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Departing Mbappé Chases a Last Trophy with PSG in French Cup Final against Resurgent Lyon

FILED - 07 May 2024, France, Paris: PSG's Kylian Mbappe reacts during the UEFA Champions League semi final between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Borussia Dortmund. Photo: Robert Michael/dpa
FILED - 07 May 2024, France, Paris: PSG's Kylian Mbappe reacts during the UEFA Champions League semi final between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Borussia Dortmund. Photo: Robert Michael/dpa
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Departing Mbappé Chases a Last Trophy with PSG in French Cup Final against Resurgent Lyon

FILED - 07 May 2024, France, Paris: PSG's Kylian Mbappe reacts during the UEFA Champions League semi final between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Borussia Dortmund. Photo: Robert Michael/dpa
FILED - 07 May 2024, France, Paris: PSG's Kylian Mbappe reacts during the UEFA Champions League semi final between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Borussia Dortmund. Photo: Robert Michael/dpa

This time, it's really the end.
After missing Paris Saint-Germain’s last two league games, Kylian Mbappé should start in the French Cup final against Lyon on Saturday for his final match in a PSG shirt, The Associated Press.
The forward, who is widely expected to join Real Madrid, was given some free time by coach Luis Enrique last weekend and was spotted enjoying himself at the Cannes film festival while PSG wrapped up a 12th victorious league campaign in less glamorous settings.
Mbappé told PSG in February he will leave at the end of the season — Saturday night — and confirmed it this month. Over the last three months, Enrique has tried to make PSG less reliant on his star striker, arguing that he needed to start thinking about the future knowing that Mbappé would not be around next season.
Although Enrique has yet to decide on his starting XI for Saturday's final at Lille's Stade Pierre-Mauroy, snubbing Mbappé, or even leaving him on the bench, would equate to a slap in his face.
Mbappé is the club’s all-time top scorer with 256 and has won six Ligue 1 titles and three French Cups with PSG. Although he didn't lead the club to a Champions League trophy in his seven seasons in Paris, he largely contributed to helping PSG reach a respected status on the continent.
Leaving him on the sidelines on the night he could cap his PSG journey with yet another title seems highly unlikely, although Enrique has warned his players he will select only those who deserve it.
“We’ll see who’s ready, who’s not ready (to play), who wants to, who doesn’t want to,” Enrique said.
Like Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé did not play against Nice and Metz in the closing league rounds but should be back to face a resurgent Lyon side led by former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette.
LYON MASTER OF COMEBACKS
Lyon has been in impressive form in recent months and Enrique can't afford to take the five-time Cup champion lightly.
Since Pierre Sage was appointed coach last November when Lyon was at the bottom of the league, the team has been transformed into a winning machine. After sealing European soccer next season, Lyon can cap a remarkable second half of the season with its first silverware since 2012.
One of Lyon's main assets has been its capacity to come from behind under Sage's guidance. According to French league statistics, Lyon has secured 27 points from a losing position, with only Liverpool and Girona doing better in the top five leagues. Lyon substitutes have contributed 18 goals since Sage's appointment.

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Holders Al-Ahli to Face Former Winners Al-Ain in Asian Champions League

The finals phase, featuring the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, will kick off on April 23 and run until May 1. (AFC)
The finals phase, featuring the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, will kick off on April 23 and run until May 1. (AFC)
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Holders Al-Ahli to Face Former Winners Al-Ain in Asian Champions League

The finals phase, featuring the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, will kick off on April 23 and run until May 1. (AFC)
The finals phase, featuring the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, will kick off on April 23 and run until May 1. (AFC)

Back-to-back champions ‌Al-Ahli from Saudi Arabia will take on 2024 winners Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates in the league phase of the Asian Champions League Elite after the draw for the expanded competition was conducted in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

Al-Ahli, now coached by Marino Pusic after Matthias Jaissle left to join Newcastle United, will also play Qatari trio Al-Sadd, Al-Shamal and Al-Gharafa as well ‌as Emirati ‌sides Shabab Al-Ahli and Al-Wasl plus ‌Uzbekistan's ⁠Neftchi and Pakhtakor.

The ⁠league phase has been increased from 24 to 32 teams with the opening round to commence on September 14 and finish on February 17.

Japan's Kashima Antlers, the last team from east Asia playing in the current edition to have ⁠won the title, will face twice winners ‌Jeonbuk Motors from ‌South Korea, as well as Thai sides Buriram United, Port ‌FC and Ratchaburi FC.

The J-League side will ‌also take on tournament debutants Cong An Ha Noi from Vietnam, Daejeon Citizen and Pohang Steelers from South Korea, and Australian champions Newcastle Jets.

Clubs in the west ‌and east of the continent are divided into separate groups of 16 ⁠teams for ⁠the league phase, with the top eight finishers on each side advancing to the knockout rounds.

Those last 16 matches will also be held on a regional basis with the four victorious teams from the two sides of the confederation advancing to the centralized finals, which will be played for the third year in a row in Saudi Arabia.

The finals phase, featuring the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, will kick off on April 23 and run until May 1.

Sports

Liverpool’s New-Look Defense Will Take Time to Gel, Says Van Dijk

23 October 2024, Saxony, Leipzig: Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk gesticulates during UEFA Champions League soccer match between RB Leipzig and Liverpool FC at Red Bull Arena. (dpa)
23 October 2024, Saxony, Leipzig: Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk gesticulates during UEFA Champions League soccer match between RB Leipzig and Liverpool FC at Red Bull Arena. (dpa)
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Liverpool’s New-Look Defense Will Take Time to Gel, Says Van Dijk

23 October 2024, Saxony, Leipzig: Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk gesticulates during UEFA Champions League soccer match between RB Leipzig and Liverpool FC at Red Bull Arena. (dpa)
23 October 2024, Saxony, Leipzig: Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk gesticulates during UEFA Champions League soccer match between RB Leipzig and Liverpool FC at Red Bull Arena. (dpa)

Liverpool captain Virgil ‌van Dijk said the club's revamped backline would require some time to click into gear, despite describing new signings Ronald Araujo and Jeremy Jacquet as "good players".

Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson's departures, as well as Joe Gomez's muscle injury in the club's opening pre-season match, have forced Liverpool to rebuild their defense.

The Merseyside club strengthened their ‌options by ‌signing Uruguay international Ronald Araujo ‌on ⁠a season-long loan ⁠from Barcelona, while Frenchman Jeremy Jacquet joined the club in the summer after being signed in February.

Araujo and Jacquet both featured in a 2-0 friendly victory over Italian club Como at Anfield on Sunday, with ⁠the latter also scoring a ‌goal.

Asked how he ‌could forge strong partnerships with his new teammates, veteran ‌Van Dijk told reporters: "By playing games. ‌I won't say it's the only way, but games are totally different than training.

"Obviously, Jeremy's English is, I would say, a bit better ‌than Ronald, but at the end of the day, we all pretty ⁠good ⁠footballers and we can see and smell some moments, how to defend certain situations.

"It's pretty clear that you need to form a connection together and take a bit of time. But it's, in my opinion, absolutely normal. But hopefully, we can get that going as quickly as possible."

Liverpool, who finished fifth last season, will start their Premier League season at Newcastle United on August 23.

Sports

Williams Sisters Fall at Cincinnati While Zverev Advances

Serena Williams and Venus Williams of the United States confer while playing Marta Kostyuk of Czechia and Peyton Stearns of the United States during day seven of the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 17, 2026 in Mason, Ohio. (Getty Images/AFP)
Serena Williams and Venus Williams of the United States confer while playing Marta Kostyuk of Czechia and Peyton Stearns of the United States during day seven of the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 17, 2026 in Mason, Ohio. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Williams Sisters Fall at Cincinnati While Zverev Advances

Serena Williams and Venus Williams of the United States confer while playing Marta Kostyuk of Czechia and Peyton Stearns of the United States during day seven of the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 17, 2026 in Mason, Ohio. (Getty Images/AFP)
Serena Williams and Venus Williams of the United States confer while playing Marta Kostyuk of Czechia and Peyton Stearns of the United States during day seven of the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 17, 2026 in Mason, Ohio. (Getty Images/AFP)

Serena and Venus Williams lost in their first doubles match together since 2022 while men's top seed Alexander Zverev battled into the fourth round on Monday at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters.

The Williams sisters, with 14 Grand Slam titles and three Olympic gold medals together, were side-by-side for the first time since the 2022 US Open but lost to American Payton Stearns and Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-2, 1-6, 10-8.

"It was fun and special. We kicked off a little rust," Serena Williams said. "I didn't come here to win this tournament. It's about having fun and I did want to do the best I could."

German star Zverev, the reigning French Open champion, won his ATP season-best 46th match of the campaign by defeating Terrance Atmane 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (8/6).

Zverev finished the Frenchman, a 2025 Cincinnati semi-finalist, with a sizzling backhand down the line.

"He was playing incredibly aggressively, hitting forehands all over the court," Zverev said. "He made it difficult for you to play aggressive yourself."

Serena, 44, and Venus, 46, each lost serve once in the first set, dropping six of the final seven games, but dominated the second set and rallied from 8-2 down in the 10-point tie-breaker third set only to lose on a Venus double fault.

"It was weird to be in a full stadium. This is not my usual Monday night," said Serena, who noted with the US Open approaching that their reunion is a limited-time attraction.

"This is not forever. It's... not long," she said. "We don't have to play every week. It's a bit different."

Alexandra Eala, the 17th-seeded Filipina, lost to US ninth seed Amanda Anisimova, who recovered after losing a 65-minute opening set for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory.

The opener featured a 20-minute fifth game, with Eala, 21, coming back from a break down before Anisimova battled back.

Men's fifth seed Alex de Minaur battled through multiple rain interruptions to defeat Arthur Fery 7-5, 7-6 (7/3).

The Australian was up a set and 5-1 after a 30-minute stoppage before Wimbledon semi-finalist Fery caught fire, but he took the tie-break to advance despite 29 unforced errors.

"You never want to go into a rain delay leading 5-1," he said. "It was a tough day with all the interruptions. I can't remember a match that started and stopped so many times. I'm happy with how I found a way."

He next faces France's Arthur Fils, who dumped Czech ninth seed Jiri Lehecka 6-1, 6-7 (7/9), 6-3.

Spanish teen 12th seed Rafael Jodar dominated Alejandro Tabilo of Chile 6-2, 6-1 and next faces Roland Garros finalist Flavio Cobolli of Italy.

"A Masters 1000 is something I dreamed of as a kid," Jodar said. "I'm grateful for the position I'm in now."

Argentine Thiago Tirante, who ousted Novak Djokovic in the second round, defeated Spain's Martin Landaluce 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4).

Brazil's Joao Fonseca withdrew from the event with an abdominal injury.

- 'A crazy day' -

Two-time Grand Slam champion Elena Rybakina shook off two one-hour rain stoppages to beat Magdalena Frech 6-4, 7-6 (7/2).

"It was a crazy day, to be honest, coming out every time into clouds and humidity," Rybakina said. "I was on top of the ball in the tie-break but it was a difficult one."

There were also wins for Iga Swiatek and US third seed Jessica Pegula.

Former world number one and defending champion Swiatek outlasted Greece's Maria Sakkari 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.

Pegula, a 2024 finalist, dispatched compatriot Emma Navarro 7-5, 6-2.