PARIS: For more than a decade, Paris Saint-Germain’s Qatari owners have spent lavishly to attract big stars.
Their goal was to make the club profitable, to erase the amateurish image of a side often associated with hooligans, and to build a competitive team capable of winning the Champions League.
With unprecedented revenues surpassing 800 million euros ($890 million) for the first time last year, they have managed to build solid growth.
They also succeeded in ridding their stadium of the violence that often made the atmosphere at the Parc des Princes so tense and hostile.
And they also managed to bring the biggest names in the game to Paris. The likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé at times offered a glimpse of the possibility of winning Europe’s biggest tournament.
But the Champions League crown remained a distant dream.
The superstars have all now left the Parc des Princes, and it might sound paradoxical, but the club may be better equipped in its quest for continental glory.
Following the exits of Messi to Inter Miami and Neymar to Saudi Arabia team Al-Hilal in previous years, the departure of Mbappé to Real Madrid this summer marked the end of an era at PSG, where relying on the individual skills of star players and splashing money have been the norm since the 2011 Qatari takeover.
The big hole left by Mbappé was not filled by yet another superstar.
Instead, coach Luis Enrique insisted on molding what he had. Enrique’s project makes sense: Mbappé can’t be duplicated but he could be replaced by a handful of attacking players capable of scoring as much, or more, than the France captain did.
“To me, this is the continuation of last season,” said Enrique, who has used 21 players in four French league games so far. “We are a young team, that is true. But we are full of desire and hunger, which is a wonderful thing. I’m so lucky to have this sort of squad.”
Enrique asked for the recruitment of less known but excellent players in every sector to create competition and have second options at every position. It could be even more crucial this season as the Champions League’s new format will see more teams playing more games. PSG starts on Wednesday against Spanish side Girona.
PSG signed goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, highly rated defender Willian Pacho and promising midfielder João Neves, as well as winger Désiré Doué. Pacho was impressive at Eintracht Frankfurt while the versatile Neves has already earned 11 caps with Portugal at the age of 19.
Pacho and Neves have quickly gelled with the team and the new-look PSG has delivered immediately. They have won their first four matches to top the Ligue 1 standings.
“PSG is way stronger collectively than last year, everybody runs and defends,” Brest coach Eric Roy said after his side lost to the French titleholder 3-1 over the weekend. “Especially when they lose the ball, they put a lot of pressure.”
The biggest question mark going into the season was PSG’s ability to maintain a potent attack without its best player. With two quick and powerful players on the wings — Ousmane Dembélé and Badley Barcola — partnering Marco Asensio in a false No. 9 role, PSG seems to have found the right answer.
The team has scored 16 goals, conceding just three, and boasts the best goal difference after four Ligue matches since Reims in 1952. Only Marseille forward Mason Greenwood has more goals than Barcola and Dembélé, while João Neves leads the league with three assists.
But for all of PSG’s dominance of the French league — winning it in 10 of the last 12 seasons — it has reached just one Champions League final since being bought by Qatar Sports Investments. No surprise Enrique does not want to get carried away.
Asked about the perceived improvement, he said, “We will see at the end of the season what the team has achieved.”
PSG starts Champions League without a galactico but seemingly better equipped to succeed
https://arab.news/v8x9r
PSG starts Champions League without a galactico but seemingly better equipped to succeed
- Paris Saint-Germain’s Qatari owners have spent lavishly to attract big stars and win the Champions League for more than a decade
Dubai Basketball fall to Mega MIS on last-second foul call
- A 80-83 defeat to the Serbian team saw the new franchise lose their unbeaten start to the ABA League
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball saw their perfect start to the 2024-2025 ABA League season come to an end following an agonizing 80-83 defeat to Serbia’s Mega MIS on Saturday night — in a game that was watched by NBA and global basketball royalty.
Both sides went into the Round 3 game with an unbeaten 2-0 record, and it was Mega MIS who maintained their flawless start to the season with a closely fought victory in front of almost 4,000 vociferous fans at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
Among the stars sitting at courtside were Denver Nuggets’ stars, three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, a 2023 finals champion and MVP, and 7-time NBA All-Star, and Vlatko Cancar, who both played for Mega MIS, as well as Dario Saric.
