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[ad_1] BARCELONA: Real Madrid cruised to a 4-1 win over Villarreal on Sunday to move top of La Liga but their night was tarnished when defender David Alaba suffered a serious knee injury. Carlo Ancelotti's side are a point ahead of Catalan minnows Girona , who host Alaves on Monday and will be looking to reclaim pole position. Spain's top scorer Jude Bellingham broke the deadlock for Madrid with his 13th league goal of the season before Rodrygo Goes doubled their lead. Villarreal pulled one back through Jose Luis Morales, but Brahim Diaz scored a superb solo goal to restore Madrid's advantage. Luka Modric drove home the fourth as Madrid fans celebrated a sizeable victory in their final home match of the year. Madrid's joy was tempered by Alaba's injury, confirmed by the club in a statement, saying the defender needs surgery. The Austrian joins a long list of players out, including Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao and Eduardo Camavinga, all with knee inj

[ad_1] BARCELONA: Raphinha's strike earned Barcelona an agonising 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday to restore their nine-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. Real Sociedad stumbled to a 1-1 draw at Real Mallorca, with their bid to finish in the top four losing steam at an alarming rate. Struggling Sevilla earned an important 2-1 win over Almeria to climb to 13th, two points clear of the relegation zone, leaving their opponents 19th. In Barcelona's first game after being charged with corruption by Spanish prosecutors, they shut out the noise and took another step towards their first title since 2019. The Catalans secured their 19th clean sheet in 25 La Liga games this season as they held on to earn their ninth 1-0 win of the season, keeping second-placed Madrid at arm's length after the champions beat Espanyol on Saturday. Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made some superb saves in the second half and Alex Berenguer struck the post, but Athl

[ad_1] France's full-back Thomas Ramos catches the ball during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between France and New Zealand at Stade de France in Paris on September 8, 2023. — AFP The French team won the opening match of the Rugby World Cup at a sold-out Stade de France beating New Zealand 27-13 Friday as Thomas Ramos secured 17 to help the team bag victory.   Thomas Ramos was impressive with the boot as the hosts, leading contenders for the title, started the tournament in style. Winger Mark Talea claimed two tries for three-time winners All Blacks, who had led 13-9 with more than half an hour to play in hot and humid conditions in Paris. "We found it hard to get going especially with the pressure of an opening match at home and everything that followed," France captain Antoine Dupont said. "There was an All Black team who put us under a lot of pressure at rucks but we managed to be serious and rigorous throughout the match and we finished it

[ad_1] MONACO: Lewis Hamilton said he was "really happy" with the Mercedes upgrades package that improved his car and helped him finish fourth ahead of team-mate George Russell in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix. "I'm really happy - we've moved forwards," said the seven-time world champion. "Coming into this weekend, I didn't know where we would stand so to take fourth and fifth is good points for the team - a huge thank you to everyone at the factory for the upgrades on our car." Referring to the conditions in a challenging race in changing conditions, he added: "We kept it in one piece, we brought it home. We beat the Ferraris and we really got some great points as a team. "And now we go to Barcelona which is the best circuit for us. It was difficult to know here - the car felt stiff, there are a lot of bumps and it's tricky, but I noticed one particular part of the car that was better, but I don't know how that

[ad_1] Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood has revealed the batting order for the upcoming three-match Test series against Australia, which will see him playing at number three. Shan Masood talked to the media after the trophy unveiling ceremony for the four-day match between Pakistan and Australian Prime Minister XI, which is set to start tomorrow. The newly appointed Pakistan’s Test skipper stated that Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique will continue to open the innings while Babar Azam will bat at number four. “We will continue with the same batting order from the last Test series. Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique are settled as opening batters for over a year,” said Shan Masood. “Babar Azam is our main batter and he has been playing at number four in Test cricket, so we will plan our batting around him.” Shan Masood further opened up about his position and the role of two wicketkeepers in the squad. “I played at number three since my comeback to the Test side, so I wi

