CCRICKETRICKET | Page 4 IICECE HHOCKEYOCKEY | Page 5 India win Gaborik scores ninth Test his 400th NHL series in a row goal in Kings’ aft er SL draw win over Wild Thursday, December 7, 2017 TENNIS Rabia I 19, 1439 AH Serena ‘very likely’ GULF TIMES to make comeback at Australian Open SPORT Page 6 QNB STARS LEAGUE Sailiya hope to halt losing run against leaders Duhail ‘I’m not upset about the loss of the two points because I can only see the good performance of the team’ By Sports Reporter Doha l Sailiya should be going all out against leaders Al Duhail as they badly need to make a turnaround in their fortunes, Ahaving lost the last two games in the QNB Stars League. The two teams face each other in an early kick-off at 4pm at Al Ahli Stadium today. It’s going to be a tactical battle be- tween Tunisian coach Sami Trabelsi, who has been at the helm of The Per- egrines for long, and Algerian Djamel Belmadi. Trabelsi has at his disposal the likes of Temurkhuja Abdukholiqov, Wagner Ribeiro, Valentin Lazar and Nadir Bel- hadj. Belmadi, whose team tops the stand- ings with 28 points, has said they were taking the Sailiya challenge seriously and keen on extending their winning run as the fi rst phase of the competition ends this week. Al Duhail manager Djamel Belmadi (right) addresses a pre-match press conference ahead of their QNB Stars League match Al Duhail’s aces are captain Youssef against Al Sailiya. (Below) Sailiya’s Tunisian coach Sami Trabelsi (centre). Msakni, top scorer Youssef El Arabi and playmaker Nam Tae-Hee. Al Sailiya have 18 points so far. The match will be followed by the clash between Al Ahli, who have 11 points, and Al Rayyan at the venue at 6:10pm. Al Rayyan, who have 25 points to their name, had to play out a 1-1 draw with Umm Salal. Their woes were com- pounded when star striker Abduraz- zaq Hamdallah limped out early in the match with a pulled thigh muscle. He has been ruled out against Al Ahli. The Moroccan joined the injury list, which already had Ahmed al-Saadi, Sultan al-Kuwari and Ziad Ali. Never- Al Sadd beat Al Khor in their last QNB Stars League match and take on Al theless, they have players such as Ro- Al Rayyan coach Michael Laudrup. In the other late kick-off , Al Kharaiti- points. Kharaitiyat today at Al Khor Stadium. drigo Tabata and Sebastian Soria to do Al Ahli would look to keep winning yat play Al Sadd at Al Khor Stadium. Moroccan striker Rachid Tiberka- the trick. after their upset victory over Al Sailiya Al Kharaitiyat would like to bounce nine leads the charge of Egyptian coach while pursuing the title. (Miguel), we lost (Baghdad) Bounedjah. “I’m not upset about the loss of the in the last round. back from their shock loss to Qatar SC, Ahmad al-Ajlani’s side. “My goal now is to take the team back I’m not able to play (Boualem) Khoukhi two points because I can only see the Finally, The Brigadiers have all their who were lying at the bottom, but have Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira to the level where we were during last in his position because of these absenc- good performance of the team. The sea- professionals playing together after a a herculean task at hand as they run sounded pleased with their victory season. The absence of some players af- es. I am confi dent that the team will be son is still long. The loss of two points long spell of injuries and international into 13-time league champions Al Sadd, over Al Khor and the Portuguese would fected our performance a lot in the last able to return to its true level when we in the top race doesn’t bother me,” said commitments. who occupy the third position with 24 be hoping they no longer drop points few games. When we got back Pedro play with a full team,” he said. SPOTLIGHT Qatari clubs face tough competition in Champions League Agencies Chinese FA Cup winners Shanghai The group stage runs from February Kuala Lumpur Shenhua face a tough test after being to April with the West and East Asian drawn against top Japanese club Kashi- teams kept apart until the fi nal in No- ma Antlers and Australian A-League vember. atar champions Al Duhail leaders Sydney FC. will have UAE’s Al Wahda The Chinese side unexpectedly beat GROUPS and Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv expensively assembled rivals Shang- Group A: Al Jazira (UAE), Al Ahli (KSA), Tashkent besides a play-off hai SIPG in last month’s FA Cup fi nal, Tractorsazi Tabriz (IRI), Winner of Qwinner for company in the group stages without Argentine forward Carlos Playoff 