SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016 SPORTS PSG keep powder dry before Chelsea showdown PARIS: With numerous stars rested, means they could still secure a fourth Matuidi were not fit, there was a return found the net from a curling left-foot first leg against Chelsea did them little Paris Saint-Germain settled for an unin- straight title when they host the princi- for Angel Di Maria but the home starting free-kick that forced Laurent Pionnier in harm. Montpellier, meanwhile, will be spiring goalless draw at home to pality club at the Parc des Princes on line-up also featured 20-year-old the Montpellier goal into an excellent pleased as they continued their revival Montpellier yesterday ahead of their cru- March 20. defender Presnel Kimpembe and mid- save high to his left. since the January appointment as coach cial Champions League return clash with By then they will hope to have con- fielder Christopher Nkunku, who was Di Maria then sent a low ball across of Frederic Hantz. Chelsea. firmed their place in the last eight of the making his first start in Ligue 1 at the the face of goal but Lucas, sliding in, was Monaco could only draw in Caen PSG’s enormous lead at the top of Champions League for the fourth year age of just 18. unable to make contact in one of the last despite twice taking the lead, as Ivorian Ligue 1 and determination to progress in running, but all depends on the second Nkunku showed some nice touches acts of the first half. forward Christian Kouakou scored a Europe meant this game was never the leg of their last-16 tie with Chelsea in in a first half that lacked intensity at a The state of Di Maria’s fitness has minute from time to secure a point for priority for coach Laurent Blanc, London on Wednesday, into which they Parc des Princes once again far from full. been one of the biggest concerns for the home side. Lyon, who ended last although things could have been very take a 2-1 lead. The hosts almost opened the scoring Blanc ahead of the game at Stamford weekend in third spot after inflicting a different had Edinson Cavani found the Blanc rested a host of key players to from one of their first attacks as a Bridge and he was replaced after an first domestic defeat of the season on net rather than the bar early on. keep them fresh and Zlatan Ibrahimovic Maxwell cross was turned onto the bar hour to make way for Ibrahimovic. PSG, entertain Guingamp today. The draw allowed the defending was on the bench alongside David Luiz by Cavani, but other than that PSG only Despite the Swede’s introduction, They could be leapfrogged later on champions to restore their 23-point lead and Thiago Motta while captain Thiago really threatened when Di Maria turned PSG could not break down their oppo- Saturday by Nice, who host bottom club at the top over second-placed Monaco, Silva was not involved at all. on the style. The Argentine produced nents, but they will recall that a 0-0 draw Troyes, and Saint-Etienne, who visit who drew 2-2 at Caen on Friday, and While Marco Verratti and Blaise some flashes of quality and also nearly at home to Lille immediately before the Angers. — AFP Stunning comeback keeps West Ham in Euro hunt eighth straight game against West Ham. The muscular forward shrugged off Everton 2 Oxford and turned smartly to plant the ball past Adrian for his 18th Premier League goal of the season. The home team appeared to be cruising, West Ham 3 with England midfielder Ross Barkley test- ing Adrian again with a dipping volley, but their task got much harder on 35 minutes. Mirallas, already booked controversially LIVERPOOL: West Ham staged an incredi- for diving, received a second yellow card ble late comeback against 10-man Everton after going in late on full back Aaron at Goodison Park yesterday to run out 3-2 Cresswell. winners and keep alive their Champions However, it was the home team who League hopes. defied the odds to double their lead shortly Prolific Everton forward Romelu Lukaku before the hour mark through lively winger scored one and created another for Aaron Lennon. Lennon to give the home team a 2-0 lead, The former Spurs man combined neatly the goals coming either side of a red card with Lukaku before finishing coolly under- for their winger Kevin Mirallas. neath the advancing Adrian. Everton were But goals from Michail Antonio and granted a golden chance to put the game Diafra Sakho drew the Hammers level to bed when substitute Alex Song brought before French midfielder Dimitri Payet down half-time substitute Muhamed Besic completed the comeback with a last- in the box, but Adrian kept