Dries Merten's double lifts Napoli over Roma 2-1

BY DANIELLA MATAR Associated Press LINKEDIN GOOGLE+ PINTEREST REDDIT PRINT ORDER REPRINT OF THIS STORY MILAN 

Napoli got back on track by beating nearest rival Roma 2-1, leaving Serie A leader Juventus with the biggest smile on Saturday. Napoli remained third but closed the gap to second-placed Roma to two points. Juventus can stretch its advantage to 10 points with a win at struggling Udinese on Sunday. 

"We must be realistic, the title race was very difficult before, now it's almost impossible," Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said. "It will depend what Juventus do, but it's very hard. "When you lose these head-to-head games, your spirit also sinks." 

Napoli was all but out of the Champions League and Italian Cup after 3-1 defeats to Real Madrid and Juventus in the first legs. Alongside a home loss to Atalanta last weekend, Napoli's season threatened to implode. The match with Roma was billed not only as a fight for an automatic Champions League spot, but also a fight between two contenders for league top-scorer: Dries Mertens and Edin Dzeko. 

Mertens came out on top with two goals. He broke the deadlock in the first half, springing the offside trap to run onto a delightful through ball from Marek Hamsik and dink it over Roma goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. Mertens celebrated in unusual fashion, by getting down on all fours, cocking his leg, and pretending to urinate on the corner flag. A second score before halftime was ruled out for his push on Federico Fazio. 

His second came five minutes after the break, when he rushed in at the back post to tap in Lorenzo Inisgne's cross. His 18th league goal moved him within one of Dzeko, Torino's Andrea Belotti, and Juventus forward — and former Napoli star — Gonzalo Higuain. 

It was almost worse for Roma as Daniele de Rossi was lucky not to receive a second yellow card 20 minutes from time when he kicked Pepe Reina in the back of the leg from the ground following a collision with the Napoli goalkeeper. 

It was not spotted by officials but Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri was sent to the stands for dissent. Mohamed Salah hit the left post and Roma finally scored in the 89th as Diego Perotti burst down the left and pulled back for Kevin Strootman to drive into the bottom right corner. 

In five minutes of stoppage time, Roma was denied an equalizer by Reina's incredible save of Perotti's deflected loop, which he somehow finger-tipped onto the crossbar. 

AC MILAN 3, CHIEVO VERONA 1 Carlos Bacca scored two goals and missed a penalty as AC Milan moved back into the European qualifying positions. Milan moved level on points with fifth-placed Lazio, which visits Bologna on Sunday. Inter Milan can go back above its city rival with a win at Cagliari. Chievo started the brighter but Milan took the lead against the run of play when Bacca ran on to Gerard Deulofeu's through ball, cut inside, and his effort was deflected in off Stefano Sorrentino's foot. Chievo leveled four minutes later through a contentious penalty. Mattia De Sciglio was adjudged to have pulled down Serge Gakpe. Milan was awarded a penalty of its own in first-half stoppage time for a Bostjan Cesar handball but Bacca blazed his spot kick over the bar. Bacca doubled his tally in the second half, and Gianluca Lapadula knocked in another penalty eight minutes from time. 

SAMPDORIA 3 PESCARA 1 Zdenek Zeman's 1,000th match as coach was bittersweet as his Pescara team lost. It was honors even at the break after Alberto Cerri cancelled out Bruno Fernandes's opener for Sampdoria. But Fabio Quagliarella restored Samp's lead just before the hour mark and substitute Patrik Schick scored six minutes after being sent in Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/sports/world-soccer/article136437613.html#storylink=cpy

Liverpool add Arsenal woes 3-1

If you leave out your best player and top scorer, the one whose contract runs out in 16 months and who has the biggest clubs in Europe wooing him, then generally you have to be right; even if you do have 20 years of credit on which to fall back. 

Arsene Wenger’s decision to start without Alexis Sanchez looked bizarre even before kick-off. Ten minutes into this game it looked utterly incomprehensible. 

Arsenal were as lame and lax as they can be at their worst and they have recently tested the low-water mark of those kind of performances. 

Without Mesut Ozil as well, as a potential vision of a future Arsenal it was decidedly disconcerting. And once Sanchez did come on at half-time and Arsenal improved immeasurably, Wenger’s selection just looked ever-more perplexing. 

Not only will it have angered Sanchez, who looked like a schoolboy in detention on the bench, but it damaged the team and the fight for the top four, perhaps decisively. 

