Saudi world champion Yazeed Al-Rajhi crowned winner of Desafio Ruta 40 Rally

Saudi world champion Yazeed Al-Rajhi crowned winner of Desafio Ruta 40 Rally
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Al-Rajhi and his German co-driver Timo Gottschalk finished first by just 13 seconds. (Supplied)
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Updated 08 June 2024
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Saudi world champion Yazeed Al-Rajhi crowned winner of Desafio Ruta 40 Rally

Saudi world champion Yazeed Al-Rajhi crowned winner of Desafio Ruta 40 Rally
  • Al-Rajhi’s win marks 4th round of the World Rally-Raid Championship
  • ‘It was a long and fierce battle … This victory is well-deserved for me and the team,’ says Al-Rajhi

CORDOBA, Argentina: World champion Yazeed Al-Rajhi has become the first Saudi and third non-Argentinian driver to win in Argentina since 2010 after he was crowned the 2024 Desafio Ruta 40 Rally winner on Friday.
The Saudi driver’s win marks the fourth round of the World Rally-Raid Championship, said in a media statement.
Al-Rajhi and his German co-driver Timo Gottschalk finished first by just 13 seconds. They recorded a total time of 17 hours, 38 minutes, and 21 seconds over six days on rough, technical gravel tracks between June 1-7.
“Winning by just seconds is an incredible feeling. It was a long and fierce battle, and I led skillfully every day. This victory is well-deserved for me and the team,” said Al-Rajhi.
“I am delighted with this win. I thank God for this victory … It’s great to be back in Argentina. Last year, I finished third, and today I won the second edition of the Desafio Ruta 40 Rally,” he added.
Co-driver Gottschalk said: “It wasn’t for the faint-hearted. Yazeed fired another rocket in the final kilometers, overcoming every challenge. It was truly outstanding driving. We are thrilled with this victory and definitely deserve the upcoming summer break.”
The Saudi champion secured victories in two of the five stages, finishing second in the remaining three, accumulating valuable points that placed him second in the W2RC standings after the Argentine rally.
The team’s remarkable performance leaves them just 25 points behind the leader, with the competition remaining open until the final round in Morocco in October.
The rally began with a prologue in Cordoba, where Al-Rajhi secured second place. After that, he dominated the first loop stage. In the second stage, the longest at 724 km, he maintained his overall lead. The third stage, a 451-km loop, saw the team perform brilliantly, keeping their lead.
The fourth stage in La Rioja, covering 676 km, was extremely tough, but Al-Rajhi drove cautiously to avoid any issues, finishing the stage still in the lead.
In the final stage, he faced a thrilling challenge, with only one second separating him from his closest competitor in the provisional standings. Ultimately, Al-Rajhi and Gottschalk won by 40 seconds, securing a brave victory.
Covering a total distance of 3,045 km, including 1,917 km of special stages, the Desafio Ruta 40 Rally is one of the most prestigious and challenging rallies in Latin America.


Sinner faces Zverev test in ‘perfect’ Australian Open final

Sinner faces Zverev test in ‘perfect’ Australian Open final
Updated 26 January 2025
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Sinner faces Zverev test in ‘perfect’ Australian Open final

Sinner faces Zverev test in ‘perfect’ Australian Open final
  • Sinner is favorite to secure a third Grand Slam crown and second at the Australian Open after his maiden triumph over Daniil Medvedev last year
  • The German has bulked up in recent months and is also on a red-hot streak, winning 16 of his past 17 matches dating back to his title run at November’s Paris Masters

MELBOURNE: Jannik Sinner is wary of “physical beast” Alexander Zverev as the Italian bids to join an elite group with back-to-back Australian Open titles in a final Sunday that pits the world’s top two players.

The ice-cool runaway world No. 1 goes into the Melbourne Park decider on a 20-match win streak, dropping just two sets in his six matches so far.

The final starts at 7:30 p.m. (0830 GMT).

Sinner is favorite to secure a third Grand Slam crown and second at the Australian Open after his maiden triumph over Daniil Medvedev last year.

