Brilliant Hamilton wins in Monaco

Eurosport - Sun, 25 May 16:44:00 2008

Britain's Lewis Hamilton battled to a masterful Monaco Grand Prix victory despite hitting the barriers on an afternoon of mayhem in the rain.
Hamilton reignited the scrap for this year's drivers' world championship with a memorable drive for McLaren in a race of treacherous wet and dry conditions.

For the 23-year-old Englishman his first win on the famous Mediterranean street circuit was a dream result in his favourite race.

Hamilton came home three seconds clear of his friend Pole Robert Kubica in a BMW Sauber with Brazilian Felipe Massa third for Ferrari after starting from pole position.

This was the Briton's second win of the season and the sixth of his career.

Australian Mark Webber in a Red Bull was fourth.

Ferrari's defending drivers world champion Kimi Raikkonen of Finland endured a wild race of accidents and incidents and finished ninth, failing to score a point.

This all left Hamilton on top of the title race again for the first time since the season opening race in Australia.

He has 38 points now with Raikkonen on 35 second and Massa third on 34.

Hamilton made a dazzling start and found a way past Raikkonen going into the first corner Ste Devote on the inside to take second behind Massa.

As rain began to fall steadily, and with Hamilton's teammate Heikki Kovalainen starting from the back of the grid following a pre-race stall, the contest turned into a circus of chaos.

There were incidents and accidents with double world champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso involved twice in collisions and Hamilton himself smashing into the barriers on lap six at Tabac.

His rear right tyre was left hanging as he returned to the pits.

David Coulthard had climbed from 15th to the top ten by now but the rain played havoc with the race for several minutes as Alonso, followed by Coulthard and Sebastian Bourdais crashed off into the barriers at Massenet.

Then Raikkonen was given a 'drive-through' penalty because Ferrari had failed to fit his car's tyres properly more than three minutes before the start of the race.

After he had performed his punishment, the running order at the top was Massa followed by Kubica and then Hamilton who had pitted and recovered.

On lap 16, as the field grappled with the wet slippery conditions, Massa spun off and recovered his car at Ste Devote, gifting Kubica the lead in his BMW-Sauber.

The Pole stayed there until he had to pit and that put Massa back in front until he pitted after 32 laps.

Hamilton then took over and opened up a commanding advantage.

He was 16.2 seconds ahead after 38 laps and 25 seconds ahead of the Brazilian by lap 44.

As the track dried out the field settled down with Hamilton inspired by leading. He was 36.7 seconds clear of Massa by lap 52 with the Ferrari driver in turn just half a second ahead of Kubica in third.

Amazingly, the German driver Adrian Sutil, who revels in the special conditions of Monaco, was fourth for Force India at this stage.

It was clear Hamilton was in command providing the weather did not intervene again and his lead was so luxurious he could pit after 53 laps and stay out in front when Massa followed suit three laps later.

Massa's second stop also cost him a position as he was passed 'in the pits' by Kubica.

With 17 laps remaining, Nico Rosberg caused the second Safety Car intervention when he lost control in the swimming pool complex and wrecked his car in a massive accident.

By now, following their pit-stops, the leading drivers have switched from their wet weather tyres to dry tyres and the track had dried considerably - and the Safety Car break meant, also, that Hamilton's big lead was cut back.

When racing resumed, Hamilton raced clear but on lap 68 Raikkonen made a major mistake and lost control of his car as he came out of the tunnel and ran into the back of Sutil.

Both drivers had to pit for repairs, but it was costly for the German as he was forced to retire while the champion rejoined in ninth place.

German Sebastian Vettel picked up points in fifth for Toro Rosso and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello came in sixth for Honda.

Japanese Kazuki Nakajima was seventh for Williams and Kovalainen eighth in the second McLaren after starting from the pit lane.

Champions League - United triumph in Moscow shoot-out

Eurosport - Wed, 21 May 23:43:00 2008
Manchester United were crowned European champions for the third time in their history after a dramatic sudden-death penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea in Moscow.

With the sides level at 1-1 after extra-time, courtesy of first-half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Frank Lampard, it was left to Edwin Van der Sar to make the decisive save in the shoot-out and hand Sir Alex Ferguson his second European crown.

In an unbearably tense conclusion, Ronaldo's penalty was saved by Petr Cech and John Terry had the chance to win the final. But the Chelsea captain slipped and his effort clipped the post and went wide.

Into sudden death it went, and after Ryan Giggs calmly side-footed home, Van der Sar parried substitute Nicolas Anelka's spot-kick to provide a fitting tribute to those who died in the Munich air disaster 50 years ago.

In an open and entertaining match, there was little to separate the two sides, who both excelled technically and conspired to provide a scintillating night of European football that will live long in the memory. The only stain on an otherwise gleaming advertisement for the Premier League was a late red card for Didier Drogba, after the striker raised his hands to Nemanja Vidic.

United lined up with Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney in a three-pronged attack, and appeared intent on taking the game to Chelsea from the outset.

With Ronaldo driving down the left flank at every opportunity, ably assisted by Patrice Evra, and the duo of Owen Hargreaves and Wes Brown patrolling the right, the Premier League champions looked the most likely for the majority of the first half.

Chelsea were slow to start, and struggled to get Joe Cole and Drogba into the game as a result of United's tireless closing down. Tevez was at his feverish best, denying opponents time on the ball and easing the pressure.

The game's first incident of note came on 21 minutes, when Claude Makelele caught Paul Scholes with a clumsy challenge. While the foul went unpunished, both players were cautioned as a result of the melee which ensued.

Soon after, United took a deserved lead. Brown cut in from the right and sent a clipped left-foot cross to the far post. Ronaldo was being marshalled by Michael Essien, but he pulled away to find space ten yards out and head his 42nd goal of a remarkable season.

To that point Chelsea had offered little in the way of attacking ambition, but on 35 minutes Michael Ballack came desperately close to bring the Blues level. The German midfielder timed his run expertly to meet Drogba's far-post header across, but his effort was superbly saved by Van der Sar.

