LONDON, Aug 17- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits he is considering bringing his German World Cup winners back into the squad ahead of schedule for the first leg of Tuesday’s Champions League play-off at Besiktas.

The Gunners travel to Turkey having made heavy weather of their opening Premier League fixture at home to managerless Crystal Palace, where a stoppage-time goal from Aaron Ramsey secured a 2-1 victory against a side reduced to 10 men.

Wenger had given German trio Mesut Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski extra time off following their nation’s triumph in Brazil last month.

With Kieran Gibbs having suffered a hamstring injury against Palace and Jack Wilshere also taken off early following a heavy challenge, the Frenchman admitted he was tempted to issue a recall notice.

“The Champions League qualifier is a massive game for us against Besiktas, we have a short time to recover. Normally the German players would not play in that game. We will have to see on Sunday but only in case of emergency,” said Wenger.

“Because of the physicality and the organisation level of Crystal Palace it was very difficult for us. We conceded a goal from the first corner they had because we still lack a bit of pace in the final third when we build up into dangerous situations.

But we kept going and it was enough to win the game. On the first day of the season we were the only team to win at home so that shows you it is difficult for everybody on the first day. We got the three points we wanted, let’s focus now on Besiktas,” he added.

Summer signing Alexis Sanchez endured a frustrating Premier League debut against a physical Palace side.

The Chile forward, who cost £30million from Barcelona, looked like a player who was getting used to new surroundings.

“I am very happy with his attitude because he kept on fighting for 90 minutes, even if he is not completely ready physically. Tactically he needs to improve his understanding with his partners but he looked lively and dangerous until the end.”

Palace were seconds away from securing a point having taken the lead through Brede Hangeland’s header from a corner, with Laurent Koscielny equalising just before half-time.

It was still level when Jason Puncheon was sent off for two bookable offences with a minute to go.

A draw would have been a remarkable result given that manager Tony Pulis had quit on Thursday night because the board had only given him three new players in the close season, of which Hangeland was one.

Caretaker manager Keith Millen made it clear that with the transfer window soon shutting a replacement needed to be brought in as soon as possible and the players given a full explanation of the board’s plans.

“Tony loved working with this group day in, day out and you couldn’t ask for a group that works harder, but the players need to know which direction the club is going,” Millen said.

“Hopefully at the start of the week there will be some more answers. We know we can compete at this level but we have got to get more competition for places. We’ve identified the areas we need to strengthen but for whatever reason that’s not happened.

The three players we’ve brought in all had excellent debuts and have made us better but there are areas where we need to strengthen as a club.”

Millen is open to taking the job permanently but it is understood he is not being considered as a front-line candidate.

LONDON, Aug17 – Former Manchester United manager David Moyes claimed in a British newspaper interview published on Sunday that he should have been given more time by the club.

Moyes was sacked by United in April after just 10 months in the role. His successor, Louis van Gaal, took charge of his first Premier League game on Saturday, when United lost 2-1 at home to Swansea City.

United slumped alarmingly under Moyes, eventually finishing the season in seventh place, but he feels he could have proven himself a worthy replacement for Alex Ferguson if the club had shown more patience.

“It was a step into the unknown and, looking back now, it was near enough the impossible job,” Moyes told the Mail on Sunday.

“I was devastated to lose the job because it was something I felt I could make a real success of. We knew it was going to take time to make the necessary changes. It was going to take time to evolve.

But we were in the process of making other important changes. In the end, I don’t feel I was given time to succeed or fail.”

Moyes admitted that he had been hurt by the nature of his dismissal on April 22, which was widely announced in the British media before the Scot received official confirmation from the club.

“In the end it was difficult for my family, the way we discovered via the media that I’d lost my job,” he said.

“We have always tried to do things the correct way. I know it comes with the territory, and I know if you lose matches you risk being sacked but how it affected my family made it hard.”

Moyes’s chances of success at Old Trafford were undermined by the fact that he and incoming chief executive Ed Woodward missed out on a number of targets in the transfer window prior to last season.

The 51-year-old, who is looking for a new job, confirmed that United had shown interest in Cesc Fabregas, Gareth Bale and former player Cristiano Ronaldo, only to miss out on all three.

“It’s been well documented that we wanted Fabregas, Bale and Ronaldo,” Moyes added.

“There was talk of Ronaldo when I first arrived. We were close to getting a couple of major names.

I’m not getting in a blame game here, but things just didn’t materialise. I had taken over from the most successful manager in history.

The chief executive had taken over from one of the most renowned administrators in the game (David Gill). So it was a new job for two people.”

CAIRO, Egypt, Aug – Rwanda have been disqualified from taking part in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations group A qualifiers after fielding an ineligible player against Congo who replaced them.

The organizing committee of the Morocco showpiece on Sunday reached on the decision following a protest made by the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT) during the first leg match of the second round of qualifying played against Rwanda July 20 in Pointe-Noire.

The protest by Congo contested the eligibility of the player, Birori Dady aligned with Rwanda, and plays for the AS Vita Club of Kinshasa with Congolese (DRC) passport as Etekiama Agiti Tady, and a different age.

Following investigations by CAF and on the basis of documents provided by the federations of Rwanda, Congo and DR Congo, and hearing the player’s testimony August 11 at CAF headquarters in Cairo, the continental body established that the two identities only referred to a single person.

While the Rwandan Football Federation (FERWAFA) maintained to their knowledge Birori had one identity, investigations revealed that he was summoned as Etekiama Agiti Tady by FERWAFA to join the national team of Rwanda.

Based on these and other findings, the Organising Committee of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in accordance with Article 41 of the regulations of the Nations Cup, and Articles 82 and 83.1 of CAF Disciplinary Code, decided as follows:

1. Immediately suspend the player Etekiama Agiti Tady / Birori Dady until further notice and ban him from playing for club and the national team

2. Rwanda declared losers of match No.37 against Congo, and consequently being eliminated from the competition

3. Consign Congo to the group phase of the qualifiers of the Nations Cup in Group A, as replacement for Rwanda

4. Reserved the right to confirm the exact length of the player’s suspension and to impose additional sanctions if necessary at the next meeting of the Organising Committee, scheduled for September 17.

