ENGLAND
Man. City 30.11 : Midfielder Elano will miss Manchester City's trip to Wigan Athletic on Saturday after picking up a hamstring injury in training. The 26-year-old Brazilian international, a key player of the club's success this season, has scored five goals since arriving from Shakhtar Donetsk in August for a €12m fee. Elano joins Darius Vassell on the sidelines, after the striker was ruled out for two weeks with a knee injury.
Birming. 29.11 : Alex McLeish has been unveiled as the new manager of Premier League strugglers Birmingham City, a day after resigning as coach of Scotland. The 48-year-old Scotsman takes over from Steve Bruce, who left the club after six years last week to join Wigan Athletic. McLeish can expect to at least double the salary Scotland were paying him, according to British newspaper reports. He has agreed a three-and-a-half year contract with Birmingham City.
Middlesb. 29.11 : Middlesbrough have received a double injury blow with Mido likely to be out until the New Year and Mark Schwarzer set to miss Saturday's match at Reading. Australian goalkeeper Schwarzer, an ever-present this season, has damaged a thumb while Egyptian striker Mido faces a prolonged spell on the sidelines with a persistent groin injury. Mido has only played in five Premier League games since joining from Tottenham Hotspur in August.
Everton 29.11 : Defender Alan Stubbs is expected to be sidelined for four weeks after picking up a calf injury in training. The 36-year-old centre-back has made eight Premier League appearances this season and two in the UEFA Cup. Stubbs will miss Everton's remaining UEFA Cup home game against Zenit St. Petersburg and AZ Alkmaar.
Portsm. 29.11 : Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp and chief executive Peter Storrie were among five people arrested on Wednesday by police investigating corruption in English football. Redknapp, who is being linked to the vacant role as England coach, was questioned at a police station and later released. Redknapp returned to the club's training ground Thursday and insisted that he had done nothing wrong. The others were former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric, now in charge at Championship side Leicester City, former Portsmouth player Amdy Faye and his agent, Willie McKay.
Derby 28.11 : Paul Jewell was appointed as the new manager of Derby County, the last-place team in the Premier League with only six points from 14 games. The 43-year-old has signed a three-and-a-half year contract to replace Billy Davies, who left the club on Monday. Jewell quit as Wigan Athletic manager in May after securing their Premiership survival on the last day of last season. He now has taken on the challenge of saving promoted Derby from the drop.
Birming. 28.11 : Alex McLeish has stepped down as Scotland's national team coach with immediate effect after only 10 months, clearing the way for him to become the manager of English Premier League club Birmingham. The 48-year-old took the team to within one win of a place at EURO 2008, missing out with a 2-1 home defeat by Italy in their final game City. McLeish has been linked with the vacant manager's post at Birmingham following the departure of Steve Bruce, who quit to take over at Wigan last week.
Liverpool 27.11 : Manager Rafael Benitez's future at Liverpool appears in doubt after falling out with the club's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett over transfer funds. "They don't understand the transfer window in Europe," Benitez said after last weekend's 3-0 win at Newcastle. It was the Spaniard's latest outburst against what he claims is the owners' refusal to let him pursue new signings in the January transfer period.
ITALY
Palermo 27.11 : Palermo have parted company coach Stefano Colantuono after a 5-0 defeat by Juventus and rehired his predecessor Francesco Guidolin. Colantuono arrived from Atalanta last summer but has failed to live up to the high expectations of Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini with 18 points from 13 Serie A games. Guidolin, 52, returns for his fourth stint at the Sicilian club, after leading the team in 2004/05 and 2006/07, when he was sacked in April and reappointed in May.
Empoli 27.11 : Alberto Malesani has replaced Luigi Cagni as coach of Empoli after a disappointing start of the season. The Serie A side have taken just ten points from 13 games and scored only seven goals with 19 allowed. The 51-year-old Malesani previously coached Udinese, Modena, Verona, Parma and Fiorentina. Cagni, who led Empoli to a UEFA Cup place last term, was the sixth coach to lose his job in the Serie A this campaign.
