Sports

England romped to a second comfortable victory over New Zealand in two weeks to secure a Test series triumph yesterday with skipper Ben Stokes apparently enjoying a Midas touch with his every decision turning to gold.Stokes delivered the coup de grace at Wellington’s Basin Reserve himself, coming on to take the last three wickets at a cost of five runs to dismiss New Zealand for 259 and wrap up the 323-run victory with more than two days to spare.Seamers Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson all played crucial roles in the victory, the latter with a rare hat-trick on Saturday to help scuttle New Zealand’s first innings for 125.Shoaib Bashir stepped up to remove Tom Blundell after the New Zealand wicketkeeper had marshalled the home rearguard with a defiant 115 on a surface that rarely offers anything for spinners this early in the season.With the bat, the controversial selection of Jacob Bethell at number three paid dividends in only his second test with an innings of 96, while Ollie Pope thrived with a key knock of 66 despite being dropped down the order as stand-in wicketkeeper.Most of all, it was the brilliant innings of 123 from Player of the Match Harry Brook on a tricky surface that laid the foundation for England’s biggest win by runs over the Black Caps, and a first series triumph in New Zealand since 2008.“You look down that scorecard, there’s one guy that took it away from us,” said New Zealand captain Tom Latham. “Harry played a fantastic innings there. Credit where credit’s due, I thought that was a fantastic innings.”Stokes agreed the fifth-wicket partnership between Brooks and Pope that took England from 43-4 to 280 in the first innings had been crucial.“Scoring 280 and having five New Zealand wickets at the end of day one really set this game up for us,” the New Zealand-born all-rounder said. “But a lot of that has got to go down to the way that Harry Brook and Ollie Pope took on the New Zealand bowlers and didn’t allow their very skilful bowlers to run up and put the ball where they wanted to.”Yesterday, England had resumed on a blustery morning on 378-5 looking to quickly inflate their already imposing lead of 533 before sending the Blacks Caps in to bat.Stokes was at the crease with Joe Root, who had been short of runs and is perhaps the least natural player of the “Bazball” style of aggressive batting England have played under coach Brendon McCullum.Class is permanent, however, and the prolific 33-year-old even showed a real flash of creativity to secure his 36th Test century with a glorious reverse-ramp for four off seamer Will O’Rourke.“He thought it was a good idea to scoop a six-foot-nine giant bowling rockets but it came off, it was just awesome,” chuckled Stokes. “He’s desperate to do well for this team. He knows how important it is. When he does well, we generally do well.”After Root edged behind for 106, Stokes, who was unbeaten on 49, immediately declared for 427-6 to present the Blacks Caps with a mammoth target of 583.“Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson have been so good for us in the time that they’ve been out there playing for England,” Stokes said of the two seamers, who both made their debuts this year.The third Test in Hamilton starts on Saturday.BRIEF SCORES (Wellington Test, Day 3)England 280 (Brook 123, Pope 66, Smith 4-86) and 427 for 6 dec (Root 106, Bethell 96, Duckett 92, Brook 55) beat New Zealand 125 (Atkinson 4-31, Carse 4-46) and 259 (Blundell 115, Stokes 3-5) by 323 runs

England romped to a second comfortable victory over New Zealand in two weeks to secure a Test series triumph yesterday with skipper Ben Stokes apparently enjoying a Midas touch with his every decision turning to gold.Stokes delivered the coup de grace at Wellington’s Basin Reserve himself, coming on to take the last three wickets at a cost of five runs to dismiss New Zealand for 259 and wrap up the 323-run victory with more than two days to spare.Seamers Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson all played crucial roles in the victory, the latter with a rare hat-trick on Saturday to help scuttle New Zealand’s first innings for 125.Shoaib Bashir stepped up to remove Tom Blundell after the New Zealand wicketkeeper had marshalled the home rearguard with a defiant 115 on a surface that rarely offers anything for spinners this early in the season.With the bat, the controversial selection of Jacob Bethell at number three paid dividends in only his second test with an innings of 96, while Ollie Pope thrived with a key knock of 66 despite being dropped down the order as stand-in wicketkeeper.Most of all, it was the brilliant innings of 123 from Player of the Match Harry Brook on a tricky surface that laid the foundation for England’s biggest win by runs over the Black Caps, and a first series triumph in New Zealand since 2008.“You look down that scorecard, there’s one guy that took it away from us,” said New Zealand captain Tom Latham. “Harry played a fantastic innings there. Credit where credit’s due, I thought that was a fantastic innings.”Stokes agreed the fifth-wicket partnership between Brooks and Pope that took England from 43-4 to 280 in the first innings had been crucial.“Scoring 280 and having five New Zealand wickets at the end of day one really set this game up for us,” the New Zealand-born all-rounder said. “But a lot of that has got to go down to the way that Harry Brook and Ollie Pope took on the New Zealand bowlers and didn’t allow their very skilful bowlers to run up and put the ball where they wanted to.”Yesterday, England had resumed on a blustery morning on 378-5 looking to quickly inflate their already imposing lead of 533 before sending the Blacks Caps in to bat.Stokes was at the crease with Joe Root, who had been short of runs and is perhaps the least natural player of the “Bazball” style of aggressive batting England have played under coach Brendon McCullum.Class is permanent, however, and the prolific 33-year-old even showed a real flash of creativity to secure his 36th Test century with a glorious reverse-ramp for four off seamer Will O’Rourke.“He thought it was a good idea to scoop a six-foot-nine giant bowling rockets but it came off, it was just awesome,” chuckled Stokes. “He’s desperate to do well for this team. He knows how important it is. When he does well, we generally do well.”After Root edged behind for 106, Stokes, who was unbeaten on 49, immediately declared for 427-6 to present the Blacks Caps with a mammoth target of 583.“Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson have been so good for us in the time that they’ve been out there playing for England,” Stokes said of the two seamers, who both made their debuts this year.The third Test in Hamilton starts on Saturday.BRIEF SCORES (Wellington Test, Day 3)England 280 (Brook 123, Pope 66, Smith 4-86) and 427 for 6 dec (Root 106, Bethell 96, Duckett 92, Brook 55) beat New Zealand 125 (Atkinson 4-31, Carse 4-46) and 259 (Blundell 115, Stokes 3-5) by 323 runs