Only three other men have managed the feat on Rod Laver Arena since the turn of the century — Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

But the 23-year-old, who suffered from cramp in his semifinal with Ben Shelton, offered Germany’s Zverev a glimmer of hope ahead of their showdown.

“No,” he replied when asked if he had become unbeatable after his run in Melbourne, on the back of winning eight titles last year, including the US Open and season-ending ATP Finals.

“I know that I put a lot of work in. I know I just try to stay calm, never taking things for granted. Just well-prepared, to be honest.

“Every day is a big challenge. Every day you have a different opponent,” he added.

“Sometimes you have some issues and then trying to understand that whatever works best for that day and trying to go for it. Everyone makes mistakes. Nobody’s perfect.”

That will prick the ears of world No. 2 Zverev, long seen as the sport’s most unfulfilled talent, without a Grand Slam title after a decade of trying.

The German has bulked up in recent months and is also on a red-hot streak, winning 16 of his past 17 matches dating back to his title run at November’s Paris Masters.

He holds a 4-2 record over the Italian, but the 27-year-old knows all too well that’s he’s fallen short when it’s mattered most on tennis’s biggest stages.

Zverev blew a two-set advantage against Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open final and gave up a 2-1 lead in the French Open title match against Carlos Alcaraz last year.

Despite a decade of trying they remain his Grand Slam highlights.

After the French Open disappointment, he reunited with revered trainer Jez Green and has been focused on reaching peak fitness to be able to take on players like Sinner and Alcaraz.

“I think I said it also after the French Open final, I got tired against Carlos. I simply got tired in the fourth and fifth set,” he said.

“Yes, there was some unlucky moments. In general, I got tired, and I didn’t want that to happen this year anymore.

“Look, I think Jannik has been the best player in the world for the past 12 months,” he added. “There’s no doubt about it. Won two Grand Slams, has been very, very stable in those regards.

“I’m sure it’s going to be a tough battle on Sunday.”

Sinner’s coach Darren Cahill said it was no surprise for him to see his young charge back in the final, but they were wary of the threat posed by Zverev’s overarching desire to finally win a Slam.

“He’s a physical beast,” Cahill said. “He’s put those years of work into his body. He is a great athlete and has a great five-set record.

“They’re both physically prepared. They’re both incredible athletes,” he added.

“It’s the number one and two in the world so it’s the perfect final as far as the rankings are concerned.”


Mbappe scores first hat trick for Real Madrid

Mbappe scores first hat trick for Real Madrid
Updated 26 January 2025
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Mbappe scores first hat trick for Real Madrid

Mbappe scores first hat trick for Real Madrid
  • The France captain has started pouring in goals with back-to-back multi-goal games and has Madrid in pole position with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona stalled
  • Cedric Bakambu headed in a stoppage-time winner to grab Real Betis a 1-0 victory at 10-man Mallorca

BARCELONA: Kylian Mbappe tucked the ball under his shirt as he raised both hands to return the applause to the Real Madrid fans who savored his first hat trick for his new club.

The France star had just led a 3-0 victory at struggling Valladolid that extended Madrid’s lead of La Liga on Saturday, keeping it in position to retain the title just after the midway point of the campaign.

Gone was the inconsistent play and missed penalties from Mbappe during his first months with Madrid following his move from Paris Saint-Germain. The France captain has started pouring in goals with back-to-back multi-goal games and has Madrid in pole position with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona stalled.

“I’m very happy for the hat trick but even happier for the win,” Mbappe said in fluent Spanish. “It was very important to win after Atletico’s result because that gave us a bit more pressure to take advantage of it.”

Madrid’s fourth straight triumph in the league combined with Atletico Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Villarreal let Carlo Ancelotti’s side open a four-point gap over its city rival. Barcelona were in third place at 10 points back before hosting Valencia on Sunday.

Madrid trailed then-leader Barcelona at one point, but since getting blown away in a 4-0 clasico debacle, they have found their stride and is in championship mode.

