TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 SPORTS Disgruntled Ronaldo eyes more records at Dortmund

DORTMUND: Disgruntled Cristiano er with 83 percent supporting his decision for Borussia. They also lost a group stage maybe Bayern. “But we can’t be too happy to partner Raphael Guerreiro in Ronaldo could make more Champions in a poll carried out by Madrid sports daily game 2-1 at Dortmund in 2012. and have to keep working hard.” True to his Dortmund’s attacking midfield. League history today as his Real Madrid AS. Ronaldo’s free-kick equaliser in Real’s 2- word, the Gabon striker netted his sixth French teenager Ousmane Dembele side look to end their losing streak at high- 1 comeback win against Sporting Lisbon in REAL SLUMP goal in seven games in Friday’s 3-1 win at and Germany’s Andre Schuerrle are set to flying . A hat-trick for their first Group F, the same night Real’s serene run since Zidane took home to Freiburg. play on the wings to feed crosses into Ronaldo in Dortmund, who was left fum- Dortmund won 6-0 at , left charge in January has hit a slump in the Aubameyang was limping after the vic- Aubameyang and Co. Germany ing after being substituted on Saturday, him on 97 goals in European club competi- past week. The European champions tory, but is expected to face the Spanish Julian Weigl will play as the lone defensive would see him become the first player to tion His main rival in the race to 100 goals dropped points against Villarreal and Las giants. Ahead of the Real visit, a tough midfielder in front of the back four. score a century of European goals. is Barcelona’s star Lionel Messi, who has 89. Palmas to snap a 16-game winning streak home match was exactly the warm-up For Madrid, Ronaldo will start alongside Ahead of the flight to Dortmund, Real But Borussia want to maintain their in the Spanish league. Confidence is high Dortmund needed, according to coach in the star-studded Real attack. coach Zinedine Zidane subbed Ronaldo for unbeaten home record against Real, who in the Dortmund camp. Thomas Tuchel. “After the high-scoring Karim Benzema is expected to beat out the final 20 minutes of Saturday’s 2-2 have won just four times in 29 away games After their shock 1-0 defeat at newly- and cosy easy games, that came at the per- Alvaro Morata for the number nine role Spanish league draw at Las Palmas. The against German clubs. Dortmund’s Signal promoted RB Leipzig a fortnight ago in the fect point in time,” said Tuchel after the 6-0 after coming off the bench to score Real’s Portuguese superstar was furious with the Iduna Park stadium has particularly bad , Dortmund have netted 20 demolitions of Legia and Darmstadt before second against Las Palmas. However, the decision, storming off the field without memories for Madrid, who have lost their goals in the four games since. They are a big win at Wolfsburg. visitors will be without Brazilian duo acknowledging Zidane. last three visits to the Bundesliga giants. second only to Bayern Munich in Marcelo and Casemiro through injury. It did nothing to help his mood when Their 2-0 defeat at Dortmund in the 2014 Germany’s top flight. As Pierre-Emerick BARTRA DOUBT Casemiro’s absence means ex-Bayern Las Palmas equalised five minutes from the quarter-finals came a year after their 4-1 Aubameyang put it after last Tuesday’s 5-1 Dortmund’s main injury concern is for- midfielder Toni Kroos will be forced to end. Madrid fans have backed Zidane over thumping in the 2013 semi-finals when demolition of Wolfsburg: “At the moment mer Barcelona centre-back Marc Bartra, operate as the holding midfielder on his his handling of the club’s all-time top scor- Robert Lewandowski scored all four goals no one can stop us. At the very most, who has a groin injury. Goetze is expected return to Germany. — AFP ‘Dragon Slayer’ Slimani PSG defender sentenced to back to torment Porto

LEICESTER: Leicester City may be unfamil- Sporting from Algiers outfit CR Belouizdad. jail for police assault iar Champions League opponents for Porto, A raw, rangy and technically unrefined who visit the King Power Stadium today, target man, he moved to Sporting as back- PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain defender Serge Aurier but Islam Slimani is a player they know all up for Colombian striker Fredy Montero and was sentenced to two months in jail yesterday for too well. During his three seasons with was initially used as an impact substitute. assaulting a police officer following an incident Sporting Lisbon, the Algeria striker scored Gradually, however, he became an integral outside a Paris nightclub in May. The court heard