Lille and Monaco kept the pressure on high-flying Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday as both won their Ligue 1 matches to keep pace with the champions.
A second-half Ronny Rodelin goal lifted Lille to a 1-0 success at Valenciennes after Monaco had earlier claimed a 2-0 win over Rennes at their Louis II stadium.
Lille are now just one point behind PSG, who host Lyon at the Parc des Princes on Sunday, with Monaco a further point adrift.
Lille did well to hold third-from-bottom Valenciennes at bay as the northeners played with 10 men following the sending off of Franck Beria after the break.
“It wasn’t easy, I think we went through every type of emotion,” said Lille coach Rene Girard.
The northeners have now gone 10 league matches without defeat while Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has not conceded a goal in 945 minutes of action.
He is closing in on the Ligue 1 record of 1,176 minutes held by Gaetan Huard during the 1992-93 season with Bordeaux.
“Ten matches in a row without conceding a goal, that’s a first in my career,” added Girard.
“It shows the character of this team.”
Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez gave the perfect answer to recent criticism from Monaco coach Claudio Ranieri with a brilliant 19th minute free-kick before Anthony Martial guaranteed a ninth win in 15 matches just before half-time.
The team were also playing without injured top scorer Radamel Falcao as the Colombian continues to struggle with a thigh problem.
“I’m very satisfied,” said Ranieri.
“The team were very focused. With three matches in a week, it’s important to know how to keep the ball and not to play too fast when you’re leading 2-0.
“Our aim is to qualify for the Champions League but if Paris lose their rhythm I want Monaco to be just behind.”
Earlier on Saturday, Saint-Etienne took temporary possession of fifth spot with a 4-0 rout of Reims at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium.
Mustapha Bayal Sall scored the first of four goals in 26 second half minutes when he broke the deadlock to set the home side on their way.
Captain and defender Loic Perrin then scored twice in quick succession with Saint-Etienne’s second goal on 76 minutes and their third 120 seconds later.
Frenchman Fabien Lemoine then capped a fine afternoon’s work with the final strike with two minutes remaining.
“It was a great afternoon,” said Perrin.
“This victory does us good after our last win at Nice. For me to score twice is always pleasing, especially for a defender, but of course the main thing is the result,” he added.
The victory follows their controversial 1-0 win at Nice last Sunday which was marred by crowd violence and led to a ban on their away supporters until the end of the calendar year.
A Wissam Ben Yedder hat-trick inspired Toulouse to a 5-1 rout over tailenders Sochaux.
Elsewhere Guingamp won 1-0 at home against Brittany rivals Nantes as Lorient followed on last week’s 4-0 thrashing of Evian with a 3-0 win over Nice.
On Friday, Marseille beat 2012 champions Montpellier 2-0 to remain in Champions League qualification contention.
Goals from Florian Thauvin and Saber Khelifa gave Marseille a third straight win that kept them in fourth.
It was a welcome boost for Elie Baup’s team, who were beaten 2-0 by Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday, ahead of their trip to second-placed Lille this coming Tuesday.
“It’s a historic match because it’s Marseille’s 1,000th victory in the league,” said Baup.
“But most of all it was important to win the three points, that’s three wins in a row now.”
Germany
Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola admitted the European champions were just happy to see off Eintracht Braunschweig 2-0 and extend their record Bundesliga run ahead of a busy December.
Bayern’s victory at Munich’s Allianz Arena was down to Dutch winger Arjen Robben’s first-half brace as the Bavarians ran out of steam in the second-half.
The three points extended Bayern’s record unbeaten run in the Bundesliga to 39 matches and came just four days after they set the record of 10 consecutive Champions League victories by beating CSKA Moscow in Russia.
“It’s one game more and we won,” said Guardiola.
“We dominated possession and, in the first half, we were very strong mentally after (last Saturday’s 3-0 win at) Dortmund and the trip to Moscow.
“In the second half we didn’t manage to bring (striker) Mario Mandzukic into the game, but at the end, I am happy with the performance.”
