Melbourne’s liberation from its COVID-19 lockdown has boosted hopes of crowds attending some of Australia’s major sporting events in the country’s second-biggest city.

Melbourne’s liberation from its COVID-19 lockdown has boosted hopes of crowds attending some of Australia’s major sporting events in the country’s second-biggest city. The Australian men’s cricket team is slated to host India in the traditional Boxing Day test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from Dec. 26, while the world’s top tennis players are due to play the Australian Open, 2021’s first Grand Slam, in January. Restaurants, pubs and retail businesses in Melbourne, home to 5 million people, will reopen from Wednesday after more than three months under a stringent lockdown. Authorities will also allow limited social visits to houses. “I am very confident we’ll get a crowd at the ‘G (MCG) for the Boxing Day test,” Victoria state premier Daniel Andrews told reporters. “I don’t know how big it will be but there will be a crowd there. “That is the advice I have and that is what we’re working towards.” The 100,000-seat MCG drew more than 80,000 fans to day one of Australia’s Boxing Day test against New Zealand last year. Governing body Cricket Australia are yet to confirm dates for the home summer but the first test of the four-match series against India is expected to start in Adelaide on Dec. 17. The Australian Open starts on Jan. 18 and organisers hope to welcome at least 100,000 domestic spectators, just over 10% of the usual attendance, to Melbourne Park over the course of the two-week tournament.

End of Melbourne lockdown paves way for crowds at cricket, tennis

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will be out for perhaps as much as a month, coach Pep Guardiola told a press conference in Marseille on Monday.

City will be without the Argentine on Tuesday against Marseille in the Champions League.&nbsp;

Aguero, who had just returned from injury, suffered a muscle problem in the&nbsp;Premier League draw at West Ham on Saturday.&nbsp;

"We knew he wasn't in the best condition," Guardiola said. "When you are out four or five months for a knee injury you always have the risk when you come back of injuries."

"It will be 10-15 days minimum. If it is longer it will be three weeks to a month. I don't know."

Guardiola said he wants "Sergio to come back when he has fully recovered. We miss him a lot. What he has done for this club is extraordinary, he is a City legend."

Brazilian Gabriel Jesus is also absent, but Guardiola said he did not regret not recruiting a striker in the transfer window.&nbsp;

"We couldn't, the club does what it can, but we lacked income at the end of the season. And then we would need a striker of the level of Gabriel and Sergio, and we don't have the means".&nbsp;

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will be out for perhaps as much as a month, coach Pep Guardiola told a press conference in Marseille on Monday. City will be without the Argentine on Tuesday against Marseille in the Champions League.

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will be out for perhaps as much as a month, coach Pep Guardiola told a press conference in Marseille on Monday. City will be without the Argentine on Tuesday against Marseille in the Champions League. Aguero, who had just returned from injury, suffered a muscle problem in the Premier League draw at West Ham on Saturday. "We knew he wasn't in the best condition," Guardiola said. "When you are out four or five months for a knee injury you always have the risk when you come back of injuries." "It will be 10-15 days minimum. If it is longer it will be three weeks to a month. I don't know." Guardiola said he wants "Sergio to come back when he has fully recovered. We miss him a lot. What he has done for this club is extraordinary, he is a City legend." Brazilian Gabriel Jesus is also absent, but Guardiola said he did not regret not recruiting a striker in the transfer window. "We couldn't, the club does what it can, but we lacked income at the end of the season. And then we would need a striker of the level of Gabriel and Sergio, and we don't have the means".

Aguero out for up to a month says Guardiola

Son Heung-min pounced to steal a 1-0 win for lacklustre Tottenham on Monday, linking up with Harry Kane yet again as Jose Mourinho's side climbed to fifth in the Premier League table.

All of the traditional "big six" clubs have dropped unlikely points in the early weeks of the season and Spurs looked set to leave Turf Moor frustrated.

But South Korea forward Son scored his eighth league goal of the season in the 76th minute, heading in from close range after a headed pass from Kane.

Spurs now have 11 points from six games, just two points behind leaders Everton after their third win of the season.

Mourinho hailed his attacking stars, who have now combined for 29 Premier League goals -- only Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard have managed more, with 36.

"It is an understanding that comes from Maurcio (Pochettino's) time," said Mourinho. "I don't want all the credit myself, let's share with Mauricio.&nbsp;

"They play together for a long time, probably a different way because Harry is not always a nine now.

"What pleases me more about them both is that they are two top players but close friends, no jealousy, they both play for the team."

<h2>- Relief -</h2>

The hard-earned three points will be a huge relief to Mourinho, whose side looked like world beaters earlier this month when they hammered Manchester United 6-1 before blowing a 3-0 lead against West Ham.

Tottenham's attacking momentum vanished at Turf Moor, where they struggled to make an impression against Sean Dyche's side, who remain in the relegation zone, without a win this season.

Kane was able to get behind Burnley's defence in the early minutes following a Toby Alderweireld ball over the top but the England striker's first touch took him too wide and his shot sailed harmlessly over.

There was a lengthy stoppage as Alderweireld needed treatment on a bloody right eyebrow after being caught inadvertently by Ashley Barnes' flailing arm. The Belgian had his head bandaged before play continued.

Slightly against the run of play, Burnley had the ball in the back of the net when Barnes seemingly sprang the offside trap and buried the ball past Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris but the flag went up.

It was not until the 38th minute that the game had its first shot on target, Ashley Westwood bringing a low save out of Lloris after Josh Brownhill had stolen the ball off Tanguy Ndombele on the edge of the area.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson then cut in from the right and forced Lloris into action once more as the home side ended the half on top.

