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Barcelona have not closed the door on a move for long-term target Bernardo Silva, even as Juventus accelerate plans to secure the Manchester City midfielder on a free transfer this summer, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The Catalan giants first identified the Portuguese international as a priority during Xavi Hernández’s tenure, and although the coaching change to Hansi Flick in 2024 appeared to cool their interest, club scouts continue to track the 31-year-old’s situation with only months remaining on his Etihad contract. Silva, whose deal expires in June, is expected to leave England after a trophy-laden spell. Juventus have since emerged as frontrunners: the Turin club’s hierarchy has monitored him for several windows and is now ready to table an enticing proposal to lure him to Serie A on a Bosman transfer. Competition is intensifying. Beyond Juventus, Barcelona maintain a watching brief, while Benfica—Silva’s former club—hope to tempt him back to Lisbon. Additionally, lucrative packages from Saudi Arabia and Major League Soccer have surfaced, offering the playmaker a fresh challenge in a new market. Sources close to the player indicate he views Juventus positively, yet he is in no rush to commit. Silva intends to weigh all options before selecting what will likely be one of the last marquee contracts of his career, with a final decision unlikely before late April. For Barcelona, signing a talent of Silva’s calibre without a transfer fee would represent exceptional value, though squad planning under Flick currently prioritises other areas, leaving any potential swoop contingent on future developments.

Liverpool’s 4-0 dismantling of Galatasaray may have felt like a season-defining statement, but Florian Wirtz insists the job is only half-done. Speaking to liverpoolfc.com after the midweek rout, the German playmaker urged his teammates to bottle the intensity of Anfield’s European night and carry it to the south coast for Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion. “Yes, it will be very important for us, also for our mind and also for the spirit in the team that we just create momentum and also an energy that we can win all the games now,” Wirtz said, emphasising the psychological lift that a second consecutive victory would provide. Momentum has become the watchword around Kirkby. Against Galatasaray, Wirtz created eight chances—the most by any Liverpool player in a Champions League fixture since Opta began recording the data—yet the 21-year-old brushed off personal accolades. “These stats are nice, always good to know and to speak about. But, for me, always the most important thing is that the team does good.” His return from a niggling back complaint has coincided with a noticeable uptick in Liverpool’s attacking fluency under head coach Arne Slot. “It was a bit annoying with my back because it first was away, then came back again. But now I am fine, I feel good and I’m happy that I can keep on going where I stopped before the injury.” The timing is critical. Liverpool now face a Brighton side renowned for disrupting the division’s heavyweights, and they must do so without the cushion of another European night at Anfield. “It’s always good to have a better feeling and also a better atmosphere in the changing room because when you don’t win the team is not really happy,” Wirtz noted. Wednesday’s victory, sealed by relentless pressing and rapid ball circulation, sets the benchmark. “I think it was very important to put in intensity like we did on Wednesday. I think that was needed to come through this round and we are very happy that we put so much effort into the game and got a good result in the end.” Replicating that intensity away from home is the next examination. With an international break looming and a blockbuster Champions League date with Paris Saint-Germain on the horizon, three points at the Amex Stadium would extend Liverpool’s positive trajectory and reinforce the belief that one dominant evening can snowball into a sustained charge on multiple fronts. For Wirtz and Liverpool, the message is simple: momentum begins again at kick-off on Saturday.

London — What once felt unthinkable at Stamford Bridge is suddenly plausible: Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea’s £107 million record signing and current vice-captain, may be edging toward the exit door. The seismic shift in mood stems from Tuesday night’s 8–2 aggregate humiliation by Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. Within hours of the final whistle in the French capital, whispers of Fernandez’s discontent surfaced, and the Argentine’s non-committal post-match remarks have only intensified the uncertainty. Asked directly whether he envisaged himself at Chelsea next season, Fernandez replied: “I don’t know, there are eight games left and the FA Cup. There’s the World Cup, and then we’ll see.” For a player entrusted with the armband in Reece James’s frequent absences, the vagueness was startling. Sources close to the squad say the 23-year-old has grown increasingly frustrated by the club’s direction since the Clearlake Capital takeover in 2022—an era defined by managerial churn, a youth-heavy recruitment policy, and no Champions League football since 2023. Fernandez’s body of work remains impressive: 160 appearances, more than 50 direct goal involvements, and a team-high 12 goals plus six assists this season. Yet silverware has eluded Chelsea in that span, and missing out on next season’s Champions League could accelerate a parting of ways. Real Madrid are monitoring developments, while intermediaries have already sounded out potential replacements should Chelsea decide to cash in. Here are the three names dominating the strategy decks at Cobham: 1. Andrés García (21) – Strasbourg Chelsea’s sister club in Ligue 1 houses the Argentine whom the recruitment team once envisioned partnering with Fernandez. García’s versatility—comfortable as a No. 6, 8, or inverted full-back—makes him an attractive internal solution, but any deal would still require a sizeable outlay to convince Strasbourg to relinquish their standout talent. 2. Morgan Anderson (23) – Nottingham Forest Anderson’s reputation as the Premier League’s most complete box-to-box midfielder has soared this season. Forest value him at £100 million, a fee that would test Chelsea’s resolve, yet his defensive metrics (tackles, interceptions, recoveries) outstrip Fernandez’s while offering comparable ball-carrying thrust. The caveat: Anderson’s final-third output—four goal contributions in 2023–24—lags well behind Fernandez’s 11. 3. Kian Fitz-Jim (20) – AZ Alkmaar The Dutch prodigy notched two assists in AZ’s 4–0 Europa League demolition of Sparta Prague last week and has since courted admiring glances from PSG, Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid. Fitz-Jim has openly flirted with La Liga, complicating any Chelsea swoop, but his vision, press resistance and late runs into the box mirror Fernandez’s skill-set more closely than any other target. A fourth candidate, Barcelona’s Spanish midfielder, was pursued in January with a €40 million bid that was instantly rejected; the player subsequently signed a new contract through 2031, effectively ending the chase. Chelsea now face a defining summer. Sell Fernandez and they must reinvest shrewdly in a market where elite midfielders command nine-figure fees; keep him and they must convince a vice-captain that the project still aligns with his ambitions. With only eight Premier League fixtures and an FA Cup quarter-final left, the clock is ticking for the board to provide answers—and perhaps for Fernandez to provide his own.

Madrid – With a pulsating La Liga derby against Atlético Madrid looming on Sunday night, Real Madrid head coach Álvaro Arbeloa used his pre-match press conference to provide a detailed medical bulletin and tactical roadmap for a contest he labelled “must-win” if the Blancos are to keep pressure on league leaders Barcelona. Real Madrid enter the Santiago Bernabéu showdown four points adrift of the Catalans, who face Rayo Vallecano earlier in the day, and mindful that Diego Simeone’s side already humbled them once this campaign. Although Madrid gained revenge in the Spanish Super Cup semifinal, Arbeloa stressed that league points are now non-negotiable. “Eagerness and excitement,” the coach replied when asked to sum up the squad’s mood. “It’s one of the best matches you can experience. I’m looking forward to seeing a Bernabéu packed and fully behind the team.” Goalkeeping situation takes centre stage The press room’s first flashpoint concerned Thibaut Courtois, who tore an adductor in the opening half of Wednesday’s clash with Manchester City and will miss the next six weeks. Arbeloa defended his decision to withdraw the Belgian at the interval despite Courtois’ desire to play on, citing faith in deputy Andriy Lunin. “Very few footballers go out there at 100 percent,” Arbeloa noted. “When he got to half-time he wanted to keep playing, and it was me who decided to stop him. I have the utmost confidence in Lunin. He’s a great goalkeeper, and he’s going to prove it.” Mbappe “100 percent” ready Attention then turned to Kylian Mbappé, whose knee complaint had rendered him doubtful for the City match but who completed 90 minutes in midweek. Arbeloa erased any lingering uncertainty: “I already said that when he comes back, he’ll be 100 percent. In Manchester he showed he’s in great shape. We’re excited to have him back. He’s 100 percent.” The Frenchman’s availability is timely: Madrid have scored only once in their last two league fixtures. Mbappé, who has netted 13 times in 15 league appearances this term, is expected to start on the left of a fluid front three. Midfield puzzle: Thiago, Bellingham or both? One of Arbeloa’s most pleasant selection headaches involves Thiago Pitarch, the 19-year-old academy graduate who has seized a starting berth in the Portuguese’s double-pivot. Jude Bellingham’s imminent return from a two-month calf issue threatens to displace the youngster, yet Arbeloa balked at talk of an either-or scenario. “When we get to that river, we’ll cross that bridge,” he smiled. “Having Bellingham is excellent news, and Thiago’s performance has been great too. They can also play together.” Pressed on where he envisages Bellingham operating, the coach reiterated his collective ethos: “Here, we all attack and we all defend. We’ll find the best role for each player; that’s my job.” Rudiger’s contract situation Antonio Rüdiger, whose deal expires in June, has worked his way back into contention after a winter disrupted by hamstring trouble. Asked whether the club should extend the German’s stay, Arbeloa was effusive. “I’m willing to erect a statue of Rüdiger. From day one he’s made himself available to the staff. He told me that in March, when things get tough, he’d be available, and here he is. Real Madrid fans should be aware of how lucky we are to have him.” International break looms Both Mbappé and Bellingham have been called up by their national teams for friendlies in the United States despite recent knocks. Arbeloa endorsed the decisions: “Fantastic. He’s available and he’s definitely going to play tomorrow. I don’t see any problem with him going.” Simeone praise, Carvajal leadership On Atlético boss Diego Simeone’s claim that his side represent “the team of the people,” Arbeloa replied: “It sounds great to me. It’s a privilege to face him, because he’s the kind of coach who pushes you to your limits.” He also defended the continued inclusion of club captain Dani Carvajal, who has managed only sporadic minutes since January: “His presence is very important, beyond what happens on the pitch. We need a leader. Because either you’re a leader everywhere, or you’re not a leader at all.” Youth movement Arbeloa closed by rejecting suggestions that a growing reliance on academy graduates—Thiago, Mario Palacios, Diego Aguado and Manuel Ángel have all featured recently—signals a shift away from Madrid’s galáctico identity. “The best players in the world play at this club, and it’s not easy to make these decisions. But if they play, it’s because of their merit. When they’ve played, they’ve done very well.” Team news Real Madrid will assess Federico Valverde after the Uruguayan picked up a knock against City, but the midfield engine is expected to be fit. Atlético have no fresh suspension issues, though José María Giménez remains sidelined with a thigh strain. Kick-off at the Bernabéu is scheduled for 21:00 CET, with Madrid knowing anything less than victory could see Barcelona extend their cushion at the summit before the international break. SEO keywords:

Madrid’s biggest derby of the season kicks off at 21:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabéu, where Real Madrid must beat city rivals Atlético Madrid to avoid falling further behind league leaders Barcelona. With Barça hosting Rayo Vallecano earlier in the day, anything less than three points for Los Blancos could stretch the gap at the top to seven points. Alvaro Arbeloa’s side arrive buoyed by a statement Champions League last-16 victory over Manchester City, sealed by Vinícius Júnior’s dramatic 93rd-minute strike at the Etihad that capped a 5-1 aggregate triumph. The Brazilian’s brace in midweek answered early-season critics and kept alive hopes of European silverware, but domestic form remains patchy: back-to-back March defeats to Osasuna and Getafe have left Real clinging to title aspirations. Atlético, meanwhile, have eyes on two fronts. Diego Simeone’s men booked a Copa del Rey final date with Real Sociedad and squeezed past Tottenham 7-5 on aggregate to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, despite a 3-2 second-leg loss in north London. A top-four finish in La Liga is virtually secured—Atlético sit fourth with a game in hand and a 13-point cushion over fifth-placed Real Betis—so the derby offers a chance to deepen their neighbours’ league woes. Recent history favours the red-and-whites. Atlético humiliated Real 5-2 at the Metropolitano in September and are unbeaten in their last six league meetings, four of which ended level. Their most recent clash came in January’s Spanish Super Cup semi-final, where goals from Federico Valverde and Rodrygo edged Real through 2-1. Team news is mixed for both camps. Real welcome back Kylian Mbappé from a knee complaint; the Frenchman is expected to partner Vinícius up front. Jude Bellingham has resumed full training after a hamstring issue and could make the bench. Yet Thibaut Courtois faces six weeks out with a muscle injury, so Andriy Lunin deputises. Defenders Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy and David Alaba have been joined on the casualty list by Dani Ceballos and Rodrygo, although Álvaro Carreras and Raúl Asencio have been declared fit. Atlético will be without midfielder Pablo Barrios and defender Rodrigo Mendoza, while captain Jan Oblak is a major doubt with a hip problem. Juan Musso is poised to start in goal, and Marc Pubill remains questionable after rib pain forced him out of the midweek trip to Spurs. Probable line-ups Real Madrid: Lunin; Alexander-Arnold, Rüdiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Camavinga, Tchouaméni, Valverde; Güler; Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior. Atlético Madrid: Musso; Molina, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Llorente, Cardoso, Lookman; Sorloth, Julián Álvarez. Al Jazeera Sport’s live build-up begins at 17:00 GMT, with minute-by-minute commentary of a derby that could shape the remainder of the La Liga title race.

Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali has emerged as the most coveted central midfielder in this summer’s Premier League arms race, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United all ready to test the Magpies’ resolve with offers approaching the £100 million mark, according to transfer reporter Nicolo Schira. Tonali, 23, has become indispensable to Newcastle since his £55 million switch from AC Milan in 2023, dictating tempo and providing the platform for Eddie Howe’s high-energy system. Newcastle have privately informed suitors they will not enter negotiations unless the bidding reaches nine figures, a stance designed to deter the trio of English giants now circling St James’ Park. Arsenal view the Italy international as the final piece in Mikel Arteta’s evolving midfield puzzle, believing Tonali’s positional intelligence and press-resistant passing could elevate the Gunners’ title challenge. Manchester City, meanwhile, are bracing for the departure of club captain Bernardo Silva and have identified Tonali as the ideal successor to knit together possession phases. Manchester United’s interest is equally concrete; Erik ten Hag’s side are pursuing a marquee midfield addition and have already registered a tentative enquiry for Tonali’s team-mate Bruno Guimarães, signalling serious intent to overhaul their engine room. The potential auction sets up a summer tug-of-war that could shatter British transfer records for a player in the pivot role. Newcastle are under no pressure to sell, yet the sheer scale of the figures being discussed may force the club to weigh sporting ambition against financial prudence. Arsenal are also accelerating plans at centre-back, receiving encouraging signals in the chase for RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba. Christian Falk reports that Bayern Munich have cooled their pursuit, clearing a path for the Premier League leaders. Lukeba, 23, is contracted until 2029 but is open to a new challenge, with Leipzig ready to consider offers around £52 million—well below the £69 million release clause written into his deal. Elsewhere, Newcastle are eyeing Chelsea forward Liam Delap as a potential attacking reinforcement. The 23-year-old has found minutes hard to come by at Stamford Bridge following his move from Ipswich Town last summer, and with João Pedro preferred under Liam Rosenior, Chelsea are willing to listen to offers. Newcastle’s admiration dates back to Delap’s breakthrough 2025 Premier League campaign, when the Magpies attempted to prise him away from the Blues. Delap is tied to Chelsea until 2031, but a fresh start in the North-East is gaining traction. Tottenham continue to scour the market for a long-term No. 1, with scouts dispatched to observe Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu. The 23-year-old German under-21 international has drawn Neuer-esque comparisons after conceding 43 goals in 26 Bundesliga outings for the eighth-placed side. Spurs anticipate bids for current keeper Guglielmo Vicario from Inter, heightening the urgency to secure Atubolu’s signature. Liverpool are reluctantly abandoning hope of luring Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni to Anfield. The Serie A outfit are preparing a lucrative extension for the 26-year-old, who had been earmarked as Virgil van Dijk’s eventual successor. Barcelona and Chelsea retain interest, but Bastoni now appears destined to remain in Milan. Juventus have emerged as front-runners for Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva, who is expected to leave the Etihad after a trophy-laden spell. United academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo, meanwhile, is on the verge of penning a lucrative new deal at Old Trafford, while club stalwart Harry Maguire discusses a one-year extension. Barcelona winger Raphinha has dismissed summer exit talk, committing to stay at Camp Nou for at least another season and possibly beyond his current 2028 expiry. Newcastle and Tottenham have both scouted Cagliari right-back Marco Palestra, and Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall insists he is “more than happy” on Merseyside despite Manchester United speculation. In Germany, Borussia Dortmund captain Emre Can is poised to extend his stay until 2027, while Bayer Leverkusen have triggered a buy-back to re-claim 18-year-old midfielder Kerim Alajbegovic from RB Salzburg. Real Madrid’s youth scouts are buzzing over 18-year-old winger Alexis Ciria, recently signed from Sevilla’s academy, and FC Dallas are negotiating a loan-with-option deal for Fluminense’s Santiago Moreno. Chelsea are closing in on Union Santa Fe left-back Mateo Del Blanco, and Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has leapt to the top of Athletic Club’s shortlist to replace Ernesto Valverde at San Mamés. As the summer window looms, Tonali’s future sits at the epicentre of Premier League power plays, with Arsenal, City and United all ready to trigger what could become the most explosive bidding war of the year.

Lens stormed back to the summit of Ligue 1 on Saturday evening, dismantling visitors Angers 5-1 in a statement victory that lifts them two points clear at the top. The emphatic win, built on ruthless finishing and relentless pressing, re-establishes the northern club as the pace-setters with the season entering its decisive stretch. The result shifts immediate pressure to champions Paris Saint-Germain, who must respond in their late kick-off away to Nice. The Parisians travel to the Côte d’Azur knowing only a victory will restore their lead, yet they will be without in-form winger Bradley Barcoley, ruled out for several weeks after sustaining an ankle injury. Elsewhere along the Mediterranean, Monaco received a timely boost as 2018 World Cup winner Paul Pogba returned to full training with the Principality side, hinting at an imminent comeback after a prolonged absence.

With contracts across Europe ticking toward their June 30 expiry, clubs are scrambling to secure fresh terms—or plotting moves for the talent about to flood the market. The result is a summer window stacked with household names who can be signed for nothing more than wages and signing-on fees. From Bayern Munich’s evergreen goalkeeper to a Liverpool defensive pillar, here is the most glittering free-agent XI available on July 1. Between the posts, Manuel Neuer continues to defy time. The 39-year-old, who will celebrate his 40th birthday before the month is out, has yet to extend his 15-year stay at Bayern, though talks are expected. Should negotiations stall, suitors will gain a Champions League-winning captain still patrolling the Bundesliga with authority. At right-back, Oscar Mingueza has emerged as one of La Liga’s most consistent performers. The 26-year-old Spaniard has attracted admiring glances from several leagues and, entering his prime, offers both resale value and immediate impact. Central defence is where the free-agent pool truly deepens. John Stones, out of contract at Manchester City, remains a ball-playing defender of the highest calibre when fit. Antonio Rudiger and Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi add further pedigree, but the jewel of the group is Ibrahima Konate. The France international has not reached an accord with Liverpool and, with Real Madrid long-term admirers, appears destined for a high-profile switch. On the opposite flank, Andy Robertson’s Anfield era also looks set to conclude. The Scotland captain has ceded starts to Milos Kerkez this term, and Tottenham’s January enquiry suggests a London move is plausible, while Celtic—his boyhood club—retains emotional pull. Anchoring midfield, Casemiro has already been granted a farewell announcement by Manchester United, yet recent performances have inspired Old Trafford serenades urging “One more year.” A dramatic U-turn is not out of the question, but as it stands the five-time Champions League winner will be available on a free. Beside him, Bernardo Silva’s Manchester City journey nears its end. The Portuguese’s tactical intelligence has made him Pep Guardiola’s on-field general, and Juventus plus Inter Miami are monitoring the situation should Silva seek a new challenge. In advanced midfield, Fulham’s Harry Wilson enjoys the leverage of stellar Premier League form ahead of his contract expiry, while Borussia Dortmund confirmed Julian Brandt’s departure after negotiations stalled. Brandt, who has hit double-digit goals in three of the past four campaigns, is open to a long-mooted move to England. Up front, two contrasting but prolific options await. Robert Lewandowski may approach 38, yet 15 goals in 18 starts across La Liga and the Champions League illustrate a predator still at the summit. Juventus, meanwhile, are ready to part with Dusan Vlahovic to trim their wage bill; the 26-year-old Serbian, armed with a lethal left foot, represents a low-risk, high-reward gamble in today’s inflated striker economy. For clubs operating on tight budgets—or those simply seeking marquee value—this summer’s free-agent class offers rare elite talent without a transfer fee. The clock is ticking; come July, these stars will be free to negotiate with anyone, and the race for their signatures is only just beginning.

Liverpool icon Graeme Souness has urged the club to part ways with Mohamed Salah, declaring that the Egyptian’s best days “are behind him” and that his sharp decline is “the single biggest reason” for the Reds’ underwhelming campaign. Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, the former Anfield midfielder and three-time European Cup winner did not mince words when assessing the 31-year-old forward’s trajectory. “What happens, in my opinion and in my experience, is your career happens one of two ways. When you get to that sort of 33-34 age area, it’s either falling off a cliff, or it’s a slow decline. I think Salah is the former,” Souness said. The statistics appear to support his stark verdict. Across all competitions this season Salah has registered ten goals and nine assists—a dramatic downturn from the 44 goal contributions he had amassed at the same stage last term and the 34 recorded the previous year. Souness argues the numbers expose an uncomfortable truth: “He’s never improved. His numbers tell you that. His numbers are way down, and he is the single biggest reason why Liverpool are having an indifferent season.” Once viewed as the automatic match-winner who could conjure a moment of brilliance when systems faltered, Salah now looks a diminished force. Liverpool’s attacking fluency has suffered, and Souness believes the reliance on a fading star has become a strategic liability. “He’s been for six, seven years the Liverpool go-to man. He has completely changed games when it wasn’t going their way, and he has scored a ridiculous number of goals every season,” Souness acknowledged, before adding: “His best is behind him now, there’s no doubt about that.” The Scot’s assessment carries extra weight given his storied association with the club, and it raises an awkward dilemma for manager and recruitment staff. Salah’s contract runs until 2027, but Souness advocates a ruthless approach, hinting that the forward should be moved on sooner rather than later to accelerate a squad refresh. Liverpool’s form has oscillated throughout the season. Although they advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals after eliminating Galatasaray, Souness dismissed the Turkish side as “exceptionally poor,” arguing the tie papered over persistent cracks. Domestically, the team has slipped well below the standards that delivered a title challenge only a year ago. Souness also cast his gaze across the Premier League, tipping Arsenal for the crown while criticising their set-piece tactics—”they get away with a hell of a lot by crowding goalkeepers”—and bemoaning “daft referees who don’t really understand the game.” He was equally scathing of Chelsea, questioning their identity under manager Liam Rosenior and ridiculing the coach’s penchant for labelling tasks as “assignments.” Yet it is his appraisal of Salah that will dominate discourse on Merseyside. Souness frames the situation as a watershed moment: loyalty to a modern legend versus the cold, hard necessities of squad evolution. “When you get to that sort of 33-34 age area, it’s either falling off a cliff, or it’s a slow decline. I think Salah is the former,” he reiterated, underlining the urgency of a decision that could define Liverpool’s next era. With the summer transfer window looming, Fenway Sports Group and the club hierarchy must decide whether to heed the club legend’s blunt counsel or risk prolonging a cycle that Souness believes has already run its course.

Kolkata: A fresh-look Kolkata Knight Riders unit gathered at Eden Gardens on the eve of IPL 2026, conscious that the coming weeks will test the depth of a squad reshaped by retirements, injuries and a dramatic overhaul of the support staff. Yet, for newly-appointed head coach Abhishek Nayar, the sense of flux is less a threat than an invitation. “It will be a season of opportunities,” Nayar said, speaking publicly for the first time since stepping up from his academy role. “The designation has changed, but the role remains pretty similar. It’s amazing to have such a leadership group.” That group is headlined by four men who have collectively played more than 500 international matches. Dwayne Bravo, the competition’s all-time leading wicket-taker, will serve as mentor; Shane Watson, twice Player-of-the-Tournament, joins as assistant coach; Tim Southee, New Zealand’s most prolific seamer in T20 cricket, has been entrusted with the bowling unit; while long-time Knight Riders finisher Andre Russell will patrol the dugout as the franchise’s inaugural ‘power coach’. Nayar believes the quartet’s presence lightens his own load and, crucially, enriches the dressing-room conversation. “Both skipper Ajinkya Rahane and I will rely a lot on our whole support group to make sure that we can sort out the challenges throughout the season,” he said. “The players are going to enjoy the luxury of having that much input in the dressing room.” The on-field equation, however, is less settled. With Russell unavailable for the first time in a decade, the middle order will lean heavily on domestic match-winners. Nayar singled out Rinku Singh, fresh from a string of India appearances, and Ramandeep Singh, a key contributor during the title-winning campaign two seasons ago, as men ready to shoulder extra responsibility. “Rinku has done it for India for many years. And Raman has done it for us in the season that we won the championship,” Nayar said. “So we are very hopeful they can replicate their performances.” Selection headaches extend to the pace department. Harshit Rana, the side’s most incisive quick last year, is currently at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru undergoing assessment for a stress-related complaint. Nayar admitted a definitive timeline is still pending. “Once the medical team communicates to us, we’ll let you know,” he said, adding, “It’s not easy to replace Harshit Rana. But over the past few days, we’ve looked at a few bowlers.” Those auditions have been extensive. Navdeep Saini, Akash Madhwal, Simarjeet Singh, Sandeep Warrier and KM Asif have all trained at Eden Gardens this week, pushing for a potential late call-up. Dwayne Bravo, overseeing the sessions, struck an optimistic note despite the uncertainty. “Losing some of the key bowling options is not what you plan for, but you have to accept it,” he said. “The good thing is that there’s a lot of depth.” The franchise is also monitoring the fitness of Sri Lanka tearaway Matheesha Pathirana, who is undergoing rehabilitation supervised by Sri Lanka Cricket. “He will undergo tests after that,” SLC confirmed in a brief release, leaving KKR waiting for a final clearance. For Nayar, the immediate priority is clarity—on combinations, on roles, on who will be available when the tournament begins. “The priority is making sure our combinations are working,” he stressed. “Yes, everyone is in form, but positioning them well enough is important.” If the coach’s message was consistent, so was the mood around the ground: a franchise in transition, yes, but one convinced that opportunity knocks loudest when reputations are yet to be forged.

