Monaco aiming to last in Ligue 1 title fight with PSG

Monaco aiming to last in Ligue 1 title fight with PSG
Monaco have had a fine start to the season at home and in Europe, and are hoping to last the pace in the Ligue 1 title race ahead of a stiff test of their credentials against Lille this weekend. (AFP/File)
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Updated 17 October 2024
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Monaco aiming to last in Ligue 1 title fight with PSG

Monaco aiming to last in Ligue 1 title fight with PSG
  • The principality club were thrilling champions in 2017 with a teenage Kylian Mbappe in their ranks
  • They were runners-up to Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 last season

PARIS: Monaco have had a fine start to the season at home and in Europe, and are hoping to last the pace in the Ligue 1 title race ahead of a stiff test of their credentials against Lille this weekend.
The principality club were thrilling champions in 2017 with a teenage Kylian Mbappe in their ranks but have not managed to repeat those heroics despite four podium finishes in the seven seasons since.
However, they were runners-up to Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 last season and went into the recent international break top of the table, two points clear of the reigning champions.
Under Austrian coach Adi Huetter, Monaco have won six of their seven Ligue 1 matches so far, the sole exception being a 1-1 draw at home to Lens, when they were denied victory by a stoppage-time penalty.
They have also got off to a good start in their first Champions League campaign in six seasons, beating Barcelona 2-1 at the Stade Louis II before coming from two goals down to draw at Dinamo Zagreb.
Monaco have been helped by some sound close-season recruitment, in particular the arrival of young Senegal star Lamine Camara in midfield to make up for the sale of French international Youssouf Fofana to AC Milan.
The emergence of exciting young talents Eliesse Ben Seghir and Maghnes Akliouche is significant too, while the departure of prolific captain Wissam Ben Yedder may ultimately be beneficial.
Ben Yedder, who scored 98 Ligue 1 goals in five seasons, is currently on trial for sexual assault and is battling alcoholism.
The next week will say much about Monaco’s long-term prospects however, with Lille’s visit on Friday followed by a Champions League meeting with Red Star Belgrade and then a derby against Nice.
“It is a fact that we have started the season very well but it was the same situation at this point last year,” Huetter pointed out. Monaco were top after seven games last season.
“We have some big opponents coming up and for me Lille are one of the best teams in the league.”
Eight-time champions Monaco have also been dealt a blow with the news that United States striker Folarin Balogun will be out for two months after suffering a dislocated shoulder in the team’s last game, a 2-1 win at Rennes.
This weekend’s opponents Lille, champions in 2021, are fifth and recently beat Real Madrid in the Champions League.
The trip to the Mediterranean for them will be followed by a journey to Spain to play Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

The midfielder, 31, was so impressive on Brest’s run to a surprise third-place finish last season that he was named in Ligue 1’s team of the year.
An untimely injury — a stress fracture of the fibula — prevented him from leaving the Brittany club during the close season when a lucrative move to a more glamorous name seemed on the cards.
He then played no part in Brest’s first eight games of this campaign but returned as a substitute in their last match, against Le Havre two weeks ago.
Now he is in line to feature in Saturday’s Brittany derby against Rennes — a club he might have joined last season — and will hope to start in Wednesday’s Champions League clash against German champions Bayer Leverkusen.

21 — Leaders PSG have scored 21 goals in Ligue 1 so far this season, an average of three per game, suggesting Kylian Mbappe’s departure is not being too keenly felt.
6 — PSG’s Bradley Barcola is Ligue 1’s top scorer with six goals. He also scored for France in this month’s Nations League action, netting in a 4-1 win over Israel.
4 — Mason Greenwood has gone four games without scoring after netting five goals in his first three appearances for Marseille.