Milan 27.11 : Milan will be without midfielder Massimo Ambrosini and forward Filippo Inzaghi when they visit Benfica in the the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. Ambrosini, who suffered a thigh injury in Sunday's 2-1 win at Cagliari, will have further scans to determine the full extent of his problem, though he would not have played in Lisbon anyway because of suspension. Inzaghi is also unavailable because of a bout of flu. Clarence Seedorf remains doubtful after missing the Cagliari game with an ankle injury.
Roma 26.11 : Captain Francesco Totti will miss Tuesday's UEFA Champions League visit to Dynamo Kyiv after aggravating a foot injury in training last week. The Italy playmaker suffered a knock on the same foot he injured in the 2-1 win against Sporting on October 23. There was some good news for Roma as midfielders Taddei and Alberto Aquilani both resumed training, though Aquilani will also not travel to Kiev. Neither player featured in the 1-0 defeat of Genoa on Saturday.
25.11 : Milan got a much-needed victory in Serie A, coming from behind to defeat Cagliari 2-1 for only their fourth win of the season. The European champions could have won by a larger margin but Cagliari goalkeeper Marco Fortin saved a 44th-minute penalty kick by Kaka after Ronaldo was fouled in the area. The result moved Milan up to ninth place and sent Cagliari bottom.
Juventus and Udinese both leapfrogged Fiorentina to move into third and fourth place respectively. David Trezeguet scored his league-leading 11th goal of the season to help Juventus beat Palermo 5-0. Udinese enjoyed a 2-0 success against Siena, while Fiorentina were held to a 0-0 draw at Reggina, Inter beat Atalanta 2-1 to maintain their lead in the Serie A, while second-placed Roma edged Genoa 1-0.
Udinese 25.11 : Coach Pasquale Marino has extended his contract with Udinese following a successful start to the season. The 45-year-old, who arrived from Catania in the summer, has signed a new three-year contract that keeps him at the club until 2012. Financial terms were not disclosed. Marino has guided Udinese into fourth position, just three points behind leaders Inter.
Milan 24.11 : "I'm ready, but it's up to the coach to decide whether I play or not," said Ronaldo. "I really want to play. I have been training hard, but a game is a different matter." The 31-year-old Brazilian striker suffered what looked like a minor injury on 31 July, but a series of complications since have kept him out for nearly four months.
Roma 24.11 : Captain Francesco Totti suffered a recurrence of the foot problem that has sidelined him for the last month. "This morning Francesco arrived with the intention of training but he felt pain as soon as he put on his boot, so did not train at all and will not play against Genoa," Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said. "I don't know when he will be able to play." He will definitely miss Saturday's Serie A game at Genoa and it is highly unlikely that Totti will be available for the Champions League Group F match in Kiev.
SPAIN
game, against Espanyol on Saturday, due to a leg injury. The France striker also sat out Tuesday's 2-2 UEFA Champions League draw at Lyon, while Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho started from the bench for the first time since his arrival in 2003. Striker Samuel Eto'o and midfielder Edmilson returned to training this week after long layoffs following surgery, but neither is likely to return against Espanyol.
Celtic 29.11 : Defender John Kennedy faces three months on the sidelines with a knee injury. The centre-back was carried off the field 42 minutes into Wednesday's 2-1 UEFA Champions League home win against Shakhtar Donetsk. Tests revealed a damaged cartilage and ligament in his left knee. Kennedy, 24, missed the entire 2004/05 and 2005/06 campaigns because of a serious injury to the same kne.
Villarreal 27.11 : Villarreal have signed a pre-contract agreement to allow Argentinean international midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme to rejoin Boca Juniors when the transfer window opens. This deal should end the 29-year-old's five-year spell in Spanish football. Riquelme spent the final six months of last season on loan at Boca Juniors having fallen out with coach Manuel Pellegrini.
