14 Sunday, February 2, 2020 Sports Qatar Airways, PSG Afif nets hat-trick; Boli fires Al Rayyan to win agree partnership deal Al Sadd beat Al QSL Standings Club MP W D L GF GA GD Pts Tribune News Network Sailiya 3-0; Al 1. Al Duhail 14 10 3 1 27 12 15 33 Doha Duhail’s unbeaten 2. Al Rayyan 14 9 4 1 31 12 18 31 3. Al Sadd 14 10 0 4 42 23 19 30 Qatar Airways has an- run ends nounced that it is the new 4. Al Gharafa 14 7 3 4 26 20 6 24 Premium Partner and Official Ayeni Olusegun 5. Al Arabi 14 5 4 5 25 23 2 19 Airline Partner of Paris Saint- Doha 6. Al Wakrah 13 5 4 5 22 22 0 19 Germain for the next three 7. Al Sailiya 14 5 2 7 15 20 -5 17 seasons. Akram Afif netted his sixth 8. Al Ahli 14 5 2 7 19 25 -6 17 Paris Saint-Germain join hat-trick for Al Sadd in a 3-0 the exclusive group of top thrashing of Al Sailiya at the 9. Qatar SC 14 4 3 7 14 17 -3 16 global football clubs proud- Al Sadd Stadium on Saturday. 10. Al Khor 14 2 4 8 16 25 -9 10 ly supported by the world’s The win puts the Wolves 11. Umm Salal 14 2 3 9 9 28 -19 9 number one airline, including Partnerships Officer, Marc just three points behind QNB 12. Al Shahania 13 1 5 8 14 32 -18 8 Italy’s AS Roma, Boca Juniors Armstrong, added: “We are Stars League leaders Al Du- in Argentina and German club delighted to welcome Qatar hail who lost to second-placed leaders 1-0 on Saturday. FC Bayern München. Airways into the Paris Saint- Al Rayyan by a solitary goal. In a match of few oppor- Qatar Airways Senior Germain family as the Official Akram scored in the third, tunities, Boli’s effort in only Vice President Marketing Airline Partner of the club. 48th and 54th minutes to im- his second match for the club and Corporate Communica- This is another example of prove his season’s goal tally Al Sadd’s Akram Afif scores his first goal against Al Sailiya during their QNB Stars League match at the was enough for Diego Agu- tions, Salam al Shawa, said: our strong desire to develop to 11. Baghdad Bounedjah Jassim Bin Hamad (Al Sadd) Stadium on Saturday. irre’s men to move within two “We are thrilled to welcome innovative partnerships with leads the goals-coring chart points of Al Duhail. the famous French club to our leading global brands and Qa- with 13 goals. early by thumping home a of beauty and a goal-of-the- ly developing, and because of The win is a massive boost extensive sport sponsorship tar Airways is a natural choice Al Sadd have now won four rebound after Al Sailiya goal- season contender. Bounedjah that he became the best in Asia for The Lions, especially after portfolio, and look forward for us as it shares our com- straight league matches after a keeper Khalifa Ababacer has again provided the assist and in 2019. He is 23 years old and a disappointing 5-0 loss in the to having them on board. In mitment to creating powerful shock loss to Al Wakrah. punched Bounedjah’s cross Afif from the tightest of angles has scored 6 hat-tricks so far. AFC Champions League on Paris Saint-Germain we have connections with fans all over Meanwhile, Al Sailiya’s which fell kindly for the managed to place a delightful I am proud to coach him. No Tuesday to Esteghlal. found a partner that shares the world.” miserable run continues with 23-year-old Afif. lob from the left torchline over one can stop him if he contin- However, Al Duhail coach our passion for innovation The Paris Saint-Germain a third straight QSL loss. The In the second half, Afif Ababacar. ues at this level,” Xavi Her- Walid Regragui, who took and we will work together to partnership will also see Qatar Peregrines were also knocked converted from the spot for “I am very happy with the nandez said after the match. over from Rui Faria last week, develop many exciting activi- Airways become OfficialP art- out of the AFC Champions his second goal after earning performance of the players to- Yohan Boli’s 65th minute now has an idea how tough ties to engage with supporters ner of the Paris Saint-Ger- League after losing the playoff a penalty from Mohammed day and the 3-0 win. strike for Al Rayyan ended Al his task will be as The Red and our global audience.” main handball and women’s match to Iran’s Shahr Khodro. Mdather’s clumsy foul. “Akram Afif always makes Duhail’s unbeaten league run Knights battle to hold on to Paris Saint-Germain Chief football teams until 2022. Akram