“My adaptation to the team is over. I feel comfortable on the field and you can see that from the way I am playing with my teammates,” Mbappe said. “This gives us confidence, but you know that until the 38th round this is not over. We have to keep winning because there is a long way to go.”

No contest in Valladolid

The game between the front-runner and the bottom side fit its billing as a mismatch.

Valladolid could draw only one save from Thibaut Courtois in the opening moments. It was all Madrid the rest of the way even though Vinicius Junior didn’t play as he completed a two-game suspension.

Mbappe swept in Madrid’s first goal on the half-hour mark after a flowing team attack of quick passes to weave the ball through a packed Valladolid area that culminated in Jude Bellingham’s assist for the France star.

He made it a double in the 57th by finishing off a three-against-two counterattack after Federico Valverde intercepted a Valladolid pass. Mbappé took a pass by Rodrygo and rifled in a low strike from the left side of the box.

Valladolid finished with 10 men after Mario Martín got a second booking in the 90th for a foul on Bellingham, sending Mbappé to the spot for his third.

That made it four games in a row with a goal across all competitions for Mbappé. In La Liga, Mbappe has 15, second only to Robert Lewandowski’s 16 for Barcelona. He also scored twice last weekend against Las Palmas in a 4-1 win.

“Mbappe is giving us a lot. He has found his rhythm over the last couple of months and that is obviously a boost for us,” Ancelotti said.

Valladolid were five points from safety.

Atletico drop more points

Atletico’s stalemate with Villarreal came a week after a shock 1-0 loss at Leganes.

Gerard Moreno, Villarreal’s top scorer in club history, made it 120 goals for the Yellow Submarine in the 25th minute after the striker converted a penalty he earned when fouled by Reinildo.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone rested Antoine Griezmann and midfielder Rodrigo de Paul for the first half. Then he made three changes at halftime, sending on De Paul and winger Samu Lino to kickstart his sluggish attack.

The moves paid off as the hosts pressed Villarreal into their box, and Lino rammed in a 58th-minute equalizer.

Simeone sent Griezmann on immediately after and the action stayed in Villarreal’s area except for two chances for Villarreal’s Ayoze Perez, who replaced Gerard. But Griezmann’s header that bounced just wide in the 86th was the closest Atletico came to snatching a winner.

“We played a good game at a very tough ground against a team with a deep bench that is fighting for the league. We are happy,” Gerard said for a Villarreal that stayed in fifth place.

Betis grab late winner

Cedric Bakambu headed in a stoppage-time winner to grab Real Betis a 1-0 victory at 10-man Mallorca.

Mallorca had opportunities until Omar Mascarell received a direct red card for a studs-first tackle of Betis’ Jesús Rodríguez in the 73rd.

The win came while Betis secured a loan deal for forward Anthony from Manchester United.

Garcia sustains Espanyol

Goalkeeper Joan Garcia made three saves to deny Sevilla standout Dodi Lukebakio and help Espanyol grind out a 1-1 draw at Sevilla.


Saudi Arabia’s Mashael Alobaidan and teammate Dani Clos win season opener of UIM E1 World Championship

Mashael Alobaidan of Saudi Arabia and Dani Clos of Spain from the Aoki Racing Team won the season opener of the UIM E1 World Cha
Mashael Alobaidan of Saudi Arabia and Dani Clos of Spain from the Aoki Racing Team won the season opener of the UIM E1 World Cha
Updated 26 January 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s Mashael Alobaidan and teammate Dani Clos win season opener of UIM E1 World Championship

Mashael Alobaidan of Saudi Arabia and Dani Clos of Spain from the Aoki Racing Team won the season opener of the UIM E1 World Cha
  • Aoki Racing Team, sponsored by leading DJ Steve Aoki, triumph in Jeddah race
  • UIM E1 is the world’s only all-electric power boat race circuit

JEDDAH: The Aoki Racing Team of Mashael Alobaidan from Saudi Arabia and Spain’s Dani Clos won the season opener of the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF in Jeddah on Saturday.

The event marked the start of a second season of the world’s only all-electric power boat race circuit.

