Sanchez ready to haunt Liverpool

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez can show Liverpool why he would have made the perfect replacement for Luis Suarez when the Chilean travels to Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday.

Sanchez, who signed for the Gunners from Barcelona for around £35 million in July, has scored 14 goals this season and has been the shining light in an Arsenal side that have lacked consistency.

The Chilean's creativity, finishing and work ethic would have made him the perfect replacement for Barcelona-bound striker Suarez, who scored 31 Premier League goals for Liverpool last season as the Reds challenged for the title.

However, the 26-year-old forward opted to sign for Arsenal.

Liverpool, languishing in 11th place in the league, have been short of attacking options with summer recruits Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert both misfiring and boss Brendan Rodgers has been left to rue missing out on Sanchez.

"All I know is that he (Sanchez) is a world class player," Rodgers told a news conference on Friday. "He was someone who would have been perfect for us.

"He is an intelligent player and he has great work rate. We know he will be a threat."

Rodgers's loss has been Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's gain and the Frenchman been delighted with the way Sanchez has adapted to life in the Premier League.

"He (Sanchez) chose us and we're very happy for that," Wenger said. "I tried, like every manager, to convince the player that you can help him to develop the quality of his game, and that the way we play football would suit him.

"That's why I think he has chosen us in the end."

Having been thrashed 5-1 at Anfield last season, Arsenal boss Wenger does not expect Liverpool to be the same attacking force on Sunday and has called on his sixth-placed side to continue creeping up the table after a slow start.

"Last year Liverpool scored over 100 goals. Now they're not on the same trend," he said.

"We've won five of our last six games. We want to continue our strong run. Sunday's a good game for us to show we can continue to attack well and defend well.

Barca aim to cut Real's lead

Barcelona's star strikers will need to rediscover their scoring touch to stay in the title race in La Liga as the Catalan outfit host struggling Cordoba on Saturday.

In the absence of the injured Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez drew a blank in a 0-0 draw at Getafe last weekend that saw Luis Enrique's men fall four points behind in-form league leaders Real Madrid.

However, with the European champions playing San Lorenzo in the final of the Club World Cup on Saturday evening, Barca can cut the gap to a single point heading into the new year.

"Ahead of the match against Cordoba, it is important to end the year on a winning note and give some joy to the fans," midfielder Ivan Rakitic said on Thursday.

Barca will end the year having failed to claim a single trophy for the first time in six years, but, despite an indifferent start to Luis Enrique's time in charge, Xavi Hernandez is confident of ending that drought in what is likely to be the final season of his illustrious Barcelona career.

"The motivation doesn't stop with the passing of the years," he said.

"To play for the best team in the world always carries the same motivation.

"We will fight for the three competitions. It will be difficult, but we believe we can fight for the league, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League."

Enrique is hopeful of having Neymar and Daniel Alves back fit from ankle and hamstring injuries respectively.

However, Pedro Rodriguez showed he can be a capable understudy for the Brazilian should Neymar miss out again as he netted a hat-trick in the 8-1 humiliation of Huesca in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday that sealed a 12-1 aggregate victory.

Champions Atletico Madrid have a tougher task to prevent losing more ground in their unlikely attempt to retain their title when they visit Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Atletico slipped seven points off the pace with their first league defeat at home in 19 months last weekend to Villarreal.

Diego Simeone rested a host of first-team regulars as Atletico set up a Cup last-16 meeting with Real Madrid against Hospitalet on Thursday, but he will be without arguably their two best players this season in Koke and Mario Mandzukic due to suspension at San Mames.

Mandzukic's absence is likely to mean a rare start for Antoine Griezmann up front, and the Frenchman has a good record against Athletic having scored three times in Basque derbies before moving to the Spanish capital from Real Sociedad in the summer.

Athletic fought back from a goal down to claim a 1-1 draw in the latest Basque derby last weekend, but will also be missing a key player as Aymeric Laporte serves a one-game ban after being sent-off late on at Anoeta.

Villarreal's shock victory at the Vicente Calderon last weekend has ramped up the excitement in the race for the Champions League places with Atletico in third and Malaga in seventh separated by just five points.

Fourth-placed Sevilla aren't in action this weekend as they had been due to face Real Madrid, so Valencia can move into the top four with victory at Eibar on Saturday.

Villarreal will then look to continue their fine form of late when Deportivo la Coruna visit El Madrigal in Sunday's lunchtime kick-off, while Malaga travel to Elche later in the day.

Meanwhile, Getafe must pick themselves up for the trip to Granada on Sunday after the news that their coach Cosmin Contra is to leave to join Chinese side Guangzhou R&F.

