Gabriel Martinelli says Arsenal’s inherent belief will only be boosted by beating champions Manchester City as Mikel Arteta’s men look to go one step further than last season.
The Gunners captured the imagination during a strong 2022-23 campaign, only to ultimately finish second as Pep Guardiola’s side scooped a third straight title in a storming end to the season.
Arsenal’s inability to take a point off them was key in them finishing second and Sunday saw them finally beat City in the league for the first time since 2015, building on their Community Shield shoot-out triumph against the treble winners.
The half-time introduction of Martinelli after three weeks out with a hamstring injury proved inspired, adding extra impetus to the attack before eventually hitting a late winner that deflected in off Nathan Ake to seal a 1-0 victory.
“We know how hard it is to play against them,” the Brazil international said. “It was a great performance from the team and a great win.
“Of course (it gives us more belief we can win this season’s title). We are Arsenal and we are always believing about the title.
“To win against a big side like them is great and we just need to carry on.
“A special day for me. I tried my best, really hard, to be back with the team and it was a great moment for me.
“It’s always good to win against the big teams and we did it today. I’m so happy.”
Arsenal remain unbeaten eight league matches into the season and are level in terms of points and goal difference with leaders Tottenham, with their bitter rivals only ahead on goals scored.
“When you play for Arsenal you have to always believe and this is what we do,” Martinelli said as they look to bring the Premier League title back to north London for the first time since 2004.
“We play for Arsenal and we always believe we can win the titles.
“It’s another year. We’re going to try to improve things and try to do better than last year.
“Yeah, I think (there is more depth). We have a great team and it’s important to have a lot of options.”
Sunday’s victory win was made all the more impressive by the fact Arsenal’s star man Bukayo Saka was missing, with a muscle injury ending his run of 87 successive Premier League appearances.
“We know our potential,” Martinelli said. “We know his potential and how important he is for us.
“Today we did our best, tried to win the game for our fans, for us and for B as well.”
Arsenal return to action at Chelsea after the international break, while wounded City look to get their title defence back on track at home to Brighton.
Guardiola’s men have lost three of their last four matches in all competitions, including back-to-back Premier League matches for the first time since December 2018.
City midfielder Bernardo Silva said: “It’s a setback but it’s still the beginning. We’re far away from the end of the season.
“It was not the result we wanted. Against a tough opponent it is never easy to play.
“We felt the game was tough for both teams. Both are tough and organised and tense. We had a few chances in the beginning.
“In the end it was a deflection. In my opinion we gave them too much time to think at that moment. We have to be more intense in the pressing.
“It is what it is. It’s part of football and we move onto the next one.”
City struggled to lay a glove on an Arsenal side that they had beaten in 12 consecutive Premier League meetings before Sunday.
Guardiola’s men mustered a mere four shots at the Emirates Stadium, but Silva is not getting carried away with the loss or the recent drop off.
“Some of these results we were not expecting and we didn’t want them to happen,” he told club media.
“Last season we won the treble but there was a point that nothing was going our way.
“How you overcome these moments is what defines the team and we will keep fighting for all the games. We’re going for it again.”
Birmingham have sacked head coach John Eustace despite a bright start to the season, increasing rumours of former England captain Wayne Rooney taking charge at the club.
Eustace led Birmingham to safety last season, while a come-from-behind 3-1 derby win over West Brom on Friday left Blues sixth in the Sky Bet Championship after 11 fixtures heading into the international break.
While Birmingham recognised in a statement Eustace had “helped to stabilise and strengthen the club” in his 15 months at the helm, they have decided to part company with the ex-Republic of Ireland assistant.
“It is essential that the board of directors and the football management are fully aligned on the importance of implementing a winning mentality and a culture of ambition across the entire football club,” the statement on Birmingham’s official website said.
“With this in mind, Birmingham City has parted company with head coach John Eustace.
“A new first-team manager will be announced in the coming days who will be responsible for creating an identity and clear ‘no fear’ playing style that all Birmingham City teams will adopt and embrace.”
Eustace succeeded Lee Bowyer in July 2022 and helped Birmingham finish nine points above the drop zone in the second tier amid off-field issues surrounding the ownership of the club.
Despite just three defeats so far this season, it was reported over the weekend Eustace’s position was under threat as the club’s new American owners sought a big-name appointment.