six goals against Porto in six appearances, cog in the Sporting machine and by the that the troubled Ivory Coast international refused earning him the nickname ‘The Dragon time he left the club, he had scored 48 goals to cooperate when asked to leave his tinted-glass Slayer’ from the Lisbon club’s fans. in 82 Portuguese league appearances. Porsche Cayenne car which police said was incor- Now paired up front with He also starred in their triumphant rectly parked outside the club in the early hours in for Leicester, he will hope to resume his tor- Portuguese Cup campaign in 2014-15, scor- an upmarket district of the French capital. ment of the Portuguese giants as the ing in normal time and a penalty shootout Police said the incident turned violent when an English champions play the first home top- as Sporting overcame Braga to win their agitated Aurier elbowed one of the officers in the tier European game in their 132-year histo- first trophy since 2008. His time at the chest, causing him to have to take a day off work. ry. Leicester broke their transfer record to Estadio Jose Alvalade coincided with a “The driver got out of the car straight away and sign Slimani, 28, from Sporting on transfer power shift in Portuguese football. Porto apologised but the front passenger (Aurier) refused deadline day, paying a fee of around £28 had won nine of the 11 league titles prior to show his hands,” the policeman said in court. He million ($36.3 million, 32.3 million euros). to Slimani’s arrival, but as Benfica re- said he had to grab Aurier to make him exit the car, But he is every bit as rough-cut as Vardy, emerged as Portugal’s dominant power, so at which point the player elbowed him. who joined Leicester from non-league their Lisbon rivals Sporting began to sur- Aurier denied the charge and was allowed to Fleetwood Town in 2012, or his Algeria pass Porto, too. walk free from the court because no order for team-mate Riyad Mahrez, who was signed Sporting finished above Porto in two of immediate incarceration was issued, while PSG lat- from French second-tier side Le Havre. Slimani’s three seasons at the club and he er confirmed his lawyer had lodged an appeal. It Slimani was playing in the Algerian fourth fittingly signed off with a goal in a 2-1 win means the full-back could play for PSG in their division at the age of 21 and did not make over the Dragons in his final appearance Champions League tie against Ludogorets in the move to Europe until he was 25, joining before joining Leicester. Bulgaria tomorrow. “The club takes note of his con- demnation. An appeal has been lodged at the end ‘WORKS HIS SOCKS OFF’ of the hearing by the player’s lawyer,” said a PSG Slimani’s reputation as a bruiser is statement. “Serge Aurier will continue to benefit PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain’s defender Serge Aurier (R) arrives to the Paris courthouse early another reason why Porto’s centre-backs from the presumption of innocence ahead of the yesterday to answer a charge of elbowing a police officer. The 23-year-old Ivory Coast interna- will be apprehensive about crossing swords appeal court’s decision.” tional, accused of assaulting a police officer after he was stopped in May 2016 when leaving a with him again. In an ill-tempered Parisian nightclub in the early hours of the morning, was sentenced to two months in prison Portuguese Cup tie against Benfica last sea- DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS yesterday. — AFP son, he was caught on camera lashing out The 23-year-old, who has had recent discipli- mates, including current Manchester United star Champions League by posting a video on Facebook at Greek midfielder Andreas Samaris. nary problems with his club, rejected the police Zlatan Ibrahimovic, on a social media video post. in which he called the referee a “son of a b...h”. Porto, meanwhile, accused him of liberal account of the incident and said he was the victim He was suspended by his club for five weeks but But since returning to pre-season training in use of his elbows following his farewell of violence. He has filed a complaint against the owned up to having committed “a stupid mistake”. July, Aurier has impressed his bosses. “The club appearance last month. police. The court also ordered him to pay 600 However, when filming a video to apologise for wants to underline the player’s professional atti- In a sarcastic Twitter post, the club euros ($674) in damages and interest as well as his comments, Aurier behaved in an “indifferent” tude shown since his return on July 4. “At the same shared a picture of Slimani accompanied 1,500 