[ad_1] SEPANG: Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin will take their MotoGP title duel to the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang on Sunday, with the championship too close to call with three races left. Italy's Bagnaia tops the standings on 389 points, just ahead of Martin on 376, with the Spaniard having closed the gap last time out with a thrilling victory in Thailand. Marco Bezzecchi is mathematically still alive in the world championship fight in third, on 310 points, but realistically it is a straight shootout between the top two. A maximum of 111 points are up for grabs over the next three weekends, including the sprint races. Ducati's Bagnaia is the reigning title-holder but Martin – who is chasing his first world crown – has gradually reeled in his rival over the second half of the 20-event season. The Pramac rider ramped up the pressure by winning his seventh sprint race of the campaign in Thailand and followed that up by sealing a nail-biting fourth grand prix

[ad_1] Former Australian cricket star Michael Clarke has landed a new opportunity as a commentator for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after a video of him in an altercation with his girlfriend went viral. The incident led to Clarke being dropped by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the Border Gavaskar Trophy. ALSO READ:  Ahmed Shehzad vows to make International comeback for Pakistan Clarke, who led Australia to victory in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, expressed his excitement about the new opportunity.  “I have just been asked to commentate in the PSL, the Pakistan Super League, and you should see the internationals they have got,” Clarke said.  The 41-year-old is one of the best modern-day cricketers from Down Under. He won the 2007 and 2015 World Cups, leading Australia to the title eight years later. Clarke has apologized for his behavior and is now focusing on his commentary career.  “I’m absolutely gutted I’ve put people I hold in the highest reg

[ad_1] WASHINGTON: Kathy Whitworth, the most successful LPGA golfer with a record 88 titles, has died at the age of 83, the women's tour announced Sunday. Her wins are six more than Sam Snead and Tiger Woods, who hold the career record for the men's game. "It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that LPGA Hall of Famer Kathy Whitworth has died at the age of 83," the tour said on its official Twitter account. A statement on the LPGA's website by Bettye Odle, Whitworth's long-time partner, said that "Kathy passed suddenly Saturday night celebrating Christmas Eve with family and friends." As well as her 88 tournament victories – which included six majors – Whitworth was runner-up 93 times in a career which started in 1959. "I was really fortunate in that I knew what I wanted to do," Whitworth once said. "Golf just grabbed me by the throat. I can't tell you how much I loved it. I used to think everyone knew what

[ad_1] Cricketer sported a sticker on his bat and shoes showing a black dove and the words 01:UDHR today in support of Gaza Australian batsman Usman Khawaja prepares to bat in the nets during a practice session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne on December 24, 2023, ahead of the second cricket Test match against Pakistan. His shoes displaying a dove symbol is visible on the image at the right. — AFP Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja was Sunday denied permission by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to use a peace symbol on his bat and shoes during the Boxing Day match against Pakistan. According to AFP , Khawaja was seen sporting a sticker on his bat and shoes showing a black dove and the words 01:UDHR — a reference to Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — during a practice session ahead of Australia's second Test match with Pakistan slated to take place on December 26 (Tuesday) in Melbourne. In recent days, the Australian media

[ad_1] JOHANNESBURG: World Cup history-makers Morocco will host minnows Eritrea – 181 places lower in the FIFA rankings – when they start their quest for a place at the 2026 tournament. The first two of 10 matchdays in Africa are scheduled for November 13-21 and, after Eritrea, the first semi-finalists from Africa face a potentially tricky visit to improving Tanzania. Last December in Qatar, Morocco became only the third country outside of Europe and South America to reach the World Cup semi-finals, emulating the United States and South Korea. They shocked Belgium and held Croatia in the group stage, then eliminated Spain and Portugal in knockout matches before falling to France. In 16 pre-Qatar World Cup matches spanning five tournaments, the north Africans had won only two and suffered nine defeats. Morocco were given little chance of surviving the first round in Qatar, especially after a late change of coaches with local Walid Regragui succeeding Bosnian Vahid Halilhod

