Falcao header fires Monaco top

A towering Radamel Falcao header helped send Monaco top in France on Saturday as a 3-0 home win over Rennes saw them leapfrog Paris Saint Germain.

The win means Leonardo Jardim’s Monaco have 13 points from five games ahead of PSG on ten, while Nice can join Monaco at the top with a win at Montpellier Sunday.

This was Monaco’s seventh consecutive win and follows a slick 2-1 triumph over Tottenham at Wembley in the Champions League in midweek.

“The favourite to win the title, which will be a long haul, is Paris,” warned Jardim.

“Nice, Lyon and Marseille have also invested in their teams, but we are a better side this season, more experienced and organised,” said the Portuguese coach whose side came third last year.

Falcao’s career has hit the buffers since quitting Atletico Madrid saw him endure unsuccessful injury-blighted loan stints at Manchester United and Chelsea.

But on Saturday, the 30-year-old Colombian leapt high at the back post and powered in a header in the 42nd minute to score his first goal for Monaco since August 2014 -- 755 days ago.

Rennes, who had made the long journey from Brittany, rarely had the south coast side in trouble and lost concentration as the slightly built 20-year-old Thomas Lemar scored twice at the end of the game.

His first was a far post tap-in set up by Bernardo Silva and the second a lob which left Rennes keeper Benoit Costil watching the ball drop behind him into the net.

Rennes captain Pedro Mendes saluted the winners.

“That is one very good side and we won’t be the only ones to suffer here,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bordeaux’s fungus-infected pitch at their new stadium was described as a “potato field” by disgruntled fans.

Adding to their problems, the home team also missed the chance to go second, suffering a 1-0 defeat as a Karl Otoko Kembi strike in the 38th minute gave Angers a narrow win.

The second and third bottom sides Nancy and Nantes drew 1-1, but rock bottom Lorient celebrated their first points of the season after Benjamin Moukandjo slammed home a penalty on 76 minutes to seal a 1-0 win over Lille.

Lorient remain 20th, a point behind five clubs on four points.

High-flying northerners Metz, now fourth on ten points, drew 0-0 with Dijon in a match between two newly-promoted sides and where both missed a penalty each.

Toulouse came from behind for a 2-1 home win over Guingamp thanks to a penalty from Denmark’s Martin Braithewaite on 63 minutes and the winner from Jimmy Durmaz two minutes later.

It was a fourth league goal of the season from captain Braithewaite, who donates a 1,000 euros to charity every time he scores.

On Friday, Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani banged four goals past Caen in a 6-0 win for PSG.

Lucas Moura and Jean-Kevin Augustin added the other two goals after the break as PSG ended a run of three games without a win in all competitions.

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England to announce Bangladesh tour squad today

Teenage batsman Haseeb Hameed could find himself helping to solve one of England’s trickiest problems if he is included when the squads for the tour of Bangladesh are announced on Friday.

Finding a reliable partner for Test captain Alastair Cook at the top of the order has been a problem ever since former skipper Andrew Strauss retired in 2012.

The past four years have seen eight men-Nick Compton, Joe Root, Michael Carberry, Sam Robson, Jonathan Trott, Adam Lyth, Moeen Ali and Alex Hales-all given a chance to make the job their own.

But left-hander Cook will likely find himself walking out with a ninth different opening colleague after Hales, the most recent incumbent, ruled himself out of the tour last weekend, together with England limited overs captain Eoin Morgan, on security grounds.

The tour-which begins on 30 September and will include two Tests and three ODIs-had been called into question after an attack on a cafe in Dhaka in July which saw 20 hostages killed, including 18 foreigners.

Following the attack, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) sent a fact-finding delegation to Bangladesh led by Reg Dickason, their security officer.

Dickason said it was safe to tour but his reassurance was not enough to persuade Hales and Morgan to travel to Bangladesh.

If selected in the squad and then in the XI to play in the first Test in Chittagong on 20 October, the 19-year-old Hameed would become England’s youngest-ever opening batsman.

Although he has played just 18 first-class matches, Hameed has scored more than 1,000 runs this season.

England, unlike India and Pakistan, are traditionally reluctant to pick teenagers but coach Trevor Bayliss, when asked about Hameed’s chances, said earlier this month: “If he’s good enough, he’s old enough.

“I wouldn’t have any problem (picking him),” the Australian added.

From Bangladesh, England head straight into a five-Test series in India with no warm-up matches ahead of the second leg of their tour programme.

The absence of Hales-who made an England one-day international record 171 in August-will leave the team needing a new opening partner for Jason Roy at the top of their 50-over side.

England’s selectors have also to decide on whether to retain out of form top-order batsman James Vince and, if they don’t, whether to bring another specialist in to replace him, with Ian Bell aiming for an England recall.

They also have to work out if they need a third or even a fourth spinner in addition to Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid for the turning tracks they are likely to encounter in the sub-continent.

Hampshire left-armer Liam Dawson is most likely to be that extra spinner while uncapped batsman Ben Duckett, in prolific form for Northamptonshire and the second-string England Lions this season, could be in line for at least a one-day call-up.

