Mbappe extends scoring streak as Real Madrid beat Alaves 3-2 in Spanish league

Mbappe extends scoring streak as Real Madrid beat Alaves 3-2 in Spanish league
Real Madrid's French forward Kylian Mbappe scores his team's second goal past Alaves' French defender Moussa Diarra during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Deportivo Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on Sept. 24, 2024. (AFP)
Short Url
Updated 25 September 2024
Follow

Mbappe extends scoring streak as Real Madrid beat Alaves 3-2 in Spanish league

Mbappe extends scoring streak as Real Madrid beat Alaves 3-2 in Spanish league
  • Lucas Vazquez and Rodrygo also scored for Madrid, who extended their unbeaten run in the league to 39 matches
  • Sevilla midfielder Saul Niguez was carried off the field on a stretcher with an apparent leg injury early in the second half of Sevilla’s 2-1 home win over Valladolid

MADRID: Kylian Mbappe extended his scoring streak with his sixth goal in five matches as Real Madrid defeated Alaves 3-2 to move closer to leader Barcelona in the Spanish league on Tuesday.

Mbappe’s seventh goal since joining Madrid was a beauty, with the France forward starting a give-and-go with Jude Bellingham with a heal flick and then picking up the pass inside the area and using a nifty move to clear a defender before finding the net in the 40th minute at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Mbappe asked to be substituted in the 80th because of a muscle ailment, according to Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, who said it was not serious.

Lucas Vazquez and Rodrygo also scored for Madrid, who extended their unbeaten run in the league to 39 matches — with 29 wins and 10 draws going back to last season. Alaves made a late charge by scoring with Carlos Benavídez in the 85th and Kike García in the 86th but couldn’t find the equalizer despite chances in the final minutes.

“We played a great match for 80 minutes, but we suffered more than we should have in the end,” Vázquez said.

The victory moved Madrid within one point of league leader Barcelona, who will go for their seventh victory in a row to start the season when they host winless Getafe on Wednesday.

Mbappe now has seven goals in nine matches with Madrid in all competitions. He has five goals in the Spanish league, one behind leading scorer Robert Lewandowski of Barcelona.

The France star who signed as a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, also had a goal disallowed for offside in the 22nd. Arda Guler came in for Mbappe in the 80th.

Vazquez had put Madrid ahead one minute into the match with a shot from inside the area after a nice run by Vinicius Junior through the left side of the area. Rodrygo added to the lead after a long run in the 48th.

Ancelotti, in his 300th match with the club, used most of his regular starters and did not immediately rotate his squad despite a congested schedule.

Vazquez started as a right back in place of regular starter Dani Carvajal, who was rested with fitness issues.

Teenage Brazil forward Endrick replaced Rodrygo in the 69th, his earliest appearance off the bench, and a couple of minutes later struck the post from inside the area.

Madrid complained about yellow cards to Vinicius, Federico Valverde and substitute Luka Modric for protesting in a match in which Madrid felt their players were often subjected to tough tackles.

“There is a different standard now and we have to adapt,” Ancelotti said. “We have to stop protesting.”

Alaves, whose players were not shown any cards, complained that a red card should have been given to Endrick after the Brazilian appeared to kick an opponent away from the play.

Madrid’s next match is the city derby against Atletico Madrid at Atletico’s Metropolitano stadium.

Sevilla midfielder Saul Niguez was carried off the field on a stretcher with an apparent leg injury early in the second half of Sevilla’s 2-1 home win over Valladolid.

Chidera Ejuke scored the winner in the 85th minute for Sevilla’s second victory in its past three league matches.

Valladolid’s only win this season came in its league opener against Espanyol.

Valencia followed up their first win of the season — 2-0 at Girona — with a 0-0 draw against Osasuna.

Osasuna had won two of its last three matches.


