PSG advance into French Cup last-8
PARIS: Paris Saint-germain (PSG) required extra time to overcome third-tier Villefranche 3-0 in the last-16 of the French Cup on Wednesday. Holders and record 12-time champions PSG were held in check at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium until Julian Draxler bundled in a cross from substitute Edinson Cavani in the 102nd minutes.
Moussa Diaby and Cavani sealed victory late on after both were set up for simple tap-ins by Kylian Mbappe, who came on for Angel Di Maria with an hour gone. PSG will host Dijon in the quarter-finals as they are aiming to win the competition for a fifth timeinarow.
Thomas Tuchel’s side faces Bordeaux at home in the league this weekend before travelling to Old Trafford on February 12 for the first leg of their Champions League encounter with fancied Manchester United.
“It’s normal to have the match against Manchester United in one corner of your head even if we’re trying to go step by step,” said PSG defender Marquinhos.
CEFERIN WANTS TO REVAMP CLUB EVENTS
ROME: Slovenian Aleksander Ceferin was re-elected unopposed on Thursday as president of European soccer’s ruling body UEFA, promising an overhaul of club competitions but reaffirming there would be no Super League on his watch.
Voted in during the annual UEFA Congress at a luxury hotel in Rome, Ceferin said that the new-look tournaments, to be introduced from 2024, would bring a “new dimension” to European football.
Without giving details of how they would work, he did stress that they would be open to all clubs and that teams would qualify via results rather than by invitation. “We will work hand-inhand with our partner, the European Club Association, to design the club competitions of the future,” Ceferin told delegates after securing a four-year term.
“Club competitions that are in keeping with the times, full of excitement and intensity and open, which will bring a new dimension to European football.”
CELTIC KEEP SIX-POINT LEAD AS RANGERS WIN
GLASGOW: Celtic maintained their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a 2-0 win over Hibernian, while Rangers kept in touch despite having two-goal star Alfredo Morelos sent off in their fractious 4-2 victory at Aberdeen on Wednesday.brendan Rodgers’ side are six points clear of Glasgow rivals Rangers as the champions showcased their strengthindepth atparkhead.
CARLOS NAMED COLOMBIA COACH
BOGOTA: Carlos Queiroz was named coach of Colombia on Thursday, the country’s football federation (FCF) said, replacing Argentine Jose Pekerman who left the post in September.
Queiroz’s appointment had long been expected but Colombia had to wait until the end of the recently-concluded Asian Cup for the Portuguese’s contract with Iran to run out.