Novak Djokovic says it has taken “a lot of blood, sweat and tears” to break Roger Federer’s record of 310 weeks ranked as world number one.
The 33-year-old Serb set the record on Monday for most weeks at number one in the 48-year history of the ATP rankings.
“My family have supported me for day one,” he told BBC World Service.
Djokovic won his 18th Grand Slam singles title and his ninth Australian Open crown in Melbourne last month.
Djokovic, whose longest continuous run at the top was 122 weeks between July 2014 and November 2016, paid tribute to the 39-year-old Federer, who is competing at this week’s Qatar Open, his first tournament since the Australian Open in 2020.
“What Roger is doing still at his age is something that is very inspirational for me and many other tennis players, and it’s great to see him back,” said Djokovic.
The Serb’s Australian Open triumph leaves him only two wins behind the joint holders of the men’s Grand Slam singles record, Federer and Rafael Nadal – the men he said had made him the player he is today.
“When I started in the men’s professional tennis world 15 years ago, I had two of the highest challenges, which was to overcome Roger and Rafa.
“Back in 2008, when I won my first Grand Slam, I thought OK, this is now my time. I’m going to be competing with these guys; I have the ability to win slams.
“But then, for three years, I didn’t win a major title and I was losing most of my big matches against them.
“They made me really sit and realise what I need to do, and how I need to improve in order to win against them.
“They definitely made me the player that I am today. Those rivalries are the ones that were the most impactful on my tennis game and evolution,” he said.
After setting a new rankings record, Djokovic is focused on adding to his Grand Slam titles.
“I cannot run away from that fact that I’m not 23 any more, so I have to try to be smart with my scheduling and be able to emphasise and prioritise the Grand Slams,” he said.
Barcelona have once again elected Juan Laporta as their president.
He replaced the embattled and ousted Josep Maria Bartomeu. Club members voted 58-year-old Mr. Laporta to defeat rivals Victor Font and Toni Freixa on Sunday, NAN reports. Mr. Laporta, who was at the helm from 2003 to 2010, amassed 19,293 votes after 75 percent of votes were counted, earning him victory. His closest rival, Mr. Font had 10,404 votes, while Freixa came third with 3,346 votes.
Celebrating his victory at Camp Nou, he tried to inspire the confidence of the players and fans regarding the club’s Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League last 16-second leg tie against Paris Saint Germain. “Let’s go to Paris and see if we can turn it around,” Mr. Laporta said despite Barcelona heading into the clash 4-1 behind.
The election for his replacement became necessary after Mr. Bartomeu stepped down in October following a vote of no confidence. Mr. Laporta’s greatest challenge will now be how to offset the club’s gross debt of about €1.2 billion and probably how to keep their best player, Lionel Messi, whose contract expires in the summer and can leave the club for free. Amongst the voters were Messi himself, his teammates, and former president Bartomeu. Resulting from a social media scandal, ‘Barcagate,’ police had last week put Mr. Bartomeu in detention while they carried out an investigation regarding alleged corrupt practices with a company contracted to pilot the affairs of the club’s online presence.
Joan Laporta has been named as Barcelona president for a second time after winning the club’s election.
Laporta, whose central pledge was to keep Lionel Messi at the club, won more than 54% of the vote.
The 58-year-old, who oversaw the appointment of Pep Guardiola as head coach in his previous spell at the club between 2003-2010, succeeds Josep Maria Bartomeu who resigned in October.
Victor Font was second with 30% of the vote, with Toni Freixa a distant third.
Barcelona said 55,611 of its 109,531 eligible members voted in the election, which was postponed from January because of coronavirus restrictions in Catalonia.
Laporta signed the likes of Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho and former Cameroon forward Samuel Eto’o in his first stint as president, with the club winning the Champions League twice, four La Liga titles and the Copa del Rey.
Messi also emerged as a world star during that period and was among several current Barca players to vote in the election.
Amid champagne celebrations on Sunday evening, Laporta shouted: “Now let’s go to Paris and see if we can make another ‘remontada’ [comeback] happen!
