Ballack makes winning return
Source: Agencies |
August 24, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MICHAEL Ballack celebrated a winning return to the Bundesliga after four years at Chelsea, with Bayer Leverkusen beating host Borussia Dortmund 2-0 on Sunday in its season opener.
Champion Bayern Munich edged past VfB Wolfsburg 2-1 with a stoppage-time goal through Bastian Schweinsteiger on Friday, while Hamburg SV beat last season's runner-up Schalke 04 2-1 on Saturday.
Ballack, who played for Leverkusen until his 2002 move to Bayern Munich, returned from Chelsea in the close season.
"What I am still lacking is power," said the 33-year-old midfielder, who lasted the full 90 minutes after recovering from an ankle injury that saw him miss the World Cup in South Africa.
"But I am happy I played the full game. The coach asked me a few times but I was just happy to play through."
Leverkusen, among the title favorites, grabbed a deserved lead in the 19th minute when Tranquillo Barnetta completed a swift passing move between him, Gonzalo Castro and Arturo Vidal that left the defence dazed.
With Dortmund still rattled by the goal, Leverkusen struck again three minutes later with a solo effort from Renato Augusto.
Mainz kicked off its Bundesliga season with an impressive 2-0 victory over visiting VfB Stuttgart, with both goals coming from new signings - Sami Allagui and Morten Rasmussen.
In France, Michael Ciani scored in injury time to give Bordeaux a 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain for its first victory this season in the French league.
The Bordeaux defender outjumped Zoumana Camara to head in a corner from France playmaker Yoann Gourcuff in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Caen was held 0-0 at Montpellier but retained second place with seven points. In another scoreless clash, Lille dropped points for the third straight match at Sochaux.
Champion Bayern Munich edged past VfB Wolfsburg 2-1 with a stoppage-time goal through Bastian Schweinsteiger on Friday, while Hamburg SV beat last season's runner-up Schalke 04 2-1 on Saturday.
Ballack, who played for Leverkusen until his 2002 move to Bayern Munich, returned from Chelsea in the close season.
"What I am still lacking is power," said the 33-year-old midfielder, who lasted the full 90 minutes after recovering from an ankle injury that saw him miss the World Cup in South Africa.
"But I am happy I played the full game. The coach asked me a few times but I was just happy to play through."
Leverkusen, among the title favorites, grabbed a deserved lead in the 19th minute when Tranquillo Barnetta completed a swift passing move between him, Gonzalo Castro and Arturo Vidal that left the defence dazed.
With Dortmund still rattled by the goal, Leverkusen struck again three minutes later with a solo effort from Renato Augusto.
Mainz kicked off its Bundesliga season with an impressive 2-0 victory over visiting VfB Stuttgart, with both goals coming from new signings - Sami Allagui and Morten Rasmussen.
In France, Michael Ciani scored in injury time to give Bordeaux a 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain for its first victory this season in the French league.
The Bordeaux defender outjumped Zoumana Camara to head in a corner from France playmaker Yoann Gourcuff in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Caen was held 0-0 at Montpellier but retained second place with seven points. In another scoreless clash, Lille dropped points for the third straight match at Sochaux.
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