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)

Asharq Al Awsat

06:57-15 December 2024 AD ـ 13 Jumada Al-Alkhirah 1446 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

06:57-15 December 2024 AD ـ 13 Jumada Al-Alkhirah 1446 AH

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

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.

‘Quiet Assassin’ Rybakina Targets World Number One After Melbourne Win

Tennis - Australian Open - Women's Singles Winner Photo Shoot - Yarra River, Melbourne, Australia - February 1, 2026 Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina poses with the Australian Open trophy. (Reuters)

08:22-1 February 2026 AD ـ 13 Sha’ban 1447 AH

‘Quiet Assassin’ Rybakina Targets World Number One After Melbourne Win

Tennis - Australian Open - Women's Singles Winner Photo Shoot - Yarra River, Melbourne, Australia - February 1, 2026 Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina poses with the Australian Open trophy. (Reuters)

Elena Rybakina beat the two top-ranked players in the world to win the Australian Open and show that her quiet ruthlessness can propel her to number one and more Grand Slam glory.

The Moscow-born Kazakh emerged from a power battle with top seed Aryna Sabalenka to claim the Melbourne title in three tight sets on Saturday.

The 26-year-old's 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 triumph brought her a second major crown, more than three years after winning Wimbledon.

Two-time Australia champion Sabalenka had her chances, notably leading the final set 3-0, but the fifth seed retained her trademark cool to pull through.

Rybakina later revealed that beneath her understated celebrations was huge relief.

Proving it was no fluke, it was the second time in three months that big-serving Rybakina has beaten the world number one.

She has been the form player on tour since the middle of last year and is set to return to her career-high ranking of three, behind Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek.

Australian media labelled her a "quiet assassin".

"Last year I didn't start that well," said Rybakina, as she eyes a second Wimbledon title in June-July.

"Now it's different. So I just hope that I can carry all this momentum, hopefully do a good job with the team and continue this way throughout the year."

Rybakina's tense victory over Sabalenka, having beaten Poland's second seed Swiatek in straight sets in the quarter-finals, was her 20th win in her last 21 matches.

- 'Big goals' -

Rybakina, who switched to play for Kazakhstan in 2018 because of financial reasons, was tipped for more Grand Slam success after her Wimbledon breakthrough in 2022.

She reached the Australian Open final six months later, facing Sabalenka again.

Rybakina won the first set but the powerful Belarusian struck back to win her first major title in three sets.

There was a Wimbledon quarter-final and semi-final for Rybakina in 2023 and 2024, and she got to the last eight of the French Open.

But her career was hampered by illness and injuries, particularly back trouble, and she has suffered insomnia.

Speaking after beating Sabalenka, she said she was able to enjoy her Australian title more than the Wimbledon one.

"I remember I was not sleeping well, semis, even quarters. Final I don't even... how many emotions and how many thoughts was going through my head," she said on Saturday, looking back to 2022.

"It was really stressful."

Put to her that statistically she has been the best player in the world since Wimbledon in the middle of last year, Rybakina looked almost embarrassed.

"I didn't even know these statistics, to be honest. The reason, I mean, I've been playing well," she said, smiling.

"I have a very aggressive style of game, so I think that's definitely the key.

"I don't know which other answer I can give you."

She was similarly coy when asked if being number one for the first time was on her radar.

"I have big goals. Of course time will show, but definitely we will keep on working," she said.

Sports

Slot Praises Konate for Swift Return After Father’s Death Amid Defensive Crisis

Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Newcastle United - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - January 31, 2026 Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk. (Reuters)

08:04-1 February 2026 AD ـ 13 Sha’ban 1447 AH

Slot Praises Konate for Swift Return After Father’s Death Amid Defensive Crisis

Liverpool boss Arne Slot hailed Ibrahima Konate's commitment to the club after the defender returned early from compassionate leave following the death of his father to help the Premier League side amid a defensive crisis.