Elliot Anderson is fast becoming the saga of the summer window after Bayern Munich became the latest heavyweight to register interest in the Nottingham Forest midfielder. Manchester City retain pole position for the England international, but neighbours Manchester United remain in the hunt and the German champions’ entry raises the stakes ahead of a potential £80 million deal. Forest have set that hefty valuation and, with three of Europe’s most cash-rich clubs now circling, the 21-year-old’s future could be decided by a bidding war that shows no sign of cooling. Chelsea, meanwhile, are attempting to insulate themselves from midfield uncertainty by preparing an improved contract for Enzo Fernández. Head coach Liam Rosenior insists the Argentine World Cup winner is settled at Stamford Bridge, yet cryptic comments from the player last week have fuelled speculation of a parting of ways. Real Madrid have added Fernández to their midfield shortlist, prompting Chelsea to accelerate talks over a lucrative extension designed to fend off the Spanish giants. Brighton are steeling themselves for a goalkeeper scramble after Carl Rushworth’s influential loan at Coventry City alerted Premier League suitors. The 22-year-old has been instrumental in Coventry’s push for top-flight promotion, and talkSPORT reports that up to six Premier League clubs are weighing a £20 million move for the highly-rated stopper. Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimarães continues to attract column inches, but manager Eddie Howe has dismissed claims the Brazilian held discussions with Manchester United as “a nonsense story.” Fabrizio Romano adds that the 28-year-old’s contract contains no active release clause; a previously reported £100 million escape route expired, leaving any prospective buyer needing to negotiate directly with the Magpies. Everton are adopting an equally firm stance over Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Manchester United have joined Manchester City and Tottenham in monitoring the midfielder, who has impressed since swapping Chelsea for Goodison Park last summer. The Toffees, however, have no intention of cashing in on a player they view as central to their long-term plans.

Stevenage arrive at the Select Car Leasing Stadium this weekend with a playoff pulse that belies their mid-table finish last term. After ending 2023-24 in 14th place on the back of 15 wins, 12 draws and 19 defeats, Alex Revell’s side have bolted into eighth—one point behind Reading and holding a game in hand—to keep their League One promotion dream alive. The turnaround has been orchestrated by Revell, 42, who was handed the reins on a permanent basis in May 2024 after a second stint as caretaker. A former striker with 20 years’ experience at Brighton, Rotherham, Cardiff and Northampton, Revell hung up his boots at Broadhall Way and immediately moved into the academy. His first crack at senior management came in 2020, but the pandemic curtailed that campaign; the following year he steered the club to 14th in League Two before a November 2021 sacking. Two months later he was back in the building, working his way up to Steve Evans’ first-team staff and ultimately taking the hot-seat again last spring. Revell favours an enterprising, front-foot style and has wasted no time reinforcing the squad. January brought four fresh faces through the door. Defender Jack Taylor was prised from Sutton United for a five-figure fee, Brighton midfielder Joe Knight arrived for an undisclosed sum, and experienced winger Matt Phillips joined on a free, while Bristol City forward Harry Cornick bolstered the attack on loan until May. Results have oscillated of late—three wins and three losses in the last six league outings—but the bigger picture is upward mobility. A 1-0 midweek reverse at Plymouth Argyle checked momentum, yet Stevenage’s destiny remains in their own hands. Reading edged them 1-0 in November thanks to Charlie Savage’s early strike; revenge on home soil would nudge Revell’s men even closer to the top six. Between the posts, summer signing Filip Marschall has underlined why Aston Villa invested years in his development. The 22-year-old, calm in possession and commanding in his area, has registered 13 clean sheets in 37 appearances after keeping 16 in League Two for Crewe last season. Club captain Carl Piergianni sets the tone in defence. The 33-year-old centre-back, strong in aerial duels at both ends of the pitch, has racked up 189 games and 19 goals since arriving on a free from Oldham in May 2022. A former non-league journeyman who tasted promotion with Salford, Piergianni was named both Stevenage Player of the Season and League Two Team of the Season in his first campaign and now wears the armband with typical commitment. With a blend of seasoned warriors and hungry newcomers, Revell’s evolving squad travel to Berkshire intent on proving the playoff race is far from a two-horse dash. A victory over Reading would not only avenge November’s narrow loss but also propel Stevenage into the coveted top six with time running short.

Barcelona close out the La Liga calendar before the international break on Sunday night when Rayo Vallecano visit Camp Nou, and Hansi Flick is expected to field a near full-strength side to protect the club’s commanding lead at the summit of the table. With a three-day recovery window since a comfortable second half against Newcastle, fitness concerns are minimal. Goalkeeper Joan Garcia shook off a midweek scare and should retain his place ahead of Wojciech Szczesny, while Eric Garcia—also unscathed—will likely be held out as a precaution. Teenager Xavi Espart’s eye-catching performances since his senior debut keep him in Flick’s plans, slotting in at right-back behind a back four that features João Cancelo on the left, and the central pairing of Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martín. The midfield axis that dictated play versus Newcastle—Marc Bernal, Pedri and Fermín López—appears set to reprise its role, though Dani Olmo’s return to contention gives the German coach the option of rotating one of the incumbents. Further forward, the trident that tormented Newcastle is poised for another start. Robert Lewandowski, fresh from a midweek double, will spearhead the attack, flanked by the irrepressible duo of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. Their pace and invention on the wings will be central to breaking down a disciplined Rayo back line. Projected Barcelona XI (4-2-3-1): Joan; Espart, Cubarsí, Martín, Cancelo; Bernal, Pedri; Yamal, Fermín, Raphinha; Lewandowski. Barcelona know three points will keep their momentum intact and send their international contingent away on a high, setting the stage for a pivotal stretch once club football resumes.

Mexico City – Javier Aguirre has unveiled a 26-man roster for El Tri’s final March friendlies before the pre-World Cup training camp, yet the list is as notable for who is missing as for who is included. A spate of injuries has ruled out midfield anchor Edson Álvarez, versatile Luis Romo, right-back Julián Araujo, winger César Huerta, striker Santiago Giménez and goalkeeper Luis Malagón, while Marcel Ruiz and Rodrigo Huescas appear certain to miss this summer’s tournament altogether. Luis Chávez and Santiago Giménez are nearing fitness but were withheld after club-and-country medical staff agreed they remain short of international readiness. Standing in for the absentees are a handful of fresh or returning faces. Spanish-born playmaker Álvaro Fidalgo will pull on the green shirt for the first time after completing FIFA’s five-year residency requirement and filing a one-time switch from Spain last month; the 25-year-old Betis midfielder is expected to compete for minutes created by Ruiz’s long-term absence. Veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, currently starting for AEL Limassol, is back in the fold as Malagón’s replacement and continues his quest for a record sixth World Cup appearance. Home-grown youngsters such as Atletico Madrid’s Obed Vargas and Chivas winger Armando González have also been summoned to broaden Aguirre’s options. The squad will convene ahead of two stern examinations. On 28 March, Mexico welcome Portugal to Estadio Banorte—formerly Estadio Azteca—in what will be El Tri’s sternest test since Aguirre returned to the bench. Three days later they travel to Soldier Field in Chicago to meet Belgium, rounding out a double-header that pits Mexico against two sides widely tipped to make deep runs at the World Cup. With Liga MX players not due to report to national-team camp until 6 May, these fixtures represent the last opportunity for Aguirre to evaluate Europe-based and domestic fringe candidates before narrowing his selection for the global showpiece. Mexico squad Goalkeepers: Raúl Rangel (Chivas), Guillermo Ochoa (AEL Limassol), Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna) Defenders: Johan Vásquez (Genoa), César Montes (Lokomotiv Moscow), Jorge Sánchez (PAOK), Jesús Gallardo (Toluca), Israel Reyes (América), Richard Ledezma (Chivas), Everardo López (Toluca), Jesús Alberto Angulo (Tigres) Midfielders: Álvaro Fidalgo (Betis), Orbelín Pineda (AEK Athens), Obed Vargas (Atlético Madrid), Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Brian Gutiérrez (Chivas), Denzell García (FC Juárez), Roberto Alvarado (Chivas), Érick Sánchez (América), Carlos Rodríguez (Cruz Azul) Forwards: Raúl Jiménez (Fulham), Julián Quiñones (Al-Qadsiah), Armando González (Chivas), Germán Berterame (Inter Miami), Guillermo Martínez (Pumas), Alexis Vega (Toluca)

Doha, Qatar – The Qatar Football Association (QFA) on Friday released the 32-man senior national team roster that will convene for a pivotal March training camp as the Maroon step up preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Spanish head coach Julen Lopetegui has retained four goalkeepers for the gathering: Meshaal Barsham, Mahmoud Abunada, Shehab Al Laithi and Salah Zakaria. The outfield contingent is headlined by veteran playmaker Akram Afif, record-scorer Almoez Ali, and long-serving captain Hassan Al Haydos, while also featuring a blend of domestic standouts and internationally based talents such as Edmilson Junior, Neil Mason and Lucas Mendes. The full squad list: Goalkeepers: Meshaal Barsham, Mahmoud Abunada, Shehab Al Laithi, Salah Zakaria. Outfield players: Ahmed Al Ganehi, Ahmed Al Rawi, Anas Abdessalam, Ahmed Fatehi, Akram Afif, Edmilson Junior, Ayoub Al Alawi, Ahmed Al Hassan, Al Hashmi Al Hussein, Boualem Khoukhi, Pedro Miguel, Bassam Al Rawi, Hassan Al Haydos, Almoez Ali, Neil Mason, Assim Madibo, Khaled Ali, Issa Laye, Karim Boudiaf, Mohammed Khaled, Mohammed Al Mannai, Lucas Mendes, Mubarak Shanan, Marwan Sherif, Mostafa Tarek, Homam Al Amin, Yusuf Abdurisag, Mohammed Waad. Qatar, drawn in Group B for the expanded 48-team tournament, will face Canada, Switzerland and the winner of the first European playoff path when the competition kicks off in June 2026. The March camp represents Lopetegui’s first extended domestic assembly since taking the reins and is expected to feature a series of closed-door friendlies and tactical sessions designed to refine the squad’s shape and cohesion before the final pre-tournament programme begins later this year. QFA officials confirmed the camp will run in Doha, allowing players to acclimatise to familiar conditions while the technical staff assess form, fitness and emerging talent ahead of the looming global showcase.

March 21, 2026, marks another trip around the sun for three of the most recognizable names in global sport. Brazilian soccer icon Ronaldinho, former NFL Most Valuable Player Adrian Peterson, and a cherished Cleveland sports figure headline the list of athlete birthdays being celebrated today. Ronaldinho, whose dazzling footwork and irrepressible smile redefined attacking soccer in the 2000s, turns another year older with fans around the world revisiting his signature no-look passes and free-kick sorcery. Alongside him, Adrian Peterson—the bruising running back whose 2012 MVP campaign included a 2,000-yard rushing season—receives birthday tributes from football aficionados who still marvel at his combination of speed and power. Completing the trifecta is one of Cleveland’s most beloved athletes, whose identity is being highlighted in photo galleries and social media shout-outs throughout the day. Readers clicking through the birthday roundup will find snapshots of each star plus a fun fact attached to every profile, offering a quick dose of nostalgia and trivia for sports fans.