They were joined by Denver Nuggets’ owners, Stanley Kroenke and Josh Kroenke, former EuroLeague president, Jordi Bartomeu, NBL owner, Larry Kestelman, BeoBasket owner, Misko Raznatovic, VTB League president, Serhiy Kurchenko, and owner of Gigantes Spanish basketball newspaper, Jose Luis Ortiz.
The fans were treated to a thrilling game that was decided in the last second, on a controversial foul call against Awudu Abass that brought Mega MIS’ Kosta Kondic to the free-throw line — scoring three consecutives to seal his team’s victory.
Earlier, the hosts made a strong start to the game, buoyed by strong home support. Leon Radosevic’s three-pointer was among the highlights that saw Dubai Basketball take a 24-18 advantage at the end of the first quarter. By the end of the second quarter Mega MIS had found their rhythm, but Dubai Basketball’s intensity saw them rewarded with a 45-36 advantage going into half-time.
The third quarter was closely fought as Mega MIS closed the gap to just three points at 63-60, setting things up for an enthralling final 10 minutes.
With the scores tied at 77-all, Kosta Kondic hit a huge three-pointer for Mega MIS to give his team a three-point lead going into the final minute. However, Dubai had their answer ready as Danilo Andusic drove through the lane for a tough-fought two, and was fouled in the process — making the free throw to complete tie the game at 80-80.
As the clock went below five seconds, with Dubai Basketball’s defense pressuring, Kondic’s three-point attempt was off the mark — but a foul was called, sending him to the line for three, with the entire game in the balance. Kondic kept his cool despite the loud Dubai crowd, draining all three shots from the line, and finishing the game’s joint-top scorer with Filip Jovic (16 points).
For Dubai Basketball, the US’s Isaiah Taylor scored a game-high 14, and also grabbed five rebounds while captain Klemen Prepelic continued his impressive form with 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Dubai Basketball head coach, Jurica Golemac, was proud of his team and said there were positives to take from the defeat.
Golemac said: “We couldn’t catch the rhythm and break the game. We were up most of the game. But we never got through and Mega played extremely energetically and extremely quick. I would say at crucial moments we missed a couple of lay-ups and we let them shoot open shots on the end.
“The season is a marathon and not a sprint, but we need to learn from the mistakes. From the defeats — we are learning. Defeats make you learn; defeats make you work harder. In the wins, not everything is perfect, and in the defeats not everything is bad.”
Dubai Basketball will next be in action on Sunday, Oct. 13 when they travel to Serbia to take on Borac Mozzart. They will then return to the Coca-Cola Arena for the home game against Spartak Subotica on Sunday, Oct 20.
Jayson Tatum declares MVP ambitions as Celtics rout Nuggets in Abu Dhabi
- Boston beat Denver 130-104 in the second of the preseason NBA Games at Etihad Arena on Sunday night
ABU DHABI: Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is not shying away from declaring his MVP ambitions but says his personal goals will never come at the expense of the team’s success.
The Celtics wrapped up their preseason trip in Abu Dhabi on Sunday with a second victory in three days over the Denver Nuggets, routing the 2022-2023 champions 130-104 at Etihad Arena.
Boston went a league-best 64-18 en route to the 2023-2024 NBA title, but the one team they were unable to beat all season were the Denver Nuggets.
The tables were turned during the two preseason games they had in the UAE capital though, where Boston outplayed their opponents, particularly with a 42-16 run against Denver in the third quarter.
The Celtics stuck to their starting lineup from Friday’s game — Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Luke Kornet, Derrick White, and Jrue Holiday.
However, the Nuggets swapped Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon with Julian Strawther and Vlatko Cancar, who joined Nikola Jokic, Christian Braun and Jamal Murray on the floor on Sunday.
Newly-acquired guard Russell Westbrook, who made his debut for the Nuggets on Friday, did not participate in the game, nor did Porter Jr. and Gordon.
Reigning NBA Finals MVP Brown scored a game-high 21 points for the Celtics, with five other players on the squad hitting double digits, including 17 points from Tatum.
Tatum, whose three-point shooting let him down during the playoffs last season, says he has been working on his shooting form and feels he has made progress ahead of the start of the new campaign.
