Pep banking on 'angry Ribery' to pip Real

MUNICH: Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola is counting on Frenchman Franck Ribery's anger to power them past Real Madrid in their Champions League semifinal second leg on Tuesday despite the winger's recent slump in form.

Ribery had a sparkling season until Bayern clinched the Bundesliga title with seven games to spare.

The team has since looked like a pale shadow of its former scintillating self that broke record after record en route to the league title with Ribery having lost his spark down the left wing as Bayern notched just two wins in their last five league games.

"Franck Ribery is extremely important for this club, for the team," Guardiola told reporters on Monday ahead of the second leg following their 1-0 defeat in Madrid last week.

"He was playing angry against Bremen (in Bayern's 5-2 win on Saturday). Franck needs this aggression, he needs to play angry.

"He keeps fighting and that is why fans love him. He is one of the best players in Bayern history, he has always performed at the highest level and we need the best Ribery."

Bayern were again unconvincing for much of the game against Bremen before an explosive second half saw them charge past their opponents with Ribery also on target.

Guardiola, in his first season in charge, is looking to lead Bayern to an unprecedented back-to-back Champions League win and should they make the final they would equal Juventus' record of having reached three consecutive finals in this competition (1996-98).

They will, however, need to score against a team that last week successfully managed to keep the Bayern attack under complete control despite the Germans' overwhelming possession.

"I cannot imagine that (Real coach) Carlo Ancelotti will set up his team in such a way as to just keep the result," said the Spaniard. "That would be difficult to maintain. Obviously it is clear what we need to do. We need to score more than one goal."

"Real are a quick team so we always have to be positioned well when we lose possession. The best is to keep them a long way away from our goal."

Guardiola refused to speculate on the participation or not of Real's Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, with the former twice on target in Saturday's 4-0 win over Ossasuna following a minor knee injury and the Welshman missing that game with a flu.

"To me it makes no difference whether Real have Cristiano Ronaldo and Bale available," he said.

Ribery's teammate Arjen Robben said they would not be surprised again by a defensive Real formation.

"Real are coming here with a lot of confidence but they also know that nothing is for free here," Robben told reporters.

"It will not be easy for them. We have to play quickly forward and score but we have to be careful of their counter attacks. We were a bit surprised by how defensive they were in the first leg."

"We are still hungry and we want to make history and reach the final," he said.

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Anirban Lahiri's win catapults him to 67

NEW DELHI: Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri's incredible victory at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters catapulted him from 102 to a career-high of 67 in the Official World Golf Rankings on Monday.

Rankings

Lahiri, who is now also the Asian Tour No. 1, had achieved his previous best ranking of 99, in March this year.

Anirban, the highest ranked Indian in the world at the moment, has also become the second-highest ranked Asian player after Thongchai Jaidee who is at 49.

Besides Jeev Milkha Singh, no other Indian golfer has been ranked higher than 67. Jeev had achieved his career-best ranking of 29 back in 2009.

Among the other two Indians who had previously broken into the top-100, Jyoti Randhawa went as high as 70 while Gaganjeet Bhullar reached a career-high of 85.

At present, Shiv Kapur at 154 is next best ranked Indian in the world followed by Gaganjeet Bhullar at 173.

Here's a look at some of the other records established post Lahiri's latest triumph:

Lahiri's 15th career title and fourth international win· Lahiri's first international-level title triumph outside India·

The 60th win by an Indian at the international level· It was the 46th title triumph by an Indian on the Asian circuit.

Lahiri's four international titles now place him fifth on the list of Indians with most international wins (Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa, Arjun Atwal and Gaganjeet Bhullar have won more international titles)·

Lahiri became the 10th Indian to win a title outside India·

It is the fourth year in succession that Anirban has won an international event.

Indians now have two international titles in 2014, both on the Asian Tour (Rashid Khan had won the SAIL-SBI Open in March).

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Amid despair, Atletico is hope in Madrid

MADRID: For Spain's working class suffering through what feels like never-ending economic recession, Atletico Madrid's stunning season offers an uplifting example of beating the odds, with the Spanish title and Champions League final both within its reach.

The club rooted in blue-collar Madrid is looking down on rich neighbor Real Madrid and defending champion Barcelona from atop the Spanish league standings for the first time in 18 years. It beat Valencia 1-0 on Sunday to move six points clear of Real Madrid.