Al Khor secured a stunning and famous win over leaders Al Duhail in the Qatar Stars League on Saturday. Unbelievable scenes unfolded at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium as the home side were shocked emphatically by bottom-placed Al Khor, who registered their first league win of the season.Despite the loss, Duhail’s lead at the top was reduced to three points after Al Sadd and Al Ahli earlier played out a 2-2 draw. Al Khor, however, remain at the bottom with seven points.Ahmad Hassan al-Mohannadi put Al Khor ahead in the 41st minute before Ruben Semedo doubled the lead in the 47th. Edmilson Junior pulled one back for Al Duhail in the 72nd minute, and they had a chance to equalise in the 84th minute, but Luis Alberto shot his penalty over the bar.“We played one of our best matches of the season today, even though, on paper, we were not the favourites,” said Al Khor captain al-Mohannadi. “The players, management and coaching staff all played their roles perfectly. The coach trusted the game plan and we managed to capitalise on two or three chances, which was something we struggled with in previous matches. We knew we have to win this match because we are in a precarious position in the league.”It was a determined display from Al Khor in a classic David vs. Goliath contest, showing they have the mettle to challenge the very best. After fending off several attacks for most of the opening half, Al Khor took the lead minutes before halftime. Captain al-Mohannadi capitalised on a fine pass from Yohan Boli, who had won possession. Al-Mohannadi ran past two defenders on the left and threaded the ball through a third defender’s legs. The shot struck the goalkeeper, hit the left post, and barely crossed the line, with al-Mohannadi persistently following up.The ‘freak’ goal put Al Khor ahead, and they doubled their advantage early in the second half. Semedo produced a stunning header from Sofiane Hanni’s expertly taken free kick from 30 yards. Al Duhail pressed for a comeback but were thwarted repeatedly by Al Khor’s defence. They finally broke through in the 72nd minute when substitute Ismail Mohamed delivered a precise through ball from the right to Edmilson, who slotted it in.The Red Knights intensified their attacks and earned a penalty when Michael Olunga’s shot struck the hand of Al Khor defender Adil Rhaili inside the box. However, Alberto’s penalty miss proved costly, much to the delight of Al Khor’s coach, Mehdi Nafti, and the team. Fourteen minutes of stoppage time were added on, but Al Khor held firm for their first and famous win of the season.Sadd and Ahli share spoilsin a 2-2 thrillerEarlier, At the Al Thumama Stadium, Al Sadd and Al Ahli played out a thrilling 2-2 draw. Julian Draxler scored both goals for Al Ahli (45+4 and 52nd minutes), while Akram Afif netted twice for Al Sadd (13th and 59th minutes). With the spoils shared, both teams now have 22 points, but Al Sadd are second ahead on goal difference.Al Ahli hinted at their intentions early when former PSG star Draxler unleashed a stunning right-footed shot in the third minute, forcing a spectacular save from Al Sadd goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham.Al Ahli kept pressing but fell behind in the 13th minute when Akram Afif, assisted by Giovani, delivered a precise right-footed finish into the bottom left corner.Three minutes later, Al Ahli were awarded a penalty for a foul on Erik Exposito. Despite VAR confirmation, Oumar Sekou struck the left post, leaving the Brigadiers frustrated.Al Ahli started the second half with renewed intensity. Within four minutes of the restart, Draxler equalised with a well-placed left-footed shot into the bottom right corner. By the 52nd minute, Draxler completed his brace with another clinical finish, this time from the left side of the box, assisted by Sekou.Al Sadd regrouped and found their equaliser in the 59th minute through a moment of magic from Afif.The star forward weaved past multiple defenders and unleashed a sublime right-footed strike from outside the box into the bottom left corner. Both teams seemed content with the draw as the intensity waned, with neither side taking undue risks in the closing stages.Meanwhile, Al Rayyan beat Qatar SC 2-1 at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium of Qatar SC.Both of Al Rayyan’s goals came in the first half through Roger Guedes (sixth minute) and Mahmoud Trezeguet (42nd minute), while Qatar SC’s consolatory goal came from Ahmed Abdel Kader in the 64th minute.Rayyan are seventh with 13 points, while Qatar SC are 11th with 10 points.

Armenia’s Shant Sargsyan and India’s Murali Karthikeyan secured victories to climb to the top of the standings after five rounds at the Qatar Masters Open, while title favourite Arjun Erigaisi joined the four-point club at Aspire Zone on Saturday.Playing white pieces on board 2, Sargsyan beat Bulgarian grandmaster Arkadij Naiditsh while Karthikeyan defeated Iran’s Pouya Idani on board 3 with black pieces as both of them took their points tallies to 4.5. Erigaisi, meanwhile, reached four points after beating his compatriot Surya Shekhar Ganguly.On the top board, Russia’s sixth seed Andrey Esipenko drew with Iran’s Bardiya Daneshvar, bringing both players to four points. UAE’s Salem Abdulrahman also secured his fourth point with a win over India’s Sankalp Gupta, while India’s Rithvik R Raja had the better of compatriot and 19th seed Pranav V to join the four-point pack.Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan, World No. 6 and last year’s runner-up beat India’s Ayush Sharma to reach 3.5 points. His compatriot and defending champion Nodirbek Yakubboev also drew with Lorenzo Lodici (Italy, 26th seed), leaving both players with 3.5 points. Iran’s 3rd seed Parham Maghsoodloo defeated Aditya Dipangkar of India, raising his score to 3.5 points.Meanwhile, the only Qatari player in the main tournament, International Master Husain Aziz drew with India’s Rajesh Nayak, raising his score to 1.5 points. Aziz had previously drawn with Mongolia’s Turmunkh Munkhzul in Round 4, lost to Cuba’s Luis Ernesto Quesada (the No. 27 seed), Uzbekistan’s Abdimalik Abdisalimov and settled for a draw in the opening round against China’s Zhihang Xu (ranked 35th).In the Qatar Masters Open B tournament being held simultaneously, India’s 12-year-old Abdul Khader Syed, Uzbek Samandar Shermuhammadov and Pakistan’s Lodhi Mahmood remained unbeaten.No. 2 seed Lodhi beat Khazakstan’s Yernur Akhmediyar to collect his fifth point, while Sayed defeated Uzbekistan’s Khudoyor Maraimov. Shermuhammadov beat Egypt’s Mohammed Salah Zozek.Among Qatari winners in the B tournament on Saturday were Layan al-Qassabi (defeated Saudi Arabia’s Maitha al-Otaibi), Hamad al-Kuwari (beat compatriot Ahmed Saif), Turki al-Kuwari (beat India’s Dahanaraja Srijan) and Fahad al-Mansoori (defeated Johan Jobsy of India).The youngest participant of the B tournament, 9-year-old Asma al-Hammadi of Qatar lost to India’s Rishi Ghanesharathinam.Commenting on the ongoing prestigious tournament, Hamad al-Tamimi, Executive Director of the Qatar Chess Federation and Championship Director, highlighted the fierce competition and unexpected results at the top boards. With four rounds yet to be played, he acknowledged the difficulty in predicting the eventual champion.Al-Tamimi also commended the strong performances of Qatari players and the seamless organisational efforts, emphasising the tournament’s pivotal role in nurturing chess talent and promoting the sport’s growth.

