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Al-Ittihad honor Benzema’s 501 career goals

The French striker achieved this milestone when he scored a hat-trick in the Saudi Pro League opening match against Al-Okhdood last week. (Supplied)
The French striker achieved this milestone when he scored a hat-trick in the Saudi Pro League opening match against Al-Okhdood last week. (Supplied)
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Updated 06 September 2025

Al-Ittihad honor Benzema’s 501 career goals

Al-Ittihad honor Benzema’s 501 career goals
  • Frenchman has scored 501 league goals in 961 appearances for Real Madrid, Lyon, Al-Ittihad and the French national team

JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad’s management and players celebrated striker Karim Benzema’s 501 career goals with a special ceremony before their practice session on Friday at the club’s stadium.

The French striker achieved this milestone when he scored a hat-trick in the Saudi Pro League opening match against Al-Okhdood last week.

He has scored 501 league goals in 961 appearances for Real Madrid (354), Olympique Lyon (66), Al-Ittihad (44) and the French national team (37).

The Ballon D’Or winner signed a three-year contract with Saudi champions Al-Ittihad starting in June 2023.


Israel Premier team take name off kit after pro-Palestinian protests disrupt Vuelta

Israel Premier team take name off kit after pro-Palestinian protests disrupt Vuelta
Updated 8 sec ago

Israel Premier team take name off kit after pro-Palestinian protests disrupt Vuelta

Israel Premier team take name off kit after pro-Palestinian protests disrupt Vuelta
The Israel-Premier Tech team were also stopped on the road by a group of protesters holding Palestinian flags during last week’s team time trial in Figueres
“Israel-Premier Tech has issued riders with team monogram-branded kit for the remainder of the race,” the team said

MADRID: The Israel-Premier Tech cycling team have removed their full name from riders’ jerseys for the rest of the Vuelta a Espana after pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted the finish on stage 11.
Wednesday’s stage ended without a winner after organizers decided to take the time at three kilometers before the line as police struggled to contain hundreds of Palestinian flag-waving protesters in Bilbao.
The Israel-Premier Tech team were also stopped on the road by a group of protesters holding Palestinian flags during last week’s team time trial in Figueres.
“In the interest of prioritising the safety of our riders and the entire peloton, in light of the dangerous nature of some protests at the Vuelta, Israel-Premier Tech has issued riders with team monogram-branded kit for the remainder of the race,” the team said in a statement on Saturday.
“The team name remains Israel-Premier Tech but the monogram kit now aligns with the branding decisions we have previously adopted for our vehicles and casual clothing.”
Before stage 11, the Professional Cyclists’ Association (CPA) had called for better security at the Vuelta after a number of incidents involving protesters led to concern over rider safety, with the Israel-Premier Tech team the main target.
After Wednesday’s incident, the team said they remained committed to continuing the race and respected everyone’s “right to protest, as long as those protests remain peaceful and do not compromise the safety of the peloton.”

Algeria winger Ghezzal returns to Lyon

Algeria winger Ghezzal returns to Lyon
Updated 6 min 27 sec ago

Algeria winger Ghezzal returns to Lyon

Algeria winger Ghezzal returns to Lyon
  • The 33-year-old winger returns to Lyon as a free agent after a year at Caykur Rizespor
  • “Rachid Ghezzal’s return goes beyond the sporting arena,” Lyon said in a statement

LYON: Former Algeria international Rachid Ghezzal has returned to Olympique Lyonnais, where he spent more than a decade, on a contract until June 2026, the Ligue 1 side said.
Ghezzal, 33, joined Lyon’s academy in 2004 at the age of 12 and made his senior debut eight years later. He made 119 appearances for Lyon before leaving in 2017. The 33-year-old winger returns to Lyon as a free agent after a year at Caykur Rizespor.


“Rachid Ghezzal’s return goes beyond the sporting arena. It is also a personal and emotional adventure, driven by a shared desire between the player and Olympique Lyonnais,” Lyon said in a statement on Friday.
“With his experience at the highest level, Rachid... will also be a valuable link to the young players in the professional squad.”
Lyon have won all three of their Ligue 1 matches this season and continue their campaign at Stade Rennais next weekend.

