Established 1961 15 Tuesday, October 20, 2020 Sports Lille thrash nine-man Lens 4-0 to go top of Ill-disciplined visitors had two players sent off

PARIS: Lille grabbed top spot in Ligue 1 on Habib Diallo and Jean-Eudes Aholou scored Sunday by thrashing newly-promoted Lens 4-0 for the hosts but Lyon hung on and move up to in France’s northern derby as the ill-disciplined ninth with their first three points since August. visitors had two players sent off. Lens had a “The win was more than deserved. This team had chance to go top in France for the first time in 16 the capacity to admit they had to turn the page,” years but their defensive frailties were ruthlessly Garcia said. “The answer was on the pitch, three exposed by Lille who move two points ahead of Depay assists and three goals in open play.” defending champions Paris Saint-Germain. Burak Kadewere opened the scoring after 15 minutes, Yilmaz’s low shot put the home side ahead in the firing home first time from Depay’s long ball. echoing, empty Stade Metropole after 11 minutes. Depay then combined twice with Toko Ekambi Lens hung on till the second half when Jonathan before the 42-minute mark to make it 3-0. The Bamba scored Lille’s second before first Jonathan hosts fought back as Senegal’s Diallo cut the Gradit and then substitute Clement Michelin deficit just over a minute later. were shown red cards as Lens fell apart. Ivory Coast Aholou, on loan from Jonathan Ikone and Yusuf Yazici completed the Monaco, scored with a left-footed volley 10 min- job for Lille. PSG had also won 4-0 on Friday utes into the second half. Patrick Vieira’s Nice with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice at Nimes. side eased to a 3-1 win at Saint-Etienne to move Lyon coach Rudi Garcia said his team had up to fourth, joining Lens on 13 points. Pierre “turned the page” after captain Lees-Malou opened the scoring for Nice before set up three goals in Sunday’s 3-2 win at 20-year-old Amine Gouiri added a second before Strasbourg to claim their first victory since half-time. Adil Aouchiche pulled a goal back for August. The Dutch attacker, who was linked with Saint-Etienne on 57 minutes but Myziane a move to Barcelona during the transfer window, Maolida sealed the points for the southerners. On was the provider for Zimbabwe international for- Saturday, Marseille warmed up for their return to LILLE: Lille’s forward Burak Yilmaz (center) vies with Lens’s French goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca ward Tino Kadewere and repeated the feat twice the Champions League next week with a 3-1 vic- (2nd right) during the French L1 football match between Lille and Lens at the Grand Stade Pierre- for Karl Toko Ekambi in the first half. tory over Bordeaux. —AFP Mauroy stadium on October 18 2020. —AFP

already their second 3-3 draw of the News in brief Sevilla show campaign. In 43 league games under Lampard, Chelsea a smarter they have now conceded 63 goals. Zamalek win away in first leg Going forward there are signs that Werner and Havertz, who both scored CASABLANCA: Achraf Bencharki’s first-half goal way to spend their first goals at the earned Egyptian side Zamalek a 1-0 win over Moroccan hosts Raja Casablanca in the first leg of LONDON: Chelsea’s huge transfer weekend, are beginning to click, while Ziyech and Christian Pulisic will add their African Champions League semi-final on spend has so far failed to deliver the Sunday. The result boosted Zamalek chances of expected return on investment as even more firepower as they return from injury. However, another huge setting up a clash against bitter Cairo rivals Al Ahly Frank Lampard’s men continue to leak in next month’s final. Al Ahly beat Wydad goals at an alarming rate. The Blues error from the world’s most expensive goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga, cost Casablanca 2-0 in the first leg of their semi-final in splashed £220 million ($284 million, a near-empty Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca 242 million euros) on Timo Werner, his side against Southampton and the Spaniard may have to start against on Saturday. Bencharki headed home at the back Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell, Hakim post at the end of winger Ahmed Sayed’s cross to Ziyech and Edouard Mendy, while Sevilla on Tuesday with Mendy unlike- ly to return from injury in time. give Zamalek an 18th minute lead, with the home Thiago Silva joined from Paris Saint- side guilty of some sloppy defending. Morocco- Germain on a free transfer. By con- born Bencharki had another good chance to add a trast, even the European elite were No fear for Sevilla The case of Kepa illustrates the second early in the second half but overran the more cautious as Real Madrid did LONDON: Chelsea’s English head coach Frank Lampard (center) watches opportunity with just the Raja goalkeeper to beat. not make a single signing, Barcelona very different economic models that Chelsea and Sevilla operate. Just two his team during the English Premier League football match between Raja dominated the second half and created several tried to offload big salaries and Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge in London.