opened scoring His third goal was a thing the difference. He is constant- as the Lions edged the league top spot. Salah on target as Liverpool move 22 points clear of City Sheffield United are now Chelsea, Leicester Chelsea’s closest challengers as Chris Wilder’s men moved Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema City share point; into fifth with a 1-0 win at celebrates after scoring against 10-man Everton Crystal Palace thanks to a Atletico Madrid on Saturday. (AFP) calamitous own goal from earn late win at Eagles’ goalkeeper Vicente Guaita. Benzema Watford At the bottom of the table, West Ham and Watford blew on target as AFP two-goal leads to slip into the London relegation zone. A double for Robert Real win Liverpool surged a mas- Snodgrass after Issa Diop’s sive 22 points clear at the top opener put West Ham 3-1 up Madrid derby of the Premier League with a on Brighton at the London 4-0 win over Southampton as Stadium, but the Seagulls DPA Leicester and Chelsea consol- fought back through Pascal Barcelona idated their place in the top Gross and Glenn Murray for four in a thrilling 2-2 draw at a point that keeps them two Real Madrid beat their neigh- the King Power. points above the drop zone. bours Atletico Madrid 1-0 at Mohamed Salah scored Watford failed to even get home in the big city derby on twice as the champions-elect a point after going 2-0 up on Saturday. equalled a Premier League Everton through Adam Masi- Karim Benzema scored record with a 20th straight na and Roberto Pereyra. on 56 minutes from Ferland home win at Anfield. But they switched off Mendy’s cross. Southampton believed from two set-pieces in first Atletico were impressive they should have had a pen- half stoppage time to allow in the first half but with Vi- alty early in the second half Yerry Mina’s double to bring tolo and Angel Correa missing when Danny Ings went down Carlo Ancelotti’s men level. chances, they paid in the sec- in the box against his old Everton then went down ond period. club, but no spot-kick was to 10 men when Fabian Delph Zinedine Zidane brought given and Liverpool went was sent-off but still snatched on Vinicius at half-time and he straight up the other end to Mohamed Salah of Liverpool reacts after scoring his team’s fourth goal during the English Premier League match against Southampton at all three points through Theo set up Mendy to cross for Ben- take the lead through Alex Anfield in Liverpool on Saturday.(AFP) Walcott. zema’s goal. Oxlade-Chamberlain. Aston Villa’s celebrations Leaders Madrid are now Jordan Henderson dou- advantage over Manches- to his forward options in the ter, who everyone’s raving diger 19 minutes from time at reaching the League Cup 13 points clear of Atletico bled the European champi- ter United, Wolves and Tot- January transfer window about, quite rightly, and denied the Foxes all three final in midweek were short- and have stretched their un- ons lead with a smart finish tenham to seven points, but was exacerbated as the visi- we’ve got a point.” points, but Brendan Rodg- lived as 10-man Bourne- beaten run to 21 games. Sec- on the hour mark. offered further hope to the tors needed two goals from All the goals came in the ers’s men maintain an eight- mouth held on for a 2-1 win ond-placed Barcelona, six Salah then produced two chasing pack in the battle for centre-back Antonio Rudiger second half as Rudiger nod- point lead over Chelsea in that lifted them up to 16th. behind Madrid, host Levante cool finishes in the final 20 a Champions League place. just to claim a point. ded Chelsea in front before third. Norwich are now seven on Sunday. minutes as Jurgen Klopp’s Frank Lampard’s men “Not many people gave us two goals in 10 minutes “We should have won points adrift of safety at the Atletico felt they should men took their tally of points have now won just four of the top four slot and I under- from Harvey Barnes and Ben having gone 2-1 up. We gifted bottom of the table as they have had a penalty in the first to a remarkable 100 from the their last 13 league games stand why, and it’s probably Chilwell turned the game them two goals really, which again paid for not taking half when Casemiro appeared last possible 102. and the Blues’ boss’s frustra- the same now,” said Lam- around for Leicester. we’re disappointed