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sports Dialuna 25 OctOber 2021

Madrid wins 2-1 at Barcelona in first post-Messi ‘clásico’

(AP) — David Alaba and and Real Sociedad. Sociedad which grew in the final
Lucas Vázquez scored can reclaim the lead when it minutes when frustration set
as Real Madrid beat faces defending champion in after witnessing another
Barcelona 2-1 at Camp Atlético Madrid later Sunday. letdown by their team.
Nou on Sunday in the
rivals’ first “clásico” match The defeat was another Barcelona’s squad from before
since the exit of Lionel blow to Barcelona which has the pandemic has undergone
Messi. struggled since its financial a major overhaul because of
troubles kept it from re- the club’s financial troubles.
Defender Alaba turned goal- signing Messi and other Where Messi once linked up
scorer in the 32nd minute players. Ronald Koeman’s with Antoine Griezmann on
with a wonderful curling team was left in eighth place the right flank, Barcelona’s
shot from the left side of the at five points adrift. homegrown youngsters Gavi
area that the outstretched Páez and Óscar Mingueza
Marc-Andre ter Stegen could This was the first “clásico” now team up with Dest.
not stop. without Messi and Madrid’s
long-time captain Sergio But one thing that has not
Alaba’s strike came minutes Ramos, who are now changed is Barcelona’s
after American Sergiño Dest teammates at Paris Saint- determination to dominate
wasted a great chance for Germain. The two between possession. The hosts were not effective today.”
Barcelona, sending his close- them took part in 45 editions controlled the pace from the Alaba robbed the ball from
range shot soaring over the of Spain’s top rivalry. In that start, but Madrid is more Depay outside his area and Vázquez added his goal when
crossbar. time Messi led Barcelona to than used to picking its charged forward as part of a he was quicker to a rebound
19 wins while scoring a record moments when it comes to quick attack. Two passes later, than Eric García, as he slid a
Vázquez added a second 26 goals for the fixture. playing Barcelona. Alaba looked like a striker foot past the Spain defender
goal in stoppage time on a when he took aim from an to tuck the ball into the net.
counterattack with Barcelona Barcelona’s fans reveled in Dest had a golden opportunity angle and curled a superb
desperately thrown forward the first match against Madrid to break the initial deadlock in strike around Ter Stegen. The goal by substitute
in search of an equalizer. since health restrictions the 25th when he fired high It was the former Bayern Agüero, playing in his
for the pandemic were from just outside the six- Munich player’s first goal for third match since joining
Sergio Agüero pulled one completely lifted to allow full yard box. Memphis Depay Madrid. Barcelona from Manchester
back for Barcelona on a capacity in the 99,000-seat broke down the left flank and City, came far too late to spark
cross from Dest in the final Camp Nou. Face masks were squared a pass for Ansu Fati, “That goal was decisive,” said a comeback. It is Barcelona’s
seconds. mandatory, but they did not who touched the ball before Barcelona midfielder Sergio only goal in defeats to Bayern
stop the stadium from once it found Dest all alone. Busquets. “In games like Munich, Benfica, Atlético
The victory moved Madrid to again rocking with drums, this, whoever scores first has and Madrid this campaign.
the top of the Spanish league, chants and the occasional It fell to Ramos’ replacement a big advantage. Games are
level on points with Sevilla jeers from Barcelona fans to give Madrid the lead. decided in the area, and we

Masters champion Matsuyama wins by 5 shots in Japan

(AP) — Masters cham- It was Matsuyama’s first PGA travel restrictions. about 12 feet with his second “I needed to kind of take a
pion Hideki Matsuyama Tour win in his native Japan, shot on the par-5 18th and couple risks and unfortu-
had three birdies in five although he’s only had one Matsuyama finished with a made the eagle putt. nately it didn’t pan out, but
holes on the back nine and previous attempt. In 2019, 65 and a 15-under total of I played 16 really good holes
eagled the 18th for good Tiger Woods won the inau- 265 at Narashino Country Asked when he thought he and yeah, that was the day,”
measure for a five-stroke gural Zozo Championship, Club. It was his seventh PGA had won his home tour- Tringale said.
victory at the PGA Tour’s the first PGA Tour event Tour victory. nament, Matsuyama said
Zozo Championship on in Japan, and last year the through an interpreter: British Open champion Col-
Sunday. tournament was moved to If there was any doubt, Mat- “Probably my second shot lin Morikawa had a final-
California due to COVID-19 suyama hit a three-wood to at 18, that was probably the round 69 and finished 10
clincher.” strokes behind Matsuyama.

“It was one of my biggest Tokyo Olympics champion
goals to win in front of the Xander Schauffele shot 68
Japanese fans here in this and was at even par on the
country as well,” he added. tournament while Rickie
“So happy that I’ll be able Fowler had his second con-
to accomplish that. Also, in secutive 71 and finished 3
2019 Tiger won the Masters over.
and went on to win the Zozo
Championship, so I’m glad “It wasn’t quite the same ex-
that I would be able to emu- perience, didn’t play as well,
late that as well.” but I enjoyed being here de-
spite the lockdown and CO-
Americans were tied for sec- VID rules,” Schauffele said.
ond at 10-under: Brendan “I saw some of my family
Steele shot 66 and Cameron here, which was really cool. I
Tringale 69. don’t get a big opportunity to
see them, so that was kind of
Tringale trailed Matsuyama the shining moment for me.”
by two strokes going to the
18th hole but the Japanese The PGA Tour’s only stop on
player’s eagle and the Ameri- the Asia swing has attracted
can’s bogey made it a five- only three of the top 20 play-
shot cushion. ers in the world rankings.