Neymar-less PSG face Barcelona test
BARCELONA: Paris St Germain (PSG) travel to Barcelona for their Champions League round of 16 clash on Tuesday with the French side’s unrelenting pursuit of Lionel Messi adding intrigue to a rivalry laced with recent history.
Messi, who has admitted that his attempt to leave Barca last summer led to a dip in form earlier in the current campaign, is back to his best and warmed up for the PSG game with two sensational goals in a 5-1 routing of Alaves.
Ronald Koeman had previously said PSG were talking up their chances of signing Messi to try and crank up the pressure on Barcelona, who will be without the injured Neymar on Tuesday, but the Dutchman was more relaxed the day before the game.
“They haven’t managed to destabilise us. I don’t know whether that was their intention or not,” he said. “But Messi belongs to Barca and I have a lot of hope he will stay here.”
TV timings: Barcelona v Paris St Germain, Live on Sony Ten 2 & 3,
RB Leipzig v
Liverpool, live on Sony Ten 1,
Aubameyang’s hat-trick helps Arsenal beat Leeds
LONDON: Pierre-emerick Aubameyang marked his return to Arsenal’s starting lineup with his first ever Premier League hat-trick in their 4-2 home victory over Leeds United on Sunday.
The Gabon forward, who had not started any of his side’s last five games for personal reasons, fired Arsenal ahead in the 13th minute then doubled the lead with a penalty before Hector Bellerin made it 3-0 on the stroke of halftime. Aubameyang completed his treble with a header two minutes into the second half but Leeds hit back.
Arsenal moved back above
Leeds into 10th spot with 34 points from 24 games, leaving Leeds 11th on 32 with a game in hand.
Lukaku scores 300th goal as Inter go top
MILAN: Romelu Lukaku scored twice and took his tally to 300 career goals as Inter Milan moved top of Serie A with a 3-1 win over Lazio on Sunday.
Lukaku netted a penalty and doubled his tally at the end of the first half with the landmark goal. He also set up Lautaro Martinez for Inter’s third, shortly after Gonzalo Escalante had given Lazio hope.
Inter leapfrogged a point above AC Milan, which surprisingly lost 2-0 at Spezia on Saturday. The two teams meet in the Milan derby next Sunday.