Espanyol 27.11 : Espanyol will be without midfielder Ivan de la Pena for Saturday's Primera Division match against Barcelona. He will miss the city derby after picking up the right quadriceps injury in Sunday's 2-1 win at Osasuna. De la Pena has only featured four times for Espanyol this season, with a separate knee injury also limiting his play.
Barcelona 26.11 : Thierry Henry has been left out of Barcelona's squad for the UEFA Champions League match against Lyon. The French striker and Oleguer Presas both missed Sunday's training session and will not make the trip to France. Brazil playmaker Ronaldinho, who was rested in a 3-0 victory against Recreativo Huelva on Saturday, will be available for Tuesday's match.
25.11 : Villarreal missed a chance to move to the top of the Primera Division for the first time in their history, settling for a 1-1 draw with Almeria. So, Villarreal stay second with 28 points, one behing league-leading Real Madrid, who drew 1-1 with Murcia. Barcelona are third with 27 points after their 3-0 win over Recreativo Huelva, while Espanyol moved into fourth with 25 points after beating Osasuna 2-1.
FRANCE
League visit of Barcelona after tests revealed that he had sustained an injury to his right thigh. The 19-year-old left the field in the 47th minute of Lyon's 2-0 win at Rennes on Saturday after receiving a kick on the leg from Bruno Cheyrou. "I feel like I will be OK but I await the green light from the doctor," said Benzema, who is the French league's top scorer with eleven goals in 15 appearances this season.
25.11 : Juninho and Hatem Ben Arfa scored first-half goals Saturday, and Lyon won 2-0 at Rennes in the French league to stay three points ahead of Nancy. The six-time defending champion have 34 points, and Nancy have 31 after beating Lille 2-0 on goals from Sebastien Puygrenier and Jonathan Brison. Bordeaux remain third despite a crushing 5-0 defeat at Caen.
Lilian Laslandes and Bakary Kone each scored Sunday to help Nice beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-1. Nice improved to 23 points after 15 rounds, while PSG dropped into the relegation zone. Auxerre managed a morale-boosting 3-0 victory against surprise outfit Le Mans. Mamamdou Niang scored twice to lead Marseille to a 3-1 home win over last-place Metz.
Lyon 24.11 : Goalkeeper Gregory Coupet returned to returned to training yesterday. The 34-year-old ruptured a cruciate ligament just two days before the start of the Ligue 1 campaign three-and-a-half months ago, and is eyeing a return before the end of the Champions League group stage. "We did not push him too hard in his session but seeing him back is a boost for us," said coach Alain Perrin, who may be able to call on the France international for the away match against Rangers on 12 December.
GERMANY
Stuttgart 29.11 : Defender Andreas Beck will not play until after the winter break after damaging ligaments in his right knee. The 20-year-old was hurt during Stuttgart's 3-2 victory over Scottish side Rangers in on Tuesday. Beck has played five games in the Bundesliga and twice in the UEFA Champions League this season.
Bayer L. 29.11 : Chilean defender Arturo Vidal may be out of action for several weeks after tearing ligaments in his left ankle in training. The 20-year-old has played in eleven Bundesliga games for Bayer Leverkusen this season. He has also played in four UEFA Cup matches, and coach Michael Skibbe hopes Vidal will be available again for their meeting with Sparta Prague.
Bayern 25.11 : Martin Demichelis, Lukas Podolski and Daniel Van Buyten are listed as questionable for Thursday's UEFA Cup match with Braga. Argentinean defender Demichelis returned from international duty with a bruised calf and although he was in the side that beat Wolfsburg 2-1, he sat out training on Sunday after the injury flared up. Belgian defender Van Buyten and Germany striler Podolski also missed out after picking up toe injuries.