euros in court costs. He was described by the manner and needed several takes to get his apolo- time, Paris Saint-Germain reaffirms our affection by the caption: “They won, but were left public prosecutor as having “lacked lucidity” during gy right, according to France Football magazine. and respect for the forces of order and the jobs with elbow pain due to the number of the incident and acted in a “puerile and immature” PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi even yelled at him they do.” times they used them to attack our players.” manner. Aurier, who said in court he earns 200,000 that he would “stay five hours if necessary, but you’ll However, his court appearance comes on the Nevertheless, Slimani’s willingness to get euros a month, was in trouble with his club last do what we ask”, added the magazine. back of Aurier being sent off in PSG’s 2-0 his hands dirty appealed to Leicester man- season after making derogatory comments about The year before, Aurier copped a three-match defeat at Toulouse on Friday night, their second ager Claudio Ranieri, whose team’s 5,000-1 his then-PSG coach and other team- ban from UEFA after reacting to a PSG victory in the reverse of the season. — AFP title win was built on hard graft and defen- sive rigorousness. Slimani scored two headed goals-his trademark-in a 3-0 win over Burnley on his league debut, but Ranieri chose to high- light his defensive contribution. “It’s the first time the fans have watched him and they saw strong he is and how well he defends,” said the Italian, whose side won 3-0 at Club Brugge in their open- ing Group G fixture. “He can press, press, press, all around the pitch.” Team-mate LEICESTER: Leicester City’s English mid- said: “He works his socks fielder Demarai Gray attends a team off and that’s what we’re about. That’s why training session at the Leicester City’s it’s been easy for him to slot in.” Belying his training ground in Leicester, central tough-guy image, Slimani wept as he left England, yesterday. Leicester City are set the pitch following his final Sporting game to play Porto in a UEFA Champions against Porto. But it could be Porto’s League group G stage football match defenders who have tears in their eyes today. — AFP come today. — AFP Totti still magic as Roma icon turns 40

MILAN: As hard as he tries, Roma coach 2001. When Roma weren’t winning, he was Luciano Spalletti is unlikely to convince stunning rivals with an astonising array of fans this week that Francesco Totti is just ball skills and goals. another player for the Serie A giants. Today Totti turns 40 and the one-club TIME MACHINE man who is in his 25th and likely last sea- Totti has “purged” bitter city rivals Lazio son with the ‘Giallorossi’ (Yellow and Reds) on more than one occasion, goaded other MONACO: Bayer Leverkusen’s Mexican Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez (2nd R) takes part in a training session on the eve of the UEFA Champions is still, when he gets the chance, producing rivals with equally provocative messages League football match AS Monaco vs Bayer Leverkusen yesterday at the Louis II Stadium in Monaco. — AFP the magic. “For me, he’s been the top player on T-shirts and, last year, hit the headlines in Italy for the past 25 years,” said Sinisa after celebrating a brace against Lazio by ‘Little pea’ Chicharito is Bayer’s big deal Mihajlovic, whose Torino side upset Totti’s running to the ‘Curva Sud’ and using a tele- pre-birthday party celebrations by beating phone to take a ‘selfie’ with thousands of BERLIN: His nickname ‘Chicharito’ means ‘little proves he is back to his best, according to marvelled Leverkusen’s Germany forward Kevin Roma 3-1 in Turin on Sunday. fans in the background. pea’, but ex-Manchester United striker Javier Schmidt. “He wasn’t fully fit, but now he’s back on Volland. Signing the Mexican international was “He’s one of the best ever. It’s amazing Totti is unlikely to challenge Silvio Piola’s Hernandez is proving to be a big deal for Bayer top form. It also helped him that he had a strike a big coup for Bayer. Hernandez has already to see what he can still do with a ball.” all-time Serie A record of 274 league goals, Leverkusen ahead of today’s Champions League partner in the closing stages when Stefan played in a Champions League final, when his Known as the ‘Golden Boy’ as a precocious- which included over 100 for Lazio. match at Monaco. The 28-year-old netted a hat- Kiessling came on as that gave him more room Manchester United team lost 3-1 to Barcelona in ly-gifted teen, and revered as the ‘King of Two days before his birthday, Totti hit trick-his