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The back-to-back defending champs have their first loss of the year just five games into the season. Penny Hardaway and unranked Memphis knocked off No. 2 UConn 99-97 at the Maui Invitational on Monday, snapping a 17-game winning streak for the Huskies. UConn, which finished 37-3 a year ago, hadn't lost since Feb. 20 when they fell to Creighton in a Big East matchup. It was UConn's first loss to a non-conference opponent in almost a year. The Tigers led by double digits late in the second half, but Dan Hurley's squad had a late push to make it a three-point game with just over a minute to go. Memphis hit a pair of free throws before UConn did the same on the other end. The Huskies then forced a turnover down three with 13 seconds left. UConn scrambled on its final possession before Solo Ball drained a three with just over a second remaining to tie things up. Memphis' game-winner attempt from beyond halfcourt missed and the game went into overtime. It was back and forth for much of overtime before Hurley picked up a technical with less than a minute to go. The Tigers made both technical free throws before making two free throws from the previously called foul to make it a four-point game. A chaotic final minute saw UConn cut it back down to a one-possession game, but it was too little, too late with just two seconds remaining. Memphis looked to veteran transfer Tyrese Hunter in the win, and he delivered. The senior had 26 points on a scorching hot 7-of-10 from deep. Sophomore guard PJ Haggerty also contributed 22 points and five assists while senior forward Dain Dainja dropped 14 off the bench. After the game, fans were stunned to see the defending champs fall to an unranked squad. This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis. For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app , homepage and social feeds—including Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok .super 8r 。

By MARC LEVY HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania conceded his reelection bid to Republican David McCormick on Thursday, as a statewide recount showed no signs of closing the gap and his campaign suffered repeated blows in court in its effort to get potentially favorable ballots counted. Casey’s concession comes more than two weeks after Election Day, as a grindingly slow ballot-counting process became a spectacle of hours-long election board meetings, social media outrage, lawsuits and accusations that some county officials were openly flouting the law. Republicans had been claiming that Democrats were trying to steal McCormick’s seat by counting “illegal votes.” Casey’s campaign had accused of Republicans of trying to block enough votes to prevent him from pulling ahead and winning. In a statement, Casey said he had just called McCormick to congratulate him. “As the first count of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, whether their vote was the first to be counted or the last,” Casey said. The Associated Press called the race for McCormick on Nov. 7, concluding that not enough ballots remained to be counted in areas Casey was winning for him to take the lead. As of Thursday, McCormick led by about 16,000 votes out of almost 7 million ballots counted. That was well within the 0.5% margin threshold to trigger an automatic statewide recount under Pennsylvania law. But no election official expected a recount to change more than a couple hundred votes or so, and Pennsylvania’s highest court dealt him a blow when it refused entreaties to allow counties to count mail-in ballots that lacked a correct handwritten date on the return envelope. Republicans will have a 53-47 majority next year in the U.S. Senate. Follow Marc Levy at twitter.com/timelywriter

Zaire Williams, Zavier Fitch combine for 45 points to help Wagner beat Penn State-Scranton 120-30A look at how some of Trump's picks to lead health agencies could help carry out Kennedy's overhaulNorth Ridgeville boys basketball: Rangers keep low profile, have high hopes