5. Urged players and stakeholders to regulate the situation of dual identity.

The decision of the Committee takes effect immediately and with option for appeal in accordance with the regulatory provisions in force in CAF Disciplinary Code.
Congo now joins defending champions Nigeria, South Africa and Sudan in group A.

- By CAF

The Gunners followed up a convincing victory against Manchester City in the Community Shield with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday in their opening Premier League game/XINHUA

The Gunners followed up a convincing victory against Manchester City in the Community Shield with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday in their opening Premier League game, in which Aaron Ramsey netted a late winner.

Now they are looking to secure a place in the lucrative group stage of Europe’s elite club competition for a 17th consecutive campaign, although Wenger could do without the fitness concerns that are hanging over several players, including Kieran Gibbs, Laurent Koscielny and Jack Wilshere.

“We want to be in the Champions League group stage. Besiktas had a convincing result against Feyenoord (winning 5-2 on aggregate in the third qualifying round), and so for us we have the luck to play the first game away,” said Wenger, who has floated the idea of calling on German World Cup-winning trio Mesut Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski for the first time this season.

Meanwhile, Ramsey admitted that Arsenal will need to improve on their performance against Palace, although he lauded the contribution of Wenger’s summer recruits in that match.

“I think they have started really well. We were really solid at the back with (Mathieu) Debuchy and (Calum) Chambers, who were playing as if they’d been there for the last three years,” he said.

Arsenal would settle for a repeat of 12 months ago, when they beat another Istanbul side, Fenerbahce, 3-0 on the Asian side of the Bosphorus on the way to a 5-0 aggregate triumph.

With Besiktas in the process of rebuilding their stadium across the river, Tuesday’s match will be played at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, where Liverpool beat AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final.

- Ba the dangerman -

Slaven Bilic’s side, who finished third in the Turkish Super League last season, do not begin their domestic campaign until later this month, although they were convincing winners against Feyenoord in the third qualifying round, with former Chelsea striker Demba Ba scoring a hat-trick in the second leg.

“Arsenal have some of the best players in the world but we have seen on many occasions that talent doesn’t necessarily mean a team will win,” said the Croatian Bilic, who played in England for West Ham United and Everton.

The pick of the ties elsewhere sees Napoli, knocked out of a group containing Arsenal last season, entertain Athletic Bilbao.

Both clubs have yet to begin their domestic seasons, and Napoli coach Rafa Benitez may have reservations about playing Gonzalo Higuain, who returned late from his summer break after reaching the World Cup final with Argentina.

Athletic, who finished fourth in La Liga last season and are bidding to qualify for the group stage for the first time since 1998/99, have lost influential midfielder Ander Herrera to Manchester United this summer.

“He is a great player and I am sure they will miss him, but they are very strong collectively, I have a lot of respect for them but I have confidence in my Napoli,” said Benitez.

Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen go to FC Copenhagen, while Salzburg host Swedish champions Malmo, the 1979 European Cup runners-up who have never appeared in the group stage, and Bulgarian upstarts Ludogorets travel to Steaua Bucharest.

The remaining five play-off first legs will be played on Wednesday, with the returns to come next midweek.
Champions League fixtures on Tuesday (kick-offs 1845 GMT):

Play-offs 1st leg:

Besiktas (TUR) v Arsenal (ENG)
FC Copenhagen (DEN) v Bayer Leverkusen (GER)
Steaua Bucharest (ROM) v Ludogorets (BUL)
Napoli (ITA) v Athletic Bilbao (ESP)
Salzburg (AUT) v Malmo (SWE)

The Super Cup is one of the few titles Atletico have missed out on during Simeone’s three years in charge as they were just edged out on away goals by Barcelona last season/FILE

The money received from the sales of Costa and Filipe Luis has however been reinvested in an exciting new frontline as Mario Mandzukic joined from Bayern Munich, Mexican international Raul Jimenez was signed from Club America, and Antoine Griezmann moved from Real Sociedad for 30 million euros ($40 million, £24 million).

All three are in line to make their competitive debutes at the Santiago Bernabeu, but playmaker Arda Turan misses out due to a hamstring injury.

The Super Cup is one of the few titles Atletico have missed out on during Simeone’s three years in charge as they were just edged out on away goals by Barcelona last season.

And midfielder Mario Suarez is determined to make amends for their heartbreaking 4-1 defeat to Real after extra time in Lisbon three months ago, having been just over a minute away from wining the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.

“On Tuesday we are playing for an important title against our eternal rivals and we will face it as we always do. We want to win and everybody knows that,” said Suarez.

“It will be very difficult. The two teams know each other very well and it will be a great, hard-fought game as all derbies are.

“We know that the team that commits the fewest errors and is more concentrated across the 180 minutes will be the one with most chance of winning the trophy.”

Real haven’t rested on their laurels after claiming a tenth European crown as they have splashed over 100 million euros on World Cup stars James Rodriguez, Toni Kroos and goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

Colombian Rodriguez and Germany playmaker Kroos made an immediate impact in their debuts as Real won the first of a potential six trophies this season by defeating Sevilla 2-0 to win the UEFA Super Cup last week.

However, Navas has had to wait for his opportunity as Iker Casillas started against Sevilla in Cardiff despite his poor form in Spain’s disastrous campaign at the World Cup.

Real boss Carlo Ancelotti, though, hasn’t yet declared who his first choice ‘keeper for the campaign will be and Navas is willing to push Casillas for his place in the side.

“I have come here to work with humility and to try hard every day, which is what I have done my whole life. I am at the disposition of the coaching staff and I will never give up,” Navas told the club’s website.

“Now we need to think about the next game. We want to win and we have that winning mentality. The team is very motivated and we know it is an important title that we will all fight to win.”

The second leg will be played at Atletico’s Vicente Calderon stadium on Friday evening before both clubs begin their league campaigns next Monday.

Speaking during the launch of the sixth Mwea Classic Marathon, Makau said he has recovered fully and will run in a half marathon in Germany in September before competing in next year’s Tokyo Marathon/FILE

“The injury on my left knee was bad; it sidelined me for eight months. I was not happy seeing my colleagues winning in my absence but I have now recovered fully and I’m ready to go for it,” the 29-year-old whose last
major competition was at 2013 London Marathon stated.

“I am fit; my focus is to break the record again by lowering Kipsang’s time when next season begins. It’s a big possibility because it’s just amatter of training,” said the two time world half silver medallist.