Suddenly the game was alive. United broke almost immediately downfield and Ronaldo's low cross was met with flying header from Tevez. Cech saved brilliantly, and recovered to block Michael Carrick's follow-up from the penalty spot.

Two minutes before the interval Tevez came closer still to increasing his side's lead. This time Rooney was the architect, bombing down the right to send over a low cross which evaded the Argentine's desperate lunge by inches.

Somehow Chelsea survived and moments later they were level. Essien's hopeful long-range shot was deflected of first Vidic, and then Ferdinand, to fall neatly into the stride of Lampard. The England midfielder finished with aplomb to send the teams into the break level.

As the second half got under way, Chelsea were visibly buoyed by the goal. Ballack began to assert himself in midfield, and Essien finally got a foothold in his battle with Ronaldo.

The complexion of the game was transformed, and United were now the side hanging on and surviving on scraps in attack. Just after the hour mark, Lampard saw his shot headed behind by Rio Ferdinand, and from his resulting corner Terry leapt highest to head just over the bar.

With a little over 10 minutes remaining, Drogba cut inside and crashed a swerving 20-yard shot against the post with Van der Sar beaten. Chelsea were getting closer, but United remained resolute in defence and refused to capitulate.

The closing minutes of normal time were predictably tense, but there would be no repeat of United's dramatic last-gasp victory in 1999.

Extra-time it was, and within three minutes Chelsea found the woodwork for the second time. This time it was Lampard who was denied, after spinning neatly in the box and shooting left-footed from 10 yards. Van der Sar was once again helpless, but the underside of the bar came to his rescue.

But United soon began to reproduce their first-half form, and came close to scoring themselves. Evra broke down the left and cut back for Giggs, on as substitute to make his record-breaking 759th appearance for the club. The Welshman connected well, but Terry put his head in the way to deny him a fairytale winner.

With five minutes remaining, and penalties looming, a confrontation broke out between Drogba and Vidic. Players swarmed in, hands were raised, and when the dust settled the Ivorian was sent off for slapping Vidic across the face. It was a petty and ill-advised act from the striker, which was out of character for a match played for most part in a sportsmanlike manner.

With that, went the last meaningful action of the game, and the dreaded penalty shoot-out ensued.

Sadly for Chelsea, Terry spurned a glorious opportunity to hand the side their first European title after Ronaldo's kick was saved, and it was left to Van der Sar to ensure the class of 2008 go down in history with United's all-conquering sides of 1968 and 1999.

Lyon celebrate toughest title

Eurosport - Mon, 19 May 13:26:00 2008

For once, winning the league title was not a formality for Lyon, now facing a challenge to remain the dominant force in French football.

For the first time since they claimed their first Ligue 1 crown in 2002, Lyon had to wait until the season's final round of matches to wrap it up.

Saturday's 3-1 convincing win at Auxerre gave them a record seventh successive title and they will now chase a first domestic double when they meet Paris St Germain in Saturday's French Cup final at the Stade de France.

Their league triumph, however, was far from smooth.

Nine points ahead of second-placed Girondins Bordeaux on March 30, Lyon saw that advantage dwindle to just two points five matches later after a patchy spell of form.

They were still only two points clear going into the final weekend, which ended with them on 79 points, four ahead of Bordeaux, who were held 2-2 at relegated Racing Lens.

"I admit that this seventh title was the hardest to win," said Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, who has helped transform the club from a sleepy provincial outfit into the yardstick for French sides.

"It was an extraordinary championship. We end up with nearly 80 points and we beat our record goal tally (with 74)."

Aulas certainly has reasons to be satisfied but will rue the fact Lyon again failed to make an impact in Europe, falling to Manchester United in the Champions League's first knockout stage.

The Lyon boss also realises his side could be tested at home next season by Bordeaux, who impressed in their first campaign under the guidance of former France defender Laurent Blanc.

"Bordeaux could have and maybe should have become the champions," Aulas said in a rare display of humility.

Lyon experienced rare problems when France goalkeeper Gregory Coupet and Brazil defender Cris, suffered long-term knee injuries at the beginning of the season.

Even after they returned, new coach Alain Perrin struggled to come up with a coherent game plan and to win acceptance from his players.

Aulas, who has a penchant for getting rid of title-winning coaches, hardly gave a ringing endorsement of Perrin and a question mark now hangs over the coach's future.

"The answer to the question on whether I will still be the Lyon coach next season does not belong to me," Perrin told reporters after Saturday's game. "All I know is I have a contract."

The good news for Lyon is that Karim Benzema, this season's revelation and Ligue 1's top scorer with 20 goals, has pledged his future to the club.

A potent mix of power and skill with the makings of a true great, the 20-year-old France striker was instrumental again on Saturday, clinically putting Lyon ahead after just 24 seconds.

Lyon still need to rebuild, some of their senior players, notably Coupet and Brazilian midfielder Juninho, comfortably the wrong side of 30.

Bordeaux and others will be hoping that this season marked the end of an era. Aulas's next mission is to prove them wrong.

Ibra returns to win title for Inter

Eurosport - Mon, 19 May 09:05:00 2008
Zlatan Ibrahimovic made a brilliant, decisive return from injury to fire Internazionale to their third straight Scudetto triumph after a 2-0 win over Parma on a thrilling last day of the Serie A season.

The Swede, who had not played for a month-and-a-half with a knee problem, scored both goals from the bench at a saturated Stadio Ennio Tardini to settle a nerve-jangling season finale.

Roma, who until Ibrahimovic's first strike on 62 minutes appeared to have one hand on the trophy, could ultimately only manage a 1-1 draw against Catania, meaning the Giallorossi ended their campaign three points behind the champions.

Jorge Martinez netted the equaliser for the Sicilians with just five minutes remaining to preserve their Serie A status next season, while Parma's defeat saw them relegated.