“Seeing Leo [Messi] go to vote, the best player in the world, voting with his son, for me, this shows what we’ve said all along, that Leo loves Barca, that we are all a big family. Hopefully that helps him to stay which is what we all want.”
Longer term, Laporta’s task will be to rebuild a club in crisis, with crippling debts exacerbated by the pandemic and Messi considering leaving for free when his contract expires this summer.
Diogo Dalot’s goal was his first for AC Milan in Serie A since joining the club in October
AC Milan moved within touching distance of Serie A leaders Inter Milan with a comfortable victory at Verona.
Despite being without injured top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, it appeared to be a welcome return to form for Milan, who have faltered of late.
Rade Krunic’s superb free-kick put them in charge and Manchester United loanee Diogo Dalot scored a brilliant second after the break.
The result leaves Stefano Pioli’s side three points behind city rivals Inter.
Antonio Conte’s Inter team could regain a six-point lead at the top of the table if they win their home game in hand against Atalanta on Monday (19:45 GMT).
Milan, who had arrived in Verona with just one win from their four previous Serie A fixtures, led the table from October until midway through February and are chasing their first Scudetto for a decade.
Karim Benzema scored a late equaliser as Real Madrid prevented city rivals Atletico Madrid from moving five points clear at the top of La Liga.
France striker Benzema was earlier denied several times by keeper Jan Oblak at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Luis Suarez scored the opener, which Kieran Trippier helped create on his return from a 10-week ban for betting.
Atletico are three points clear of Barcelona and five ahead of third-placed Real.
England right-back Trippier, who was suspended in December and fined £70,000 after a Football Association panel found he broke betting rules, was bright throughout for the hosts.
He started the move for Atletico’s goal, finding Marcos Llorente with a clever pass from defence.
A fine first touch from the Spanish midfielder helped him race clear before he slid the ball to Suarez, who beat Thibaut Courtois with a well-placed shot with the outside of his boot.
Real were denied a penalty for handball before the break, with referee Alejandro Hernandez watching several replays before deciding against awarding a spot-kick after the ball appeared to strike Felipe’s arm.
Courtois made a string of crucial saves after the break, denying Yannick Carrasco and twice keeping Suarez out.
At the other end Oblak made an excellent double save from Benzema with 10 minutes remaining, but Benzema could not be denied the equaliser after neatly exchanging passes with Casemiro in the penalty area.
Liverpool’s incredible slide continued with a sixth successive Premier League home defeat as Fulham secured a crucial win to give their survival hopes a huge boost.
Mario Lemina’s goal on the stroke of half-time, after the Gabon midfielder had dispossessed Mohamed Salah, gave the visitors a deserved win and saw them draw level on 26 points with 17th-placed Brighton.
It was Fulham’s first win at Anfield since 2012, while champions Liverpool are now struggling to finish in the top four after another uninspired performance at home.
The Reds, who won the title last season by 18 points, had gone 68 home league matches unbeaten before their current run started with a loss to Burnley in January.
Since then they have also lost on home soil to Brighton, Manchester City, Everton, Chelsea and now Fulham.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp made seven changes following the defeat to Chelsea in attempt to freshen things up, but Fulham were the better side and carved out four chances in the opening half an hour alone.
Ademola Lookman, who was given the freedom of Anfield, twice got behind the Reds defence but could not finish while Josh Maja was denied by a brave save by Alisson.
The winner came after Liverpool thought they had cleared a free-kick but Salah was caught on the ball by Lemina who produced an arrowed finish, his first goal since joining on loan from Southampton.
Diogo Jota, making his first start since 28 November, was denied an equaliser by an acrobatic save from Alphonse Areola early in the second half before substitute Sadio Mane hit the post with a looping header.
But Liverpool were poor and have now failed to win their last eight home games.
Weary Liverpool look broken
It was this time last year that Liverpool went 22 points clear at the top of the table after a win over Bournemouth in front of a raucous Anfield crowd.
Twelve months on and Premier League games at Anfield have become an uncomfortable watch for Klopp and this was another stodgy repeat of recent performances.