For Liverpool’s win took them back into the Champions League positions and above Arsenal. Wenger has been in worse positions and recovered and has a game in hand. But still, you fear for the reception this team might receive if they repeat this first-half performance against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night. That might be enough to convince Wenger his time is up. Impatience is turning into hostility among some Arsenal fans. 

And even though the team were much improved in the second half and at times looked like grabbing an unlikely point, ultimately they were well beaten. 

Wenger knew what was coming. ‘I have no special regrets,’ he said. ‘The only regret is to have lost the game. The thinking was that we had to go more direct. We wanted to play two players who are strong in the air because we decided to go more direct. ‘After that, to bring Alexis on in the second half. Everybody will come to the same conclusion but I’m strong enough and lucid enough to analyse the impact. I don’t deny he is a great player. 

A decision like that is not easy to make but you always have to stand up.’ Wenger essentially argued that it was a poor collective performance which undid them in the first half and a good collective performance which lifted them in the second. But that ignores the catalyst effect Sanchez has on all around him: Danny Welbeck came alive; Alex Iwobi seemed a yard quicker; Olivier Giroud a yard taller. 

For Jurgen Klopp, different challenges are to be confronted. Liverpool, lambs at Leciester, were yet again lions against major opposition at Anfield, which is no way to earn credentials as a proper team, though habit appears to be deeply ingrained into their psyche. ‘I don’t like the fact that inconsistency is part of the deal in development,’ said Klopp. ‘But usually you lose against the big teams. Obviously we have chosen another way. But it’s still part of the deal. We had a really hard week. Directly after the Leicester game I found a few words and I was not asking for friendship. 'The next day we analysed, which was nothing to enjoy, for me or the boys. But there was a point in the week where we had to finish the Leicester game. And only if you are really silly do you let the bad things have more influence than the good things.’ They clearly heeded that part of the lesson. 

Arsenal were bad but Liverpool were also excellent. Adam Lallana and Sadio Mané stood out but there were plenty more contributing. That said, Arsenal folded at the slightest sign of pressure. The opening goal typified them. They put together a neat passing sequence in which Liverpool couldn’t get close to the ball. You might have convinced yourself they had the upper hand, though it ended with Granit Xhaka over-hitting a pass for Nacho Monreal. And then, from the resulting goal kick, Laurent Koscielny failed to win a header and Lallana flicked on to Sadio Mané. His cross should have been cleared but Hector Bellerin comically let it through his legs, so that Roberto Firmino had time and space to score. He took a touch which almost killed the chance but did eventually decisively put Liverpool in the lead. 

The trouble with Arsenal is, even after nine minutes, you never feel there is any coming back from such a setback. There was brief moment when Oxlade-Chamberlain shimmied inside and hung a cross in with which Olivier Giroud almost connected. 

But that wasn’t representative. Petr Cech saved them when Philipe Coutinho hit a great striker for the edge of the box on 29 minutes but they weren’t going to hold out: that much was clear. The ease with which James Milner drifted forwards unchallenged on 39 minutes, found Emre Can who swept the ball onto Roberto Firmino was embarrassing. The Brazilian found Mané on the edge of the box and he provided the perfect finale to the move with a clinical finish. Even then, it needed Cech again to bock Coutinho on the stroke of half time to prevent further humiliation. 

Then came Sanchez and having one of the world’s best players on the pitch somehow lifted Arsenal. On 49 minutes Monreal sent in a cross which Giroud headed goalwards and Simon Mignolet got a touch onto the cross bar. But it was at least a sign off fresh hope for Arsenal. For once, it wasn’t unfounded. Sanchez’s aggressive intent found an outlet on 57 minutes when he played in Danny Welbeck. The angle was tight and Mignolet was fast approaching but with a deft chip, Welbeck lifted the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net. Arsenal were by no means looking secure. 

When Coutinho crossed on the hour, it took a fine interception from Shokdran Mustafi to prevent Firmino tapping in. But they were at least better. And they should have been playing against ten on 78 minutes, when Can managed to hack down Theo Walcott and somehow avoid a second yellow card. 

Still, this brittle Arsenal side never truly convince. When Adam Lallana swept a ball to Divock Origi in injury time and the Belgian sprinted away down the left to provide a perfect cross for Georginio Wijnaldum to add the third, it made the scoreline as decisive as much of the performance had been.

Karim Benzema brace set Real Madrid win over Eibar 4-1

Eibar 1-4 Real Madrid: James Rodriguez and Marco Asensio add to Karim Benzema brace as visitors return to La Liga summit with win in Basque Country

Every dog has its day, or every cat in Karim Benzema's case. The player once dubbed a pussy cat by Jose Mourinho scored twice as Real Madrid comfortably beat Eibar without Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. Benzema has always had his critics at Madrid and he came into this game not having scored in his last seven League games. The morning papers ran a list of 35 players who had scored more than the French international in the league. But without having to service Ronaldo and Bale, Benzema was free to be the protagonist and he scored two and set-up one as Madrid scored twice in 15 minutes to wrap up this victory before the half-hour mark. 