with,” their chances in a 0-0 draw at to bring down Alvaro Morata. Chelsea stretched their tion at not being able to add pard. “We’ve come to Leices- A brilliant leap from Ru- said Rodgers. Newcastle. Atletico’s club president Enrique Cerezo complained: “For me it was a clear penalty. “I understand that it is very difficult to give a penalty in a Madrid derby but the video as- Pink-haired Neymar helps PSG to five-goal romp sistant referee is there for jus- tice and clarity. Today we did AFP dyed pink for the occasion, who Instead Sarabia started Di Maria exchanged passes not have justice or clarity.” Paris predictably caught the eye. with Mbappe up front, and with Sarabia before lifting the Real Madrid coach Zidane The Brazilian warmed up the former Real Madrid player ball over Carvalho to make it admitted he needed to make Neymar shook off an in- with a shirt bearing the name of pounced on a loose ball to curl 2-0 in the 41st minute, and changes at half-time after the jury scare and raged with the Kobe Bryant and the number 24 home a fine opener from 22 shortly afterwards Teji Savani- visitors had the better of the match officials while helping of the basketball star who was yards in the eighth minute for er’s attempt to clear a Di Maria first 45 minutes. Paris Saint-Germain romp to a killed in a helicopter crash last his 10th goal of the season. corner rebounded off the face of “I was not happy with what 5-0 win over Montpellier that weekend. PSG also held a min- Andy Delort then missed a defender Congre and in. I was seeing on the pitch. It stretched their lead at the top of ute’s applause for Bryant ahead chance to equalise for Montpel- Neymar set up Mbappe for was my responsibility though Ligue 1 on Saturday. of kick-off. lier, and their hopes of getting one shot that hit the outside of not the players,” Zidane said. Pablo Sarabia, Angel Di Ma- Neymar didn’t score, having back into the game were as good the post, and then played in the “I changed Isco and (Toni) ria, Kylian Mbappe and Layvin to settle just for one assist, but as over when Bertaud was sent France World Cup winner to Kroos but I could have changed Kurzawa all scored along with he produced his usual tricks, off in the 17th minute. round Carvalho and score his other players. I wanted more a Daniel Congre own goal, with provoked the opposition, and Only playing because usual 14th league goal of the season. wing play and more pressure the outcome never in doubt required lengthy treatment at first choice Geronimo Rulli was Kurzawa drilled in the fifth on their defenders. after Montpellier goalkeeper the end of the first half after suspended, Bertaud raced out in the 65th minute, and Cavani “It was not my players fault Dimitry Bertaud was sent off appearing to hurt his ribs as he of his box to stop Mbappe bear- came on before having a late but mine.” early on. grappled for the ball with Mont- ing down on goal, only to block header disallowed for offside. Earlier Saturday, big- Montpellier finished the pellier’s Arnaud Souquet. Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe (left) is congratulated by Neymar the ball with his arm and receive Marseille go to Bordeaux on spending Espanyol stayed bot- game with nine men, and the re- Unhappy with the some of after scoring against Montpellier Herault SC on Saturday. (AFP) a straight red. Sunday looking for a first win tom when they lost to Granada. sult means PSG start February the treatment reserved for him, On came young debutant there in 43 years, while Rennes The club who signed Raul by making it 19 games unbeaten Neymar was then caught by tel- half-time. side Edinson Cavani, who re- Matis Carvalho in goal for the strengthened their grip on third de Tomas, Leandro Cabrera and are now 13 points ahead of evision cameras angrily remon- PSG coach Thomas Tuchel mains in the French capital af- visitors and he had to pick the by scoring twice in injury time and Adrian Embarba in Jan- nearest rivals Marseille. strating in Portuguese with the had opted to leave Mauro Icardi ter a January move to Atletico ball out of his net twice before to claim a 3-2 win over local ri- uary were beaten 2-1 away But it was Neymar, his hair fourth official in the tunnel at on the bench at kick-off along- Madrid never materialised. the interval. vals Nantes on Friday. from home.