Andrè Schembri scored his first goal for Omonia Nicosia last weekend as he helped his team to a 2-0 win over Enosis Paralimni.
Schembri capped his first start for his new club by hitting Omonia’s second goal after beating fellow Malta team-mate Andrew Hogg, who started in goal for Paralimni.
“This game was very important for me because I had only played a couple of minutes in previous matches and was working hard to put my name in the starting line-up,” Schembri said.
“I am very satisfied with my performance and obviously scoring is an add-on to this positive game,” Schembri said.
Stramaccioni keen to repay Moratti
Andrea Stramaccioni is hoping Inter’s recent resurgence proves president Massimo Moratti “didn’t do something crazy” when he appointed him in March.
On Sunday, Inter won their seventh successive game in all competitions and their eighth on the trot away from the San Siro, a 3-1 victory at Bologna which moved them up to third in the Serie A.
Stramaccioni told www.inter.it: “I’m trying to do my part. I’m proud to be the Inter coach.
“When a team wins eight away matches it’s a sign of unity. It means that we’re focused and motivated.
“I’m trying to show that the president didn’t do something completely crazy.”
We’ll bounce back – Heynckes
Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes is confident his team will bounce back from their first defeat of the Bundesliga season.
The Bavarians had won their first eight games of the season, but saw that run halted on Sunday with a 2-1 loss at the hands of Heynckes’ former club Bayer Leverkusen.
Bayern’s lead at the top of the table has been cut to four points as a result, but Heynckes sees no cause for concern.
“This defeat will not knock us down,” he said. “We will learn from it. We still have a comfor-table cushion in the league table.”
Defence a priority for keeper Neuer
Germany need to play more defensively and aim for a clean sheet every match, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said.
Joachim Loew’s team incredibly threw away a 4-0 lead in this month’s World Cup qualifier against Sweden, marking the first time in Germany’s 104-year history that a four-goal lead had been lost.
“It’s a fact that we have to concentrate more on defence,” Neuer said.
“We’ve got qualities in attack, we’re always in a position to score at least one goal. But as a keeper, I’d like this idea of playing for a clean sheet to be our priority.”
Gerrard bemoans referees’ decisions
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes if the reasoning behind the decision to deny Luis Suarez an added-time winner in Sunday’s 219th Merseyside derby draw was replicated throughout the season the Premier League would be “in trouble”.
The Reds striker’s late goal was incorrectly ruled out by a linesman’s flag at Goodison Park, having earlier seen Everton make it 2-2 from a throw-in which should have gone to the visitors.
“I’ve seen it again and we can feel sorry ourselves because it was a clear goal,” he said.
“I asked the linesman after the game if it was offside and he said ‘I think so’. That’s not good enough. If every decision in this league is based on ‘we think so’ then we’re in trouble.”
Mazzarri unwell after Napoli win
Walter Mazzarri felt unwell after Napoli’s victory over Chievo on Sunday, leaving director of sport Alberto Bigon to address the media at the San Paolo.
“Mazzarri had a drop in blood sugar, but I don’t know why,” Bigon told a news conference.
“I don’t think we could’ve asked any more of the team tonight.
“Maybe they could have taken a few more of the chances that were created, but I am truly happy for the work this team is doing both on the field and in training.
“I want us to remain as high up the table as possible, but it doesn’t only depend on us.
“If Juventus continue winning at this rate, then it’ll be tough to keep up with them.”
Real on the right track – Mourinho
Jose Mourinho thinks his Real Madrid side are starting to hit their stride after a thumping 5-0 victory at Real Mallorca.
The win was Madrid’s fourth in five La Liga matches – with the other result a 2-2 draw at Barcelona – and they are showing signs of the form that won them the league title last season after a sluggish start.
“I think we’re doing really well even though we lost in the last Champions League match,” Mourinho told the club’s official website.
“Since the match in Seville we have been winning matches, but although we are still not playing as great as we did for virtually the whole of last season, it was enough to win comfortably.”