Fixtures:

Friday

Celta Vigo v Almeria

Saturday

Barcelona v Cordoba
Levante v Real Sociedad
Eibar v Valencia
Rayo Vallecano v Espanyol

Sunday

Villarreal v Deportivo la Coruna
Granada v Getafe
Elche v Malaga
Athletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid

Simeone happy with improving Mandzukic

Filling the shoes of Diego Costa at Atletico Madrid was always going to be a tall order but coach Diego Simeone is pleased so far with the performances of Mario Mandzukic.

The Croatia forward struck twice in Atletico's King's Cup game at home to third-tier Hospitalet on Thursday, a 2-2 second-leg draw that sent the 2013 winners through to the last 16 5-2 on aggregate and earned them a meeting with holders Real Madrid.

Atletico bought Mandzukic from Bayern Munich to replace Costa following the Brazil-born forward's departure for Chelsea in the close season.

While he may lack Costa's pace and ability to run at defenders, Mandzukic is equally strong in the air and his positioning and eye for goal make him lethal inside the penalty area.

He started his career in Spain with a bang when he scored the goal that won the Spanish Super Cup against Real in August but it took time for him to settle as Atletico sought to rebuild after the exits of Costa, fullback Filipe Luis and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

In 13 La Liga appearances this term, Mandzukic has netted six goals, while in the Champions League his return is five in six games, helping Atletico top their group ahead of Juventus.

He has become a firm favourite with the Atletico fans and earned praise from Simeone for his double on Thursday.

"His enthusiasm and his ability have gelled with a team that plays in the same way," Simeone told a news conference.

"At the start maybe he found it a bit tough but he has become more involved with each match and his relationship with his team mates is improving all the time," added the Argentine, who has a reputation for getting the best out of his players.

"He has scored important goals, like the one in the Super Cup against Real Madrid, and his statistics are very positive for a forward.

"We hope he will continue to respond in the same way, and even get better."

Atletico's final game before the two-week winter break is Sunday's La Liga clash at Athletic Bilbao, when they will be looking to bounce back from last weekend's 1-0 reverse at home to Villarreal.

With 15 matches played, the champions are third on 32 points, three behind Barcelona and seven adrift of leaders Real.

Neymar available for Cordoba clash

Barcelona forward Neymar has recovered from a minor ankle problem and is available for Saturday's La Liga game at home to Cordoba, the club said on Friday.

Neymar has not played since he scored Barca's second goal in the 3-1 Champions League victory at home to Paris St Germain on Dec. 10 and missed last weekend's 0-0 La Liga draw at Getafe and Tuesday's 8-1 drubbing of third-tier Huesca in the King's Cup.

He trained with the rest of the squad on Friday before being given the all-clear by medical staff as Luis Enrique's men prepare for their final outing before the two-week winter break.

"Let's see tomorrow if he is in the squad and if he is in the squad he has a chance of playing," Luis Enrique told a news conference.

A win for Barca at the Nou Camp would close the gap to leaders Real Madrid to one point.

Real's game at home to Sevilla has been postponed until early February due to their participation in this week's Club World Cup in Morocco.

Neymar has been on fine form this season and has scored 11 goals in La Liga and three in the Champions League.

Barca missed his pace and trickery in attack at Getafe, when they turned in a toothless performance that meant Real were able to stretch their advantage to four points.

Luis Enrique, in his first season in charge after taking over from Gerardo Martino, said Barca need to be more consistent if they are to return to winning ways this term.

Martino was replaced after the Catalan giants missed out on major silverware in 2013-14 for the first time in six years.

"We need to improve things," Luis Enrique said.

"There is a team (Real) who are playing better than us," added the former Barca, Real and Spain midfielder. "We have to play better as a team."

Neymar's Brazil team mate Dani Alves, who has a hamstring strain, was unable to train, Barca said on their website.

San Lorenzo dream of win over Real

San Lorenzo, undeterred by the big gulf that separates them from Real Madrid, have vowed to play with "a knife between our teeth" when they face the European champions in Saturday's Club World Cup final.

The champions of South America, who count Pope Francis and Hollywood actor Viggo Mortensen among their supporters, spent three million euros in the last transfer window while Real splashed out €80 million this year on James Rodriguez alone.

"We'll have to fight for each ball as if it were the last," said San Lorenzo midfielder Leandro Romagnoli. "If we respect them too much it will be impossible.

"If we give them any freedom they will hurt us a lot ... we have to play with a knife between our teeth," he added, repeating a phrase often used by Atletico Madrid coach and former Argentina captain Diego Simeone.

San Lorenzo are attempting to become the first Argentine side to win the tournament since it started in its current format in 2005.

Boca Juniors and Estudiantes have previously reached the final, losing to AC Milan and Barcelona respectively.

That record is a stark contrast to the old Intercontinental Cup, played by the European and South American champions, which Argentine sides won a record nine times, sometimes in less than salubrious circumstances.

DAVID V GOLIATH

The difference in wealth between South American and European football means the teams from the two continents no longer meet on equal terms and matches have become a David-versus-Goliath affair.

