SHORT CORNER
Lopetegui promises to fight
Julen Lopetegui has said he will fight to turn Real Madrid's stuttering season around but could not guarantee he will be in charge for the Clasico against Barcelona on Sunday.
His side face Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League on Tuesday, on the back of five games without a win and having lost all of their last three.
"What I've learned about this club is to fight, that is the DNA of this club," Lopetegui said at a press conference on Monday.
"That's what we're going to do, fight, both the players and the coaching staff. We know results haven't been great but we are going to turn this around. We are going to fight."
-- Afp
Bayern buoyed by 'liberating' victory
Bayern Munich travel to Greece to face AEK Athens in the Champions League on Tuesday boosted by a Bundesliga win that "felt like a liberation" after their miserable run of form and a stormy week behind the scenes.
The pressure was mounting on the German champions and new coach Niko Kovac during a four-match winless run to the extent that senior club figures including Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeness launched a stunning attack on the media.
But Saturday's 3-1 win over Wolfsburg, in which Robert Lewandowski scored twice to end a five-game goal drought, is being hailed as a potential turning point for Bayern's season.
"That felt like a liberation," said centre-back Mats Hummels, while sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic was equally relieved, saying: "We have shown character in a difficult phase."
-- Afp
Rooney propels D.C. United into MLS Cup playoffs
Former Manchester United and England Star Wayne Rooney scored twice to push D.C. United to a 3-1 victory over New York City FC and into the MLS Cup playoffs on Sunday.
Rooney opened the scoring in the eighth minute, tapping in his team-leading 11th goal of the season after Luciano Acosta eluded three New York defenders to reach the end line and cut the ball back to Rooney.
Acosta doubled D.C.'s lead in the 24th minute, curling in a strong shot from outside the area.
Rooney converted from the penalty spot in the 74th minute after Alex Ring handled the ball in the penalty box.
-- Afp
Ramos rages at Reguilon
Real Madrid youth player Sergio Reguilon probably did not expect such a hostile reaction when he accidentally knocked Sergio Ramos in training yesterday morning.
In a moment that has since been described as 'disgusting' and 'disappointing' the Spanish defender proceeded to take out his frustrations on Reguilon when he was caught on the nose. Footage shows Ramos booting the ball at the 21-year-old left-back not once but twice as teammate Luka Modric later approaches the Madrid captain.
The 32-year-old then wagged his finger toward the youngster as he holds his presumably sore nose -- a sign that frustrations are growing amongst the Los Blancos group after a poor start to the season?
-- Sportbible
Icardi grabs derby spoils
Captain Mauro Icardi struck a dramatic injury-time winner as Inter Milan stunned AC Milan 1-0 in the derby at the San Siro to retake third place in Serie A on Sunday.
The Argentinian pounced on a mistake by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to nod home in the second minute of added time after an otherwise forgettable match, leaving Gennaro Gattuso's Milan without a win in the last five league derbies.
But Inter continued their recent resurgence under Luciano Spalletti after finishing fourth last term to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2011-12, moving to within six points of leaders Juventus.
"I came here to win, not to just sit on a bench for a season and try to bring home a salary," former Roma coach Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia.
"I came here to organise the future of Inter and the players must do the same.
"I liked that after the final whistle, Icardi said we must find consistency and keep pushing. Inter chose us to bring this side back to the level that the fans deserve." -- Afp