Rail Logistics Market to Set an Explosive Growth in Near Future

Stock market today: Wall Street hits records despite tariff talkThe Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF SCHD has given back more than half of its one-year gains in the last month, with the ETF falling more than 7% in December. Here's a look at what may be plaguing the fund. What To Know: The Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF is heavily weighted in the healthcare sector with four pharmaceutical stocks representing 15.83% of the fund's total holdings. The sector has underperformed recently as increased uncertainty emerged surrounding the potential appointments and policy changes that could come under President-elect Donald Trump. Read Next: ‘Mystery Drone’ Sightings Spark Investigations, Politicians Respond: ‘Shoot Them Down,’ Trump Says Healthcare Holdings Bristol-Meyers Squibb Co. BMY is the fund's top pharmaceutical holding, representing 4.64% of its assets. The stock is down 2.6% over the past month. Pfizer, Inc. PFE is also in the fund's top 10 holdings. It fell more than 5% following the presidential election as the vaccine-maker faces an uncertain political and regulatory environment ahead. AbbVie, Inc. ABBV and Amgen, Inc. AMGN round out the dividend-focused fund's healthcare holdings. AbbVie shares are down slightly, though Amgen shares are down by more than 10% in December following disappointing clinical trial results from its weight-loss drug candidate, MariTide. Interest Rates: Another factor that could be affecting the Schwab dividend-focused fund is the uncertain interest rate environment. Dividends tend to become more attractive to investors in a low-interest rate environment. Recent comments from the Federal Reserve suggest a more hawkish outlook with inflation remaining sticky and above the Fed's target rate of 2%. Additionally, the incoming Trump administration could again play a factor as Trump has pledged to raise tariffs on foreign imports which could reignite inflation and lead to interest rates staying higher for longer. When interest rates are high, the yields on bonds and other fixed-income securities become more competitive, making dividend yields less appealing by comparison. Read Next: Honda, Nissan Confirm Merger Plans To Offset Chinese EV Competition: How Mitsubishi Factors In Image: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Previews and picks for Sunday’s 2024 boys soccer Group Tournament finals

The right back was replaced at half time by Lewis Cook on Sunday at Old Trafford, with Andoni Iraola explaining that he felt some tightness, so he was replaced. Smith won the free kick in the first half against Manchester United that saw Dean Huijsen open the scoring for the . Speaking to the media ahead of the Boxing Day game on Monday, the Basque boss could not confirm if he would be able to recover in time for the game against the Eagles, as he had not yet been assessed. Iraola told the Daily Echo: “Adam is a little bit like the situation with Antoine [Semenyo] the other day, feeling some tightness. “With Antoine he recovered well and you could see yesterday. “I hope with Adam it happens the same but we don't know because we haven't still assessed him and we don't know.”Supreme Court hears transgender health care case. What does it mean for Montana?

Heritage Distilling Co. Announces Closing of its Initial Public OfferingPenn State preparing for hard-charging Jeanty and Boise State in CFP quarterfinalsMort Rosenblum: We need journalists like Art Rotstein more than ever

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records Tuesday after Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs created only some ripples on Wall Street, even if they could roil the global economy were they to take effect. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% to top the all-time high it set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 123 points, or 0.3%, to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6% as Microsoft and Big Tech led the way. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Eric Bieniemy out as UCLA's offensive coordinator. AP source says Tino Sunseri tabbed as replacement

