08/04/2026

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | APR 8, 2026

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Last hurrah Griezmann back at Barca in search of Atletico grand finale

NAPOLI are still in the hunt to retain their Serie A title after the champion beat Scudetto rivals AC Milan 1-0 yesterday. Matteo Politano came off the bench and lashed home the only goal of the game with 11 minutes remaining in front of delighted fans in Naples as the hosts racked up a fifth straight win. Napoli leapfrogged Milan into second place but still have a battle on their hands to deny Inter a 21st league crown as they sit seven points off the pace with seven matches remaining. Antonio Conte’s team were superior at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, where Politano’s second goal of the season decided a largely stodgy contest not helped by Milan only being able to select star attackers Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic. “It’s a happy moment for us because we’re back in second place. “I thanked the boys for what they’ve done this season as it could have finished badly,” said Conte of an injury-ravaged sea son. “We’ve got back to what we’re were like last season, we’ve got to keep going without getting ahead of ourselves.” Milan now trail their local rivals Inter by nine points and will in all likelihood have to con tent themselves with a return to the Champions League next season. “I think we’re done with the Scudetto race. We’re nine behind Inter and Napoli are ahead of us now,” said Allegri. “We’ve got an advantage of a few points for the Champions League “Let’s try to keep it that way by winning some matches.” Juventus moved to within a point of Serie A’s Champions League places with a 2-0 win over Genoa, as the top four bat tle heats up after 31 games played. Taking advantage of fourth placed Como’s goalless draw at Udinese earlier in the day, Juve notched the three points in Turin thanks to Gleison Bremer’s fourth-minute header and a 17th-minute strike from the ever-reliable Weston McKennie. American McKennie’s fine finish took his Serie A tally to five, equalling his best-ever haul in a single league season back in his first campaign with Juve in 2020/21. But he showed no interest in that personal statistic when speaking with DAZN after the match, saying “the important thing is getting into the Champions League”. Home fans had to thank goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio for a superb double save which stopped spirited Genoa from getting back into the game. “He has some good moments and some tough moments, but we always knew that he was a quality goal keeper. “He knew that his moment would come,” said Bremer. – AFP Napoli lift title hopes

BRIEFS

High-flying Villarreal stumble VILLARREAL slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Girona yesterday in La Liga, failing to capitalise on Atletico Madrid’s loss against leaders Barcelona. Marcelino Garcia Toral’s side, third, were under whelming and went down to an own goal from Pau Navarro just before the break. Villarreal are one point ahead of Atletico, fourth, who were beaten 2-1 on Saturday by the champions. However with Real Betis trailing Atletico by 12 points with eight matches remaining, both Villarreal and the Rojiblancos have a strong hold on their top four places for Champions League qualification. Villarreal defender Renato Veiga and striker Gerard Moreno went to speak to some of their frustrated fans at the end. “They weren’t happy, just like us,” Yellow Submarine skipper Moreno told DAZN . “We didn’t manage to get a shot on target, so it’s normal they are unhappy.” Girona had the better of the first half, breaking the deadlock in stoppage time. Navarro accidentally prodded Arnau Martinez’s cross into his own net to give the hosts the lead at their Montilivi stadium. Villarreal failed to threaten consistently in the second half and Girona held on comfortably to move 12th, eight points above the relegation zone. Wawrinka falls in first round Sebastian Baez in the first round yesterday. The 41-year old three-time Grand Slam winner will retire from tennis at the end of the season and entered the main draw in Monaco as a wild card 20 years on from his debut at the tournament. The Swiss won his sole 1000-level title 12 years ago in the principality when he defeated his compatriot Roger Federer. “It was a long time ago, but of course I remember it, it was exceptional,“ Wawrinka said on court of his 2014 victory after tour nament organisers showed a video homage to him. “To have the chance to play this final here, with this exceptional tournament, and to win it in addition, will always be one of my best memories of my career.” Elsewhere, three-time former winner Stefanos Tsitsipas lost in straight sets to 16th seed to Francisco Cerundolo. Andrey Rublev, the 2023 champion, navigated his way through a topsy-turvy opener as the 13th seed beat Nuno Borges 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 to set up a round of 32 meeting with Zizou Bergs. KKR, Punjab clash washed out KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS picked up their first point of the IPL following the first no-result of the 2026 tournament after their match against Punjab Kings was abandoned after just 22 deliveries yesterday. Following defeats to Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad in their two opening fixtures, Kolkata were in trouble at 25-2 after 3.4 overs at their Eden Gardens home ground when the rain arrived. The rain finally relented 40 minutes before the cut-off time, but there wasn’t enough time to get the ground ready for a five-overs-a-side shootout. Unbeaten Punjab reclaimed the top position in the league table with five points from three matches while Kolkata opened their account fortuitously after going into the match without their lead spinners. Varun Chakravarthy was injured while West Indian Sunil Narine was ruled out because of illness. Despite the threat of rain, Ajinkya Rahane sur prisingly opted to bat first but watched in con sternation as opening partner Finn Allen of New Zealand and Australian Cameron Green were both caught behind off Aussie swing exponent Xavier Bartlett in the space of three deliveries in the second over. It started raining not long afterwards, forcing the sides to split the points. STAN WAWRINKA bid farewell to the Monte Carlo Masters as the 2014 champion fell 7-5, 7-5 to

