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sports Diabierna 19 Maart 2021
PSG needs Neymar return to boost its fading title defense

(AP) — When Paris Saint- mar’s unpredictability. season that the goalie has ar-
Germain broke the world The injury-prone Brazilian guably been its best player.
transfer record to buy tore his left adductor mucle Navas has been kept very
Neymar four years ago, it playing in a French Cup game busy, most recently on
was with dreams of con- on Feb. 10 and was supposed Wednesday evening against
quering Europe in mind. to be out for four weeks, not Lille in the French Cup.
Now PSG needs him to two months. Even though “Keylor is one of the best
reignite a flagging league his self-indulgent and frus- goalies in the world,” Pochet-
title defense which could trating style of play means tino said. “His level is incred-
go off the tracks with a less teamwork, PSG remains ible.”
loss at Lyon on Sunday. more dangerous with him Without him PSG would
and needs him for the run-in. have been knocked out of the
Neymar, who has been out After facing Lille on April group stage of the Champi-
for two months with his latest 3, PSG has tough matches ons League — where it lost
injury since joining for 222 against Metz (away) and Lens two games and could easily
million euros ($265 million) (home) with both sides push- have lost two more — and
from Barcelona, looks ready ing for a Europa League spot may have been eliminated in
to play at least a part against next season. the round of 16 against Bar-
Lyon, and that is a relief for celona.
coach Mauricio Pochettino. The presumption that PSG’s PSG led 4-1 from the away
“He’s getting better every two main rivals would fade leg but Barcelona totally
day,” Pochettino said. “If has not happened. dominated the return leg
he’s available against Lyon it Lille has lost only twice and in Paris last week, and only
would be good for the whole conceded fewer goals than eight saves from the inspired
team.” PSG — 17 to 19. Navas — including stopping
one of those at home to Lyon Nantes, which scored far too Lyon has lost three times and a penalty from Lionel Messi
If PSG loses and Lille beats — for its most defeats in a easily for a team in 19th place scored almost as many goals — stopped Barcelona from
struggling Nimes at home season since cash-rich Qa- entering that game. — 57 to 63. launching a comeback.
on Sunday, then Pochettino’s tari backers QSI took over 10 Despite having one of the The reason PSG is not fur- “In my opinion, he’s show-
team would slip to third place years ago. world’s best strikers in Kylian ther behind is Lille and Lyon ing that he’s the best out of
— three points behind Lyon A lack of energy was evident Mbappe, an excellent finisher drawing too many games — everyone right now,” PSG
and six behind Lille with in PSG’s back-to-back home in Mauro Icardi, and a fine nine each — and PSG goal- defender Alessandro Florenzi
eight games to play. losses against fourth-place midfield organizer in Marco keeper Keylor Navas pre- said. “We all hope he carries
PSG has already lost seven Monaco, which dominated Verratti, there has been a lack venting further defeats. on like this for the rest of the
league games out of 29 — PSG tactically, and struggling of creativity without Ney- It says much about PSG’s season.”

Yankees, Mets allowed to start seasons with 20% capacity

“We did testing. It worked No fans were allowed during tended the Dodgers’ victory
extraordinarily well,” Cuo- the delayed 2020 regular sea- over Tampa Bay in a six-game
mo said. “It was a great dem- son, which was reduced from World Series.
onstration. We’re now going 162 to 60 games per team be-
to move forward.” cause of the novel coronavi- All teams are expected to have
He announced in mid-Feb- rus. Yankees ace Gerrit Cole fans for the start of the regu-
ruary that indoor sports are- spent his entire first season lar season and all but Detroit
nas could allow 10% capac- in pinstripes pitching in an and Houston have made an-
ity starting Feb. 23, which empty ballpark. nouncements, the baseball
impacted NBA and NHL New York expects some seats commissioner’s office said.
teams. will be allowed to be filled Only the Texas Rangers will
Performing arts will be al- when it hosts Toronto for its be at 100% capacity.
lowed outdoors starting April April 1 opener. Other announced capacities,
1 with capacities of 20% at “My dad’s been itching to get according to MLB, are: Bos-
venues of 2,500 or more. to Yankee Stadium to watch ton and Washington (12%);
Sports venues with 1,500 or a game,” Cole said last week. Seattle (18.9%); the Chicago
more indoors will be allowed “If they don’t let us in for an Cubs and White Sox, Los
10% capacity and with 2,500 opening day. I’m going to put Angeles Angels and Dodgers,
(AP) — The New York ed in mid-May. or more outdoors will be al- the radio on outside the gate Oakland, Philadelphia, Pitts-
Yankees and Mets will be “The numbers are coming lowed 20% capacity. Proof of and just sit there and listen,” burgh, San Diego, and San
allowed to start the season down. We have to start mov- a vaccine or a negative CO- Cole recalled his father tell- Francisco (20%); Arizona,
with a maximum 20% ca- ing forward,” Cuomo said. VID-19 test will be required. ing him. Baltimore, Miami and Mil-
pacity. Infection rates in New York Contact tracing will be con- “I think we could probably waukee (25%); Minnesota
City started to fall in mid- ducted to determine whether get you in,” the pitcher re- (25.9%); Cincinnati, Cleve-
New York Gov. Andrew January but the rate has lev- anyone who attended got in- membered responding. “And land and Kansas City (30%);
Cuomo announced at a news eled. The city and its sur- fected. then, of course, now it’s for St. Louis (32%); Atlanta
conference Thursday that rounding suburbs have “I think you’re going to see sure it’ll be able to happen, (33%); Tampa Bay (40%);
the Yankees could have up among the highest infection the capacity increase and and he gets to see it. So he’s and Colorado (42.6%).
to 10,850 fans for their April rates in the U.S. the testing requirements de- excited, and it’ll be honestly Because of Canadian gov-
1 opener against Toronto Cuomo began allowing fans crease as we get more evi- easier on everybody’s fam- ernment restrictions, To-
at Yankee Stadium and the back with the NFL’s Buf- dence. But we want to start ily now that we got some ac- ronto will play its first two
Mets could have up to 8,384 falo Bills in the playoffs, who safe and smart,” Cuomo said. cess.” homestands at TD Ballpark,
for their April 8 home opener drew 6,772 each, about 9.4% Former Yankees pitcher CC Fans were allowed only dur- its spring training home in
against Miami at Citi Field. of capacity at Bills Stadium Sabathia and former Mets ing the postseason at Arling- Dunedin, Florida, where ca-
Attendees will have to pro- in Orchard Park, New York, and Yankees pitcher Al Leiter ton, Texas, where 75,843 pacity will be 15%. The Blue
vide proof of immunization for their 27-24 win over In- attended the news conference attended the Los Angeles Jays played home games last
against COVID-19 or a nega- dianapolis on Jan. 9 and for along with Yankees president Dodgers’ win over Atlanta in year at their Triple-A farm
tive COVID-19 test. That re- their 17-3 loss to Baltimore Randy Levine and Mets vice the seven-game NL Champi- team’s stadium in Buffalo,
quirement will be re-evaluat- on Jan. 16. chairman Andy Cohen. onship Series and 68,622 at- New York.