16/12/2025

SPORTS TUESDAY | DEC 16, 2025

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Breathing space for Alonso Rodrygo scrapes Real Madrid win at Alaves K YLIAN MBAPPE and Rodrygo Goes’s goals earned Real Madrid a tense 2-1 win at Alaves in La Liga yesterday to potentially keep home (in La Liga to come).” Alonso was able to bring his key player, Mbappe, back into the side after he could only watch the defeat by City from the bench because of a painful knee. made a fine save with his head, even if he knew little about it, to deny Pablo Ibanez from close range.

Late Kane penalty saves Bayern against Mainz HARRY KANE converted a penalty with three minutes remaining to save Bayern Munich’s blushes in a 2-2 home draw against last-placed Mainz in the Bundesliga yesterday. Mainz came from a goal down to snatch the lead midway through the second half thanks to an excellent Lee Jae-sung header, putting Bayern on track for a first league defeat since March. So often Bayern’s saviour this season, Kane won and converted the penalty to keep Vincent Kompany’s side undefeated and extend their lead atop the table to nine points. Kane told DAZN Bayern would have to take the draw “on the chin”, adding: “We conceded a really silly goal before half-time and that changes the momentum. “When you play against teams who are fighting for every point, they can defend well, they can defend the box, they can make saves, make blocks – and that’s what happened.” Borussia Dortmund’s draw at Freiburg had given Bayern a chance to go further ahead of their rivals with victory against Mainz, who have just one win all season and had coach Urs Fischer making his league debut in the dugout. Bayern’s teenage forward Lennart Karl continued his impressive form, turning in a Serge Gnabry cutback to give the hosts the lead on 29 minutes. Kacper Potulski levelled things up when he headed in a William Boving free-kick before half-time. Lee then headed Mainz into an unlikely lead. As he did when scoring to snatch Bayern a draw against Union Berlin in November – the only previous time the defending champions had dropped points this season – England captain Kane was again the late difference-maker for the Bavarians. Kane went down in the box under a challenge and coolly converted for his 18th league goal this season and his 29th for Bayern in all competitions. Borussia Dortmund missed a chance to climb past RB Leipzig into second, conceding an equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Freiburg after Jobe Bellingham saw red. Ramy Bensebaini’s 31st-minute goal had Dortmund in front but Bellingham was sent off for a professional foul shortly after half-time. The hosts made the most of their one-man advantage, camping out in Dortmund’s half and levelling things up thanks to an acrobatic Lucas Hoeler strike. “We’re definitely disappointed,” Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel told DAZN . “If the red card doesn’t happen, the result would look different. We had the game under control and were very dominant.” – AFP Lens claim lead in Ligue 1 LENS leapfrogged reigning French and European champions Paris Saint-Germain at the top of Ligue 1 with an Odsonne Edouard-inspired 2-0 win over crisis club Nice yesterday. Pierre Sage’s upstarts have been the surprise packages of the season so far in France and entered the weekend top of the pile until PSG’s nervy 3-2 victory over lowly Metz on Saturday provisionally returned the Qatari-backed club to the summit of the table. But Lens once again took over top spot with their sixth consecutive win in the league to move to 37 points, one ahead of PSG, and ensure that they will sit atop the Ligue 1 tree over the winter break. “We’ve been defending (top spot) for the last three matchdays and (it was) a great performance that we’ll try to maintain,” Lens coach Sage said. “We’ll be celebrating Christmas in first place, which is wonderful for everyone in the area.” Former Celtic and Crystal Palace striker Edouard scored a brace with headers either side of the break to set Lens on their way. Marseille moved back into third with a 1-0 win over Monaco at the Stade Velodrome. Mason Greenwood scored the winner in the 82nd minute after Monaco had earlier had two goals disallowed in controversial fashion. “I don’t want to discuss refereeing decisions,“ Monaco boss Sebastien Pocognoli said. “Referees are colleagues, and I don’t want to waste energy criticising colleagues. It’s part of what drags us down, but that’s the way it is.” – AFP