Celin Bizet Donnum is living proof that the two ambitions she once scribbled in a childhood diary can coexist. The Manchester United winger, capped 25 times by Norway, is weeks away from her first child and insists she has never considered swapping boots for baby blankets on a permanent basis. “If you have two dreams, you can live both of them at the same time,” she told BBC Women’s Football Weekly, speaking publicly for the first time since announcing her pregnancy in December. The baby is due in 2026, meaning Bizet Donnum will sit out the remainder of this WSL season, yet the 24-year-old frames the pause as a calculated investment rather than a sacrifice. “It was a hard thing to actually get pregnant and not be in the team. Missing out the whole season—it’s very scary,” she admitted. “But for me, it was even more scary to not have the baby in my career.” Her candour is striking in a league where, until recently, motherhood has been viewed as a post-retirement project. Ellen White, the former England striker who conducted the interview, waited until hanging up her boots before starting a family. “A lot of players older than me waited until they retired,” White reflected. “You feel like you’re having to sacrifice something.” That climate is shifting, albeit slowly. Aston Villa’s Missy Bo Kearns, also 24, revealed her own pregnancy earlier this month, while Everton loanee Hannah Blundell returned to top-flight action in November, seven months after giving birth. Birmingham City striker Simone Magill is expecting in May. Still, Bizet Donnum notes, “It’s still very rare to have a baby when you are a footballer.” FIFA’s 2024 maternity reforms have underpinned the changing landscape: a mandatory 14 weeks of full pay, flexible registration windows for returning players, and the right for clubs to sign short-term replacements. The WSL, fully professional since 2018, has enshrined these standards, yet Manchester United believe culture is just as important as compliance. United say they have built “a culture change” in which tailored nutrition, psychological support, physiotherapy and sleep programmes “break down barriers” for expectant mothers. Bizet Donnum, whose husband Aron—herself a professional footballer with Toulouse—has been granted additional travel leeway to balance medical appointments in France, praises the club’s holistic approach. Even the introduction of pelvic-floor physiotherapy, initially an alien concept, has become “game-changing”. Arsenal, West Ham, Tottenham and Brighton each told BBC Sport they have expanded on FIFA’s baseline, offering bespoke care packages. Sweden defender Amanda Ilestedt and Australia midfielder Katrina Gorry were cited as examples of players who have benefited. For Bizet Donnum, the countdown to kick-off has already begun. “I am so excited to come back,” she said, admitting that watching United matches from the stands has become a weekly exercise in restraint. “It’s hard when I’m watching the games and wishing I played. But then it’s one season I am missing. After my career, will I look back and think: ‘Damn, I didn’t play that season’ or will I just be happy that I’ve had a kid?” The answer, she believes, is already written. “Of course I will come back to football—that’s my motivation.” The full conversation between Ellen White and Celin Bizet Donnum is available on the Women’s Football Weekly podcast, with an extended video version on BBC iPlayer from 26 March.

LONDON — The whistle has blown on another week of football, but for puzzle-minded fans the real action is only just beginning. FourFourTwo magazine today released its 45th Weekend Crossword, a timed challenge that invites supporters to test recall of iconic moments spanning starting goalkeepers, midfield scorers and ruthless finishers. As ever, the grid is free to play and carries no deadline, yet an on-screen clock lets competitors race friends for bragging rights. Clues dip into three memorable snapshots: the men between the posts for their countries at the 2006 World Cup, Barcelona’s middle man on the scoresheet in the 2011 Champions League final, and a striker who has hit the net three times in World Cup finals. The crossword is powered by Kwizly, the quiz-tech specialists who also host FourFourTwo’s expanding suite of brain-teasers. Among the parallel challenges now live are the magazine’s definitive list of the 50 greatest players of all time, a roll-call of every overseas footballer to have won the Premier League, and the full Barcelona XI that engineered the famous Remontada against Paris Saint-Germain. Those seeking an endurance test can attempt to name every club in the top seven tiers of English football, while lighter relief comes via Brazilian footballers and Premier League word-searches. Access to extra hints, badges and global leaderboards is available through The Club, FourFourTwo’s free membership community. Weekly newsletters deliver fresh trivia direct to subscribers’ inboxes, ensuring that even after the weekend fixtures fade from memory, the quiz league table remains open for business.

MADISON, Wis. — The opening day of spring practice for Wisconsin’s track and field programs was overshadowed Monday by an unusual security incident near Camp Randall Stadium, raising questions about safety protocols on what is traditionally an upbeat occasion for athletes and coaches. According to a spokesperson for Ridglan Farms, which operates property adjacent to the university’s outdoor facilities, “There were probably 30 different police vehicles out here at one point, arresting individuals.” The spokesperson did not specify the nature of the arrests or whether any members of the athletic department were involved, and university officials have yet to release an official statement. The disruption occurred as both the men’s and women’s teams convened for their first organized workouts of the season. Chippewa County, long viewed as a pipeline for elite high-school talent, is again expected to factor heavily into the Badgers’ fortunes this spring. Among the athletes already on campus, former McDonell Central Catholic standout Izzy Balsiger—now competing for UW-Eau Claire—has drawn attention for his second-chance resurgence with the Blugolds, underscoring the region’s depth of talent. While Monday’s practice sessions proceeded inside the stadium complex, the visible law-enforcement presence served as a jarring backdrop for coaches attempting to set an optimistic tone. Head coach Luke Fickell, who led the football team out of the same tunnel last August before a season-opening win over Miami (OH), has stressed the importance of a secure environment for all Wisconsin athletes. How the department addresses Monday’s incident could influence fan and recruit perceptions moving forward. With the outdoor season officially underway, the Badgers hope to pivot quickly from distraction to competition, beginning with this weekend’s intrasquad meet at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course.

Miami Gardens, FL — British interest at the Miami Open intensifies on Saturday as Katie Boulter, Francesca Jones and Cameron Norrie are all scheduled to take to the courts. The trio will be looking to advance through the weekend draw at the Hard Rock Stadium complex, keeping alive hopes of a strong British presence in the latter stages of the tournament. With the event offering live coverage across multiple platforms, fans can follow every serve and rally from the Miami Open as it unfolds.

Liverpool great Graeme Souness has laid the club’s stuttering season at the feet of Mohamed Salah, branding the Egyptian’s downturn “the single biggest reason” for the Reds’ under-performance. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Souness did not mince words, claiming the 31-year-old has “fallen off a cliff” rather than eased into decline. The numbers appear to support his blunt assessment: Salah’s 10 goals and nine assists in all competitions this term lag miles behind the 44 goal contributions he had amassed at the same juncture last season, and even the 34 he recorded the previous year. His lowest returns during Liverpool’s title-chasing campaigns of 2018-19 and 2019-20 still reached 27 involvements—comfortably eclipsing his current output. Souness, who captained Liverpool during a 359-appearance career at Anfield, argues the slump has destabilised the entire squad. With Salah failing to deliver decisive moments, other senior figures have not filled the void, creating a domino effect that has undermined both Jurgen Klopp’s farewell stretch and Arne Slot’s opening months. The Scot went as far as suggesting the club should contemplate life after Salah, despite a contract that runs until 2027, insisting the forward’s peak is firmly in the rear-view mirror. Yet while Salah’s regression is undeniable, critics counter that Souness’ verdict veers toward scapegoating. Liverpool’s midfield balance has skewed, the back line looks vulnerable, and the team’s structure no longer disguises its flaws—flaws a prime Salah once papered over with explosive goals and assists. When the day arrives to replace even a fading icon, the scale of the task will highlight how simplistic it is to pin collective shortcomings on one man, however talismanic he once was. Keywords:

Erling Haaland’s Manchester City résumé is, by any measure, extraordinary: 154 goals in 188 appearances, a scoring rate that has underpinned three Premier League titles, an FA Cup, a Champions League and a Club World Cup. Yet the Norwegian’s personal ledger carries one conspicuous blank line: in eight cup finals for City—Community Shields included—he has yet to score. On Sunday at Wembley, that anomaly will be placed under the brightest of floodlights when City meet Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final. Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to Real Madrid offered both encouragement and frustration. Haaland found the net, but he also spurned a handful of presentable chances that might have altered the tie. Still, the movement was sharper, the timing of runs more instinctive, the general fitness visibly improved. Pep Guardiola, speaking after two post-Madrid rest days, said he had not needed a one-on-one conversation to gauge his striker’s mindset. “I’m pretty sure he’s focused, like all of us,” the manager said. “I’m pretty sure he’s ready.” Readiness will be tested against the stingiest defence in England. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have built their resurgence on a back line that concedes chances sparingly and defends set pieces with military organisation. If City are to add a fifth League Cup to their collection, they will need their attacking unit—and Haaland in particular—to distort that structure, to turn half-chances into decisive moments. History offers encouragement: Haaland has typically prospered against Arsenal, his blend of speed, power and ice-cold finishing causing recurring problems for the Gunners. History also issues a challenge: the 23-year-old has never altered a final in City’s favour. Sunday represents the ideal stage to remove the asterisk from an otherwise glittering City career. The narrative is set: the competition’s best defence against its most prolific striker, a trophy on the line, and a personal drought that has lingered long enough to matter. For Manchester City to prevail, the time is now for Erling Haaland to make an impact in a final.

Central Catholic has turned to a well-known figure within its community to guide its football program, announcing the hiring of Dubzinski as head football coach. The move underscores the school’s preference for continuity and familiarity as it looks to build on past traditions. Central Catholic has chosen a very familiar name to lead its football program.

James Milner never imagined he would still be playing top-level football at 40, let alone holding the Premier League’s all-time appearance record. Speaking in this week’s edition of The Football Interview, the Brighton midfielder tells BBC host Kelly Somers that the milestone – 656 games and counting – crept up on him while he was “just concentrating on doing my job.” From £70-a-week trainee at Leeds to Champions League winner at Liverpool, Milner retraced a career that began in November 2002 when, aged 16, he became the competition’s youngest goalscorer. “Three or four months earlier I’d been doing my GCSEs,” he laughs. “My mates were still in sixth-form and coming to Elland Road to watch.” Two goals in three days over the Christmas period announced him to English football, but it was Wayne Rooney’s simultaneous emergence at Everton that diverted the spotlight. “The majority of the limelight was on him – that probably helped me,” Milner admits. The interview, broadcast on BBC One at 23:40 BST on Saturday 21 March, ranges across two decades of dressing-rooms. Asked to name the best manager he played under, Milner pauses only briefly. “All-round, I’d have to say Jurgen,” he says of Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp. “What I learned from him, the relationship we had… we could say exactly what we thought and know we were both 100 per cent in everything we did.” Milner reveals the pair “didn’t have any big clashes,” though Klopp would occasionally tell him to “shut up” and loved to keep players guessing by flipping the half-time tone. “You’d expect a rocket and he’d be really soft; other times you’re on fire and he’d go mad over one little thing.” Klopp’s Liverpool era provides the game Milner would most like to relive: the 4-0 semi-final triumph over Barcelona in 2019. “Losing heavily in the first leg, players missing… to turn that around was incredible.” Close behind is his first Elland Road strike for boyhood club Leeds, the club he supported as a five-year-old when his father lifted him aloft to celebrate the 1991-92 title. Relegation with Leeds and two Champions League final defeats represent the lowest points. “To lose European Cup finals is very low,” he says, still rueing Gareth Bale’s overhead kick and Thibaut Courtois’ “robot” performance in goal. On a personal level, a nine-month knee lay-off at 39 left him unable to lift his foot for six months and unsure of a future. “That was probably a driver – it was so unlikely. You want to prove again you can beat the odds.” Milner, famed for his durability, is less enthusiastic about modern trends. He winces at the tiny shinpads sported by Brighton's youngsters – “you can’t really tackle now” – and admits he is “not overly in favour” of VAR. Pitches, at least, are better: “You used to have November-January where it was a bit ropey and you’d keep it wide.” Off the pitch, a star-studded 40th birthday in January underlined football’s transient friendships. “One day a transfer happens and that’s it, they’re gone. Men aren’t great at keeping in contact.” Yet the night also reminded him of the camaraderie built across 656 games, three Premier League titles, a Champions League, two FA Cups and a League Cup. “When you’ve played as long as I have, you meet a few people,” he smiles. For Milner, the record is merely a by-product of a relentless quest to contribute. “Individual stuff is something maybe you look at when you’ve finished. For me, it’s always about the team.” With Brighton’s season ongoing and his body still willing, the veteran shows no sign of resting on those laurels just yet.

Sydney will stage a blockbuster climax to the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup on Saturday when host nation Australia meet reigning powerhouses Japan in a rematch of the 2014 and 2018 finals. Kick-off at a sold-out Stadium Australia caps a tournament that has already smashed attendance records, with more than 200,000 fans streaming through turnstiles across the host cities. The Matildas are chasing a first continental crown since 2010 and will rely on a star-studded squad headlined by Chelsea striker Sam Kerr, who netted the semi-final winner against holders China, and Manchester City playmaker Mary Fowler. West Ham captain Katrina Gorry will marshal midfield, while the Arsenal trio of Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord provide width and creativity. Defender Alanna Kennedy, the competition’s leading scorer, adds set-piece menace. Standing in their way are a Japan side that has swept through the draw, scoring 28 goals and conceding just once. Manchester City’s Yui Hasegawa and Aoba Fujino, Manchester United’s Hinata Miyazawa and Brighton’s Kiko Seike have orchestrated the attacking fireworks, while Maika Hamano and Riko Ueki both found the net in the 4-1 semi-final dismissal of South Korea. Global viewing options Fans in Australia can stream the final free on 10Play, while supporters in the United Kingdom and United States can watch via the official AFC Asian Cup YouTube channel. Travelling abroad? A reputable VPN service will allow you to access your usual broadcast as though you were back home, provided you comply with the platform’s terms and conditions. Team news, predicted XIs and minute-by-minute updates will be available across FourFourTwo’s live match hub as the Matildas attempt to use home advantage to dethrone the favourites and lift the trophy in front of an expectant harbour-city crowd.

