SPIELBERG: Max Verstappen resisted a spirited attack from Lando Norris on Saturday to claim victory for Red Bull in a feisty sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The series leader and three-time world champion delivered a home win at the Red Bull Ring with a fighting response after being passed by McLaren’s Norris in the opening laps.
His win was his third sprint triumph this year, his fifth in succession and his 10th in 15 contests as he came home 4.616 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and 5.348 clear of Norris, who was unable to maintain his early speed.
“I had a good first lap,” said Verstappen. “But once the DRS opened it took a few laps for me to get away and then I drove my own race. I had to work for it in that race and we have a few things to think about for tomorrow.”
George Russell finished fourth for Mercedes ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes. Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari was seventh.
Sergio Perez came home eighth in the second Red Bull ahead of Haas’s Kevin Magnussen and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin.
Verstappen was given a rousing reception by the massed ranks of his ‘orange army’ in the grandstands, notably roaring with delight when he responded to snatch back his lead from Norris.
Verstappen resists Norris attack to win Austrian GP sprint race
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Verstappen resists Norris attack to win Austrian GP sprint race
PSG’s Dembélé wins the Ballon d’Or and Barcelona’s Bonmati achieves award hat trick
- Dembele, 28, pipped Barcelona and Spain teenage sensation Lamine Yamal to the prize at a ceremony in Paris
- “Third time in a row here and I still can’t believe it,” Bonmatí said “I owe Barcelona everything, this is the club of my life”
PARIS: Ousmane Dembélé won the Ballon d’Or for leading Paris Saint-Germain to its first Champions League title and Aitana Bonmatí received the women’s award for a third successive year on Monday.
Dembélé succeeded Manchester City midfielder Rodri to become the sixth Frenchman to win it after Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane and Karim Benzema.
Bonmatí won ahead of her Spain teammate Mariona Caldentey. She’s only the third player in the award’s history to win three in a row after Platini (1983–85) and Lionel Messi (2009-12).
The award capped a remarkable turn of fortune for Dembélé, who at one point last season was snubbed by PSG coach Luis Enrique for disciplinary reasons. But once repositioned as a No. 9, he became a scoring machine and was inspirational in PSG’s historic Champions League campaign. The French club also completed a quadruple last season.
Dembélé was praised after the Champions League final for the way he contributed to PSG’s pressing and his ability to defend during the 5-0 rout of Inter Milan. He delivered 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 official matches last season, and was involved in 14 goals (8 goals, 6 assists) in the Champions League in 15 appearances.
Dembélé received the Ballon d’Or from former winner Ronaldinho and teared up during his acceptance speech in which he asked his mother to join him on the stage.
“It’s incredible to win a trophy like this,” he said in French. “I worked for the team to help win PSG’s first Champions League (...) To then be rewarded with an individual trophy like the Ballon d’Or is truly exceptional.”
Dembélé won ahead of teenage star Lamine Yamal. The forward, who turned 18 in July, helped Barcelona win La Liga and the Copa del Rey last season and reach the Champions League semifinals. Yamal was given the Kopa award for the best under-21 player for the second straight year.
“I need to keep on working to win other awards in the future,” Yamal said through a translator.
Dembélé was injured and able to attend the ceremony in Paris while his team lost at Marseille 1-0 in the French league. He was one of nine PSG players nominated for the men’s award, including goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, forward Désiré Doué, who scored twice in the Champions League final, and winger Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia.
Although Bonmati lost to England in a penalty shootout in the Women’s European Championship final last summer, she was named the best player of the tournament, which she began just days after being hospitalized by viral meningitis.
Bonmatí’s spot kick in the shootout was one of two saved by England’s Hannah Hampton, who was voted the best women’s goalkeeper.
“Third time in a row here and I still can’t believe it,” Bonmatí said “I owe Barcelona everything, this is the club of my life.”
She won a domestic treble with Barcelona and also reached the Champions League final.
Barcelona has won the last five women’s awards but it was expected an Englishwoman would win for the first time. England won the Euros and Arsenal took the Women’s Champions League. But with five England players among the women’s top 10 nominees, the highest placed was Alessia Russo at third.