Makau who broke Haile Gebrselassie’s 2:03:59 record at the 2011 Berlin Marathon, reigned for two years before Kipsang set a new world best of 2:03:23.

Apart from focusing on the world record and the coming international races, Makau has commenced a project in Ngong where he is training young and upcoming athletes to be future world beaters.

His charges will compete at this year’s Mwea Marathon on September 6.

“I have a plan to take ten athletes under my tutelage to the Mwea Classic Marathon. I have been nurturing them since 2011.”

“I believe time has come for them to go out there and prove themselves,” noted Makau, while urging other elite athletes to start personal projects in their various counties to raise athletics standards in Kenya.

As the race ambassador Makau said he cherishes his humble beginnings in the event which propelled him to stardom.

“I am urging Kenyans to take part in it because it is the event that helped me get started and played a huge role in realizing my dreams.”

The event which targets 3,000 participants includes 21K

The other major difference is that success has also brought Atletico the struggle of holding onto their best players/FILE

“We have to try to compete with Sevilla, Valencia and Athletic Bilbao for the Champions League places,” he claimed on Monday ahead of his side’s Spanish Super Cup first-leg against Real on Tuesday.

“With 95 million euros we have signed nine players, Real Madrid have signed two players for 95 million. That is the difference.”

The other major difference is that success has also brought Atletico the struggle of holding onto their best players.

Top scorer Diego Costa and Filipe Luis have joined Thibaut Courtois in returning to his parent club Chelsea after a three-year loan spell in the Spanish capital.

That money has been reinvested in a promising attacking trio of Antoine Griezmann, Mario Mandzukic and Raul Jimenez, but the major coup of the close season for Atletico has been holding onto the likes of Koke, Diego Godin and Miranda despite interest from Barca and Bayern Munich.

By contrast, Real have splashed over 100 million euros on the squad that won both the Champions League and Copa del Rey last season without having to sanction any significant sales, although Angel di Maria could exit before the end of the transfer window.

An already oversubscribed midfield has been bolstered by World Cup winner Toni Kroos and the competition’s top scorer James Rodriguez, whilst Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas will rival Iker Casillas to be number one.

“I think we have a better team than last season because we have signed three players that add quality to the team,” Real coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday.

Of the three title contenders, though, it is Barcelona who have undergone the most significant change as they look to bounce back from a first trophy-less season in six years.

The first change at the Camp Nou over the summer was the coach as they turned to former captain Luis Enrique to replace Gerardo Martino in the hope he can have the same impact as his former teammate Pep Guardiola did in charge.

With a two transfer window ban only temporarily suspended, Barca have also been very active in the market with the capture of controversial Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez leading their 150 million euro outlay.

Suarez won’t even be able to play until late October after his appeal against a four-month ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport last week.

However, he could return for a mouth-watering first El Clasico clash between Real and Barca at the Santiago Bernabeu should the game be scheduled for Sunday, October 26.

Enrique’s main task will be finding a blend for all of Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar to function together as all three look to shake off a disappointing end to their respective World Cups.

For all their attacking talent, questions also remain over Barca’s defence despite the expensive recruitment of Jeremy Mathieu from Valencia and Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen. Goalkeepers Claudio Bravo and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen will also battle to succeed the departed Victor Valdes as number one after being signed for 12 million euros apiece.

Outside of the big three, Europa League winners Sevilla have made the most significant moves in a bid to get back into the Champions League as they have brought in Barca loanee Gerard Deulofeu, Argentine international Ever Banega and Liverpool reject Iago Aspas.

Valencia should also be back in contention for the top four after Singaporean businessman Peter Lim finally completed his takeover of the club with Spanish under-21 international striker Rodrigo their big name signing of the summer.

Meanwhile, Basque duo Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad retain ambitions of Champions League football despite losing Ander Herrera and Griezmann to Manchester United and Atletico respectively.

LONDON, August 22- Santi Cazorla wants to return to his scoring consistency of two seasons ago and strengthen Arsenal’s challenge for honours this season.

The Spain midfielder struck seven goals last season and will hope to open his Premier League account this term when Arsene Wenger’s side face Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.

His goal return in the 2013/14 campaign was down on the 12 goals he scored during his first season at the club and, while Cazorla missed out in the narrow opening day win over Crystal Palace, he provided a reminder of his threat with Arsenal’s first goal in the Community Shield win over Manchester City.

“Kicking off a new season in that fashion is always nice: winning a title and also helping by scoring a goal,” Cazorla said. “That keeps your morale high. As I always say, my target is helping the team with goals.

“I hope to equal or beat my goalscoring tally from last season. That’s something every player wants to achieve.”

He added: “Hopefully, I’ll help the team with many goals because that would be a signal that I can be useful.

“My first season here was very good. I managed to beat my scoring record — which had been nine with Malaga — with 12 goals.

“Last season I wasn’t so consistent because I struggled with ankle problems after an injury with Spain. For this reason I lacked consistency,” Cazorla explained.

“But in the end we managed to win a title after so many years and hopefully this year I’ll be able to give 100 percent physically and mentally in order to lift more trophies.”

Mikel Arteta will miss out on the chance to face his former club after injuring his ankle during the goalless draw at Besiktas in this week’s Champions League qualifier.

Wenger, the Gunners manager, must decide whether to restore Per Mertesacker to central defence or continue with 19-year-old Calum Chambers in the role.

Mertesacker, along with Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski, was given extended leave after helping Germany to win the World Cup.

But Chambers has impressed in an unfamiliar role following his arrival from Southampton.

Everton collected four points from their two Premier League matches against the Gunners last season but finished seven points behind Arsenal in the table.

Blues manager Roberto Martinez feels FA Cup-holders Arsenal will be a much better side this season and is predicting an exciting contest at Goodison Park.

“I think this Arsenal side are better than they were last season with the additions they have made,” Martinez said. “But they’re very similar to us with the philosophy that they have.

“The way Arsenal play has earned a real sense of admiration from people in world football. At Goodison, we really enjoy our football and we can’t wait to get our season started at home from that perspective,” the Spaniard added.

“I think both teams are going to fight really hard to control the game and get on the ball. The difference is how good you can be in the final third.”