While Real's bench is brimming with internationals, the only member of the San Lorenzo squad who played at the 2014 World Cup is Colombian defender Mario Yepes, 38.

San Lorenzo, backed by an army of 5 000 travelling fans, hardly boosted their credentials in Wednesday's semifinal as they scraped a 2-1 extra-time win over Auckland City's team of part-timers.

"I believe 100 percent in our chances," said coach Edgardo Bauza who led Ecuador's LDU in the 2008 final against Manchester United. "You have to dream of winning."

Real, aiming for a 22nd consecutive victory in all competitions, have never previously taken part in the tournament and had a mixed record in the Intercontinental Cup with three wins and two defeats in five outings.

They lost 2-1 to Argentine opponents Boca Juniors in 2000.

Carrick hails teammate Valencia

Michael Carrick has hailed Antonio Valencia as a key figure in Manchester United's recent revival in the Premier League.

Louis van Gaal's side travel to Aston Villa on Saturday looking to add to a six-match winning sequence that has lifted them to third in the table.

United's fine form has come despite van Gaal continually having to make changes to his team because of injuries to several star players.

And while forwards Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Juan Mata have earned plaudits for their match-winning goals in recent weeks, United midfielder Carrick believes Ecuador winger Valencia deserves recognition as well for his performances in a relatively unfamiliar role at right-back.

"Antonio is a pure athlete, he is immense," Carrick said.

"It is the work he does that doesn't get noticed, things like carrying the ball up the pitch for 30 or 40 yards when you have been defending.

"He takes you up the pitch and defenders just back up because they know about his pace.

"If he can go down the line, then he is pretty hard to catch. He is a great team player and, when you are playing with him, you certainly appreciate that he is on your team."

Valencia has started 10 of United's 16 league matches this season, with an injury to Rafael in October meaning most have come at right back or right-wing back.

Carrick says quiet man Valencia has dealt with the transition admirably.

"He is pretty much the full package," the 33-year-old said.

"He is reserved but determined at the same time. He is quiet, he is pleasant and he is polite.

"He is not somebody who shouts and screams in the changing room but I certainly wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of him.

"He is stubborn and determined. He has got a real desire to win, like everyone at this club."

United have been hit by 43 injuries so far this season and Chris Smalling, Luke Shaw and Daley Blind remain unavailable, while van Gaal will assess Argentine duo Marcos Rojo and Angel Di Maria after respective thigh and hamstring strains.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has a selection headache with eight players set to miss United's trip to Villa Park.

Kieran Richardson, Alan Hutton and Tom Cleverley are all suspended, although the latter would have been ineligible to face his parent club anyway.

Ashley Westwood, Joe Cole, Philippe Senderos, Nathan Baker and Libor Kozak are all sidelined through injury.

However, Fabian Delph and Ron Vlaar have both been declared fit.

"Philippe is doing well but he's not ready," Lambert said.

"It's too early for Joe. He's doing well but it's too early for him. Ashley and Nathan are out as well.

"There's a few out. But I am not going to sit here and be negative about it.

"I have total belief that we will go out there and try to win a game of football.

"Fabian is coming back into the fray, Ron is back as well. We have got players who can hurt teams as well, that's for sure.

"The team I pick will be strong. We will go and try to win.

Bent reports theft of two luxury cars

Aston Villa's former England striker Darren Bent has reported the theft of two top of the range cars from his home near Birmingham, police disclosed on Friday.

A Range Rover and an Audi RS6 were taken and police are appealing for information.

"We were called at around 3.15 am on Saturday, December 13 to a report of a burglary at a property on Newick Road, Little Aston," a police statement read.

"Unknown offenders gained entry to the property by snapping the locks on a pvc window. Following an orderly search they found the keys to a Range Rover and an Audi RS6 parked on the drive and drove away in them."

The 30-year-old striker is currently on loan at Championship side Brighton and his contract at Villa expires at the end of the season.

Spare a thought for Rodgers - Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger knows all about the ups and downs of football management and expressed sympathy for his beleaguered Liverpool counterpart Brendan Rodgers ahead of their clash at Anfield on Sunday.

Rodgers is facing a stern examination of his managerial credentials this season, with last year's Premier League runners-up 11th in the table.

Wenger, who has been Gunners boss for 18 years and survived his fair share of challenges, said: "I've sympathy for every single manager in the Premier League. Everybody goes through periods where it goes a bit less well.

"Our job is to survive crises. Part of the job, not all the job.

"When you want to make a long career, you cannot only win, unfortunately."

Arsenal return to Anfield, where last season they lost 5-1, on something of a high after victories over Galatasaray and Newcastle, finding the net four times in each game.

They conceded four goals in the opening 20 minutes last term against a rampaging Reds as their title challenge unravelled.