Other trophies
Barcelona forward Vicky Lopez won the women’s Kopa trophy and Sarina Wiegman, who led England to European victory, took the Johan Cruyff award for best women’s coach. On a great night for PSG, Luis Enrique won in the men’s category.
PSG was voted the best men’s club and Donnarumma received the Lev Yashin award for best goalkeeper. Donnarumma, whose shot-stopping in the knockout stages proved crucial to PSG’s success, left for Manchester City during the offseason. Hampton was crowned the best women’s goalkeeper.
The men’s and women’s Gerd Müller trophies for the top scorers went to Barcelona’s Ewa Pajor and Viktor Gyokeres, who joined Arsenal this summer from Sporting Portugal after a prolific season.
Al-Hilal and Al-Shabab edge into last 16 of King Cup
- Victories for Al-Kholood and Al-Khaleej ensured a clean sweep for Saudi Pro League clubs
RIYADH: Al-Hilal secured their spot in the final 16 of the King Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 away victory over Al-Adalah at Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium in Hofuf on Monday night.
The Riyadh side had a goal disallowed by the video assistant referee late in the first half but still managed to go into the break with a one-goal advantage after Abdullah Al-Hamdan scored in the second minute of stoppage time. That ultimately proved to be enough for the win.
Also on Monday, Al-Shabab had two players sent off in the first half but managed to pull off an unlikely 4-2, penalty-shootout away win over Abha at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium, after the game ended in a 2-2 draw after extra time.
After captain Yannick Carrasco’s 13th minute opener for Al-Shabab was canceled out by Afonso Taira 11 minutes later, the dynamic of the match seemed to have turned heavily in favor of the home side when Saad Yaslam received his marching orders just after the half-hour mark.
Things got worse for Al-Shabab when Wesley Hoedt was also sent off, in first half stoppage time.
Against the odds, albeit against lower league opposition, Al-Shabab managed to hold out for the entirety of the second half, taking the match into extra time. Abha looked to have broken the spirits of their exalted opposition when they took the lead through Brazilian midfielder Muralha after 97 minutes.
But Al-Shabab hit back a minute before the end of the first period of extra time, thanks to a goal from Vincent Sierro with an assist from Carrasco.
The inspirational Carrasco seemed to have grabbed the winner in the 119th minute but the goal was chalked off and the match went to penalties. Al-Shabab’s Brazilian goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe proved to be the hero in the shootout, saving twice to secure a famous win as his team triumphed 4-2 on penalties.
Pro League sides also triumphed over Division 1 opposition in the day’s other two cup matches: visitors Al-Kholood defeated Al-Bukayriyah 2-1, while Al-Khaleej recorded a comprehensive 5-0 victory over hosts Al-Tai.
UFC 321 card grows with three new international bouts
- The bout marks Camilo’s second UFC appearance after a debut loss earlier this year. With both fighters searching for a breakthrough
ABU DHABI: UFC 321 has added three more international matchups to its already stacked lineup ahead of the Oct. 25 event at Etihad Arena.
The card is headlined by Tom Aspinall’s first UFC heavyweight title defense against French contender Ciryl Gane and will now feature added depth across the featherweight and lightweight divisions.
British featherweight Nathaniel Wood is set to face Mexico’s Jose Miguel Delgado in what promises to be a dynamic clash of styles.
Wood, who made a successful move up from bantamweight, has built a reputation as a well-rounded and dangerous fighter. He enters Abu Dhabi aiming to break into the featherweight top 15.
Delgado arrives with just one professional loss and a size advantage. Known for his aggression and finishing instinct, the rising Mexican talent faces the toughest test of his career in Wood.
In the lightweight division, Poland’s Mateusz Rebecki will meet Slovakia’s Ľudovit “Mr Highlight” Klein in a bout tipped to be a potential Fight of the Night.
Rebecki, a graduate of Dana White’s Contender Series, is known for his relentless pressure and slick submissions. His UFC tenure has featured both setbacks and gritty, crowd-pleasing victories.
Klein, a sharp southpaw striker, is aiming to bounce back after a loss to Mateusz Gamrot ended his seven-fight unbeaten streak.
This matchup pits Rebecki’s ground game against Klein’s striking and could have major implications for the lightweight rankings.
Palestinian featherweight Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady also returns to action in Abu Dhabi, where he will take on Brazil’s Matheus Camilo.