Everton will have Republic of Ireland duo Seamus Coleman and Darron Gibson available for the match.

Right-back Coleman suffered a hamstring problem in pre-season but came off the bench during last week’s 2-2 draw at newly-promoted Leicester, while Gibson is now fit again after suffering a serious knee injury in October.

However, Ross Barkley, Bryan Oviedo and Arouna Kone remain long-term absentees.

MADRID, August 22- Barcelona will be looking to put a disastrous end to last season behind them when they open their new La Liga campaign at home to Elche on Sunday.

Former Barca captain Luis Enrique will take charge of his first competitive game after replacing Gerardo Martino in the dugout, but many of the new faces in the playing staff are unlikely to feature.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Thomas Vermaelen are both sidelined by injury, while Luis Suarez continues his four-month ban for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup.

Claudio Bravo and Ivan Rakitic are expected to make their competitive debuts, however, while Lionel Messi and Neymar will feature after both scored on their return from World Cup duty in Barca’s 6-0 thrashing of Mexican side Club Leon on Monday.

Barca also lost the experience of goalkeeper Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol over the close season, but another veteran, right-back Dani Alves, believes he can see similarities in Luis Enrique’s early days in charge to those of Pep Guardiola which reaped such success.

“It is a pleasure to work with someone like Luis Enrique, he demands a lot from us and in the end that is what makes us excited,” Alves said on Thursday.

“We are working well and demanding a lot of ourselves. The target this year is a marvellous one.

“I think the teams that want to keep winning titles always have to be in evolution. We have the principal thing, which is clear ideas that are accepted by everyone. All that we need to do now is execute them.”

– Stumbling block –

Elche provided a major stumbling block between Barcelona and the Liga title last season as they held Martino’s men 0-0 at their own Martinez Valero Stadium in the penultimate game of the campaign.

And defender David Lomban believes his side can take heart from that result to the Camp Nou.

“There is never a good time to face Barcelona, but it also wasn’t a good time towards the end of last season and we managed to get a draw,” he said.

Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid don’t get their league campaigns underway until Monday night as they face off in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Friday.

La Liga champions Atletico have a tricky start as they travel across Madrid to take on a Rayo Vallecano side that produced a stunning late run last season to secure their survival in the top flight for another year.

Real, meanwhile, will also be looking to make amends as they crumbled in the final weeks of the league season in May before going on to claim a tenth European Cup by beating Atletico in Lisbon. They begin their league campaign at home to newly-promoted Cordoba.

There will be an early indication of Sevilla and Valencia’s chances of competing for Champions League football when the two most improved squads outside the big three face off at the Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday.

Europa League winners Sevilla have compensated for the loss of captain Rakitic with the arrivals of Gerard Deulofeu on loan from Barca, Argentine international Ever Banega and Iago Aspas from Liverpool amongst others.

Meanwhile, Valencia’s immediate financial troubles have been eased as Singaporean entrepreneur Peter Lim has taken charge and revitalised the squad.

German World Cup-winner Shkodran Mustafi has replaced Barcelona-bound Jeremy Mathieu at the heart of the defence, Manchester City’s newest midfield signing Bruno Zuculini has joined on loan for a year and prolific Spanish under-21 international Rodrigo has bolstered new coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s attacking options.

Fixtures (all times GMT)

Saturday

Malaga v Athletic Bilbao (1700), Sevilla v Valencia, Granada v Deportivo la Coruna (both 1900), Almeria v Espanyol (2100)

Sunday

Eibar v Real Sociedad (1700), Barcelona v Elche, Celta Vigo v Getafe (both 1900), Levante v Villarreal (2100)

Monday

Real Madrid v Cordoba (1800), Rayo Vallecano v Atletico Madrid (2000)

NAIROBI, Kenya, August 22- Commonwealth champions, Caleb Mwangangi and Julius Yego failed to spark at the cold and damp IAAF Diamond League Meet in Stockholm on a night Kenyans failed to bag a win for the first time in this season’s circuit series.

Thomas Longosiwa, the 2008 Olympics 5000m bronze winner, was the only athlete in his country’s much vaunted brigade to emerge with credit from the Swedish capital when he ran a polished year best of 12:59.17 for second in his speciality.

Freshly coined World Junior champion, Alfred Kipketer, mixed with the big boys and finished second in Race 1 of the men’s 800m in 1:46.69.

Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris won the men’s 5000m in a world season’s best of 12:54.83, holding off the challenge of Longosiwa and Glasgow champion, Mwangangi.

The trio had broken clear of USA’s flagging Galen Rupp as the race approached the bell in the 1912 Olympic stadium

Longosiwa, who pushed Edris all the way to the line, finished ahead of the taller figure of Ndiku who was nonetheless rewarded with a personal best of 12:59.17, with Rupp finishing a distant fourth in the blustery conditions in 13:05.97.

Having led for three laps after the last pacer dropped away, Rupp was left to solve a tactical problem as the leading men settled in behind him.

In the men’s Javelin, Yego who defended his African crown in Morocco last week, was briefly in contention when his 84.67m effort took him up to second before three successive foul throws saw him slide down the order to finish fourth.

Finnish Antti Ruuskanen won with 87.24m ahead of Germany’s Thomas Rohler (85.12m) and former world champion, Tero Pitkamaki (84.73m) who closed the podium.

Viola Kibiwott, the former World Cross junior champion finished fifth (4:04.17) in the women 1500m final won by American champion, Jennifer Simpson (4:00.38).

Hyvin Kiyeng (9:17.04) was the best placed Kenyan in the women 3000m steeple with Worlds silver medallist, Lidya Chepkirui, continuing with her unrewarding season after finishing 10th in 9:36.37.

BARCELONA, August 22- Brazilian superstar Neymar has suffered an ankle sprain in training, Barcelona announced Friday, adding to the club’s injury woes just two days before opening their new La Liga campaign.

Neymar complained of pain in his left ankle at the end of Thursday’s training session and tests confirmed he had suffered a mild sprain, Barcelona reported as they prepared to face Elche at home on Sunday.

“His return to training will depend on the development of the injury,” the club said in a statement.

The Brazilian had looked to be in fine form Monday when he scored two of Barcelona’s goals in their 6-0 destruction of Mexican side Club Leon in a friendly.

