Bundesliga New Bayern coach Guardiola experiments, beats Barca in friendly

MUNICH - New coach Pep Guardiola shuffled the cards at Bayern Munich as the treble winners beat his former club Barcelona 2-0 in a friendly on Wednesday (early Thursday, PHL time).

The Spaniard, who won 14 of 19 possible titles in four years at Barcelona, made sweeping role changes as he works his way into the new job after the Bavarians won the Champions League and domestic league and Cup double last season under Jupp Heynckes.

"It was a special game for me," Guardiola told reporters. "I was a Barcelona player and coach my entire life.

"Bayern have given me a very good team. I have nothing to complain about at the moment. My football is easy to understand," he said.

Against a second-string Barcelona, missing new coach Gerardo Martino and big-signing Neymar as well as midfielders Xavi and Andres Iniesta among others, Guardiola started the game without a striker.
 

Captain Philipp Lahm was pushed forward into an offensive midfield role after years of playing as right back and recent signing and former Barcelona talent Thiago Alcantara moved straight into midfield.

The move paid off in the 15th minute when the diminutive Germany international headed in a smooth Franck Ribery cross.

"Barcelona were not complete but the win is still a boost in confidence," said Frenchman Ribery.

Bayern, who crushed Barcelona over two legs in the Champions League semifinal last season, were the sharper team in the first half, with their impressive depth in the squad on full display. Barca captain Messi came close in the opening seconds with a sizzling shot but was otherwise shut out.

With both teams still in preseason training, the coaches made many changes in the second half with the game losing its pace and edge.

Forward Mario Mandzukic, who came on as a substitute, added another goal late in the game, tapping in from close range.

On Tuesday, Barcelona hired Argentine Gerardo Martino, known as a disciple of the club's possession-based style that Guardiola applied successfully, to replace Tito Vilanova.

Vilanova, 44, stepped down last week to continue treatment for throat cancer after leading Barca to the La Liga title in his first season since taking over from Guardiola.  - Reuters

La Liga Neymar shines as Barca downs Real 2-1 in 'Clasico'

BARCELONA - Neymar stole the limelight from Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale with a goal and an assist as Barcelona secured a 2-1 win over bitter rivals Real Madrid in Saturday's (early Sunday, PHL time) La Liga 'Clasico' at the Nou Camp.

In a match watched by millions of people around the world, Barca landed an early blow in the title race thanks to the Brazilian's clinical 19th-minute finish and a sublime chip from substitute Alexis Sanchez 11 minutes from time.

Jese came off the bench to pull a goal back in the first minute of added time but it was little more than a consolation for Real, who were outplayed for long periods and slip six points behind the champions with 10 matches played.

After a predictably cagey start with few chances in the 167th league meeting between the world's two richest clubs by income, Neymar opened the scoring when he collected the ball from Andres Iniesta on the left of the penalty area.

Cutting inside on to his right foot, his low shot was slightly deflected by Real fullback Dani Carvajal before zipping past goalkeeper Diego Lopez into the far corner of the net.

Real battled after the break and Karim Benzema, who replaced world record signing Bale on the hour, smashed a shot against the bar before Alexis scored with an exquisite chip over Lopez from just outside the area after being played through by Neymar.

"I am very happy to score such a special goal but above all for the three points," Neymar said in an interview with Spanish television broadcaster Canal Plus.

"It was very exciting to score in a match that all players want to be a part of," added the 21-year-old, bought from Santos for 57 million euros ($79 million) in the close season.

Not decisive

Unbeaten Barca's victory, their ninth in the league this season, puts them on 28 points ahead of Real, who are third, at the top of the standings.

Second-placed Atletico Madrid are four points behind Barca before their game at home to Real Betis on Sunday (Monday, PHL time).

"These are the kind of games when everyone really suffers but I am just happy for the team and for the three points," Alexis told Canal Plus.

"I don't think this win will be decisive," added the Chilean. "There is a long way to go and the championship is not over by any means."

Real coach Carlo Ancelotti opted for a starting formation that looked to be designed specifically to thwart Argentine World Player of the Year Messi.

Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, who normally plays at center back, was deployed to operate just in front of central defenders Pepe and Raphael Varane.

Up front, 100 million-euro Wales winger Bale started in the middle, with Ronaldo on the left and Angel Di Maria on the right.

Ancelotti's Barca counterpart Gerardo Martino deployed Neymar on the left wing and Cesc Fabregas in a forward roving role with Messi in his customary deep-lying position through the middle.

Huge mosaic

As they belted out the team's anthem before kickoff, the Barca fans transformed the giant arena into a huge mosaic in the club colors with a message of support - Forca Tito! - for their ailing former coach Tito Vilanova who is battling cancer.

On the pitch, Barca should have been 2-0 ahead two minutes after Neymar's opener when Iniesta sent Messi clear but he placed his shot wide of the post when one-on-one with Lopez.

The Real players were furious with referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco shortly before the break when he waved away their appeals for a penalty after the ball appeared to brush Adriano's arm in the area.

