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Mbappe scores first hat trick for Real Madrid

Mbappe scores first hat trick for Real Madrid
Real Madrid’s French forward Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Spanish league football match between Real Valladolid FC and Real Madrid CF at the Jose Zorrilla stadium in Valladolid on Jan. 25, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 26 January 2025

Mbappe scores first hat trick for Real Madrid

Mbappe scores first hat trick for Real Madrid
  • The France captain has started pouring in goals with back-to-back multi-goal games and has Madrid in pole position with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona stalled
  • Cedric Bakambu headed in a stoppage-time winner to grab Real Betis a 1-0 victory at 10-man Mallorca

BARCELONA: Kylian Mbappe tucked the ball under his shirt as he raised both hands to return the applause to the Real Madrid fans who savored his first hat trick for his new club.

The France star had just led a 3-0 victory at struggling Valladolid that extended Madrid’s lead of La Liga on Saturday, keeping it in position to retain the title just after the midway point of the campaign.

Gone was the inconsistent play and missed penalties from Mbappe during his first months with Madrid following his move from Paris Saint-Germain. The France captain has started pouring in goals with back-to-back multi-goal games and has Madrid in pole position with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona stalled.

“I’m very happy for the hat trick but even happier for the win,” Mbappe said in fluent Spanish. “It was very important to win after Atletico’s result because that gave us a bit more pressure to take advantage of it.”

Madrid’s fourth straight triumph in the league combined with Atletico Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Villarreal let Carlo Ancelotti’s side open a four-point gap over its city rival. Barcelona were in third place at 10 points back before hosting Valencia on Sunday.

Madrid trailed then-leader Barcelona at one point, but since getting blown away in a 4-0 clasico debacle, they have found their stride and is in championship mode.

“My adaptation to the team is over. I feel comfortable on the field and you can see that from the way I am playing with my teammates,” Mbappe said. “This gives us confidence, but you know that until the 38th round this is not over. We have to keep winning because there is a long way to go.”

No contest in Valladolid

The game between the front-runner and the bottom side fit its billing as a mismatch.

Valladolid could draw only one save from Thibaut Courtois in the opening moments. It was all Madrid the rest of the way even though Vinicius Junior didn’t play as he completed a two-game suspension.

Mbappe swept in Madrid’s first goal on the half-hour mark after a flowing team attack of quick passes to weave the ball through a packed Valladolid area that culminated in Jude Bellingham’s assist for the France star.

He made it a double in the 57th by finishing off a three-against-two counterattack after Federico Valverde intercepted a Valladolid pass. Mbappé took a pass by Rodrygo and rifled in a low strike from the left side of the box.

Valladolid finished with 10 men after Mario Martín got a second booking in the 90th for a foul on Bellingham, sending Mbappé to the spot for his third.

That made it four games in a row with a goal across all competitions for Mbappé. In La Liga, Mbappe has 15, second only to Robert Lewandowski’s 16 for Barcelona. He also scored twice last weekend against Las Palmas in a 4-1 win.

“Mbappe is giving us a lot. He has found his rhythm over the last couple of months and that is obviously a boost for us,” Ancelotti said.

Valladolid were five points from safety.

Atletico drop more points

Atletico’s stalemate with Villarreal came a week after a shock 1-0 loss at Leganes.

Gerard Moreno, Villarreal’s top scorer in club history, made it 120 goals for the Yellow Submarine in the 25th minute after the striker converted a penalty he earned when fouled by Reinildo.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone rested Antoine Griezmann and midfielder Rodrigo de Paul for the first half. Then he made three changes at halftime, sending on De Paul and winger Samu Lino to kickstart his sluggish attack.

The moves paid off as the hosts pressed Villarreal into their box, and Lino rammed in a 58th-minute equalizer.

Simeone sent Griezmann on immediately after and the action stayed in Villarreal’s area except for two chances for Villarreal’s Ayoze Perez, who replaced Gerard. But Griezmann’s header that bounced just wide in the 86th was the closest Atletico came to snatching a winner.

“We played a good game at a very tough ground against a team with a deep bench that is fighting for the league. We are happy,” Gerard said for a Villarreal that stayed in fifth place.