3 of the AFC Champions League after the Tevez whose future in China is in doubt Group B: Al Duhail SC (QAT), Al Wahda draw was held in the Malaysian capital after a poor run of form. (UAE), PFC Lokomotiv (UZB), Winner of of Kuala Lumpur yesterday. But they have a fi ght on their hands Playoff 2 Djamel Belmadi’s team, along with Al in the group stage of Asia’s premier club Group C: Persepolis FC (IRI), Al Sadd SC Sadd and Al Rayyan have direct spots competition against Antlers, fi nalists (QAT), Al Wasl (UAE), Winner of Playoff into the group stages while Al Gharafa in the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup and 4 will have to face Uzbekistan’s Pakhta- Sydney. Group D: Al Hilal SFC (KSA), Esteghlal kor for a spot in Group A. Two-time winners and Chinese Su- FC (IRI), Al Rayyan SC (QAT), Winner of If Gharafa does go through, they have per League champions Guangzhou Ev- Playoff 1 UAE’s Al Jazira, Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli ergrande will face South Korea’s Jeju Group E: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC and Iran’s Tractorsazi Tabriz for com- United, Thailand’s Buriram United and (KOR), Kitchee SC (HKG), Winner of Play- pany in Group A. the winner of Japan’s Emperor’s Cup, off 4, Winner of Play-off 2 Al Rayyan is expected to have a tough following the draw in the Malaysian Group F: Kawasaki Frontale (JPN), task at their hands, having been drawn capital Kuala Lumpur. Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR), Melbourne with Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, Iran Es- 2017 AFC Champions League win- Victory (AUS), Winner of Playoff 3 teghlal and the playoff winner between ners Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan are Group G: Guangzhou Evergrande FC Al Ain of the UAE and Bahrain’s Mal- not competing after failing to qualify. (CHN), Japan 2nd Club, Jeju United FC kiya. Meanwhile 2016 champions Jeonbuk (KOR), Buriram United (THA) Al Sadd are in Group C where they Hyundai Motors of South Korea are set Group H: Sydney FC (AUS), Shanghai take on Iran’s Persepolis, UAE’s Al Wasl to return to the tournament after being Shenhua FC (CHN), Kashima Antlers Al Rayyan will have a tough task at their hands, having been drawn with Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal and Iran Esteghlal in Group D and a team from playoff s. barred last year due to a bribery scandal. (JPN), Winner of Playoff 1 for the AFC Champions League. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, December 7, 2017 FOOTBALL PREMIER LEAGUE FOCUS Europa Guardiola vs Mourinho League knockout places up – this time it’s for real for grabs AFP Ahead of Sunday’s game, Man City are eight points clear of Man United at the head of the table Paris AFP Manchester, United Kingdom here will be some jan- gling nerves as the Eu- ropa League group stage fter the phony war of their concludes today — but fi rst season in Manchester, the Tnot many, with the likes of Ar- rivalry between Jose Mour- senal, AC Milan and Lyon al- inho and Pep Guardiola will ready through. Of the 48 teams Aresume for real in Sunday’s seismic der- in the 12 groups, 16 have already by showdown at Old Traff ord. The two ensured qualifi cation and 15 are managers renewed acquaintances at the eliminated. beginning of last season after Mourinho That leaves 17 clubs scrapping took the reins at Manchester United and for the remaining eight spots in Guardiola set up shop across town at the round of 32 draw on Decem- Manchester City. ber 11. For some of those quali- Guardiola claimed fi rst blood, lead- fi ed, fi rst place, and a seeding ing City to a 2-1 win at Old Traff ord in that ensures they avoid one of September 2016, but both teams fell by the eight teams dropping down the wayside thereafter, fi nishing the from the Champions League, are campaign well adrift of Premier League still in play but that might not be champions Chelsea. Fifteen games into enough incentive to put out their the new season, City are eight points strongest teams for a December clear of United at the head of the table midweek game. and Sunday’s game is being billed as The stars are even less likely to Mourinho’s big chance to stick a spoke come out for the big clubs who in Guardiola’s wheels. have already won their groups. “We have a big week, with Swansea For Lazio’s trip to Belgium, man- and Tottenham following the United ager Simone Inzaghi could make game,” says City midfi elder Kevin De 10, or even 11, changes, from the Bruyne.