Bambooina - Indonesian Designers Bring The Beauty of Bamboo To Chiang Mai

Ayip Budiman approached a table where four of his friends were enjoying the warm Sunday afternoon over cups of coffee in the garden of Rumah Sanur, one of Bali's leading creative hubs.
Smiling, he carefully placed an object on the edge of the table. It was a bamboo tube, with the bottom made of what appears to be natural sandstone. It came attached to a brown leather strap.
Ayip winked and challenges his friends to identify the beautifully crafted object.
The wink put a stop to their conversation on the significances of Blanjong stone inscriptions, an artifact located some 500 meters west of Rumah Sanur.
"It is a bluetooth speaker," Ayip exclaimed with joy.
The wireless speaker is aptly branded Tung, named after the sound made by a kentongan (a slit drum used by traditional villages to communicate with one another).
Tung is one of 11 Indonesian brands selected to participate in the 2017 Chiang Mai Design Week in Thailand.
The annual event, a major celebration of creative talents from across Asia, concluded on Dec. 10. It encourages the management and development of sustainable, locally made products.
The 11 brands are part of Bambooina Projects, a collaborative initiative between Rumah Sanur and Adhi Nugraha, a prominent product designer and lecturer at the pretigious Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). It is also supported by Thai Airways.
Adhi and Ayip, cofounders of Rumah Sanur and a permanent fixture of the island's creative industry, serve as curators for Bambooina.
"Bambooina means Contemporary Indonesian Bamboo Design Objects," Ayip said.
Among the selected brands and products are Spedagi's bamboo bicycle designed by Singgih S. Kartono; a bamboo violin by Andar Bagus Sriwarna; bamboo tableware by Handhyanto and the local community in Belu, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT); Mohoi bamboo speakers and lightning by Rashid Akhmadi; Taskuni bags by Adhi Nugraha and Pavi Purnamaki; and Tung by Rizky Faesal.
All the brands display new creative ways of utilizing bamboo, a widely available material that has been used for centuries in the archipelago, into modern-looking and esthetically appealing functional products.
Bambooina, Ayip stressed, proposes a way forward for designers to be enablers of holistic sustainability in the bamboo sector, especially for designers who enable and empower bamboo-working communities and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
"We selected and curated works of some different approaches to the transformation and development of various bamboo-based products as a part of a responsible lifestyle," Ayip said.
Transforming tradition is another key principle behind the program.
The idea is to keep various valuable traditions alive by connecting them to the contemporary lifestyle to ensure and safeguard its sustainability for future generations.
"It is important that people can be modern without losing their traditional roots, so designers and artists have the big challenge and vital role of assisting the transformation of traditions," Ayip said.

I Wayan
The Jakarta Post/Denpasar

'Far Cry 5', 'The Crew 2' Dates Pushed Back

A new look at Far Cry 5 is set for Dec.8, as two of Ubisoft's higher-profile upcoming releases have been moved further into 2018 and one other is budget into 2019/2020.
The 2018 release dates for contemporary action game Far Cry 5 and vehicular thrillfest The Crew 2 have been moved back a few months by publisher Ubisoft.
Far Cry 5, which has players take on dangerous cult leader in modern-day United States, was expected Feb. 27, but will now see the light of day on March 27 instead.
Likewise, The Crew 2, which builds on its predecessor to offer not only land-based hijinks but also air and sea excitement, is now stepping out of March and into a six-month period between April and September.
The company referred to its adjusted approach to the Assassin's Creed franchise, an annual affair which skipped 2016 in order to alloe more time for this year's Ancient Egyptian adventure Assassin's Creed Origins - and, one might suggest, to allow its audience to recover from the threat of franchise fatigue.
As well as Far Cry 5 and The Crew 2, Ubisoft is also altering the proposed release date for one other game, but isn't yet saying what that title is.
One of three unannounced games will release between April 2019 and March 2020 rather than the previous fiscal year, the French-headquartered studio network said.
Ubisoft announced a new opportunity to preview Far Cry 5 would arrive on Dec. 8, starting 10 p.m. local time.
It also took the chance to preview some early details from the well-anticipated Beyond Good & Evil 2, a project that was finally confirmed mid-year and which currently appears to be in a world-building phase.
A Ship and Crew Update video was published through You Tube and a one hour live stream provided a more conversational tour of the game's concept.

AFP Relaxnews

Bitcoin And The Value Of Financial Freedom

Investors' frenzied pursuit of bitcoin has bared the flaws of cryptocurrencies, but also highlighted their main value proposition: independence from regulated, mainstream, established systems.
At the beginning of 2017, bitcoin was still worth less than US$1,000 and all the quaint, confused expectations about the cryptocurrency were still intact: It would, as Satoshi Nakamoto wrote in his (or her, or their) manifesto, make financial transactions cheap, fast and secure without requiring people to give up too much information.
 But as money piled in and the price rocketed - fivefold, tenfold, almost by a factor of 20 - it turned out that these dreams did not work out of scale.
Transaction fees jumped - to $32 per average transaction at the time of this writing, making bitcoin an impractical means of payment for merchants. Clearing can be painfully slow, given all the speculative demand. And converting into dollars and other fiat currencies is not easy.
Most of the bitcoin community has rejected the most obvious solution, which is to increase the size of the blocks into which transactions are packaged for approval. Instead, much hope is invested in Lightning - a technology that would process less-critical transactions fees. It will probably work when it's ready, but it uses a different, more complex approach to security that malicious actors will almost certainly try to exploit.
As it is, bitcoin is not looking as secure as Nakamoto imagined it. By one estimate, bitcoin that has been stolent at one point makes up 10 percent of the current supply.
Bitcoin "wallets", often maintained by exchanges on behalf of clients, have become targets for hackers. Youbit, a South Korean cryptocurrency dealer, just announced that it would shut down and file for bankruptcy after the theft of 17 percent of the assets it held.
Earlier this month, more than 4,700 bitcoins were stolen from the NiceHash marketplace. The risk of losing bitcoin is higher than for traditional money kept in a bank.
Perhaps bitcoin's popularity will speed efforts at improvement. It has certainly generated interest in alternatives: The total market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies had reached $630 billion at the time of this writing, and bitcoin accounted for less than half the total.
Some of those other currencies employ bigger block sizes and are more easily scalable.
Still, bitcoin's shortcomings are glaringly obvious. Even at current scale - fewer than 400,000 transactions a day, a tiny number for a real currency - it's slow and expensive.
Addressing these issues could increase risk by increasing complexity. It's just not a good currency. So why aren't investors staying away?
Well, some are. Traditional financial institutions can now bet on bitcoin on Chicago's regulated exchanges, but volumes remain small compared with bitcoin's market capitalization.
Even Russian ruble futurea are more popular. This reaction from the suit-and-tie crowd - who are far from impervious to greed and hype - says something about the nature of bitcoin's appeal and its fundamental value.
The value is rooted in the cryptocurrency's independence from the mainstream, from any kind of government regulation, from assets that are subject to the traditional market's moods and regulators' prescriptions.
For some people, the ability to own something completely outside the power of nation states - something that has defied regulatory bans, sanctions, currency restrictions, curbs on what can be legally bought with fiat money - trumps technological imperfection, volatility and the high risk of theft.
It's a pirate haven from which government and merchant ships are barred. The Venezuelan bolivar - the currency of what is perhaps the world:s most illogically regulated economy - is the 18th biggest currency for bitcoin trading, ahead of the Norwegian and Swedish kronas, punching far above its weight.
Even if today's price is inflated, bitcoin is not fundamentally worthless. Neither are other decentralized crytocurrencies.
Volatility suggests that the market is trying to figure out how much financial freedom is worth.
It's probably most valuable in countries with oppressive regimes and unreasonable governtments. Bans may to some extent be effective, but the value will always be there as long as there are people who mistrust governments and want to move money and assets away from their prying eyes.

The writer is a Bloomberg View columnist
Leonid Bershidsky
Bloomberg view

Jumanji - Taking Walk On Wild Side All Fun, Games

A take on the legendary game for the current generation, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle shows that it can adapt itself into any form for any generation to experience the wonders and the difficulty of the game itself.
Does this film make you want to call "JUMANJI!" out loud so that all the animals can hear and roar back in unison? Well, kind of. It is worthing watching the main characters spouting the same thing over and over again, those same background characters abruptly leaving, vague clues and traps being left for deciphering by the players and respawning, et cetera.
It is a pretty smart continuation of the original Jumanji of 1995, when Robin Williams and Bonnie Hunt first played Jumanji's original incarnation as a board game.
Nothing much can be said about the new Jumanji except for "it's okay." It is full of laugh out loud moments, especially with the comedic dynamism of Kevin Hart and Jack Black in the mix. It is fun to watch, the story is good and the action is generous but not hyperbolic.
Karen Gillan's action scenes are the most entertaining and the most interesting, considering that her "abilities" in the Jumanji world are that of a warrior.
The same can be said for Dwayne Johnson's protagonist character, which is presented as having "no weakness." Both Gillan and Johnson are able to provide their own comedic turns and they bounce well off each cast member.
A surprising appearance in this film is Nick Jonas, who does well in his role as the seaplane captain and Alex Vreeke.
However, the case is not the same for the film's main antagonist.
The film's main villain, Dr. Van Pelt (played by Bobby Cannavale), is incredibly underwhelming. Van Pelt was never the main obstacle in the film he is merely an easy speed bump. His villainy is somewhat convincing and all, but he does too little other than throw the old sniggering evil villain look a couple of times.
On a lighter note, Rhys Darby is always an absolute pleasure to watch. It seems that any scene in any film or series that features this New Zealand comedian is a delight because his unique comedic presence just shines through.
In Jumanji, he plays the fitting Dr. Billingsley, the NPC guide to the heroes' journey in the Jumanji world and although he is not part of the main hero team, he acts as the suitable bookends to the travels.
The film's ensemble cast makes it easy to ignore the merits of the younger actors in the film. Because the film presents itself as a balance between reality and fantasy, it is a challenge to not let one part dominate the other.
Obviously, the Jumanji scenes offered insights into how the fantasy characters function, which fills the gap neatly so as to not deviate too much from their personalities.
You've got the nerd (Alex Wolff), the jock (Ser'Darius Blain), the loner (Morgan Turner) and the popular girl (Madison Iseman) who are forced to grow and act out of their typical personalities when they assume completely different characteristics in the Jumanjigame.
It is an underlying story of the benefits of stepping out of your comfort zone and personal development. In the end, these four characters, most of whom do not know each other deeply before that fateful journey into the virtual jungle, experienced a bond that's way more meaningful than most high school relationships. And they emerged out of this one afternoon different and better people.
It's The Breakfast Club all over again. Only this time, the detention room is a dense fictionalmjungle.

