ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2021 16

Barcelona team players cel- ebrate after winning the Joan Gamper trophy soccer match between FC Barcelona and Juventus at the Estadi Johan Cruyff in Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona won 3-0. (AP) Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com ‘We are Barcelona and we will keep competing for titles’ After 17 seasons, post-Messi era begins in Spanish league MADRID, Aug 10, (AP): The Span- ish league season begins this weekend and it will be unlike any other in the last 17 years. It will be the fi rst without Lionel Messi, its all-time top scorer and one of its greatest players ever. After blowing four late leads, For the fi rst time since 2004, Bar- celona will be without Messi because they couldn’t sign the Argentina star to a new contract due to their troubled fi nancial situation. The last time the league didn’t feature Messi, the likes of Diego Yanks fi nally hold off KC in 11 Simeone, Zinedine Zidane and Luis Enrique were still playing instead of coaching. Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior and Atlético Madrid forward White Sox rout Twins João Félix were only 4 years old. For- mer Barcelona player Neymar was en- tering his teenage years and had just signed his fi rst contract with the youth KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug squad of Brazilian club Santos. Real 10, (AP): DJ LeMahieu led Madrid target Kylian Mbappé was a off the 11th inning with an 5-year-old whose bright future was as yet unknown. RBI double and the New Barcelona won the league only York Yankees, after blow- twice in the decade before Messi de- ing four late leads, fi nally buted. In the next 17 seasons, they held off the feisty Kansas won it 10 times. He won the league’s scoring title a record eight times in City Royals 8-6 on Monday that period, leaving with a record tally night. of 474 goals from 520 matches in the Brett Gardner drove in three competition. runs for the Yankees, two on a Now the Cata- sharp infi eld single in the 11th that lan club will have made it 8-5. to fi nd a way to But the Royals, who tied the score in succeed without each of the previous four innings, once Messi, and while again refused to go down easily. They still facing the got a two-out RBI single from pinch- diffi cult fi nancial hitter Edward Olivares and brought the situation that led potential winning run to the plate before to his departure. “When you Pique lose the best BASEBALL player in history, you have to be re- alistic and understand that you lose a Carlos Santana grounded out to end a very important piece of the squad. He game that took 4 hours, 52 minutes. Wandy Peralta earned his third major contributed with a lot of goals and as- league save - the fi rst two came with San sists,” said Gerard Piqué, the veteran Francisco this season. captain who arrived at Barcelona three Luke Voit, activated from the injured years after Messi’s debut. list Sunday, snapped a scoreless tie with “We won’t be as talented as before an RBI single in the seventh and hit a and we have to make it up in other ar- tiebreaking homer in the ninth for New eas. The other players will have to step York. Aaron Judge had a run-scoring sin- up and take up other roles. The team gle in the eighth to make it 2-1. Kansas City became the fi rst team since 1900 to erase a defi cit in the sev- SOCCER enth, eighth, ninth and 10th innings of a Chicago White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito throws against the Minnesota Twins in the fi rst inning of a baseball game in Minneapolis. (AP) game, according to STATS. The Yankees got single runs in the in the lineup, the AL Central leaders are will have to adapt. In the end things seventh, eighth and ninth, but the Roy- looking even more formidable. als kept answering. Ryan O’Hearn’s Jiménez hit two homers with fi ve RBIs MLB Results/Standings Leo agrees a two-year deal will work out. We are Barcelona and for the second straight game, Robert we will keep competing for titles.” sacrifi ce fl y in the seventh, Andrew Be- nintendi’s single in the eighth and Nicky came off the 60-day injured list to deliver Coach Ronald Koeman, who was in Lopez’s single in the ninth each tied the an RBI double and single, and the White his early managing years when Messi score. Sox cruised past the Minnesota Twins debuted, remained optimistic going WASHINGTON, Aug 10, (AP): Results and Messi arrives in Paris to Padres 8, Marlins 3 11-1 . standings from MLB games on Tuesday. into the home opener against Real So- Tim Anderson led off the game with Cleveland 9 Cincinnati 3 ciedad on Sunday. In San Diego: Joe Musgrove effective- a home run for the second day in a row Chi Sox 11 Minnesota 1 “Despite Messi’s departure, we are ly displayed his heavy