Bitter French rivals Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille are set to do battle for the second time in less than a month today when the pair meet at the Parc des Princes for a spot in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de la Ligue.
The two title challengers played out a pulsating 2-2 draw at the Stade Velodrome during the first weekend of this month and the stage is set for another heated Classique encounter, with Marseille defender Rod Fanni underlining the magnitude of the occasion.
“There will never be a friendly match between Marseille and PSG,” Fanni said. “There is something extra, it’s different [from other fixtures]. We know all the hype they make about matches between Paris and Marseille. In people’s minds we represent them. When things go well, they tease their enemies. We know for them, it’s important.”
Photo: Reuters
Three-time defending League Cup champions Marseille dropped to third in the table after strong winds forced the postponement of their match at home to Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic continued his seamless transition to life in Ligue 1 as his goal moved PSG three points clear at the summit.
Carlo Ancelotti has a strong squad to choose from with Nene (fractured cheekbone) and Thiago Motta (back) the only absentees, while Marseille counterpart Elie Baup will be without the services of leading scorer Andre-Pierre Gignac, as well as defensive stalwart Souleymane Diawara, who suffered a minor setback on his return from a long injury layoff at the weekend.
Also today, Montpellier Herault entertain Girondins de Bordeaux, last year’s runners-up Lyon go to OGC Nice and SC Bastia are at home to AJ Auxerre.
Photo: Reuters
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two