14 Tuesday, October 29, 2019 Sports

Hamilton wins, hopes to Juventus forward avoid Verstappen in Texas

ing a question in the post-race and then Verstappen clashed Defending news conference. with Bottas, who finished third “Some are smarter and in the second Mercedes. Ver- champion tops some are very smart aggressive. stappen suffered a puncture Some are silly with it...” and pitted. He re-joined last, Mexican GP to “Through those experiences but charged through the field move within four with racing with people, you to finish sixth. give some more space than oth- His surging and dramatic Juve set to recall points of a ers, but, yeah, (with) Max, it’s drive, packed with daring pass- very likely you’ll come together ing moves, was thrilling for his 6th world title with Max – if you don’t give fans, but demonstrated why he him extra space. is dubbed ‘Mad Max’ and given Ronaldo as Atalanta AFP “Most of the time you do. a wide berth by his rivals. Mexico City In my experience (in Sunday’s “He got a puncture from race), I didn’t have extra space that,” said Bottas of Verstap- boss cools title talk Lewis Hamilton hopes to to give him, but I don’t think it pen’s hopeful failed lunge to steer clear of Max Verstappen was intentional. Nonetheless, pass him. “I couldn’t really AFP Fixtures (GMT) at next weekend’s United States I managed to keep the car in a avoid him. I think he earned his Milan Grand Prix in Texas, where he straight line... “ own puncture. Definitely... “ Tuesday aims to clinch his sixth drivers’ Hamilton survived his Vettel, who finished sec- Cristiano Ronaldo is in Parma v Verona (1800), world championship. brush with Verstappen to make ond, smiled as he listened to line to return from a brief Brescia v Inter Milan (2000) Like Ferrari’s Sebas- full use of a well-judged one- Hamilton’s responses before rest on Wednesday as Serie tian Vettel who said he also stop strategy and claim the being posed the same questions A leaders Juventus host a Wednesday concedes extra space to 83rd victory of his career and about Verstappen. Genoa side reinvigorated by Napoli v Atalanta (1800), the Dutchman, Hamilton his 10th in 18 races this year, “Yes and yes,” he replied, the appointment as coach of Cagliari v Bologna, Juventus believes that when racing leaving him needing to finish nodding his agreement with former Italy Thia- v Genoa, Lazio v Torino, against the Red Bull driver in the top eight in the United Hamilton’s views. “Just copy go Motta. Sampdoria v Lecce, there is a higher possibility of States to take his sixth title. and paste... It’s true.” Ronaldo sat out Satur- contact and an accident. Verstappen was chasing a The four-time champion day’s 1-1 draw at promoted Sassuolo v Fiorentina, In the wake of his perfectly- hat-trick of Mexico victories, German smiled as he sat Lecce with fatigue, although Udinese v Roma (all 2000) executed strategic triumph for but undid his chances on Satur- alongside defending five-time coach Maurizio Sarri refused Thursday Mercedes in Sunday’s Mexican day in qualifying when he was champion Hamilton with to blame Ronaldo’s absence AC Milan v SPAL (2000) Grand Prix, in which he made punished for ignoring yellow Bottas nearby. for the dropped points. contact with Verstappen on flags following Valtteri Bottas’ Verstappen, 22, a victim Juve will face city rivals est in the club’s 112-year the opening lap, Hamilton said crash and then told a news con- of his own impetuosity, was Torino this weekend before history, and their 28 goals he believed there was a higher ference that “it doesn’t matter.” hardly in any position to argue a trip to Lokomotiv Moscow through the first nine games risk of an accident while racing He was penalised three grid after an afternoon that dem- in the Champions League on is the best return since AC V FOR VICTORY: Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates against him than others. positions, losing pole position, onstrated his crowd-pleasing November 6, and defender Milan in 1992-93. A 7-1 dem- after winning the F1 Mexico Grand Prix at the Hermanos Rodriguez “Every driver is slightly dif- and started fourth alongside skills but also left another Leonardo Bonucci urged his olition of Udinese pushed racetrack in Mexico City on Sunday. (AFP) ferent,” said Hamilton, answer- Hamilton. The pair tangled dent in his reputation. team-mates to swiftly move Atalanta to within three on from the Lecce disap- points of Juve, and Wednes- pointment. day’s trip to fourth-place “We have to roll up our Napoli offers another chance sleeves and be even more de- to prove their mettle. Rugby termined – and learn quickly “The Scudetto is Juven- Barca and Real out to regain too, otherwise we can end up tus’s to lose, then there are England must ‘climb that dropping important points,” Inter and Napoli as well as Everest again’ to win said Bonucci. other teams that have signifi- World Cup: Woodward ground on shock leaders Granada “That’s what happened. cant possibilities,” said Gas- Luckily we have a chance to perini. London: England can win a sec- DPA situation; we just need to enjoy get straight back to