[ad_1] LONDON: American tennis is in good hands with Coco Gauff , U.S. Open tournament director Stacey Allaster has told Reuters as the charismatic teen looks to end her breakthrough year on a high. Gauff mounted a fierce comeback to beat Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in the U.S. Open final, claiming her first Grand Slam title and her place in American tennis royalty. The triumph came amid a 16-match winning streak for Gauff that ended in the China Open semi-final last month at the hands of old foe Iga Swiatek of Poland. "The next generation has arrived and stood on the shoulders of the great Serena Williams and Venus Williams," said Allaster, the chief executive, Professional Tennis, with the USTA. "It feels like she's been around for a long time. She's only 19... She is special. She is humble and kind, she's hardworking. And she is very, very focused on winning." The 19-year-old proved as captivating to fans as the idols who inspired her growin

[ad_1] Ashwin's spin magic decimates West Indies in first Test. Twitter/ESPNcricinfo Ravichandran Ashwin led India to a resounding innings and 141-run win over West Indies in the first Test in Dominica in a remarkable display of skill and dominance.  Ashwin's incredible seven-wicket haul in the second innings showcased his unwavering control over an underwhelming West Indies team. The victory not only marked India's largest margin of triumph in a Test match in the West Indies but also extended their unbeaten streak against the Caribbean side to over two decades. With India declaring their first innings at 421 for five, an improved batting performance was expected from the West Indies. However, they faltered under Ashwin's relentless bowling attack, collapsing to a meager 130 all out in just 50 overs. Ashwin's exceptional figures of seven for 71 in 21.3 overs, his best in an overseas Test, demonstrated his unrivaled prowess with the ball. The match was furthe

[ad_1] World Junior Squash Champion Hamza Khan celebrates his victory during the WSF World Junior Squash Championships Men's Final on July 23, 2023. — Twitter/@WorldSquash Khan beat Egypt's Mohamed Zakaria to bag championship title. Teenager bemoans there is "more support for cricket" in Pakistan. Athlete needs "financial support" to excel in sport. After his breakthrough victory for Pakistan in the WSF World Junior Championship in Melbourne, champion Hamza Khan expressed joy but lamented the lack of support during the early days of his career and when he was going through a bad patch. Khan, on Sunday, claimed the championship title bringing it to Pakistan after a 37-year hiatus following the footsteps of former champions Sohail Qaisar and Jansher Khan in 1982 and 1986, respectively. He beat Egypt's Mohamed Zakaria to reclaim the nation's long-lost reign in the world of squash. Speaking during an interview for Geo News programme, Geo Pakist

[ad_1] The six HBL Pakistan Super League franchises beefed up their squads in the replacement draft that took place over a conference call on Wednesday. The six teams added players to their squads in the third and fourth supplementary pick rounds before naming replacements for the players who were partially or fully unavailable. Each side could pick a maximum of one foreign cricketer in the two supplementary rounds. Peshawar Zalmi, who had reserved their pick in the second supplementary round in the HBL PSL 8 Player Draft in December, picked fast bowler Khurram Shahzad. In the first pick of the third supplementary round, Peshawar Zalmi picked Haris Sohail, who recently made a comeback to the Pakistan ODI side. Lahore Qalandars, who had the second pick, named Ahsan Bhatti, a left-arm spin all-rounder and product of their player development programme. Islamabad United and Karachi Kings picked Tom Curran and Ben Cutting, who played for Peshawar Zalmi last season, respectively. Q

[ad_1] New Zealand's Ajaz Patel plays a shot. — PCB New Zealand add 140 runs to their overnight total. Abrar Ahmed bags four wickets. First Test match ended in draw. KARACHI: Pakistan on Tuesday dismissed New Zealand for 449 after a frustrating 10th wicket stand bothered the Green Shirts on the second day of the Karachi  Test  being played at the National Bank Cricket Arena.  New Zealand's Matt Henry and Ajaz Patel put up a 104-run partnership for the last wicket to frustrate Pakistan.  Resuming on 309-6, New Zealand added 140 runs to their overnight total. The two-match series is tied after the first Test, also in Karachi, ended in a draw. Naseem took the day's first wicket when he bowled Ish Sodhi for 11 — a ball that cut through sharply and beat the batter completely. Blundell, who was 30 overnight, reached his fifty with a boundary and a single off Abrar Ahmed. He hit six boundaries in his 51 before he was bowled by Ahmed. The spinner then had Tim Southee

