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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 SPORTS ‘Horrible’ have to learn, Casillas fumes

MADRID: Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas header from Alberto de la Bella’s cross. blame their absence for the defeat and instead winning start to the new campaign with a 1-0 slammed his side’s performance after they let a And there was more of the same to come in questioned the attitude of his players. victory at Villarreal. two- lead slip to lose 4-2 at Real Sociedad the second-half as Zurutuza put Sociedad in “I didn’t like this defeat because I think some- Debutant Sandro Ramirez scored the only on Sunday.”What happened was very unusual, front before Carlos Vela rounded off the scoring. times you can play a bad game, but as a team goal of the game eight minutes from time from especially after the first 15 minutes. “We have started the season and it is clear like Real Madrid when you are winning 2-0 you close range after Sergio Asenjo had denied After that everything was negative, we were that we need to correct a lot of things,” added have to show the right attitude and that is my Lionel Messi. However, Enrique was just as horrible in every facet,” he said. “We can’t lose a Casillas. “We need to keep going because we are responsibility,” said the Italian. impressed with his new side’s second consecu- game in this way. We have to accept the defeat wearing a very important crest on our shirts and “I don’t think it is a problem of one or two tive clean sheet after they were heavily criticised and the criticism and learn from what happened that is not the example to show to the world.” players. It is the whole team who lost after a very for their poor defending last season. today.” Real looked well on course for victory in The visitors were without the injured good first half hour. “The presence of Xabi “The attitude of the team satisfied me,” he San Sebastian thanks to early strikes from Sergio Cristiano Ronaldo and departed Angel di Maria Alonso when the whole team doesn’t have a said. “We have a lot to improve on but they have Ramos and . However, Sociedad were and Xabi Alonso after they joined Manchester good attitude wouldn’t have changed things.” great desire and for me it is a priviledge to see. level before the break as Inigo Martinez made United and Bayern Munich respectively in the In contrast to Ancelotti’s post-match com- “We haven’t done anything yet, but it is encour- the most of some slack Madrid marking from a past week. ments, coach Luis Enrique hailed the aging and I am especially happy that today the corner before David Zurutuza bulleted home a However, boss refused to attitude of his players as they continued their Barca fans will be happy.” — AFP Man United agree Falcao loan deal

LONDON: Manchester United have agreed Lethal marksman a sensational deal to sign Colombia striker They have also offloaded a numbers of Radamel Falcao on a season-long loan from players, with Shinji Kagawa returning to , according to widespread British former club Borussia Dortmund on Sunday media reports yesterday. and Javier Hernandez joining Real Madrid The prolific 28-year-old forward, who on Monday on a season-long loan with an missed the World Cup with a serious knee option to buy. injury, was whisked into United’s Van Gaal is still waiting for his first com- Carrington training centre yesterday petitive win as United manager, after two evening after flying into Manchester, Sky draws and a defeat in the league and a Sports News reported. humiliating 4-0 loss to third-tier Milton Should he pass a medical examination Keynes Dons in the League Cup. and agree personal terms before the 2200 Falcao made his professional debut with GMT transfer deadline, he will join United Colombian second-tier side Lanceros on loan for a reported fee of around 10 mil- Boyaca at the age of just 13 before joining lion euros ($13.1 million). Argentine giants River Plate in 2005. United will then have an option to make After four years in Buenos Aires he the deal permanent for 55 million euros at signed for Porto, where he established him- the end of the season, sources at Monaco self as one of Europe’s most lethal marks- told AFP. men, scoring 72 goals in 87 games. Falcao, who has scored 20 goals in 51 He won the Portuguese Cup in his first appearances for Colombia, is under con- season and helped Porto to a treble of tract at Monaco until 