Established 1961 Sport

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2017

Hamilton crowned F1 Russia’s Zagitova takes gold Duckett dropped, suspended 12champion at royal palace 13 in debut Grand Prix Final 14 by England after bar incident

LONDON: Chelsea’s French midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko (3rd L) watches as West Ham United’s English midfielder (C) falls over West Ham United’s Argentinian defender Pablo Zabaleta during the English football match between West Ham United and Chelsea at The London Stadium. — AFP Marko scores first goal for West Ham Conte says Chelsea no longer in title race after defeat LONDON: Chelsea coach Antonio Conte said his side part of the season you can lose once or twice.” and Eden Hazard wasted a chance moments later. close at City as well,” he said, referring to were no longer in the Premier League title race after Particularly galling for Conte was the fact that three of Chelsea struggled for much of the match to find a last Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to the leaders. Despite the they lost 1-0 to West Ham United yesterday, leaving the the four defeats have come way through a West Ham improvement since Moyes replaced Slaven Bilic as champions 11 points adrift of runaway leaders against clubs which would defence that did not con- coach in November, West Ham remain in the relega- Manchester City who play today. normally be considered rel- cede a goal for the first time tion zone. Chelsea’s Conte said his players looked Marko Arnautovic scored his first goal since he atively easy opposition for since September. West Ham tired after a mid-week draw in the Champions League joined West Ham in July after swapping passes with Chelsea-Burnley on the Moyes praise side manager Moyes praised his with Atletico Madrid and he again hinted at his frus- Manuel Lanzini on the edge of the Chelsea penalty area opening day of the season, side for a “completely disci- tration that his squad of players were not strong and curling a low shot beyond Thibaut Courtois in the Crystal Palace and now for ‘organised plined, organised perform- enough to challenge for domestic and European hon- sixth minute of the London derby. West Ham. ance” which had revolved ours this season. The Italian reportedly disagreed with Conte brought on the attack-minded Pedro, Victor Chelsea also lost at home performance’ around giving Chelsea little the club’s top officials in the close season about sign- Moses and Willian as second-half substitutes but to Manchester City, who room on the ball and catch- ings for this campaign. “I think it is better to talk to Chelsea failed to break down a West Ham defence that visit Manchester United ing them on the break people in the club and then give my opinion,” he said looks much sturdier under new manager . today. The champions were through Arnautovic and when asked if he wanted to sign more players in the “To lose four games in 16 games, it means you are left to rue some poor finish- Michail Antonio. January transfer window. Conte added: “The last not in the title race,” Conte said. “My experience of this ing against West Ham in the closing stages as Alvaro “The game plan we set up worked, everything we decision was with the club. I can give my opinion but is if you want to stay in the race for the title, in the first Morata blazed wide when he finally found some space went about we knew how to engage, and we were very the decision is of the club.” — Reuters

into third. Barca can regain their eight-point power to beat Sergio Rico after Jesus Navas Ronaldo stars as advantage over Real when they visit Villarreal handled inside his own area. today. Real’s spirits were lifted even before Only a fine reaction save from Rico pre- kick-off as Ronaldo showed off his record- vented Ronaldo completing a first-half hat- rejuvenated Real equalling fifth Ballon d’Or to an adoring trick moments later. Santiago Bernabeu. There had been concern However, the Madrid goals kept coming thrash Sevilla 5-0 in Madrid ranks all week at the European before half-time as a lovely one-two on the champions’ lack of defensive options with counter-attack between Kroos and Lucas Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal and Casemiro all Vazquez left the German midfielder with a MADRID: Real Madrid sent a warning to suspended and Raphael Varane injured. simple finish. Hakimi then made it five with his Barcelona just two weeks ahead of El Clasico However, it was Sevilla who looked like the first Madrid goal from a narrow angle after by storming back into form as Cristiano side without a defence as they gifted the being played in by Benzema’s inch-perfect Ronaldo scored twice in a 5-0 thrashing of hosts the opener after just three minutes. A pass. With Madrid facing a busy fortnight as Sevilla yesterday. harmless corner to the back post saw Sevilla they jet off to Abu Dhabi to defend the Club Sevilla had started the afternoon on the duo Simon Kjaer and Luis Muriel get in each World Cup this week before hosting Barca, same number of points as Madrid in joint other’s way and present Nacho with a gift to Zinedine Zidane’s men understandably took fourth, but the sides looked worlds apart as fire home from point-blank range. their foot off the gas after the break. Real scored all five goals before half-time to Ronaldo has just become the first player to Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Kroos were all close to within five points of Barca at the top score in all six games of a Champions League withdraw, but Real could easily have added of the table. group, but there had been a stark contrast to their tally as Benzema’s diving header came Nacho got the hosts off to a perfect start between his stunning European form and his back off the post. Yet, a first five-goal haul in before Ronaldo doubled his La Liga tally for lack of goals in La Liga. La Liga season in undoubtedly Madrid’s best MADRID: Real Madrid’s French forward Karim Benzema (C) chal- the season with a cool finish and a penalty On Saturday, Ronaldo struck twice. The performance since they swept aside Barca in lenges Sevilla’s German midfielder Johannes Geis (L), Sevilla’s inside the half mark. Toni Kroos and Achraf Portuguese swept home Marco Asensio’s the Spanish Super Cup in August was more Argentinian defender Gabriel Mercado (2ndL), Sevilla’s Danish Hakimi rounded off the rout as Real lovely through ball to double Madrid’s advan- than enough to set up the Catalans’ return defender Simon Kjaer (2ndR) and Sevilla’s French defender Clement leapfrogged cross city rivals Atletico Madrid tage. Ronaldo’s penalty then had just enough visit on December 23 nicely. — AFP Lenglet (R) during the Spanish league football match. —AFP