November 28, 2019

Martinez Sink Slavia To Keep Inter’s Knockout Hopes Alive

A brace from Lautaro Martinez and a Romelu Lukaku goal handed Inter Milan a 3-1 win at Slavia Prague on Wednesday, keeping the Italians in contention for the Champions League last 16.

Inter are level with Borussia Dortmund on seven points each in Group F topped by Barcelona who clinched a last-16 spot after beating the Germans 3-1 at the Camp Nou.

“The win is important for us, we had no choice but to win,” said Inter coach Antonio Conte.

“We knew what to expect, the forward duo were decisive and I’m very happy for them,” he added.

In the …

Chelsea Made To Wait For Last 16 Spot After Thrilling Draw

Daniel Wass’s late equaliser denied Chelsea a place in the last 16 of the Champions League as a profligate Valencia fought back for a 2-2 draw that maintains both sides’ chances of reaching the knockout stages.

A wide open game swung the visitors’ way after Carles Soler’s opener for Valencia as Mateo Kovacic and Christian Pulisic put Chelsea in pole position to avenge their 1-0 defeat on home soil to the Spaniards on matchday one.

However, after Kepa Arrizabalaga had saved Dani Parejo’s penalty, Wass’s cross flummoxed the Spanish international to give Valencia a lifeline.

Both sides are tied on …

Napoli Leave Liverpool With Champions League Work To Do

Liverpool are used to making life difficult for themselves, admitted Jurgen Klopp as a 1-1 draw with Napoli leaves the European champions with work to do to reach the Champions League last 16.

Klopp’s men must avoid defeat away to Salzburg on December 10 to secure their passage into the knockout stages.

Dries Mertens threatened to inflict Liverpool’s first home defeat in the Champions or Premier League since April 2017 with a sweetly struck opener midway through the first half.

Dejan Lovren’s header protected that proud unbeaten run, but after a host of late winners in the Premier League this

Messi Toasts 700 Games With A Goal As Barca Make Last 16

Lionel Messi marked his 700th game for Barcelona by scoring his 613th goal on Wednesday as the Catalans beat Borussia Dortmund 3-1 to go through as group winners to the Champions League last 16.

Messi celebrated his anniversary in style by putting Barca two up before half-time, between laying on a pair of assists for Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann in a comfortable victory at Camp Nou.

“He was incredible,” said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde. “It’s all about what he does and when he does it. It was a performance to put us through.”

England’s Jadon Sancho fired into the …

Hamilton Eyes Season-Ending Victory In UAE Twilight Zone

Lewis Hamilton heads into this weekend’s season-ending floodlit Abu Dhabi Grand Prix seeking to mark his 250th Formula One race with a memorable performance as Mercedes bid to bounce back from an off-form outing in Brazil.

The six-time world champion, whose future beyond 2020 when his current contract expires has been a subject of intensifying speculation, has conceded that he faces a battle with his advancing age next season against the sport’s new generation of younger tyros.

“I feel like I’m still able to kick it with these guys right now and so I am excited about the future,” said …

Olympic Chief Ensures Russia At 2020 Games

Russia’s Olympic Committee will do all it can to ensure Russian athletes take part in the 2020 Games, its chief said Thursday, as the country faces a four-year doping ban.

“We will do everything in our power to ensure our team is in Tokyo under the Russian flag,” news agency RIA Novosti quoted Stanislav Pozdnyakov as saying.

He said there were no “objective obstacles” to the “vast majority” of Russian athletes fully participating in the Olympics.

The compliance review committee at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Monday recommended a four-year sporting ban over falsified lab data it received from …

Kane Wants To Build ‘Strong Relationship’ With Mourinho

Harry Kane wants to build a “strong relationship” with new manager Jose Mourinho that will help take Tottenham to the next level.

Kane, whose two goals in the 4-2 win over Olympiakos helped book a Champions League knockout place, was a staunch supporter of former boss Mauricio Pochettino, but he knows Mourinho could be the man to help him win silverware with Spurs.

The Portuguese coach has a record of strong relationships with strikers, with Didier Droba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Diego Costa all excelling under him and Kane wants to add his name to that list.

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Canadian Latifi To Drive For Williams In 2020

Canadian Nicholas Latifi will drive for Williams next season, partnering lead driver George Russell, the team announced Thursday.

Latifi, 24, earned his spot after impressing the team during his stint as reserve driver this year, Williams said.

The Canadian, who replaces the departing Polish driver Roberto Kubica, is competing this season in Formula 2, a rung below F1, “winning multiple races” and ranked second in the drivers’ championship, the team added.

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“I look forward to the journey ahead with the team, and I am excited to make my Formula …

Russia Hits Back At ‘Political’ Doping Ban Threat

Russia on Thursday hit back at a proposed four-year ban on the country’s athletes, denouncing accusations of a doping cover-up as a politically motivated attempt to block its athletes from competing.

A committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency on Monday made a bombshell recommendation for Russia to be barred from all sporting competition for four years.

It accused Moscow of falsifying laboratory data handed over to investigators as part of a probe into the doping allegations that have plagued Russia for years.

If WADA chiefs adopt the committee’s recommendations at a meeting in Paris on December 9, Russia faces exclusion …

City

Indian Club Added To Manchester City Football Empire

The owners of English Premier League champions Manchester City on Thursday made Mumbai City FC of India the eighth club in their global football empire.

Abu Dhabi-controlled City Football Group announced the takeover of the Indian side the day after a US equity fund pumped $500 million in new cash into CFG, taking its value to $4.8 billion.

On top of the English champions, CFG also own New York City FC, Melbourne City in Australia, Yokohama F Marinos in Japan, Sichuan Jiuniu in China, Spanish second division side Girona and Club Atletico Torque in Uruguay.

Analysts say the 65 percent …

Marseille Want To Keep Momentum Going, PSG At Monaco

Andre Villas-Boas’s Marseille host Brest on Friday evening with the aim of turning a mini-revival into something more substantial.

Villas-Boas endured a wretched run soon after his arrival at the Stade Velodrome, the Portuguese even describing his team’s performance in the League Cup loss to Monaco last month as “disgraceful” and “shameful”.

Four weeks on and three wins on the trot have lifted fans’ spirits and the former European champions into second place.

With Paris Saint-Germain not playing until Sunday evening, victory against Brest will push Marseille to within five points of Thomas Tuchel’s champions.

Villas-Boas set as an objective …

Moreno Claims To Be In The Dark Over Enrique Spain Snub

Former Spain coach Robert Moreno responded to accusations of disloyalty on Thursday by claiming he still does not know why Luis Enrique chose to exclude him from his backroom team.

Luis Enrique’s return to the national side was announced last week and he said Moreno had been “disloyal” and that he does “not want someone like that in my staff” in his presentation press conference on Wednesday.

Moreno was previously Luis Enrique’s assistant but was promoted to head coach in June after Luis Enrique resigned to take care of his nine-year-old daughter Xana, who died in August of cancer.

“I …