Win two of its last three games, and Atletico is champion for the first time since 1996. Spain was a more optimistic place the last time it lifted the league trophy, with an economy heading for boom times before the more recent bust and now record unemployment.

Part of Atletico's appeal is that it has achieved so much with a squad worth a fraction of Madrid and Barcelona's collections of more famous stars. Neutrals across the country are in Atletico's corner, hopeful that Diego Simeone's team can break the monotony of a duopoly that has strangled the Spanish league since Valencia was the last team apart from Barcelona or Madrid to win the championship a decade ago.

"This is Atletico Madrid and that's what we're about: work, work, work, heart. We never give up," Simeone said during the Champions League quarterfinal series triumph over Barcelona. "The people of Atletico Madrid are no doubt proud of how we have competed."

Atletico and "the people" are intertwined, with the club's Vicente Calderon Stadium built over an unattractive highway in the middle of the industrial but revitalizing Arguanzela neighborhood, south of the Spanish capital's world-renowned museums and tourist attractions.

"It's the working man's team," Atletico captain Gabi Fernandez said in a magazine interview. "We're changing the story through our commitment to giving people what they want: A team they can feel proud of, that win or lose they'll say, 'Damn, this is my Atletico."'

Atletico was founded in 1903 by Basque students setting up a Madrid branch of the Athletic Bilbao club. Its standout qualities of passion, hard work and self-belief have over the years been canceled out by dramatic collapses, disorganization and disappointment.

Names such as Luis Aragones, Hugo Sanchez, Fernando Torres, Christian Vieri and Diego Forlan made their marks on the club. But so, too, did construction magnate Jesus Gil, the former president who was embroiled in embezzlement charges and jailed after one of his buildings collapsed, killing 58 people.

The club owes the Spanish government millions in back taxes. It also has endured six seasons in the second division, most recently from 2000-02.

The club's flare for dramatics is partly what makes Atletico's story so human. Despite its ups and downs, it has always succeeded in winning trophies. And since the return of former player Simeone, it is taking on and often beating Europe's elite.

Simeone played for the last championship-winning team. The Argentine coach has instilled defensive discipline in a squad that was prone to late collapses. Creative midfielders Koke and Arda Turan provide for striker Diego Costa, who already has 35 goals this season.

The past four seasons have seen Atletico win five trophies, including a pair of Europa League titles - one trophy more than Real Madrid over that same period. Ending a 17-year wait, Atletico also finally beat its crosstown rival last May, in the Copa del Rey final.

Atletico is on the verge of a place in the Champions League final after reaching the semifinals of Europe's top competition for the first time since 1974, with everything to play for on Wednesday at Chelsea in the second leg following a scoreless draw in the first leg.

Not bad for a team nicknamed "Los Colchoneros" - "mattress makers" - with its red and white strip resembling a traditional pattern for Spanish bedding.

"If we win it's because we've deserved it, not because we have some 'galacticos,"' Gabi told Panenka Magazine, referring to Madrid's history of breaking transfer records to sign players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham or Gareth Bale.

"When I was young and was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up I didn't say a football player but a football player for Atleti. I'm living the dream of all of our fans, which is nothing less than to be playing for the team you love."

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Bangalore to host India-Serbia playoff tie

NEW DELHI: Bangalore will host India's Davis Cup World Group playoff tie against Serbia from September 12 to 14.

"In consultation with the captain and players of the team, AITA has decided to hold the next Davis Cup World Group Qualifying tie against Serbia in Bengaluru. This tie will be held from 12th to 14th September 2014," said All India Tennis Association (AITA) secretary general Bharat Oza in a statement on Monday.

The winning nation will qualify for the World Group in 2015 while the losing country will contest in the Zone Groups.

India qualified for the playoff when they beat South Korea 3-1 at Busan in second round of Group I Asia/Oceania in the first week of April.

The 2013 finalists will travel to India looking to continue their seven-year-long presence in the World Group. Serbia has made the quarterfinals or better every year since 2010. For India, this tie represents a chance to return to the Davis Cup's top table.

Serbia will undoubtedly present a greater challenge for India. The 2010 champions may have suffered a loss to Switzerland in the World Group first round this year but their form in recent years has seen them become a force to be reckoned with.

Serbia hold a 2-1 head-to-head over India in Davis Cup.

