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Barcelona produced an impressive comeback to beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 on Tuesday and move four points clear at the top of La Liga.

Alex Baena fired Atletico ahead, but Raphinha equalised for the champions before Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres slotted home to end the visitors’ run of 13 straight league games without defeat.

Barca might have been more comfortable had Robert Lewandowski not ballooned a first-half penalty over the bar at the partially rebuilt Camp Nou.

Real Madrid, second, visit Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, aiming to peg Barcelona back, while Diego Simeone’s Atletico are fourth, six points behind the Catalans.

This was Barca’s fifth consecutive Liga win after losing the Clasico against Madrid in October, but they have not shone consistently in that period, and coming against a title rival, this display gave Flick’s side a welcome boost.

Barcelona were without defender Ronald Araujo, who is taking a mental health break according to Spanish reports, along with ill midfielder Frenkie de Jong and the longer-term absentees.

After a 3-0 thrashing at Chelsea last week in the Champions League, followed by a shaky win over Alaves to claim pole position in La Liga, nerves were jangling at Camp Nou.

Following a tense start, Atletico took the lead with, predictably, a ball in behind Barcelona’s persistently high defensive line.

Baena scampered through on goal and beat Joan Garcia, barely celebrating because he could sense the linesman’s raised flag behind him.

However, a VAR review showed the Spaniard was level with Pau Cubarsi when he broke, and the goal was reinstated.

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Barcelona responded rapidly and levelled in the 26th minute when Pedri, back fit to start, played in Raphinha.

The Brazilian winger, another player recently back from injury, took the ball around Jan Oblak and slid it into the empty net.

Barcelona should have taken the lead, but Lewandowski spurned a penalty, blazing high and wide of Oblak’s goal after Pablo Barrios brought down Dani Olmo.

The Polish veteran almost made amends moments later, but Oblak brilliantly clawed out his header from Lamine Yamal’s cross.

Raphinha pulled an effort wide early in the second half when he should have hit the target, and Giuliano Simeone could not get a clean shot away with the goal beckoning at the other end.

Olmo, who netted twice against Alaves on Saturday, sent Barcelona ahead with a slick finish after Lewandowski managed to bundle the ball into his path.

Olmo, a playmaker who has struggled for consistency at Barca amid various physical problems, sustained a shoulder injury falling as he shot and was replaced by Marcus Rashford.

Pedri, who was controlling the game for Barca, also went down hurt after 70 minutes, and Flick replaced him, with fans left hoping it was only a scare ahead of next week’s important Champions League match against Frankfurt.

Atletico substitute Thiago Almada had his team’s best chance of equalising, but after bursting across the penalty area, he lost balance and screwed his finish wide as Joan Garcia scrambled.

READ: Manchester City’s Haaland makes ‘huge’ Premier League history

Erling Haaland said he was “proud” to make history as the Manchester City striker became the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals in Tuesday’s pulsating 5-4 win against Fulham.

Haaland’s clinical finish in the first half at Craven Cottage took him to his century in just 111 league appearances for City.

The 25-year-old broke the previous record set by former Newcastle and Blackburn star Alan Shearer, who took 124 matches to reach 100 goals.

“It’s huge, and I’m really proud. Of course, it’s a massive thing, 100 club is a nice thing to be in, and I’m happy,” Haaland said.

“I knew about the record, that’s what I tried to do. I try to help the team score goals, that’s my job.”

Haaland, who signed from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, had failed to score in his previous three games against Newcastle, Bayer Leverkusen and Leeds.

He broke that mini-drought with the latest milestone in his glittering City career. Of Haaland’s 100 goals, 71 came with his left foot and 17 with his head.

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“When you’re a striker for Man City, you should be delivering great numbers,” he said. “That’s my job, people should criticise me if I don’t, and that’s normally what they do. I should deliver.”

He produced a sumptuous finish to put City ahead in the 17th minute against Fulham, giving him 15 league goals this term and 20 in all competitions.

