European football: Girona drop vital points in La Liga title race, Bayern keep pace with leaders Leverkusen

Shock title challengers Girona dropped two vital points in La Liga with a 0-0 draw against Real Sociedad on Saturday. Barcelona, third, earned a 3-1 win at Alaves in La Liga on Saturday with Brazilian teenager Vitor Roque scoring and then sent off in a lively appearance off the bench. Catalan minnows Girona, second and now trailing leaders Real Madrid by one point, could not find a way through against their Basque visitors. Los Blancos face city rivals Atletico Madrid on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu and can potentially move four points clear at the top. Girona’s draw leaves them six points ahead of champions Barcelona, third, and they were left upset after Yangel Herrera had a goal ruled out for offside in the build-up. The offside against Savinho occurred 36 seconds before the midfielder found the net, set up by the Brazilian winger, with Girona arguing VAR should not have intervened. Some crosses had been half-cleared by Real Sociedad before Savinho scooped the ball to the back post for Herrera. “The reality is that if there’s a second, third phases (of play), VAR should not get involved, I think it’s obvious,” said Michel. “Beyond the goal ruled out, I think it was a very, very difficult game … and it’s a good point.” Despite leading the league in goals scored, Michel Sanchez’s side were largely kept at arm’s length by La Real. After Herrera’s goal was disallowed, Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal also had one chalked off for a clearer offside infringement. Alex Remiro made a solid save to deny Herrera in the final stages as the hosts were frustrated and Michel was sent off for complaining on the touchline. Valery Fernandez missed a fine chance in stoppage time after Yan Couto scrapped hard to win the ball back and crossed for the Spanish winger. Without La Liga’s joint top goalscorer Artem Dovbyk, who watched from the stands after suffering knee discomfort according to Spanish reports, Girona did not shine in attack. They will have the chance to make amends next weekend when they visit Real Madrid in a crunch showdown. However coach Michel will not be in the dugout, while Herrera and Daley Blind were both booked and are also suspended for the key clash. “I don’t like that they sent me off, I protested, it’s true, but I didn’t lack respect for anyone,” said Michel. “The red card leaves me furious.” Roque red