"We've won five of our last six games," Wenger said.

"We want to continue our strong run. We had a good game against Newcastle and Sunday is a good game for us to show that we can have continuity in finding a good balance between attacking well and defending well.

"Liverpool are always very strong at home and that's why we want to continue to be faithful to our philosophy and play our game, but as well be solid defensively."

Asked if the pain of last year's loss at Anfield lingers, Wenger added: "Every defeat hurts. Every defeat is a scar in your heart forever. We have as well very good memories at Liverpool. We won many games at Liverpool as well.

"And even last year, we lost against them. A week later against the same team we won 2-0 at home in the FA Cup.

"Liverpool last year scored over 100 goals in the championship, they were very good going forward.

"This season they've scored 19 until now so they are not on the same trend offensively, but I must say they started out the blocks very strong and we were too late to get into the game."

Wenger is not yet looking beyond the next few games, though.

"It's a very important period now," he said. "Over the Christmas period we play four Premier League games. Over Christmas we'll come back strongly I'm sure in the league.

"After, when you get over the hill to January, you look towards the end.

"How you come out of the Christmas period is of course very important."

Wenger's latest challenge is managing a busy treatment room.

Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (both groin) and Nacho Monreal (ankle) face fitness tests to determine if they can play at Liverpool.

Calum Chambers is back from suspension, but Laurent Koscielny (calf), Mikel Arteta (calf), Mesut Ozil (knee), David Ospina (thigh), Abou Diaby (calf), Jack Wilshere (ankle), Tomas Rosicky (thigh) and Serge Gnabry (knee) are all still out.

And Wenger fears midfielder Aaron Ramsey will be out until the new year with his hamstring problem.

The Frenchman said: "I'm scared that he will miss the Christmas period. He should be back end of December, early January.

Drifting Liverpool seek Arsenal spark

Liverpool will hope to draw inspiration from memories of last season's thrilling 5-1 demolition of Arsenal when the teams resume hostilities in the Premier League at Anfield this weekend.

Arsene Wenger's side were routed on their last trip to Liverpool's famous stadium in February, when a devastating four-goal salvo inside the first 20 minutes left the north London club reeling.

It was the start of an 11-game winning run that took Liverpool to within sight of the title.

Their subsequent collapse has been followed by a wretched start to the current campaign, with last weekend's chastening 3-0 defeat at Manchester United leaving them 18 points behind leaders Chelsea in 11th place.

But having emerged from a taxing trip to Championship leaders Bournemouth in the League Cup with a 3-1 victory in mid-week, manager Brendan Rodgers is hopeful that his side have turned a corner.

"Slowly we are getting there. I've said that my teams have shown at Liverpool that we get better and better," Rodgers said after Liverpool's quarterfinal success at Dean Court.

"A lot of players are adapting. I've been looking to find ways and solutions to make us more creative as we haven't been that at all this season and that is the mark of the team."

Arsenal lost 3-2 at Stoke City in their last domestic away game, but have since produced back-to-back 4-1 wins over Galatasaray in the Champions League and Newcastle United in the league.

The home victory over Newcastle left Wenger's side in sixth place in the table, five points clear of Liverpool and two points shy of the Champions League places.

Wenger has revealed that winger Theo Walcott, who has played only two games this season following a long-term knee injury, is in contention to feature after shrugging off a groin complaint.

"He is back in training today (Thursday), but only today," Wenger told the club website. "I might take him. I don't know yet until he is back to full training. Let's see."

Chelsea's three-point lead over second-place Manchester City, coupled with a superior goal difference (+23 to +19), means that they are practically assured of being in first place on Christmas Day.

But with Jose Mourinho's side not in action until Monday, when they welcome Stoke to Stamford Bridge, champions City can draw level with them by winning at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

While City are on a five-match winning run in the league, cross-town rivals Manchester United will be looking to record a seventh consecutive victory when they travel to Aston Villa.

Last Sunday's victory over Liverpool enabled Louis van Gaal's team to remain eight points behind Chelsea and five behind City, prompting captain Wayne Rooney to declare that they still have designs on the title.

Villa saw a five-game unbeaten run come to an end in a 1-0 loss at West Bromwich Albion last weekend and have a dismal home record against United, who they have not beaten in the league at Villa Park since August 1995.

Fourth-place West Ham, beaten only once in their last 10 matches, host bottom club Leicester, who are now five points from safety.

Leicester have not won since stunning Manchester United 5-3 in September, but West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says that Nigel Pearson's team are no pushovers.

"Leicester are a hard team to break down. They work very hard for each other," he told his pre-match media conference.

"Despite their run of games without a win, they haven't been turned over by anyone – it's only ever by the odd goal – so there are a lot of dangers in Nigel's teams that we need to be well aware of." Fifth-place Southampton are on a very different trajectory to West Ham and saw their run of consecutive defeats extended to five on Tuesday when they crashed to third-tier Sheffield United in the League Cup.

