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Barcelona the big winners as Benzema makes Atletico pay in derby draw By Adebimpe Isaiah  08 March, 2021.    The French striker's late equaliser cancelled out Luis Suarez's opener as the Liga leaders missed chances and saw their lead cut to just three points Article continues below Match statistics: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Real Madrid Atletico Madrid must have known this was coming. When they repeatedly spurned opportunities to add to Luis Suarez’s opener, a late Real Madrid equaliser at the Wanda Metripolitano became increasingly predictable. Karim Benzema was the man to deliver it, playing a one-two with Casemiro and slotting home in the 88th minute to secure a 1-1 draw while keeping Real Madrid’s faint hopes of defending their La Liga title alive and also nourishing Barcelona’s chances. Article continues below Atletico had the chance to effectively knock Real out of the running but, like in the 2014 Champions League final, let in a late goal against their bi...

Rafael Nadal showed no signs of his bad back in his win over Laslo Djere in the first round at the Australian Open as teenager Carlos Alcaraz was impressive in his highly-anticipated Grand Slam debut match; Russia's ATP Cup stars Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev both cruised through By Adebimpe Isaiah      7:55, Tuesday 09 February 2021 Image: Rafael Nadal allayed fears over a back problem with a straightforward opening victory at the Australian Open Rafael Nadal defied his gloomy injury prognosis to reach the second round of the Australian Open, while Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev also cruised through on Tuesday. Nadal did not play in any of Spain's ATP Cup matches last week and gave a downbeat assessment of his fitness ahead of the tournament. But for the most part he was untroubled during a 6-3 6-4 6-1 success against Serbia's Djere, loosening up in particular in the third set. Nadal said in his on-court interview: "It has been a tough 15 days for me because I ...

The draw for the 2021 Australian Open men's singles tournament in Melbourne with world No 1 Novak Djokovic leading the top half and looking to win his ninth title in Melbourne while No 2 Rafael Nadal heads up the bottom half     7:59, Tuesday 09 February 2021 Image: Novak Djokovic is the eight-time winner of the Australian Open The full draw for the 2021 Australian Open men's singles tournament in Melbourne. Men's Singles Draw (Seedings in brackets): First Round Top Half Novak Djokovic (Ser) (1) bt Jeremy Chardy (Fra) 6-3 6-1 6-2 Frances Tiafoe (USA) bt Stefano Travaglia (Ita) 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 6-2 Reilly Opelka (USA) bt Yen-Hsun Lu (Tpe) 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 Albert Ramos-Vinolas (Spa) v Taylor Harry Fritz (USA) (27) Stan Wawrinka (Swi) (17) bt Pedro Sousa (Por) 6-3 6-2 6-4 Marton Fucsovics (Hun) bt Marc Polmans (Aus) 4-6 6-3 6-1 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 Corentin Moutet (Fra) bt John Millman (Aus) 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 3-6 6-2 6-3 Milos Raonic (Can) (14) bt Federico Coria (Arg) 6-3 6-3 6-2 Emil Ruus...

Bayern Munich will face Mexican side Tigres in Thursday's Club World Cup final; plus, Atletico Madrid moved eight points clear at the top of La Liga despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Celta Vigo By Adebimpe Isaiah      23:47, Monday 08 February 2021 Image: Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Bayern Munich secured their place in the FIFA Club World Cup final Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Bayern Munich secured their place in the FIFA Club World Cup final with a 2-0 victory over Al Ahly, while Atletico Madrid were held in La Liga by Celta Vigo. Lewandowski opened the scoring against the African champions at Qatar's Ahmed bin Ali Stadium after 17 minutes following Serge Gnabry's assist. In the closing stages, the Poland forward then doubled Bayern's advantage when he headed home Leroy Sane's cross. It marked Lewandowski's 29th club goal of the season. The European champions will face Mexican side Tigres in Thursday's final. Image: Lewandowski scored his 29t...

Rafael Nadal admits doubts remain over his fitness ahead of Australian Open, which starts on February 8 Rafael Nadal pulled out of Spain's ATP Cup tie against Australia on Tuesday with a lower back problem and his name was also absent from Spain's ATP Cup tie on Friday against Greece at Melbourne Park's John Cain Arena as he prepares for the Australian Open, which starts on Monday By Adebimpe Isaiah       12:34, Thursday 04 February 2021 Image: Rafael Nadal admits he cannot play at 'full intensity' with the Australian Open just around the corner Rafael Nadal feels he is still far from the level required to play at the Australian Open, which is scheduled to start on Monday, February 8. Nadal pulled out of Spain's ATP Cup tie against Australia on Tuesday with a lower back problem and, despite improvement he remains below his best level. The 34-year-old, however, practised for an hour on Thursday evening at the Rod Laver Arena although his name was also absent from...

