06/03/2025

SPORTS THURSDAY | MAR 6, 2025

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Diaz earns Real lead Madrid edge Atletico in Champions League derby clash R EAL MADRID claimed a small edge on city rivals Atletico Madrid with a tight 2-1 Champions League last-16 first leg win yesterday. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti demanded his side show a better attitude and more commitment than during their La Liga defeat by Real Betis on Saturday and his charges delivered.

Sociedad aim to increase Devils’ misery

REAL SOCIEDAD are hoping to forget their struggles this season and compound Premier League giants Manchester United’s when they meet tomorrow (1.45am) in the Europa League last 16. The Basque side host Ruben Amorim’s tormented Red Devils in San Sebastian before the second leg at Old Trafford next week. Real Sociedad suffered a 4-0 thumping at La Liga leaders Barcelona on Sunday, continuing a poor domestic campaign, although they were missing several regular starters and were reduced to 10 men early on.

Madrid either.” Atletico coach Simeone was disappointed that his side failed to capitalise on the control they had for long periods of yesterday’s match but was happy with how his team reacted to conceding an early goal “We should have taken better advantage when we had control of the game,” Simeone said. “It’s difficult to take risks so that with any counter-attack you end up losing the game. We controlled that situation very well, but we were missing (something) in the final metres.” Simeone remained hopeful for a comeback at the Metropolitano, calling on the fans for support. “That last play gives us hope for what’s to come. We will need our fans’ energy to turn the tie around.” Atletico midfielder Marcos Llorente

Julian Alvarez levelled for Atletico after Rodrygo Goes sent the hosts ahead, but Brahim Diaz stroked home the winner for the record 15 time winners to delight the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. “I think we played a complete game today, (my) goal was good and it earned us the win, but it’s not over,” Diaz told Movistar . “There’s still the second leg and we have to give everything, like we did today.” Diego Simeone’s Atletico, who lost in the 2014 and 2016 finals against their bitter rivals, kept stars Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe quiet but still came up short. The Rojiblancos played it safe in the final stages, seeming to accept their one-goal disadvantage for the second leg derby clash at home next week. “For a moment we had the game under control, but we knew that it would not be an easy match, because they were at home and they have great players,” said Alvarez. “But we know there are 90 minutes to go … it’s one goal, and another game, at home with our fans.”

“It was a difficult game as usual. It always is against Atleti. In the first half we lost too many balls. We had unnecessary losses,” Ancelotti said, “Julian (Alvarez) scored. In the second half we were better. We were able to get the lead again and we held on. “The initial plan was to play on the wings, with Vini (Vinicius) and Rodrygo. It went well in the first play and then we lost patience. “We worked, we had control of the game. We pushed hard. But it was not the idea to press, but to be compact. And the team was compact throughout the game.” Ancelotti expects a difficult match at the Metropolitano next week, but believes his team is the favourites to advance to the round of 16. “We have achieved a small advantage and we are eager to go through. It will be difficult in the return leg. “Atleti will press a little more, but it will be even. The quality of both is very high. It is a round of 16 tie, but it could be a semifinal or a final. “We are not happy to play this tie against Atleti and they are not happy to play against Real

“It’s in the past now and we have to prepare as best as we can for the game against United,” said coach Imanol Alguacil. Sitting ninth in La Liga the Europa

added: “We’re alive (in the tie) and we have to correct the mistakes we made and go for it in the second leg.” – AFP/Agencies

League represents their best hope of silverware this season, as is also the case for United, who

flunked out of the FA Cup on penalties against Fulham on Sunday. La Real are also in the Copa del Rey semifinals but a 1-0 home defeat by Real

Redemption for Mings Ű BY JONATHAN VEAL

match we played here. Of course we have to correct something we didn’t do well today here for the next week against Bruges.” Emery insisted it is not job done, despite Villa’s clear advantage going into next week’s second leg in Villa Park. “We are not in the quarterfinal,” he added. “There’s still 90 minutes to play, we’re ready in case we need extra-time and penalties because I know how difficult it is in each match and how we can change one match in 90 minutes. “The players, I’m sure they

