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Bayern target leaders Wolfsburg

BERLIN (AFP) – Bayern Munich welcome back Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger for Saturday’s Bundesliga clash at Bielefeld as they look to put their Champions League heartbreak behind them and chase league leaders Wolfsburg.

Schweinsteiger scored in last Saturday’s 4-0 league win over Frankfurt, but a knee injury kept him out of Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Barcelona which knocked Bayern out of the Champions League.

“We hope that the problem will be healed by the weekend,” said Bayern boss Jurgen Klinsmann with his side second in the table.

Schweinsteiger’s Germany team-mate Lukas Podolski is still out with a calf problem and the striker has not trained with the team this week.

As Bayern focus their thoughts on retaining their Bundesliga title, Klinsmann says it is all about points now and the ex-Germany boss was booed by his own fans at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.

“We have to concentrate purely on the Bundesliga and win points, points, points,” said Klinsmann, with Italians Carlo Ancelotti and Robert Mancini both being linked to his job by the Italian media.

Bayern are three points behind leaders Wolfsburg, who are at home to Bayer Leverkusen.

Wolfsburg have few injury worries as they prepare to host Leverkusen. Strikers Edin Dzeko and Brazilian Grafite have scored 36 league goals between them, but coach Felix Magath is keeping his feet on the ground.

“Look at Hertha Berlin: three rounds ago, they were four points ahead of us. Now, they are five points behind. It can happen so fast,” said Magath, with Hertha now fourth in the league.

Hamburg, who qualified for the UEFA Cup semi-finals on Thursday, are at home to strugglers Hanover, who shocked Hertha Berlin 2-0 last weekend.

Hamburg are level on points with Bayern and can still win the treble of the Bundesliga, German Cup and UEFA Cup this season.

Hertha Berlin are in danger of dropping out of the title race and another defeat at home to Werder Bremen on Sunday will seriously damage their hopes.

Hot-shot striker Andrei Voronin has been banned for three games after being sent off last weekend, while fellow forward Marko Pantelic is out with a groin strain.

Having climbed up to fifth in the league thanks to Germany striker Mario Gomez scoring an injury-time goal last week, Stuttgart have a good chance to take three more goals at strugglers Cologne.

Gomez has now hit 15 goals in 26 league games this season.

In the weekend’s other games, Schalke 04 are at home to strugglers Energie Cottbus on Friday while bottom club Karlsruhe are home to Hoffenheim who are now 10 points off Wolfsburg and effectively out of the title race.

Mid-table sides Bochum and Dortmund will slug it out Saturday and Eintracht Frankfurt, who were humbled 4-0 at Bayern on Saturday, are up against Borussia Moenchengladbach who are third from bottom and in the relegation zone.

Friday

Schalke 04 v Energie Cottbus

Saturday

Arminia Bielefeld v Bayern Munich, Cologne v VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg v Bayer Leverkusen, VfL Bochum v Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia M’gladbach, Karlsruhe v Hoffenheim

Sunday

Hertha Berlin v Werder Bremen, Hamburg v Hanover 96

Source: http://www.footballcupleague.com

Robben wonder goal sends Bayern top

Dutch star Arjen Robben hit a second-half wonder goal on Saturday as Bayern Munich came from behind to win 3-2 at Werder Bremen as the German giants went top of the league.

Robben’s stunning direct free-kick gave Louis van Gaal-coached Bayern their sixth straight league win while the Holland star hit his fifth league goal of the season.

The flying Dutch winger, who signed for 24 million euros (33.9 million US dollars) from Real Madrid last summer, hit a curling free-kick which gave Bremen’s Germany goalkeeper Tim Wiese no chance of saving on 78 minutes.

It was a bitter blow for the home side who had opened the scoring after midfielder Aaron Hunt slotted home from close range after 10 minutes.

Bayern hit back when rising star Thomas Mueller scored after good work by Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger on 25 minutes before Croatia striker Ivica Olic netted from a Philipp Lahm cross ten minutes later.

It left Bayern 2-1 up at the break as they welcomed back French midfielder Franck Ribery, who came on for Olic in the second-half to make his first appearance for Munich since suffering a knee injury on October 3.

Bremen equalised when Portugal striker Hugo Almeida slotted home a top-class goal on 75 minutes before Robben’s stunning winner.

An injury time goal from Bochum’s Slovakia striker Stanislav Sestak robbed Schalke of the chance to go top as the Royal Blues were held 2-2.