The Liverpool manager’s attempts to shake things up by making wholesale changes backfired as Fulham, who have spent most of the season in the bottom three, took advantage of another inexperienced centre-back partnership in the shape of Nathaniel Phillips and Rhys Williams.
Lookman and Maja were a constant source of worry as they exploited huge pockets of space before Salah, the Premier League’s leading scorer, was dispossessed by Lemina for the goal.
Klopp sent on Mane, Fabinho and Trent Alexander-Arnold in an attempt to rescue the game but, despite an improved second-half showing, this was another woeful performance which extended an inexcusable run of home losses.
They have not kept a clean sheet at home since 6 December while they are yet to score a goal in open play at home in 2021.
A plane circled above Anfield during the game towing a banner which read: “Unity in Strength – Let’s Go Reds YNWA’.
But Liverpool, who are in Champions League action on Wednesday, have the weary look of
Bruno Fernandes’ penalty after 101 seconds is the earliest goal Man City have conceded in a league match at Etihad Stadium
Manchester United brought Manchester City’s sequence of 21 successive victories in all competitions to a crashing halt with an impressive derby victory at Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side still have what looks to be an unassailable 11-point lead at the top of the Premier League, but the manner in which United subdued a previously unstoppable City and enhanced their own top-four chances will be a huge confidence boost to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his players.
United, who have now gone 22 league away games unbeaten – including 14 wins – stunned City with a fast start and were ahead after a penalty was awarded inside the first 30 seconds when Gabriel Jesus fouled the impressive Antony Martial.
Bruno Fernandes scored from the spot despite City keeper Ederson getting a strong hand on the ball, then United fashioned the win with a mixture of solid defence and constant menace on the break.
Rodri almost equalised just after the break when his shot glanced off the angle of post and bar, but United effectively sealed the win – condemning City to their first loss since a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham on 21 November – when the outstanding Shaw, who had earlier missed a chance to double United’s lead, led a counter-attack, exchanging passes with Marcus Rashford before beating Ederson with a low shot.
Solskjaer’s team, who had not scored in their previous three games, moved back into second place, a point ahead of Leicester City in the increasing tight fight for a place in the top four.
Man Utd show their best side
United’s recent performances were greeted with frustration, particularly after they played out unambitious, goalless stalemates at Chelsea and Crystal Palace.
It cemented the impression that this was a very talented side that had arguably under-achieved this season.
This was the other face of United, the one they need to show more often if they are to find the sort of consistency that leads to serious title challenges.
They struck early to grab the initiative, then retained impressive composure and control even as City, inevitably, threatened to work their way back into contention.
And the symbol of what United could be perhaps came in the shape of Anthony Martial, so often inconsistent but outstanding here as they looked a constant threat on the break.
Martial missed a couple of second-half opportunities but fully deserved the applause he received from the United bench when he was replaced by Nemanja Matic late on.
Martial was not the only significant contributor. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson looked secure and confident as he kept another clean sheet, pressing his claims to be United’s number one with David de Gea away in Spain after the birth of his daughter.
Shaw will have impressed watching England manager Gareth Southgate, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka won his personal battle with Raheem Sterling.
This, above all, was a tight-knit team effort from United and great credit must go to manager Solskjaer for another impressive game plan and victory at City.
United did the double over City last season and Solskjaer is the first manager at the club to win three successive away games against their arch-rivals since a run of four between November 1993 and November 2000.
He is also the first manager in United’s history to win each of his first three away meetings against City in all competitions.
All in all, a good day’s work for United and their manager.
Robert Lewandowski’s hat-trick outdid Erling Braut Haaland’s early double as Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Dortmund in a Der Klassiker thriller.
Haaland drove Dortmund ahead from 20 yards after just 74 seconds and then turned home Thorgan Hazard’s cut-back.
But Lewandowski steered in Leroy Sane’s cross and levelled from the spot after Mahmoud Dahoud fouled Kingsley Coman.
Leon Goretzka drilled Bayern ahead late on before Lewandowski’s third confirmed a return to the top of the Bundesliga.