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Barca back Alves in racist banana taunt

BARCELONA: Barcelona have defended Dani Alves for his response to a racist taunt and teammate Neymar posted a photo of himself with a peeled banana on the internet in support.

Alves, who is black, was about to take a corner in Sunday's 3-2 win at Villarreal when a banana was thrown at him. The Brazil international picked it up, peeled it and ate some of it before throwing the rest aside.

After the match, Alves said humor was the best way to combat racism in sport.

"Barcelona wishes to express its complete support and solidarity with our first team player Dani Alves, following the insults he was subject to from a section of the crowd at El Madrigal on Sunday," the Spanish league champions said on Monday in a statement. "Barcelona urges all clubs to continue fighting against the blight on the game which any kind of aggression against a sportsperson on the basis of their race represents."

Neymar posted a photo of himself on Instagram holding a peeled banana alongside his son, who was holding a doll that resembled a banana, with the hashtag message "we are all monkeys."

Besides Neymar, fellow Brazil teammates Hulk and Fred also lent support via their social media accounts.

Argentina striker Sergio Aguero and Brazil women's striker Marta both posed for photos while biting into bananas, while former Brazil international Roberto Carlos also posted an internet photo of himself with the fruit.

"We have suffered this in Spain for some time," Alves said on Sunday. "You have to take it with a dose of humor. We aren't going to change things easily. If you don't give it importance, they don't achieve their objective."

The match referee included the 75th-minute incident in his match report, so Villarreal could face a fine.

Alves has often been subjected to racist taunts and called fighting racism "a lost war" in January 2013 after segments of Real Madrid's fans abused him with monkey chants during a match. Madrid defender Marcelo, who is also Brazilian, was also recently greeted with monkey chants by a section of Atletico Madrid fans this season.

Former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o was convinced not to walk off at Zaragoza in 2006 after fans berated the Cameroon striker with racist chants. Two years earlier, Spain fans at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium infamously greeted England's black players with monkey chants during an international friendly match.

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Anirban Lahiri wins Indonesian Masters

JAKARTA: Anirban Lahiri holed a sensational 20-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole to grab his fourth Asian Tour title and the first outside India at the CIMB Indonesian Masters on Sunday.

Lahiri, who will get married next month, fought back from a double bogey on 13th as he leapfrogged from second to go past the clubhouse leader, Baek Seuk-Hyun of Korea (65), who finished at 16-under.

Lahiri (68) finished at 17-under after rounds of 70, 69, 64 and 68 and was one shot clear of Baek and Cameron Smith (70).

Lahiri, ranked 102 in World rankings at the start of the week should move inside top-75 when the rankings are released on Monday. He is currently the top Indian in world rankings. He will also move to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit. It was Lahiri's fourth win and he has now won each year since 2011 and the only Indians with more Asian Tour wins than him are Jyoti Randhawa (8), Arjun Atwal (7), Jeev Milkha Singh (6) and Gaganjeet Bhullar (5).

It has been a series of consistent performances from Lahiri, who was tied eighth at SAIL-SBI Open and then tied 10th at Maybank Malaysian Open. He also won two points for Team Asia last month at the inaugural EurAsia Cup, including a singles win over World top-30 player Victor Dubuisson of France.

Making it a great outing for Indian golf were SSP Chowrasia (68), who was in contention for a brief while before ending tied fifth at 14-under and Rashid Khan (71), who won his maiden Asian Tour title last month at SAIL-SBI Open, had a topsy-turvy day with five birdies and four bogeys and finished tied ninth at 13-under.

Jyoti Randhawa (70) was also looking at a long shot as he found five birdies in a space of six holes between fifth and 10th, but then three bogeys between 11th and 14th ended his hopes and he finished in a tie for 13th.

Rahil Gangjee (70) was tied 22nd and Arjun Atwal, who had one eagle on 18th and a birdie on sixth ended tied 39th.

Starting the day at second place, Lahiri moved into the lead with three birdies in a row from second to fourth and despite a bogey on fifth, he sank another birdie on 12th to stay in lead.

But Baek, who started the day with five birdies in a row, and Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei looked like pulling the rug from under Lahiri's feet.

Just as Lin dropped out of contention with two bogeys and a double between 14th and 17th, Lahiri's playing partner and overnight leader rookie Cameron Smith from Australia fought his way back from a disastrous front nine of three-over 39 with four birdies between 11th and 16th.