Tottenham again struggled to find their rhythm in the early stages of the second half, with Burnley coming close to taking the lead.

James Tarkowski put a header wide from close range before Mourinho threw on Erik Lamela to replace Lucas Moura in the 57th minute, with Gareth Bale still waiting for his first Premier League start in seven years.

The match sparked into life late on, when Kane cleared another header from Tarkowski off the line.

Son failed to take advantage of a clear chance before Kane flicked on a corner to the South Korean, who dived headlong to break the deadlock and seal the win.

Son Heung-min pounced to steal a 1-0 win for lacklustre Tottenham on Monday, linking up with Harry Kane yet again as Jose Mourinho's side climbed to fifth in the Premier League table.

Son Heung-min pounced to steal a 1-0 win for lacklustre Tottenham on Monday, linking up with Harry Kane yet again as Jose Mourinho's side climbed to fifth in the Premier League table. All of the traditional "big six" clubs have dropped unlikely points in the early weeks of the season and Spurs looked set to leave Turf Moor frustrated. But South Korea forward Son scored his eighth league goal of the season in the 76th minute, heading in from close range after a headed pass from Kane. Spurs now have 11 points from six games, just two points behind leaders Everton after their third win of the season. Mourinho hailed his attacking stars, who have now combined for 29 Premier League goals -- only Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard have managed more, with 36. "It is an understanding that comes from Maurcio (Pochettino's) time," said Mourinho. "I don't want all the credit myself, let's share with Mauricio. "They play together for a long time, probably a different way because Harry is not always a nine now. "What pleases me more about them both is that they are two top players but close friends, no jealousy, they both play for the team." - Relief - The hard-earned three points will be a huge relief to Mourinho, whose side looked like world beaters earlier this month when they hammered Manchester United 6-1 before blowing a 3-0 lead against West Ham. Tottenham's attacking momentum vanished at Turf Moor, where they struggled to make an impression against Sean Dyche's side, who remain in the relegation zone, without a win this season. Kane was able to get behind Burnley's defence in the early minutes following a Toby Alderweireld ball over the top but the England striker's first touch took him too wide and his shot sailed harmlessly over. There was a lengthy stoppage as Alderweireld needed treatment on a bloody right eyebrow after being caught inadvertently by Ashley Barnes' flailing arm. The Belgian had his head bandaged before play continued. Slightly against the run of play, Burnley had the ball in the back of the net when Barnes seemingly sprang the offside trap and buried the ball past Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris but the flag went up. It was not until the 38th minute that the game had its first shot on target, Ashley Westwood bringing a low save out of Lloris after Josh Brownhill had stolen the ball off Tanguy Ndombele on the edge of the area. Johann Berg Gudmundsson then cut in from the right and forced Lloris into action once more as the home side ended the half on top. Tottenham again struggled to find their rhythm in the early stages of the second half, with Burnley coming close to taking the lead. James Tarkowski put a header wide from close range before Mourinho threw on Erik Lamela to replace Lucas Moura in the 57th minute, with Gareth Bale still waiting for his first Premier League start in seven years. The match sparked into life late on, when Kane cleared another header from Tarkowski off the line. Son failed to take advantage of a clear chance before Kane flicked on a corner to the South Korean, who dived headlong to break the deadlock and seal the win.

Premier League: Son and Kane to the rescue for lacklustre Spurs

Real Madrid triumphed in the Clasico, Robert Lewandowski kept up his stunning form and Ajax recorded the biggest victory in the history of the Dutch top flight.

AFP Sport rounds up some of the main talking points from the weekend's action across the continent:

<h2>- Real take Clasico honours -</h2>

Rarely in recent years have both Barcelona and Real Madrid come into a Clasico at such a low ebb, but it was Zinedine Zidane's team who emerged from their own mini-crisis with a fine 3-1 win at an empty Camp Nou.

Not for the first time in this fixture there was controversy, with the decision to award Real a crucial second-half penalty leaving Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman furious with the VAR.

Sergio Ramos's spot-kick put the visitors 2-1 up and Luka Modric went on to wrap up the win which saw Real bounce back from suffering consecutive defeats in the week leading up to the game.

They have now lost just once in eight trips to the Camp Nou and the result relieves the pressure on Zidane, while leaving Koeman under the cosh. That is two straight La Liga losses now for Barca, the first time that has happened since April 2016. They are 12th in the table.

<h2>- Another record for Lewandowski -</h2>

Robert Lewandowski's sensational start to this season continued as he bagged a hat-trick in Bayern Munich's 5-0 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Polish striker has 10 goals already and is the first to reach that mark after just five matches of a Bundesliga campaign.

It was a perfect hat-trick, with Lewandowski scoring one each with his left foot, right foot and head. At 32 he is in the form of his life, having scored 55 times in total last season as Bayern won the treble.

<h2>- Lucky 13: Ajax make history -</h2>

Those who thought record wins and double-figure scorelines belonged to the 1930s can think again. On Saturday Ajax set the all-time mark for the biggest victory in the Dutch Eredivisie as they crushed hapless VVV Venlo 13-0 away.

Lassina Traore struck five times as the Amsterdam club outdid Johan Cruyff's Ajax, whose 12-1 win over Vitesse Arnhem had stood as the top flight's record win since May 1972 -- the season they won the league title and the second of their four European Cups.

Traore, the 19-year-old from Burkina Faso, became the first Ajax player to score five in an Eredivisie game since Marco van Basten in 1985.

"We were hungry in the field. We wanted to score goals, and I'm fine with that," said Ajax coach Erik ten Hag, whose team now go to Atalanta in the Champions League.