Catania's win meant that Empoli, despite a 2-1 win over Livorno, were also relegated to Serie B, while Fiorentina held on to the final Champions League spot thanks to Pablo Osvaldo's overhead kick in a 1-0 win over Torino.

Milan beat Udinese 4-1 at the San Siro, but the Rossoneri will have to be content with a place in the UEFA Cup next season.

Parma 0-2 Inter

Knowing nothing less than a win would be enough to preserve their Serie A status, Parma started the better of the two sides and were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead after just 13 minutes. But Stefano Morrone's close range effort was well blocked by Julio Cesar in the Inter goal.

It proved to be the hosts' best chance of the game as Inter found their feet and began to enjoy far more possession as the game wore on. Cesar, then Maicon, both landed efforts over the Parma cross bar before Julio Cruz headed wide from a 39th minute Mario Balotelli cross.

But while Inter were enjoying the better of the game, they lacked a finishing touch. Ibrahimovic soon changed that when he entered the fray on 51 minutes as a replacement for Cesar. His first came on 62 minutes, a low hard shot into the bottom corner after an exquisite touch had set him on his way towards goal.

The Swede's introduction proved inspired as he went on to feature in most of Inter's best attacking moments from then on. Balotelli was unlucky not to find the back of the net three minutes after the opener, having been found by Ibrahimovic, and the maestro himself should have done better on 78 minutes when clear through on goal.

Moments later he atoned for his miss, volleying home Maicon's cross at the far post to seal the win on the day, and Inter's third consecutive title.

Catania 1-1 Roma

Mirko Vucinic took just eight minutes to calm any nerves that may have existed in the Roma camp on Sicily, the Montenegrin finishing well into the far corner after having broken free of the Catania back line.

Mancini should have doubled Roma's lead just after the half hour mark, but the Brazilian dragged his shot wide of the mark and he was nearly made to regret his miss just minutes later when Giacomo Tedesco was denied by a superb point-blank save from Doni.

After the break, news of events in Parma filtered through and gave the hosts added impetus as Roma struggled to keep their concentration. Substitute Takayuki Morimoto wasted a hat-trick of chances, hitting the crossbar once, while Marco Biagianti also struck the woodwork with a powerful drive from outside the box.

Catania's pressure appeared to have eventually paid off when the ball hit the back of the net on 82 minutes, only for the linesman's flag to indicate Giuseppe Mascara's offside position.

But the premature pitch invaders' blushes were spared three minutes later when Martinez latched on to a goalmouth scramble to slot home and secure the Sicilians' top flight status for at least another year.

Torino 0-1 Fiorentina

Pablo Osvaldo's spectacular second-half volley gave Fiorentina a 1-0 win in Turin that secured fourth place and Champions League qualification for next season.

Both sides exchanged chances in an open first half, with Alessandro Rosina and Roberto Stellone testing Viola goalkeeper Sebastien Frey while Fabio Liverani and Alessandro Gamberini drew excellent saves from his opposite number Matteo Sereni.

Torino had the best of the second period, with Aimo Diana having a volley harshly ruled out for offside before Osvaldo headed Martin Jorgensen's right-wing cross into the air before sending an overhead bicycle kick flying past Sereni.

Milan 4-1 Udinese

Milan will compete in the UEFA Cup next season after coming from a goal down at the San Siro to earn a win that was not enough to snatch Champions League qualification from Fiorentina.

Giandomenico Mesto gave the visitors the lead on 32 minutes when he cut infield from the right and drove a left-footer inside the far post from a difficult angle, only for Milan substitute Alexandre Pato to equalise from close range five minutes into the second half.

Pato turned provider shortly afterwards, chesting Massimo Ambrosini's pass down for Filippo Inzaghi to turn the ball home, and after Kaka had seen a penalty saved, late goals from Cafu - on his last appearance for the club - and Clarence Seedorf made the game safe.

Atalanta 2-0 Genoa

Atalanta's Sergio Floccari netted with a chip after beating the offside trap and Michele Marconi extended the lead late on.

Genoa had two sent off in the mid-table battle with Danilo Sacramento and Omar Milanetto both picking up two bookings.

Cagliari 2-2 Reggina

Nicola Amoruso bagged a brace for Reggina as both sides enjoyed the final game of the season having recently secured their Serie A place.

Joaquin Larrivey rifled in from inside the box to put the Sardinians ahead before Nicola Amoruso equalised in the second period. Paolo Bianco grabbed Cagliari's second only for Amoruso to net a penalty four minutes from time.

Empoli 2-1 Livorno

The home side did their job but were relegated because of Catania's draw. A defeat for Catania would have meant Empoli stayed up given their better-head-to-head record.

Antonio Busce scored early when he slid into an empty net against already-relegated Livorno. Luca Saudati hit the post with a penalty early in the second half but netted a few minutes later with the outside of his boot.

Alessandro Diamanti bagged Livorno's last top flight goal for at least a season seven minutes from the end.

Lazio 2-1 Napoli

Home striker Tommaso Rocchi rounded off the season with a stylish shot into the corner and Fabio Firmani doubled their advantage from close range but doubts remain over coach Delio Rossi's position after Lazio's disappointing mid-table finish.

Maurizio Domizzi grabbed a consolation for Napoli, who will be happy with their eighth place finish in their first season back in Serie A.

Siena 2-2 Palermo

Home striker Massimo Maccarone bagged a brace in the mid-table clash, with Palermo's Amauri not playing ahead of an expected move to Juventus or Milan.

Maccarone raced on to a through ball and finished with aplomb early on before skipping a challenge and slotting home in the second half.

Bosko Jankovic and striker Fabrizio Miccoli with a clever header scored for Palermo in between Maccarone's strikes.

Debon tyre gamble brings maiden 250cc victory in Le Mans

Sunday, 18 May 2008

In his 112th World Championship race, Alex Debon finally achieved his maiden victory in Le Mans.

