Nice down Guingamp, regain top spot
PSG overtake Monaco
PARIS, Dec 1, (RTRS): Nice returned to the top of Ligue 1 as Younes Belhanda’s early goal downed Guingamp 1-0 away on Wednesday while Paris St Germain moved above AS Monaco into second with a 2-0 home win over Angers.
Thiago Silva opened the scoring for champions PSG before Edinson Cavani converted a penalty for his 100th goal for the club.
Belhanda’s superb angled strike in the fifth minute at Guingamp was enough to hand the home side their first defeat in eight matches, as Nice overcame a recent wobble to reaffirm their title credentials.
Without injured striker Mario Balotelli, the visitors struggled to extend their lead, and were left holding on for a win that returns them to the summit on 36 points.
“We had the chance to make it 2-0, and that’s what’s regrettable,” Nice TORONTO, Dec 1, (RTRS): After 90 minutes of possibly the best playoff game in Major League Soccer (MLS) history, few were complaining that 30 minutes more were needed to separate rivals Toronto FC and Montreal Impact.
Benoit Cheyrou and Tosaint Ricketts scored in extra time as Toronto (TFC) beat Montreal 5-2 in the second leg of the MLS Eastern Conference final, sealing a 7-5 aggregate victory as TFC advanced to its first MLS Cup final.
“It was a crazy match. The scoreline alone at 5-2 in a conference final was amazing,” said Ricketts, a Canadian international who joined TFC in July after bouncing around in Europe the last few years.
“I’m so proud of the guys. We battled back many times in the game and showed so much character. It was a very special moment for all of us.”
Toronto, the first Canadian team to reach the MLS title game, will host the final Dec 10 against the Western Conference champion Seattle Sounders.
Toronto led 3-2 at the end of 90 minutes, leaving the teams tied at 5-5 on aggregate over the two legs.
Montreal won at home by the same 3-2 score on Nov 22 in the first leg.
In the 97th minute, Frenchman Cheyrou entered the game when Sebastian Giovinco came off injured. Moments later, Cheyrou headed home a cross from Steven Beitashour from the right side and sent the 36,000 fans at BMO Field into delirium.
“(Cheyrou) is a guy with tons of experience, and he sniffed out something could come to the back post,” said Toronto head coach Greg Vanney.
Luis Enrique called his side’s display in their 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad the worst since he took over in 2014 and said it was “a miracle” that his side managed to leave San Sebastian with a point, while defender Gerard Pique questioned their attitude.
Real have not lost in any competition for almost eight months and Zidane is two games away from equalling a club record of 34 games unbeaten.
Both coaches have had to juggle their squads to deal with a raft of absentees this season and Real will be without Toni Kroos and Gareth Bale, although midfield anchor Casemiro is
Toronto FC celebrates its victory over the Montreal Impact in the MLS
Eastern Conference championship series, in Toronto on Nov 30. (AP) Real Madrid’s French midfielder Enzo Fernandez (right), celebrates with Real Madrid’s forward Mariano after scoring during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) round of 32 second leg football match Real Madrid vs Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on Nov 30,
2016. (AFP)
set to return.
Barcelona are boosted by the return of captain Andres Iniesta after six weeks out with a knee injury.
Real’s fringe players like Lucas Vazquez, Marco Asensio, Mateo Kovacic and Alvaro Morata have performed admirably when the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Kroos and Luka Modric have been injured.
Barca have looked far more vulnerable, however, when key personnel have been injured, despite spending some 122 million euros ($128.84 million) on strengthening their squad in the close season. Zidane’s son Enzo marking his debut with a goal and Mariano rounding off his hat-trick with a header.
Leonesa’s Cesar Morgado scored an own goal in the last minute to round off a miserable afternoon as Real, who were disqualified from last year’s tournament after fielding an ineligible player, extended their unbeaten run to 32 matches.
“We’re ready for what’s going to be a great game and we’ll start preparing tomorrow,” Zidane said, looking ahead to the Clasico. “Tonight we’ll rest.
“It’s a game we need to prepare well for, but whatever happens, the result isn’t going to be decisive,” he added.
Real, whose last loss came against Wolfsburg in the Champions League in April, are closing in on the club record of 34 games without defeat, set by Leo Beenhakker’s side in the 198889 season.
Elsewhere, Joaquin Correa scored a hat-trick as Sevilla thumped fourth-tier SD Formentera 5-1 while Atletico Madrid stormed to a 6-0 victory over Segunda B outfit Guijuelo.