Jeremy Doku provided the assist with a precise cut-back, and Haaland timed his run perfectly to unleash a ferocious blast that whistled past Fulham keeper Bernd Leno from 12 yards.

With City now only two points behind leaders Arsenal, Haaland added: “It’s important, Arsenal came here and won here. Fulham are a great team, but we shouldn’t think too much about Arsenal.

“We should focus on ourselves. Today wasn’t good enough, and we know this. We need to improve as a team, and that’s what we’ll do.”

Haaland still has a long way to go to break Shearer’s most significant record, with the former England captain holding the Premier League’s all-time scoring mark on 260 goals.

“I know about it, but I don’t think too much about it,” he said.

READ: Clinical Desert Vipers outplay Dubai Capitals in ILT20 opener

DUBAI: Andries Gous’ gutsy 58 off 36 balls powered Desert Vipers to a victory over Dubai Capitals in the opening match of the International League T20 (ILT20) here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) on Tuesday.

Chasing 151, Vipers hit the winning runs on the last ball of the penultimate over, losing six wickets in the process.

Andries Gous and Fakhar Zaman started briskly in the chase, notching up a fifty-run partnership in only 4.4 overs.

Zaman, who remained the core aggressor, made 26 from 15 with the help of two sixes and a four.

The solid foundation helped the Vipers cruise towards the target; however, the Capitals made a comeback with quick wickets in the middle overs, halting their progress.

Max Holden was the second to go after adding 35 for the second wicket with Gous. The right-hander departed after scoring 16 off 15 with the help of two fours.

At this stage, Vipers were 85-2 in 9.4 overs.

Andries Gous held one end firm until Waqar Salamkheil removed him and skipper Sam Curran in the span of two deliveries.

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Dubai Capitals struck again with the prized wickets of Shimron Hetmyer and Hasan Nawaz, left Desert Vipers reeling at 133-6 in 16.5 overs.

Yet, the Vipers cruised to a victory with Dan Lawrence and Khuzaima Tanveer stitching a brief 18* run partnership that took them over the line.

Lawrence made 19* from 16, whereas Tanveer struck a boundary in his 12 from eight balls.

For Dubai Capitals, Waqar Salamkheil and Scott Currie remained the standout bowlers, picking up two wickets each.

Earlier, after being put into the field first, Dubai Capitals managed to post 150-8 on the board in their allotted 20 overs.

Desert Vipers pacers piled a miserable start on Capitals as they lost four wickets in the first six overs.

Opener Sediqullah Atal was for 16 off 13, whereas Gulbadin Naib fell for a duck. Jordan Cox (2) and Shayan Jahangir (19 off 15) also fell in quick succession as the scorecard read 42-4 in 6.5 overs.

They were further pegged back in the 11th over when Noor Ahmed bowled David Willey as they slumped to 67-5.

However, Mohammad Nabi and Rovman Powell paired up down the order with a crucial 34-run stand that helped them reach a respectable total.

Powell top-scored with 39 off 22, striking four boundaries and two sixes, while Nabi hit two sixes and two fours in his 29 from 23 balls.

For Desert Vipers, Noor Ahmad, Khuzaima Tanveer, and David Payne picked up two wickets each.

READ: Pope reacts to England players’ e-scooter incident

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said Tuesday French superstar Kylian Mbappe was vital to the team for more than just his prolific goalscoring.

The striker slammed home four against Olympiacos in the Champions League last week and has 23 goals in 19 games across all competitions this season.

Mbappe has called on Madrid to be united in recent weeks as the Spanish giants struggle for consistency under Alonso.

“He’s been very good individually, helping the team a lot,” Alonso told a news conference ahead of Wednesday’s trip to face Athletic Bilbao in La Liga.

“It’s not just about goals for Kylian, which in the end is the most important thing, but he does other hugely fundamental things like leadership, influence, helping his team-mates, and that’s so important day to day.”

Madrid are a point behind champions Barcelona after a third consecutive top-flight draw on Sunday, at Catalan minnows Girona.

