15 Sports Thursday, August 13, 2020 Stars aligning for Atletico with Champions League glory not so far away Atletico unbeaten in 11 games after resumption MADRID: Atletico Madrid’s triumph over that has gifted them the significantly kinder half Liverpool in March was a throwback to a more cel- of the draw. ebrated past under Diego Simeone but five months If they beat Leipzig, who laboured to a third- on and the Champions League offers them a very place finish in the Bundesliga, they will face real opportunity in the present. either Atalanta, the tournament’s minnows or Knocking out the holders at Anfield may prove to Paris Saint-Germain, who have played two games be the first glimpse of a new era under Simeone, in almost half a year. where the likes of Joao Felix, Marcos Llorente, Jose Meanwhile, in the other half, only one of Bayern Gimenez and Jan Oblak push Atletico to challenge Munich, Barcelona, Manchester City and Lyon can for major honours again. reach the final. Or it could be a last hurrah for the Simeone Without doubt, Atletico’s opponents and project, which some believe will never again scale potential semi-final opponents will be just as the heights of their incredible La Liga title win in eager to capitalise, especially PSG, whose longing 2014 or their runs to the Champions League finals in 2014 and 2016. Either way, few believed Llorente’s two goals in extra-time would be the start of something even more surprising, namely Simeone lifting the Last cup in May. Certainly nobody anticipated football shutting hurrah down completely the following week, as nervous- ness turned to indignation about Atletico fans trav- elling to Anfield, before matches behind closed foors became matches postponed indefinitely. LISBON: Atletico Madrid’s players arrive to the team hotel in Lisbon ahead of the UEFA Champions And yet when football returned in June, Atletico League finals. — AFP were transformed. They went unbeaten in the 11 games after the resumption, to dispel concerns they for success in the Champions League has come to could miss out on La Liga’s four. define them. always appeared more comfortable as under-dogs “It’s important to accept the new format They won seven matches and drew four, one of And it is unknown how Simeone’s squad will be under Simeone than burdened by expectation. because once you accept it, you can adapt,” said them against Barcelona at Camp Nou, which helped affected by the club’s announcement on Sunday that Even the new format could suit them, in single Atleti’s Saul Niguez. Real Madrid clinch the title. Angel Correa and Sime Vrsaljko tested positive for matches where game management is likely to be key Leipzig, meanwhile, were still in the title race in They scored 20 goals and conceded six. If the coronavirus, with both players, who would likely and technical superiority has less time to win out March and considered a threat even in the season had started when the league restarted, have been on the bench, left at home. than over the traditional 180 minutes. Champions League, on the back of destroying Jose Atletico would have finished second. A required second round of tests on Sunday A riled Jurgen Klopp said after Liverpool’s 1-0 Mourinho’s Tottenham in the last 16. “We did well and we know we’re on a really meant preparations had to be tweaked, including defeat at the Wanda Metropolitano in February that But they have been less effective since the restart good streak but the Champions League is a differ- delaying the squad’s flight to Lisbon from Monday Atletico’s backs-to-the-wall approach would not be and will be less potent without Timo Werner, whose ent competition,” said Diego Costa last week. until Tuesday afternoon. as effective without their own fans. move to Chelsea cruelly prevents him from finishing Atletico face Leipzig in Lisbon today as one But it is hard to shake the sense that as a team, Yet they were able to frustrate Liverpool at what he started in the Champions League. It could of the form teams still standing, in a tournament Atletico are very well-placed, even if the club have Anfield too, before winning 3-2 in the second leg. be Atletico’s year. — AFP