Real looked more dangerous in the second half and Ronaldo drew a fine save from Victor Valdes with a fierce strike in the 58th minute before they had another penalty appeal rejected when there was contact between the Portuguese winger and Javier Mascherano in the Barca area.

Jese's goal came too late for Real to stage a comeback and Ancelotti and his team must now regroup before Wednesday's league game at home to Sevilla.

Real complaints

There was little of the bad blood that had marred some of Barca and Real's encounters in recent years, although the Madrid club's players and officials continued their complaints about the referee in post-match interviews.

"There are some things you cannot fight against," Ramos told Canal Plus. "There was a clear penalty for handball in the first half and then the incident with Ronaldo in the second.

"But I think that all Madrid fans should be proud of the team as we battled until the last minute. It's been a long time since we saw Barca under pressure at the end and running the clock down like that," added the Spain international.

Espanyol's bid to secure a lucrative place in Europe next season suffered a setback when they were beaten 3-0 at Levante, who climbed above the Barcelona-based side into seventh spot.

Malaga's poor form continued as they lost 5-0 at home to Celta Vigo, the Qatar-owned club's third straight defeat.

Bernd Schuster's side are 16th, level on nine points with Celta who are one place higher.

Granada won 1-0 at fellow mid-table side Elche. - Reuters 

La Liga Cristiano Ronaldo injury free and ready to return to action

MADRID - Cristiano Ronaldo has recovered from a muscle strain and is ready to return to action, the Real Madrid and Portugal forward said on Monday.

Ronaldo damaged a hamstring in Real's La Liga match at Almeria on November 23 and missed last week's Champions League win over Galatasaray and Saturday's (Sunday, PHL time) La Liga success against Real Valladolid.

[Related: Bale scores his first hat-trick for Real Madrid]

"I no longer have an injury," Ronaldo said at an awards ceremony in Madrid.

"I have been fine for a couple of days," added the 28-year-old, who has been on scintillating form this season.

"We preferred not to push things against Valladolid but I will be there for the next game for sure."

Ronaldo netted 14 goals in his last seven appearances for club and country before his injury and is one of the favorites to scoop the FIFA Ballon d'Or when the footballer of the year award is announced next month.

The former Manchester United man was the last player to win in 2008 before Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi took the next four.

"I am on good form," Ronaldo said. "It's possible that it is the best start to the season of my career but the past few years have also been very good."

Real's next match is a King's Cup last 32, first leg at third-tier Olimpic de Xativa on Saturday (Sunday, PHL time) and they play at FC Copenhagen in the Champions League the following Tuesday (Wednesday, PHL time).

The nine-time European champions are already through to the last 16 as Group B winners. — Reuters

Champions League Late goals help Man City sink bottom club Plzen

(Updated 9:04am) MANCHESTER - Manchester City continued their dynamic scoring blitz at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time), brushing aside Viktoria Plzen 4-2 in the Champions League to keep up the pressure on Group D leaders Bayern Munich.

City's remarkable recent record has seen them plunder 25 goals in their last five home matches in the Champions League and Premier League.

The scoring sequence features three goals against Everton, four versus Plzen, five against CSKA Moscow, six versus Tottenham Hotspur and seven against Norwich City.

The four-goal show against Group D bottom club Plzen gave City 12 points from five matches, three behind leaders Bayern who beat CSKA 3-1 earlier on Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time).

"Plzen played a very good game," City manager Manuel Pellegrini told reporters. "I watched them against Bayern the other week and I was very impressed with their performance against such a strong team.

"I told my team before the game that they had players who could cause us problems if we gave them time and space."

City dominated possession and wasted several good scoring chances but their Czech opponents put up a spirited fight and did not look like a team without a point in the competition.

Plzen went close on a number of occasions thanks to the lively pair of Frantisek Rajtoral and Michal Duris who almost broke the deadlock before City took the lead.

A worry for the home team was the non-appearance after halftime of Sergio Aguero with an undisclosed injury but encouraging for them was the form of Joe Hart in goal.

Flying saves

The England keeper, back in the side after being left out following some indifferent form, pulled off a couple of flying saves as Plzen pressed forward.

City went in front after 33 minutes when Aguero sent Matus Kozacik the wrong way from the penalty spot after Rajtoral was harshly adjudged to have handled.

Plzen leveled two minutes before halftime when Tomas Horava smashed the ball past Hart's right hand and into the top corner of the net from long range.

City restored their lead after 65 minutes when the busy Samir Nasri, who also hit the bar in the first period, volleyed in a cross from Jesus Navas.

Plzen equalized again four minutes later as the home defense backed off and Stanislav Tecl ended a fine passing move by side-footing the ball home.

The visitors then tired and substitute Alvaro Negredo, on for Aguero, tapped the ball in at the far post from a Navas pass in the 78th minute and Edin Dzeko's header completed the scoring a minute from time.

"We started our campaign with too much respect for Bayern and City but gradually we lost the fear," said Plzen coach Pavel Vrba.

"Unfortunately we have not got a single point but we showed football that we do not have to be ashamed. I think today was our best display in the group stages." - Reuters