He joined Lahiri at 15-under in second place as Baek went to the putting green to get ready for a play-off after closing at 16-under.

Both Smith and Lahiri were on the green in two and had long eagle putts. Smith missed his putt and got a birdie, while Lahiri found the cup from 20 feet to leave Baek and Smith stranded at 16-under as the Indian jumped ahead to 17-under.

Kiradech Aphibarnrat (68) was fourth, while veteran Thongchai Jaidee (64) had nine birdies against one bogey to tie for fifth with Chowrasia (68), Jazz Janewattananond (67) and Lin Wen-tang (68) at 14-under.

A double-bogey six on 13 after a lengthy three-hour rain delay saw Lahiri ride out a tense finish as a host of marquee players from the Asian Tour were wrestling for the lead then.

"I had an awkward lie on 13. During the rain delay I was just thinking that I have to get up and down there. I got a bad break there but I know Lin Wen-tang dropped a shot as well. Unfortunately I got a double bogey there but I am glad I came back strong," said Lahiri.

With Baek holding the clubhouse lead at 16-under, Lahiri knew he had to produce a superlative effort on 18 to get the outright win.

"My mind was blank when I prepared for the last putt on 18. All I told myself was I had to get it into the hole. When I was walking up to the greens, I was actually thinking if I need to prepare for a playoff tomorrow morning," said Lahiri.

Lahiri screamed in delight when he watched his 20-ft eagle putt sink into the hole for a winning total of 17-under-par 271.

"It's really great to get my first win outside of India. I have missed out on it for a long time and I am so glad I managed to do it today. I need the world ranking points so I am really happy I can win this week," said Lahiri.

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Mahesh made 2012 Olympics sad: Paes

NEW DELHI: He might be in seventh heaven after receiving the prestigious Padma Bhushan honour, but tennis ace Leander Paes is still rankled by the selection furore prior to the 2012 Olympics and holds Mahesh Bhupathi responsible for making the Games a "real sad" outing for him.

The build-up to the London Games was marred by a selection row as players resorted to bickering. A can of worms opened up when Rohan Bopanna refused to partner Paes in the event, insisting on teaming up with Bhupathi.

"Mahesh was the reason the last Olympics in London was a real sad one for me. Not only did they not give me a chance to get a medal, India lost an opportunity to get a medal. That's something that's gone down in history," Paes said.

Asked if there is a possibility of pairing up with his former partner Bhupathi in future, the answer from the 14-time Grand Slam winner in doubles was an emphatic no.

In the run-up to the London Games, both Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna refused to play with Paes and insisted on being paired together. In a damage control exercise, the All India Tennis Federation paired Bhupathi with Bopanna and to appease Paes, paired him with Sania Mirza for the mixed doubles.

AITA also nominated Paes, a bronze-medallist in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics men's singles event, and Vishnu Vardhan for the men's doubles event.

That bitter episode has left Paes even more motivated to play in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

"The one real goal that I have is to get to the 2016 Olympics in Rio, which will be my seventh Summer Games. Rio is only two years away and it is a realistic target. I am in the top 10 in mens doubles and the last Grand Slam I won was six months away. So for me is to keep the fire burning and to achieve glory is the long-term goal in sight," Paes, who will be 42 by the time the Rio Games kick off, told 'DD News'.

The veteran said he was ready to play in the Davis Cup tie against Serbia if called by AITA.

"As far as I am concerned I am always ready to play for the nation. If the call comes that I am needed for the Serbian tie and if the role needed is that of a player, or that of a captain, I would put my best foot forward."

"The call has to come from AITA that I am needed and I would offer my best for India. AITA runs tennis in India and If they feel that my presence would make a difference, I am there to be with the team in the tie against Serbia at home," Paes said.

While receiving the award at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Paes said he missed his daughter Aiyana though he was delighted to have his parents by his side.

"Aiyana is a very special child and I missed her today. She could not make it today and it hurts me that she is not by my side."

Talking about his latest award, he said, "It is a very, very special award for me because getting respected by the people, being recognised by the people, getting the award from the president for 30 years of hard work is something that has been a long road. The journey that has its share of ups and downs but all through it I have put my best foot forward."

Paes dedicated the award to his parents, daughter, and to all the fans "who have stood by me thick and thin".

About the tennis league mooted by Bhupathi, he said, "The tennis calender is a packed calender and to now fit in another event like this League, which is planned over 2 to 3 weeks, is a very hard one.

