TALKING points from the weekend in European soccer leagues:
DORTMUND’S BUNDESLIGA TITLE HOPES SUFFER SETBACK
Borussia Dortmund was beaten 4-2 by title rivals Bayern Munich on Saturday to drop two points behind them with eight games remaining.
But for Dortmund sports director Sebastian Kehl the race has not yet been decided.
“It was no doubt a bitter day but we are Borussia and we will get up again,” Kehl said. “This thing is not over yet and the title race has not yet been decided.”
Dortmund has a busy few days ahead with their German Cup quarter-final on Wednesday against RB Leipzig before hosting third-placed Union Berlin in the Bundesliga next weekend.
PSG’S SEASON GOES FROM BAD TO WORSE
Paris St Germain’s season could take an ugly turn if their current form continues, with the team suffering their second successive home defeat after they were beaten 1-0 by Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday.
It was also the capital side’s fifth defeat in Ligue 1 this year as they saw their lead slashed down to six points with second-placed RC Lens visiting the Parc des Princes in two weeks.
PSG have already been eliminated from the Champions League and the French Cup, leaving coach Christophe Galtier in an uncomfortable position as the end of the season looms.
Marseille is third, behind Lens on goal difference after a 1-1 draw against Montpellier on Friday. Monaco is fourth, three points behind after a spectacular 4-3 home win against Racing Strasbourg.
NO EXCUSES FROM SPALLETTI
Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti refused to blame the absence of Serie A top scorer Victor Osimhen for the league leaders’ 4-0 hammering by AC Milan.
The 24-year-old Nigerian striker has scored 21 goals for Napoli in Serie A this season but had to sit out Sunday’s match due to a thigh strain.
“Mathias Olivera and Piotr Zielinski both returned with problems (from international duty), Osimhen had that injury, so we were a little unlucky with this round, but Milan too had players away on international duty.”
With Napoli still holding a 16-point advantage over second-placed Lazio, Spalletti refused to get too worked up by Sunday’s result.
“Milan had an excellent performance, started strong and then made the most of all the opportunities we allowed them when we got stretched out, using those spaces cleverly,” he said.