THE TIGER STRIKES AGAIN 🐯

2 Goals in 2 Games for Vitor Roque 👀#LALIGAHighlights pic.twitter.com/pfmVg5XxGQ

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) February 3, 2024

Champions Barcelona took the lead against Alaves through Robert Lewandowski in the first half and doubled their advantage when Ilkay Gundogan volleyed home soon after the break. Samu Omorodion pulled a goal back for the hosts before 18-year-old striker Roque pounced and a few minutes later was harshly dismissed. Barcelona’s victory helps them cut the gap on league leaders Real Madrid to seven points before Los Blancos face Atletico Madrid in a derby clash Sunday. They have won both of their matches since Xavi announced last weekend he would leave the club at the end of the season. Xavi selected Andreas Christensen in defensive midfield for the first time in his Barcelona career, with the Catalans still unable to find a reliable replacement for Sergio Busquets. The Danish defender was solid and showed Xavi he is an option for the future in the role. “He was comfortable, aggressive, didn’t lose the ball, kept his eyes open – we were good on transitions, he gave us discipline,” Xavi told reporters. Roque, who arrived in the January transfer window from Brazilian side Athletico Paranaense, was on the pitch less than 15 minutes after he was shown two yellow cards. The second was for an innocuous challenge on Rafa Marin, but there was no video review as VAR cannot ask officials to check second yellow card incidents. Barcelona coach Xavi said Friday La Liga was “completely adulterated” by rivals Real Madrid because of heavy criticism towards officials broadcast on the club’s television channel. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti dismissed Xavi’s words as “unprofessional” but Roque’s red card will only add more fuel to the flames. “We will appeal it because it’s clear that it’s an error, it’s another error from the referee towards us,” Xavi told DAZN. “Evidently it’s an unfair red card.” Bundesliga: Kane scores to help Bayern keep pace with leaders Leverkusen [caption id=“attachment_13687472” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Harry Kane has 24 goals in 20 league games this Bundesliga season. AP[/caption] Harry Kane scored the go-ahead goal to help Bayern Munich to a 3-1 comeback home win over Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday, keeping hot on the heels of leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who won 2-0 at Darmstadt. Bayern stay just two points behind Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten side, with the two facing off next Saturday in Leverkusen. “The big game is coming. We wanted to show our fans something,” Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka said after the match. But while Leverkusen secured a comfortable win at last-placed Darmstadt thanks to a brace from Nigeria winger Nathan Tella, Bayern were once again bailed out by Kane, who now has 24 goals in 20 league games this season. Gladbach travelled to Munich boasting a brilliant recent record against the perennial German champions, with Bayern winning just one of their past six matches. Bayern conceded early after a horror pass from Manuel Neuer allowed Gladbach to waltz through the penalty box, with Nico Elvedi tapping in from close range. Bayern youth product Aleksandar Pavlovic drew the home side level just before half-time when he slid through the Gladbach defence and drilled in the equaliser. Gladbach were courageous against an injury-hit Munich side who have lacked confidence and fluency since the winter break. Kane however stepped up with 20 minutes remaining, heading in after a mistake from Gladbach ‘keeper Moritz Nicolas. Kane’s 24th league goal of the season keeps him on track for the all-time record of 41 goals in a Bundesliga season, set by his Bayern predecessor Robert Lewandowski. Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel set his sights on next week’s top-of-the-table clash. “Leverkusen are playing an outstanding season, but we’ve got just two points fewer. “We’ll travel to Leverkusen with a clear goal – to inflict a first defeat of the season on them and to overtake them into top spot.” Bayern veteran Thomas Mueller was presented with a special shirt after winning his 500th match with the German champions, but told reporters: “I’m not such a fan of these commemorations.” “Next week we play Leverkusen. The feeling of winning is a beautiful thing. We want to experience that in Leverkusen as well.” Leverkusen’s win ensured they would stay top of the table ahead of Bayern’s visit. Making his first league start since moving to Leverkusen from Southampton at the start of the season, Tella put Leverkusen ahead after half an hour, shedding his marker to head in a looping chip from Alex Grimaldo. Tella doubled up early in the second half, blasting in from close range past the helpless Darmstadt ‘keeper. Stuttgart win Stuttgart took advantage of Borussia Dortmund’s 0-0 draw at Heidenheim on Friday, winning 3-1 away against a 10-man Freiburg to go three points clear in third place. Brighton loanee Deniz Undav gave Stuttgart the lead after just three minutes, with Germany winger Chris Fuehrich added another just four minutes later. Freiburg lost Merlin Roehl to a straight red card for an ugly studs-up tackle after just 18 minutes, but they pulled a goal back through Lucas Kuebler late in the first half. Maximilian Mittelstaedt scored for Stuttgart with 15 minutes remaining to seal victory. In Saturday’s late game, Cologne won just their third match of the season, triumphing 2-0 at home over Eintracht Frankfurt, who finished with nine men. Frankfurt defender Niels Nkounkou picked up a second yellow for a foolish tug on the leg of Faride Alidou, with the midfielder scoring from the ensuing free kick. Jan Thielmann scored Cologne’s second on the counter with ten minutes remaining to seal the victory, moments before Tuta was sent from the pitch for picking up his second yellow. Still in the play-off spot, Cologne’s win allowed them to widen the gap on the automatic relegation places to four points. Elsewhere, Augsburg scored a penalty in injury time to snatch a point in a 1-1 draw at Bochum. Werder Bremen scored after just two minutes through Marvin Ducksch to win 1-0 at lowly Mainz. Serie A: Luka Jovic completes AC Milan comeback at Frosinone

🎶 Quando entra Luka Jović è gol! 🎶

The commentator is absolutely loving it. 😂❤️ pic.twitter.com/w1Ir913NrH

— Luka Jović (@TeamJovic) February 3, 2024

Luka Jovic fired AC Milan to a comeback 3-2 victory at Frosinone on Saturday with a late winner which moved his team to within five points of Serie A leaders Inter Milan. Serbia forward Jovic lashed home an instinctive finish with nine minutes remaining to continue his recent good scoring form and consolidate Milan’s hold on a top four spot. Jovic’s winner was his seventh goal in 10 matches in all competitions and came nine minutes after defender Matteo Gabbia drew Milan level with his first ever goal in Italy’s top-flight. “He’s a decisive player. He’s not getting that many minutes but he makes the most of the time he does get to help the team,” said Milan coach Stefano Pioli of Jovic. “He’s a quality player, I’ve always thought so. I push him as much as I can every day because I believe in him.” Pioli’s side have played two games more than Inter, who host second-placed Juventus in a huge title clash at the San Siro on Sunday. Milan have also played a game more than Roma in fifth, over whom they have a 14-point advantage in the race for a spot in the Champions League. Pioli has been consistently subject to speculation over his future this season, with rumours surfacing this week that Milan were trying to recruit Antonio Conte. “The important thing is that I, the team and the club are all concentrated on the here and now,” said Pioli who has been in charge of Milan since October 2019. “I’ve been around too long for these rumours to bother me… I’m not just happy at Milan, I’m extremely happy… I’ve felt that way from the first moment I set foot in (Milan’s training ground) Milanello.” A painful defeat for Frosonine, who led in the 65th minute through Matias Soule’s first-half penalty and a Luca Mazzitelli strike, leaves the promoted outfit five points above the relegation zone. Olivier Giroud opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a trademark header, nodding home Rafael Leao’s inviting cross from six yards to take his league goal tally to 11 for the season. However six minutes later Leao gifted Frosinone the chance to level when he handled inside his own box, and Juventus loanee Soule made no mistake from the penalty spot. And when Mazzitelli squeezed his fourth goal of the season past Mike Maignan it looked like Milan would crumble. However in the 72nd minute Gabbia headed home Giroud’s knockdown to level the scores, allowing Jovic to steal the show with his late winner.