Hazard out for ‘several weeks'
Zurich: Belgian international Thorgan Hazard will be out of action for several weeks after picking up a rib injury in the Bundesliga, his club Borussia Dortmund announced on Wednesday. “Thorgan Hazard suffered a rib injury following a collision with an opponent in the match away to FC Cologne,” said a statement on the club website. “The 26 year-old is now set for several weeks on the sidelines. Get well soon, Thorgan!” Hazard, who arrived from Munchengladbach, is likely to miss Dortmund's next two Bundesliga matches at least, against Union Berlin and Bayer Leverkusen. He will probably also miss Belgium's two Euro qualifiers against San Marino and Scotland next month.
Isco set to miss Villareal game
Madrid: Real Madrid midfielder Isco is set to miss this weekend's La Liga match against Villarreal after the club announced on Wednesday that he had picked up a thigh injury. “Isco has been diagnosed with a muscular injury in the right femoral biceps,” said Real in a statement. The club have not given a time frame for the midfielder's return but said “his recovery will continue to be monitored”. According to sports daily AS, recovery time for this kind of injury is between two to three weeks. That would rule him out of the Liga games against Villarreal and possibly Levante on September 14.
Ibrahimovic open to man utd return
Los Angeles: LA Galaxy striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has made himself available for a return to former club Manchester United when his contract ends in November. "I could play easy in the Premier League, so if United needs me, I'm here," he was quoted as saying by BBC. The 37-year-old Sweden international had 28 goals in his 2016-17 debut season for United before he picked up a knee injury. "Galaxy has me, so I'm sorry," he added. "I did my job in Europe. I enjoyed it, I have 33 trophies that I brought with me here and hopefully I can get something here. "And then we will see where that adventure finishes."
Sanchez in Milan for Inter move
Manchester: Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez arrived in Milan on Wednesday ahead of a reported one-year loan move to Inter, according to multiple reports. The 30-year-old was photographed waving to fans at the airport and was whisked away for a medical before signing a contract later in the day, Sky Sports Italia and Gazzetta Dello Sport reported. Sanchez will link up with Romelu Lukaku — a 65-million-euro ($73 million) close-season signing from Manchester United — who scored on his debut for Inter on Monday. Sanchez joined United from Arsenal in January 2018 but has scored just three Premier League goals in 32 appearances.
Red Star, Dinamo qualify for uCL
Belgrade: Old rivals Red Star Belgrade and Dinamo Zagreb advanced to the Champions League group stage on Tuesday after making it through their playoff second-leg games. The former fierce domestic rivalry between the current champions of Serbia and Croatia — which was curbed in 1991 — could now be renewed in Europe's top competition. Red Star went through on away goals after a 1-1 draw with visiting Young Boys made the aggregate score 3-3. Dinamo advanced 3-1 on aggregate by drawing 1-1 at Rosenborg, leveling in the 71st minute from a rising, left-foot shot by Amer Gojak. Dinamo will be in the pot of third-seeded teams and can be grouped with Red Star, which is in the lowest-ranked pot 4 at Thursday's draw in Monaco.
Palace, Norwich pay rotation price
London: Premier League teams Crystal Palace and Norwich paid the price for heavily rotating their lineups for the second round of the English League Cup as they were eliminated by fourth-tier opponents on Tuesday. Three days after beating Manchester United at Old Trafford, Palace lost 5-4 on penalties to Colchester — a team sitting 85 places down the English football pyramid — after a 0-0 draw in 90 minutes. Norwich rested its top players like Teemu Pukki, the scorer of five goals in three Premier League games this season, and lost 1-0 at Crawley Town. Other top-flight clubs weren't harmed by fielding their fringe players. Aston Villa thrashed fourth-tier Crewe 6-1, Watford ended a seven-game losing streak by beating third-tier Coventry 3-0, and Glenn Murray's injury-time strike earned Brighton a 2-1 win at Bristol Rovers of the third tier.
Lyon lose to Montpellier in ligue 1
Lyon: Defender Youssouf Kone was sent-off for a headbutt as Lyon lost 1-0 to Montpellier in Ligue 1 on Tuesday, in Sylvinho's first defeat in charge. Kone was sent off early in the second half after clashing heads with the home side's Algeria international Andy Delort. Before the defeat, coach Sylvinho had guided the side to convincing wins over Monaco and Angers in his first two Ligue 1 matches in charge. Montpellier claimed their opening win of the season with right back Arnaud Souquet's wonderful half-volley shortly before the break. “We had a lot of chances. Even if the red card changed things a little we managed the second half well. We could have killed the match off,” goalscorer Souquet said.
Vikas scripts Haryana’s win in pkl
New Delhi: Vikas Kandola's early raiding brilliance ensured Haryana Steelers thrashed Season 6 runners-up Gujarat Fortunegiants 41-24 in a Pro Kabaddi League encounter here on Wednesday. Vikas (8 points), Prashanth Kumar Rai (8 points) and Ravi Kumar with a High 5 (6 tackle points) led an all-round performance from the Steelers that saw the side jump to third place in the Season 7 points table.