Seventeen springs ago, West Ham United stared into the abyss. Bottom of the Premier League with nine matches remaining and 10 points adrift of safety, Alan Curbishley’s side authored one of English football’s most storied recoveries—seven wins from those nine fixtures, including a 1-0 final-day triumph at champions Manchester United that preserved top-flight status and became known simply as the “Great Escape.” Today, with eight games left and goal difference the only barrier between themselves and 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, Nuno Espírito Santo’s squad are attempting a modern-day reprise. The parallels have prompted three survivors from the class of 2006-07—Matthew Etherington, Hayden Mullins and Teddy Sheringham—to assess whether the current group can summon the same spirit. Etherington, who supplied the width in that side, recalls the tipping point: a February home defeat to Watford that provoked fans to chant “You’re not fit to wear the shirt.” The winger admits the criticism was justified, but believes a 2-1 March win at Blackburn ignited belief. “The biggest thing I remember was how we stuck together,” he told The Athletic. “I can see it in this current team.” Sheringham, whose experience was recruited to steady a dressing-room that had lost Alan Pardew in December 2006, points to the arrival of Carlos Tevez and the galvanising effect of the Argentine’s partnership with Bobby Zamora. “We looked doomed,” the former England striker said, “but when you’re winning you can’t see yourself losing. That’s how it felt. The players under Nuno need to stick together.” Mullins remembers the low points: a 6-0 New-Year hammering at Reading and a 4-3 home loss to Tottenham that left the squad “in a really bad place.” Yet those setbacks forged unity. “We had a chat among ourselves on the training ground,” the midfielder recalled. “It united the team.” Leadership was pivotal. Lucas Neill’s January move from Blackburn brought organisational qualities and social events that bonded the squad. “His arrival was a stroke of genius,” Etherington said. “He’s still one of the best captains I played under.” Mullins echoed the sentiment, noting that Neill, Nigel Quashie, Matthew Upson and Luis Boa Morte all “played big roles once they settled.” The 2024 vintage, anchored by January recruits Taty Castellanos, Pablo Felipe and Axel Disasi, is showing similar traits. Mateus Fernandes, 21, has been labelled “a candidate for player of the season,” while Crysencio Summerville “has the wow factor,” according to Sheringham. Mullins believes Castellanos has finally provided a focal point up front, and Etherington sees a “complete transformation” in Konstantinos Mavropanos thanks to Disasi’s calming influence. Off the pitch, the togetherness that underpinned the 2007 revival appears to be returning. “Before Christmas it looked a team of individuals,” Etherington said. “Now I don’t see any egos.” Sheringham praised the “zest and fighting spirit,” arguing that Nuno—after a slow burn—has the squad “on the same page.” Mullins, who manages in the academy system, believes the Portuguese coach’s counter-attacking blueprint and defensive solidity mirror the resilience of Curbishley’s side. “There’s a brotherhood,” he said. “That unity can pull them through.” The run-in is daunting: Aston Villa away, Wolves at home, Crystal Palace away and Everton at home before the calendar turns to May. Yet the class of 2007 offer encouragement. “West Ham are good enough to avoid relegation,” Mullins insisted, predicting the battle will “go down to the last game of the season.” If Nuno’s players require a final omen, they need only recall Tevez’s winner at Old Trafford. The current squad may not need to topple champions Manchester City on the final day, but the message from Etherington, Mullins and Sheringham is uniform: belief, unity and a refusal to accept fate can turn despair into delirium. West Ham’s modern escapologists have eight matches to prove the ghosts of 2007 right.

London – When the Wembley arch lights up on Sunday evening, Mikel Arteta will stride into the technical area knowing the next 90 minutes could redraw the trajectory of his Arsenal reign. The Carabao Cup final against Manchester City is no longer a secondary subplot in a season of wider ambition; it is, as Arteta labelled it this week, “showtime” – the moment a team constructed to win must finally prove it can. Arteta has seen this trophy’s transformative power before. In February 2018 he stood on the same touchline as Pep Guardiola’s assistant, watching City dismantle Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal 3-0. Guardiola hailed that triumph as the catalyst for the Premier League title that followed three months later, insisting “winning the first one” breeds belief across every competition. Arteta’s message ahead of the reunion with his former mentor is near-identical: “Winning a trophy helps more, for sure. It gives you the feeling that when it comes to that moment, you can do it.” The stakes resonate through a squad that contains only one survivor – Bukayo Saka – from the 2020 FA Cup-winning side. Since that Wembley victory over Chelsea, Arsenal have added three Community Shields to the cabinet but no major honours, a barren stretch the manager concedes has been “a while”. For a club that last appeared in any final outside those August curtain-raisers on the first day of the pandemic-hit 2020 FA Cup, the wait has become a burden that feeds the “perennial runners-up” tag attached to recent second-place Premier League finishes. Arteta’s project, however, is no longer the brittle work-in-progress of 2020. Backed by strategic investment, Arsenal have built a squad designed to compete on multiple fronts, adopting a style that prizes points over plaudits. They enter the final top of the league, nine points clear of City, who have a game in hand and a rearranged Etihad date with Arsenal looming on 19 April. The widening gap has diluted suggestions that Sunday’s result will decide May’s championship, yet within the Emirates the view is unchanged: a first piece of silverware since 2020 would release a pressure valve that has tightened with every near-miss. Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, cup-tied in Europe this midweek, spoke for the dressing room in the matchday programme against Bayer Leverkusen: “For us, hopefully this could be a way to open our trophy cabinet – and to keep it open.” The sentiment mirrors the historical template George Graham’s side followed in 1987, when a League Cup triumph over Liverpool ended a seven-year final drought and prefaced a dramatic league title two seasons later. Arteta, wary of looking beyond Sunday, nevertheless acknowledged supporters dream of a similar leap – perhaps even an unprecedented quadruple with the Premier League, Champions League and another cup still in play. Sunday will also mark Arsenal’s first Wembley appearance in front of fans since the 2018 loss to City; the 2020 FA Cup run unfolded in hollow stadiums. The manager has urged supporters to “find the fun” on the season’s run-in, and a carnival against the team that has denied them so often would provide an emphatic soundtrack. Yet the subtext is unmistakable: Arsenal must graduate from contenders to winners. Lose and the familiar taunts resume. Win and, as Arteta put it, “it may launch them into a new era”. For a club that has reached two League Cup finals in its history and lost six, the opportunity to flip that narrative has never been more timely – or more necessary. Kick-off on Sunday is more than a shot at the season’s first silverware; it is the juncture where promise must become proof. For Arsenal and their manager, the Carabao Cup has never mattered more.

Wembley, Friday evening. Thomas Tuchel faced the cameras and, with customary politeness, delivered the news Trent Alexander-Arnold dreaded: the Real Madrid right-back has not even made the 35-man provisional squad for England’s March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. In the language of international football, that omission is tantamount to a red flashing light ahead of the World Cup finals in the United States this summer. Tuchel insisted the door is “not closed”, praising Alexander-Arnold as “a huge talent” whose qualities had caused the coach “suffering” when his previous clubs met Liverpool. Yet the subtext was unmistakable: the 27-year-old, capped 22 times, is on the outside looking in, and time is running out to change the narrative. The numbers are stark. Since Tuchel took the England reins in January 2025, Alexander-Arnold has played only 27 minutes for his country — a late cameo in a 1-0 win over Andorra last June. A combination of injury and what the German terms “competitive decisions” have kept him out of every subsequent gathering. March 2025 is no different; Tuchel has opted to continue with Jarell Quansah, Tino Livramento and Djed Spence, the trio who impressed in last autumn’s camps, while Reece James — the acknowledged first-choice when fit — misses out again with a hamstring problem. Asked to explain, Tuchel replied: “It is more to do with the evidence that we have, that we were good in September, October and November, than it has anything to do with what Trent can offer us.” Translation: the coaching staff know the player’s gifts, but they also know his defensive diligence remains a live debate. During the June camp Tuchel publicly urged Alexander-Arnold to “take the defensive part very, very seriously”. Four months later the player was left out of the September squad. The cycle has repeated itself. The timing could scarcely be crueller. These two Wembley fixtures represent England’s final competitive auditions before Tuchel names his World Cup squad at the end of May. The coach has even restructured the camp to maximise evaluation: an initial “Possibles” group of 23 will face Uruguay on 27 March; 11 “Probables” will then arrive for the Japan match four days later. Alexander-Arnold is not in either tranche. Parallel stories apply to Luke Shaw and Ollie Watkins, both of whom have also been excluded, yet the Alexander-Arnold narrative carries extra weight. With Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier retired from international duty and Ben White unavailable since Qatar 2022, the path to become Kyle Walker’s de facto successor has rarely been clearer. Instead, Quansah, Livramento and Spence — none older than 23 — have leapfrogged a player who is now a La Liga regular at the Bernabéu. Privately, Alexander-Arnold is said to be “desperate and keen” to return, but Tuchel revealed he has not yet spoken to him about the latest omission. By contrast, the coach did call Shaw, who, according to Tuchel, feels the decision is “slightly unfair”. The left-back’s frustration is echoed in many quarters, yet Tuchel shows no sign of deviating from his core principle: he selects for balance, not for stardust. “We don’t collect the most talented players,” Tuchel reiterated on Friday, a line he first used when leaving out Jude Bellingham last October before recalling him in November once tactical tweaks were secured. Whether a similar reprieve awaits Alexander-Arnold before the plane departs for Florida in June remains doubtful. For a footballer who adores representing his country, the next two months at Real Madrid have become an audition broadcast only to the watching Tuchel. Fail to impress, and one of England’s most recognisable names will be watching the World Cup from his living-room sofa. SEO keywords:

BIRMINGHAM — Public high school athletes may soon receive structured guidance on maintaining NCAA eligibility and planning for post-graduation life under legislation that cleared its first major hurdle Wednesday. The House Education Policy Committee unanimously approved a bill that would require schools to begin monitoring students’ academic progress toward NCAA standards as early as freshman year. If enacted, the measure would create a formal tracking system designed to ensure that athletes remain on course to meet collegiate athletic eligibility requirements throughout their high school careers. In addition to academic oversight, the bill mandates that schools provide transition-planning resources to prepare student-athletes for opportunities after graduation, whether in higher education, vocational training, or the workforce.

When Wojciech Szczesny stepped onto the Camp Nou grass in the 82nd minute of Barcelona’s Champions League round-of-16 return leg against Newcastle United, the roar that greeted him felt more like a coronation than a substitution. The 35-year-old Pole, summoned from retirement only five months earlier, replaced Joan Garcia—who had tightened a calf—and absorbed a standing ovation that rippled around the stadium. Barça led 7-2 on the night and 8-3 on aggregate; the tie was long decided, but the supporters had one last highlight to savour: the brief cameo of their unlikely cult hero. Szczesny’s path to that ovation began in September 2024, when he announced he was quitting football after mutually terminating the final year of his Juventus contract. A phone call from international team-mate and close friend Robert Lewandowski changed everything. Marc-André ter Stegen had just ruptured an ACL; Barcelona needed an emergency goalkeeper, and Szczesny answered. He signed a short-term deal in October, effectively playing for free—his Barça wages were channelled back to Juventus to satisfy the terms of his early release. What followed was a fairytale. By January 2025, manager Hansi Flick had installed him as first choice ahead of Iñaki Peña. In 30 appearances, Szczesny recorded 14 clean sheets, helped Barça reclaim the Liga title, lifted the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España, and marched to the Champions League semi-finals, where Inter ended the run. His shot-stopping mattered, yet supporters latched onto something else: an unfiltered personality rarely seen in the modern, polished football landscape. The goalkeeper’s smoking habit quickly became folklore. Chants of “Szczesny fumador” echoed through stadiums, and the keeper addressed the topic head-on in November 2024, telling Mundo Deportivo: “There’s some things I don’t change from my personal life and it’s nobody’s business if I smoke.” He stressed he hides the habit from children and doubles his training efforts to compensate. Rather than criticism, the honesty endeared him further. During the club’s open-top bus parade in May, Szczesny brandished a fat cigar and donned a homemade hat scrawled with “fumador.” The imagery sealed his status, and weeks later he signed a new two-year contract, this time on improved terms after a season spent virtually unpaid. The current campaign has seen Szczesny return to a supporting role. The €25 million arrival of Joan Garcia relegated him to the bench, yet another injury to the young Spaniard—from September to November—offered Szczesny nine more outings. Even while not playing, his showmanship persists: in December at Real Betis, television cameras caught him launching paper balls at Pedri and Raphinha on the bench, then jokingly offering team-mate Fermín López a pouch of snus as the midfielder warmed up. In January, he inadvertently gate-crashed Lamine Yamal’s Instagram livestream from the dressing room, cigarette in mouth, moments after Barça had beaten Real Madrid to win the Supercopa. Barcelona sources say Szczesny is content with squad status. Impressed by Garcia in training, he sees no need to battle for an undisputed starting role, preferring to mentor and compete when required. Garcia’s calf issue against Newcastle proved minor; he will be fit for Sunday’s league meeting with Rayo Vallecano and has received a Spain call-up for the March internationals. Szczesny, most likely clad in tracksuit and perhaps a knowing grin, will watch from the touchline, secure in the knowledge that his place in club lore is already assured.

