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Lille Extends Unbeaten Run to 16 Matches after Late Draw with Marseille in Ligue 1

Lille's French defender #18 Bafode Diakite (C) celebrates with teamates after scoring his team first goal during the French L1 football match between Olympique de Marseille (OM) and Lille (LOSC) at Stade Velodrome in Marseille, southern France on December 14, 2024. (Photo by CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / AFP)
Lille's French defender #18 Bafode Diakite (C) celebrates with teamates after scoring his team first goal during the French L1 football match between Olympique de Marseille (OM) and Lille (LOSC) at Stade Velodrome in Marseille, southern France on December 14, 2024. (Photo by CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / AFP)
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Lille Extends Unbeaten Run to 16 Matches after Late Draw with Marseille in Ligue 1

Lille's French defender #18 Bafode Diakite (C) celebrates with teamates after scoring his team first goal during the French L1 football match between Olympique de Marseille (OM) and Lille (LOSC) at Stade Velodrome in Marseille, southern France on December 14, 2024. (Photo by CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / AFP)
Lille's French defender #18 Bafode Diakite (C) celebrates with teamates after scoring his team first goal during the French L1 football match between Olympique de Marseille (OM) and Lille (LOSC) at Stade Velodrome in Marseille, southern France on December 14, 2024. (Photo by CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / AFP)

Marseille and Monaco, both chasing Paris Saint-Germain, had chances to put the Ligue 1 leader under pressure on Saturday.
Both failed.
Lille equalized against Marseille in the 87th minute, extending its unbeaten run across all competitions to 16 matches, and Monaco was frustrated in a goalless draw at Reims, The Associated Press reported.
Marseille remained second in the standings, ahead of Monaco only on goal difference. The Mediterranean rivals are four points behind PSG, which faces in-form Lyon on Sunday.
Marseille was in the driving seat at Stade Velodrome until Bafodé Diakité leveled for 1-1.
Marseille led after 17 minutes after a well-constructed team move. Following a quick one-two, Luis Henrique passed to Adrien Rabiot down the right. The France international rushed toward the goal and served a low cross for Quentin Merlin, who dummied a defender by feinting a shot then fired in with his left foot.
Diakité's header came from Rémy Cabella's free kick.
Lille's sweet 16 Lille’s string of nine wins and seven draws is the second longest unbeaten run in the club’s history, according to Opta statistics.
“We played a great game and stuck to our plan: Stopping them from building through short passes in the center and then using the flanks and exploiting depth. I think we did that pretty well," Lille coach Bruno Genesio said. "It would’ve been harsh to leave without a point considering how we played. The game plan was followed perfectly.”
Marseille finished with 10 men after Pol Lirola received a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on André Gomes in added time.
Lille was fourth, three points behind Marseille.
In the wake of its 3-0 loss at Arsenal midweek in the Champions League, Monaco struggled at Reims and came close to conceding in the 51st when Oumar Diakité's powerful right-foot shot crashed off Philipp Köhn’s crossbar.
Monaco's best chance came in the 77th when Takumi Minamino had a one-on-one against goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf, only to miss the target. The Japanese midfielder had another effort in added time that flew over the crossbar.
Hampered by injuries, Monaco has been slowing down and showing signs of fatigue in recent weeks, winning just one of its past five matches in all competitions.
“It's disappointing, we came here with the ambition to return to Monaco with three points,” midfielder Eliesse Ben Seghir said. “It has been a difficult week.”
Also, Lens drew at Auxerre 2-2.

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Norris Says F1 Title Means Everything and he Has Most to Lose Ahead of Abu Dhabi Decider

Formula One F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 5, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris arrives ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix REUTERS/Jakub Porzycki
Formula One F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 5, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris arrives ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix REUTERS/Jakub Porzycki
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Norris Says F1 Title Means Everything and he Has Most to Lose Ahead of Abu Dhabi Decider

Formula One F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 5, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris arrives ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix REUTERS/Jakub Porzycki
Formula One F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 5, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris arrives ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix REUTERS/Jakub Porzycki

Lando Norris says winning the Formula One world championship would mean everything to him, but being the frontrunner also means he has most to lose.

