MADRID: Barcelona battled back from two goals down to beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 and land an important blow in the Spanish title race on Sunday.
Lamine Yamal struck in the 92nd minute and Ferran Torres in the 98th to help take the Catalans back top of the table after Real Madrid beat Villarreal on Saturday to briefly claim pole position.
Barcelona have a game in hand on the champions with both sides level on 60 points, while Atletico trail the top two by four after they crumbled at home against Hansi Flick’s side to end a disastrous week following their Champions League elimination.
Having twice been caught out late by Atletico this season, this time it was Barcelona’s turn to provide the sting in the tail, extending their unbeaten streak to 18 matches across all competitions.
Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth put Atletico ahead before Robert Lewandowski and Torres hit back for Barca, who went on to win in stoppage time.
Flick selected Marc Casado in midfield, with Frenkie de Jong not fit enough to be included in the matchday squad.
The German had warned his players to stay focussed after they conceded a 96th minute goal in December to surrender the lead at the top of the table to Atletico in a 2-1 home defeat.
Barcelona also conceded two late goals in the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg to draw 4-4 against Diego Simeone’s side in February.
They played within themselves in the first half, overly cautious and conserving energy, failing to create many openings.
Teenage winger Yamal created one for himself but fired wide with Jan Oblak’s goal gaping, while Lewandowski directed a header at the Slovenian stopper.
At the other end Atletico wanted a penalty when Inigo Martinez pulled back Marcos Llorente in the area but they were not given it.
Barcelona’s best chance of the first half came when Pedri played in Lewandowski, who hit the top of the crossbar with a powerful drive. From the resulting goal kick, Atletico found the opener.
The hosts worked the ball to Griezmann, who threaded a brilliant pass across the area to Giuliano Simeone, with Alvarez finishing from his cut-back.
It provided a moment of joy for the former Manchester City striker who felt deep frustration in midweek when his penalty against Real Madrid was controversially disallowed for a supposed double touch on the ball, as Atletico were eliminated in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday.
Yamal probed after the break as Barca looked for a way back in and Simeone turned to his bench to freshen up his side, who played 120 draining minutes against Los Blancos.
The coach introduced Sorloth and Conor Gallagher and they combined for Atletico’s second goal.
Atletico put together another fine team move with Griezmann heavily involved, before Gallagher squared to perennial super-sub Sorloth to net his 11th league goal of the season, despite just nine starts.
Barcelona had complaints about a Rodrigo De Paul handball in the build-up dismissed and they turned their anger into an instant response.
Martinez drove forward with the ball and slung it into the box for Lewandowski, who controlled well and powered a low finish past Oblak to spark the comeback.
Substitute Torres netted the equalizer when Raphinha, on an othewise quiet night in the capital for the Brazilian, crossed from the right.
With Atletico shaken, Barcelona took full advantage, with Yamal’s deflected shot from distance sending them ahead in stoppage time.
Torres bagged his second late on to round off a win which could prove decisive come the end of the season.
Barca mount late comeback to stun Atletico in thriller
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Barca mount late comeback to stun Atletico in thriller
- Torres bagged his second late on to round off a win which could prove decisive come the end of the season
Coventry vote not ‘women versus men’, says outgoing IOC chief Bach
Bach insisted he had “no preferred candidate“
COSTA NAVARINO, Greece: Outgoing International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said the election of Kirsty Coventry as his successor should not be reduced to a gender battle of “women versus men.”
Bach played down the importance of the 41-year-old from Zimbabwe, an Olympic gold medallist in swimming, becoming the first woman to be elected head of international sport’s wealthiest organization, defeating six other candidates, all men.
“I don’t think we should reduce this election to the fact that there were six men and one woman. I don’t think it was a vote on women versus men or vice versa,” he said.
The German said the victory in the very first round of voting with 49 of the 97 votes gave Coventry “a very strong mandate” and was “a great signal of unity,” adding: “She can count on the support of the membership.”
Bach insisted he had “no preferred candidate” but recalled that he had said during last year’s Paris Olympics it was time for a new leader who reflected a new era.
He will remain in office until June to oversee the hand-over to Coventry, a process he said would start on Friday when he will have breakfast with her to discuss the transition.
Coventry garnered 21 more votes than second-placed Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior while Sebastian Coe, the double 1,500m Olympic champion and head of World Athletics, received just eight.
Russia hopes for ‘return to Olympic fold’ under Coventry
- “We look forward to a stronger, more independent, and more prosperous Olympic movement under a new leader, and to Russia returning to the Olympic podium,” Degtyaryov said
- One of the major problems Coventry will face will be the return to the Olympic fold of exiled Russia
MOSCOW: Russia hoped for a return from sporting exile on Thursday, believing the historic election of Kirsty Coventry as International Olympic Committee president will lead to a “stronger, more independent Olympic movement.”
“We look forward to a stronger, more independent, and more prosperous Olympic movement under a new leader, and to Russia returning to the Olympic podium,” Russian sports minister Mikhail Degtyaryov, who is also head of the Russian Olympic committee, wrote on his Telegram account.
