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Home , Adil Rami, Adrien Rabiot, Alessandro Diamanti, Alphonse Areola, Dimitri Payet, Nabil Fekir

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2016 SPORTS Veteran back for

PARIS: France coach Didier two Italian league titles, helped but above all he’s a highly experienced stopper was also Madrid/ESP) Deschamps has recalled Juventus left United to five Premier footballer worthy of his place in the injured at the weekend. Midfield: N’Golo Kante back Patrice Evra for the World Cup League triumphs and is an old team,” Deschamps said. France squad (Chelsea/ENG), (PSG), qualifier against Sweden after favourite of Deschamps. A key member of the Euro 2016 Goalkeepers: BenoÓt Costil (West Ham/ENG), Paul Saint-Germain star ’s “He’s a top level player, and he squad Evra also played at AS Monaco (Rennes), Pogba (Manchester United/ENG), weekend injury. maintains his level by playing for under Deschamps as they made a run (Tottenham/ENG), (PSG), Evra was captain of France at the Juventus,” said Deschamps. “I never to the 2004 Champions League final. (Crystal Palace/ENG) (Tottenham/ENG) South Africa World Cup in 2010 but at said it was over for him. I always main- With seven points from three games Defenders: SÈbastien Corchia (Lille), Strikers: (Bayern 35 years of age has finally fallen down tained that from time to time if needed France are level top of Group A with (Barcelona/ESP), Laurent Munich/GER), Ousmane Dembele the pecking order to the extent he was he’d be called upon.” “He really loves Sweden, who they host at the Stade de Koscielny (Arsenal/ENG), Patrice Evra (Dortmund/GER), (Lyon), excluded from recent squads. the France national team. “And he’s a France on Friday. (Juventus/ITA), (Seville/ESP), (Atletico Madrid/ESP), With 80 previous France internation- smiley, good humoured person who Rennes ‘keeper Benoit Costil was Djibril SidibÈ (Monaco), (Arsenal/ENG), Antoine als under his belt Evra has won the last cheers things up in the dressing room, also called into the squad after PSG (Barcelona/ESP), Raphael Varane (Real Griezmann (Atletico Madrid/ESP). —AFP Messi hailed as ‘extraterrestrial’ after Barca victory

SEVILLE: The day before his side hosted home record in and the Champions Barcelona, Sevilla coach League was broken. joked that ’s supremacy neces- “Messi is a world class player and when sitated two Ballon d’Or competitions, “one the game opens up there’s little you can do for Messi and one for everyone else”. to stop him, nor his team mates because The Argentine’s words rang true as his they can really punish you if you give them compatriot turned Sunday’s thrilling any space.” Barca coach Luis Enrique encounter with the high-flying Andalusians praised the little magician for yet another on its head, engineering a 2-1 comeback match-winning display. victory for his side despite a breathtaking “Messi’s capacity to interpret any situa- display from Sevilla. tion is remarkable. There’s no-one like him. Barca looked there for the taking after Our aim is to look to give the ball to him as Vitolo’s 15th minute goal and were drown- often as we can,” he said. Sevilla’s Vitolo ing in the home side’s unrelenting pressure, added: “I’m not going to tell you anything only spared by some wayward finishing. new about Messi, for me he’s the best of all But as halftime approached, Messi time. “He only appeared in the first half to sparked a surge forward, combining with score the goal but in the second he VERONA: Miralem Pjanic scores during the soccer match between Chievo Verona and Juventus at the Bentegodi stadium in Verona, Italy, Denis Suarez and to equalise with improved his whole team. We were on top Sunday. — AP Barca’s first clear effort on goal. in the first half but Barca’s front three can The 29-year-old took hold of proceed- score at any moment and their first goal ings in the second half, crafting two unful- got them back into the game.” filled chances for himself before teeing up Sevilla president Pepe Castro lamented Juventus grinds out 2-1 Luis Suarez to secure Barca the winner. his side’s inability to finish Barcelona off but Sevilla, for all their early confidence, had was also in thrall to Messi. “We couldn’t no response. take our chances in the first half. They have “When a player like him takes a game Messi, we do not,” he said. win at Chievo in Serie A seriously it’s very difficult for his oppo- “He is an extraterrestrial. The first time nents,” said Sampaoli, whose side’s perfect he touches the ball, it’s a goal.” —Reuters MILAN: Title-winning teams often grind out ROMA 3, BOLOGNA 0 against Zimbabwe in 2013. results despite not playing well - and that is pre- After Icardi moved level with Edin Dzeko at cisely what Juventus is doing. Chievo Verona had the top of the scoring charts, all eyes were on OTHER MATCHES won just one of its last six matches but Juventus the Roma forward to see if he would strike again. Empoli ended its goal drought in spectacular struggled to break it down before eventually Instead of Dzeko, it was Mohamed Salah who fashion, scoring double the number of goals it winning 2-1 on Sunday. stole the headlines with his first hat trick in club had netted all season, in a 4-0 win at fellow Juventus remained four points clear of