A NTOINE GRIEZMANN’S Barcelona story ended in the depths of misery but as he returns to the Nou Camp in the Champions League quarterfinals, the French forward is desperate to close out his time with Atletico Madrid on the greatest of highs. Diego Simeone’s side, defeated in the 2014 and 2016 finals, have never lifted the trophy and veteran forward Griezmann, who will move to MLS side Orlando City at the end of the season, has not won a trophy with Atletico since the 2018 Europa League and subsequent Uefa Super Cup.

with 211 goals, with major silverware in his hands at last, to add to the 2018 World Cup he won with France. The first step towards that, since announcing the decision to depart last week, is at the Nou Camp tomorrow (3am Malaysian time) in the fifth meeting between Atletico and Barca this season. Orlando wanted him to join by the end of March, but Griezmann said he would stay at Atletico, in no small part for a final shot at biggest trophy in the club game, as well as the Copa del Rey final. The 35-year-old, one of Simeone’s very greatest soldiers during the coach’s 14-year reign, combined the work ethic the Argentine demanded with immense skill and quality. “Griezmann is a maverick, it’s unbelievable how he plays football,” enthused Barca coach Hansi Flick last week. “It seems so light, it’s like he’s dancing.” Griezmann may not have won as many trophies as he would have liked, but has often dazzled with his elegance and vision. “I hope we can do something big,” said Griezmann after helping Atletico crush Spurs 5-2 in the last 16 first leg, netting his side’s second goal. Griezmann has rocked Barca before, scoring twice in the 2016 quarterfinals a decade ago to send Atletico through and knock out Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar and Co, although that campaign ended in tears in the Milan final at the hands of rivals Real Madrid. After Griezmann started in the 2-1 La Liga defeat by Barca on Saturday, there is the chance he may be used from the bench tomorrow. For much of this season Simeone has been sparing with his minutes, perhaps tipping him towards the decision to leave. Another Atletico player who might one day follow the Frenchman’s path to Barcelona is striker Julian Alvarez, who is likely to start at Nou Camp and has been frequently linked with the Catalans. The Argentine caused consternation in the cial position, may not be able to produce the hefty transfer fee the Rojiblancos would demand, after Alvarez arrived from Manchester City for £81.5 mil lion (RM432m) in 2024. Alvarez has had a mixed bag of a season, but Simeone has repeatedly backed the forward who is in better form after a winter drought. “Thank God he is back,” said Simeone after Alvarez netted against Barca in a 4-0 win in the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg in February, with Griezmann also on target as Barca collapsed at the Metropolitano stadium. Five-time winners Barca may be favourites for the tie but between Grizou’s desire for a grand finale and Alvarez’s chance to dazzle his suitors, Atletico have the tools they need to cause an upset. – AFP ism and try to get that done. “It may not get us absolutely over the line, but we will know it makes it a lot, lot closer.” Earlier, Oscar Schwartau came off the bench to score the decisive goal as Norwich beat Millwall 2-1 – a win that helped bitter local rivals Ipswich. Millwall, who started the day second, led through substitute Mihailo Ivanovic shortly after half-time but Pelle Mattson’s long-range strike and Schwartau’s effort sealed defeat to give their closest pursuers – including Ipswich – hope of narrowing the gap. Instead it was Ipswich who went second after Kasey McAteer scored his first goal for the Tractor Boys on the stroke of half-time as they came from behind to beat Birmingham 2-1. Middlesbrough found themselves in third place, level on points with Ipswich but significantly having played two more games, following a 2-2 draw away to Swansea. Mid-table Bristol City made it two wins in a row under veteran interim manager Roy Hodgson with a 1-0 victory at home to Sheffield United. – AFP Spanish capital earlier this season when he said “maybe yes, maybe no” over whether he was plan ning to stay at the club beyond the summer. Barca, still not in a healthy finan

Griezmann switched Atletico for Barca in 2019, lasting just two years in the Catalan capital before returning to Simeone’s side on loan, and making the return permanent in 2022. During that short stint in Barca colours Griezmann missed out on Atletico’s La Liga title win in 2021, a trophy that has eluded him through his career.

At Barca he was on the receiving end of the brutal 8-2 thrashing by Bayern in the 2020 Champions League quarterfinals, and

failed to fit into the team alongside Lionel Messi. Griezmann wants to leave Atletico, where he is the all time top scorer

Antoine Griezmann eyes one last shot at glory with Atleti as he returns to face Barca in the Champions League quarterfinal tomorrow. – REUTERSPIC

Coventry edge closer to Premier League return

COVENTRY moved nearer a return to the Premier League after a goalless draw at promotion rivals Hull yesterday. The result left Coventry 12 points clear at the top of English football’s second-tier Championship and within four points of ending their 25-year exile from the elite top flight. A draw meant Hull stayed in fifth place –one of the playoff spots – and also remained in contention to finish second with five games left to play. Only the top two at the end of the regular season are guaranteed promotion to the lucrative Premier League with the other remaining place secured by playoff games between the teams finishing third to sixth. “We have five games to go and to be in the posi tion we’re in, from our point of view, we need to cut out the noise and just deal with Sheffield Wednesday in front of us,” manager Frank Lampard told BBC CWR . “Everyone will expect us to win it from the outside, but we have to put that to the side. “And approach the game with real professional