The 26-year-old power forward shot 43 percent from beyond the arc on Sunday and had a 43 field-goal percentage.
Discussing his MVP ambitions for next season, which tips off on Oct. 22, Tatum said: “Everybody should have individual goals and we’re all mature enough and know what it’s like to have team success that nothing gets in the way of what we’re trying to accomplish and be as special and great as we were last year and even better this year.”
The Celtics are trying to become the first team to successfully defend their NBA crown since the Golden State Warriors went back-to-back in 2017 and 2018.
“Whether the guys want to make All-Defensive Team or All-Star or being MVP, you should be able to want to go after that. That means that you’re having a hell of a year, that means that you’re dominating, that means that you’re being the best version of yourself, which we want everybody to be,” continued Tatum.
“So not chasing MVP in spite of, costing us games or anything like that, but if I’m in that conversation, that means we’re one of the best teams, that means I’m playing the right way and everybody on the team is having success and we’re going in the right path.”
Three-time MVP Jokic top-scored for the Nuggets on Sunday with 20 points in 18 minutes, 30 seconds of play, but the team’s second unit and further combinations off the bench struggled to keep up with the Celtics after halftime.
“That third quarter was a far cry of who we need to be,” admitted Nuggets coach Michael Malone. “I don’t get caught up in the losses in preseason, I get caught up in getting better and that’s the most disappointing thing about tonight.”
LeBron and son Bronny James play together for the first time in a preseason game for the Lakers
- LeBron and Bronny are the first father and son to play in any NBA game at the same time
PALM DESERT: LeBron James grew up without a father, and the top scorer in NBA history has often said he savors every moment and milestone he can experience with his own three children.
When he stepped onto a court Sunday night to play alongside his son, Bronny, for the Los Angeles Lakers, this moment was more than basketball history to him.
It was the realization of a family dream.
LeBron and Bronny became the first father and son to play in any NBA game together during the first half of the Lakers ‘ preseason contest against Phoenix, playing just over four minutes side-by-side in the second quarter.
“It’s pretty cool for the both of us, and especially for our family,” LeBron said. “It’s definitely a moment that I will never forget.”
The James family’s remarkable moment coincidentally happened on Bronny’s 20th birthday, and it felt like a celebration for the 39-year-old LeBron, who has spoken about his desire for this opportunity since Bronny was in high school.
Although LeBron knows they’ll get more chances to play together in the Lakers’ upcoming season, the first time on court together in uniform felt “not real” to the four-time NBA champion and 20-time All-Star.
“For a father, it means everything,” LeBron said. “For someone who didn’t have that growing up, to be able to have that influence on your kids and have that influence on your son, be able to have moments with your son — and the ultimate, to be able to work with your son — that’s one of the greatest things that a father could ever hope for or wish for.”
Bronny James entered the preseason game as a substitute to begin the second quarter, joining his father on court at Acrisure Arena in the Coachella Valley. Bronny was told by coach JJ Redick before the game that he would be playing alongside LeBron, but the rookie maintained his usual cool demeanor both before and after the moment.
“I was pretty psyched for that,” Bronny said.
Although he’s much less vocal about the whole situation than LeBron, Bronny is still learning how to navigate an on-court relationship with his father, who has repeatedly insisted that his son can’t call him “Dad” on the court.
“I’m always thinking about, ‘That’s my dad!’, because that’s literally my dad,” Bronny said. “But when I’m playing, he’s just my teammate. That’s all.”
Their minutes together weren’t as smooth as they’ll be later in the season: Bronny committed two turnovers and LeBron made another in their first two minutes. Shortly after LeBron hit a 3-pointer moments later, LeBron got the ball to Bronny and set a screen for his son’s 3-point attempt, but Bronny missed.
“I was really hoping that wing 3 would have gone in,” Redick said with a smile. “That would have been a cool moment. But they’ll have a lot of moments together, I’m sure.”
Bronny came off for a substitute 4:09 into the second quarter, and LeBron came off 25 seconds later at the next dead ball. LeBron had 19 points, five rebounds and four assists in 16 minutes during the first half, and he watched the Lakers’ second half from the bench alongside Anthony Davis.