Manchester City’s struggles continued in a 2-2 Premier League draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday, while Manchester United lost 3-2 in their first defeat by Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford in 30 years to prolong their rocky start under Ruben Amorim.Brentford extended their unbeaten home run with a 4-2 win over Newcastle United, while Aston Villa beat Southampton 1-0. Liverpool, who lead the standings, were set to kick off the weekend action at Everton but the last ever Merseyside league derby at Goodison Park was postponed due to storm Darragh.Erling Haaland and Rico Lewis scored for City, who won in midweek but have lost four of their last six league games and twice trailed at a wet and windy Selhurst Park. They remain fourth on 27 points, a point behind Chelsea and Arsenal and eight off Liverpool but having played a game more.“We take a point. We fought incredible and came back twice,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “It’s a season to suffer. We’ll see what happens in the last months. We tried. We cannot talk about the title race when we lose four games in a row and draw. We have to do more games to be consistent. It’s difficult in the situation we have. I’m really pleased for the players – they fought and did everything.”Daniel Munoz and Maxence Lacroix scored for Palace. City defender Lewis got their second equaliser in the 68th minute but was shown a red card in the 84th after a second booking.Manchester United’s defensive weaknesses were exploited again as they fell to Forest, who are two points behind City in fifth, while the scale of the task facing Amorim was apparent as his side languish in 13th place after a disjointed display. “Tough game in a tough moment, but we have to continue the job,” the new United manager said.The hosts went behind within two minutes as Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic headed home a corner, before United levelled when Rasmus Hojlund pounced to slot home a rebound. Amorim’s side started the second half equally badly and again they conceded within two minutes when Morgan Gibbs-White’s shot somehow took goalkeeper Andre Onana by surprise. Onana was at fault again when Chris Wood sent a looping header over him and defender Lisandro Martinez. Bruno Fernandes pulled one back but United’s fans were left frustrated again.Brentford held on to beat Newcastle at the Gtech Community Stadium after the visitors twice came from a goal down in the first half before Nathan Collins and Kevin Schade struck to wrap up the points. Brentford climbed to seventh place in increasingly windy conditions while the Magpies are 12th.Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa also scored for Brentford, while Newcastle’s goals came from Alexander Isak and Harvey Barnes. “One of the best results you can have in that weather, both sides were struggling, the wind was carnage,” Collins said.A first-half strike by Aston Villa’s Colombia forward Jhon Duran was enough to secure the points in their home win over bottom side Southampton. “We have to thank our fans because it was difficult in the weather today,” said Villa manager Unai Emery.Duran had netted in the 24th minute, chasing down a long ball and capitalising on some sloppy defending before charging into the box and powering a finish past goalkeeper Joe Lumley. Villa moved up to sixth, while Southampton remain rooted to the basement and are eight points from the safety zone.Arsenal travel to Fulham and Chelsea visit Tottenham Hotspur amongst four games on today’s schedule.

La Liga leaders Barcelona dropped two points in the title race as Real Betis twice came from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw in an entertaining battle on Saturday. The Catalans moved five points clear of second-placed champions Real Madrid, who were visit Girona late last night and also have another game in hand.Assane Diao levelled in the 94th minute to stun Barcelona, who opened the scoring after 39 minutes through Robert Lewandowski. After Giovani Lo Celso levelled for the mid-table hosts from the penalty spot, substitute Ferran Torres struck what seemed the winner before Diao’s late intervention.Barca found the breakthrough shortly before the break with a slick team move. Pedri teed up Jules Kounde to slide across a low ball which Lewandowski stroked home from close range. It was the 36-year-old striker’s 16th league goal of the campaign, leading the scoring charts in Spain. Betis began the second half in the same fashion as they started the first and came millimetres from an equaliser when Sergi Altimira’s header flashed past Pena but also the far post. Barcelona goalkeeper Pena made a fine save to thwart Chimy Avila as Manuel Pellegrini’s side held on to the initiative and eventually levelled with a penalty.Frenkie de Jong stepped on the heel of Vitor Roque, on loan at Betis from Barca, and after a VAR review the referee awarded the hosts a spot kick and sent off Flick for his protests. Lo Celso buried his penalty to set up an entertaining finale as both sides sought to claim three points.Barcelona’s winner arrived when 17-year-old starlet Yamal crossed for Torres to turn home, although the strike was initially flagged offside. However a VAR review showed Aitor Ruibal was late to step up and had played Spain international Torres onside for his second goal in two games. Barcelona thought they had sealed victory but deep in stoppage time Diao, left unmarked by Inigo Martinez, tucked home from Ruibal’s cross as the full-back made amends for his earlier error.

In the colours of HE Sheikha Iman bint Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani Haman won the Lekhraib Cup at the QREC’s Al Uqda Racecourse on Saturday. For trainer Rudy Nerbonne, who saddled a 1-2-3-4 in the day’s feature - a 2,200m Purebred Arabian Handicap - the five-year-old son of Mared Al Sahra came out on top of the battle of stable-mates as he fought off the challenges of Yunus and Fayq Al Shahania to win by just a short head under jockey Lukas Delozier.Stable-mate Hareeb came 4th under jockey Thomas Lukasek. In the process, Nerbonne also completed a double on the card.Nerbonne was earlier in the winners’ enclosure, when Al Shahania Stud’s M’tawa El Saa’yeb won the 2,300m race for Purebred Arabian Handicap (65-85) for three-year-old+ under jockey Alberto Sanna.Owner Wathnan Racing, trainer Alban de Mieulle and Jockey Soufiane Saadi also completed a quick double on the day when Jahanara won the 1,400m Local Purebred Arabian Open Race, for three-year-olds. Chdia grabbed the first title of the day for the trio with win in Purebred Arabian Graduation Plate.Jockey Faleh Bughanaim set the pace in what was Al Uqda’s first Race Meeting after the venue had hosted the Al Rayyan events earlier this season.Bughanaim won the Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate with Mohammed Ghazali-trained Hazaa Al Shahania and completed his double immediately steering Rasheda to Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate title.Later, M’tawa El Saa’yeb (Purebred Arabian Handicap 65-85), Amjad Al Shajaa (Local Purebred Arabian Handicap) and Subzero (Thoroughbred Handicap 45-65) also notched up victories.ResULTS1st Al Uqda Race MeetingLekhraib Cup WINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey) 1 - Lekhraib Cup - Purebred Arabian Handicap 85-105 (Class 2)Haman, Rudy Andre Nerbonne, Lukas Delozier2 - Local Purebred Arabian Open Race (3yo only) (Class 2)Jahanara, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Soufiane Saadi3 - Purebred Arabian Graduation Plate (3yo only) (Class 4)Chdia, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Soufiane Saadi4 - Purebred Arabian Handicap 65-85 (Class 4)M’tawa El Saa’yeb, Rudy Andre Nerbonne, Alberto Sanna5 - Local Purebred Arabian Handicap 55-75 (Class 5)Amjad Al Shajaa, Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi, Youssef Lachhab *(-4kg)6 - Thoroughbred Handicap 45-65 (Class 6)Subzero, Abdulaziz Ali Al-Kathiri, Marco Casamento7 - Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (Class 6)Rasheda, Jean de Mieulle, Faleh Bughanaim8 - Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (Class 6)Hazaa Al Shahania, Mohammed Ghazali, Faleh Bughanaim

Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan settled for a the bronze medal in the 2024 Beach Pro Tour Finals while Tokyo Olympic champions Anders Mol and Christian Sorum clinched the title at Aspire Zone on Saturday. Top seeds Younousse and Tijan defeated Stefan Boermans and Yorick de Groot of the Netherlands 2-1 (18-21, 21-15, 17-15) to secure the third place. Later, in a battle between two Olympic champion pairs, the Tokyo Games gold winners prevailed over the Paris 2024 victors, overcoming the FIVB World Ranking leaders David Ahman and Jonatan Hellvig of Sweden in straight sets (21-18, 22-20). RIGHT: Kristen Nuss and Taryn Kloth secured the women’s title, triumphing over Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft in an all American final with a scoreline of 21-19, 21-17. Top-seeded Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova earned the bronze.

Lando Norris secured pole position ahead of Oscar Piastri as McLaren reeled off a dominant 1-2 to move within reach of a first teams’ title since 1998 at today’s decisive season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.In an eventful Saturday qualifying session where seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was unluckily eliminated in Q1 in his final weekend with Mercedes, Norris topped the times in one minute and 22.595 seconds to outpace Piastri by three-tenths of a second.Carlos Sainz, in his final weekend with Ferrari before leaving to join Williams, was third, 0.020 seconds behind Piastri as McLaren reeled off their third front row lockout of the season.Ferrari need to overhaul a 21-point deficit to take the constructors’ title ahead of McLaren, but suffered a blow when Charles Leclerc was eliminated in Q2 and, with a 10-place grid penalty, he will start from the back of the grid on Sunday.Nico Hulkenberg qualified fourth for Haas ahead of newly-crowned four-time world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull, Pierre Gasly of Alpine and Mercedes’ George Russell.Two-time champion Fernando Alonso was eighth for Aston Martin, 24 hours after describing his car as “the worst ever”, ahead of Valtteri Bottas of Sauber and Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull.“A perfect day for us,” said Norris who secured his eighth pole of the season.“Probably a little tougher than before as we’ve been strong all weekend. My lap was strong too so it was just what we wanted from today.”Lance Stroll was first out for Q1 in his Aston Martin as the sun set over the Yas Marina Circuitin clear conditions and temperatures of 25 (air) and (30) track, near perfect for the unprecedented 24th and final qualifying of the year.After scrubbed laps for exceeding track limits by Perez and Franco Colapinto, Sainz went top as the Mexican’s lap was reinstated and Bottas took command shortly before Hamilton, on a desperate late lap, failed to make it.He was eliminated in Q1 for the third time in his final six races before leaving Mercedes for Ferrari and in his 246th and final outing for the ‘Silver Arrows’.“I messed that up big time guys,” a crestfallen Hamilton conceded on the team radio. “That was bad,” he added.Hamilton’s demise came after he picked up a bollard - flicked into his path by Kevin Magnussen’s Haas - that was stuck under his car, creating imbalance and loss of pace.After a record 104 pole positions, 78 with Mercedes, it was a sad qualifying finale for the seven-time champion before his move to Ferrari - and on a circuit where he has taken a record five poles.In another incident, Russell was seen to run off track to avoid baulking Liam Lawson on a flying lap. After much swearing on the RB radio channel, the stewards investigated and took no further action, a baffling decision a week after a similar issue had initiated Russell’s promotion to pole in Qatar where Verstappen was penalised.Verstappen set the Q2 pace with an early lap in 1:22.998 and chose to relax as his rivals took second runs - Leclerc going top before his lap was deleted for track limits at Turn One.This meant he qualified 14th but his penalty means he will start Sunday’s race at the back of the grid - a massive setback for Ferrari in their bid to overhaul McLaren.McLaren are 21 points clear of Ferrari in the battle for the constructors’ title.Grid for Abu Dhabi GPFront rowLando Norris (GBR) McLaren, Oscar Piastri (AUS) McLaren2nd rowCarlos Sainz (ESP) Ferrari, Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Haas3rd rowMax Verstappen (NED) Red Bull, Pierre Gasly (FRA) Alpine4th rowGeorge Russell (GBR) Mercedes, Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin5th rowValtteri Bottas (FIN) Sauber, Sergio Perez (MEX) Red Bull,6th rowYuki Tsunoda (JPN) RB, Liam Lawson (NZL) RB7th rowLance Stroll (CAN) Aston Martin, Kevin Magnussen (DEN) Haas8th rowZhou Guanyu (CHN) Sauber, Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes9th rowJack Doohan (AUS) Alpine, Alex Albon (THA) Williams10th rowCharles Leclerc (MON) Ferrari, Franco Colapinto (ARG) Williams Renault.

The first half of Qatar Equestrian Tour – Longines Hathab came to a conclusion at Al Shaqab’s Longines Outdoor Arena on Saturday with thrilling seventh rounds of Big Tour and Open Class (Hit & Hurry).The Big Tour 145cm class was won by home rider Khaled al-Emadi astride Chikitaa after a flawless and fastest round in 66.54secs.Finishing a close second was French rider Cyrine Cherif on Triple T Calamando Blue in 67.07secs.Italian Andre Sakakini took the third place riding Heavens Light H in 69.59secs.Advisor to the Executive Director of Al Rayyan TV Abdulrahman bin Ahmed Al Badi al-Maadheed honoured the winners of the Big Tour.Earlier, Saudi rider Khalid al-Hady topped the Hit & Hurry Competition 120cm class as he guided gelding Capoen to pick the most 33 points with a cumulative best time of 76.51secs (43.51 + 33). His compatriot Bader Alfard on Top Gun 90 finished second with 30 points in 74.76secs (44.76+30) while the third place was clinched by Qatari rider Hamad Towaim al-Marri, who rode Famous to log 30 points in 75.26secs (45.26+30).The winners of Open Class were crowned by former Secretary-General of Qatar Equestrian Federation Taleb al-Saaq. The eighth round of Hathab Season 8 will be held in March 2025 after a break for international championships starting from the Doha International Tour in January 2025.ResultsBig Tour - Table A, One round against the clock, FEI art 238.2.1 (145cm) Prize-money QR100,0001. Rider: Khalid Mohammed al-Emadi; Horse: Chikitaa; Penalties: 0; Times: 66.54secs2. Cyrine Cherif; Triple T Calamando Blue; 0; 67.07secs3. Andre Sakakini; Heavens Light; 0; 69.59secsOpen Class: Hit & Hurry Competition FEI art. 267 (120cm) Prize-money QR25,0001. Khaled al-Hady; Capoen; Points: 33; Times: 76.51secs2. Bader Alfard; TopGun 90; 30; 74.76secs3. Hamad Towaim al-Marri; 30; 78.65secs

