BARCELONA: Barcelona midfielder Gavi will be part of the La Liga leaders’ squad to face Sevilla this weekend after a long injury lay-off, coach Hansi Flick confirmed Saturday.
The 20-year-old has been absent since suffering a severe knee injury playing for Spain in November 2023, missing his country’s Euro 2024 triumph this summer.
“For Gavi it’s the next step, it’s an important step, all the coaches, the whole club are happy, that’s is the next step, and he is on the bench,” Flick told a news conference.
The tenacious midfielder burst into Barcelona’s first team in the 2021-22 season and became Spain’s youngest ever player at 17, but was soon usurped by team-mate Lamine Yamal.
Barcelona will also be boosted by the return of Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez after their recent injuries, while Flick confirmed teenage star Yamal is fit after a minor hamstring issue.
“The rest and the treatments for him were really good, so thank you to the national team,” said Flick. “He is ready to play.”
Flick said Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who also recently made his comeback from an ankle injury, felt discomfort in training and was a doubt for the game on Sunday at the club’s temporary Olympic stadium home.
Barcelona still have several players out injured including Ronald Araujo, Ferran Torres and Andreas Christensen.
Gavi back from long-term injury for Barca: Flick
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Gavi back from long-term injury for Barca: Flick
- The 20-year-old has been absent since suffering a severe knee injury playing for Spain in November 2023
- “For Gavi it’s the next step, it’s an important step, all the coaches, the whole club are happy, that is the next step, and he is on the bench,” Flick told a news conference
‘Sky’s the limit’ for Saudi Arabia as Riyadh prepares for PFL’s ‘Battle of the Giants’
- Fighters share their thoughts ahead of Saturday event featuring Francis Ngannou v Renan Ferreira and Cris Cyborg v Larissa Pacheco
RIYADH: PFL’s “Battle of the Giants: Brace For Impact” takes place in Riyadh on Saturday, headlined by Francis Ngannou fighting Renan Ferreira for the heavyweight world title, and Cris Cyborg versus Larissa Pacheco in the women’s featherweight world title fight.
Other fights on the card at the Mayadeen on Saturday night include the middleweight fight between Johnny Eblen and Fabian Edwards, the featherweight fight between Husein Kadimagomaev and Zafar Mohsen, and the lightweight clash between AJ McKee and Paul Hughes. The preliminary card also features the featherweight fight between Ibragim Ibragimov and Nacho Campos and the bout between Tariq Ismail and Taha Bendaoud.
Some of the fighters sat down with the media to speak about the big fight night in Riyadh on Saturday. Here are some of their thoughts:
Paul Hughes (Ireland)
“As a youngster growing up in Ireland, I obviously looked up to Conor McGregor. Nobody from Ireland had ever made it before on the world stage of MMA and he came and completely took it over and changed it. How could I not take inspiration from that? I hope he comes back victorious.
“I don’t have too much of a relationship with Conor. I think most people would have seen my interaction with him after my Bellator debut in Dublin when he was down cage side and I thanked him after my fight for inspiring me. I had dinner one time with him at the Black Forge and that was cool, that was a real full circle moment for me. He’s always been supportive, it’s all good.”
Johnny Eblen (US)
“Honestly, I don’t know what he thinks. I don’t really care. I know what I’m doing in the gym and I’m training with the best guys in the world. I travel gyms and train with other guys who have fought for other titles and I’m truly trying to evolve every single day. I don’t care what other people think or what they’re trying to do. I’ll dig deep until I die. That’s the only mode I know.”
AJ McKee (US), wearing a traditional Saudi thobe
“It’s part of the culture and obviously I want to respect the culture. And I also have a struggle picking out outfits. So, it’s way easier, I don’t have to worry about what I’m pick out, and it’s comfortable.
“I think Riyadh can become the fight capital of the world. I think if you look at the history of the fights in Riyadh they have promoted and put on, they have all been the biggest cards — from boxing to MMA. If Saudi Arabia continues on that journey, then the sky’s the limit.”
Fabian Edwards (Jamaica/UK)
“I feel like the last fight I beat him. It wasn’t any errors, or he was outclassing me. I don’t hate him. I’ve matured over the past year. I feel in my younger days I was like ‘oh, I need to hate him’ but I don’t. Regardless, my job is a fighter and I need to go in there and try and break his face. It sounds violent but that’s the sport we’re in and on Saturday night I’ll go in there and try and break his face.”
Tariq Ismail (Sudan)
“When it comes to me being a part of this event, I think it goes both ways: the event is very lucky to have a fighter like me and I’m very lucky to be a part of such a big platform in Saudi Arabia. The training camp for this fight has been absolutely phenomenal. I had a training camp out in Thailand at a very credible gym, one of the best gyms in the world. You’re going to see balance between my striking routes and my grappling routes and it’s going to be an incredible performance for people tuning in.”
Zafar Mohsen (Germany/Afghanistan)
“I’m focused, prepared and ready to fight — this is a battle that will show who’s truly ready for the top. I’m fully prepared to step into the cage — this is a highly anticipated featherweight clash. My opponent is a dangerous training partner of Khamzat Chimaev and he will be standing across from me, but I am prepared. This is a great stage to show my talent.”