25.11 : The former Bayern coach Felix Magath left Munich without a point as his Wolfsburg were beaten 2-1 by the Bundesliga leaders. Franck Ribery scored one goal and set up another and Bayern snapped a three-game winless streak to stay a point ahead of Werder Bremen and Hamburger. Croatian striker Ivan Klasnic, whose career seemed to be over after twice undergoing liver transplants, played for Werder in a 2-0 winner against Energie Cottbus, his first Bundesliga game since December 17, 2006.
Hamburger shook off the news last week that coach Huub Stevens will leave the team and beat Hansa Rostock 2-0 in the Bundesliga. They continued a fine run that has seen them go unbeaten in all competitions after a reverse on September 15 against Eintracht Frankfurt, winning eleven out of their 13 games played since. Hamburg's 10 goals allowed this season is second only to Bayern's eight. Defending champions Stuttgart won their fourth straight 4-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Dortmund 25.11 : Defender Philipp Degen will undergo surgery after damaging ligaments in his left ankle during Switzerland's 1-0 friendly defeat by Nigeria last Tuesday. Details were not immediately available and it's not yet known how long the 24-year-old will be sidelined. Degen has played eight Bundesliga games for Dortmund this season.
Werder 24.11 : Werder Bremen has suspended striker Boubacar Sanogo and midfielder Carlos Alberto after the two clashed in practice. Neither will be in Werder's roster for Saturday's Bundesliga match at Energie Cottbus. Sanogo threw a couple of punches at Alberto after accusing the Brazilian of intentionally kicking his tender left ankle during practice Thursday. Sanogo is just coming back after the injury. Both players may also be fined, the club said.
Schalke 23.11 : Forward Kevin Kuranyi should be fit to face Valencia in the UEFA Champions League next week. Kuranyi is also in contention for Saturday's Bundesliga game at Hannover after spending almost three weeks on the sidelines with a torn thigh muscle. Midfielders Carlos Grossmuller and Jermaine Jones are both doubtful after sitting out Wednesday's training due to various injuries.
Man. City 30.11 : Midfielder Elano will miss Manchester City's trip to Wigan Athletic on Saturday after picking up a hamstring injury in training. The 26-year-old Brazilian international, a key player of the club's success this season, has scored five goals since arriving from Shakhtar Donetsk in August for a €12m fee. Elano joins Darius Vassell on the sidelines, after the striker was ruled out for two weeks with a knee injury.
Birming. 29.11 : Alex McLeish has been unveiled as the new manager of Premier League strugglers Birmingham City, a day after resigning as coach of Scotland. The 48-year-old Scotsman takes over from Steve Bruce, who left the club after six years last week to join Wigan Athletic. McLeish can expect to at least double the salary Scotland were paying him, according to British newspaper reports. He has agreed a three-and-a-half year contract with Birmingham City.
Middlesb. 29.11 : Middlesbrough have received a double injury blow with Mido likely to be out until the New Year and Mark Schwarzer set to miss Saturday's match at Reading. Australian goalkeeper Schwarzer, an ever-present this season, has damaged a thumb while Egyptian striker Mido faces a prolonged spell on the sidelines with a persistent groin injury. Mido has only played in five Premier League games since joining from Tottenham Hotspur in August.
Everton 29.11 : Defender Alan Stubbs is expected to be sidelined for four weeks after picking up a calf injury in training. The 36-year-old centre-back has made eight Premier League appearances this season and two in the UEFA Cup. Stubbs will miss Everton's remaining UEFA Cup home game against Zenit St. Petersburg and AZ Alkmaar.
Portsm. 29.11 : Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp and chief executive Peter Storrie were among five people arrested on Wednesday by police investigating corruption in English football. Redknapp, who is being linked to the vacant role as England coach, was questioned at a police station and later released. Redknapp returned to the club's training ground Thursday and insisted that he had done nothing wrong. The others were former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric, now in charge at Championship side Leicester City, former Portsmouth player Amdy Faye and his agent, Willie McKay.
