Injured Mbappe to miss Real Madrid's Champions League playoff against Benfica
The Straits Times
Feb 25 - Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe will miss the second leg of their Champions League playoff against Benfica due to a knee injury, with the Spanish club not naming him in their squad for Wednesday's game. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Feb 25 - Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe will miss the second leg of their Champions League playoff against Benfica due to a knee injury, with the Spanish club not naming him in their squad for Wednesday's game.
Mbappe has been nursing a knee injury which caused him to miss games in December and January while he also did not play in their LaLiga game against Real Sociedad earlier this month.
The 27-year-old French forward is the club's top scorer this season with 38 goals, including 23 in LaLiga and 13 in the Champions League.
Real listed only Vinicius Jr, Gonzalo Garcia, Brahim Diaz and 18-year-old Franco Mastantuono as forwards for the game at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real lead 1-0 on aggregate after Vinicius scored a second-half winner in the first leg that was marred by a racism controversy involving the Brazilian, who alleged that Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni had directed a racist slur at him.
UEFA provisionally suspended Prestianni for one match but the Argentine winger travelled with the squad after Benfica appealed against the suspension.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a game-time decision for the matchup after injuring his left knee. Read more at straitstimes.com.
March 17 - Japan have looked unstoppable in the women's Asian Cup, but coach Nils Nielsen's side will face a stern test of their title credentials when they take on South Korea in the semi-finals on Wednesday. Read more at straitstimes.com.
March 17 - Former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu has pulled out of the Miami Open as she continues her recovery from illness, the WTA said on Monday. Read more at straitstimes.com.
But 32-cap midfielder Song Ui-young misses out as he is still recovering from ankle surgery. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Iran are scheduled to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt in Seattle. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Matosevic was found to have committed five anti-doping rule violations between 2018 and 2020. Read more at straitstimes.com.
The Magpies visit on Wednesday in the Champions League last 16, the tie delicately poised after a 1-1 draw. Read more at straitstimes.com.
They have back-to-back matchups on March 16 (March 17, Singapore time) and March 18 in Houston. Read more at straitstimes.com.
March 16 - Formula One champions McLaren hope to turn past pain into future gain following the double blow of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri failing to start Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix. Read more at straitstimes.com.
March 16 - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola did not need to convince his players that they could overturn a 3-0 Champions League deficit against Real Madrid, he said on Monday, adding that it was a game where many things can happen. Read more at straitstimes.com.
He pockets the biggest PGA Tour win of his career after rattling in five birdies and a bogey in his final round. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle United failed to muster a win between them in the last 16, first legs. Read more at straitstimes.com.
March 16 - Former Australia coach Ante Milicic will put sentiment aside as he guides defending champions China against the Matildas in their Asian Cup semi-final on Tuesday. Read more at straitstimes.com.