Ronald Koeman's side entertain Everton on Saturday.

Elsewhere, improving Burnley visit Tottenham Hotspur in a near dress rehearsal for next month's FA Cup third-round encounter, while Sunderland visit Newcastle on Sunday for the first Tyne-Wear derby of the campaign.

Fixtures

Saturday:

Aston Villa v Manchester United
Hull City v Swansea City
Manchester City v Crystal Palace
Queens Park Rangers v West Bromwich Albion
Southampton v Everton
Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley
West Ham United v Leicester City

Sunday:

Newcastle United v Sunderland
Liverpool v Arsenal

Monday:

Stoke City v Chelsea

Ghana's big stadia set for privatisation

Ghana's National Sports Authority (NSA) wants to engage in Public Private Partnership for its major sports facilities.

The state-owned structures have, for years, been bleeding the state of resources despite mounting critique that they are too expensive for the tax-payer.

Reacting to media reports that broke out over intentions to invite the private sector in the management of the facilities, Public Relations Officer of the NSA, Fredericka Mensah-Davies, has revealed that partnerships will only be agreed with organisations that have a proper track record in handling such facilities.

"The decision is based on the recommendations made by the eminent football personalities, the NSA wrote to us and we gave our approval. The NSA will be in the best position to give details about the timelines but it is all subject to cabinet approval."

Media reports had suggested that interested private partners would be invited to submit bids on partnering the NSA to manage the Accra Sports Stadium, Theodosia Okoh Hockey Pitch and the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

That issue seems to have generated controversy among the sporting populace with rumours of an outright sale of the three facilities rife.

According to Mensah-Davies, the move has been necessitated by the body's inability to generate funds to properly maintain all the facilities under their jurisdiction.

"It is not privatisation of the whole stadia but rather a public private partnership that will see us give out the facilities to a private purse to manage.

"On pilot basis, we are going to use the Accra Sports stadium and the Baba Yara stadium.

Ghana discuss Tunisia friendly

The Black Stars are one of four potential opponents Tunisia are courting for their pre-Afcon test matches.

Head coach Georges Leekens is planning to play three preparatory games in his programme before the Carthage Eagles depart for the Equatorial Guinea tournament.

Tunisia are prepared to play on January 7, 11 and 12 – with Ghana group opponents and neighbours Algeria already securing the January 11 date for a friendly with the Carthage Eagles in Rades.

The Tunisian Federation (FTF), have said they are engaged in talks with about four countries to fill up the remaining two dates. And supersport.com has learnt that one of these potential friendly opponents is Ghana’s Black Stars.

Sources tell supersport.com that the FTF have proposed to play the Black Stars at home on January 7 and have indeed held detailed talks about the team’s arrival and accommodation for the friendly.

Tunisia will sponsor all the expenses of the team during their stay while Ghana takes care of their flight costs from their camping base for the match, it has been proposed.

Per our understanding, the top hierarchy of the Ghana FA together with the Black Stars technical team and management have discussed details of the offer and currently look more likely to confirm the friendly date with the Tunisians.

The Carthage Eagles find themselves in a tricky Group B of the Afcon which has Cape Verde, Zambia and DR Congo while the Black Stars are in the tournament’s ‘group of death’ with Senegal, Algeria and South Africa.

Ghana looks set to confirm Spain as it camping base though there have been a few eyebrows raised over the contingent’s possibility of acquiring visas to the European country on time. The Black Stars’ camp is expected to open on January 2, 2015.

Koeman upbeat despite Saints fall from grace

Managing Southampton in the Premier League had been a south coast breeze for Ronald Koeman – until this month.

The Dutchman's Saints have spent almost the whole season in the Premier League top four but four consecutive league defeats and another in the League Cup have been a harsh reality check.

With a frantic fixture list and a squad beginning to creak under the strain, pessimists could argue that Southampton's almost inevitable descent down the table has begun.

Koeman, however, remains upbeat, even if he will be without the likes of suspended Morgan Schneiderlin and Victor Wanyama and injured Dusan Tadic for Saturday's home clash with Everton.

"If somebody told me in pre-season that in the middle of December we'd be fifth, I'd say give me the paper and I'll sign it now," Koeman told reporters on Thursday.

"I know my players and I know how they can play football. Maybe it's about freshness and changes in the team."

The first three of Southampton's defeats were against Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United, but they then lost to struggling Burnley before bowing out of the League Cup quarterfinals this week to third tier Sheffield United.

"I'm very disappointed about how we lost against Sheffield United," Koeman said. "That's the first time I'm disappointed in the team's spirit.

"But the nicest part of football is that there's always the next game."

With the January transfer window about to open, Southampton have been linked with several high-profile players including Galatasaray playmaker Wesley Sneijder, but Koeman knocked back suggestions his fellow Dutchman could become a Saint.

