SPAIN
Sociedad thrash Espanyol
Real Sociedad stormed to their biggest win of the season when they overwhelmed RCD Espanyol 5-0 in La Liga on Monday. Carlos Vela stunned Espanyol’s defense when he hit a long pass for Brazilian striker Jonathas to open the scoring in the fifth minute and then hit the back of the net himself for Sociedad’s second two minutes later. Sociedad came out strong in the second half and 18-year-old attacking midfielder Mikel Oyarzabal proved a thorn for Espanyol’s defense when he played a one-two with Ruben Pardo, before netting the third in the 52nd minute.Diego Reyes headed Sociedad’s fourth three minutes later and Jonathas added a fifth in the 89th minute. Sociedad rose to 11th place on 27 points, five points clear of Espanyol in 17th.
SPAIN
Messi undergoing treatment
Lionel Messi is undergoing treatment on kidney stones that floored the Argentina superstar at the FIFA Club World Cup in December last year, Barcelona announced on Monday. The five-time World Player of the Year “will be submitted to various tests on Monday and Tuesday to assess the development of kidney problems he suffered last December,” the Spanish champions said in a statement. Messi is due back today, when Barca face Valencia in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg, with the Catalans firmly in control after the 7-0 first-leg drubbing they handed Gary Neville’s team as Messi bagged a hat-trick. Messi is reported to be receiving lithotripsy, a procedure involving ultrasound shock waves to break down problem kidney stones.
SPAIN
Ronaldo staying at Real
Cristiano Ronaldo is staying at Real Madrid for at least another two years, the forward said on Monday. The 31-year-old three-time World Player of the Year was picking up an award as the top scorer in Spain last season from Spanish daily Marca when he made the comments. In a light-hearted interview he dampened incessant transfer rumors linking him with a switch to either big-spending Paris Saint-Germain or former club Manchester United. “I’m still under contract for another two years. After that, we’ll see,” Ronaldo said. “What I want most of all is to stay here for several years. As for the future, you’ll see what happens.” Ronaldo joined Real in 2009 from Manchester United, a year after winning his first World Player of the Year trophy having helped the English giants to the 2007-2008 UEFA Champions League crown.
ENGLAND
Zouma out for six months
Chelsea and France defender Kurt Zouma is to have surgery this week on a knee injury set to rule him out for the rest of the season and for Euro 2016, the English Premier League club said on Monday. Zouma injured his anterior cruciate ligament in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London on Sunday. The 21-year-old centerback landed awkwardly early in the second half and was taken off on a stretcher. “Kurt will undergo surgery in the next 48 hours and is expected to be out for approximately six months,” a statement on Chelsea’s Web site said. Zouma’s injury is a devastating personal blow as he had established himself as a regular in Chelsea’s defense this season and also hoped to feature when France challenged for the Euro 2016 crown on home turf in the summer. With Zouma out, Gary Cahill is likely lineup alongside captain John Terry in Saturday’s Premier League clash with Newcastle United.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care