Victory moved Hansi Flick’s reigning champions two points clear of second-placed RB Leipzig, who had briefly climbed above them by winning at Freiburg earlier on Saturday.
Dortmund, meanwhile, drop a place to sixth, four points off the Champions League places, their woes compounded by a knock to Haaland that forced the Norway striker off in the second half.
He joins England winger Jadon Sancho on the treatment table, the England winger absent with a thigh injury, and Dortmund will be desperate for both to be fit by Tuesday as they bid to protect a 3-2 first-leg advantage against Sevilla in the Champions League last 16.
Haaland’s hasty hundred as Lewandowski landmark looms
Erling Braut Haaland has scored 32 goals in 34 Bundesliga appearances
Haaland’s two early strikes amazingly brought his career tally to 100 senior goals in all competitions at the tender age of 20.
He has taken just 145 matches to reach that milestone – by comparison, Kylian Mbappe took 180 matches to rack up triple figures, Lionel Messi 210 games and Cristiano Ronaldo 301.
His second-minute opener took a slight nick off Boateng but was always heading for Manuel Neuer’s bottom corner and he ended a classy move by sweeping home Hazard’s pass for Dortmund’s second.
However, Lewandowski was not to be overshadowed, his hat-trick taking his Bundesliga total to 267 goals, one behind second-placed Klaus Fischer on the league’s all-time scoring charts.
The Poland striker could have had more against his former club, snatching at a volley that he sent wide before converting Sane’s centre from close range and beating Marwin Hitz from the spot.
Dortmund looked set to see out a cagier second half but Goretzka and Lewandowski both found the bottom corner with accurate finishes in the closing stages to continue Bayern’s hold over Dortmund – they have won the past seven meetings between the sides at the Allianz Arena by an aggregate of 30-5.
Eighteen-year-old Ilaix Moriba scored his first goal for Barcelona to help them overcome Osasuna and move back to within two points of La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid.
Lionel Messi set Jordi Alba up for the opener, while Barca’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved well from Kike Barja and Ruben Garcia before the break.
Moriba ensured victory with an excellent finish from outside the area.
Barca, a club grappling with financial problems while also attempting to keep six-time Ballon d’Or award winner Messi, will elect a new president on Sunday from three candidates – Joan Laporta, Victor Font and Toni Freixa.
Victory was Barcelona’s second since the club’s Nou Camp offices were raided on Monday and former president Josep Maria Bartomeu was arrested in a probe related to allegations of improper management and business corruption.
Osasuna, a side 11 places adrift of Barca, were first to threaten, with Ter Stegen at full stretch to push Barja’s effort wide.
A brilliantly threaded pass from Messi and fierce finish from Alba into the roof of the net put Barca ahead, but it was Ter Stegen who ensured they maintained that lead after foiling Garcia.
Osasuna worked hard to limit Barca after the break, but they failed to find an equaliser before substitute Moriba opened his Barca account with a fine curled finish.
La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid, who were 10 points clear of Barca at the end of January, host third-placed city rivals Real Madrid on Sunday.
Rangers swept aside St Mirren to move within a point of the Scottish Premiership title – and will be crowned champions if Celtic fail to win at Dundee United on Sunday.
Alfredo Morelos’ acute finish added to Ryan Kent’s thumping strike as two goals in two minutes made the result a formality.
Ianis Hagi netted a minute after the break as Rangers – with manager Steven Gerrard serving a one-match ban in the stands – maintained their perfect home record with a 16th win.
Rangers players and some staff rushed to one corner of the stadium at full-time to acknowledge their fans, who had flouted coronavirus lockdown restrictions by gathering outside hours before kick-off.
Defeat dented St Mirren’s top-six hopes but they have a two-point lead over St Johnstone and their fate in their own hands with one pre-split fixture left.
As a measure of how far Rangers have come since their financial implosion, eight years ago this weekend they were being turned over 2-1 at home by part-time Annan Athletic in the bottom tier.