Travis Head blazed a sparkling 140 before Australia demolished India’s top order to close in on victory in the day-night second Test on Saturday.At stumps on day two the visitors were floundering at 128-5, still 29 runs adrift, after a fiery blast under the Adelaide Oval lights from Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Scott Boland.Rishabh Pant was on 28 and Nitish Kumar Reddy 15 as the hosts eye their eighth straight pink-ball victory in Adelaide to level the five-Test series after being crushed by 295 runs in Perth.Australia were all out just after tea for 337 after resuming on 86-1, with Head producing a typically flamboyant knock on his home ground in front of a big crowd.Batting at five, he scored at almost a run a ball, slamming 17 fours and four sixes, while Marnus Labuschagne chipped in a gritty 64 to build a first-innings lead of 157.“I hope it’s going to be a dominant position, we have played well over the last two days,” said Head.“It’s nice to contribute to that, I felt like I played well personally. It’s nice to make use of some chances, play well and put us in a good position.”In reply, India struggled as the sun went down with KL Rahul lasting just 10 balls before Cummins sent a short one to the ribs and he gloved to Alex Carey behind the stumps.Yashasvi Jaiswal, out for a golden duck in the first innings, made 24 this time, but he had no answer to Boland, whose first ball angled away and took a nick to Carey.Boland stunned superstar Virat Kohli (11) in similar fashion, with Carey holding his third of the night to leave India tottering at 66-3.Shubman Gill was next to go after a determined 28, with his middle stump removed by Starc, before Cummins bowled Indian captain Rohit Sharma for six.India bowling coach Morne Morkel admitted his team had their work cut out, and praised Head’s contribution.“Head is a guy that is looking to score, as a bowler he puts you under pressure,” he said.“So your execution gets tested.“When he came to the crease we bowled really well, I thought we could knock him over, but credit to him, he got through that phase then put the pressure on us.”When play started, India got an early breakthrough with Nathan McSweeney adding just one to his overnight 38 before being beaten by Jasprit Bumrah’s sheer pace, nicking to wicketkeeper Pant.Bumrah and Pant then combined to remove Steve Smith (2) four overs later, with the former Australia skipper shaking his head in disbelief after falling into a similar trap.At the other end, Labuschagne kept his focus, rediscovering the magic that has recently eluded him with calls mounting for him to be dropped.But the tenacious number three, who resumed on 20, silenced the doubters by reaching his 21st Test 50 off a patient 114 balls in a big confidence booster.With the landmark behind him he began playing more freely before a brilliant catch from Jaiswal at gully ended his reign and Head took charge.Head adopted his usual aggressive posture, blasting two sixes off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as he reached his half-century from 63 balls.He then ramped up the attack, racing to his second 50 off just 48 deliveries to clock an eighth Test ton, riding his luck along the way after being dropped on 76 by Mohammed Siraj.Mitchell Marsh briefly hung around before feathering to Pant on nine off Ashwin while Carey contributed 15 before he too got a faint edge to Pant, this time off Siraj.Head finally succumbed to the rampaging Siraj, clean-bowled, with the pair involved in a fiery exchange in the aftermath after the Indian quick gave the hometown hero a send-off.BRIEF SCORES: DAY 2India 180 and 128 for 5 (Pant 28*, Cummins 2-33, Boland 2-39) trail Australia 337 (Head 140, Labuschagne 64, Bumrah 4-61, Siraj 4-98) by 29 runs.

Cycling superstar Tadej Pogacar was awarded the Velo d’Or, as men’s rider of the year, on Friday in recognition of his Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and world championship sweep.Belgian world champion Lotte Kopecky won the women’s Velo d’Or award, voted by a jury of 40 journalists.Slovenian Team UAE rider Pogacar towered above his rivals in 2024, reclaiming the Tour de France for his third triumph in the race, and winning his debut Giro d’Italia, the world title in Switzerland after skipping the Olympic Games.Ireland’s Stephen Roche was the last rider to win the Triple Crown back in 1987.In all, Pogacar took a jaw-dropping 25 wins, including two of the one-day Monuments: Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour of Lombardy.Picking up his second Velo d’Or after 2021, Pogacar said he was more appreciative the second time around.“I was still young,” said the 26-year-old.“As the years pass, we realise the importance of things. I feel honoured that all the work has been recognised,” he said.“It will be almost impossible to have another year like this, but I will do my best,” said the Slovenian, who picked up six individual stage wins on both the Tour de France and the Giro.Pogacar has 88 victories since joining UAE in 2019 and has a blockbuster contract running until 2030 with the Gulf-backed outfit. The 29-year-old Kopecky won 16 races and successfully retained the world title.“I really wanted to add this to my list of honours,” she said.

Gus Atkinson claimed a hat-trick before England’s batsmen let loose to power the visitors 533 runs ahead of New Zealand on Saturday and in full control of the second Test.The flagging home side will need to chase an enormous score in the fourth innings after England went to stumps at 378-5 in Wellington on day two.Captain Ben Stokes resisted any urge to declare, instead cementing England’s position of power as four batters posted half-centuries to build on their first-innings advantage of 155.Joe Root was at the crease on 73 while Stokes struck a whirlwind 35 not out against a tiring attack, after Jacob Bethell and Ben Duckett were both dismissed in the 90s.The fast-moving nature of the Test means the Black Caps should theoretically have ample time to reach any target, as they bid to square the three-match series after losing the opener in Christchurch by eight wickets.However, history is firmly against them. The highest successful fourth-innings chase at the Basin Reserve is 274, achieved by Pakistan against the hosts in 2003.New Zealand’s hopes of getting back into the Test were scuppered in the opening 40 minutes of play when they lost their last five wickets to be all out for 125. Atkinson (4-31) removed the last three wickets with successive deliveries to become the first Englishman to claim a Test hat-trick since Moeen Ali against South Africa seven years ago.The 26-year-old seamer was all smiles after bowling Nathan Smith for 14, then having Matt Henry caught in the gully and trapping Tim Southee lbw.“It was great. As a bowler you think about getting five-fors and 10-fors and that sort of thing,” Atkinson said.“To get a hat-trick, I wasn’t thinking about it too much at all but there’s not many chances to do it and I was feeling pretty good when I was running in for that third ball.“The plan this morning was to go hard at them. It worked out pretty well and the boys did really well with the bat, and we’ve got a pretty healthy lead.”Atkinson said he wasn’t aware of Stokes’ possible declaration plan but said he would be ready to go when called upon.England made batting look comparatively easy, most notably when Bethell (96) and Duckett (92) combined for an untroubled 187-run second-wicket stand. Bethell fell agonisingly short of a maiden Test ton when edging Southee to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell.The 21-year-old looked crestfallen as he exited after a 118-ball knock which featured 10 fours and three sixes.Opener Duckett was closing on his fifth Test ton when he played-on off Southee (2-72), ending an innings of 112 balls.First-Test centurion Harry Brook reached 55 before being caught in the deep off spinner Glenn Phillips while Root put some modest recent form behind him to post another batting milestone. Root became only the fourth player to reach 50 runs in 100 different Test innings. Ollie Pope fell for 10 off seamer Henry (2-76), who earlier dismissed Zak Crawley for eight, continuing a lean series for the opener.BRIEF SCORES: DAY 2England 280 and 378 for 5 (Root 73*, Stokes 35*) lead New Zealand 125 (Atkinson 4-31, Carse 4-46) by 533 runs.