dose of breaking and Lucas Giolito pitched two-hit ball NY Yankees 8 Kansas City (11 innings) 6 complete ‘move’ to PSG pitches, tossing six strong innings and San Diego 8 Miami 3 very excited about going into this new for eight innings American League season, about our squad, about our striking out eight to lead the San Diego as the White Sox East Division PARIS, Aug 10, (AP): Lionel Mes- new players,” Koeman said Sunday Padres over the Miami Marlins 8-3 . won their fourth in W L Pct GB si fi nalized agreement on his Paris before Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Ju- Coming into the game, Musgrove (8- a row. Tampa Bay 68 44 .607 _ Saint-Germain contract and arrived 7) was the only major league pitcher with Boston 65 49 .570 4 ventus in its fi nal preseason match. Jiménez became New York 62 50 .554 6 in the French capital on Tuesday to 20-plus starts this year to throw breaking the fi rst White Sox Toronto 60 50 .545 7 complete the move that confi rms Dutch international Memphis De- balls on more than half of his deliveries. pay, the club’s star signing in the off- player with con- Baltimore 38 72 .345 29 the end of a career-long association He kept the Marlins off-balance, surren- secutive games of Central Division with Barcelona. season, had promising performances dering only one run and fi ve hits while at least two hom- W L Pct GB in preseason. Sergio Aguero, though, lowering his ERA to 2.81. Chicago 67 46 .593 _ Dozens of PSG fans gathered ers and fi ve RBIs, Cleveland 55 55 .500 10-1/2 at Le Bourget Airport in Paris to won’t be able to debut until mid-Oc- Eric Hosmer hit an early homer off and the fi rst in the Detroit 54 60 .474 13-1/2 tober because of an injury. Antoine Zach Thompson (2-5), then added an majors since Bryce Kansas City 48 63 .432 18 welcome Messi, who was wearing Griezmann and youngster Ansu Fati RBI single in a four-run eighth that broke Harper for Wash- Minnesota 48 65 .425 19 a T-shirt featuring “Ici c’est Paris” will continue to contribute in attack, open the game. Hosmer has hit over .400 Ramirez West Division - “Here is Paris.” ington in 2015. W L Pct GB while Pedri González will carry a big- (21 for 50) at Petco Park since the begin- Jiménez has Houston 66 46 .589 _ The 34-year-old Argentina star ger playmaking role in midfi eld. ning of July. fi ve homers and 14 RBIs in 10 games Oakland 64 48 .571 2 has agreed a two-year deal with the Real Madrid are also not doing well Miami outfi elder Lewis Brinson, who since his return from the injured list after Seattle 59 54 .522 7-1/2 option for a further season, a per- spoke before the game about an incident missing all of the season with a ruptured Los Angeles 56 56 .500 10 son with knowledge of the nego- fi nancially because of the coronavirus Texas 39 73 .348 27 pandemic, and lost a star player going with racial overtones Sunday as the Mar- pectoral tendon sustained in spring train- East Division tiations told The Associated Press. into the new season -- Sergio Ramos, lins played at Coors Field in Denver, had ing. Giolito (9-8) faced the minimum W L Pct GB The person spoke on condition of two hits and scored twice. over the fi rst seven innings. The fi rst Philadelphia 59 53 .527 _ anonymity to discuss the contract who had been with the club since 2005 Atlanta 57 55 .509 2 and now will play for Paris Saint-Ger- Brinson hit a two-run homer high hit he allowed came on a hard grounder ahead of it being signed and the of- Lionel Messi smiles after arriv- off the warehouse building in left fi eld from Luis Arraez to start the fi fth inning New York 56 55 .505 2-1/2 main. He wanted to stay but Madrid Washington 50 62 .446 9 fi cial announcement. Messi is set to ing at Le Bourget airport, north against Emilio Pagan in the eighth that that glanced off Giolito’s leg. Miami 47 66 .416 12-1/2 earn around 35 million euros ($41 of Paris. Lionel Messi has fi nal- decided not to renew his contract to narrowed San Diego’s lead to 4-3. Central Division save money. Indians 9, Reds 3 million) net annually, the person ized agreement on his Paris The Padres scored twice in the fourth W L Pct GB Saint-Germain contract. (AP) Fellow central defender Raphael on a single by Victor Caratini that drove In Cleveland, José Ramírez hit a two- Milwaukee 66 46 .589 _ said. Varane also left, joining Manchester run homer and an RBI triple, leading the Cincinnati 61 52 .540 5-1/2 Messi’s father and agent, Jorge, in Hosmer and a sacrifi ce fl y by Mus- St Louis 55 56 .495 10-1/2 on Instagram over a video of them United, and in came David Alaba from grove. Cleveland Indians to a 9-3 victory over Chicago 52 61 .460 14-1/2 also confi rmed his son was moving Bayern Munich. Trent Grisham hit a two-run triple in the Cincinnati Reds. Pittsburgh 41 71 .366 25 to PSG in a brief exchange with