Their trek to the pinnacle of Scottish football has been long and arduous, but that will make a first top-flight title in 10 years all the sweeter for supporters.
Flares and fireworks filled the sky as a fervent atmosphere of celebration greeted Gerrard and the players on their way into Ibrox.
The hosts then crackled with intensity from the outset with a sparkling performance that showed no hint of nerves.
St Mirren had already achieved what no other side in domestic or European competition have managed this season – a win over Rangers – but their hopes of that repeating that shock League Cup success were quickly extinguished.
Kent made the 14th-minute breakthrough when he collected a Connor Goldson pass 25 yards out, feigned a right-foot shot to bamboozle Jake Doyle-Hayes before arrowing the ball into the net with his left.
Before Jim Goodwin’s men had time to compose themselves, their deficit was doubled as Glen Kamara played in Morelos down the right-hand side of the box. The angle was tight but the Colombian striker’s finish was clinical as it kissed the far post on its way in.
St Mirren’s attempted response saw Dylan Connolly dispossess Steven Davis and bear down on goal before dragging wide.
But that was rare respite from Rangers pressure and Goldson headed inches wide after Borna Barisic had lasered a free-kick on to the centre-back’s forehead.
The third soon followed after the restart as Kent bounded down the left and his cutback found Hagi at the back post to pick his spot.
St Mirren’s main concern now was preventing further damage to their goal difference, but they almost pulled one back as substitute Jon Obika’s flick from six yards out was clawed away from the top corner by Allan McGregor.
Rangers finished strongly with their former goalkeeper Jak Alnwick sticking out a leg to slice a Kent drive over his own bar, then superbly foiling Jermain Defoe from close range.
St Mirren substitute Dylan Reid made history as he came off the bench at the death to become the Paisley club’s youngest debutant at 16 years and six days.
Man of the match – Ryan Kent
A goal and assist in another stand-out show from the winger who has come of age as a Rangers player this season
Southampton won for the first time in 10 Premier League matches as Che Adams’ spectacular strike helped Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side claim all three points at Sheffield United, whose slim survival hopes took another blow at Bramall Lane.
Adams rifled a half-volley into the top corner four minutes into the second half, ending a run of 16 games without a goal in all competitions.
Saints, who lost Danny Ings to an early injury, had broken the deadlock when James Ward-Prowse sent Aaron Ramsdale the wrong way from the penalty spot following Ethan Ampadu’s clumsy challenge on Nathan Tella.
Takumi Minamino should have added a third for Southampton when he fired wide from Ryan Bertrand’s low cross, while Adams, Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong all went close late on.
“The first win after such a long time is always the most difficult one, now we have to keep on improving,” Hasenhuttl told BBC Sport afterwards.
“We are looking in every direction and we still had some moments today in the game where we were not that controlled. But it’s normal after such a long run without a win.”
On Ings’ injury, Hasenhuttl added: “I do not know yet [how serious it is]. It doesn’t look that good and it is a muscle injury.”
The Blades had opportunities of their own but only tested Fraser Forster twice throughout the 90 minutes.
The win lifts Saints 10 points clear of the relegation zone, while Chris Wilder’s side remain rooted to the foot of the table – 12 points from safety.
Saints back to winning ways as Hasenhuttl reaches 100 not out
Southampton fans could have been forgiven for casting nervous glances towards the bottom three following their 1-0 defeat at Everton on Monday, but this win – their first in the league since beating Liverpool on 4 January – will go some way towards easing their relegation fears.
The visitors were able to call upon Kyle Walker-Peters, Ibrahima Diallo and Minamino following injury but were dealt a blow when Ings was forced off with what appeared to be a groin problem inside the opening 15 minutes.
Saints, driven on by the impressive Tella, soon recovered from that early setback and took a deserved lead when Ward-Prowse sent Ramsdale the wrong way from 12 yards after Ampadu’s lunge on the Southampton youngster.
Ward-Prowse has now been directly involved in 26 Premier League goals under Hasenhuttl, twice as many as under any other Saints manager.
