Pressure now on title rivals - Ranieri

The pressure is now on Leicester City's title rivals to remove the Foxes from the top of the Premier League table, manager Claudio Ranieri said after Saturday's thumping 3-1 league victory over Manchester City.

A brace from defender Robert Huth and another strike from winger Riyad Mahrez meant Leicester managed to open up a five-point gap with second-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

"The pressure was on us at the beginning because our goal was to maintain our Premier League status, but now the pressure is on the other teams who spent a lot of money to win the Premier League and Champions League," Italian Ranieri told British media.

"It is important for us to stay concentrated and keep our feet on the ground.

"That is important because, for the first time in their lives, they are doing something special. It is important not to look behind you."

Ranieri admitted his team could be affected by the pressure of the title race but urged his players to use their experience of being in the relegation dogfight last campaign to their advantage.

"Pressure, it could be a problem, but it is important we stay calm... What they experienced last season may help because it was a big pressure for them," said the former Chelsea manager.

Leicester will look to dampen third-placed Arsenal's title hopes when they travel to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, knowing a victory would pull them eight points away from Arsene Wenger's men.

City suspect changes upon Pep arrival

Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta suspects there will be changes when new manager Pep Guardiola arrives during the close season but said the players are completely focussed on challenging for titles in the current campaign.

City last week announced that Guardiola, currently at German champions Bayern Munich, will take over from Manuel Pellegrini as manager from July.

"We need to deal with it. The club decided to announce this now after so many rumours, we really understand this. Now it's just time to finish in the best way we can do this season," Zabaleta told British media.

"We are all behind Manuel. He's been great for this football club. So he's continued in the way he has done for the last few years. Nothing changes for him. And then we'll see at the end of the season with the new manager coming in.

"We suspect changes but it's normal. Now is not the right time to talk about the future because there's a lot of time for this. We just need to be 100 per cent focused on the next games."

Following Saturday's 3-1 loss to fellow title contenders Leicester City, Zabaleta played down suggestions that the club have not been able to produce their best football when it mattered.

Saturday's meeting with Leicester was the seventh time the Blues played a side in the top six of the league this season, and the seventh time they failed to win.

"Every single game in this league is very hard. Every game is played in the same way. Sometimes you can win, sometimes you lose," the Argentina international said.

City, who have failed to win back-to-back league games since October, have slipped to fourth in the table and will hope to get their title charge back on track when they host second-placed Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Weekend Football Review

Leicester's fairytale rise from relegation candidates to Premier League title contenders hit a new high on Saturday with a 3-1 win at Manchester City that cemented their hold on first place in the table while Arsenal returned to third place in the Premier League after Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's goals ended a four-game winless streak with a 2-0 victory at Bournemouth. There was a rare win for Aston Villa while Chelsea struck late to earn a draw against Man United.

Elsewhere in the Premier League, Jermain Defoe capped a dramatic Sunderland fightback as the Premier League strugglers recovered from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Liverpool on Saturday.

Goals from Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana seemed to be enough to give Liverpool all three points, but Adam Johnson's 82nd minute free-kick started the revival and Defoe's 89th minute strike stunned a half-empty Anfield.

No such worries for Tottenham Hotspur, who moved up to second with a 1-0 victory over Watford to notch their sixth successive win across all competitions. Mauricio Pochettino's men leapfrog Manchester City, who lost to leaders Leicester City earlier in the day, thanks to defender Kieran Trippier's goal midway through the second half.

Then Arsenal returned to third place in the Premier League after Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's goals ended a four-game winless streak with a 2-0 victory at Bournemouth on Sunday. Arsenal arrived at Dean Court with their title challenge under threat after a poor run in January capped by a failure to score in their previous three league matches.

Finally, a goal in added time by Chelsea's Diego Costa earned a point against Manchester United and preserved Guus Hiddink's unbeaten record since returning to the London club as interim manager in December while denying Dutch compatriot Louis van Gaal victory. It also meant United had failed to win any of their last 10 league and cup meetings with Chelsea over the past three years.

Downs demolish Stars

Mamelodi Sundowns took their tally to 42 points on the Absa Premiership log standings when they beat Free State Stars 5-2 on Sunday afternoon at James Motlatsi Stadium. A first half strike by defender Wayne Arendse and four goals in the other half from Keagan Dolly, Leonardo Castro, Khama Billiat and Mogakolodi Ngele handed the Tshwane side the three points.

