Raphinha earns 10-man Barca tight first leg win at Benfica

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands: Inter Milan’s powerful strike duo of Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez combined to give the Italians a handy 2-0 advantage over Dutch side Feyenoord after an absorbing Champions League last-16 first leg Wednesday.
Quality finishes either side of half-time from the French and Argentinian strikers proved the difference between the two teams, who meet again in Milan for Tuesday’s second leg, with the winner of the Bayern Munich-Bayer Leverkusen showdown lying in wait.
“Their quality is unbelievable,” admitted Feyenoord defender David Hancko.
“Second half you could see that they were controlling the game and it was more difficult for us to be dangerous,” added Hancko.
A lively opening quarter in Rotterdam’s ever-atmospheric De Kuip saw three-time European champions Inter enjoy most possession but Feyenoord carve out the clearest opportunities.
Ibrahim Osman, the pacy 20-year-old Ghana international winger on loan from Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion, was the main threat for the hosts, twice forcing Josep Martinez into sharp saves.
For the visitors, Thuram found himself with a clear run at goal but decided to pass square rather than shoot and the danger was snuffed out.
It was a moment of quality from the French striker that broke the deadlock with just eight minutes until the half-time whistle, latching onto a curling cross from Nicolo Barella to hook it in with the outside of his boot at the far post.
The goal, slightly against the run of play, galvanized the Serie A side, who suddenly looked much more dangerous going forward.
Feyenoord legend and recently installed manager Robin van Persie would have been glad to get his side into the dressing room just 1-0 down after an entertaining first half.
But his side’s arrears doubled just five minutes into the second period, as Martinez drilled an unstoppable shot into the top corner, giving the hosts a mountain to climb.
Jakub Moder came close to getting Feyenoord back into the game when his lunging deflection skimmed the bar.
Inter had their own chance to put the game — and probably the tie — beyond reach when Jeyland Mitchell brought down Thuram in the box, the referee awarding a penalty after a long VAR check.
But Timon Wellenreuther in the Feyenoord goal produced an excellent save from Piotr Zielinski’s penalty, moving smartly to his right.
Feyenoord pressed to the end looking for something to take to the San Siro but the Inter defense held firm in a pleasing night for Simone Inzaghi’s men.
“Feyenoord came out well a few times, but I think we were solid in defense,” said Inter’s Dutch international Denzel Dumfries.
“We hit them well on the break and we made things difficult for them,” he added.

MARANELLO, Italy: Met Gala chair, co-producer on a Brad Pitt movie, activist, and now Ferrari driver.

Lewis Hamilton’s impact stretches far beyond Formula 1 and his quest to win a record-breaking eighth world title with his new team.

The partnership of F1’s biggest celebrity — and only Black driver — with its biggest brand reaches people who don’t consider themselves F1 fans, and may not even have watched a race.

In some respects, Hamilton’s move is already a marketing triumph. He won’t race for Ferrari until next week in Australia, ending 13 months of hype since he announced his decision to leave Mercedes.

“Obviously the commercial success and the success for Ferrari’s brand has been unprecedented,” Michael E. Sawyer, author of an upcoming biography of Hamilton, “Sir Lewis,” told The Associated Press. “It just makes the brand that much more iconic. It’s always been about pushing boundaries.”

Expectations are high, too, around Hamilton’s potential impact in Italy in terms of representation and creating opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds.

“When it was announced that (Hamilton) was in Ferrari, the industry started thinking, especially in fashion, that things would start changing,” Michelle Francine Ngonmo, the founder of Afro Fashion Week Milano and an advocate for diversity in Italian fashion, told the AP.

Hamilton’s first photos as a Ferrari employee were curated to perfection. His sometimes-playful fashion sense took a traditional turn with a sharp double-breasted suit as he posed in front of company founder Enzo Ferrari’s house.

A fast start, or time to adapt?

Hamilton’s celebrity status extended beyond F1 years ago. Where other drivers arrive for a race weekend in branded team gear, he turns up in high fashion.

His friendships with influential fashion figures, involvement with the Met Gala — he’s a chair for this year’s event in May — and a co-producer role on the upcoming Hollywood movie “F1” all allow Hamilton to reach non-sports audiences in a way other drivers can’t.

With so much attention on their new partnership, the 40-year-old Hamilton and Ferrari could risk disappointment if he doesn’t win the long-sought-after eighth title.

Hamilton was broadly on pace with rivals and his teammate Charles Leclerc over three days of preseason testing in Bahrain last week. Still, Hamilton said he and Ferrari have “definitely got some work to do to improve.”

Hamilton has indicated he needs time to adapt, but one key rival has argued a successful start will be key to keep Ferrari’s passionate fans on board.

“They’ll love him if he’s quick and he delivers and he’ll feed off that energy,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said last month. 

“If it doesn’t get off to a good start, then it’ll inevitably be harder for him.”