Reuters Sports Schedule at 1415 GMT on Sunday, Dec 20

Reuters sports schedule at 1415 GMT on Sunday: - - - - SOCCER BAYERN MUNICH Ancelotti to replace Guardiola at Bayern at season end BERLIN - Three-time Champions League-winning coach Carlo Ancelotti has signed a three-year deal to replace Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich next season after the Spaniard decided not to extend his contract at the German champions. (SOCCER-GERMANY/BAYERN-GUARDIOLA, moved, by Karolos Grohmann, 400 words) - - Guardiola leaves positive legacy, despite European slip-ups BERLIN - Pep Guardiola's arrival at Bayern Munich in July 2013 was intended to herald the start of an extended period of European domination for the Bavarians, but while they have maintained their domestic stranglehold, continental success has so far eluded the charismatic Spaniard. (SOCCER-GERMANY/BAYERN GUARDIOLA (NEWSMAKER), moved, by Karolos Grohmann, 550 words) We have also moved a factbox on Ancelotti. - - Club World Cup Messi and Suarez lead Barca to another world title YOKOHAMA, Japan - Lionel Messi broke the deadlock and Luis Suarez scored twice in the second half to give Barcelona a typically emphatic 3-0 win over River Plate in the Club World Cup final on Sunday. (SOCCER-CLUB/,(PIX), moved, by Brian Homewood, 400 words) - - Premier League Watford v Liverpool (1330) Swansea City v West Ham United (1600) Liverpool bid to stay in touch with top four LONDON - Liverpool visit in-form Watford looking to leapfrog their opponents with a win and stay in touch with the top four while injury-hit West Ham United travel to managerless Swansea City who can climb out of the bottom three with a victory. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/ (PIX), expect by 1530 GMT/10:30 PM ET, by Steve Tongue, 650 words) - - La Liga Real Madrid v Rayo Vallecano (1500) Athletic Club v Levante (1715) Granada CF v Celta Vigo (1715) Real Sociedad v Villarreal (1715) Malaga v Atletico Madrid (1930) Atletico eye top spot, Real look to get back on track MADRID - Atletico Madrid can leapfrog Barcelona into top spot if they avoid defeat at Malaga while Real Madrid will look to return to winning ways after last weekend's defeat at Villarreal when they host strugglers Rayo Vallecano. (SOCCER-SPAIN/ (PIX) expect by 1700 GMT/12 PM ET, 500 words) - - Bundesliga Hertha Berlin v Mainz (1430) Borussia Moenchengladbach v SV Darmstadt 98 (1630) Hertha bid to stay clear of Leverkusen BERLIN - Third-placed Hertha Berlin look to re-establish a five-point lead over Bayer Leverkusen in fourth when they host Mainz while Borussia Moenchengladbach aim to return to the top four with a win over SV Darmstadt. (SOCCER-GERMANY (PIX), expect by 1630 GMT/11:30 AM ET, by Karolos Gorhmann, 400 words) - - Serie A Carpi v Juventus (1130) AS Roma v Genoa (1400) Atalanta Bergamo v Napoli (1400) Fiorentina v Chievo Verona (1400) Verona v Sassuolo (1400) Frosinone v AC Milan (1700) Sampdoria v Palermo (1700) Torino v Udinese (1700) Inter Milan v Lazio (1945) Inter host Lazio, Juve at Carpi, Roma desperate to end slump ROME - Serie A leaders Inter Milan host Lazio, resurgent Juventus visit strugglers Carpi and AS Roma will be desperate to end their seven-game winless run at home when they face Genoa to ease the pressure on coach Rudi Garcia. (SOCCER-ITALY/ (PIX), expect by 2145 GMT/4:45 PM ET, by Ed Dove, 400 words) - - Ligue 1 St Etienne v Angers SCO (1300) GFC Ajaccio v Olympique Lyon (1600) Girondins Bordeaux v Olympique Marseille (2000) Angers eye second place, Marseille at Bordeaux PARIS - Angers can reclaim second place by avoiding defeat at St-Etienne while Olympique de Marseille aim to continue their revival at Girondins Bordeaux and Olympique Lyonnais will be desperate to end a five-game winless streak at Ajaccio, who are unbeaten in eight Ligue 1 games. (SOCCER-FRANCE/ (PIX), expect by 2200 GMT/5:00 PM ET, by Ed Dove, 300 words) - - Dutch championship Excelsior v SC Cambuur (1130) NEC Nijmegen v Feyenoord (1330) Heerenveen v ADO Den Haag (1330) Willem II Tilburg v Roda JC Kerkrade (1330) Ajax Amsterdam v Graafschap Doetinchem (1545) Ajax Amsterdam look to consolidate lead AMSTERDAM - Ajax Amsterdam have a chance to consolidate their lead when they host bottom club De Graafschap while fellow front runners Feyenoord have a tricky game at NEC Nijmegen. (SOCCER-DUTCH/, expect by 1800 GMT/1 PM ET, 300 words) - - Belgian league Club Bruges v Anderlecht (1330) Oostende v Standard Liege (1700) Gent v