Betis grab late winner

Cedric Bakambu headed in a stoppage-time winner to grab Real Betis a 1-0 victory at 10-man Mallorca.

Mallorca had opportunities until Omar Mascarell received a direct red card for a studs-first tackle of Betis’ Jesús Rodríguez in the 73rd.

The win came while Betis secured a loan deal for forward Anthony from Manchester United.

Garcia sustains Espanyol

Goalkeeper Joan Garcia made three saves to deny Sevilla standout Dodi Lukebakio and help Espanyol grind out a 1-1 draw at Sevilla.


Germany exits Euro 2025 after sheer doggedness nearly gets team to the final

Germany exits Euro 2025 after sheer doggedness nearly gets team to the final
Updated 24 July 2025

Germany exits Euro 2025 after sheer doggedness nearly gets team to the final

Germany exits Euro 2025 after sheer doggedness nearly gets team to the final
  • Germany’s Euro 2025 campaign had been full of promise, but not matched in substance
  • It was short on defenders against Spain with Sarai Linder joining Gwinn on the injury list and Hendrichs and Nüsken both suspended

German chancellor Friedrich Merz never got to see Germany play at the Women’s European Championship.
“If it goes well we’ll see each other Sunday evening in Basel for the final,” Merz posted on social media before the German team faced World Cup champion Spain in the semifinal match on Wednesday.
It didn’t go quite that well. Aitana Bonmatí scored late in extra time for Spain to win 1-0 and avoid a penalty shootout that the Germany team had been holding out for.
Germany’s Euro 2025 campaign had been full of promise, but not matched in substance.
Merz was filmed watching Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger’s amazing save in the quarterfinal win over France as if he’d never seen it before. He was never so excited during a football game than he’d been watching Germany win on penalties the previous weekend.
A commitment to meet France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, meant Merz couldn’t attend the semifinals in Zurich.
Anyone watching Germany during the tournament was left wondering what the team is really capable of.
A highlight reel would feature a string of fine saves from Berger, committed defending from Franziska Kett, Giovanna Hoffmann and Jule Brand – who are all forward – and only occasional flashes of brilliance in attack, such as Brand’s opening strike in the team’s first game against Poland.
Germany, the eight-time European champion, only nearly reached the final through sheer dogged determination.
Captain Giulia Gwinn was injured against Poland and ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. A 2-1 come-from-behind win over Denmark ensured early progress from the group, before a chastening 4-1 loss to Sweden in the last group game.
Germany had defender Gwinn’s replacement, Carlotta Wamser, sent off early against Sweden for swatting the ball away from goal with her hand, then Kathrin Hendrich sent off early in the quarterfinal match against France for pulling French captain Griedge Mbock back by her hair.
It meant Germany reverted to defensive tactics in both games, protecting Berger’s goal while hoping the likes of Brand and star forward Klara Bühl might score on counterattacks.
Bühl’s corner allowed Sjoeke Nüsken to score the equalizer against France and the team held on despite French dominance to win 6-5 on penalties after Berger’s heroics.
The Germany goalkeeper was feted afterward for her amazing save to stop stand-in captain Janina Minge’s backward header from going into her own net when she leaped backwards and somehow clawed the ball away from the line. Berger also saved two penalties and scored her own spot kick in the shootout.
The win filled the German players and supporters with confidence ahead of the game against Spain, despite the overall performance against France.
“We dominated them from start to finish. Now they’re through. I’m sorry, but they don’t deserve it,” France winger Selma Bacha said.
Germany was short on defenders against Spain with Sarai Linder joining Gwinn on the injury list and Hendrichs and Nüsken both suspended. But it didn’t stop the team defending, with forward helping out at the back, producing timely blocks and committed challenges to frustrate Spain’s star forward. Berger again made a host of saves until she left space at her near post and Bonmatí squeezed the ball through.
It ended Germany’s hopes of a rematch with defending champion England in the final, and left Merz with an opening in his schedule.
 


