Mario Balotelli’s second goal in three games on Friday helped Olympique de Marseille to a 2-1 victory at Dijon FCO in Ligue 1.
The Italy striker, who joined last month from OGC Nice, turned the ball in from close range in the 57th minute after winger Florian Thauvin headed on a corner from the right.
Marseille’s second straight victory moved the side up to fifth ahead of this weekend’s matches and also took some pressure off coach Rudi Garcia following a poor run of results.
Photo: EPA-EFE
While Balotelli was the team’s most dangerous player, a handling error from veteran goalkeeper Steve Mandanda led to Dijon’s 18th-minute opener.
Although Mandanda covered his near post to smother defender Fouad Chafik’s long-range shot, he did not push the ball away far enough and midfielder Jordan Marie followed up to drive it home.
Balotelli leveled before Argentine forward Lucas Ocampos produced a well-taken goal in the 73rd, cleverly cutting inside a defender on the edge of the area and curling the ball into the top corner.
Photo: AFP
LA LIGA
AP, MADRID
Villarreal remained winless in 10 consecutive La Liga matches after a 0-0 draw at 14th-place Valladolid on Friday.
The visitors, who are used to finishing much higher in the standings, stayed second from bottom with three victories from 23 games.
It was Villarreal’s second straight draw since rehiring coach Javi Calleja in place of Luis Garcia Plaza, less than two months after he was fired.
“We have to keep trying,” Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo said. “I think we played a disciplined match and there are positive things we can take from it.”
Villarreal face two tough matches next: at home against Sevilla and away to Atletico Madrid.
BUNDESLIGA
Reuters, BERLIN
Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Friday scored four times in an explosive first half to crush hosts FSV Mainz 05 5-1 in the Bundesliga and continue their rise up the standings under new coach Peter Bosz.
The Dutchman, whose team beat league champions Bayern Munich last week, took over at the start of this year and his attack-minded Leverkusen have now won three of their four league games under him.
Wendell opened their account after five minutes, and despite an equalizer from Robin Quaison four minutes later, the visitors struck another three times before the break through Kai Havertz, Julian Brandt and Karim Bellarabi.
Germany international Brandt, who has blossomed under Bosz, then added his second goal in the 64th minute from yet another Kevin Volland assist.
Leverkusen, who have now scored a combined 11 goals in their past three league games, climbed to fifth place on 33 points, four behind RB Leipzig who were fourth.
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani is the record-breaking baseball “superhuman” following in the footsteps of the legendary Babe Ruth who has also earned comparisons to US sporting greats Michael Jordan and Tom Brady. Not since Ruth a century ago has there been a baseball player capable of both pitching and hitting at the top level. The 30-year-old’s performances with the Los Angeles Dodgers have consolidated his position as a baseball legend in the making, and a national icon in his native Japan. He continues to find new ways to amaze, this year becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases
Zhang Shuai yesterday said that she nearly quit after losing 24 matches in a row — now the world No. 595 is into the quarter-finals of her home China Open. The 35-year-old is to face Spain’s Paula Badosa as the lowest-ranked player to reach this stage in the history of the tournament after Badosa reeled off 11 of the last 12 games in a 6-4, 6-0 victory over US Open finalist Jessica Pegula. Zhang went into Beijing on a barren run lasting more than 600 days and her string of singles defeats was the second-longest on the WTA Tour Open era, which
Taiwan’s Tony Wu yesterday beat Mackenzie McDonald of the US to win the Nonthaburi Challenger IV in Thailand, his first challenger victory since 2022. The 26-year-old world No. 315, who won both his qualifiers to advance to the main draw, has been on a hot streak this month, winning his past nine matches, including two that ensured Taiwan’s victory in their Davis Cup World Group I tie. Wu took just more than two hours to top world No. 172 McDonald 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to win his second challenger tournament since the Tallahassee Tennis Challenger in 2022. Wu’s Tallahassee win followed two years of
UP IN SMOKE: More than half a dozen riders crashed out of the race, with Marquez’s title chances in doubt after driving off the track with flames flickering from his bike Jorge Martin yesterday won a crash-filled Indonesia MotoGP to extend his championship lead, while closest rival Francesco Bagnaia limited the damage by claiming the final podium place. The win leaves the Pramac Racing rider 21 points ahead of his Italian Ducati rival, who finished third behind Spaniard Pedro Acosta in sweltering conditions at the Mandalika International Street Circuit on Lombok island. In front of a crowd of 60,000 in motorbike-mad Indonesia, the 26-year-old put his tumble in Saturday’s sprint behind him, canceling out the gains his title rival Bagnaia made after securing victory in that race. “Thank you Indonesia. I am very happy.
RSS