Dane Paterson continued his late-career revival when he bowled South Africa into a strong position on the third day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at St George’s Park on Saturday.Paterson took a Test-best five for 71 as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 328, which gave South Africa a 30-run first innings lead. The hosts increased their advantage by scoring 191 for three by the close, an overall lead of 221. Paterson took three wickets in an over as Sri Lanka could add only 86 runs for the loss of seven wickets to their overnight total of 242 for three.Paterson, 35, played in 12 white-ball internationals followed by two Tests against England in 2019-20. That seemed to have been the extent of his international career.He had a successful stint for Nottinghamshire in England and received a call from new South African Test coach Shukri Conrad when he failed to attract a bid to play for any of the six franchises in the 2024 SA20 league.With franchise-contracted players ineligible for a series in New Zealand in February, Paterson joined a team of franchise rejects and played two Tests.Paterson performed well as the team was being outplayed.Injuries to Gerald Coetzee and Wiaan Mulder during South Africa’s win in the first Test in Durban provided an opening for Paterson in Gqeberha, where his accuracy and control proved the ideal foil to the pace of Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen. Marco Jansen made the first breakthroughs on Saturday, dismissing Angelo Mathews with the old ball and Kamindu Mendis in the first over with the second new ball.Paterson had Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva caught at second slip, then bowled Kusal Mendis, who did not offer a shot to a ball which cut back sharply. Lahiru Kumara was Paterson’s third victim in the over, spectacularly caught by a diving Jansen at gully.Opening batsman Aiden Markram made an aggressive 55 in South Africa’s second innings but the scoring rate slowed against the left-arm spin of Prabath Jayasuriya, while the Sri Lankan seam bowlers found reverse swing and made stroke play difficult.The match was still in the balance at 109 for three but Tristan Stubbs and Temba Bavuma added an unbeaten 82 before the close.Brief scores: Day ThreeSouth Africa 358 and 191-3 (A. Markram 55, T. Stubbs 36 not out, T. Bavuma 48 not out; P. Jayasuriya 2-75). Sri Lanka 328 (P. Nissanka 89, D. Chandimal 44, A. Mathews 44 not out, Kamindu Mendis 48; M. Jansen 2-100, D. Paterson 5-71, K. Maharaj 2-65).Match situation: South Africa lead by 221 runs with seven wickets remaining.

With the roar of engines, the adrenaline of high-speed overtakes, and the allure of cutting-edge technology, Formula 1 has captured global attention like never before. And nowhere is its appeal growing faster than in the Middle East. With four key races on the F1 calendar—Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island—this region is positioning itself as a major player in the global racing scene. But despite the glitz, glamor, and increasing fan interest, the Near East still lags behind when one compares it with motorsport hubs like Europe in terms of exposure, local participation, and grassroots development.So, what’s holding it back, and what can be done to turn the Middle Eastern regions into an undeniable motorsport powerhouse? Former F1 driver Robert Doornbos offers his insights, blending his expertise as a racer and TV analyst with his enthusiasm for bringing F1 closer to fans worldwide.Robert has 20 years of experience in the world of Formula 1, both on and off the track. Whether it is racing cars, building and designing racing simulators, sharing keynote speeches, or general community outreach and education, Robert brings the passion of F1 to any place he goes.One of the biggest hurdles for motorsport in the Middle East is the climate. “You can’t race in the summer obviously. It’s too harsh for both the drivers and the machines,” Robert explains. The intense heat, which can reach upwards of 50°C, has posed challenges even during cooler months, with incidents like drivers suffering from extreme dehydration and heat exhaustion during races.The seasonality limits the number of motorsport events that can be hosted annually and makes careful planning crucial. The F1 calendar has already adapted, scheduling Middle Eastern races in the cooler months like November and December, but the region’s motorsport ambitions must contend with this climate reality.But there’s more to the story than just weather.Despite its growing popularity, the region lacks the rich motorsport history of iconic venues like Silverstone or Zandvoort. “The Middle East is still relatively new to F1,” says Robert. “Tracks like Yas Marina and Jeddah are spectacular, but they don’t yet have the legacy of European circuits that have been around since the 1940s.”This absence of tradition, however, presents an opportunity to shape a uniquely Middle Eastern motorsport identity. Events like the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix have set the tone, combining racing with world-class entertainment, including performances by international artists like Eminem. These efforts turn race weekends into festivals, attracting both motorsport enthusiasts and casual fans.“There’s a lot of potential to make F1 more accessible to locals,” Robert adds. “In the Netherlands, Max Verstappen sparked national interest in F1. A similar effort here—whether through education, local heroes, or youth programs—could work wonders, and I would love to be a part of that.”Youth engagement is a critical piece of the puzzle. Go-karting, often the first step on the path to Formula 1, remains underdeveloped in the region. “There’s an enormous opportunity to invest in grassroots motorsport,” Robert notes. “Building go-kart tracks and opening coaching programs can help identify and nurture talent. Who knows? The first Middle Eastern F1 champion could be discovered this way.”With drivers like Amna Al Qubaisi, the region is already making waves. But for the region to truly thrive, more efforts are needed to nurture local talent and provide opportunities for them to compete on the world stage. According to Robert, indoor tracks, equipped with electric karts, offer a sustainable way to promote year-round racing while addressing the region’s weather constraints. “In Monaco, they’ve built an underground electric karting track,” Robert points out. “The Middle East could replicate that model—clean, fun, and accessible.”Beyond the racetrack, F1 presents vast commercial opportunities. From hospitality to technology, the sport is a magnet for innovation and investment. Companies like Aramco, a title sponsor of F1, exemplify the region’s increasing involvement. “The infrastructure around F1 isn’t just about tracks,” Robert explains. “It’s about creating ecosystems—hotels, entertainment, esports centers, and simulators—something that places like Dubai has already captured with its tourist attractions. These elements not only enhance the fan experience but also drive economic growth.”Esports, in particular, holds promise. Simulators can offer fans a taste of what it’s like to drive an F1 car, deepening their appreciation for the sport. “Simulators are a great way to attract new audiences, especially younger fans,” says Robert.The region is already making its mark with its F1 calendar. With plans for a new circuit in Saudi Arabia and ongoing investment in infrastructure, the region’s motorsport future looks bright. “Abu Dhabi has already started building its place in F1 history, especially with the dramatic 2021 finale,” Robert reflects. “Jeddah, with its record-breaking street circuit, is setting new benchmarks. But there’s still room to grow—whether by adding new tracks, promoting local talent, or embracing sustainability.”The region’s hope of seeing a Middle Eastern driver in F1, a milestone Robert believes would be transformative, will soon become a reality. The Middle East’s commitment to innovation, coupled with its financial resources and willingness to host large-scale events, makes it an exciting frontier for F1 and motorsport in general.For Robert, the potential of the Middle East in motorsport is limitless. “What I see is a region full of passion and ambition, and as F1 continues to grow here, we’ll see more local talent, more fans, and more innovation. It’s exciting, and I would love to play a part in it myself.”As the region continues to evolve, motorsport will undoubtedly be a key driver of cultural and economic development. From the fast-paced circuits to the growing grassroots scene, the Middle East’s motorsport future is indeed on the fast track.

