Established 1961 15 Sports Monday, April 12, 2021 Real Madrid edge thrilling Clasico to go top of La Liga Barca fall in Messi’s possible final Clasico appearance MADRID: Real Madrid climbed to the top of La instead the Argentinian made it seven games now Liga on Saturday after Karim Benzema’s flicked fin- without a goal against Real Madrid, with many won- ish helped them claim a thrilling 2-1 victory over dering if his 45th Clasico will be his last. Barcelona in a wild Clasico at Valdebebas. Messi might yet turn the tide in the eight games Benzema’s superb piece of skill and a deflected Toni still remaining but there is no doubt Madrid are in the Kroos free-kick put Madrid in charge and while groove after backing up beating Liverpool 3-1 on Oscar Mingueza pulled one back for Barca, they fell Tuesday with another crucial victory. They can finish to defeat in what could be Lionel Messi’s final the job in the Champions League at Anfield next appearance in this fixture. week although Zinedine Zidane admitted afterwards Victory meant Real Madrid went level on points his players are “physically at their limit”. “It was a dif- with Atletico, with the top three separated by a sin- ficult game, the first half was ours, but we suffered in gle point. Atletico, without the injured Luis Suarez, the second,” said Zidane. “We deserved the victory, faced Real Betis yesterday. But Real Madrid own the because we had a lot of chances to score the third.” better head-to-head against both of their rivals A breathless first half began with chances for both while Barcelona and Atletico still have to play each sides as Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s sloppy clearance other at Camp Nou in the run-in. With Atletico almost gave Benzema a clear run at goal before stumbling and both Barca and Real Madrid hitting Messi slipped in Jordi Alba but the cross was inter- their stride, this game looked set to define, if not the cepted by Thibaut Courtois. Real Madrid’s opener title, then who would become favorites to be came after a superb counter-attack from Barcelona, crowned champions in May. Messi going down too easily on the edge of the area, The result was a riveting contest at a rain-soaked with Madrid pouring forward on the break. Alfredo di Stefano stadium - certainly one of the Fede Valverde powered through midfield and fed most exciting Clasicos in years - that saw both teams wide to Lucas Vazquez, whose cross was expertly MADRID: Real Madrid’s Brazilian defender Eder Militao (left) and Real Madrid’s Croatian midfielder Luka Modric squander numerous chances, several efforts come flicked inside the near post by Benzema. The goal challenge Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (center) during the “El Clasico” Spanish League football back off the woodwork and Casemiro sent off in shook Barca, who were unable to restrain the speed match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Valdebebas, on the out- extra time. With the last play of the game, Barcelona of Madrid and particularly Vinicius Junior on the skirts of Madrid on Saturday. — AFP substitute Ilaix Moriba rattled Real Madrid’s cross- break. Vinicius was brought down by Ronald Araujo bar. “We’re still in it,” said Barca coach Ronald on the edge of the area and Kroos’ free-kick can- Koeman brought Antoine Griezmann on for Dest net. Araujo deflected Vinicius’ cross onto his own Koeman. “We’ve lost a game against a team who is noned off the back off Sergino Dest and in, evading but as the rain poured down, Madrid poured forward. post and Alba was denied by Courtois. Again, Madrid also fighting for the league but we have eight games the efforts of Alba to head away on the line. Valverde Kroos and Benzema both could have scored a third tore away, again they missed the chance, Vinicius left and we will fight to the end.” and Messi both struck the post before half-time, and they were punished for failing to capitalize. running onto Luka Modric’s pass but opting not to Casemiro’s red card had also given Messi a free- Valverde after another scintillating Madrid counter- Griezmann jumped over Alba’s cross and as the ball shoot, allowing Araujo to clear. With 20 minutes left, kick and the chance for a dramatic equalizer but attack and Messi from a corner, with Courtois beaten. skidded through, Mingueza did well to shin it into the Zidane took off Benzema, Vinicius and Kroos. —AFP Late Darmian winner moves Inter closer to Serie A title Mbappe strikes MILAN: Matteo Darmian scored the ‘keeper Guglielmo Vicario pushed out only goal with quarter of an hour to a Christian Eriksen chance early with as PSG keep go as Serie A leaders Inter Milan held Inter loanee