The French center-back had missed Liverpool's last three matches but cut short his planned absence when he saw the extent of the club's problems, with four defenders sidelined including Joe Gomez.

It was an emotional and memorable return for Konate, who scored the fourth goal in Saturday's 4-1 comeback win over Newcastle United as the champions claimed their first Premier League victory in over a month.

"He has had a very difficult two weeks. He was ‌planning to ‌be back for the end of this week ‌and ⁠it would have ‌meant he could not play this game," Slot said.

"But when he saw the problems we had defensively, he called me early this week and said: 'I want to be back to help the team against Newcastle'.

"He came back on Wednesday and trained twice with us. Not only did he score a goal, but he played a great game and the fans were really appreciative throughout the ⁠whole game, but definitely at the end when he scored."

After scoring, Konate was mobbed by his ‌teammates - including goalkeeper Alisson who ran the length ‍of the pitch to celebrate with ‍him - as the Frenchman wiped away tears and the Anfield crowd gave ‍him a rousing standing ovation.

'VERY DIFFICULT MOMENT'

"I don't have words to describe what I feel right now because it was a very difficult moment for me and my family this past two weeks, but this is part of life. It is hard to accept that and we don't have the choice," Konate told TNT Sports.

"I know that the team had some injured ⁠players. The manager on the call said to take my time and I don't have to rush back. With this situation, it was important for me to come back and help the team."

Konate's goal came after Hugo Ekitike struck twice before halftime and Florian Wirtz also got on the scoresheet for Liverpool's first win in six Premier League games.

"Everyone was cheering for Ibou and Florian when they came in after doing TV interviews, but especially for Ibou," Slot added.

"This team has shown we are always there for each other in difficult circumstances. That's what they were for him in the last few days."

Liverpool ‌moved provisionally up to fifth in the standings after the win, a point above Manchester United who host Fulham on Sunday.

Sports

Hundreds Protest in Milan over US ICE Role in Games Security

Demonstrators carry signs condemning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) near the site where a man identified as Alex Pretti was fatally shot by federal agents trying to detain him, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US, January 24, 2026. REUTERS/Tim Evans/File Photo

Asharq Al Awsat

16:03-31 January 2026 AD ـ 12 Sha’ban 1447 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

16:03-31 January 2026 AD ـ 12 Sha’ban 1447 AH

Hundreds Protest in Milan over US ICE Role in Games Security

Hundreds of Italians protested in Milan on Saturday over the involvement of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement staff in supporting the US delegation at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The demonstrators, including family groups, blew whistles and sang Bruce Springsteen songs, picking up on some of the tactics used by anti-ICE protesters in the United States.

Milan and the Alpine resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo will co-host the Games from February 6-22.

The US State Department said earlier this week that several federal agencies, including ICE, would help protect the visiting Americans, as they have at past Olympics, Reuters reported.

However, the planned presence of ICE staff after the fatal shootings of two US citizens by federal agents in Minnesota in January has caused uproar in Italy, traditionally a close US ally.

Umberto Daddario, a 54-year-old industrial chemist, was at the protest with his daughter, Giorgia, a student who is aged 16.

They carried a hand-written placard that read "ICE=FASCISM."

Fabio, a 49-year-old architect from Milan, attended the demonstration, with his wife and daughters aged 10 and six.

"We are here at the request of our daughters who wanted to demonstrate as a protest against what is going on in the USA," he said.

Italy has detailed a sweeping security plan for the Winter Olympics, stressing that it will keep command of all operations.

The US delegation will be led by US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

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

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

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‘Quiet Assassin’ Rybakina Targets World Number One After Melbourne Win

‘Quiet Assassin’ Rybakina Targets World Number One After Melbourne Win

Slot Praises Konate for Swift Return After Father’s Death Amid Defensive Crisis

Slot Praises Konate for Swift Return After Father’s Death Amid Defensive Crisis

Hundreds Protest in Milan over US ICE Role in Games Security

Hundreds Protest in Milan over US ICE Role in Games Security

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