NAPLES, ITALY (REUTERS) – Antoine Griezmann's second-half equaliser handed Barcelona a vital away goal and earned them a 1-1 draw at Napoli in their Champions League last-16 first leg meeting on Tuesday (Feb 25).

A superb curling strike from Dries Mertens put the home side in front in the first half and saw the Belgian draw level with Marek Hamsik as Napoli's all-time top scorer in all competitions with 121 goals.

But Barca breached a well-drilled Napoli defence after the break when Griezmann fired in a Nelson Semedo cross.

The visitors ended the game with 10 men after Arturo Vidal was sent off late on for picking up two yellow cards in quick succession.

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NEW YORK (REUTERS) – Tiger Woods said on Tuesday (Feb 25) that he will prepare for this year's Masters in much the same way as in 2019 when he ended an 11-year wait for a major title with a remarkable triumph at Augusta National.

Woods completed an extraordinary return from spinal fusion surgery he underwent in 2017, producing one of the most emotional finishes in tournament history as he came from behind to win by one shot last April.

"The plan is to prepare the same way," Woods said, on a Masters champion conference call.

"It worked last year, so yeah, I've got a blueprint for what I need to do and hopefully I can have the same feelings."

Woods, who has competed in three official PGA Tour events this season, did not reveal his playing schedule ahead of the April 9-12 Masters but did say that he is doing everything he can to peak at the year's first major.

The former world number one said he turned his focus to his Masters title defence last December, when his duties as a playing captain for the victorious US squad in the Presidents Cup in Australia came to a close.

"Once that was done, my prep has been just like it usually is – (that) is 'what do I need to do to get ready for the Masters?'," said the five-times Masters champion.

"I've been fortunate to have done this now five times, and to try and have everything peak together for just an incredible week, it's hard to do."

Woods said his latest triumph was all the more special because his two children were there to witness the moment after being on hand for his close call at the previous year's British Open.

After sealing his triumph, Woods enRead More – Source

LONDON (AFP) – Serge Gnabry fired Bayern Munich to the brink of the Champions League quarter-finals as the German's double inspired a superb 3-0 rout of Chelsea in the last-16 first leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday (Feb 25).

Gnabry had tormented Tottenham with four goals in Bayern's 7-2 victory in north London earlier this season and the former Arsenal winger returned to the English capital to push Chelsea to the brink of elimination.

The 24-year-old's time with Arsenal was a disappointment and he even flopped during a loan spell at West Bromwich Albion.

But he has been reborn with Bayern and his two goals in the space of three minutes left Hansi Flick's side within touching distance of the last eight.

Robert Lewandowski got Bayern's third before Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso was sent off in the 83rd minute.

Chelsea will need another Munich miracle in the second leg on March 10 to overturn the deficit at the Allianz Arena, where they famously beat the German club in the 2012 Champions League final.

This hasn't been a vintage year for Bayern, but they have been energised since the exit of disliked boss Niko Kovac and out-classed Chelsea in all phases.

None of the previous six teams to have won all of their Champions League group games have lifted the trophy that season, but five-time winners Bayern will fancy their chances of breaking that duck if they can maintain this form.

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard admitted his young team were "underdogs" against a club of Bayern's vast European experience and his pre-match prediction proved spot on in a chastening defeat.

Bayern set the tone when Thomas Muller forced a save from Willy Caballero inside the first minute after stealing possession from Jorginho.

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Riders have come and gone, technology advanced and tactics evolved in the 12 years since Britain's domination of track cycling's team pursuit began at the Beijing Olympics.

26 Feb 2020 07:00AM

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BERLIN: Riders have come and gone, technology advanced and tactics evolved in the 12 years since Britain's domination of track cycling's team pursuit began at the Beijing Olympics.

The irreplaceable and ever-present cog that has kept the machine churning out medals, however, is Ed Clancy.

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When he retires later this year it could be with a fourth successive Olympic gold medal. Usually that guarantees celebrity status – but the gritty 34-year-old Clancy's feats have come in a spectacular era for British cycling and his contribution does not always get the recognition it deserves.

Two of the men with whom Clancy has won team pursuit Olympic gold – Bradley Wiggins and Geraint Thomas – achieved fame and fortune on the road by winning the Tour de France.

LONDON: Bayern Munich swept Chelsea aside with ease as two quickfire goals from Serge Gnabry and Robert Lewandowski's long-awaited strike in the knockout stages of the Champions League gave the Germans a commanding 3-0 last 16, first leg win on the road.

The manner of the defeat was a rude awakening for Chelsea at the gap that has opened between the Londoners and Europe's elite in recent seasons.