Russian Grandmaster Andrey Esipenko and Arkadij Naiditsch of Bulgaria on Friday played a battling draw to lead a pack of six players with 3.5 points each at the Qatar Masters. Esipenko and Naiditsch are joined at the top of rankings by Armenian GM Shant Sargsyan, Iranian GM Pouya Idani, Indian GM Murali Karthikeyan and Iranian Bardiya Daneshvar after round four of the popular FIDE tournament at Aspire Zone Hall.Sargsyan drew with Idani while Karthikeyan beat Iranian FIDE Master Reza Mahdavi on Friday. After the first two rounds, Mahdavi was in the lead, having stunned Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan.Daneshvar on Friday beat Kazhgaleyev to join the group of six leading in Qatar. Also on Friday, top seed and tournament favourite Arjun Erigaisi of India played his second draw of the tournament when he shared points with Indian GM Munirethinam Pranesh. Erigaisi has 3 points in a group of 18 players with a similar tally.In another all-India clash on Friday S L Narayanan and Rithvik R Raja finished with a draw. After his draw with Esipenko, Naiditsch said on Friday: “The competition is stiff, but that only excites me. With so many top-notch players, every match will be a test. But I’m ready. I’m here to compete, to win, and to leave my mark on this tournament. The next few rounds will be crucial, and I’m determined to seize the opportunity.”He added: “I’m thrilled to be back in Qatar for my second tournament. The 2016 World Championship was a fantastic experience, and this event is no different. The organisation and technical aspects are top-notch, and the atmosphere is electric.”Qatar Chess Association (QCA) President Mohammed al-Mudahka confirmed that the tournament is fiercely contested by top-ranked players.“With four rounds completed, the race for the title is still wide open. The remaining five rounds will be crucial in determining the final standings,” al-Mudahka, who also serves as Director of International Relations at FIDE, said on Friday.“The event features many experienced players, including Indian star Arjun and defending champion Nodirbek from Uzbekistan,” he said. “Let me tell you, the competition is heating up,” said al-Mudahka with a smile. “With four rounds down, we can expect some thrilling action.”Al-Mudahka emphasised the importance of hosting the Qatar Masters in Doha for home players. “I have said this many times. This tournament is a great opportunity for our players to learn from and compete against some of the world’s best,” he added.Key resultsArmenian GM Shant Sargsyan drew with Iranian GM Pouya IdaniIran’s Bardiya Daneshvar beat Murtas Kazhgaleyev of KazakhstanIndian GM Murali Karthikeyan beat Iranian IM Reza MahdaviRussia’s Andrey Esipenko drew with Arkadij Naiditsch of BulgariaIranian Bardiya Daneshvar beat GM Murtas Kazhgaleyev of KazakhstanSaturday’s clashes among the points leaders: Andrey Esipenko vs Bardiya DaneshvarShant Sargsyan vs Arkadij NaiditschPouya Idani vs Murali KarthikeyanOther key games on Saturday:• Surya Shekhar Ganguly vs Arjun Erigaisi• Lorenzo Lodici vs Nodirbek Yakubboev