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Spanish media have speculated Alonso’s future as Madrid coach is at stake if the team do not improve.

The Basque coach admitted he has spoken recently to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez about turning the team’s form around.

“The conversations are very positive, in a good tone, wanting to improve the results, and that’s what we’ve spoken about,” said Alonso, who conceded Madrid have been erratic this season.

“I think we’ve lacked consistency in our game, and we want to play better in the next one,” continued the coach.

“We’ve lost a bit of quality in our play, we’ve lost a little bit of energy.”

Madrid will be without French left-back Ferland Mendy for the visit to Bilbao.

Mendy was “diagnosed with a hamstring injury”, said Madrid in a statement on Tuesday, less than a week after returning from a thigh problem against Olympiacos in the Champions League, for his first appearance of the season.

Spanish media said the new injury would keep Mendy out for around three weeks.

READ: Slot admits ‘superhuman’ Salah unhappy after West Ham snub

England vice-captain Ollie Pope has advised his team-mates to ‘wear a helmet’ after they were caught riding e-scooters in Brisbane with protection.

England arrived in Brisbane ahead of the pink-ball Ashes Test last Wednesday after losing the opening match of the series inside two days.

However, England captain Ben Stokes, Mark Wood, and Jamie Smith were photographed riding e-scooters without helmets, highlighting the media scrutiny since their arrival in Australia.

Under Queensland law, all riders of e-scooters must wear a helmet, with riders without a helmet facing a fine of up to 166 Australian dollars (£82).

Speaking to the media ahead of the second Test, Pope advised England players to abide by the rules.

“Just put a helmet on next time. Rules are rules,” said Pope.

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He called the break vital for players and recalled the COVID-19 restrictions during their previous Ashes tour down under.

“Just put a helmet on next time. Rules are rules. For us as cricketers and as people, it’s important to try and be able to switch off and be yourself,” he said.

Locking your doors and not coming out of your room is the unhealthy thing to do, as we saw in Covid times. Whatever you’re doing in your off time, whether it’s just taking your mind away from cricket for a day or two, that’s really important,” he added.

“If they want to catch us doing that, then so be it. It is important to have that balance on a long tour like this,” Pope concluded.

For the unversed, England are 1-0 down after losing the Ashes opener against Australia by eight wickets at Perth, courtesy of Travis Head’s blistering century.

Head hit a whirlwind 69-ball century and went on to make 123 off just 83 balls, which made a mockery of England’s 205-run target.

The second day-night Ashes Test will commence on Thursday, with three lions eyeing their first victory against Australia down under since 2010.

READ: Glenn Maxwell withdraws from IPL 2026 auction

SKARDU: Pakistan mountaineering sector marked a milestone in Skardu with the official inauguration of the Karakoram Mountain Guides Association (KGMA), the country’s first national body created by mountaineers.

The event was hosted at a private hotel that brought together numerous mountain professionals from across the country, particularly from Gilgit-Baltistan.

During the event, participants discussed the structure of the new association and its working manual, highlighted the challenges faced by mountain guides in Pakistan, and emphasized the need for training, welfare systems, safety protocols, and stronger representation at national and international levels.

The event also included female members, a positive step toward creating equal opportunities within the profession.

A 17-member governing body was formed through regional representation. Later, the governing body, with full representation of all mountain guides of Pakistan, further elected the official office bearers.

The organisation elected its office bearers with renowned climber Sirbaz Khan chosen as President. The three Vice Presidents are Saad Munawar, Zahid Hussain Rajput, and Sajid Ali Sadpara, while Shah Daulat has been appointed Treasurer. Mirza Ali will serve as the General Secretary.

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Each elected member brings extensive field experience and a deep commitment to improving the future of Pakistan mountaineers.

The KMGA aims to improve safety standards, create career pathways, provide training, and promote professionalism across the industry.

Moreover, the KMGA will train and develop professional mountain guides in Pakistan, working in collaboration with international mountain guide associations.

