Football

Barcelona: Barcelona's teenage star Lamine Yamal and Raphinha both struck twice as the champions beat Rayo Vallecano 5-2 on Monday to continue their perfect start to the campaign. Sergio Camello netted a brace for the visitors at Camp Nou but Hansi Flick's Barca managed to record a third win from three matches from an entertaining battle. With his first goal, Yamal, 19, hit the milestone of 50 for the club -- two years younger than Barcelona icon Lionel Messi was when he managed the feat. "We have to keep working, for now it's three wins from three, and we have to try and reach all our objectives," said Barca midfielder Marc Bernal. "In the last games (Yamal) could not score, but he's shown his quality through his career. Today he scored and we're happy for him." Barcelona started brightly but fell behind after Jules Kounde allowed Alvaro Garcia to race beyond him. The Rayo midfielder crossed for Camello to finish clinically first time into the top corner. Stung, champions Barcelona hit back quickly with quickfire goals from Raphinha and Yamal. Raphinha, who has played up front during the start of the season amid Barcelona's failed battle to land Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, continued his rich vein of goalscoring form. The Brazil international showed excellent footwork to leave Pathe Ciss for dead and then produced a cool finish. Watching on from the stands was Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus, poised to join Barca before the transfer window closes on Tuesday and clearly facing a battle with his compatriot to start up front. Shortly afterwards teenager Yamal scored his first of the season after Rayo conceded possession in a dangerous area following a defensive mix-up. Yamal opened up some space and brilliantly whipped the ball into the near top corner to bring up his half-century for Barca. Flick's side stretched their lead early in the second half when Florian Lejeune bundled Anthony Gordon's cross into his own net. However, youngster Xavi Espart could not handle Camello at a Rayo corner and the forward nodded home his second of the game to give the visitors a fighting chance. The electric Gordon helped create Raphinha's second of the night and the Brazilian's fifth of the season, making him La Liga's top goalscorer. Former Newcastle winger Gordon backheeled the ball to Raphinha who tucked home to secure Barca's win, with Yamal further extending their advantage in stoppage time. The youngster, who Flick said was arriving back at his top level after suffering a hamstring injury in April, produced a lethal curling finish from the edge of the area after substitute Karim Adeyemi teed him up.

Basketball

Doha, Qatar: Qatar suffered a heavy 123-70 defeat to Japan in the fourth window of the second stage of the FIBA Asia Qualifiers for the 2027 Basketball World Cup at Toyota Arena Tokyo yesterday. Japan dominated the opening quarter 29-11 before Qatar produced a better second period, narrowly losing it 24-23. The hosts then pulled away with a 40-11 third-quarter surge and finished with a 30-25 advantage in the final quarter. Rui Hachimura led Japan with 30 points, while Abdullah Musa was Qatar’s top scorer with 14. Mohamed Hashem grabbed eight rebounds for Qatar, while Abdulrahman Yahya had four assists. The result left Japan on 14 points in Group F and Qatar on 12. Qatar, who are automatically qualified for the 2027 World Cup as hosts, are using the qualifiers as part of their preparations for the global event. The delegation had travelled to Tokyo after an 83-57 defeat to China before facing Japan. Qatar will resume their campaign in the fifth window against South Korea in Doha on November 26, followed by Japan on November 29.

Handball

Doha, Qatar: Qatar clinched the U19 Asian Men’s Youth Handball Championship after defeating Bahrain 28-24 in the final in Amman, Jordan, yesterday. Qatar dominated from the outset, taking a 16-10 lead into half-time before maintaining control in the second half to secure the continental title with a four-goal victory. The triumph capped an unbeaten campaign for Qatar, who finished top of Group B with eight points after victories over Saudi Arabia (30-22), Kuwait (30-19), Iran (24-22) and Syria (42-29). Qatar then continued their impressive run in the knockout stage, thrashing hosts Jordan 33-13 in the quarter-finals before defeating South Korea 32-28 in the semi-finals to book their place in the title decider. Bahrain reached the final after beating Iran 26-23 in the other semi-final. Qatar’s continental triumph also secured their qualification for the 2027 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship in North Macedonia, where they will make their seventh appearance at the global tournament.