Category: Top News

Raul Garcia’s superb 90th-minute strike consigned leaders Real Madrid to a 2-1 defeat at Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday, in a blow to their title hopes.

Champions Barcelona trail Madrid by two points but can overtake them on Sunday if they beat Levante at Camp Nou.

Alvaro Arbeloa’s Madrid put on a below-par performance in Pamplona and fell behind to an Ante Budimir penalty, before Vinicius Junior pulled the visitors level.

The second leg of Madrid’s Champions League play-off against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica on Wednesday seemed to play on their minds as they failed to kick on at El Sadar.

Vinicius, who scored a sensational goal to give Madrid a slender first-leg lead but was then the victim of alleged racial abuse, thought he had earned his team a point before Garcia blasted home the winner.

Croatian target man Budimir curled narrowly wide of Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’s far post early on, the first of many problems he gave the visitors.

The Belgian stopper made an excellent save a few minutes later, after Budimir tried to nod home Ruben Garcia’s cross under pressure from Alvaro Carreras.

Budimir also clipped the post with a header as Osasuna impressed, with their victory helping them rise to ninth.

Madrid defender David Alaba came close when Alejandro Catena blocked his shot, shortly before the hosts took the lead.

Budimir burst into the area and went down under a challenge from Courtois. Although he was initially booked for diving, a VAR review showed the goalkeeper stood on his foot.

The veteran forward took the resulting penalty himself and sent Courtois the wrong way to give Osasuna the lead.

Osasuna sat deep at times in the second half, looking to fend off 15-time European champions Madrid.

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Arda Guler came close with a vicious shot that flew just over.

Chasing an equaliser, Arbeloa threw on creative duo Trent Alexander-Arnold and Brahim Diaz and his team began to take control.

French superstar Kylian Mbappe put the ball in the back of Osasuna’s net but had edged offside, although the equaliser was not long in coming.

Fede Valverde charged into the box with the ball, unperturbed by Osasuna’s defenders bouncing off him, before crossing for Vinicius to tuck home.

It was the Brazilian’s fifth goal in his last four games across all competitions, having found his best form since Arbeloa replaced Xabi Alonso at the helm in January.

Mbappe, La Liga’s top goalscorer, should have put Madrid ahead with 10 minutes to go, but Javi Galan brilliantly blocked his shot.

Alexander-Arnold curled a free-kick wide as the clock ticked down, and it looked like Madrid were left ruing two points dropped, when the third was taken away from them too.

Raul Garcia cut inside the sliding Raul Asencio brilliantly and fired across Courtois and in at the far post.

The striker’s celebrations were cut short by the offside flag, but a VAR review showed he was onside and the goal was given.

It was the first time Osasuna have beaten Madrid in La Liga for 15 years.

Real Betis, fifth, were held 1-1 at home against Rayo Vallecano earlier Saturday, leaving them three points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.

Diego Simeone’s side host Espanyol later on, aiming to make amends after last weekend’s 3-0 defeat by Rayo.

READ: Son’s LAFC defeats Messi’s Inter Miami in MLS season opener

Son Heung-min bested Lionel Messi in the battle of Major League Soccer’s (MLS) global superstars, spearheading a comfortable 3-0 win for Los Angeles FC (LAFC) over Inter Miami on the US league’s opening weekend.

The South Korean, already beloved in California as he embarks on his first full season, set up a first-half strike for David Martinez, before Denis Bouanga and Nathan Ordaz sealed victory.

Leading the Black-and-Gold’s potent attacking trio with Bouanga and Martinez, Son cantered through the centre of Miami’s defence all night, raucously cheered by some 76,000 fans, the second-largest attendance in MLS history.

The Saturday night game had been moved to the cavernous Memorial Coliseum to accommodate the demand for MLS’s two best-known players, with commissioner Don Garber boasting the league could have sold out LAFC’s usual stadium “five times.”

But for those who poured in to see eight-time Ballon d’Or-winner Messi, there were slim pickings, as the tightly marked 38-year-old failed to get a shot on target despite Miami dominating possession.

LAFC started brightly, allowing Miami plenty of the ball but attacking swiftly on the break.

Gabonese star Bouanga looked particularly dangerous, playing through Son for an early one-on-one. But the South Korean could not get a shot away, running it wide to the keeper’s right.

At the other end, Lionel Messi, who has had limited training opportunities since picking up a hamstring strain in a friendly two weeks ago, looked off the pace.

The Argentine great repeatedly lost possession, and as the frustration built, LAFC struck.

