Hamburg - Midfielder Franck Ribery was sent off as Bayern Munich's hopes of defending their Bundesliga title were dealt a massive blow by a 1-0 home defeat to Schalke
04 on Saturday. The dismissal, following a second booking, came shortly after Schalke's Jermaine Jones was sent off for a second yellow card.

It dashed Bayern's hopes of taking advantage of an extra man over the last 20 minutes as they chased the game after going behind to a Halil Altintop header from a corner in the 21st minute.

Rome - Gaetano D'Agostino's brace Saturday sealed Udinese's 2-1 win over hosts Chievo, who remain eight points above the relegation zone before the four teams they lead play respective games on Sunday. D'Agostino converted a spot-kick on 34 minutes after Colombian Mario Yepes floored Fabio Quagliarella and scored the winner in injury time off a cross from Quagliarella.

The hosts from Verona had themselves to blame for two mistakes from midfielder Luca Rigoni, who lost control of the ball in the area on 33 minutes and repeated his blunder shortly before the break.

Munich - Juergen Klinsmann says he has no intention of quitting as coach of Bayern Munich in the wake of Saturday's 1-0 home loss to Schalke 04. The result had some fans in the Allianz Arena calling for Klinsmann's removal and leaves the defending Bundesliga champions three points behind leaders VfL Wolfsburg, who can extend their lead to six points with victory over Energie Cottbus Sunday.

"When a coach at Bayern Munich isn't at the top and hasn't fulfilled the expectations then there will be criticism, whistles and discussions about his position," said Klinsmann.

London - Liverpool kept their title hopes alive with a 3-1 win at Hull City on Saturday as they moved back above Manchester United on goal difference at the top of the English Premier League. A first-half strike from Xabi Alonso set Liverpool on their way and two goals from Dirk Kuyt sealed the points, though champions United can go back three points clear at the top, with a game still in hand, if they beat Tottenham Hotspur later on Saturday.

London - West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola has agreed to extend his

Sinsheim, Germany  - Hertha Berlin won 1-0 at slumping TSG Hoffenheim on Friday to keep their German Bundesliga football title hopes alive.

Patrick Ebert scored the winner in the 40th minute, taking up a pass from Marko Pantelic and beating goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand from a tight angle with a shot into the near right corner.

Hoffenheim dominated but failed to get the equalizer, with Hertha goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny saving twice from Sejad Salihovic and substitute Boubacar Sanogo heading against the crossbar.