But Bayern were lacklustre in the second-half against bottom side Braunschweig, who have never won in Munich.
“We are human beings and not machines,” said goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, while midfielder Toni Kroos added: “sometimes it’s okay if you just win the game.”
Having played in sub-zero temperatures in Moscow on Wednesday, match-winner Robben was just glad to play on a normal pitch after wet snow had made conditions tough on CSKA’s heavy pitch.
“That was a hard game in Moscow, including the travel,” said the 29-year-old.
“When you come back here and play on a good pitch, it’s simply fun.”
Bayern host Bavarian neighbours Augsburg in the third round of the German Cup on Wednesday, then travel to Werder Bremen in the league on Saturday before hosting Manchester City in the Champions League on December 10.
After hosting Hamburg, Bayern then travel to Morocco for the Club World Cup in a bid to win their second piece of silverware under Guardiola, having won the UEFA Super Cup against Chelsea in August.
Borussia Dortmund picked up their first victory in three league games with a hard-fought 3-1 win at ten-man Mainz 05 to stay third behind second-placed Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern.
Borussia, who must win in Marseille in a fortnight to reach the last 16 of the Champions League, can reclaim second place in the Bundesliga if they beat Leverkusen in Dortmund next Saturday.
Dortmund took the lead on 70 minutes in Mainz when Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fired home a superb free-kick, only for Cameroon’s Eric Choupo-Moting to equalise with a penalty four minutes later.
Mainz were reduced to 10 men when Colombia’s Elkin Soto was sent off for using his hand to stop the ball going into the net and Poland striker Robert Lewandowski fired home the first of two penalties.
“You have to evaluate the win in the context of our situation,” said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp, who lost his entire back four ten days ago through injury.
“We showed a very, very good fighting spirit.
“The fact that in certain situations our opponents had their chances to win the game says everything about Mainz’s class.”
Italy
Panagiotis Kone scored 10 minutes in and Antonio Cassano levelled with a first-half goal as Parma and Bologna drew 1-1.
Genoa needed an equaliser at home as well after Torino went ahead seven minutes in a 1-1 draw. Omar El Kaddouri struck for Torino early before Davide Biondini brought Genoa back even with a 69th-minute goal.
Portugal
Porto gave room to Lisbon in the Portuguese Liga title race with a 1-0 shock defeat to Academica de Coimbra, who had been just 12th on the table.
Lisbon trail Porto by a point for the top of the table with a game in hand.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
More coverage from the Future Forum
The biog
Favourite book: You Are the Placebo – Making your mind matter, by Dr Joe Dispenza
Hobby: Running and watching Welsh rugby
Travel destination: Cyprus in the summer
Life goals: To be an aspirational and passionate University educator, enjoy life, be healthy and be the best dad possible.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Saudi Cup race day
Schedule in UAE time
5pm: Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors Cup (Turf), 5.35pm: 1351 Cup (T), 6.10pm: Longines Turf Handicap (T), 6.45pm: Obaiya Arabian Classic for Purebred Arabians (Dirt), 7.30pm: Jockey Club Handicap (D), 8.10pm: Samba Saudi Derby (D), 8.50pm: Saudia Sprint (D), 9.40pm: Saudi Cup (D)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
Teaching in coronavirus times
Results
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $36,000 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: RB Money To Burn, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Turf) 2,410m, Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Trophy – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (T) 1,900m, Winner: Secret Protector, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 - Group 2 (TB) $293,000 (D) 1,900m, Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
8.50pm: Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Zakouski, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (T) 1,000m, Winner: Motafaawit, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham v Ajax, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Three ways to get a gratitude glow
By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.
- During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
- As you finish your skincare routine, look yourself in the eye and speak an affirmation, such as: “I am grateful for every part of me, including my ability to take care of my skin.”
- In the evening, take some deep breaths, notice how your skin feels, and listen for what your skin is grateful for.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