Bronny played about nine minutes in the second half, but didn’t score in the Lakers’ 118-114 loss to the Suns.
“I just told him, ‘Keep getting better,’” LeBron said. “He’s young. He wants to continue to improve, and that’s what’s most important. So every time you get a moment out there, just continue to make winning plays. Continue to learn from his mistakes and make winning plays.”
LeBron James is beginning his record-tying 22nd season in the NBA, while LeBron James Jr. — known to all as Bronny — was the Lakers’ second-round draft pick this summer. After recovering from cardiac arrest over a year ago, Bronny played just one season at Southern California before entering the draft.
Redick had vowed that the pairing would only happen “in the flow of the game,” and wouldn’t be “gimmicky.”
“I’m thrilled that I get to be a part of this, I really am,” Redick said. “It’s cool as a basketball fan. I think it speaks to LeBron’s longevity, but also his competitive stamina that he’s able to still be doing this in Year 22. It speaks to the work that Bronny has put in to get to this point, and really just the fatherly care, and certainly the motherly care from Savannah as well. Bronny, he’s such a great kid and a pleasure to be around.”
The 6-foot-2 Bronny is expected to spend much of the upcoming season working on his game with the South Bay Lakers of the G League, but he will almost certainly get to play alongside his 6-foot-9 father in a real game early in the regular season.
The games that count begin Oct. 22 at home against Minnesota.
Although LeBron will turn 40 in late December, the top scorer in NBA history has shown no sign of slowing down with age. LeBron sat out of the Lakers’ preseason opener against Minnesota last Friday night, resting up after a full week of training camp following a busy summer. Bronny had two points on 1-for-6 shooting and three blocked shots while playing 16 minutes against the Timberwolves.
LeBron was early in his second NBA season with the Cleveland Cavaliers when he and his high school sweetheart, Savannah Brinson, became parents for the first time in 2004. They had two more children — son Bryce and daughter Zhuri.
LeBron and Bronny have been preparing for the chance to play together ever since LeBron returned from a summer vacation after winning a gold medal with the US team at the Paris Olympics.
The father and son have scrimmaged together repeatedly during workouts at the Lakers’ training complex, both as teammates and opponents.
In the regular season, they’ll join a short list of fathers and sons who have shared a playing field in North American professional sports. Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. played together with the Seattle Mariners during parts of the 1990 and 1991 baseball seasons, while hockey great Gordie Howe played with sons Marty and Mark for the Houston Aeros in the WHA and the New England/Hartford Whalers in the WHA and NHL.
Arte Veloce wins Saudi Arabia Royal Cup at Tokyo Racecourse
- Arte Veloce dropped back from a good early position before overtaking all the other horses in a single straight stretch
- It was Arte Veloce’s first major win
TOKYO: The 10th Saudi Arabia Royal Cup at Tokyo Racecourse on Saturday was a thrilling event, with SASAKI Daisuke coming from behind on second-favorite Arte Veloce to clinch the victory.
In the 1,600-meter race for 2-year-olds, Arte Veloce dropped back from a good early position before overtaking all the other horses in a single straight stretch, beating the fourth favorite, Taisei Current and winning by one body length. It was Arte Veloce’s first major win.
Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Japan, Dr. Ghazi Binzagr, as well as other Arab ambassadors and officials from the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry attended the event.
After handing the trophy to the winner, Ambassador Binzagr told Arab News Japan: “This is a beautiful occasion that brings people together. It’s amazing how cultural events are extremely important to emphasize our common values and love for sports, particularly regarding horses. It’s a fascination that can tie humanity and bring peace to the world.”
At a luncheon preceding the race, the Ambassador said: “I am honored to stand before you today to hand over the winning trophy, which bears the name of the Kingdom. On behalf of my country, I am proud to represent its Horse Racing Club at the prestigious Tokyo Racecourse.”
“Our union here reflects the extent of cooperation that ties our two countries together in the field of sports and the depth of our mutual partnership on many spheres of civilization and culture.”
Ambassador Binzagr said he was proud that Saudi Arabia hosted the Japan Cup yearly, which he described as “a special event.” He also highlighted the significance of the Saudi Arabia Royal Cup, which serves as a precursor to the Japan Cup and is a testament to the growing international interest in horse racing.
