SHORT CORNER
Xavi plans to retire at season's end
--Afp
Former Spain and Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez has indicated he will retire from playing at the end of the season.
Xavi has played for Qatari club Al Sadd since 2015 but is best known for his glittering career at Barca, where he won eight La Liga and four Champions League titles.
"It's going to be my last year, in January I'll turn 39 and I think it's time to say goodbye," Xavi said in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser on Thursday night.
Aguero credits knee surgery for form boost
--Reuters
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero believes the absence of knee pain after his recovery from surgery has helped the Argentine marksman extend his impressive goal-scoring run in the Premier League this season.
The 30-year-old, who underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his knee in April, tops the league scoring charts with eight goals in 12 appearances in the ongoing campaign.
Playing in peak physical condition for the first time in years, City's record scorer Aguero reckons he is now able to carry out manager Pep Guardiola's pressing instructions more thoroughly.
"Luckily, things are going well for me. Pep Guardiola is happy. I try to help the team and be the first one who starts the pressing. Now I feel much better, I can do it more consistently."
'Griezmann prefers Atletico Madrid'
--Agencies
Former Brazilian Barcelona player Rivaldo says Antoine Griezmann preferred to stay at Atletico Madrid instead of going to Barcelona because he will remain the star with the Rojiblancos, while with the Blaugrana he would have been in the "shadow" of Messi.
"Messi continues to play so well that no one can challenge his status," Rivaldo said in an interview with Betfair. "I think Griezmann chose to stay where he was instead of coming into the shadow of Messi.”
Atletico Madrid and Barcelona will face off next Saturday at the Wanda Metropolitano, where the hosts, third in La Liga with 23 points, will seek to overtake their opponents who have 24 and are top.
Ramos two shy of 100 goals
--Agencies
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is about to reach 100 career goals for Sevilla, Real Madrid and the Spanish national team. After 787 games the 32-year-old has sent the ball into the back of the net 98 times - a spectacular figure for a centre-back.
At the age of 18 he had already shown his scoring skills, striking his last Sevilla goal against his current team, three months before departing to the capital. At Los Blancos, he scored the first of his 78 goals in the Champions League, on December 6 against Olympiacos.
At the moment, Ramos has 57 goals in LaLiga, 11 in the Champions League, four in the Copa del Rey, two in the Spanish Super Cup, two in the Club World Cup and two in the European Super Cup.
Dhumketu beat Rangers
-- Sports Reporter
Dhumketu Club notched a 60-56 point victory over Rangers Club in their match of the Unimed Unihealth Premier Division basketball League at the Dhanmondi Indoor Gymnasium yesterday.
The winning team trailed by 31-30 points after the second quarter of the match. Tarek scored highest 18 points while Akash netted 11 points for Dhumketu Club. Earlier on Thursday night, Rangers Club had beaten Flame Boys by 62-53 points, with Mizan scoring 24 points for Rangers Club.
Comments