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MILAN — Big-spending AC Milan sacked coach Vincenzo Montella on Monday and replaced him with their fiery former midfielder Gennaro Gattuso.

Montella was dismissed one day after a goalless home draw with Torino that left Milan, who spent more than 200 million euros ($239 million) on transfers in the close season, seventh in Serie A with 20 points from 14 games, 18 behind leaders Napoli.

The famously combative Gattuso, a World Cup winner in 2006, became Milan’s sixth coach since Massimiliano Allegri was fired in January, 2014. 

Montella, the first coach to go since former Italian Prime Minster Silvio Berlusconi sold the club to a Chinese-led consortium in a 740 million-euro deal in April, had been in charge since the start of last season when he led them to sixth place in Serie A.

“We give heartfelt thanks to Mr Montella and his staff for their effort, serious work and professional courtesy,” Milan said in a statement. 

Gattuso, 39, spent 12 seasons playing for Milan, winning two Serie A, two Champions League and one Club World Cup titles, and was known as one of Italy’s toughest players.

His coaching career has been a mixed bag, although never dull.

He began at Swiss first division side Sion in 2013, but was sacked after three months before joining Italian Serie B club Palermo who fired him after six games.

In 2014, he tried his luck with Greek Super League side OFI Crete who were beset by financial problems and, according to Gattuso, were “struggling to feed their players”.

Infamous news conference

He lasted six months, during which he gave an infamous expletive-ridden news conference in which he banged his fist on the table repeatedly and said, in broken English, that he expected his players to “play with balls”.

He moved to Pisa in the third tier of Italian football, won promotion to Serie B at the first attempt in 2015-16 and said it was as good as winning the Champions League with Milan.

He quit the club due to off-field problems but was quickly persuaded to return for the new season.

Pisa continued to struggle behind the scenes, however, were docked four points over late payment of tax and social security bills and were relegated.

Milan, 18-times Italian champions, enjoyed a golden age under Berlusconi but his last few years as president became a story of unsuccessful transfers, mid-table finishes and musical chairs in the coach’s seat. 

Chinese ownership heralded a change of direction symbolised by the decision to spend around 40 million euros to sign experienced Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci from champions Juventus.

Younger recruits included Portuguese striker Andre Silva, right back Andrea Conti, a product of Atalanta’s impressive youth scheme, Switzerland left back Ricardo Rodriguez and Turkish midfielder and free kick specialist Hakan Calhanoglu.

The new-found optimism was apparent at AC Milan’s first home match of the season when a 65,000-crowd turned up at San Siro on a stifling August evening for a Europa League tie against modest Romanian side Univesitatea Craiova.

Milan, seven-times European champions, won their first six competitive games but quickly lost their spark and Sunday’s match was their fourth home league game in a row without scoring.

ABU DHABI — Valtteri Bottas won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday as Mercedes wrapped up another triumphant Formula One season with a one-two finish and four-times world champion Lewis Hamilton having to settle for second.

The win was a career third for the Finn, who had started on pole position and stayed in front to deny Hamilton a 10th success of the 20-race campaign.

"It's a really important win for me after having a pretty difficult start to the second half of the year," said Bottas, who joined Mercedes after 2016 champion Nico Rosberg retired abruptly a year ago.

"This weekend, pole and win, I couldn't be happier to end the season like this."
In a processional race, with plenty of glamour but little excitement under the Yas Marina floodlights, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel took third place to finish runner-up in a championship that Hamilton won in Mexico last month.
The final points tally was Hamilton 363, Vettel 317 and Bottas 305.
Mercedes had already won the constructors' world championship for the fourth year in a row and ended with 668 points to Ferrari's 522. The one-two finish was their fourth of the season.

Bottas managed the pace throughout, ceding the lead to Hamilton only when he pitted first, with no major issues.

He took the chequered flag 3.8 seconds clear of his team mate, who had been within a second at one point. Vettel was 19 seconds down the road.
"After three, four or five laps I couldn't go any faster and from then it was pretty lonely," said Vettel, a three-times winner in Abu Dhabi. "In the second part of the race we had a stronger pace but not good enough.

"Very much congratulations to Lewis on his season, he deserves to win the championship this year in the end. I hate to say it, but he was the better man. I'm sure we will do our bit over the winter and hopefully come back stronger."
Hamilton kept Bottas in his sights but was unable to do anything but follow. He said that was not because of any lack of intent.
"Big congratulations to Valtteri, he did an amazing job today to hold me off. It was a great race, I gave it everything, every single lap. It is hard to overtake here," said the Briton after his 25th successive race in the points.
"It's so hard to follow," he said in the cool-down room before going on the podium. "I was, like, 'Where are all the backmarkers?'. I think they need to change this track."
The pair performed celebratory tyre-burning spins after the finish, with retiring Brazilian Felipe Massa pulling his Williams alongside the Mercedes and joining in the hugs and handshakes.
With the finishing order reflecting the starting positions, with the exception of Red Bull's Australian Daniel Ricciardo who retired with an hydraulics issue, the main suspense was in midfield.