UNAI EMERY praised Tyrone Mings after his redemption against Club Brugge helped Aston Villa put one foot in the Champions League quarterfinals. Just 118 days after Mings inexplicably picked up a goal kick in the penalty area to send Villa to defeat in November’s league phase match against the same opposition, he redeemed himself with a sensational goal-saving clearance which swung the balance of the match. It was finely poised at 1-1 after Leon Bailey’s opener after 135 seconds, which Mings set up, was cancelled out by Maxim De Cuyper. The centrehalf’s intervention to divert Hans Vanaken’s goalbound header proved pivotal as Brandon Mechele’s 82nd-minute own goal followed by Marco Asensio’s penalty six minutes later saw Villa grab the tie with both hands. “It is very important getting experiences. The first experience he had here was not good but today he reacted fantastic, playing focused, serious, saving one action that was a goal,” Emery said. “Of course I know the difficulties in football and how we can (have) experiences and how we can get better and analyse everything deeply and try and correct it, that is my only target with the players. “We corrected something from the

the former Brighton player. “(But) we’re starting at 0-0 next week. It’ll be tough but we’ve also got our strengths. We want to win there and keep going.” For Lille, the result boosts their hopes of reaching a first-ever Champions League quarterfinal. “We played a good game today, especially in the second half,” said Lille coach Bruno Genesio. “The 1-1 draw has put us in a very good position for the second leg. But we will have to deliver a very big game at home if we want to reach the quarterfinals.” – AFP/Reuters Madrid in the first leg leaves them in a tough spot before the return in April. With the Europa League final taking place at the home of their bitter rivals Athletic Bilbao, Alguacil’s side have all the stimulus they need. “It motivates Athletic for sure, and us too,” said club spokesman Xabi Prieto at the group stage draw in August. Luka Sucic and Spain’s Euro 2024 final hero Mikel Oyarzabal should return after knocks to face Manchester United. Live-wire winger Takefusa Kubo missed the defeat at Barcelona through suspension and will be fresh for tomorrow’s clash. After Aritz Elustondo’s early red card against Barcelona, Alguacil said he made decisions with the Man United Europa League tie in mind, including taking off key midfielder Martin Zubimendi at halftime, as he was suffering some discomfort. “I thought about minimising the risks and about the United game, knowing that it was very difficult to get anything positive (against Barca),” explained Alguacil. Manchester United are unbeaten in the Europa League this season but the visit to the Reale Arena is arguably their toughest test in the competition yet. “It’s going to be a tough one, a Spanish team that plays brilliant football, very, very good players up front, very (high) quality coming out from the back,” said United playmaker Bruno Fernandes. – AFP

have experiences before as well with matches like that and we have to respect the opponent always. “There are still 90 minutes to play. They won against Atalanta 3 1 and they compete very well. “We need to watch the match again with the players to understand the

Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings celebrates after the Champions League last-16 first leg match against Club Brugge yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

difficulties we can face against teams in Europe. “I am happy but calm, getting balance. There are still 90 minutes to play.” – The Independent/AFP

Dortmund held by Lille in Champions League first leg

BORUSSIA DORTMUND were held to a 1-1 home draw by Lille in their Champions League last-16 first leg yesterday after a second-half equaliser from visiting midfielder Hakon Haraldsson. Last season’s losing finalists were in control after Karim Adeyemi opened the scoring on 22 minutes, thumping in a low shot from the edge of the box. But Lille striker Jonathan David took advantage of some sleepy Dortmund defending in the 68th minute, threading a ball through to Haraldsson, who was one-on-one with goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and poked home.

high – we believe we can stay in the competition”. Midfielder Pascal Gross, who had a goal ruled out for offside, said

“The second half was not good at all. Too little intensity off the ball and too little ball possession,”Dortmund captain Emre Can told Amazon Prime . “We didn’t push past the pain barrier – and that’s what you need to do against Lille. They’re a good team – they’re here in the last 16 for a reason. “We need to be more courageous – it wasn’t good enough today. We can do better and we will.” Despite the disappointment, Can said Dortmund would “travel there (Lille) riding

D o r t m u n d “lacked intensity”. “We lost the ball too often – it was simply not good,” said