Fixtures (times GMT)
Friday
Monaco v Lille (1845)
Saturday
Brest v Rennes (1500), Saint-Etienne v Lens (1700), Paris Saint-Germain v Strasbourg (1900)
Sunday
Le Havre v Lyon (1300), Auxerre v Reims, Nantes v Nice, Toulouse v Angers (all 1500), Montpellier v Marseille (1845)


Mbappe hat-trick as Real Madrid knock Man City out of Champions League

Mbappe hat-trick as Real Madrid knock Man City out of Champions League
Updated 20 February 2025
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Mbappe hat-trick as Real Madrid knock Man City out of Champions League

Mbappe hat-trick as Real Madrid knock Man City out of Champions League

MADRID: Kylian Mbappe struck a brilliant hat-trick for Champions League holders Real Madrid in a 3-1 win over Manchester City on Wednesday, helping Los Blancos reach the last 16 with a 6-3 aggregate victory.
Pep Guardiola’s side, shorn of key striker Erling Haaland, suffered a painful early exit without laying a glove on the completely dominant 15-time record winners in the Spanish capital, until Nico Gonzalez tapped home in stoppage time.
French superstar Mbappe broke the deadlock with a lob in the fourth minute and netted a fine second after combining with his attacking partners as the English side were sliced open.
The striker, in sensational form after a slow start to life at Madrid, completed his treble in the second half with a low strike from the edge of the box to reach seven goals in the competition this season in 10 appearances.
City, who won the competition in 2023, were a far cry from their best as has been the case for much of their campaign.
Guardiola was dealt bad news before the game with Haaland, who netted twice in the first leg, named on the bench after a suffering a knock at the weekend against Newcastle.
By contrast Real Madrid welcomed Antonio Rudiger back from injury and he slotted seamlessly into defense, with Aurelien Tchouameni restored to his preferred midfield slot.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side performed almost flawlessly in the first half and took the lead in the opening stages.
Mbappe shrugged off Ruben Dias and lofted the ball over City goalkeeper Ederson after young center-back Raul Asencio played him in with a long pass.
John Stones limped off for the visitors a few minutes later in another blow for the Premier League champions.
Fede Valverde had a shot deflected narrowly wide and Ederson saved from Mbappe after Tchouameni sent him dashing in on goal with another ball over the top.
Mbappe netted his second in the 33rd minute after Madrid’s “fantastic four” star players combined. Jude Bellingham fed Vinicius who rolled the ball across for Rodrygo, who nudged it to Mbappe.
The former Paris Saint-Germain forward moved inside to leave the flailing Josko Gvardiol sliding in the wrong direction and drilled home at the near post.
Guardiola had claimed City only had “one percent chance” of beating Madrid and his team played like they believed him.
Madrid’s only blot on their copybook was a booking for Bellingham for fouling England team-mate Phil Foden, leaving him suspended for the last 16 first leg.
Bellingham, who caused a stir afer being sent off for dissent last weekend in La Liga, was assured in midfield but the night belonged to Mbappe.
The 26-year-old completed his hat-trick with a superb individual goal just after the hour mark, opening up some space on the edge of the box and firing beyond Ederson as City’s defense stood off.
Mbappe departed to a standing ovation and Madrid continued to create chances in his absence but could not take them, as the home fans marvelled at the ease of their team’s victory, against an opponent with whom they have shared many close battles in the past decade.
The visitors pulled a goal back in stoppage time when Omar Marmoush crashed a free-kick against the crossbar and Gonzalez rolled home the rebound, but it offered scant consolation.
City have now lost 13 games in their last 26 across all competitions, and face Premier League leaders Liverpool next on Sunday, with a battle to finish in the top four on their hands.
Madrid, by contrast, are still in the running for three major competitions and with Mbappe in such sensational form, believe they can win all of them.
Next up in the last 16 is a clash with either city rivals Atletico or German champions Bayer Leverkusen.