A last-minute tyre gamble paid dividends for Alex Debon in Le Mans, as the Lotus Aprilia rider took his first World Championship victory in an inspired performance.

With the French track still wet from the deluge experienced during the 125cc race, poleman Debon elected to run a full slick on his factory Aprilia machine. As the sun dried out the race, the Spaniard racked up circuit record after circuit record to take a huge lead, one that he maintained until crossing the chequered flag.

After 112 races, the popular veteran could finally step onto the top step of the podium. The remaining rostrum places were more closely contested, with Metis Gilera´s Marco Simoncelli once again pulling an aggressive final lap move. He took second, with the recipient of the manoeuvre Mattia Pasini completing the rostrum onboard his Polaris World Aprilia.

Unlucky to finish outside the top three, after leading the charge to catch up with Debon, JiR Team Scot´s Yuki Takahashi took fourth place. Mika Kallio held onto his World Championship lead with fifth, despite nearest rival Pasini´s podium finish.

The top ten was completed by Manuel Poggiali, Hiroshi Aoyama, Julian Simon, Aleix Espargaro and Hector Faubel.

125s: Career-best finish for Smith

Eurosport - Sun, 18 May 16:57:00 2008

Britain's Bradley Smith claimed a career-best second-placed finish in a rain-affected 125cc French GP at Le Mans as home rider Mike Di Meglio took the chequered flag.

Di Meglio now leads Spain's Nicolas Terol - who finished third - in the championship by eight points, while Smith jumps from 14th to eighth.
Polaris World Aprilia rider Smith endured a topsy-turvy race, which had to be halted after 15 of the 24 laps because of rain. That proved to be a blessing in disguise for the young prodigy after he became embroiled in an incident at the first corner and dropped from second on the grid to 19th.

Bancaja Aspar Aprilia man Sergio Gadea retained his position at the front of the pack at the start while Esteve Rabat moved from ninth to third behind Stefan Bradl and Nicolas Terol also made a jump, to fourth from seventh.

Reigning 125cc world champion and Gadea's team-mate Gabor Talmacsi wasted little time in working his way through the field from eighth on the first two laps, emerging into second. Smith also made up ground, surging to 16th while his compatriot Scott Redding took ninth.

Jack and Jones Aprilia rider Terol went past both Talmacsi and Gadea to lead the grand prix while Redding, overtaken by Tomoyoshi Koyama, collided with Marc Marquez, forcing both into the gravel and out of the race.

Terol fell back to third on the seventh lap as Smith improved to 10th, behind Joan Olive and Spaniard Pol Espargaro, the latter of whom began to set the fastest laps in the entire field to make life difficult for him.

Bradl continued the trend for changing leaders as the rain began to spit by passing each of the front three with relative ease, only for Terol to snatch the lead soon after.

Even that did not last, with Olive coming from nowhere to take the front - and on the next lap, nine from the end, the heavens opened and the red flag came out.

The race was restarted with teams reverting to their wet tyres and only needing to complete five laps. Smith capitalised from his position at the front of the third row - the order determined by that at the end of the previous lap - to go fourth while Rabat, who had been lurking behind the frontrunners, crashed his KTM.

Olive had a problem on the grid and had to work to get the bike going, dropping off the radar. Behind new leader Talmacsi was Terol as Smith went third briefly before Espargaro snatched it back.

With three laps left Smith made a move on those ahead of him before finding himself leading the grand prix as Hungarian Talmacsi skidded out. It did not last, Di Meglio shooting through from even further back to take it from him.

Smith moved aside as the Frenchman challenged, desperate not to crash out too, and was rewarded with the top finish of his fledgling career. Olive came in eighth.

Spain's Alex Debon coasted to victory in the 250s from Italian Marco Simoncelli, who led a late attack on compatriot Mattia Pasini to snatch second.

Finn Mika Kallio finished fifth behind Japanese Yuki Takahashi and still leads the overall championship, by 16 points from Pasini with Debon and Takahashi 18 points further back.

Rossi wins as Toseland retires

Eurosport - Sun, 18 May 16:16:00 2008

Valentino Rossi fought from fourth on the grid to win the French MotoGP at Le Mans by almost five seconds from Fiat Yamaha team-mate and rookie sensation Jorge Lorenzo, who began in fifth.

Briton James Toseland of Yamaha Tech 3 retired only two laps in while his team-mate Colin Edwards took third.

The finish means that Italian Rossi takes over at the top of the riders' standings with 97 points, while Spaniards Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa - who finished fourth after a battle with American Edwards - are level on 94.

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner was fifth after holding a podium position for several laps and is fourth overall, a massive 38 points further back.

Stoner led the grand prix after an electric start put him ahead of pole sitter Pedrosa, with Edwards ahead of Rossi and 2006 champion Nicky Hayden.

Toseland settled into sixth position after the first lap and he set his mind to taking on Hayden, whose woes were to continue with a final placing of ninth. However he collided with Andrea Dovizioso and took a trip into the gravel and out of the race.

Lorenzo, who can barely walk after his recent crashes in China and twice in practice this weekend, had dropped out of the top eight after a slow start. And Rossi immediately set out his intentions by shooting into second position.

Rossi went one better on lap five by taking on Stoner with success as Pedrosa too tried to move past the Australian, but was thwarted.

Lorenzo moved up to sixth by lap 10 as Pedrosa went past Stoner. Two laps further on Edwards, lurking with intent just ahead of Chris Vermeulen, briefly left the Ducati Marlboro man behind him only to lose his racing line coming out of the corner and drop back again.

Hayden ran wide and effectively nullified his potential challenge for major points while Lorenzo took fifth and rain began to spit after a sunny start.

The weather did not develop into a race-threatening situation and Rossi gradually built his lead. Lorenzo continued his ascent into the top three by lap 19.

Stoner followed John Hopkins, forced to retire from a points position when his chain flew off, out of the GP with a mechanical problem when only eight laps remained.

There was no stopping Lorenzo as he went second and built a gap of his own to take a comfortable runners-up spot while carving five seconds from Rossi's almost 10-second lead beforehand.

