Juventus defender Patrice Evra said he could leave the Serie A giants at the end of the season after hailing “incredible” Massimiliano Allegri one of the best coaches he has played under.
With three games remaining in Serie A, there is still plenty to play for, with Napoli and Roma notably contending second place and the last automatic Uefa Champions League qualifying spot.
But all eyes on Sunday will be on Juventus celebrating a record-equalling fifth consecutive title after their match against relegation-threatened Carpi in Turin.
Juventus secured a fifth consecutive ‘scudetto’ on Monday, equalling the record set by the club in the 1930s, when Radja Nainggolan’s late goal allowed Roma to beat second-placed Napoli 1-0.
The Turin club now host Carpi looking to stretch their unbeaten run to 26 games.
Ahead of perhaps Evra’s penultimate outing at Juventus Stadium, the France international said of Allegri: “For me he’s been incredible, I’ve never seen that before.”
Allegri is now on track to secure a second consecutive league and Coppa Italia double — they meet AC Milan in the May 28 final — a year after they lost out to Barcelona in the Champions League final.
But as for 34-year-old Evra's future, the France international told Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday: "I haven't made a decision yet. At Juventus, I've had two special years and at the end of the season we'll meet and I'll say yes or no.
“I have to be honest with myself and with Juventus. There are no problems, I just have to make my decision.”
More from European football:
La Liga weekend preview: 'It is in our hands' for Barcelona + La Liga schedule (UAE time)
Diego Forlan column: Diego Simeone has Atletico squeezing every inch of advantage out of margins
Premier League predictions: Manchester United stall Leicester celebration, but Chelsea stop Spurs
With a 12-point lead over Napoli, Juventus have again triumphed with room to spare, leaving former champions like AC Milan and Inter well in their wake.
After last week’s defeat in Rome, when Nainggolan’s 89th-minute strike handed the title to Juventus, a wounded Napoli are now looking over their shoulder.
Roma remain third but are now just two points behind Napoli before travelling to Genoa on Monday, when club stalwart Francesco Totti could be absent.
However, speculation is mounting Roma could perform an about-turn and hand the 39-year-old forward new contract for a 24th, and final, year at the club.
The ageing playmaker’s hopes were boosted when he came off the bench twice in succession to score three, decisive late goals recently.
In midweek, the affectionately-known ‘Re di Roma’ (King of Rome) got some influential backing in none other than Italian Olympic Commitee (CONI) chief Giovanni Malago.
“Totti is an amazing story, a fairytale that is almost too good to be true. Francesco is a modern day hero,” Malago said.
“I’ve always had a soft spot for him. If it’s in the club’s professional interests, I think it makes sense (to give him a contract).”
Napoli came so close to a first title in 26 years, only to suffer from 30-goal striker Gonzalo Higuain’s absence due to a three-match ban handed down after a dramatic meltdown in a 3-1 defeat to Udinese three weeks ago.
Napoli have conceded defeat three times in their last five games but after being thwarted by the heroics of Roma ‘keeper Wojciech Szczesny on Monday, Higuain will look to make amends against Atalanta at his favoured hunting ground of the San Paolo.
Inter, in fourth, lost virtually all hope of ending a five-year wait to rejoin the Champions League after a 1-0 defeat to Genoa two weeks ago.
Roberto Mancini’s men are seven points behind Roma and now focusing on reinforcing their grip on fourth, and a Europa League spot.
Fiorentina, in fifth, are away to Chievo looking to maintain their six-point lead on AC Milan. A win would all but see La Viola hold on to the last Europa League spot.
Amid reports of a crisis at Milan, reportedly on the verge of a takeover from a Chinese consortium, the struggling giants host relegation-haunted Frosinone in a match that could decide their Europa League chances.
FIXTURES (TIMES UAE)
Saturday
Udinese v Torino (8pm)
Chievo v Fiorentina (10.45pm)
Sunday
Juventus v Carpi (2.30pm)
Empoli v Bologna (5pm)
AC Milan v Frosinone (5pm)
Palermo v Sampdoria (5pm)
Sassuolo v Verona (5pm)
Lazio v Inter Milan (10.45pm)
Monday
Genoa v Roma (9pm)
Napoli v Atalanta (11pm)
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MATCH INFO
FA Cup final
Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nicola%20Coughlan%2C%20Luke%20Newton%2C%20Jonathan%20Bailey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
The lowdown
Badla
Rating: 2.5/5
Produced by: Red Chillies, Azure Entertainment
Director: Sujoy Ghosh
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Amrita Singh, Tony Luke
Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
MO
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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.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Directed by: Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Four stars
Keane on …
Liverpool’s Uefa Champions League bid: “They’re great. With the attacking force they have, for me, they’re certainly one of the favourites. You look at the teams left in it - they’re capable of scoring against anybody at any given time. Defensively they’ve been good, so I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t go on and win it.”
Mohamed Salah’s debut campaign at Anfield: “Unbelievable. He’s been phenomenal. You can name the front three, but for him on a personal level, he’s been unreal. He’s been great to watch and hopefully he can continue now until the end of the season - which I’m sure he will, because he’s been in fine form. He’s been incredible this season.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s instant impact at former club LA Galaxy: “Brilliant. It’s been a great start for him and for the club. They were crying out for another big name there. They were lacking that, for the prestige of LA Galaxy. And now they have one of the finest stars. I hope they can go win something this year.”
Scorline
Iraq 1-0 UAE
Iraq Hussein 28’
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
'Joker'
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix
Rating: Five out of five stars
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The winners
Fiction
- ‘Amreekiya’ by Lena Mahmoud
- ‘As Good As True’ by Cheryl Reid
The Evelyn Shakir Non-Fiction Award
- ‘Syrian and Lebanese Patricios in Sao Paulo’ by Oswaldo Truzzi; translated by Ramon J Stern
- ‘The Sound of Listening’ by Philip Metres
The George Ellenbogen Poetry Award
- ‘Footnotes in the Order of Disappearance’ by Fady Joudah
Children/Young Adult
- ‘I’ve Loved You Since Forever’ by Hoda Kotb
The five pillars of Islam
MATCH INFO
Group B
Bayern Munich v Tottenham, midnight (Thursday)