wicketkeeper would not retiring soon. IPL’s Chennai “We don’t worry about him at all. Yes, we can expect M.S. Dhoni to be part of both (IPL seasons in 2020 and expect Dhoni to 2021) and probably for even the next year, 2022,” Viswanathan told India England’s play past 40 Today television late Tuesday. Dhoni, who has led Chennai to three Broad IPL titles, will celebrate his 40th birth- NEW DELHI: Indian Premier League day in July next year. He remains an fined by father favourites Chennai Super Kings influential figure in Indian cricket with expect former India captain Mahendra any hint of retirement causing concern Singh Dhoni to keep playing past his among fans. LONDON: England paceman 40th birthday until at least 2022, the Viswanathan said he had only seen Stuart Broad has been sanctioned team’s chief executive said. media reports that Dhoni has been by his father Chris, a match refer- Dhoni has not played a competitive training in indoor nets in his home state ee, for a breach of the game since India’s World Cup semi- of Jharkand. “But we don’t have to International Cricket Council’s final defeat last year, but is due to worry about the skipper,” he said. “He code of conduct during the first return to action when the delayed IPL knows his responsibilities and he will Test against Pakistan. begins in the United Arab Emirates take care of himself and the team.” Broad was fined 15 per cent of his next month. The CSK players are due to arrive in match fee — equivalent to around While Dhoni is unlikely to play again Chennai this week before leaving next £2,000 ($2,617) for a level one for India, Chennai Super Kings chief week for Dubai where the IPL will start on breach and also given one demerit executive Kasi Viswanathan said he September 19 after being moved because M.S. Dhoni point for using inappropriate lan- was confident the legendary batsman- of the coronavirus pandemic. — AFP guage when dismissing Yasir Shah following a flurry of runs in Pakistan’s second innings at Old Trafford on national cricket’s return from the coronavirus was injured, and Antetokounmpo Saturday, hours before England Ben Stokes’ absence lockdown — and the first Test against was ejected immediately. The run-in Lillard ties completed a three-wicket win. Pakistan saw vice-captain Stokes effectively occurred with 8:50 remaining in the Broad admitted the offence and deployed as a specialist batsman by skipper first half and Milwaukee leading 35- leaves England with career-high 61 accepted the sanction proposed Joe Root. Stokes, however, still took two 25. Antetokounmpo finished with 12 by Chris Broad, the former important wickets on the third evening points and a game-high nine Pakistan problem England batsman who is now a against Pakistan. in Blazers’ win rebounds in just 10 minutes. The The obvious move for England would be Bucks scored the game’s first six match referee. The punishment SOUTHAMPTON: England may have won to recall batsman Zak Crawley, who has points, holding the Wizards score- prompted Broad to joke on Twitter ORLANDO: Damian Lillard tied a the series opener against Pakistan but the missed out on the last two matches while an less for almost the first four minutes that his father was “off the career-high with 61 points and absence of Ben Stokes leaves them with extra bowler has been deployed because of Christmas card and present list”. assisted Hassan Whiteside on what en route to just their third win in arguably the bigger selection headache going Stokes’ injury problems. Broad senior would not normal- proved to be the game-winning seven games in central Florida. Rui into today’s second Test at Southampton. Buttler underlined his skill in a run- ly be officiating in a match involv- dunk in the Portland Trail Blazers’ Hachimura had 20 points to pace Pakistan were much the better side for chase last week but the wicketkeeper, by ing his son. But in a bid to cope 134-131 defeat of the Dallas Washington, which lost its seventh much of last week’s first Test at Old Trafford his own admission, had a poor match with with travel restrictions imposed by Mavericks on Tuesday in the straight since the restart. and, despite a second-innings collapse, were the gloves. England do have the option to the coronavirus, Chris Broad — Orlando area. Lillard also became still favourites to win when they reduced recall Ben Foakes, widely regarded as a the only Englishman on the ICC’s the first player in Portland franchise PHOENIX SUNS 130 - England to 117-5 in pursuit of a target of 277. better keeper, and play Buttler as a spe- elite panel of referees — together history to score 50-plus points in PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 117 But a sixth-wicket partnership of 139 cialist batsman. with a team of English umpires, is consecutive games. Helping Lillard Devin Booker had 35 points, nine between Chris Woakes (84 not out) and Jos But Root appeared wary of that sugges- officiating in the current three- shoulder the offensive load was rebounds and seven assists to lift Buttler (75) turned the tide as England went tion when he praised fellow World Cup win- match series. Carmelo Anthony, who scored 26 surging Phoenix past host 1-0 up in