Table-toppers underpin title hopes - WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
The German Women’s Bundesliga returned after an eight-week break on Sunday, with Bayern Munich continuing their quest to be crowned champions once again. Action also resumed in Switzerland, where FC Zurich are in a familiar position at the head of the standings. In Italy, by contrast, there was another change at the top of the league.
Germany: Bayern march on
Bayern Munich maintained their 12-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga with a narrow 1-0 win over bottom side Koln in the first match after the winter break. On target for the reigning champions was Dutch forward Vivianne Miedemal.
Trailing a full 21 points behind the Bavarian side are Turbine Potsdam following a 2-0 defeat at Freiburg. Meanwhile, Wolfsburg remain in second place after goals from Caroline Hansen, Vanessa Bernauer and Lena Goessling gave them a 3-0 victory over relegation-threatened Werder Bremen.
Hot on the Wolves’ heels are FFC Frankfurt, who ran out 4-1 winners against Hoffenheim, while Sand also won by the same scoreline against Essen.
Top three: Bayern Munich (37 points), Wolfsburg, FFC Frankfurt (both on 25)
Italy: Fiorentina slip
No side with title aspirations can afford many slip-ups, but when the teams are as close together as they are in Italy, every dropped point can be costly. Fiorentina found this out on Matchday 13 of the Women’s Serie A, when a 2-2 draw with Tavagnacco meant they slipped down to fourth after the three teams around them all won.
Brescia returned to the summit after routing Luserna 8-1, but only on goal difference. Joining them on 32 points are Mozzanica, who were 2-0 winners over Riviera di Romagna, while just a point behind are Renato Longega's Verona side, who were equally ruthless in beating Sudtirol 7-1.
Top three: Brescia, Mozzanica (both 32), Verona (31)
Switzerland: Chasing pack fall further behind
In Switzerland the National League A has a familiar look to it, with Zurich once again at the top of the pile. With 11 out of 18 rounds of fixtures in the regular season completed, the team from Zurich have ten wins and one draw to their name. Their latest victory came on Saturday as they crushed Staad 5-0 in their first match of 2016.
After dropping points in a 2-2 draw against Lugano, second-placed Neunkirch will be hoping that the league leaders slip up. Luzern and Basel also fell further behind after playing out a goalless draw.
Top three: Zurich (31), Neunkirch (28), Luzern (25)