&nbsp;

<h2>- Stumbling Juventus -</h2>

Juventus have now drawn the last three Serie A games they have actually played, leaving aside the 3-0 win they were awarded when Napoli did not turn up for their recent match in Turin due to a coronavirus outbreak.

On Sunday Andrea Pirlo's team needed Dejan Kulusevski to come off the bench and salvage a 1-1 draw at home to Verona as the reigning champions again had to do without Cristiano Ronaldo following a positive Covid-19 test.

"We could have done better," admitted novice coach Pirlo, whose side may have their work cut out if they are to win a 10th straight Scudetto with a resurgent AC Milan joining the likes of Inter and Atalanta in hoping to knock the Old Lady off her perch.

Now Juve host Barcelona in the Champions League looking to build on the one victory they have enjoyed in recent weeks, away at Dynamo Kiev.

<h2>- Depay, Aouar star for Lyon -</h2>

They were supposed to leave Lyon before the transfer window closed but both saw moves away from the French club fall through.

Memphis Depay had hoped to join his former Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman at Barcelona while Houssem Aouar might have left his boyhood club for Arsenal, but instead they remain with last season's Champions League semi-finalists, who are not in Europe at all in this campaign.

It hs been a slow start for OL but on Sunday they trounced Monaco 4-1 to go sixth in Ligue 1, with Depay opening the scoring and Aouar netting a penalty. Karl Toko Ekambi got their other two goals.

Real Madrid triumphed in the Clasico, Robert Lewandowski kept up his stunning form and Ajax recorded the biggest victory in the history of the Dutch top flight. AFP Sport rounds up some of the main talking points from the weekend's action across the continent: - Real take Clasico honours - Rarely in recent years have both Barcelona and Real Madrid come into a Clasico at such a low ebb, but it was Zinedine Zidane's team who emerged from their own mini-crisis with a fine 3-1 win at an empty Camp Nou.

Real Madrid triumphed in the Clasico, Robert Lewandowski kept up his stunning form and Ajax recorded the biggest victory in the history of the Dutch top flight. AFP Sport rounds up some of the main talking points from the weekend's action across the continent: - Real take Clasico honours - Rarely in recent years have both Barcelona and Real Madrid come into a Clasico at such a low ebb, but it was Zinedine Zidane's team who emerged from their own mini-crisis with a fine 3-1 win at an empty Camp Nou. Not for the first time in this fixture there was controversy, with the decision to award Real a crucial second-half penalty leaving Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman furious with the VAR. Sergio Ramos's spot-kick put the visitors 2-1 up and Luka Modric went on to wrap up the win which saw Real bounce back from suffering consecutive defeats in the week leading up to the game. They have now lost just once in eight trips to the Camp Nou and the result relieves the pressure on Zidane, while leaving Koeman under the cosh. That is two straight La Liga losses now for Barca, the first time that has happened since April 2016. They are 12th in the table. - Another record for Lewandowski - Robert Lewandowski's sensational start to this season continued as he bagged a hat-trick in Bayern Munich's 5-0 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt. The Polish striker has 10 goals already and is the first to reach that mark after just five matches of a Bundesliga campaign. It was a perfect hat-trick, with Lewandowski scoring one each with his left foot, right foot and head. At 32 he is in the form of his life, having scored 55 times in total last season as Bayern won the treble. - Lucky 13: Ajax make history - Those who thought record wins and double-figure scorelines belonged to the 1930s can think again. On Saturday Ajax set the all-time mark for the biggest victory in the Dutch Eredivisie as they crushed hapless VVV Venlo 13-0 away. Lassina Traore struck five times as the Amsterdam club outdid Johan Cruyff's Ajax, whose 12-1 win over Vitesse Arnhem had stood as the top flight's record win since May 1972 -- the season they won the league title and the second of their four European Cups. Traore, the 19-year-old from Burkina Faso, became the first Ajax player to score five in an Eredivisie game since Marco van Basten in 1985. "We were hungry in the field. We wanted to score goals, and I'm fine with that," said Ajax coach Erik ten Hag, whose team now go to Atalanta in the Champions League. - Stumbling Juventus - Juventus have now drawn the last three Serie A games they have actually played, leaving aside the 3-0 win they were awarded when Napoli did not turn up for their recent match in Turin due to a coronavirus outbreak. On Sunday Andrea Pirlo's team needed Dejan Kulusevski to come off the bench and salvage a 1-1 draw at home to Verona as the reigning champions again had to do without Cristiano Ronaldo following a positive Covid-19 test. "We could have done better," admitted novice coach Pirlo, whose side may have their work cut out if they are to win a 10th straight Scudetto with a resurgent AC Milan joining the likes of Inter and Atalanta in hoping to knock the Old Lady off her perch. Now Juve host Barcelona in the Champions League looking to build on the one victory they have enjoyed in recent weeks, away at Dynamo Kiev. - Depay, Aouar star for Lyon - They were supposed to leave Lyon before the transfer window closed but both saw moves away from the French club fall through. Memphis Depay had hoped to join his former Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman at Barcelona while Houssem Aouar might have left his boyhood club for Arsenal, but instead they remain with last season's Champions League semi-finalists, who are not in Europe at all in this campaign. It hs been a slow start for OL but on Sunday they trounced Monaco 4-1 to go sixth in Ligue 1, with Depay opening the scoring and Aouar netting a penalty. Karl Toko Ekambi got their other two goals.

Madrid's Clasico, Lewandowski, record-breaking Ajax: European football talking points

Mandeep Singh batted through the innings just two days after the death of his father to see Punjab Kings XI to a fifth straight Indian Premier League.