With Rodrigo De Paul robbed on the centre circle, the ball fell to Son, who was given too much time by backpedalling Miami defenders.

He slid the ball out to the right to Martinez. The young Venezuelan curled it round the keeper with a first-time shot, inside the back post.

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Moments later, Messi’s first genuine chance from the edge of the box flashed inches wide.

Miami came out after the break with more aggression, and Messi briefly pulled the strings, firing another shot just over the crossbar.

Around the hour mark, the World Cup winner collided face-first with the back of Ryan Porteous and was down on the ground for a minute or so, but clambered back up to the relief of his team and nation.

LAFC were happy to soak up the pressure. And their patience was soon rewarded.

Timothy Tillman played a giant, looping through ball from deep in his own half to Bouanga, who headed it over the rushing keeper, rounded him and knocked it into the net.

Son Heung-min should have had another assist, pulling it back from the touchline to Bouanga, who this time could not latch on to the opportunity.

The South Korean was hooked moments later, looking frustrated to be hauled off with just minutes remaining despite the hearty applause.

His replacement, Ordaz, put the game to rest, slotting in from a mazy run down the left and a low cross by Bouanga.

The game served as a suitably splashy start for a hugely important MLS season that will be split in two by the 2026 World Cup, which takes place across the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer.

World Cup host countries typically see boosts for their domestic leagues, and MLS bosses are determined to keep US eyeballs on the planet’s biggest sport long after national teams have returned home.

Speaking to AFP at half-time, MLS commissioner Gerber said the league will splash “tens of millions” of dollars on its biggest ever marketing effort, to harness the upcoming huge spike in soccer interest.

READ: Deflated Australia face tough questions after T20 World Cup flop

Australia coach Andrew McDonald is adamant the players he took to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 were good enough, but the evidence suggests otherwise, with a rebuild looming before they co-host the next tournament with New Zealand in 2028.

The 2021 champions were seen as title contenders again at the showpiece in India and Sri Lanka, but the former white-ball heavyweights instead suffered a calamitous exit in the group stage for the first time since 2009.

They head home to a significant pile-on from former Australian greats and an acerbic media who expected more.

They have been quick to lob sharp criticism at the underperforming players and perceived selection blunders.

“We said at the start of this World Cup that we were concerned about Australia,” pace great Glenn McGrath told reporters, pointing to the absence of fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc as exposing a soft underbelly.

“All of a sudden, the aura of that Australian team is no longer there when other teams play it … unfortunately, not surprising.”

The warning lights were flashing before the event even started when they capitulated heavily to Pakistan in a three-game warm-up, outplayed with bat and ball.

In those matches they lost by 22, 90 and 111 runs, the final two Australia’s largest in terms of runs in T20Is.

At the time, skipper Mitchell Marsh said: “Absolutely no stress from our end.” That soon became: “It’s a devastated group” as their T20 campaign unravelled with defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

Australia’s three selectors, George Bailey, McDonald and Tony Dodemaide, have come in for particular criticism, notably their continued faith in under-performing all-rounders Cameron Green and Cooper Connolly.

They were also blasted for their head-scratching failure to play Steve Smith and to drop in-form Matt Renshaw for the Sri Lanka clash when they were still mathematically alive.

“Look at the selections, look at (Glenn) Maxwell, Connolly, Green and (Josh) Inglis, these guys are all out of form,” lamented Mark Waugh, himself a former selector.

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“The selectors have their plans in place, but you’ve got to be smart enough to see which players are in form and which players are out of form.

“And you’ve got to play the percentages a lot better than what our selectors have played.”

A defiant McDonald said there was “always going to be differing opinions from the outside”, suggesting they “don’t understand what the moving parts are and the conversations are on the inside”.

“The build into this tournament and the style of cricket, the balance of our batting unit and the balance of our bowling attack, we felt really confident coming into this tournament,” McDonald added.

“I think the decisions that we made and the squad that we picked, we’ve got a room full of players that are incredibly disappointed knowing that they were good enough to progress, and we’ve just got to own the fact that we haven’t.”

A forensic review of their disastrous performance is set to kick in once they return home, ahead of planning for the next T20 World Cup when only three in the current squad, Green, Connolly and quick Xavier Bartlett, will be aged under 30.

What becomes of some of their ageing champions like Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Hazlewood, and Cummins remains to be seen.

McDonald noted that with a heavy Test load ahead and an ODI World Cup in 2027, Australia’s T20 schedule was light going forward, giving them limited opportunities to fine-tune the team in the immediate future.