Following the win, they now lead second-placed Bidvest Wits by six points, while Ea Lla Koto sit at position 10 on 22 points from 17 matches.

Elsewhere, Orlando Pirates are up to seventh on the Absa Premiership standings following a 1-0 win over the University of Pretoria at Tuks Stadium on Saturday. Thabo Matlaba scored the only goal of the game in a tightly contested clash in the capital, the defeat for Tuks, leaves them in 15th place, one point off Jomo Cosmos who lost at Chippa United.

Kaizer Chiefs were made to work hard for their win over Maritzburg United, a 91st minute goal sealing a 3-2 Absa Premiership victory at the FNB Stadium on Saturday. Amakhosi had been 2-0 up after 36 minutes thanks to goals from Willard Katsande and Camildine Abraw, only for United to score in the 43rd and 49th minutes through Thamsanqa Teyise and Evans Rusike, before Lorenzo Gordinho netted a stoppage time winner.

Then Bidvest Wits bounced back to their winning ways when they beat Golden Arrows 1-0 on Saturday afternoon at Chatsworth Stadium. A stunning first half set piece by debutant S’fiso Hlanti gave Gavin Hunt’s men the deserved win as they now move to the second spot on the Absa Premiership log table with 36 points.

Unconvincing wins for Barca, Real, more woe for Neville

Barcelona cruised to a 2-0 win at Levante and regained their three-point lead at the top of La Liga on Sunday, as Real Madrid maintained their pursuit with a laboured 2-1 win at Granada. Champions Barca, with Luis Suarez scoring his 36th goal of the season, equalled a club record 28 matches unbeaten set in the 2010/11 season under Pep Guardiola. They have won 23 and drawn five.

Third place Real remained four points behind Barca and one short of Atletico Madrid after a superb late strike by Luka Modric gave them victory at Granada.

Gary Neville's Valencia, however, suffered another defeat, losing 1-0 at Real Betis to extend their winless run to 12 matches and nine under the former Manchester United defender.

DR Congo take Chan title

DR Congo sealed their second African Nations Championships title when they defeated Mali 3-0 in a one-sided final at Kigali's Amahoro National Stadium on Sunday.Meshack Elia scored a double and Jonathan Bolingi added a third as the Leopards overwhelmed the young Malian side under driving rain.

The champions, winners of the inaugural title in 2009, dominated the match and it was not a surprise when Elia put them ahead after 29 minutes. The TP Mazembe star picked up a long ball down the left, before firing a thunderous shot past the Malian keeper.

Elia doubled the lead in the 62nd minute for his fourth goal of the tournament.

Mali's best chance came in the 58th minute when substitute Kouame N'Guessan tried a long range shot which flew over the bar. Bolingi ended all hopes for the Eagles with a third goal in the 73rd minute to crown the Leopards' dominant display.

Ivory Coast took third spot after beating debutants Guinea 2-1 in the play-off. Guinea missed two penalties in the game.

Fans' walkout no excuse - Henderson

The walkout by home fans in the 77th minute over rising ticket prices is no excuse for Liverpool's 2-2 Premier League draw with Sunderland on Saturday, captain Jordan Henderson has said.

Liverpool seemed to be cruising to three points thanks to second-half goals from Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana but the Black Cats stole a point after scoring two goals in the final 10 minutes of the game.

Liverpool's hopes of breaking into the top four this season appear bleaker after the draw, as they sit ninth, 12 points behind fourth-placed Manchester City with 13 games left.

"No, I don't think you can make that as an excuse. We are focused about what is happening on the pitch. I don't think anything else will bother us," Henderson told British media when asked if the mood around Anfield affected the players.

"We can't make that as an excuse. We have to take responsibility as individuals and a last 10 minutes like that was not good enough."

Liverpool travel to take on West Ham United in the replay of the fourth round of the FA Cup on Tuesday before their away fixture at bottom side Aston Villa in the league on Sunday.

Lennon tipped for Euro squad

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has tipped Aaron Lennon to make England's Euro 2016 squad and believes the in-form winger could be a valuable player for his country during the tournament in France.

Having not represented his country since February 2013, Lennon has found his feet at Everton, after falling down the pecking order at Tottenham Hotspur, and the 28-year-old has netted three goals in his last three games.

"Obviously it is not down to me. But I get the opportunity to work with Aaron day in, day out, and he is such an important player," Martinez told the British media when asked about Lennon's chances of making England's Euro 2016 squad.