"I'm interested, but I know we can't pay him," he said. "There's nothing in it.

Breno to join Sao Paulo after jail release

Former Bayern Munich defender Breno arrived in his native Brazil on Thursday and is set to return to his first club Sao Paulo after serving more than two years in prison for arson.

The 25-year-old Brazilian was sentenced to three years, nine months in prison in July 2012 after being convicted of starting the fire which gutted his luxury Munich home in September 2011, but he was granted parole last week.

He had until December 20 to leave Germany, but may not return for a minimum of three years.

"I am returning to Brazil with my head held high and I am taking it as a new start to my career," Breno told the GloboEsporte website.

He began his career with Sao Paulo in 2007 before leaving for Bayern in 2008.

Sao Paulo have been helping him financially since December 2012 and had already announced their intention to bring him back to the club for next season, without specifying the date or any details of his return.

Dortmund remain in relegation zone

An 85th-minute equaliser by Naldo gave VfL Wolfsburg a 2-2 draw at Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, maintaining their hold on second place and leaving the hosts in the Bundesliga relegation zone.

Brazilian Naldo drilled in a powerful header after he was left completely unmarked in the box with last season's runners-up Dortmund having gone back into the lead with a 76th-minute goal from Ciro Immobile.

The Italian striker, under mounting criticism as Dortmund made their worst start in decades, set up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the eighth minute for the lead with the Gabon international sliding in to connect with the cross.

Wolfsburg equalised with Kevin De Bruyne's clever free kick in the 29th and looked in complete control with Vieirinha being denied at point-blank range by keeper Mitch Langerak, who has been given the nod ahead of first choice Roman Weidenfeller in recent weeks.

Dortmund hustled possession back and Immobile came close three times before rifling in from the edge of the box but they failed to hold on to their renewed lead as Naldo grabbed his fourth goal of the season.

Wolfsburg are on 31 points, 11 behind leaders Bayern Munich, who eased past Freiburg 2-0 on Tuesday.

Dortmund are in 16th place on 15 but coach Juergen Klopp heaped praise on the Italian striker.

"It has been a long time that I have seen a striker play like Ciro did today," said Klopp, whose team faces Juventus in the Champions League round of 16.

"Our performance was good in many ways and this is something we can build on."

Borussia Moenchengladbach climbed back up to third on 27, four points behind Wolfsburg, with a convincing 4-1 win over struggling Werder Bremen, who were left with 10 players midway through the second half following Luca Caldirola's second booking.

Bayer Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling scored on his return to Hoffenheim for the first time since last year's 'phantom goal' game for a 1-0 win that lifted them level with third-placed Gladbach on 27.

Kiessling ended his goal drought, ironically in the stadium where last season he scored an infamous goal that should never have counted when his header slipped in through a hole in the side netting and the striker was vilified by fans in Germany for not telling the referee.

The goal contributed to the top division clubs agreeing on introducing goalline technology from next season.

Eintracht Frankfurt staged a memorable comeback with two late goals in two minutes from Bundesliga top scorer Alex Meier to draw 4-4 against Hertha Berlin.

Hertha had led 3-0 and 4-2 before Meier's late double strike earned them a point and took his league tally to 12.

Schalke 04 also got the three points with a 2-1 victory over Paderborn to move into fifth place on 26 courtesy of Roman Neustaedter's 78th minute winner.

Reus fined for driving without licence

Borussia Dortmund and Germany winger Marco Reus has been fined more than half a million euros for driving without a licence for years.

The 25-year-old international, who has been advertising the club's car sponsor and has also been in ads for a petrol company, received speeding tickets on at least five occasions since 2011 before authorities realised he had been driving without a licence ever since.

"I decided back then to take that road but the reasons I did it are something I cannot really understand today," Reus, a transfer target for many top European clubs, was quoted as telling Bild newspaper on Wednesday.

Dortmund's prosecutor's office said the fine was 540,000 euros ($664,848) related to incidents from 2011 until this March.

"Today I know that I was too naive and that it was stupid. I have learned my lesson and this will not happen again," Reus said.

The club said they had discussed the matter with the player who said he had made a "stupid" mistake.

"He has promised such a thing will not happen again," club spokesman Sascha Fligge told reporters. "We see no reason to doubt his words because we hold Marco both as a player and as a person in high regard."

Reus, who missed Germany's World Cup triumph in July after picking up an injury in the final warmup game, is currently out with another ankle injury.

Mascherano enjoying fruits of labour

Javier Mascherano believes that hard work rather than talent has made him a crucial player for Barcelona, who aim to finish the year on a high by closing the gap on Real Madrid at the top of La Liga with a victory over Cordoba on Saturday.

