LONDON: Chelsea, Lyon and Roma all stayed perfect in the Women’s Champions League by cruising to away victories on Thursday.

Roma routed Galatasaray at Istanbul 6-1, Chelsea beat Twente in the Netherlands 3-1 and eight-time champion Lyon won 2-0 at Wolfsburg.

Real Madrid claimed their first victory of the campaign by easing past Celtic 4-0.

Roma and Lyon both have six points in Group A. Two-time champions Wolfsburg and Galatasaray, the first Turkish team to reach the group stage, have no points.

In Group B, Chelsea lead with six points, with Madrid and Twente on three and Celtic last bottom without a point.

Renard strikes on Popp’s day

Wolfsburg striker Alexandra Popp made her 100th competition appearance — becoming only the second player to reach the mark but it was Lyon defender Wendie Renard, the only one who has played more, who stole the show.

Renard’s header found the back of the net early on in her 118th game in the competition.

US international Lindsey Horan netted from the penalty spot in the second half.

Lyon are the competition’s record eight-time champion but last won the trophy in 2022. It was runner-up last season to Barcelona.

Roma rout

In a matchup between the Italian and Turkish champions, Roma dominated in Istanbul.

Summer signing Hawa Cissoko scored in the seventh minute to mark her debut game in the competition. The France defender who transferred from West Ham headed home off Manuela Giugliano’s corner.

Valentina Giacinti made it 2-0 in the 24th minute when she was left unmarked near the spot to head in Verena Hanshaw’s cross.

Giugliano failed to convert from the spot in the first-half stoppage time but Emilie Haavi got Roma’s third with a right-footed blast past goalkeeper Gamze Yaman early in the second.

Giugliano finally found the back of the net from close range for a 4-0 lead before Andrea Staskova scored the consolation goal for the hosts. Roma substitutes Marta Pandini and Alice Corelli also scored.

Blues win again under Bompastor

Chelsea struck early in another winning performance under new coach Sonia Bompastor, who joined from Lyon.

Agnes Beever-Jones put the Blues ahead with a long-distance deflected strike in the seventh minute and Maika Hamano made it 2-0 a short time later by lifting the ball over goalkeeper Olivia Clark from outside the area.

Substitute Guro Reiten added the third in the second from the spot just past the hour mark.

On Saturday, Chelsea beat city rival Arsenal 2-1 in the Women’s Super League.

Real Madrid bounce back

Real Madrid scored three second-half goals in 11 minutes against Celtic in Group B.

The Spanish team had lost to Chelsea 3-2 in the first round and drew with Atlético 1-1 in the Madrid derby over the weekend.

Caroline Weir fired a long-range left-footer from outside the box into the far top corner in the seventh minute.

The visitors kept if close until the 72nd minute, when Signe Bruun headed home the second goal followed eight minutes later by Caroline Moller’s lob of goalkeeper Kelsey Daugherty for a 3-0 lead. Linda Caicedo then converted from the penalty spot.

It’s back-to-back losses for Scottish club Celtic, making their debut in the group stage. They have yet to score.
 

RIYADH: World No. 1 Jannik Sinner secured a significant victory over Novak Djokovic on the second day of the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, triumphing 6-2, 6-7, 6-4.

The closely contested match saw Sinner’s powerful play ultimately overwhelm the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who put up a determined fight despite visible physical setbacks.

Sinner took command early, cruising through the first set 6-2 as Djokovic struggled to keep up with the pace of the young Italian. The 36-year-old Serbian, known for his incredible resilience, found himself outplayed by Sinner’s aggressive baseline game and sharp groundstrokes.

Despite flashes of brilliance, Djokovic was unable to match Sinner’s energy and precision in the opening set.

However, Djokovic had promised earlier that he wasn’t ready to step aside for the younger generation just yet, saying, "I still believe I can compete at the highest level."

He made good on his words in the second set, digging deep to keep pace with the world’s top-ranked player. The crowd was treated to a thrilling back-and-forth as the two athletes exchanged games, tying at 2-2, 4-4, and ultimately forcing a tiebreak at 6-6. Djokovic, displaying the grit that has defined his career, surged to a 7-6 tiebreak win, leveling the match.

As the third set began, Djokovic called for medical attention for his shoulder, an injury that has troubled him throughout the year. The physical toll of the long season and his ongoing shoulder issues were evident in his serves, but he pressed on, determined to give Sinner a challenge.

With both players having a set in hand, the match remained tight, with Djokovic holding strong at 4-4.

Despite his determination, Djokovic, who has seen many of his contemporaries retire in recent years, was ultimately worn down by Sinner’s relentless play.

The Italian’s consistent pressure and powerful returns broke Djokovic’s serve late in the third set, allowing him to close out the match 6-4.

Djokovic’s effort highlighted his continued competitiveness, even as he battles injuries and the inevitable effects of age. His ability to push the world’s top-ranked player to three sets serves as a reminder of his enduring legacy. But the victory was Sinner’s, further cementing his place at the top of the sport and signaling a new era in tennis.

As the Six Kings Slam continues, all eyes will be on Sinner as he looks to build on this momentum, while Djokovic’s future remains a question as he navigates the physical demands of an increasingly younger field.