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Football: Mendy fires late winner as Real struggle to beat 10-man Atalanta in Champions League

BERGAMO, ITALY (REUTERS) - Ferland Mendy popped up with a late winner to earn lacklustre Real Madrid a 1-0 win over 10-man Atalanta in Wednesday's (Feb 24) Champions League last-16 first leg. Real's task appeared to have been made much easier after Atalanta's Remo Freuler was sent off in the 17th minute for denying Mendy a goal-scoring opportunity. Against the 10 men, however, Zinedine Zidane's side, who were missing several high-profile players through injury, struggled to break down the hosts, and Real had only one shot on target in the rest of the first half. Atalanta continued to defend doggedly after the interval, but Mendy's superb strike in the 86th minute gave the Spanish side a slender lead to take into the second leg.

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Football: Newcastle held to 1-1 draw by 10-man Fulham

NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - Newcastle United had to settle for a 1-1 home draw with 10-man Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday (Dec 19) after a Callum Wilson penalty cancelled out Matt Ritchie's own goal which fired the visitors ahead in a scrappy encounter. The result provisionally lifted Fulham out of the relegation zone as they moved one place up to 17th on 10 points from 14 games with a superior goal difference to 18th-placed Burnley who have two games in hand. Newcastle moved two places up to 12th on 18 points from 13 games but they will take few positives from a turgid performance as the Magpies were fortunate to scrape a share of the spoils. Fulham's Ademola Lookman was a constant threat all evening and his inviting corner led to the opening goal as defender Tosin Adarabioyo headed it on to the far post and the ball ricocheted off Ritchie's face into the net. Newcastle were awarded a 64th-minute penalty after Wilson was fouled by Joachim Andersen, who was shown a second yellow card for the challenge, and the home side's forward sent goalkeeper Alphonse Areola the wrong way with his spot-kick. The lively Lookman had home keeper Karl Darlow at full stretch with a stinging drive four minutes later before Areola denied Joelinton at the other end.

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Sports World: 10-man Juve can’t beat newbies Crotone

10-man Juve can't beat newbies Crotone CROTONE (Italy) • Juventus winger Federico Chiesa was sent off on his debut and the Italian Serie A champions also had a goal disallowed by the video assistant referee for offside by the tiniest of margins, as they were held to a 1-1 draw at promoted Crotone on Saturday. Juventus were missing Cristiano Ronaldo after he tested positive for Covid-19 last Tuesday while Gianluigi Buffon, their second-choice goalkeeper, became the first player to make 650 Serie A appearances. Juve, chasing a 10th straight title, have eight points from four games while Crotone picked up their first point. REUTERS Rossi's quarantine rules him out of 2 GPs ALCANIZ (Spain) • Seven-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi's quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19 means he will miss next weekend's Grand Prix of Teruel in addition to yesterday's Aragon Grand Prix, his Yamaha team said. The 41-year-old Italian has to complete a 10-day quarantine and test negative before he can return. Yamaha said that it would again not replace Valentino in Teruel, leaving Maverick Vinales to ride alone. Alex Rins held off fellow Spaniard Alex Marquez to win the Aragon race, with another compatriot Joan Mir finishing third to take the championship lead from France's Fabio Quartararo. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Henley looking good to end tour drought LOS ANGELES • Russell Henley fired a five-under 67 for a three-stroke lead after Saturday's third round of the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek. The 31-year-old American, chasing his fourth US PGA title but his first in 31/2 years, stood on 15-under 201 after 54 holes over the Las Vegas layout. Compatriots Xander Schauffele (74), Talor Gooch (69), Lanto Griffin (66) and Jason Kokrak (68) shared second on 204. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Lopez cleans up lightweight titles LOS ANGELES • Unbeaten Teofimo Lopez upset Vasiliy Lomachenko by unanimous decision on Saturday to become the undisputed world lightweight champion in Las Vegas. Lopez defended his 135lb (61.2kg) International Boxing Federation lightweight title and seized the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Organisation and World Boxing Association belts from Ukraine's Lomachenko, who suffered his first loss in six years. The American improved to 16-0 with 12 knockouts. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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