20/01/2026

SPORTS TUESDAY | JAN 20, 2026

29

Stroking egos key for Arbeloa as Madrid host Monaco IT already seems clear Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa believes success with the record 15-time European champions will only come with the careful management of egos at the club. Saturday as they whistled their own players. Madrid beat Levante 2-0 in La Liga but there was an immense show of dissent, with Arbeloa and star players Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham notably in the firing line. “(He wanted) to carry the team on his shoulders, to attack and never hide, that’s the Vini I want to see,“ said Arbeloa. Bellingham was extremely poor against Barca in the Spanish Super Cup final and has scored once in his last 11 games.

SHORTS Kiwis register first ODI series win in India

whom Arbeloa has to take care of, but also president Florentino Perez above. Asked about some fans chanting for the president to resign, Arbeloa changed his tune somewhat regarding the atmosphere at the Bernabeu, having said supporters had the right to express themselves. “(The whistles) aren’t from people who don’t love Florentino, they are from people who don’t love Real Madrid,” said Arbeloa, laying bare his loyalty to the Madrid chief. “We’re lucky to have a president who is the most important person, along with Santiago Bernabeu, in the history of this club.” – AFP Fullkrug stars for AC

NEW ZEALAND overcame a valiant 124 by Virat Kohli to down India by 41 runs and seal their first-ever ODI series victory on Indian soil yesterday. Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips guided New Zealand to 337-8 with a fourth-wicket stand of 219 after the tourists slipped to 5-2 and 58-3 in Indore. Mitchell made 137 and Phillips hit 106 off 88 balls. The Black Caps then bowled out India for 296 in 46 overs despite Virat’s 54th ODI century and clinched the three-match series 2-1. New Zealand had lost all seven of their previous ODI series in India, a run dating back to 1988. The Black Caps registered their first ever Test series win in India with a 3-0 sweep in October 2024, and added another landmark success in this series despite being without several key players including Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner, Tom Latham, Rachin Ravindra and Jacob Duffy. “We’re the sum of all the parts and we really try to work together as a group – that’s part of the Kiwi way,” captain Michael Bracewell said. “We’re just a small country from the bottom of the world and we try to work together to take on some of the bigger countries in the world.” He added: “We really rally around there as a group and when things come like that, it’s pretty special.” Brazilians help Lyon climb to 4th IN-FORM BRAZILIAN Abner Vinicius scored what proved to be the winner as Lyon moved into the Ligue 1 top four with a 2-1 victory over 10-man Brest yesterday. Lyon took advantage of Lille’s loss at Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday to jump above the northerners in the table. Paulo Fonseca’s men are two points behind third-placed Marseille, but 10 adrift of surprise leaders Lens, who are one point clear of champions PSG. “The team’s goal is always to win. There are still great things to play for,“ said forward Endrick, on loan at Lyon from Real Madrid.“What I want is for us to share something beautiful this season.” Brest forward Romain Del Castillo was sent off in the 19th minute for a nasty foul on Nicolas Tagliafico. Lyon had to wait until four minutes before half-time to take advantage, when Pavel Sulc produced a brilliant finish from a tight angle after rounding visiting goalkeeper Gregoire Coudert. Abner doubled the lead in first half added time with a thunderous strike from just outside the area after being teed up by compatriot Endrick, making his league debut after scoring in his first game for the club last weekend in the French Cup. Brest pulled one back late on through Junior Dina Ebimbe, but Lyon held on. “I’m a player who always wants to score, but if I don’t score, I want to help the team defensively or provide an assist,” Endrick added. “That’s what I did for Abner, who scored a magnificent goal. Helping the team is what motivates me.”

Los Blancos host Monaco tomorrow (4am Malaysian time) in the Champions League as they bid to consolidate their position in the top eight of the league phase and put a turbulent spell behind them. The Spanish Super Cup defeat by Barcelona in Xabi Alonso’s last game at the helm and Arbeloa’s debut Copa del Rey humiliation shook the club, with fans exhibiting their feelings on Barca finally beaten

Arbeloa’s approach seems to be to lavish the club’s most talented players with the kind of affection shown by Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane during their successful stints at the club. Even though Vinicius struggled in the cup exit at second-tier Albacete, Arbeloa hailed the forward, to a near absurd degree considering the circumstances.

“Up close he’s even better than on television, his experience, maturity, leadership…” said Arbeloa of the Englishman on Saturday. “He’s one of the team’s leaders, the same as Kylian (Mbappe), Vini or Fede (Valverde). They are players called on to do great things for Real Madrid.” It is not just the players under him

Barca’s Jules Kounde (front) and Sociedad’s Igor Zubeldia in action during yesterday’s La Liga match at the Reale Arena. – REUTERSPIC

NICLAS FULLKRUG kept AC Milan in touch with Serie A leaders

Inter Milan with the only goal in yesterday’s 1-0

win over Lecce, his first for the seven time European champions. Germany forward Fullkrug, on loan from