The Briton goes into Sunday's three-way title decider in Abu Dhabi 12 points clear of Red Bull's Max Verstappen with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri a further four behind.

Norris could have wrapped the title up in Qatar last weekend, had results gone his way, and will do so at Yas Marina if he finishes on the podium. Anything less than that opens the door to his rivals.

"I guess in terms of position, of course, I have the most to lose because I am the one at the top," he told reporters.

"And I’ll do my best to stay there till the end of the year, a few more days. At the same time, if it doesn’t go my way, then I try again next year. It’ll hurt probably for a little while, but then, yeah, that’s life. I’ll crack on and try and do better next season."

Norris said, somewhat unconvincingly, that he had nothing to lose because it was "just" a race for the championship and he was "not too bothered". He then undermined that attempt at nonchalance by recognizing, in his answer to another question, just how much it really did matter.

"I think this has been my whole life. It's everything I've worked towards my whole life. So, it would mean the world to me," Reuters quoted him as saying.

"It would mean the world to everyone that’s supported me and pushed me for the last, what is it, like 16 years of my life in terms of trying to get to this point. So, it would mean everything. It would mean my life until now has been a success, and I’ve accomplished that dream I had when I was a kid."

Norris would be the 11th British world champion if he succeeds, while Verstappen would be adding a fifth title to his resume.

Piastri can become the first Australian in 45 years to become Formula One champion, following on from Alan Jones in 1980 and the late triple world champion Jack Brabham whose last title came in 1966.

Verstappen has said he had nothing to lose, having all but ruled out his chances as far back as August before staging an astonishing comeback, while Piastri told reporters he had the least to lose.

Sports

Prolific Kane and Undav Face Off as Bayern Head to Stuttgart

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is again scoring better than a goal a game this league campaign. Odd ANDERSEN / AFP
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is again scoring better than a goal a game this league campaign. Odd ANDERSEN / AFP
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Prolific Kane and Undav Face Off as Bayern Head to Stuttgart

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is again scoring better than a goal a game this league campaign. Odd ANDERSEN / AFP
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is again scoring better than a goal a game this league campaign. Odd ANDERSEN / AFP

League leaders Bayern Munich travel to Stuttgart on Saturday, setting the scene for a battle between the Bundesliga's two in-form goal getters: Harry Kane and Deniz Undav.

With 14 goals in 12 league matches this season, England captain Kane is once again scoring better than a goal a game for the Bavarian giants.

In Stuttgart's corner, Germany striker Undav has roared back into form in recent weeks. In his past six games in all competitions, the 29-year-old has eight goals and two assists.

The one-time Brighton forward is averaging two goals a game in his past three Bundesliga matches.

Undav is scoring so often, he has lost count.

"I don't know myself how many I've scored," Undav said after celebrating by counting his fingers then shrugging his shoulders.

"I'll take the hot streak in my stride. I'll try to keep going like this and to help the team."

Bayern boast the best defense in the league but have been leaking goals lately, conceding 11 in their past six fixtures in all competitions, setting the stage for a high-scoring showdown.

On Wednesday, Bayern beat Union Berlin to reach the last eight of the German Cup, but gave away two penalties -- with veteran Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer conceding two spot-kicks in one match for the first time in his career.

After the match, Kane told journalists it showed the side were able to dig deep and win in different ways.

"This was a different type of game that we had to show a bit more character, a bit more togetherness and we've done that really well, Kane said.

"I think you saw the celebrations by us at the end. It was an important moment for our season."

The two sides already met once this season at the same venue in the season-opening Franz Beckenbauer Super Cup, with defending league champions Bayern beating German Cup holders Stuttgart 2-1.

On Saturday, second-placed RB Leipzig will hope to keep pace with league leaders Bayern when they host Eintracht Frankfurt.

