Atletico Madrid eased past Kazakhstan champions FC Astana 4-0 on Wednesday to get their European campaign back on track after a shock defeat to Benfica last time out.
Saul Niguez opened the scoring with a clever backheel before Jackson Martinez scored his first goal at the Vicente Calderon for Atletico to put the hosts well on course for victory.
Substitute Oliver Torres added a third after the break before Denis Dedchenko’s late own goal rounded off the scoring.
“I am happy to get the victory because it puts us ahead in a difficult group that is further complicated by Galatasaray’s win,” Atletico manager Diego Simeone told BeIN sports.
“It is an important step for the team. From what I saw from an Astana side with a lot of players missing, it will also be a very difficult game when we go there.”
Galatasaray’s 2-1 win over Benfica in the other game in the Group C means Atletico draw level with Benfica at the top on six points, two points clear of the Turkish champions.
Astana had travelled over 5,000 kilometres west to the Spanish capital and were immediately under the cosh from the 2013/14 finalists.
Goalkeeper Nenad Eric denied Diego Godin twice from dangerous corners, but it was another well-worked set-piece that produced the opening goal midway through the first-half.
A short corner between Gabi and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco freed the Belgian and his cross was flicked home by Saul.
Martinez has failed to live up to his price tag since a €35 million (Dh145.8m) move from FC Porto in the summer, but Simeone’s faith in the Colombian was rewarded when he finally found the net thanks to a deflection off a stray Astana leg to double Atletico’s lead six minutes later.
“The goal was a moment of joy for the whole team. I have been working hard to try and contribute,” said Martinez.
“It was like a liberation from the games that had gone before.”
Only a brilliant save from Eric denied Martinez a second from a thumping header just before half-time.
However, the third goal did arrive for the hosts just after the hour mark as a lung-bursting run from captain Gabi teed up Oliver to chip home.
Atletico keeper Jan Oblak had been a mere spectator for much of the evening, but he produced a brilliant save from Foxi Kethevoama moments later to ensure Simeone’s men kept an eighth clean sheet in their last nine home games in the Champions League.
Fernando Torres replaced Martinez for the final 25 minutes and passed up two great chances to register his 100th goal for the club.
Yet, Atletico did get a fourth a minute from time when Dedchenko could only turn Juanfran’s driven cross into his own net.
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DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
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Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Men’s:
Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
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Simon Rosner (GER)
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Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Nick Matthew (ENG)
Women's:
Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
Laura Massaro (ENG)
Joelle King (NZE)
Camille Serme (FRA)
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Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
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Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
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Starring: James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogan
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The Bio
Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.
Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.
Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.
Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.