Toro Rosso, Renault and Haas were separated by just six points before the start, with millions of dollars in prize money at stake and Renault taking the honours thanks to Nico Hulkenberg's sixth place.

It was still a tense evening for the French manufacturer team, however, after their Spanish driver Carlos Sainz was released from a pitstop with a loose wheel and retired after almost crashing in the exit tunnel.

Hulkenberg was also given a five-second penalty for cutting a corner, with some considering that the stewards had let the German off lightly rather than forcing him to hand back the place to Force India's Sergio Perez.

There was also an emotional send-off for Brazilian veteran Massa, the 2008 world championship runner-up finishing 10th in his final race.

"I am very lucky to have all of this in my life so ready for the next step," said the former Ferrari driver. "For sure, I will miss many things — racing against amazing drivers and competing in the best car and the best category in the world."

ABU DHABI — Valtteri Bottas denied quadruple world champion teammate Lewis Hamilton the final pole position of the Formula One season on Saturday, leading a Mercedes one-two in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying.

The pole was the Finn's second in a row, and fourth of the campaign, and he was determined to convert it into a victory after missing out in Brazil two weeks ago.

"I was so gutted in the last race being on pole and missing the win. I have a clear target for tomorrow," said Bottas after lapping under the floodlights with a best time of one minute 36.231 seconds.

That was a track record, 0.172 quicker than his team mate and compared to Hamilton's 2016 pole of 1:38.755.

Hamilton, who had been aiming for his 12th pole of the year, was behind Bottas after the first flying laps of the final session and was unable to improve on his time.

"What a lap! He just had an incredible qualifying and congratulations to him," said Hamilton, who clinched his fourth championship in Mexico last month, as he saluted Bottas in front of the crowd.

"The last qualifying of the year and I gave it everything but I seem to have lost a little pace going into qualifying. Valtteri did an exceptional job, so I'm really happy for him," added the Briton, who won from pole last year.

"Either way, it's been an incredible year of qualifying and one that I've really enjoyed."

Hamilton will end the season with 72 career poles, an all-time record for the sport, after passing Michael Schumacher's previous best of 68 at the Italian Grand Prix in September.

Mercedes have already clinched their fourth successive constructors' championship, leaving Sunday's race with little at stake for top teams beyond bragging rights to take into the winter break.

Vettel third

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel qualified third with Australian Daniel Ricciardo lining up alongside him on the second row of the grid for Red Bull.

Vettel beat Bottas to the victory in Brazil, his fifth of the year, and is on course to become the first non-Mercedes driver in four years to finish the championship in the top two with a 22 point advantage over third-placed Bottas.

While he hoped to challenge for the win on Sunday, the German did not sound overly confident.

"Tomorrow with the race pace I think we can be a bit closer but they [Mercedes] have been very strong," said Vettel, also a four times world champion and three times winner at Yas Marina with Red Bull.

"It should be a fun race, overtaking is not always straightforward but not impossible here so let's see." 

Kimi Raikkonen qualified fifth for Ferrari with Dutch 20-year-old Max Verstappen sixth for Red Bull.

Brazilian veteran Felipe Massa concluded the final qualifying of his Formula One career with 10th place for Williams.

"It's a good way to retire, good races, good lap times. I'm happy that I'm finished with my head up and competitive," he said.

"I want to have fun tomorrow. I have nothing to lose, risk everything you can. Let's have fun."

Renault seized the initiative in the tight battle for sixth place with Nico Hulkenberg qualifying seventh and Carlos Sainz 12th.

Millions of dollars of prize money are at stake on Sunday, with Toro Rosso four points clear of Renault who are in turn two ahead of US-owned Haas.

Toro Rosso had France's Pierre Gasly and New Zealander Brendon Hartley lining up 17th and last respectively while Haas had Denmark's Kevin Magnussen 14th and Romain Grosjean 16th.

TURIN, Italy — Barcelona allowed themselves the luxury of starting with Lionel Messi on the bench and still held out for a 0-0 draw at Juventus to reach the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday.

Barcelona, who brought on Messi early in the second half, enjoyed long spells of possession but used it as a defensive tactic to stop Juventus attacking rather than creating chances themselves.

Juve were lacklustre, with forward Gonzalo Higuain barely getting a look-in as they failed to score in a home match for the first time since September last year.

The Turin side nearly snatched a win in stoppage time but Paulo Dybala’s low shot from the edge of the area was turned around the post by goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Even so, coach Massimiliano Allegri enjoyed the match. “It was a nice game from a tactical point of view, the lads worked hard to defend well,” he said. “We were more interested in the performance than the result.” 

