Established 1961 27 Sports Sunday, January 12, 2020 Real Madrid face Atletico as imposters gatecrash Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi JEDDAH: Lionel Messi has predictably been the star Certainly, Barcelona and Valencia will resume in La attraction but there will be no Clasico in Saudi Arabia Liga with their rhythm jolted and confidence knocked. this weekend, as Atletico Madrid’s defeat of Barcelona set up a clash with rivals Real Madrid in GAINING MOMENTUM the Spanish Super Cup final today. After seven games unbeaten, Valencia were out- Messi was cheered by fans at the King Abdullah played in their 3-1 semi-final defeat by Real while Sport City Stadium from the moment he jogged out to Barca’s late collapse against Atletico brings doubts warm up, yet Atletico were the ones celebrating at around coach Ernesto Valverde rushing back to the the end of Thursday’s semi-final in the competition surface. that has been expanded and controversially shipped Already on Friday, reports in the Spanish press to a different continent, to a country with a long-con- were linking the club’s former midfielder Xavi demned record on human rights. Hernandez — who has been coaching in Qatar — with Atletico scored two late goals to beat Barca 3-2, taking his job in the summer. “There is always insta- with a derby final now to come against Real Madrid. bility when you lose,” admitted Valverde. When the Spanish Football Federation signed a three- Just as defeat to a rival creates instability, victory year contract worth 120 million euros ($133.4 million) could prove affirming for Real, who look to convert to move the tournament to Saudi, a title showdown form into a lead in La Liga’s title race, and Atletico, between Real and Barcelona would very likely have who are trying to close a five-point gap. been top of the organisers’ wishlist. Atletico have been gaining momentum in the league The draw kept the clubs apart in the semis and a and their victory over Barcelona will be a major boost new four-team format ensured Real and Atletico were ahead of what promises to be a tough second half of able to participate at all, given they would not have the season. They sit third in the league table with trips qualified for the traditional two-legged showdown to Camp Nou and the Santiago Bernabeu to come between league champions and winners of the Copa while in the Champions League they face Europe’s del Rey. most feared team, Liverpool, next month. Including the two other highest-placed finishers in Yet even if they were on the back foot for long La Liga all-but ensures entry for Barcelona and Real spells of their 3-2 win on Thursday, Atletico defied JEDDAH: Real Madrid’s players attend a training session on the eve of the Spanish Super Cup final Madrid every year but, as this competition has shown, their creative problems with three goals and at least between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid yesterday, at the King Abdullah Sport City in the Saudi Arabian there is no guarantee of progress. two good chances for more. “It is important for the port city of Jeddah. —AFP “The Super Cup will be decided by its guests,” club, we beat the best attacking team in the world,” read Catalan sports daily Mundo Deportivo on Friday. Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. “You saw our bite, “Second in the league against semi-finalist in the our belief, our desire. It’s what this club is all about.” Bale could yet join up with the squad for the final Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane. “But it is a semi-final, cup.” An all-Madrid final in Jeddah offers both Real Madrid, meanwhile, were a class above on Sunday - although it remains unlikely - but there is we haven’t won anything yet.” Real Madrid’s progress Atletico and Real the chance to claim a first trophy of Valencia, making it 15 games unbeaten even without no doubt Real will start as favourites to claim an 11th means they will earn around 10 million euros from the the campaign and perhaps a valuable psychological their top scorer Karim Benzema, who has a hamstring Spanish Super Cup and deny Atletico their third. tournament, with Atletico making around six. Success boost too. strain, and Gareth Bale, who has a throat infection. “I’m happy with the whole performance,” said today would cap a highly profitable week. —AFP Newcastle hang on for Ibrahimovic off the point at Wolves mark as AC Milan WOLVERHAMPTON: Europe-chasing Wolverhampton Wanderers were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Newcastle United in the Premier League yes- get back winning terday as visiting goalkeeper Martin Dubravka made a MILAN: Zlatan Ibrahimovic