Bayern sign Dortmund’s Lewandowski
Berlin: Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski joins Bayern Munich this summer as he put pen to paper on a five-year deal, both clubs confirmed. Speculations came to an end as Bayern Munich announced the long-expected signing of Polish international Lewandowski on a free transfer it was reported on Saturday. The 25-year-old striker passed the medical on Friday and will join league rivals in July 2014 to stay with the Bavarians until 2019. Poland’s Player of the Year 2011 and 2012 scored 65 goals in 115 appearances with the BVB. He was one of the key players and had large shares on Dortmund’s two Bundesliga titles and the DFB Cup 2012. Bayern Munich sit atop the standings with 44 points and a seven-point gap to second-placed Leverkusen. Meanwhile Dortmund occupy fourth place with 32 points. (IANS)
Bale to be benched for clash with Celta
BARCELONA: Gareth Bale could be on the bench against Celta Vigo on Monday as Real Madrid re-start their season after the Christmas break with points to make up in La Liga, coach Carlo Ancelotti said. Welshman Bale has struggled with injuries since his 100 million euros move from Tottenham Hotspur, missing seven of Real’s 22 games with different niggles. Ancelotti said he is still not fully recovered from a calf strain. “He is in the squad and we need to make a decision if he plays or not,” Ancelotti told a news conference. “He is training well but we could wait a bit longer for him to be in top condition.” With Atletico Madrid’s victory over Malaga yesterday, it means Real are now eight points adrift of the top. Angel Di Maria is likely to continue on the right wing instead of Bale while Real remain without the injured Sami Khedira and Raphael Varane. “We are training well and I like the attitude and concentration of the players,” said Ancelotti, who agreed they need to improve their defending from crosses after conceding a spate of goals from set-plays before the Christmas break. “We have to do better at the back and concentrate more. We started off well but the situation now has been more worrying.” Ancelotti is expecting an open game against Celta. “I know the philosophy of (Celta coach) Luis Enrique who has lots of experience and always likes to play football. It should be an exciting game and we need to be careful as they are dangerous in attack,” he said. (Reuters)
Atletico start 2014 with victory
Madrid: Atletico Madrid went top of Spain’s BBVA Primera Liga, at least for one day, following a hard-fought 1-0 win away to Malaga on Saturday. Jorge Resurrecion’s goal 20 minutes from time following good work by Diego Costa made the difference between the two sides Saturday night and was also the first goal scored in the Liga in 2014. The fact that Barcelona don’t play their game at home to Elche until Sunday night means the win lifts Atletico three points clear at the top of the table, although goal difference means that a win for Barca will lift them back on top. On the second anniversary of taking over at Atletico Madrid, Atletico coach Diego Simeone praised the effort of his entire squad saying the win had been “really hard work and very difficult.” In other matches, Valencia CF beat Levante 2-0, Almeria hit Granada CF hard 3-0 and Valladolid drew 0-0 with Real Betis. (IANS)
Australia leapfrog Eng, Pak into 3rd place
Dubai: India held on to their second spot even as a resurgent Australia leapfrogged to third in the latest ICC Test rankings after whitewashing England 5-0 in the Ashes series on Sunday. Australia’s 281-run victory over England in the fifth and final Test in Sydney has helped them jump two places to third in the table. The 5-0 series win has helped Australia gain 10 ratings points to finish on 111, six ratings points behind second-ranked India, the ICC said in a statement. England, on the other hand, have conceded nine ratings points to end at 107, thereby moving down a place to fourth. South Africa are the clear leader of the table with 133 ratings points. Australia had entered the Ashes series in fifth position on 101 ratings points but after taking a 4-0 lead, it was guaranteed fourth position on the table. (PTI)