Bayer Leverkusen keep pressure on Bayern Munich in Bundesliga

Monitoring Desk

MOSCOW, Russia (TheSportsNEXT) December 2, 2012: Second-placed Bayer Leverkusen did just enough to beat Nurnberg 1-0 today and apply pressure on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich ahead of their showdown against Borussia Dortmund.

Stefan Kiessling scored Leverkusen's winner in the 37th minute for the team's fourth straight victory, pushing his side to 30 points - seven behind Bayern prior to their late kick-off with the champions.

"We have to remain calm and happy that we have a little streak," said Kiessling, who has scored nine goals this season. "It's a nice moment but we have a lot of important games ahead of us and we don't want to think about Bayern. We have to worry about ourselves, and that's it."

Schalke continued their struggles with a 1-1 at home against Borussia Monchengladbach. Timo Hildebrand replaced Lars Unnerstall as Schalke's keeper and looked less than impressive on Igor de Camargo's goal for Gladbach in the 62nd minute. Julian Draxler spared the stopper's blushes however, equalising for Schalke in the 85th minute.

Schalke, however, have not won in four games and improved to just 25 points while Gladbach have 21 points. "We were relieved to have at least picked up the point. If we had lost things would have been bad here," said Draxler.

We have a lot of important games ahead of us and we don't want to think about Bayern. We have to worry about ourselves, and that's it.

Gladbach coach Lucien Lavre said: "The point was deserved. Schalke played well. But to get a point at Schalke is not too bad."

Adam Szalai's goal in the 89th minute gave ten-man Mainz a 2-1 victory at home over Hannover in a battle of teams fighting for European spots. Nicolai Mueller scored on a loose ball after Shawn Parker's shot hit the left post after ten minutes for Mainz but was equalised by Christian Schulz for Hannover.

Mainz lost their keeper four minutes after the break as Christian Wetklo was red-carded but Szalai provided the heroics.

Stuttgart picked up their third victory in the last four games by fending off Greuther Fuerth on the road 1-0 on Shinji Okazaki's goal in the 45th minute. Stuttgart played the final 37 minutes a man down after Serdar Tasci was shown a red card. Fuerth dropped to last place with eight points.

Eintracht Frankfurt missed a chance to keep track with the top challengers by losing 4-0 at Fortuna Duesseldorf on yesterday. Promoted side Augsburg picked up a point in a 1-1 draw at home over Freiburg with Tobias Werner's goal for Augsburg being equalised by Jonathan Schmid.

Read More

UEFA Champions League: Ozil rescues Real Madird at home

Monitoring Desk

LONDON, England (TheSportsNEXT) November 7, 2012: Mesut Ozil saved Madrid with a brilliant late free-kick to earn a UEFA Champions League point in an entertaining 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund in the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, FIFA’s official website reported.

Borussia were ahead until the 89th minutes thanks to a Marco Reus strike and an Alvaro Arbeloa own-goal in the first period. Pepe had earlier levelled for the home side.

The result means, with two games remaining, the Germans still lead Group D with 8 points, one more than Madrid, with Ajax three points behind after a 2-2 draw away at Manchester City. It could have been worse for Madrid as it seemed for long periods the Germans would repeat the 2-1 result from the first game between the sides a fortnight ago in Dortmund.

"In the first-half we were not good and our crowd told us so, but we were better in the second," said Real coach Jose Mourinho. "I am not unhappy with the draw, but yes with not winning when we scored 3 goals, because (Jose) Callejon should have had a goal allowed."

Borussia's coach Jurgen Klopp was happy with the result. "We are still top so a draw was a good result for us." he said. "If we had won I think we would have deserved it, I'm proud of our performance but a little sad as we were so close to direct qualification."

For Madrid, Luka Modric was chosen to partner Xabi Alonso in the centre of midfield with Raphael Varane again called upon into the centre of defence to allow Sergio Ramos to cover at right-back.

Borussia captain Sebastian Kehl was able to play with a protective mask, despite picking up a facial injury on Saturday against Stuttgart.

The German keeper Roman Weidenfaller had to be quick of his line on two minutes to deny Higuain after Angel Di Maria had played a long through ball. However, backed by around 10,000 noisy travelling fans, the Germans settled quickly into the game.

First Lewandowski burst down the left on four minutes and fired over a dangerous cross that had to be expertly dealt with by Madrid's defence Then, on ten minutes, Iker Casillas was quick to stop a Marcel Schmelzer effort with his feet and Lewandowski fired over the rebound. Next it was Kevin Grosskreutz's turn to test Casillas after a quick counter-attack and mazy run down the left from Gotze.

Cristiano Ronaldo should have done better when heading wide an Higuain cross from a good position on 22 minutes, but it was a sign of life from the home team and it lifted their support.

Both sides were now jostling for control of midfield and the opening goal, that eventually fell to the Germans on 28 minutes. Right-back Lukasz Piszczek was deep in his own half when he played a searching ball that Lewandowski headed into the path of Reus, who powerfully volleyed home with his first touch.

The Germans seemed momentarily on top and comfortable until Pepe powered home a Mesut Ozil cross with his head on 34 minutes.

Borussia regained the lead right at the death of an exciting half. Lewandowski was again prominent, heading a long ball from Weidenfeller into the path of Grosskreutz, who burst into the area and laid on a pass for Gotze, who bundled the ball past Casillas. A desperate lunge from Madrid defender Arbeloa provided the decisive touch, but it was a well-worked goal from the Germans.

Jose Mourinho looked for a reaction from his side, making two changes at the interval by bringing on Jose Callejon and Michael Essien to replace Modric and Gonzalo Higuain.

Immediately, Callejon had the ball in the net, but was ruled to be marginally offside before the same player shot just wide on the turn. Callejon again was denied with a block by Weidenfeller on 60 minutes, but as the half went on, the Germans became increasingly comfortable as Madrid's goal opportunities became rare.

Mourinho's last throw of the dice was to introduce Kaka with 13 minutes remaining, and he quickly instigated a move that Ronaldo should have finished. Callejon had a weak shot cleared off the line by Grosskreutz before Ozil's late escape act, a curling a free-kick over the wall and just inside a post, saved Madrid at the last.

Read More