Schalke took the lead when Uruguay striker Vicente Sanchez converted a pass from Jefferson Farfan in the fifth minute before ex-Germany striker Kevin Kuranyi made it 2-0 to the hosts just before the half-time whistle.

The result left Felix Magath-coached Schalke third in the table, but second-placed Leverkusen have the chance to regain the lead on Sunday providing they win at Hoffenheim.

And defending champions Wolfsburg host struggling Cologne also on Sunday while fourth-placed Hamburg have the opportunity to get back into the league race if they win at fifth-placed Dortmund on Saturday night.

Having picked up only their second win of the season last weekened, bottom side Hertha Berlin were held 0-0 at home by Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Hertha’s Czech Republic goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny kept his side in the game when he saved a first-half penalty from ‘Gladbach’s midfielder Juan Arango from Venezuala while Nuremberg drew 1-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Having taken over from Andreas Bergmann as coach last week, new Hanover boss Mirko Slomka got off to a losing start when his side were beaten 1-0 at mid-table Mainz – their eighth game without a win.

BERLIN (AFP)

Source: http://www.footballcupleague.com

Japan to face Venezuela in friendly

The Japanese national team will begin their 2010 World Cup preparation with a friendly against Venezuela on February 2.

Although Venezuela failed to qualify for next summer’s finals, Japan manager Takeshi Okada feels that it is a good test as “teams from South America always approach matches wanting to win”.

In addition, Okada told reporters that the game, to be played at Kyushu Oil Dome, “will help toughen Japan up”.

Japan have no further friendlies lined up at the moment, although they will face China, Hong Kong and South Korea at the East Asian Championships in February.

At the World Cup, Japan are drawn into Group E with the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark.

Source: http://www.footballcupleague.com

S.Korea outclass Australia

South Korea outclassed Australia 3-1 in a friendly on Saturday in what coach Huh Jung-Moo said was a useful work-out ahead of next year’s World Cup.

The South Koreans, who in June won their seventh consecutive berth at the World Cup finals, quickly gained control against the Socceroos when Park Chu-Young scored after only four minutes.

The hosts doubled their advantage on 20 minutes when Lee Jang-Soo scored from close range.

Australia, who also qualified for South Africa next year, struck back in the 33rd minute when Patrick Kisnorbo headed home a free-kick.

But South Korea’s Seol Ki-Hyeon headed in a cross from Manchester United star and national captain Park Ji-Sung in the 87th minute to make the game safe.

“Australia is a team that is on a level with European teams in terms of having a strong defence,” coach Huh was quoted by Yonhap news agency as saying.

“The match gave us an opportunity to examine what we should do in facing teams of such level and what areas to supplement.”

The South Koreans finished the World Cup Asian qualifying round on top, while North Korea and Japan also reached the finals.

SEOUL (AFP)

Source: http://www.footballcupleague.com

Manchester United loan Zoran Tosic to FC Cologne

Manchester United have allowed Serbian winger Zoran Tosic to join German side FC Cologne on loan until the summer.

The 22-year-old arrived at Old Trafford 12 months ago from Partizan Belgrade as part of a reported £16.3m double deal that also saw Adem Ljajic join United.

But Tosic has failed to win a first-team place since, making only two appearances this season, in the Carling Cup against Barnsley and Tottenham.

However, he said: "I don't believe I have had my final say at United."

He added: "Hopefully my displays with Cologne will be my ticket back to Old Trafford."

Ljajic left the club only last month after manager Sir Alex Ferguson decided not to take up the option to sign him.

He has since gone on to join Italian club Fiorentina.

Tosic and Ljajic are still regarded as two of Serbia's brightest young talents, despite their failure to settle in at the Premier League champions.

From BBC

Source: http://www.manutd-blog.com

Sir Alex Ferguson relishes Arsenal battle

Sir Alex Ferguson has declared Manchester United's Premier League match against Arsenal on Sunday as his club's "biggest game of the season".

With leaders Chelsea only one point ahead of United, with a game in hand, and Arsenal one point behind, Ferguson is convinced the game could be pivotal.

"Looking at the way the league is shaping up, this game on Sunday is the biggest of the season for us," he said.

"It has relevance as both sides have a genuine chance of winning the league."

Ferguson is relishing the opportunity to try to deal a major blow to one of United's main title rivals but he admitted Arsenal's recent run of 10 league games without defeat means Arsene Wenger's side are a major threat.

"It is amazing how this league has changed," said Ferguson. "As I have said all along, the team that is most consistent will win the league now.

"Arsenal's current form has been very good. It has brought them back into the picture. That is why this is such a massive game for us."

