arabnews.com - Buoyant Frankfurt aim for ‘perfection’ against league leaders Bayern

Buoyant Frankfurt aim for ‘perfection’ against league leaders Bayern

BERLIN: Despite their best Bundesliga season in decades, Eintracht Frankfurt know only something close to a perfect performance will help topple league leaders Bayern Munich on Sunday. With 22 of 34 games played this Bundesliga campaign, Frankfurt sit third and are on track for their first top-four finish since the 1992-93 season. Frankfurt’s 2022 Europa League win meant a first-ever Champions League participation. Another crack at the European elite from finishing in the top four this season would be a just reward for Dino Toppmoeller’s impressive side, who have rebounded despite the loss of Omar Marmoush to Manchester City. Up next is a trip to Bayern, who are eight points clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen and on track to win back the Bundesliga title. Frankfurt will be the underdogs on Sunday but have recent form against the German giants. Frankfurt held Bayern to a 3-3 draw in October, making them one of only four teams alongside Leverkusen, Mainz and Borussia Dortmund who have taken points off the league leaders this season. Bayern may have won only one of their past four against Frankfurt, but Eagles captain Kevin Trapp was not getting ahead of himself on Thursday. “We are third and Bayern are 13 points ahead of us, that speaks volumes. Trapp said the visitors “must get close to perfection in order to get a point or better there.” Bayern may be sailing in the league but they come into Sunday’s game after two straight draws and Trapp said the hosts will fight hard “so that a crisis isn’t declared in Munich.” Bayern look set to be without star striker Harry Kane, who was subbed off at half-time in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Celtic. Frankfurt have their own injury woes, with German defender Robin Koch out and

Andreeva downs Rybakina in Dubai to become youngest WTA 1000 finalist

DUBAI: Teenager Mirra Andreeva toppled another seed at the Dubai Championships, upsetting Elena Rybakina on Friday to become the youngest player to reach the final of a WTA 1000 tournament.

Cavaliers crush Knicks in battle of NBA East elite

LOS ANGELES, United States: The Cleveland Cavaliers boosted their NBA-best record with a 142-105 romp past the New York Knicks on Friday, tightening their grip on the Eastern Conference lead with an all-around dominant display. Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points to lead six Cavs players to score in double figures, connecting on five of seven three-pointers as Cleveland drilled 19 from beyond the arc. Cleveland out-scored the Knicks 66-38 in the paint and held a 23-6 edge in fast-break points, pushing their lead to as many as 42 on the way to a sixth straight victory. Evan Mobley added 21 points and Jarrett Allen scored 10 before departing in the third quarter with a right hand injury. Cleveland guard Darius Garland took a hard fall in the first half, striking his head on the court, but stayed in the game. Jalen Brunson scored 16 of his 26 points in the first quarter for the Knicks but was held scoreless in the second period as the Cavs roared to a 77-50 halftime lead. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 23 points for New York, who are in third place in the East but fell to 0-6 this season against the three teams with the league’s best records: Cleveland, Boston and Oklahoma City. “I think the biggest thing was just try to set the tone early,” Mitchell said, adding that the determination to dominate had nothing to do with the Knicks’ first-round playoff win over the Cavs two seasons ago and everything to do with the fact that they could yet meet in this post-season. “For us, it’s about how do we continue to build and get better – we may see them in the playoffs,” Mitchell said.

Rublev in third Qatar Open final, faces Draper for title

DOHA: Russia’s Andrey Rublev reached his third Qatar Open final on Friday after a “super tough” three-set triumph over Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada.

Champions Spain fight back in Women’s Nations League opener, England held

PARIS: Spain kicked off their Women’s Nations League title defense by fighting back to snatch a thrilling 3-2 win over Belgium on Friday while European champions England were held to a 1-1 draw in Portugal.

RB Kingmaker claims Al-Mneefah Cup crown in thrilling finish at Saudi Cup meet

RIYADH: RB Kingmaker showcased his class and determination as he claimed victory in the $1.5 million Al-Mneefah Cup, presented by the Ministry of Culture, at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Friday, the opening day of Saudi Cup weekend.

