Lewandowski hits hat-trick as Bayern Munich rout Frankfurt PAGE 14 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2020 Al Arabi hold Wakrah 2-2, Umm secure first win of the season TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA ON a thrilling day of football- ing action, injury-hit Al Arabi rallied to hold Al Wakrah 2-2 in the QNB Stars League, while Umm Salal recorded their first win of the 2020-21 season defeating Qatar SC 1-0 at the Qatar SC Stadium on Real Madrid’s Croatian midfielder Luka Modric (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal Saturday. during the Spanish League ‘Clasico’ against Barcelona at the Camp Nou Stadium on Saturday. (AFP) Al Wakrah were helped by an own goal by Al Arabi’s Khalaf Sadd in the 59th min- ute. Mohamed Benyettou Real Madrid ease pressure scored their other goal in the 88th minute. Mehrdad Mohammadi on Zidane with rousing (73rd and 90+5 minute pen- alty) scored Al Arabi’s goals. Al Wakrah and Al Arabi victory over Barcelona now have seven and five points respectively. AFP Lionel Messi threatened to win to turn, with the sprinting Val- Just like they pulled off a BARCELONA the game on his own, Madrid verde going beyond him. 2-1 victory over Umm Salal were dominant for longer spells Valverde pierced the gap right at the death last week, Al REAL Madrid averted a crisis and pulled away when it mat- before lifting a curved shot past Arabi this time earned a well- in the best possible way on Sat- tered. Neto and into the far corner. fought draw with a stoppage- urday by beating Barcelona 3-1 This was Ronald Koeman’s But within three minutes, time goal that came in the in the first empty Clasico, land- first Clasico as Barcelona coach Barcelona were level. Messi, form of a penalty. ing an early blow in La Liga’s and some of the pressure Zi- from almost left-back, chipped Al Arabi were without their title race. dane would have felt from a a ball over the top freeing Jordi key players, such as Hamdi Barca had the chance to in- loss is now transferred to the Alba, who fired into the front Harbaoui, Mohammed Salah flict a third consecutive defeat Dutchman, who has overseen post where Fati had nipped El Neel, Sebastian Soria and on their rivals and increase the only three wins from his first ahead of Ramos and turned in. Mahdi Torabi who all were pressure on Zinedine Zidane. six games in charge. It was fast and open for nursing injuries. Instead, Madrid’s win earns Barcelona face Juventus on the rest of the half, with Messi In the first half, Benyettou them a six-point lead over the Wednesday in the Champions enjoying a golden spell. He had his header off Murad Naji Catalans, having played one League, without the suspended glided past Casemiro and then cross hit the crossbar, while game more. Gerard Pique. swerved around Ramos, but Al Arabi struggled to make in- “They are only three points Every Barca set-back now onto his right foot, the finish roads without their mainstays. but we have to enjoy them, es- reflects on the future of Messi, stabbed into Thibaut Courtois The match came to life in Action from the Al Arabi-Al Wakrah QNB Stars League clash at the Qatar SC Stadium on Saturday. pecially after everything that for whom this could even have at the near post. the second half. has been said about the squad,” been the last Clasico at Camp Benzema should have Al Arabi went into deficit Umm Salal, that too against said Zidane. Nou. The Argentinian, who scored too and Madrid finished when Khalaf’s clearance of a his former team Qatar SC. And Sergio Ramos’ penalty and failed in his attempt to leave the stronger before half-time Benyettou cross from the right he was instrumental in their a late Luka Modric goal fin- last summer, has still to score but Barca were better just after. landed in his own net. goal as he crossed the ball ished Barcelona off after Fed- from open play this season. Fati flashed wide and Philippe The Dream Team drew from the right for Ismail to erico Valverde and Ansu Fati Mundo Deportivo had de- Coutinho missed a free header parity when Al Wakrah goal- glide it in. had traded early strikes in a clared the match “The least at the back post. keeper Saoud Al Khater fum- The first half saw both frantic game that defied those Clasico of Clasicos” on its front Their momentum was bled with collection of Mehr- teams create chances, but for expecting further evidence of page on Saturday morning. checked by Lenglet’s error, a dad’s angular shot