United face Chelsea at old Trafford on 3 April and Ferguson acknowledged the importance of staying in touch with the Stamford Bridge outfit.

"If Chelsea win their game in hand they go four points ahead of us," said Ferguson. "That is the catch-up part."

Wenger has refused to put quite as much importance on the match as his United counterpart and the Frenchman is convinced the Gunners can still challenge for the title, whatever the outcome at the Emirates.

Pearce and Keown on Arsenal v Man Utd

"I believe that no matter what happens we will still be in a position where we will have a chance after these games, but it can put us in a very strong position and that is what we want," said Wenger.

"We know that to be successful in this period we have to be more of a team than the other teams. We have to think how strong and how much solidarity it takes to get through a period like that. That is what we want to show on Sunday.

"We love being in the race. Of course it was our dream to be in this position in this period of time."

United will be without Rio Ferdinand, who starts a four-match ban after a Football Association disciplinary panel decided his appeal against a violent conduct charge for his attack on Hull's Craig Fagan last week was "frivolous".

Meanwhile, Wenger is adamant defender Sol Campbell can stop in-form striker Wayne Rooney when the sides meet.

The Gunners boss will hand Campbell, 35, a first Premier League start since rejoining the club if Thomas Vermaelen does not recover from a knee injury.

"Sol can cope with Rooney. He is ready if he has recovered well," said Wenger.

Wenger backs 'big match' Campbell

"He has experience and he likes the big games. He can turn up if needed and experience helps in these games."

Rooney has dominated the headlines in recent weeks after scoring four goals against Hull last weekend and heading the winner against Manchester City in the Carling Cup semi-final on Wednesday.

The England striker has scored 19 goals in the Premier League this season, prompting boss Sir Alex Ferguson to hail him as "world class".

Campbell spent four months out of the game after quitting League Two side Notts County in September, but following a lengthy period training with his old team Wenger signed the centre-back until the end of the season.

The former England international made his second debut in last weekend's FA Cup defeat at Stoke before coming on as a substitute in the 0-0 draw with Villa following the injury to Vermaelen.

And Wenger will assess whether Campbell has recovered sufficiently to play three games in a week prior to naming his side."

The Frenchman will also run the rule over 24-year-old Vermaelen, who was originally feared to have fractured his leg at Villa Park.

"The good news we have on Vermaelen is that there is no fracture," Wenger said of the Belgian, who has been a key figure since arriving from Ajax for £10m in the summer.

"We have to assess his knee today, there is still a small chance that he plays on Sunday.

"We will do the maximum to get him fit, but at the moment it looks unlikely.

"It should be a very short-term injury, and at the latest he should be ready for the Chelsea game (on 7 February)."

From BBC

Source: http://www.manutd-blog.com

Man Utd defender Rio Ferdinand may fight increased ban

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is considering whether to appeal against the increase to his ban for violent conduct.

The 31-year-old lost his original appeal against a three-match suspension for an altercation with Craig Fagan during Saturday's 4-0 win over Hull.

The Football Association labelled the appeal "frivolous" and increased his ban to four games.

United have until Monday to contest the additional one-game suspension.

The FA told BBC Sport that Manchester United can appeal against the increase but have yet to hear from the reigning Premier League champions.

United were unavailable to confirm to BBC Sport what their next move would be, but manager Sir Alex Ferguson revealed his displeasure with the disciplinary processes being used by the game's governing body.

"We have to decide whether to appeal because there are conflicting ways in how these decisions are being viewed," he said.

"I watched the game between Leyton Orient and Charlton on Monday and there was an elbow on the Charlton player three times as he was running with the ball.

"But nothing has happened with that. There is a lot of confusion there, although we accept that for (Saturday), Rio is banned."

Ferdinand only returned to action at Old Trafford at the weekend for the first time in three months after recovering from a calf injury.

But after appearing to swing an arm at Hull striker Fagan, the England centre-half picked up a three-match ban, which was then extended to four after the Football Association rejected the defender's appeal as "frivolous".

Because of the appeal, Ferdinand, who has made only 10 appearances for his club so far this season, was able to play in Wednesday's Carling Cup win over Manchester City, but he faces a further suspension if he fails to overturn the ban on the fourth game.

While he is definitely banned for the next three games, at Arsenal on Sunday and then the following Premier League matches against Portsmouth and Aston Villa, the Red Devils could succeed in having their centre-half available at Everton on 20 February.

If Ferdinand received a five-match suspension on the back of another appeal, he would be ruled out of the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa on 28 February at Wembley.

From BBC

Source: http://www.manutd-blog.com