Leicester hit historic low in Brentford rout

LEICESTER, United Kingdom: Leicester’s bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League hit a historic low as Brentford cruised to a 4-0 win at the King Power Stadium on Friday. Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side would have moved out of the relegation zone with a victory, but instead they remain two points from safety. Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbeumo and Christian Norgaard all scored for Brentford in a wretched first half for second-bottom Leicester. Fabio Carvalho netted in the closing stages and the Foxes were booed off after a 10th defeat in their last 11 league games that added to the pressure on the under-fire Van Nistelrooy. Underlining the depth of their struggles, Leicester made unwanted history as the first team in the Premier League era to lose six successive home games without scoring in any of them. With just 12 games left to avoid a relegation, Leicester are in severe danger of an immediate return to the Championship. Enzo Maresca quit to take charge of Chelsea after masterminding Leicester’s promotion last season and the club’s Thai owners have failed to find an adequate replacement for the Italian. Steve Cooper was sacked after just five months in charge and former Manchester United striker Van Nistelrooy has fared no better. Leicester have won just four of their 26 league games this season, with Van Nistelrooy contributing only two of those victories in 15 matches. Van Nistelrooy was waiting to officially take charge of Leicester when they were thrashed at Brentford while he watched from the stands in November. If he could be forgiven for the result on that occasion, there were no excuses for the Dutchman this time. Jamie Vardy needs two goals to reach 200 in all competitions for Leicester and the veteran striker

Rickelton hits century as South Africa rout Afghanistan in Champions Trophy

KARACHI: Opener Ryan Rickelton struck a maiden one-day international hundred as South Africa routed Afghanistan by 107 runs in the Champions Trophy in Karachi on Friday. Rickelton cracked a 106-ball 103 with seven boundaries and a six to anchor South Africa’s imposing total of 315-6 in the Group B match at the National Stadium. South Africa’s pace attack of Kagiso Rabada (3-36), Wiaan Mulder (2-36) and Lungi Ngidi (2-56) then dismissed highly-fancied Afghanistan for just 208 in 43.3 overs. South Africa blunted the threat of Afghanistan’s slow bowlers with star leg-spinner Rashid Khan going wicketless for 59 runs in his 10 overs. Rahmat Shah top-scored for Afghanistan with a fighting 92-ball 90 with nine boundaries and a six before he was the last man out. Chasing a formidable target, Afghanistan desperately needed a fast start but lost flamboyant openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 10 and Ibrahim Zadran for only 17 by the 10th over. Sediqullah Atal fell for 16 while skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi went without scoring as Afghanistan were left teetering at 50-4. Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai (18) took the score to 89 before Rabada and Marco Jansen, who got rid of Mohammad Nabi, struck to effectively end Afghanistan’s hopes. Rashid Khan briefly entertained the crowd with a quickfire 13-ball 18 including a six and three boundaries. Earlier, Rickelton was ably assisted by skipper Temba Bavuma (58), Rassie van der Dussen (52) and Aiden Markram (52 not out) to steer South Africa to a solid total after they won the toss and batted. Nabi, who finished with 2-51, provided an early breakthrough with his first ball by dismissing opener Tony de Zorzi, caught at mid-on for 11. Rickelton and Bavuma then added 129 for the second wicket as

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Buoyant Frankfurt aim for ‘perfection’ against league leaders Bayern

Andreeva downs Rybakina in Dubai to become youngest WTA 1000 finalist

Cavaliers crush Knicks in battle of NBA East elite

Rublev in third Qatar Open final, faces Draper for title

Champions Spain fight back in Women’s Nations League opener, England held

RB Kingmaker claims Al-Mneefah Cup crown in thrilling finish at Saudi Cup meet

Leicester hit historic low in Brentford rout

Rickelton hits century as South Africa rout Afghanistan in Champions Trophy