Liverpool sign Ekitiké from Frankfurt and take offseason spending to $342m

Liverpool sign Ekitiké from Frankfurt and take offseason spending to $342m
Updated 23 July 2025

Liverpool sign Ekitiké from Frankfurt and take offseason spending to $342m

Liverpool sign Ekitiké from Frankfurt and take offseason spending to $342m
  • Ekitiké is Liverpool’s latest big-money signing after Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez
  • The 23-year-old Ekitiké has joined for a fee of $93.5m

LONDON: Liverpool signed France forward Hugo Ekitiké from Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday to continue the Premier League champion’s offseason spending spree.

Ekitiké is Liverpool’s latest big-money signing after Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez — taking their outlay to around $342 million.

The 23-year-old Ekitiké has joined for a fee of 69 million pounds ($93.5 million) and signed a six-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.

The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because details have not been made public, said the fee could rise by a further 10 million pounds ($13.5 million).

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has been busy strengthening a team that won their record-equaling 20th English league title last season — in particular in attack.

Wirtz, signed from Bayer Leverkusen last month for a fee that could rise to a British record 116 million pounds ($156 million), is considered one of the brightest talents in Europe. And Etikité is another player who has shone in Germany after leaving Paris Saint-Germain last year.

He scored 22 in 48 appearances in his one full season with Frankfurt, which have made a big profit on him after buying him for a reported $19 million last year.

Ekitiké’s move comes weeks after Liverpool forward Diogo Jota died in a car accident in Spain.

There is uncertainty about the future of other Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, who have both been targeted by teams in Europe during the offseason.

The Merseyside club have not retained a league title since winning three in a row between 1982 and ‘84, which was before the inception of the Premier League.

They are likely to face challenges from Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea, who have all been active in the transfer market since the end of the season.

Ekitiké is the latest big-money departure from Frankfurt after forward Omar Marmoush joined Man City for a reported $73 million in January.

Marmoush was the team’s top-scorer at the time, but Ekitiké responded with his best performances in a Frankfurt shirt to help the team finish third in the Bundesliga for Champions League qualification.


Emmy Award-winning director praises ‘mind-blowing’ esports growth in MENA region

Emmy Award-winning director praises ‘mind-blowing’ esports growth in MENA region
Updated 23 July 2025

Emmy Award-winning director praises ‘mind-blowing’ esports growth in MENA region

Emmy Award-winning director praises ‘mind-blowing’ esports growth in MENA region
  • Last year, the American filmmaker showcased the competition’s athletes and their stories in a five-part documentary
  • R.J. Cutler: ‘To see the infrastructure that’s been built is extraordinary, and everything around it is mind-blowing’

RIYADH: Emmy Award-winning director R.J. Cutler is no stranger to esports.

As part of the inaugural Esports World Cup in Riyadh in 2024, the American filmmaker showcased the competition’s athletes and their stories in the five-part documentary “Esports World Cup: Level Up,” streaming on Prime Video.

Cutler’s series delves deep into the lives of these elite players, revealing the dedication, skill and passion that drive them, offering a platform to connect with a global audience. 

During his visit to Riyadh, Cutler discussed the significance of the Esports World Cup.

“The Esports World Cup is incredibly impactful because esports is still new and emerging on the global stage,” Cutler said. “To see the way Ƶ and the Saudi people have gathered around the Esports World Cup is amazing, to see the infrastructure that’s been built is extraordinary, and everything around it is mind-blowing.”

By highlighting the human stories and showcasing Esports World Cup Foundation’s significant investment in the gaming and esports industry, Cutler believes the series is able to reach new audiences and showcase how the Esports World Cup is changing people’s lives.

“One of the things we hoped to do, and we were successful in doing, was making the show accessible to everybody whether you were a fan of esports, or not.

“It’s a human sport and that’s what we wanted to show (the audience), we wanted to reflect exactly what we experienced ourselves first-hand in Riyadh.”

Growing from a niche sport to a global phenomenon, the Esports World Cup had elevated the esports and gaming industry, added prestige, provided a global platform for teams and players to thrive, while fostering a community of passionate fans from across the world. 

“The cliche of what a gamer is, is totally defined by the Esports World Cup, it’s as broad a sport as any sport there is and with every single player you have a different extraordinary story, that’s what we see in Level Up,” Cutler said.

