46 Friday Sports Friday, January 31, 2020 Amateurs Epinal topple Lille, PSG beat Pau in French Cup PARIS: Fourth division Epinal sprang a French “It wasn’t easy, it was our fifth consecutive Cup shock on Wednesday, the amateurs from the away game,” said PSG coach Thomas Tuchel. Vosges mountains knocking out top-flight Lille “We made a lot of changes but the lads did really 2-1 to join Paris Saint-Germain, 2-0 winners at well.” PSG, beaten in last season’s final, have won Pau, in the quarter-finals. the competition a record 12 times, two more than The come-from-behind upset matched fellow Marseille who also progressed by beating Stras- fourth-tier amateur outfit Belfort’s shock defeat bourg 3-1. of Ligue 1 Montpellier on penalties 24 hours ear- A group of around 600 Marseille lawyers lier. Loic Remy put Lille into an early lead dressed in courtroom robes demonstrated against the minnows who had ended Reunion is- against the government’s pension reforms, bran- landers’ JS Saint-Pierroise’s dreams of becoming dishing banners before kick-off and after Bouna the first team from a French overseas territory to Sarr’s 32nd minute opener from the stands pro- reach the last 16. claiming “Marseille lawyers are going to win”. And they continued their adventure by hitting And Marseille’s fans had a nervy wait before back hard in the second half with a double from the final verdict of the Velodrome drama played Jean-Philippe Krasso. “We were never in the out before them was certain. Dimitri Payet’s match,” complained Lille coach Christophe penalty gave the hosts a healthy half-time lead Galtier. but with Benjamin Corgnet putting Strasbourg “You have to congratulate Epinal who de- back in business on 59 minutes Andre Villas- served this win. We didn’t deserve to get a lot Boas’s side could only breathe easy after out of the way we played.” PSG ensured they did Boubacar Kamara’s goal deep in injury time. not get spellbound by the magic of the Cup at On Tuesday Rennes, who had denied PSG a third division Pau. 13th title, took another step closer to retaining Neymar stayed in Paris and Kylian Mbappe the trophy by edging a nine-goal thriller with top remained on the bench but the services of the flight Angers 5-4. world’s two most expensive footballers weren’t Saint Etienne beat Monaco and Ligue 1 PAU: Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentine forward Mauro Icardi (c) is challenged by Pau’s French de- required as captain Leandro Paredes and Pablo strugglers Dijon needed a 119th winner against fender Alassane Diaby (R), during the French Cup round-of-16 football match between Pau and Sarabia scored in either half for a drama-free 2- plucky fifth division amateurs Limonest. The last Paris Saint-Germain, at the Stade du Hameau Stadium in Pau, southwestern France. — AFP 0 win. 16 concludes later with Lyon at Nice. — AFP Perez joins Roma from Barcelona Atletico travel to Liga leaders MADRID: Barcelona forward Carles Perez has joined Roma in a deal worth 15.5 million euros, the Spanish club an- Real Madrid in midst of crisis nounced yesterday. Roma will pay Barca 1 million euros MADRID: La Liga leaders Real Madrid host since October and moved three points clear for an initial loan until June 30. The deal neighbours Atletico tomorrow, with the vis- at the top of La Liga last weekend, have no includes a compulsory option to buy in itors on their worst run of results since new injury concerns, with Eden Hazard and the summer for 11 million euros, with a Diego Simeone took charge in 2011. The Ar- Marco Asensio both still out. further 3.5 million euros due in additional gentinean coach has revolutionised On Sunday, second-placed Barcelona will payments. Atletico’s fortunes over the past nine years. be hoping to take advantage of any Madrid Barcelona will also retain first refusal But their form has nosedived this season, slip-up when they host Levante at Camp Nou. if Roma want to sell Perez in the future. culminating in an embarrassing Copa del New coach Quique Setien has had some “I know that I am leaving a very im- Rey elimination at the hands of third-tier teething problems as his side look to adapt to portant club in Barcelona but I am join- side Cultural Leonesa last week. his possession-based style, however the ing an equally important club in Roma,” Winless in their last four in all competi- Spaniard insists the process will take time and said Perez. tions, having drawn nine of their 21 La Liga that patience is the name of the game. The Spaniard came through Barca’s games this season, they dropped out of the “We want to improve and ensure that youth academy and was given his La top four at the weekend. Simeone acknowl- everything we coach is seen out on the pitch,” Liga debut by coach Ernesto Valverde edges they need to make changes if they are he said. “We know the route we want to take last season. to qualify for next season’s Champions and why we want to take it. There are things But despite playing 12 times this term, League. we’d like to see right now but we can’t see Valverde’s sacking put Perez’s future in “We need to work hard, looking for an- them. But we’ve only had a few training ses- doubt and new coach Quique Setien has swers (to what is going on), and make deci- sions together and you need to be backed up agreed to let the 21-year-old leave. sions, especially me, in terms of improving the by what you see in games, but it’s still very He joins a Roma side sitting fourth in side,” he said. “We need to get back our calm, early in the process for that.” Serie A and with ambitions to qualify for I’ve got a good squad, we’ll get players back Luis Suarez remains absent with a knee next season’s Champions League. into the fold and have more competition for issue, while Ousmane Dembele will miss the “We are hugely satisfied with Carles’ places and we’ll go into Saturday’s game de- game through a muscle problem. arrival in Rome,” said club chief execu- termined to win it.” Elsewhere, fourth from bottom Mal- tive Guido Fienga. Atletico will be without injured club record lorca host fifth from bottom Valladolid on “Carles learned his trade in one of the signing Joao Felix for the trip to the Bernabeu Saturday in what could be a crucial game best youth academies in Europe, and has as well as long-term absentee Diego Costa. in the race for survival, while third-placed been playing for a club with so much tal- But club captain Koke looks set to return fol- Sevilla host Alaves on Sunday as they look ent at its disposal. We are all hopeful that lowing a hamstring issue. to tighten their grip on a Champions he can immediately have a significant Real, who are unbeaten in all competitions League spot. — Reuters role to play within our squad.”— AFP Carles Perez.