PSG hit seven to set up Champions League clash with Liverpool or Barcelona

PSG hit seven to set up Champions League clash with Liverpool or Barcelona
Updated 20 February 2025
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PSG hit seven to set up Champions League clash with Liverpool or Barcelona

PSG hit seven to set up Champions League clash with Liverpool or Barcelona
  • PSG scored just three goals in their first five Champions League matches this season, but have found the net 21 times in five outings since then

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain can look forward to a showdown with either Liverpool or Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League after mercilessly crushing French rivals Brest 7-0 on Wednesday to win their play-off round tie 10-0 on aggregate.
PSG were always overwhelming favorites to beat Brest and effectively killed off the tie with a 3-0 win in Brittany in the first leg last week.
There were seven different goal-scorers in the return at the Parc des Princes, with Bradley Barcola, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Vitinha, Desire Doue, Nuno Mendes, Goncalo Ramos and Senny Mayulu netting for the home side.
It is PSG’s record winning margin in a European game and the first time they have scored seven in the Champions League since they trounced Celtic 7-1 in November 2017.
PSG scored just three goals in their first five Champions League matches this season, but have found the net 21 times in five outings since then.
Their dominant display here came despite Ousmane Dembele failing to add to the 18 goals he had netted in his previous 12 appearances for Luis Enrique’s side.
It was an agonizing way for Brest to end their first-ever European campaign, after they made it to the knockout stages following a historic third-place finish in Ligue 1 last season.
Being drawn against PSG was an anti-climax for Brest. They have not beaten the Parisians in 40 years and have now lost 19 of the last 20 meetings of the clubs.
Brest did almost take the lead early on as a Mathias Pereira Lage shot was blocked in front of the line by Marquinhos, before PSG struck in the 20th minute.
Barcola, on the left, controlled a Fabian Ruiz ball over the top before beating goalkeeper Gregoire Coudert at the near post for his 16th goal of the season.
Kvaratskhelia made it 2-0 six minutes before the break, turning in his second goal for his new club after Barcola had flicked on a low Joao Neves cross.
Neves smashed a shot against the crossbar in first-half stoppage time and Pierre Lees-Melou then hit the post for Brest early in the second half.
However, a lovely strike from the edge of the area by Vitinha made it 3-0 just before the hour mark, and Ramos then produced a delightful piece of skill to tee up fellow substitute Doue for the fourth.
Achraf Hakimi set up Mendes to tap in the fifth midway through the second half and Ramos made it six from close range on 76 minutes with his ninth goal of the campaign.
Abdallah Sima had a goal for Brest disallowed for offside before Kvaratskhelia teed up 18-year-old Mayulu to round out the scoring on 86 minutes.
PSG will find out the identity of their next opponents when the draw for the remainder of the competition is made on Friday.


Dortmund ease into Champions League last 16 after Sporting stalemate

Dortmund ease into Champions League last 16 after Sporting stalemate
Updated 20 February 2025
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Dortmund ease into Champions League last 16 after Sporting stalemate

Dortmund ease into Champions League last 16 after Sporting stalemate
  • Serhou Guirassy missed a second-half penalty
  • Dortmund dominated much of the return leg on a freezing night in Germany

DORTMUND: Borussia Dortmund cruised into the last 16 of the Champions League after a goalless draw with Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday sealed a 3-0 aggregate victory.
Serhou Guirassy missed a second-half penalty but it mattered for nothing in the end as last season’s finalists were rarely troubled by Sporting and coasted through.
Dortmund’s reward is a last 16 game against Aston Villa or Lille.
It was always a tough ask for this young Sporting side ravaged by injury to overturn the damage done in last week’s first leg, when Guirassy, Pascal Gross and Karim Adeyemi all scored.
Dortmund dominated much of the return leg on a freezing night in Germany, with Marcel Sabitzer coming closest to breaking the deadlock with a rasping drive from distance that Sporting goalkeeper Rui Silva did well to palm around his post.
After the break, Dortmund got the chance to put the tie to bed from the spot when Silva was adjudged to have brought down Adeyemi in the box after Nico Schlotterbeck’s long pass split the visitors’ defense.
But Guirassy’s well-hit penalty was saved superbly by the Portuguese goalkeeper low to his right, denying the Guinean striker an 11th Champions League goal in 10 games this season.
Gio Reyna came off the bench and almost made an immediate impact against the Portuguese league leaders, hitting the post, but this was a night when Dortmund created little and Sporting even less, with the visitors failing to register a single shot on target.
Ultimately, Sporting lacked the ambition to turn around the tie, allowing Niko Kovac’s side to progress on the back of a relatively easy night’s work.