Repsol Honda man Pedrosa tried to win a podium spot from Edwards but did not have enough to go past him before the 28th and final lap.

Rossi's victory meant that he equalled the 90 in all classes of MotoGP legend Angel Nieto. He is a long way behind Giacomo Agostini's total of 122.

UEFA Cup - Rangers broken-hearted in UEFA final

Eurosport - Thu, 15 May 10:24:00 2008
Igor Denisov's 72nd-minute goal broke Rangers' stubborn resistence as Zenit St Petersburg ground out a 2-0 victory in a predictably tight UEFA Cup final at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Denisov slotted past Neil Alexander with 18 minutes to go to break the hearts of Walter Smith's men and the estimated 100,000 fans they brought down from Glasgow to Manchester.

Midfielder Konstatin Zurianov prodded home a second to seal the win with the last kick of the match.

Rangers were predictably cagey game until the hour mark as Dick Advocaat's side struggled to find a way through the blue wall, but Zenit took advantage of the increasing space in the final half-hour to grab the goals that make them only the second Russian club to lift the trophy.

Rangers had endured an epic journey which saw them play no fewer than 18 European games to come this far only to fall at the final hurdle at the hands of the Russian champions, denying the Scots their first European trophy for 36 years.

Contrary to all the pre-match hype, the match enjoyed an open start and both sides had early chances; first Andrei Arshavin shot the wrong side of the near after he was released down the left channel, before Jean Claude Darcheville opted to cross rather than shoot when through on the left, Radek Shirl intercepting on his own six-yard line.

After their early chance, Rangers settled back as Zenit mounted some pressure on their goal, the Scots finding it difficult to maintain any decent possession as the Russian side harried and pressed in midfield.

But despite all their possession in the Rangers half, Zenit were unable to create any decent shooting opportunities as the blue wall did its job on the edge of the box, although the Russians were disappointed not to be awarded a penalty moments before the break when Arshavin's cross hit the arm of Kirk Broadfoot.

Rangers were convinced they should have had a penalty of their own ten minutes into the second half. Darcheville's first-time shot on the turn brought a fine save out of Vyacheslav Malafeev and when Barry Ferguson pounced on the rebound, the ball bounced up and struck a Zenit arm - although the referee ruled the defender knew nothing about it.

As Rangers finally began to commit a few more players forward, Zenit also began to look more threatening and the Russians came within a whisker of taking the lead just after the hour-mark.

Keeper Alexander made a rash decision to come out of his goal as Arshavin chased a long punt upfield, and the goal opened up when the striker just nicked the ball away from the keeper 35 yards from goal - however, his chip goalwards was headed off the line by the retreating Sasa Papac.

However, the chance seemed to spark some renewed belief in Zenit and after a spell of pressure, they finally made the breakthrough with 18 minutes remaining.

Rangers were caught on the hop after they surrendered possession from their own throw just inside their half; the ever dangerous Arshavin running at the heart of the Rangers defence before slipping a fine pass through to the run of Denisov, who finished calmly past Alexander.

Rangers boss Smith quickly sacrificed a defender for substitute striker Nacho Novo, although Zenit had an immediate chance to double the lead moments later, midfielder Zurianov screwing a shot wide after a low cross found its way through to him at the far post.

Novo almost grabbed Rangers a last-gasp equaliser, but he prodded over the crossbar from eight yards out after Ferguson's long throw bounced through to him at the back post.

And Zurianov made sure of the victory when he burst into the box to bundle home Tekke's low cross after the Turkish striker had been released again by the brilliant Arshavin.

Giggs strike caps United triumph

Eurosport - Mon, 12 May 08:55:00 2008

Manchester United sealed their 10th Premier League title in 16 years with a 2-0 win against Wigan Athletic.

On the day he equalled Sir Bobby Charlton's record of 758 first-team appearances, Ryan Giggs scored the second goal late on to secure a nervous victory.

Cristiano Ronaldo gave United a first-half lead with a disputed penalty - his 31st league goal of the season.
Bolton's injury-time equaliser against Chelsea meant United ended with a two-point cushion, but the result at Stamford Bridge was rendered irrelevant thanks to the Reds' vastly superior goal difference.

United were the division's top scorers and finished with the best defensive record. Few neutrals - if such people exist - would deny they merited their championship.
Ronaldo's 31 goals match the best-ever haul for a 38-game domestic season, with Alan Shearer having set that mark for Blackburn Rovers in 1995/96.

Chelsea proved no less efficient at achieving results, but their inability to produce the fantasy football demanded by Roman Abramovich eventually proved fatal to their title hopes - and could also sound the death knell for Avram Grant's reign as manager.

They will regroup ahead of the Champions League final - against United - in Moscow in 10 days' time.

Any talk of a summer stroll in the park for United proved well wide of the mark. Inexperienced left-back Maynor Figueroa was the only non-regular in the Wigan first team while persistent drizzle gradually turned the pitch into a bog.

Wigan tore into their opponents, with strikers Emile Heskey and Marcus Bent providing a muscular, awkward threat up front.

The enigmatic Jason Koumas also started, and soon set about peppering Edwin van der Sar's goal with 30-yard shots.

Sir Alex Ferguson had complained that United would have been champions weeks ago but for bad luck with injuries and refereeing decisions - particularly in the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea last month.

But his side certainly got the benefit of Steve Bennett's doubt in a controversial first half.
On 22 minutes Rio Ferdinand blocked a Jason Koumas shot with his upper arm but Bennett said 'no penalty'.

Ten minutes later he had little hesitation in pointing to the spot when Emmerson Boyce brought down Wayne Rooney as the ball pinballed around the Wigan box.

His challenge was more clumsy than malicious, but Ronaldo punished him with a cool spot-kick, sending Chris Kirkland the wrong way and slotting low into the right side of the net.

Bennett found himself in the thick of things on 36 minutes when Paul Scholes shoulder-barged Wilson Palacios.