Derby 28.11 : Paul Jewell was appointed as the new manager of Derby County, the last-place team in the Premier League with only six points from 14 games. The 43-year-old has signed a three-and-a-half year contract to replace Billy Davies, who left the club on Monday. Jewell quit as Wigan Athletic manager in May after securing their Premiership survival on the last day of last season. He now has taken on the challenge of saving promoted Derby from the drop.
Birming. 28.11 : Alex McLeish has stepped down as Scotland's national team coach with immediate effect after only 10 months, clearing the way for him to become the manager of English Premier League club Birmingham. The 48-year-old took the team to within one win of a place at EURO 2008, missing out with a 2-1 home defeat by Italy in their final game City. McLeish has been linked with the vacant manager's post at Birmingham following the departure of Steve Bruce, who quit to take over at Wigan last week.
Liverpool 27.11 : Manager Rafael Benitez's future at Liverpool appears in doubt after falling out with the club's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett over transfer funds. "They don't understand the transfer window in Europe," Benitez said after last weekend's 3-0 win at Newcastle. It was the Spaniard's latest outburst against what he claims is the owners' refusal to let him pursue new signings in the January transfer period.
ITALY
Palermo 27.11 : Palermo have parted company coach Stefano Colantuono after a 5-0 defeat by Juventus and rehired his predecessor Francesco Guidolin. Colantuono arrived from Atalanta last summer but has failed to live up to the high expectations of Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini with 18 points from 13 Serie A games. Guidolin, 52, returns for his fourth stint at the Sicilian club, after leading the team in 2004/05 and 2006/07, when he was sacked in April and reappointed in May.
Empoli 27.11 : Alberto Malesani has replaced Luigi Cagni as coach of Empoli after a disappointing start of the season. The Serie A side have taken just ten points from 13 games and scored only seven goals with 19 allowed. The 51-year-old Malesani previously coached Udinese, Modena, Verona, Parma and Fiorentina. Cagni, who led Empoli to a UEFA Cup place last term, was the sixth coach to lose his job in the Serie A this campaign.
Milan 27.11 : Milan will be without midfielder Massimo Ambrosini and forward Filippo Inzaghi when they visit Benfica in the the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. Ambrosini, who suffered a thigh injury in Sunday's 2-1 win at Cagliari, will have further scans to determine the full extent of his problem, though he would not have played in Lisbon anyway because of suspension. Inzaghi is also unavailable because of a bout of flu. Clarence Seedorf remains doubtful after missing the Cagliari game with an ankle injury.
Roma 26.11 : Captain Francesco Totti will miss Tuesday's UEFA Champions League visit to Dynamo Kyiv after aggravating a foot injury in training last week. The Italy playmaker suffered a knock on the same foot he injured in the 2-1 win against Sporting on October 23. There was some good news for Roma as midfielders Taddei and Alberto Aquilani both resumed training, though Aquilani will also not travel to Kiev. Neither player featured in the 1-0 defeat of Genoa on Saturday.
25.11 : Milan got a much-needed victory in Serie A, coming from behind to defeat Cagliari 2-1 for only their fourth win of the season. The European champions could have won by a larger margin but Cagliari goalkeeper Marco Fortin saved a 44th-minute penalty kick by Kaka after Ronaldo was fouled in the area. The result moved Milan up to ninth place and sent Cagliari bottom.
Juventus and Udinese both leapfrogged Fiorentina to move into third and fourth place respectively. David Trezeguet scored his league-leading 11th goal of the season to help Juventus beat Palermo 5-0. Udinese enjoyed a 2-0 success against Siena, while Fiorentina were held to a 0-0 draw at Reggina, Inter beat Atalanta 2-1 to maintain their lead in the Serie A, while second-placed Roma edged Genoa 1-0.
Udinese 25.11 : Coach Pasquale Marino has extended his contract with Udinese following a successful start to the season. The 45-year-old, who arrived from Catania in the summer, has signed a new three-year contract that keeps him at the club until 2012. Financial terms were not disclosed. Marino has guided Udinese into fourth position, just three points behind leaders Inter.
Milan 24.11 : "I'm ready, but it's up to the coach to decide whether I play or not," said Ronaldo. "I really want to play. I have been training hard, but a game is a different matter." The 31-year-old Brazilian striker suffered what looked like a minor injury on 31 July, but a series of complications since have kept him out for nearly four months.
Roma 24.11 : Captain Francesco Totti suffered a recurrence of the foot problem that has sidelined him for the last month. "This morning Francesco arrived with the intention of training but he felt pain as soon as he put on his boot, so did not train at all and will not play against Genoa," Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said. "I don't know when he will be able to play." He will definitely miss Saturday's Serie A game at Genoa and it is highly unlikely that Totti will be available for the Champions League Group F match in Kiev.
SPAIN
game, against Espanyol on Saturday, due to a leg injury. The France striker also sat out Tuesday's 2-2 UEFA Champions League draw at Lyon, while Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho started from the bench for the first time since his arrival in 2003. Striker Samuel Eto'o and midfielder Edmilson returned to training this week after long layoffs following surgery, but neither is likely to return against Espanyol.
Celtic 29.11 : Defender John Kennedy faces three months on the sidelines with a knee injury. The centre-back was carried off the field 42 minutes into Wednesday's 2-1 UEFA Champions League home win against Shakhtar Donetsk. Tests revealed a damaged cartilage and ligament in his left knee. Kennedy, 24, missed the entire 2004/05 and 2005/06 campaigns because of a serious injury to the same kne.
Villarreal 27.11 : Villarreal have signed a pre-contract agreement to allow Argentinean international midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme to rejoin Boca Juniors when the transfer window opens. This deal should end the 29-year-old's five-year spell in Spanish football. Riquelme spent the final six months of last season on loan at Boca Juniors having fallen out with coach Manuel Pellegrini.
Espanyol 27.11 : Espanyol will be without midfielder Ivan de la Pena for Saturday's Primera Division match against Barcelona. He will miss the city derby after picking up the right quadriceps injury in Sunday's 2-1 win at Osasuna. De la Pena has only featured four times for Espanyol this season, with a separate knee injury also limiting his play.
Barcelona 26.11 : Thierry Henry has been left out of Barcelona's squad for the UEFA Champions League match against Lyon. The French striker and Oleguer Presas both missed Sunday's training session and will not make the trip to France. Brazil playmaker Ronaldinho, who was rested in a 3-0 victory against Recreativo Huelva on Saturday, will be available for Tuesday's match.
25.11 : Villarreal missed a chance to move to the top of the Primera Division for the first time in their history, settling for a 1-1 draw with Almeria. So, Villarreal stay second with 28 points, one behing league-leading Real Madrid, who drew 1-1 with Murcia. Barcelona are third with 27 points after their 3-0 win over Recreativo Huelva, while Espanyol moved into fourth with 25 points after beating Osasuna 2-1.
FRANCE
League visit of Barcelona after tests revealed that he had sustained an injury to his right thigh. The 19-year-old left the field in the 47th minute of Lyon's 2-0 win at Rennes on Saturday after receiving a kick on the leg from Bruno Cheyrou. "I feel like I will be OK but I await the green light from the doctor," said Benzema, who is the French league's top scorer with eleven goals in 15 appearances this season.
25.11 : Juninho and Hatem Ben Arfa scored first-half goals Saturday, and Lyon won 2-0 at Rennes in the French league to stay three points ahead of Nancy. The six-time defending champion have 34 points, and Nancy have 31 after beating Lille 2-0 on goals from Sebastien Puygrenier and Jonathan Brison. Bordeaux remain third despite a crushing 5-0 defeat at Caen.