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AFP Sport looks at three things we learned from a statement night for Bayern at Stamford Bridge.

LEWANDOWSKI, GNABRY LIGHT UP LONDON AGAIN

Gnabry now has six Champions League goals in as many appearances this season, but all six have come in two games in London.

The man discarded by Arsenal and West Brom early in his career in England scored four as Bayern demolished Tottenham 7-2 in the group stages with Lewandowski also scoring twice that night.

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NAPLES: Antoine Griezmann's second-half equaliser handed Barcelona a vital away goal and earned them a 1-1 draw at Napoli in their Champions League last-16 first leg meeting on Tuesday (Feb 25).

A superb curling strike from Dries Mertens put's the home side in front in the first half and saw the Belgian draw level with Marek Hamsik as Napoli's all-time top scorer in all competitions with 121 goals.

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But Barca breached a well-drilled Napoli defence after the break when Griezmann fired in a Nelson Semedo cross.

The visitors ended the game with 10 men after Arturo Vidal was sent off late on for picking up two yellow cards in quick succession.

The two sides, who were facing each other for the first time, will meet again at the Camp Nou for the second leg on Mar 18 with Barca now firm favourites to progress despite having Vidal and Sergio Busquets suspended for the return.

Barcelona dominated possession from the first whistle but struggled to find their way through the well-organised Italians, who then struck with their first meaningful attack of the game.

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#GameOfTwoHalves Ep 72: Can Amir Khan be King of the Jungle; What's hot in new SPL season

9:04 mins

Synopsis: #GameOfTwoHalves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

Money FM's Bernard Lim calls up local professional MMA fighter Amir Khan, who will compete at the One Championship King of the Jungle event at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday (Feb 28). He shares his thoughts on his opponent Kimihiro Eto and his thoughts on how the coronavirus situation has affected his preparation and the upcoming fight.

ST sports correspondents David Lee comes on the show to talk about the Singapore Premier League (SPL) that kicks off this Saturday. In the 25th season of the SPL, which teams, players and even initiatives, should fans look out for?

Produced by: Bernard Lim & ST sports desk

Edited by: Aw Yao Feng, Nadiah Koh & Ernest Luis

Follow #GameOfTwoHalves podcasts and rate us on:

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU

Apple Podcasts: http://str.sg/o8MK

BUCHAREST (REUTERS) – Gigi Becali, the flamboyant owner of Bucharest football club FCSB, formerly known as Steaua Bucharest, thinks he knows what to blame for his team's recent poor run in the Romanian league: Too much of the wrong kind of exercise.

The 1986 European Cup winners, Romania's most successful club with 26 league titles, have failed to win their last three games, and Becali said the players were having too much sex.

"My players are making love with their girlfriends too often, that's why they aren't playing football so well lately," he told local media after FCSB's 1-1 home draw against lowly Chindia Targoviste, which left them fourth in the standings, eight points behind leaders CFR Cluj.

The 61-year-old, who made a fortune in real estate after the fall of communism in 1989 and served as a member of the European Parliament, praised CFR Cluj coach Dan Petrescu, a former Chelsea and Southampton right back, for restoring discipline at the club.

"Look at Dan Petrescu," sRead More – Source

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MANCHESTER (REUTERS) – Liverpool deserve to win the Premier League this season and already have one hand on the trophy, Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has said, adding that it hurts to see his team's fiercest rivals doing so well.

Liverpool beat West Ham United 3-2 on Monday night to move within 12 points of winning their first league title in 30 years, while United are in fifth place, 38 points behind the Merseyside club.

"They are so way ahead of everyone else," France international Pogba told ESPN.

"They have not lost a single game yet this season in the league. They already have one hand on the Premier League trophy."

Liverpool have 26 wins and one draw in 27 league games, and Pogba said Jurgen Klopp's team had improved continuously over the last few campaigns.

"They have been even better than last season when they won the Champions League and the season before when they (lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid)," the 26-year-old said.

"As a ManchRead More – Source

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CARDIFF: Wales's faltering defence of their Six Nations title suffered another blow on Tuesday (Feb 25) with wing Josh Adams being ruled out of their remaining two matches.

The 24-year-old Cardiff Blues star suffered an ankle injury in last Saturday's thrilling 27-23 defeat by France.

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"Josh Adams will play no further part in the 2020 Six Nations following an ankle injury sustained in the match against France," read a statement by the Wales Rugby Union (WRU).

"He is due to have surgery this week and it is envisaged that he could return in 12 weeks for the latter stages of the PRO14."

Wayne Pivac's side have just one victory from their three games thusfar.

Hopes of a repeat of the Grand Slam were ended by Ireland earlier this month and then their title chances took a hit by les Bleus.

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