Singh hit 66 and Chris Gayle 51 as unfancied Punjab beat Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets and moved into the playoff places for the first time.

Punjab had lost five games before the current winning streak. They have beaten table toppers Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals to force their way into contention.

Shubman Gill hit 57 and captain Eoin Morgan 40, but Kolkata managed only 149-9 off their 20 overs.&nbsp;

Singh led the latest Punjab victorious onslaught as they reached 150-2 with seven balls to spare.

He put on 47 for the first wicket with captain KL Rahul and then 100 with Gayle, who smashed five sixes in his 51.&nbsp;

"This was very special. My father always used to tell me you should remain not out in the game. This one is for him," said Singh who pointed to the sky &nbsp;on reaching his 50, in tribute to his athletics coach father.

Singh said he had to convince Rahul to let him play a slower game while the captain and Gayle went for the runs.&nbsp;

"I told Rahul, 'if I play my natural game, I can see this through'. So he was okay with me taking my time and he went after the bowling."

Rahul and Gayle understood Singh's emotions.

"I am just so proud of him, he made everyone emotional," said Rahul.

"It was so good to see him look up to the sky. We knew it was a message to his dad," said Gayle.

The defeat was a double blow for Kolkata who lost fourth place on run rate to Punjab.&nbsp;

Both teams have 12 points from 12 games with two to go.

Mandeep Singh batted through the innings just two days after the death of his father to see Punjab Kings XI to a fifth straight Indian Premier League. Singh hit 66 and Chris Gayle 51 as unfancied Punjab beat Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets and moved into the playoff places for the first time.

Mandeep Singh batted through the innings just two days after the death of his father to see Punjab Kings XI to a fifth straight Indian Premier League. Singh hit 66 and Chris Gayle 51 as unfancied Punjab beat Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets and moved into the playoff places for the first time. Punjab had lost five games before the current winning streak. They have beaten table toppers Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals to force their way into contention. Shubman Gill hit 57 and captain Eoin Morgan 40, but Kolkata managed only 149-9 off their 20 overs. Singh led the latest Punjab victorious onslaught as they reached 150-2 with seven balls to spare. He put on 47 for the first wicket with captain KL Rahul and then 100 with Gayle, who smashed five sixes in his 51. "This was very special. My father always used to tell me you should remain not out in the game. This one is for him," said Singh who pointed to the sky on reaching his 50, in tribute to his athletics coach father. Singh said he had to convince Rahul to let him play a slower game while the captain and Gayle went for the runs. "I told Rahul, 'if I play my natural game, I can see this through'. So he was okay with me taking my time and he went after the bowling." Rahul and Gayle understood Singh's emotions. "I am just so proud of him, he made everyone emotional," said Rahul. "It was so good to see him look up to the sky. We knew it was a message to his dad," said Gayle. The defeat was a double blow for Kolkata who lost fourth place on run rate to Punjab. Both teams have 12 points from 12 games with two to go.

Mandeep Singh overcomes family tragedy to put Punjab back into IPL race

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has tested positive for COVID-19, global soccer’s governing body said on Tuesday.

Infantino, who is 50 years old, has reported mild symptoms and is in self-isolation and will quarantine for at least 10 days, FIFA added in a statement.

“All people who came into contact with the FIFA President during the last few days have been informed accordingly and they are being requested to take the necessary steps,” the statement said. “FIFA sincerely wishes President Infantino a speedy recovery.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has tested positive for COVID-19, global soccer’s governing body said on Tuesday. Infantino, who is 50 years old, has reported mild symptoms and is in self-isolation and will quarantine for at least 10 days, FIFA added in a statement.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has tested positive for COVID-19, global soccer’s governing body said on Tuesday. Infantino, who is 50 years old, has reported mild symptoms and is in self-isolation and will quarantine for at least 10 days, FIFA added in a statement. “All people who came into contact with the FIFA President during the last few days have been informed accordingly and they are being requested to take the necessary steps,” the statement said. “FIFA sincerely wishes President Infantino a speedy recovery.”

FIFA President Infantino tests positive for COVID-19

Cristiano Ronaldo remains uncertain to take on Lionel Messi's Barcelona on Wednesday as he recovers from coronavirus, Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo said on the eve of the match in Turin.

Ronaldo tested positive for Covid-19 two weeks ago while playing with Portugal, and has been in self-isolation since returning to Italy.

"Ronaldo had a test like everyone else, this evening (Tuesday) we will have the definitive result," Pirlo told a press conference in Turin before the Champions League Group G game.

"For now it's all on the high seas, when the final result comes everything will be clearer."

According to UEFA rules the 35-year-old Ronaldo will need to test negative late on Tuesday, 24 hours before being allowed to feature.

"Tomorrow (Wednesday) morning we will count the number of players available," continued Pirlo.&nbsp;

"Depending on the result, we'll see what we do. It's not easy to play an entire game after 15 days of inactivity."

Ronaldo, who has no symptoms, has missed three games including his side's 2-0 Champions League win at Dynamo Kiev last week.

The clash would be the first between Ronaldo and Messi since the Portugal forward left Real Madrid for Juventus in 2018.

"For 15 years, Messi and Ronaldo have done great things," said former Italy and Juventus midfielder Pirlo.&nbsp;

"For the first time, I'll be taking on Messi as a coach, I'll treat him with the enormous respect that he deserves."

<h2>- 'Not a decisive game' -</h2>

Messi, 33, has featured in four victorious campaigns for Barcelona, while Ronaldo has won the Champions League five times, four with Real Madrid and once with Manchester United.

Messi has six Ballon d'Or titles with Ronaldo claiming five.