—AFP years on from paying a £72 million half chances but could not break down a watertight Leroy Sane was the only major Zamalek defence. —Reuters arrival at Bayern Munich. buyout clause to sign Kepa from Yet, Chelsea are far from being Athletic Bilbao, Chelsea have cut their Europa League four times in that peri- sporting director, told A Balon Parado considered among the principal con- losses by spending another £20 mil- od, most recently in August when they this week. But in playing down hopes lion on Mendy. Sevilla, on the other tenders as the Champions League saw off Roma, Wolves, Manchester they can challenge for a first Flamengo crush Corinthians 5-1 returns this week, as Lampard has so hand, consistently have to sell their United and Inter Milan in an impres- title since 1946 with Madrid and best talent and evolve to remain a sive run to the title. Even European Barcelona not the forces they once far failed to find solutions to familiar SAO PAULO: Reigning Brazilian champions European power. champions Bayern needed extra-time were, Monchi highlighted the stark problems from his first season in Flamengo returned to winning ways on Sunday The Andalusians have a better to see of Julen Lopetegui’s men in the financial gulf Sevilla still have to charge at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea with a crushing 5-1 win at Corinthians that took record in European competition than UEFA Super Cup last month. bridge. “We have in mind the moment have won just two of their opening them top of the league. The Rio side drew with Chelsea over the past seven seasons “Sevilla has created a parallel world in which we can take a jump is when five Premier League games of the lowly Bragantino in midweek but Everton Ribeiro despite a drastically smaller budget. of happiness for fans in these difficult we reach revenue of 300 million season and twice blew the lead gave them a 1-0 halftime lead before Vitinho and That is mainly thanks to winning the times,” Monchi, the club’s renowned euros,” he added. —AFP against Southampton on Saturday for Natan struck again early in the second half to put them 3-0 up. Gil got a goal back for Corinthians pile after a surprise loss at home to Cadiz on Emery, who was appointed Villarreal coach in July. after 64 minutes but Bruno Henrique in the 71st go top Saturday. Barcelona were also beaten away at They have 11 points from their first six games. minute and Diego four minutes from fulltime put Getafe. Real Sociedad took advantage as and Valencia sit 12th, having won just once in their the seal on a superb win. Flamengo moved three to extend surprise Adnan Januzaj scored goals either side of Mikel last five matches, with the future of coach Javi points ahead of Atletico Mineiro and Internacional, Oyarzabal converting a penalty to consign Betis to a Gracia still uncertain. Gracia was critical of the club both of whom have games in hand. Corinthians, third defeat in four games under their new coach after Valencia sold the likes of Parejo and Francis who have won just two of their last 11 matches, are start in La Liga Manuel Pellegrini. They drop to sixth. Coquelin to Villarreal, as well as Rodrigo and Ferran in 14th place in the 20-team table. - Reuters Earlier, Dani Parejo came back to haunt Valencia Torres to Leeds and Manchester City, but failed to MADRID: Real Sociedad continued La Liga’s by scoring the winner for Villarreal, against his for- make a single addition in the summer transfer win- unpredictable start to the season by going top of the mer club. After making 363 appearances for dow. Emery was also once at Valencia and so was table on Sunday, after a 3-0 win away at Real Betis. Valencia, many of them as captain, Parejo was one Villarreal’s Paco Alcacer, who opened the scoring 2027 Women’s World Cup Villarreal had temporarily claimed first place earlier of a handful of key players allowed to leave in the with a penalty before Goncalo Guedes leveled in the day by beating Valencia 2-1 at la Ceramica but summer. His deflected shot in the 69th minute was a shortly before half-time. Yet Parejo had the last BERLIN: The German football association (DFB) Real Sociedad’s impressive victory put them ahead reminder of what they were missing as Villarreal word, receiving a pass from Takefusa Kubo and on goal difference. They are the sixth different team announced yesterday a joint bid with Belgium and held on to go one point above Real Madrid. curling in after his shot deflected off Mouctar the Netherlands to host the 2027 Women’s World to lead La Liga after six rounds of fixtures so far, as Despite a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Barcelona Diakhaby. Kubo was then sent off in the 90th Real Madrid gave up their place at the top of the Cup. “We are delighted to have joined our Dutch last month, it has been an encouraging start for Unai minute after coming on in the 64th. —AFP friends and will do our utmost to support this project,” DFB president Fritz Keller said in a ery and will do everything I can to be statement. The Dutch FA (KNVB) already stated Liverpool face up back as quickly as