European roundup: Sadio Mané’s World Cup in doubt after injury in Bayern win

Sadio Mané became the latest star in doubt for the World Cup when the Senegal talisman was forced from the field in Bayern Munich’s 6-1 win over Werder Bremen.

Just 13 days before Senegal kick off in Qatar against the Netherlands, Mané was forced to leave the field after 20 minutes, limping off after receiving treatment on a leg injury. Having attempted to play on, the summer signing from Liverpool could not continue and was substituted.

Without him, Bundesliga leaders Bayern still blew Werder away, scoring four goals in the first half, with Jamal Musiala getting the first in the sixth minute before Serge Gnabry scored either side of a strike from Leon Goretzka. Anthony Yunh had equalised for Werder four minutes after Bayern’s opener but the champions took control from there, despite the loss of Mané. Gnabry completed his hat-trick in the 82nd minute before 17-year-old Mathys Tel scored a late sixth.

Wolfsburg scored at the start and at the end to battle past Borussia Dortmund 2-0, stretching their unbeaten run to seven consecutive matches and snapping their opponents’ three-game winning streak.

Wolfsburg’s Micky van de Ven nodded in at the far post from a corner after six minutes. Dortmund did hit the post in first half stoppage time with Niklas Süle but it was the hosts who again had the better chances in the second half.

Lukas Nmecha (right) seals the win for Wolfsburg.
Lukas Nmecha (right) seals the win for Wolfsburg. Photograph: Fabian Bimmer/Reuters

The Wolves, who had lost their last seven home games to Dortmund, sealed their first win over the vistors in seven years with a Lukas Nmecha tap-in in stoppage time.

Gerard Piqué was down a red card in his final match before retiring as Barcelona fought back to win 2-1 at Osasuna despite striker Robert Lewandowski being sent off in the first-half.

Piqué was a substitute but was dismissed after remonstrating with the referee at half-time, following the red card for Lewandowski.

David García had headed Osasuna into the lead from a corner in the sixth minute but Pedri equalised from a rebound right after the break and Raphinha came off the bench to score Barça’s winner five minutes from time, with a brilliant dipping header from outside the box that looped over the goalkeeper into the net.

Gerard Piqué acknowledges the Barcelona fans before his red card.
Gerard Piqué acknowledges the Barcelona fans before his red card. Photograph: Jesús Diges/EPA

Barcelona will go into the World Cup break top of the La Liga standings on 37 points, five ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, who will host second-bottom Cádiz on Thursday.

Serie A leaders Napoli extended their league winning streak to 10 games when they beat visitors Empoli 2-0 thanks to a goal and an assist from substitute Hirving Lozano. Napoli broke the deadlock when Lozano converted a penalty in the 70th minute after Empoli midfielder Razvan Marin tripped Victor Osimhen inside the box.

Empoli’s Sebastiano Luperto was sent off after picking up a second yellow card for tripping Lozano in the 74th minute, before the Mexican then crossed for Piotr Zielinski, who found the net in the 88th minute. Napoli top the table with 38 points after 14 games, and got a further boost on Tuesday with second-placed Milan only managing a 0-0 draw at strugglers Cremonese.

Argentina’s Giovani Lo Celso has been ruled out of the World Cup with a hamstring injury for which the midfielder, on loan from Tottenham, requires surgery. The 26-year-old was replaced during Villarreal’s La Liga loss against Athletic Bilbao on 30 October and scans confirmed that Lo Celso suffered a hamstring tear.

source: theguardian.com