Women’s fencing championship wraps up in Dammam

Women’s fencing championship wraps up in Dammam
Updated 14 December 2024
Follow

Women’s fencing championship wraps up in Dammam

Women’s fencing championship wraps up in Dammam
  • 215 fencers from 22 clubs battle it out at Prince Saud bin Jalawi Sports City
  • Gold medals awarded in saber, foil and epee events

RIYADH: The women’s Saudi Fencing Championship ended on Saturday, with the winners of the general and under-14 categories presented with their medals by Saudi Fencing Federation President Ahmed Al-Sabban.
A total of 215 fencers from 22 clubs took part in the contest, which was held at the Prince Saud bin Jalawi Sports City in Dammam.
In the general category, Ruba Al-Masri of Al-Ula won the saber competition, with Lamed Al-Marri and Dhay Al-Ameeri, both of Al-Nahda, taking gold in the foil and epee events respectively.
In the under-14s, Zainab Al-Matar of Al-Huda won the saber competition, with Layla Obeid (Al-Hilal) and Salma Al-Muhanna (Al-Nahda) taking gold in the epee and foil events.


PSG coach Enrique having ‘best season of my career’

PSG coach Enrique having ‘best season of my career’
Updated 14 December 2024
Follow

PSG coach Enrique having ‘best season of my career’

PSG coach Enrique having ‘best season of my career’
  • “I look at everything the team does, the players, and we don’t depend on any particular player, only on the team,” he said
  • The former Barcelona and Spain coach brushed aside talk of tensions with France winger Ousmane Dembele

POISSY, France: Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique insisted Saturday the statistics indicate “the best season” of his career as he brushed aside talk of tensions with some of his players.
“Statistically, it’s my best as a coach. Even if you (the media) criticize, that there are lies invented, it’s my best in terms of numbers, chances generated by us, by the opponents, it’s the best,” the Spaniard said ahead of Sunday’s league match against Lyon.
PSG head into the final round of Ligue 1 games this calendar year unbeaten domestically and with a five-point lead from nearest challengers Marseille and Monaco at the top of the table.
However, they are in 25th place in the Champions League rankings and in the elimination zone of the elite European tournament.
“I look at everything the team does, the players, and we don’t depend on any particular player, only on the team. And I see that the level of training is rising, that the players are getting better every day,” he said.
The former Barcelona and Spain coach brushed aside talk of tensions with France winger Ousmane Dembele, insisting he had “the same relationship with all the players.”
“I’m a coach. I’m not their father, brother or ‘bro’, I decide, I have to make decisions, I have no problem making them, those that I consider to be the best for my team,” he explained.
The idea is to “get everyone out of the comfort zone, those who play more as well as those who play less. I have always done it in my career and I do not intend to change.
“To see the best version of these players, we can make unpopular decisions. It’s a team, like an orchestra, there can’t always be players doing the same thing, we have to coordinate.”
After the Lyon match, PSG play Monaco in Ligue 1 next Wednesday followed by a French Cup tie against Lens on December 22.


Diallo reelected head of French football

Diallo reelected head of French football
Updated 14 December 2024
Follow

Diallo reelected head of French football

Diallo reelected head of French football
  • Diallo won just over 55 percent of the vote to beat Le Graet’s former ally Pierre Samsonoff
  • Diallo, 61, welcome the “strong legitimacy” the vote gave him and praised the “democratic maturity which does honor to our sport

PARIS: Philippe Diallo was comfortably reelected president of the French Football Federation on Saturday.
Diallo, who took over after the resignation of long-standing former chief Noel Le Graet in 2023, won just over 55 percent of the vote to beat Le Graet’s former ally Pierre Samsonoff.
For the first time in France’s largest sports federation which boosts 2.4 million members, the presidents of amateur clubs could vote electronically along with the heads of professional clubs with 11,500 voters compared to fewer than 250 previously.
Diallo, 61, welcome the “strong legitimacy” the vote gave him and praised the “democratic maturity which does honor to our sport.”
He said he would begin a nationwide discussion on French football from mid-January “to define together our roadmap for aid to amateur football.”
During the campaign Diallo highlighted his record within the federation including a 100 million euros ($105 million) per year contract from 2026 with American sportswear brand Nike.
Diallo also courted amateur football by increasing the budget from 100 to 150 million euros annually between now and 2028, and underlined his ambition for women’s football where he wants to double membership from 250,000 to 500,000 within five years.
Diallo stepped up in January 2023 when Le Graet first moved aside and then was forced to resign following accusations of sexual and psychological harassment, bringing to an end more than a decade in charge.


President Mohammed Ben Sulayem announces FIA’s return to profitability

President Mohammed Ben Sulayem announces FIA’s return to profitability
Updated 14 December 2024
Follow

President Mohammed Ben Sulayem announces FIA’s return to profitability

President Mohammed Ben Sulayem announces FIA’s return to profitability
  • ‘Improvement in financial health due to significant reduction of operating costs through an increase in revenues and savings’

DUBAI: Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the FIA president, has lauded the organization’s return to profitability due to a significant reduction of operating costs driven by an increase in revenues and savings.