possible. “Despite the its desire to host the 2027 finals back in 2018 and obvious disappointment, I’m a firm secured parliamentary support in the to long season believer that within difficulty lies oppor- Netherlands. The bid is set to be fronted by three tunity,” he continued, adding: “I’m going former players in Germany’s Silvia Neid, Femke to make sure I return better, fitter and Maes from Belgium and ex-Dutch midfielder without Van Dijk stronger than ever before.” Liverpool’s Sarina Wiegman. Germany hosted the 2006 men’s World Cup, the women’s finals in 2011 and will LONDON: Liverpool’s Premier League top scorer Mohamed Salah tweeted: “I hold the men’s European Championship in 2024. title defense was rocked on Sunday when wish you a speedy recovery big man.” The Netherlands hosted, and won, the women’s the club confirmed key defender Virgil Van Dijk has been pivotal to Liverpool’s Euros in 2017, but Belgium has never hosted a van Dijk has suffered knee ligament dam- resurgence since making a then world major women’s tournament.- AFP age amid reports the Dutchman could record £75 million ($97 million) move for a miss the rest of the season. Van Dijk, who defender from Southampton in January will require surgery, hobbled off after a 2018. The 29-year-old has started the last 94 league games to bring a defensive shocking challenge from Everton goal- Wallabies urged to cut blunders keeper Jordan Pickford in a 2-2 draw in solidity that was lacking during Klopp’s first two years at Anfield. Since then the Merseyside derby on Saturday. “The WELLINGTON: Wallabies prop James Slipper centre-back damaged knee ligaments Liverpool won the Champions League in 2019 and ended a 30-year wait to win the promised yesterday that his side will improve on an following an incident involving Blues LIVERPOOL: Everton’s English goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (center) tackles error-strewn display in Auckland when they next goalkeeper Jordan Pickford after six min- Premier League earlier this year. “You look at it now and think can Liverpool win the Liverpool’s Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk (left) during the English Premier face arch-rivals New Zealand in the Bledisloe Cup. utes at Goodison Park,” Liverpool said in League football match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on The Australians missed 40 tackles in the 27-7 a statement. “Van Dijk was required to be league without Van Dijk there?” former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher told October 17, 2020. —AFP defeat to stretch their losing streak at Eden Park to substituted and further assessment on 34 years and dent hopes that the previous week’s the injury has revealed an operation will Sky Sports. “Every team that has aspira- tions of winning the league has three or thrilling 16-16 draw in Wellington heralded a new be needed. “No specific timescale is sistently struggled with injuries them- Liverpool to win the title by 18 points. era. The Bledisloe venue shifts to Australia for the being placed upon his return to action at four players that if one of those players is selves. Midfielder Fabinho could be draft- The sidelining of Van Dijk is compound- missing, no matter how good your manag- final two Tests of the series, which will be played as this stage.” It will at the very least be ed into defense. “I think they certainly ed by the absence of goalkeeper Alisson part of a truncated Rugby Championship featuring months before Liverpool’s talismanic er is, how big your squad is, you can’t cov- have to go into the market in January. Not Becker with a shoulder injury. Without er for them. They are that outstanding.” Argentina but not world champions South Africa. presence at the back returns, leaving just because of Van Dijk’s injury, Liverpool the Brazilian, Klopp’s men have conced- Slipper said Dave Rennie’s men were desperate to Jurgen Klopp with a major problem to With the summer transfer window only were weak in that area anyway,” added ed nine times in their last two matches, just closed, Klopp will have to wait until make amends for the loss when they play on home solve to keep the Reds’ season on track. Carragher. There are parallels with the including a 7-2 humiliation at Aston soil, with the next Test scheduled for Sydney on The Netherlands captain is also at risk of January to bolster his now threadbare serious knee injury that Manchester City Villa. The loss of Van Dijk’s dominant options at centre-back. October 31. “We turned over a lot of ball and we missing the delayed Euro 2020 next June. centre-back Aymeric Laporte suffered at aerial presence was obvious as Everton missed a lot of tackles, so that’s going to be a key Van Dijk struck an upbeat note in a the start of last season. scored twice from headers to come Laporte parallels work-on for us,” he told reporters before the team statement released on social media, say- Without the Frenchman, City’s title from behind in a contentious derby at flew out to headed home to Australia.—AFP ing: “I’m now fully focused on my recov- Joel Matip and Joe Gomez have con- defense imploded paving the way for Goodison Park. —AFP