Sports Sunday, April 4, 2021 13 Madrid ease past Eibar QNB Stars League: Thrills galore to keep pressure on in La Liga as edge 3-2 title race

DPA Barcelona

Real Madrid earned a com- fortable 2-0 win over Eibar on Saturday in La Liga to stay in the title race. Los Blancos climbed to second with 63 points from 29 games, three behind league leaders Atletico Madrid and one ahead of Barcelona, third, both of whom have played 28. Zinedine Zidane rotated his Al Arabi’s Aron Gunnarsson tries to block a shot from an Al pack ahead of the Champions player during their QNB Stars League Round 20 match on Saturday. League clash with Liverpool, handing Isco, Marcelo and Eder Tribune News Network Al Rayyan stayed on 34 points. Militao rare starts, but his team Both teams had played out a coped with the changes well and 1-1 draw in the first leg. dominated the match. Umm Salal staged the third- Umm Salal started on a placed Al Rayyan 3-2 in the positive note, creating gaps to penultimate round (Week 20) attack Al Rayyan and not let of the 2020-21 season QNB them take early control of the Stars League at the SC match. In the first 10 minutes, Stadium on Saturday as 12 The Orange Fortress had al- teams played out six matches ready made several attacks. Umm Salal players celebrate one of their goals against Al Rayyan during their Week 20 QNB Stars League match played at the Qatar SC Sta- in one night. QNB Stars League’s web- dium on Saturday. As many as 12 teams locked horns in the six matches of the penultimate round. In other exciting results, site said that Al Rayyan made Al Duhail had to fight to beat first shot on target in the 15th terattacks. Quaya got a tough with a much-deserved victory. Al Arabia 3-2 while league minute when Abdulrahman Al chance to score his second winners Al Sadd won 2-0 Harazi attempted to score af- goal in the 50th minute, but Pleased with against Al Gharafa. Al Sailiya ter receiving a cross from Mo- this time he was well-blocked Al Sadd’s win prevailed over Qatar Sports hammed Alaaeldin, but Umm by the defenders. Kayke made Al Sadd coach Xavi ex- Club 2-1 and Al Ahli defeated Salal keeper Baba Malick com- another brilliant attempt five pressed his delight at beating Real Madrid’s French forward 2-1. The only fortably picked the ball. minutes later, but his lofty hit Al Gharafa 2-0 in the 20th celebrates after match to end goalless was be- Three minutes later, Ham- struck the right goalpost before week of . scoring a goal against SD Eibar tween and . moudan volleyed a corner he finally scored a goal with a Xavi said in the press con- at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium Ahmed Hammoudan (18th kick from close range to stun header from Mohammed Tera- ference after the match that in Valdebebas, near Madrid, on minute) and captain Lawrence Al Rayyan, giving Umm Salal zors pass. Elsadig was sent off he was happy to get the vic- Saturday. (AFP) Quaye (45th minute) scored the lead. The Lions, seeking a after receiving his second yel- tory even after rotating some the goals for Umm Salal in the leveller, made several attacks low card for a rash tackle on of the players to keep them Karim Benzema should first half, with Kayke Rodri- including a hit from a distance Alaaeldin. fresh. He maintained that the have opened the scoring when gues (72nd) adding another in by captain that other scare to Al Rayyan as he free-kick inside the box, with Yohan Bolis attempt for a players did face difficulties in Alejandro Pozo made a poor the second session. just sailed over the crossbar. stormed into the box dodging Quaye availing of the opportu- goal hit the crossbar, but Awad, the game, but that they are de- pass-back, but the Frenchman Substitutes Mowafak Umm Salal were responding two defenders, but he failed to nity to score Umm Salals sec- who came off the bench in the termined to finish this league’s was denied by Marko Dmitro- Awad (87th minute) and Ali well with counterattacks and beat Al Rayyan keeper Saoud ond goal. The captain struck 78th minute, was on target on campaign unbeaten. On the vic one-on-one. Ferydoon (90+3) scored for Al could have got their second Al Hajri with his hit. a left-footed kick that just es- a rebound following a free-kick team’s preparations for the Benzema and Marco Asen- Rayyan. Umm Salals Ibrahim goal 10 minutes before half- However, Umm Salal suc- caped Al Hajris left hand. three minutes before time. AFC Champions League, he sio had goals disallowed in the Elsadig was sent off in the 74th time, but Ismail Mahmoud ceeded in taking a 2-0 lead Al Rayyan started the sec- Another substitute Ferydoon said they were going well. He first half for offside, and the minute. missed a chance after receiv- just before the break after a ond half aggressively, but Umm struck a goal in stoppage time, added that they have a good latter hit the crossbar with Umm Salal moved on to 18 ing a superb pass from Kayke defensive error as Al Rayyans Salal were not giving gaps to the but it was too late for Al Rayy- team that will be capable of a free-kick. Eventually the points with the victory while Rodrigues. Kayke gave an- Dami Traori failed to clear a rivals, while looking for coun- an as Umm Salal walked away getting the best results. Spaniard put Madrid ahead in the 41st minute, racing onto Casemiro’s through ball and finishing expertly. The weather turned for the worse in the second half and sees red as PSG lose ground at the top of Eibar began to threaten in tor- rential rain, with the otherwise DPA Moise Kean also tested untroubled Thibaut Courtois Berlin It was a frustrating day for Maignan and Lille - who lost nearly letting a ball slide past Neymar who had missed David to injury before the break him and in at the far post, re- Neymar was sent off on his two great chances before - found plenty of success utilis- acting just in time. first Ligue 1 start in two months ing pace against a static PSG Casemiro had a goal ruled as part of a dramatic finale to receiving a second yellow defence in a frenetic encounter. out for offside again before Paris Saint-Germain’s 1-0 defeat card and subsequent red Di Maria saw a tentative Benzema made the game safe, to Lille in a barnstorming top- for a shove on Tiago Djalo penalty claim waved away heading home his 18th league of-the-table clash. as frustrations boiled over before Neymar and Bamba goal of the season from Vin- The Brazilian forward in- traded well-struck long-range icius Junior’s cross. jured his adductor as a substi- in the closing stages. efforts. “We knew this game was tute against Marseille at the It was Neymar again who going to be important for us, beginning of February but was spin in Ligue 1 for the first really ought to have done bet- we had a good game overall unable to inspire the champions time since October 2007. ter for PSG when stooping to and we’re happy with the three in a game settled by Jonathan Neymar would have ex- head ’ right-wing points,” Asensio said. David’s 20th minute goal on his pected to hit the back of the net cross wide with 20 minutes Madrid’s next league match return to the starting eleven. with an acrobatic effort after to play, while Burak Yilmaz is the Clasico against Barcelona It was a frustrating day for being expertly teed up by Angel – who scored four times for on Saturday April 10, after the Neymar who had missed two Di Maria, who also set Kylian Turkey during the interna- visit of Liverpool on Tuesday. great chances before receiving Mbappe racing free only for his tional break – shot straight at Earlier, Gerard Moreno’s a second yellow card and sub- left-foot effort to be brilliantly Navas with a great chance to hat-trick earned Villarreal a sequent red for a shove on Tia- saved by Mike Maignan. wrap it up for Lille. 3-0 win at Granada, helping go Djalo as frustrations boiled Lille succeeded where PSG Tempers then boiled over them climb above Real Socie- over in the closing stages. failed after 20 minutes when as Neymar, already booked for dad to fifth provisionally, while Djalo was also shown red led a light- pushing Andre in the face, lost Osasuna and Getafe drew 0-0 having already been booked ning counter-attack to pick his cool trying to get the ball in a mid-table battle. Leaders but Lille moved three points out David, whose shot deflect- French referee Benoit Bastien speaks to Paris Saint-Germain’s French defender and back from Djalo, who was also Atletico Madrid face Sevilla clear of PSG, who have now ed off Thilo Kehrer and over a Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian forward Neymar during the French L1 match between Paris-Saint Germain dismissed for his role in the on Sunday and Barcelona host lost three home games on the helpless . (PSG) and Lille (LOSC) at the Stadium in Paris on Saturday. (AFP) unsavoury finish. Real Valladolid on Monday. Mendy and Jesus make their mark for champions-elect City