Qiddiya Investment Company and Mercedes to launch experience center dedicated to German automotive brand

Qiddiya Investment Company and Mercedes to launch experience center dedicated to German automotive brand
Updated 20 February 2025
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Qiddiya Investment Company and Mercedes to launch experience center dedicated to German automotive brand

Qiddiya Investment Company and Mercedes to launch experience center dedicated to German automotive brand
  • Partners announce a game-changing long-term collaboration to create the Mercedes-AMG World of Performance in Qiddiya City
  • Set to excite performance car and motorsports fans across the globe, the state-of-the-art venue will deliver an unrivalled selection of immersive experiences

AFFALTERBACH/QIDDIYA CITY: Qiddiya Investment Company, Mercedes-AMG and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team have announced a game-changing partnership to open a world-class experience center dedicated to the iconic German automotive brand in Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya City.

Spanning approximately 45,000 sqm, Mercedes-AMG World of Performance will be among the largest attractions of its kind in the region. Featuring numerous highly immersive attractions and exhibits focused on Mercedes-AMG and its eight-time World Constructors’ Champion F1 Team, it is set to welcome visitors within this decade. Across nine floors of adrenaline-fueled experiences, visitors will be able to dive into the excitement and thrill of the performance car brand like never before.

The news, unveiled by the involved parties today, is set to excite racing enthusiasts and Mercedes-AMG fans across the world, elevating Qiddiya City’s position as one of the world’s leading motorsports destinations.

The ambitious project is supported by Juffali Automotive Company (JACO), distributor for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars in Saudi Arabia, which will also contribute to bringing the project to life.

“To partner with one of the world’s most iconic brands, including one of the most successful Formula 1 teams in history, on a project that will bring joy to racing fans across the world is hugely exciting. This unique performance and motorsports center will offer immersive experiences like nowhere else in the world, positioning Qiddiya City as the home of Saudi motorsport and a bucket list sporting destination where play comes to life,” said Abdullah Aldawood, Managing Director of Qiddiya Investment Company.

Expected to attract millions of visitors a year, the World of Performance will sit alongside Qiddiya City’s highly anticipated Speed Park Track — a fast-flowing racetrack that is set to host an impressive roster of the world’s most prestigious racing events while incorporating some of racing’s most distinctive track design features.

Marking the debut of the first-ever Mercedes-AMG World of Performance, the experience center will immerse visitors in the brand’s rich heritage, celebrate its racing pedigree, and showcase its engineering excellence alongside the performance car brand’s latest innovations.

Among the center’s marquee attractions will be a cutting-edge dark ride, taking guests on a high-speed journey through the evolution of performance, featuring some of the most legendary Mercedes-Benz race cars of all times.

Adrenaline seekers will be able to step into the shoes of a professional racing driver in pole position on the grid, experiencing intense G-force as they are catapulted toward the first corner of a Grand Prix. Race enthusiasts can also dive into the drama of a Formula One race, witnessing what happens behind the scenes with an up-close view of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team.

Visitors will also enjoy the unique advantage of the experience center’s prime location — right on the start-finish straight of Speed Park Track, with direct access to the future F1 venue. Real-world track experiences will allow visitors to hone their driving skills under the guidance of expert instructors on this exciting new circuit. They will get to push the latest Mercedes-AMG models to their limits, including tackling the iconic “Blade” at Turn One — a heart-stopping elevated section of circuit that dramatically rises more than 20 stories above the ground.

“We are incredibly excited to announce this major new collaboration with Qiddiya Investment Company, formalising a relationship that has been years in the making, and supported by our trusted partners in KSA, Juffali Automotive. Formula One is a unique sport, and we have been working with world leading experts for several years to ensure that this venue gets fans closer to our team, and the sport as a whole, than ever before. Qiddiya City is a cornerstone of the ambitious Vision 2030 plans, and it’s set to become a motorsport destination like no other. We are proud to play our part in this and look forward to welcoming our local and international fans in the years ahead,” said Toto Wolff, Co-Owner, CEO & Team Principal of Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team.