The midfielder had already been booked for a tackle from behind on Palacios and had the game been less important or the player less illustrious, Bennett may well have flashed the red card. But he kept his cards in his pocket.

The second half saw United playing impossibly nervy football, particularly after news came through that Chelsea were beating Bolton.

Chris Kirkland kept Wigan in the game with brilliant saves to deny Rooney - a surprise starter following his hip injury - Carlos Tevez and Ronaldo.

Meanwhile Scholes was denied what looked a clear penalty when Bramble tripped him with a rash sliding tackle.

At the other end Heskey headed narrowly over but Wigan proved unable to capitalise on their opponents' jitters.

It was all over 10 minutes from time when Giggs, a man who has played a part in all of Ferguson's title-winning sides, found himself in acres of space at the edge of the penalty area.

Rooney found him with a simple pass, and the Welshman located the corner of the net. Cue wild celebrations from the away fans.

At 34, Giggs's skills might be on the wane, but he still has an eye for the big occasion and capped off a glorious season in fitting fashion

Massa beats Hamilton in thriller

Eurosport - Mon, 12 May 10:23:00 2008

Ferrari's Felipe Massa won the Turkish Grand Prix from pole position for the third year in a row after tyre concerns slowed Lewis Hamilton's challenge.

The Brazilian took the chequered flag 3.7 seconds ahead of the 23-year-old McLaren driver, who ran most of the race on the harder tyres and had to make three pitstops compared to his rivals' two.

It was Massa's seventh win in Formula One, at the anti-clockwise track where he took his first in 2006, and his second in five races this season.

Ferrari's world champion Kimi Raikkonen saw his overall lead trimmed to seven points from nine after finishing a close third.

The Finn, the only driver to score points in every race this season, now has 35 to Massa and Hamilton's 28.

Massa's win was champions Ferrari's fourth in a row and meant that the Turkish Grand Prix, which made its debut in 2005, has still only ever been won by the driver on pole position.

Three of his wins have come in Turkey, prompting a suggestion that the Brazilian should change nationality: "I think I can get a passport here already," he grinned.

Poland's Robert Kubica was fourth, ahead of BMW Sauber team mate Nick Heidfeld.

Double world champion Fernando Alonso put Renault back in the points with sixth place while Australian Mark Webber was seventh to score for the fourth race in a row. Germany's Nico Rosberg took the final point for Williams.

Massa led from the start while Hamilton, winner of the season-opener in Australia, accelerated past his McLaren team mate Heikki Kovalainen from third on the grid with Kubica close behind.

The safety car came out at the end of the opening lap when Italian Giancarlo Fisichella's Force India slammed into the back of Kazuki Nakajima's Williams at the first corner, leaving debris on the track.

Kovalainen, coming back from a big accident two weeks ago and making his first start on the front row, went to the back of the field when he pitted at the end of the second lap with a puncture after banging wheels with Raikkonen. He finished 12th.

Hamilton pitted after 16 laps and then brilliantly overtook Massa, who had come in three laps later, for the lead on lap 24.

The Briton then pitted again at the end of lap 32, with Massa again taking over at the front until his second and final pitstop when Raikkonen took over for three laps before again leaving Hamilton ahead.

But the youngster knew he had to pit again for the softer tyres, with drivers having to use both types during the race, and he made his third stop with 13 laps to go before coming back out in second place.

Team boss Ron Dennis revealed later that the Briton's hopes of winning were already looking doubtful because of tyre concerns.

"Heikki got clipped by Kimi and cut a sidewall," he said of Kovalainen's misfortune.

"With Lewis, we had a bit of a structural concern with the tyres.

"We took a decision on safety to run three stops," he added

"There was some internal delamination which Bridgestone were good at picking up... it was possibly okay to run two stops but we put the drivers safety first," said Dennis.

Hamilton said the team had still done a great job.

"Bridgestone were concerned the tyre was going to fail as it did last year," said the Briton, who suffered a costly blowout in Turkey last August.

"That put us in not such a strong position to win the race. But if I'm given a problem, I deal with it and so does the team," he added.

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello started his record 257th race and finished 14th for Honda.

Massa wins Turkish F1 Grand Prix

ISTANBUL (AFP) - A delighted Felipe Massa swept to a hat-trick of Turkish Grand Prix victories from pole position here on Sunday in the Turkish Grand Prix when he delivered another domineering display for Ferrari at Istanbul Park.

The Brazilian triumphed by 3.7 seconds ahead of McLaren's British driver Lewis Hamilton with Finland's reigning champion Kimi Raikkonen less than half-a-second behind in third in the other Ferrari.

"This feels fantastic," said Massa.

"But actually, it was a very difficult race. Lewis pushed me very hard for a lot of the race and I was worried for a while, but I knew he was lighter than me.

"When the team told me he was running on three stops I felt better so I realised that was a help for me and I had a chance. I could not hold him when he passed me, but I knew I could win the race so I just had to wait.

"To win here for a third time is really fantastic for me. Now I think I can already get a passport here!"

Hamilton pulled off the overtaking move of the race on Massa and denied Ferrari a likely one-two despite adopting a three-stop fuel strategy compared to his rival's two stopper.

But there was no stopping Massa who controlled the 58-lap race on the 5.338-kms track which he clearly loves.

Hamilton said: "I am absolutely thrilled to come second here after starting third and after my form yesterday.

"I knew it would be tough to get points but we did it well and I am happy. The balance of the car was great on the hard tyres, but the soft tyre was not so good at the end.

"We chose a three stop strategy for safety reasons after what happened here last year when we suffered a failure. Three stops was the safest way to go, but it left us in a less strong position to win the race."

Raikkonen's lead in the championship was cut to seven points with Massa now second, on countback, from last year's runner-up Hamilton. Raikkonen has 35, Massa and Hamilton have 28.