winning “We’re not deluding our- ond Rugby World Cup if they re- Barcelona it,” coach Diego Martinez said ways on Wednesday.” selves. It is very early days, peat “the intensity and precision” after the 1-0 win over Betis on Motta’s debut as Genoa only nine rounds.” they showed in the 19-7 semi-fi- Barcelona and Real Sunday that put them top. coach ended in a 3-1 win over AC Milan, who are strug- nal victory over New Zealand their are back in action in La Liga “I am very proud of the Brescia – a match where all gling in 12th and desperate 2003 tournament-winning coach this week and they have ground players but we have to keep go- three of his team’s substi- for a first win under new Clive Woodward said. The 63-year- to make up after their Clasico ing. In football you can only live tutes scored, a first in Serie A coach Stefano Pioli, visit sec- old Englishman – whose side postponement on Saturday. by the present, not the past.” history. ond-bottom SPAL on Thurs- beat present England head coach Ernesto Valverde’s Barce- Granada were not the only “The lads were extraordi- day. Eddie Jones’s Australia – added lona host Valladolid having lost team at the weekend to take full nary from the first to the last Paulo Dybala admitted the caveat England faced a major top spot to high-flying Granada. advantage of the fact that Bar- minute,” said Motta, who the frenzied speculation over challenge to climb “that Everest The Catalans are second celona and Real Madrid were spent the 2008-09 season his future made for an unset- again” to beat South Africa in but should have their strongest not playing because of the tense at Genoa before winning the tling summer, but the Argen- Saturday’s final. team out for Tuesday’s game Granada players celebrate after scoring the only goal against Betis. (EPA) political situation in . treble under Jose Mourinho tina forward has shown his “England are capable of play- despite Ousmane Dembele Real Sociedad went third with Inter Milan. worth to Juve this month. ing at a pace and tempo that being suspended and central time without touching the ball permanently he said: “I am with a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo. Inter remained a point The 25-year-old wanted could completely take the final defender Samuel Umtiti still I drift out of the game, I prefer employee of the club and I am They take on Levante at home. behind Juve following a 2-2 to stay put but was heavily away from South Africa,” said struggling with a knee injury. always to be close to the ball.” happy to be at Leganes. Sevilla moved into fifth home draw against Parma. linked with moves to Totten- Woodward. “If they can replicate Sergio Roberto is back to Real face Leganes at the “I am convinced we have the place when they beat Getafe and Antonio Conte’s side could ham and Manchester United. the intensity and precision they contest right-back spot with Santiago Bernabeu, with the quality to improve. There are they can continue their good replace the defending cham- He eventually got his wish displayed against New Zealand Nelson Semedo and Gerard visitors coming off their first still 84 points to play for.” run away to Valencia. pions at the top after Tues- although he was limited to a then I am struggling to see how Pique returns from suspension season win, 1-0 over Mallorca. Real could have Gareth Bale That fixture has now taken day’s visit to lowly Brescia. bit-part role in the opening South Africa can match such an to partner Clement Lenglet in Luis Cembranos took back in attack. The forward has on huge significance for Valen- While Atalanta’s maiden weeks of this season. approach -- it’s a million miles centre-defence. charge of the game after Mau- missed the last two games with cia. Alberto Celades’ team lost Champions League voyage With Gonzalo Higuain away from their natural game. I will be ready ricio Pellegrino parted company injury but should return to go in away to Osasuna and are now in has run aground, Gian Pie- nursing a head injury that would emphasise again, though, to start up-front alongside Luis with the club last week. search of his first league goal at the bottom half of the table. ro Gasperini’s free-scoring required stitches this past that it will be a major challenge Suarez and Antoine Griezmann. “It was an unforgettable home since last March. The pick of the remaining team is muscling its way into weekend, Dybala can likely for Eddie Jones’ team to climb In an interview with TyC experience,” said the B-team Leaders Granada are also games sees Betis face Celta Vigo contention at the top. expect another shot to ex- that Everest again just a week Sports in Argentina the forward coach of the chance to take in the city of Madrid to take on at home. Alaves host Atletico Last year’s third-place tend his run of goalscoring after the greatest ever England has spoken about his playing charge of the first team. Getafe. Madrid, Espanyol go to Athletic finish represented the high- form this week. performance.” (AFP) style, admitting: “If I go a long Asked if he wanted the job “It’s great that we are in this Bilbao, Eibar meet Villarreal.