 


Norris fastest in final Italian GP practice

Norris fastest in final Italian GP practice
Updated 29 min 2 sec ago

Norris fastest in final Italian GP practice

Norris fastest in final Italian GP practice
  • Norris lapped the ‘Pista Magica’ outside Milan with a best time of one minute 19.331 seconds
  • Red Bull’s four-times world champion Max Verstappen was fourth fastest

MONZA, Italy: Lando Norris led Saturday’s final practice for the Italian Grand Prix while Charles Leclerc put Ferrari second with his final effort to deny McLaren the one-two, with championship leader Oscar Piastri third.
Norris, 34 points behind Piastri after 15 of 24 rounds, lapped the ‘Pista Magica’ outside Milan with a best time of one minute 19.331 seconds.
Leclerc, last year’s winner, was 0.021 slower with Australian Piastri, winner of seven races already this season, 0.165 off the pace.
Red Bull’s four-times world champion Max Verstappen was fourth fastest.
McLaren will be chasing their sixth win in a row in Sunday’s race at the ‘Temple of Speed’ and could also secure their eighth one-two of the campaign.
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who was fastest in Friday’s first practice, was seventh fastest on his first weekend at Monza in Ferrari colors.
“Need some more juice. Need some more speed somehow,” said the seven-times world champion over the team radio.
George Russell was fifth for Mercedes ahead of Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto in sixth with Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar eighth and Mercedes’s Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli ninth.
Alex Albon completed the top 10 for Williams.


PSG coach Luis Enrique breaks collarbone in cycling accident

PSG coach Luis Enrique breaks collarbone in cycling accident
Updated 06 September 2025

PSG coach Luis Enrique breaks collarbone in cycling accident

PSG coach Luis Enrique breaks collarbone in cycling accident
  • The club did not specify where the accident took place
  • Enrique will undergo surgery for a fractured collarbone, said PSG

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique broke his collarbone in a cycling accident and was set to undergo surgery, the French champions said late Friday.
The 55-year-old Spaniard, a cycling enthusiast, led PSG to their first Champions League title last season, and the team have won three straight games to open their Ligue 1 title defense.
The club did not specify where the accident took place.

“Following a cycling accident on Friday, Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique was treated by the emergency services and will undergo surgery for a fractured collarbone,” PSG said in a statement.
“The club express their full support and wishes him a swift recovery. Further updates will be shared in due course.”
PSG’s next game is Sept. 14 against Lens, and three days later they host Atalanta to open their Champions League title defense.
Also Friday, PSG star Ousmane Dembélé limped off the field injured while playing for France in World Cup qualifying. He left with what seemed to be a right hamstring injury.


France’s Gasly extends Alpine contract until 2028

France’s Gasly extends Alpine contract until 2028
Updated 06 September 2025

France’s Gasly extends Alpine contract until 2028

France’s Gasly extends Alpine contract until 2028
  • Pierre Gasly has signed a contract extension with Alpine until the end of the 2028 Formula One season, the French team announced on Saturday

MONZA: Pierre Gasly has signed a contract extension with Alpine until the end of the 2028 Formula One season, the French team announced on Saturday.
The 29-year-old joined the Renault-owned outfit for the 2023 season and has achieved two podiums for them.
“I’m thrilled to commit my long-term future to Alpine,” said Gasly.
“As a Frenchman, especially, driving for a French car company, makes me feel very proud. Since I joined in 2023, I have always felt that this team is the right place to be for the future.”
Gasly joined Alpine from Red Bull’s second team, then called AlphaTauri, who he won the Italian Grand Prix with in 2020.
While he is assured of a place on the grid next year, his teammate Franco Colapinto is not.
The Argentinian, who arrived in January as a reserve driver after competing for Williams in 2024, took over last May from Australian Jack Doohan, who was sidelined due to poor results.
But after eight races for Alpine, Colapinto has yet to score a single point.
Alpine are currently tenth and last in the constructors’ standings after 15 of the season’s 24 Grand Prix.
The team have struggled since finishing fourth in the championship in 2022.
On the management side, Steve Nielsen, appointed Alpine F1 CEO in July, took up his new role this weekend ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.
The British engineer will report to the brand’s executive adviser Flavio Briatore.