From Pep Guardiola to Luis Enrique, all the coaches Mascherano has worked under during his four years at Barca have relied on his graft and discipline, and the King's Cup win over Huesca on Tuesday marked the Argentine's 200th appearance.

Barca have been in transition under Luis Enrique this season but the defensive midfielder/centre back remains one of the first names on the team sheet and the side looked to his composure and leadership when their form stuttered early on.

Real have a four-point lead over Barcelona but while they are away looking to extend their winning run to 22 matches in the final of the Club World Cup this weekend, the Catalan side can close the gap before the Christmas break.

"I've always identified myself as a worker," Mascherano told the club website.

"I am someone that perhaps wasn't born with the same talent as other top players but I have always put in a lot of hard work and that has taken me to where I am now.

"Barca is the biggest club that I have been at and to move here (from Liverpool) was the most important decision in my career as I arrived at the top. The demands of this club are the maximum that can be asked of a footballer."

Jeremy Mathieu was brought in to boost the defensive line this season but in the important matches, it has either been the Frenchman or Gerard Pique that have played alongside Mascherano.

"I don't give much importance to statistics but to reach 200 games for this club is not easy with the competition internal and external," Mascherano added.

"All the time you are being tested because all players want to come here. I never would have imagined that I would play this number of games and it is due to the work."

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid slipped seven points off the pace after losing against Villarreal last weekend and the champions will be looking to stay in the title race with a victory over Athletic Bilbao.

San Lorenzo set up Real final

South American champions San Lorenzo needed extra-time to see off the gallant challenge of Auckland City as they beat the New Zealand part-timers 2-1 in the Club World Cup semifinal on Wednesday.

Auckland's unlikely dream of facing European champions Real Madrid in Saturday's final in Marrakech ended when substitute Mauro Matos fired San Lorenzo's winner four minutes into extra-time.

The rank outsiders had given San Lorenzo an almighty scare when Angel Berlanga equalised in the 67th minute to cancel out Pablo Barrientos' opener for the Argentines in first-half stoppage time.

San Lorenzo will attempt to become the first Argentine side to win the tournament since it began in its current format in 2005, although they face a near-impossible task if Wednesday's poor display is anything to go by.

Auckland had battled their way past host team Moghreb Tetouan on penalties and African champions ES Setif without conceding a goal as they became the first Oceania side to reach the semifinals.

In a scrappy first half, they created an early opening when Argentine Emiliano Tade wriggled free and had a low shot saved by San Lorenzo goallkeeper Sebastian Torrico.

San Lorenzo offered little threat until Emmanuel Mas broke to the byline and pulled the ball back into the middle of the area to Barrientos, who fired a left-foot shot just inside the near post.

However, neither the goal nor non-stop singing from around 5 000 of their fans could inspire San Lorenzo and they were stunned by an equaliser in the 67th minute.

Tade's pass through the heart of the defence evaded San Lorenzo Torrico and ran loose to Angel Berlanga who slotted home from an acute angle.

The game suddenly came to life and San Lorenzo went close with a brilliant effort by Martin Cauteruccio who flicked the ball over an opponent and crashed a dipping volley against the post.

Auckland replied immediately as Ryan de Vries found Tade free on the left but, with a chance of glory beckoning, he scooped his shot high and wide.

Substitute Matos finally settled matters when he fired home a loose ball as San Lorenzo became the third Argentine side to reach the final after Boca Juniors in 2007 and Estudiantes in 2009.

Auckland the moral winners - coach

Auckland City coach Ramon Tribulietx declared his team the moral winners after the part-timers took South American champions San Lorenzo to extra time and came close to a meeting with Real Madrid in the Club World Cup.

The New Zealanders eventually lost their semifinal 2-1, ending a run in which they had already seen off Moghreb Tetouan, champions of host nation Morocco, and African champions ES Setif.

San Lorenzo will face Real Madrid in Saturday's final in Marrakech.

"We are the moral winners by a mile, pushing the South American champions, not losing in 90 minutes and even having the chance to win the game," Tribulietx told reporters.

"Losing in extra time is a big win as far as we're concerned, we are very proud of it and we will remember this for a long time."

Auckland's team includes a zoology student, lawyer, delivery truck driver, grass roots soccer coaches and retail assistant, yet Tribulitex said his team looked like the professionals at times on Wednesday.

"At times it, looked like we were the professional team, we had they ball and they were on the back foot," he said.

"To force this team back, imagine, that's spectacular for us. This is the fruit of a lot of patience and a lot of work by a lot of people, it produces fruit."

"We proved we can be competitive on a big stage and I'm very proud."

Auckland are taking part in the Club World Cup for a record sixth time, thanks to their dominance in the Oceania Champions League, and this is only the second time they have gone beyond the preliminary round.

"We've got a lot of interest, there have been a lot of people watching the game in New Zealand and it is difficult to drag people to watching football in a rugby nation," said Tribulietx.