Al Sadd and Al Ahli are set for a thrilling showdown on Saturday at Al Thumama Stadium as both sides aim to stay in contention for the Qatar Stars League title. The stakes are high, with the two teams tied at 21 points in the standings, separated only by goal difference in second and third places, respectively.League leaders Al Duhail, with 25 points, sit four points ahead, making this fixture crucial for Al Sadd and Al Ahli to keep the title race alive. Fresh off a dramatic 2-1 victory over Al Nassr in the AFC Champions League Elite, Al Sadd come into this encounter riding high on confidence. However, the tight schedule has left little time for recovery, a concern highlighted by coach Felix Sanchez. “The victory against Al Nassr gives us confidence, but we must quickly shift our focus to Al Ahli,” Sanchez said. “They are having a fantastic season, and if we want to compete for the title, we can’t afford to drop points.”The Wolves will bank on the dynamic trio of Akram Afif, Cristo Perez, and captain Hassan al-Haydos to provide attacking firepower, while Tareq Salman and Meshaal Barsham will anchor the defence.Sanchez added: “Winning against a team like Al Nassr gives us confidence, but now we must focus on our next match. We have a short time to recover, so we need to be very focused for the Al Ahli game.”Under Igor Biscan’s guidance, Al Ahli have transformed into a formidable unit this season. The Brigadiers’ blend of tactical discipline and attacking flair has seen them emerge as genuine contenders. The return of Julian Draxler from injury has further bolstered their prospects.Biscan expressed his respect for the opposition but maintained focus on his team’s objectives. “I have full respect for Al Sadd; they are one of the strongest teams and include players who play in national teams. As Al Ahli coach, I only look at the match from one perspective, which is to provide a distinguished level that leads to victory,” he said.Draxler, pivotal in Al Ahli’s resurgence, emphasized the positive team spirit. “The atmosphere in the squad is fantastic. We are all working towards making this season special for our fans,” the German playmaker said.Al Ahli’s attacking line, featuring Draxler, Driss Fettouhi, and Jassem Omar, will aim to challenge Al Sadd’s defensive resolve in what promises to be a tightly contested battle.Later on Saturday, league leaders Al Duhail face bottom-placed Al Khor at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium. With 25 points from 10 matches, Al Duhail are determined to widen the gap at the top, while Al Khor are desperate for their first win of the season.Coach Christophe Galtier stressed the importance of maintaining focus, despite the apparent mismatch. “These games can be deceptive. We must impose our style and maintain focus to secure the win,” he said.“We played a great match against Al Arabi and achieved a big win, but we must start the match against Al Khor with all seriousness in order to collect the full points of the match. We must work seriously and focus in such matches, and as I mentioned, the match is not easy and we learned a lesson from the Al Khor and Al Sadd matches after Al Khor scored two consecutive goals despite Al Sadd’s return, but we must benefit from such situations and learn the lesson and impose our style in order to win the league,” the Frenchman added.The Red Knights will look to their potent attacking trio of Almoez Ali, Michael Olunga, and Edmilson Junior to dismantle Al Khor’s defence. Meanwhile, Al Khor coach Mehdi Nafti, aware of his side’s struggles, is looking to the duo of Yohan Boli and Ayman Hussein to inspire an upset.“We must work double hard and improve the squad to move out of the danger zone,” Nafti admitted, hinting at reinforcements in the upcoming transfer window.The third match of the day sees Qatar SC host Al Rayyan at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium. Both teams are locked at 10 points in the standings, making this a crucial tie for improving their positions.Qatar SC, reeling from a loss to Al Shahania, aim to bounce back by leveraging the experience of Sebastian Soria, Badr Benoun, and Carlinhos. Coach Youssef Safri has focused on addressing defensive weaknesses in training.Al Rayyan, under Younes Ali, are equally eager to recover from a defeat to Al Shamal. With stars like Achraf Bencharki, Trezeguet, and Thiago Mendes, they pose a formidable threat to Qatar SC’s aspirations.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said star forward Vinicius Junior will be back from injury quicker than expected to face Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday.The Brazilian winger suffered a hamstring injury in November which was expected to keep him out until the Intercontinental Cup final on December 18. However Vinicius was able to train on Friday and Ancelotti said he would return next week, missing today’s La Liga visit to face Girona.“Vini has recovered from his injury very well, he will not be ready for tomorrow but he will be for the next Champions League game,” Ancelotti said. Vinicius’ return bolsters a Madrid side which has suffered three defeats in their opening five European matches, sitting 24th in the Champions League group table.The coach said defender David Alaba, who also trained with the team, was finding fitness after a long-term knee injury and could return in January. With Vinicius sidelined, even more focus has been cast on misfiring superstar striker Kylian Mbappe after his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.The French forward missed penalties in defeats by Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao in the past fortnight and is struggling to find his best form, with 10 goals in his first 20 matches across all competitions. Mbappe posted on social media network Instagram to say he would “change this situation” and show his true colours.“He is conscious (of it), the post he put out after the game is that of a player who knows what he is doing and also what he can do, and will do,” said Ancelotti. “Obviously we’re with him, he’s not at his best level, but there are many players who are not at their best levels and don’t know it – he does know it.”Ancelotti said he was encouraged by Mbappe’s performances in recent La Liga matches against Getafe and Athletic. “In the last couple of games in terms of intensity he improved a lot,” said the coach, citing Mbappe’s sprinting statistics. However Ancelotti accepted resting the 25-year-old might also help him at some point. “We have to support him, but supporting him does not mean he has to play all the games. Sometimes it could be that a day of rest could be good for him.”The coach felt he himself was also being attacked too much over Madrid’s recent form, although admitted he had “to accept” some criticism. “Like stress, criticism is fuel to try and do better,” added Ancelotti. Leaders Barcelona visit Real Betis earlier today, aiming to move seven points clear of Madrid before kick-off at Montilivi. Diego Simeone’s in-form Atletico Madrid, third, welcome Sevilla on tomorrow night.Fixtures (all times GMT): Saturday: Las Palmas v Valladolid (1300), Real Betis v Barcelona (1515), Valencia v Rayo Vallecano (1730), Girona v Real Madrid (2000)Sunday: Leganes v Real Sociedad (1300), Athletic Bilbao v Villarreal (1515), Osasuna v Alaves (1730), Atletico Madrid v Sevilla (2000)Monday: Getafe v Espanyol (2000)

Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic will be eligible for their home fixture against Bologna in Serie A today, coach Thiago Motta said before meeting his former side for the first time. Vlahovic suffered a muscle problem in his left thigh during November’s international break and has been sidelined since a trip to AC Milan on Nov. 23. “Dusan will be in the group tomorrow. He has trained with the team this week,” Motta told a press conference.“We are happy with his return, that he can do what he likes. It’s his job to go on the pitch and play football. Tomorrow there will be Dusan and there will also be (midfielder Vasilije) Adzic, and (defender Nicolo) Savona will also return, who was missing from the last match.”Still unavailable remain defenders Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal, midfielders Nico Gonzalez and Douglas Luiz, and forwards Arkadiusz Milik and Weston McKennie, Motta added. The 42-year-old coach will face his former side Bologna for the first time after leaving the club to join Juventus in June.“Bologna are doing well and are a great team,” Motta said. “(But) we have to focus on what we have to do, and many other things that we should avoid. They play very vertically and press a lot. They will put a lot of intensity.”Motta led Bologna to the Champions League for the first time in 60 years during his two-year spell. “In Bologna I lived two wonderful years, both on a personal and sporting level,” he added.Sitting sixth in the standings with 26 points – six off leaders Napoli – Juventus have missed out on opportunities to close the gap to the top of the table, drawing four of their last six Serie A games. They have also endured a scoring drought, having found the net once in their last three games across all competitions.“We’re coming off a few games that we haven’t won,” Motta said. “In some we’ve had good performances, but we need to improve. We can’t just focus on one phase of the game to get the result we want. Today our offensive phase is everyone’s responsibility, starting with our goalkeeper. The more we arrive with the right men up front, the more likely we are to score.“At the same time we need to defend well tomorrow and prevent our opponent from creating anything.”

Lionel Messi was named Major League Soccer’s Most Valuable Player on Friday after leading Inter Miami to a record-breaking regular season campaign.The Argentine superstar was handed the accolade after his performances helped Miami to a record regular season points tally, earning the club its first ever Supporters Shield. The 37-year-old maestro finished the regular season with a league-leading 36 goal contributions after netting 20 goals and 16 assists.Messi’s MVP award comes despite an injury-hit campaign that saw him make only 19 appearances this year. Miami and Messi’s season ultimately fizzled out, when the team suffered a shock first-round defeat in the MLS Cup playoffs.Messi is the 10th South American to win the MVP, and the fifth from Argentina after Luciano Acosta, Diego Valeri, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, and Christian Gomez. Messi was presented with the award in a ceremony at Inter’s Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale alongside Miami Academy players.“Truly, it is an honour for me to receive this award from all of you,” Messi told the Academy players in a video posted on the team’s website. “It’s a source of pride to watch you all train. I’m very happy t be here every day. I’m happy to be in this city, in this club that is growing... I invite you to keep fighting and striving for your dreams.”MLS commissioner Don Garber said Messi brought an unprecedented touch of football stardom to the league, which will conclude its season on Saturday with the MLS Cup final between LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls in Los Angeles. “To have the best player in the world be the best player in Major League Soccer is something that dreams are made of for all of us,” Garber said.