The Emirati former professional rally driver, who was appointed FIA president in December 2021, was speaking after financial results to date for 2024 were unveiled at World Council meetings during the FIA General Assemblies Week in Kigali, Rwanda.

The FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) is the governing body of motorsport, including Formula 1, and promotes safe, sustainable and accessible mobility for all road users across the world.

The FIA forecasts an operating result of $2.3 million (SR8.6 million) profit in 2024 — a remarkable improvement given that it stood at just over $25 million loss in 2021. The forecast operating result would be the best of the last seven years and the first positive one since 2018.

This accomplishment is the product of a wide-ranging reform of the FIA introduced by 63-year-old Dubai-born FIA President Ben Sulayem. This included a fully independent financial audit of the organization.

“This achievement is a result of our commitment of reform of the organization in the areas of governance and finance,” Ben Sulayem said.

“The new FIA leadership inherited a financial situation which was not sustainable in 2022. We have worked hard to reduce a sizeable deficit and have stabilized the overall financial health of the federation.

“We have implemented cost-containment measures and revenue-generating strategies to put the FIA on a more sustainable financial footing to meet our primary purpose of supporting our member clubs.”

Several measures have been introduced to streamline the FIA’s accounting and reporting procedures to create a sustainable financial model.

Ben Sulayem said that the future of motorsport was being “driven by innovation and purpose,” noting significant investment from the FIA across global grassroots activities alongside substantial research and development in the safety, volunteers and officials spaces.

The Vision 2030: FIA Motorsport Strategy, which provides a substantial platform for growth and further success, was also unveiled in Kigali during the FIA General Assemblies Week, with more details to be shared in 2025.

“This year has been a time of change and growth,” Ben Sulayem said. “We have built a stronger organization redefining our leadership with high-level appointments that bring a wealth of professional experience to the Federation.

“Together, we are forging the future of global motorsport and as we celebrate 120 years of the FIA, we honor the achievements of our past while propelling ourselves to a future driven by innovation and purpose.

“The FIA is on the right track. The 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season was record-breaking and highly competitive, and we continue our collaboration with Formula 1 and General Motors as we move toward an eleventh team on the grid from 2026.”

The 2024 F1 season concluded in dramatic style with the FIA Formula 1 Constructors’ World Championship being decided at the final race in Abu Dhabi earlier this month. McLaren claimed the honors in the UAE capital city, winning their first FIA Formula 1 Constructors’ World Championship in 26 years.


Baniyas leads Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship at Mubadala Arena

Baniyas leads Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship at Mubadala Arena
Updated 14 December 2024
Follow

Baniyas leads Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship at Mubadala Arena

Baniyas leads Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship at Mubadala Arena
  • Day 1 of the fifth and final round of the competition saw Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club in second, followed by MOD UAE in third place

ABU DHABI: Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club took the lead on the opening day of the fifth and final round of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship at Mubadala Arena, Abu Dhabi.

Competitions for men and women in the U18, adult and master categories began with hundreds of athletes from leading clubs and academies across the UAE competing on the mats.

Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club finished second, followed by MOD UAE in third place.

“Today, we witnessed matches that reflect strength, performance and the spirit of challenge in the youth, adult and master categories,” said Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation. “The athletes demonstrated outstanding skills and experience, positioning themselves as role models for future generations of athletes.”

Al-Dhaheri said that the championship, in its inaugural event, had established itself as a vital platform for nurturing a new generation of champions who embodied the nation’s aspirations and had the potential to represent the UAE on international stages.

Ribamar Santiago, coach of Baniyas Club, said: “The Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship has elevated the level of challenge for all participants and clubs. It unites elite players in a professional and well-organized competitive atmosphere. We are honored to be part of this prestigious tournament, which serves as a fitting finale to a dynamic sports season.

“Baniyas Club is competing with 328 male and female players over three days,” Santiago said. “Our athletes delivered exceptional performances today, with matches testing their skills at the highest level. The fierce competition inspires us to refine our strategies and enhance our performance. We are eager to maintain our momentum and aim for podium finishes in the days ahead.”