Sports Monday, August 3, 2020 11 Al Duhail back to winning ways, move four points clear on top suffers ankle injury, is ruled out for four weeks

Tribune News Network Doha

In what comes as a blow to Al Sadd ahead of their QNB Stars League tie against Al Ahli on Monday, their star player and international Akram Afif has been ruled out of action due to an ankle injury sustained while training. After a medical examina- tion, the extent of the injury was revealed and the Qatari international will now require 3-4 weeks of treatment and recuperation before rejoining the team for training. 19 game against Al Ahli Al Duhail’s is tackled by two Al Gharafa defenders during their QNB Stars League at the Meanwhile, Al Sadd squad with a final training session on Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Sunday. Muntari had opened the scoring in the very 4th minute of action. wrapped up preparations for Sunday evening at the club’s the QNB Stars League Round training centre. Results: Al Duhail 2 (Mohammed Muntari 4’, 80’) Al Gharafa 0 Edmilson Junior (left) celebrates with Sultan al Braik after scoring the Al Khor 1 (Lucca Borges de Brito 67’) Al Wakrah 1 (Mohamed Benyettou 17’) 50th minute. Cristian Cebal- second goal for Al Duhail against Al Gharafa in their Round 19 match los too, had a good run among of QNB Stars League at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Sunday. the Al Wakrah ranks. Walid Regragui made some chances but Sofiane Hanni above the bottom-placed Borges, who came on at the changes to the team that drew and Jonathan Kodjia saw Al Shahania. Though level on start of the second half, soon Al Khor hold Al Wakrah to 1-1 draw last weekend against Umm their efforts saved. points with a resurgent Umm bagged the equaliser with a goal Salal. Muntari came started in The Red Knights finally put Salal in 11th, they have played of the season contender. Ayeni Olusegun against Atl Arabi ensured the the place of Han Kwang-Song, the match to bed in the 80th one game more on hand. The Brazilian sent a curler Doha title race might go down to the while Assim Madibo was given minute. Al Braik’s cross again Mohamed Benyettou put into the top corner leaving last day of the season. the nod to start. found substitute Edmilson who Al Wakrah ahead 17 minutes Saoud Mubarak no chance. Monday’s matches Al Duhail beat Al Gharafa 2-0 In Sunday’s other match, Muntari repaid the coach’s calmly side-footed his shot past in with an acrobatic finish from Al Wakrah remain in Al Ahli vs Al Sadd on Sunday to extend their lead Al Wakrah and Al Khor faith and put the Red Knights the hapless Qassem. Ahmed Sohail’s assist. seventh with 21 points. atop the QNB Stars League shared a point apiece after ahead just four minutes in. Al Al Duhail can win the league With Lucca Borges on the On Monday, Al Sadd will (at Al Janoub Stadium) to four points thanks to goals a thrilling 1-1 draw at the Gharafa failed to clear Sultan next weekend if they beat reign- bench, Tiago Bezerra failed to hope to have the recovered Xavi 4.30pm from Mohammed Muntari and Al Janoub Stadium. al Braik’s cross and the ball ing champions Al Sadd and add to his goal tally as Al Wak- Hernandez on the touchline substitute Edmilson Junior. Heading into the Sunday’s kindly fell for Muntari, who Al Rayyan lose to Al Sailiya. rah goalkeeper Saoud Al Khater when they take on Al Ahli in Qatar SC vs Umm Salal Al Duhail now have 46 clash, Al Duhail had all to play hit a sumptuous volley past Meanwhile, Al Khor’s 1-1 was alert. the early kick-off. At the same (at Jassim Bin Hamad points while Al Rayyan remain for as maximum points would Qassem in goal for his seventh draw would be a disappoint- In the second half, Al time, Qatar SC and Umm Salal second on 42 points after a dis- see them extend the gap to the strike of the season. ing result for Omar Nadji as Wakrah defender Lucas promise a thrilling relegation Stadium) 6.45pm appointing draw on Saturday chasing pack. Al Gharafa created the Knights remain just a point Mendes headed over in the showdown later in the evening. Fear is good, says Sarri as Juve crash in Serie A finale