Neymar’s new injury comes just four days after he had received the all-clear to play for the first time since suffering a broken vertebra in his back during the World Cup.

The 22-year-old missed out on his country’s disastrous 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany on home soil after suffering the injury when he was clattered by Juan Camilo Zuniga towards the end of Brazil’s 2-1 quarter-final win over Colombia.

However, the injury could have been much worse as Neymar revealed that had the impact of Zuniga’s knee on his back been slightly higher he could have been left paralysed.

Barcelona’s new signings Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Thomas Vermaelen are also both sidelined by injury, while Luis Suarez continues his four-month ban for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup.

LONDON, August 22- Mario Balotelli will have to agree to Liverpool’s code of conduct if his proposed £16 million ($27 million, 20 million euros) transfer from AC Milan is to be completed, according to reports in the British press on Friday.

Speculation over Balotelli’s future intensified Thursday after AC Milan acknowledged the temperamental Italy striker was on his way out of the San Siro.

Milan and Liverpool have agreed a fee to let the 24-year-old move to Anfield, media in England and Italy reported.

However, several British newspapers said the Merseyside club had held talks with Balotelli’s agent, Mino Raiola, in Liverpool on Thursday where the terms for concluding the deal were laid out by the Anfield hierarchy.

It would appear Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, having gone through a series of off-field crises with Luis Suarez, the man Balotelli is set to replace, is in no mood for a repeat performance.

Balotelli’s two-and-a-half years with Manchester City prior to returning to Italy were overshadowed by his off-pitch antics, which included car crashes, setting fireworks off in his bathroom and an incident in which he threw a dart at a youth-team player.

He was regularly at loggerheads with then City boss Roberto Mancini and clashed with some team-mates while producing intermittent flashes of his undoubted star quality.

The Milan website reported that Balotelli had said his goodbyes to players and staff after training on Thursday morning, suggesting only personal terms remain to be finalised.

If the deal goes through by 12:00pm UK local time (1100GMT) Friday, his first match could be at his former club Manchester City, who pipped Liverpool to the English title last season, on Monday.

Rodgers is due to hold his regular pre-match press conference at Liverpool’s training ground later Friday.

Liverpool have yet to make any formal statement regarding Balotelli, but signing the striker would be consistent with their aim to land a top quality replacement for Suarez following the Uruguayan’s World Cup biting disgrace and subsequent departure for Barcelona.

During Liverpool’s tour of the United States earlier this month, Rodgers had appeared to close the door on a move for Balotelli, saying: “I can categorically tell you that he will not be coming to Liverpool.”

But with the close of the transfer window looming at the end of the month, it seems the Liverpool manager has had a change of heart brought on by the relative attractiveness of Balotelli’s transfer fee and the club’s failure sign Monaco’s Radamel Falcao as their first-choice replacement for Suarez.

- Ideal move -

A return to England and a fresh start could suit Balotelli. The striker has been subjected to criticism in his home country for a perceived poor attitude during Italy’s World Cup campaign, which ended with the Azzurri flying home at the end of the group stage.

As the most prominent black player in Italy, and the first to represent the country at a major tournament, he has also had to endure regular racist abuse of a kind which is now rare in English stadiums.

Balotelli was always a high-profile figure during his time in England, where he won both the Premier League and the FA Cup but also become a fixture in the gossip pages of the national press.

What he perceived as his unjust treatment led to a well-known goal celebration where, after scoring against local rivals Manchester United, he lifted his shirt to reveal a slogan saying ‘Why Always Me?’

Balotelli eventually left for Milan in January 2013, Mancini having decided the time was right to cash in on his erratic forward.

Suarez’s caused Rodgers plenty of problems but the Northern Irishman was lauded for the way he was able to get the best out of his star striker, who scored 31 goals last season.

Suarez left Liverpool for Barcelona in a £75 million ($125 million) move following his four-month ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup in Brazil.

Balotelli scored 16 goals for Milan last season, as well as the winner in Italy’s World Cup opener against England in Manaus.

LONDON, August 22- Former world 400 metres champion Amantle Montsho’s positive dope test at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow was on Friday confirmed by the Games Federation (CGF).

The high profile Botswanan athlete tested positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine after a struggling fourth in the 400m final in Glasgow.

A CGF statement confirmed: “On 29th July a test during the Commonwealth Games produced an adverse analytical finding indicating the presence of Methylhexaneamine Dimethlypentaylamine – a substance prohibited under the current WADA Prohibited List – Class S6 Stimulants.

“Ms Montsho requested that her B sample be analysed, which subsequently confirmed the initial A sample analysis.

“The results of all her performances at the Games will now be nullified.”

Montsho, who won the world title in 2011 and finished second behind Christine Ohuruogu in Moscow last year, accepted the drug test findings, the CGF added.

The CGF has passed on their decision to the sport’s governing body the IAAF to decide what further action to take against her.

Montsho was the most high profile athlete to fail a drugs test at the Games, which also saw 16-year-old Nigerian weightlifter Chika Amalaha stripped of her gold medal.

Montsho arrived in Glasgow as defending Commonwealth 400m champion, but she missed out on a medal behind a Jamaican cleansweep led by Stephanie McPherson.

The three-time African champion is a mainstay on the Diamond League circuit and her victory at the 2011 Daegu worlds saw her become Botswana’s first world or Olympic track and field champion.

LONDON, August 22- Troubled former England star Paul Gascoigne has been taken to hospital after being found slumped outside his home clutching a bottle of gin, a British newspaper reported Friday.

The Daily Mirror said the 47-year-old Gascoigne, who faces eviction from his luxury flat in Poole on England’s south coast because of complaints by neighbours, had phoned a friend asking: “I’m in trouble, please can you come and help me?”

It carried pictures of a gaunt-lookingGascoigne being helped into an ambulance by police and paramedics.

Since retiring from top-level football, former midfielder Gascoigne — who played for Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur, Italian giants Lazio and Glasgow Rangers, as well as helping England reach the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup, has suffered with alcoholism problems and has had several spells in treatment clinics, most recently in January.

He last played professionally a decade ago when he made five appearances for then English fourth-tier club Boston United.

Gascoigne was fined £1,000 (1,250 euros) by British magistrates last August after assaulting a railway guard who tried to stop him falling on to the line while drunk.