“In the next 12 months, we’ll have a lack of T20 cricket, as is the way of the schedule,” he said. “We go to Bangladesh, and we’ve got a series against England.”

“They won’t really ramp up until pretty much that World Cup year, which is similar to what happened in this cycle.

“That’s probably not enough to start to build out what your direction is. I think that’ll come a little bit closer.”

READ: Lahore Qalandars sign THIS South African batter for PSL 11

Chelsea’s chances of Champions League qualification were dented as Burnley snatched a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, while Aston Villa also struck late to salvage a point against Leeds on Saturday.

The Blues climb into the Premier League’s top four only on goal difference after they paid for failing to build on Joao Pedro’s fourth-minute opener.

Chelsea were dominant until Wesley Fofana was sent off with 18 minutes remaining for a second yellow card.

Burnley took full advantage as Zian Flemming headed in from a corner in the 93rd minute to keep their slim hopes of survival alive.

The Clarets edge to within eight points of safety.

Villa defied the odds to keep pace with Arsenal and Manchester City in the title race until recent weeks, but a 1-1 draw continued their poor run at Villa Park.

Anton Stach’s spectacular free-kick from fully 40 yards (37 metres) at an angle caught out Emi Martinez at his near post to give Leeds the advantage.

Daniel Farke’s men have lost just twice in their last 16 games to relieve their fears of being dragged into a battle for survival.

But Tammy Abraham then snatched a point for Villa two minutes from time.

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Five Premier League sides are set to qualify for next season’s Champions League thanks to the strong performance of English sides in European competition this season.

But Liverpool and Manchester United have the chance to close in when they face Nottingham Forest and Everton in the coming days.

James Milner set a new record of 654 Premier League appearances in Brighton’s 2-0 win at Brentford.

The 40-year-old started for the Seagulls as they secured a first win in seven games to ease the pressure on boss Fabian Hurzeler.

Diego Gomez drilled in the opening goal for the visitors after Ferdi Kadioglu’s stunning strike came back off the bar.

Danny Welbeck then pounced on some slack Brentford defending to double Brighton’s lead just before half-time.

Manchester City can close to within two points of leaders Arsenal when they host Newcastle in Saturday’s 2000GMT kick-off.

The Gunners have breathed new life into City’s title challenge with disappointing draws at Brentford and Wolves since Pep Guardiola’s men last played in the Premier League.

Arsenal are in action on Sunday when they travel to local rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby.

READ: Flick tells Barca stars to feel ‘responsibility’ after damaging defeats

COLOMBO: The washout of the Pakistan vs New Zealand Super Eight clash has made every game crucial in Group 2 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Persistent drizzle right after the toss — which Pakistan won and opted to bat — at the Premadasa Stadium did not relent, and the umpires finally called the match off at 9:05pm local time (15:35 GMT).

Not even a five-over match was possible by the 10:16 pm (1646 GMT) cut-off time, giving the two teams one point each.

For Pakistan qualification in the semi-finals without relying on the Net Run Rate, they simply have to win two of their remaining games against England and Sri Lanka.

The victories will ensure Pakistan finishes on five points, virtually booking their place in the semi-finals.

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The second scenario for Pakistan qualification is to win one and lose the other, then their fate will be determined by other results and NRR.

With two losses in their remaining games, Pakistan would remain on one point, resulting in immediate elimination.

The washout has effectively made every game a virtual knockout. leaving very little margin for error.

However, the actual situation will become clearer after the clash between Sri Lanka and England on February 22.

Pakistan are placed alongside Sri Lanka, England and New Zealand in Group 2.

Their next match will be against England on February 24, followed by last game against host Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, title-holders India, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the West Indies are placed in Group 1.

The top two teams from each Group will qualify for the semi-finals.

READ: Suryakumar backs misfiring Abhishek despite three ducks

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick told his team they must feel responsibility after two damaging defeats ahead of Sunday’s clash against Levante in La Liga.

The Catalan giants are bolstered by the return of Pedri Gonzalez and Marcus Rashford after injury as they aim to overhaul Real Madrid in the Spanish title race.

After a 4-0 thrashing by Atletico Madrid last week in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, Barca fell to a 2-1 league defeat against Girona on Monday, giving Los Blancos a two-point advantage at the summit.

“I think everyone is convinced about what we are doing, of course in these moments it’s not easy,” Flick told reporters Saturday.

“For me, communication is always important. We were very honest and also very open, it’s not only me telling them what to do, I want to ask them. This is how I manage the team.

