10/03/2025

MONDAY | MAR 10, 2025

30

SPORTS

‘Football has surprises in store’ Enrique bullish as PSG lay down marker ahead of Liverpool clash

O USMANE DEMBELE scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain warmed up for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Liverpool by winning 4-1 away to Rennes in Ligue 1 with a much-changed team on Saturday. Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos had PSG 2-0 up in Brittany before Lilian Brassier pulled one back for Rennes, but Dembele netted twice in stoppage time to seal the victory for the visitors. The result allowed the Ligue 1 leaders to maintain

their unbeaten record domestically this season. The Parisians are now a huge 16 points clear at the top, with closest challengers Marseille losing 1-0 at home to Lens in a later matchy. Luis Enrique’s PSG side were ultimately comfortable winners despite the coach making eight changes to his line-up in between the two legs of the Liverpool tie, with the return at Anfield coming up on Wednesday (4am). “I think we’ll be in the best

the (first-leg) game but as we have analysed the game and after beating Rennes, which is a difficult team, it makes us hopeful. “I repeat, we have nothing to lose, which makes us a more dangerous team than we usually are. “It was difficult but we put in a serious performance and it gives us lots of hope before going to Liverpool,” the Spaniard added of his team’s display. Luis Enrique also placed his trust in PSG’s tactical versatility and praised his

“Our strength as a team is that we don’t just limit ourselves to one role, we are very good at having the ball in the opposition half but we are also good going deep with the opposition pressing; I like the balance in the team.” And given they are on track to exit Europe’s elite club competition, PSG boss Enrique believes it can be to their advantage. “What is magical and wonderful about football is that it is unpredictable. If the team that played the best or the one with the biggest budget always won, it would be very boring,” he said. “Football has surprises in store.” – AFP/Reuters/Agencies

players’ strength of mind in their quest for titles this season. “I have to emphasise the mentality of my players, that all of them, whether they play or not, are competitive and want to fight for everything. It’s a pleasure for me to coach them,” he said.

possible shape for the Liverpool game. We’ve got nothing to lose. Our only objective is victory and that’s what we’re going for,” the Spaniard told reporters. “Football allows for surprises; it is true that we were down and sad after

09/03/2025 (SUN)

5937/2025

4788 1954 2546

Draw Date: 09/03/25 (Sun)

Draw No: 5884/25 Venue: WISMA GENTING, KL

2035 5324 8421 9313 5601

2002 8349 8442 1376 6970

4568 9396 2035 8911 4130

8388 6257 6269 9214 5972

1066 5697 2045

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2647+ 0740 3440+ 2305 4009+ 5512 7171+ 8027 5918 + 8549

5,140,402.55

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4788 4788 1954

2546 2546 1954

2546 2546 1954

Rennes’ Azor Matusiwa (left) and Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele fight for the ball during their Ligue 1 match. – AFPPIC

289,123.23

RM7,606,222.10

1066+ 5697 1066+ 2045 5697+ 2045

5697+ 1066 2045+ 1066 2045+ 5697

4788 1954 2546 DOG

SHORTS

points clear of the automatic relegation placings. “There are no excuses – we lost,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said, adding “even with 10 men, we should at least have the expectation of avoiding defeat.” Harry Kane told reporters Bayern “had a chance to go 11 points clear, (but) we can’t dwell on it”, adding the loss would put “fire in our belly” ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Leverkusen. Inter survive Monza scare INTER MILAN extended their lead at the top of Serie A after a laborious 3-2 victory over bottom side Monza yesterday. The reigning Italian champions pulled four points clear of second-placed Napoli who host Fiorentina overnight. Big favourites against a team that have only picked up 14 points this campaign, the hosts conceded two goals in the first half. Although Marko Arnautovic reduced the deficit just before the break and Inter then monopolised play, it was not until the 64th minute that Hakan Calhanoglu equalised. Argentine captain Lautaro Martinez proved decisive in the 77th minute to serve up his team’s victory with a header slightly deflected into goal by Monza’s Greek defender Giorgos Kyriakopoulos “In Serie A, all matches are complicated, we had 30 or 31 shots on goal, our victory was deserved. My players kept their calm and remained lucid,” said Inter coach Simone Inzaghi. City rivals AC Milan experienced a match with an almost similar scenario away at lowly Lecce. Christian Pulisic scored twice to avoid the humiliation of a fourth straight Serie A defeat with a come-from-behind 3-2 win.

RM121,737.50

Barca match postponed after doctor dies

BARCELONA’S La Liga match against Osasuna was postponed yesterday after one of the club’s first team doctors died. “Barcelona is sorry to announce the sad news of the death of the first team doctor, Carles Minarro Garcia, this afternoon,” said the club in a statement. “For this reason, the match between Barcelona and Osasuna has been postponed until a later date.” “I still can’t believe it, a big hug to the family and friends of Carles,” wrote Barcelona midfielder Pedri in a post on social media network Instagram . The doctor, 53, leaves behind a wife and two children, said Barcelona president Joan Laporta. “This is incredibly painful news for Barcelona, it has left us heartbroken, in shock, because it was so sudden,” said Laporta. Bayern escape shock loss A 10-man Bayern Munich got away with a shock 3-2 home defeat to Bochum yesterday after title chasers Bayer Leverkusen were beaten 2-0 by Werder Bremen. Despite the loss, just Bayern’s second of the season, the Bavarians still hold an eight point lead over defending champions Leverkusen with nine games to play. With an eye on Wednesday’s (4am) return leg in the Champions League last 16 against Leverkusen, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany named a heavily changed XI, including leaving striker Harry Kane on the bench. Bochum’s surprise victory, their first win in Munich since 1991, took them three

RM350,000.00

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RM1,345,904.60

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9,773,530.05

3 7 26 27 45 50

48

HSSB 1+3D J1 RM927,266.50 and J2 RM681,746.70 won on 8/3/25!

4,196,617.78 100,000.00