Directed by Jake Kasdan
Based on Jumanji by Christ Van Allsburg
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Bobby Cannavale
Productiom company: Columbia Pictures
Distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment (2)
Running time:  119 minutes

Dylan Amirio
The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Neymar Wants 'History' With Real Scalp

Neymar believes Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) can "make history" by eliminating holders and record 12-time winners Real Madrid when the two clubs meet in the last 16 of the Champions League.
French League leaders PSG were paired with Cristiano Ronaldo's Real in the tie of the round, and big-spending PSG are looking for a rapid return on their massive summer investment.
"We know it will be a difficult match against a team that has been playing together for years and also wants to win, but we can beat them," Neymar said on Thursday as PSG arrived in Doha for their winter training camp.
"We can make history. We're here to do just that, to play football, and we're going to do everything to win," added the Brazilian, who cost PSG a world record €222 million (US$264 million) in August when he joined from Barcelona.
PSG have never advanced beyond the quarter-finals of the Champions League since the club's takeover by its Qatari owners in 2011, throwing away a 4-0 first leg lead to spectacularly crash out in the last 16 to Barcelon last season after four straight quarter-final exits.
They will travel to Madrid for the first leg on February, with the return meeting at the Parc des Princes on March 6.
Neymar, who was voted third in this year's Ballon d'Or, also admitted it would be "difficult" for him to win next year's award - a prize that has changed hands between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the past decade.
"That's doesn't depend just on me, but also on my team-mates and what we win this season. It's obvious that the World Cup will be very important (...) but we'll have to do things well as a team first and then think about individual stuff," the Brazilian said.
Neymar has scored 17 goals in 20 matches since his arrival in Paris, but Kylian Mbappe believes the team's attack will become even more potent as the season progresses.
"We have a great attack and I think we can do even better," said Mbappe, who turned 19 on Wednesday.
"We've only been together for five months and we've already been able to develop in certain ways, but in a year it can be even better.
"We know each other very well but there are still some of those automatic reflexes missing to really know one another by heart.
"I think we can get there quickly to do some really great things for PSG. We have lots of talent but to win titles you need a real team, and I think we're capable of doing it."

Agence France-Presse
Doha, Qatar

Dybala Back As Juventus Chase Christmast Number One

Paulo Dybala has regained his goal scoring form just in time as champions Juventus tackle rivals AS Roma for top spot at Christmas in a clash which could prove decisive in the Serie A title race.
A slim four-point margin separates the leading quartet in the Italian championship with Napoli top with 42 points from 17 games, one point ahead of Juventus. Inter Milan are third a point back and Roma fourth with a game in hand.
Napoli will look to consolidate their lead against sixth-placed Sampdoria who have lost four of their last five matches.
But all could change again the following weekend with Juventus travelling to Verona, Napoli away at Crotone and Inter Milan hosting Lazio.
The winter break this year will start on January 6 so the honorific title of winter champions a psychological edge as did Dybala who ended his goal drought in Juventus' 2-0 Italian Cup win over Genoa midweek.
"He needed a good performance, but above all a goal, as it can help him find some calm and confidence, but it's not as if he ever truly lost his way," said coach Massimiliano Allegri of the player nicknamed "The Jewel."
Roma, meanwhile are also in need of a boost after crashing out of the Italian Cup 2-1 at home to Torino.
But Juventus winger Douglas Costa is is expecting a backlash from the Romans who have the tightest defence in the league.
"It's true they lost in the Italian Cup but we're not expecting the same team on Saturday," warned Costa.
Inter Milan, reeling after last weekend's shock home defeat to Udinese, travel to struggling Sasuolo looking to keep in touch with the leaders before tackling fifth-placed Lazio the following weekend.
All eyes will be on AC Milan and new coach Gennaro Gattuso whose side cancelled their annual Christmas dinner after last weekend's 3-0 loss at lowly Verona.
The club denied rumours early this week that Gattuso had offered to resign but confirmed their players have been sent to a training camp until further notice.
Milan are currently 14 points adrift of the top four and their target of Champions League soccer next season.
The sacking of Vincenzo Montella has not improved fortunes at the Chinese-owned club with former Milan midfielder Gattuso picking up just four points from his three league games in charge.
Milan will face Atalanta on Saturday with both sides on 24 points, three off Sampdoria who, in sixth, occupy the final Europa League qualifying berth.
On December 27, they play Inter Milan in the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup, and three days later travel to Fiorentina in Serie A.

Emmeline Moore
Agence France-Presse/Milan

Barca Tempted By Griezmann As Transfer Window Set To Open

Barcelona are making moves to bring Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann to the Catalan capital while Manchester City are eyeing Alexis Sanchez as clubs around Europe prepare for the January transfer window.
The winter window opens at one minute past midnight on Jan. 1, but Barca is looking for a belated Christmast present in the France international.
Both players will likely move in the summer but deals could be struck in January, with Sanchez holding out for a reported £400,000-per-week (US$535,000) deal from the runaway Premier League leaders when his contract runs out at th end of the season.
Mundo Deportivo claimed Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu has had dinner with Griezmann's parents and sister, who manages the player's affairs, and the club are looking to tie him down to a deal that would see him move in the summer.
Not even Atletico's complaint to FIFA about Barca's public pursual of their star is likely to stop the move from happening, with Barca director Guillermo Amor as good as admitting the meeting took place.
In August, Griezmann's former agent Eric Ohalts revealed that the France forward would have moved to Manchester United in the summer had FIFA not upheld a transfer ban that stopped the Madrid club from buying any reinforcements and now Barca are ready to swoop.
Barca still have full coffers after receiving €222 million ($263 million) from the world record-busting sale of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Griezmann's 100 million euros buyout clause means the club only need to agree personal terms, avoiding the problems they encountered when they failed to sign Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool in August.
Barcelona are however still keeping tabs on Coutinho and could make a lower bid than the €100 million they were prepared to pay in the summer.
After the Neymar signing, PSG has got to sell players to comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.
Inter Milan are among those looking at PSG midfielder Javier Pastore, who admitted last month he was "disappointed" at his lack of first-team action.
PSG coach Unai Emery admitted that Brazilian midfielder Lucas Moura and French international striker Hatem Ben Arfa are interested in leaving in January, but said nothing Angel Di Maria, who has expressed his annoyance at being forced out of the first team by new arrivals Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
Liverpool and Arsenal are keen on PSG's Julian Draxler, but the German international has revealed that he has no plans to leave Paris after finding a new role in Emery's team.
The Qatari-backed Parisians were rumored to be interested in AC Milan's rising star goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, but after reports of the stopper complaining about being coerced into signing his summer six million-euro contract extension, the club and player - and crucially his powerful agent Mino Raiola - have made moves towards a reconciliation.
PSG have given themselves an FFP boost after agreeing the 35-million-euro sale of 21-year-old talent Gonzalo Guedes with Valencia, where the Portugal international is currently on loan from the Ligue 1 leaders.
The sharks are circling Arsenal, as not just Sanchez but other attacking stars Mezut Ozil and Oliver Giroud head towards potential Gunners exits.
City were denied Sanchez on the summer's deadline day, but City boss Pep Guardiola has indicated he may now wait until the summer before making his move.
Sanchez is reportedly unhappy at Arsenal, and the London club are prepared to open negotiations with City - knowing that Chelsea and Real Madrid are also both interested - to avoid seeing the Chilean star leave on a free transfer in the close season.
City's local rivals Manchester United are looking at the Gunners' other attacking star Ozil, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan the likely player to make way for the Germany international.
United boss Jose Mourinho is a long-time admirer of his former a
Real Madrid charge but the Reds could wait until his contract expires at the end of the season if no-one else makes a winter move.
Giroud could leave as Borussia Dortmund look for a partner for star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Chelsea's attacking dynamo Eden Hazard is a top target for Real Madrid, and should the Belgian make a post-World Cup move to Spain, Real's Marco Asensio is keen on joining Guardiola at City. Real are not normally a club that does business in the winter window.
Chelsea are pondering an £80 million bid for Monaco star Thomas Lemar, with Blues striker Michy Batehuayi a potential makeweight as he seeks first-team football to boost his chances of making the Belgian World Cup squad.
Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha is also a target for Antonio Conte's side, as is Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk, who was denied a summer move to Liverpool, while oit-of-favor Blues centre-back David Luiz had Juventus and Real Madrid keen on his signature.

Terry Daley and Steve Griffiths
Agence France-Presse/Paris

Guerrero To Clear His Name After Ban Cut

Peru captain Paolo Guerrero says he is innocent and will fight to clear his name after FIFA reduced his doping ban to six months, allowing him to play at next year's World Cup.
Guerrero, 33, who plays for Flamengo in Brazil, had been suspended by FIFA in Dec. 8 for a year aftet testing positive for cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine after Peru's 0-0 draw away to Argentina in October.
World soccer's governing body reduced the ban to six months on Wednesday, but Guerrero is still not happy.
"Obviously I am not relieved, it's important to me to keep fighting to prove my innocence. It really is an injustice that they punished me as I have showed I am innocent all along, I proved it, and we will keep proving it until they absolve me."
"They cut the legs from under me," Guerrero added. "I did absolutely nothing wrong."
Guerrero claimed the positive test was due to contamination and vowed to be back in action in 2018.
The former Bayern Munich and Hamburg SV forward, who has scored 42 goals for Flamengo since moving to Brazil in gives the Peru attack a much-needed physical presence and has a galvanizing effect on their less experienced players.
The 0-0 draw with Argentina was a crucial result for Peru, who qualified for the Russia World Cup for the first time since 1982.
The South American side have been drawn in a group with France, Denmark and Australia.