Elsewhere, third-placed Borussia Dortmund host Hoffenheim on Sunday. Relegation battlers last season, Hoffenheim have risen to fifth this campaign.

Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi's talents have long been obvious, but under coach Niko Kovac, the Germany forward has been able to show his skills on a more consistent basis.

Kovac has repeatedly said the lightning-quick Adeyemi has been "kissed by God" -- something the 23-year-old says he is well aware of.

"This is something he has said to me many times, that I might have a few gifts that not everybody has," Adeyemi told the Bundesliga website Thursday, but added: "Having these gifts and not using them is another matter.

"I try to work hard and use these God-given talents in my game. Otherwise it would be wasted talent."

With four goals so far this season -- and two in his past two games -- Adeyemi is on track for his most productive season since joining Dortmund in 2022.

Sports

'Annoying' Raphinha Pulling Barca Towards their Best

Barcelona's Brazilian forward Raphinha celebrates after scoring against Atletico Madrid. Josep LAGO / AFP
Barcelona's Brazilian forward Raphinha celebrates after scoring against Atletico Madrid. Josep LAGO / AFP
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'Annoying' Raphinha Pulling Barca Towards their Best

Barcelona's Brazilian forward Raphinha celebrates after scoring against Atletico Madrid. Josep LAGO / AFP
Barcelona's Brazilian forward Raphinha celebrates after scoring against Atletico Madrid. Josep LAGO / AFP

Forward Raphinha's comeback from injury has helped Barcelona edge back towards their best form and helped the Catalans reclaim top spot in La Liga.

The Brazilian will likely be the first name on coach Hansi Flick's team sheet for the tricky trip to face Real Betis on Saturday as Barca bid to, at least temporarily, move four points clear of Real Madrid, AFP reported.

Raphinha struck against Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou on Tuesday night, as Flick's side secured a crucial victory against a title rival, and created two goals in the win over Alaves last weekend, on his first start since a hamstring injury in September.

Last season, he was vital for Barca as they stormed to a domestic double, racking up 34 goals and 26 assists across 57 appearances in all competitions.

It was only enough for Raphinha to finish fifth in the Ballon d'Or rankings -- much to his chagrin, as evidenced by a series of posts on social media highlighting his own accomplishments.

Raphinha found Atletico coach Diego Simeone in his corner this week.

"Raphinha plays (all over the pitch)... he scores, he presses. I don't know how he didn't win the Ballon d'Or," Simeone told Movistar after his team's defeat.

Barcelona coach Flick is also grateful to have the 28-year-old back at his disposal.

"When he's on the pitch, he increases the dynamic level and the intensity," enthused Flick after the Atletico win.

"Everyone is affected by that. You can see it on the pitch. Also, the positive things he gave us today was so amazing and so important."

Raphinha is a leader for Barcelona on the pitch, pressing opponents and calling on his team-mates to do the same when they are slacking. He is vital in Flick's system to stop opponents capitalizing on Barca's high defensive line.

"I often feel like I'm being a bit pushy, too much. There are many times my team-mates think I talk too much, that I'm annoying, and that I demand too much from them, but that's just who I am," said Raphinha last week.

"I demand more from people who I know can give much more. Someone has to, and I accept this responsibility, then in the dressing room we hug and celebrate the victory."

Even Flick came in line for a Raphinha pep talk, with the German coach caught sitting on his team's bench alone and looking surprisingly despondent following the win over Alaves.

Raphinha tried to cheer up his coach, but it took the win over Atletico to lighten Flick's mood, and following that up with a victory in Seville would raise his spirits further.

On Sunday, Real Madrid, who currently trail Barca by a point, host Celta Vigo. Los Blancos ended a run of three consecutive league draws on Wednesday with a 3-0 triumph at Athletic Bilbao.

Player to watch: Julian Alvarez

Atletico Madrid striker Alvarez has fallen out of form in recent weeks, particularly on the road. The Argentina international will look to turn that around as Atletico visit Bilbao, also aiming to give fresh life to his team's title bid following their midweek defeat by Barcelona at Camp Nou.