2018. Since returning league, cup and Europa League honours in from injury at the start of the season, he 2011, scoring the only goal in the Europa has scored two goals in three matches, but League final against Braga. he was left out of the squad for Monaco’s 1- A move to Atletico Madrid followed later 1 draw at home to Lille in on that year and he won the Europa League Saturday. again in his first season, scoring twice as If completed, the deal would leave ’s side overcame Athletic United manager Louis van Gaal with a rich Bilbao 3-0 in the final. pool of striking talent at his disposal, as Falcao joined Monaco from Atletico last Falcao would join Robin van Persie and year in a deal worth around 60 million Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford. euros, having scored 70 goals in 91 games PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish Zlatan Ibrahimovic (R) kicks the ball during the French L1 football match ParisSaint-Germain United are rebuilding after a disappoint- during his time in Spain. (PSG) vs Saint-Etienne (ASSE), on Sunday at the in Paris. — AFP ing seventh-place finish in the Premier He scored nine goals in his first 17 League last season and have spent around league games with Monaco, but his debut £130 million on new players, including a season was curtailed in January when he British-record £59.7 million ($98 million, 75 ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, PSG routs Saint-Etienne million euros) move for Angel di Maria. forcing him to miss the World Cup. — AFP 5-0 in French league

PARIS: Zlatan Ibrahimovic notched a hat trick get points and the season is very long,” PSG striker Gadji Tallo pounced on a loose ball to on his return from injury as defending champion winger told BeIn Sports television. score with a low strike in the 18th minute before Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Saint-Etienne 5-0 PSG has eight points from its first four games, Bordeaux forward Diego Rolan chested down a in the French league on Sunday. trailing leader Bordeaux by two points. cross from Mariano to equalize with a spinning The return of the Sweden striker seemed to Bordeaux dropped its first points this season by shot in the 79th. PSG’s attack the spark it was missing in a goal- drawing with Bastia 1-1, while Lyon lost 2-1 to Bordeaux was lucky not to concede a penalty less draw the previous weekend. The hosts took promoted Metz for a third straight defeat in the and a red card in the 75th when centerback the lead in the 24th minute with an own goal league. At Parc des Princes, PSG goalkeeper Nicolas Pallois diverted a goalbound shot from from Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier, Salvatore Sirigu kept a clean sheet by tipping a Bastia winger Floyd Ayite onto the bar with his who missed his first touch while taking a back volley from Mevlut Erding over the bar in the hand. “That play killed our match,” Bastia mid- pass from Jeremy Clement. 35th and parrying a powerful strike from Max- fielder Guillaume Gillet said. “Obviously, it’s Ibrahimovic, who sat out the previous game Alain Gradel in the 83rd. game over if we lead 2-0.” with a left oblique injury, doubled the lead by Saint-Etienne attempted to trouble PSG by In Metz, substitute Juan Falcon scored the heading home a cross from PSG leftback using a 3-5-2 system. But the visitors seemed too winner with a diving header in the 86th. Maxwell in the 41st and then intercepted a back weary after winning a penalty shootout in the initially put Lyon ahead by pass from Kevin Monnet-Paquet to dribble past Europa League playoffs on Thursday. converting a cross from Jordan Ferri in the 68th. Ruffier for a 3-0 lead in the 62nd. “In some plays, we rediscovered the PSG that But Metz winger Yeni Ngbakoto equalized with a made it 4-0 a minute later I like,” PSG coach told Canal Plus penalty in the 82nd after Ferri fouled Bouna Sarr. with a curling shot from 25 yards before television. “We knew Saint-Etienne wanted to On Saturday, it was: Monaco 1, Lille 1; Caen 0, Ibrahimovic beat the offside trap to slip the ball block us in midfield. We therefore knew the Rennes 1; Lens 4, Reims 2; Lorient 4, Guingamp past Ruffier in the 72nd. flanks would be important and we used them 0; Nantes 1, Montpellier 0; and Toulouse 1, Evian Radamel Falcao “It’s an important result because we need to well tonight.”At Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bastia 0. Marseille thrashed Nice 4-0 on Friday. — AP News in brief Napoli win 2-1 at Genoa with late goal

