#1

Cup for the first

in Diamondcraft - Registration Tue Jan 14, 2020 6:17 am
by yyys123 • 1.785 Posts

Bayern Munichs main title rivals all slipped up last weekend, leaving them more in competition with each other for European qualification places than for the German championship. Bayern continues its march at Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday, while second-place Bayer Leverkusen hosts Stuttgart on Saturday. Third-place Dortmund gets the 19th round of games underway at bottom side Eintracht Braunschweig on Friday. LEAGUE OVER?Bayern Munich was 14 minutes from its first loss of the season Wednesday, down 1-0 at Stuttgart with its league-record unbeaten run on the line, before Claudio Pizarro equalized and Thiago Alcantara sealed the sides 16th victory from 18 games. It was the manner of the Spaniards goal that stole the headlines, a spectacular overhead kick to win the game in injury time, but it also stretched Bayerns commanding lead over Bayer Leverkusen to 13 points, with Borussia Dortmund another four behind after 18 games. Bayern hasnt lost in the league in 43 games. At the same stage last season, Bayern led Bayer Leverkusen by nine points and Borussia Dortmund by 12. Jupp Heynckes side went on to clinch the quickest ever Bundesliga title. His successor, Pep Guardiola, is already well ahead of his pace. DORTMUND DEPRESSIONJakub Blaszczykowskis season-ending injury - the Poland captain tore his cruciate ligament in last weekends 2-2 draw at home with Augsburg - is just the latest serious injury blow to Borussia Dortmunds faltering Bundesliga season. Dortmund has already had to contend with long-term injuries to defenders Lukasz Piszczek, Neven Subotic, Mats Hummels and Marcell Schmelzer, as well as influential midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, while dealing with the distraction of Polish striker Robert Lewandowskis end-of-season transfer to Bayern. German media reports suggest that Serbian attacking midfielder Milos Jojic is on the verge of signing from Partizan Belgrade, while Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg says Hertha Berlins Colombian striker Adrian Ramos is likely to be Lewandowskis replacement in the summer. HUNTELAAR RETURNSAfter a troublesome season so far, Schalkes mood visibly improved last Sunday with the return of Klaas Jan Huntelaar after five months out injured. The Dutch striker opened the scoring and his mere presence seemed to bring the best out of his teammates as they triumphed 3-0 at Hamburger SV. Adding to the new-found sense of optimism, all the sides above dropped points - with the exception of Bayern - allowing Schalke to climb to fifth, two points off Borussia Moenchengladbach in the last Champions League qualification place. Schalke hosts big-spending Wolfsburg, which is just a point behind and also aiming for fourth place, on Saturday. Huntelaar, who has 50 goals in 85 games for Schalke, is back just when hes needed most. "His presence alone does us the world of good," Schalke coach Jens Keller said. HAMBURG CRISISHamburger SV, the only Bundesliga side to have played every season, finds itself firmly in a battle against its first relegation after four defeats in succession. "Were going down if we keep going like this," Hamburg playmaker Rafael van der Vaart said after the latest defeat to Schalke left the side in the relegation play-off place. Hamburg fired Thorsten Fink as coach in September but has seen little to no improvement under replacement coach Bert van Marwijk. The Dutchmans job has been complicated by a host of injuries hitting a small squad. Standout striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga (nine goals) has been ruled out for two weeks, while defender Lam Zhi Gin is also ruled out against Hoffenheim. Defender Marcell Jansen is doubtful but goalkeeper Rene Adler could return. Last Sundays defeat to Schalke was the sixth loss in nine home games this season for Hamburg, which has conceded 41 goals. Only Hoffenheims record of 42 goals conceded is worse. A goalless draw is not expected on Sunday. LEVERKUSEN RUFFLING FEATHERSIn an effort to get more fans at games, Bayer Leverkusen has taken out advertising on public transport services in the area, but this has riled football fans in nearby Wuppertal. Since Monday, the Wuppertal suspension railway has been carrying the slogan: "Top class football: only 30 kilometres further." Wuppertaler SV chairman Achim Weber, whose side was relegated to the fifth tier because of insolvency, was not amused. "This Bayer-train goes right by our stadium all the time. Bayer are fishing in foreign waters," Weber told the Cologne-based Express newspaper. "We need every supporter. You dont do something like that." Leverkusen hosts Stuttgart on Saturday, when all fans, including Wuppertals, are welcome. Huaraches Womens Sale .J. - The New Jersey Devils know the odds are against them as they chase a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Nike Air Max Plus Wholesale . Heavily-criticized after allowing a dozen goals on 58 shots in two games in Boston, Luongo continued his dominance at home. Hes now allowed two goals in three home games in this series. http://www.nikeshoesoutletwholesale.com/nike-cortez-sale/cortez-womens-cheap.html .m. ET, CBSOPENING LINE — Packers by 3RECORD VS. SPREAD — New England 7-4, Green Bay 5-5-1SERIES RECORD — Tied 5-5. Fake Yeezy Boost 350 v2 For Sale .C. -- The Charlotte Bobcats said head coach Steve Clifford underwent a successful procedure Friday to have two stents placed in his heart. Air Force 1 Clearance Sale . MLB executive Joe Torre ruled on Tuesday nights game at Wrigley Field that was called after 4 1-2 innings. The Cubs were declared the winners by a 2-0 score. Now, it is instead a suspended game that will resume at 4:05 p.The Ottawa SenatorsThe Sens had a golden opportunity to win the cup in 2007. After beating the Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres all in five games, the Senators would square off in the Cup Final against the Anaheim Ducks. It was a great time for the city of Ottawa as it was their first time being in the Cup final since 1927. Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson carried the Sens throughout the playoffs, along with the goaltending of Ray Emery.The Sens could not handle the Ducks in the Cup final though, who had forwards like Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Teemu Selanne. The Ducks also had a solid shutdown line, a lethal defence duo of Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer, and a world class goalie in Jean-Sebastien Giguere. The Sens would lose to the Ducks in five games which would conclude their best run at the cup since the Habs won in 1993.Watch a tribute to their run here.Toronto Maple LeafsYes, the Toronto Maple Leafs have had a solid playoff run since the Habs won in 1993, and it almost got them in the Cup Final. The year was 2002 and the Leafs defeated the Islannders and the Senators in the opening rounds.dddddddddddd They would play the Conference Final against a team that they matched up pretty well against, the Carolina Hurricanes. The Leafs had an incredible goaltender in Curtis Joseph, and classic players like Mats Sundin, Gary Roberts and Darcy Tucker. Sundin and Tucker actually missed most of the first two rounds with injuries, so when they returned in the Eastern Conference Final, most Toronto fans were predicting their team would finally play for the Cup for the first time since 1967.The Leafs seemed to run out of gas and couldnt handle the Hurricanes, who got great goaltending from Arturs Irbe, and tons of production out of forwards like Rod BrindAmour, Erik Cole, and Jeff ONeill. The Leafs would lose in dramatic fashion at home in Game 6 in overtime. Sundin tied the game with the goalie pulled before the eventual season-ending goal by the Hurricanes. Check out Sundins game-tying goal which would highlight the Leafs 2002 run.So fans, who in the East has the best shot at being the next Canadian team to win a cup? Tweet us @BarDown ' ' '

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