Reuters/Rio De Janeiro

Everton Sees Brighter Season

Everton can completely transform their season by getting positive results during a packed Christmast period, midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson has said.
The resurgent Merseyside club has climbed out of the bottom half of the Premier League and into ninth position with three wins and a draw into four games since Sam Allardyce's appointment as manager earlier this month.
Everton will play four league games and an FA Cup fixture against Liverpool over the next two weeks and Iceland international Sigurdsson has backed the team to continue their revival during a tough period.
"It was a very tough and slow start to the season but at the moment things are looking a lot better. We still need to improve on a few things to keep the momentum going heading into this busy Christmast period," Sigurdsson told the club's website, www.evertonfc.com.
"A few good results change everything in this league and now we're looking forward to a lot of games over Christmast and we can turn this season completely around."
Everton host Chelsea at Goodison Park on Saturday and Sigurdsson called for a competent all-round performance against the champions.
"Chelsea are a very good team and we're going have to perform really well and make sure we take our chances as defensively they are very good and not too bad going forward, either!," the 28-year-old added.
"It's going to be a tough game but over the past few weeks we've been getting good results so we'd like to build on that."

Reuters/London

Bristol City Dumps MU Out of League Cup

English Championship side Bristol City dumped Manchester United out of the League Cup on Wednesday, scoring with seconds remaining to beat the holders 2-1 as Chelsea also progressed to the semi-finals after late drama of their own.
United, second in the Premier League, made 10 changes from their weekend victory against West Brom but still boasted a star-studded line-up including a fearsome front three of Marcus Rashford, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Anthony Martial against the second-division high-flyers.
But as the match appeared to be drifting toward extra time with the score at 1-1, unfancied Bristol dug deep to fashion one last chance and Korey Smith's strike sparked scenes of wild celebration at Ashton Gate.
Bristol, third in the Championship, have now beaten four Premier League sides on their match to the last four of the League Cup and their reward is an even-more daunting-looking two-legged tie against runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City.
The other semi-final next month sees an all-London clash between Chelsea and Arsenal.
"It's an overwhelming feeling of pride, to beat Manchester United is incredible," said manager Lee Johnson. "They are a special group. It has been a long time since we had a result like that at Ashton Gate.
"The lads didn't want to go into extra time and the scenes that winner set off were unbelievable. My dad always says he's the most successful Bristol City manager so I have maybe pushed him close tonight."
The home side took the lead after an even first half, Joe Bryan firing the home side ahead in the 51st minute with a left-foot shot that arrowed into the net past the despairing dive of Sergio Romero.
United were only behind for a few minutes before Ibrahomovic blasted the ball through the wall after a softish-looking free-kick awarded for a foul on Paul Pogba in a central position.
Manager Jose Mourinho threw on even more attackers as he pushed for victory, with Romelo Lukaku replacing Daley Blind while Henrikh Mkhitaryan came on for Ibrahimovic.
But despite pressure from the away side, Bristol held their nerve, taking advantage of some sloppy defensive play from United to score deep into injury time through Smith, who burst into the area, chested the ball down and finished coolly with his left foot.
United surged forward for one last push but it was too late and at the final whistle joyous fans streamed onto the pitch.
"Unbelievable, I don't know what to say," said matchwinner Smith. "We played brilliantly like we have all season. I wasn't being tracked when I made the runs forward, I was gutted with the one in the first half but it was a great tackle to be fair.
"I joined when we were in League One with three stands. We have been brilliant this season."
United welcomed midfield general Paul Pogba into the side after the three-match suspension he picked up against Arsenal earlier this month and Ibrahimovic,36, made his first start since damaginh knee ligaments in April.
Mourinho said Bristol were lucky but praised them for their performance.
"They played brilliantly, they fought like it was the game of their lives which probably it was," he said. "A beautiful day for football. A team from the lower division won. A big day for them.

John Weaver
Agence France-Presse/London

Birthday Boy Mbappe Stars As PSG Downs Caen

Kylian Mbappe celebrated his 19th birthday on Wednesday with a goal and an assist as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) cruised to a 3-1 victory over Caen in Ligue 1.
The French teenager has enjoyed a stratospheric rise in 2017 and rounded out a memorable year in style by setting up Edinson Cavani to fire PSG ahead on 21 minutes, before adding a goal of his own on the hour.
Spanish left-back Yuri Berchiche netted his first goal for the club since arriving from Real Sociedad as PSG strolled to a 10th straight home league win despite conceding a late Ivan Santini penalty.
Unai Emery's team head into the winter break nine points clear of defending champions Monaco and Lyon, with both of those sides claiming 2-1 wins over Rennes and Toulouse respectively.
"It's a good win to finish with 50 points, but the goal we conceded is something we want to work on after the holidays," Emery said.
"I think the team has had a very good first half of the season," he added. "We've accomplished our goals of being first in out ChampAgeeague group and being top of the league with a sizeable cushion."
Marseille responded to losing their 12-match unbeaten run at the weekend by coming from a goal behind to defeat Troyes 3-1 at the Velodrome to stay within three points of the Champions League spots.
PSG captain Thiago Silva returned from injury at the Parc des Princes to solidify a defense without the suspended Dani Alves and Presnel Kimpembe, while Neymar shrugged off a bout of illness that forced him to miss training on Tuesday.
Mbappe, sporting dyed white hair for his birthday, was instrumental as PSG surged in front midway through the first half, bursting down the right wing before crossing for Cavani to flick majestically beyond Remy Vercoutre.
It was the Uruguayan's league leading 19th goal of the season and drew him to within one of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's club record of 156 - achieved in just four prolific seasons in the French capital.
Giovanni Lo Celso, filling in for the banned Marco Verratti in central midfield, created the hosts' second goal on 57 minutes, getting to the byline and delivering a cross for Mbappe to confidently sweep home.
Neymar went close to adding a third when he broke clear of the Caen defence, but the Brazilian was denied by a terrific low stop from Vercoutre as the veteran goalkeeper tipped the ball onto the post.
Berchiche put the game beyond reach on 81 minutes after collecting a pass from Neymar and hammering low into the far corner, although Croatia striker Santini pulled a goal back from the spot late on after Silva was penalised for a handball.
Radamel Falcao struck for the 15th time this campaign as Monaco won at home to Rennes thanks to an 81st-minute goal from Keita Balde after Wahbi Khazri had levelled for the visitors.
Nabil Fekir converted a first-half penalty and former Manchester United full-back Rafael scored in stoppage time as Lyon beat Toulouse despite a last-gasp spot-kick from Max-Alain Gradel.
"PSG are setting a fairly high pace. For us the main goal is to finish on the podium and to carry on in the second half of the season like we finished the first," Lyon captain Fekir said.
Bryan Pele put Troyes ahead at Marseille, but Rudi Garcia's men roared back with goals from Dimitri Payet, Luiz Gustavo and Valere Germain, while Emiliano Sala grabbed a 92nf-minute winner for Nantes in a 1-0 victory at Amiens.
Nice were held to a 1-1 draw at Lille in the absence of suspended Italian striker Mario Balotelli, the result enough to move the struggling hosts out of the bottom two.

Martyn Wood
Agence France-Presse/Paris

Barca Edges Real On Income But Liga Growth Key To Usurping United

Barcelona head into Saturday's "Clasico" against Real Madrid with a whopping 11-point gap over their bitter rivals in the La Liga title race - and they also have the advantage in financial terms, albeit by a smaller margins.
The two teams are separated by a hair's breadth in the latest edition of the Deloitte Money League, with Barcelona generating €620.2 million (US$736.74 million) in revenue in 2015/2016 compared with Real's 620.1 million.
Barca also sit above Real in the 2017 Forbes Sports Money Index, which ranks clubs according to their estimate value as a brand. The Catalan club is estimated to be worth $3.64 billion and Real 3.58 billion.
However, the two Spanish clubs trail Manchester United in both tables. The 20-times English champions had revenues of 689 billion euros and are estimated to be worth $3.69 billion.
Barcelona also have the heftier wage bill, according to the 2017 Global Sports Salary Survey, paying their squad an average $8,576,750 annually compared with Real's $8,092,283.
According to Timothy Bridge, senior consultant for Deloitte Sports Business Group, Barca's narrow lead over Real in commercial terms is the result of their enduring drive to built revenues, which began when Ferran Soriano, now chief executive at Manchester City, joined the Catalan club in 2003.
Soriano's arrival was accompanied by sustained success on the field, with Barca winning eight Liga titles and four Champions League since 2005.
"There was a concentrated effort in the early 2000s to really capitalize on their branding and grow revenue accordingly," Bridge told Reuters.
"The effort that went into ensuring Barca was a commercially viable was assisted by the fact the team performed so strongly, and the two things go hand in hand.
"The strong performance of the team helps them get more idols in the team, which drives commercial value. People want to be associated with biggest and best brands and you have to pay for that exposure."
Barca earn 58 million euros per year from their four-year shirt sponsorship deal with Japanese retailer Rakuten, which was signed in November 2016, out-stripping the 38 million euros Real receive annually from airline Emirates, although that agreement is up for renewal next year.
The two club's best chance of unseating United as number one in terms of revenues and brand values, however, depends on La Liga catching up with the Premier League in terms of worldwide audience.
"It's about supporting the growth of the league overall to ensure international broadcast rights are maximized," added Bridge.
La Liga signed a record broadcast rights deal worth 1.555 billion euros in 2015 after switching to a model based on collective bargaining. President Javier Tebas has said the next deal, coming into effect from 2019/2020, could be worth 2.3 billion.
The league has made huge strides in building its international audience in the past year and has switched Saturday's game between Real and Barca from its traditional Spanish night-time kickoff to a lunchtime start in a bid to broaden its appeal to viewers in Asia.
The objective is to use the popularity of the flagship fixture to promote the whole league.
"One of our key priorities is to present La Liga as much broader than Real Madrid and Barcelona," said Joris Evers, La Liga's global director of communications.

