27 Sports Sunday, September 16, 2018 Barca fight back to beat Real Sociedad after Atletico held Borja Garces equalises with virtually the last kick of the game MADRID: Barcelona came from behind to beat Real Stegen. Within minutes, they were behind, as two Sociedad yesterday as Atletico Madrid lost further crosses caused havoc in Real Sociedad’s defence, with ground in the La Liga title race by drawing at home to Suarez and Dembele perfectly placed to pounce. Barca Eibar. Seven points is now the gap between Atleti and coach Ernesto Valverde had made the surprise decision Barca, who were in danger of slipping up themselves to omit Sergio Busquets from his starting line-up, pre- when Aritz Elustondo put Real Sociedad in front at sumably with Tuesday’s Champions League opener Anoeta. against PSV Eindhoven in mind. But the hosts missed a series of excellent chances But it was testament to the hosts’ performance that and paid the price, as two goals in three minutes from Busquets was called upon in the second period after Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele clinched a hard- Philippe Coutinho had also been introduced at half- fought 2-1 win. “The league is defined by these kind of time. “In the first half they closed us down well but games,” Suarez said afterwards. “Last year we also Philippe coming on in the second half helped changed came back from 2-0 after many years without winning the dynamics,” Suarez said. here. The reaction says a lot about this team.” Simeone might also have liked to keep one eye on Atletico rallied too, Borja Garces equalising with vir- their Champions League game against Monaco on tually the last kick of the game, but there were no cele- Tuesday, but a victory was much-needed following brations at the Wanda Metropolitano. Garces’ strike defeat to Celta Vigo two weeks ago. Antoine was enough only to rescue a 1-1 draw for Diego Griezmann and Diego Costa, however, were both slop- Simeone’s side, who had looked on course for defeat py in the final third and Eibar might even have scored when Eibar’s Sergi Enrich bundled home in the 87th earlier, twice denied by the woodwork. minute. Barcelona might easily have dropped points too It means Atleti have now recorded their worst league had their opponents been more clinical. Mikel start since 2009. “I would worry if we had not created Oyarzabal and Theo Hernandez both could have made those chances to score,” Simeone said. “The team also it 2-0 after half-time but the former blazed over and the showed a reaction after their goal. We continued to SAN SEBASTIAN: Barcelona’s Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic (R) jumps for the ball during the Spanish league latter was denied by Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter push forward and managed to take a point.” — AFP football match between Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian yesterday. —AFP five Premier League games, and, while there appeared return pass low into the far corner. Hazard hat-trick plenty to frustrate the Italian as he bounced around on the Sarri hailed Alonso as arguably the world’s best left- touchline, the hosts had far too much quality for the visi- back after the Spaniard was involved in both goals in a 2-0 tors. Cardiff had picked up just two points in 0-0 draws win over Bournemouth last time out. And Alonso started sees off Cardiff to with a man advantage against Newcastle and Huddersfield the move for Chelsea’s second as he played in Pedro and Liverpool punish prior to their visit to the capital. But they had already his cross was expertly steered by Giroud in Hazard’s path shown a threat from set-pieces when Bamba headed just to score via a deflection. send Chelsea top wide from a corner before taking the lead. Having got in front, Chelsea took their foot off the gas sloppy Spurs for Chelsea didn’t heed that warning as a well-worked Joe at the start of the second-half and could have been made Ralls free-kick was headed across goal by Sean Morrison to pay when Ralls and Bobby Reid shot just wide from the LONDON: Eden Hazard scored a hat-trick as Chelsea and bundled in at the back post by Bamba. The hosts near- edge of the area. Chelsea rebuffed interest from Spanish fifth straight win continued their perfect start under Maurizio Sarri to move ly hit back immediately and in some style as backheels giants Real Madrid and Barcelona for Hazard and Willian top of the Premier League with a 4-1 win over Cardiff at from Pedro Rodriguez and Olivier Giroud sent Mateo in the summer. And that resilience could yet field an unlike- LONDON: Liverpool extended their perfect start to Stamford Bridge yesterday. Sol Bamba’s opener shocked Kovavic clear on goal, but the Croatian