“Humanizing the esports industry was our whole objective, we tell human stories and we’re making real films. We want the audience to connect with other people and to project themselves into the scenario so that anybody playing games at home can think that ‘I could be there, that could be me.’

“The series showcases a full range of human stories, it’s character-driven, it’s emotional, it’s dramatic; we want you to laugh, cry and stomp your feet and in season one that was definitely happening.”

The Esports World Cup is a key pillar of Ƶ’s Vision 2030 initiative, and a significant part of the Kingdom’s national gaming and esports strategy, which aims to foster talent development, establish a world-class gaming and esports ecosystem, and support economic diversification. The goal is to create 39,000 jobs and contribute $13.3 billion to Ƶ’s economy by 2030.

The inaugural Esports World Cup was a watershed moment, as the world’s best players converged in Riyadh to compete across the most popular games and win their share of a record-breaking prize pool, but in 2025 things are bigger, better and bolder.

Competing for a $70-plus million prize pool, the largest in esports history, more than 2,000 players, from 200 clubs, representing more than 100 countries, have returned for the Esports World Cup 2025, competing across 25 tournaments and 24 games including Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, League of Legends, EA FC 25, Rocket League, and PUBG Battlegrounds.

The event runs until Aug. 24, and is held alongside the Esports World Cup Festival, a celebration of esports and gaming culture that features interactive experiences, live performances, competitions and global cuisine, facilitating cultural exchange and showcasing Ƶ’s cultural heritage to global visitors.

For 2025, the prize pool has grown, ticket sales and visitor numbers have swelled, and its global appeal has increased exponentially, bolstered by the addition of Cristiano Ronaldo as the global ambassador and a live performance from Post Malone at the opening ceremony.

“There was a $60 million prize pool last year, more than $70 million this year, this incredible infrastructure has sprouted up around it, the passion of the audiences and those following all of the teams is amazing,” Cutler said.

“The Esports World Cup is something that you really have to experience to believe it.”


GCC Esports League wraps up second event

GCC Esports League wraps up second event
Updated 23 July 2025

GCC Esports League wraps up second event

GCC Esports League wraps up second event
  • Competition looks to strengthen competitive gaming in the region and provides potential pathway into Esports World Cup
  • Turki Al-Fawzan: These memoranda of understanding with our GCC counterparts mark a pivotal moment for the region’s esports ecosystem

RIYADH: The Saudi Esports Federation has concluded the second event of the GCC Esports League.

Held at the SEF Arena in Riyadh and presented by Korean automotive brand, Genesis, the league saw competition between elite players and esports clubs from across the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Turki Al-Fawzan, CEO of the Saudi Esports Federation, said: “Congratulations to all the incredible players who participated in the second edition of the GCC Esports League. This event has been instrumental in fostering the next generation of talent and showcasing the remarkable depth of quality among players from across the GCC. Ƶ’s unwavering commitment to the gaming and esports sector is not only transforming our region but also solidifying our role as a global hub for this dynamic industry.”

This year’s league featured competition across two fan-favorite titles: EA Sports FC 25 and Street Fighter 6, with a total prize pool of SR100,000 ($26,600), split evenly between the games. Representing their nations and highlighting the depth of emerging talent across the GCC, players from Gulf countries showcased their skills and talents in front of passionate fans at the SEF Arena and a global online audience.

Seven clubs representing six GCC countries competed in the EA Sports FC 25 tournament: Team Falcons from Ƶ, TriForce from Kuwait, Al-Nasr Club from the UAE, KHK Esports from Bahrain, Al-Seeb and Al-Nahda from Oman, and Alrayyan from Qatar. In a highly anticipated all-Saudi grand final, Abu Makkah took on Falcon Msdossary7, both from Team Falcons. With a dominant 12-3 victory, FalconMsdossary7 secured the title and reaffirmed his place among the top esports athletes in the region.

Nine clubs from six GCC nations participated in the Street Fighter 6 competition, including The Vicious and Twisted Minds from Ƶ, TriForce from Kuwait, Al-Ain Chess and Mind Games Club from the UAE, KHK Esports from Bahrain, Al-Seeb and Al-Nahda from Oman, and S-City and Team Mana from Qatar. The grand final featured a thrilling showdown between Twisted Minds’ Latif and Al-Ain Chess and Mind Games Club’s GTR. Latif secured a decisive 3-1 victory, marking an emotional and inspiring return to professional play after a seven-year break.

