Inter beat Empoli to keep pressure on Serie A leaders Napoli

Inter beat Empoli to keep pressure on Serie A leaders Napoli
Inter Milan's French forward #09 Marcus Thuram celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Italian Serie A football match between Inter Milan and Empoli at the San Siro Stadium in Milan on January 19, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 20 January 2025
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Inter beat Empoli to keep pressure on Serie A leaders Napoli

Inter beat Empoli to keep pressure on Serie A leaders Napoli

MILAN: Inter Milan kept in touch with Napoli after seeing off struggling Empoli 3-1 on Sunday and going three points behind the Serie A leaders.
Goals in the second half from Lautaro Martinez, Denzel Dumfries and Marcus Thuram ensured a hard-fought win for champions Inter at the San Siro without their suspended coach Simone Inzaghi.
Napoli have become the team to beat thanks to their thrilling 3-2 win at Atalanta, who are seven points off the pace in third, on Saturday but Inter also have a game in hand.
However, Inter have a packed schedule due to their Champions League commitments while Napoli have no European football after their disastrous title defense last season.
As well as their final two league phase fixtures in the Champions League — against Sparta Prague and Monaco in consecutive weeks — Simone Inzaghi’s team have the Milan derby and trips to Juventus, Napoli and Atalanta between now and mid-March.
“We barely have time to think because we’re always playing,” said Inzaghi’s assistant Massimiliano Farris to DAZN.
“We’ve won 12 times and drawn three in our last 15 league matches and we’re in with a great chance of getting to the last 16 of the Champions League without having to go through the play-offs.”
Captain Martinez’s distance effort in the 55th minute took his league total to eight goals from 18 appearances, some way off the 24 he racked up on the way to guiding Inter to their 20th league title last term.
The Argentina striker hadn’t scored at home since early November before Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Bologna but his goal against Empoli was his second in as many matches at the San Siro.
Dumfries’ thumping header, from Kristjan Asllani’s 79th-minute corner, was key as Inter were far from their best and once Inter loanee Sebastiano Esposito halved the deficit for 14th-placed Empoli in the 83rd minute a wave of worry swept the stadium.
Fans breathed a collective sign of relief six minutes later when Thuram swept in his 13th league goal of the campaign to seal the points and keep Inter’s title defense rolling on.
Earlier, Lazio stayed in Serie A’s Champions League places after thumping struggling Verona 3-0.
Marco Baroni’s Lazio went ahead with just a minute on the clock through Samuel Gigot, and further strikes from Boulaye Dia and captain Mattia Zaccagni put them fourth, two points above Juventus who beat AC Milan on Saturday.
Sunday’s success ended a three-match winless streak for Lazio, which included derby defeat to rivals Roma, and left Verona in the relegation zone.
Verona slumped to their 14th defeat in 21 league fixtures in front of new chairman Italo Zanzi following the club’s acquisition by American private equity firm Presidio Investors on Wednesday.
The new owners have a job on their hands at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi as Verona are deep in the fight against the drop, sitting in 18th place and separated by goal difference from Como who are just outside the bottom three and host Udinese on Monday.
Verona are in the drop zone due to Cagliari’s 4-1 thumping of fellow strugglers Lecce which moved the Sardinian outfit up to 13th.
Just two points separate Cagliari and Verona, with Lecce, Parma — who drew 1-1 with second-from-bottom Venezia — and Empoli all on 20 points.
Verona, who finished the match with 10 men following Ondrej Duda’s late sending-off, make the short trip to regional rivals Venezia next week.


On eve of his 40th birthday, Ronaldo says he is the best soccer player ever

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On eve of his 40th birthday, Ronaldo says he is the best soccer player ever

On eve of his 40th birthday, Ronaldo says he is the best soccer player ever
“I am the greatest scorer in history,” Ronaldo said in an interview with Spanish television channel La Sexta
He had said it before, more than once, that he feels he will go out as the best ever in the history of soccer

MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo approaches his 40th birthday with the same confidence and self-esteem as he has always boasted throughout his successful career.
Ronaldo, the former Real Madrid star who now plays for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, will turn 40 on Wednesday and apparently has no doubt about who should be considered the best soccer player ever.
“I am the greatest scorer in history,” Ronaldo said in an interview with Spanish television channel La Sexta. “Although I am not left-footed, I am in the top 10 in history for goals scored with the left foot. These are numbers, I am the most complete player who has ever existed.
“I play well with my head, I take good free kicks, I am fast, I am strong, I jump... I have never seen anyone better than me.”
The Portugal star holds most scoring records in men’s international soccer, including most appearances with 217 and most goals with 135.
He had said it before, more than once, that he feels he will go out as the best ever in the history of soccer. Whenever he was asked about the discussion of who is better, him or Lionel Messi, he always praised the Argentine but ended siding with himself.
Ronaldo’s most recent comments prompted a few reactions in the soccer world.
“I have a lot of respect for Cristiano and I don’t have to analyze his opinions. It’s what he thinks. I have my own thoughts and it isn’t that,” said Javier Mascherano, a former teammate of Messi and his current coach at Inter Miami.