Al Rayyan hoopsters in QF Icardi, Mbappe shine as PSG outclass old rivals Marseille

AFP have been a match for their ri- Paris vals from the capital. For a period in the 1990s, Mauro Icardi and Kylian the sides were fighting it out Mbappe both scored twice as with one another for the title. Paris Saint-Germain demol- Now, with PSG transformed ished their old rivals Marseille into the dominant force in 4-0 on Sunday in a game that Ligue 1 since the Qatari takeo- further laid bare the gulf that ver of the club in 2011, Mar- exists between the sides and seille simply cannot compete. allowed the reigning champi- They have not beaten PSG ons to extend their lead at the since November 2011, with top of Ligue 1. American owner Frank Mc- Icardi scored twice in the Court in attendance here to first 26 minutes at the Parc des see their winless run in the Princes and Mbappe, on his re- intervening period stretch to turn to the starting line-up after 20 matches. a recent struggle with injury, “I was very proud of the way added a brace of his own be- we played in the second half fore the interval against Andre but the result doesn’t interest Villas-Boas’s hapless visitors in me against this team,” admit- the ‘Classique’. AWESOME TWOSOME: Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentine forward Mauro Icardi (left) is congratulated by French ted Villas-Boas, whose team re- Again preferred to all-time forward Kylian Mbappe after scoring a goal during the French L1 match against Olympique de Marseille main seventh, two points adrift club record goal-scorer Edin- (OM) at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on Sunday. (AFP) of the top three. “Our objective son Cavani in attack, on-loan remains the podium.” Inter Milan striker Icardi now played in.” already at the top of Ligue 1, PSG were again without In Sunday’s other match- has seven goals in PSG’s last Mbappe, scorer of a hat- with this win coming after sec- the injured , while Id- es, Rennes ended a run of 10 five games. trick in the 5-0 win at Club ond-placed Nantes lost 1-0 at rissa Gueye – their most im- games without a win by beat- “Coming to PSG, I knew Brugge in the Champions home to Monaco on Friday. pressive midfielder this sea- ing Toulouse 3-2 in Brittany, I would have to score goals. League in midweek, has six Another league title al- son – was also sidelined, but 18-year-old Yann Gboho com- That is what I have always done in his last three matches – he ready looks inevitable, with neither was missed. ing off the bench to score a Qatar’s Al Rayyan defeat Bahrain’s Al Riffa 89-77 on Monday in the and that is what I wanted to do scored a hat-trick as a substi- Thomas Tuchel’s team once There remains much hype stoppage-time winner. Arab Basketball Club Championships being held in Morroco. The here,” Icardi told Canal Plus. tute in Belgium before start- more far too strong for one of around this fixture in France as Saint-Etienne remain un- 2014 champions will now take on Tunisia’s US Monastir in the “I have played with some ing here for the first time in the clubs seen as their most it brings together the country’s beaten since Claude Puel’s ar- quarter-finals clash on Tuesday. really great players but this two months. likely challengers at the begin- two best-supported clubs, yet rival as coach after recovering is clearly the best team I have PSG are eight points clear ning of the campaign. it is a long time since Marseille to draw 2-2 with Amiens.