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The full implications of the India's refusal to play Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan were laid bare on Sunday as Australia and South Africa waited to find out whether they will play their semi-finals in Lahore or Dubai this week.
BARCELONA: Real Madrid stumbled in the three-way race for the Spanish league title as Isco Alarcón guided Real Betis to a 2-1 comeback win over the defending champion on Saturday. The former Madrid player delivered a corner kick that was headed in by fellow midfielder Johnny Cardoso in the 34th minute, canceling out Brahim Díaz’s opener for Madrid. Isco then put Betis ahead from the penalty spot in the 54th after he passed to Jesús Rodríguez and Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger knocked the Betis forward down in the area. Madrid’s loss left them level on points with Barcelona, which host Real Sociedad on Sunday. Atletico Madrid are one point behind before they play fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao later on Saturday. Kylian Mbappé was back starting for Madrid after missing one game because of a dental problem.
MANCHESTER: Manchester City survived a scare to beat giant killers Plymouth 3-1 and progress to the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, after Crystal Palace striker Jean Philippe-Mateta was hospitalized in the Eagles’ 3-1 win over Millwall. Plymouth had shocked Premier League leaders Liverpool in the previous round and were on course for another stunning upset at the Etihad when Maksym Talovierov headed them in front on 38 minutes. Argyle boss Miron Muslic said it would be the “biggest honor” of his life to go head-to-head with Pep Guardiola. With FA Cup glory City’s only realistic hope of silverware this season, Guardiola surprisingly rotated his side with Erling Haaland among those left on the bench. However, it was one of City’s youngsters who took his chance to shine as Nico O’Reilly turned the tie around. Muslic will be furious at the manner of both the 19-year-old’s goals as he twice headed in from set-pieces under little pressure. O’Reilly’s equalizer just before half-time calmed City’s nerves before he powered in Phil Foden’s corner 14 minutes from time. By that point Guardiola had summoned Haaland off the bench and he teed up the third for Kevin De Bruyne in stoppage time. “Big compliments to Plymouth for making our job so difficult.
BERLIN: Bayer Leverkusen cut Bayern Munich’s lead in the Bundesliga back to eight points ahead of the sides’ Champions League last 16 clash, with a 4-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. Bayern’s comeback win over Stuttgart on Friday had sent them 11 points clear of champions Leverkusen. Wanting to keep their slim hopes of defending the Bundesliga title alive, Leverkusen did not blink against third-placed Frankfurt, scoring three goals in a seven-minute blitz to grab hold of the game. Nathan Tella latched onto a defense-splitting Granit Xhaka pass and slotted home after 26 minutes. Nordi Mukiele scored Leverkusen’s second three minutes later, prodding a loose ball into the goal through a crowded penalty area. Patrik Schick scored four minutes later, sliding in an Alex Grimaldo pass, his 16th goal in his past 14 games. Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike took advantage of a poor pass from Mukiele to score in the 37th minute. Despite the hosts starting the second half brightly, a cracking long-range effort from Aleix Garcia with 63 minutes gone sealed a crucial win for Xabi Alonso’s side, who go to Bayern in Europe on Wednesday. “It’s easy to talk, but to show it on the pitch is harder. We want to show once more that we can take the fight to Bayern,” Alonso told DAZN. Xhaka felt it was the perfect preparation for the all-German showdown. “We’re strong enough to aggravate Bayern next week.
BELFAST: Soccer’s rule makers are taking another crack at reducing timewasting by goalkeepers who hold the ball for too long. The International Football Association Board approved a rule change Saturday whereby the opposing team will be awarded a corner kick if a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than eight seconds. The new rule will first be used at the Club World Cup in June and then in domestic and international competitions from next season.
Shafali Verma smacked 80 not out as Delhi Capitals handed a fourth consecutive defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru with a commanding nine-wicket win in their Women's Premier League contest here on Saturday. After Ellyse Perry's fourth fifty (60 not out) of the season took the defending champions to a competitive 147/5, DC batters Shafali (80 not out) and Jess Jonassen (61 not out) brushed aside the challenge without much ado.
New Zealand off-spinner Michael Bracewell on Friday brushed aside any talks about India getting an unfair advantage in the ongoing Champions Trophy by playing all their games in Dubai, simply saying that his team was "excited to try and play in different conditions". Rohit Sharma's team is playing all its matches in Dubai, and even the final will be held here if India goes the distance. New Zealand will be playing their first match of the tournament here -- against India on Sunday -- after their last two games were held in Pakistan. Some cricketers, including South African top-order batter Rassie van der Dussen and former Australia skipper Pat Cummins, have said India are in an advantageous position as they have played all their games at one venue while other teams have had to travel to different venues in Pakistan.
Former India cricketer Madan Lal believes the poor drainage system that was on exhibition during the Champions Trophy match between Afghanistan and Australia at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium is a "bad advertisement" for Pakistan. The underwhelming drainage system of Gaddafi Stadium was on exhibition during the second innings of Afghanistan's and Australia's Group B encounter on Friday. During the Group B encounter between Afghanistan and Australia in the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday, rain intervened in the on-field action after 12.5 overs. After the rain had halted, there were plenty of water puddles all over the ground.