Sports Sunday, July 26, 2020 13 wins French Cup final for PSG but Mbappe suffers ankle injury AFP Paris

Neymar scored the winning goal as Paris Saint-Germain defeated 10-man Saint-Etienne 1-0 in the French Cup final on Friday, the first competitive fix- ture in the country since March 11 following the coronavirus pandemic. However, coach faces an anxious wait over the fitness of Kylian Mbappe ahead of next month’s Champions League quarter- final against Atalanta after the Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe stands supported France star limped off in tears by crutches as his teammates celebrate after victory following the during the first half with an an- French Cup final at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Friday.( AFP) kle injury. The World Cup winner was later seen emerging from the Kylian doubtful for tunnel on crutches following a dreadful challenge that re- sulted in the dismissal of Saint- Champions League Etienne captain Loic Perrin. “Everyone is worried. Eve- AFP ryone who saw the foul is wor- Paris Kylian Mbappe is out of ried. Of course I’m worried,” next Friday’s French said Tuchel. “I’m very happy Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian League Cup final and because we won but we have to Mbappe is doubtful for the unlikely to be fit in time stay patient because we don’t Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) Brazilian forward Neymar celebrates with the trophy after winning the French Cup final against Saint-Etienne (ASSE) Champions League after suf- for next month’s have any news. I think he will at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, on Friday. (AFP) fering a serious ankle injury undergo tests tonight.” in the French Cup final, the Champions League PSG secured the first of a manuel Macron – inside the Etienne ahead when his strike half though when the veter- Atalanta on August 12. French champions announced quarter-final against potential three trophies this 80,000-seater venue. rebounded back off Keylor an Perrin, on likely his final Moulin kept Saint-Etienne on Saturday. Atalanta in Lisbon. summer, claiming a record- A minute’s applause was Navas’s left-hand post. appearance for the club, was in with a remote shot of ending Mbappe hobbled off in extending 13th French Cup with held ahead of kick-off for the sent off for a dreadful chal- their 43-year wait for a seventh the first half of Friday’s game “It did crack a bit for sure,” the League Cup final against victims of COVID-19, which has Neymar slams home lenge on Mbappe. French Cup title, repelling Mau- after a dreadful tackle by Mbappe was heard on camera Lyon to come next Friday be- claimed the lives of over 30,000 Unfazed by that scare, PSG led He required lengthy treat- ro Icardi and Di Maria before Saint-Etienne captain Loic telling French President Em- fore the resumption of their Eu- people in France, and in sup- on 14 minutes as Mbappe burst ment but was forced off after spreading himself superbly to Perrin. And after tests PSG manuel Macron who was at- ropean campaign in Portugal. port of frontline workers. into the area after an exchange his right ankle was trapped be- deny Pablo Sarabia. revealed that their 21-year- tending the first competitive “It was very difficult, which PSG had racked up 20 goals with Angel Di Maria and Ney- tween the legs of Perrin, whose The goalkeeper even raced old star had “a sprained right game in France since the coro- is perhaps the best thing,” add- without reply in three friend- mar crashed home the rebound yellow card was upgraded to red forward for a late corner but ankle with significant liga- navirus lockdown. ed Tuchel, whose side added to lies building up to the final, via the underside of the cross- following a VAR review. PSG held firm to atone for last ment damage”. PSG face Lyon in the their title awarded in but Yvann Macon’s crunch- bar after a fine save from Jessy Emotions boiled over with year’s defeat in the final by The news is a major blow French League Cup final be- April after the season was end- ing tackle on Neymar in the Moulin. five players booked in the af- Rennes on penalties, clinching for PSG with Mbappe out of fore resuming their European ed prematurely. first minute suggested no such Bouanga twice forced Na- termath following an ugly me- the trophy for the fifth time in next Friday’s French League campaign in a straight knock- The final at the Stade de goodwill would be afforded vas to turn away while Moulin lee, but the greater concern the past six seasons. Cup final and unlikely to be out tournament at the Estadio France was the first official by Saint-Etienne in their first produced a sensational one- for PSG will be the severity of “It’s really tough to take, fit in time for next month’s da Luz on August 12. match in one of Europe’s top French Cup final appearance handed stop to tip over from Di Mbappe’s injury. especially like that. We had Champions League quarter-fi- Mbappe’s misfortune re- football nations to allow fans since 1982. Maria, earning plaudits from The France star reappeared chances and we pushed them,” nal against Atalanta in Lisbon. vived memories of the injuries to attend since March, albeit The challenge set the the Argentine himself. from the tunnel on crutches said Moulin. He received lengthy treat- that forced Neymar, scorer of in severely restricted numbers tone for a fractious opening Saint-Etienne’s hopes of in the second half, with less “There are things to be ment but was eventually sub- Friday’s decisive goal, to miss with just 2,805 spectators – in- period and Denis Bouanga fighting back were hampered than three weeks before PSG’s pleased about but losing a final stituted after the tackle which Champions League last-16 ties cluding French President Em- was inches from firing Saint- midway through the first Champions League tie against is always hard to digest.” earned Perrin a red card. in both 2018 and 2019. European football and survival up for grabs in Premier League finale

