold-out crowd in Munich.

Midfielder Toni Kroos added a second when he scored with a 20-metre drive in the 76th minute.

Defensive-minded Valencia, in their first encounter with Bayern since losing to the Germans in the 2001 Champions League final, cut the deficit with a header from Nelson Valdez in stoppage time.

Bayern should then have made it 3-1 but substitute Mario Mandzukic saw his penalty saved by keeper Diego Alves after Adil Rami was sent off.

 
Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes sprang a surprise with his starting lineup, leaving top scorer Mandzukic on the bench and bringing in the experienced Claudio Pizarro. He also gave 40-million euro-signing Javi Martinez his first competitive start.

The hosts enjoyed the majority of possession but were made to work hard as cautious Valencia defended deeply.

Kroos tried his luck from 20 metres with a powerful drive but Alves was well-placed to save.

Bayern, who are top in the Bundesliga, kept at it and Schweinsteiger broke the deadlock after a well-timed pass by Arjen Robben.

Valencia, with only one win in four league games in Spain so far, posed no real threat, waiting for a chance to break and mainly relying on Algerian Sofiane Feghouli's speed for any offensive spark.

Kroos forced another good Alves save with a 20-metre missile on the hour before finally beating the Brazilian after he was left unmarked outside the box.

Valencia were given a ray of hope when substitute Valdez was caught a sleepy Bayern defence napping and the former Bundesliga player headed past Manuel Neuer.

Nadal recuperation on track, will not rush back

Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal  Rafa Nadal's steady recuperation from a knee injury is proceeding according to plan and he is not going to rush back before it has healed properly, the world number four said. In an interview with Reuters in Madrid, the 11-times grand slam singles champion said he was still feeling some pain in his left knee and would only return to the court when that was no longer the case. "I am working as much as I can, I am doing everything they tell me to every day and the truth is that right now things are going well, more or less," the 26-year-old Spaniard said. "The only thing is that I need bit more time," he added. "We'll see how things develop in the next few weeks but my priority is to recover well, not quickly but well. "Obviously as soon as possible but the main thing is to have the certainty that you are fine when you do return. "I will return to the court when I feel that the knee no longer gives me any pain, whether that is in two weeks or in three or four." Majorca-native Nadal has been sidelined several times by knee injuries during his 11-year career and his latest was diagnosed as a partial tear of the patella tendon and an inflammation of the Hoffa's fat pad. The former number one has not played since suffering a shock second-round defeat to Czech Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon in June. He missed the Olympic Games after winning the title in 2008 and was forced to withdraw from the U.S. Open. Nadal is having intense physiotherapy and laser treatment and Spanish tennis federation (RFET) doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro said on Sept. 5 he could be back on court training within a month. AGGRESSIVE, DEMANDING "I think tennis is a very aggressive and demanding sport and obviously the knees suffer above all when you are playing on hard courts," Nadal said. "On fast courts the movements are much more aggressive, when you are playing at your maximum you have to push your body to the limit. "I have had problems with my knees, others have other problems. "The reality is that at the age of 26 and after a career of more than 10 years, with very good results, it has been my good fortune that my knees have not prevented me competing at the highest level for many years. "I hope that when I return they don't hinder me." Nadal played some of his best tennis in the first half of the year, losing narrowly to Novak Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open and winning a record seventh Roland Garros title on his favoured clay. He said his goal was to get back to a similar level of fitness to allow him to go toe-to-toe with the game's best again. "What I hope for is to be ready to compete again for everything I want to compete for, like I did in the first six months of the year," he said. "That is what I will try to achieve, it's what I will fight for and work every day. "I am 26 years old and I am confident I have plenty of years ahead. What I want is to recover well and to continue enjoying tennis and competition, which is what make me happy right now." EXCLUSIVE CLUB Nadal's Spain are chasing a fourth Davis Cup title in five years and play the Czech Republic in the Nov. 16-18 final. He said he did not know whether he would have recovered in time to feature. He has only lost one of 21 singles rubbers in the competition but 16 of those wins have come on clay and as the home team the Czechs are almost certain to select hard courts. "If things go well and I can make the final and the captain thinks I am the right person to play it then I'll be there," he said. "If not, I'll be supporting the guys from afar." Nadal has dominated the slams in recent years along with world number two Djokovic and number one Roger Federer but he said Andy Murray's U.S. Open win this month meant the Briton had finally joined their exclusive club. Murray's victory against Federer at Wimbledon to win the Olympic gold had given him the extra confidence to see off Djokovic in New York, Nadal added. "What has changed is his mentality," he said. "His game has not changed practically at all but winning the Olympic Games helped him a lot with the victory in New York. "Andy is a player with an impressive talent and I always said he would win a slam, not just one he'll win more than one." Nadal spoke to Reuters at the launch of Rafa Dream Day for sponsors PokerStars (www.pokerstars.com) where fans can win the chance to meet him, play him at tennis and compete against him in a poker game in Majorca. The interview was conducted on Sept. 17.

