20/09/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | SEPT 20, 2025

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Real aiming to stay perfect Alonso out to extend winning run against impressive Espanyol R EAL MADRID have made a perfect start to life under new coach Xabi Alonso and are aiming to extend that run today (10.15pm Malaysian time) in La Liga when they host an Espanyol side who have also begun the season in impressive form. against Real Sociedad following Dean Huijsen’s red card. Real Madrid fans can expect rotations in Alonso’s line-up against Espanyol, with the coach keen to impress that he wants to keep all players involved.

SHORTS Late own goal rescues Leverkusen BAYER LEVERKUSEN snatched a 2-2 draw at FC Copenhagen in their Champions League opener yesterday, rescued by a Pantelis Hatzidiakos own goal in stoppage time. The Danish hosts got the perfect start after nine minutes when Jordan Larsson met Elias Achouri’s cross to score and light up the Parken Stadium. Leverkusen offered little in the first half, struggling to break down Copenhagen’s defence, while the home side created several chances, with only some fine goalkeeping from Mark Flekken preventing them doubling the lead. After the break, Leverkusen found more openings but were repeatedly denied by Copenhagen keeper Dominik Kotarski. But eight minutes from time Leverkusen pulled level from a free kick as Alejandro Grimaldo curled the ball over the wall into the net off the underside of the bar. The visitors’ relief was short lived, however, as Robert restored Copenhagen’s lead five minutes later with a precise low header from a cross. Leverkusen pressed for another equaliser and in stoppage time substitute Claudio Echeverri broke into the box and his attempted cross deflected off Hatzidiakos into the net. Frankfurt blitz sink Galatasaray EINTRACHT FRANKFURT fought back from conceding an early goal to convincingly beat Galatasaray in their first Champions League game of the season. In a superb atmosphere at Deutsche Bank Park, the visitors went ahead in the eighth minute when ex-Manchester City winger Leroy Sane won the ball in his own half, ran at the home defence and then set up Yunus Akgun to fire into the bottom corner. But three goals in a 12 minute spell at the end of the first half transformed the match. Ex-Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez was unlucky to score an own goal to make it 1-1. Turkey international Can Uzan, 19, scored against the Turkish champions just before half-time to put the hosts ahead. They scored again in the fifth minute of first-half injury time with a second own goal from Galatasaray. It became 4-1 midway through the second half thanks to Jonathan Burkardt’s header and Ansgar Knauff added a fifth after Elye Wahi had stolen the ball from defender Gabriel Sala. The victory leaves Eintracht Frankfurt top of the 36-team league phase after the first of eight match weeks.

Espanyol should offer another challenge after Manolo Gonzalez’s team’s solid start to the campaign. With wins over Atletico Madrid, Osasuna and Mallorca as well as a draw against Real Sociedad, the Pericos find themselves third in the table, level on 10 points with Barcelona and two behind leaders Real. “Madrid are a very difficult team (to face), especially at their stadium, but last season we beat them in our stadium,” said Espanyol forward Javi Puado. “We’re all moving in the same direction, the club, the fans, and the players, and it could be a very good season. “We’re not getting carried away, because it’s only been four matches, but if we’ve managed to do well (so far), it means we can continue doing well.” Elsewhere Barcelona, second, will look to keep the pressure on Madrid when they host Getafe on Sunday night, still at their 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff stadium as they wait for licenses to reopen their Nau Camp home. – AFP Cristian Chivu’s side opened their campaign with a promising win against Torino but have since faltered, losing to Udinese and Juventus. A 2-0 midweek Champions League win against Ajax Amsterdam in Amsterdam has lifted spirits, but pressure mounts as Inter seek to regain form domestically. Key striker Lautaro Martinez remains a doubt for Monday’s (2.45am) match after missing the Ajax encounter with a back issue. His absence would be a blow for Chivu’s men, who sit 11th in the league standings. City rivals AC Milan face a challenging trip to fourth-placed Udinese tomorrow (2.45am). Milan, currently fifth, trail Udinese by one point and are grappling with several injuries. Manager Massimiliano Allegri is monitoring fitness concerns for Mike Maignan, Rafael Leao and Strahinja Pavlovic, while summer signing Ardon Jashari remains sidelined with a leg injury sustained in August. Second-placed Juventus will travel to Hellas Verona today (midnight), aiming to continue their strong start under Igor Tudor. The Turin side have scored eight goals across their last two matches in all competitions, dispelling pre-season concerns over their attacking firepower.