Richard Martin
Reuters/Barcelona

Arsenal Wasted Oxlade-Chamberlain Says Klopp

Jurgen Klopp has risked Arsene Wenger's wrath ahead of Liverpool's visit to the Emirates Stadium by claiming the Arsenal manager failed to get the best out of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Liverpool in August after Wenger decided to cash in before the England midfielder's contract expired.
The 24-year-old never quite lived up to his early promise at Arsenal after his switch from Southampton.
But, after a slow start at Liverpool following his US$46-million move, Oxlade Chamberlain has started to hit his stride in recent weeks - just in time for his first return to Emirates on Friday.
Reds boss Klopp has been impressed by Oxlade-Chamberlain's development at Anfield, saying: "He had to adapt. I know how it is if you're kind of a big signing.
"You have to perform immediately. But it:s difficult.
"I was happy from the first day about his involvement, about his attitude, and since then he became more and more a Liverpool player."
But Klopp believes Oxlade-Chamberlain would already be an even more potent force if he had been instructed to add a goal threat to his game while he was with Arsenal.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has scored just twice in 20 appearances for Liverpool and managed 20 goals in 198 games for Arsenal.
Klopp believes that poor strike rate is down to Wenger prioritizing the talents of Alexis Sanchez and Mezut Ozil.
"I think the biggest improvement, or the biggest potential he still has, is really being involved in goalscoring situations, because he has it in himself," Klopp said.
As if that wasn't enough to irk Wenger, Klopp also made a point of highlighting how the Frenchman, so renowned for his purist principles, he often used a far more rudimentary approach against liverpool based around the aerial ability of Olivier Giroud. With Manchester City running away with the Premier League title race, the focus at the Emirates will on the battle for a top four finish.
It is a crucial clash for both sides as fourth placed Liverpool are one point ahead of fifth Arsenal in the battle to qualify for the Champions League.
Wenger made it clear how important Liverpool's visit is when he made 11 changes for Tuesday's 1-0 League Cup quarter-final win over West Ham.

Steven Griffiths
Agence France-Presse/London

Dybala, Higuain Set Up Turin Derby Clash

Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain booked holders Juventus an Italian Cup quarter-final derby clash with Torino after a 2-0 win over Genoa on Wednesday.
Dybala returned to goalscoring form after being benched for consecutive games by coach massimiliano Allegri, breaking the deadlock just before half-time and setting up fellow Argentine Higuain for the second on 76 minutes.
"These games can be traps, but the important thing was to qualify," said Higuain, who came on as a late substitute for Doublas Costa.
"I'm happy to have scored and I'm happy for Dybala: he started strong and when he didn't score for a few games, it is normal that there is criticism, but it was too much.
"I hope he can find his balance with this goal."
Juventus host Torino on January 3 after their city rivals earlier eliminated nine-time winners Roma as goals in either half from Lorenzo De Silvestri and Simone Edera sealed a 2-1 win.
Torino goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic played a key role with impressive saves, including from an Edin Dzeko penalty before Patrick Schick scored his first gosl for Roma five minutes from time.
"We conceded too much on set-pieces, we were naive in front of goal," said Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco.
Torino took the lead six minutes before the break through Silvestri, with Edera heading in the second on 72 minutes.
Roma were awarded a penalty after Schick got one back, with the hosts pouring forward in search of the equalizer with Dzeko, Stephan El Shaarawy and Schick denied by the post.

AFP/Milan

Vela Scores Farewell Goal For Sociedad

Sevilla missed the chance to leapfrog Real Madrid into La Liga's top four as Carlos Vela waved goodbey to Real Sociedad with a goal in a 3-1 win for the Basques on Wednesday.
Vela will join new Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC in January after 250 appearances for Sociedad.
The Mexican was given a standing ovation at Anoeta when he was introduced as a
late substitute and the crowd got the ending they craved as Vela slotted home his 73th goal for the club in stoppage time to seal Sociedad's first win in seven games.
Sociedad deservedly went in front when Inigo Martinez headed home Asier Illarsmendi's cross on 17 minutes.
However, Wissam Ben Yedder brought Sevilla level just before half-time as his shot sneaked under Geronimo Rulli for the Frenchman's 14th goal of thr season.
Sevilla were then having the better of the second period until substitute Igor Zubeldia saw a shot with his first touch deflect off Sergio Escudero to leave David Soria in the Sevilla goal helpless.
And Vela rounded off the scoring with a clinical near-post finish to inflict Sevilla's sixth defeat in their last seven away games in La Liga.
Eduardo Berizzo's men remain fifth but could slip five points off the Champions League places with the top four in action on Friday and Saturday ahead of a two-week winter break.
Earlier, Getafe moved up to seventh as early goals from Juan Cala and Amath Ndiaye secured a 2-0 win over Las Palmas, who remains rooted to the foot of the table.

AFP/Madrid

Barca Reported For Illegal Approach

Atletico Madrid reported Barcelona to football's governing body FIFA over illegal contact made to star forward Antoine Griezmann, Atletico Club sources confirmed on Tuesday.
"The complaint has been presented for repeated contact between Barcelona, the player and his team," an Atletico source told AFP.
Griezmann renewed his contract until 2022 in June and Atletico consider contact made by Barcelona not only breaks FIFA's rules, but could also affect the integrity of La Liga.
Barcelona lead the league with Atletico their closest challengers six points behind in second.
"He is a player under a long contract and this can't happen. Moreover, the club considers that it could affect the competition where Barca are currently top and Atletico second," added the Atletico source.
Barca were slapped with a one year transfer ban for the illegal recruitment of foreign minors by FIFA that was served in 2015.
Should the Catalan giants be found guilty, they could be handed another ban on registering new players.
"We can confirm that we have received a complaint from Atletico de Madrid concerning the said matter," a FIFA spokesperson told AFP.
Barcelona-based sports daily Mundo Deportivo reported on Sunday that Barca's president Josep Maria Bartomeu had recently met with Griezmann's family.
The Catalan giants are expected to be willing to pay the French intermational's £100 million ($117.8 million) buyout clause at the end of the season to avoid negotiating with Atletico.
Barca's director of institutional relations Guillermo Amor turned down the opportunity to deny a meeting had taken place later on Sunday after Barca's 4-0 trashing of Deportivo La Coruna.
Griezmann, 26, agreed to sign a new contract with Atletico in June after the club had an appeal against a transfer ban rejected.
Top scorer of Euro 2016, Griezmanm said it would have been "dirty" to walk out on the club when they couldn't replace him until January.
However, Atletico coach Diego Simeone accepted last week that Griezmann's departure at some point in the future is inevitable.
"Of course Griezmann will be able to leave at some point," Simeone told French sports daily L'Equipe.
"If a player comes to me and says, 'coach, I have a chance of a lifetime and wany to leave', and if he's left everything on the pitch for me like Griezmann, I'll say, 'no problem'."

Kieran Canning
Agence France-Presse/Madrid

Man City Joins Arsenal In League Cup Semis After Penalty Drama

A much-changed Manchester City held off a spirited challenge from Leicester on Tuesday to reach the League Cup semi-finals following a dramatic penalty shootout, as Arsenal also progressed.
Pep Guardiola showcased the riches at his disposal by maxing nine changes as his runaway Premier League leaders held their nerve to edge through 4-3 on spot-kicks after the two sides were locked at 1-1 following extra time.
Arsenal beat West Ham 1-0 to keep alive the prospect of two mouthwatering semi-finals featuring four of English soccer's "Big Six."
In an ironic twist at the King Power Stadium Jamie Vardy - who had earlier scored a penalty deep into time added on to keep the tie alive - missed his spot kick in the shootout and Riyad Mahrez had his effort saved by City keeper Claidio Bravo.
"The way we had to react was not easy, we were tired, we had a lot of young players, Danilo was playing at center-back for the first time in his life," said Guardiola. "It's not easy because Jamie Vardy and Riyadh Mahrez were there.
"What I liked the most is how we reacted and overcame that situation. It's a good indication for the future."
City and Leicester have won the League Cup seven times between them but Guardiola and Foxes boss Claude Puel showed their priorities lie elsewhere with atmost all of the big names missing from the two starting line-ups.
Despite thr changes in personnel, City - featuring England teenage stat Phil Foden - dominated the early stages of the contest, twice going close to scoring through Ilkay Gundogan.
Leicester - without the likes of Vardy and Mahrez, who were on the bench - began to stretch City's defence through the lively Kelechi Iheanacho, formerly of City, but just when they appeared to have a foothold in the game, the visitors struck.
Gundogan, one of only two players to keep their places following Saturday's 4-1 victory over Tottenham, surged forward from the centre of midfield and fed Bernardo Silva, who finished coolly through the legs of Ben Hamer in the 26th minute.
Leicester started the second half brightly while City struggled to regain their earlier fluency and Puel threw on Vardy and Mahrez aftet about 11minutes to the delight of the home crowd.
As they continued to press, the manager also introduced Demarai Gray and Leicester were given fresh reason to hope when a match official held up a board announcing there would be eight minutes of added time.
With the seconds ticking down, Gray burst into the box and went down under a challenge from City substitute Kyle Walker and the referee pointed to the spot.
Vardy slotted home under intense pressure to take the tie into extra time, in which neither side could break the deadlock.
The match went to penalties and it was Leicester's star pair who blinked first.
"We were unlucky," said Puel. "We have had most chancea. It was a fantastic game between two good teams."
City, already being hailed as one of the finest side of the modern era, are on a record-breaking run of 16 straight Premier League victories and are through to the Champions League knockout stages.
Arsenal bookef their place in the semi-finals courtesy of a Danny Wellbeck strike shortly before half time.
Manager Arsene Wenger fielded an entirely changed starting eleven from the side that beat Newcastle at the weekend against David Moyes's West Ham, who have been on a good recent run.
On Wednesday, Jose Mourinho's Manchester United travel to Championship high-flyers Bristol City while Chelsea host Bournemouth.

