Barca win 3-0 at Celta, extend lead
Barcelona: Cesc Fabregas scored two goals and played a part in Alexis Sanchez’s opener to steer Barcelona to a 3-0 victory at Celta Vigo and keep the pressure on the Spanish league leader’s title rivals. The defending champion’s 10th win in 11 rounds on Tuesday, provisionally lifted it four points clear of Atletico Bilbao and nine points above Real Madrid before they play matches later this week. While Barcelona eased to another victory, crosstown rival Espanyol drew 0-0 at home with Malaga. The two Catalan clubs will meet on Friday in a city derby at Camp Nou. Barcelona dominated early in Vigo and Alexis put the visitors ahead in the ninth minute when he pounced on the rebound of a shot by Fabregas after the former Arsenal star had stolen the ball deep in Celta’s half. The Chile forward’s six goals are second only to Lionel Messi’s eight for the team’s leading scorer in league play. After Celta had pushed forward in search of an equaliser late in the first half with Charles and Rafina, who is on loan from Barca, both going close, Fabregas put the game away three minutes after the restart. With Celta again caught outnumbered after losing the ball, Messi drew in the defence and slipped the ball over for Fabregas to drill it under goalkeeper Yoel Rodriguez. Messi laid the ball off again for Fabregas to unleash a shot that hit the crossbar and ricocheted off the outstretched Rodriguez before crossing the line in the 54th. (AP)
Chelsea hail strength in depth after brushing Arsenal aside
LONDON: Two wins in three days against top English clubs are a sign Chelsea have enough squad depth to compete for honours across the board this season, assistant coach Steve Holland said. Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-0 to ease into the quarterfinals of the League Cup on Tuesday, barely 48 hours after a dramatic Premier League win over fellow title challengers Manchester City. Of the players who kicked off for Chelsea against their London rivals at the Emirates Stadium, only one – Gary Cahill – was in the starting line-up for Sunday’s match. While Arsenal also fielded a team featuring few first-choice players, Chelsea were able to draft in a string of top notch internationals. Spain’s Juan Mata and Cesar Azpilicueta made their presence felt with a goal each, while Brazilians David Luiz and Willian also stepped up after starting on the bench on Sunday. (Reuters)
Ancelotti ticks off Blatter for comment on Ronaldo
Madrid: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has labelled FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s comments on Cristiano Ronaldo’s demeanour on the field as disrespectful. Blatter described the Portuguese as being “like a commander on the pitch” and joked he spent more money on his hairstyle than Barcelona rival Lionel Messi, in an audience with Oxford University students last week. “It seems to me like a lack of respect,” Ancelotti said on Tuesday. Ronaldo aims to topple Messi to win the Balon d’Or for the first time in five years after both men were nominated in the 23-man shortlist for the award on Tuesday. Ancelotti also confirmed that Real president Florentino Perez has sent a letter to FIFA asking them to rectify Blatter’s comments. (IANS)
Cops quiz Hingis over assault claim
Geneva: Former tennis ace Martina Hingis has been questioned by Swiss police over claims that she assaulted her French husband Thibault Hutin, a police spokesman said on Wednesday. “The three individuals cited in the complaint were questioned last week, and we prepared a report which was transferred to the justice authorities,” the spokesman told AFP. Hutin filed a complaint in September over an alleged assault by the 33-year-old Swiss former world number one as well as her mother Melanie Molitor and boyfriend Mario Widmer. The 27-year-old French equestrian, who married Hingis in December 2010, reportedly claims that the trio beat and scratched him and that Widmer struck him in the head with a DVD player after he tried to defend himself. (AFP)