24/05/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | MAY 24, 2025 29 PSG target more silverware Enrique eyes French Cup ahead of Champions League final P ARIS SAINT-GERMAIN step up their preparations for the Champions League final against Inter Milan as Luis Enrique’s side take on rank outsiders Reims in full force of that.” Victory against Reims at the Stade de France would allow PSG to repeat their French league and cup double triumph from last season, during Luis Enrique’s first campaign in charge. twice won the French Cup during their glory days in the 1950s but had not got this far since 1977, when Saint-Etienne beat them to take the trophy. Yet the occasion has been soured, even completely ruined, after they dropped into the relegation playoff place on the final day of the Ligue 1 season last weekend.

Stuttgart seek new era, Bielefeld out to make history WHILE victory in today’s German Cup final would confirm Stuttgart’s return to the Bundesliga elite, for opponents Arminia Bielefeld it would represent a sensational breakthrough. Stuttgart, five-time league champions and three-time German Cup winners, have rebounded from years in the wilderness under coach Sebastian Hoeness. Bielefeld, meanwhile, are chasing the first major trophy in their 120-year history just days after sealing promotion from the German third tier. Only once has a team from outside the top flight won the German Cup: second-division Hannover in 1992. Even though their youth academy continued to churn out talent, Stuttgart had fallen away after winning their last Bundesliga title in 2006-07. Stuttgart sat dead last in the Bundesliga and were staring at a third relegation in a decade, when they appointed Hoeness in April 2023. Hoeness, the son of former West Germany international Dieter and the nephew of Bayern Munich powerbroker Uli, kept Stuttgart in the top flight via a relegation playoff. A season later, he guided the club to second place – 40 points better than the previous season – and back into the Champions League. This season, Stuttgart finished in mid-table as they juggled European commitments and their German Cup run, but the future remains bright. Bielefeld have never before made the German Cup final and are just the fourth side from the third division to qualify for the occasion. “Bielefeld is not in the final for nothing,” Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav said. “We’re not underestimating them. You can get lucky once, maybe twice, but not four times. “We’re approaching the game as if we’re playing Bayern or Real Madrid.” Raphinha extends Barca contract BARCELONA winger Raphinha signed a contract extension until 2028 yesterday after a spectacular season. The Brazilian, whose previous deal was set to expire in 2027, was vital as Barcelona won a domestic treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. “Barcelona and Raphinha have reached an agreement for the renewal of his contract, which will link him to the club until June 30, 2028,” said the Catalan giants in a statement. Raphinha, a candidate to win the Ballon d’Or , has scored 34 goals and provided 25 assists in 56 matches across all competitions. The 28-year-old is the joint top goalscorer in the Champions League with 13, but Barcelona were knocked out in a thrilling semi-final tie against Inter Milan. He netted a hattrick in Barca’s group stage win over Bayern Munich and a brace in the recent Clasico win over Real Madrid which took Barca to the verge of their La Liga conquest. Raphinha’s contract renewal follows coach Hansi Flick’s on Wednesday, with the German penning a new deal until 2027. Teenage winger Lamine Yamal, 17, is also expected to sign a new contract in the coming weeks.

today’s French Cup final, a showpiece occasion which is not the priority for either participant. Winning European club football’s biggest prize has been the number one aim for PSG since the takeover of the club by Qatar Sports Investments almost 15 years ago. Everything else is secondary in comparison and especially now that they stand just 90 minutes away from lifting the Champions League trophy for the very first time. However, Luis Enrique knows that retaining the French Cup and thereby completing a clean sweep of the domestic honours can only boost confidence ahead of the clash with Inter at Munich’s Allianz Arena on May 31. “Honestly my focus is on both matches, the French Cup final and the Champions League,” the Spanish coach insisted this week during a press conference at PSG’s training base which was organised with the latter event in mind. “The best thing is that there is nothing special for us to prepare. We have got this far by playing our football and now it is all about revealing the