Bangladesh goes into bat for cricket in Saudi Arabia, ambassador says

Bangladesh goes into bat for cricket in Saudi Arabia, ambassador says
Updated 05 February 2025
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Bangladesh goes into bat for cricket in Saudi Arabia, ambassador says

Bangladesh goes into bat for cricket in Saudi Arabia, ambassador says
  • M. Delwar Hossain: I look forward to meeting the SACF chairman and discussing how we can work together for better cooperation
  • Former Pakistan captain, and one of the great allrounders, Shahid Afridi, was recently in the Kingdom, and met SACF CEO Tariq Ziad Sagga

RIYADH: Bangladesh Ambassador M. Delwar Hossain says that his country is looking forward to working with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation and extending all cooperation as the sport’s popularity in the Kingdom grows.

The ambassador told Arab News: “Cricket is an important area developing in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi cricket team is doing well at the Asian Cricket Council events. We are following up the developments, and are in touch with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation.”

The Saudi cricket team won the ACC Men’s Challenger Cup, both the first and the second competition, played in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2023 and 2024. The tournament is a part of the qualification pathway for the Asia Cup. The finalists qualify for the Premier Cup, whose winner goes on to the Asia Cup.

Hossain said that his predecessor, ambassador Mohammad Javed Patwary, met SACF Chairman Prince Saud bin Mishal Al-Saud last year, and they had signed an agreement between the Bangladesh and Saudi cricket boards.

The SACF chief was also invited to visit Bangladesh to see cricket developments there and decide what kind of cooperation could be extended from the Bangladeshi side. He was a keen supporter, according to the embassy officials who accompanied the previous ambassador during the meeting.

“I am new here, and look forward to meeting the SACF chairman and discussing how we can work together for better cooperation,” Hossain told Arab News.

Bangladesh is a good cricket side, currently ranked in the top ten across all formats: Test, ODI and T20 internationals.  

Many Bangladeshi expatriates play cricket at different clubs in Saudi Arabia. Bangladeshi expatriates have been invited to join matches organized by the SACF with employees of various companies as part of corporate cricket.

Recently Bangladeshi international schools have also been engaged in the game — both male and female students — for separate matches organized by the SACF.

With the game growing by leaps and bounds in the Kingdom, many developments are taking place. The Red Sea city of Jeddah hosted the TATA IPL mega auction at the Abadi Al-Johar Arena in November 2024, which attracted international cricket stars and the celebrity owners of the IPL franchises.

The SACF described the TATA IPL mega auction as “a historic sporting achievement in Jeddah.”

Former Pakistan captain, and one of the great allrounders, Shahid Afridi, was recently in the Kingdom, and met SACF CEO Tariq Ziad Sagga, describing it as an inspiring experience, at King Abdullah University Of Science And Technology (KAUST) Winter Enrichment Program 2025.

“Honored to be invited to the @kaust_news Winter Enrichment Program 2025! Thrilled to champion cricket and sports empowerment alongside our star Olympian @ArshadOlympian1, CEO @Cricketsaudi @tzsagga and GM Iqbal Sikandar. A pleasure engaging with the brilliant faculty, students and community here, alongside @ZafarxMalik, CEO of @SAFoundationN. Together, we continue to drive the spirit of sports forward!,” Afridi posted on X.

Pakistani cricketing legends, including Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar, have also been visiting the Kingdom and held meetings with the SACF chairman to discuss the development of cricket and ways to cooperate.

Indian cricket legend and former captain Rahul Dravid, head coach of the Indian Premier League team Rajasthan Royals, also attended the NEOM cricket program recently.


Dubai set for second round of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Dubai set for second round of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Updated 05 February 2025
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Dubai set for second round of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Dubai set for second round of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
  • Athletes from children’s, youth, adult and masters categories will take part at Al-Nasr CLub on Feb. 8-9

ABU DHABI: The second round of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship will take place this weekend (Feb. 8-9) at Al-Nasr Club in Dubai.

