ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JANUARY 1-2, 2021 SPORTS 14 Atlético extend lead, Real draw at Elche Sociedad beat Bilbao in Basque derby to end winless run

BARCELONA, Spain, Dec 31, (AP): Luis Suárez led Atlético Madrid to a 1-0 victory over Getafe in the 500th game for coach , extending its Spanish league lead after Real Madrid drew 1-1 at Elche. The Uruguay striker used a pow- erful and precise header to send Yannick Carrasco’s lob from a free kick into the lower corner of Getafe’s net in the 20th minute. It was Suárez’s eighth goal in the league this season since leaving Barcelona for one of their top rivals. Atlético put on the defensive clamps for the rest of the game to earn a 10th consecutive league win over Getafe. Atlético’s third win in a row left them two points above Madrid, which saw their five-game league winning streak end at Elche. Atlético also have two games in hand on Madrid.

SOCCER

Simeone has transformed Atlético into one of the top teams in Europe since the former player returned to the club to become their coach nine years ago. He has guided them to two Europa League titles, one Spanish league, one Copa del Rey, along with two Champions League final appearances. The win over Getafe was No. 301 for the Argentine. Atlético midfielder Jorge “Koke” has been with Simeone from the start. Madrid looked ready to romp early in the match at promoted Elche. Marcelo had already hit the crossbar before Luka Modric put the defending champions ahead in the 20th. Elche goalkeeper Édgar Badía did well to push a blistering strike by Marco Asensio onto his bar, only for the rebound to fall to Modric to head in. Madrid, however, failed to capital- Newcastle’s DeAndre Yedlin, (right), challenges Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah during the English soccer match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James’ Park ize on their superior play for the rest of Stadium in Newcastle, England, on Dec 30, 2020. (AP) the first half, and a penalty plus some great saves by Badía ended up costing Zinedine Zidane’s side two points. Cavani banned for 3 games for offensive post Dani Carvajal gave away the penal- ty when he clung to Antonio Barragán’s shirt with both hands in the area, sending Fidel Chaves to the spot Karl, Newcastle frustrate Liverpool to beat and equalize in the 52nd. NEWCASTLE, England, Dec 31, game played Wednesday after Fulham for Black people which he said was Lucas Boye almost put Elche ahead (AP): Goalkeeper Karl Darlow pulled recorded a number of coronavirus intended as an affectionate greeting. when he grazed the upright in the 63rd. off a string of saves to help Newcastle cases and their match at Tottenham Cavani has also been fined 100,000 Madrid then pressed for the winner, hold Liverpool to a 0-0 draw as the had to be postponed. pounds ($136,500) and ordered to but Badía denied Carvajal and smoth- defending champions vaunted attack- Meanwhile Liverpool coach Jurgen complete face-to-face education after ered ’ effort from close ing trio came up empty. Klopp expects defender Joel Matip to admitting to breaching the FA’s rules. range. Mohamed Salah missed two good miss the Premier League leader’s next The FA said the comment was came on late as a chances when he had just Darlow to three matches because of an adductor “insulting, abusive, improper and Madrid substitute for his first action beat, and strike-partner Roberto strain. brought the game into disrepute” and after a month sidelined with his latest Firmino saw two headers saved at St. The Cameroon player will likely be also was an “aggravated breach” injury. James’ Park. out of action for about three weeks because it “included reference, wheth- Elche are in 15th place after only Three days after struggling West after straining a muscle during er express or implied, to color and/or losing four of 14 games this season. Bromwich Albion earned a point at Sunday’s 1-1 draw against West race and/or ethnic origin.” Iago Aspas scored his competition- Anfield, Jurgen Klopp’s team were Bromwich Albion, Klopp said . The message was posted by the leading ninth goal of the season to Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois stops the ball during the frustrated once again, although Darlow Matip’s absence is a tough blow for Uruguayan on Instagram after he Spanish soccer match between Real Madrid and Elche CF at the double Celta Vigo’s lead in a 2-1 win needed some help in the form of a late the Reds, who were already without scored twice in United’s 3-2 victory at over last-place Huesca. Manuel Martinez Valero Stadium in Elche, Spain, on Dec 30. (AP) goal-line clearance from Fabian Schar injured defender Virgil van Dijk. Aspas set up Manuel Agudo in the Southampton in October in the Premier to deny Sadio Mane and maintain the ❑ ❑ ❑ League. first half. The striker added a second Bilbao in a Basque Country derby to the frontrunners. stalemate. goal after rounding the goalkeeper in Manchester United striker Edinson “While it is clear that context and end its winless run and strengthen its “After those defeats, we wanted to Liverpool have now won only two intent are key factors, we note that the the 61st. of eight league away games this sea- Cavani was banned for three games by hold on third place . turn this around and win the derby for independent regulatory Commission Celta has won five and drawn one son but still top the table, three points the English Football Association on Cristian Portugués scored the our fans so they could celebrate New was required to impose a minimum since the arrival of coach Eduardo game’s only goal in the fifth minute Year’s Eve in style,” said. ahead of Manchester United. Thursday after using a Spanish term Coudet in late November, lifting them Liverpool could have taken the lead three game suspension,” United said in after Mikel Merino played Mikel The forward also took a moment to a statement. “The club trusts that the from the relegation zone into eighth Oyarzabal clear on the flank, where he remember the supporters who had suf- 11 minutes before the break when place. squared the ball for Portu to knock fered from the coronavirus pandemic. Salah beat the offside trap to control Jorge Molina scored with two min- home. “It has been a good year as far as the ball in front of the advancing utes remaining to give Granada a 2-1 Darlow, who got his hand on the SOCCER win over Valencia in a match that The victory came after a difficult results for the team, but we want to December in which Sociedad had think about our fans who could not be Egyptian’s shot to steer it wide of the included the sending off of three play- post. The goalkeeper then produced a ers. drawn three games before losing here (in the stadium) to share it with us independent Regulatory Commission another three in a row prior to their and those fans or their loved ones who fine reaction save in stoppage time to Valencia lost Jason Remeseiro to his repel Firmino’s header from point- will make it clear in its written reasons second yellow card in the 70th and visit to Bilbao. The three points moved are no longer with us,” Portu said. that Edinson Cavani is not a racist, nor them to within four points of second- Bilbao’s erratic season continued blank range. Gonçalo Guedes to a direct red three Salah had another chance to break was there any racist intent in relation minutes later. Granada’s Domingos place Real Madrid and six points from after a poor attacking performance that the deadlock in the 67th when he was to his post.” Duarte also got a straight red in the 76th. leaders Atlético Madrid. Sociedad never seriously threatened Sociedad’s played in by Firmino but directed his The former Paris Saint-Germain won 1-0 at Athletic have played three more matches than goal. The hosts were left in 12th place. effort past the upright. player, who joined United as a free Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson agent in October, has already issued an Becker then had to pull off a diving apology. EPL club Burnley taken over by American investors save of his own 11 minutes from time “Edinson Cavani wasn’t aware that when Ciaran Clark met Matt Ritchie’s his words could have been miscon- BURNLEY, England, Dec 31, (AP): Burnley became the ALK managing partner Alan Pace will replace Garlick as free kick with a downward header. strued and he sincerely apologized for latest Premier League club to become owned by Americans chairman of the team, which is based just north of Liverpool nearly scored moments the post and to anyone who was when a takeover was completed Wednesday. Manchester. He was previously CEO of Major League later when Darlow pushed the ball offended,” United said. “Despite his ALK Capital’s sports investment arm, Velocity Sports Soccer team Real Salt Lake. Garlick and Banaszkiewicz, away onto Mane’s leg and Schar had Newcastle’s Matt Ritchie out jumps honest belief that he was simply send- Partners, has bought an 84% stake in the northwest English will remain on the new board of directors at Burnley. to hack the ball off his line before the Liverpool’s Sadio Mane during the ing an affectionate thank you in club from British businessmen Mike Garlick and John Unlike squads in the rest of the league, Burnley largely forward could tap into an empty net. English Premier League soccer response to a congratulatory message Banaszkiewicz. has players from Britain and Ireland rather than the rest of Darlow then clawed away another match between Newcastle United from a close friend, he chose not to Burnley’s glory days came long ago - winning the English the world. Of the 13 players used by manager Sean Dyche Firmino header near the end to pre- and Liverpool at St James’ Park contest the charge out of respect for, championship in 1921 and 1960 - but it is playing its fifth in a 1-0 win over Sheffield United on Tuesday, only Erik serve his clean sheet. Stadium in Newcastle, England, on and solidarity with, The FA and the straight season in the world’s richest league. Pieters of the Netherlands is from outside the British Isles. It was the only Premier League Dec 30. (AP) fight against racism in football.”