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Home , Ernesto Escobedo, Luis Enrique, Zinedine Zidane

SPORTS Friday, March 3, 2017 23 sends Barca top Enrique confirms exit Madrid said, citing the need for a break from the Ronaldo fired a penalty arcelona moved pressures at the as the reason for into the top corner after Dani top of on his decision. Castellano was penalised for Bthe night After Barca had swept aside Sporting with all handball. confirmed he will not of , Luis Suarez and on the Barca enjoyed a far more continue as coach next scoresheet, Madrid also looked in for an easy comfortable night against a Sporting season as night at the Bernabeu when slotted home side still mired in the relegation zone. was sent-off in Real the opener after just eight minutes. However, Messi netted his 36th in as Madrid’s thrilling 3-3 Real were in front for just two minutes before many games this season in unusual draw at home to Las Palmas. Tana spun on the edge of the box fashion on his 500th start before Juan Enrique announced his before firing high past . Rodriguez’s own goal made it 2-0. decision to step down after The game turned just three minutes into the The visitors were handed a brief Barca’s 6-1 rout of Sporting second-half when Bale uncharacteristically lost lifeline when Carlos Castro pulled a Gijon earlier on Wednesday his temper after a late challenge from Jonathan goal back. which leaves Viera. However, there was no time for any a point clear at the top, but The Welshman pushed Viera to the ground Barca doubts to seep in as Suarez’s having played a game more. and was punished with a red card. spectacular volley restored their two-goal Bale’s first ever red card “He has apologised. He is not happy with the lead. in a Madrid shirt look set to sending-off,” said Real Madrid boss Zinedine Paco Alcacer was given a rare chance cost the European champions Zidane. for the second half as he replaced Suarez dear as Las Palmas led the 10 Things got much worse for the hosts in the and took just four minutes to make it 4-1 men 3-1 with just three minutes next 10 minutes as, firstly, Viera converted when he slotted home from Messi’s pass. remaining. However, Cristiano from the penalty spot after a clear handball by Messi also hit the bar from a trademark Ronaldo struck twice in an Ramos inside the area. free-kick before the five-time World incredible finale to salvage a point. And then a huge mistake from Navas allowed Player of the Year was rested for the final Madrid’s slip up, though, means Kevin-Prince Boateng to knock the ball past the half hour as he was replaced by Andre a third title in as many seasons Costa Rican as he flew from his goal before Gomes. Neymar took advantage of the for Enrique is back in rolling the ball into an empty net. Argentine’s absence to take over free-kick Barcelona’s hands duty and he produced a stunning strike of with the two Ro to the rescue his own into the top corner for his first La sides still to meet However, despite their numerical Liga goal at the Camp Nou this season. in April. “I will disadvantage, Madrid laid Ivan Rakitic completed the scoring not be the coach seige to the Las Palmas goal when he lashed into the roof of the net Barcelona’s coach of Barcelona next and were rewarded in the final three minutes from time. (AFP) Luis Enrique Real Madrid’s French season,” Enrique minutes. coach

Acapulco hold off Djokovic on the next. just seven points on his serve and orld number “Every match that I’ve played against never faced a break point against the two Novak delPo in the past couple of years has 38th-ranked Italian. DjokovicW battled into been very close, really enjoyable to play Nadal broke Lorenzi for the fifth the quarter-finals of the and great for the crowd to watch,” said time in the final game of the match, ATP Acapulco event on Djokovic. “I am very happy and proud delivering a stinging forehand winner Wednesday, rallying for a to win this match, even though I was to wrap up the win in just 66 minutes. Djokovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 triumph over close to losing when he was serving at Nadal next faces Japanese qualifier Juan Martin del Potro. 4-3 up in the third set. Yoshihito Nishioka, a 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 The Serbian star led a parade “I just tried to get as many returns winner over Australian lucky loser of the top four seeds into the back in play as possible.” Jordan Thompson. last eight, with second-seeded The Serbian advanced to a Cilic booked his quarter-final berth Rafael Nadal, number three quarter-final clash with Australia’s with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 victory over fellow Marin Cilic and fourth-seeded Nick Kyrgios, a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Croatian Borna Coric. battles defending champion Dominic American Donald Young. Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion, Thiem all advancing. Djokovic’s travails in a match lasting remained unbeaten against his 20-year- Top-seeded Djokovic, back in two hours and 38 minutes were a far cry old compatriot. action this week for the first time from Nadal’s comprehensive 6-1, 6-1 He fired a dozen aces, and broke since his shock second-round exit victory over . Coric three times in the match -- at the in January, ”I played a complete match today including twice in the final set to set up had to dig deep against former US and I’m feeling great after a month a clash with American , into Open champion del Potro after without playing,” said Nadal, a two- a 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 winner over American falling a break down in the third time winner in Acapulco who is playing wildcard Ernesto Escobedo. set. his first tournament since falling to Austria’s Thiem advanced with a 7-5, He broke back immediately to Roger Federer in the Australian Open 6-3 victory over Adrian Mannarino. level the set at 4-4 then held at love final. Thiem, winner at Rio de Janeiro last to pile the pressure on del Potro “I think I played a very solid match ... week, booked a meeting with American Serbia’s Novak -- who fended off one match point some great shots, some good winners,” Sam Querrey, who toppled fifth-seeded quartersDjokovic celebrates with a service winner but couldn’t added the Spaniard, who dropped Belgian David Goffin 6-2, 6-3. (AFP)