hugging, playing for Barcelona. Madrid, which open at Alavés on the eighth and Caratini added a sacrifi ce Wilson Ramos also hit a two-run West Division reporters at Josep Tarradellas Bar- While PSG had to pay 222 mil- Saturday, will be coached by Carlo fl y. homer, Amed Rosario was 4 for 5 with W L Pct GB lion euros (then $261 million) to an RBI and Cleveland used fi ve pitchers San Francisco 71 41 .634 _ sign Neymar from Barcelona in Ancelotti after Zidane quit at the end White Sox 11, Twins 1 Los Angeles 67 45 .598 4 in a planned bullpen game to end Cincin- San Diego 65 49 .570 7 SOCCER 2017, there was no transfer fee for of last season. They will continue to In Minneapolis, The Chicago White nati’s fi ve-game winning streak. feature Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard, Colorado 51 61 .455 20 Messi. Sox already were enjoying quite a season Justin Garza (2-0) pitched two score- Arizona 35 78 .310 36-1/2 Messi became the most desired Toni Kroos, Marcelo, Luka Modric National League despite missing two key players. Now less innings. The right-hander was the celona-El Prat Airport on Tuesday. free agent in soccer history after and Thibaut Courtois. Also in the with Eloy Jiménez and Luis Robert back Indians’ second pitcher and worked the East Division team will be Gareth Bale, back from W L Pct GB At the same airport, Messi was his attempts to stay at Barcelona Philadelphia 59 53 .527 _ were rejected last week by the his loan spell at Tottenham. Atlético Atlanta 57 55 .509 2 later seen arriving with his wife Madrid, which last season triumphed New York 56 55 .505 2-1/2 and three children before boarding Spanish league because the salary by taking advantage of the struggles Washington 50 62 .446 9 a private jet. “With it all, toward a would not comply with fi nancial Miami 47 66 .416 12-1/2 regulations, with the Catalan club of Barcelona and Madrid, will defend Central Division new adventure. The fi ve together,” the title with almost all of their players W L Pct GB Antonela Roccuzzo said on Insta- burdened by debts of more than 1.2 back under the command of Simeone. Milwaukee 66 46 .589 _ gram alongside a photo with her billion euros ($1.4 billion). Cincinnati 61 52 .540 5-1/2 husband on the plane. PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino Argentina midfi elder Rodrigo de St Louis 55 56 .495 10-1/2 Paul was added to the squad that again Chicago 52 61 .460 14-1/2 PSG supporters have seen their quickly made contact with his fel- will be led by Luis Suárez, the for- Pittsburgh 41 71 .366 25 club transformed over the last dec- low Argentine after Barcelona an- West Division ade since the infl ux of Qatari sov- nounced last Thursday that Messi mer Barcelona striker who scored 21 W L Pct GB league goals last season and was key San Francisco 71 41 .634 _ ereign wealth investment linked to would be leaving the club he joined for Atlético. Félix will remain another Los Angeles 67 45 .598 4 the emir. Once Messi’s Barcelona as a 13-year-old. San Diego 65 49 .570 7 contract expired - and the Catalan Messi won every major honor weapon in attack, while the defense Colorado 51 61 .455 20 will be anchored by goalkeeper Jan Arizona 35 78 .310 36-1/2 club was unable to afford to keep with Barcelona and was granted Oblak. The team open at Celta Vigo him - PSG was one of the few clubs a tearful exit news conference on on Sunday. that could fi nance a deal to sign the Sunday to signal the end of an era. third and fourth, striking out three. six-time world player of the year. Only Cristiano Ronaldo in the cur- Julen Lopetegui’s Sevilla will re- Luis Castillo (6-11) allowed eight runs main outside contenders after being in Messi’s arrival gives PSG formi- rent era challenges Messi’s status - including two homers - in 3 1/3 innings. dable attacking options as he links as an all-time great. PSG will be the title race until late last season.They The right-hander lost for the fi rst time added forward Erik Lamela to a squad since June 20, a span of nine starts. up with France World Cup winner hoping not only that Messi helps which saw striker Youssef En-Nesyri Bradley Zimmer hit a 471-foot homer Kylian Mbappe and Brazil forward the team regain the French title it blossom into a top scorer last term. Kansas City Royals’ Jarrod Dyson, (left), scores as New York Yankees to center fi eld leading off the seventh - Neymar. lost to Lille last season, but fi nally Their fi rst match is against promoted catcher Kyle Higashioka, (right), gets a late throw during the seventh inning the longest by an Indians player this sea- “Back together,” Neymar posted win the Champions League. Rayo Vallecano on Sunday. of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (AP) son - and drove in two runs.

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