Ferrari extended their lead in the constructors' championship to 19 points over BMW with McLaren two points further back after Finland's Heikki Kovalainen paid for an early pit-stop to finish 12th having started second.

The Finn suffered an opening lap puncture after a suspected collision with Raikkonen on the opening lap.

Poland's Robert Kubica was fourth for BMW just ahead of team-mate Greman Nick Heidfeld with Spain's Fernando Alonso sixth for Renault. Red Bull's Australian Mark Webber was seventh and German-born Nico Rosberg eighth for Williams.

There was no points finish for Brazil's Rubens Barrichello in his record-breaking 257 appearance as he finished 14th for Honda.

Massa blasted into lead from the start with all the drama happening behind him as Hamilton powered past his team-mate Kovalainen into second spot.

Kubica also overtook Kovalainen in the race for the first corner where the Finn squeezed compatriot Raikkonen who dropped from fourth to sixth behind former two-time champion Alonso.

Further down the field, Force India's Italian veteran Giancarlo Fisichella drove right over the Williams of Kazuki Nakajima, missing the Japanese driver by inches but sending them both spinning into retirement in the gravel after a collision at the start.

The safety car was immediately deployed, staying out for one circuit as the debris was cleared. Kovalainen was forced to pit at the end of the second lap while on the third lap Raikkonen easily outpaced Alonso to move back to fourth.

Raikkonen took third spot in the first round of pit-stops leapfrogging Kubica as Massa and Hamilton battled it out at the front.

Hamilton, on a lighter fuel load, thrillingly snatched the lead on lap 24 when he darted down Massa's left before forcing his rival to move over as they came up to turn 12 at around 180mph.
The British driver's lead lasted just eight laps before he made another quick pit-stop allowing Massa to regain control of the race. Hamilton regained the lead after Massa, then Raikkonen, made their final stops.

Hamilton made a stop at the end with 13 laps left and although it was not quick enough to deny Massa, he came out just fractions ahead of Raikkonen to snatch second spot from his chief rival.

Champions League - Moscow bursting at seams

Eurosport - Thu, 01 May 16:34:00 2008

For the 42,000 English fans arriving to watch the Champions League final Moscow has said it will expedite visas, clear runways, extend subway hours and build a bridge.

Hotel rooms to accommodate Manchester United and Chelsea supporters descending on the Luzhniki stadium on May 21 were more of a problem, however.

Moscow has about 34,000 hotel rooms for about 75,000 guests according to US State Department statistics. Some 5,500 are so-called Western-standard hotel rooms and local media say almost all are booked during the Champions League final.

"It's a well documented fact that Moscow does not have enough hotel rooms for an event of this magnitude. Especially in the three to four-star range, where most football fans are likely to stay," said Natalya Anashkina, Editor in Chief of the Russian Hotel Association's magazine 'Concept Hotel'.

"There are a lot of five-star hotels now but the prices there are expensive even by European standards," said Anashkina.

Calls to two Moscow five-star hotels, the Baltschug-Kempinski and the Ritz-Carlton, showed no available rooms. Not even the $3,920 per night Honeymoon Suite was available for the Champions League final.

One idea floated by deputy mayor Valeriy Vinogradov, the man organising the city's efforts for the championship, is for fans to fly in the morning of the match and leave Russia immediately after.

Such a plan would mean the city would not reap the benefit of extra tourist spending, however.
"I think the city administration is thinking more about the kinds of fans who come to football matches and probably wants them to stay for as little time as possible," Anashkina said.

"I've been to a few football matches myself and I can tell you, they are not always filled with the most desirable clientele," she added.

The Russian foreign ministry has dispatched teams of extra embassy workers to Manchester and London to expedite entry formalities and officials said all fans would get their visas on time.

On Monday, Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov told Russian news agency RBK they would build a temporary footbridge over the busy road along Luzhniki Stadium and officials said the city would open its smallest airport Bykovo to comply with a UEFA requirement that opposing fans arrive separately.

The city's vast and sprawling metro would also run an extra three hours into early hours of the morning after the game, the first Champions League final between two English sides.

United and Chelsea chief executives David Gill and Peter Kenyon were due to meet UEFA officials in Moscow to discuss preparations for the final.

Each club has an allocation of 21,000 tickets with the capacity at the Luzhniki Stadium being set at 69,500 for the final.

UEFA director of communications William Gaillard told Sky Sports News: "We have no specific worries or problems.

"I think both clubs have developed a tradition of travelling abroad and both clubs are very well organised.

"We have never had any problems with either of those clubs' fans. We are looking forward to welcoming them in Moscow and sure they will put on a great show."

United and Chelsea fans who cannot get a final ticket as part of their clubs' allocation may buy tickets from other sources but Gaillard warned: "I would very much discourage them. There is no guarantee that the ticket they get is a bona fide ticket. Also every ticket has a number and every number identifies a person."

Bundesliga - Bayern clinch title

Eurosport - Sun, 04 May 21:14:00 2008

Bayern Munich secured their 21st German league title and completed a domestic double for the third time in four seasons when they drew 0-0 away to VfL Wolfsburg.

Bayern's draw stretched their lead over closest rivals Werder Bremen to 10 points with three games left and set off the traditionally soggy celebrations, as the players soaked each other, and anyone else on the field, with beer.

"It's a special achievement," outgoing coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said between soakings. "There was a lot of expectation and the pressure was enormous but now we've done it."

The Bavarian club's 20th title since the Bundesliga era began in 1963 follows their German Cup final victory over Borussia Dortmund in Berlin last month.

Their only other German Championship success came back in 1932.

Bayern played poorly on Sunday against Wolfsburg, who missed the chance to keep them waiting for the title when Grafite burst through on goal in the final minute only to shoot five metres wide.

With 31 games played, Bayern lead with 67 points, followed by Werder on 57 after their 2-0 win over Energie Cottbus on Saturday. Schalke 04 are two points further back in the third and final Champions League place after a 1-1 draw at home to Hanover 96.

