Tinggalkan Al Nassr, Aymeric Laporte Resmi Pulang ke Bilbao
Aymeric Laporte kembali berseragam Athletic Bilbao pada musim ini. Transfernya dari Al Nassr yang sempat tertunda kini sudah mendapat persetujuan dari FIFA.
Saudi Arabia Sport News
Promoted Hamburg brace for tough return to Bayern Munich
MUNICH: Once a Bundesliga highlight, Bayern Munich’s first home game against promoted Hamburg SV in seven years lacks the top billing of the past but still holds promise for lots of goals — at least for the home side. Long before the six-time German champions were relegated to the second division for the first time in their history in 2018, Hamburg had become Bayern’s punching bag in Munich, conceding a total of 50 goals in their last eight trips to Allianz Arena. The wave of exhilaration that accompanied Hamburg’s return to the top division has subsided after two Bundesliga games, with the former European champions drawing one and losing the other. They have yet to score or create a single scoring chance in either of the two matches so far, according to Bundesliga statistics. Losing the Hamburg derby to visitors St. Pauli just before the international break dampened spirits further but despite their rough return to the Bundesliga, coach Merlin Polzin said his team were looking forward to Saturday. “We’re incredibly excited about this match,” he added.
Veteran Mexico goalkeeper Ochoa joins Cyprus’ Limassol
MEXICO CITY: Veteran Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa on Thursday signed for Cypriot club AEL Limassol in a bid to prove his fitness to go to a sixth World Cup next year. The 40-year-old played for AVS in the Portuguese topflight last season, helping the club avoid relegation.
FIFA U-turn allows Athletic Bilbao to sign Laporte
BILBAO: Athletic Bilbao will sign Aymeric Laporte after world football governing body FIFA changed their stance on Thursday. The Basque side tried to bring in the Spanish defender from Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr on Sept. 1 but the move was not completed before the transfer deadline. FIFA last week rejected a request from the Spanish football federation (RFEF) to make an exception for Laporte’s move, but Athletic said the RFEF request has now been granted after they sought to overturn the decision.
Defending Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon take perfect records into 4th round
PARIS: Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon are the only sides to have won all their games heading into the fourth round of matches in Ligue 1. Not many observers would have expected Lyon to start this well, having avoided relegation to the second tier for financial irregularities after a successful appeal and being obliged to sell key players to balance the books. Veteran striker Olivier Giroud’s Lille side is the only other unbeaten side so far.
Al-Ittihad sign Serbian defender Jan-Carlo Simic on 4-year deal
JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad has confirmed the signing of Serbian defender Jan-Carlo Simic from Belgian side Anderlecht on a four-year contract.
India routs UAE for 57 to notch 9-wicket win in Asia Cup
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav and seamer Shivam Dube helped limit the United Arab Emirates to 57 runs as India swept to a nine-wicket win in the Asia Cup on Wednesday. Kuldeep baffled batters with his sharp googlies and bagged 4-7 while Dube claimed 3-4 to dismiss UAE in 13.1 overs — the lowest-ever T20 total against India. In the Group A game, India cruised to 60-1 in just 4.3 overs with opening batter Abhishek Sharma (30) showing flashes of his skillful power-hitting and Shubman Gill scoring an unbeaten 20. UAE folds without a fight UAE batters had no answer for India’s relentless bowling attack despite Jasprit Bumrah showing signs of rustiness in his first T20 game since the World Cup last year. Captain Suryakumar Yadav believed his team was “flexible” when India won the toss and the skipper chose to field. India had lost the toss in 15 consecutive games. Alishan Sharafu (22) and captain Muhammad Waseem (19) gave UAE a reasonable start of 41-2 in the powerplay before the batters crumbled against Kuldeep’s sharp spin and Dube warmed up for more tougher games ahead in the tournament with a three-wicket haul. Bumrah nailed Sharafu will his trademark smearing yorker in the second over and Mohammad Zohaib sliced a catch to backward point when he tried to play Varun Chakravarthy inside out. Kuldeep’s three-wicket over, that included a plumb leg before wicket dismissal of Waseem, rattled UAE middle-order before Dube claimed three wickets in his two overs and UAE folded with more than six overs to spare. India called back No.
Saudi-sponsored Crawford-Canelo fight boosts boxing’s popularity
LAS VEGAS: Global enthusiasm for championship boxing is set to rise, thanks to the upcoming contest between super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and lightweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford.