Kenya’s Edwin Kiptoo wins Athens Marathon in a course record of 2:10:34
ATHENS: Kenya’s Edwin Kiptoo has won the 40th Athens Marathon in a course-record time of 2 hours, 10 minutes and 34 seconds.
La Liga Sport News
Lewandowski double rescues Barca, Atletico beat Villarreal
BARCELONA: Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski ended his barren goalscoring spell with a brace to rescue the Spanish champions a 2-1 win over visiting Alaves in La Liga on Sunday.
Vinicius and Rodrygo 'back to their best' after leading Real Madrid rout of Valencia
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo are "back to their best" after the Brazilian duo starred in Saturday's 5-1 La Liga win over Valencia.
AC Milan again let slip a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at Lecce, Juventus beat Cagliari to go top
MILAN: AC Milan let slip a two-goal lead for the second time in three league matches and also lost key player Rafael Leão to injury in a drama-filled 2-2 draw at Lecce in Serie A on Saturday. Milan appeared to be heading for their first league win in more than a month following goals from Olivier Giroud and Tijjani Reijnders but Lecce drew level in the second half with two goals in four minutes from Nicola Sansone and Lameck Banda. Lecce had what would have been a stoppage-time winner ruled out by the video assistant referee, moments after Milan forward Giroud was sent off. Milan remained third but will be overtaken by Napoli if the defending champion beat Empoli on Sunday. Juventus moved a point clear at the top of Serie A with a 2-1 win over Cagliari.
Arteta avoids fresh VAR row as Arsenal cruise despite red card
LONDON: Mikel Arteta side-stepped a fresh VAR row after 10-man Arsenal ignored Fabio Vieira’s red card to beat Burnley 3-1 on Saturday. Arsenal midfielder Vieira was sent off in the closing stages at the Emirates Stadium for a high challenge on Josh Brownhill. It was the kind of flashpoint that could have provoked another angry reaction from Arteta. The Gunners boss is waiting to discover if he will face a Football Association charge after he criticized the officials following last weekend’s controversial 1-0 loss at Newcastle. Arteta was asked to provide his observations to the FA having labelled Anthony Gordon’s goal “embarrassing” and a “disgrace” after VAR gave it despite a clear foul by Newcastle’s Joelinton. But the Spaniard opted against any more rants, largely because the Vieira decision was hard to argue with and Arsenal took the win anyway to move level on points with leaders Manchester City. “With the red card... yes, VAR was right, he said. “The referee was right.
Kane scores brace as Bayern go top, Dortmund lose at Stuttgart
BERLIN: Harry Kane scored two first-half goals as Bayern Munich beat promoted Heidenheim 4-2 on Saturday, sending the Bavarians to the top of the table. Heidenheim replied with two goals in three second-half minutes to equalize and Bayern needed late goals from Raphael Guerreiro and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to secure victory. Bayern finish Saturday atop the table but Bayer Leverkusen — who have won 15 and drawn one of their 16 matches in all competitions this season — can return to the top with a win on Sunday over Union Berlin. “It was a changing match,” said Thomas Mueller.
Girona wins again to keep Spanish league lead after 2-1 comeback at Rayo
BARCELONA, Spain: Girona fought back for a 2-1 victory at Rayo Vallecano to ensure it kept its surprising lead of the Spanish league on Saturday.Rayo went ahead from Álvaro García’s goal in the sixth minute. But Ukraine striker Artem Dovbyk equalized three minutes before halftime when he was set up by countryman Viktor Tsyhankov for his team-high seventh goal of the season.Brazilian winger Sávio put the visitors ahead in the 65th when he finished off a Dovbyk shot that was blocked by goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.Girona opened up a five-point gap over Real Madrid, which hosts Valencia later Saturday.Girona, which two seasons ago was in the second division, is partly controlled by Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi ownership even though it has one of the lowest payrolls in the league of just 51 million euros ($54 million).The numbers are impressive for the Catalonia team that is in only its fourth season in the top flight in club history.
Lindelof rides to Man Utd’s rescue to beat Luton
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Victor Lindelof was Manchester United’s unlikely hero as they moved into the Premier League’s top six with a 1-0 win over Luton on Saturday. The Swedish defender scored his first goal for nearly three years by smashing in from close range after Luton failed to clear a corner. United boss Erik ten Hag desperately needed a response after his side slumped to a ninth defeat in 17 games this season by losing 4-3 to FC Copenhagen on Wednesday. The English giants may be at risk of an early exit from the Champions League, but they have now won four of their last five in the Premier League. All of those victories have been by a single goal and the manner of victory was again far from convincing for United in the Hatters’ first trip to Old Trafford since 1991. Rasmus Hojlund scored twice on his return to Denmark in midweek to take his tally to five goals in four Champions League games. However, Hojlund is still yet to net in the Premier League. The £64 million ($78 million) signing missed two big chances to break his duck. Hojlund’s best piece of play then teed up Alejandro Garnacho, who failed to beat Thomas Kaminski when clean through on goal. United had to wait until just before the hour mark to make the breakthrough. Marcus Rashford’s low cross was deflected back into the path of Lindelof, who made no mistake from 10 yards out. Rashford was among those guilty of wasting opportunities to add to United’s lead. But United were rarely troubled defensively as they registered a first Premier League clean sheet at Old Trafford since the opening weekend of the season. Victory takes United within six points of league leaders Manchester City. Luton remain outside the relegation zone only on goal difference.