One of the major problems Coventry will face will be the return to the Olympic fold of exiled Russia.
In Paris last year their athletes were forced to compete under a neutral banner, owing to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
“On behalf of the Russian Olympic Committee, I congratulate Kirsty Coventry on her election as President of the International Olympic Committee!,” added Degtyaryov.
“Her brilliant sporting career, Olympic victories, records, and contribution to the development of sport have made her one of the favorites in this campaign.”
Russia dogged outgoing IOC president Thomas Bach’s tenure first with the doping scandal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and then Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
MLB star Mookie Betts to own first franchise team from new World Bowling League
- WBL reveals Team OMG as its first team, with others to be announced soon
- “Bowling has always been my home away from the diamond,” said Betts
LOS ANGELES: The World Bowling League has revealed its first franchise team, Team OMG, owned by Los Angeles Dodgers superstar and world-class bowler Mookie Betts, who will be joined by his lifelong friend and business partner with The One Marketing Group, Cam Lewis.
The announcement marks the official launch of the WBL’s franchise lineup, setting the stage for a new era in the sport of bowling.
The WBL, announced in 2024, combines new rules, mixed-gender teams, iconic locations and dynamic team-based gameplay to reimagine the sport of bowling, which is already played by hundreds of millions of people across the world. The WBL, via multiple broadcasting deals in place, will look to deliver fast-paced bowling action across key markets worldwide and provide a global stage for the world’s best bowlers.
Betts is a three-time World Series champion, eight-time All-Star, six-time Gold Glove Award-winner, seven-time Silver Slugger Award-winner and MVP-winner. He is also a lifelong bowling enthusiast who is ready to lead his team into a new era for the sport.
“Bowling has always been my home away from the diamond,” said Betts. “It’s a sport of precision, mindset and community – values I’ve carried my entire career. With Team OMG, we want to inspire bowlers and fans everywhere, showing them that bowling has the excitement and the commercial appeal to compete with the world’s best sports leagues. We’re excited to partner with Adi and the World Bowling League, and look forward to bowling along with our team in New York, Dubai, Singapore and more exciting locations.”
The WBL is owned and operated by League Sports Co., a pioneering sports tech holding company that is committed to pushing the boundaries of sports and entertainment. LSC invests in and operates cutting-edge sports brands and adapts them to the ever-evolving digital era.
“We are here to break boundaries, unite communities and bring bowling into the spotlight,” said LSC Founder and CEO Adi K Mishra. “Mookie Betts and Team OMG embody everything this league stands for — focus, energy and relentless dedication. Mookie is a world-class athlete and a true ambassador for bowling. His passion for the game and his vision for its future align perfectly with what we’re building at the World Bowling League.”
At Team OMG, Betts and business partner Cam Lewis are dedicated to building a culture, community and winning mentality. While setting the tone for the league’s future, Team OMG aims to inspire a new generation of athletes and fans to view bowling in a whole new light. Team OMG’s announcement marks the beginning of a series of exciting franchises in the WBL. With more teams backed by celebrities and iconic sports figures as well as partnerships with global brands to be announced soon, the WBL is poised to make history and redefine the sport.
Summer fight night sees UFC return to Abu Dhabi
- The event will take place at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, in July
- UFC’s return to the UAE capital follows two spectacular events last year
ABU DHABI: The world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, Ultimate Fighting Championship, has announced its return to Abu Dhabi this summer.
The summer fight night, in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism, will take place at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island on July 26.
UFC’s return to the UAE capital follows two spectacular events last year.
In August, fans were treated to an elite bantamweight showdown at UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs Nurmagomedov, where Umar Nurmagomedov secured a hard-fought victory over Cory Sandhagen with a five-round decision. Then, in October, UFC 308: Topuria vs Holloway saw Spain’s Ilia Topuria defend his featherweight title with a stunning third-round knockout over top contender Max Holloway.
With 20 events held in the emirate since 2010, UFC has become a mainstay in the region’s sports and entertainment calendar through its long-term partnership with DCT Abu Dhabi.
The upcoming fight card for Yas Island will be announced in the coming weeks.
Belgian club Anderlecht fire coach and rehire Besnik Hasi to the end of the season
- Anderlecht finished the regular season in fourth place
BRUSSELS: Belgium’s most successful club, Anderlecht, have fired coach David Hubert and replaced him with Besnik Hasi until the end of the season.
Thursday’s move came as the Belgian league enter their playoff phase.
Anderlecht finished the regular season in fourth place.
The 53-year-old Hasi, who also coached teams in Poland, Greece and Saudi Arabia, is returning to Anderlecht after guiding the team to the league title in 2014. He also played for the Brussels team.
“I know this club and the expectations that come with it,” he said. “It is a pleasure to once again lead the first team.”
Anderlecht won the most recent of its record 34 Belgian league titles in 2017.
