Bayern gets close to full marks in AP footy poll

PARIS (AP) — It takes something extra special to dethrone Lionel Messi.

So that's exactly what Bayern Munich striker Claudio Pizarro did, scoring four goals in a 9-2 demolition of Hamburg to knock the Barcelona superstar into second place in the latest Associated Press global football rankings.

The fact that the Peruvian striker hadn't even scored a league goal since the final day of last season made his achievement even more spectacular.

"He's the symbol of team which totally dominated its subject, where pretty much every player deserved a place in the Top 10," said Cedric Rouquette of Eurosport in France.

Pizarro collected 133 points to Messi's 99, with Dutch winger Arjen Robben pulling in 71 points to move into third spot by contributing two goals — one a sublime chip from the edge of the penalty area — as Bayern taught Hamburg a lesson.

In the team rankings, Bayern earned 148 points from a possible 150 after its scintillating display of attacking football.

"They were in completely different stratosphere," said James Thorogood of Bundlesliga.com in Germany. "The Bundesliga's runaway leaders carved the Red Shorts apart like they were a Sunday league team, and arguably should have broken the double-digits mark."

Filip Bondy of the New York Daily News noted that Bayern is now only really tested by other teams in Europe.

"They're leading the table by 20 points and now they score nine goals in a single match. Is it too late to apply for admission to La Liga?" Bondy joked. "Because it sure looks as if Bayern has outgrown the Bundesliga."

Juventus' consistency contrasts with the glitzy football played in Munich, but Antonio Conte's team took another decisive step toward the Serie A title by winning 2-1 at Inter Milan with a performance as determined as Bayern's was swaggering.

Juventus totaled 119 points to rise from third to second, with Manchester United, Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain tied for third place. PSG and United enjoy commanding leads in their domestic leagues and moved closer to wrapping up the titles with 1-0 wins, away to Sunderland and at home to Montpellier, respectively.

Juve's march to the title is perhaps the ultimate example of teamwork, considering that top scorer Fabio Quagliarella has managed only eight league goals this season.

That puts him light years behind Messi's astonishing mark of 43. Yet the veteran forward — who has never managed more than 13 league goals in a Serie A season — is pivotal in his team's setup for his tireless running and battling qualities.

Meanwhile, Gareth Bale added another excellent strike in an outstanding season to take his league tally to 17 goals. The Welshman climbed to fourth spot with 57 points, while Napoli striker Edinson Cavani jumped two places to fifth after scoring twice in the 5-3 win at Torino.

Although Napoli is nine points behind Juventus, it remains two points clear of AC Milan in the race for second place.

Cavani only played the last 25 minutes but still did enough, Rouquette said, to "help the Neapolitans turn a crazy match in their favor" and take his season's haul to 22 league goals and 71 in 97 career matches for the club.

Just behind PSG, Napoli and United in the team rankings is Manchester City. While unlikely to cut United's 15-point lead at the top with eight matches left, City bounced back to form with a 4-0 thumping of Newcastle — just in time for next Monday's trip to United.

Having received full marks in the previous rankings, Barca dropped to seventh spot with 38 points after a 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo in which Messi scored for an unprecedented 19th straight league game.

"Scoring in 19 consecutive matches and against every team in the league is a Lionel Messi record that will probably never be beaten, unless he breaks it himself," panelist Mike McGrath of England's Sun newspaper and Wardles news agency said.

In a reflection of their respective seasons, Barca's draw was still enough to keep it ahead of Real Madrid, which dropped from second place to 10th following a lackluster 1-1 deadlock at Real Zaragoza.

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AP Global Football Rankings for the week ending March 31.

Based on 15 voters, using 10 points for top to 1 point for bottom place. Previous rankings in parentheses.

Players:

1. Claudio Pizarro, 133 points.

2. Lionel Messi, (1), 99.

3. Arjen Robben, 71.

4. Gareth Bale, 57.

5 Edinson Cavani, (7), 54.

(tie). Blerim Dzemaili, 54.

7. Fabio Quagliarella, 37.

8. Cristiano Ronaldo, (8), 29.