Former Manchester United striker Rooney would seemingly fit the bill after he announced on Sunday he would be leaving DC United following their failure to qualify for the Major League Soccer play-offs.
“It’s just the right time,” he said in quotes reported by the Washington Post.
“I have really enjoyed my time here. But I just feel it’s the right time to go back to England. What lies ahead, I don’t know.”
Injured Ireland wings Mack Hansen and James Lowe are “making good strides” ahead of Saturday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand, while James Ryan is seeing a specialist on a wrist issue.
As of Monday morning, no member of Andy Farrell’s 33-man squad had been ruled out of the clash with the All Blacks in Paris.
Ryan’s situation is expected to be come clearer in the next 24 hours, with Ireland hopeful the problem is not as bad as first feared.
Wing Keith Earls and centre Robbie Henshaw could be available to feature at Stade de France after missing out against Scotland on Saturday with hamstring injuries.
Team manager Mick Kearney said: “James Ryan is seeing a specialist and we’re hoping for better news than originally anticipated.
“Mack Hansen took a bang to his calf but is improving and both him and James Lowe are making good strides.
“Keith Earls and Robbie Henshaw are both in contention as they progress during the week and apart from that just some usual bumps and bruises after a physical Test match.”
Ireland secured their last-eight spot in emphatic fashion by topping Pool B thanks to a crushing 36-14 win over the eliminated Scots.
But that victory came at a cost as Hansen was forced off after returning from a head injury assessment before opening try scorer Lowe departed at half-time due to a bang in the eye.
Lock Ryan, who injured his other wrist in the 13-8 success over South Africa on September 23, then added to the list of concerns for head coach Farrell.
“We won’t have a definitive on James (Ryan) until after he sees the specialist but certainly there is more optimism around James than probably what was originally anticipated,” added Kearney.
“Within the next 24 hours we should have a clearer picture of where James is at.
“At this stage, no one ruled out for the match against New Zealand.”
The UK and Ireland’s bid to host Euro 2028 is poised to get the formal seal of approval on Tuesday.
The UEFA executive committee is set to give the green light to the five-nation bid, which is unopposed after Turkey withdrew last week to focus on its joint bid with Italy for Euro 2032.
Ten stadia were included in the UK-Ireland’s bid submission in April. Six of the venues are in England, with one each from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The six in England are Wembley, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Etihad Stadium, St James’ Park, Villa Park and Everton’s new home at Bramley-Moore Dock.
A redeveloped Casement Park in Belfast, the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Hampden Park in Glasgow and the Principality Stadium in Cardiff are the other stadia included in the submission.
Even with Turkey in the running, the five-nation bid was the overwhelming favourite to be selected.
Senior UEFA sources have indicated the importance of another Euro in a major football market, following on from next year’s tournament in Germany, as European football’s governing body seeks to further replenish its reserves after the financial shock of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The five nations released a joint statement last week following Turkey’s withdrawal, stating they had a “compelling” and “ground-breaking” proposal for UEFA to consider, which would deliver “lasting legacies” across the whole of Ireland and the UK.
There are nevertheless some major issues that need to be addressed if the UK-Ireland bid is accepted by the ExCo.
For a start, the Casement Park site is derelict and plans by the Gaelic Athletic Association to redevelop it with a 34,000 capacity have been mired in controversy and hit by delays.
The Casement project has been delayed by a series of legal challenges and is further complicated by the lack of a functioning Executive at Stormont.
The redevelopment has also been hit by rising costs, with an original projected price tag from almost a decade ago of £77.5million now believed to have spiralled well above £100m.
The GAA is part-funding the project but has yet to reach an agreement with Stormont on how to cover a multi-million-pound shortfall.
Wembley would be expected to host the final in 2028, another major test for the 90,000-capacity venue after the chaos surrounding its hosting of the Euro 2020 final.
Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt said in June: “One of the things I am absolutely convinced UEFA’s Exco will ask us is, ‘How can you assure us nobody will storm the turnstiles?’
“We have to convince every one of those Exco members we have not only thought about it, but that we have planned for it – that we know what we would do in what order and who is accountable.”
England manager Gareth Southgate said it was a “brilliant opportunity” for the nations involved and added: “They will have huge pride in hosting and if the teams get qualified as well then there’s obviously some home advantage to hosting as well.”
Qualification for all of the hosts is not guaranteed.