AFP Milan

Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri warned that his side would be back to their attack- ing best in the Champions League next week despite fin- ishing their Serie A campaign with a 3-1 home defeat against Roma on Saturday. It was Juventus’s second consecutive defeat since seal- ing a ninth Serie A title in a row, just days before their Arsenal’s Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang holds the winner’s Champions League campaign trophy as the team celebrates victory after the English FA Cup final against resumes against Lyon. Chelsea at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday. (AFP) “It can be good for us to have a little fear,” said Sarri as his side target a first elite Eu- Arteta hopes FA Cup ropean title since 1996. “We had an unconscious, inevitable drop after the vic- win just the start for tory against Lazio. “The physical energy can be recovered quickly, the psy- Aubameyang at Arsenal chological one must be reas- sured immediately, in order to AFP “He knows what I think give everything against Lyon.” London about him, I want to build a Sarri’s side need to over- squad around him.” turn a 1-0 first-leg deficit Juventus players celebrate their title triumph at the end of the Italian Serie A match vs Roma at the Allianz stadium in Turin on Saturday. (AFP) Mikel Arteta hopes Pierre- “I think he wants to stay, it in their last 16 home game Emerick Aubameyang will stay is about getting the deal done. against Lyon. “I am convinced Inter second best thing that could have hap- 36 goals, set while playing for at Arsenal to lead the Gunners “I think moments like that that the game on Friday will Inter Milan took second place pened to us,” said Gasperini. Napoli in the 2015-16 season. to more success after scoring will help to realise and give be a great stimulus, and that with a 2-0 win over direct ri- “It was the best game we Immobile will also win twice to beat Chelsea 2-1 in the him belief that we are in the we’ll go onto the pitch with a vals Atalanta in Bergamo, could find in anticipation of the European Golden Shoe FA Cup final on Saturday. right path and he is a big part completely different attitude,” finishing the season just one the Champions League. for the continent’s top scorer Arsenal captain Au- of it.” added the former Chelsea and point behind Juventus. “In the last few weeks we this term, having overtaken bameyang dropped the tro- Arteta also played his part Napoli coach. “There is still a big gap have played more confident Bayern Munich striker Robert phy before lifting his first to win a trophy in his first Cristiano Ronaldo was with Juventus,” said Inter football, taken our foot off the Lewandowski’s tally of 34 in piece of silverware since mov- season in a senior manage- rested for the final match with coach Antonio Conte whose gas a little, but tonight we have midweek. ing to English football from rial role after Chelsea made nothing left to play for against side won a three-team battle understood that you cannot Napoli warmed up for their Borussia Dortmund two and a blistering start in the eerie fifth-place Roma. for second place. play like that against this type Champions League last 16 sec- a half years ago. surroundings of an empty Argentine Gonzalo “Juve has a much better of team, and it will be the same ond leg game over Barcelona Victory secured Arsenal’s Wembley. Higuain spearheaded the structure on and off the pitch. with the PSG.” with a win, but lost captain place in the Europa League The Blues had already Juventus attack breaking Now the others are trying to Lorenzo Insigne, who scored next season as they risked achieved their primary goal through after just six minutes work to catch up. We must be Immobile matches record on the night, to injury. missing out on European from Frank Lampard’s first in the Allianz Stadium. smart to understand how to do Lazio finished fourth, equal on In the San Siro, Zlatan football for the first time in 25 season in charge by secur- But Diego Perotti inspired this, not to go from depression points with Atalanta, having Ibrahimovic missed a penalty years after finishing eighth in ing a place in next season’s a Roma fightback setting up to excessive euphoria.” been pushing for the title just but scored his 10th league goal the Premier League. But with Champions League last week- Nikola Kalinic to nod in the Danilo D’Ambrosio nod- Juventus’ Portuguese forward one point behind Juventus since January as AC Milan fin- Aubameyang facing another end and started confidently as equaliser after 23 minutes. ded in Inter’s first goal after Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with when the season resumed on ished in sixth place with a 3-0 season without Champions Christian Pulisic’s composed A Perotti penalty before just one minute in Bergamo the trophy at the end of the Ital- June 20. win over Cagliari. League football and just one finish opened the scoring just the break and a second six with Ashley Young doubling ian Serie A match against Roma Simone Inzaghi’s side fell The season concludes on year left on his contract at the five minutes in. minutes into the second their lead after 20 minutes at the Allianz stadium in Turin, 3-1 to Napoli but forward Ciro Sunday with Lecce and Genoa Emirates, the Gabon interna- “We started well for 10- half condemned Juventus with a stunning curling shot Italy, on Saturday. (AFP) Immobile scored his 36th goal playing Parma and Hellas tional has been linked with a 15 minutes and we can only to their third defeat in four to boost confidence ahead of of the season to equal the re- Verona respectively hoping move away this summer. blame ourselves form that matches. next week’s Europa League tie Gasperini said it was the best cord for the most goals in a Se- to avoid joining Brescia and “He needs more experi- point,” said Lampard. “We The team later lifted the against Getafe. preparation for their Cham- rie A campaign. SPAL down in Serie B. ence with trophies. We can get got complacent, we took trophy at an empty Allianz Atalanta’s 17-match un- pions League quarter-final The 30-year-old Italy in- Genoa, in 17th, are just him used to that,” joked Ar- time on the ball like it was Stadium as they celebrated beaten league run going back against Paris Saint-Germain. ternational tapped in after 22 one-point ahead of Lecce, teta at Aubameyang’s mishap a stroll and we allowed them winning the ‘Scudetto’ for the to January 20 ended. “This game with Inter gave minutes to match Argentina who occupy the final relega- with the trophy lift. into the game.” 36th time. But coach Gian Piero us a nice wake up call, it was the forward Higuain’s record of tion berth.