Los Blancos were dangerous again soon after the interval, with Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera saving well from Mbappe and then Vinicius Junior. Real came to rue those misses when Vicente pulled Alaves level after 68 minutes. The forward got in behind Antonio Rudiger, controlled former Madrid midfielder Antonio Blanco’s chipped pass and whipped a shot past Courtois. Eduardo Coudet’s side almost took the lead when Vicente’s low cross from the right was nudged wide by Toni Martinez, who was nudged off-balance by Raul Asencio’s pressure. Instead, Madrid pulled back in front, with Vinicius breaking in down the left and crossing for Rodrygo to finish from six yards out. Vinicius had appeals for a penalty turned down as he fell under a challenge from Nahuel Tenaglia, and Bellingham came close in stoppage time as Madrid tried in vain to ease their nerves by putting the game to bed. “I thought it was a clear penalty, Vini was going very fast, there was contact… it surprises me that it didn’t go to VAR,” said Alonso. – AFP

coach Xabi Alonso in his job. Second-placed Madrid trimmed league leaders Barcelona’s advantage back to four points and recorded only their third victory in the last nine games across all competitions. After a home defeat by Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday, Spanish media reported that anything but a victory would cost Alonso his position. After Mbappe’s superb opener, Carlos Vicente pulled Alaves level in the second half, but Rodrygo secured the visitors a much-needed victory at Mendizorroza stadium. “It was a hard-fought game, we competed well, got in front and then lost a bit of control,” Alonso told reporters. “Alaves play with a lot of intensity, it’s hard to dominate throughout. “We came here to win and we got the three points.” The coach said, as he did after the City game, that he has the support of his squad. “We’re all together in this. One game isn’t enough to change the dynamic,” he said. “Now before the winter break we have a cup game on Wednesday, and a game at

The coach also handed a debut to Victor Valdepenas at left-back, with both Alvaro Carreras and Fran Garcia suspended, and Ferland Mendy one of several players out injured. Mbappe appeared to be feeling his knee and also hobbling in the first few minutes but, despite that, was the game’s most influential player. The forward had a shot deflected wide and then fired narrowly over as Alaves sat deep and tried to keep the 15-time European champions at bay. By the time Mbappe opened the scoring in the 25th minute, his discomfort seemed to have cleared up. Released by Jude Bellingham, Mbappe drove towards goal at full tilt and whipped a shot into the top right corner for his 17th league goal of the campaign. England international Bellingham then blasted home from close range but his strike was ruled out for handball. Needing to fight back, Alaves moved on to the front foot and took control of the game before the break, almost pulling level. Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois

Inter go top as Napoli stumble

Inter’s Lautaro Martinez (centre) celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates during yesterday’s Serie A match against Genoa at the Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris. – REUTERSPIC

INTER MILAN climbed to the top of Serie A yesterday after a 2-1 win at Genoa and a little help from their closest rivals. The Italian summit was there for the taking after AC Milan were held to a 2-2 draw by Sassuolo before champions Napoli were beaten 1-0 at Udinese earlier in the day. That left the door open for Inter, who grabbed their opportunity at Genoa courtesy of goals in either half from German defender Yann Bisseck and captain Lautaro Martinez. Genoa’s Portuguese forward Vitinha scored in the 68th minute to set up a nervy ending but Inter eventually held on to go one point clear of Milan with Napoli a point

old defender added a second after the break, striking from a tight angle only for Lauriente to seal the away team a share of the points. “We played a good match,” Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri said. “People might think we dropped two points, I think we gained a point that could be important,” he told DAZN . “We still need to improve, because we’re conceding too many goals. But we’re in the top four, that was our objective at the start of the season.” In the day’s late match, Juan Cabal scored the only goal of the game as Juventus moved up to fifth with a 1-0 win at Bologna. – AFP

But coach Antonio Conte said he had “nothing to reproach my players for”. “In our emergency situation, they’re giving everything. They just need to show more character, and some spite.” Napoli and Milan had gone into the weekend level on points, with the northerners in the driving seat on goal difference. In Milan, French forward Armand Lauriente secured the 77th minute leveller for Sassuolo, who had taken an early lead via Ismael Kone. Milan fought back with Davide Bartesaghi equalising after the half hour. Having opened his Serie A scoring account, the 19-year

further back in third.

“We showed character because it was a difficult match. These are three very important points,” said Inter coach Cristian Chivu. Earlier, Napoli squandered the chance to move to the top of the table when their three match winning run in the league came to a halt. Despite having two goals disallowed, Udinese still stole the show thanks to Jurgen Ekkelenkamp’s decisive 73rd minute goal. Injury-ravaged Napoli will be feeling this was an opportunity missed as a win would have lifted them top of the table following AC Milan’s slip.