Bayern Munich forward Mario Mandzukic will miss his team’s Champions League game against CSKA Moscow in Russia today after failing to recover in time from a calf muscle injury.
The Croat, who has scored eight goals in the Bundesliga and another two in Europe this season, remained in Munich for treatment as the holders seek to seal top spot in Group D after already booking their ticket for the KO stage.
Mandzukic is the latest to join Bayern’s injury list with Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Xherdan Shaqiri, Claudio Pizarro and Diego Contento already out.
Coach Lagerback in new job share
Lars Lagerback is to share the running of the Iceland team with his assistant for the next two years before calling it a day as senior coach.
Heimir Hallgrimsson, 46, has worked as the number two since 2012 but will take over on his own at the end of the team’s Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, the 65-year-old Lagerback said.
Iceland finished second in their 2014 World Cup qualifying group and missed out on a place in the finals at the play-offs earlier this month. Goals from Mario Mand-zukic and Darijo Srna gave Croatia a 2-0 victory in the second leg and on aggregate.
Iceland have never reached the finals of a major tournament.
City’s Toure eyes goal record
Yaya Toure is targeting Chelsea’s record Premier League goals haul of 103 after revealing Manchester City’s 6-0 thrashing of Tottenham on Sunday was inspired by manager Manuel Pellegrini’s pre-match team talk.
City’s biggest ever win over Spurs means they have now scored an incredible 24 times in six home league fixtures this season.
Their overall tally stands at 34, which has them on track to eclipse Chelsea’s total from their 2009-10 title-winning campaign.
“I hope so,” said Toure, when asked about emulating Chelsea’s massive total.
“We have the strikers. Our guys up front are unbelievable.”
VA striker suffers collapsed lung
Valenciennes striker Gregory Pujol has been hospitalised after suffering a collapsed lung.
The 33-year-old was substituted after 33 minutes of the 1-1 draw against at Lyon at the weekend after suffering a heavy fall and he was eventually admitted to hospital and given treatment.
VA boss Ariel Jacobs confirmed yesterday that Pujol was due to be released today, but he will not feature against Lille on Saturday.
“The lung is slightly off. He suffered a pneumothorax (collapsed lung) and an emergency drainage because there was an effusion of blood,” Jacobs said.
“It is already a pass for Saturday.”
Bendtner arrested over flat damage
Arsenal striker Nicklas Bend-tner has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage at his luxury apartment block.
Bendtner, 25, was held by police officers in Hertfordshire this week in connection with damage to an apartment buil-ding where he lives in the Bushey area.
Police said Bendtner has been cautioned – meaning he will not be required to attend court.
Police said: “A 25-year-old man from Bushey has been cautioned for criminal damage and is no longer in custody. He was arrested in connection with an incident which occurred at an address in The Avenue, Bushey, in the early hours of November 24.”
The Denmark international has scored 45 goals in 164 appearances for Arsenal.
Malaga’s Schuster under pressure
Athletic Bilbao came from behind to win 2-1 at struggling Malaga in La Liga late Monday and heap the pressure on German coach Bernd Schuster.
It was a poor performance from the home team even though they went ahead through Juanmi before half-time.
Malaga have been accustomed to fighting for the European positions in recent campaigns but the departures of leading players like Joaquin and Javier Saviola have left them facing a relegation scrap this season in 14th spot.
Home fans chanted for the dismissal of Schuster at the final whistle on Monday, with the team now only one point off the drop zone.
Rangers fans launch scheme
The Rangers Supporters Trust have launched a direct debit scheme in a bid to help fans acquire shares in the club.
The trust, whose members raised £250,000 to buy shares last year, are looking to increase their small stake in the club.
Chairman Gordon Dinnie said: “This is a significant step for the trust and the wider Rangers family in facilitating the col-lective purchase of a major shareholding in our club.
“We believe that greater fan involvement will help secure the future of our club and ensure recent dark times never descend on us again.”