Barca display solid defenceMADRID • There was little sign of Barcelona's swashbuckling attacking play in their 1-0 LaLiga win at Real Madrid on Saturday as the team renowned for goalscoring produced a rare masterclass in defending, led by Clement Lenglet and Gerard Pique.Ivan Rakitic scored the decisive goal in a cagey...

No cheer despite James' featINDIANAPOLIS • Despite becoming the fifth player in National Basketball Association (NBA) history to pass 32,000 points, LeBron James had little cause for celebration on Tuesday.Not only did the forward suffer the biggest margin of defeat of his NBA career as the Indiana Pacers humbled the...

Football: Manchester City owners team with robot-makers to buy Chinese clubSHANGHAI (AFP) - Manchester City's owners City Football Group (CFG) announced the purchase of Chinese third-tier club Sichuan Jiuniu on Wednesday (Feb 20) - in partnership with a Chinese investment fund and a company that makes robots.The rare swoop...

Football: Fandi Ahmad rues missed chances in U-22s' 1-1 draw with Hong Kong in opening AFC Under-23 qualifierSINGAPORE - It was encouraging that his team struck back immediately after falling behind, but Singapore's 1-1 draw with Hong Kong in the Asian Football Confederation Under-23 Championship qualifier on Friday (March...

Hungry Stags maul ProtectorsTwo games, two wins, 10 goals scored.The 2019 Singapore Premier League season may only be in its second round this week, but Tampines Rovers are proving to be worthy contenders for their first domestic league title since 2013.This, after the Stags thrashed Home United 5-1 last night at Our Tampines...

Football: Neymar's father says PSG extension more likely than Real Madrid switch for starRIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Neymar's agent and father poured cold water over speculation the world's most expensive footballer was mulling a transfer and instead suggested a new deal with Paris Saint-Germain was more likely.In an interview...

It all points to SolskjaerLONDON • The path is now clear for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to take up the full-time reins at Manchester United, after the caretaker manager yesterday made clear he was no longer contracted to Molde.Senior club officials believe it is now a matter of when, not if, he is appointed on a permanent...

Determined Lions ready for Oman testEven if the odds are against them - the teams are separated by 75 places in the world rankings - Singapore will continue their attacking football against Oman in the final of the AirMarine Cup tonight.The world No. 90 Omanis hammered Afghanistan 5-0 on Wednesday, while 165th-ranked Singapore...