"We all know the quality he brings. There are other players in that position but I think he is showing he can be of incredible value to any squad, and clearly for his national team, he could be a real help."

Everton's top goalscorer Romelu Lukaku, with 20 goals to his name, has revealed he has been playing through pain after suffering a back injury in Wednesday's 3-0 Premier League victory over Newcastle United.

"I was a bit hesitant in training (on Friday) but I just went out there and went through the pain," Lukaku told the club's website (www.evertonfc.com).

"I've done it several times in my Everton career, but even at 80 per cent I was able to help my teammates; not the way I wanted to, but I did my fair share of the hard work.

"I want to get back to 100 per cent now so I can give even more to the team."

Following Saturday's resounding 3-0 win at Stoke City, Everton are eighth in the table after 25 games and host 14th-placed West Bromwich Albion in the league on Saturday.

Spurs close in on Baroka at the top

Round 18 of the 2015/16 National First Division saw leaders Baroka FC held to a goalless draw in Thohoyandou by Limpopo rivals Black Leopards on Saturday, allowing second-placed Witbank Spurs to close to within four points of the top of the table.

Spurs claimed a 3-1 victory at African Warriors thanks to a brace from Cleopas Dube, while Joshua Sauls also got his name on the score sheet for the Mpumalanga side.

Also on Saturday, FC Cape Town claimed a much needed 3-1 win over local rivals Vasco Da Gama to climb away from the relegation zone. Moroka Swallows remain rooted to the bottom of the log after losing 3-2 at Royal Eagles (with Dominic Isaacs scoring a late winner), while Highlands Park and Mbombela United played to a 2-2 draw, with Thokozani Mshengu scoring on debut for the latter.

The big win of the round came on Friday when Santos crushed Cape Town All Stars 4-0 in a derby at Athlone Stadium. Goals from Carl Lark, Kpah Sherman, Suhayl Allie and Devin Saal saw the People’s Team pick up their first three-pointer of 2016 and deal a real blow to the promotion hopes of Igugu Lekapa.

Milano United were also winners in round 18, beating Thanda Royal Zulu 3-1 last Wednesday at Athlone Stadium to pick up their fifth successive victory. Yussuf Jappie, Junaid Sait and Coldrin Coetzee found the back of the net for the Grassy Park side.

The round was brought to a close on Sunday when Mthatha Bucks held AmaZulu to a goalless draw in the Eastern Cape, giving a boost to their hopes of moving clear of the relegation zone at the bottom of the NFD standings.

NFD round 18 results

Wednesday, 3 February

Milano United 3-1 Thanda Royal

Friday, 5 February

Cape Town All Stars 0-4 Santos

Saturday, 6 February

Black Leopards 0-0 Baroka FC

FC Cape Town 3-1 Vasco Da Gama

African Warriors 1-3 Witbank Spurs

Royal Eagles 3-2 Moroka Swallows

Highlands Park 2-2 Mbombela United

Sunday, 7 February

Mthatha Bucks 0-0 AmaZulu

Maritzburg to stay up says coach

Maritzburg United coach Ernst Middendorp has not won any of his first five matches in charge since his return to the club, leaving the club still firmly bottom of the Premier Soccer League, but is still confident the tide will turn and the club survive.

With 13 matches left in the league season, time is running out for Maritzburg, who have a single victory to show for their 17 league games so far this season and are five points adrift at the bottom with just eight games.

Middendorp said he was implementing changes to his side “on the run” as he attempted to haul the club from the brink of the abyss.

“Normally you would do these things during pre-season preparations when you don’t have PSL games to try and put some stuff together but we’ve had just five weeks to try and sort out our problems,” he said.

“I think we’d all agree that the likes of Sundowns, Chiefs, Pirates, SuperSport, in terms of their potential are definitely teams that can beat any other team wherever they are playing. We have had to play all of these teams in our first games (of the new year). I’m not saying the other teams we are going to face will be easier but I believe there is progress. Before December this team (Maritzburg) scored 0,63 goals per game, now we have an average of two goals per game. I think that tells a story in terms of which direction we are working on,” Middendorp added.

“We definitely have our problems in the centre, there’s no doubt about it. But we are working on it; we are trying to put a decent structure into place to make it a bit more settled.

“Of course we are sitting in a psychological line at the moment but we need one game, and three points, to change the mentality inside the team. I definitely see progress after five weeks and six days in the job.”

The coach called for big home support when Maritzburg play next, at home to Platinum Stares on Saturday night at the Harry Gwala Stadium.