England have already announced wicket-keeper Jos Buttler will captain the one-day side in Morgan’s absence.

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Bangladesh make new safety pledges for England

Bangladesh made fresh assurances Friday that England’s cricketers would be accorded top-level security on their controversial upcoming tour amid growing doubts over whether ODI skipper Eoin Morgan will travel.

The tour, which begins on 30 September and will include two Tests and three ODIs, had been called into question after an attack in July on a cafe in Dhaka in which 20 hostages were killed, including 18 foreigners.

But England’s board gave it their go-ahead following a fact-finding visit to Bangladesh by their security expert and most of the players, including Test skipper Alistair Cook, are understood to be ready to make the trip.

The main question mark is over Morgan who gave his strongest hint yet on Thursday that he will stay home as he recounted how two previous scares had made him weary of ever jeopardising his personal safety again.

Bangladesh Cricket Board chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said it was “the prerogative of the England and Wales Cricket Board who they will send” but made clear he would be disappointed if key players stayed away.

“We just hope they will send the best available squad, which we expect to be competitive,” Chowdhury told AFP.

Another senior board official, speaking on condition of anonymity, gave an outline of some of the measures being put in place to ensure the team’s safety which are usually reserved for visiting heads of state.

While requesting that the details not be made public, the official said “there would be nothing to worry about” for the tourists.

Chowdhury recalled how the board had managed to stage a trouble-free Under-19 World Cup earlier this year by also beefing up security.

“As you all know some countries had expressed their concern during that tournament also. But we successfully managed to convince them to come here and hosted the tournament without any incident.

“England will be given the same security as we had during the tournament when additional measures were put in place,” he said without elaborating.

Australia pulled out of the Under-19 World Cup in January and their place was taken by Ireland.

Australia’s senior team also pulled out of a series in October last year over safety fears and Bangladesh, the newest Test-playing nation, has been desperate to ensure that England does not follow their example.

They are determined to avoid the fate of Pakistan who—apart from a lone series against Zimbabwe—have not hosted any international cricket since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus during a 2009 Test in Lahore.

Although Morgan has yet to rule himself out, he has admitted that memories of a bomb blast during one of his matches in India in 2010 and a bout of deadly political violence while he was playing in a Bangladeshi domestic tournament three years ago were weighing heavily on his mind.

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Barca trio reunited

Barcelona’s fearsome front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar could join forces for the first time in four months against Alaves, while Cristiano Ronaldo will make his Real Madrdid return on Saturday.

Neymar has missed Barca’s 100 percent start to the season due to his efforts in leading Brazil to Olympic gold on home soil, but returned to Spain for the first time since May after more international duty in World Cup qualifying this week and is expected to start at the Camp Nou.

Messi is a much bigger doubt after missing Argentina’s clash with Venezuela in midweek due to a groin problem. The five-time World Player of the Year has played a limited part in training in recent days and coach Luis Enrique is likely to be cautious for the first of seven games in 22 days for Barca.

Paco Alcacer is in line to make his debut after sealing a 30 million-euro ($33 million) move from Valencia and the Spanish international striker is aware he will have to make the most of limited opportunities as fourth choice behind Messi, Suarez and Neymar.

“I will do everything I can to take advantage of the chances I have to the full,” Alcacer said as he was presented on Thursday.

Andres Iniesta has also returned to training following a knee injury and will battle Arda Turan and Denis Suarez for a place in midfield as both have impressed early in the campaign.

Ronaldo makes his long-awaited return at the Santiago Bernabeu against Osasuna earlier on Saturday in what will be his first appearance since suffering ligament damage in his left knee during Portugal’s Euro 2016 final win over France.

Real haven’t suffered in Ronaldo’s absence with two wins from their opening two La Liga games and victory over Sevilla in the European Super Cup.

And after winning two Champions League titles in his first three seasons at Madrid, Gareth Bale insists the European champions have to put more emphasis on ending a four-year run without winning La Liga.

“It’s important to try to win La Liga because it’s been a few years since we have and it’s normal that it’s our focus,” said Bale.

“I’m looking forward to next weekend’s game against Osasuna and I’m sure that they will make it difficult for us, but it’ll be great to be able to call upon almost the whole squad.”

Karim Benzema and Pepe have also returned from injury to leave Zinedine Zidane with a fully-fit squad bar the absence of goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

Heat risk -

Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid desperately need to kickstart their season after back-to-back disappointing draws with Alaves and Leganes when they visit Celta Vigo in the first match in a new early Saturday kick-off time of 1300 (1100GMT) designed to compete with the English Premier League in Asian television markets.

Celta finished sixth last season, but have also endured a poor start with defeats in both their opening matches and the Galicians will be without influential playmaker Fabian Orellana for a month due to a muscle tear.

Early season leaders Las Palmas have been on fire in scoring nine goals in their opening two games to shoot ahead of Barca and Madrid to the top of the table for the first time in 38 years.

However, the searing Spanish heat could get in their way this weekend with record temperatures for September registered across the country.

League chief Javier Tebas has promised players’ safety won’t be risked and Las Palmas’ visit to Sevilla is one of a number of games that could be delayed or even postponed if temperatures are deemed to be too high.

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