However Ronaldo has 130 Champions league goals to Messi's 116.

"It's clear that any team would miss a player like Cristiano," said Brazil defender Danilo at the pre-match press conference.

"But we have faith in every player on the team. We have people who want to do well and help us have a great match."

Messi has won 16 of their 35 encounters to Ronaldo's 10, with the remaining nine ending in draws.

The pair have only met five times in Champions League games, most recently in the semi-final in 2011.

Pirlo has defensive worries with captain Giorgio Chiellini, and Matthijs De Ligt out but fellow centreback Leonardo Bonucci's thigh strain will be evaluated on Wednesday morning.

"These are the matches that everyone would like to play. We have this opportunity and we can't wait to test ourselves against Barcelona," said Pirlo.&nbsp;

"It's not a decisive game, but we still want to see what our value is."

Argentina forward Paulo Dybala remains "a bit tired" after playing for 90 minutes in his first match in over three months last Sunday against Verona.

"It's normal after the first game as a starter. He'll have time to recover and play tomorrow night."&nbsp;

Cristiano Ronaldo remains uncertain to take on Lionel Messi's Barcelona on Wednesday as he recovers from coronavirus, Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo said on the eve of the match in Turin.

Cristiano Ronaldo remains uncertain to take on Lionel Messi's Barcelona on Wednesday as he recovers from coronavirus, Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo said on the eve of the match in Turin. Ronaldo tested positive for Covid-19 two weeks ago while playing with Portugal, and has been in self-isolation since returning to Italy. "Ronaldo had a test like everyone else, this evening (Tuesday) we will have the definitive result," Pirlo told a press conference in Turin before the Champions League Group G game. "For now it's all on the high seas, when the final result comes everything will be clearer." According to UEFA rules the 35-year-old Ronaldo will need to test negative late on Tuesday, 24 hours before being allowed to feature. "Tomorrow (Wednesday) morning we will count the number of players available," continued Pirlo. "Depending on the result, we'll see what we do. It's not easy to play an entire game after 15 days of inactivity." Ronaldo, who has no symptoms, has missed three games including his side's 2-0 Champions League win at Dynamo Kiev last week. The clash would be the first between Ronaldo and Messi since the Portugal forward left Real Madrid for Juventus in 2018. "For 15 years, Messi and Ronaldo have done great things," said former Italy and Juventus midfielder Pirlo. "For the first time, I'll be taking on Messi as a coach, I'll treat him with the enormous respect that he deserves." - 'Not a decisive game' - Messi, 33, has featured in four victorious campaigns for Barcelona, while Ronaldo has won the Champions League five times, four with Real Madrid and once with Manchester United. Messi has six Ballon d'Or titles with Ronaldo claiming five. However Ronaldo has 130 Champions league goals to Messi's 116. "It's clear that any team would miss a player like Cristiano," said Brazil defender Danilo at the pre-match press conference. "But we have faith in every player on the team. We have people who want to do well and help us have a great match." Messi has won 16 of their 35 encounters to Ronaldo's 10, with the remaining nine ending in draws. The pair have only met five times in Champions League games, most recently in the semi-final in 2011. Pirlo has defensive worries with captain Giorgio Chiellini, and Matthijs De Ligt out but fellow centreback Leonardo Bonucci's thigh strain will be evaluated on Wednesday morning. "These are the matches that everyone would like to play. We have this opportunity and we can't wait to test ourselves against Barcelona," said Pirlo. "It's not a decisive game, but we still want to see what our value is." Argentina forward Paulo Dybala remains "a bit tired" after playing for 90 minutes in his first match in over three months last Sunday against Verona. "It's normal after the first game as a starter. He'll have time to recover and play tomorrow night."

'Wait and see': Ronaldo doubt for Messi Champions League showdown

Norris, who made his Formula One debut last year, has made 33 starts so far with one podium finish.McLaren’s racer Lando Norris on Tuesday publicly apologized for recent comments, without naming anyone, after the Briton played down Lewis Hamilton’s record 92nd Formula One triumph at Sunday’s Portuguese Grand Prix.

Norris, 20, the youngest driver on the grid, had criticized Racing Point’s Lance Stroll after the duo collided during the race. While Norris ended up 13th, stewards published Stroll for the incident.

“I owe an apology,” said Norris to his 750,000 followers on Twitter. “I’ve been stupid and careless with some things I’ve said lately in media and interviews, and haven’t shown the respect I should have to certain people.

“I’m not that kind of person, so know I should apologise to them but also everyone reading/listening. Sorry.” 
Norris was asked about Hamilton becoming the most successful F1 driver ever (in terms of wins) as he overtook Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher while shattering the record books.

“I’m just happy for him, nothing more,” the Briton had replied.

“It doesn’t mean anything to me, really. He’s in a car which should win every race, basically.

“He has to beat one or two other drivers, that’s it. Fair play to him, he’s still doing the job he has to do.”

Hamilton has won eight of the 12 races this season and is eyeing record-equalling seventh world championship, which would confirm him as the most successful racer in the history of the sport. He has average 10 wins in a season since 2014.

Whereas, Mercedes have won the last six championships and are on course to clinch the seventh in Italy next weekend. 
Meanwhile, Norris who made his F1 debut in 2019, has so far made 33 starts thus far with one podium finish. 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Norris, who made his Formula One debut last year, has made 33 starts so far with one podium finish.McLaren’s racer Lando Norris on Tuesday publicly apologized for recent comments, without naming anyone, after the Briton played down Lewis Hamilton’s record 92nd Formula One triumph at Sunday’s Portuguese Grand Prix.