Adams, who last made the scoresheet against Sheffield United back in December, ended his goal drought in spectacular fashion early in the second half, thumping Stuart Armstrong’s knock-down into the top corner.
Hasenhuttl’s side could have won by a more handsome margin, but Minamino spurned a glorious chance to register his third goal in five league appearances for the club when he somehow failed to hit the target from Bertrand’s cut-back.
Ramsdale did well to stop Tella’s low strike from nestling in the far corner before thwarting Adams and Redmond from similar positions inside the area, but Hasenhuttl will gladly settle for a 2-0 victory on his 100th game in charge of the club.
Chelsea strengthened their case for Champions League qualification and harmed champions Liverpool’s own top-four hopes as Mason Mount’s goal gave them victory at Anfield.
The Blues were the better side and had an early Timo Werner finish disallowed by the video assistant referee for a fractional offside.
But Mount did give them the lead before the break, cutting inside for a low finish.
Liverpool felt they should have had a penalty, but N’Golo Kante was ruled not to have handled on purpose in the box.
Chelsea, who are now 10 games unbeaten under Thomas Tuchel, move up to fourth in the Premier League, with 47 points from 27 games.
Liverpool, who have now lost five in a row at home in the Premier League having not suffered defeat in 68 games at Anfield before that, are four points worse off in seventh.
Everton continued their push for European football by beating struggling West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.
Richarlison scored for the fourth Premier League game in a row, heading past home goalkeeper Sam Johnstone after a cross from substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson, who had only been on the pitch for 43 seconds.
West Brom had been the better team in the first half but England keeper Jordan Pickford made an excellent save to keep out Mbaye Diagne’s second-minute header.
Diagne thought he had grabbed a 93rd-minute equaliser when he controlled a pass and shot into the net, but he was denied because he was narrowly offside, with the video assistant referee (VAR) confirming the on-field decision.
This win takes Everton up from seventh to fourth – the last Champions League qualifying place – although the Toffees will drop back to fifth if there is a winner in Thursday’s late game between Liverpool and Chelsea.
West Brom are 19th, in the relegation zone and nine points behind 17th-placed Newcastle United, who they host on Sunday.
Ancelotti’s Everton continue to get results
Everton have been English champions on nine occasions but since the launch of the Premier League for the 1992-93 season, have only finished in the top four once – in 2004-05.
Indeed, they have never played in the group stage of the Champions League, missing out in 2005-06 after a 4-2 aggregate loss to Spanish side Villarreal in the third qualifying round.
However, with 12 league games to go, Carlo Ancelotti’s team have a great chance to be playing alongside the continent’s elite next season.
Thursday’s win continues a remarkable turnaround for the Toffees, who were in the Premier League relegation zone under Marco Silva in December 2019, before he was sacked and caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson lifted them out of the bottom three, with Ancelotti then continuing that progress.
Instrumental in Everton’s revival has been Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the England striker, who scored a hat-trick in the Toffees’ 5-2 win over West Brom at Goodison Park in September, had their best chance of the first half.
A fortunate deflection took the ball into his path but he shot against Johnstone’s legs from 12 yards with only the keeper to beat.
Richarlison also had a first-half chance but a superb challenge from Darnell Furlong denied the Brazilian, as the deflection took the shot narrowly over the top.
But the forward was not to be denied later on when he got in front of Johnstone to meet Sigurdsson’s cross from the left and powerfully head home from close range.
The result also continues Everton’s fine away record – they have now won nine of 13 league games on the road this season.
Baggies perform well, but fail to pick up a point
West Brom had come into this game on an unbeaten run of three games, with clean sheets in their past two, and they will surely feel they deserved something from this game.
They thought they had got a point in injury time, when Diagne superbly controlled the ball and fired past Pickford – but the assistant referee raised his flag and the VAR footage showed he was offside by under a foot.
Manager Sam Allardyce has managed seven other clubs in the Premier League – including Everton – but never been relegated from the top flight, although this will surely be one of the best achievements of his career if he can keep the Baggies up.
He replaced the sacked Slaven Bilic after West Brom had picked up seven points from their opening 13 games, but they have now only gained an additional 10 points in Allardyce’s 14 matches in charge.