His latest health scare came after it emerged he had been signed up to play for a local non-league Sunday side.

Chris Foster, the manager of Abbey FC, is also a taxi driver who has picked up Gascoigne on several occasions.

“I have picked him up a few times and spoken to him about signing for us. Although he laughed it off, he didn’t say no,” Foster told the Bournemouth Daily Echo on Thursday.

“I dropped him off at his flat a couple of weeks ago and he asked me to go to the shop to get him some cigarettes. When I got back, I was invited in and we had a good chat about various things.

“I gave him the cigarettes and pulled out the signing-on form at the same time. He signed it there and then. I was chuffed to bits and ran to the car as fast as I could,” Foster added.

LONDON, August 22- Mourinho has praised Petr Cech for the goalkeeper’s reaction to being left out of Chelsea’s opening Premier League game of the season.

Cech, the club’s number one since arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2004, sat on the bench during the 3-1 opening day victory at Burnley, with Thibaut Courtois named in the starting line-up.

The Czech international’s omission has raised doubts about the player’s future at the club and Mourinho admits Cech is unlikely to be happy with the situation.

But the manager insists he wants Cech to stay, and insists the keeper will play a more prominent part in his plans when Chelsea’s Champions League and Capital One cup campaigns begin.

“He is a top professional,” Mourinho said of Cech on Friday. “He is working as always, behaving as always, being a group man as always, being a Chelsea person as always.

“Is he totally happy? I don’t believe. But it’s not just him. It’s everyone who didn’t start the game,” the Portuguese added.

- ‘Easier period’ -

“This period is hard for them, for me, because it’s a period with one match per week.

“So for the first three matches, they clearly feel that some are playing more and some don’t.

“But in September, with the Capital One (League) Cup, Premier League, Champions League, three matches a week, everyone playing, rotation, resting, decisions… that’s an easier period for them and an easier period for me in the sense everyone feels much better.

“Now, in these first three matches, some are not playing and they feel more (bad). But Petr’s behaviour is fantastic, and that’s important.”

Chelsea will bid to make it two wins out of two when newly-promoted Leicester visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

And Mourinho accepts winning will make the task of maintaining the morale of Cech and the other players who have found themselves out of the starting line-up that much simpler.

He added: “If you win it’s easier because victories bring happiness to everyone, not just those on the pitch.

“If you win, the week after a victory is a good week for everyone. When you play in every competition, like here at Chelsea, and you want to compete in every competition, it’s easier. This period is the most difficult.”

Mourinho admitted some players may consider their future at Chelsea but he insisted any transfer dealings would be conducted for the benefit of the club.

“We have to think about the players, and the players deserve respect and co-operation from us as a club, but the club is the most important thing.

“For me, football is about club, team, players, managers… so I am the last one in the list. The club is the most important thing. Then the team. Then the players.

“We cannot give players things and put them in front of the team or the club. It must always be the other way round. Every decision is about the club and the team

“But, obviously, if you can make it good for club, team and also players, that’s the perfect situation.”

Chelsea’s performance at Burnley reinforced the view they are among the favourites to finish top, but Mourinho maintains the opening week of the season gave few clues regarding the likely destiny of the Premier League title.

“The results in the first matches were very clear: draws, 1-0 wins, 2-1 wins. Just us and Man City with two goals’ difference.

“Everything was very tight and difficult. If you play the top of your game like we did, not for 90 minutes but for some periods, you have a chance to win. If you don’t, you’re in trouble.”

NAIROBI, Kenya, August 22- The perfect stage is set for the grand finale of Bobby Williamson’s reign at the helm of champions Gor Mahia when they resume their domestic duties against fierce rivals, Sony Sugar.

Seasoned script writers could not have penned a more befitting final act for Williamson, whom the club confirmed on Wednesday to Capital Sport, will depart to take over Harambee Stars after the Sunday encounter that has a feisty history to match.

Colloquially, the fixture is labelled ‘Gor A’ versus ‘Gor B’ in reference to their regional roots in the Nyanza region, a billing that infuriates Sony, inspiring them to reserve their best against K’Ogalo.

Besides drawing their bedrock support from the lake region, north and south Nyanza sub-tribe rivalries simmer under the surface and Williamson, the soft spoken man for the big occasion, will relish more than most the challenge to exit with the scalp of the ‘big enemy’ to cement his legacy after leading Gor for a year and two months.

To add spice to the tempestuous encounter, Gor’s City Stadium citadel in Nairobi will be the venue where thousands of the Green Army faithful will troop to accord their beloved head coach a befitting farewell.

On the opposite end of the dugout, another famous son of K’Ogalo, Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno, who until last season was the last Gor captain to lift the national title in 1995, thickens the plot by scheming to spoil the grand finale.

This has the potential of entering local football folklore if a festival of memorable football between two sides out to win at all cost is served.

Conversely, the underlying tensions could provide the recipe for disaster should they rear their ugly heads, an outcome all lovers of Kenyan football pray will not be the case.

Regardless of the result, the 53-year-old Scotsman will exit with his head held high after guiding Gor to their first domestic league titles in 18 years in addition to leaving Gor in a commanding position to repeat their success since they have three matches at hand on title rivals Tusker FC and Sofapaka.

The chasing pair failed to make capital on Gor’s two-week absence to feature in the Cecafa Kagame Cup where they bowed out at the group stages last week.

Having failed at the finish line to lead K’Ogalo to the trophy in 2010 when they finished runner-ups to Ulinzi Stars on the final day, Otieno could as well audition for the soon to be vacant role by reminding the Green Army faithful who hounded him out of the club the next season of his coaching credentials by silencing the crowd with victory.

Williamson who is yet to lose a match at City this season, has also never lost to Sony since joining K’Ogalo in February last year.

Under Williamson’s charge, seven players who lifted the league departed the club (keeper Ivo Mapunda, defender Donald Musoti both to Tanzanian side Simba SC, midfielders Anthony Akumu and Kevin Omondi, winger Shaban Kenga as well as forwards Rama Salim and Paul Kiongera).

“We as a club truly appreciate Williamson’s work since he arrived in Gor. He is a professional coach who saw us through tough times and through his guidance, we won the title and we are at a very good position to defend the title again this season.

