PARIS: Marseille suffered a late collapse and blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Paris FC in Ligue 1 on Saturday with the pain still fresh from their excruciating Champions League exit.
Mason Greenwood converted a first-half penalty for his league-best 13th goal of the season and set up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to double Marseille’s lead early in the second half.
However, three days after crashing out of Europe in improbable fashion, Marseille came unstuck again as Jonathan Ikone’s header brought Paris FC back into the game and Ilan Kebbal levelled with an injury-time spot-kick.
Marseille lost 3-0 at Club Brugge on Wednesday but it took a last-gasp header from Benfica’s goalkeeper in a win over Real Madrid to knock Roberto De Zerbi’s side out of the competition.
De Zerbi dismissed reports that he was stepping down in the wake of the defeat in Belgium after he missed a training session the next day.
The Italian said he had held talks with club officials to find the best way to move on from the Champions League disappointment, but the nature of Marseille’s latest setback will only add to the unease at the Velodrome.
Lens moved back above Paris Saint-Germain into top spot on Friday after a Ruben Aguilar goal secured a 1-0 win at home to struggling Le Havre.
Luis Enrique’s team will be able to reclaim first place by avoiding defeat away to Strasbourg on Sunday.
Marseille buckle as Paris FC battle back for draw
https://arab.news/8bkbm
Marseille buckle as Paris FC battle back for draw
- Mason Greenwood converted a first-half penalty for his league-best 13th goal of the season
- De Zerbi dismissed reports that he was stepping down
Saudi boxing’s inaugural ‘Kingdom’s Belt’ Championship crowns winners in Riyadh
- Record participation of 246 fighters highlights growing momentum of boxing across the Kingdom
RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Boxing Federation staged its inaugural “Kingdom’s Belt” Championship in Riyadh this week, with champions crowned on Saturday after four days of competition.
Held at the Mike Tyson Club in Boulevard City, the tournament featured 246 male and female fighters representing 46 clubs from across the Kingdom — the largest turnout for a domestic boxing championship organized by the federation.
Athletes qualified through regional tournaments, setting up national-level competition across multiple weight divisions in both men’s and women’s categories.
The championship formed part of the federation’s official calendar and was run under technical and administrative supervision, with bouts conducted in line with approved regulations and officiating standards.
Fighters progressed through preliminary rounds and semifinals before Saturday’s finals, where winners received the Kingdom’s belts during the closing ceremony.
The event showcased competitive matchups across divisions and highlighted the continued growth of organized boxing in Saudi Arabia.
Federation officials said the tournament represents an important addition to the domestic calendar, offering athletes a structured pathway to compete nationally while supporting efforts to develop the sport across the Kingdom.