Lionel Messi is out of contract at Barcelona in the summer; Angel Di Maria replied "Yes, I hope so" when asked about the prospect of his Argentina team-mate joining him at Paris Saint-Germain; Barca boss Ronald Koeman called the comments "disrespectful " By Adebimpe Isaiah      12:56, Thursday 04 February 2021 Image: Angel Di Maria (L) and Lionel Messi (R) are team-mates at international level Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has accused Paris Saint-Germain winger Angel Di Maria of being disrespectful for saying he hopes Argentina team-mate Lionel Messi will join the French club. Messi is out of contract at the Nou Camp at the end of the season and questions remain over whether he will stay or move elsewhere. Barcelona face Paris Saint-Germain in a first-leg round-of-16 tie in the Champions League on February 16. "Yes, yes, I hope so," Di Maria said when asked whether Messi could join him in Paris. "There are many possibilities. We have to be calm and thi...

Irving puts up season-high 39 as Nets down Clippers, Sabonis matches career-high 32 as Pacers pummel Grizzlies; Sky Sports coverage of the NBA continues on Thursday night when the Golden State Warriors travel to Dallas, join us from 12.30am on Sky Sports Arena By Adebimpe Isaiah   8:27, Wednesday 03 February 2021 Highlights of the Toronto Raptors up against the Orlando Magic in Week 7 of the NBA Fred VanVleet set a franchise record with 54 points and hit a career-best 11 3-pointers as the Toronto Raptors beat the short-handed Orlando Magic 123-108 in Florida on Tuesday night. VanVleet made 11 of his first 12 attempts from 3-point range. He finished 17 of 23 from the field and 9 for 9 at the free-throw line to surpass the previous Raptors record of 52 points scored by DeMar DeRozan against Milwaukee on January 1, 2018. VanVleet took a video call from DeRozan in the locker room after the game congratulating him on the feat. Fred VanVleet set a franchise record with 54 points as the T...

US Open champion Naomi Osaka extends her winning streak to 13 matches but only after riding out a stiff challenge from Katie Boulter to beat the Briton 3-6 6-3 6-1 and reach the quarter-finals of the Gippsland Trophy; Johanna Konta falls to Irina-Camelia Begu as Dan Evans opens with a win By Adebimpe Isaiah   8:13,  Wednesday 03 February 2021 Image: Katie Boulter could not stop Naomi Osaka from extended her winning streak to 13 matches Britain's Katie Boulter gave a great account of herself but could not stop Naomi Osaka from extending her winning streak to 13 matches at the Gippsland Trophy on Wednesday. Boulter beat teenage American Coco Gauff in the second round of the Australian Open warm-up and another upset looked on the cards when she matched her Japanese opponent's power-hitting to take the opening set on Margaret Court Arena. The second-seeded Osaka, who won the Australian Open in 2019, raced to a 3-0 lead in the second set but the 24-year-old Briton would not fold an...

Manchester United equalled Premier League record with 9-0 win over Southampton on Tuesday night; Saints had Alex Jankewitz sent off in second minute and ended game with nine men; Solskjaer: "We played like it could've been the last game" By Adebimpe Isaiah      8:29, Wednesday 03 February 2021 Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer credited his players for their ruthlessness following Tuesday's record-equalling 9-0 victory over Southampton Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised his side's ruthlessness after Manchester United equalled a Premier League record by thrashing Southampton 9-0 on Tuesday night. Saints had their work cut out from the moment Alex Jankewitz was sent off for an ugly challenge on Scott McTominay just 79 seconds into his first Premier League start. United racked up the goals to equal the biggest win in the competition's history, level with their own 9-0 victory over Ipswich in 1995 and Leicester's nine-goal humiliation of Sout...

COVID-19: Lagos Bans Gathering Of More Than 50 Persons A file photo of Lagos state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.   The Lagos State Government on Sunday banned the gathering of more than 50 persons in an enclosed space as the state continues to battle a second wave of the pandemic. The ban was communicated in a statement by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. However, religious services were exempted from the directive, so far gathering does not exceed 50% capacity of the space. “The State Government has observed with dismay the widespread flagrant disregard and non-adherence to guidelines and protocols aimed at stemming and curbing the tide of infection,” Sanwo-Olu said. “We particularly note that some event centers have been operating their premises outside the acceptable parameters for operation/usage and continue to be recalcitrant in this regard. “This is to sound a very serious note of warning that henceforth all those found culpable and in breach of the existing regulations and guid...