second in Germany’s top flight-in help- to operate,” said Schmidt. “He doesn’t hesitate the 2011 showcase at Wembley. — AFP Rome’ throughout a storied career that saw his 250th league goal, beating for ing Leverkusen come from 2-1 down to claim a when he gets a chance.” He certainly didn’t when Totti, if not his underachieving club, rise to the second time in two years having scored 3-2 win at Mainz on Saturday. the chance came along to bag the winner two the top, fans expect a fairytale ending this the leveller in a 1-1 draw against “Thank God, he’s in form at just the right time,” minutes into injury time. season. It is over 23 years since Totti made Manchester City in 2015 to become the said Leverkusen’s coach Roger Schmidt after the “I am obviously very happy, but my thanks go Matches on TV his Roma debut in the final minutes of a 2-0 oldest scorer in the Champions League at Mainz fightback. After five years at , to my team-mates, who had a big game,” said (Local Timings) win at Brescia in March 1993. And his latest 38 and three days. Even Roma’s stoic coach Chicharito quit the Red Devils in August 2015 for Hernandez. “We had some luck, but the late goal milestone serves as a reminder of how Totti Spalletti, who has battled to remind every- Leverkusen’s ‘Werkself’ and has banged in 21 was a reward for that hard work.” The victory was has evolved, adapted to and excelled in a one that Totti is “one of many Roma play- goals in 32 league games in Germany’s top flight. important after two recent set-backs, for both UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE changing game during some of the wonder ers”, had to doff his cap. Having fractured his arm in an accident at Leverkusen and Chicharito. He missed a penalty Monaco FC v 21:45 years of Italy’s top flight. “I want four or five Tottis in this team,” home in August, Hernandez was not fully fit in their 2-1 defeat at ten days beIN SPORTS 5 HD “He is an example for us all and some- Spalletti said after he came off the bench to when he played the first 45 minutes of ago and then failed to score in last Wednesday’s CSKA Moskva v Tottenham Hotspur 21:45 one we all look up to,” said Cristiano provide an assist for Dzeko and then score Leverkusen’s opening Champions League group goalless draw with Augsburg. With four league beIN SPORTS 7 HD Ronaldo last February as Real Madrid pre- the winner from the spot in a dramatic, match at CSKA Moscow a fortnight ago. He goals this season, he is just one behind Borussia Sporting CP v Legia Warszawa 21:45 pared to face Roma in the Champions rain-delayed 3-2 win over Sampdoria last helped his side to a 2-0 half-time lead, only for Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and beIN SPORTS 8 HD League. “If you play at the level he does, it’s week. “If I don’t play him, people get the Russians to fight back for a 2-2 draw. The Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski amongst Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid 21:45 good for him, for football and also for the annoyed at me but I want to produce Mexico international is key to Leverkusen’s the Bundesliga’s top scorers. beIN SPORTS 1 HD children, because we give them the idea another player like him. One great player is chances of getting a first win against Monaco at “He certainly did not win all his battles, but he Leicester City v FC Porto 21:45 that football has no limits.” not enough.” As expected, Totti raced to the the fourth attempt. won the important ones. That demonstrates his beIN SPORTS 2 HD When Totti took the captain’s armband Curva Sud, ripped off his shirt and was wily ability to know where the ball should go,” Copenhagen v Club Brugge KV 21:45 from Brazilian defender Aldair under pio- mobbed by the entire Roma bench as he SCORE TO SETTLE said Leverkusen’s director of sport, ex-Germany beIN SPORTS 9 HD neering Czech coach Zdenek Zeman in milked the applause. “That was the first “We have a small score to settle with Monaco,” international Rudi Voeller. Chicharito’s stats in Sevilla v 21:45 1998, he had answered his calling. time I felt afraid of taking a penalty,” said said striker Stefan Kiessling after three defeats Mainz speak volumes: he scored three goals and beIN SPORTS 6 HD Two seasons later, he helped end Totti. “You just can’t afford to miss under and a draw with the club from the tiny principali- hit the post with his four attempts. “I don’t know GNK Dinamo Zagreb v Juventus 21:45 Roma’s 18-year wait for the Serie A title, in the Curva!” — AFP ty in recent years. Hernandez’s hat-trick at Mainz anybody who is as good as he is in front of goal,” beIN SPORTS 4 HD