E1 features top teams owned by some of the best-known celebrities in the world, including sport stars Tom Brady, Didier Drogba, and Rafael Nadal, and actor Will Smith. 

Each team has two pilots — one male, one female — driving futuristic, all-electric “RaceBirds.” 

The team backed by international DJ Steve Aoki surged to victory on the Red Sea in front of thousands of spectators.

 

 

Alobaidan and Clos finished ahead of Rafael Nadal’s Team Rafa in second place, and Virat Kohli’s Team Blue Rising, who made their first appearance on the podium in third.

Aoki pilot Alobaidan — Saudi Arabia’s first woman rally driver — said the win was the best of her career so far.

“Last year, I think we placed last or close to last,” she said. “So, it just goes to show the underdog has a chance when you have determination, passion, and love for the sport.

“We came together and we retooled everything we possibly could; we put our heart and determination into it, and just to see this all happening right here, right now, winning this one, it’s just a dream come true.”

Her teammate Clos is a former Formula 1 test driver and new to the team for the 2025 season.

Following the Jeddah event, the E1 season travels to six more stops, including Doha, Lake Como, Monaco, and Miami.


Haaland leads Man City revival to beat Chelsea

Haaland leads Man City revival to beat Chelsea
Updated 25 January 2025
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Haaland leads Man City revival to beat Chelsea

Haaland leads Man City revival to beat Chelsea
  • Josko Gvardiol levelled for Pep Guardiola’s men before Haaland showed his blend of strength
  • Marmoush was close to a perfect start to his City career when he blasted wide from Haaland’s pass after the Norwegian was picked out by a long ball from Ederson

MANCHESTER: Erling Haaland inspired a Manchester City fightback from 1-0 down to beat Chelsea 3-1 and move into the Premier League top four at the Blues’ expense on Saturday.
City recovered from a nightmare start to Abdukodir Khusanov’s debut as he gifted the visitors the opening goal, scored by Noni Madueke.
Josko Gvardiol levelled for Pep Guardiola’s men before Haaland showed his blend of strength and skill to chip in 22 minutes from time.
The Norwegian then turned provider for the in-form Phil Foden to secure City’s fourth win in five league games after just one in their previous nine.
Chelsea have won just once in their last seven Premier League games to fall to sixth and will once again reflect on the need to upgrade on goalkeeper Robert Sanchez after his positioning led to Haaland’s crucial goal.
City’s victory puts them back in pole position to qualify for next season’s Champions League, just days before they try to save themselves in this season’s competition.
The English champions must beat Club Brugge on Wednesday to reach the playoff round after collapsing from 2-0 up to lose 4-2 at Paris Saint-Germain in midweek.
Guardiola reacted by throwing in new signings Khusanov and Omar Marmoush for their debuts.
But that decision backfired spectacularly in the case of Khusanov inside three minutes.
The first ever Uzbek to play in the Premier League did not properly connect with an attempted header back toward his own goal and Nicolas Jackson pounced to tee up Madueke for a tap in.
Moments later Khusanov was fortunate to get away with only a yellow card for chopping down Cole Palmer.
By contrast, Marmoush was showing why only Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane had scored more Bundesliga goals than him this season prior to a £59 million ($72.6 million) move from Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Egyptian thought he had equalized when he pounced to fire home the rebound after Sanchez parried Ilkay Gundogan’s effort, but was flagged offside.
Gvardiol’s marauding runs from left-back were causing City’s biggest threat.
Chelsea did not heed a warning as the Croatian prodded inches wide with his left foot after storming into the box.
Just before half-time, Gvardiol had a simple task for his fifth Premier League goal of the season.
Matheus Nunes this time made the break from full-back and after he was denied by Sanchez, the ball fell for Gvardiol to roll into an empty net.
Guardiola cut his losses with Khusanov at the start of the second period. He was replaced by John Stones and City were rarely troubled thereafter at the back.
Marmoush was close to a perfect start to his City career when he blasted wide from Haaland’s pass after the Norwegian was picked out by a long ball from Ederson.
But again Chelsea did not learn their lesson. Moments later from another Ederson clearance, Haaland outmuscled Trevoh Chalobah and then chipped Sanchez, who had charged out of his goal and ended up in no man’s land.
Despite City’s struggles, Haaland has remained a reliable source of goals as he took his tally for the season to 24, six of which have come in the last six games.
And he created he third goal as his layoff sent Foden clear to slot home his sixth goal in his last four league games.