Taha Bendaoud (Morocco)
“It’s always been my passion. I’ve been doing martial arts since I was three years old. I have competed in Muay Thai and jiu jitsu since I was a little kid. For sure I didn’t have as much experience this past year as I had some problems that happened this past year, but MMA has been life changing for me. MMA has given me life. I’m just going to go in there on Saturday and bang. Nothing is going to hold me back. I’m not going back until I get the win. I love Riyadh. It has always been a dream of mine to fight in Saudi Arabia. I feel the energy and calmness of being here. It’s very special.”
Stokes sorry for frustration over dropped catches in England loss to Pakistan
- The visitors were left to rue two dropped catches, with Salman Agha escaping on four and six on his way to a crucial half-century
- England were left to chase an unlikely 297 to seal the series with a match to go but never got close on a sharply turning Multan pitch
MULTAN: Ben Stokes, whose England team were beaten in the second Pakistan Test by 152 runs on Friday, said he apologized after showing his frustrations on the field a day earlier.
The visitors were left to rue two dropped catches on day three in Multan, Salman Agha escaping on four and six on his way to a crucial half-century as Pakistan made 221 in their second innings.
England were left to chase an unlikely 297 to seal the series with a match to go but never got close on a sharply turning Multan pitch that was recycled from the first Test.
It was Pakistan’s first Test win at home since February 2021.
“No one means to drop catches but it just proves how important catches are out in these subcontinent conditions because they don’t come along that often,” skipper Stokes told Sky Sports.
“I actually apologized to the group up there last night.”
Stokes, who missed England’s innings victory in the first Test in Multan because of injury, added: “It’s the first time in my captaincy that I’ve let my emotions, how I was feeling as the game was unfolding, show in my body language.
“I owned up to that and I’m very annoyed with myself for letting that out and it’s something I don’t want to do or be seen to be doing.
“So I apologized to the group about that and I said it was poor old me coming out, tired, grumpy old man last night but you won’t see that happen again.”
The third and final Test is in Rawalpindi from October 24 and Stokes refused to look backwards or wonder what might have been.
“Next week is going to be good. I’m sure everyone’s enjoyed watching here and back home,” said the skipper.
“Hopefully we can get a win next week and go home with another series win.”
England swept a three-Test series in Pakistan in 2022.
Verstappen ends long wait for pole at US Grand Prix sprint qualifying
AUSTIN: Max Verstappen swept to a convincing pole position for Saturday’s sprint race at the United States Grand Prix in a fast and frantic qualifying session on Friday.
It was the first time in 12 events since the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in May that the three-time world champion had secured any kind of pole position.
Verstappen clocked a best lap in one minute and 32.833 seconds to beat Mercedes’ George Russell by 0.012 seconds with Charles Leclerc taking third place on the grid for Ferrari.
McLaren’s Lando Norris, who trails Verstappen by 52 points in the championship with six Grands Prix including three sprints remaining, was fourth ahead of Carlos Sainz of Ferrari and Nico Hulkenberg of Haas.
“That was good,” said Verstappen. “We had a good day. Sprint qualifying is always difficult. You never know how much you can push, but the car was working well.
“Of course I’m very happy to be first, it’s been a while.”
The Dutchman added: “It’s always very hectic and you know this track is amazing to drive.”
Norris was left frustrated after struggling for set-up balance with his car.
“That was not very good. We are struggling. And my lap was shocking,” said the Briton.
“I hope I can go forward in the sprint, or at least that’s the plan, but honestly for pace we are where we deserve to be.”
Russell said: “I’m happy and it’s been a while since we were on the front tow and my last run was strong. It’s good to be back in the mix. The car is feeling great and it’s close.”
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was seventh for Mercedes ahead of Kevin Magnussen in the second Haas, Yuki Tsunoda of RB and Williams’ Franco Colapinto.
Both Sergio Perez of Red Bull and Oscar Piastri of McLaren failed to progress to the top ten shootout.
On a warm, dry day at the Circuit of the Americas, with a track temperature of 35 degrees Celsius, Verstappen led the queue out of the pit-lane to clock a marker lap quickly beaten by Magnussen, Leclerc and then Hamilton in 1:33.840.
In a frantic and brisk opening session, lasting only 15 minutes, Leclerc took the initiative in 1:33.647 before the flag to confirm an early surprise exit for McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, Esteban Ocon of Alpine, Willliams’ Alex Albon, who survived a big spin at the final corner in his 100th Grand Prix, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu of Sauber.
A late improved lap by Piastri was deleted because he exceeded track limits at Turn 19.
As in the opening period, the second session began with everyone on medium tires and Hamilton setting the pace in 1:33.370 before Sainz outpaced him by 0.096.
Red Bull delayed their runs, but Verstappen swept to second in 1:33.290 on his opening lap with Perez struggling into 10th.
“I’m struggling a lot with the ride,” reported Verstappen on team radio, on a day when Red Bull’s ride-height device had caused controversy.