Kortrijk (1900) Gent in the lead but Bruges and Anderlecht the main focus BRUSSELS - Champions Gent can guarantee staying top with a win at home to mid-table Kortrijk but the main focus with be on the traditional tussle between second-placed Club Bruges, who are three points off the pace, and Anderlecht aho are three points further back in fourth spot. (SOCCER-BELGIUM/, expect by 2100 GMT/5 PM ET, 200 words) - - Indian Super League, final Zico's Goa take on Materazzi's Chennaiyin at home FC Goa, coached by former Brazil great Zico, will clash with Italian World Cup winner Marco Materazzi's Chennaiyin FC at home in the final of the second edition of the Indian Super League. (SOCCER-INDIA/LEAGUE, expect by 1630 GMT/11:30 AM ET, 300 words) - - - - CRICKET New Zealand v Sri Lanka, second test, Hamilton (to 22) Williamson key to second test for both sides Kane Williamson will resume on 78 as he attempts to guide his side to a second test victory against Sri Lanka, with the hosts needing another 47 runs to seal a 2-0 series sweep, though Dushmantha Chameera's pace bowling could still swing it back to the visitors, who need just five wickets from a match that has seen them fall in bunches. (CRICKET-NEWZEALAND/, expect by 2330 GMT/6:30 PM ET, 400 words) - - South Africa A v England XI (to 22) PIETERMARITZBURG, South Africa - England begin a three-day warm-up against a tough local line-up at the City Oval as they seek to settle selection issues before the start of the test series against South Africa. (CRICKET-ENGLAND/, expect by 1700 GMT/12 PM ET, 300 words) - - - - NFL Fight for playoff spots gets serious The battle for playoff spots gets serious particularly in the NFC East where the New York Giants, Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles all sit at 6-7 and host games that may well determine their post-season fate. The Giants host the unbeaten Carolina Panthers (13-0) while the Redskins welcome the Buffalo Bills and Eagles face the Arizona Cardinals in three of 13 games on the NFL schedule. (NFL- HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 2200 GMT/5 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - Panthers on prowl for next step to perfection EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey - Quarterback Cam Newton leads the 13-0 Carolina Panthers against the New York Giants (6-7) hoping to take the next step toward a rare unbeaten season. (NFL-PANTHERS/, expect by 2300 GMT/6 PM ET, by Larry Fine, 400 words). - - Steelers look to tame Broncos and keep pressure on Bengals Ben Rothlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers welcome the Broncos to Heinz Field as they look to keep the pressure on the Cincinnati Bengals for top spot in the AFC North while Denver tries to solidify their hold on first place in the AFC West over the surging Kansas City Chief. (NFL-STEELERS/ expect by 2145 GMT/4:45 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - Battle of the birds as Eagles host Cardinals The Philadelphia Eagles go for their third straight win when the Arizona Cardinals visit the City of Brotherly Love looking continue their push for a first round playoff bye. (NFL-EAGLES/, expect by 0545 GMT/12:45 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - NBA No gifts for 76ers who face East leading Cavs LeBron James and the Eastern conference leading Cleveland Cavaliers welcome the conference cellar dwelling the Philadelphia 76ers who will try to snap a nine game losing streak and notch just their second win of the season in one of seven contests on the NBA schedule.(NBA-HIGHLIGHTS, expect by 0330 GMT/10:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - Raptors look to crown Kings with return home The Atlantic division leading Toronto Raptors, who have had better results on the road this season, return home to face the Sacramento Kings, winners of just two of 11 contests away from home this season. (NBA-HIGHLIGHTS, expect by 0200 GMT/9:00PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 600 words) - - NHL Capitals look to take bite out of Big Apple The streaking Washington Capitals, chasing a fifth straight win, pay a visit to Madison Square Garden and a clash with the New York Rangers and the top two teams in the Metropolitan division in one of six games on the NHL schedule. (NHL-CAPITALS/ , expect by 0400 GMT/11PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0100 GMT/8:00 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) (London desk editor: Toby Davis)