22/12/2025

SPORTS MONDAY | DEC 22, 2025

30

Juventus close in on Serie A leaders Inter

JUVENTUS are creeping back into the Serie A title discussion after deservedly beating Roma 2-1 yesterday and moving four points behind league leaders Inter Milan. Francisco Conceicao and Lois Openda scored the goals which decided an engaging encounter in Turin as Juve claimed a second big win in as many matches after beating Bologna the previous weekend. Juve stay fifth on 29 points but

the Milan clubs and Napoli this season, suggesting that they are not ready to fight for the Scudetto even if they are only three points from the summit. “We’re at the beginning and we have a strong club behind us, and the squad has a base of players who showed they were of the level required in all of those big matches,“ added Gasperini. “I think we can build something on what we have now.” – AFP

have now lost three of their last four matches in Italy’s top flight. “We were lacking in accuracy when it came to the final pass but I’d like to focus on some of the performances today,” said Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini who remained upbeat. “It’s not easy to play here but this is a good team with a strong base, I’m convinced that we can do good things.” Roma have narrowly lost to Juve,

onto the next one.” Luciano Spalletti’s Juve have played a game more than Inter, champions Napoli and AC Milan who occupy the top three places and will play their matches from this round of fixtures next month, due to the Italian Super Cup which is being held in Saudi Arabia. Roma created very little at the Allianz Stadium beyond Tommaso Baldanzi’s tap-in 15 minutes from the end, and the capital city outfit

are only one point behind fourth paced Roma who sit in the last Champions League spot and suffered a sixth league defeat of the season. “I think we deserved to win, we knew that today’s match was important. “And we did what we set out to do – we won,” said Conceicao. “We’re up there after winning these two important matches but we need to get our heads straight

‘It’s an honour’ Mbappe matches Ronaldo record as Madrid beat Sevilla

6064/2025

21/12/2025 (SUN)

1326 2538 3666

4867 4083 0522 2179 8005

8124 0369 5495 9409 8555

0943 4208 9082 7370 8374

5162 3924 6363 0748 5964

Draw Date: 21/12/25 (Sun)

Draw No: 6011/25 Venue: WISMA GENTING, KL

8540 2363 1271

2,790,701.73

0204+ 7185 5946+ 8740 8807+ 0513 7231+ 0709 0005+ 5111

3667+ 7142 0426+ 1554 0116 + 0264 2499+ 1286 9638+ 8117

3666 3666 2538

1326 1326 2538

1326 2538 1326

3666 3666 2538

143,763.95

8

RM18,686,980.70

Kylian Mbappe (left) performs the ‘Siu’ celebration alongside Cristiano Ronaldo after equalling CR7’s club record for goals in a calendar year during Real Madrid’s La Liga match against Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

8540+ 2363 8540+ 1271 2363+ 1271

2363+ 8540 1271+ 8540 1271+ 2363

1326 2538 3666 RABBIT

RM190,425.10

K YLIAN MBAPPE matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record for goals in a calendar year and Jude Bellingham also scored as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 yesterday in La Liga. French superstar Mbappe levelled Ronaldo’s tally of 59 goals in 2013 by stroking home a late penalty, after Bellingham sent Madrid ahead with a first half header. The victory allowed Los Blancos , second, to cut the gap on leaders Barcelona to one point before the Catalans visit Villarreal overnight. “To do like Cristiano did, my idol, the best player in Real Madrid’s history and a world great, it’s an honour for me,” said Mbappe, who turned 27 on Saturday. Gaining a third consecutive win across all competitions, after managing just two in the previous eight games, marginally eases the pressure on coach Xabi Alonso even though the performance was still underwhelming. “We’ve got some time now to analyse and reflect where we are now,” Alonso told reporters ahead of the winter break. “We want to do better, we’re self-critical, we got the three points and now we’ll use this time and try to start the year better.” Sevilla, who thrashed champions Barcelona 4-1 in October, started strongly with veteran Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez heavily involved. Odysseas Vlachodimos made a fine save to thwart Fran Garcia at the other end, and as the minutes ticked by Madrid began to find more of a foothold. Bellingham headed the hosts in front at the Santiago Bernabeu after Rodrygo Goes whipped in a dangerous free-kick. The Brazilian forward was booked for diving before the break as he tumbled in the

box under little pressure. Sanchez landed the ball on the roof of Thibaut Courtois’s net before the break with an acrobatic effort. Sevilla coach Matias Almeyda was sent off at half-time for dissent, but his team plugged away in search of an equaliser regardless. Courtois twice denied Isaac Romero early in the second half, while Mbappe intensified his search to emulate Ronaldo’s record. Sevilla defender Marcao clumsily slid in to foul Bellingham after 67 minutes and was sent off for a second yellow card, hampering his side’s chances of adding to Alonso’s struggles. Eventually Mbappe got the goal he craved from the penalty spot, after Juanlu clumsily brought down Rodrygo. The forward sent Vlachodimos the wrong way as he stroked in his 59th of the year, to match Ronaldo’s record. Mbappe copied Ronaldo’s trademark celebration and said it was a nod to the Portuguese great, Madrid’s all-time top goalscorer. “I wanted to give him a wink because he’s always been kind to me,” said Mbappe. “He was my idol as a kid, I have a very good relationship with him, he’s a friend now.” Madrid were awarded another penalty when Bellingham went down in the box but it was ruled out after a VAR review showed Sevilla defender Oso got the ball. “Scoring 59 goals is not easy, he’s got quality and talent – it’s hard to stop him in training,” said Courtois, who called on the whole team to take a step forward next year. “Hopefully 2026 comes with trophies, but for that we have to improve our level,” he added. – AFP

RM241,388.80

048 540 + GOAT

7 4 7 8 5 4 7 8 5 7 8 5 8 5

RM710,000.00

022 363 + DRAGON

8 9 2 8 0 9 8 1 3 9

RM813,339.00

591 271 + DOG

780 204 087 185 393 667 017 142 915 946 088 740 150 426 111 554 118 807 650 513 690 116 810 264 897 231 040 709 192 499 891 286 640 005 195 111 979 638 628 117

8 4 8 4 2 1 4 8 4 2 1 8 4 2 1 4 2 1

8 4 8 4 2 8 4 8 4 8 4 8 8 4

2 1

8 16 18 20 54 58

540 363 271

29,921,286.66

1 33 41 42 45 52

RM802,868.00 540 + 363 + 271 363 + 271 + 540 540 + 271 + 363 271 + 540 + 363 363 + 540 + 271 271 + 363 + 540

3,067,177.11

2 20 28 29 30 38 36

12,672,511.44

265,683.51

HSSB 1+3DJ1 RM383,470.50 & J2 RM180,368.40 won on 20/12/25!

Power 6/55

Toto 4D Jackpot 2 RM3,476,972 RM5,433,164 Toto 4D Jackpot 1

RM270,048

won on 20/12/2025 !