Barcelona will stride into Camp Nou on Sunday buoyed by a statement 7-0 Champions League dismantling of Newcastle, yet visiting Rayo Vallecano insist the rout has not dented their belief. Speaking to Cadena SER, Rayo winger Isi Palazón made it clear the result will serve as motivation rather than intimidation. “I’m not scared that Barça scored seven, in the end it motivates us even more,” Palazón said. “We know they’re a top team in the world, but we already competed with them here in Vallecas, we do it every season and we’ll do it again on Sunday.” The numbers back up his confidence. Across their last nine La Liga meetings, Barcelona have managed only three victories over Rayo, and since the 2021-22 campaign no opponent has taken more points off the Catalans than the Madrid-based club. With Hansi Flick’s side riding high after their European exploits, Rayo will look to continue that trend and exploit any lingering fatigue at Camp Nou.

No nation has assembled a deeper reservoir of talent over the past decade than France, yet even Les Bleus must leave accomplished footballers behind when the final 26-man list for the 2026 World Cup is inked. From record-setting veterans to emerging talents caught between generations, the following XI illustrates how fierce the competition has become inside Didier Deschamps’ squad room. In goal, Alphonse Areola’s slide down the West Ham pecking order has cost him more than club minutes. At 33, the former Paris Saint-Germain keeper still produces highlight-reel stops in the Premier League, yet Mads Hermansen’s emergence has relegated him to cup cameos. Without a secure starting role, Areola’s international window appears to be closing. The back line features three players whose paths have diverged but who share the same probable fate. Nordi Mukiele’s explosive season with Sunderland has been undercut by intermittent injuries and the fact he owns a single senior cap; at 28, time is no longer an ally. Leny Yoro, on the other hand, is simply too green: the 19-year-old Manchester United centre-back has shown flashes but not the week-to-week dominance required to vault ahead of France’s established veterans. Clement Lenglet, a UEFA Nations League winner, has pedigree in spades, yet only 12 La Liga starts for Atletico Madrid this campaign signal that match sharpness—not skill—will keep him home. Adrien Truffert’s story is one of cruel arithmetic. Bournemouth’s ever-present left-back has logged every Premier League minute, but with Theo Hernandez and Ferland Mendy in their primes, the 24-year-old remains third in line. His consistency suggests a 2030 push rather than a 2026 cameo. Midfield misfortune has struck twice. Wilson Odobert’s electric pace had Tottenham fans dreaming of a France breakthrough until an ACL tear ended his season; zero league goals did not help his case either. Boubacar Kamara’s knee injury arrived just as Aston Villa’s form nosedived, underlining his understated value. Both players will rehab while Deschamps turns to a stacked stable of holding midfielders. Among those, Lucien Agoume’s tireless work for a struggling Sevilla side earns plaudits yet not quite the spotlight required to leapfrog the queue. Up front, two high-profile loan spells have fizzled. Mathys Tel’s anticipated breakout at Tottenham produced just three goals across all competitions, while Randal Kolo Muani’s paltry one-goal, one-assist Premier League return—despite four Champions League strikes—illustrates a campaign of unfulfilled promise. Neither forward arrives with prior senior caps, leaving Deschamps free to lean on more prolific options. Finally, Olivier Giroud, France’s all-time leading scorer, retired from international duty in 2024. The 2022 World Cup proved his global swansong, and the 2026 edition will be the first in 16 years to unfold without his aerial mastery and clutch finishing. France remain contenders in 2026, but the depth that once felt inexhaustible now forces painful omissions. For this XI, the tournament will be watched from living rooms rather than dressing rooms, a reminder that even the most golden of generations must eventually cede the stage.

The inquest into Ricky Hatton’s death last September confirmed on Friday that the 46-year-old former two-weight world champion had been suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive brain disease linked to repeated head trauma. While the coroner stopped short of ruling the death a suicide, the finding has intensified scrutiny on boxing’s duty of care to fighters once the final bell has sounded. Hatton’s case is emblematic of a wider crisis. Despite retiring with money, fame and roles as coach, manager and promoter, the microscopic scars left by thousands of punches ultimately shaped his final years. CTE, first observed in boxers a century ago under the label “dementia pugilistica,” can incubate silently for decades before manifesting as memory loss, mood swings, aggression and depression. Dr Judith Gates, whose husband Bill died from CTE in 2023, warns the disease is irreversible: “Nothing can be done to stop it. There are no treatments that lead to a cure.” The sport’s stakeholders are now confronting uncomfortable questions. The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) has partnered with Sporting Chance—founded by former footballer Tony Adams—to provide 24-hour talking-therapy for licence-holders, extending support for a full year after retirement. General secretary Robert Smith says the programme, funded entirely by the Board, will be monitored monthly and refined according to uptake. Yet anonymity remains paramount; fighters fear that admitting psychological distress could jeopardise their licences. Dave Harris, a former fighter and driving force behind the Ringside Charitable Trust, believes therapy lines are only a start. His organisation has already spent £500,000 raised for a planned 36-bed residential facility to meet urgent cases of dementia, attempted suicide and poverty among ex-boxers. Harris claims the sport is witnessing “a true epidemic” and wants one per cent of every fighter’s purse diverted to long-term care. Anthony Joshua wore the charity’s logo on his ring-walk jacket before December’s victory over Jake Paul, but Harris is still seeking commitments from promoters, broadcasters and government. Structural obstacles persist. Boxing has no players’ union akin to football’s PFA; the Global Fighters Association, fronted by Paul Smith and Amir Khan, is the latest attempt to fill the void. Barry McGuigan, who tried and failed to unionise fighters in the early 2000s, argues the sport “rails against collectivism” and suggests broadcasters and promoters could instead skim a fixed slice of TV revenue for an independent welfare fund. Meanwhile, Project Boxing—co-founded by former world champion Anthony Crolla—guides active fighters into education and vocational pathways, encouraging them to prepare for life beyond the ropes. Medical experts echo the urgency. Chris Nowinski, CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, fields daily calls through his helpline from retired athletes navigating complex psychiatric symptoms. “Very few clinicians understand how to disentangle what is CTE and what is mental illness,” he says. Olympic bronze medallist Tony Jeffries, whose career ended early through hand injuries, now considers that forced exit “a blessing” after counting roughly 50,000 blows to his head during training and competition. He undergoes regular brain scans at the Cleveland Clinic and campaigns for greater awareness. The BBBofC’s charitable trust, financed by disciplinary fines and an annual awards lunch, offers ad-hoc grants to former licence-holders in hardship. Smith concedes, however, that persuading prospects to pursue parallel careers is an uphill battle: “They look at me like, ‘What is this old man saying? I’m going to be world champion.’” With only a tiny fraction of professionals earning life-changing money, the majority face retirement without financial or psychological scaffolding. Ricky Hatton’s family is determined something positive emerges from their loss. The Ricky Hatton Foundation, being finalised at the time of his death, will promote mental-health education and assistance programmes in his name. Whether the sport’s power brokers amplify such initiatives—and commit sustainable resources—will determine if boxing finally confronts the human cost of its entertainment. Ricky Hatton’s tragedy is a reminder: every punch thrown in the ring carries a price, and the bill often arrives long after the crowd has gone home.

Madrid – On Sunday night, when Real Madrid and Barcelona step onto the hardwood of the Movistar Arena for the final time in this Liga ACB regular season, they will write the 348th chapter of a feud that began in 1942. The ledger reads 173-172 for Barcelona, a one-game margin that illustrates how microscopic the difference has been between Spain’s superpowers for more than eight decades. Yet the result will carry an extra layer of intrigue: by late 2027 the NBA plans to launch NBA Europe, and both clubs have been identified as cornerstone franchises. Where, how and how often they meet after that remains an open question. The basketball Clásico has always lived in the shadow of its footballing older brother, but inside Spain the tension is no less real. “It’s not the same for us to play against any other Spanish team,” Andrés Jiménez, whose No. 4 jersey hangs from the Palau Blaugrana rafters after 13 seasons and seven titles with Barcelona, told The Athletic. “Soccer supporters wanted their team to win. That’s why it is very important. It is more than the basketball environment.” Sunday’s contest will be the fourth meeting of the current campaign, but the schedule can stretch the rivalry to as many as 16 games if both sides reach the finals of Liga ACB, EuroLeague, Copa del Rey and Supercopa. Madrid have dominated the recent head-to-head, winning nine of the last ten Clásicos and sitting third in the EuroLeague standings behind a defence anchored by 7-foot-3 shot-blocking record-setter Edy Tavares. Barcelona, twice European champions, occupy the last playoff slot in tenth. Domestically, Pablo Laso’s defending champions enter the weekend five wins clear of third-placed Barcelona and four ahead of Valencia at the top of the ACB. Mario Hezonja paces the capital club at 16 points per night, while Barcelona counter with a roster that includes three former Madrid players—transfers that rarely incite the kind of virulent backlash familiar to football fans. “You can see that before and after the match, at least in Madrid city, where fans of both teams share the same spaces and bars with no incidents,” said Felipe Sanchez of Los Ojos del Tigre, Madrid’s largest supporters’ group. The prospect of sharing an NBA-branded competition could alter that dynamic. League officials convened with club delegations in London in January to outline a competition that would tip off in 2027-28. Barcelona, which recently extended its EuroLeague membership for ten seasons, can exit for a reported $11.6 million buy-out. “If the NBA is so fantastic, possibly they will work to solve this issue because they want Barca in their competition,” president Joan Laporta told RAC1. Madrid, whose Movistar Arena lease is controlled by the regional government, would need to secure a dedicated NBA-standard venue. Both institutions offer the league an immediate global footprint. Madrid claim 11 EuroLeague trophies and 38 domestic titles; Barcelona own two EuroLeagues and 20 Spanish crowns. Each academy has produced NBA talent—Fernando Martín in 1984, Pau and Marc Gasol, and most recently Hugo González, selected 28th by Boston in June from Madrid’s youth ranks. The NBA hopes that embedding such historic brands in a new continental structure will export Spanish basketball’s team-first ethos to a wider audience. For now, the focus is on Sunday. Another Madrid win would edge them ahead in the all-time series and tighten their grip on the top seed entering the ACB playoffs. A Barcelona victory would rekindle memories of Jiménez’s 1997 title clincher in Madrid’s own building, when Barcelona’s 82-69 triumph spoiled a celebration planned for Cibeles Square. “We took the title back to Barcelona,” Jiménez recalled. Whether that drama is replicated in Liga ACB, EuroLeague or an eventual NBA Europe fixture, the essence of the rivalry remains unchanged. “When you play one of these games, adrenaline is at the top,” Jiménez said. Tip-off is scheduled for 18:30 local time, but in a sense the clock is already ticking toward 2027, when basketball’s El Clásico may find itself reborn on an even larger stage.

Munich—Bayern Munich have placed RB Leipzig centre-back Castello Lukeba on their internal list of defensive targets for the coming transfer window, though any move remains conditional on the future of South Korean international Kim Min-jae, sources have confirmed. Max Eberl, who worked with Lukeba during his own time at Leipzig, has tracked the 23-year-old Frenchman since taking up his current post at the Bavarian giants and is known to be an admirer of the player. At present, however, the club’s hierarchy stresses that no purchase is imminent. Should Bayern receive an acceptable offer for Kim, the resulting funds could be redirected toward a new central defender, instantly elevating Lukeba’s candidacy. The Paris-born defender is valued well within the upper tier of the market, a price bracket that has historically steered Leipzig exports toward England’s Premier League. Dominik Szoboszlai’s impact at Liverpool is cited within the club as evidence of the division’s readiness to embrace Leipzig-developed talent, while Bayern’s own capture of Dayot Upamecano in 2021 is viewed as proof that similar deals can prosper in Munich. Yet officials caution that a repeat swoop cannot be taken for granted, particularly with English suitors capable of meeting Leipzig’s valuation. Lukeba is not the only name under consideration. Luka Vušković, the highly rated Croatian teenager, is also being monitored, though Bayern insiders insist the club currently regards another centre-back as surplus to requirements. The situation is described as “fluid”, with the final decision hinging on outgoings rather than fresh scouting reports.