"We've done ourselves a favour and I hope the game in New Zealand develops a little further."

San Lorenzo coach Edgardo Bauza agreed that Auckland had caused his side a lot of problems.

"Regardless of whether they are amateurs or not, they defend well, they force you to run a lot and work hard and they wear their opponents down," said the man known as "Big Foot."

"It was difficult, just like we expected.

Tottenham hit back at AVB claims

Tottenham have hit back at Andre Villas-Boas by accusing their former manager of rewriting history after he claimed the Premier League club reneged on promises over transfers.

Villas-Boas was sacked by Spurs a year ago following a difficult 18 months at White Hart Lane.

The Portuguese coach has since taken charge at Russian outfit Zenit St Petersburg, but the manner of his departure from Spurs still rankles, leading him to air his grievances in an interview with TVI.

The 37-year-old says Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy broke promises in relation to transfers both in and out of the north London club.

"The chairman proposed a challenge to increase Tottenham's competitive level, but immediately (Luka) Modric left and we didn't get any of the targets I had identified, such as Joao Moutinho, Willian, Oscar or Leandro Damiao," Villas-Boas said.

"These were promises that were not kept. I had a group of players I had not chosen.

"In two years I lost (Rafael) van der Vaart, Modric, (Gareth) Bale, and all the promises made were unfulfilled.

"In any event I don't look at my time at Tottenham as a negative experience. It was an experience I needed to have."

Those comments have not sat well with Tottenham, with the club swiftly slamming Villas-Boas' claims.

"It's unfortunate that Andre has felt the need to pass comments like these," a Spurs spokesperson said.

"Not only has he attempted to rewrite history, he has clearly forgotten the facts."

Villas-Boas' claim that Modric's move to Real Madrid came as a shock are understood to have irked Tottenham, as has the way he portrayed Van der Vaart's return to Hamburg.

The Portugese is believed to have been key in the Netherlands international's departure, while the club deemed many of his targets as unrealistic acquisitions.

City primed to pounce on Chelsea

Rejuvenated Manchester City can pile the pressure on Premier League leaders Chelsea for the first time this season if they beat struggling visitors Crystal Palace on Saturday.

With Chelsea not playing at Stoke City until Monday, a City victory at the Etihad Stadium against a Palace side who have failed to win their last four Premier League matches would put the champions level on 39 points with Jose Mourinho's men.

Having trailed leaders Chelsea by eight points at one stage this season, City have won their last five league matches, with Frank Lampard's strike enough to give Manuel Pellegrini's side a 1-0 victory at bottom club Leicester City last weekend.

However, City will be without a recognised forward against 16th-placed Palace as Sergio Aguero, Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko all have knocks, while captain and key central defender Vincent Kompany limped off at Leicester with a hamstring injury.

Despite a lack of attacking options, Pellegrini is confident his injury-hit squad can find the perfect striking remedy within their ranks against Neil Warnock's Palace.

"We'll work this week with the players that can play in that position," Pellegrini told reporters. "At the moment we are trying to recover all the players because we have no strikers.

"David Silva, Samir Nasri and the rest of the midfielders can all score so we must see during the week which is the best way to play in the future until we recover our strikers."

Chelsea, who beat visiting Hull City 2-0 last weekend, have no striking woes but, after allowing their healthy advantage over City to be cut, midfielder Cesc Fabregas has called on his teammates to keep improving in their quest for the title.

"You can always get better," the Spaniard told the club's website (www.chelseafc.com). "We know that and we are trying to improve in training by doing what the manager tells us to do.

"Everyone is very focused and everyone is very professional. Now the next two or three weeks are really important in our season and we have to be up for it."

Third-placed Manchester United, buoyed by a 3-0 demolition of arch-rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford last weekend, travel to Aston Villa on Saturday when fourth-placed West Ham United host basement side Leicester.

On Sunday, Newcastle United fans will give Sunderland a hostile reception in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James' Park, before floundering Liverpool, perhaps lifted by their 3-1 Capital One Cup win at Bournemouth in midweek, host sixth-placed Arsenal.

Ozil closes on Arsenal return

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil said that "it won't be too much longer" before he returns from a knee injury in an interview published on the club website on Thursday.

The Germany international, 26, has not played since suffering a partial rupture of the outer band of the left knee joint during his side's 2-0 loss at Chelsea on October 5.

Ozil was pictured walking out for training at Arsenal's Hertfordshire training centre last week and he says that he is on schedule for a return in early 2015.

"I am working every day to get myself fit and I am on the right path now. It won't be much too much longer before I am back on the pitch," Ozil said.

"I hope to be back training with the whole team again as soon as possible."

Arsenal are currently in sixth place in the Premier League, two points below the Champions League places, and visit Liverpool on Sunday. They have been drawn to face Monaco in the Champions League last 16.