“It is important because we need leaders on the pitch, they should (be able) to say something. That’s how communication is, on the same eye-level.

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“At the end, I have to decide things, that is my job, but I want the players to feel the responsibility about this situation, and I think they do.”

Rashford returns after a fortnight out with a knee problem, while key playmaker Pedri has missed a month with a hamstring injury.

“The positive thing is Rashford is back, Pedri is back,” said Flick.

“Maybe (Pedri) can play some minutes, the important thing is he’s training, with his quality.

“He’s an important player for us, he’s a different kind of leader because of his quality.

“He can also be one of these leaders for the future for this club.”

Flick also confirmed 21-year-old midfielder Gavi is back in training after undergoing knee surgery in September 2025.

Real Madrid visit Osasuna on Saturday, aiming to stretch their lead on Barca before Levante visit Camp Nou.

READ: Suryakumar backs misfiring Abhishek despite three ducks

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav on Saturday backed struggling opener Abhishek Sharma to play his attacking game with enough firepower in the rest of the line-up as they face South Africa in the T20 World Cup.

The two teams will clash in the Super Eights stage in Ahmedabad on Sunday in a rematch of the T20 World Cup final two years ago, won by India.

Both teams topped their group with perfect records.

But while Aiden Markram’s South Africa have looked strong in all departments, tournament favourites India have not enjoyed batting consistency, with Abhishek recording three consecutive ducks.

“People who are worried about Abhishek’s form, I worry for them,” a smiling Suryakumar told reporters.

“I think about those teams against whom he is going to fire as he has not been able to score till now. When he gets the runs then you know how it is.”

Suryakumar said, “It is a team sport, it happens. Team requires him to play with his identity, so if he fires it’s okay otherwise we are there to cover for him. Last year he covered for us, now we will do it for him.”

The left-handed Abhishek, the world’s number one-ranked T20 batsman, has handed the team many explosive starts since his debut in July 2024.

Big totals were predicted at the start of the 20-team tournament with India pipped to cross 300 on home ground, but the reality has been different.

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Ireland’s 235 against Oman in the group stage has been the highest total so far, with India reaching their best of 209 in a big win over minnows Namibia.

“We are trying to explode from the start because everyone knows their T20 template, but we don’t want to become a team that’s always blasting away,” said Suryakumar.

“There could arise a situation where two-three wickets fall early and we have to be a smart team to bat well between 12-15 overs and we have enough firepower that if the base is strong then we can smash 60-70 runs in last five overs.”

India boasts of a potent spin attack led by the world’s number one-ranked T20 bowler Varun Chakravarthy, who has claimed nine wickets in four matches.

South African spinners, including Keshav Maharaj, have also made their presence felt, and Suryakumar said there will be no favourites in the Sunday game.

“The (Indian) spinners have done well against almost all oppositions, (but) I can’t say we will have an edge,” said Suryakumar.

“It’s a new game and we start from zero. But definitely some good plans. On the given day, plans and execution should be coming together, if that comes together we will definitely have an edge.”

India are on a 12-match unbeaten run at the T20 World Cup, stretching back to their defeat in the semi-final against eventual winners England in 2022.

READ: Harry Brook responds to reports of Pakistan players’ snub in The Hundred

England captain Harry Brook has responded to mounting speculation that Pakistan players could be overlooked in the upcoming edition of The Hundred, saying it would be “a shame” if the tournament misses out on their presence.

Reports in English media have suggested that franchises with Indian Premier League (IPL)-linked ownership may refrain from picking Pakistan cricketers at next month’s auction.

While the development has triggered debate across the cricketing world, Brook made it clear that England’s focus lies elsewhere.

“Our main focus now is what’s coming up in the T20 World Cup. It’s not really any of our business, to be honest,” Brook said in a recent interview.

Even so, the England skipper did not shy away from acknowledging Pakistan’s stature in the game. He described the country as one of cricket’s most influential forces and stressed that the global circuit benefits from their involvement.

“Pakistan have been a great cricket nation for many years. I think there’s about 50, 60 players in the auction, and it would be a shame to not see some of them in there,” he remarked.

Harry Brook further underlined the broader impact Pakistani players bring to franchise tournaments, not just through skill, but through fan engagement and atmosphere.

“There’s some amazing cricketers and they bring some great crowds as well. It would be a shame to not see some of the Pakistan players in there and make the tournament and competition even better,” he added.