Alonso benched Vinicius Junior against Marseille but could bring back the Brazilian forward today. “There will be moments for everyone – nobody should feel offended by being left on the bench,” said Alonso. One player likely to keep his place is French superstar Kylian Mbappe, who has four La Liga goals after a spectacular start to the season. With a brace of penalties against Marseille, he climbed to 50 goals for the club since arriving in 2024. Madrid will be without Trent Alexander Arnold after he suffered a hamstring injury, but Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga may make their returns from lay-offs. Both were named on the bench against Marseille but were not brought on as Madrid were forced to battle hard for the three points.

The Catalan minnows are one of four teams yet to taste defeat in the Spanish top flight, but have not beaten Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu since 1996. Los Blancos are the only team to win all four of their opening La Liga games and then they beat Marseille on Tuesday to kick off their Champions League campaign with a victory. Alonso said this was just the beginning and his team was still improving and finding their way. “We’re growing, and the players are getting a sense of purpose,” said the Spaniard. “We’re on the right track. And how we’ll be in three months’ time will be better than what we are now.” Madrid showed grit to beat Marseille after Dani Carvajal was sent off for a headbutt, just days after they played for an hour with ten men NAPOLI will aim to extend their flawless start to the Serie A season when they host promoted Pisa on Tuesday (2.45am), with Danish forward Rasmus Hojlund poised to lead the line once again after making an immediate impact in his debut. Hojlund, who joined Napoli during the close season following a turbulent spell at Manchester United, scored in the champions’ 3-1 victory at Fiorentina last week, seamlessly stepping into Antonio Conte’s system in place of the injured Romelu Lukaku. Since Lukaku is expected to be

Hojlund looks to fill Napoli void

Napoli’s Rasmus Hojlund (left) in action with Fiorentina’s Marin Pongracic during their Serie A match. – REUTERSPIC

sidelined until December, Hojlund should have ample opportunity to cement his place in the squad. With Napoli sitting atop the table with three wins from three matches, Tuesday’s fixture against Pisa appears straightforward. The visitors have

managed just one point this season, and the only

uncertainty lies in whether Conte will rotate his squad to preserve fitness of his players. Elsewhere in Serie A, Inter Milan will look to bounce back from consecutive league defeats when they face Sassuolo at home on Monday (2.45am).

Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic, who scored twice off the bench in the 4-4 draw with Borussia Dortmund, may once again start on

the bench, with Tudor favouring the trio of Jonathan David, Lois Openda and Kenan Yildiz. – Reuters

Dortmund on lookout for leaders as familiar cracks emerge BORUSSIA DORTMUND’S early promise is already being eroded by familiar failings in crucial moments just three games into the Bundesliga season. when striker Serhou Guirassy and defender Ramy Bensebaini openly tussled when both wanted to take a late penalty, forcing coach Niko Kovac to intervene.

no better opponent than their bunnies, Wolfsburg, a team they have had the better of for a decade. Dortmund have a remarkable recent record against the Wolves, particularly at home, where they have not lost since 2012. In their past four home games against Wolfsburg, Dortmund have won 4-0, 1-0, 6-0 and 6 1. Wolfsburg’s hopes of overturning the recent record could be boosted by the likely debut of Christian Eriksen. The 33-year-old former Tottenham and Manchester United midfielder said Thursday he was “fit and ready,” to play on Sunday. “If you ask me, then yes. The coach picks the team and decides who’s ready for the game – but I’m all set.” – AFP

Many of the same criticisms have been levelled at Dortmund in recent seasons: a team with talent and promise undermined by a lack of maturity. Dortmund were united in identifying the root of the problem in the aftermath of Tuesday’s game. Sporting director Sebastian Kehl said his side were “a bit naive in the last minutes,“ adding “to give away a sure victory right at the end is a bitter result.” Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel told reporters: “We need to finish the game cooly and with composure – we have to play more maturely.” If Dortmund are to respond, there is probably

Dortmund, who host Wolfsburg on Monday (1.30am), have already shown a worrying tendency of fading late this season. Leading 3-1 in their season opener at St Pauli with five minutes remaining, Dortmund conceded twice in three minutes and lost rookie centreback Filippo Mane to a red card. In the Champions League on Tuesday, Dortmund led three times away at Juventus – including 4-2 in the third minute of stoppage time – before allowing the Italians to snatch a 4-4 draw with two late goals. Dortmund’s lack of leadership was also evident