THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 16

Kyrgios blames ‘clicking Messi injured but Barca shoulder’ for exit AFP | Zhuhai, China

ick Kyrgios fears he could Nface several weeks out af- ter struggling with what he seal much-needed win said was a “clicking” shoulder in a limp first-round exit at larly over Valverde, but deliv- the Zhuhai Championships Barcelona’s win ered a far more convincing win yesterday. • than the scoreline suggested, The 24-year-old Australian, was marred by the thanks to early goals from An- who has been accused of tank- sight of toine Griezmann, his third of ing matches in the past, served receiving lengthy the season, and . underarm on one occasion and Nick Kyrgios of Australia hits a return against Andreas Seppi of Italy treatment before being “We are still far from our best led the veteran Italian Andreas but with matches everything Seppi 4-1 in the first set. serve. replaced at halftime will improve,” said Griezmann. But the unpredictable fire- “If I could serve, it would On his own adaptation at Bar- brand went down 7-6 (7/5), have been a pretty routine win Antoine Griezmann celona, he added: “It’s different. 6-1 in southern China after his for me, to be honest.” and• Arthur Melo A different style of football, a game spectacularly fell apart. Asked if he could sit out the scored a goal each different position. I knew it was Kyrgios, who has had nu - next few weeks or even the going to be a challenge and it merous run-ins with tennis rest of the season, Kyrgios re- for Barcelona in their would take time. authorities down the years, plied: “For sure, I mean at this victory over Villarreal Barcelona’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi (C) is treated by medical staff “But I’m not too bad, right? said that he was “struggling a rate I wouldn’t be surprised. His withdrawal will be a we will see tomorrow how it is.” Three goals. I can do better, yes, lot” -- but he still played dou- “I wasn’t able to even serve AFP | Madrid major concern for Barca, par- Barcelona visit Getafe in La but I have to keep working.” bles soon after. at a reasonable pace. ticularly given this was Messi’s Liga on Saturday before play- Santi Cazorla put Villarreal in “I was battling with a bit of “I’m probably not going to ionel Messi endured yet first start of the season after just ing at home in the touch on the stroke of half-time a shoulder/collar bone injury,” bother playing until I can get more injury frustration recovering from a niggling calf Champions League four days but in truth the visitors barely said the 27th-ranked Kyrgios, it right again,” he added. Lon Tuesday after going injury sustained at the start of later. threatened thereafter, with Bar- a colourful but controversial Kyrgios elicited a few giggles off at half-time against Villar- August. Certainly, they would have celona impressively composed figure. from a sparse crowd in Zhuhai real but Barcelona gave their After the match, Valverde been eager to see Messi back in when nerves might easily have “At this rate I’m not thinking with an underarm serve in the coach Ernesto Valverde some struck a note of calm. their line-up, having suffered a taken over. about playing until my shoul- first set. much-needed relief with a com- “When something happens to humbling 2-0 loss at newly-pro- It means Valverde’s side climb der’s -- or I don’t even know Coasting 3-1 and 40-0 up, fortable 2-1 victory. Messi, everyone stops, not only moted Granada last weekend, a to fourth in the table, one point what it is -- but until my front Kyrgios served weakly into the Messi received treatment in on the field, but in the stands as result that left them with seven behind Real Madrid and level of my shoulder feels better and net, before surging into a 4-1 the first half for what looked well,” he said. points from five games, their on points with Atletico Madrid, I can serve,” he added, saying lead. like a problem with his left thigh “It is a small problem in the worst start to a season since who both were to play yester- his right shoulder had been But the Australian faded and was then unable to continue adductor and as a precaution 1995. day. Villarreal’s encouraging “clicking”. alarmingly from there and his after the interval, replaced by we have decided not to risk it. They arrived at Camp Nou start stalls a little as they drop “I mean the reason I lost previously dominant serve col- Ousmane Dembele. In theory, it is nothing more but with doubts hovering, particu- to eighth. today was because I couldn’t lapsed. Juve beat Balotelli’s Brescia

Defending champions• Juventus overcome Brescia challenge to go top of league table

AFP | Milan

ario Balotelli made his Mfirst start for Brescia but the promoted northeners still fell to a 2-1 defeat which sent champions Juventus top of Se- rie A on Tuesday. Former Manchester City and Juventus’ Argentinian forward Gonzalo Higuain (L) outruns Brescia’s Italian Sandro Tonali Inter Milan striker Balotelli has returned to Italy to play for his Danilo to injury early on, since hometown club, but his debut his move from Paris Saint-Ger- had been delayed as he sat out main. a four-game suspension for pre- It wasn’t easy after Reeling after going behind, vious club Marseille. going behind within Juventus pushed forward with Juventus were without Por- Gonzalo Higuain threatening tuguese forward Cristiano Ron- four minutes, but we for the visitors and Aaron Ram- aldo, rested with a slight thigh showed personality sey nodding over. problem, but the champions The equaliser came when recovered from going behind Brescia goalkeeper Jesse Jor- after less than four minutes to onen shoved a Paulo Dybala an Alfredo Donnarumma goal corner into Chancellor’s path. -- his fourth in five games. behind within four minutes, Paulo Dybala also forced Jor- Juventus goalkeeper Wo- but we showed personality,” onen into action, with Rabiot jciech Szczesny got two hands Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri pouncing on the rebound which to Donnarumma’s powerful told DAZN. was cleared off the line. strike, but could only push the Balotelli, back in Italy for the Pjanic drilled in the winner ball into the net. first time since 2016, was de- after Dybala struck his free- Brescia defender Jhon Chan- nied after half an hour with Pol- kick into the wall and the Bos- cellor let the champions off the ish ‘keeper Szczesny tipping his nian met the loose ball with a hook five minutes before the 30-yard free-kick over the bar. rasping volley. break, diverting the ball into “Mario is working hard and came his own goal, with Bosnian mid- is an extraordinary player. I’m on for Ramsey in the 70th min- fielder Miralem Pjanic com- sure he’ll give us a big hand ute, with Dybala making way pleting the comeback, volleying this season,” said Brescia coach for ten minutes in on 63 minutes. Eugenio Corini. later with the visitors holding Juventus overtake Inter Mi- “Being at home, close to his on for all three points. lan at the top of the mother, family and friends is Juventus next play SPAL in table with 13 points from five helping him to focus on his life Serie A on Saturday before games. more. His abilities are unlim- hosting Bayer Leverkusen in Antonio Conte’s side are one ited.” the Champions League next point behind before they host French midfielder Adrien Tuesday, having being held to Lazio at the San Siro. Rabiot also made his first start a 2-2 draw against Atletico Ma- “It wasn’t easy after going for Juventus, who lost full-back drid in their opener.

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