Football

Soccer-Real Madrid's Alexander-Arnold out for two months with new muscle injury

MADRID, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Real Madrid's England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to be sidelined for the next two months after suffering a thigh muscle injury in his left leg, the club said on Thursday.

Cricket

Cricket-Root goes from dud to dominator with breakthrough ton in Australia

Dec 4 (Reuters) - Less than two weeks after being dismissed as a "dud" Down Under, Joe Root finally shrugged the monkey off his back with a first test century in Australia on Thursday to breathe life into England's Ashes campaign.

Golf

Golf-Norway's Reitan takes three-shot lead after opening round at Sun City

Dec 4 (Reuters) - Norway's Kristoffer Reitan hit three birdies on the last five holes to open a three-shot lead after the first round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City on Thursday.

Football

JDT rescue point with double injury time strikes against Svay Rieng

PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta'zim were heading to their first defeat in the Southeast Asian stage, but an injury-time masterclass from Australian centreback Shane Lowry saved them from the jaws of defeat.

Motorsport

Motor racing-Everything is a bonus for relaxed Verstappen

ABU DHABI, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Max Verstappen could become only the second driver after Michael Schumacher to win five Formula One titles in a row this weekend but the Red Bull driver was relaxed about it on Thursday.

Football

Soccer-Mbappe chasing Ronaldo record as Real Madrid host Celta

(Corrects location of Villarreal v Getafe match in final paragraph)

Other Sports

Olympics-Ralph Lauren outfits US athletes for 10th Games

NEW YORK, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Ralph Lauren will outfit the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams for the 10th time at next year's Winter Games, with the brand's take on an Italian aesthetic for the Opening Ceremony, part of an overall multi-piece set for the athletes.

Football

Soccer-FIFA ruling on players' release date upsets Cup of Nations preparations

CAPE TOWN, Dec 4 (Reuters) - African countries were left scrambling to change their preparation plans after a surprise FIFA decision to cut down the time players must be released to their national teams ahead of this month's Africa Cup of Nations finals.

Football

Soccer-Stuttgart's Undav poses biggest threat to Bayern amidst scoring run

BERLIN, Dec 4 (Reuters) - VfB Stuttgart forward Deniz Undav has lost count of how many goals he has scored in recent weeks but he will be hoping his run continues when Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich pay them a visit on Saturday.

Motorsport

Motor racing-Norris won't ask Piastri to gift him F1 title in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Lando Norris will not ask McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri to gift him the Formula One title even if that is the only way he can beat Max Verstappen in Sunday's Abu Dhabi season-ender.

Football

Soccer-Conte and Spalletti face former clubs in Napoli-Juve clash

Dec 4 (Reuters) - Napoli can deal a blow to Juventus' hopes of rejoining the title race while bolstering their own Scudetto defence in this weekend's big Serie A clash that pits Antonio Conte against his former club and brings Luciano Spalletti back to Naples.

Motorsport

Motor racing-Abu Dhabi is a 'Lando track', says former teammate Sainz

ABU DHABI, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Williams racer Carlos Sainz expects friend and former McLaren teammate Lando Norris to have an edge over his Formula One championship rivals at this weekend's title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Other Sports

Olympics-British athletes offered AI shield against online abuse

LONDON, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Top British athletes will soon have a new weapon in the fight against online abuse after UK Sport signed a 300,000 pound ($400,170.00) deal to provide AI-based protection across social media.

Hockey

South Africa strike thrice from set-pieces to sink Malaysia at World Cup

PETALING JAYA: The national junior hockey team suffered their third straight defeat in the World Cup after losing to South Africa 1-3 in the 9th-16th classification game at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai on Thursday (Dec 4).

Football

Soccer-Neymar nets hat-trick to boost Santos survival hopes

Dec 4 (Reuters) - Neymar played through a knee injury to score a hat-trick and lift his boyhood club Santos clear of the relegation zone in Brazil's Serie A.

Other Sports

Olympics-Italy receives Olympic flame for Milano Winter Games ahead of relay

ATHENS, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Milano-Cortina Winter Games organisers received the Olympic flame on Thursday in a ceremony at Athens' Panathenaic Stadium, as they prepare for a 63-day torch relay designed to spark excitement across Italy before the Olympics in February.

Golf

Golf-Ortiz shares Australian Open after late surge, McIlroy falters

Dec 4 (Reuters) - Mexican Carlos Ortiz produced a late surge to grab a share of the lead with Elvis Smylie and Ryan Fox after a six-under-par 65 in Thursday's opening round of the Australian Open, while Rory McIlroy struggled in blustery conditions at Royal Melbourne, finishing with a one-over 72.

Badminton

BAM target four golds at SEA Games, name Tang Jie-Ee Wei as captains

PETALING JAYA: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) believe the shuttlers bound for the SEA Games in Thailand from Dec 9-20 will be able to meet the ambitious target of four gold medals set for them.

Rugby

Rugby-Springboks not sure what to make of World Cup showdown with All Blacks

CAPE TOWN, Dec 4 (Reuters) - South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus is uncertain about what to make of potentially facing arch rivals New Zealand in the quarter-finals of the next World Cup after the top two ranked teams were drawn in the same pathway for the 2027 tournament in Australia.

Cricket

Cricket-England's Wood a doubt for third Ashes test due to knee injury

Dec 4 (Reuters) - England fast bowler Mark Wood cast doubt on his ability to recover from a knee injury in time for the third Ashes test in Adelaide.