Al-Selwady, a former champion in both Desert Force and Brave CF, is seeking his first UFC win following a loss to Loik Radzhabov in 2024.
The bout marks Camilo’s second UFC appearance after a debut loss earlier this year. With both fighters searching for a breakthrough, this contest carries added emotional and career weight.
UFC 321 will also feature a co-main event between Brazil’s Virna Jandiroba and American grappler Mackenzie Dern for the vacant women’s strawweight title.
Newcastle’s attack still adjusting to Isak’s absence, says Howe
- Newcastle’s goalless draw at Bournemouth on Sunday was their third consecutive 0-0 Premier League draw away from home
- Newcastle are looking to club-record signing Nick Woltemade to spearhead their attack following Alexander Isak’s departure
Manager Eddie Howe said Newcastle United are still adapting to life without Alexander Isak following the striker’s transfer to Liverpool and called for patience as his new-look attack struggles to click into gear.
Newcastle’s goalless draw at Bournemouth on Sunday was their third consecutive 0-0 Premier League draw away from home and extended their winless run on the road this season.
While Howe was pleased with a third straight clean sheet in the league, they have scored only three goals in five games and are 13th with just six points.
“It’s three 0-0s away from home for us, which is really uncommon with our attacking style,” Howe told reporters. “I think just naturally we’re going to be a different team attacking-wise this year without Alex.
“I’m hopeful we’re evolving to a different team, hopefully a better team, but it may take a bit of time.”
Newcastle are looking to club-record signing Nick Woltemade to spearhead their attack following Isak’s departure to the Premier League champions in a record-breaking deal, and Howe said there is more to come from the German.
“I thought Nick played really well today,” Howe added. “I thought he was very effective with his footwork and his link play.
“But we just need to know and get used to him and his style more and get more runners off him because he’s very good in that respect.”
Newcastle next host English third-tier side Bradford City in the League Cup second round on Wednesday.
Ben Harburg: From Wall Street to the Saudi Pro League
- The American, known for managing international investment funds, has taken an unusual path into the Kingdom’s sporting landscape by fully acquiring Al-Kholood Club
RIYADH: From global finance to Saudi stadiums, American investor Ben Harburg has taken an unusual path into the Kingdom’s sporting landscape. Known for managing billions of dollars through international investment funds, he recently made headlines by fully acquiring Al-Kholood Club, a team newly promoted to the Saudi Pro League.
The move reflects the growing appeal of Saudi football to international investors and aligns with Vision 2030’s ambition to connect sport with economic development and global visibility.
Harburg’s career is rooted in high finance. As a founding partner of MSA Capital, he has overseen assets exceeding $2 billion, investing in global giants such as Uber, Airbnb, and Palantir. Yet his decision to step into Saudi football reveals a different kind of calculation.
“I believe the Saudi Pro League is operating in a high-growth market, while competition in Europe is either weakening or flatlining,” he said. To him, this is not a short-term gamble but a long-term commitment to a sector on the rise.
What sets Harburg apart from the stereotype of foreign investors is his philosophy. Rather than chasing quick returns through marquee signings, he speaks of building a foundation of young Saudi players and world-class facilities.
“We’ve got to produce young Saudi players that can be sold to clubs like Al-Ittihad and Al-Ettifaq,” he explained. “And we’ve got to attract players who don’t come to us simply because we pay the highest salaries, but because they find a high level of professionalism, training equipment, and infrastructure.” His approach resonates with the Kingdom’s broader push to make clubs more sustainable, competitive, and rooted in local talent.
Harburg also distinguishes himself with his presence among fans.
“Because of the way you’re treating your supporters and engaging with them, I’ve become one of your fans,” he said.
It is an attitude that extends beyond financial ownership, reflecting a desire to shape a deeper connection between the club and its community. In doing so, he adds cultural and social value to an investment that is often judged solely by numbers.
The arrival of an investor like Ben Harburg in the Saudi Pro League symbolizes more than the globalization of the game; it marks a shift in the way foreign capital interacts with local sport.
From Wall Street to Saudi Arabia, he embodies a new model of investment — one that sees people, infrastructure, and supporters as the true pillars of the future of football in the Kingdom.