UEFA’s preferred approach is that all five nations enter qualification, with two host-nation places kept in reserve for any that fail to make it.
However, if more than two do not qualify by right, then only the best two to miss out will be given host-nation places.
England captain Jos Buttler has suggested the state of the outfield in Dharamshala could compromise “the integrity of the game” when his side face Bangladesh on Tuesday.
The HPCA Stadium is one of the most visually stunning grounds in the world, set against the Himalayan mountain range of Dhauladhar, but the field of play is causing serious concerns due to its loose, sandy make-up and uneven grass coverage.
Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman came close to a nasty injury on Saturday when his knee lodged in the surface as he slid to stop a boundary, with debris spraying up from the soil as he landed.
The International Cricket Council have stressed that the outfield was rated ‘average’ by the officials at that game, while match referee Javagal Srinath has declared himself satisfied after a fresh inspection.
But England have had two training days at the venue and are unimpressed by conditions, which appear to fall short of international norms.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Buttler said: “I think it’s poor, in my own opinion. It’s not as good as it could be or should be.
“Certainly if you feel like you’re having to hold yourself back, it’s not a place you want to be as a team, or as a player, or in a World Cup match.”
He subsequently took his misgivings even further, telling the BBC: “The powers that be are comfortable… the only thing I would question is, if you are telling players not to dive and stuff does that question the integrity of the game?
“Worse case scenario is something bad happens, but fingers crossed that doesn’t happen for both teams.”
Buttler appeared particularly frustrated at the idea of asking his side to hold back – particularly as they look to provide a rousing response to their hefty nine-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the tournament opener.
“Any time you’re talking about being careful diving, or maybe being careful when you’re fielding, it goes against everything you want to be as a team,” Buttler said.
“You want to dive through a row houses to save a run. so it’s obviously not ideal, the way the surface is.
“I think it’s definitely one where you’re going to have to be a little bit careful, which isn’t what you want to be doing when you’re playing for your country.
“You want to put your body on the line and be trying to save every single run and have confidence in the field.
“We won’t be using it as an excuse, we’ll just have to be a bit smart.”
Michael Dods will be targeting major prizes with Azure Blue next season, having seen the campaign of his improving sprinter come to a premature end.
The four-year-old – who found the scoresheet four times in 2022 – made a blistering start to the season, winning a Listed event at Newmarket before claiming the scalp of Highfield Princess in the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes at York.
She was subsequently saved for Newmarket’s July Cup where she finished sixth but has not been since, having suffered a foot injury which has kept her on the sidelines and ruled her out of tilts at both the Nunthorpe and Haydock’s Betfair Sprint Cup.
Sights were turned to Qipco British Champions Day, but having lost the battle to fully prime the daughter of El Kabeir for Ascot action, Dods is now relishing the prospect of Azure Blue returning in 2024.
He said: “She’s fine, we just ran out of time to get her back for British Champions Day so we’ll leave her now and she will back.
“We’re looking forward to next season now.”
When asked if she will be campaigned as a Group One sprinter next season, Dods added: “That will be the plan, I would say so definitely.”
What the papers say
Wayne Rooney is in the running to become Birmingham manager, the Times reports. The former England and Manchester United captain is looking for a now role after leaving MLS side DC United.
The Mirror says Rooney would bring former Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole and former Manchester United team-mate John O’Shea with him if he is to get the job.
Meanwhile, Manchester United are reportedly keeping an eye on Palmeiras midfielder Luis Guilherme and Flamengo winger Lorran, who are both 17, according the the Daily Star. The Brazilian teenagers could cost the club a combined £100million.
Social media round-upPlayers to watch
Lionel Messi: Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino says he knows nothing about rumours linking the Argentina forward to Barcelona on a loan deal, Goal reports.
Jack Clarke: North-East publication the Chronicle says Sunderland face a fight to keep the winger amid interest from Brentford.
Quarterback Brock Purdy threw four touchdown passes as San Francisco 49ers stayed undefeated with a 42-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Purdy threw all but one of his touchdown passes to tight end George Kittle while Jordan Mason, Christian McCaffrey and Kyle Juszczyk all got over the line for a touchdown.
Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott was sacked three times and threw for three interceptions as the Cowboys suffered their biggest defeat since 2013 and their second of the season.
The Kansas City Chiefs added more misery to the Minnesota Vikings tough start to the season, but it was not without a scare as star tight end Travis Kelce went down with an ankle injury in the second quarter.
