TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2015 SPORTS

Court to rule on Platini appeal against FIFA by Friday

LAUSANNE: Michel Platini’s lawyers will The sports court’s statement said rep- prove to be the least of Platini’s prob- tenders have been free to lobby for with stiffer punishment from FIFA’s ethics appear at the Court of Arbitration for resentatives of FIFA and Platini were lems. FIFA’s ethics investigators have votes. In the Swiss criminal case, Platini committee also pending. Sport today as part of an appeal against invited to a preliminary hearing on asked the in-house court at world foot- has been questioned in a category that Platini had been the favourite to suc- his suspension from FIFA, with a decision Tuesday afternoon. The hearing will be ball’s governing body to suspend the ex- falls between a witness and an accused ceed Blatter as FIFA’s president at an elec- due by December 11, a CAS statement “limited to the issue as to whether or not Juventus star for life. Platini is due to over a 1.8 million euros ($2 million) pay- tion scheduled for February 26, but his said. Platini, the head of European foot- the provisional 90-day suspension give evidence in that case later this ment he received from FIFA in 2011, chances have grown increasingly remote. ball governing body UEFA and a FIFA vice imposed on Mr Platini should be tem- month, with a verdict due in the coming reportedly for work done a decade earli- While the CAS appeal is focused nar- president, was suspended from all foot- porarily lifted,” the statement said. weeks. er. The Frenchman denies all wrongdo- rowly on the validity of Platini’s 90-day ball activities in October for 90 days. The “A decision on such a request for a While suspended, Platini has been ing and his camp insists there is ample suspension, some believe that in calling ban by FIFA’s ethics committee came stay is likely to be issued on Friday 11 unable to press ahead with his campaign evidence to clear his name. Blatter, who for a lifetime ban, FIFA investigators may after Platini was linked to a criminal December 2015, at the latest,” it contin- to replace Sepp Blatter as FIFA’s presi- is the target of the Swiss criminal probe, have uncovered further evidence against probe by Swiss prosecutors. ued. But the 90-day suspension may dent, while the other five confirmed con- has also been suspended for 90 days, the UEFA boss. —AFP Goal-shy Man Utd desperate for win

BERLIN: Manchester United will be looking for league goals this season. Anthony Martial, the Even with injuries to a number of other play- the goals that have been so hard to come by this young French prodigy has three and midfielder ers, Van Gaal believes he can rely on his defence season when they travel to VfL wolfsburg today Juan Mata is top scorer with five. in Germany. With England’s Chris Smalling in with their hopes of sealing qualification for the United supporters have taken to chanting outstanding form, they have kept seven clean Champions League knockout stage still hanging “attack, attack, attack” in almost every game and sheets in nine games. in the balance. they will need goals today with the team second For Wolfsburg, even a draw will be enough to All the talk among United supporters-raised in Group B on eight points, one behind leaders secure a spot in the next round. While their rocky on a tradition of exciting, uninhibited attacking Wolfsburg with PSV Eindhoven, playing CSKA domestic form has seen last season’s Bundesliga football-is of the team’s lack of goals under what Moscow, on seven. runners-up slip to fifth after a 2-1 last-gasp they believe to be manager Louis van Gaal’s ster- But manager Van Gaal is insistent the prob- defeat by Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, ile conservative approach. lem will not last. “The goals are coming, that is Dieter Hecking’s team are top of Group B after a PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain’s players take part in a training session in Saint-Germain- Since winning 2-1 at home to Wolfsburg in my strong belief,” he said after two points 2-0 win at CSKA Moscow. en-Laye, west of Paris, yesterday on the eve of the UEFA Champions League group A September, United have scored only twice in dropped against West Ham United left them They are now looking to continue their fine football match between PSG and Shakhtar Donetsk. — AFP three Champions League games. In the Premier fourth in the table. home form, having won twice without conced- League the record is five goals in the last six “We created a lot of chances but to score you ing. games. need not only composure but a lot of luck. So For attacking midfielder Julian Draxler, beat- Man City looks to avoid United captain Wayne Rooney, who missed I’m not worried.” He did admit, however, that ing United is not impossible. “If we play against Saturday’s goalless draw at home to West Ham winning the Champions League is not realistic them as we did in the second half against with an ankle injury, will again be absent, but this season, adding: “Maybe next year, when we Dortmund then I am certain we can beat United,” second place in League like Memphis Depay he has scored only two strengthen our selection again.” he said. — Reuters