Liverpool – When Chelsea step onto the Goodison Park replacement pitch on Saturday evening, they will be walking into uncharted territory in more ways than one. The Blues’ inaugural visit to Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium arrives at a moment when both clubs are clinging to fading continental ambitions and both managers are feeling the temperature rise. Chelsea enter the weekend having lost three straight matches in all competitions, a sequence that has derailed a once-promising push for the Premier League’s top five and ended their Champions League dream at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. The 3-0 defeat in the French capital on Tuesday sealed an 8-2 aggregate humiliation and left head coach Liam Rosenior facing uncomfortable questions about the direction of BlueCo’s much-debated sporting project. Rosenior, whose honeymoon period has evaporated rapidly, could find himself under intensifying scrutiny if his side are beaten on Merseyside. The reverse fixture in December saw Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea cruise to a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge; a repeat scoreline would be gratefully received by the current regime. Everton, meanwhile, have discovered that relocation has not translated into instant momentum. Sean Dyche’s team have relied on away form to keep Europa League and Conference League hopes alive, but last weekend’s 2-0 loss at Arsenal allowed the cluster of clubs around them to pull clear. A home win this weekend would lift the Toffees above Brentford and trim Chelsea’s cushion in sixth to just two points. Injuries are complicating selection for both camps. Everton hope James Tarkowski will shake off a knock to anchor the back four, though Jarrad Branthwaite is expected to remain sidelined. Jack Grealish and Charly Alcaraz are still unavailable, and on-loan Tyrique George is barred from facing his parent club. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who spent five years at Chelsea’s Cobham training centre, is set to start in an advanced midfield role. Chelsea’s medical bulletin is equally grim. Club captain Reece James will miss several weeks with a hamstring injury, while centre-back Trevoh Chalobah suffered an ankle sprain against PSG and faces six weeks out. Levi Colwill remains a long-term absentee, and full-backs Malo Gusto and Benoît Badiashile are doubtful after illness. Should Badiashile not recover, teenage defender Jorrel Hato could partner Wesley Fofana in the middle. Jamie Gittens is unlikely to return until after the international break, but Brazilian teenager Estêvão has already rejoined the squad. With both sides desperate to halt slumps and stake a claim for European qualification, the first-ever meeting at the Hill Dickinson Stadium carries stakes far beyond local bragging rights. Kick-off is scheduled for 17:30 BST, with broadcast coverage across USA Network, Sky Sports Main Event, DAZN Canada and affiliated streaming platforms. Chelsea predicted XI: Sánchez; Gusto, Fofana, Hato, Cucurella; Santos, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernández, Neto; Pedro. Everton predicted XI: Pickford; O'Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; McNeil, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Barry.

Amex Stadium is braced for a high-stakes Premier League shoot-out on Saturday lunchtime when Brighton & Hove Albion welcome a Liverpool side desperate to halt a two-match league slide and re-ignite their push up the table. Kick-off is at 12:30 GMT on 21 March, and the contest carries added spice: Brighton are hunting a statement victory that would propel them into the top half, while the Reds arrive on the south coast buoyed by a mid-week 4-0 Champions League demolition of Galatasaray yet still searching for domestic momentum after consecutive league draws. Recent history tilts Liverpool’s way—four wins from the last five meetings, including an FA Cup triumph earlier this season—but the Seagulls believe home advantage and a vibrant attacking game plan can flip the script. Factor one: wide-area fireworks. Brighton’s 21-year-old Gambian winger Yankuba Minteh, fresh from scoring the winner at Sunderland, has six direct goal involvements (two goals, four assists) in the 2025-26 Premier League. Expect him to target Liverpool’s left flank with rapid diagonal runs and cut-backs designed to exploit any hesitation in the visiting back line. Factor two: Florian Wirtz’s creative burden. With Mohamed Salah among a lengthy injury list that also includes Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Stefan Bajcetic, Wataru Endo and Alexander Isak, the onus falls on the German playmaker to unlock Brighton’s compact back four. Wirtz has four goals and three assists in the league this term but has gone three matches without a goal contribution; a return to form could prove decisive. Factor three: transitional discipline. Both clubs favour front-foot football, so the midfield battle—Brighton’s Pascal Gross and Jack Hinshelwood against Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones—will shape how often each side can spring into open space. Whichever unit wins second balls and counters efficiently is likely to dictate tempo. Team news is mixed. Brighton expect to be without defenders Adam Webster and Stefanos Tzimas, while Kaoru Mitoma remains a doubt. Liverpool’s medical room is crowded, leaving the back four of Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez shielded by Alisson Becker. Predicted Brighton XI (4-2-3-1): Bart Verbruggen; Mats Wieffer, Jan Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, Ferdi Kadioglu; Pascal Gross, Jack Hinshelwood; Diego Gomez, Matt O’Riley, Yankuba Minteh; Danny Welbeck. Predicted Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez; Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai; Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike. With European places and pride on the line, Saturday’s encounter promises end-to-end drama under the Sussex sunshine.

Atlanta—Cal freshman Claire Weinstein stormed from the sixth seed to the top of the podium in the 500-yard freestyle at the women’s NCAA Championships on Friday, snapping a seven-year drought for Golden Bear individual champions and setting a school record in the process. Weinstein, 19, touched the wall in 4:30.09 at the McAuley Aquatic Center, slicing more than six seconds off her morning preliminary time of 4:36.66. The swim was the fastest in the NCAA this season and left Texas’s Jillian Cox 1.47 seconds behind in second place (4:31.56). Television commentators quickly labeled the outcome “a shocker.” The victory is Cal’s first individual national title since Abbey Weitzeil won the 50-yard freestyle in 2019 and the program’s first in the 500-free since 2017. “The last 75 yards of that race I was just replaying all of the special moments from this season,” Weinstein said in a statement released by the school. “I never wanted something so bad, so I dug deep, and thought about all the people that came before me, all the women that made Cal swimming what it is. Now this team is moving in that direction.” Cal’s 400-yard individual medley relay quartet of Mary-Ambre Moluh, Annie Jia, Elle Scott, and Teagan O’Dell added another school record, placing sixth in 3:25.09. The championship meet concludes Saturday with the 200 IM, 100 free, 200 butterfly, 200 backstroke, and 400 free relay. Cal sits sixth in the team standings and is positioned for its highest finish since the Bears were national runners-up in 2019. Virginia, chasing its sixth consecutive women’s team title, holds a commanding lead heading into the final day.

The chase for bracket perfection grew dramatically tighter on the tournament’s second day, with the number of flawless March Madness entries shrinking to only a handful. After 48 hours of games, the once-massive pool of unblemished brackets has been pared down to a precious few, underscoring both the unpredictability of the event and the slim margin between a celebrated pick and a busted sheet. As upsets and close finishes accumulate, the surviving perfect brackets now stand as rare relics of prognostication luck and skill, setting up a high-stakes weekend for those still clinging to the dream of a clean card through the tournament.

Albuquerque, N.M. — Coming off the program’s most successful and best-attended campaign in recent memory, New Mexico’s football staff will operate with a modestly larger salary pool in 2024 while rewarding a handful of assistants for their role in the resurgence. Head coach Jason Eck, whose new five-year contract included a $400,000 raise in December, watched three of his on-field assistants receive pay increases when the athletic department posted updated contracts this week. The moves nudged UNM’s total staff salary pool to $2.07 million, up from $2.04 million last season. Every assistant remains on a one-year deal with identical performance-based incentives. Defensive line coach Hebron Fangupo secured the largest bump, jumping from $150,000 to $165,000 after a debut season that produced the Mountain West’s top run defense (112.8 yards per game) and a conference-best 36 sacks. Offensive coordinator Luke Schleusner, whose unit averaged 27.1 points per game, saw his salary rise $10,000 to $385,000, making him the highest-paid assistant on staff. Safeties coach Clay Bignell also netted a $10,000 increase, bringing his pay to $130,000 after guiding a position group that weathered multiple injuries. Defensive coordinator Spence Nowinsky ($375,000), offensive line coach Cody Booth ($165,000), cornerbacks coach Stanley Franks Jr. ($150,000) and linebackers coach Nate Palmer ($85,000) all return at their 2023 compensation levels. Two newcomers will earn more than the coaches they replaced. Associate head coach and tight ends coach Zach Lujan and wide receivers coach Carson Walch will each make $160,000, a combined $95,000 increase over predecessors Jared Elliott ($115,000) and Colin Lockett ($110,000). Conversely, new special teams coordinator Erik Link will earn $175,000, down from Daniel Da Prato’s $250,000, and running backs coach Darrius G. Smith will make $120,000, a drop from John Johnson’s $145,000. All four previous assistants departed for Power Four programs. Eck said the salary structure is intentional. “We have a pretty high spread between our highest-paid guys on the staff and our lowest-paid guys on the staff,” he told the Journal earlier this month. “And I want that systematically, because if you can keep your coordinators in place, you know, it keeps the overall system.” UNM will hold its annual pro day on Monday, with 17 Lobos and two New Mexico Highlands standouts — safety Trevor Romaldo and offensive lineman Joe Taase — scheduled to work out for NFL scouts.

Old Trafford, 67th minute. Amad Diallo arcs into the Bournemouth box, feels the hand of Adrien Truffert on his shoulder, and hits the turf. Referee Stuart Attwell waves play on; within seconds the Cherries break, the net ripples, and the stadium erupts in fury. In the VAR hub at Stockley Park, Craig Pawson’s screen splits: left panel, the penalty shout; right panel, the goal that followed. Protocol demands an “official” rather than “background” review once the ball is in United’s net, so Pawson rewinds the phase frame by frame. Truffert’s arm, he concludes, is merely resting across Diallo in a “neutral” run; no pull, no twist, no foul. The on-field call stands, the goal stands, and United’s players surround Attwell in vain. Eleven minutes later the temperature spikes again. Evanilson latches onto a loose ball, bears down on goal, and feels Harry Maguire’s arms clamp around his waist. Attwell’s whistle is instant: penalty, and a red for denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. Pawson’s second review is equally swift. Replays show Maguire never attempts to play the ball; instead he drags Evanilson to the turf inside the D. Clear holding, clear DOGSO. No clear error, therefore no intervention. United down to ten, Bournemouth spot-kick pending, and the VAR ledger closed. Former Select Group official Andy Davies, reviewing the calls for publication, labels the first “normal contact in motion” and the second “a textbook red.” The arm-bar that so incensed United, he argues, was “invited contact” rather than illegal restraint, while Maguire’s rugby-tackle was “as obvious a red as you’ll see.” In both cases, Pawson’s silent check marks mirrored the on-field judgement: no penalty for Truffert, no reprieve for Maguire. The technology, once again, policed the grey areas and left the grey shirts to rue the consequences.

From the football-obsessed pubs of Manchester to cricket-mad living rooms in Mumbai, the games people grow up watching quietly dictate where billions of wagering dollars flow. Worldwide, sports-betting menus are no longer designed in a vacuum; they are mirrors of neighborhood passions that have scaled across borders. Operators say the cycle is simple but powerful: where local interest is strongest, bets pile up fastest. Liquidity attracts bookmakers, who in turn widen markets, sharpen odds algorithms and roll out micro-wagers on everything from next goalscorer to corner-kick counts. Attention flows where fans gather, and data follows the money. On global sites such as 1xBet, a Malaysian punter might toggle between English Premier League odds and the latest cricket big-hitter props, choices shaped less by corporate strategy than by the sports conversation unfolding in nearby cafés and group chats. The pattern repeats continent by continent. In Europe, weekend football handles swell so dramatically that providers routinely expand in-play options hours before kickoff. Across Canada, hockey’s grip prompts the release of fresh puck-line and period-by-period markets minutes after the previous game ends. Each regional surge feeds liquidity, which not only deepens legitimate wagering but also flags those competitions as potential targets for match-fixers seeking fat pools of cash. Granularity is now the norm for any sport that commands a strong local following. Instead of merely offering match-winner prices, bookmakers list player-performance props, team-total bands and special exotics tied to hometown storylines. A Kenyan user might awake to find extensive coverage of a local rugby sevens tournament, while a Brazilian bettor’s lobby spotlights beach-volleyball set bets—both reflections of regional demand rather than top-down marketing. Nothing illustrates the migration from niche to worldwide better than mixed martial arts, once confined to small-hall venues but now a staple on every major digital sportsbook. Cricket leagues, once followed largely in Commonwealth nations, ride superstar power and streaming reach into fresh time zones. Esports, originally an outlier, built critical mass through online communities and now commands year-round calendar space. Several forces convert local favorites into global wagering staples: - International streaming platforms beam regional leagues onto phones in every corridor of the world. - Star athletes who emerge from these competitions attract cross-border fan bases and, by extension, betting interest. - Well-structured tournaments create predictable calendars that traders can model and price confidently. - Digital fan hubs—Reddit threads, Discord channels, YouTube breakdowns—amplify awareness faster than traditional media ever could. Behind the scenes, bookmakers treat each click as a vote. User dashboards reveal which sports spike at breakfast in Manila, which leagues trend during Scandinavian nights. Odds compilers reallocate manpower, adjust margins and launch early markets accordingly. When a formerly minor sport charts upward, developers queue new bet types, customer-support teams stock relevant FAQs and traders model performance indices in real time. The feedback loop is relentless: localized passion fuels handle, handle invites deeper product development, and improved product exposes fresh audiences to once-regional games. As viewers hop borders through broadband, global betting portfolios grow ever more eclectic, stitched together by the simple truth that hometown loyalties now steer worldwide wagering. Gamble Responsibly. You must be 21 years old or older to gamble. If you or someone you know has a problem with gambling, help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER.