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The speculation stems from reports indicating that four franchises, Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds, all partially owned by IPL-linked investors, could bypass Pakistan players in the men’s auction scheduled for March 12 in London, following the women’s auction on March 11.

According to the reports, a senior England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) official informed an agent that interest in Pakistan players would likely be limited to franchises not associated with IPL ownership.

Another agent reportedly described the situation as an “unwritten rule” in leagues influenced by IPL investments.

The claims appear to contradict assurances previously made by ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould, who had stated that Pakistani players would not face restrictions in England’s 100-ball competition.

“We are aware of the challenges Pakistani players face in other regions, but that won’t be happening here,” Gould had said last year, reaffirming the board’s commitment to inclusivity.

Pakistan cricketers have not featured in the IPL since 2008 and have also had limited opportunities in other IPL-linked leagues such as SA20, ILT20 and Major League Cricket (MLC).

READ: Floyd Mayweather to come out of retirement

Floyd Mayweather is coming out of retirement and will return to professional boxing after his exhibition fight with Mike Tyson this spring, the 48-year-old announced Friday.

Former multi-weight world champion Mayweather retired from boxing in 2017, unbeaten in 50 bouts, though he has appeared in several exhibition fights since.

“I still have what it takes to set more records in the sport of boxing,” Mayweather said in a statement to AFP.

“From my upcoming Mike Tyson event to my next professional fight afterwards — no one will generate a bigger gate, have a larger global broadcast audience and generate more money with each event — than my events.”

A first professional fight is tentatively scheduled for this summer, against an opponent to be announced.

Details will be revealed “in the coming weeks,” said the statement.

Nicknamed “Money”, Mayweather was once the world’s highest-paid athlete, with earnings of $300 million in 2015, according to Forbes.

At his peak, he was widely considered boxing’s pound-for-pound king, dominating the welterweight division for more than a decade.

Despite his success, Mayweather has long been a controversial figure.

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He was often criticised for an overly defensive style, and accused by some of dodging the most dangerous opponents simply to embellish his record.

Mayweather has also spent time in prison for one of a string of domestic violence incidents.

But his supreme fitness, work ethic, athleticism and boxing brain earned him the respect of his peers in the ring.

Mayweather’s last professional bout was in 2017 against UFC star Conor McGregor.

He has continued to appear in exhibitions, including a victory over John Gotti III in Mexico in August 2024, as well as bouts with reality television stars and YouTube fighters.

Mayweather has signed an exclusive agreement with promoter CSI Sports/Fight Sports to begin following his Tyson bout.

Boxing outlet Ring Magazine recently reported that Mayweather’s exhibition fight with Tyson will take place on April 25th in the Congo, though neither date nor location has been officially confirmed.

“Iron Mike” Tyson, 59, last appeared in the ring in a lopsided loss to YouTuber-turned-prizefighter Jake Paul in Texas in November 2024.

Tyson barely landed a punch in that Netflix-backed bout, which was watched by a live crowd of around 70,000 spectators with an estimated millions more tuning in around the world.

READ: Colombo weather update ahead of Pakistan-New Zealand Super Eight clash

COLOMBO: Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has revealed reason behind Babar Azam’s demotion in the batting order during the Namibia clash in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Speaking to the media ahead of New Zealand fixture, Hesson cited Babar Azam’s strike rate in the first six overs, stating that the batter is aware of his strike rate in the World Cup.

“I think Babar is well aware that his strike rate in the power play in the World Cup is less than 100 and that’s clearly not the role we think we need,” Hesson told reporters after Pakistan’s final practice session on Friday was washed out by rain.

“We brought Babar back in for a specific role post the Asia Cup,” he added.

The head coach also said that there are several other options available to step in and fulfill that role, and Babar himself recognizes this.

“We’ve got plenty of other options who can come in and perform that role towards the end. Babar is actually the first to acknowledge that, ” he continued.

“He knows that he’s got a certain set of skills that the team requires and there are certain times where other players can perform that role more efficiently,” the 51-year-old said.

Mike Hesson also emphasizes Pacer Salman Mirza’s recent performance, calling him unlucky to miss out on the high-stakes India-Pakistan fixture.

“We made a call that Salman Mirza was coming in for Shaheen, and he bowled incredibly well,” he said.

“To be fair, he was probably really unlucky to not be playing the second and third games.”

He concluded by acknowledging that New Zealand is well aware of the conditions and they must do their best to emerge victorious.

“New Zealand have played a huge amount in the subcontinent in recent times so we have to play at our best.”

READ: England Lions outplay Pakistan Shaheens in series opener