sec- football. Roma went ahead in the 13th minute as struggler Pescara. Massimo Maccarone netted ond-placed Roma and five above AC Milan. Adam Masina attempted to clear Salah’s effort twice for Empoli, which hadn’t found the back of Miralem Pjanic had struggled to fit in since but only succeeded in prodding it past his own the net in the last eight rounds, and also provid- transferring from Roma in the offseason but he goalkeeper. The league credited the goal to ed the assist for Manuel Pucciarelli. Riccardo scored what was to prove the winner for Salah and the former Chelsea went Saponara added a fourth in the final minute. Juventus in the 75th minute with a trademark on to score a second-half brace, taking his tally Atalanta won 3-0 at Sassuolo to continue its free kick into the top right corner from just out- to eight for the season - one behind Ciro impressive run of form and move level on points side the area. Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Immobile and two below Dzeko and Icardi. with fourth-placed Lazio after a sixth win in sev- Sorrentino barely moved. “I won the free kick The only other time Salah has netted three in en matches. Elsewhere, Fiorentina vs. Sampdoria and I put it in. I’m happy, but what’s important, a match was in a World Cup qualifier for Egypt and Genoa vs. Udinese both ended 1-1. — AP above all, is the three points,” Pjanic said. “I always do my utmost to fit in as best as possible, it’s obvious that I want to do more, but it’s a new system, it’s a different kind of football to where I Ronaldo’s top 5 was before, but I’m adapting. “I’m not worried, I know that there are always great expectations in a great club, that doesn’t Madrid moments worry me, I’m staying calm, I do my work as best as possible. So slowly but surely I’ll get there, I’m MADRID: signed a new thanks to a spectacular 66 goals in 56 games a new footballer here, but I’m happy to be here.” Real Madrid deal yesterday, tying him to the for club and country. Ronaldo’s delight was Mario Mandzukic broke the deadlock in the Spanish giants until 2021. AFP Sports looks at evident as he cried tears of joy at the award 53rd, controlling ’s through ball some of Ronaldo’s finest moments since join- ceremony in Zurich. before driving across into the bottom left corner. ing Madrid from Manchester United in 2009: Mandzukic almost scored a stunning goal in the DELIVERS ‘LA DECIMA’ first half, nodding on a long ball and flicking it PEP’S BARCA BEATEN Madrid president Florentino Perez splurged over Nicolas Spolli before firing over the bar Amidst a run of four heated El Clasico clash- a then-world record 94 million euros ($104 from six yards. es between ’s all-conquering million at current rates) on Ronaldo with one Juventus goalkeeper was Barcelona and Jose Mourinho’s Madrid in the principal aim: “La Decima”-Madrid’s 10th making his 600th Serie A appearance, becoming spring of 2011, Madrid struck first blood. European Cup. After four years of heartache, only the fourth player to reach that mark after Ronaldo’s towering extra-time header was the including three consecutive semi-final exits, Paolo Maldini (647), Javier Zanetti (615) - who first goal he had scored from open play Ronaldo and Real delivered by downing cross- are both retired - and Roma captain Francesco against Barcelona in eight matches and pre- city rivals Atletico Madrid on Ronaldo’s return Totti (607). Buffon was decisive in the 64th to vented Guardiola’s Barca from doing the treble to Lisbon, where he started his career at deny Lucas Castro from point-blank range, but of La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Sporting. Ronaldo’s goal in the final was Real’s could do nothing moments later as Sergio Rey for the second time in three seasons. fourth as they ran riot in the extra 30 minutes Pellissier converted a penalty after being tripped after Sergio Ramos’s stoppage-time equaliser by Stephan Lichtsteiner. There was more bad CAMP NOU SILENCED denied Atletico a first Champions League. SEVILLE: Barcelona’s Messi, left, challenges for the ball with Sevilla’s Mudo Vazquez news on the injury front for Juventus, which is A year later Ronaldo delivered his only However, Ronaldo’s role cannot be underesti- during their La Liga soccer match between Sevilla and Barcelona at the Sanchez already without . Fellow defend- league title in seven full seasons in Spain by mated as he smashed a competition record 17 Pizjuan stadium, in Seville, Spain on Sunday. — AP er was stretchered off in the fifth scoring the winner in a 2-1 triumph at the goals over the season. minute with a dislocated shoulder. Camp Nou which ended Barca’s domination of Spanish football and precipitated Guardiola’s MILAN MEMORIES Cavani scores and gets PALERMO, 1 AC MILAN 2 decision to step down as coach. Ronaldo’s cel- Two years on, the same two sides met in It was the battle of the young goalkeepers in ebration as he wheeled away, saying “calm the Champions League final in Milan earlier Sicily. Milan shotstopper Gianluigi Donnarumma down, I’m here”, became one of his trademarks this year and once again ended with a injured in PSG’s win is just 17, while Palermo counterpart Josip amongst a record run of scoring in six straight Ronaldo penalty. This time his strike was deci- Posavec is 