The Chiefs won 27-20 with Patrick Mahomes throwing for 281 yards with two touchdowns.
Kelce reportedly went for scans on his right foot but returned in the third quarter, scoring a touchdown to put the game out of the Vikings reach and securing the Chiefs fourth win of the season.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts put on a masterclass for the Philadelphia Eagles as they claimed a 23-14 victory at the Los Angeles Rams.
Hurts threw for 303 yards, including one touchdown pass and rushed for 72 yards, scoring a touchdown of his own.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for two touchdowns for 222 yards but the Hurts touchdown and a brave defensive performance in the second half kept Philadelphia’s perfect start alive.
The Cincinnati Bengals secured an away win with the help of Joe Burrows who threw for three touchdown passes and 317 yards to give them a 34-20 win against the Arizona Cardinals.
Ja’Marr Chase scored three touchdowns off Burrows’ arm and set a single-game franchise record for the Bengals with 15 receptions, lifting the Bengals to a 2-3 record.
The Miami Dolphins beat the New York Giants at home 31-16 with rookie running back De’Von Achane scoring a 76-yard rushing touchdown and amounting 151 rushing yards.
The win took Miami to the top of the AFC East with a 4-1 record while the Giants suffered their fourth loss.
Elsewhere, the New York Jets took care of the Denver Broncos 31-21, while the Atlanta Falcons pipped the Houston Texas 21-19 and the Pittsburgh Steelers took down the Baltimore Ravens.
The Indianapolis Colts beat the Tennessee Titans, while the New England Patriots were held scoreless in their 34-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints and the Detroit Lions handed the Carolina Panthers their fifth loss of the year, winning 42-24.
Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday all made their debuts with new teams as the NBA preseason began to ramp up with six games on Sunday.
Beal scored 11 points in 14 minutes as the Phoenix Suns opened their preseason with a 130-126 overtime win over the Detroit Pistons. The three-time All-Star joined a star-studded Suns roster in June after being acquired from the Washington Wizards, the team he spent his first 11 seasons with.
Another Suns newcomer, Grayson Allen, paced Phoenix with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting off the bench. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker each had 12 points as part of a starting five that also included Beal.
Porzingis, also traded out of Washington in the offseason, scored 17 points in his first outing as a Boston Celtic to help his new team to a 114-106 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 7-foot-3 veteran standout is part of a remade Celtics roster that also includes Holiday, whom the Celtics acquired last week from the rebuilding Trail Blazers after briefly being obtained by Portland in the blockbuster trade that sent Blazers icon Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Holiday came off the bench to play 22 minutes, though he shot just 2 of 10 from the field for six points.
Payton Pritchard sparked Boston with 26 points just hours after signing a four-year, $30 million extension. The fourth-year guard finished 6 of 11 from 3-point range.
Lillard did not play in the Bucks' preseason opener, a 105-102 win over the Chicago Bulls in which Marjon Beauchamp led Milwaukee with 18 points and nine rebounds.
The Bucks also sat Giannis Antetokounmpo, though the two-time MVP's older brother, Thanasis, contributed 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
Elsewhere around the league, Gary Trent Jr. scored 22 points to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 112-99 win over the Sacramento Kings in Vancouver; Utah's Kris Dunn made all seven of his field goal attempts for 15 points as the Jazz posted a 101-96 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in Honolulu, and Jake LaRavia scored the final five points of overtime as the Memphis Grizzlies outlasted the Indiana Pacers, 127-122.
Jarace Walker, the eighth overall pick of this year's draft, had 19 points and nine rebounds in his Pacers debut.
Mitch Garver's grand slam in the third inning provided a big early lead that the Texas Rangers held on to in Sunday's 11-8 victory over the Baltimore Orioles that put the American League's top playoff seed a game away from elimination.
Garver also had an RBI single to help Texas take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five Division Series and remain unbeaten in four games this postseason. The Rangers advanced to the ALDS with a two-game sweep on the road over the Tampa Bay Rays earlier in the week.
The Rangers can wrap up this series when it shifts to Texas on Tuesday.
Texas pounded out 11 hits in Game 2 and took advantage of a season-high 11 walks from Baltimore pitchers, including four from starter Grayson Rodriguez in a short postseason debut for the heralded rookie.