a three-match series on Saturday. ner Buttler’s innings by saying: “I think it will Philadelphia. Mikal Bridges added Chris Broad also presided over Since England won with more than a provide him with a huge amount of confi- points on 10-of-17 shooting from England’s 2-1 win against the West the floor and 3-of-5 from behind 24 points, Dario Saric contributed day to spare in Manchester, it has been dence in all aspects of his game and he 18 and Ricky Rubio had 16 points Indies last month. Under the inter- announced that star all-rounder Stokes should take that forward for the rest of the the 3-point line. Anthony and Lillard im COVID-19 regulations, all such combined for 12 of Portland’s 15 and 10 assists as the Suns moved to will miss the rest of the series as a result series.” Root himself could do with a big 7-0 in the bubble. The Suns tied the decisions are referred back to the of travelling to New Zealand to be with score having managed just one Test hundred made 3-pointers. Dallas shot a blis- ICC’s headquarters in Dubai to tering 20-of-44 from 3-point range, Portland Trail Blazers for ninth place his ill father. in 18 months. England are in the middle of a in the Western Conference to stay guard against accusations of bias. sequence of six Tests in seven weeks, a gru- with Kristaps Porzingis going 7-of- A quad injury meant that the end of alive to participate in the play-in But as Stuart Broad did not elling schedule that has seen them adopt a 9 en route to a team-high 36 points England’s 2-1 series win over the West Indies bracket to potentially earn a playoff contest the charge brought by on- policy of rotating their quicks. — AFP before fouling out. All five last month — a campaign that marked inter- spot for the first time in 10 years. field umpires Richard Mavericks starters scored in dou- Kettleborough and Richard ble-figures. Luka Doncic added 25 Alec Burks led the Sixers with 23 points while Raul Neto added 22 Illingworth, there was no need for points with 10 assists and eight a formal hearing. and November. rebounds for the Mavericks, while and Mike Scott had 17. Glenn Robinson III had 15 and Furkan Stuart Broad now has three Asia’s WCup FIFA and the Asian Football Tim Hardaway Jr. finished with 24 demerit points on his record. The Confederation said the matches were points. Finney-Smith finished with Korkmaz had 12 while Kyle O’Quinn swept 10 rebounds and also regis- two previous instances concern postponed “with the aim of protecting 15 and Burke scored 12 points with Broad’s use of a swear word qualifiers the health and safety of all participants”. nine assists. tered a career-high 11 assists. Philadelphia is currently the sixth towards South Africa’s Faf du “FIFA and the AFC will continue to work Plessis in Johannesburg in January MILWAUKEE BUCKS 126 - team in the East. together to closely monitor the situation and “aggressive language” direct- postponed WASHINGTON WIZARDS 113 in the region and to identify new dates ed at India’s Rishabh Pant two Giannis Antetokounmpo was BOSTON CELTICS 122 - for the respective qualifying matches,” years ago. ejected in the second quarter for MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 107 KUALA LUMPUR: Asia’s upcoming they said in a joint statement. Demerit points stay on a player’s head-butting Moritz Wagner, but Jayson Tatum scored 29 points, qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup and Asia’s World Cup qualifiers are just record for 24 months, meaning the one example of the havoc COVID-19 Milwaukee still beat Washington Kemba Walker added 19 and Boston 2023 Asian Cup football have been Pant sanction will lapse next week. has caused in international sport. No after Antetokounmpo was whistled handed Memphis a devastating postponed to next year because of the Broad, however, could risk a one- games have been played since for a charging foul for running into defeat. Tatum and Walker combined coronavirus pandemic, officials said match ban if he commits a similar November, with four match days missed the Washington center, the two then to shoot 17-of-23 from the floor as yesterday. No new dates were offence during the second Test already this year. The games also dou- jawed briefly and Antetokounmpo the Celtics won their fourth straight announced for the games, which were against Pakistan at Southampton, due to take place over four match ble as qualifiers for the 2023 Asian Cup lowered his head and somewhat game. Walker’s 19 points were the starting today. —AFP days around the region in October in China. — AFP gently drove his forehead into most he’s had in six games since the Wagner’s left temple. Neither player season restart. —Reuters