Notices

322

West Ham United, netted for the first time since April last year to push second-placed Milan past spirited Lecce and keep his new team three points behind Inter. The burly 32-year-old glanced home Alexis Saelemaekers’s hooked cross in the 76th minute, causing the San Siro crowd to roar with relief after being frustrated by Lecce. “I got an incredible assist for Ale and yeah, it’s the dream of a striker to get an assist like this,” said Fullkrug to DAZN . “I’m very thankful and very grateful to be here to wear the shirt, to get the trust you also need as a striker… It’s a very good group, great atmosphere, and that’s why I’m 100 percent happy.” Wladimiro Falcone was excellent in the Lecce goal, denying Samuel Ricci and Christian Pulisic with two phenomenal saves, but he could do nothing to stop Fullkrug, who has had a difficult time since arriving in Milan. Fullkrug suffered a broken toe soon after moving to northern Italy and local media widely report that thieves stole half a million euros worth of watches and jewelry from his hotel room while he was away for Milan’s midweek win at Como. Asked by DAZN if his goal made up for his recent misfortune, Fullkrug smiled and said: “Yeah, it’s enough.” Milan’s next opponents Roma comfortably won 2-0 at Torino thanks to a star performance from Paulo Dybala, who laid on new arrival Donyell Malen for a classy close-range finish midway through the first half before ensuring a third straight win in the 72nd minute. “Dybala put in a really good performance today, our first goal was fantastic. You can see that he and Malen understand each other on the pitch,” said Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini. – AFP

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MALAYA AT KOTA BHARU IN THE STATE OF KELANTAN

DARUL NAIM, MALAYSIA COMPANIES WINDING-UP NO.: DA-28NCC-1-01/2026

In the matter of Section 465 (1) (e) of the Companies Act 2016,the provisions of the Companies Act 2016 and the Companies (Winding up) Rules 1972 AND In the matter of Smart Amzar Ventures Sdn. Bhd. [Company No. : 201101015262 (943396-W)] BETWEEN PERBADANAN USAHAWAN NASIONAL BERHAD [COMPANY NO.: 199101010745 (221057-V)] PETITIONER AND SMART AMZAR VENTURES SDN BHD. [COMPANY NO.: 201101015262 (943396-W) RESPONDENT ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION NOTICE is hereby given that a Petition for the Winding-Up of the abovenamed Company by the High Court at Kota Bharu was on the 12th of January 2026 presented to the said Court by Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad. And that the said Petition is directed to be heard before the High Court of Malaya sitting at Kota Bharu on Sunday the 29th of March 2026 at 9:00 o’clock in the forenoon and any creditor or contributory of the said company desirous to support or oppose the making of an order on the said Petition may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his Counsel for that purpose and a copy of the Petition will be furnished to any Creditor or contributory of the said Company requiring the same by the undersigned on payment of the regulated charge for the same. The Petitioner’s address is at 7th Floor, Block 1B, Plaza Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 5,Kuala Lumpur Sentral,50470 Kuala Lumpur. The Petitioner’s Solicitor is Messrs. Kama & Wan, whose address is at 1-1-1, Jalan Medan PB 1A,Seksyen 9,43650 Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan. ……………………………… Messrs. Kama & Wan Solicitor for the Petitioner NOTE: Any person who intends to appear on the hearing of the said Petition must serve on or send by post to the abovenamed Messrs. Kama & Wan, notice in writing of his intention so to do. The notice must state the name and address of the person, or, if a firm, the name and address of the firm and must be signed by the person or firm or his or their Solicitors (if any) and must be served, or if posted,must be sent by post in sufficient time to reach the abovenamed not later that 12:00 o’clock in the noon of the 27th of March 2026. This Advertisement of Petition is filed by Messrs.Kama & Wan,Advocate & Solicitor on behalf of Petitioner of No. 1-1-1, Jalan Medan PB 1A, Seksyen 9, 43650 Bandar Baru Bangi,Selangor Darul Ehsan. (Tel: 03 89221485) (E-mel: wan.kamawan@gmail.com) (Ref. No.: WS/PUNB/SAVSB/058(L)

Catalan giants beaten at Sociedad as La Liga title race tightens R EAL SOCIEDAD damaged Barcelona’s title defence ambi tions as Goncalo Guedes gave them a surprise 2-1 La Liga vic tory yesterday, consigning Hansi Flick’s side to a first defeat in 12 matches.

midfielder Frenkie de Jong told DAZN , before complaining about referee Jesus Gil Manzano. The midfielder said he thought the referee was arrogant, and Flick agreed. “I don’t want to waste energy on him,” said Flick, referring to Manzano. “Frenkie is right.” La Real coach Matarazzo hailed his team’s “heart”, but admitted that his side had some fortune and was grateful for Remiro’s saves. “A quality goalkeeper is not luck, so it’s a mix,” he said after Remiro made several crucial saves to keep Barca at bay. “Three great points and a great game,” added Remiro. “We’ve started this year in great form. This is the energy we have, how we’ve changed (recently).” After dropping points in a draw at Sociedad in their last league outing, Diego Simeone’s Atletico got back on track with Sorloth’s goal, moving seven points clear of Espanyol in fifth. After a tight first half, Atletico took the lead early in the second, with Sorloth leaping high to nod home Pablo Barrios’s cross and break the deadlock. It was the Norwegian target man’s third goal in his last three games across all competitions. “(Sorloth) is in his most consistent spell since joining the club,” said Atletico coach Simeone. – AFP

Alexander Sorloth’s towering header earned Atletico Madrid a narrow 1-0 win over Alaves in an earlier match, helping them pull level on points with third-placed Villarreal. Barcelona, who hit the woodwork four times and had two goals disallowed, now only lead rivals Real Madrid by a single point at the top of the table after Alvaro Arbeloa’s side beat Levante on Saturday. Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal put the hosts ahead and immediately after Marcus Rashford equalised for Barcelona, Guedes struck the winner. La Real, now unbeaten in four games under new American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, had Carlos Soler sent off late on but managed to hold on to triumph and climb up to eighth. “I said to the team we played good, we were unlucky. Some days are like this and you don’t know why you lose but this is one day and now we have to focus on the next game,” Flick told reporters. “I think we deserved to win today, we had a lot of chances, but in the end you have to put them away,” Barca