It will feature competition in the No-Gi division with athletes representing clubs and academies from across the country.

Participants in the U-12, U-14, and U-16 categories will compete on Day 1, followed by youth, adults and masters on Day 2.

Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, emphasized that the second championship was a pioneering model for developing talent across technical, physical and mental levels, creating a pathway for future champions. He said that the No-Gi competitions allowed athletes to experiment with innovative strategies and techniques, further enhancing their ability to adapt to the diverse challenges of the sport.

“The great turnout for the No-Gi competitions reflects the sustainable development of the sport and the growing interest in it at all levels,” he said. “The participation of younger age groups has become one of the championship’s key pillars, showcasing the success of the federation’s strategy to discover and nurture new generations of talent and future champions.

“The championship draws athletes and their families into a distinctive and supportive environment, strengthening community ties and reflecting the noble values jiu-jitsu is known for, such as respect, loyalty and teamwork,” Al-Dhaheri said. “It also promotes the importance of pursuing sports as a healthy lifestyle, further establishing its position as one of the country’s most prominent sporting and social events.”


Germany’s president visits Riyadh training center for briefing on women’s football development in Saudi Arabia

Germany’s president visits Riyadh training center for briefing on women’s football development in Saudi Arabia
Updated 05 February 2025
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Germany’s president visits Riyadh training center for briefing on women’s football development in Saudi Arabia

Germany’s president visits Riyadh training center for briefing on women’s football development in Saudi Arabia
  • Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the first German head of state to visit Saudi Arabia, was accompanied by Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal
  • Regional Training Centers in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah are nurturing football talent in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Football Federation hosted Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Riyadh Regional Training Center on Monday.

Steinmeier, the first German head of state to visit Saudi Arabia, has travelled to the Kingdom to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of a three-day tour of the Middle East.

Steinmeier visited the Riyadh Girls’ RTC for a briefing on the development of women’s football in Saudi Arabia. His appearance highlights the Kingdom’s commitment to developing sport across all levels in the country.

Steinmeier was accompanied by Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal and Commerce Minister Majid Al-Qasabi.

The Riyadh RTC is one of four such training centers across the Kingdom that are developing football talent in a safe, educational, and supportive environment.

The centers focus on physical health, social skills and mental well-being. There are facilities in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah.

The Riyadh Girls’ RTC was launched by the SAFF in 2021. Now operating for the fourth year, there are 60 female players enrolled from under-8 to under-15.

The Jeddah center, in its third year, has 100 female players, while there are 80 in Dammam, and 60 in Madinah.

The work of the RTCs to prepare players for elite-level competition has proved vital since their launch, with 60 percent of the under-17 women’s national team scouted from the centers during the 2023/2024 season.


Saudi Pro League expands global footprint with Brazil push

Saudi Pro League expands global footprint with Brazil push
Updated 05 February 2025
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Saudi Pro League expands global footprint with Brazil push

Saudi Pro League expands global footprint with Brazil push
  • SPL executives are in South America to meet Brazilian League, Brazilian Football Confederation
  • There are more Brazilian players in the SPL than from any other overseas nation

SAO PAULO: The Saudi Pro League has started a strategic expansion drive into Brazil with the aim of strengthening ties with one of the world’s biggest, most enthusiastic football markets.

The SPL is currently home to 26 Brazilian players, more than any other overseas nation. With more than 100 matches streamed on YouTube in Brazil via Canal GOAT and Band, the league reached 50 million views in 2023-24, creating a solid platform for an initiative which strives to deepen engagement with Brazilian fans, broaden the SPL’s visibility, and create new commercial opportunities.

As part of its strategy, SPL executives are presently in Brazil to meet representatives from the Brazilian League, the Brazilian Football Confederation and leading sports marketing agencies, as well as existing and potential partners.

Mohammed Basrawi, the Saudi Pro League’s general manager of marketing, communication and content, said: “Brazilians have a deep and passionate football culture, and we want to bring them closer to the excitement of the SPL by establishing a long-term and immersive presence in the country.”

The SPL is launching official Brazilian social media channels to provide fans with localized content, behind-the-scenes access, and exclusive engagement opportunities. The league will also introduce a local fan community to enhance its connection with Brazilian supporters. Additionally, the SPL’s presence in Brazil will extend to key football events, ensuring strong on-the-ground engagement at key points in the football calendar.

By investing in Brazil, the SPL is solidifying its global stature while also embracing the passion and heritage that define Brazilian football, marking an exciting new chapter in the league’s international journey.