Women of a certain age? They're a major force: Gregg Wallace's jibe shows grave ignorance, says ALEX BRUMMER, /PRNewswire/ -- Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ: WING) today announced that its board of directors approved the purchase of up to an additional of its outstanding shares of common stock under its existing share repurchase program, effective immediately. This repurchase program follows the substantial completion of purchases of common stock under the inaugural repurchase authorization from . With this additional repurchase authorization, the Company anticipates executing a accelerated share repurchase ("ASR") program that will commence in the fourth quarter of 2024. "We believe our asset-lite, highly-franchised model enables industry-leading shareholder returns," commented , Chief Financial Officer. "Since becoming a public company in 2015, we have returned more than of capital to shareholders. Our share repurchase program is another example of the long-term value creation enabled by our category of one operating model." Repurchases under the program may be made in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or by other means, including through trading plans intended to qualify under Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and accelerated share repurchase agreements, with the amount and timing of repurchases to be determined at Wingstop's discretion, depending on market and business conditions, prevailing stock prices, and contractual limitations, among other factors. Open market repurchases will be structured to occur in accordance with applicable federal securities laws. This program does not obligate Wingstop to acquire any particular amount of common stock, or at any specific time or intervals and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time at Wingstop's discretion. Wingstop expects to fund repurchases with existing cash and cash equivalents, including the proceeds from its recently completed financing transaction which closed on . Founded in 1994 and headquartered in , Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ: WING) operates and franchises more than 2,450 locations worldwide. The Wing Experts are dedicated to Serving the World Flavor through an unparalleled guest experience and a best-in-class technology platform, all while offering classic and boneless wings, tenders, and chicken sandwiches, cooked to order and hand sauced-and-tossed in fans' choice of 12 bold, distinctive flavors. Wingstop's menu also features signature sides including fresh-cut, seasoned fries and freshly-made ranch and bleu cheese dips. In fiscal year 2023, Wingstop's system-wide sales increased 27.1% to approximately , marking the 20th consecutive year of same store sales growth. With a vision of becoming a Top 10 Global Restaurant Brand, Wingstop's system is comprised of corporate-owned restaurants and independent franchisees, or brand partners, who account for approximately 98% of Wingstop's total restaurant count of 2,458 as of . A key to this business success and consumer fandom stems from The Wingstop Way, which includes a core value system of being Authentic, Entrepreneurial, Service-minded, and Fun. The Wingstop Way extends to the brand's environmental, social and governance platform as Wingstop seeks to provide value to all guests. In 2023, Wingstop earned its "Best Places to Work" certification. The Company landed on Entrepreneur Magazine's "Fastest-Growing Franchises" list and ranked #16 on "Franchise 500." Wingstop was listed on Technomic's "Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report," QSR Magazine's "2023 QSR 50" and Franchise Time's "40 Smartest-Growing Franchises." For more information, visit or and follow @Wingstop on X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Learn more about Wingstop's involvement in its local communities at . Unless specifically noted otherwise, references to our website addresses, the website addresses of third parties or other references to online content in this press release do not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on such website and should not be considered part of this release. This news release includes statements of our expectations, intentions, plans and beliefs that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are intended to come within the safe harbor protection provided by those sections. These statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, relate to the discussion of our expectations concerning the implementation and execution of our share repurchase program, including the anticipated execution of a ASR and our strategic growth initiatives. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "may," "will," "should," "expect," "intend," "plan," "outlook," "guidance," "anticipate," "believe," "think," "estimate," "seek," "predict," "can," "could," "project," "potential" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements are accompanied by such terms. These forward-looking statements are made based on expectations and beliefs concerning future events affecting us and are subject to uncertainties, risks, and factors relating to our operations and business environments, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those matters expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Please refer to the risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which can be found at the SEC's website . The discussion of these risks is specifically incorporated by reference into this news release. When considering forward-looking statements in this news release or that we make in other reports or statements, you should keep in mind the cautionary statements in this news release and future reports we file with the SEC. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and we cannot predict when they may arise or how they may affect us. Any forward-looking statement in this news release speaks only as of the date on which it was made. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Wingstop Restaurants Inc.

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei welcomed the International Criminal Court's decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former War Minister Yoav Gallant. In a Friday night post on X, Baqaei declared, “Fourteen long months into the occupying regime's genocidal campaign in Gaza, marked by the most harrowing atrocities, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I finally issued arrest warrants for the two top criminals Netanyahu and Gallant. Of course, their indictment should have included 'genocide' which is manifest.” Baqaei said the warrants were a positive step towards justice. “We welcome any step to serve justice and end the Israeli regime's impunity for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed in occupied Palestine and elsewhere,” he stated. He directly attributed the delay in holding Israel accountable to the United States. “Chronic procrastination in holding Israel accountable – mainly due to the US's covert and overt obstructions and bullying – has allowed atrocity crimes to persist in occupied Palestine,” Baqaei added. The spokesperson emphasized the importance of immediate action. “Full and immediate implementation of these arrest warrants will test the effectiveness of the international criminal justice,” Baqaei stated, expressing a cautious optimism while voicing concern that the process could be manipulated. “Hope this late decision would not be manipulated through abuse of process.”

The Sindh and Punjab governments joined hands to further enhance collaboration for strengthening social security measures aimed at improving the quality of life of the citizens. The agreement in this regard was expressed, in a meeting between Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh on Social Security, Sarfaraz Rajar and Vice Chairperson Punjab Social Protection Authority (PSPA) Jahan Ara Manzoor Wattoo, said a statement issued on Monday. The SACM Sarfaraz Rajar said, “We are going to collaborate for improving social protection measures in both the provinces with establishment of an inter-provincial social protection forum on social protection.” The SACM on Social Security reiterated the commitment to ensure the welfare of the disadvantaged sections and said that the joint efforts are aimed at improving social protection services and exchanging best practices and skills. The Vice Chairperson PSPA said that the partnership aims to provide social security to the underprivileged segments of society. He said that the establishment of the Inter-Provincial Social Security Forum was the beginning of joint initiatives for the backward classes, she acclaimed and hoped that participation of all provinces in the forum would expand social protection services. Sarfaraz Rajar informed that the Sindh government’s “Mamata program” is benefiting 1.3 million mothers and children across 15 districts of the province while another comprehensive measure, “Benazir Agriculture Worker Program”, is being introduced by the Social Security Department to provide social security to women associated with the agriculture sector while work is also being done on the “Bhook Mitao Program”, an initiative to combat malnutrition. Jahan Ara Wattoo appreciated Sindh’s social security initiatives and said that several social protection projects are underway in Punjab for public welfare and governments of both the provinces should work together to formulate a joint action plan for social security. The PSPA Vice Chair offered to provide completely free treatment to acid attack survivors of Sindh in seven burn units of Punjab under the “Nai Zindagi” Program. She said that the secret of the success of social protection lies in provision of all inclusive services to human and the Authority is at the forefront in serving the disadvantaged classes without any discrimination.

Lululemon CEO sees progress in company's efforts to address past lack of newness

Extra warnings as Sydney heatwave nears peakRemember those countless hours spent chasing Pokémon around your neighborhood? Turns out, you weren’t just catching virtual creatures – you were also contributing to a massive real-world project. Niantic, the company behind the augmented reality sensation Pokémon Go, has been quietly using player data to build a sophisticated AI-powered mapping system. This isn’t some Orwellian scheme; it’s about creating a more immersive and interactive digital world, but it does raise questions about data privacy and the future of AR technology. Niantic’s goal is ambitious: to create a “mirror world” – a 3D map of the real world so detailed and dynamic that it can seamlessly blend with augmented reality applications. Imagine AR glasses that not only overlay information on your surroundings but also understand the context of those surroundings. This could revolutionize everything from navigation and city planning to gaming and social interaction. How Does Pokémon Go Fit Into This? Pokémon Go, with its location-based gameplay, has proven to be an invaluable tool for Niantic’s mapping ambitions. Here’s how: This crowdsourced approach to data collection has allowed Niantic to gather information on a scale that would be impossible for any single company to achieve. Millions of players worldwide have become unwitting cartographers, contributing to a constantly evolving and expanding map of the world. The Technology Behind the Map Niantic’s mapping system relies on several key technologies: This combination of technologies allows Niantic to create a map that is not only accurate but also intelligent. It can understand the relationship between different objects, predict how a scene might change over time, and even generate realistic virtual objects that blend seamlessly with the real world. Beyond Pokémon Go: The Future of AR While Pokémon Go has been instrumental in gathering data, Niantic’s vision extends far beyond the game. The company sees its mapping technology as the foundation for a wide range of AR applications: The Privacy Question The use of player data raises legitimate concerns about privacy. Niantic assures users that it anonymizes data and takes steps to protect user privacy. However, the fact remains that the game collects a significant amount of information about players’ movements and activities. As AR technology becomes more prevalent, the question of how to balance innovation with privacy will become increasingly important. My Personal Experience As an avid Pokémon Go player since its launch, I’ve been fascinated by how the game has evolved. I’ve seen firsthand how Niantic has used player feedback and data to improve the game and introduce new features. While I’m excited about the potential of AR and the role that Pokémon Go is playing in its development, I also believe it’s crucial for companies like Niantic to be transparent about how they use player data and to prioritize user privacy. Looking Ahead The convergence of gaming, AI, and augmented reality is creating exciting possibilities. Pokémon Go is more than just a game; it’s a glimpse into the future of how we interact with the digital world. As Niantic continues to refine its mapping technology, we can expect to see even more innovative and immersive AR experiences in the years to come. However, it’s crucial to have an open dialogue about the ethical and privacy implications of this technology to ensure that it benefits society as a whole.The Thing: Remastered Review - Cold Fear

Will Utah State or Boise State play against San Jose State in the Mountain West semifinals?

Manchester City blew a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 against Feyenoord in a Champions League thriller on Tuesday and extend their winless run to six games. Watch selected NRL, AFL, SSN games plus every F1 qualifying session and race live in 4K on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. The English champions did snap a five-game losing streak but did little to boost confidence ahead of Sunday’s trip to Premier League leaders Liverpool by conceding three times in the final 15 minutes. Pep Guardiola admitted his star-studded squad were “fragile” and lacking in confidence after the worst run of his managerial career, while a shock stat was exposed. We lost a lot of games lately, we are fragile and of course, we need a victory,” he said to Prime Video. “The game was good for the confidence, we were playing at a good level and then for the first time something happened, we have problems.” Manchester City became the first team in the history of the Champions League to be leading by three goals as late as the 75th minute, before failing to win. Two goals from Erling Haaland, either side of Ilkay Gundogan’s deflected effort, looked set to restore some order for City. But the defensive frailties that have been the root cause for a staggering collapse in recent weeks was exposed in the closing stages. Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Gimenez and David Hancko hit back to salvage a vital point for the Dutch giants. A draw leaves City with plenty of work to do to reach the knockout stages with trips to Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain to come in their next two Champions League games. Only the top eight progress directly to the last 16 with a place in the top 24 of the 36-team table enough to reach the playoff round. City drop to 15th on eight points from five matches, just one point ahead of Feyenoord in 20th. Guardiola reacted to a first home defeat for two years in a 4-0 humbling by Tottenham on Saturday by making three changes. Jack Grealish, Matheus Nunes and Nathan Ake came into the starting line-up but it still took City time to find their rhythm. Nerves around a far from full Etihad Stadium were frayed when Igor Paixao wasted a big chance to give the Dutch giants the lead. Instead, City got the break they needed when Haaland was fouled inside the box from a corner. The Norwegian missed from the penalty spot in City’s 4-1 thrashing by Sporting Lisbon last time out in the Champions League. This time Haaland was clinical and smashed the ball into the net in relieving his frustrations of recent weeks. Gundogan’s volley from the edge of the box that deflected in off Hancko gave City breathing space early in the second half. Haaland then slid in to meet Nunes’ cross for his 46th Champions League goal in 44 appearances in the competition to seemingly put City on easy street. But there was a sting in the tail for the home side after Josko Gvardiol’s slack backpass allowed Moussa in to round Ederson and fire in from a narrow angle. Guardiola held his head in his hands in response and worse was to come when Ederson failed to deal with Jordan Lotomba’s near-post effort and the ball fell kindly for Gimenez to make it 3-2. More kamikaze defending gifted Feyenoord an equaliser as Rico Lewis played Paixao onside. He eased around the onrushing Ederson and crossed for Hancko to head into an unguarded net. City have now conceded two or more goals in six consecutive games for the first time since 1963. There was still time for more drama as Grealish’s shot came back off the crossbar in City’s search for a late winner. Instead they had to settle for a point that will feel just as damaging as the previous five defeats for a side so used to winning. ARSENAL’S RUTHLESS ROUT Arsenal extended their revival with a ruthless 5-1 rout of Sporting Lisbon to bolster their bid to reach the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday. Mikel Arteta’s side ended a three-match winless run in all competitions by beating Nottingham Forest 3-0 in the Premier League last weekend. And the Gunners built on that success with an even more dynamic display at the Jose Alvalade stadium. Gabriel Martinelli gave Arsenal an early lead and Kai Havertz increased their advantage before Gabriel Magalhaes struck just before halftime. Goncalo Inacio got one back for Sporting, but Bukayo Saka’s penalty underlined the gulf in class between the teams. Leandro Trossard netted late on to give Arsenal five away goals in a Champions League game for the first time since 2008. Arsenal’s third win in five Champions League matches this season lifted them into seventh place, with the top eight teams in the revamped tournament earning automatic qualification for the last 16. Sporting’s first defeat in Europe’s elite club competition this season leaves them below Arsenal on goal difference. Arsenal are nine points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after their dip, but this swaggering effort suggested they are finally back in the groove. Arteta had challenged Arsenal to make a statement against Sporting and they responded in emphatic fashion. The north Londoners’ first away win in the Champions League in six attempts was a welcome tonic after a 1-0 loss at Inter Milan in their last European fixture. Arsenal’s impressive performance was all the more notable as Sporting had crushed Manchester City 4-1 in their final Champions League game under Ruben Amorim, who has since taken charge of Manchester United. Joao Pereira has replaced Amorim as Sporting boss but he was unable to maintain their unbeaten start to the season as the Portuguese champions were defeated for the first time in 19 games in all competitions. It took just seven minutes for Martinelli to put Arsenal ahead. Jurrien Timber’s low cross was perfectly weighted and the Brazilian slid in to apply the finish inside the six-yard box. In stark contrast to City’s capitulation at Sporting earlier in November, Arteta’s men were in complete command. They picked the Sporting defence apart again in the 22nd minute as Thomas Partey’s incisive pass picked out Saka’s run beyond the hosts’ creaky off-side trap. Saka guided a pinpoint pass into the Sporting area and Havertz timed his run immaculately to slot home from close range. Sporting finally forced a save from David Raya when 17-year-old Geovany Quenda unleashed a fierce strike that the Arsenal keeper tipped over. But Gabriel bagged his first Champions League goal on the stroke of halftime. Arsenal’s set-piece prowess was on show as the Brazilian defender rose highest to power his header past Franco Israel from Declan Rice’s inswinging corner. Gabriel marked the goal with a cheeky celebration as he mimicked the eye-covering gesture used by Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres when he scores. That inflammatory gesture briefly woke Sporting from their slumber and Inacio reduced the deficit two minutes after halftime. Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori went to sleep at a corner and Inacio took advantage to volley past Raya from close range. Sporting needed another goal quickly to put Arsenal under genuine pressure, but instead it was the visitors who struck again in the 65th minute. Ousmane Diomande’s lunge tripped Martin Odegaard in the area and Saka drilled his penalty into the corner of the net. Trossard put the seal on Arsenal’s demolition job in the 82nd minute, nodding home after Israel spilt Mikel Merino’s shot. BAYERN BEST 10-MAN PSG A first-half header from Kim Min-jae guided Bayern Munich to a 1-0 home win over Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, damaging the French side’s hopes of progressing in the Champions League. The centre-back scored after an error from PSG goalkeeper Matvei Safonov, starting ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma, who spilt the ball into Kim’s path. The South Korean’s effort was enough to decide the rematch of the 2020 Champions League final -- won by Bayern by the same scoreline -- and all but extinguishes PSG’s hopes of a top-eight finish and avoiding the playoff round. Ousmane Dembele picked up a second yellow for an unnecessary challenge with half an hour remaining, with Bayern successfully shutting up shop as a result. “It was an extremely intense game,” Leon Goretzka said to Amazon Prime. “You could see in the starting XI they were going to try and hold onto the ball and to test us with their pressing -- and we pushed to the end and it’s nice we could be rewarded.” With just three games remaining, even making the knockouts is not a given for the French champions, who are in 26th spot -- two outside the playoff placings. PSG host Manchester City in January along with facing tricky away trips to Red Bull Salzburg and Stuttgart. Bayern’s top-eight hopes look rosier after the win, which extended their run of clean sheets to seven straight games in all competitions. Bayern now sit 11th and take on relative European minnows Shakhtar Donetsk, Feyenoord and Slovan Bratislava in their remaining games. Both sides came into the game unbeaten and six points clear in their domestic leagues but in dire need of points in Europe. Bayern coach Vincent Kompany opted for the speed of Leroy Sane over the creativity of France winger Michael Olise up front. PSG boss Luis Enrique made five changes to his side but most notable was his decision to stick with goalkeeper Safonov, rather than Donnarumma, who had played all but one Champions League game this season. Luis Enrique defended his call before the game, telling reporters: “I make my choices based on what I see on the pitch and what’s best for the team.” The decision appeared to pay off early, with Safonov responsible for good saves from Jamal Musiala and Sane inside the opening 12 minutes. Kingsley Coman, the PSG academy product who scored the only goal in the 2020 final, almost broke the deadlock shortly afterwards, dribbling through five defenders and blasting just wide. After PSG had a few opportunities of their own, including Joao Neves’ long-range effort whistling past the goalpost on 33 minutes, the Russian goalkeeper made a mistake which led directly to the opener. Joshua Kimmich swung in a corner on the 38-minute mark which Safonov spilt. And Kim took advantage to power a header into the net for the first Champions League goal of his career. Bayern were happy to let the game come to them in the second half but Dembele’s second yellow -- his first had come for dissent -- took the steam out of PSG’s hopes of a comeback. BARCELONA HIT BREST FOR THREE Robert Lewandowski scored his 100th Champions League goal as Barcelona beat Brest 3-0 to climb provisionally second in the Champions League group standings on Tuesday. The veteran striker slotted home from the spot in the 10th minute to fire the Catalans ahead and reach his milestone, adding a second late on after Dani Olmo’s goal to inflict the French side’s first defeat. After dropping points in their last two outings in La Liga, coach Hansi Flick had urged his players to “eliminate” mistakes in their game and Barca produced a solid display. They got off the mark quickly when Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot clumsily clattered into the back of Lewandowski after the forward controlled Pedri’s cross on his chest. The striker dusted himself down and dispatched the penalty clinically to open the scoring after 10 minutes and bring up his century. It made Lewandowski only the third player to reach that milestone in the competition, behind former Barcelona great Lionel Messi, on 129, and former Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, with 140. Under Flick, the forward’s form has improved significantly this season, reaching 22 goals in 19 appearances between La Liga and the Champions League. The 36-year-old has made 125 Champions League appearances with Barcelona and before that German sides Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. “I am very happy, many years ago I did not think I could score more than 100 goals in the Champions League,” Lewandowski told Movistar. “For me the most important thing is that we try to win every game, if I can score, then that’s the perfect solution. “I don’t know how many games we have left before the end of the year but we have to win them all and rest over Christmas.” Barcelona were still without teenage star Lamine Yamal, recovering from an ankle problem, but Raphinha was busy on the right and the Catalans dominated proceedings. They did not create many clear chances though until Fermin Lopez forced a fine save from Bizot with a diving header. The Dutch goalkeeper made amends for his earlier mistake by denying the Spaniard with his leg. Lopez again came close early in the second half when Lewandowski put him in with a neat flick but Bizot was alert to save his low effort. Playmaker Olmo had an effort scrambled off the line by Brendan Chardonnet as Barcelona sought to put the game to bed. The former RB Leipzig midfielder eventually grabbed the second in the 66th minute when he received Gerard Martin’s pass in the box, showing some nifty footwork to dodge Chardonnet and beat Bizot at the near post. Brest thumped RB Salzburg 4-0 and had dropped just two points from their first four matches despite sitting in mid-table in Ligue 1, but were brought down to earth at the Olympic Stadium. Mathias Pereira Lage drilled home to momentarily delight nearly 3,000 travelling supporters but their joy was curtailed when the linesman raised his flag for off-side. Barca substitute Pablo Torre should have netted Barcelona’s third when he intercepted a pass with just the goalkeeper to beat, but fired wide. Instead the job fell to Lewandowski and he rolled home his 101st Champions League goal with aplomb, beyond Bizot’s outstretched arm. Brest fall a few places down the table but their strong start to the campaign means they are well placed to secure at least a playoff spot, while Barcelona are aiming to reach the last 16 directly. Flick’s side travel to last season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund next, before visiting Benfica and hosting Atalanta.