Rodriguez got out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, but walked Nathaniel Lowe to begin the second with the Orioles holding a 2-0 lead. Josh Jung followed with a single and Leody Tavares doubled in both runners to tie the contest.
Texas would score three more times in the second to move in front. After Corey Seager drew one of five walks on the day to load the bases, Garver, Adolis Garcia and Jonah Heim each delivered RBI singles to give the Rangers a 5-2 advantage.
Reliever Bryan Baker walked the bases loaded in the third before Garver blasted a 3-1 pitch into the left-field seats to extend the margin to 9-2.
The Orioles scored twice in the fourth before the Rangers got a run back in the top of the fifth, but Gunnar Henderson's solo homer off Texas starter Jordan Montgomery in the bottom of the inning pulled the AL East champions within 10-5.
Baltimore moved closer when Aaron Hicks' three-run homer off Jose Leclerc in the ninth made the score 11-8, but the Rangers' closer retired the next two hitters to end the comeback attempt and the game.
Garcia, Jung and Marcus Semien each had two hits for Texas, while Cody Bradford earned the win with 3 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Montgomery.
Hicks also had a two-run single that drove in the Orioles' first runs, while Jorge Mateo finished 4 for 4 with an RBI and Austin Hays had three hits in the loss.
Rodriguez was pulled with two outs in the second and was charged with five runs on six hits.
Lopez, Correa help Twins even series with Astros
Pablo Lopez threw seven scoreless innings, Carlos Correa went 3 for 3 with three RBIs against his former team, and the Minnesota Twins drew even in their AL Division Series with the Houston Astros with Sunday's 6-2 win.
Kyle Farmer contributed a two-run homer as the Twins bounced back from Saturday's 6-4 loss in Game 1 of this best-of-five series, which shifts to Minnesota for Game 3 on Tuesday.
Correa, who spent his first seven seasons with the Astros before signing with the Twins in 2022, quickly staked Minnesota to a 1-0 lead with a two-out RBI double off Framber Valdez in the first inning. Farmer extended the margin to 3-0 an inning later when he followed Willi Castro's leadoff single with his first career postseason home run.
That was more than enough support for Lopez, who scattered six hits and a walk while striking out seven in his second straight playoff gem. The right-hander held the Toronto Blue Jays to one run over 5 2/3 innings in Minnesota's Game 1 win in the Wild Card round.
Correa hurt his ex-team again when he stepped to the plate with the bases loaded in the fifth and delivered a two-run single for a 5-0 lead.
Houston's only scoring came on Yordan Alvarez's third homer of the series, a two-run shot off Brock Stewart in the eighth.
Valdez, who went 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA during the Astros' run to last year's World Series title, struggled before being removed with one out in the fifth. The left-hander was charged with five runs on seven hits and issued three walks.
Marland Nattie, Vice President of the Jamaica Basketball Association (JABA) died on Sunday after suffering a stroke just over two months ago.
In his early 60s, Nattie, who was also a former president of the association, spent most of his adult life serving the sport of basketball as a player, coach and administrator. He leaves behind his widow, Oberon Pitterson-Nattie, former national netball player and coach. They had been married for about 10 years.
His sudden passing early Sunday afternoon came as a shock because, according to JABA president Paulton Gordon, based on information he had been receiving, his vice president was making progress in his recovery.
“The basketball family is saddened at his passing. Nattie has served basketball at various levels over the years. He dedicated his life to basketball as a player, as a coach at Kingston College and elsewhere and in administration in various roles,” Gordon told Sportsmax.TV on Sunday.
“He was president for a couple of terms, in other capacities as general secretary and he was the current vice president. He also served regionally, most recently as a vice president in charge of development at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) and prior to his passing he sat on the CBC Council so he is a true basketball man right throughout his life he had dedicated himself to serving basketball and youth development.
“He will be sadly missed as an administrator; his experience. You could always call on Nattie for advice, he has details that because of his skills in basketball, you could call on him for things that are useful in terms of planning, so we will certainly miss Nattie.”
Jamaica’s Sports Minister Olivia Grange expressed her regret at Nattie’s passing, saying she, too, was surprised at the tragic news.
“With Marland’s death, I again must express my deep regret at the loss of another of our outstanding sports persons,” she said.