John Weaver
Agence France-Presse/London

Chinese Soccer Players Come To Brazil For Extra Polish

Arriving in Brazil, Chinese footballer Long Yushuo took on the more easily pronounced name Thomas, but it's the locals' skills with the ball that he's really hoping to adopt.
Thomas, 16, is one of a squad of youth players from Chinese team Shandong Luneng dispatched to polish their game at Desportivo Brasil club in Porto Feliz, near Sao Paulo, which Shandong bought in 2014.
The idea is that the 36,000-kilometers round trip will enable these youngsters to bring back something that all the money and desire in China's burgeoning football scene cannot otherwise get - Brazilian soccer magic.
When Thomas and another 22 players from the under-16 side arrived from Jinan, capital of Shandong province, in April, they knew little of Brazil.
Along with football practice, they study Portuguese in the quiet town of 50,000 people. But Thomas, who picked his name in honor of Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller, is clear about what his principal lesson has been in Porto Feliz.
"Technique," he said, along-side his teammates, who all wore Shandong's orange strip.
China may not have much soccer playing pedigree but, encouraged by President Xi Jinping and lavish spending, it is working to catch up quickly.
Luneng, a subsidiary of the chief national electricity company, is one of the big investors in the expansion plan, which has made China the world's fifth biggest transfer market in 2016. Of all the foreign imports to the Super League, the 21 Brazilian players comprise the biggest contingent.
The national team, though, has yet to see much benefit. China lags in 60th place in FIFA rankings and did not qualify for next year's World Cup.
So China's strategist decided to try to unpick the secrets of Brazilian football so that the next generation can get the missing edge.
Desportivo Brasil is not an ordinary club, but more like a training academy, so the Chinese are in good hands.
The club hosts another five Chinese players from the under-20 team as well as 130 Brazilian players ranging in age from 14 to the club's own third regional division professional team, all seeking the excellence that will let them break through to the top level.
For the youngsters in Porto Feliz, where Brazilian and Chinese flags fly side by side, the future should be bright.
"This is the group the Chinese government wants to serve as the core of a team for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the World Cup in 2022. We have a heavy responsibility," Pignataro said.
After swotting over history books and other academic classes in the mornings, the main focus is getting out onto the training field.
Vitinho, a skillful forward, has done three seasons in Porto Feliz and is now part of the under-20 team. Given how integrated the 18-year-old-is - even becoming a fan of Brazilian funk music - few remember that his real name is Liu Chaoyang.
"I want to play in Europe, but I need to work a lot to improve," he said in fluent Portuguese.
The same might be said for the whole Chinese experiment, but Zhao Shuo, a 25-year-old assistant coach, says he is ready to take the time.
He has spent two months following his Brazilian counterparts around and says the only area where he might have the advantage is in the iron discipline associated with Asian teams.
"Football needa time because it's a kind of education and education is not a short-term thing.
Maybe we will need 10 or 20 years or more," he said in English, pointing to Japan as example.
"We have to learn from our neighbors and be patient," he said, never taking his eyes off the action on the field.

Rosa Sulleiro
Agence France-Presse/Porto Feliz

Allardyce Throws Everton Into Top Half

Everton manager Sam Allardyce's ability to quickly get teams out of relegation trouble is the defining characteristic of his management career but his impact at Goodison Park has been so swift he is already looking at a top-half finish.
Everton's 3-1 wins over Swansea City on Monday pushed the Merseysiders up to ninth in the Premier League and the worries of a long scrapt against the drop already seem a distant memory.
"The target now? Top half but let's not get carried away," said former England manager Allardyce after second-half goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Wayne Rooney, with a penalty, had secured a comeback victory over the bottom-placed Welsh club.
Everton were in the relegation zone when they sacked Dutch-man Ronald Koeman on Oct. 23 following a humiliating 5-2 loss at home to Arsenal.
The club's Under-23 coach David Unsworth then had an extended spell as caretaker manager during which he managed just two wins in eight games.
Unsworth's second and final win, a 4-0 success against West Ham United, came with Allardyce already watching from the stands and, while he was not on the bench for that game, he is making sure that victory counts on his record.
Since formally taking the role, Everton have beaten Huddersfield Town and Newcastle United and drawn at local rivals Liverpool before Monday's win.
"To collect 13 out of 15 points is outstanding considering the position where we have come from," said Allardyce.
"We have scores 11 goals in five games and kept clean sheets. We are a team that comes back from 1-0 down to win and that shows the character."
Allardyce, 63, has never had a team of his relegated from the Premier League, despite working with clubs such as Sunderland and Crystal Palace who were in deep trouble when he took over.
He managed to maintain top flight football for clubs such as Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers and took West Ham back into the Premier League - and kept them there - after their relegation.
Focusing on solid defending and good organization has again brought results for the man dubbed 'Fireman Sam' but he said his assistants, such as former Leicester City boss Craig Shakespeare and veteran coach Sammy Lee, deserved their share of the credit.
"From a tactical point of view, I've simplified the game and I'm man-managing the players. I brought some experienced and talented staff with me, along with the rest of the staff," he said.

Simon Evans
Reuters/Liverpool

Sigurdsson Beauty Adds To Swansea Woes

Gylfi Sigurdsson's stunning goal against his former club maintained Everton's unbeaten record under Sam Allardyce with a 3-1 win on Monday that left Swansea rooted to the foot of the Premier League.
The 28-year-old Icelandic international left Swansea for a record £45 million (US$60 million) in the close season and his 30-yard effort in the second half illustrated why Everton wanted him so badly.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with his seventh goal in all competitions, had brought Everton level after Leroy Fer had given the visitors the lead with his first goal in 38 matches.
Wayne Rooney wrapped up the points with a penalty - he had an earlier one saved before Calvert-Lewin knocked in the rebound - for his 10th goal of the season.
Victory sees Everton rise to ninth - a heady spot given they were in the relegation places on Oct. 23 - and unbeaten in five matches under Allardyce.
"In games you need something special and Gylfi provided that," Allardyce told SkySports.
"From there it was nice and comfortable.
"It is a great three points considering how poorly we played in the first half."
Swansea, who lost their sixth successive away match and have only one win in their last 10 games, are four points adrift of safety.
"The mood in the dressing room is very flat," Swansea manager Paul Clement told the BBC.
"We're bottom of the table on 12 points. We've got to focus on getting to 15 points at the halfway mark."
The visitors suffered a huge blow when Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Bony pulled up injured with what Clement believes is a hamstring problem and had to go off in the fifth minute.
It was the visitors, though, who broke the deadlock.
Jordan Pickford could do nothing about Fer's close range half-volley after the Dutchman had escaped Ashley William's attention, nipping around the back of the defender to give the visitors the lead with only their 10th goal of the campaign.
However, the sides went in at half-time all square as in time added on Roque Mesa felled Aaron Lennon to concede a penalty.
Lukasz Fabianski did superbly to save Rooney's spot-kick but Calvert-Lewin followed up to rifle the ball home.
Rooney, though, said he is not going to surrender penalty duties even though he has the second worst miss record in Premier League history - 10 from 33 with England and Newcastle great Alan Shearer missing 11 of 67.
"I'm a confident person and believe in myself," Rooney told Sky Sports.
There was not a lot to choose between the sides for the first 20 minutes of the second period until Sigurdsson came up with his moment of magic.
He came in from the left wing after receiving the ball from Rooney and unleashed an unstoppable right-footed curling effort into thr far top corner.
Swansea's luck was well and truly out when Jonjoe Kenny went down in the area under a challenge by Martin Olsson 18 minutes from time and referee Jon Moss pointed to the spot despite the contact being outside the box.
Rooney this time made no mistake, though Fabianski got a hand to his powerfully-hit spot-kick.

Agence France-Presse
Liverpool

Silva Targets Return As PSG Mull Winter Moves

Paris Saint-Germain(PSG) coach Unai Emery is hopeful captain Thiago Silva will return from injury for Wednesday's final match of the year at home to Caen before the French league heads into its winter break.
The Brazil international has not featured since hobbling off during a 3-1 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League a fortnight ago, but has resumed full training and could replace the suspended Presnel Kimpembe in central defense.
"I believe and hope, like Thiago Silva and the doctor, that he will be okay to play," Emery said on Monday, as PSG look to remain unbeaten at the Parc de Princes under the Spaniard.
After Wednesday's fixture, the runaway Ligue 1 leaders will then have 18 days until their next match - against Rennes in the last 64 of the French Cup on January 7.
But with PSG looking to balance their books following the August arrivals of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, January could prove a busy month for the club in the transfer market.
Emery has already spoken with Lucas Moura and Hatem Ben Arfa about possible exits, while Argentine pair Javier Pastore and Angel Di Maria continue to be regularly linked with moves away from Paris.
PSG have mooted recruiting a holding midfielder to replace the oft-injured Thiago Motta, but sporting director Antero Henrique has ruled out any further acquisitions for the time being.
"Right now, we have no need to dip into the winter transfer market. An opportunity may always arrive but at the moment the answer is no," Henrique told Le Parisien newspaper.
Caen are without a win in four matches ahead of the trip to PSG - their total of 11 goals scored is the second worst tally in France, although only PSG and Montpellier have a better defensive record this term.
Neymar excelled on his return, after missing games against Lille and Strasbourg, with two goals and two assist in Saturday's 4-1 win over Rennes, but PSG will also be without Marco Verratti and Dani Alves as both serve one match bans.
Second-place Monaco, who trail PSG by nine points, go in search of a fourth straight win against Rennes at the Stade Louis II, where coach Leonardo Jardim is enjoying rebuilding last year's title-winning side.
"I'm passionate about this project, it's sort of my project," said Jardim. "It's my fourth season here. I'm passionate but realistic. I believe we can succeed with this project.
"Other challenges were offered to me but I didn't leave because I'm driven by this project. I'm happy to work here. I'm going to continue, even if we don't know what the future holds.
"There are two years left on my contract and I'm making the most day after day of the club and Monaco."
Lyon are level on points with Monaco after Sunday's 2-0 victory over Marseille and will bid to keep pace with the defending champions when they travel to Toulouse.
Marseille will look to regroup at home to Troyes after a howler by Steve Mandanda contributed to Rudi Garcia's team's 12-match unbeaten run coming to an end.
Mario Balotelli has scored eight goals in his last eight games in all competitions to help Nice recover from a dreadful start, but the Italian will be absent against Lille due to suspension.

Martyn Wood
Agence France-Presse/Paris

Mane, Salah To Contest CAF Award

Prolific goal-scorers Mohamed Salah of Egypt and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon were named on Monday among the three finalists for the African Player of the Year award.
Sadio Mane of Senegal completes a list announced in Ghana for the highest annual Confederation of African Football (CAF) individual honor.
Liverpool sharpshooter Salah is the leading English Premier League scorer this season with 14 goals, having moved from Roma in the off-season.
He also scored crucial goals as Egypt reached the 2018 World Cup in Russia, which will be the first appearance by the Pharaohs at the global showpiece in 28 years.
Borussia Dortmund striker Aubameyang lies second in the Bundesliga scorers charts with 13 goals, two leas than Polan and Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski.
Mane, a team-mate of Salah at Liverpool, was the pivotal figure as Senegal reached the World Cup for the first time since 2002.
African Player of the Year title-holder Riyad Mahrez of Algeria and Leicester City was not among the 30-man original shortlist for the award this year. CAF spokesman junior Binyam told AFP the emergency committee of the organization decided that the Africa-based Player of the Year and referee categories should be removed.
He gave no reasons for the decisions after 10 footballers and six referees had been shortlisted last month for the awards.