was denied his first ly title challenge after finishing 30 points adrift of the season as goals from Georginio Wijnaldum and Sarri’s men into life, but the Belgian was too hot for Cardiff Chelsea goal by a fine save from Neil Etheridge. Manchester City last season as they took the game away Roberto Firmino ensured the Premier League leaders to handle with a quickfire double just before half-time. from Cardiff in the final 10 minutes. UNLIKELY TITLE CHALLENGE punished woeful Tottenham with a 2-1 win yesterday. Hazard completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot Chelsea finally had breathing space when Willian was Jurgen Klopp’s side avenged last season’s 4-1 thrash- before Willian’s stunning strike completed the rout seven Chelsea’s left flank was a constant threat as Hazard felled inside the area by Bamba and Hazard sent Etheridge ing at Tottenham with a large helping hand from their minutes from time. Victory moves Chelsea above Liverpool dovetailed with the rampaging Marcos Alonso from left- the wrong way from the penalty spot. Moments later error-prone hosts. on goal difference at the top of the table, whilst Cardiff back. However, it was when Hazard moved momentarily to Willian produced his own moment of magic with a won- Wijnaldum opened the scoring late in the first half remain without a win on their return to the top flight. the right that the hosts levelled when he dummied a ball derful curling effort from 20 yards that bent into the top at Wembley after a mistake from Tottenham goal- Sarri becomes just the fourth manager to win his first into the path of Giroud and then fired the Frenchman’s corner. —AFP keeper Michel Vorm. Firmino wrapped up Liverpool’s fifth successive win soon after the interval when the Brazil forward tapped in after more sloppy defending and another Vorm misjudgement. Erik Lamela got one back for Tottenham in stop- Matches on TV page-time, but it was too late to rescue an unde- (Local Timings) served draw. This mature display was a real statement of intent by Liverpool, who have made their best start ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE since 1990-91 as they chase a first English title since Wolverhampton Wanderers v Burnley 15:30 1989-90. Not for the first time this season, the Reds triumphed through hard work, a superbly drilled beIN SPORTS HD 2 defence and opportunistic finishing rather than repli- Everton v West Ham United 18:00 cating the kind of swaggering play that took them to beIN SPORTS HD 2 the Champions League final last season. But Klopp, a winner at Wembley for the first time, won’t be com- SPANISH LEAGUE plaining after securing a rare away victory at one of CD Leganes v Villarreal CF 13:00 their top six rivals, proving they are likely to be the beIN SPORTS HD 3 biggest threat to champions Manchester City. RCD Espanyol v Levante 17:15 For Tottenham, this was a dispiriting second suc- beIN SPORTS HD 3 cessive defeat that served as a major blow to their Real Valladolid v Deportivo Alaves 19:30 own title ambitions. Mauricio Pochettino had accused beIN SPORTS HD 3 Tottenham of treating their 2-1 loss at Watford like a Sevilla FC v Getafe CF 21:45 “testimonial”. beIN SPORTS HD 3 Challenging his players to show a killer instinct, Pochettino was expecting a fired-up response. But ITALIAN CALCIO LEAGUE instead Tottenham almost fell behind after less than AS Roma v AC Chievo Verona 13:30 60 seconds. When James Milner swung a cross into beIN SPORTS NEWCASTLE: Newcastle United’s Argentinian defender Federico Fernandez (L) vies with Arsenal’s Gabonese striker the Tottenham penalty area, Firmino and Sadio Mane Juventus FC v US Sassuolo Calcio 16:00 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and were both allowed to make unchecked runs by beIN SPORTS HD 4 Arsenal at St James’ Park in Newcastleupon-Tyne, north east England yesterday.— AFP Pochettino’s sleepy defence. Udinese Calcio v Torino FC 16:00 Firmino, in an onside position, cleverly flicked his shot across Vorm and towards the far corner, only for beIN SPORTS games of a Premier League season. Mane to be ruled offside as he tried to get the last Genoa CFC v Bologna FC 16:00 But England manager Gareth Southgate would have Arsenal on the rise touch. Tottenham’s lethargy wasn’t restricted to their beIN SPORTS HD 12 EN been equally frustrated watching two international hope- fuls at St James’ Park, as midfielder Jonjo Shelvey was an defenders and England midfielder Eric Dier was for- Empoli v SS Lazio 19:00 tunate to get away with a terrible backpass that gift- beIN SPORTS HD 4 under Emery as unused substitute after his recent injury layoff, while cen- tre-back Jamaal Lascelles failed to reappear for the sec- ed a chance to Mohamed Salah.