The Serie A side, who are second in Group D, will qualify for the last 16 unless they fail to beat Olympiakos away in their final game next month and Sporting win at Barcelona.

Sporting kept alive their own hopes by beating Olympiakos 3-1 in Lisbon in the other game with Bas Dost scoring twice. Bruno Cesar was also on target for Sporting and Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe scored a late consolation for the Greeks who were eliminated.

Barcelona, who played their second successive goalless draw in the group, have 11 points and are guaranteed to finish top. Juve are on eight, Sporting on seven and Olympiakos on one.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said that Messi had needed a rest. “He had to take a break at some point... he’s been playing a lot of games,” he said.

Barcelona were closest to a first-half goal when a long-range Ivan Rakitic free kick found its way through the penalty area, bounced off the post and fell to Paulinho, who was unable to take advantage.

Paulinho’s other notable contribution was to be booked for diving in the penalty area while Luis Suarez was largely anonymous.

Dybala had Juve’s best first-half effort when he dribbled around three defenders but he fired over from a difficult angle.

Messi’s entrance changed little although the Argentine came close when he curled a long-range free kick over the bar.

Barcelona should have scored when Juan Cuadrado slipped and let in Lucas Digne but, instead of shooting, he tried to pass to Suarez and the Juve defence intercepted the ball.

The most entertaining moment came after the final whistle when Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon took off his gloves and his shorts and threw them into the crowd.

Chelsea breezed into the last 16 of the Champions League after being helped to their 4-0 stroll over 10-man Qarabag by the award of a hotly-disputed first-half penalty and sending off in Baku.

Antoine Griezmann’s spectacular scissors-kick helped earn Atletico Madrid a 2-0 win over Roma on Wednesday to keep alive their slim hopes of qualifying for the Champions League last 16.

NICOSIA — Holders Real Madrid sealed a place in the Champions League last 16 with a thumping 6-0 victory at APOEL Nicosia on Tuesday after doubles from Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, but will still finish runners-up to Tottenham Hotspur in Group H.

Ronaldo wrapped up Real’s biggest Champions League away win with two goals at the start of the second half. He now has 18 in the competition this year, extending his record from 16 and taking his overall Champions League scoring record to 113.

Zinedine Zidane’s side, who have been inconsistent in La Liga this season, were already coasting thanks to first-half goals from Luka Modric, a Karim Benzema double and Nacho strike.

Spurs’ 2-1 win at Borussia Dortmund means they have claimed top spot on 13 points, with a game to spare, ahead of Real on 10 points. APOEL will fight it out with Dortmund for third place and a Europa League spot, with both teams on two points.

“We can’t do anything about finishing second now. Other teams will not want to face us in the next round and we will do our best to qualify [from the last 16],” said Zidane.

“We know Ronaldo and Benzema are good players and they were going to score sooner rather than later. In a season you always have tough moments but we always thought they would improve.”

Ronaldo added: “We knew before the game that we needed to win to go through to the next round. We played very well, we scored six times and the team played amazing football. We are very happy. The job was done.”

Defence freezes

Modric opened the scoring for Real in the 22nd minute with a bouncing volley from the edge of the penalty area after APOEL’s Vinicius failed to clear a Dani Carvajal cross from the right.

Benzema doubled the lead in the 39th minute when he was put clean through by Toni Kroos, following neat interplay between the German, the Frenchman and Portuguese Ronaldo.

APOEL’s defence appeared to freeze in the build-up after they thought the referee would blow for a foul on Ronaldo. Benzema made no mistake though ending his recent goal drought.

In the 41st minute Real made it 3-0 when Nacho prodded home from close range, after his central defensive partner Raphael Varane knocked down Marco Asensio’s corner from the left.

Real scored again when Benzema doubled his tally following a lightning break in first-half added time, Ronaldo unselfishly finding the Frenchman who passed the ball into an empty net.

Ronaldo finally got on the scoresheet himself, scoring his 112th Champions League goal in the 48th with a simple header off Marcelo’s cross from the left. He then netted again in the 54th minute, firing home after Perez’ clearance struck the onrushing Benzema.

“That Ronaldo and Benzema both scored twice makes us really happy. We’ve come away delighted, we did everything we wanted to do and we need to carry on like this. In the last three games we’ve scored goals and kept clean sheets,” added Zidane.

Last year’s semifinalists Monaco crashed out of the Champions League in the group stages when they were beaten at home 4-1 by Leipzig on Tuesday.

The principality side never recovered from going 3-0 down in the first half an hour following a Fabinho own goal and two goals by Timo Werner.

Radamel Falcao reduced the arrears, only for Naby Keita to put the visitors 4-1 up on the stroke of halftime.

The result left Monaco  at the bottom of Group G on two points from five games, with Leipzig on seven, level with second-placed Porto.

Besiktas top the Group with 11 points after their 1-1 home draw with Porto.