Norris, who made his Formula One debut last year, has made 33 starts so far with one podium finish.McLaren’s racer Lando Norris on Tuesday publicly apologized for recent comments, without naming anyone, after the Briton played down Lewis Hamilton’s record 92nd Formula One triumph at Sunday’s Portuguese Grand Prix. Norris, 20, the youngest driver on the grid, had criticized Racing Point’s Lance Stroll after the duo collided during the race. While Norris ended up 13th, stewards published Stroll for the incident. “I owe an apology,” said Norris to his 750,000 followers on Twitter. “I’ve been stupid and careless with some things I’ve said lately in media and interviews, and haven’t shown the respect I should have to certain people. “I’m not that kind of person, so know I should apologise to them but also everyone reading/listening. Sorry.” Norris was asked about Hamilton becoming the most successful F1 driver ever (in terms of wins) as he overtook Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher while shattering the record books. “I’m just happy for him, nothing more,” the Briton had replied. “It doesn’t mean anything to me, really. He’s in a car which should win every race, basically. “He has to beat one or two other drivers, that’s it. Fair play to him, he’s still doing the job he has to do.” Hamilton has won eight of the 12 races this season and is eyeing record-equalling seventh world championship, which would confirm him as the most successful racer in the history of the sport. He has average 10 wins in a season since 2014. Whereas, Mercedes have won the last six championships and are on course to clinch the seventh in Italy next weekend. Meanwhile, Norris who made his F1 debut in 2019, has so far made 33 starts thus far with one podium finish.

McLaren's Lando Norris apologises for 'stupid and careless' comments

Action in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/uefa-champions-league?page=1">UEFA Champions League (UCL) 2020-21</a> will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday with some high-profile matches lined up for the footballing world to feast upon. The likes of Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United among many others will be in action in what will be the game week 2 of UCL 2020-21.&nbsp;

While the biggest match which is being talked about in the build-up to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/uefa-champions-league?page=1">UCL 2020-21</a> – Juventus vs Barcelona – is set to be played, fans will miss the epic face-off between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the latter is yet to test negative for COVID-19.&nbsp;

However, the Champions League is known as a tournament where European football peaks and the same is expected on Tuesday and Wednesday.

<h2>UEFA Champions League fixtures on Tuesday and Wednesday (kick-offs 2000GMT unless stated): When and where to watch</h2>

Tuesday

Group A

At Moscow: Lokomotiv Moscow (RUS) v Bayern Munich (GER) (1755)

At Madrid: Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Salzburg (AUT)&nbsp;

Group B

At Kiev: Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) v Inter Milan (ITA) (1755)

At Moenchengladbach: Borussia Moenchengladbach (GER) v Real Madrid (ESP)

Group C

At Porto: Porto (POR) v Olympiakos (GRE)

At Marseille: Marseille (FRA) v Manchester City (ENG)

Group D

At Bergamo: Atalanta (ITA) v Ajax (NED)

At Liverpool: Liverpool (ENG) v Midtjylland (DEN)

Wednesday&nbsp;

Group E

At Krasnodar: Krasnodar (RUS) v Chelsea (ENG) (1755)

At Seville: Sevilla (ESP) v Rennes (FRA)

Group F

At Bruges: Club Brugge (BEL) v Lazio (ITA)

At Dortmund: Borussia Dortmund (GER) v Zenit Saint-Petersburg (RUS)

Group G

At Budapest: Ferencvaros (HUN) v Dynamo Kiev (UKR)

At Turin: Juventus (ITA) v Barcelona (ESP)

Group H

At Istanbul: Istanbul Basaksehir (TUR) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) (1755)&nbsp;

At Manchester: Manchester United (ENG) v RB Leipzig (GER)&nbsp;

<h2>Where can you watch and live stream UEFA Champions League 2020-21 Group Stage matches?</h2>

Sony TEN network is the official broadcaster of the UEFA Champions League. Fans can watch the group stage of the European Championship on the Sony TEN1 and Sony TEN2 both on SD and HD. Live matches can be live-streamed on the Sony LIV app.

Action in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) 2020-21 will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday with some high-profile matches lined up for the footballing world to feast upon.

Action in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) 2020-21 will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday with some high-profile matches lined up for the footballing world to feast upon. The likes of Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United among many others will be in action in what will be the game week 2 of UCL 2020-21. While the biggest match which is being talked about in the build-up to UCL 2020-21 – Juventus vs Barcelona – is set to be played, fans will miss the epic face-off between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the latter is yet to test negative for COVID-19. However, the Champions League is known as a tournament where European football peaks and the same is expected on Tuesday and Wednesday. UEFA Champions League fixtures on Tuesday and Wednesday (kick-offs 2000GMT unless stated): When and where to watch Tuesday Group A At Moscow: Lokomotiv Moscow (RUS) v Bayern Munich (GER) (1755) At Madrid: Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Salzburg (AUT) Group B At Kiev: Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) v Inter Milan (ITA) (1755) At Moenchengladbach: Borussia Moenchengladbach (GER) v Real Madrid (ESP) Group C At Porto: Porto (POR) v Olympiakos (GRE) At Marseille: Marseille (FRA) v Manchester City (ENG) Group D At Bergamo: Atalanta (ITA) v Ajax (NED) At Liverpool: Liverpool (ENG) v Midtjylland (DEN) Wednesday Group E At Krasnodar: Krasnodar (RUS) v Chelsea (ENG) (1755) At Seville: Sevilla (ESP) v Rennes (FRA) Group F At Bruges: Club Brugge (BEL) v Lazio (ITA) At Dortmund: Borussia Dortmund (GER) v Zenit Saint-Petersburg (RUS) Group G At Budapest: Ferencvaros (HUN) v Dynamo Kiev (UKR) At Turin: Juventus (ITA) v Barcelona (ESP) Group H At Istanbul: Istanbul Basaksehir (TUR) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) (1755) At Manchester: Manchester United (ENG) v RB Leipzig (GER) Where can you watch and live stream UEFA Champions League 2020-21 Group Stage matches? Sony TEN network is the official broadcaster of the UEFA Champions League. Fans can watch the group stage of the European Championship on the Sony TEN1 and Sony TEN2 both on SD and HD. Live matches can be live-streamed on the Sony LIV app.