West Brom have only scored three times in their past six games
However, he should be pleased with his side’s performance on Thursday.
Diagne was their main threat but he was denied by Pickford in the second minute, then later shot over on the turn and also headed just off target following Furlong’s long throw.
Those missed chances proved costly as Richarlison’s goal proved the difference and gave Everton the three points.
Allardyce was unhappy a penalty was not awarded for Mason Holgate’s challenge on Diagne, a decision which referee Darren England was not asked to review on the pitchside monitor.
“I’ve seen 50 or 60 penalties given for less than that and I don’t know why it wasn’t given,” Allardyce told BBC Match of the Day.
“Holgate went straight across his standing leg and when you slow it down it looks even worse.
“Why Michael Oliver has not asked him to have a look at it and just dismissed it, I don’t know.”
Manchester United’s already slim Premier League title hopes were dealt a blow as they were held to a goalless draw in a drab encounter at Crystal Palace.
The visitors dominated possession but struggled to create many meaningful chances, with Nemanja Matic going closest in the first half when he brought out a decent save from Vicente Guaita.
Palace did not manage a shot on target until early in the second half when Jordan Ayew fired straight at keeper Dean Henderson after a good one-two with Christian Benteke.
But the hosts almost pinched it right at the end when Patrick van Aanholt was put in on goal, but he was denied by Henderson.
The draw means Manchester United are 14 points behind leaders and local rivals Manchester City before the two sides meet on Sunday.
The point for Crystal Palace moved them on to 34 points and 11 points clear of the relegation zone as Roy Hodgson’s side edge closer to securing another season of Premier League football.
This is the start of a potentially season-defining month for Manchester United. After facing their city rivals on Sunday, they have games against AC Milan in the Europa League, as well as an FA Cup quarter-final at Leicester.
It was, therefore, important they made a strong start to March. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have only lost once in the Premier League since 1 November, but too many of their recent games have ended in draws.
This was a match they really needed to win to keep up the pressure on Manchester City, but they were far from their best as they displayed a severe lack of creativity.
Even Bruno Fernandes, so often their attacking spark having contributed to 25 goals this season, was below par as he struggled to make an impact on Wednesday’s game.
Indeed, for large periods of this fixture the increasing thickness of the fog that had descended over Selhurst Park was the most exciting thing to develop, as Manchester United played out their third goalless draw in a row.
The lack of attacking threat will surely be a growing concern for Solskjaer going into a crucial period of their season.
A Porsche car owned by Argentina’s soccer great Diego Maradona during his “forgotten” final season in Europe will go under the hammer this week.
Maradona drove the 1992 silver Porsche 911 to and from training and matches when he was playing for Spanish club Sevilla in the 1992-93 season, his last in Europe, after serving a 15-month ban over a failed drugs test.
Diego Maradona
“It was delivered new to ‘El Diego’, Diego Armando Maradona, and because of this provenance this car probably could be worth double or three times the value of a standard car,” Gregory Tuytens, car specialist at auction house Bonhams, told Reuters at a storage facility in Belgium.
The online auction will last from Wednesday until March 10. The price estimate is up to 200,000 euros ($240,800) but Tuytens said Bonhams felt it could go for a lot more.
“It will definitely appeal not only to car collectors but also football fans and just people who loved the person, the football god Maradona in general,” he said.
Maradona was as much in the headlines off the pitch as on during that season, including when stopped by police for jumping a red light and speeding at 180 km per hour (112 mph) in the city centre, Tuytens said.
The car spent 20 years with another owner on the Spanish island of Majorca before it passed through the hands of several French collectors.
It comes to auction with about 120,000 km on the clock.
Maradona died in November and was honoured with a period of lying in state when thousands of people turned out to pay their last respects.
His female replacement, Seiko Hashimoto, aims to have women make up 40% of the board members.
The changes – just five months before the games begin – come after public outrage over Mr Mori’s complaint that women talked too much in meetings.