"All in all it's been a fantastic season," club president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said before being drenched in traditional Bavarian Weissbier by midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger. "We played great football and took a big step forward this season."

"And Bastian is going up for sale," he joked in an aside. Bayern were humiliated 4-0 in their UEFA Cup semi-final second leg against Zenit St Petersburg on Thursday, dashing their hopes of a treble in Hitzfeld's final season before he makes way for incoming coach Juergen Klinsmann.

That heavy defeat should not take too much away from what was a near perfect domestic season for a team inspired by the artistry of midfielder Franck Ribery and the brutal efficiency of Luca Toni up front.

Bayern, who finished outside the Champions League places last season, started the campaign with a 3-0 win at home to Hansa Rostock and they have not relinquished the lead in the table all season.

They have lost just twice in the league so far, and boast the top scorer in the Italian striker Toni, who has bagged 21 goals in 29 Bundesliga matches in his debut season in Germany.

Ribery, the French playmaker signed from Olympique Marseille for 30 million euros, has been a delight to watch, while Oliver Kahn has proved in his final season at the club, and at the age of 38, that he remains one of the world's best keepers.

Real snatch dramatic win to take Spanish title

Sun 04 May, 11:13 PM

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid fought their way back after a sending off and going a goal down to snatch a dramatic 2-1 victory at Osasuna and win their 31st Spanish league title on Sunday.

With Villarreal beating Getafe 2-0 in an earlier match, Real had to win the game to retain the championship but suffered a major setback when defender Fabio Cannavaro was dismissed at the start of the second half.

Real looked to be in even more trouble when Osasuna midfielder Patxi Punal struck home from the penalty spot after centre-back Gabriel Heinze had handled in the area with eight minutes to go.

But Dutch winger Arjen Robben equalised in the 87th, heading in after Gonzalo Higuain whipped a free kick into the area and the Argentine struck the winner when he lashed past Ricardo a minute from the final whistle.

With three matches left to play, Real have an unassailable 10-point lead over Villarreal at the top of the table. It is the first time they have won back-to-back league titles since they won five in a row between 1986 and 1990.

"This team demonstrated that it has guts, determination... everything," Real president Ramon Calderon told Canal Plus television.

"This team can never be written off and they won the title in heroic fashion. Winning the title two years in a row is a huge achievement."

HAPPY ENDING

Real coach Bernd Schuster said he was delighted to have won his first major trophy as a coach.
"It was like one of those American sports films when you have to fight and suffer but you eventually get a happy ending," said the German.

"We are going to enjoy the moment, celebrate with our fans back in Madrid and have a great time when we play Barcelona at the Bernabeu on Wednesday."

Villarreal made sure Real had to win the game by beating Getafe 2-0 at home, Turkish striker Nihat Kahveci scoring both goals with neat finishes either side of halftime.

The victory meant that Manuel Pellegrini's side retain their four-point advantage over Barcelona in the race for second place.

The Catalans hammered a beleaguered Valencia 6-0 at the Nou Camp, to record their first win in six games.

France striker Thierry Henry and youngster Bojan Krkic scored two goals apiece while Lionel Messi weighed in with a penalty and Xavi with a fine 20-metre drive.
Valencia, who have lost five of their last six league games, remain just two points above the relegation zone.

RELEGATED

Real Murcia were relegated after they squandered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at high-flying Racing Santander and will now join Levante in the second division.

With Osasuna fighting for survival in the top flight, goalscoring opportunities were at a premium in an intense and hard-fought contest at a rain-soaked Reyno de Navarra.

Osasuna fought tooth and nail in midfield and kept Real at bay for the remainder of the half and they received a major boost when Cannavaro was sent off after picking up a second booking for a foul on Czech midfielder Jaroslav Plasil.

Real looked as they would have to put the champagne on ice when Punal fired home from the penalty spot, but showed the sort of determination and fighting spirit that has characterised their season to battle to victory.

Robben got in front of two defenders to nod in past Ricardo and the unmarked Higuain sparked wild celebrations among his team mates when he fired past the keeper after Sergio Ramos slid the ball to his feet on the right side of the area.

Rossi roars into title picture

Eurosport - Sun, 04 May 16:26:00 2008

Five-time champion Valentino Rossi won his first MotoGP race of 2008 with a superb performance in Shanghai.

The Italian legend set a succession of lap records in cool, slightly damp conditions, shaking off the persistent Dani Pedrosa, who takes over the championship lead.

Ducati's Casey Stoner finished some way back in third ahead of the heroic Jorge Lorenzo, who broke his ankle in a horrifying crash on Friday but raced on to claim fourth.

There was disappointment for Britain's James Toseland, who started seventh on the grid but was off the pace throughout and finished 12th.

Rossi and Pedrosa moved clear of the pack after polesitter Colin Edwards ran wide on his Tech3 Yamaha, with the Italian hitting the front after four laps.

Despite his Honda's inability to match the Yamaha's straight-line speed, Pedrosa clung on to Rossi's back wheel for 15 exhilarating laps.

But the Spaniard was eventually dropped, and eased off over the final laps to claim a gritty second place.

It was Rossi's first win in nine races, ending his longest drought since moving into the MotoGP class nearly a decade ago.

"I'm very, very happy, as it's been a long time without victory. This was a difficult period," Rossi said.

"I really had to push to beat Dani. It was a great victory for us."

Pedrosa added: "In the end I just slowed down because I saw that I couldn't get Valentino, and I just decided to keep the engine alive and finish second."

Lorenzo held off a rejuvenated Marco Melandri, who claimed by far his best result of the season in fifth place, and 2006 champion Nicky Hayden.

Toni Elias and Suzuki veteran Loris Capirossi were also part of a compelling battle that covered positions four to nine for much of the race.

Pedrosa's fourth podium in as many races moved him to 81 points at the top of the standings, with Lorenzo on 74 and Rossi a further two adrift.

Defending champion Stoner finds himself 25 points off the pace while Toseland is tied for fifth with Capirossi.