“I invite all of you to visit us and be present at King Abdulaziz Equestrian Field in the capital Riyadh on the day of the Japan Cup, scheduled for February 7, 2025.”
AKITANI Misaki, the General Manager of Tokyo Racecourse, echoed Ambassador Binzagr’s words of unity: “(In) the world of horse racing – we have been, and we are and will be, united as one. The world of horse racing is the perfect vehicle to create common ground among us.”
Winning jockey Daisuke Sasaki was quoted by local media as saying: “I rode this horse because I believed in its strength. It had a great start, so I thought it would be a waste to pull it a little too hard, so I chose to pull it back a step and concentrate on keeping it under control. He’s best at around 1,600 meters, and I’m sure he’ll do well in the bigger races.”
Trainer SUGAI Shosuke added: “The horse was in the inside lane and ran the race as expected. Sasaki knew the horse well and made him hold back. He knew the inside of the track was bad, so I told him to put the horse in a good spot. He responded to that, and I think he did a great job.”
This article was originally published in Arab News Japan
Kevin Yu birdies 18th twice and wins Sanderson Farms in playoff for first PGA Tour title
- Kevin Yu: I’ve been dreaming this moment since I was 5
- Yu hit his winning putt, a victory that sends him to the Masters and the PGA Championship for the first time
JACKSON, Mississippi: Kevin Yu made a 15-foot birdie on the 18th hole for a 5-under 67, and he birdied it again from 6 feet in a playoff to beat Beau Hossler and win the Sanderson Farms Championship on Sunday for his first PGA Tour title.
Yu was nearly forgotten for most of a final round that appeared to be a duel between Hossler and Keith Mitchell until the 26-year-old from Taiwan made a birdie to tie them for the lead.
Hossler pulled his drive on the 18th in regulation behind a tree, had to pitch out and hit his third shot to 4 feet to save par. Mitchell had a 35-foot birdie putt to win it and it grazed the left edge of the cup. But he missed the 4-foot comebacker for par, shot 70 and missed the playoff.
Mitchell tied for third with former US Open champion Lucas Glover, who played the last six holes in 5-under par — including pitching in for eagle on the par-4 15th — for a 66.
Hossler again was left off the tee on the 18th in the playoff. Yu hit first and sent his approach to 6 feet right of the hole. Hossler had to punch below the trees, and it turned too much and went into a front bunker. He blasted out to 2 feet to secure par.
Yu hit his winning putt, a victory that sends him to the Masters and the PGA Championship for the first time. He also will start his season at Kapalua for The Sentry, a gathering of PGA Tour winners in 2024.
“I’ve been dreaming this moment since I was 5,” Yu said. “This is the dream for all golfers, to win on the PGA Tour. I did it today. I’m thankful for my parents. Without them, I couldn’t have done that.”
Yu and Hossler, who shot a 68, finished at 23-under 265.
This was Hossler’s 200th start on the PGA Tour without ever winning — four of them as an amateur — and it was as close as any. He fell back with a pair of bogeys early on the back nine as he tried to keep pace with Mitchell, and he pulled into a share of the lead with a 20-foot birdie on the 17th hole.
But he never gave himself a good look on the 18th or in the playoff.
“Even though I didn’t have my best stuff on the back nine I grinded really hard,” Hossler said “Hit some really quality shots under the gun, and that’s all you can do. Obviously, Kevin played a beautiful hole in the playoff.”
Mitchell might have the most regrets in search of his first win in five years. He was two shots ahead with five to play when he failed to birdie the par-5 14th or the reachable par-4 15th. He still had a putt to win, and that’s where it all went wrong with a three-putt bogey.
“The first putt actually looked good off the face. Right when it missed, I kind of turned my head and didn’t watch the read on the way by,” Mitchell said. “I assumed it was breaking — guess it broke left. It was going to break right back up the hill.”
He played the 4-foot par putt inside the left edge and it stayed out to the left.
“I hate that I finished with a three-putt,” Mitchell said. “Felt like I grinded all the way to the end and gave the first putt a really good chance.”