The committee’s chief executive, Toshiro Muto, said on Tuesday the group planned to add 12 new female directors to its board, raising the ratio of women to 42%.
“It is possible to add 12 more members, so we decided to add 12 women to the board of directors.”
During a meeting of the executive board, the organisers agreed to a rule change allowing a maximum of 45 members, up from the current 35.
“We already have seven female directors, so 19 out of 45 will be female directors (after planned addition of new members). Based on the calculation, women will account for 42% of the board members,” Mr Muto said
Ms Hashimoto said the new members would be announced after being approved by committee members on Wednesday.
“Regarding promoting the gender equality, I believe that it is necessary to take swift action and provide solid results in order to rebuild trust in the organising committee,” the seven-time Olympian said.
Mr Mori had previously commented that should the number of female board members increase, they would have to “make sure their speaking time is restricted somewhat, they have difficulty finishing, which is annoying”.
He later apologised for his “inappropriate statement” and added that the priority was to make sure the Olympics were held in July.
The Summer Olympics will begin on 23 July, after already being postponed by a year due to the pandemic.
Former Liverpool and Scotland forward Ian St John has died at the age of 82 after a long illness.
St John joined Liverpool from hometown team Motherwell in 1961 for a club record £37,500 and played 425 games for the Anfield side, scoring 118 goals, during a decade of service.
He won two top-flight titles and scored the decisive goal as Liverpool lifted their first FA Cup in 1965.
St John also earned 21 Scotland caps and managed Motherwell and Portsmouth.
He latterly enjoyed a successful career as a TV pundit, teaming up with former England striker Jimmy Greaves to front the hugely popular ‘Saint and Greavsie’ show which ran until 1992.
The St John family’s statement said: “It is with a heavy heart that we have to inform you that after a long illness we have lost a husband, father and grandfather.
“He passed away peacefully with his family at his bedside. We would like to thank all the staff at Arrowe Park Hospital for their hard work and dedication during these very difficult times.”
Premier League champions Liverpool are “deeply saddened” by the loss of a “true Anfield legend”.
Ian St John scored 118 goals in 425 games for Liverpool
‘We can’t afford not to buy him’
St John’s finishing prowess was evident from his early days at Motherwell, the club he had watched as a supporter lifting the Scottish Cup for the first time in 1952 before joining five years later.
His prolific scoring record earned him international recognition and a move to Liverpool under fellow Scot Bill Shankly where he soon became a fans’ favourite.
It has gone down in Liverpool mythology that when the board were reluctant to spend a record fee on the player, Shankly’s reply was: “We can’t afford not to buy him.”
St John quickly began to prove his worth, scoring a hat-trick on his debut, a 4-3 defeat to Everton in the Liverpool Senior Cup. Within 12 months his 22 league goals had helped Liverpool secure the Second Division title.
He matched that total in season 1963-64 as the Anfield men won their first top-flight crown in 17 years, with a second title following two years later.
Perhaps his most iconic moment in the red shirt came at Wembley in 1965 when his headed winner in extra time overcame Leeds United 2-1 to give Liverpool their first FA Cup.
A Scotland international by age 20, St John netted nine times in his 21 appearances for his country.
After leaving Liverpool he had shorts spells with South African sides Hellenic and Cape Town City either side of a season with Coventry City, before ending his playing days at Tranmere Rovers.
He returned to Motherwell as manager in 1973, then moved on to Portsmouth before embarking on a successful career in broadcasting.
St John’s winner helped Liverpool claim the 1965 FA Cup
Vinicius Jr marked his 100th Real Madrid appearance with a late equaliser against Real Sociedad in La Liga.
Madrid dominated the first half with Mariano and Raphael Varane heading off the bar in the space of two minutes.
Real Sociedad were much improved after the break and Portu scored an excellent header from Nacho Monreal’s cross.
Zinedine Zidane changed his front three after 61 minutes and one of the replacements – Vinicius – finished from Lucas Vazquez’s cross late on.
The draw brought to an end Madrid’s five-game winning run in all competitions and means they missed out on the chance to overtake Barcelona into second place.
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