Euro roundup: Eta becomes first female coach to take charge in Bundesliga
Marie-Louise Eta made history on Sunday as she became the first female coach to take charge of a Bundesliga fixture, guiding Union Berlin to victory over Darmstadt.
The 32-year-old former Germany youth international was named as an assistant first-team coach for Die Eisernen
earlier this season. She took charge of the Bundesliga strugglers for their home game against the bottom club, Darmstadt, with Nenad Bjelica starting his three-game suspension for shoving the Bayern Munich forward Leroy Sané in the face during a 1-0 loss on Wednesday.
Eta’s first experience leading a side in the division ended with a 1-0 victory courtesy of Benedict Hollerbach’s strike just after the hour. A Women’s Champions League winner with Turbine Potsdam in 2010, Eta had previously worked in the youth set-up at Union. Having finished fourth last season, Union have had a harder time of it this campaign but the victory over Darmstadt moved them five points clear of the relegation spots.
Borussia Dortmund’s Niclas Füllkrug scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 home victory over Bochum. The win lifts Dortmund into the top four with their third straight league win.
In Spain, Girona reclaimed top spot in La Liga with a 1-0 win at Rafa Benítez’s Celta Vigo, thanks to a Portu strike early in the first half and to their former Tottenham goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, who excelled for the surprise league leaders.
Girona made the breakthrough after 20 minutes, when Portu unleashed an unstoppable close-range strike past the Celta goalkeeper, Vicente Guaita. Girona sit alone at the summit with 55 points after 22 games, one ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, who have a game in hand and face Getafe on Thursday. Real and Girona will clash at Santiago Bernabéu in two
weeks.
In the evening La Liga match, Atlético Madrid secured a comfortable 2-0 home win over Valencia which moved Diego Simeone’s side to third on 44 points, ahead of Barcelona on goal difference.
In Serie A, Internazionale reclaimed top spot as they beat fifth-placed Fiorentina 1-0 courtesy of an early header from Lautaro Martínez. Inter, who were crowned Italian Super Cup champions for third consecutive year on Monday, moved back top in the standings on 54 points, one ahead of second-placed Juventus who have played one game more.
Fiorentina thought they had taken the lead when the forward M’Bala Nzola nutmegged Yann Sommer in the 11th minute but the Angola striker was ruled to be offside. Martinez put Inter ahead three minutes later, nodding in a corner from a tight angle.
Paris Saint-Germain gave up a twogoal lead to draw 2-2 at home to Brest on Sunday as the hosts missed the chance to extend their Ligue 1 lead. Marco Asensio opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a close-range volley from a brilliant chipped pass from Bradley Barcola to score his first league goal since September. Randal Kolo Muani doubled the lead by tapping in a loose ball from close range after the Brest goalkeeper, Marco Bizot, blocked Asensio’s effort just before half-time.
Brest pulled one back 10 minutes into the second half as Mahdi Camara’s shot from inside the penalty area bounced off the PSG defender Danilo and past Gianluigi Donnarumma. The substitute Mathias Pereira Lage equalised with a classy backheel in the 80th minute.
Luis Enrique’s PSG side, who finished with 10 men after Barcola was sent off in stoppage time, remain top with 44 points, six clear of secondplaced Nice. Brest are third with 35 points, one point ahead of Monaco.