UCL: From Juventus vs Barcelona to other matches - When and where to watch Champions League matches?

Sunrisers Hyderabad are set to face Delhi Capitals at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday as race to playoffs continues in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. While DC are currently second in the points table with 14 points, SRH are seventh, and still alive in the tournament, with eight points.&nbsp;

Talking about head-to-head encounters between DC and SRH, the former has won just six matches whereas Hyderabad have been victorious 10 times in 16 outings.

Given the slightly sluggish track in Dubai, the team winning the toss should ideally opt to bat first with a score of around 160 being termed as competitive. Both SRH and DC have a good bowling line-up and would be confident of defending a score of above 160 in Dubai.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-srh-vs-dc-preview-can-warner-co-keep-their-playoff-hopes-alive-338303">IPL 2020, SRH vs DC Preview: Can Warner &amp; Co. keep their playoff hopes alive?</a>

<h2>Where will the IPL 2020 match between Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders take place?</h2>

The IPL 2020 match between Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders will take place at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

<h2>What time will the IPL 2020 match between Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders begin?</h2>

The IPL 2020 match between Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders begins at 7:30 PM IST on Monday (October 26).

<h2>How to watch live IPL 2020 match between Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders?</h2>

The IPL 2020 match between Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders will be aired live on Star Sports channels. Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports 3 HD.

<h2>How to watch IPL 2020 match between Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders match online?</h2>

The online live streaming of the IPL 2020 match between Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders will be available at Hotstar.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Sunrisers Hyderabad are set to face Delhi Capitals at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday as race to playoffs continues in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.

Sunrisers Hyderabad are set to face Delhi Capitals at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday as race to playoffs continues in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. While DC are currently second in the points table with 14 points, SRH are seventh, and still alive in the tournament, with eight points. Talking about head-to-head encounters between DC and SRH, the former has won just six matches whereas Hyderabad have been victorious 10 times in 16 outings. Given the slightly sluggish track in Dubai, the team winning the toss should ideally opt to bat first with a score of around 160 being termed as competitive. Both SRH and DC have a good bowling line-up and would be confident of defending a score of above 160 in Dubai. ALSO READ: IPL 2020, SRH vs DC Preview: Can Warner & Co. keep their playoff hopes alive? Where will the IPL 2020 match between Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders take place? The IPL 2020 match between Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders will take place at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. What time will the IPL 2020 match between Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders begin? The IPL 2020 match between Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders begins at 7:30 PM IST on Monday (October 26). How to watch live IPL 2020 match between Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders? The IPL 2020 match between Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders will be aired live on Star Sports channels. Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports 3 HD. How to watch IPL 2020 match between Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders match online? The online live streaming of the IPL 2020 match between Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders will be available at Hotstar.

SRH vs DC, IPL 2020 Live Streaming: How to watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals online?

Sunrisers Hyderabad will take on Delhi Capitals at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday as action continues in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/ipl">Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020</a>. While Sunrisers Hyderabad are still alive in the race for playoffs, Delhi Capitals are mostly battling to finish within the top two spots and could become the first team to qualify for the playoffs.&nbsp;

However, DC are heading into the match on the back of two consecutive defeats and that could motivate the SRH players to go all-out against a side that has suddenly started to struggle a bit.&nbsp;

For DC, only Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer have performed consistently with the bat while others have performed in patches. The spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel have also started to concede runs, after witnessing an economical first half of IPL 2020.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lion-hearted-virat-kohli-all-praise-for-mandeep-singh-after-half-century-vs-kkr-338258" hreflang="en">'Lion-hearted' - Virat Kohli all praise for Mandeep Singh after half-century vs KKR</a>

Meanwhile, SRH have also struggled massively in the tournament and have failed to perform consistently. Plenty of questions are being asked of David Warner and Jonny Bairstow as the opening duo has looked indifferent up top.

Talking about head-to-head encounters between DC and SRH, the former has won just six matches whereas Hyderabad have been victorious 10 times in 16 outings.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/where-is-rohit-sharma-why-is-transparency-missing-from-bcci-338235" hreflang="en">Where is Rohit Sharma? Why is transparency missing from BCCI?</a>

<h2>DC vs SRH, IPL 2020 squads:</h2>

Delhi Capitals Squad: Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tushar Deshpande, Prithvi Shaw, Daniel Sams, Harshal Patel, Mohit Sharma, Alex Carey, Avesh Khan, Praveen Dubey, Sandeep Lamichhane, Keemo Paul, Lalit Yadav

Sunrisers Hyderabad Squad: David Warner(c), Jonny Bairstow(w), Manish Pandey, Vijay Shankar, Jason Holder, Priyam Garg, Abdul Samad, Rashid Khan, Sandeep Sharma, T Natarajan, Khaleel Ahmed, Wriddhiman Saha, Shreevats Goswami, Siddarth Kaul, Mohammad Nabi, Kane Williamson, Bavanaka Sandeep, Billy Stanlake, Fabian Allen, Virat Singh, Basil Thampi, Sanjay Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, Prithvi Raj Yarra, Shahbaz Nadeem&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Sunrisers Hyderabad will take on Delhi Capitals at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday as action continues in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. While Sunrisers Hyderabad are still alive in the race for playoffs, Delhi Capitals are mostly battling to finish within the top two spots and could become the first team to qualify for the playoffs.