MILAN: Erratic Napoli won 2-1 at Genoa thanks to a Messi to miss World Cup final rematch stoppage-time goal by debutant Jonathan de MADRID: Argentina captain Lionel Messi will miss his side’s Guzman while defender Nemanja Vidic friendly against world champions Germany tomorrow due to a began his career by giving away a penalty and groin strain, his club side Barcelona confirmed yesterday. The getting sent off in a 0-0 draw at Torino on Sunday. match offers Argentina an immediate chance for revenge for Thirty-six-year-old , who back- their agonising 1-0 extra-time defeat to Germany in the World tracked on last season’s decision to retire, was as Cup final last month. Messi suffered the injury in Barca’s 1-0 win sharp as ever and scored both goals in Udinese’s 2-0 away to Villarreal on Sunday and will also miss a charity match win over promoted Empoli to follow his four-goal haul in Rome yesterday. “Leo Messi will remain in Barcelona as a pre- in the last week. caution due to a strain in his right adductor,” Barca said in a statement on their website. “Barca’s number 10 will miss the AC Milan gave Filippo Inzaghi a winning start as match for peace in Rome this evening and will also not be able coach by beating Lazio 3-1, helped by an inspired to participate in the match between Germany and Argentina.” debut from goalkeeper Diego Lopez who capped his performance by saving a penalty in stoppage time. Sampdoria trailed for 83 minutes at promoted Milan to add Biabiany Palermo and played the entire second half with 10 ROME: AC Milan moved to further strengthen their squad men after Vasco Regini was sent off, but still managed yesterday with the signing of Jonathan Biabiany from Parma to draw 1-1 thanks to a goal by Daniele Gastaldello in just before the summer transfer window slammed shut. Press reports indicated that Frenchman Biabiany, 26, had moved to the last minute. Milan for four million euros ($5.25m) with full-back Cristian Promoted Cesena beat Parma 1-0 and Sassuolo Zaccardo going in the opposite direction on loan. The arrival drew 1-1 with Calgiari in Sunday’s matches. of Biabiany caps a busy few days for Milan, who also brought Champions Juventus made a winning start to the sea- in Chelsea pair Fernando Torres and Marco van Ginkel on loan son on Saturday with a comfortable 1-0 victory at deals. The Rossoneri have also signed Real Madrid goalkeeper Chievo Verona while title hopefuls AS Roma beat Diego Lopez, Paris Saint-Germain duo Alex and Jeremy Fiorentina 2-0. Menez and Udinese full-back Pablo Armero this summer, Napoli took an early lead at Genoa through Jose while completing a deal for France defender Adil Rami, who Callejon but the hosts levelled just before halftime had been on loan from Valencia. with a superb header by Chile forward Mauricio Pinilla on his debut following his move from Cagliari. Spurs sign Stambouli Napoli, who failed to qualify for the Champions LONDON: Tottenham signed former France Under-21 mid- League after losing 3-1 to due to a fielder Benjamin Stambouli from Ligue 1 club Montpellier shambolic defensive display, grabbed the three points yesterday. Mauricio Pochettino’s team beat fellow Premier when Dutchman De Guzman sneaked in behind the League side Swansea and Italian outfit Fiorentina to Genoa defence at a free kick to score from close Stambouli’s signature after agreeing a reported fee of £4.7 range. million ($7.8 million) over the weekend. The 24-year-old Rafael Benitez’s side were plagued by inconsisten- watched Tottenham’s 3-0 defeat against Liverpool at White cy last season and seem to be in for an equally turbu- Hart Lane on Sunday and sealed his move to the north lent ride this time around. Londoners after passing a medical on transfer deadline “Italian football needs to calm down and not con- day. Stambouli is Pochettino’s sixth signing since his close- sider every match a life or death situation,” Benitez season move from Southampton after the arrivals of GENOA: Napoli's French defender Kalidou Koulibaly (L) fights for the ball with Genoa's midfielder Tom·s Rincon of told reporters. “Before our goal people acted as if Federico Fazio, DeAndre Yedlin, Ben Davies, Michel Vorm Venezuela (C) and Genoa's midfielder during their Seria A football match Genoa vs Napoli at Luigi the title was beyond us and we were going into and . Ferraris Stadium in Genoa on Saturday .— AFP . — Reuters