“The Mercedes-AMG World of Performance marks a bold new chapter for AMG, elevating our passion for performance, innovation, and racing to new heights. This destination will celebrate our AMG’s rich racing heritage as well as the thrill and adrenaline that defines our brand. Guests will get to experience this up close, whether through immersive attractions in the experience center or exclusive driving experiences on Speed Park Track, said Michael Schiebe, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

“We are thrilled to be part of Qiddiya’s legacy in a setting that reflects our shared values of history, luxury and pioneering innovative experiences. Bringing the first world-leading motorsport experience center with Mercedes-AMG, not only showcases our commitment to serving our customers and advancing motorsport in the Kingdom but also aims to provide unparalleled experiences for motorsport enthusiasts. This aligns perfectly with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, as we strive to enhance the nation’s entertainment offerings through the growth of the automotive and the motorsport industry,” said Khaled Juffali, Chairman of Juffali Group.

The center will feature more than 60 state-of-the art simulators alongside a Motion 4D Simulator Theatre, while younger fans will be able to enjoy interactive learning experiences including designing their dream race car and practicing teamwork in a pit garage.

The experience center will also boast a roof-top VIP lounge overlooking the Speed Park Track, offering fine dining and some of the best panoramic views across Qiddiya City and the iconic Tuwaiq Mountains.

The strategic partnership between Qiddiya Investment Company and Mercedes-AMG is a significant step in Qiddiya City’s progress, positioning it at the forefront of motorsports experiences globally. The city’s unparalleled motorsports offering, including the Speed Park Track and a range of other attractions that are set to be unveiled over the next 12 months, will be a central driving force behind its development into a global destination for entertainment, sports and culture based on the power of play.


Raducanu says ‘I’ll be OK’ after man removed from stands at Dubai tournament

Raducanu says ‘I’ll be OK’ after man removed from stands at Dubai tournament
Updated 19 February 2025
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Raducanu says ‘I’ll be OK’ after man removed from stands at Dubai tournament

Raducanu says ‘I’ll be OK’ after man removed from stands at Dubai tournament
  • “Thank you for the messages of support. Difficult experience yesterday but I’ll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed,” Raducanu wrote
  • WTA issued a statement explaining that Raducanu was approached in a public space Monday “by a man who exhibited fixated behavior”

DUBAI: Emma Raducanu said she will be OK after what she called a “difficult experience” related to the presence of a man who had exhibited “fixated behavior” toward her at the Dubai Championships.
The 2021 US Open champion had approached the chair umpire early in her second-round match against 14th-seeded Karolina Muchova on Tuesday night. She was in tears, and the WTA later linked her reaction to the presence of the unidentified man.
On Wednesday, the 22-year-old British player responded with a statement on her Instagram account.
“Thank you for the messages of support. Difficult experience yesterday but I’ll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened at the start of the match,” Raducanu wrote. “Thank you to Karolina for being a great sport and best of luck to her for the rest of the tournament.”
Raducanu, who was still a teenager in 2022 when a man in Britain was convicted of stalking her, returned to play after a brief delay at 2-0 down and eventually lost 7-6 (6), 6-4 to Muchova.
Early Wednesday, the WTA issued a statement explaining that Raducanu was approached in a public space Monday “by a man who exhibited fixated behavior” and “this same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match on Tuesday ... and subsequently ejected.”
“He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment.”
The chair umpire called tournament organizers immediately when Raducanu reported her concerns in the first set of the night match, and Muchova walked over to console her opponent.
Raducanu then picked up a towel, wiped her face, nodded and continued the match. She didn’t immediately comment on the incident.
The WTA said it was working with Raducanu and her team “to ensure her well-being and provide any necessary support.”
Raducanu rose to fame in 2021 by winning the US Open as a qualifier, one of the most unlikely achievements in tennis. She hasn’t advanced past the third round at a major since then and has spent long stints recovering from injuries.