Sunrisers Hyderabad will take on Delhi Capitals at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday as action continues in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. While Sunrisers Hyderabad are still alive in the race for playoffs, Delhi Capitals are mostly battling to finish within the top two spots and could become the first team to qualify for the playoffs. However, DC are heading into the match on the back of two consecutive defeats and that could motivate the SRH players to go all-out against a side that has suddenly started to struggle a bit. For DC, only Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer have performed consistently with the bat while others have performed in patches. The spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel have also started to concede runs, after witnessing an economical first half of IPL 2020. ALSO READ: 'Lion-hearted' - Virat Kohli all praise for Mandeep Singh after half-century vs KKR Meanwhile, SRH have also struggled massively in the tournament and have failed to perform consistently. Plenty of questions are being asked of David Warner and Jonny Bairstow as the opening duo has looked indifferent up top. Talking about head-to-head encounters between DC and SRH, the former has won just six matches whereas Hyderabad have been victorious 10 times in 16 outings. ALSO READ: Where is Rohit Sharma? Why is transparency missing from BCCI? DC vs SRH, IPL 2020 squads: Delhi Capitals Squad: Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tushar Deshpande, Prithvi Shaw, Daniel Sams, Harshal Patel, Mohit Sharma, Alex Carey, Avesh Khan, Praveen Dubey, Sandeep Lamichhane, Keemo Paul, Lalit Yadav Sunrisers Hyderabad Squad: David Warner(c), Jonny Bairstow(w), Manish Pandey, Vijay Shankar, Jason Holder, Priyam Garg, Abdul Samad, Rashid Khan, Sandeep Sharma, T Natarajan, Khaleel Ahmed, Wriddhiman Saha, Shreevats Goswami, Siddarth Kaul, Mohammad Nabi, Kane Williamson, Bavanaka Sandeep, Billy Stanlake, Fabian Allen, Virat Singh, Basil Thampi, Sanjay Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, Prithvi Raj Yarra, Shahbaz Nadeem

IPL 2020, SRH vs DC Preview: Can Warner & Co. keep their playoff hopes alive?

Mumbai City have secured the signing of English-born Japanese midfielder Cy Goddard. The 23-year-old joins the Islanders on a season-long loan from Italian club Benevento Calcio.&nbsp;

A product of English club Tottenham Hotspur’s youth academy, Goddard represented Spurs at the U-18, U-21 and U-23 levels before leaving the club in 2017. A move to Italy followed for Goddard where the youngster signed for Serie B side Benevento Calcio on a three-year deal in 2018. In search of more playing time, the young attacking midfielder moved to Cypriot club Pafos FC on loan for the 2019/20 season. Goddard is also a youth international for Japan and has worn the Japanese national colours at the U-16 and U-17 levels in the past.&nbsp;

Cy Goddard&nbsp;said:&nbsp;“I’ve heard plenty of great things not just about India but the Indian Super League as well. When an opportunity to come to Mumbai City came by, I was eager to come to India, showcase my talents here and develop my game. I am aware of the philosophy we have here with coach Sergio Lobera and it fits right with the way I like to play football. It’s unfortunate that we have to play in these unique conditions away from our fans, but I am prepared to give everything it takes to help the club and give our supporters good memories.”&nbsp;

Head coach,&nbsp;Sergio Lobera&nbsp;said:&nbsp;“I am really pleased to have a great talent like Cy in our squad. He has developed from a young age at a top-level club like Tottenham and even at his young age, he brings a lot of valuable experience along with his skill. Cy has the potential to grow and become an influential player here at Mumbai City and we’re looking forward to what he can offer to the squad.”&nbsp;

&nbsp;

ENDS&nbsp;

Mumbai City have secured the signing of English-born Japanese midfielder Cy Goddard. The 23-year-old joins the Islanders on a season-long loan from Italian club Benevento Calcio.

Mumbai City have secured the signing of English-born Japanese midfielder Cy Goddard. The 23-year-old joins the Islanders on a season-long loan from Italian club Benevento Calcio. A product of English club Tottenham Hotspur’s youth academy, Goddard represented Spurs at the U-18, U-21 and U-23 levels before leaving the club in 2017. A move to Italy followed for Goddard where the youngster signed for Serie B side Benevento Calcio on a three-year deal in 2018. In search of more playing time, the young attacking midfielder moved to Cypriot club Pafos FC on loan for the 2019/20 season. Goddard is also a youth international for Japan and has worn the Japanese national colours at the U-16 and U-17 levels in the past. Cy Goddard said: “I’ve heard plenty of great things not just about India but the Indian Super League as well. When an opportunity to come to Mumbai City came by, I was eager to come to India, showcase my talents here and develop my game. I am aware of the philosophy we have here with coach Sergio Lobera and it fits right with the way I like to play football. It’s unfortunate that we have to play in these unique conditions away from our fans, but I am prepared to give everything it takes to help the club and give our supporters good memories.” Head coach, Sergio Lobera said: “I am really pleased to have a great talent like Cy in our squad. He has developed from a young age at a top-level club like Tottenham and even at his young age, he brings a lot of valuable experience along with his skill. Cy has the potential to grow and become an influential player here at Mumbai City and we’re looking forward to what he can offer to the squad.” ENDS

ISL 2020-21: Mumbai City FC secure loan move for CY Goddard

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