AFP/Johannesburg

Hegazi Gets Top Deal In West Brom

West Bromwich Albion have made defender Ahmed Hegazi's loan move from Egyptian side Al Ahly into a permanent deal, keeping him at the Hawthorns until 2022, the Premier League club announced on Monday.
The 26-year-old, who joined West Brom in July, has started in all 18 f their league games this season and has scored one goal - the winner in the season opener against Bournemourh.
"I am very happy with the Club and very happy to be part of this group of players," Egypt international Hegazi told the club's website (www.wba.co.uk).
"I know the results are not what we would want at the moment. But there is great spirit here and I am sure that we will turn the results in our favor before long."
West Brom are winless in 16 league games and second bottom with 14 points after two wins, eight draws and eight defeats. They travel to 17th-placed Stoke City on Saturday.

Reuters/London  

Postecoglou To Manage Yokohama

Former Australia coach Ange Postecoglou, who quit last month after guiding the Socceroos to the World Cup, will manage Yokohama F-Marinos in Japan next season, the club announced on Tuesday.
Greek-born Postecoglou will replace French coach Erick Mombaerts, who said in early November he would be leaving the J-League club at the end of the season to return to Europe.
"I am excited to be moving to Japan and returning to club football," said the 52-year-old Postecoglou in a statement, adding he was particularly looking forward to working with the club's younger players.
Yokohama F-Marinos are part-owned by the City Football Group (CFG), who also own English Premier League club Manchester City, Major League Soccer's New York City, Melbourne City in Australia and Uruguayan clun Atletico Torque.
Club president Koichiro Furukawa said Postecoglou would encourage "an attractive and entertaining style of football which will suit our approach."
Yokohama F-Marinos came fifth in the J-League last season, trailing champions Kawasaki by 13 points.
Australia have said they do not expect to appoint a coach for next year's World Cup until February, amid a "high level of interest" in the job since Postecoglou stepped down.
Former United States boss and Germany legend Jurgen Klinsmann is reportedly keen on the job.
Australia have been drawn in a tough Group C at the World Cup, along with higher-ranked teams France, Denmark and Peru.

AFP/Tokyo

Juventus Goes Second, AC Milan's Troubles Continue

Juventus moved second in Serie A after a trademark Miralem Pjanic free-kick led the reigning champions to a comfortable 3-0 win at Bologna on Sunday, while AC Milan were plunged further imto crisis by a heavy loss at lowly Verona.
Massimilliano Allegri's Juve are on 41 points, just a point behind leaders Napoli after leapfrogging Inter Milan, who suffered a shock first defeat of the season to Udinese on Saturday.
Bosnian Pjanic opening the scoring with a stunning 27th-minute free-kick and turned provider nine minutes later, clipping over a beautiful pass to Mario Mandzukic that the Croat smartly chested down and stroked past Bologna keeper Antonio Mirante.
Blaise Matuidi make sure of the points in the 64th minute with his first Serie A goal, the France international crashing a clearance back past Mirante on the half-volley.
"I feel good, I'm improving, the team got the three points we needed and I am happy," midfielder Pjanic said.
"We have to be ready for the next match against Roma (in Turin on Saturday). They are a very strong side and will be challenging for the Scudetto."
Juve have kept four straight clean sheets in the league since losing at Sampdoria last month and never looked in trouble at Bologna, despite troubled talent Paulo Dybala being left out.
Argentine Dybala was benched again by Allegri amid rumors of personal problems that have affected his form and he had something to prove when he was brought on with 15 minutes left.
He forced a smart save from Mirante but looked a shadow of the player that helped fire Juve to the Champions League final last season.
The crisis enveloping Juve's fellow Italian giants Milan deepened after their 3-0 defeat at Verona, who handed Milan their eighth defeat of the season thanks to a powerful header from Antonio Caracciolo and two smart finishes from Moise Kean and Daniel Bessa.
Milan's expensively-assembled squad has failed to get going in Serie A, and they are languishing in seventh place on just 24 points, 18 points behind Napoli and 14 adrift of the fourth and final Champions League place.
"There are no excuses, we embarrassed ourselves," said Gattuso after the defeat.
"In the first 25 minutes we created loads of chances but they made us pay with their first opportunity.
"Up until their first goal we played well, creating plenty, but we collapsed at the first obstacle put in our way, as has happened often this season."
Fourth spot is held by Roma, who are just four points behind Napoli with a game in hand on the top three after a dramatic 1-0 win over Cagliari on Saturday, decided in the 94th minute by Federico Fazio.
Lazio are fifth, but are now nine points off top spot, albeit also with a game in hand, after a dramatic 3-3 draw at Atalanta on Sunday.
Without the suspended Ciro Immobile, Sergei Milinkovic-Savic scored twice to draw Lazio level before half-time after falling two goals down early on.
Josip Ilicic completed a double of his own from the penalty spot to put the hosts back in front, and although former Liverpool midfielder Luis Alberto equalized again, Lazio failed to find a winner.
Crotone moved out of the bottom three with a 1-0 win over Chievo gained thanks to Ante Budimir's 33rd-minute tap-in.
Sassuolo snatched a last gasp 1-0 win at Sampdoria through Alessandro Matri, who made up for Matteo Politano's 82nd-minute penalty miss for the away side.

Agence France-Presse
Milan

United Downs Albion, Red Rocks Bournemouth

Manchester United kept their faint Premier League titles hopes alive with a 2-1 win at West Bromwich Albion, while Liverpool moved back into the top four with a 4-0 rout of Bournemouth on Sunday.
With Manchester City romping away with the title race, United had to win at the Hawthorns to have any chance of reeling in their local rivals.
Romelu Lukaku put Jose Mourinho's side in front with a 27th-minute header and Jesse Lingard netted with the aid of a deflection to double the visitors' lead in the 35th minute.
But what looked destined to be a comfortable win became tense when Gareth Barry proded home for Albion in the 77th minute.
United ended the game defending for their lives before claiming the win that left them 11 points behind City.
"I think we deserved the win. We were the best team. We controlled the game for a long time," Mourinho said.
"The intensity in the first half maybe we didn't have in the second half.
"West Brom are really powerful in the air. But after their goal we controlled it again."
At Dean Court, Liverpool demonstrated their goal power with a clinical display that took them above Arsenal and Burnley into fourth place.
Red boss Jurgen Klopp said: "I am really pleased about everything.
I like how we defended different situations and our tactical discipline was good.
"It was a fantastic first goal and the third was world class.
"We could have scored more, but we didn't really give a lot away so it was well deserved."
Ending a two-match winless run in the league, Klopp's side took the lead in the 20th minute.
Philippe Coutinho took possession 30 yards from goal and weaved his way past several Bournemouth defenders before planting a precise strike past Asmir Begovic.
Liverpool's second goal came six minutes later when Bournemouth failed to clear a corner and Roberto Firmino hooked the ball into the six-yard box, where defender Dejan Lovren stooped to head in.
Mohamed Salah bagged number three for the Reds in the 44th minute.
The Egypt winger ran on to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's pass, held off Charlie Daniels, cut inside Nathan Ake and slotted pass Begovic for his 20th goal in a superb first season with Liverpool.
Firmino wrapped up Liverpool's commanding peformance in the 66th minute, heading in Coutinho's cross despite Bournemouth's appeals for offside.

Steven Griffiths
Agence France-Presse/London

Dazzling Man City Disappearing Into The Distance

Manchester City soared above the fog swirling round the Etihad Stadium to demolish Totenham Hotspur 4-1 and leaves the rest of the Premier League peering into the distance in search of Pep Guardiola's record-breaking team on Saturday.
Totenham, which began the day fourth, was supposed to provide a proper test but, just like City's previous 15 opponents, was outclassed as goals by Ilkay Gundogan before halftime and Kevin de Buyne and two from Raheem Sterling after it put City 14 points clear.
City's 16th successive win took them to 52 points, one game short of the halfway point of the season.
Manchester United, which plays at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, has 38 as does champion Chelsea that beat Southampton 1-0 on Saturday thanks to Marcos Alonso's free kick.
Arsenal sent Newcastle United into the drop zone with a 1-0 win that lifted the Gunners to fourth with 33 points while Burnley is fifth, a further point back, after a 0-0 draw at Brighton and Hove Albion for whom Glenn Murray missed a penalty.
Tottenham tumbled down to seventh behind Liverpool, which is at Bournemouth on Sunday, on goal difference.
There were two big movers at the bottom with Crystal Palace winning 3-0 at Leicester City and West Ham United doing the same at Stoke City to move out of the relegation zone into 14th and 15th places respectively. Stoke is 17th.
Even without the absent David Silva, City were too clinical for Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham side and could even afford a second-half penalty miss from Gabriel Jesus.
"It was solid, good, against one team demanding to be intense without the ball," Guardiola said. "Since August we are so happy and I admire the most the way we play without the ball - thank you to the club to provide me with these amazing players."
City's attacking soccer is a thing to behold but there was nothing fancy about its 14th minute opener as Gundogan was left unmarked to head in from a corner - a goal Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino described as an early Christmas present.
To its credit Tottenham took the game to City in the second half but were cut open in the 70th minute as De Bruyne finished off a rapid counter-attack.
Sterling's double in the final 10 minutes took his tally for the season to 15 in all competitions before Christian Eriksen scored a late consolation for the visitors.
"Today yes, they showed better quality than us. The better team wom," Pochettino said.
Chelsea has won eight of its last 10 games, but like Arsenal that beat Newcastle with a Mezut Ozil goal, is realistically playing for a top-four position unless City suffers a new year collapse of dramatic proportions.
"In the last 10 games we won eight games," Chelsea boss Antonie Conte saif. "Some people are forgetting this run because there is a team that is winning every game."
At the bottom Christian Benteke went from zero to hero as he scored his first goal of the season, and Crystal Palace's first on the road, as they trounced Leicester with Wilfried Zaha and Bakary Sako also on target.
Belgian striker Benteke made amends after disobeying team orders to take, and miss, a crucial penalty last week in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.
"The day after (the penalty miss) he came in and held his hand up, he spoke to the players and myself and made the point that he would make it up to team, and that is what he has done," Palace manager Roy Hodgson said.
Marko Arnautovic scored against his old club Stoke as West Ham made it seven points from three games without conceding.
Huddersfield Town ended a long scoring drought on the road as they thumped stumbling Watford 4-1.