“I spoke with his wife, Oberon, who was a former national netballer and coach of the Sunshine Girls, who said his death was unexpected as he seemed to be recovering from a stroke he had suffered. As I expressed my condolences to Oberon, I told her that I was sure that the entire basketball community and all of his friends and associates would join the family in mourning Marland’s death. Our prayers are with her, the rest of the family and the basketball fraternity.”
A US green-card holder, Nattie and his wife migrated to the United States some time ago but as vice president he would often return to Jamaica to carry out his administrative duties. After being in hospital for some time, Nattie was moved to a rehabilitation facility to continue his recovery and was reportedly doing well.
Hence, it was a shock to all concerned when he died on Sunday.
Lamine Yamal became LaLiga’s youngest-ever goal scorer as he helped Barcelona fight back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Granada.
Yamal, aged 16 years and 87 days, struck in first-half stoppage time after Barca had trailed to Bryan Zaragoza’s brace and substitute Sergi Roberto’s late strike rescued the visitors a point.
Granada forward Zaragoza opened the scoring after just 17 seconds – the fastest goal in LaLiga this season – as Xavi’s side missed the chance to close to within a point of leaders Real Madrid.
Manchester United loanee Mason Greenwood scored his first goal for Getafe in a 2-2 draw at second-bottom Celta Vigo.
Greenwood regained Getafe’s first-half lead after Borja Mayoral’s early opener, but Celta twice hit back through Jonathan Bamba and Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Domingos Duarte’s first-half dismissal for two yellow-card offences had left Getafe with 10 men.
Atletico Madrid consolidated fourth place as Antoine Griezmann’s late penalty sealed a 2-1 home win against Real Sociedad after Mikel Oyarzabal had cancelled out Samuel Lino’s opener for the hosts.
Real Betis were held 1-1 at lowly Alaves and had Willian Jose sent off in added time. Former Leicester forward Ayoze Perez put the visitors ahead before ex-Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin’s own goal earned Alaves a point.
Las Palmas made it three wins in four matches as they won 2-1 at Villarreal.
Bayer Leverkusen maintained their one-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga with a 3-1 home win against Cologne.
Kingsley Coman’s double, which sandwiched Leroy Sane’s effort, helped Bayern Munich to a 3-0 home win against Freiburg, which kept them two points behind the leaders in third.
Eintracht Frankfurt secured their first league win since August thanks to goals from Hugo Larsson and Ansgar Knauff.
Defending Serie A champions Napoli slipped to their second league defeat of the season as they went down 3-1 at home to Fiorentina.
Victor Osimhen’s penalty in first-half stoppage time cancelled out an early strike from Josip Brekalo, but Giacomo Bonaventura restored Fiorentina’s lead and substitute Nicolas Gonzalez added a late third.
Jose Mourinho’s Roma climbed up to 10th and made it three straight wins with a 4-1 victory at Cagliari.
Mourinho’s side, 4-0 Europa League winners against Servette in midweek, were on target through Houssem Aouar, Romelu Lukaku’s double and Andrea Belotti before Cagliari’s late consolation via Nahitan Nandez’s penalty.
Monza extended their unbeaten league run to five matches by beating Salernitana 3-0 at home and Frosinone maintained their impressive start with a 2-1 victory over visitors Verona.
Lazio let slip a 2-0 lead at home against Atalanta before Matias Vecino’s late strike clinched them a 3-2 win.
In Ligue 1, Paris St Germain climbed to within two points of leaders Monaco after a 3-1 win at Rennes.
PSG bounced back from their midweek Champions League defeat at Newcastle with first-half goals from Vitinha and Achraf Hakimi.
Amine Gouiri pulled one back for the hosts, but PSG substitute Randal Kolo Muani restored the visitors’ two-goal advantage.
Montpellier’s home game against Clermont was abandoned in stoppage time after visiting goalkeeper Mory Diaw was stunned by a firework.
The home side were leading 4-2 when a firecracker was thrown from the stands and exploded near Diaw as he prepared to take a goal-kick and he was later carried off the field on a stretcher.
Martin Satriano’s stoppage-time equaliser rescued a point for high-flying Brest in a 1-1 home draw against Toulouse, who had led through Frank Magri.
Arouna Sangante’s own goal set Marseille on their way to a 3-0 home win against Le Havre, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ismaila Sarr also on the scoresheet.
Lyon’s winless start to the season was extended to eight matches as they were held 3-3 at home by fellow strugglers Lorient, while Lens drew 1-1 at home against Lille.