Benzema needed two attempts to beat Eibar keeper Yoel Rodriguez who saved his first shot but could do nothing about the well-struck rebound.

It was Benzema's first goal in the league since January 9 and his sixth league goal of the season; number seven was not long in coming.

James Rodriguez whipped in a free-kick and Benzema arrived on-side to steer the ball home.

Modric didn't run to the goalscorer Benzema to celebrate, he ran to James Rodriguez instead – it was a great assist and soon Rodriguez would join Benzema on the scoresheet.

This time it was the Frenchman who provided the assist and the Colombian who applied the finish. 

It was turning into a great afternoon for the two players who tend to receive the most criticism at Real Madrid.

With what was Rodriguez's second goal of the season in the league – his first since September – the points were wrapped up.

Mateo Kovacic, Isco and Mariano Diaz all warmed up at the start of the second half. Zidane was clearly already thinking about taking off players he will need fresh on Tuesday against Napoli in the Champions League. 

Benzema clearly wanted to stay on and he hit the pass of the game with a lofted ball over the top of Eibar's defence to send Marco Asensio down the left. 

He unselfishly squared for Rodriguez and when Rodriguez hit the post, Asensio scored from the rebound to make it 4-0.

Spain manager Julen Lopetegui was among the 6,200 spectators watching this game; there is no question that 21-year-old Asensio will play many games for the national side. 

This was the eighth goal of what is his debut season at Real Madrid and he has only started seven matches.

Benzema was taken off after the fourth goal and Luka Modric was the next to go. No sooner had he been replaced by Mateo Kovacic than Eibar scored. 

Ruben Pena had never scored in the first division but he turned in a cross from Pedro Leon with his hip to give Eibar a consolation goal.

Madrid were back on top of La Liga, albeit pending Barcelona's home fixture with Celta Vigo later on Saturday. 

They had delivered one of their more convincing performances of the season and they had done so with out Bale, Ronaldo, Marcelo and Toni Kroos.

Benzema had stepped-up when his team had needed him most. This was the perfect way to prepare for Napoli on Tuesday.

Barcelona thumps Celta Vigo 5-0, keeps La Liga lead

 

Barcelona 5-0 Celta Vigo: Lionel Messi scores brace as Luis Enrique's side romp to victory and leapfrog Real Madrid to the top of La Liga

Lionel Messi scored the first goal on 24 minutes and then mimicked making a telephone call as part of his goal celebration – perhaps he was calling UEFA. Last week the game's European governing body gave Barca a 0% chance of progressing to the Champions League quarter-finals. It's true that no-one has ever overturned a 4-0 first leg defecit and Barcelona have a mountain to climb against Paris Saint-Germain, but they have Messi and with Messi anything is possible. The supporters certainly think so, they were singing: 'Yes we can' by the time the fifth goal went in. This 5-0 win was special from Messi and special from Barcelona who have now scored 11 goals in four days and sit back on top of the Spanish first division albeit having played a game more than Real Madrid.

The rout could easily have started earlier when both Suarez and Messi hit the post in the space of seconds on 18 minutes.

Suarez surged past Gustavo Cabral and hit the foot of the right upright. And from a more difficult angle as the ball came back out to him, Messi hit the same spot on the same post.

Barcelona should then have had a penalty three minutes later when Neymar was chopped down by Hugo Mallo. The spot-kick wasn't given but it didn't matter because Messi was about to conjure the first goal.

He picked the ball up midway inside Celta's half. Not content with starting his run from there he carried the ball back the edge of the centre-circle then turned and went for the Celta juglular wriggling through the centre of their defence. With Cabral and Sergi Gomez left flailing, he curled a shot inside Sergio Alvarez' far post.

It was his 37th goal of the season in just 37 games but it was only the beginning.

It should have been two when Rafinha cut in from the right but he failed to beat Alvarez. When he looked up he had Messi, Neymar and Suarez all staring him down having been in space for a pass – an image he might take some time to wipe from his memory.

The second goal was not long in coming. And it was every bit as special as the first. Messi fed Rakitic and he returned the pass. Messi then played an angled pass into Neymar's path and the Brazilian applied the most delicate of touches to chip it over the head of Alvarez and send it curling with one bounce over the line. 

