Sport THURSDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2021 Nadal’sNad Grand Slam record bid blown away by Tsitsipas Of course (I’m) sad. I lost a match in quarter-finals of an event that means a lot to me. I tried my best in every single moment... I think I stayed positive all the time during the match, fighting, and it was not enough. Sometimes it’s enough, today was not enough. Rafael Nadal Sport |09 QATAR CUP SEMI-FINALS: At Al Duhail Stadium: Al Sadd vs Al Rayyan (kick off at 4:45pm); Al Duhail vs Al Gharafa (kick off at 7:45pm) Porto stun Juventus as Dortmund win 3-2 REUTERS – PORTO Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after FC Porto’s Moussa Marega scored their second goal yesterday. Goals from Mehdi Taremi and Moussa Marega earned Porto a deserved 2-1 win over Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 clash yesterday, with Federico Chiesa's late strike handing the Italian champions a ROUND OF 16 - FIRST LEG lifeline. Taremi pounced on a sloppy YESTERDAY'S RESULTS back pass after 63 seconds to fire FC Porto beat Juventus 2-1 in the opener that left Juventus Borussia Dortmund beat Sevilla 3-2 rattled as they failed to create any meaningful chances before FC Porto’s Mehdi Taremi celebrates with team-mates halftime. after scoring their first goal. Things got worse for Andrea Pirlo’s side when Marega blasted in Porto’s second 19 seconds into the second half. Juventus eventually mustered a response when Chiesa fired home a precious away goal with eight minutes remaining. The winger's strike ended Porto’s run of five consecutive clean sheets in the competition and leaves the tie wide open ahead of the return leg in Turin on March 9. Elsewhere, Borussia Dort- mund's Erling Haaland continued emphatically, levelling in the 19th in seven Champions League League champion, are playing in his prolific run in the Champions thanks to Mahmoud Damoud's games for Dortmund to increase the Champions League for the first League by scoring twice as his side long-range strike. their lead moments before time since 2018, when they lost to came from behind to earn a 3-2 Norwegian forward Haaland halftime but Sevilla salvaged Bayern Munich in the win at Sevilla. put the German team ahead in the some hope of turning the tie quarter-finals. The Spanish side took the lead 27th, playing a one-two with around in the second leg on Dortmund are playing in the in the seventh minute when mid- Jadon Sancho and showing real March 9 when Dutch striker Luuk round of 16 for the seventh time fielder Suso's shot skidded into the hunger to slide in ahead of Sevilla de Jong volleyed home six in eight seasons, but it last made net off Dortmund's Mats Hummels keeper Bono and score. minutes from time. it to the quarter-finals in 2017, but the visitors responded Haaland netted his 10th goal Sevilla, the reigning Europa when it lost to Monaco. PSG President Nasser Al Khelaifi. AP Players put in a perfect performance, says PSG President Al Khelaifi THE PENINSULA – DOHA PSG President Nasser All KhelaifiKhelaifi onon Tuesday night applauded the tactics ooff the French giants who beateat Barcelona 4-1 at Nou Camp. World Cup star Kyliann Mbappe outplayed Lionelel Messi as PSG produced a memorable show in theireir Champions League Roundd of 16 clash. After Messi put Barcelonana ahead from the penalty spot, Mbappe nettedetted a hat tricktrick on Tuesday night to give PSGSG a 4-1 win in the first leg of their round-of-16-of-16 match. Al Khelaifi was a pleasedsed man after the entertaining clash. “Everyone is happy. Thehe players put in a perfect performance;ce; we really played a good match. I amm very happy,” Al Kheliafi told PSG websiteebsite in anan interview. “The coach and his staffff preparedprepared for this match very well,” he added.added. “We are happy but therethere are 90 minutes to play. It’s not over,”er,” he warned. “We would like to celebratete this eveningevening but there is still another matchmatch andand thethe league where we aren’t in first place. “It is very important to remain calm. I am very proud of the players,ers, we played a perfect match,” the PSG boss said. “We will need to continuentinue at tthehe same level, the same spiritrit together as Paris Saint-Germain’s a team. It’s the most importantportant thing Kylian Mbappe scoring because when we play likee that, we their fourth goal to complete are really strong. We haveave to his hat-trick against keep the same state of mindind Barcelona on Tuesday. now,” Al Khelaifi said. THURSDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2021 