Year: 2008

Stuttgart 2-0 Schalke- Win on German debut for Markus Babbel

Former Liverpool defender Markus Babbel enjoyed a winning start to his Bundesliga managerial career as VFB Stuttgart beat Schalke 04 2-0 at home on Sunday. This was Babbel’s second game in charge of Stuttgart, having earlier overseen the midweek draw against Sampdoria in the UEFA Cup. Substitute Jan Simak and striker Mario Gomez scored in the 79th and 83rd minutes respectively to give Stuttgart their first win in six games.

Mario Gomez scored on Babbel's Bundesliga managerial debut
Mario Gomez scored on Babbel's Bundesliga managerial debut

Stuttgart keeper Jens Lehmann also saved a 16th minute penalty from Jefferson Farfan which was awarded after Artur Boka had brought Kevin Kuranyi down. Farfan had also been guilty of squandering a chance three minutes later, with his weak shot being cleared off the line after Jermaine Jones had hit the post.

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Celtic 1-0 Inverness

Scottish giants Celtic bounced back from their midweek European disappointment to beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1-0 at home and increase their lead over second placed Rangers to seven points in the SPL. The game was a quiet affair, with winger Shaun Maloney scoring what was to be the winner in the 29th minute.

Celtic’s exit from Europe at the hands of Danish side Aalborg last Tuesday means we will not see a single Scottish side in either the UEFA Cup or the Champions League, with Motherwell, Queen of the South and Rangers already knocked out.

Maloney- Goal scorer in Celtic's 12th consecutive SPL victory
Maloney- Goal scorer in Celtic's 12th consecutive SPL victory

Inverness tried their best to find an equaliser, but Celtic were not to be denied three points.

Maloney’s goal was created by Japanese midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, whose reverse pass was expertly controlled by the former Aston Villa winger and fired past Inverness keeper Ryan Esson.

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Hearts 2-1 Rangers

Hearts handed Rangers their second away defeat of the season when they beat Walter Smith’s Rangers 2-1 at Tynecastle. All the three goals came in a six minute period in the first half ( 20′-26′). Marius Zaliukas and Laryea Kingston were on target for Hearts, with Christos Karipidis heading into his own net from a Charlie Adam set piece.

Kingston celebrated his return from injury with a match winning performance for Hearts
Kingston celebrated his return from injury with a match winning performance for Hearts

The result reduces the gap between 2nd placed Rangers and 3rd placed Hearts to seven points. It is also Hearts’ fifth successive win in the SPL. Celtic however have the chance to go seven clear at the top when they visit Inverness later this afternoon.

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