MANCHESTER: Manchester City knows all ership without Kompany and has been about the pitfalls of finishing in second torn apart by Liverpool and Stoke in recent place in a Champions League group. The weeks. Defensive midfielder Fernando is only two times the English club has been the latest player to join the injury list. runner-up in its group, it has been drawn to play Barcelona in the next round - and TALK OF THE TOWN was eliminated both occasions. Borussia Moenchengladbach is the talk City is heading the same way this sea- of the town after becoming the first team son, too. Going into the last round of to beat Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. matches in Group D today, City has already The emphatic 3-1 win on Saturday also qualified for the knockout stage but is two extended coach Andre Schubert’s unbeat- points behind Juventus in second. With en league run to 10 matches since taking Juve wrapping up group play against over. Schubert has proven himself to be a already-eliminated Sevilla, the Italian team flexible tactician. He used a three-man - which reached the Champions League backline, with five midfielders and two final last season - is favored to top the strikers against Bayern for the first time group and therefore be more likely to and it worked very well. avoid a top team in the last 16. Moenchengladbach cannot qualify for the Even more so, because City is struggling knockout stage, but the aim is to secure for form ahead of its home game against third place and go into the Europa League. Borussia Moenchengladbach after losing By drawing two matches with Juventus, three of its last five games in all competi- ‘Gladbach has shown that it can compete tions. A lengthy injury list is also hamper- with the top teams and the win over ing City manager Manuel Pellegrini. Bayern is further proof. The players making up the spine of the team - Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and TEVEZ WHO? Sergio Aguero - were among those missing No more Tevez? No problem for in the 2-0 loss to Stoke on Saturday and Juventus. Carlos Tevez has been replaced none of the trio is sure of playing at Etihad by another Argentine forward, Paulo Stadium against a German side that is Dybala, who was signed from Palermo in buoyant after beating Bayern Munich 3-1. the offseason for 32 million euros (then Pellegrini grumbled after the Stoke $36 million) and is already living up to the game that City, one of the world’s richest hype. Dybala, who turned 22 last month, clubs, has been left to play “with the same scored a goal and set up the opener in 13 or 14 players” in recent matches Friday’s 2-0 win at Lazio. He has scored sev- because of injuries. “Maybe it’s the reason en goals in 14 matches - as well as we didn’t play with the energy that we assisting on a further three - but has yet to need to win,” Pellegrini said. score in the Champions League. Many Wherever City finishes in the group, have started comparing him to Tevez, but Pellegrini said his team will go into the Juventus teammate Leonardo Bonucci knockout stage with confidence. “We are warned against heaping too much expec- supposing that if we finish second, we will tation on the youngster’s shoulders. have a bad draw,” Pellegrini said. “But “They are different actually,” Bonucci maybe this year we can have a bad draw if said. “Carlos was and still is a leader and a we finish top of the group. There are a lot reference point for the group. Paulo is of things in the future we are not thinking young and should be allowed to grow about.” slowly. I am sure he will become a key play- The other issue to tie up on Tuesday is er for this Juve team.” which of Moenchengladbach and Sevilla finishes third and qualifies for the Europa FOR PRIDE League. Sevilla - the reigning Europa Even though Sevilla’s away form has League champion - is two points adrift in been poor, the team has beaten Real MADRID: Malmo’s Vladimir Rodic, left, plays the ball with teammate Nikola Djurdjic during a training session at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium last place. Here are some things to know Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia at home. in Madrid, yesterday. Malmo will play against Real Madrid a Champions league group A soccer match today. — AP about today’s games: On Tuesday against Juventus, the Spanish team will be able to salvage some pride CITY INJURIES while Fernando Llorente - who moved to The most important player most likely Sevilla from Juventus in the last transfer Bale believes Malmo visit to return to City’s team today is Aguero, window - will be looking for his first who was missing against Stoke because of Champions League goal after scoring three a heel injury. Kompany is set to miss out in the league. Sevilla will be without again, though, and it is the absence of the defenders Marco Andreolli and Daniel key to Madrid resurgence captain and central defender that is hitting Carrico, goalkeeper Beto and midfielder City the hardest. City’s defense lacks lead- Gael Kakuta, who are all injured. — AP MADRID: Gareth Bale has urged Real Madrid However, with a tough visit to Villarreal to to maintain their recovery from the shock of come on Sunday and Madrid having already the club’s problems on and off the field when sealed their place in the last 16 as group win- Matches on TV they host Malmo in their final Champions ners, Benitez is likely to rest a number of his League group game today. star names. (Local Timings) Madrid were thrashed 4-0 at home by eter- Isco is expected to return after serving a nal rivals Barcelona last month and thrown two-game ban, whilst Benitez may UEFA Champions League out of the Spanish Cup last week for fielding hand minutes to a number of youngsters who an ineligible player. However, Rafael Benitez’s will miss out on their chance in the first team men have at least strung together four con- if Real’s appeal against their expulsion from PSG v Shakhtar Donetsk 22:45 secutive victories since their humiliation the Copa del Rey fails. beIN SPORTS against Barca with Bale also getting back on Malmo may already be eliminated from the Real Madrid v Malmo 22:45 the scoresheet in La Liga wins over Eibar and Champions League, but they still have Europa Getafe. League football to play for in 2016. The beIN SPORTS Saturday’s 4-1 win over Getafe saw Bale, Swedish champions need to better Shakhtar Wolfsburg v Man United 22:45 Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo all Donetsk’s result away to Paris Saint-Germain beIN SPORTS score in the same game for the first time this to seal third place in the group. season. And Bale denied there is any problem Veteran Norwegian coach Age Hareide will Eindhoven v CSKA Moskva 22:45 between Madrid’s star-studded squad and be taking charge of Malmo for the last time in beIN SPORTS Benitez. the Champions League after announcing his Galatasaray v FC Astana 22:45 “The relationship with Benitez is good,” said decision to step down at the end of the year. the Welshman. “We showed (against Getafe) And he has taken his side on a warm- beIN SPORTS we are in good form. It is important that the weather training camp in Malaga to prepare Benfica v Atletico 22:45 team are united, that we win every game and for the trip to the Bernabeu after their domes- beIN SPORTS try to get better every day.” tic season finished at the end of October. Man City v Monchengladbach 22:45 Benitez was quick to highlight the impor- “The guys need this. Warmth, good plans tance of having Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo and a different environment can only make it beIN SPORTS on the field together as they started in the good for us when we are directing the focus Sevilla v Juventus 22:45 league for just the fourth time this season at towards Madrid match,” Hareide told the MANCHESTER: Manchester City soccer manager Manuel Pellegrini speaks during a beIN SPORTS press conference at the City Football Academy, in Manchester, England, yesterday. —AP the weekend. club’s website. —AFP