Lilian Laslandes and Bakary Kone each scored Sunday to help Nice beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-1. Nice improved to 23 points after 15 rounds, while PSG dropped into the relegation zone. Auxerre managed a morale-boosting 3-0 victory against surprise outfit Le Mans. Mamamdou Niang scored twice to lead Marseille to a 3-1 home win over last-place Metz.
Lyon 24.11 : Goalkeeper Gregory Coupet returned to returned to training yesterday. The 34-year-old ruptured a cruciate ligament just two days before the start of the Ligue 1 campaign three-and-a-half months ago, and is eyeing a return before the end of the Champions League group stage. "We did not push him too hard in his session but seeing him back is a boost for us," said coach Alain Perrin, who may be able to call on the France international for the away match against Rangers on 12 December.
GERMANY
Stuttgart 29.11 : Defender Andreas Beck will not play until after the winter break after damaging ligaments in his right knee. The 20-year-old was hurt during Stuttgart's 3-2 victory over Scottish side Rangers in on Tuesday. Beck has played five games in the Bundesliga and twice in the UEFA Champions League this season.
Bayer L. 29.11 : Chilean defender Arturo Vidal may be out of action for several weeks after tearing ligaments in his left ankle in training. The 20-year-old has played in eleven Bundesliga games for Bayer Leverkusen this season. He has also played in four UEFA Cup matches, and coach Michael Skibbe hopes Vidal will be available again for their meeting with Sparta Prague.
Bayern 25.11 : Martin Demichelis, Lukas Podolski and Daniel Van Buyten are listed as questionable for Thursday's UEFA Cup match with Braga. Argentinean defender Demichelis returned from international duty with a bruised calf and although he was in the side that beat Wolfsburg 2-1, he sat out training on Sunday after the injury flared up. Belgian defender Van Buyten and Germany striler Podolski also missed out after picking up toe injuries.
25.11 : The former Bayern coach Felix Magath left Munich without a point as his Wolfsburg were beaten 2-1 by the Bundesliga leaders. Franck Ribery scored one goal and set up another and Bayern snapped a three-game winless streak to stay a point ahead of Werder Bremen and Hamburger. Croatian striker Ivan Klasnic, whose career seemed to be over after twice undergoing liver transplants, played for Werder in a 2-0 winner against Energie Cottbus, his first Bundesliga game since December 17, 2006.
Hamburger shook off the news last week that coach Huub Stevens will leave the team and beat Hansa Rostock 2-0 in the Bundesliga. They continued a fine run that has seen them go unbeaten in all competitions after a reverse on September 15 against Eintracht Frankfurt, winning eleven out of their 13 games played since. Hamburg's 10 goals allowed this season is second only to Bayern's eight. Defending champions Stuttgart won their fourth straight 4-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Dortmund 25.11 : Defender Philipp Degen will undergo surgery after damaging ligaments in his left ankle during Switzerland's 1-0 friendly defeat by Nigeria last Tuesday. Details were not immediately available and it's not yet known how long the 24-year-old will be sidelined. Degen has played eight Bundesliga games for Dortmund this season.
Werder 24.11 : Werder Bremen has suspended striker Boubacar Sanogo and midfielder Carlos Alberto after the two clashed in practice. Neither will be in Werder's roster for Saturday's Bundesliga match at Energie Cottbus. Sanogo threw a couple of punches at Alberto after accusing the Brazilian of intentionally kicking his tender left ankle during practice Thursday. Sanogo is just coming back after the injury. Both players may also be fined, the club said.
Schalke 23.11 : Forward Kevin Kuranyi should be fit to face Valencia in the UEFA Champions League next week. Kuranyi is also in contention for Saturday's Bundesliga game at Hannover after spending almost three weeks on the sidelines with a torn thigh muscle. Midfielders Carlos Grossmuller and Jermaine Jones are both doubtful after sitting out Wednesday's training due to various injuries.