No one does artistic impression better than Neymar and he was at it again 13 minutes into the second half when he set up Rakitic for the third.

The Brazilian crossed from the left, Rafinha got a touch in the area and Rakitic sent a low drive through the goalkeeper's legs.

Umtiti was the next on the scoresheet poking the ball home from inside the six-yard box from a Messi cross. It was his first goal for the club and his Barcelona team-mates queued up to congratulate him – of the raft of summer signings he is the one who has made a first team place his own.

Messi got his second with Barcelona's next attack. He carried the ball down the right, cut inside, and despite the best efforts of Facundo Roncaglia and Cabral drilled his shot through the legs of the latter and past Alvarez.

With 20 minutes left Iniesta came on – as if Celta hadn't suffered enough - but the captain did not exert himself. The three points were won and all attention now turns to Wednesday. 

Messi and company are in the mood to either go through with a miraculous comeback, or at least go out of the Champions League making everyone wish they were not.

Luis Enrique is leaving Barcelona

After Barcelona’s convincing 6-1 win against Sporting Gijón on Wednesday, Luis Enrique put an end to months of speculation and announced he will step down as Barça boss in the summer. 

He told the press that he “won’t be Barcelona coach next season” and “needs to rest”. Enrique has been under enormous criticism all season for the Blaugrana's poor performances, and after two very successful campaigns, he hopes to end his third season on a high note. Club President Josep Bartomeu said on Enrique’s departure: "We accept Luis Enrique's decision. He has been a great a coach. Now is it time to end his spell in the best possible way". 

The search for a new manager will start. Ronald Koeman (Everton), Jorge Sampaoli (Sevilla) and Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham Hotspur) have been the names speculated the most over the last few weeks. The board is expected to announce the new manager in the near future.

The 46-year-old coach's decision to make the announcement now, is being seen as an attempt to galvanise his players for what remains of this campaign.

He said: 'I will finish this press conference in a different way; I want to announce I will not be continuing as Barcelona coach.

'I want to thank the club for all the faith they have shown in me. These have been three unforgettable years.

'You don't get a lot of rest in this job and I need to rest. 'Hopefully we have three very exciting months left and if the stars align we can come back in the Champions League, and if not we still have the league and the cup.'

The search will now begin for his successor and Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde and Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli are the favourites with Lionel Messi understood to favour the latter.

But Everton's Koeman and Dortmund's Thomas Tuchel are among those coaches that the Barca board will consider, with Koeman having impressed at Everton this season.  

Enrique took over in 2014 and looked on his way out at the halfway point of that first season, having got on the wrong side of Messi.

But he turned things around and ended up winning the treble. He finished the second season having won as many trophies in his first two campaigns as Pep Guardiola.

Like his friend and predecessor in the hotseat he has decided he needs a break from one of the most demanding jobs in football. There were whistles when his name was song by some supporters following Barcelona's disastrous 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in Paris.

On Wednesday, supporters seemed to have turned because when his name was sung by the Camp Nou's singing section there was no adverse reaction. 

Those supporters now know they will have a new coach next season.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4272864/Luis-Enrique-leave-Barcelona-end-season.html#ixzz4aBxfdFEi
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Barcelona dominates Sporting Gijon 6-1, grabs La Liga lead

 Barcelona 6-1 Sporting Gijon: Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar all score as Barca go top of La Liga with impressive victory

First came the six goals from his team and then bang - Luis Enrique hit the back of the net himself dropping the bombshell that he is leaving the club at the end of the season.

Few expected the 46-year-old coach to renew his contract that runs out this summer, especially after that 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain two weeks ago.

Yet he still stunned a crowded press room at the Nou Camp, finishing his press conference following his team's 6-1 win by saying he had one more thing to say – he was off.

The decision to make the early announcement is being seen as a move to galvanise his squad for the run-in and although he admitted to only having told his players after this win, they already look in the mood to send him off with a rousing finish to the campaign.

They thrashed struggling Sporting and only needed a 45-minute shift from Luis Suarez, and an hour from Lionel Messi to do so.

It was 3-1 and game over by half-time as they played some of their best football and the out-going coach's name was sung with no whistles from dissenting fans.

In a week's time Paris Saint-Germain will be in town and a 6-1 result will see Barcelona through. The French champions are unlikely to defend as Sporting did here but this was still a very positive performance – a riot of good football and great finishing.

The first goal was an all-Argentina production. There is a crossroads in the Northern Argentine City of Tucamen where the streets are named after Messi and Javier Mascherano – the pair were definitely on the same GPS on nine minutes when Mascherano found himself in the right back position and dinked a pass over the top of Sporting's defence for Messi to finish.