out Lukaku’s minute winner to fire his team into fifth weak spot kick. place in the Premier League, one point off The striker fluffed another superb the top four. opportunity moments later, again shooting West Ham’s defensive injury crisis hand- tamely at Adrian, and he was left to rue his ed 17-year-old Reece Oxford a start at cen- mistakes when the visitors struck twice in tre back, and he was immediately put three minutes to haul themselves level. under pressure by a fast start from the Antonio gave the Hammers hope with a home team. close-range header, his third goal in three Midfielder James McCarthy almost games, before Senegal striker Sakho struck opened the scoring with a strike from the with a carbon-copy header from a Payet edge of the area, but Adrian in the cross. With the hosts on the ropes, the Hammers’ goal reacted smartly to tip the Hammers searched for a winner and found MADRID: Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo vies with Celta Vigo’s defender Hugo Mallo during the Spanish league football ball over the bar. it in the final minute through Payet, who match Real Madrid CF vs RC Celta de Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid yesterday. — AFP The pressure forced the opening goal nipped in to meet Sakho’s backheel and on 13 minutes with Lukaku scoring for the guide the ball past Joel Robles. — AFP Four-goal Ronaldo silences McClaren misery deepens as Newcastle crash again Madrid critics in Celta rout although Mitrovic went close with a curling MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo silenced his critics us improve and do more.” There was little evi- instantly with a dipping strike from 25 yards that 61st-minute effort which beat keeper Artur with four goals in Real Madrid’s 7-1 mauling of dence that Ronaldo or Real were about to burst flew past Blanco. Ronaldo immediately headed Newcastle 1 Boruc, but also the far post. Celta Vigo yesterday after being jeered by cer- into life during a quiet first-half played out in towards the stand behind the goal with his hand Boruc then had to turn away Daryl tain sections of the home support. Ronaldo front of a frustrated home crowd after last week- placed over his ear as a warning shot to his crit- Janmaat’s stinging 64th-minute drive. But wheeled away in celebration with hand cupped end’s 1-0 defeat to Atletico in the Madrid derby. ics. More was to come from Ronaldo as he then the game was over with 20 minutes to his ear after smashing home Madrid’s second Iago Aspas had a huge chance to put Celta in curled home a brilliant free-kick into the top cor- remaining when King ran on to Ritchie’s after Pepe had headed Zinedine Zidane’s men in front when he headed against the bar before ner. Ronaldo hit the bar with another free-kick Bournemouth 3 through-ball and lashed a shot past Elliot front before half-time. Keylor Navas smothered his follow-up effort before Aspas capitalised on the huge amount of into the roof of the net. The three-time World Player of the Year from point-blank range. space in behind the Madrid defence to pull a Perez gave the home side hope when he added three more to surpass Telmo Zarra as the Ronaldo didn’t make his presence felt until 20 goal back with a neat chip over Navas. NEWCASTLE: Steve McClaren’s fight to reduced the deficit with 10 minutes second highest scorer in La Liga history with 252 minutes in when his fierce strike from distance However, Madrid duly replied with a further save his job suffered another major blow as remaining, but Daniels powered a shot past goals in just 228 appearances. was beaten to safety by Ruben Blanco. The Celta three goals in 13 minutes. Firstly, Ronaldo com- crisis-torn Newcastle crashed to a dismal 3- the helpless Elliot to leave McClaren sweat- And there was further good news for Real as ‘keeper also denied Isco and Casemiro, but the pleted his 30th La Liga hat-trick with a tap in 1 home defeat against Bournemouth yes- ing over his future. — AFP Gareth Bale scored Madrid’s seventh on his first visitors were struggling to deal with cross balls from Isco’s unselfish low cross. terday. appearance after six weeks out with a calf injury. and Pepe powered home the opener five min- Bale then made his entrance with the Welsh McClaren had endured a miserable Victory moved Real back to within nine points of utes before the break from Isco’s cross. star’s return to fitness a huge boost for Zidane week featuring reports that he had lost the leaders Barcelona, who travel to Eibar on ahead of Madrid’s Champions League last-16, backing of Newcastle’s players, who were Matches on TV Sunday.