Chelsea win at Arsenal to extend unbeaten start

Premier League leaders Chelsea beat London rivals Arsenal 2-1 with goals from Spaniards Fernando Torres and Juan Mata on Saturday to maintain their unbeaten start to the season while handing Arsenal their first defeat.

Both Chelsea goals came as a result of Mata free kicks and poor Arsenal defending with Torres out-muscling Laurent Koscielny to volley the European champions ahead at the Emirates Stadium after 20 minutes for his third league goal of the season.

Gervinho equalised for Arsenal three minutes before the break when he turned crisply and fired into the roof of the net for his fourth goal of the campaign.

Chelsea, who started with skipper John Terry as he mulls an appeal over a four-game ban for racist abuse, regained the lead after 53 minutes when Mata's free kick eluded everyone before clipping Koscielny and flying in past keeper Vito Mannone.

The victory lifted Chelsea four points clear at the top, at least until the rest of the programme later on Saturday.

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo told Sky Sports: "I thought we were excellent today and deservedly won the game. From the start to the end we never defended too deep, we tried to take the initiative and go forward and create chances and the game went for us today."

OTHER CHANCES

Disappointed Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: "We were a bit nervous at the start ... But we should never have lost this game.

"It is sad because we gave the game away at home, we conceded two soft goals on set pieces. They had three shots on target and scored two goals and you cannot concede goals at home like we did today. We gave a lot and the least we deserved was a draw."

Arsenal, who started the day in fifth place after two wins and three draws in their opening league games, came close to saving a point three times but were denied by a great Petr Cech save, the woodwork and a late rash shot from substitute Olivier Giroud.

Cech made an excellent one-handed diving save to deny Lukas Podolski a headed goal after 59 minutes and Giroud, who replaced Podolski after 66 minutes, shot into the side-netting late in the game after going round Cech - to the despair of Wenger on the sidelines.

Koscielny, who had a miserable afternoon, almost made amends but saw a late header come back off the post.

Terry, who on Thursday was found guilty of using racist language towards Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand last year, was roundly booed by the home fans every time he touched the ball at first, as was former Arsenal defender Ashley Cole.

But as he has done so often in the past, former England skipper Terry appeared unaffected by his off-field troubles and was wildly applauded by the visiting fans and gave two young supporters his boots at the end of the match.

Late goals earn Bayern Munich 2-0 win at Bremen

Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich left it late to beat Werder Bremen 2-0 on Saturday with goals from Luiz Gustavo and Mario Mandzukic as they extended their perfect start to the season to six wins in six matches.

Brazilian Gustavo curled in an 18-metre shot in the 81st minute for the visitors and Mandzukic tapped in his  goal of the season two minutes later to lift Bayern to 18 points, five ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt who host Freiburg on Sunday.

On the day of their 125th birthday, Hamburg SV were crowned 1-0 winners in their northern derby at home to Hanover 96 with Rafael van der Vaart setting up Artjoms Rudnevs for his second goal in two games.

After a bad start to the season, Hamburg have now moved up to 10th with their second win in three games.

Bayer Leverkusen continued their good run with a 2-0 home win over promoted Greuther Fuerth to move up to sixth on 10.