20. Their combined age is less than Clasicos. sive as Real edged a penalty shootout after PARIS: Striker got injured time to react and showed great awareness that of Buffon, who is 38. the Madrid duo were tied at 1-1 after 120 min- moments after he scored Paris Saint- as he turned to lob goalkeeper Benoit Posavec gifted Milan the lead in the 15th FINALLY TOPPLES MESSI utes. As in Lisbon, tears and a topless celebra- Germain’s second goal with a brilliant Costil with a curling shot. Moments after minute, colliding with his own defender as he Dethroning Barcelona at the top of La Liga tion followed. Later in the summer Ronaldo instinctive lob in a 4-0 win against Rennes netting his league-leading 11th goal of the came out to collect ’s cross and wasn’t enough to topple rival Lionel Messi’s was instrumental in securing Portugal’s first on Sunday in the French league. season, the Uruguay striker clutched the losing the ball, allowing Suso to deposit the ball run of winning the Ballon d’Or for four straight major international triumph, at Euro 2016, The win moved PSG three points behind back of his right thigh and was replaced by years between 2009 and 2012. However, despite departing the final injured and in leader Nice, which earlier lost 1-0 at Caen Spanish forward Jese. Costil was beaten into an empty net. Posavec made up for his error in the second Ronaldo finally overcame the Argentine in tears, leading him to describe the past season for its first league defeat of the season. again, this time from nearly 30 meters out 2013 despite a trophyless season with Madrid as a “dream year”. — AFP Monaco is second, level on 26 points with when Rabiot’s low shot skidded in off his half with three stunning saves to deny Suso each third-placed PSG after 12 rounds. arm in the 67th. Substitute time but was beaten in the 82nd, when substi- PSG’s other goals came from Marco set up the fourth, cleverly picking out tute Gianluca Lapadula cheekily backheeled Verratti’s volley and fellow midfielder Verratti near the penalty spot in the 79th. Suso’s long-range attempt into the bottom cor- Adrien Rabiot’s firm strike in the second ner. It was the first Serie A goal for Lapadula, half, with an own-goal from Rennes mid- CAEN 1, NICE O who had only been on the pitch three minutes. fielder Gelson Fernandes putting PSG It seems ’s luck ran out. Palermo had leveled in the 71st when Ilija ahead in the 31st minute. Croatian striker Ivan Santini’s penalty put Nestorovski ran onto Alessandro Diamanti’s The defeat could have been worse for an Normandy side Caen ahead near halftime, through ball and drilled it into the near corner insipid Rennes side mustering just one shot and Balotelli - who had six goals in five for his third goal in as many matches. on target. PSG right back Serge Aurier hit league games before the match - hit the the crossbar twice and midfielder Thiago post with a first-time shot in the 63rd. 3, CROTONE 0 Motta headed against the post. Moments earlier, he set up strike partner Problems continued for managerless Inter Although the score was comfortable, Alassane Plea, whose curling effort went Milan on and off the pitch, with a win over Serie Rennes gifted PSG the first two goals. The just over. “There weren’t many chances but A’s bottom side in a hostile atmosphere at San first came when Fernandes put the ball into sometimes two chances is enough, and we Siro. The scoreline was more generous than Inter his own net, after Cavani’s powerful glanc- had them,” Nice coach Lucien Favre said. deserved, with three goals in the final six min- ing header from a corner bounced off the “Caen was very tight at the back, with five utes. netted twice, the first a penal- crossbar and landed near Fernandes. defenders. It was very hard to get past ty, after Ivan Perisic had fired the Nerazzurri in Earlier in the first half, Fernandes had them.” Favre refused to blame fatigue, front. It was only Inter’s fifth win this season and done remarkably well to head ’s despite his team playing in the Europa fans made their displeasure known with several point-blank header off the line. His own League on Thursday night. He said it was insulting banners directed at the players as well MADRID: Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (C), club president Florentino goal was followed by a ghastly error from more a case of impatience. “It’s nothing to as the club owners and directors. The club Perez and Ronaldo’s mother Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro pose during the official pres- captain Pedro Mendes in the 42nd. do with fatigue,” he said. “You have to stay released a statement on Sunday, saying it would entation of Ronaldo’s contract renewal, in the presidential box at the Santiago Bernabeu Mendes tried to pass out from the back patient in games, otherwise you forget cer- announce the new coach in 48 hours. Youth stadium in Madrid yesterday. Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo have agreed an extension but gave it straight to Cavani, some 25 tain things, you become disorganized and coach Stefano Vecchi replaced the fired Frank de to the player’s contract, keeping him at the club until the 30th of June 2021. — AFP meters (yards) out. Cavani had very little that’s not great.”—AP Boer on Tuesday on a temporary basis.