and the ball a goal. Umm Salal’s Abden- two heavyweights in decline. The coronavirus pandemic tug in the box clear enough that rolled into the goal. nour Belhocini skied the ball “You always have bad spells meant the biggest football sta- Ramos’ shirt was stretched, Al Wakrah surged ahead in the 22nd minute with only in a season and hopefully this dium in Europe was silent for even if the fall was comical. for a second time when Beny- goalkeeper Motasem Majed in one only lasted a week,” said the game that La Liga president Referee Juan Martinez checked ettou placed home a rebound front. Ismail too made his con- Ramos. “To win in the home of Javier Tebas had claimed is the monitor. Ramos found the from the left post following tribution. your oldest rivals is always sat- “still the biggest football match corner. Omar Ali’s shot. At the other end, attempts isfying.” in the world”. Barca wanted a penalty When it looked like Al by Qatar SC’s Hamed Ismail Barcelona might feel hard In the previous week, Real themselves when Ramos boot- Wakrah were winning came Al and Abdulaziz Adel did not done by, especially as Ramos’ Madrid had lost to Shakhtar ed a clearance into the arm Arabi’s second equaliser, with fetch results. penalty was awarded after a Donestsk and newly promoted of Raphael Varane but this Mehrdad converting from the Both teams upped their check by VAR and a hugely Cadiz, while Barcelona were time there was no whistle and spot. ante in the second half and exaggerated fall by Madrid’s beaten by Getafe. Madrid were hardly troubled Veteran Ismail Mahmoud Umm Salal took the lead close captain after Clement Lenglet Yet a dip in quality does not thereafter. scored an all-important goal in to the hour mark. tugged his shirt. have to mean a drop in drama Ramos and Valverde both the 57th minute, as Umm Salal Umm Salal players celebrate their 1-0 win over Qatar SC. Stung by the deficit, The “Maybe one day you can and any doubts about the thrill could have made it three in the now on four points and moved Kings desperately tried for an explain how VAR works here of this fixture were answered in final minutes before substitute up to ninth in the league table, Umm Salal, under the tute- Qatar SC, coached by for- equaliser, but The Orange For- in Spain,” said Koeman. “We’ve eight minutes, as both teams Modric did, finishing beauti- though their position might lage of their former defender mer Qatar international mid- tress held fort. had five games in the league had scored. fully after Neto rushed out. change after today’s fixtures. Aziz Ben Askar, had only one fielder Younis Ali, remained On Sunday, Al Ahli will and VAR has only intervened Madrid made the start Scoreline: Real Madrid 3 (Fed- point. However, the revamped on three points. locks horns with Al Sadd, against Barca.” they dreamed of when Karim erico Valverde 5’, Sergio Ramos Umm Salal prevail side put up an improved per- Brazilian forward Kayke while Al Rayyan will meet But aside from an impres- Benzema drifted deep into the 63; (P), Luka Modric 90’) bt Going into the match, formance. Rodriguez made his debut for Al Duhail. sive spell in the first half, when right channel and was allowed Barcelona 1 (Ansu Fati 8’). Record-seeking Hamilton grabs dramatic late pole in Portugal Nakagami takes first AFP as so often this year, to deliver time and I think he decided to PORTIMAO (PORTUGAL) heartbreak again after the pair do one so I was like ‘ok, this MotoGP pole in Spain had swapped from soft to me- could provide me with an op- LEWIS Hamilton claimed a dium tyres for their final runs. portunity’ and it worked.” AFP most important thing is to- thrilling last-gasp pole posi- Hamilton’s ninth pole Bottas, who is 69 points ALCANIZ (SPAIN) morrow (Sunday).” tion on Saturday to give him of the season sets him up to adrift of Hamilton in the driv- Italian Franco Morbidelli, the perfect launchpad for his move clear of Michael Schu- ers’ title race, retained his op- JAPAN’S Takaaki Nakagami who was quickest in practice, bid to win a record 92nd For- macher’s 14-year-old record of timism after another late dis- grabbed his maiden MotoGP qualified second, just 0.063 mula One race in Sunday’s 91 race wins which he equalled appointment. pole position for Sunday’s Ter- seconds slower, as Alex Rins Portuguese Grand Prix. in the Eifel Grand Prix at Nur- “Obviously, at the end we uel Grand Prix, while champi- rounded out the front row. In denying his Mercedes burgring last time out.