Martyn Herman
Reuters/London

Ronaldo Wants To Retire at Real Madrid

Criatiano Ronaldo insisted he wants to finish his playing career at Real Madrid after making more history with the goal that saw the Spanish giant crowned world champion on Saturday.
Ronaldo scored the only goal of the Club World Cup final against Gremio to win the tournament for the fourth time and become the all-time top scorer in the competition with seven goals.
"I would really like to, but things don't depend on me. What depends on me is what I do on the pitch," said Ronaldo, when asked if he planned to retire at Madrid.
"I am not the one who runs the club, that is for those in charge.
"My job is on the pitch and I think I am doing it well, the rest I can't control."
Ronaldo, 32, signed a new deal to 2021 with the club just over a year ago, but sparked speculation over his future after leading Madrid to the Champions League in June due to his apparent discontent with the club's lack of involvement in a tax case brought against him by Spanish prosecutors.
The Portuguese appeared in court in July over accusations he evaded £14.7 million (US$17.3 million) worth of tax between 2011 and 2014.
"Obviously, but at the right moment," said Real coach Zinedine Zidane when asked if Ronaldo should be rewarded with another new contract.
"For us it is fundamental Cristiano stays. He is at his club, his home and no one can do what he keeps doing, so hopefully he stays here until he retires."
Ronaldo has smashed Real's clun records since joining from Manchester United in 2009 and is way out in front as Madrid's all-time top scorer with 434 goals in 414 appearances.
He also picked up his fifth Ballon d'Or to match Barcelona rival Lionel Messi's record mark earlier this month and Madrid president Florentino Perez hailed Ronaldo as the heir to club legend Alfredo di Stefano, who led Real to win the first five European Cups.
"He is the best without doubt. Not just for his talent or his technique but his ambition, his effort, his leadership, it is difficult to find players like Cristiano," Perez told Real Madrid TV.
"I watched Alfredo di Stefano from when I was a kid, he is the successor to him. This is a different Madrid, but Cristiano has marked an era."
Ronaldo claimed he was th best player in history after picking up his latest Ballon d'Or and backed up that bold statement when asked about comparisons to Di Stefano.
"I don't have to keep speaking constantly about myself, I continue to believe what I said two weeks ago at the Ballon d'Or," he said.
"I am very confident person and the numbers don't lie. The numbers speak for themselves.
"I am very happy, I remain very motivated to keep winning things at a collective and individual level. I still feel strong enough continue my trajectory as a player and to win trophies which is what I like most."

Agence France-Presse
Abu Dhabi

Stubborn People Tend To Live Longer, Says Study

Stubbornness is oftentimes the cause of conflict among work peers, but the trait could actually help individuals prolong their lives.
According to a joint study by researchers from University of Rome La Sapienza in Italy and University of California San Diego School, those who possess qualities of positivity and stubbornness and who have a conscientious work ethic lived far longer than their counterparts.
Studying the mental and physical health levels of Italians subjects between the age of 90 and 101, the group discovered that the elderly participants all carried the same traits and even attributed their longetivity to their head-strong personalities.
"There have been a number of studies on very old adults, but they have mostly focused on genetics rather than their mental health or personalities," Dilip V. Jeste, lead author of the study and professor of psychiatry and neurosciences at UC San Diego, was quoted as saying in a report from The Independent.
After subjecting 29 participants who lived in remote villages in southern Italy to a series of tests and interviews, the group listed their younger relatives to confirm the personalities and life-styles of the senior citizens.
Most claimed that being strong-willed had psychological benefits, particularly since the subjects tended to care less about how other people perceived them.
"The main themes that emerged from our study, and appear to be the unique features associated with better mental health of this rural population, were positivity, work ethic, stubbornness and a strong bond with family, religion and land," Jeste added, claiming that those who had passion for rural life also lived considerably longer.
Jeste's group, meanwhile, hopes to follow up on their findings with more longitudinal studies and apply their methods on a much larger scale.
The study, "Researchers Find Common Psychological Traits in Group of Italians Aged 90 to 101," was published in the journal International Psychogeriatrica.

KhristianIbarrola/ra/Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN

World Dream: A Cruise Ship Like No Other

I was soaked in sweat at the end of that perilous mission. I had been thrown into it without any prior knowledge or experience. I survived the "zombies" - but just barely!
Was it dream? Or was it fantasy? Perhaps it was a mix of both, but what I had just experienced was a virtual reality (VR) game where I was strapped upright onto a swivel base, where in that reality I would be battling zombies. And as my avatar ran, so did I, for real, while strapped in place and swivelling 360°.
That was an exhilarating, heart-stopping, adrenalin-pumping workout for 10 minutes.

'Reality' is amazing
The Finger Coaster is one unique experience you should be so lucky to try out.
This experience was part of the many VR games available at the Esc Experience Lab onboard World Dream, the latest luxury cruise ship to hit the waters. There is also another zombie VR game while "riding" a very scary roller-coaster, VR race games involving sports car racing and even a Star Wars-themed one, and two other different VR experiences.
This is how you get to be a 'sky-diver' or an 'ocean diver'.
Want to try skydiving or deep-sea diving? With the Icarus equipment, you can.
But perhaps the most popular VR experience was the Finger Coaster. What? Well a screen will prompt you to pencil in your version of a roller-coaster - the crazier, the better. And it has to be long enough, or else the system would not allow it. Then it would create a 3D imaging of the actual roller-coaster.
After that, you are strapped into a mock roller-coaster to experience a virtual ride with all the bumps and shakes and ups and downs of your very own roller-coaster creation.
Crazy? Definitely! It was also quite fun watching others "ride" their self-made rides - the shrieks, the screams, the joy - quite entertaining and infectious.
We were quite lucky to be among a select group to witness the launch of World Dream, the sister ship of Genting Dream.
World Dream is the second in the Dream Cruises fleet of ships (the first luxurious Asian cruise line), that belongs to the Genting Group.
It was launched on Nov. 17 by Genting Group CEO and chairman Tan Sri Lim KokThay in the presence of Genting Hong Kong president Colin Au and Genting Cruise Lines president Kent Zhu, among other bigwigs, during a glitzy show onboard which cut away to a live video of gigantic champagne bottle being smashed against the ship (the usual ship-christening tradition), followed by a bagpipe band and a glorious fireworks display that could be seen all around Kai Tak and in Hong Kong harbor.
The ship's godmother was also announced - it was none other than Lim's wife, Puan Sri Cecilia Lim. She is also the godmother of Genting Dream, which had moved its home port from HK to Singapore two days earlier.
She took her task as goodmother quite seriously, I noticed. Very sportingly, she happily tried out the Finger Coaster VR experience with her friends the very next day.

Dining at sea
Virtual reality is fun but the real bits are equally enticing. First off, the food options. Onboard are inclusive restaurants, which means you do not have to pay for your meals as the cost is already factored into your cruise fare. The restaurants are: The Lido, on Deck 16 (which has an extensive buffet selection and great ocean views) and Dream Dining (on two levels) for Chinese set meals.
If you feel like trying something else (which is chargeable), you're in for a treat. There are some fine-dining establishments as well as others that are more affordable. For those who enjoy fine Cantonese dining, there is the 'Silk Road & Cabaret, which has a cabaret show for diners; Umi Uma, which offers fantastic Japanese food ever, here - the unagi and the kurage being the standouts among many fine dishes); the popular Prime Steak House & Seafood Grill, for meat and seafood lovers; and Blue Lagoon, which serves South-East Asian favourites and and is open 24 hours a day.
Passengers have a super treat onboard as the shows they put on nightly at the Zodiac Theatre are world-class. The lighting and the backdrop from the state-of-the-art LED lighting is simply amazing. And that's just for starters.
The performers are award-winning international artistes and the twice-nightly 45-minute shows are stunning.
There are even teasers of the show late in the night at Bar 360, as I found out during my two-night cruise.
Outside of the show you can party at the only Zouk (the famous Singapore-based international dance franchise) on a ship. There is even a Zouk Beach Club where you can party by the pool. And for some family time, there's the Cinema as Sea at Zouk and at th Lobby area.
For personal time, leave the kids at the Little Panda Club. Or play the games at the Arcade.
There are all kinds of planned activities throughout the day and night, which all guests can take part in; these are listed daily in the Dream Daily newsletter.
So besides just swimming in the pool, there might be games at the pool area, "safe" archery, bubble football, water slides, a rope course and climbing wall and much more to burn off the calories.
Or get their therapists to pound it away at the Crystal Life Spa (or Crystal Life Asian Spa for Asian-style treatments). I tried a short combo of their classic massages very late at night and it sure helped ease my aches and pains.
For more indulgence, there's always retail therapy onboard!

Ship within a ship
The cabins and staterooms are big and comfortable, and some (like mine) actually have a balcony.
If you need WiFi, it can be purchased and you can then download the app which will display everything you need, from activities to dining reservations, on your phone.
However, there is another part of the ship called the Dream Palace where luxury is taken to greater heights. Massive state rooms, private pool and sun deck, private restaurant all stylishly and luxuriously appointed.
If you are a guest there, it truly seems like a different world, where you are pampered wirh the service of personal butlers.
Dreamy, yes? But that just about sums up the experience onboard this ship!

S.S Yoga/The Star/ANN.

