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Mbappé and Bellingham score in tense clasico as Madrid wins 2-1 to end losing run against Barcelona

MADRID: Real Madrid finally ended its recent struggles against Barcelona in a tense clasico which saw players confronting each other after the final whistle. Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham scored as Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 in the first clasico of the season on Sunday, halting a four-game losing streak against the Catalan rival. The victory increased Madrid’s league lead over Barcelona to five points after 10 rounds. There was a scuffle between the bench players from both teams after Barcelona’s Pedri was sent off just before the final whistle. The altercation continued after the game ended, with Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior and Barcelona star forward Lamine Yamal — who was successfully contained by Madrid defenders during the match — among those involved. “It was the moment and the tension from both teams,” Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said.

Norris claims ‘beautiful’ Mexico win, replaces Piastri as championship leader

MEXICO CITY: Lando Norris regained the lead in the drivers’ world championship for the first time in six months on Sunday when he steered his McLaren to a commanding victory in a breathless Mexico Grand Prix. Driving with great authority, the 25-year-old Briton came home 30.324 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, with four-time champion Max Verstappen third for Red Bull. For Norris, it was a first win in Mexico, his sixth this season and the 10th of his career — achieved with a near-perfect race from pole position to lift him back to the top of the drivers’ title race by one point for the first time since the Saudi Arabian race in April. With four races remaining, Norris has 357 points, ahead of Piastri on 356 and Verstappen, who is third on 321. “A beautiful win to celebrate here in this stadium in Mexico,” said Norris. “It’s one weekend at a time for me. I am happy and I am focused on myself.

Munich voters approve plan to bid for Summer Olympics

MUNICH, Germany: A two-thirds majority in the German city of Munich voted in favor of a bid to host the Summer Olympics in 2036, 2040 or 2044 in a referendum on Sunday. Final results showed 66.4 percent of voters in the Bavarian capital voted in favor of the proposal. “Munich clearly voted yes,” city mayor Dieter Reiter said in a statement on Sunday. Joerg Ammon, the pesident of the Bavarian State Sports Association (BLSV), celebrated the “dream result.” With 42 percent of Munich’s 1.1 million eligible voters taking part, the turnout was the highest for a referendum in the city’s history. The previous participation record was 37.5 percent, recorded in 2001 for a vote on building the Allianz Arena, home to German football champions Bayern Munich and host of the 2012 and 2025 Champions League finals.

Morocco’s Under-20 World Cup winners welcomed home by large crowds

RABAT: The Moroccan team were greeted by thousands of fans in Rabat on Wednesday for a parade to celebrate their historic victory in the Under-20 World Cup last week. Morocco became the first Arab country to win the tournament with a 2-0 triumph over favorites Argentina in Sunday’s final in Chilean capital Santiago. Before the parade, Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan presided over a ceremony in honor of the team at the royal palace. The players were then driven through the streets of Rabat on an open-top bus, to the delight of jubilant supporters and to the sound of vuvuzelas. “It’s a great achievement, they filled us with joy and waved our country’s flag high,” Youssef, a 34-year-old salesman, told AFP. Yassir Zabiri, who plays for Famalicao in Portugal, scored twice in the final to end the tournament as the joint top-scorer with five goals. “The future of our football is in good hands.

Lennart Karl, 17, scores a record-breaking goal in his first Champions League start for Bayern

MUNICH: Seventeen-year-old Lennart Karl was handed his first Champions League start and made the most of it. Within five minutes of kickoff against Club Brugge on Wednesday, Karl became Bayern’s youngest Champions League goalscorer in style, breaking a record set by Jamal Musiala. Karl picked up a pass in midfield from Jonathan Tah, dodged past defender Brandon Mechele and surged to the edge of the Brugge box before hitting a swerving left-foot shot which went in over goalkeeper Nordin Jackers. Karl sprinted to the corner to celebrate with a knee slide before Bayern striker Harry Kane and midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic rushed over to hug their young teammate. At 17 years, 242 days old, Karl breaks a record set by Musiala, who was 121 days older when he scored against Lazio in a round-of-16 game four years ago, UEFA said. Karl wears the same shirt number, 42, that Musiala wore in that game. It’s Karl’s first senior club goal in his 10th Bayern appearance in all competitions. He made his debut at the Club World Cup in a 10-0 thrashing of Auckland City in June.

PSV coach says Sergiño Dest failed to start in Champions League game after turning up late

EINDHOVEN: American international Sergiño Dest failed to start in PSV Eindhoven’s stunning win against Napoli on Tuesday because he turned up late for the Champions League match, his coach Peter Bosz said. Bosz said in an interview with broadcaster Ziggo Sport that Dest had to face the consequences for breaching team rules. “Sergino was late today, so he won’t be playing,” said Bosz, in quotes reported by Dutch outlet nu. “This isn’t a difficult decision. We made agreements three years ago.

Dyche demands substance over style to get Forest going

LONDON: Sean Dyche said Nottingham Forest have to get back to basics if he is to turn around a disastrous start to the season that has already seen Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou sacked. Dyche will take charge for the first time against Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, returning to the City Ground where he began his playing career nearly 40 years ago. The former Burnley and Everton boss’ direct playing style has been criticized in the past for lacking flair. But those tactics are now in vogue in the Premier League with long throw-ins and long punts down the field from kick-off becoming commonplace this season. “I have seen enough fashionistas come in and out of this division,” said Dyche on Wednesday. “You’ve got to win the games, it’s as simple as that. “Long ball, short ball? You’ve just got to play effective football.

Thunder open title defense by winning 2-OT thriller against the Rockets

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points, including two from the free-throw line with 2.3 seconds remaining in double overtime, lifting the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 125-124 home win over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday in the season opener. Before the game, Oklahoma City’s championship banner was raised into the rafters and the players were presented with their championship rings for last year’s title run. Then the Thunder and Rockets locked into a wild back-and-forth game, largely featuring Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren coming up with big plays for Oklahoma City as Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant did the same for Houston. In the end, it was Gilgeous-Alexander coming up with the final big moment. After Sengun put the Rockets ahead by one with a driving finger roll off a feed from Durant with 11 seconds left, Gilgeous-Alexander drove to the basket and drew a foul on Durant. The foul was Durant’s sixth, ending his Rockets debut. Gilgeous-Alexander, who had missed four of his 12 earlier free throws, hit both of his foul shots to put Oklahoma City ahead. Jabari Smith Jr.’s turnaround shot at the buzzer missed the mark to give the Thunder the win. Holmgren, who fouled out in the first overtime, finished with 28 points and seven rebounds. Sengun, who sank a career-high five 3-pointers, finished with 39 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.

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La Liga Sport News

Mbappé and Bellingham score in tense clasico as Madrid wins 2-1 to end losing run against Barcelona

Norris claims ‘beautiful’ Mexico win, replaces Piastri as championship leader

Munich voters approve plan to bid for Summer Olympics

Morocco’s Under-20 World Cup winners welcomed home by large crowds

Lennart Karl, 17, scores a record-breaking goal in his first Champions League start for Bayern

PSV coach says Sergiño Dest failed to start in Champions League game after turning up late

Dyche demands substance over style to get Forest going

Thunder open title defense by winning 2-OT thriller against the Rockets