Nantes retain Cup

The whole nation had been willing the amateurs on as they attempted to become the only fourth division side to lift the trophy but fate decreed the form book would not quite be upset.

The German Cup final went more easily with form as Bayern Munich hammered Werder Bremen 3-0 at the Berlin Olympic Stadium on Saturday to avenge a penalty shoot-out loss to the same opponents last year.

While Bayern swept through to their triumph with ease, Nantes in contrast, had to ride their luck as in the first half their appetite for the game proved embarrassingly inferior and their technique was little better.

But they came through in ultimately controversial fashion as, with the match moving into injury time, Calais defender Fabrice Baron appeared to impede Nantes striker Alain Caveglia, who collapsed in a heap inside the box.

Referee Claude Colombo awarded a penalty amid angry protests from Calais.

Unflustered, Antoine Sibierski smacked home the penalty past ‘keeper Cedric Schille and Nantes, nicknamed the Canaries for their yellow and green kit, were home and dry — though next week they could be relegated from the first division if they lose at Le Havre.

But after half-time, Nantes began to impose their superior technique and they levelled five minutes after the restart through Sibierski, who fired home from eight yards out after a cross from Alioune Toure. Then came the penalty to crush Calais, several of whose players were in tears at the end.

But there were kind words from the watching president Jacques Chirac afterwards. “I’d say there are two winners — Nantes for the result but also Calais on a human level for their spirit. I’d like to offer Calais my heartfelt congratulations for their sterling showing,” said Chirac.

Bayern, meanwhile, forgot their Champions League woes to thrash Werder Bremen once Brazilian striker Giovane Elber handed them a 57th-minute lead. Fellow Brazilian Paulo Sergio put the result beyond doubt in the 83rd minute and Mehmut Scholl, an 86th minute replacement for Elber, tapped in the third seconds before the final whistle.

In Italy and Spain, meanwhile, it was business as usual in the league. The Serie A league title appears bound for Juventus after Alessandro del Piero kept the `Zebras’ on course by scoring his first goal in open play since October 1998 in a controversial 1-0 win over Parma, who had a late would-be equaliser by Fabio Cannavaro ruled out.

Del Piero’s 60th minute strike maintained Juventus’ two-point lead over Lazio, who beat Bologna 3-2, before next Sunday’s last match of the season at Perugia.

Should Juventus draw next week and Lazio beat Reggina, the top two clubs would be level on points and forced into a play-off. Parma’s defeat leaves them fifth, level on 55 points with Inter Milan, three behind AC Milan and two ahead of sixth-placed Roma. Two of the four will play the preliminary rounds of the Champions League.

Inter Milan suffered a humiliating 4-0 home reverse against Fiorentina while outgoing champions AC Milan needed a late penalty from Andrii Shevchenko to gain a 1-1 draw at Roma.

In Spain, the title is still up for grabs after Barcelona and Real Madrid both lost at home on Saturday and leaders Deportivo La Coruna only managed a 2-2 home draw against Champions League contenders Real Zaragoza.

Barcelona crashed 2-0 at home to Rayo Vallecano and were booed off by angry fans as their team now faces ending the season empty-handed after their 4-1 Champions League semi-final thrashing at Valencia.

Deportivo’s draw means they are three points clear of Barca with two games left and they are now on the verge of their first-ever championship having led the table since the ninth week of the season.

Real went down 1-0 at home to Alaves, who can still beat them to a Champions League slot. Jorge Azkoitia scored the goal three minutes from time.

Zaragoza’s point at Deportivo put them third on goal difference ahead of Valencia, who swamped Real Sociedad 4-0 on Saturday, and Alaves. Real are sixth, a point further back and may now have to win the Champions League if they are to get back into that tournament next season.