FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 2 NNBABA | Page 5 Everton sack Wiggins’ manager three-pointer Koeman aft er silences Gunners rout Thunder Tuesday, October 24, 2017 TENNIS Safar 4, 1439 AH Wozniacki and GULF TIMES Halep claim revenge victories SPORT Page 7 QNB STARS LEAGUE Xavi excited about facing Al Rayyan in ‘Qatar Classico’ l Sadd captain Xavi Hern- “Matches against Al Rayyan are al- could prove important in the match. quality in Boualem Khoukhi and Fa- andez has said the ‘Qatar ways important for Al Sadd. Last year, “Al Rayyan bought well in the transfer had al-Abdulrahman from Eupen. Both Classico’ match between his we played them in the Emir’s Cup fi nal window this season, adding quality pro- players will be important for us on Fri- side and Al Rayyan on Friday and we needed a last-minute winner. fessional and local players to their side. day, and over the course of the season, Awould highlight the best of what the That’ll be our inspiration heading into In attack, they’ve Rodrigo Tabata and Se- as we look to compete for all trophies,” QNB Stars League has to off er. the game and I hope we continue our bastain Soria, and have added more goals said Xavi. Al Sadd have yet to taste defeat this strong start to the season. with Abderrazak Hamdellah, who is al- Ending the interview, the playmaker season, comfortably winning their fi rst “Barcelona against Real Madrid is ready scoring for them. Defensively, they outlined Al Sadd’s targets from what fi ve games in the league, and the match considered as the ultimate clasico in may’ve lost Victor Caceres, but they’ve could be his last season as a profes- against Al Rayyan will be a stern test of Europe. Here in Qatar, our match with added Mohammed Kasola and Abdul sional footballer. their title credentials. Al Rayyan is considered as the biggest Maqsoud, two of the best defensive play- “The objective is to win the league “Both sides like to play strong at- and this is shown by the build-up in the ers in the league,” he said. title this season. Last year, we won the tacking football and the match will be country by the fans and media ahead of Xavi stressed that Al Sadd have to Qatar Cup and Emir’s Cup. Now, our good to watch. Al Rayyan are one of the match. The atmosphere is going to assert their supremacy in the midfi eld aim is the QNB Stars League, which can the strongest teams in the QNB Stars be special,” the midfi elder said when and that’ll be crucial if The Wolves are only be won by the most consistent side League and I’m personally looking for- asked about his thoughts on the Friday- to continue their unbeaten start to the in the country. It’s the main target, but ward to the game. It’ll be a great Classi- evening clash. season. we also want to progress in all competi- co for everyone in Qatar,” said Xavi in an The former Barcelona and Spain “We’ve kept the core of the side that tions that we compete in this season,” exclusive interview with QSL Online. great opined Al Rayyan’s new additions did so well last season, we’ve added Xavi concluded. (QSL.com.qa) FOCUS FORMULA 1 Ref fell for Marseille Aft er big Texas win, Hamilton ‘theatrics’, says all set for title red-card Neymar party in Mexico ‘I was the target of lots of missiles, cans, baguettes. I didn’t lose my cool’ AFP Marseille eymar blames the referee for “falling for Marseille’s theatrics” after his sending off in Paris Saint-Germain’s Nexplosive 2-2 draw at the Stade Velo- drome on Sunday. Neymar was constantly harried and niggled by a series of fouls in the grudge game against PSG’s bitter Ligue 1 rivals, and pelted by projectiles hurled by Mar- seille fans whilst taking corners. The former Barcelona striker was eventually sent off for two yellow cards late on, both for retaliation with the Brazilian superstar appearing to aim a headbutt at Marseille’s Argen- tine striker Lucas Ocampos. “That wasn’t football,” the world’s most expensive player complained. “The referee fell into the trap of fall- Reuters A key one, he suggested, was his ing for Marseille’s theatrics. Austin decision to give up meat and adopt “I was the target of lots of missiles, a vegan diet around the time of last cans, baguettes. I didn’t lose my cool month’s Singapore Grand Prix. but I accept my mistake.” ewis Hamilton will have to “I feel the best I’ve ever felt, physi- He described the heated atmos- wait another week for his fourth cally and mentally,” he said. phere on the