■ITALY
Mourinho sidelines Adriano
Inter coach Jose Mourinho has sidelined Brazilian striker Adriano ahead of their Serie A match away to Reggina because of a lack of professionalism. The Italian media recently reported that Mourinho was angry with Adriano staying out socializing following last Sunday’s disappointing 0-0 draw with Genoa. The next morning the troubled Brazilian, who returned to Brazil last season to boost his physique and his morale, is reported to have turned up late for training. Mourinho subsequently left Adriano out of the team that drew 0-0 with Fiorentina on Wednesday and on Friday the former Chelsea boss said he would not tolerate any player’s unprofessional approach. “In the last few months if there’s someone who has tried to take care of him, not only as a coach but also as a colleague, it’s definitely me,” Mourinho said. “But there comes a time, especially when you are in charge of a group of 29 players, that you can no longer afford to give someone special treatment or more liberties than any of the others.”
■ARGENTINA
Maradona heads to Europe
New Argentina coach Diego Maradona will set off on a European scouting tour this weekend, an Argentine soccer federation source said on Friday. The former Barcelona and Napoli star will return to the countries he played his club soccer in, as well as heading to Germany, to assess the Argentine players there. Maradona makes his managerial debut in a friendly against Scotland in Glasgow on Nov. 19, followed by a match with France in Marseille next February. On Thursday, the new coach told a press conference: “I am traveling to England on Saturday to watch [Carlos] Tevez and [Javier] Mascherano play. And in Scotland, I am going to make my coaching debut.” Mascherano’s club boss, Liverpool’s Rafael Benitez, on Friday welcomed Maradona’s plans to visit England, saying he would roll out the red carpet. “Diego will be very welcome to come to our training ground next week and to see the match. Maybe I can persuade him to take a few free-kicks.”
■SPAIN
De La Red leaves hospital
Real Madrid midfielder Ruben De La Red was released from the hospital on Friday following his collapse during a Copa del Rey match against Real Union on Thursday. The Spain international was cleared by doctors to return to the Spanish capital by airplane, after being kept overnight for observation. De La Red underwent medical tests after fainting because of exertion, but the results were not released. He is expected to undergo further tests in Madrid. “It was the kind of episode that gives your heart a jolt, so I want to wish him a speedy recovery,” Madrid president Ramon Calderon said. De La Red fell face first as he was walking away from the penalty area in the 13th minute, silencing the crowd.
■GERMANY
Leverkusen win to go top
Bayer Leverkusen went back to the top of the Bundesliga for at least one night after a 2-0 home win over VfL Wolfsburg on Friday. Wolfsburg had no answer to Leverkusen’s fast, skillful passing game and the only surprise was it took until 12 minutes into the second half for the home side to go ahead. The breakthrough came when Swiss forward Tranquillo Barnetta struck low from the edge of the area and beat the keeper at his near post. Germany’s Stefan Kiessling headed the second a few minutes later. It was Leverkusen’s fourth successive 2-0 victory in the Bundesliga and it was enough to take them ahead of surprise leaders Hoffenheim.
Carlos Alcaraz on Monday powered into the French Open second round with a resounding win to start his title defense, while world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and three-time defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek also progressed at Roland Garros. Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz struck 31 winners in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri and is to face Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan in round two. Alcaraz is now on an eight-match winning streak at the French Open and also took Olympic silver at Roland Garros last year, losing the final to Novak Djokovic. “The first round is never
FRUSTRATION: Alcaraz made several unforced errors over four sets against Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, who had never made it past the third round in a major competition Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz reached the fourth round of the French Open after laboring past Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the Friday night session. The second-seeded Spaniard had never before played Dzumhur, a 33-year-old Bosnian who had never been past the third round at any major tournament. “I suffered quite a lot today,” Alcaraz said. “The first two sets was under control, then he started to play more deeply and more aggressively. It was really difficult for me.” Dzumhur hurt his left knee in a fall in the second round, and had treatment on Friday on his right leg during the
‘DREAM’: The 5-0 victory was PSG’s first Champions League title, and the biggest final win by any team in the 70-year history of the top-flight European competition Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League for the first time as Luis Enrique’s brilliant young side outclassed Inter on Saturday in the most one-sided final ever with teenager Desire Doue scoring twice in an astonishing 5-0 victory. Doue supplied the pass for Achraf Hakimi to give PSG an early lead and the 19-year-old went from provider to finisher as his deflected shot doubled the advantage in the 20th minute. Doue scored again just after the hour mark, ending any doubt about the outcome before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ran away to get the fourth and substitute Senny Mayulu, another teenager, made it five. Inter were
SSC Napoli coach Antonio Conte has dragged the team back from disaster and restored them to the top of Italian Serie A, but his future at the Scudetto winners is in doubt even after a triumphant season. The fiery 55-year-old has exceeded preseason expectations and bolstered his reputation as a serial winner by guiding Napoli to their fourth Scudetto, and second in three seasons. However, he might well be on his way in the summer after just one season at the helm as his charged relationship with Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has simmered throughout the campaign. Conte has said
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