marked the first start string of fine saves to deny the hosts three points. of his return to AC Milan by scoring in a 2-0 league Newcastle made a superb start and took the lead win over Cagliari yesterday. The 38-year-old when Miguel Almiron smashed home after a flowing Swede had come on as a substitute in AC Milan’s move in the seventh minute. Wolves did not have to goalless draw against Sampdoria last weekend, wait long to draw level though as Belgian international days after his return to Italy. Leander Dendoncker was left completely unmarked to Ibrahimovic met a cross Theo Hernandez after 64 steer in Joao Moutinho’s corner. minutes in Sardinia with a low-first time shot into Dubravka made a great close-range save to keep the far corner. It was his first Milan goal since leav- out Raul Jimenez’s header as Wolves asserted their ing the club for Paris Saint-Germain eight years ago. authority before halftime and the Slovak continued to Portuguese forward Leao, 20, had struck the impress. opener just after the break as Milan got their first Wolves huffed and puffed trying to find an opening win in just over a month. AC Milan move up to after the break, often without any success, but when eighth in the Serie A table, 10 points off the they did create chances Dubravka was on hand to save Champions League berths. his side. It was a disappointing performance for Cagliari LEICESTER: Southampton’s English goalkeeper Alex McCarthy (L) saves a shot from Leicester City’s Nigerian As Newcastle hung on, Dubravka did superbly to as the Sardinians unveiled the new jersey to mark keep out a far post header by Pedro Neto. Seven of the striker Kelechi Iheanacho (2nd R) during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Southampton at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England yesterday. —AFP the 100th anniversary of the club this year. Cagliari nine Premier League meetings between the teams have remain sixth after their fourth consecutive defeat. now ended in draws. Wolves moved up one place to Ibrahimovic started up front alongside Leao, seventh with 31 points from 22 games while Newcastle who had described the towering Swede “as a big have 26 points. Vardy ran on to a lobbed pass and fired a cross into mood as they conceded a slew of chances. Everton’s brother” during the week. Cagliari goalkeeper Meanwhile, Southampton stunned Leicester City the penalty area. Theo Walcott had two penalty appeals turned down in Robin Olsen denied Ibrahimovic’s stopped header with a 2-1 win at the King Power Stadium yesterday, as Southampton levelled five minutes later as the opening 20 minutes before Richarlison broke the after half an hour with Milan counterpart Gianluigi a late goal from Danny Ings and a fortunate strike from Armstrong’s curling left-footed shot went in after a deadlock seven minutes before halftime, making a Donnarumma avoided an embarrassing goalkeep- midfielder Stuart Armstrong helped the Saints log a deflection off Maddison. Southampton were given a quick stop and a tight turn in the box before curling in ing blunder before the break. precious away win. second-half penalty when Caglar Soyuncu brought his effort at the far post. With the Italy international off his line, Cagliari’s The in-form Ings, who had missed a slew of chances down Shane Long in the box, but VAR deemed that he Leandro Trossard hit the woodwork for Brighton Uruguayan midfielder Nahitan Nandez hit a lob but earlier in the match, struck the winner - his 14th league was marginally offside in the build-up and also early in the second half while Dominic Calvert-Lewin Donnarumma raced back to clear. After the break goal of the season - in the 81st minute after collecting rescinded the yellow card issued to the Leicester thought he had added a second for Everton but the Leao latched on to a Samuel Castillejo free kick a through pass from substitute Che Adams. defender. video assistant referee (VAR) ruled he handled the ball with his shot taking a deflection over Olsen. The hosts thought that they had levelled the tie at 2- Earlier, Everton striker Richarlison curled a superb when scoring and the goal was disallowed. Ibrahimovic sealed victory for his first goal in the 2 in the 90th minute when Jonny Evans nodded in a first-half shot past Brighton & Hove Albion keeper Mat Brighton brought on experienced striker Glenn Milan jersey since May 2012, and 57th for the club. free kick from James Maddison, but the Video Ryan to earn a 1-0 win in their Premier League clash at Murray but despite some decent chances for the 36- He headed in a second past Olsen with eight min- Assistant Referee (VAR) judged the defender to be in Goodison Park yesterday.