“We wish him well and we will seek for his advice if necessary because he said he will be available when we need his advice,” Gor secretary, Chris Omondi told Capital Sport in hailing Williamson.

Sony, who lost 1-0 in the first-leg come to this fixture wounded and seeking to bounce from defeat by a similar marging to Western Stima last weekend.

The match will be the highlight of the weekend KPL programme.

On the other end of the spectrum, Nairobi City Stars will be looking to escape the relegation trap door in their trip to the coast to face Bandari whilst Chemelil Sugar welcome Stima to their Chemelil Complex home out to mill the three points out of them also on Saturday.

Basement side Nakuru All Stars will be up against Thika United at the Thika Municipal on Sunday.

NAIROBI, Kenya, August 22- Paul Kiongera gave KCB a perfect farewell gift after netting the winning goal against KRA in a 1-0 victory that lifted them off the relegation zone in a Kenyan Premier League match played Friday at Nairobi City Stadium.

Kiongera, who is set to join Tanzanian giants Simba SC when the Vodacom league kicks-off this weekend, scored the all important goal in the14th minute after heading home his fifth of the season.

That hauled the Bankers up to 14th on the log with 18 points above Nairobi City Stars who dropped to the relegation zone on goal difference.

“We are happy we have won, it gives us confidence going forward. If we continue winning I’m sure we will survive in the KPL.

“The team is building well from behind and our game plan of keeping the ball is working so we just need to win the rest of our matches and we will be safe,” Kiongera said post-match.

He is set to re-unite with former Gor Mahia team mates; keeper Ivo Mapunda and defender Donald Mosoti in Simba on September 1.

The Bankers made three changes, bringing back John Odhiambo, Ronald Musana and Raymond Murugi and went on to outclass the taxmen who had the defensive pair of Douglas Okumu and Edwin Misiko as well as midfielder Barrack Odhiambo as the fresh faces in their squad.

The first half turned literally into a Kiongera versus KRA with the forward tormenting the ruthlessly exposed keeper, Phillip Odhiambo.

The pair faced up for the first time in the 11th minute with Odhiambo making the save but could not do nothing 180 seconds later when Kiongera headed in the opener after connecting a Murugi cross from the left.

Midfielder Benjamin Chaka could have doubled the lead in the 19th with his long-range howitzer that beat Odhiambo all ends up but missed the target by inches.

A minute later, the overworked custodian denied Kiongera his brace after parrying his powerful header for a fruitless corner before repelling the same forward’s header minutes later.

Kiongera and Murugi combined well to expose Ken Kenyatta’s but yet again, Odhiambo stood tall between the sticks.

With a quarter an hour to the break, the Jomo Kenyatta University student was at it again after he found space to unleash a thunderbolt that forced the custodian to stretch full length to punch it out.

After the break, KCB elected to sit on their lead and despite new life in KRA; it was Murugi who came closest to extend the lead on 78 on the breakaway but in following the tale of the match, Odhiambo repelled the challenge.

Kenyatta introduced Robert Binja for Barrack but his charges could not rally in the closing stages to at least rescue a point as KCB enjoyed the welcome view of the table above the drop zone.

MADRID, August 23 – Atletico Madrid gained some measure of revenge for their Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid by beating their city rivals 1-0 at the Vicente Calderon on Friday to win the Spanish Super Cup 2-1 on aggregate.

The hosts made the best possible start as Mario Mandzukic volleyed home the winner from Antoine Griezmann’s pass after just 90 seconds.

Real boss Carlo Ancelotti had named Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench due to the effects of a hamstring injury that had seen him withdrawn from the first leg.

However, even the Portuguese couldn’t break down Atletico’s typically well-organised defence as they held on to end Real’s hopes of claiming six trophies this season.

“Between the end of last season and now Real Madrid has won three cups,” said Ancelotti.

“I want to thank all the players and the club because I think we have done very well.

“In this game we didn’t play well but I would rather this one than the Champions League final.”

As well as leaving Ronaldo on the bench, Ancelotti also fuelled speculation over Angel di Maria’s future by excluding the Argentine from his squad entirely.

However, he claimed Di Maria’s absence had purely been for sporting reasons.

“Di Maria was a technical decision. I didn’t need him today.”

Atletico boss Diego Simeone was sent off midway through the first-half for protesting that right-back Juanfran hadn’t been allowed back onto the field quickly enough after receiving treatment for a facial injury.

The Argentine could be in for a severe ban as he confronted the assistant referee and sarcastically applauded the decision.

However, he apologised and admitted he had overreacted at the time.

“When you commit an error you have to ask for forgiveness and I accept it was an error,” he said.

“I exaggerated in trying to get Juanfran on.”

Victory was Atletico’s first at home against Real in 15 years and continued Simeone’s amazing run of success since taking charge of the club just under three years ago.

However, he again downplayed expectations that Atletico can repeat their amazing La Liga title triumph of last season.

“When you play in a league that is so long against Real Madrid or Barcelona it is very difficult to compete, but in one or two games we have the capability to beat anybody.”

Real were caught out by a flying start from Atletico as Raphael Varane’s misjudged header allowed his French international teammate Griezmann to feed Mandzukic to score his first goal since signing from Bayern Munich.

The visitors slowly grew into the game, though, and Luka Modric was inches away from a spectacular equaliser when he volleyed just over from outside the area.

James Rodriguez then began to dictate the pace of the game and he was only denied a leveller by a spectacular save from Miguel Angel Moya before the Colombian also directed a header just wide of the target.

Rodriguez then fed Gareth Bale inside the area, but the Welshman pulled his shot disappointingly wide.

However, it was Atletico who had the clearest chance to double their advantage before half-time as Raul Garcia inexplicably headed over Koke’s corner from point-blank range.

Ronaldo made his entrance at the break as he replaced the ineffective Toni Kroos.

Garcia was inches away again at the start of the second period as this time he turned a Koke free-kick onto the underside of the bar and Iker Casillas reacted well to prevent Mandzukic forcing the ball home from close range.

Ronaldo made his first real impression with a thunderous effort that was well held by Moya, but Atletico were creating the greater threat and went close twice more through Koke and Griezmann.

And Real’s miserable evening was rounded off in stoppage time as Modric was sent off for a second bookable offence when he upended Cristian Rodriguez.

