Mercedes’ big hopes on Hamilton for Singapore Grand Prix PAGE 12 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 PSG’s perfect start at the Parc! Paris Saint-Germain’s supporters cheer during their UEFA Champions League Group A opening match against Real Madrid at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on Wednesday. (AFP) ‘Exceptional’ Di Maria stars as Tuchel’s team tear apart sorry Real Madrid AFP PARIS ANGEL Di Maria was hailed as “exceptional” after scor- ing twice against his former club as Paris Saint-Germain shrugged off the absences of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe and thrashed Real Madrid 3-0 on Wednesday to get off to the perfect start in the Champions League. Di Maria beat Real goal- keeper Thibaut Courtois at his PSG’s French forward Kylian Mbappe (left), and Brazilian forward Neymar at the Parc des Princes Stadium near post to put PSG ahead in in Paris on Wedesday. (AFP) the 14th minute at the Parc des Princes, but it was his second in Europe last season, but for PSG, confusingly wearing giants created little in the sec- goal just after the half-hour that PSG this result is a measure of white while the visitors wore ond half apart from a Karim really lit up this encounter. revenge for their defeat at the dark blue, opened the scor- Benzema goal that was ruled The Argentine, who starred hands of Real in the last 16 the ing in the 14th minute when out for offside. for Real for four years and won previous year. Di Maria latched onto a Juan Hazard, meanwhile, de- the Champions League with They remain unbeaten Bernat cutback from the left parted 20 minutes from time them in 2014 before moving at home in the Champions byline and fired in. having failed to make his to Manchester United, gave League group stage since 2004 Hazard shot just wide at the mark, and PSG scored again Courtois no chance with a left- and they are already in con- other end moments later and in stoppage time, Meunier ex- footed shot from 20 yards out trol of Group A before facing Bale curled a free-kick over the changing passes with Bernat that arrowed into the corner. Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentine midfielder Angel Di Maria celebrates scoring his team’s first goal dur- Galatasaray and Club Brugge, bar from the edge of the area. before finishing. Thomas Meunier added ing the UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on who drew 0-0 on Wednesday. Just after that, in the 33rd min- Both sides should still the gloss at the death but it Wednesday. Di Maria scored two of the three goals. (AFP) “Everyone was saying how ute, Di Maria took a touch and make it through but for now was Di Maria who had cleared could we win with all these smashed a shot into the right- it is PSG, six months on from the way, stepping into the gap because he has been showing night. He is always dangerous.” have others capable of win- players out but maybe that hand corner to make it 2-0. their horror show against left by the injured Mbappe and for more than a year now that he After a summer dominated ning such games. meant we were not the favour- Then came Bale’s disal- Manchester United, who have Edinson Cavani as well as sus- is capable of performances like by the saga of whether Neymar These two clubs are trying ites and it can also help when lowed goal, and the Welshman more reason to be optimistic. pended Neymar. that,” said PSG coach Thomas would leave, it was a reminder to recover some of their lustre you don’t feel too much pres- came close again in first-half Especially with so much fire- “We can’t be too surprised Tuchel. “He was exceptional to- that the French champions after disappointing campaigns sure,” Tuchel added. stoppage time, yet the Spanish power still to return. Zidane found wanting as side outclassed Atletico foil Juventus AFP cope with their opponents, for from reaching the last 16, but statistician Mister Chip, apart PARIS whom the tireless Idrissa Gu- their performance contrasted from two disallowed goals, as Man City cruise eye was outstanding. sharply with two seasons ago, Real failed to muster a shot REAL Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane had pinpointed the when they dumped PSG out en on target for the first time in a AFP goals from Juan Cuadrado Zidane could only hold his same issue last weekend after route to winning the trophy for decade, a period spanning 578 PARIS and Blaise Matuidi put Juve hands up after his side were his side almost blew