News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Champions Bayern Munich eased past Nuremberg 3-0 in the Bavarian derby with two goals from Robert Lewandowski, to continue their recovery from a dip in form and move into second place.
Lewandowski struck twice in the first half and Franck Ribery added another in the 56th as Bayern found minimal resistance from their toothless opponents.
Bayern, who have advanced to the Champions League knockout stage, posted their first win in five home league matches and the scoreline could have been more emphatic.
It was also their third straight win in all competitions to strengthen the position of embattled coach Niko Kovac.
"Today we did not allow anything over 90 minutes and we had many chances ourselves" Kovac told reporters.
"I am very satisfied. It was important that we kept a clean sheet and maintained our confidence and lead and did not concede goals (as in recent games). Now we have won three games in a row (in all competitions)."
The reigning champions, who have won the last six league titles, are on 27 points, nine behind leaders Borussia Dortmund who beat Schalke 04 2-1 on Saturday.
Borussia Moenchengladbach, on 26, are in action on Sunday against VfB Stuttgart.
Sampdoria snatch last-gasp draw at Lazio
Riccardo Saponara scored the latest Serie A goal since records began to earn Sampdoria a 2-2 draw at Lazio in a pulsating end to their match at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.
Lazio, who spent the week leading up to the game in a training retreat after failing to beat bottom side Chievo last weekend, thought they had won it when Ciro Immobile converted a 96th-minute penalty.
But Saponara’s exquisite 99th-minute volley stunned the home crowd as Lazio failed to take their chance to leapfrog AC Milan into fourth place and extended their winless run to four games.
Fabio Quagliarella put Sampdoria in front from close range midway through the first half, marking a personal record as he scored in a fifth successive Serie A game for the first time.
Lazio pushed for an equaliser as Immobile hit the post before the break and the hosts drew level when Francesco Acerbi tapped in from a corner with 12 minutes left on the clock.
Sampdoria were reduced to 10 men when Bartosz Bereszynski was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time for hauling down Joaquin Correa. Lazio were awarded a penalty for handball following a pitch-side VAR review, which Immobile fired into the corner, but Samp substitute Saponara lobbed goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha with acushioned volley in the last of the nine added minutes.
Lazio remained in fifth place on 25 points, behind AC Milanon goal difference ahead of their game against Torino on Sunday, while Sampdoria are 10th with 20 points.
Atlanta United win MLS Cup beating Portland in final
Atlanta United FC used a distinctly Latin flair to win the Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup final on Saturday, beating Portland Timbers 2-0 to bring the city a rare professional sporting trophy.
In just their second year in the league, Atlanta capped off a spectacular rise by taking the final step in front of 73,000-plus festive fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Their starting 11 included five South Americans, not least 2018 MLS most valuable player (MVP) Josef Martinez, who opened the scoring in the 39th minute with his 35th goal of the season.
The prolific Venezuela striker received the ball unexpectedly on the edge of the box when defender Michael Parkhurst disposed Portland's Jeremy Ebobisse with a perfectly-timed tackle.
Martinez rounded goalie Jeff Attinella and calmly slotted home to settle the nerves of the crowd, the largest in league history for a non-double-header.
Martinez also had an assist in the second goal early in the second half.
When a free kick was swung into the penalty area, he rose to send a glancing header to full back Franco Escobar, who ghosted in at the far post to score from point-blank range.
Martinez was substituted to a raucous reception in the 75th minute, and was later named the game's MVP.
The victory provided a perfect send-off for Atlanta coach Gerardo 'Tata' Martino, who is leaving to take charge, according to multiple media reports, of the Mexico national team.
It also provided some consolation for team owner Arthur Blank, whose National Football League Falcons lost the Super Bowl two years ago after surrendering a huge lead.
Goalie Brad Guzan spoke of the significance of the title in a city that has only ever celebrated one championship in any of the four major team sports leagues -- baseball's Atlanta Braves in 1995.