Hoffenheim, stunned by a car accident which left midfielder Boris Vukcevic in an artificial coma after he sustained life-threatening injuries on Friday, shared the spoils in their goalless draw at home to Augsburg.

VfB Stuttgart climbed out of the bottom spots with their first win of the season, a 2-0 victory at Nuremberg, with Vedad Ibisevic scoring one and setting up the other goal.

Champions Borussia Dortmund, on eight points, host Borussia Moenchengladbach later on Saturday.

Best Sports Motivational Video

Final at the Camp Nou

Final at the Camp Nou! FC Barcelona vs Granada (2-0). Goals: Xavi (86'), Borja (92', o.g)

FC Barcelona vs Granada 2-0

FC Barcelona

2

• 86'Xavi
• 91'Borja Gómez

Granada C.F

0

• 0/2
• 0/0
• 0/0
• 3/3
• 0/0
• 0/1

Date: samedi, 22/09/2012 22:00

Compétition: Liga

Stade: Camp Nou

Ville: Barcelona

Capacité: 99786

Television: BeIN Sport 1

Arbitre: Del Cerro Grande

Ferguson asks United fans to avoid personal hatred

 
Manager Alex Ferguson has written to Manchester United fans attending Sunday's match against Liverpool, urging them not to let the rivalry between the clubs turn into "personal hatred".

The Premier League match is the first between the two fierce rivals since the publication last week of an independent report into the Hillsborough stadium disaster which exonerated Liverpool fans of any blame in the 1989 tragedy that claimed 96 lives.

Sunday's occasion is likely to be highly emotional with players and staff having urged fans all week to show each other respect.

In Ferguson's letter, which will be handed to away fans entering Anfield, he says United "stands with our great neighbours Liverpool".

"Our rivalry with Liverpool is based on a determination to come out on top - a wish to see us crowned the best against a team that held that honour for so long," he adds.

"It cannot and should never be based on personal hatred. Just 10 days ago we heard the terrible, damning truth about the deaths of 96 fans who went to watch their team try and reach the FA Cup final and never came back," said Ferguson.

"What happened to them should wake the conscience of everyone connected with the game."

An anti-Liverpool chant of 'it's never your fault, always the victims' was heard from some quarters at Old Trafford last weekend in United's 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic.

Some United fans said those chants did not refer to Hillsborough but to the fallout from the Luis Suarez-Patrice Evra race row last season.

Liverpool forward Suarez was banned for eight matches for racially abusing United defender Evra at Anfield in October.

FLORAL TRIBUTES

Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler suggested Evra and Suarez should lay floral tributes before Sunday's game to mark the tragedies both clubs have suffered.

Fowler told BBC radio it would be appropriate for the pair to help defuse the tension by showing unity before kickoff.

"It would be nice for Luis Suarez to put some flowers at the United end regarding the 1958 Munich air crash and for Patrice Evra to do so at the Kop," Fowler said.

"The two clubs do have a rivalry but some things are far more important than football and this is one of them."

Eight United players and three club staff were among 23 people killed in Munich.

Suarez refused to shake Evra's hand before the start of the last game between the two clubs at Old Trafford in February.

Tributes have been paid to the 96 who died at Premier League matches since the Hillsborough report was issued, with Liverpool's neighbours Everton staging a particularly poignant one before the match with Newcastle United at Goodison Park on Monday.

United defender Nemanja Vidic, who has been sent off twice at Anfield, believes the Goodison spirit should be taken into Sunday's game.

In an interview with The Sun newspaper he said: "We have to show an example and be on top of the situation and behave well.

"There is a lot of history with these two clubs. We have had some tragedies, they have as well. I think we should respect each other because we are big clubs and clubs that are respected in the world."

Two United fan groups, the Manchester United Supporters Trust and the Stretford End Flags, have urged supporters not to sing disparaging songs about the Hillsborough disaster.

Rival fans have sung distasteful chants about Munich in the past.

Liverpool go into the match fourth from bottom and without a league win this term although they beat Swiss side Young Boys 5-3 in Berne in the Europa League on Thursday.

United have won three of their four league games, are second in the table and beat Galatasaray 1-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday.