Real: Real Madrid survived an 18th-minute red card for Sergio Ramos to beat city rivals Rayo Vallecano 2-0 at the Bernabeu yesterday. The champions raced into an early lead with youth-team striker Alvaro Morata stroking home three minutes into his first league start for the club, and Ramos powered in a header from a free-kick in the 12th. However, Real captain Ramos then picked up two yellow cards in a minute, the second for handball, and he was sent off for the 17th time in his career.

PSG lose: Paris St Germain’s Ligue 1 lead was trimmed to three points as they slumped to a 3-2 defeat at Sochaux that ended a nine-match unbeaten league run yesterday. Cedric Bakambu netted the winner six minutes from time as PSG conceded three goals in a league game for the first time this season. Carlo Ancelotti’s side looked nothing like the team who beat Valencia 2-1 at the Mestalla in a Champions League last-16 first leg clash on Tuesday as Sochaux eased their relegation fears with an impressive performance.

Hapoel Tel Aviv: Israeli Premier League side Hapoel Tel Aviv sacked coach Yossi Abuksis following a poor run of results that included five straight matches without a win, a club official said . Hapoel stalwart Abuksis, who is also the Israel national team assistant coach, was recruited at short notice because the club’s appointed coach in the pre-season, Nitzan Shirazi, had to step aside for medical reasons.

Tunisia: Nabil Maaloul has become the new coach of Tunisia, replacing Sami Trabelsi, who resigned following the side’s early exit from the African Nations Cup last month, the country’s football federation announced at the weekend. Contract terms for the former international midfielder have yet to be announced but the 50-year-old has only one month to prepare for his first game in charge, against Sierra Leone on March 23.

Ajax: First-half goals from Niklas Moisander and Christian Eriksen helped Ajax ease to a 2-0 win at RKC Waalwijk yesterday to keep league leaders PSV Eindhoven in sight. Defender Moisander opened the scoring from close range midway through the first half for Ajax, who rested their entire forward line after Thursday’s 2-0 Europa League win over Steaua Bucharest. Dane Eriksen doubled the lead five minutes before the interval, finishing at the near post after a slalom run past three defenders.

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