[ad_1] Urge American authorities to allow Serbian to play in country despite being unvaccinated LOS ANGELES: Novak Djokovic 's bid to gain entry to the United States for ATP events at Indian wells and Miami received support from the US Tennis Association and US Open organizers on Friday. The Serbian star is currently barred from entering the United States because he is unvaccinated against Covid-19, but has petitioned US authorities for special permission to enter. The US Open Twitter feed featured a post on Friday saying American tennis authorities hoped he would be allowed to enter. "Novak Djokovic is one the greatest champions our sport has ever seen," the post said. "The USTA and US Open are hopeful that Novak is successful in his petition to enter the country, and that the fans will be able to see him back in action at Indian Wells and Miami." The Indian Wells ATP 1000 event begins next Wednesday in the California desert and is followed by the

[ad_1] In 2003, Javier Mascherano made his full debut for Argentina before he had even played a senior game for River Plate . Argentina knew they had a special player on their hands. At the start of the year, Mascherano had given an extended display of his potential in the South American Under-20 Championship -- a tournament that probably does not receive the attention that it deserves. Normally held every two years, the competition kicks off on Thursday and runs through until Feb. 12. after being cancelled in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last version was in 2019 and graduates from that tournament were present in all of the South American squads at the 2022 World Cup. Argentina's newly crowned world champion Julian Alvarez , for example, was on show four years ago, as were Darwin Nunez of Uruguay and Rodrygo of Brazil -- plus five of Ecuador 's squad. Editor's Picks 2 Related Ecuador were shock winners of the tournament four years ago and went on to fini

[ad_1] Join Fox News for access to this content Plus get unlimited access to thousands of articles, videos and more with your free account! Please enter a valid email address. By entering your email, you are agreeing to Fox News Terms of Service and Privacy Policy , which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive . To access the content, check your email and follow the instructions provided. Hockey players will take goals whenever they can get them, but one AHL player probably didn’t want his latest to happen the way it did.  The Utica Comets, the AHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils , played the Buffalo Sabres’ affiliate, the Rochester Americans, this past Friday night when Comets forward Graeme Clarke skated toward goal and lifted a wrist shot toward net.  The only problem was his teammate, Joe Gambardella, was in front of the net and the puck was heading straight toward his face. It ended up making contact with it, but the result wasn’t just a bloody mouth.  CLI

[ad_1] LONDON: Arsenal shrugged off Takehiro Tomiyasu's red card to extend their perfect start to the Premier League season as Martin Odegaard sealed a 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace on Monday. Odegaard's second-half penalty at Selhurst Park put Arsenal on course for their second successive win. But Mikel Arteta's side had to dig deep to preserve the points after Japan defender Tomiyasu was controversially sent off for a second yellow card midway through the second half. Tomiyasu had been booked for taking too long over a throw-in before his dismissal for making minimal contact on Jordan Ayew. Arteta was delighted with the way Arsenal refused to surrender their lead as they moved up to third place, behind leaders Brighton and second-placed Manchester City on goal difference. "Great win. I'm so happy. To play 30 minutes away from home with 10 men is extremely difficult," Arteta said. "Some players were suffering physically. The subs wer

[ad_1] Nov 30, 2023, 09:58 AM ET The Euro 2024 match ball.  TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images The stage is almost set for Euro 2024 , which begins on June 14 through to the final on July 14. Here's how the finals draw will work. When is the Euro 2024 finals draw? The draw ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. GMT, midday ET in Hamburg, Germany on Saturday, Dec. 2. Who has qualified for the finals? So far, 21 of the 24 finalists are known. You can check out who's in, who's out and who can still make it . How does the draw seeding work? Hosts Germany will take a place in Pot 1, as is always the protocol. The 20 teams to have qualified are then seeded in order of their position and points gained in qualifying. The five group winners with the most points join Germany in Pot 1. Pot 2 contains the five remaining group winners, plus the best runners-up. Pot 3 has the runners-up ranked 2 through to 7. Pot 4 has the remaining three runners-up, plus the winners of each of the three pl