DPA peared to be on the cards. before half-time. mouth in vain. en his marching orders for a Berlin A majestic De Bruyne Leicester’s first shot belat- Mahrez trudged off having second bookable offence only throughball allowed substitute edly arrived in the 48th min- come agonisingly close to scor- 29 minutes into his return Benjamin Mendy was an Raheem Sterling to tee up Ga- ute, when Youri Tielemans ing against his former employ- from injury. unlikely goalscorer as Man- briel Jesus for a game-sealing treated Ederson to a routine ers, clipping a shot just wide The clinical Pereira then chester City took another step goal that put the leaders 17 stop. after Jesus mugged a flagging struck twice in first-half stop- towards the Premier League points clear of Manchester Ruben Dias slid in to make Jonny Evans. page time and things went title with an authoritative 2-0 United, albeit having played a telling block from the Bel- Earlier, Matheus Pereira from bad to worse for Chelsea victory at Leicester City. two games more than Ole gium midfielder moments and Callum Robinson each after the break, with Robinson ’s side were Gunnar Solskjaer’s men. later after Kelechi Iheanacho scored doubles after Thiago and Mbaye Diagne giving Al- dominant for long periods, Manchester City captain picked Fernandinho’s pocket. Silva was sent off as West bion a three-goal advantage. Kevin De Bruyne hitting the Fernandinho drilled a 25-yard Mahrez stung Schmeichel’s Brom secured a stunning Mason Mount pulled one crossbar, but had to wait until drive into the bottom corner palms before the hour and 5-2 Premier League win at back, but Robinson applied the 58th minute for left-back but his fifth-minute effort Leicester failed to clear the Chelsea. the finishing touches in injury Mendy to find the break- was ruled out because Sergio danger - possession falling to The Blues were unbeaten time as the brilliant Baggies through. Aguero jumped over the shot Mendy, who stepped inside in 14 games under head coach secured a first away league Both teams had seen goals in an offside position. Marc Albrighton and slotted Thomas Tuchel and had not victory over the London club ruled out for offside by that De Bruyne went closer for home right footed. conceded a goal in seven since 1978 to raise hopes they point, with Jamie Vardy frus- the visitors, rattling the bar Sterling and Jesus threat- matches, but they suffered a can pull off an unlikely great trated in first-half stoppage with a 23rd-minute free-kick, ened to undo De Bruyne’s shock defeat at the hands of escape. time, although nothing ap- before Kasper Schmeichel imperious work 16 minutes the second-bottom Baggies at Results: Chelsea 2 West Bro- proaching a repeat of Leices- saved with his boot to thwart Manchester City’s French defender Benjamin Mendy (R) celebrates scor- from time but held their nerve Stamford Bridge on Saturday. mwich Albion 5; Leeds United ter’s 5-2 early season triumph former team-mate Riyad Mah- ing the opening goal during the English Premier League match against to seal victory as blue shirts Christian Pulisic put Chel- 2 Sheffield United 1; Leicester at the Etihad Stadium ever ap- rez and Jesus thrashed over Leicester City at King Power Stadium in Leicester on Saturday. (AFP) darted back towards the goal- sea in front, but Silva was giv- City 0 Manchester City 2.