"I am not so sure how many of the top players are coming. You have already seen Roger Federer has not signed in to play. Maria Sharapova and Li Na pulled out. A bunch of the top players in men have pulled out. It is a tough ask to get an IPL format in tennis in a calender that's already packed."

With the election season in full swing, he was asked if he is open to the idea of fighting elections.

"My whole life I have faced people. I have lived life in the fish bowl environment with my tennis. I am very clear about the way I conduct life and my profession. If the opportunity comes I am ready to face the people.

"I will face the people if the occasion arises with open arms on the transparent model I have lead my life. For me joining politics is an extension of setting the high standards that I have set on the tennis courts as an Indian and Human being. So if there is a knock I am not going to shy away from that."

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Obama condemns alleged racist remark

LOS ANGELES: President Barack Obama on Sunday joined leading US sports figures in condemning racist remarks allegedly made by the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, one of the NBA's top basketball teams.

The gossip website TMZ on Saturday posted an audio recording it says shows billionaire Clippers owner Donald Sterling telling his girlfriend to refrain from bringing black guests to see his team play.

Sterling, 80, was reportedly angry about a photograph that the woman, identified only as V. Stiviano, posted on the social media site Instagram with retired Los Angeles Lakers basketball legend Magic Johnson.

"It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you are associating with black people. Do you have to?" Sterling allegedly says in the nearly 10-minute recording.

"You can sleep with (black people). You can bring them in. You can do whatever you want. The little I ask is not to promote it on that ... and not to bring them to my games."

Later in the audio, the woman identifies herself as "black and Mexican."

"In your lousy ... Instagrams you don't have to have yourself walking with black people," says the male voice.

Obama, the first African American president and a keen basketball player and fan, interrupted his diplomatic initiative in Asia to condemn "ignorant" and "incredibly offensive" racist remarks.

"I don't think I have to interpret those statements for you. They kind of speak for themselves," said the president, speaking in Malaysia.

"When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don't really have to do anything, you just let them talk."

Obama also made a wider point about racism in the United States, which he said is still wrestling with the legacy of slavery and segregation.

"We just have to be clear and steady in denouncing it, teaching our children differently but also (remain) hopeful that part of why some statements like this stand out so much is because there has been a shift in how we view ourselves," he said.

"The audio recording posted by TMZ is truly offensive and disturbing," said National Basketball Association commissioner Adam Silver, who promised to move "extraordinary quickly in our investigation" of the controversy.

Silver said the league plans to interview Sterling, the woman on the tape, and possibly have the probe wrapped up before the Clippers' next home game late Tuesday.

"There are broad powers in place under the NBA constitution and by-laws that include a range of sanctions. All those will be considered and will depend on the findings of our investigation," he said, adding however that Sterling was owed "due process."

The remarks do not reflect Sterling's opinions on race, Clippers president Andy Roeser said as he announced a team probe.

Roeser added that the woman identified as Stiviano "is the defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Sterling family alleging that she embezzled more than $1.8 million, who told Mr. Sterling that she would 'get even.'"

According to the Los Angeles Times, Stiviano is in her 20s and has been seen often at Sterling's side.

In a lawsuit filed last month, Sterling's wife claims that her husband gave Stiviano money and expensive cars, The Times reported.

The outrage from NBA stars was clear, loud and emphatic. "Magic" Johnson vowed on Twitter that he and his wife Cookie would never attend another Clippers' game as long as Sterling owns the team.

"LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling's comments about African Americans are a black eye for the NBA," Johnson wrote.

"No room for Donald Sterling in our league," Miami Heat superstar LeBron James said. "I can't imagine what's going on in his head."

"It's a damn shame but a sad reality that we have people like that in this world," Los Angeles Lakers star guard Kobe Bryant said.

"It upsets all of us. There's not one guy who is happy with this situation," said Clippers coach Glenn "Doc" Rivers, who is black, after a team meeting on the matter before a practice session.

Sterling has expressed racist views before, according to former Clipper standout Baron Davis.

"That's the way it is.. He is honest about what he believes in.. Been going on for a long time, Hats off 2 the Team.. 4 playin above it all," Davis wrote on Twitter.

African American rights activist Jesse Jackson called for fans to boycott Clippers' games.

"If we are just going from picking cotton balls to picking basketballs, then we are not making progress. It's about dignity," Jackson told ESPN.