a three- the third year running. competitive games. in control. Stefan Savic nod- outclassed by Paris Saint-Ger- goal lead against Levante in Zidane walked away after That was despite the pres- A late Atletico Madrid come- ded home from point-blank main in their opening Cham- La Liga. that success only to be tempt- ence of Gareth Bale, Karim back foiled Juventus as Man- range to give Atletico hope pions League game of the sea- “When I looked to the ed back in March. If it seemed Benzema and Eden Hazard up chester City eased to victory in and substitute Hector Herrera son on Wednesday. bench there was nothing else,” like a huge risk at the time to front. Ukraine on Wednesday. Diego headed in a corner in the final “They were superior to us in he said of his midfield then, gamble his legacy, six months The latter made his first Simeone’s Atletico clawed minute to snatch a point. Both everything,” Zidane admitted but he could and certainly on and the France great ap- start for the club after injury their way back from two goals sides trail Lokomotiv Moscow after the match at the Parc des should have seen this coming. pears no closer to getting the following his 100 million-eu- down in the final 20 minutes following the Russians’ 2-1 win Princes. “In terms of how they While an injury to Luka 13-time European Cup win- ro ($110 million) move from to rescue a 2-2 draw at home at Bayer Leverkusen. played, in midfield, but above Modric has exacerbated the ners back on track. Chelsea but received a rating to Juventus in Group D. Man City scored a 3-0 vic- all, and what annoys me the problem, Zidane allowed Dani He did not have to deal of two out of 10 from French The anticipated clash tory against Shakhtar Donetsk most, in terms of intensity.” Ceballos and Marcos Llorente with such adversity in his glit- sports daily L’Equipe. Real Madrid coach Zinedine between Cristiano Ronaldo in Kharkiv. Riyad Mahrez Games at this level are of- to leave in the summer and tering first stint in charge. They “To not create chances Zidane reacts during the UEFA and Joao Felix, the teenager slammed home a rebound, ten won in the centre of the did not have an alternative to a have won seven and lost five of with the players we had on Champions League match touted as the heir to Ron- and the German internation- park and the Madrid trio of failed move to sign Paul Pogba. 16 games since his return. the field, it is a bit of a strange against Paris Saint-Germain at aldo’s throne, took a back- al smacked in a second be- Casemiro, Toni Kroos and The defeat in Paris may On Wednesday, according feeling but that is how it is,” the Parc des Princes Stadium seat to a Atletico rousing fore Gabriel Jesus sealed the James Rodriguez could not ultimately not prevent Real to renowned Spanish sports Zidane said. in Paris on Wednesday. (AFP) comeback after second-half points on 76 minutes. Ballon d’Or organisers introduce goalkeeper award Ballon d’Or award for goal- is voted on by journalists. Last erning body’s The Best awards ing a flat cap and dressed from to have one of his legs ampu- Akeepers will be handed year, an award for best female in 2016. A Moscow native who head to toe in black, helped the tated. More misery followed out for the first time this year, player was added. It was won played 21 seasons with local Soviets to their greatest victory when Yashin was diagnosed the organisers, France Foot- by Norway’s Ada Hegerberg. outfit Dynamo, Yashin won the in 1960, winning the inaugural with stomach cancer and he ball magazine, announced on A shortlist for the prizes in Ballon d’Or in 1963 and was re- European Championship 2-1 died in March 1990 aged 60. Thursday. The Yashin Trophy the three categories will be an- vered in his day as the world’s after extra-time. He held the rank of colo- will be named after the Soviet nounced on October 21. finest ‘keeper. With the Soviet He would also take part nel in the Red Army and was international, Lev Yashin, the This year’s winners will be team he was in goal at the Mel- in four World Cups and later awarded the prestigious Order only goalkeeper to have won revealed in a ceremony on De- bourne Olympics in 1956 for a worked in various roles at Dy- of Lenin, the highest civilian the Ballon d’Or itself. cember 2. The Ballon d’Or also 1-0 win over Yugoslavia at the namo Moscow and for the So- award in the USSR and ob- The Ballon d’Or for best served as the FIFA player of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.