Napoli beat Juventus to continue Serie A title charge

Napoli beat Juventus to continue Serie A title charge
Updated 25 January 2025
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Napoli beat Juventus to continue Serie A title charge

Napoli beat Juventus to continue Serie A title charge
  • Antonio Conte’s side bounced back from Randal Kolo Muani’s strike moments from half-time in his Juve debut
  • Napoli won their seventh straight match thanks to a bullet header from Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Romelu Lukaku’s 69th-minute penalty

MILAN: Napoli continued their Serie A title charge on Saturday by coming from behind to win a feverish contest with rivals Juventus 2-1 and go six points clear at the top of the pile.
Antonio Conte’s side bounced back from Randal Kolo Muani’s strike moments from half-time in his Juve debut. Napoli won their seventh straight match thanks to a bullet header from Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Romelu Lukaku’s 69th-minute penalty.
Napoli are hunting a second Scudetto in three seasons and Saturday’s win, and in particular their dominant performance in the second half, was another sign that they, and not Inter Milan, are the team to beat.
Six points from clashes with Atalanta and Juve in successive weeks have kept Inter at bay with the reigning champions at lowly Lecce on Sunday hoping to halve the gap that separates Simone Inzaghi’s team from Napoli.
The roar that accompanied the hosts’ goals and the final whistle underlined the renewed belief that supporters have in their team after watching Napoli put up a dreadful defense of the Scudetto title last season.
Juve, meanwhile, are 16 points behind Napoli in fifth after falling to their first league defeat of the season, not the position expected when Thiago Motta replaced Massimiliano Allegri as coach in the summer.
Kolo Muani gave Juve a deserved half-time lead two days after finally completing his loan move to Turin from Paris Saint-Germain, where he had been frozen out by coach Luis Enrique.
He was in the right place at the right time in the 43rd minute to spin and lash home his third club goal of the season after Anguissa challenged for the ball and sent it straight to the France forward.
But Napoli were a different team after the break. After Alex Meret somehow kept out Lukaku’s close-range header the Juve goalkeeper could do nothing to stop Anguissa thumping home the leveller from Matteo Politano’s cross.
And there was only going to be one winner once Lukaku calmly rolled home his ninth Napoli goal from the spot after Scott McTominay was taken out by Manuel Locatelli.
Atalanta also stay seven points off the pace in third even though Mateo Retegui’s brace fired them to a 2-1 win at Como earlier on Saturday.
Italy striker Retegui pounced in the 56th and 70th minutes at a soaking Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia to take his league tally to 16 goals and give third-placed Atalanta their first win in Italy’s top flight in 2025.
The 25-year-old has scored five times in four games in all competitions since returning from a hamstring injury earlier this month, and his hot form is great news for Atalanta ahead of their trip to Barcelona.
Atalanta travel to Catalonia gunning for a place in the top eight of the Champions League and automatic qualification for the last 16, after thumping Sturm Graz on Tuesday.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side had to battle to victory at Como who deservedly led at the break through Nico Paz’s fantastic first-time strike but remain three points above the relegation zone in 13th place.
“It’s not easy to play so many matches so close together... we were slow in the first half but we were much better after half-time,” said Gasperini to DAZN.
Como will find it hard to pick up points between now and March. Their next five fixtures are against Bologna, Juventus, Fiorentina, Napoli and Roma.
“You need to remember that we’re Como, we’re a newly-promoted team but we’re giving a lot of big teams hard games,” said coach Cesc Fabregas.
The away side also had strikes from Ademola Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere ruled out for offside and handball, which made for a nervy final few minutes as Como pushed unsuccessfully for a leveller.