Radja Nainggolan also off relegation-threatened Cagliari 1-0 denied an opener for the visitors. yesterday to stretch their winning Romelu Lukaku set up Alexis pressure on Lille streak to 11 consecutive games as Sanchez who thought he had scored PARIS: Kylian Mbappe’s goal set Paris Saint- they close in on the league title. after quarter of an hour but the goal Germain on their way to a 4-1 win at Moroccan Achraf Hakimi came off the was rule offside. Vicario kept out Strasbourg on Saturday as Mauricio bench and minutes later set up Italy Darmian from an angle before the Pochettino’s side moved back to within three defender Darmian to grab the winner break, and pushed another Eriksen points of leaders Lille in the Ligue 1 title race. in the San Siro to inflict a fourth con- chance over the bar. But the break- Pablo Sarabia and Moise Kean also scored secutive defeat on Cagliari. through came when Hakimi came on in the first half while Leandro Paredes netted Inter move back 11 points clear of for Ashley Young after 69 minutes the fourth from a free-kick as PSG made short second-placed AC Milan who won 3-1 with the Moroccan combining with work of a trip to Alsace in between the two at Parma on Saturday, as a first title Lukaku to tee up Darmian, to push legs of their Champions League quarter-final since 2010 beckons for Antonio Inter closer to a 19th Serie A crown. MILAN: Inter Milan’s Italian defender Matteo Darmian (left) prepares to shoot tie against Bayern Munich. Conte’s side with eight game left to Struggling nine-time defending and score the opening goal past Cagliari’s Italian goalkeeper Guglielmo Youngster Moise Sahi pulled a goal back play. Inter had been pegged back champions Juventus were 15 points Vicario during the Italian Serie A football match Inter Milan vs Cagliari yester- for Strasbourg but the defending champions against 18th-placed Cagliari with both behind Inter before they hosted day at the San Siro stadium in Milan. — AFP bounced back from losing at home to Lille last goalkeepers pulling off saves. Cagliari Genoa yesterday. — AFP weekend and closed the gap on the leaders who triumphed 2-0 at Metz on Friday. matchdays, during which they collected only two room dissipated when Abdenour Belkheir levelled “It’s an important victory for us because the Zamalek eliminated points and scored just once. for Mouloudia on 68 minutes in Tunisia. Zamalek three points put us in the race for the title, but They had reached the final twice in the past five needed four-time champions Esperance to win, but it’s not about pressure or being anxious,” for- seasons, losing to Mamelodi Sundowns of South they failed to score again and Mouloudia sneaked mer Tottenham Hotspur boss Pochettino told despite scoring four Africa in 2016 and fierce rivals Al-Ahly of Egypt last through. In Guinea, previously goal-shy Horoya and Canal Plus. “Today we showed real fight all year. The final last-eight place went to Kaizer Chiefs Chiefs served up a Group C thriller that ended with together. We want to be more consistent but goals in 25 minutes of South Africa, who came from behind twice to the Soweto outfit securing a first quarter-finals we are fighting in three massive competitions. draw 2-2 at Horoya of Guinea and squeeze through appearance after five failed attempts. Yakhouba The team showed massive faith and belief and JOHANNESBURG: African giants Zamalek of on head-to-head records. Barry put Horoya ahead in first-half stoppage time today was a very good game for us.” Egypt failed to reach the CAF Champions League Recently rehired French coach Patrice Carteron as his side sought to reach the knockout stage for Mbappe had netted twice in PSG’s stun- quarter-finals Saturday, despite scoring four goals vowed that Zamalek would fight until the final whis- the third time in four seasons. ning 3-2 win away to Bayern on Wednesday in 25 minutes to hammer Teungueth of Senegal 4-1 tle in an attempt to survive the cut after winning at Daniel Cardoso levelled from a 67th-minute which gave them the upper hand before the in Cairo. A bold Group D comeback by the five- Mouloudia last weekend. His resurgent team over- penalty only for Sekou Camara to give Horoya the return leg in Paris tomorrow. Pochettino made time African champions in the final two matchdays whelmed Teungueth in the opening half with lead again almost immediately. Zimbabwe interna- seven changes to his team from the match in ultimately proved futile as Mouloudia Alger of defender Mahmoud el Wensh triggering a goal blitz tional Khama Billiat equalised with 14 minutes Germany, with Neymar one of the players Algeria came from behind to force a 1-1 draw at by scoring on 16 minutes.