“Winning this tournament means a lot to me,” Latif said. “Coming back after seven years away from professional competition and proving that I can still compete and win against the best players in the region is an incredible feeling. This special win reminded me that age is just a number when you have the drive and determination to succeed.”

Beyond the competition, the 2025 GCC Esports League marked a significant step toward deeper regional collaboration, as the Saudi Esports Federation signed five memoranda of understanding with esports governing bodies from Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and the UAE.

“These memoranda of understanding with our GCC counterparts mark a pivotal moment for the region’s esports ecosystem,” Al-Fawzan said. “Strategic collaboration is paramount to fostering talent development, launching impactful education initiatives and strengthening grassroots growth across the GCC, ultimately elevating the gaming and esports ecosystem on the global stage.”


‘It feels like home’: Rashford joins Barcelona on loan from Man United

‘It feels like home’: Rashford joins Barcelona on loan from Man United
Updated 23 July 2025

‘It feels like home’: Rashford joins Barcelona on loan from Man United

‘It feels like home’: Rashford joins Barcelona on loan from Man United
  • “Very excited. I think it’s a club where people’s dreams come true. They win big prizes,” Rashford told reporters following his unveiling
  • “Another factor is because the conversations I had with the manager (Hansi Flick) were positive”

BARCELONA: England forward Marcus Rashford said Barcelona was a club where “dreams come true” as he joined the LaLiga champions on Wednesday on a season-long loan from Manchester United with an option to buy.

Media reports said that Barcelona would cover Rashford’s wages this season after the player accepted a pay cut, with the option to buy set at around 30 million euros ($35.25 million) for the 27-year-old.

“Very excited. I think it’s a club where people’s dreams come true. They win big prizes. And what the club stands for really means a lot to me as well. So it feels like I am at home,” Rashford told reporters following his unveiling.

“Another factor is because the conversations I had with the manager (Hansi Flick) were positive. What he did last season was terrific.

“To lead such a young team to a very successful season and come back to pre-season and still want to do more, it shows me everything I thought I knew about the club and it’s everything I wished.”

Once seen as a club icon and homegrown star, Rashford had a dramatic fall from grace at United, marked by a falling out with manager Ruben Amorim that paved the way for him to move to Aston Villa on loan in February.

“(Manchester United) is in a period of change and they have been for a while. I don’t have anything bad to say as it has been an important part not just of my career but my life, so I was grateful for the opportunity,” he added.

“But like life not everything goes as simple as you thought and this is my next chapter and I’m fully focused on improving myself and helping the team win trophies.”

Barcelona said Rashford had signed his contract earlier in the afternoon. “Rashford can play anywhere in attack. Right footed, he can take players on and is an excellent finisher, talents he can now show in a Barca shirt,” the club said in a statement.

The move came after Manchester-born Rashford, who made 426 senior appearances and scored 138 goals for United in all competitions, fell out of favor with Amorim, who called his workrate into question.

Rashford, who won two FA Cups, two League Cups and a Europa League title with United, joined Aston Villa on loan after Amorim said he would rather put a goalkeeper coach on the bench than a player not giving their all.

United issued a statement wishing Rashford well as they announced the deal with Barcelona.

“Everyone at Manchester United wishes Marcus good luck for the season,” the club said.

The forward, who has scored 17 goals for England in 62 appearances, said he was feeling fitter and better after joining Villa, where he netted two goals in 10 league games, while United had their worst-ever Premier League campaign, finishing 15th in the standings.

Rashford said he had wanted to move to Barca during the mid-season transfer window when he joined Villa.

“I was clear on my preference (to join Barcelona) from the beginning. Actually from maybe in January. It didn’t work out in January so I went to Villa and enjoyed a good period there,” he said.

“It was time to make another decision. My choice was easy. (Barcelona) is a family club, something I’m used to from my past. It feels like home.”

Barcelona are set to play three pre-season friendlies in Japan and South Korea starting on July 27.