SPORT 11 Spanish Arch-rivals Al Sadd, Al Rayyan clubs are cash-burning ready for Qatar Cup semi-final machines:, says Seifert FAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA MANCHESTER We want to win all tournaments this Al Sadd match is a very big REUTERS – Eyeing a clean sweep of titles this season and if we play at the same level challenge for our team and in Qatar The CEO of the German season, in-form Al Sadd will take on as we’ve done in the league, it’ll be Cup matches, it is not always the Bundesliga has hit out at arch-rivals Al Rayyan in the semi- difficult to beat Al Sadd in the 2021 best (team) that wins. Qatar Cup Spain’s big clubs for being final of Qatar Cup at Al Duhail Qatar Cup semi-final. We must show matches are associated with “cash-burning machines” Stadium today. whose interest in a breakaway Al Sadd won the last edition of humility because Al Rayyan have surprises. It does not bother us that European Super League is the Qatar Cup, which is played among developed a lot under coach Laurent Al Sadd are the strongest driven by their own business the top four sides of a QNB Stars Blanc. The match won’t be easy and I candidates for a win, but we’ll failures. League (QSL) season. see it as a final before the actual work to obtain surprise results: Christian Seifert, chief Al Sadd finished third last season final: Xavi Hernandez Laurent Blanc executive of the German behind runners-up Al Rayyan but this Football League (DFL) said the year The Wolves are in such push for a breakaway was awesome form that they can tame Al Sadd players taking part in a training session. coming from Spain and some any opposition with ease. of the continent’s “super clubs” The Xavi Hernandez-coached although he did not name the side is the only unbeaten team in this clubs. QSL season, leading the points table The driver of the with 44 points – 13 points clear of breakaway plan, according to second-placed Al Duhail. A few more several sources, has been Real victories will seal a QSL title for Al Madrid president Florentino Sadd, who are looking to start their Perez, while former Barcelona title-winning spree with the Qatar president Josep Maria Bar- Cup. tomeu said he had signed the “We want to win all tournaments Catalan club up to the Super this season and if we play at the same League when he resigned in level as we’ve done in the league, it’ll October. be difficult to beat Al Sadd in the 2021 “The brutal truth is that a Qatar Cup semi-final,” a confident few of these so called super Xavi said at a pre-match press con- clubs are in fact poorly ference, yesterday. managed cash-burning The Barcelona legend, however, machines that were not able, is aware what Qatar football giants in a decade of incredible Al Rayyan are capable of despite growth, to come close to a being far away from their best this he has full confidence that his somehow sustainable season. players will do their best to cause business model,” Seifert told “We must show humility because an upset. the Financial Times’ Business Al Rayyan have developed a lot under “Qatar Cup matches are always of Football summit. coach Laurent Blanc. The match full of excitement and there’s no room “If I was an investor, I’d won’t be easy and I see it as a final for complacency. Either you win and ask if they are the right before the actual final,” he added. continue the journey, or you lose and partners,” he added, sug- Al Sadd striker Baghdad exit the competition,” said Blanc. gesting that the money Bounedjah - who is enjoying another “Al Sadd match is a very big chal- reportedly on offer to clubs to amazing season scoring 18 goals, said lenge for our team and in Qatar Cup join such a breakaway is The Lions have always been tough matches, it is not always the best unlikely to resolve the club’s opponents for Al Sadd. (team) that wins. Qatar Cup matches financial problems. “Al Rayyan are a strong team, but are associated with surprises. It does “In the end they will burn our goal is to win the 2021 Qatar Cup. not bother us that Al Sadd are the this money, like that they Al Rayyan team includes high-level strongest candidates for a win, but burned in the last few years. players,” he said. we’ll work to obtain surprise results,” They should think about “The Qatar Cup matches always he added. developing a sustainable have surprises as was evident from Al Rayyan player Kom said: “The business model, salary caps,” our game against Al Arabi in the match is difficult and decisive, and he added.