At the flag, Tsunoda had improved to bump Perez down to 11th and out again along with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, the Aston Martin duo of Lance Stroll and two-time champion Fernando Alonso and Liam Lawson of RB, the New Zealand driver having taken over from Daniel Ricciardo for the rest of the season.
All this meant Colapinto was in the top-ten shootout with Tsunoda and Hulkenberg.
The two Mercedes men led the way out for third session with Colapinto in tow, Russell topping the early laps in 1:32.845 to beat Hamilton by 0.533.
Verstappen, who had delayed his lap, swept to pole with a strong lap in 1:32.833 to beat Russell by 0.012, leaving Leclerc third and Norris fourth.
Sports ministry announces fixtures for the 2025 Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: The biggest names in Spanish football will compete for the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia next year, the Kingdom’s sports ministry said on Friday.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, and Real Mallorca will play in Jeddah between Jan. 8 and Jan. 12, 2025.
Real Madrid will face Real Mallorca on Wednesday, Jan. 8, while Barcelona will play against Athletic Bilbao the following day. The winners of both matches will advance to the final, scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 12.
Saudi Arabia has previously hosted four other editions of the Spanish Super Cup.
In 2020 when Real Madrid won the title after defeating Atlético Madrid.
The second edition moved to Riyadh, where Real Madrid claimed the 2022 title. Barcelona won the third edition by defeating Real Madrid, while Real Madrid lifted the cup in the fourth edition in Riyadh earlier in this year.
Barcelona holds a record of 14 Super Cup titles out of 27 previous appearances. Real Madrid follows with 12 titles, Athletic Bilbao has three, Deportivo La Coruña also has three, and Atlético Madrid has won it twice.
The Kingdom’s hosting of the Spanish Super Cup, part of the Quality of Life Program, reflects the success of Saudi Arabia in attracting major regional and international events. This aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to develop and grow the sports sector across all fields.
Al-Dawsari helps Al-Hilal to a magnificent seven over Al-Fayha
- Salem Al-Dawsari sealed the points with second-half header to help banish memories of his missed penalty for Saudi Arabia only three days earlier
RIYADH: Al-Hilal defeated Al-Fayha 3-0 on Friday in Riyadh to make it seven wins out of seven in the Saudi Pro League this season, while Al-Ahli also won by the same scoreline.
An early goal from Marcos Leonardo put the champions ahead and in control, but it was Salem Al-Dawsari who sealed the points with a second-half header to help banish memories of his missed penalty for Saudi Arabia only three days earlier. Mohammed Al-Qahtani added a third late in the game to complete a satisfactory evening for Al-Hilal.
After three defeats at the start of the season, Al-Fahya had been finding some form in the league so were disappointed to fall behind after just five minutes.
Renan Lodi got to the left byline inside the area and his pullback toward the edge of the six-yard box spot was perfect, and all Leonardo had to do was guide the ball home for his first league goal since arriving from Benfica. It was a simple finish but came at the end of a fluid Hilal move with the team moving the ball from one side of the pitch to the other and Al-Dawsari slipping the final pass through to Lodi.
The hosts were then in control for much of the first period but they simply could not convert one of their numerous chance to find the all-important second goal.
Leonardo headed against the post on the half hour and soon after the home crowd gasped with shock in the 39th minute as Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has been on fire this season with nine goals in six league games, headed straight at the goalkeeper from close range after more good work from Lodi. The impressive Joao Cancelo then shot just over from the right side of the box.
Leonardo should have doubled his tally in the 43rd minute when Cancelo crossed from the right, but the Brazilian headed over from close range. Hilal came even closer in added time as Cancelo won the possession on the right corner of the area and fed Malcom, whose shot just brushed the right top corner of the goal frame.
It was not all one-way traffic as the visitors should have been on level terms soon after the restart. Fashion Sakala’s perfect low pass from the right made it all the way over to Renzo Lopez on the opposite side of the area and his shot just rolled past Hilal’s left post with goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Rubaie, in for the injured Yassine Bounou, beaten. Lopez came almost as close seconds later, firing just wide of the same post after a defensive mix-up.
Just as it looked as if the visitors could get something, Al-Dawsari stepped up to calm the nerves. Once again there was good work on the right from Cancelo and his cross was coolly headed home by the captain. It was his last contribution before being subbed off and the smiles all round were in contrast to the gloomy atmosphere of the national team.
It did not take his replacement long to make an impact as Al-Qahtani finished off a devastating counter-attack. Malcom made the final pass from left to right for the youngster to fire a low shot into the bottom corner.
There was no coming back from that as Al-Hilal picked up another emphatic win and sent another message to the rest of the Saudi Pro League.
Elsewhere, Al-Ahli won by the same scoreline at Al-Khaleej, a welcome victory for a team that had lost three of the previous five. Just two minutes after Khaled Al-Samiri was sent off for the hosts early in the second half, Firas Al-Buraikan broke the deadlock. Ivan Toney and Merih Demiral added two more for the Greens.
It was a necessary win for the Jeddah giants and, coupled with the victory in the AFC Champions League, should relieve some of the pressure that had been on coach Matthias Jaissle. The victory lifts Al-Ahli into fifth but they are still 11 points behind the unstoppable Al-Hilal.