While they have never won the Champions League, they have won the French Cup a record 15 times, including seven times in the last 10 seasons. “We need to take one thing at a time. Before thinking about the Champions League our thoughts are on the French Cup final because it is important to win every trophy,” said Ousmane Dembele, PSG’s top scorer this season with 33 goals in all competitions. PSG finished the Ligue 1 season 19 points clear of runners-up Marseille, a gulf that confirms how far ahead of the rest they are in France. Their French Cup run, however, has been kind, throwing up four successive ties against lower-league opposition since a win on penalties at Lens in December. Now they take on a side who are hanging on to their top-flight status by a thread and whose own focus is also elsewhere just now. Reaching the final was huge for Reims, who par-5 first and a birdie on the second but he followed that with a bogey on the par-4 third. His back nine was unspectacular with a birdie on the 11th and a bogey on the 16th and he conceded that he had found it tough off the tee. “It was a challenging day. I didn’t hit the ball in the fairway a lot. Around this golf course you have to be in the fairway. “I did a good job of posting a score, and hopefully I get out tomorrow in some softer conditions and take advantage of that,” he said. “I tried to do my best to stay patient today. It was a grind of a day. The winds were pretty gusty, and it was challenging. The greens got firm. “It doesn’t look like we’re going to get much rain this week, so they should continue to firm up, REAL MADRID’S Croatian midfielder Luka Modric said yesterday he would leave the Spanish giants after the Club World Cup this summer. “Everything in life has a start and an end… on Saturday I will play my last match at the Santiago Bernabeu,” said Modric, 39, in a post on Instagram , as he reaches the end of his contract with Los Blancos . “I’m leaving with a full heart, filled with pride, gratitude and unforgettable memories. “And even though, after the Club World Cup, I’m no longer going to wear this shirt on the pitch, I will always be a Madrid fan.” The Croatian has played nearly 600 games for Real Madrid since joining from Tottenham in 2012, winning the Champions League six times, the Copa del Rey twice and four La Liga titles among 28 trophies in total. Modric struggled at the start of his Madrid career after a move worth around €35 million (RM158m) but quickly found his footing and developed into one of the world’s best midfielders. Modric, who became Madrid captain last summer, won the Ballon d’Or in 2018 for his performances with Madrid and also his country, as Croatia finished as runners-up at the World Cup in Russia. “Throughout these years I’ve experienced incredible moments, comebacks that seemed impossible, finals, celebrations and

The trip to the national stadium therefore comes in between the two legs of the playoff tie against second-tier Metz, in which they must prevail if they are to remain in the elite next season. The first leg on Wednesday ended in a 1-1 draw, with Reims coming from behind to put themselves in a good position before the return at home on Thursday. Coach Samba Diawara is now hopeful his team can simply go out and enjoy the final with the pressure off. “We need to make sure we recover well and despite everything try to enjoy the final. We can’t sacrifice such an occasion,” he said after Wednesday’s game. “I want my players to savour it, really make the most of the final, without compromising our chances for what follows. I don’t want anyone getting injured.” – AFP magical nights at the Bernabeu,” continued Modric. “We won it all and I was very happy. Very, very happy.” Modric signed a one-year contract extension until June 30, 2025 last summer, but may stay a few days beyond that if Madrid progress from their Club World Cup group as expected. The tournament finishes on July 13. “Real Madrid and our captain Luka Modric have agreed to end an unforgettable era… after the Club World Cup that our team will compete in from June 18 in the United States,” said Madrid in a statement. “Real Madrid want to show their gratitude and affection to someone who is one of the biggest legends at our club and in world football… “Modric is one of the five players who, in the whole of football history, has managed to win six European Cups, and he is the player with the most trophies in 123 years of Real Madrid’s existence.” The midfielder scored 43 goals for Madrid in 590 games, and is the club’s ninth-highest appearance maker. Former striker Raul is first with 741 games. “Modric will always stay in the hearts of all Madrid fans as a unique and exemplary footballer, who has always represented Madrid’s values,” said Madrid president Florentino Perez. “Madrid fans and all fans in the world fell in love with his football, his legacy will remain forever.” – AFP and the golf course should be real nice by the weekend,” he added. While the crowds flocked to Scheffler, Pak went about his business superbly with his bogey-free round including an eagle on the par-4 10th, his opening hole. Pak holed out from 147 yards to give himself the perfect start. “It was just like a perfect nine-iron. The wind was off the left, and I just tried to hit a 145 shot. I actually pushed it a little bit because I was aiming left of it, and it kind of just trickled in,” he said. “We didn’t really see it, but saw a couple of guys behind the green throw their hands in the air. It was kind of nice to see that fall in,” he added. – AFP

Modric to leave Los Blancos after Club World Cup

Luka Modric. – AFPPIC

Pak leads as Scottie eyes third straight win WORLD NO. 1 Scottie Scheffler began his attempt for a third straight win with a solid 2-under round of 68 at the PGA Tour’s Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas yesterday.

After the first round at the Colonial Country Club, American John Pak held a three-shot lead after he carded a 7-under 63. Scheffler arrived back in his home state after winning the second major of the season, the PGA Championship, by five strokes on Sunday. The two-time Masters winner had gone into that tournament on the back of an eight-stroke win at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and victory this week would make him the first golfer to collect such a hattrick since Dustin Johnson in 2017. Scheffler’s round began with an eagle on the