■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.
Doping fears prevented former US Open champion Emma Raducanu from treating insect bites on the eve of the Australian Open, she said, with players increasingly wary about ingesting contaminated substances. The British player was speaking in the wake of high-profile doping cases involving Iga Swiatak and Jannik Sinner. “I would say all of us are probably quite sensitive to what we take on board, what we use,” the 22-year-old said, recalling an incident on Friday. “I got really badly bitten by, I don’t know what, like ants, mosquitoes, something. I’m allergic, I guess,” she added. The bites “flared up and swelled up really a
The NHL postponed the Los Angeles Kings’ home game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday with several massive wildfires burning across the greater Los Angeles area. The Kings and Flames were scheduled to play on Wednesday night at the Kings’ downtown arena. The NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers were scheduled to host the Charlotte Hornets in the same arena last night. “Our hearts are with our entire Los Angeles community,” the Kings said in a statement. “We appreciate the hard working first responders who are diligently working to contain the fire and protect our community. We appreciate the league’s support in keeping our
TWO IN A WEEK: Despite an undefeated start to the year playing alongside Jiang Xinyu of China, Wu Fang-hsien is to play the Australian Open with a Russian partner Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien yesterday triumphed at the Hobart International, winning the women’s doubles title at the US$275,094 outdoor hard-court tournament, while McCartney Kessler lifted the trophy in the women’s singles. Fourth-ranked Wu and partner Jiang Xinyu of China took 1 hour, 15 minutes to defeat Romania’s Monica Niculescu and Fanny Stollar of Hungary, 6-1, 7-6 (8/6) at the Hobart International Tennis Centre, their second title in a week. Wu and Jiang on Sunday won the women’s doubles title at the ASB Classic in Auckland, beating Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic and Sabrina Santamaria of the US. Their winning ways continued in Australia as they stretched
EL CLASSICO: La Liga champions Real Madrid would face Barcelona in the Super Cup final tomorrow. Barça secured their final spot after a 2-0 win over Bilbao on Wednesday Real Madrid would chase a record-equaling 14th Spanish Super Cup title in the final against Barcelona after second-half goals by Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo helped them to a 3-0 win over Mallorca in the semi-finals on Thursday. England midfielder Bellingham broke the deadlock after the hour mark with a low shot into the middle of the goal before Mallorca defender Martin Valjent’s own goal doubled the lead in stoppage time followed by a Rodrygo strike from close range. Spanish champions Real are to play Barcelona for the trophy tomorrow after goals by Gavi and Lamine Yamal earned Barça a 2-0 win over
RSS