Football

Barcelona: Raphinhabagged a hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed Sevilla 5-2 to restore their four-point lead at the top of La Liga on Sunday. After Real Madrid cut the gap by beating Elche on Saturday the Spanish champions responded by romping to a comfortable victory. Dani Olmo and Joao Cancelo also struck for Hansi Flick's side, who host Newcastle in the Champions League on Wednesday. Club members streamed to the stadium before the game to vote in the club's presidential elections, with either Joan Laporta or Victor Font to be announced the new chief later on Sunday night. "Three points more, one game less and we scored five goals, it was good to see," Flick told reporters, although he called for a sharper all-round performance on Wednesday. "We have to be focused for the next game because Newcastle is a great team. "I'm not negative, I just think about what can be better." After the 1-1 draw in Newcastle in the last-16 first leg, Flick left Lamine Yamal on the bench and handed youngster Xavi Espart his first start, at right-back. Barcelona were handed two penalties by a sorry Sevilla side to get off to the perfect start at the partially-rebuilt Camp Nou, which finally received clearance to open the north stand. Around 56,000 fans attended and they were able to watch a fairly straightforward rout of the Andalucians, 14th. Djibril Sow clumsily clipped rampaging Barca full-back Cancelo in the box andRaphinhadinked home from the spot to open the scoring in the ninth minute. 0The Brazilian winger was afforded another penalty to put Barca two goals up when Jose Angel Carmona, lying on the floor, handled as Cancelo tried to dribble around him. This timeRaphinhafired it low to the left and although Odysseas Vlachodimos went the right way he could not keep it out. The hosts netted a third in the 38th minute when Marc Bernal's deflected cross from the left found Olmo, who produced a clinical finish. Sevilla pulled one back before the break when Juanlu Sanchez got in behind Cancelo and crossed for Oso to score unmarked at the back post. Raphinhacompleted his hat-trick early in the second half with a heavily deflected shot as Barca strolled in the spring sunshine. "Playing like this it's hard for teams to beat us,"Raphinhatold DAZN. "I love this club, and the way to respond from the love I receive from the fans is by scoring goals and kissing the badge. "Until the last day (I'm here) I will give the best of myself." Cancelo capped an impressive attacking display with a goal of his own, driving into the box and finishing through Vlachodimos's legs. Barca coach Flick sent on 21-year-old midfielder Gavi for the final 10 minutes after a severe knee injury, and Ronald Araujo handed him the captain's armband. "It has been very tough, if I'm honest," Gavi told DAZN of his recovery process, on his first appearance since August. The Spain international also missed most of the 2023/24 season out injured. "This time was much harder than the last time, I was having a bad time of it. It was more of a painful process and it was harder for me day to day," continued Gavi. "But this feeling (to be back at) Camp Nou, with my people, with the fans and all my team-mates is unique and I'm really happy." Sow pulled another one back for Sevilla in stoppage time, nodding home Oso's cross, with Barcelona already thinking about Newcastle's visit on Wednesday. "Barcelona are very good... I think that the two quick penalties (given away) hurt us a lot, after that it was a difficult game," said Sevilla defender Nemanja Gudelj.

Motosports

Doha: Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and Lusail International Circuit (LIC) confirm that the MotoGP QATAR AIRWAYS GRAND PRIX OF QATAR 2026, originally scheduled for April 10 to 12, has been postponed and rescheduled to November 6-8 later this year President of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation and Lusail International Circuit (LIC), Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif Al Mannai said: "The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and Lusail International Circuit (LIC) respect and support the decision of the MotoGP Sport and Entertainment Group to postpone the MotoGP Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar to November 6-8, 2026. We sincerely thank our fans, teams and partners for their understanding and ongoing support, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to Lusail International Circuit." For his part, CEO of MotoGP, Carmelo Ezpeleta said: "This decision was taken with great care and in full coordination with our partners in Qatar and across the paddock. Our priority is always the safety and well-being of everyone involved in MotoGP, as well as ensuring that every Grand Prix is delivered to the highest possible standard. We also recognise the importance of providing clarity for our fans as early as possible and ticket holders will be given the opportunity to rollover their tickets to the next event" The event will welcome the world's premier motorcycle racing championship back to Lusail International Circuit, continuing Qatar's long standing role on the MotoGP calendar. Since first hosting a MotoGP round in 2004, LIC has become one of the most distinctive venues in the championship, staging the sport's first ever night race in 2008 to date and establishing itself as one of the most iconic settings in global motorcycle racing.

Tennis

Miami: Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Miami Open with a right shoulder injury, organizers said Sunday. The 24-time Grand Slam champion reached the fourth round at Indian Wells this week, but the six-time Miami champion opted out of the second leg of the "Sunshine Double" -- where he fell to Jakub Mensik in last year's final. Indian Wells marked 38-year-old Djokovic's first tournament since he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final. He played with a compression sleeve on his right arm, telling Tennis Channel he was dealing with a forearm injury that was intermittently affecting his serve. "If I don't serve for five or six minutes then I feel like the first couple of serves of that game are a bit painful," Djokovic said.