Luke Humphries claimed his first major title as he beat Gerwyn Price with a stunning performance to win the World Grand Prix.
The 28-year-old has been a star on the European Tour over the last 18 months, winning five titles, but has now transferred that to the PDC Tour.
He proved he belongs on the biggest stage after producing the performance of his life in Leicester, taking down the 2020 champion Price 5-2.
The foundations of the win were laid when he claimed 10 out of 12 legs, including a stunning 170 checkout, to move 3-1 clear and then he sealed his title with a sumptuous 138 finish.
Victory moves him up to fourth in the world and is the biggest title of a blossoming career, with a £120,000 payday.
Former world champion Price was the heavy favourite for a second Grand Prix crown, but could not keep up with Humphries’ heavy scoring.
And the triumph allows Humphries to give his son a special present on his first birthday on Monday.
“It is one of those feelings you can’t put into words,” he said. “I have imagined this moment all my career and to actually finally do what I have always dreamed of, you can’t put it into words.
“There are no superlatives to say, it’s unbelievable.
“Taking out 138 out under the most pressure that I have ever been under, just made the whole thing a lot better, there was no better way for me to win. I am so proud of myself.
“It’s my son’s birthday tomorrow, as much as he won’t know it his life has changed because his dad is a major champion now and that is quite massive.
“I would have loved to have him here, but he’s going to have a very good present, I’ll have to wrap the trophy up so he can see how great dad is.”
Price had to endure the usual hostility from the crowd, who were pro-Humphries in their support and will now be hit in the pocket after swearing during his on-stage interview.
“It’s one of those games, I am absolutely gutted but it’s what happens,” he said.
“I wish we could play these games in Wales, it’s frustrating sometimes. I didn’t help myself early on, Luke played fantastic, he’s a worthy winner. But I think I played better overall.
“He had a lot of support. I’ve got a good man cave to go back to, I don’t give a s**t.”
Paris St Germain returned to winning ways following their Champions League thrashing at Newcastle with a 3-1 Ligue 1 victory over Rennes.
First-half goals from Vitinha and Achraf Hakimi put Luis Enrique’s side in the ascendancy at Roazhon Park.
Amine Gouiri pulled one back for the hosts on 57 minutes but substitute Randal Kolo Muani swiftly restored the visitors’ two-goal advantage.
PSG, who suffered a 4-1 hammering on Tyneside on Wednesday, made their intentions clear by peppering the Rennes back line from the start.
Kylian Mbappe, making his 400th professional appearance, found space in neat pockets on the left and nearly opened the scoring with a curled effort which flew narrowly over.
Superstar forward Mbappe was largely anonymous in midweek but had the bit between his teeth on Sunday evening as he looked to break the deadlock.
And the French champions did just that after 33 minutes through Vitinha’s blockbuster.
The Portugal international picked up the ball just inside the box and produced a stunning dipping effort into the top corner which caught Steve Mandanda flat-footed.
The opener seemed to relax PSG, who upped the tempo and doubled their advantage four minutes later.
The creative Warren Zaire-Emery picked up the ball and whipped it to the back post, where Hakimi nodded home his side’s second goal.
PSG picked up where they had left off after the interval, with a lightning Mbappe run resulting in the winger slipping in the well positioned Goncalo Ramos, but he was unable to stroke the ball pass Mandanda.
Despite having been largely outplayed, Rennes managed to get themselves on the scoresheet in the 57th minute, when Ludovic Blas cut in and picked out the unmarked Gouiri, whose header beat Gianluigi Donnarumma.
But any hopes the hosts had of getting back on level terms were quashed almost immediately when a lapse in concentration proved costly.
Hakimi burst forward, glided past his marker as if he was not there and produced an inch-perfect cross to Kolo Muani who undid Rennes’ hard work straight from the restart to make it 3-1.
Kolo Muani had another effort chalked off for offside, with PSG then having to be on their guard as Blas looked to add to his assist tally.
The Rennes midfielder kept Lucas Hernandez busy on the right and produced a couple of dangerous passes into the box which were dealt with by the composed Marquinhos and Milan Skriniar.
Mbappe conjured up one of the misses of the season when, after a great run, he rounded Mandanda only to blast his shot over with the goal gaping, but PSG were well worth the points and saw out five minutes of stoppage time to claim a convincing away win.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