Returning Bale Rescues Real From Al Jazira Upset

Gareth Bale came off the bench to book Real Madrid's place in the Club World Cup final as the European champion recovered from the shock of going behind to beat Emirati champions Al Jazira 2-1 on Wednesday.
Despite dominating throughout, Madrid trailed at half-time to Romarinho's opener in a match also marred by use of the video assistant referee (VAR) that ruled out a goal for both sides.
Madrid's pressure finally paid off 10 minutes into the second half when Cristiano Ronaldo levelled before Bale broke Al Jazira's resistance with his first touch eight minutes from time.
"It:s great to get the goak," Bale told Real Madrid TV. "When you come on you want to make an impact, but the most important thing is to win and be in the final."
Real will go for its fifth trophy of the year whrn it faces Brazilian side Gremio on Saturday.
Bale was making only his second substitute appearance since September due to a series of muscle injuries.
But he showed what Madrid has been missing for most of the season with a calm finish after replacing the profligate Karim Benzema.
"I need to be patient, I've had some problems and it takes time. I need to listen to my body," said the Welshman.
Al Jazira, only invited to the competition as champion of the host country, enjoyed its 15 minutes of fame at the break after a remarkable first 45 minutes.
Madrid scored five in the first half against Sevilla on Saturday and could easily have had anothet handful but for some exceptional goalkeeping from Ali Khaseif.
The Al Jazira cqptain made an incredible stop to turn a deflected Ronaldo header onto the bar then get down well to parry efforts from Luka Modric and Karim Benzema.
Benzema also has a goal ruled out for a push by Ronaldo in the build-up, but Madrid thought it had finally gone ahead when Casemiro's header deflected off an Al Jazira head and looped over Khaseif.
However, after a four-minute delay for the VAR referral, Brazilian referee Sandro Ricci disallowed the goal due to Benzema being in an offside position despite the fact the Frenchman was arguably not interfering with play.
"I don't like it to be honest," added Bale on the use of VAR. "Obviously they are going to try it out. For me, soccer is better without it but it is other people who make the decisions."
In total Madrid had 18 shots on goal in the first half, but was shocked four minutes before the break when the host caught the Real defense cold on the counter-attacl.
A poor clearance from Nacho gifted awat possession inside the Madrid half and Romarinho showed great composure to cut inside and curl his shot inside Keylor Navas' far post.
A monumental upset looked on when Al Jazira had the ball in the net for a second time two minutes into the second half.
However, this time VAR came to Madrid's rescue as Mbark Boussoufa was offside by the finest of margins before slotting home.
Zinedine Zidane's men grabbed that let-off gratefully and were level eight minutes later when Ronaldo was played in by Modric and smashed a shot past Khaled Al Senaani, who had replaced the injured Khaseif moments earlier.
Madrid continued to lay siege to the Al Jazira goal, but the misfiring Benzema shot straight at Al Senaani then hit the post with two other glorious chances.
Benzema was eventually replaced by Bale, who an instant impact as he slotted home Lucas Vasquez's cutback to Real's relief.

Agence France-Presse
Abu Dhabi

Ibrahimovic Making 'No Impression' In Man United Comeback: : Parker

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not fully fit and "made no impression" when he came on as a substitute in Sunday's Manchester derby defeat, ex-Manchester United full-back Paul Parker says.
Since returning for a second stint at the club after major knee surgery, Ibrahimovic has been used off the bench on five occasions, including four times in the Premier League.
He was an unused sub as United labored to a 1-0 home victory over Bournemouth on Wednesday night, as Romelo Lukaku spared its blushes with a first-half header.
The 36-year-old, who made his comeback in the 4-1 victory over Newcastle United on Nov. 18, has yet to score a goal or provide an assist this season.
"Zlatan came on at the weekend against City and made no impression at all. He didn't really jump, was beaten in the air, and was beaten to the ball," Parker told ESPN FC at his base in Singapore.
"I don't think at the moment that Manchester United fans could say 'great to have him back' ihe was to be left out for Lukaku."
Parker, who won five trophies at Old Trafford between 1991 and 1996, is not convinced that the former Sweden international will be able to replicate his 2016-2017 form, when he scored a stunning 28 goals in 46 matches, including 17 in 28 games in the Premier League.
"I wonder how fit he really is. He never played any games prior to him coming back to test the knee. Training doesn't do it," he said.
"One thing that he never did (in the 2-1 derby loss to Manchester City) was run in behind, and everyone now is a little bit skeptical about how fit he is at the moment."
Parker added that he hoped that England full-back Luke Shaw would stay at Old Trafford, despite reports that a £5 million (US$6.7 million) payout may persuade him to leave in the January transfer window.
Southampton product Shae, 22, made only his fourth appearances this season in the win against Bournemouth for a measly total of just eight games in 2017 after signing a four-year contract in 2014.
"He's working hard, saying all the right things, and he wants to play for Manchester United. I really do believe he wants to prove himself.
Oherwise, he'd be shouting and screaming about the manner in which he's been treated (by manager Jose Mourinho)," Parker said.
"It could have been handled better by Mourinho. I believe there should have been a bit of compassion toward what he's had to go through physically and mentally after breaking his leg in Europe (against PSV in September 2015).
"He should be allowed to play his game so people can see how good he can be, in a relaxed atmosphere, rathe than being always intense and worried that he's going to be pulled out on the back of a poor performance."
Former manager Louis van Gaal, heavily criticized for his conservative play in two years at the club, described the Mourinho couched outfit as "boring" and "defensive" - something that Parker agrees with ahead of Sunday's trip to West Bromwich Albion.
"Manchester United have to win and they have to win with comfort," Parker said. "It's coming to the point where more people are asking the question: Can Manchester United play expansively? Can they go out and show the style they should be showing, with the players they've got?
"There'a no question mark about the players they've got, but they haven't been allowed to show what they've got because it's definitely there."
United, which won the Europa League in 2016-2017 after finishing sixth in the Premier League, is 11 pointa behind Manchester City after Sunday's derby defeat at Old Trafford.
City set a new top-flight record of 15 consecutive wins with its 4-0 success at Swansea on Wednesday night.

Jason Dasey is Singapore-based Senior Editor of global soccer website ESPN FC.
Twitter: @JasonDasey

Milan Sets Up Inter Quarterfinal Clash

New coach Gennaro Gattuso got back-to-back wins as AC Milan booked a quarterfinal clash with city rival Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia after a comfortable 3-0 last 16 win over Verona on Wednesday.
Gattuso earned his first win as Milan boss in Serie A action against Bologna last time out and his side put in another solid display against league struggler Verona.
Goals from Suso, Alessio Romagnoli and Patrick Cutrone set up a Dec. 27 date with Serie A leader Inter, which needed a 5-4 win on penalties to squeeze past Serie C side Pordenone after their tie on Tuesday ended 0-0 after extra time.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was jeered by the Milan crowd before the game with insulting banners brandished amid claims he wants the contract extension he signed last summer cancelled on the grounds he was pressured into it, amidst rumors his agent is lining up a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Giacomo Bonaventura continued his fine form after his double against Bologna, playing a role in Suso's 22nd-minute opener, and setting up Romagnoli's second on the half-hour, with Cutrone heading in after 56 minutes before Bonaventura was substituted to the applause of the Milan crowd.
"What has changed with Gattuso? He gives us grit and heart. Next up the derby," said Cutrone after Milan's first win in its last eight Coppa Italia meetings with Verona.
Earlier, a late Jordan Veretout penalty sent Fiorentina through with a 3-2 win over Sampdoria to set up a quarterfinal with either Lazio or Cittadella on Dec. 26.
In a fiery clash in Tuscany, in which three of the goals came from spot kicks, Khouma Babacar opened the scoring for Fiorentina after two minutes, as the host came out firing after its Serie A defeat to Sampdoria in September.
But Sampdoria got back level six minutes before the break when Edgar Barreto fired in off a corner, with Veretout converting the first of his two penalties on the night after 59 minutes after video assistant referee (VAR) was used when Babacar was brought down in the box.
An Edgar Barreto header hit the crossbar as Samdoria pushed forward with Gianluca Caprari also hitting the woodwork, before Gaston Ramirez broke through to pull the visitors level with a penalty after being brought down by Davide Astori.
Fiorentina won a late spot kick again thanks to VAR.

Agence France-Presse
Milan

Man City Sets Win Record, Lukaku Lifts Man United

David Silva scored twice as runaway Premier League leader Manchester City won 4-0 at Swansea City on Wednesday to set a new English top-flight record of 15 consecutive victories.
Pep Guardiola's side, 2-1 winner at second-place Manchester United on Sunday, won comfortably at the Liberty Stadium to eclipse the mark of 14 successive wins set by Arsenal in 2002.
United bounced back from its deby defeat by beating Bournemouth 1-0, while slip-ups for Liverpool and Arsenal allowed Tottenham Hotspur to seal into fourth place by beating Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0.
"Winning 15 games in a row gives us a lot of confidence. If people are happy watching us, that is the best gift," Guardiola said. "You suffer and enjoy, like a manager you see many things. When the team play good, we are happy."
City remains 11 points clear of United and has now scored 52 goals in its 17 league games to date as it strides towards what seems like an inevitable title coronation.
Guardiola made four changes to the team that had prevailed at Old Trafford in a game marred by an angry post-match brawl that is being investigated by the Football Association, with Sergio Aguero earning a recall.
Silva broke the dead-lock at bottom club Swansea in the 27th minute by flicking in Bernardo Silva's cross from the right.
Kevin De Bruyne's free-kick made it 2-0 shortly after and David Silva added a third early in the second half, neatly chipping Lukasz Fabianski following a give-and-go with Raheem Sterling.
Aguero put the cherry on the cake in the 85th minute by surging away from a pose of defenders and finishing with a low shot.
Romelo Lukaku scored the game's only goal as United got back to winning ways against Bournemouth.
The Belgian striker, who is alleged to have been heavily involved in the derby dust-up, headed in Juan Mata's 25th-minute cross and pointedly failed to celebrate.
"I am pleased with the three points. It was a difficult match," United manager Jose Mourinho told the BBC. "They had one more day's rest than us, they were fresher than us and mentally fresher because a big match takes more from our players."
Tottenham jumped from seventh place to fourth courtesy of its 2-0 win over Brighton at Wembley, which arrived courtesy of an overhit Serge Aurier cross and Son Heung-min's fourth goal in four games.
Spurs, for whom Erik Lamela made his first start in 14 months, are four points below third place Chelsea in the last Champions League berth.
"I think it's fantastic for us," said Spurs manager Mauricio Pocchettino. "Three victories in a row - so important for us. I'm happy with the performance."
Liverpool is fifth, on goal difference, after a 0-0 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion.
Jurgen Klopp recalled Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino following Sunday's 1-1 derby draw with Everton and thought Dominic Solanke had poached a late winner, only for the goal to be rulled out for handball.
West Brom has now gone a club-record 16 games without a win in all competitions, but the point took Alan Pardew's side out of the relegation zone.
Arsenal dropped to seventh, a point beloe sixth-place Burnley, after a goalless draw at David Moyes's improving West Ham United.

Tom Williams
Agence France-Presse/London