The organization’s aim also includes improving rescue response systems and high-altitude safety procedures.

The KGMA will also work closely with the Government of Pakistan and tourism departments to address guide welfare, safety concerns, rescue systems, and all issues directly related to mountain professionals.

READ: Slot admits ‘superhuman’ Salah unhappy after West Ham snub

Arne Slot admitted on Tuesday that “superhuman” Mohamed Salah was unhappy about being omitted from Liverpool’s team for their vital 2-0 win against West Ham, but praised his attitude.

The Egypt forward was an unused substitute at the London Stadium on Sunday as Liverpool boss Slot made changes following a terrible run of nine defeats in 12 games in all competitions.

Misfiring Salah, 33, has scored just four Premier League goals this season — in stark contrast to his haul of 29 last season, a tally that won him the Golden Boot.

Slot told reporters that during his reign as manager at Anfield, Salah had been a “superhuman being” but that he had not been at his best in recent weeks.

“As with all players around the world, there are also phases in your time at the club that you are human,” he said. “But he’s scored so many goals for us, and I’m sure he will in the future.”

Slot, whose eighth-placed team hosts high-flying Sunderland on Wednesday, said he was not surprised by Salah’s reaction to being left out, praising his professionalism.

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“That’s a normal reaction from a player that’s good enough to play for us,” he said. “And I say it mildly, because he’s been so outstanding for this club for so many years, and will be for us in the future.

“So, yeah, of course, a player isn’t happy when they’re not playing. He wasn’t the only one who wasn’t happy that he wasn’t starting, I can tell you.”

The Dutchman said that Salah had been supportive of his teammates.

“You cannot be a player that’s available every three days and play on that high standard if you go with your emotions,” he said.

“But Mo is so disciplined, knows what to do to stay fit, and no matter if he plays well, doesn’t play well, if he plays or if he doesn’t play, he will always be that top professional.”

Slot said that Salah was scheduled to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations on December 15.

“As always in these situations, there’s a player involved, there’s the nation involved — Egypt in this situation — and the club. And there are always talks about what is best for all three of us,” he said.

READ: QEAT Final: Karachi Blues pacers shine against Sialkot on even day

LAHORE: Karachi Blues fast bowlers starred with the ball before Sialkot ended the second day of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final on 235 for six in 61 overs here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.

Hamza Nazar and Hasan Ali remained unbeaten at stumps with 62 and 29 runs respectively, with Sialkot still trailing by 105 runs and four wickets in hand.

Karachi inflicted a poor start on Sialkot, removing both openers inside the first five overs. The prolific run-scorer this season, Azan Awais, was caught after managing just two, whereas Saqib Khan trapped Muhammad Hurraira for nine.

As a result, the defending champions were reduced to 13-2.

Following the early hiccup, Abdullah Shafique and Abdul Rehman tried to stabilize the innings, adding a 46-run partnership which brought the total to 59.

The stand eventually culminated with Rehman’s wicket in the 19th over, caught by Rameez Aziz off Mohammad Umar’s bowling for 14.

Sialkot troubles deepened when Shafique was run out after managing 32 from 56 with the aid of three fours. At this stage, the scorecard read 73-4 in 23.5 overs.

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With Sialkot in trouble, two of their relatively inexperienced batters, Hamza Nazar and Mohsin Riaz, steadied the innings with a 95-run partnership.

The duo took their side out of the trouble and notched up half-centuries, which brought the total above the 150-run mark. However, Sialkot followed a similar pattern of losing wickets in clusters as Karachi hit back with quick wickets.

Riaz was castled by Umar after a well-made 71 off 85 balls peppered with 1`1 fours and a six, followed by the dismissal of the wicket-keeper Afzal Manzoor for a 14-ball duck.

Consequently, Sialkot were 170-6 in 49.4 overs before Nazar crafted a much-needed 65-run partnership with Hasan Ali to end the day on a positive note.

For Karachi Blues, the fast bowling trio consisting of Saqib Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed, and Mohammad Umar starred with the ball, sharing five wickets between them.