PEORIA, Ariz. — A quiet “B” game on a scorching Friday morning turned into the Mariners’ most important dress rehearsal when opening-day battery mates Logan Gilbert and Cal Raleigh jogged onto Field No. 1 for the top of the first against the Padres, reuniting for the first time since Raleigh left camp 2 ½ weeks ago to represent the United States in the World Baseball Classic. With temperatures climbing toward triple digits, the Mariners elected to shield their projected Game 1 starter from a Cactus League matchup later in the evening against the Guardians—the very club Gilbert will face in six days when the regular season opens. Instead, the right-hander threw 80 pitches over five-plus innings in the controlled setting of the back-field contest, working every offering in his arsenal, including experimental changeups and a cutter he hopes to feature more prominently this season. “I wasn’t expecting him necessarily to be here,” Gilbert said of Raleigh, who caught the night before in Mesa as the designated hitter and still asked to be inserted into Friday’s lineup. “But he was, which is way better, so we can get a feel.” Raleigh, fresh off a 1-for-5 night that included a 438-foot, bases-loaded double, went 2-for-8 with a two-run homer from the left side and four walks in the twinbill. Behind the plate he called seven or eight sinkers—an offering he discouraged Gilbert from throwing a year ago. “I probably threw four or five,” Gilbert said with a grin. “I was the one shaking them off. The roles reversed after 10 years.” Manager Dan Wilson emphasized the importance of the reunion with opening day looming and Raleigh’s camp time limited by international duty. “It was smart to get a chance to get them together today with this being the final tune-up,” Wilson said. “Just get on the same page and see what his stuff has been doing.” Veteran utility man Rob Refsnyder also appeared, squeezing in extra at-bats after playing the previous night. Shortstop J.P. Crawford, meanwhile, took swings in the cage as he works back from a cortisone injection in his right shoulder Monday. Wilson said the club could keep Crawford in Arizona through Wednesday for minor-league games before flying him back ahead of Thursday’s opener. Seattle trimmed the spring roster to 32 players Friday, reassigning left-hander Jhonathan Díaz, right-hander Dane Dunning and outfielder Brennan Davis to minor-league camp. Díaz and Dunning will join Tacoma’s rotation after returning from World Baseball Classic duty with Venezuela and Korea, respectively. Davis, who flashed prodigious power early in camp, has been sidelined five days with hamstring tightness but resumed on-field workouts.

Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo has issued a clear message of intent ahead of the Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid, insisting the Catalans are ready to avenge their recent Copa del Rey elimination. The two sides meet in Europe’s premier club competition just weeks after Atletico edged a dramatic semi-final 4-3 on aggregate to knock Barça out of the domestic cup. Speaking to the club’s official media, Olmo acknowledged the familiarity of the fixture and the high stakes involved. “It’s a scenario we expected, but it’s a situation I’ve already experienced, both last year and at my previous clubs. It’s all or nothing,” he said. The 26-year-old, who joined Barcelona from RB Leipzig, expressed confidence in his team’s ability to progress if they perform to their maximum. “We have the quality and we can do it if we’re at our best. We’re motivated, we remember what happened in the Cup, and we can’t afford to fail.” The victor of the all-Spanish tie will advance to face either Arsenal or Sporting CP in the semi-finals, moving one step closer to this season’s Champions League final.

Bruno Fernandes reinforced his reputation as Manchester United’s most influential performer by registering both a goal and an assist in a hard-fought 2-2 Premier League draw with Bournemouth at Old Trafford. The Portuguese midfielder’s direct involvement in both Red Devils strikes ensured the hosts salvaged a point from a contest that the visitors more than merited a share of. Fernandes opened the scoring with a typically decisive finish, arrowing a low shot beyond the goalkeeper after latching onto a cut-back inside the box. Moments later he turned provider, clipping a precise pass that allowed United to double the advantage and seemingly take control. Yet Bournemouth, undeterred by the early deficit, responded with resilience and tactical discipline to level matters before the interval and again after United had restored parity. The result leaves United reflecting on a missed opportunity to climb the table, while Bournemouth can take heart from a spirited display that showcased their capacity to trouble higher-ranked opposition. Fernandes’ latest goal-involvement haul means he remains the undeniable catalyst for United’s attacking output, yet the broader narrative of the afternoon was the Cherries’ refusal to yield, ensuring the spoils were ultimately shared in a breathless 2-2 encounter.

Sacramento, Calif. – When the Sacramento Kings left the 2025 NBA Draft with Stanford product Maxime Raynaud at No. 42, the front office spoke of a project, not a prodigy. Less than a year later, the 7-foot rookie is sprinting up the Golden 1 Center hardwood as the most productive second-round selection in the class and, arguably, the league’s most startling success story. Raynaud’s path to relevance was accelerated by circumstance. Early-season injuries and roster shuffling cracked open the rotation door; the 21-year-old barreled through it. Coaches quickly noticed an uncommon ability to absorb scouting notes and reproduce them in live action, a skill that has vaulted him from garbage-time curiosity to dependable interior anchor. The numbers validate the eye test. Raynaud paces all 2025 second-rounders in scoring and rebounding, and over recent stretches he has flirted with double-double averages while shooting nearly 60 percent from the field. His shot chart is a coach’s dream: high-percentage looks around the rim, timely rim-runs in transition, and the occasional face-up jumper that keeps defenders honest. Then came the breakthrough weekend that stamped his arrival. On back-to-back nights, Raynaud became the first Kings rookie this century to record consecutive 30-point performances, topping out at a career-best 32 before following up with 30 even. The outburst sent a jolt through the organization and validated the whispers already circulating around the facility: the second-rounder might possess star-grade upside. “He’s blown past every internal projection we had,” one Kings staffer said. “What we envisioned as a two-year development curve has compressed into a couple of months.” That rapid ascent carries weight far beyond the stat sheet. Sacramento entered the season craving youth, size, and financial flexibility. Raynaud checks all three boxes on a rookie-scale contract, giving the franchise a potential front-court cornerstone without the premium price tag of a lottery pick. His presence also widens the runway for roster experimentation, allowing the Kings to evaluate surrounding pieces around a mobile, skilled big who fits the modern pace-and-space ethos. While the club’s place in the standings remains a work in progress, the front office has already banked one resounding victory. Selecting Raynaud at 42 has shifted from low-risk flyer to outright heist, a reminder that draft-night value can emerge far outside the lottery spotlight. As Thursday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers moved into the third quarter, Raynaud again showcased the motor that has become his trademark, beating defenders down the floor and carving out deep position. Each possession further cements a narrative that is no longer about potential—it is about production. The Kings may still be searching for long-term stability, but in Maxime Raynaud they appear to have found exactly what they didn’t know they needed: a second-round afterthought blossoming into one of the 2025 draft’s defining success stories.

The Premier League’s reputation has taken a few hits during the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, and while talk of a full-scale demise is premature, a handful of English-based players have delivered performances that bordered on the unwatchable. Four of the five names below are already packing their bags for the Europa League sidelines; one still has time to salvage his continental image, though the clock is ticking. Jacob Ramsey, Newcastle United Ramsey’s campaign will forever be bookmarked by the 7-2 capitulation at Spotify Camp Nou, yet the numbers were alarming long before the final whistle in Barcelona. Tasked with adding thrust from midfield, the 24-year-old instead finished among the competition’s least effective distributors, misplacing passes under the faintest hint of pressure and recording negligible progression stats. His back-pass that teed up Raphinha for the hosts’ fourth was the snapshot of a wider, season-long malaise. Trevoh Chalobah, Chelsea Enzo Maresca reportedly sounded internal warnings about Chelsea’s defensive depth, and Chalobah’s six Champions League starts underlined every one of them. The centre-back failed to register a single tackle success of note against PSG’s front line, was repeatedly caught flat-footed on the turn, and looked a yard short of the speed of thought required at Europe’s top table. The eye test matched the analytics: Chelsea shipped goals whenever he was on the pitch. Filip Jorgensen, Chelsea If Chalobah eroded belief from the back four, Jorgensen nuked it from between the posts. Handed the gloves for the first-leg Round-of-16 duel with holders PSG, the Danish keeper produced a horror show of parried crosses, mistimed charges and, most damagingly, two reckless passes that led directly to concessions. A save rate of roughly 37 percent and an average of 2.40 goals against per appearance are figures that belong in a training-ground blooper reel, not a knockout bracket. Jeremie Frimpong, Liverpool Still alive thanks to Liverpool’s aggregate edge over Inter, Frimpong nonetheless carries the weakest individual résumé of any surviving Premier League player. Once lauded for buccaneering overlaps at Bayer Leverkusen, the Dutch wing-back has mustered a paltry 0.4 key passes per European start this term, leaving Mohamed Salah to forage alone on the right. Defensively, his positioning has been so erratic that Arne Slot has twice hooked him before the 60-minute mark. Bernardo Silva, Manchester City Silva’s campaign ended in infamy when he leapt to block a late Real Madrid shot, deflecting it past his own keeper with an ill-judged flailing arm. The hand-ball felt like a fitting coda to a tournament in which the Portuguese playmaker looked a step slow, completed a meagre 0.1 dribbles per outing and was repeatedly targeted by quicker midfield runners. Pep Guardiola kept faith until the final whistle of the quarter-final, but by then the damage—to City’s tie and Silva’s elite-level credibility—was done. For a league that markets itself as the planet’s most intense, these five have, through error-strewn nights and damning data lines, offered an unwelcome counter-narrative. Only Frimpong remains on the UCL stage; unless he flips the script in the semi-finals, the Premier League will be left to re-watch a season’s worth of lowlights rather than dream of an Istanbul finale.

LAAX, Switzerland — Eileen Gu etched her name into freeskiing history once again on Friday, capturing the first Snow League season championship with a gold-medal performance in the circuit’s halfpipe finale. The win, coming less than a month after the 22-year-old topped the podium at the Milan Cortina Olympics, sealed a perfect debut campaign for Shaun White’s new league and extended Gu’s unprecedented streak of six-for-six Olympic medals across two Games. No other freeskier has medaled in every Olympic event they have entered. “I take a lot of meaning in being the first to do things,” Gu said after her victory. “To be a part of this league means so much to me. ... I believe so much in the vision and the direction that it’s pushing the sport.” Born in the United States and competing for China, Gu earned $75,000 for the day’s work—$50,000 for the contest win and a $25,000 bonus for clinching the season crown. Fifteen of her 20 World Cup titles have come in halfpipe competition. New Zealand’s Luke Harrold matched Gu’s payday, sweeping both the event and the men’s season title. Snowboarders close the inaugural Snow League season on Saturday, with Olympic gold medalist Yuto Totsuka holding a narrow lead over bronze medalist Ryusei Yamada in the standings.

PHILADELPHIA — In a program haunted by premature tournament departures, Virginia steadied itself behind a pivotal performance from White, dodging what has become an all-too-familiar March fate. First-year coach Ryan Odom, mindful of the Cavaliers’ history of early exits, gathered his team before tipoff and played the 2019 “One Shining Moment” montage from Virginia’s national-championship run, a reminder of the program’s ceiling when poised under pressure. The film session appeared to resonate as the Cavaliers protected their bracket life, ensuring the season would not end in the opening weekend that has tripped them so often in recent memory.

Liverpool’s Premier League push continues on the south coast this Saturday as Arne Slot’s side face Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium, with kickoff set for 12:30 p.m. local time. The Reds arrive buoyed by a midweek Champions League triumph over Galatasaray at Anfield, a result that eased pressure on the manager and kept the club on course for European silverware. With the quarterfinal berth secured, attention now turns to domestic duties. Slot knows that a strong finish in the league will be essential to safeguard his position heading into the summer, making every remaining fixture—starting with Brighton—critically important. Brighton, currently 12th in the table, appear all but safe from relegation and still entertain outside hopes of sneaking into a European place should they string together victories in the season’s closing weeks. For viewers in the United States, the match will be carried live on USA Network and is available to stream through DIRECTV, which is offering a risk-free five-day trial for new subscribers. The platform includes access to ESPN, FS1, TNT, TBS, truTV and NFL Network, ensuring comprehensive coverage of soccer, MLB and more. Brighton vs. Liverpool kicks off Saturday, March 21, at 12:30 p.m. local time from the Amex Stadium.