Sterling was not available for comment. The Clippers lead the Golden State Warriors two games to one in a best-of-seven first-round playoff series that continues Sunday. Silver said Sterling has "agreed" not to attend Sunday's game in Oakland, California.

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Liverpool lose grip on title with defeat

LONDON: Chelsea remained in the hunt for a Premier League and Champions League double after a 2-0 win away at leaders Liverpool on Sunday.

EPL: Results | Points Table | Top scorers

Victory saw Jose Mourinho's men close to within two points of top spot in the Premier League with two games to play.

However, third-placed Manchester City will be just three points off the summit, with a game in hand on both Liverpool and Chelsea, if they win away to Crystal Palace later on Sunday.

Senegal striker Demba Ba put Chelsea ahead in first-half stoppage-time when a slip by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard allowed him to charge through and beat Reds goalkeeper Simon Mignolet in a one-on-one.

Chelsea put the result beyond doubt in added-on time at the end of the match when, with the hosts pressing for an equaliser, former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres led a counter-attack before squaring the ball to substitute Willian for a simple finish.

Chelsea face Atletico Madrid in the second leg of a Champions League semifinal at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday after a goalless initial encounter in Spain.

Earlier on Sunday, Sunderland climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone with a 4-0 win at home to 10-man fellow strugglers Cardiff.

Connor Wickham headed Sunderland, who kicked off bottom of the table, into a 26th-minute lead at the Stadium of Light but the match turned decisively in favour of the home side on the stroke of half-time.

Wickham burst clear and was bearing down on goal when his shirt was tugged by Cardiff centre-back Juan Cala, whose poor back-pass had let him in.

Phil Dowd played an advantage after Wickham stayed on his feet but, when that didn't lead to a goal, the referee blew for a penalty and sent off Cala.

Fabio Borini, as he'd done in Sunderland's shock win over Chelsea, scored from the spot.

Emanuele Giaccherini put the result beyond doubt by making it 3-0 in the 76th minute before Wickham headed in his second goal four minutes from time.

Sunderland's victory saw Gus Poyet's side move above Norwich, who dropped into the relegation zone on goal difference, with a game in hand on the teams around them at the foot of the table.

Defeat plunged Cardiff to the bottom, two points shy of safety with two games to play.

An elated Wickham told the BBC: "I'm over the moon. I can't ask for much more.

"We're out of the relegation zone and we'll keep fighting to stay there."

Saturday saw Ryan Giggs launch his reign as interim Manchester United following the sacking of David Moyes with a 4-0 thrashing of Norwich at Old Trafford, Wayne Rooney and substitute Juan Mata scoring two goals apiece.

Everton missed the chance to go above Arsenal in the race for fourth position, and a place in next season's Champions League, after two own-goals condemned them to a 2-0 loss at Southampton.

Arsenal will move four points in front of Everton with two games to play if they beat Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium on Monday.

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3-in-a-row for Sharapova in Stuttgart

STUTTGART: Maria Sharapova claimed a hat-trick of Stuttgart titles on Sunday after coming from behind to win a three-set battle royal with Ana Ivanovic in Sunday's final.

Having won the 2012 and 2013 titles here, the 27-year-old Sharapova was made to work hard for her 13th consecutive win on Stuttgart's clay-courts in the 51st final of her career before over-powering Ivanovic to claim a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory in just over two hours.

It is the Russian's first clay-court tournament in her build-up to the French Open, having lost to Serena Williams in last year's final.

Having been taken to three sets by the Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova in her first-round match, Russia's Sharapova had swept into the final with straight set wins over compatriot Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, top-seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, then Italian clay-court specialist Sara Errani in the semifinals.

But Ivanovic, the ninth seed, made the statuesque Russian dig deep and the 26-year-old wasted no time asserting herself over Sharapova, racing into a a 4-0 lead in the first set before the defending champion responded, but the Serbian held her serve to take the first set.

Having won her previous tournament in Monterrey, Mexico, last month, Ivanovic went 3-1 up in the second but the match's momentum turned against her when Sharapova broke her, then fought her way back to take the set.

Ivanovic had been chasing her first win over the Russian since the 2007 French Open semi-final, when Ivanovic went onto lose to Justine Henin in the final, but the Serbian ran out of steam and sixth seed Sharapova dominated the third set.

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