Earlier, Sialkot pacer Mohammad Ali took a four-wicket haul to bundle out Karachi Blues for 340 in their first innings.

Karachi started from their overnight score of 285-6; however, Mohammad Ali and Hasan Ali combined to tear through the lower middle-order, limiting Karachi to a big first-innings total.

Usman Khan departed after making 82 from 115 balls, whereas Saqib Khan chipped in with a crucial 33 off 26 balls, laced with three fours and a six.

READ: PSL set to host landmark roadshow at Lord’s Cricket Ground

LAHORE: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is set to host a landmark roadshow at the Lord’s Cricket Ground — one of the most prestigious venues in world sport to showcase the league’s remarkable growth.

According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the ‘exclusive’ event will attract global investors and passionate cricket fans, aimed at the league’s growth over the years.

“The HBL PSL has rapidly evolved into one of the world’s most exciting and commercially robust T20 leagues.

As the league prepares for expansion with the addition of two new teams, it has already received significant interest from potential ownership groups across the United Kingdom – a testament to HBL PSL’s rising global profile and its strong connection with UK-based cricket stakeholders,” the board said in a press release.

Following the announcement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, expressed his views on the roadshow, calling the league as a nurturing stage for Pakistan cricket.

“The HBL PSL stands as a symbol of excellence and ambition, and taking this Roadshow to Lord’s – the heart of cricketing heritage, reflects our commitment to elevating Pakistan cricket on the global stage,” he said.

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“We have seen tremendous interest from the UK market in the league’s new teams, which reinforces HBL PSL’s international appeal.

This event is an important opportunity to deepen global partnerships and share our long-term vision for expansion and innovation. We look forward to welcoming investors and cricket enthusiasts in London, Naqvi concluded.

Meanwhile, PSL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salman Naseer called the Pakistan Super League a world-class tournament and shed light on the decision to host a road show at the home of cricket.

“The HBL PSL has established itself as a world-class cricket league with a powerful global following and strong commercial value. Hosting our Roadshow at Lord’s allows us to bring investors closer to the league’s future roadmap, including exciting opportunities arising from the introduction of two new teams,” Naseer said.

“The interest we are receiving from foreign investors is extremely encouraging and highlights the league’s growing reach. Our priority is to build a bigger, stronger, and more internationally connected HBL PSL in the years ahead,” he explained.

Moreover, the board said that 30 superfans will have the opportunity to attend the events, with the details to be announced in due course.

READ: Sarfaraz Ahmed appointed manager, mentor for Pakistan U19 team

Former England batter Robin Smith has died at the age of 62, English county side Hampshire announced on Tuesday.

The South African-born Smith, who played 62 Tests between 1988 and 1996, died unexpectedly on Monday in Australia, where he lived, his family said.

“It is with the deepest and most profound sense of sadness and loss that we must announce the passing of Robin Arnold Smith, beloved father of Harrison and Margaux and cherished brother of Christopher,” Smith’s family said in a statement released by Hampshire Cricket.

“Robin died unexpectedly at his South Perth apartment on Monday, 1st December. The cause of his death is at present unknown.”

Smith, nicknamed the “Judge”, had recently met with the England Lions squad, England’s second-tier side, in Perth ahead of the first Ashes Test at the invitation of coach Andrew Flintoff.

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“Robin rose to fame as one of England’s most charismatic and popular players,” Smith’s family said.

“A brave and dashing batsman, he excelled both for Hampshire and his adopted country, collecting legions of admirers and friends along the way.

“Since his retirement from the game in 2004, his battles with alcohol and mental health have been well documented, but these should not form the basis of speculation about the cause of death, which will be determined at postmortem investigation.”

Robin Smith scored 4,236 Test runs for England, including nine centuries, at an average of 43.67. He scored 2,419 runs at 39.01 in 71 one-day internationals.

READ: Sarfaraz Ahmed appointed manager, mentor for Pakistan U19 team