The visitors were attempting to play offside but Barcelona's No 10 just jogged between the two centre backs and, barely needing to jump, nodded the ball over the advancing Sporting keeper Ivan Cuellar. It was his 21st league goal of the season and surely his easiest.

When the second goal went in it was Neymar's pass and Suarez springing Sporting's shocking excuse for an offside trap. The ball was diverted over the line by Juan Rodriguez and is likely to be credited to the defender but Suarez took the plaudits from his team-mates.

Sporting had not won here in 30 years and this was a terrible start but they were buoyed on 21 minutes when they pulled it back to 2-1. 

This time the through ball was from Burgui and when Sergio Alvarez's shot came back off a post Carlos Castro reacted more quickly than Umtiti to send it over the line.

The two-goal deficit was quickly restored. Sporting were defending like a team who are one off the bottom and had only won once away all season. Jean-Sylvian Babin headed the ball up instead of away and Suarez was unchallenged to thunder it past Cuellar on the volley.

Suarez did not reappear to torment Sporting further after the break. He will be needed at the weekend against Celta Vigo and then next week in the Champions League. Alcacer came on in his place. No one has played fewer minutes so far this season and no one needed a confidence-boosting goal more and it came for him in just four minutes.

Babin gift-wrapped another ball in the area, this time to Messi and he found Alcacer who scored his second goal of the season. 

The singing section behind the goal was now loudly sing Enrique's name and the rest of the stadium respectfully observed. When they tried that a week ago the chants were whistled down. Time heals even 4-0 defeats to PSG.

Such was the mood that Messi took an early cut, substituted on the hour with Barcelona in total control of the game.

So no Suarez and no Messi – what could possibly go wrong for Sporting now? Neymar curled a picture-book free-kick past Cuellar, leaving the keeper tangled up in his own net, and it was five. Ivan Rakitic smashed the sixth goal in as the clock ran down and Barcelona left the field as leaders.

We thought the show was over but the drama had only just begun. Within the next couple of hours the coach would quit and Real Madrid would draw with Gareth Bale sent off to leave Barcelona top of the table.

Real Madrid in a thrilling draw with Las Palmas 3-3 after Gareth Bale send off

Real Madrid 3 Las Palmas 3: Gareth Bale sent off as Los Blancos complete another miraculous comeback

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in the final four minutes as Real Madrid fought back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Las Palmas, despite Gareth Bale's dismissal. Real had Bale sent off for kicking and then pushing Jonathan Viera at 1-1 and they were trailing until Ronaldo scored with an 86th-minute penalty and an 89th-minute header. 

Barca earlier beat Sporting Gijon 6-1 before their boss Luis Enrique announced he would not be in charge next season. 

Real had opportunities and three times had the ball in their opponents' net, only for the strikes to be ruled out for offside. Las Palmas' goals came from Tana, Viera and Kevin-Prince Boateng. 

Barca's two-point lead was expected to last a matter of hours. However, there was no routine Real win despite the hosts taking an early lead at the Bernabeu. 

Isco breached the offside trap and rolled the ball in past Javi Varas for the opening goal. But two minutes later the visitors were level as Tana fired a sweet shot past Keylor Navas. Real had chances to restore their lead before the interval, but they were reduced to 10 men early in the second half when Bale's temper got the better of him. 

Bale repeatedly swiped at Viera as he surged away from him and the Las Palmas captain reacted with a minor push after being awarded a foul. Wales forward Bale then placed two hands in his opponent's chest, shoving him away in front of referee David Fernandez Borbalan. Having already received one yellow card, another followed immediately and out came the red. 

Madrid's woes deepened soon afterwards when Sergio Ramos conceded a penalty. After a fine tackle on Boateng, the Real captain handed a goalbound shot from David Simon. Viera took the resulting spot kick, sending Navas the wrong way. The goalkeeper got a foot to it, but it was not enough to prevent Las Palmas' lead being restored.  

Three minutes later it was 3-1. Boateng reached a Viera pass ahead of the advancing Navas to poke it in. 

Las Palmas appeared to be nearing victory, but four minutes from time Dani Castellano was penalised for handball in the area. Ronaldo stuck the spot-kick into the top corner. Real pressed for an equaliser and Ronaldo claimed it, heading in James Rodriguez's cross following a corner. 

Real are second in the standings on 56 points, one behind Barcelona who thrashed Sporting Gijon 6-1 on Wednesday, but Zinedine Zidane's side have a game in hand on their arch-rivals as they seek a first league title since 2012.