south coast as similar to Formula One world champion- “I think the best decision was mov- “a Champions League” night. ship but he has smoked a vic- ing to this team, second best decision is “We tried to play as we know how Ltory cigar already. changing my diet.” but it was diffi cult. PSG weren’t It was always going to be a long shot The retirement of former team mate great... Marseille were good whilst we for the Mercedes driver to wrap up the Nico Rosberg, immediately after win- were below standard. We have to be- title in Texas but on Sunday night, after ning the 2016 title, and a kitchen con- come used to this type of rival.” winning at the Circuit of the Americas versation with team boss Toto Wolff Tensions were running high for for the fi fth time in six years, he was last December has also transformed his France’s ‘clasico’, from which PSG fans only a fi ngertip away. demeanour. were banned over security fears. With a 66-point advantage over Fer- “Going and seeing Toto at the end of rari’s Sebastian Vettel, and three races last year was crucial,” he said. “Just put SERIOUS FOULS remaining, Hamilton looks sure to be- everything on the table and say what Supporters fought battles with police come Britain’s fi rst four-times world needed to be said. And then to build on outside the ground with cars bearing champion in Mexico City next Sunday. creating a new stronger relationship Paris number plates attacked. There A visitor to Cuba earlier in the year, which we have done.” were 16 arrests. the 32-year-old puff ed unconvincingly The arrival of Finland’s Valtteri Bot- PSG coach Unai Emery meanwhile on a fat cigar as he spoke to reporters tas as Rosberg’s replacement tightened urged Ligue 1 referees to make sure French referee Ruddy Buquet (right) shows a red card to Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar (centre) during the Ligue 1 match while the team celebrated a fourth suc- the team bonding and dispelled the marquee players like Neymar were against Marseille at the Velodrome Stadium in Marseille, France, on Sunday. (AFP) cessive constructors’ title. frostiness that was evident before. better protected. “Tastes disgusting,” he grimaced. “Valtteri is an exceptional human “We are a bit disappointed by the itri) Payet is also a good player,” said “He hasn’t been battered here, but if booked and then red-carded in the “A guy came and gave me the cigars being and you can see he gets it from sending off because he was fouled a Emery in reference to the Marseille he gets that treatment every game.....I space of two minutes. earlier. Every now and then some of the his dad,” said the Briton. “His dad’s a great deal during the game,” said Emery. playmaker. believe the referee should have had a In a dramatic ending, a bullet-like Cubans come along and give me some lovely man, very polite, he comes over “He suff ered four serious fouls from Neymar had been excellent for PSG good think about it. We need to pro- free-kick from Edinson Cavani made cigars. I took the box in there and hand- and says ‘hi’. our opponents which continued and scoring a cool-headed equaliser and tect the great players.” it 2-2 in time added on to salvage a ed them around to everyone. “Valtteri wants to win through mer- continued and continued,” added the looking every inch a big game player Marseille opened the scoring with point for PSG as Marseille players “This is the fi rst time for victory and it, and hard work. There’s never a mo- Spaniard, insisting the Paris capital until his rush of blood to the head and a Luiz Gustavo long range shot on 16 slumped to the Stade Velodrome pitch I thought it was kind of neat.” ment when he is hiding anything from side’s 222mn euro ($261.5mn) prize the red card with his side 2-1 down in minutes before Neymar levelled with in disgust and frustration. The tobacco may have proved bitter me and in actual fact it’s an unusual asset had been provoked throughout the 88th minute. a fi ne threaded shot on 33 minutes for The result means PSG keep their but everything else was looking sweet dynamic where he will ask me some- the match. “Those yellow cards were not fair his 10th goal in 11 games for the club. unbeaten record atop Ligue 1 with 26 for the Briton as he considered the fac- thing and I am actually just off ering it.” “It’s up to all of us to protect the big on Neymar, he’s a man who wants to After Florian Thauvin fi red Mar- points, four ahead of Monaco on 22.