MANCHESTER, August 23 – Robin van Persie’s return to the Manchester United line-up gives new manager Louis van Gaal some welcome good news ahead of the Premier League match away to Sunderland on Sunday.

Van Gaal, hoping to bounce back from the 2-1 opening weekend defeat by Swansea, has been beset by injuries in midfield and Ander Herrera is the latest to be absent, with an ankle problem, alongside Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Jesse Lingard.

Jonny Evans, Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia could also miss the trip to the Stadium of Light but while Van Gaal has concerns in those areas, he has his first-choice attack available.

Van Persie was given extra time off after playing for a Netherlands side coached by compatriot van Gaal that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in Brazil.

But this weekend could see the striker make his first appearance in the Premier League since the 3-0 defeat by Liverpool in March.

Van Gaal’s 3-4-1-2 formation is geared towards getting the best out of a forward three of Juan Mata playing behind Van Persie and Wayne Rooney.

Since Spain midfielder Mata joined from Chelsea for a United record £37.1 million ($61.2 million, 44.8 million euros) in January, the trio have started just six times together in the Premier League.

Van Gaal is excited about the prospect of seeing van Persie and England striker Rooney, whom he has made United captain, playing in attack together.

“Robin is ready to play so that’s a big benefit for our team so I’m very happy that he’s now able to play,” said van Gaal.

“In theory it should be a very good couple (with Rooney). They can score a lot of goals and I hope it shall show that.”

- ‘Win quickly’ -

Meanwhile van Gaal has renewed his call for patience in the wake of the shock defeat by Swansea.

The Dutchman joked he had gone from a king to a devil in the space of two weeks.

While he has made light of the reaction to a first defeat since he took over, he accepts that United must get off the mark against Gus Poyet’s Sunderland side.

Van Gaal added: “For sportsmen you know that you can lose a game. I think that the players have suffered that last year too and I think they have responded well.”

“In pre-season in the United States we beat good opponents but I agree with the media that you have to win a home match against Swansea.

“I know that we have to win very quickly. Every game in the Premier League is a very difficult game, You have to win and that’s not simple.

“Sunderland will do everything, with the support of the home crowd, it will be a tough game but we need a victory and we’ll do everything.”

Sunderland manager Poyet has insisted the Black Cats have a psychological edge over United after last season’s success against the former Premier League champions.

The north-east club dumped United out of the League Cup at the semi-final stage, in addition to earning their first league win at Old Trafford for 46 years, as they pulled off their great escape to avoid relegation.

Now they will look to build on their opening day draw at West Brom with a victory that would condemn United to back-to-back defeats at the start of a season for the first time in more than a decade.

Poyet, who welcomes back Argentinian defender Santiago Vergini to the squad, said: “When I arrived at the club last season, people kept talking about how we couldn’t win against Manchester United, but we showed that we can.

“Those results are a big help going into Sunday’s game. Mentally, we’re in good shape.”

The Uruguayan added: “Maybe it’s about guarding against over-confidence now.”

BERLIN, August 23- Reigning German champions Bayern Munich got the new Bundesliga season off to a perfect start with a dramatic 2-1 win over VfL Wolfsburg on Friday.

Pep Guardiola’s side looked sluggish early on at the Allianz Arena but took the lead after 37 minutes when Thomas Mueller poked home from Arjen Robben’s cross.

The home side seemed in control when Robben scored just 67 seconds into the second half before a superb strike from Ivica Olic gave the visitors hope.

And Wolfsburg, who finished fifth last season, missed a glorious chance to steal a point when substitute Junior Malanda somehow missed from a yard out with 11 minutes remaining.

“We didn’t have the ideal preparation,” Robben said. “We had a lot of players at the World Cup until the end, who haven’t trained much, and a lot of injuries.

“But that can’t be used as an excuse. We have a super squad — the three points were the most important thing today.”

The visitors, who finished fifth last season, left with plenty of regrets.

“To concede the second goal right at the start of the second half was tough,” Olic said.

“But then we scored and after that I thought we played well. Kevin (De Bruyne) and Junior (Malanda) had really good chances and when you don’t take your chances here, you won’t get any points.”

Guardiola went into the game without injured midfielders Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thiago and Javi Martinez as well as suspended defender Jerome Boateng.

The Spaniard responded by handing 17-year-old Gianluca Gaudino a first Bundesliga start.

Gaudino lined up in central midfield alongside David Alaba, one of only three players who made their league debut for Bayern at a younger age.

Former Bayern midfielder Luiz Gustavo started in midfield for the visitors, who handed Bundesliga debuts to new signings Sebastian Jung, Joshua Guilavogui and Aaron Hunt.

After a slow start, Mueller and Robben shot straight at visiting goalkeeper Max Grun, who was standing in for Wolfsburg captain Diego Benaglio.

Bayern thought they had made the breakthrough 28 minutes in when Robert Lewandowski tapped in from Robben’s pass across goal but the Dutch winger was rightly flagged offside.

The home side were beginning to get on top and Lewandowski was denied again when Grun recovered well after fumbling Mueller’s close-range effort.

The Wolves keeper made an even better save moments later. Gaudino’s clipped ball into the box was acrobatically steered towards goal by Lewandowksi, but Grun clawed the ball away from the top corner.

Wolfsburg were camped in their own half and an inevitable goal for Bayern arrived after 37 minutes. Robben turned Gustavo inside out down the right and his low ball across the face of goal was prodded home by Mueller.

Bayern then made a blistering start to the second half when Robben dispossessed Guilavogui.

The home team broke at pace, with Mueller and a deft touch from Lewandowski setting Robben free to tuck home from inside the box.

After 52 minutes, Wolfsburg pulled a goal back out of the blue. Olic got away from Holger Badstuber on the edge of the box before curling a first-time effort in off the underside of the bar.

Lewandowski failed to make the most of a good opening shortly afterwards and Bayern almost got punished towards the end.

Substitute Maximilian Arnold delivered a perfect left-wing cross to pick out Malanda, whose goalbound effort was deflected on to the bar by Manuel Neuer.

The rebound fell to Malanda, practically on the goal line, but the Belgian midfielder was taken by surprise and shinned the ball wide.

Bayern substitute Sebastian Rode had a goal ruled off for offside and Robben hit the bar late on as the two-time defending champions finished strongly.