AFP London Chelsea just need a Players of Wuhan Zall celebrate scoring during their Chinese Super point at home to Wolves League match with Qingdao Huanghai in Suzhou on Saturday. (AFP) The Premier League will fi- to seal Champions nally reach the end of its long- Wuhan Zall win to cap symbolic est season on Sunday with League football next plenty still on the line at both season, but should start to Chinese SL season ends of the table. Manchester United and Frank Lampard’s men AFP before both games as the cam- Leicester face each other in lose, then a draw Suzhou (China) paign kicked off behind closed a shootout for a place in the doors and five months late. Champions League next season between Leicester and Wuhan Zall were given a guard Qingdao’s players and captains with Chelsea also hoping to se- United would see the of honour on the way to victory from other teams playing in Su- cure their place in the top four. latter two finish in the and medical staff from the city zhou, near Shanghai, lined up Wolves and Tottenham are were applauded as Chinese foot- and applauded as the Zall squad vying for one place in the Eu- top four. ball made a poignant return on came onto the pitch. ropa League. Saturday following a long delay Zall, wearing their orange And at the bottom it could the week and we’re above the because of coronavirus. and white home kit, held a large not be closer with one goal dotted line at the moment,” The team from ground zero banner thanking and honour- separating Aston Villa just out- said Smith. “The most impor- of the pandemic defeated Qing- ing “anti-epidemic heroes”. side the relegation zone from tant thing is to be above that dao Huanghai 2-0 in an empty On a large screen, white writ- Watford in the bottom three, dotted line on Sunday and we stadium in Suzhou, one of two ing against a black background while Bournemouth also have know we have to win to guar- cities hosting matches in a re- said: “Deeply mourn the mar- a chance of beating the drop. Chelsea players (L-R) French defender Kurt Zouma, German defender Antonio Rudiger, French striker Olivier Gir- antee that.” vamped Chinese Super League. tyrs and compatriots sacrificed oud, Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta and Italian Jorginho during warm up ahead of a match. (AFP) Watford’s sacking of Nigel There was a minute’s silence during COVID-19.” Champions League Pearson with just two games dreams sea in the FA Cup semi-finals Spurs surge toward Eu- Seventh could still be good of the season remaining did Leicester fell out of the top and being held 1-1 at home by ropa LeagueWhoever misses enough for European football the Hornets little good in a four for the first time since West Ham. out on the Champions League next season, but that depends 4-0 thrashing at the hands of September in midweek after a United have overturned an between United, Chelsea and on Chelsea beating Arsenal in Manchester City on Wednes- Quick read run of three wins in 13 games eight-point deficit to Leicester Leicester will be guaranteed the FA Cup final onA ugust 1. day and they travel to Arsenal Ibrahimovic dismisses retirement talk either side of the coronavirus since the restart, but Rodgers fifth and a place in the Europa needing to better Villa’s result. shutdown. However, United’s is hoping it is the Red Devils League next season. Relegation dogfight Should both lose then Milan: AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has ruled out hanging and Chelsea’s failures to win who fold under the pressure. Wolves are looking to go At the bottom, two of Bourne- Bournemouth could extend up his boots after this season, insisting Saturday he is “just warm- on Wednesday means the door “We would love to be able one better than their fine first mouth, Watford and Villa their five-season stay in the ing up”. “So you think that I’m done, that my career will soon be is still open for Brendan Rodg- to do that but when you are a campaign back in the top- will join already relegated top-flight by beating Everton over? You don’t know me,” the 38-year-old said in a dramatic video ers’s men to salvage all the club like Manchester United, flight last season by finishing Norwich in the Champion- at Goodison Park. “The next posted on Instagram. “All my life I had to fight. No-one believed in good work they did early in the or one of those super clubs, in the top six and have the po- ship next season. Villa have game is the biggest game of me, so I had to believe in myself. “Some people wanted to break season with victory on home there is a need to be in the tential to upset Chelsea’s push the upper hand with a three- all our careers,” said Bourne- me, but they only made me stronger. Others wanted to exploit me, soil on Sunday. Champions League for many for the Champions League at point lead on Bournemouth mouth boss Eddie Howe. they only made me smarter. “But now you think I’m done? To all of Leicester are hampered by reasons,” said Rodgers. Stamford Bridge. However, and a marginally better goal Fixtures: (all games 1500 you, I only have one thing to say. I’m not like you because I’m not injuries to James Maddison, Chelsea just need a point any slip from Nuno Espirito difference than Watford. GMT Sunday): Arsenal v Wat- you. “I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic and I am just warming up.” Ibrahimov- Ben Chilwell and Ricardo Perei- at home to Wolves to seal Santo’s men would give Spurs Dean Smith’s men also ford, Burnley v Brighton, Chel- ic rejoined Milan in January from Los Angeles Galaxy on a six-month ra, but have had a full week to Champions League football the chance to move into sixth. have momentum after a 1-0 sea v Wolves, Crystal Palace v contract worth 3.5 million euros ($3.9 million) with the option for prepare in stark contrast to next season, but should Frank Jose Mourinho’s side have win over Arsenal on Tuesday Tottenham, Everton v Bourne- an additional season. The Swede helped the former Italian giants to United’s packed schedule. Lampard’s men lose, then a won their last three and will and travel to a West Ham side mouth, Leicester v Man Utd, their last Serie A title in 2011, and has had a big impact since his Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s draw between Leicester and be confident ahead of a trip to now sure of their place in the Man City v Norwich, Newcastle v return with the club moving up from 11th to sixth in the table. (AFP) men have looked jaded in the United would see the latter Crystal Palace, who have lost Premier League next season. Liverpool, Southampton v Sheff past week in losing 3-1 to Chel- two finish in the top four. their last seven games. “Results went our way in Utd, West Ham v Aston Villa.