Football

Madrid: Jude Bellingham's goal helped Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 to win a tense Clasico and move five points clear of their bitter rivals at the top of La Liga on Sunday. Champions Barcelona won all four times the teams were pitted against each other last season but in his first Clasico as Real Madrid coach, Xabi Alonso snapped that run. Kylian Mbappe, who later missed a penalty, fired Madrid in front and although Fermin Lopez levelled for the visitors at the Santiago Bernabeu, Bellingham netted a second for the hosts before half-time which proved decisive. Barca playmaker Pedri was sent off in the final stages for a second yellow card as tensions spilled over in the Spanish capital. Madrid's victory means they have won nine of their opening 10 league games and Alonso's side proved against Barca they can triumph on the big occasion, following their derby humbling by Atletico Madrid in September. "We did what we had to do, the gameplan," said Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni. "Against Atletico we didn't play how we wanted and today we had another chance to show what we can do, and we have to continue like this." Hansi Flick's Barca were led on the touchline by his assistant Marcus Sorg, as the German coach was suspended following a red card last weekend as they scraped a victory over relegation-battling Girona. "The season is long, we have 28 more games and we're not scared about the situation now," said Sorg after the defeat. Barcelona were without several regular starters, including Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo among others, while Lamine Yamal still does not appear fully fit after a groin injury but started. The teenager wound up Madrid fans in the week by claiming Los Blancos "steal" and "complain" and his name was greeted with a chorus of jeers when read out before kick-off.

Football

Rome: Paulo Dybala scored his first Serie A goal of the season to give Roma a 1-0 victory at Sassuolo on Sunday to lift them level with leaders Napoli. Roma moved to 18 points alongside the champions. After 16 minutes Dybala set up Bryan Cristante for a shot. When Arijanet Muric saved, Dybala pounced to put the rebound into the empty net. It was the Argentinian's 130th Serie A goal but his first from open play since last December. "These are three important points," said Dybala. "We knew we could move into first place before this match, but we're not getting carried away. The championship is still very long." Under Gian Piero Gasperini, who took over in July, Roma have become stingy in defence but are struggling to score. In eight games they have conceded three goals -- two fewer than any other team -- while scoring only eight. Roma sit second because their goal difference is two worse than Napoli, who beat fourth-placed Inter Milan 3-1 on Saturday. All four of their defeats this season have come at home, including a loss to Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on Thursday and against Inter Milan in Serie A last Saturday. "I'm very satisfied because the team reacted well after two defeats this week," sid Gasperini. "The priority now is to win again at home. We have to reward our fans. At home, we have to be more effective."

Cricket

Rawalpindi: Pakistan coach Mike Hesson has thrown his support behind Babar Azam's return to the T20 squad, as the three-match series against South Africa starts in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. Azam, 31, has been recalled for the first time since December last year, having previously been dropped due to concerns over his strike rate in the format. But Hesson believes the timing is right for the batsman to make his comeback. "Yes, I certainly endorse his selection," Hesson said on Sunday. "We have rested Fakhar Zaman for this series, so it was a good opportunity to bring back Azam and I am confident he will do well." Azam, who captained Pakistan across all formats before stepping down in October 2024, is on the verge of a major milestone. He needs just nine runs to surpass India's Rohit Sharma as the leading run-scorer in T20 internationals. Sharma currently has 4,231 runs from 159 matches, while Azam sits at 4,223 from 128 games. Hesson, who took charge of the team in May, sees Azam's return as a strategic move ahead of next year's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. "Azam is likely to bat at number three and it is a role that I am confident that he will be able to do well and give us some options coming into the World Cup," he said. Despite South Africa missing several key players, Hesson remains cautious about the threat they pose. "Look, the squad that South Africa put together is a very dangerous side and we are wary of that," he said, referring to the team captained by Donovan Ferreira. South Africa will be without key batsman David Miller, who was ruled out due to a hamstring injury, and fast bowler Gerald Coetzee, sidelined with a pectoral muscle issue. Opener Aiden Markram and paceman Kagiso Rabada have also been rested for the series. The final two matches of the series will be played in Lahore on Friday and Saturday.