03/03/2025

MONDAY | MAR 3, 2025

30

SPORTS

the Bundesliga title alive, Leverkusen did not blink against third-placed Frankfurt, scoring three goals in a seven-minute blitz to grab hold of the game. Nathan Tella slotted home after 26 minutes, Nordi Mukiele scored Leverkusen’s second three minutes later and Patrik Schick scored four minutes later. Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike took advantage of a poor pass from Mukiele to score in the 37th minute. Despite the hosts starting the second half brightly, a cracking long-range effort from Aleix Garcia with 63 minutes gone sealed a crucial win for Xabi Alonso’s side, who go to Bayern in Europe on Thursday (4am). “It’s easy to talk, but to show it on the pitch is harder. We want to show once more that we can take the fight to Bayern,” Alonso told DAZN . Xhaka felt it was the perfect preparation for the all-German showdown. “We’re strong enough to aggravate Bayern next week. There’s still plenty in it for us in the Champions League,” said Xhaka.

Up to that point, it had looked like Federico Dimarco’s stunning freekick in the 22nd minute would be enough for Inter to strike a huge blow in their bid to retain the Scudetto. “There’s a bit of disappointment because we played well against a good team. It’s pointless trying to hide it, Inter are a very, very good team and the one to beat,” said Napoli coach Antonio Conte. “Playing the way we did against should help us understand that if we want to... we can have a say. “Anyone who said at the start of the season that we’d be a point off the top with 11 matches

remaining would have been sectioned.” Leverkusen keep Bayern in sight BAYER LEVERKUSEN cut Bayern Munich’s lead in the Bundesliga back to eight points ahead of the sides’ Champions League last 16 clash, with a 4-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt yesterday. Bayern’s comeback win over Stuttgart on Saturday had sent them 11 points clear of champions Leverkusen. Wanting to keep their slim hopes of defending

SHORTS

Billing saves Napoli PHILIP BILLING kept Napoli right on Inter Milan’s tail at the top of Serie A after scoring a late equaliser in yesterday’s exciting 1-1 draw in Naples. Denmark midfielder Billing tapped home his first Napoli goal three minutes from the end at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, and shortly after replacing Billy Gilmour, to keep second-placed Napoli one point behind Inter. The 32-year-old, on loan from Bournemouth, scored after a driving run from Stanislav Lobotka, pouncing on the rebound when his first effort was saved by Inter goalkeeper Josep Martinez.

Napoli’s Philip Billing (left) scores their first goal during the Serie A match against Inter Milan yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

5934/2025

02/03/2025 (SUN)

4509 5145 3084

Draw Date: 02/03/25 (Sun)

Draw No: 5881/25 Venue: WISMA GENTING, KL

7862 1215 8570 7217 2113

1543 8860 7980 3525 6448

4587 4132 1959 0142 5514

2344 4964 6487 6393 0788

0050 9709 3705

Real shock Atletico go top after Madrid stumble at Betis L A LIGA champions Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat at Real Betis yesterday, which coach Carlo Ancelotti said was a “big blow” to Madrid started the stronger and opened the scoring after just 10 minutes, putting together a fine team move with 19 passes.

8961+ 5735 7404+ 3091 6146+ 0423 2308+ 9366 6655+ 8850

0298+ 7070 8178+ 5197 3641+ 3452 4630+ 7672 8567+ 8978

2,806,442.01

4509 5145 4509

3084 3084 5145

3084 3084 5145

4509 4509 5145

146,625.82

RM6,536,846.70

0050+ 9709 0050+ 3705 9709+ 3705

9709+0050 3705+0050 3705+ 9709

It culminated when Kylian Mbappe found Ferland Mendy, who squared for Diaz to tuck home. Betis soon found their footing and Cardoso powered a header past Thibaut Courtois from Isco’s corner to level. Without Bellingham’s dynamism in midfield Madrid were outfought by Betis. Manuel Pellegrini’s side took the lead early in the second half from the penalty spot when Antonio Rudiger crashed into Jesus Rodriguez as he ran in on goal. Isco smashed home for his sixth goal across all competitions. Atletico Madrid held their nerve at the Metropolitano stadium to take a provisional lead in the title race. After substitute Alvarez struck, the Basque side hit the woodwork three times in the hunt for an equaliser. “It’s an incredibly important win, we knew it would not be easy,” Alvarez told Movistar . “We’re in the fight for the title, but we know there’s a long way to go, a lot of very important games are coming close together, but with hard work and humility we’ll achieve (our goals).” – AFP

their title defence, while Atletico Madrid took advantage to move top of the table. Diego Simeone’s side scraped a nervy 1-0 win against Athletic Bilbao, fourth, to lead Barcelona and Real Madrid by two points. For Betis, Isco scored the winner from the penalty spot against his former side Madrid, third, with Barca in action overnight against Real Sociedad and able to reclaim top spot with a win. Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti picked a strong line up, with no breathing room in the title race, despite the impending Champions League clash against rivals Atletico. “If we play like this on Tuesday (Wed 4am Malaysian time) we will not win,” said Ancelotti, whose side have one win in their last five Liga matches. The visitors took the lead at the Benito Villamarin stadium through Brahim Diaz but Betis struck back with a Johnny Cardoso header, as Real Madrid missed the suspended Jude Bellingham. Isco secured the Andalusian side a deserved victory with a penalty early in the second half. “It’s a big blow. We have to react,” continued Ancelotti. “We started well, but later we did not have the same level of commitment, the game got out of control against a side that played better than us and deserved to win.” Isco returned to action in December after missing several months with a broken leg and has hit top form in recent weeks. “About halfway through the happy with the win against the best team around these days,” said the playmaker, who won several major trophies with Real Madrid before departing in 2022. first half we stepped up our game, and I’m

4509 5145 3084 BOAR

RM524,798.50

RM320,000.00

970 050 + RABBIT

7 8 8 7 3 8 8 7 3 8 7 3 7 3

RM1,315,904.60

939 709 + RAT

2 0 6 5 2 6 7 9 1 5

RM1,811,506.00

073 705 + GOAT

628 961 815 735 730 298 517 070 907 404 733 091 918 178 015 197 446 146 920 423 523 641 983 452 422 308 479 366 944 630 287 672 226 655 408 850 958 567 438 978

2 6 3 1 7 0 6 3 1 7 0 3 1 7 0 1 7 0

2 6 3 1 7 2 6 3 1 2 6 3 2 6

7 0

4 23 25 26 27 48

050 709 705

23,503,550.63

10 18 21 40 44 52

RM845,040.90 050 + 709 + 705 709 + 705 + 050 050 + 705 + 709 705 + 050 + 709 709 + 050 + 705 705 + 709 + 050

9,439,563.56

10 12 28 32 39 46 30

4,034,952.32

517,740.74

dmcGO: All you need is at your fingertips!

Toto 4D Jackpot 1

Toto 5D RM269,844 RM3,617,683 Toto 4D Jackpot 2 RM150,000

Real Betis’ Adrian (left) and Marc Bartra celebrate after the match against Real Madrid yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

won on 01/03/2025 !