Ümummilli Lider Heydər Əliyevin anadan olmasının 103-cü ildönümünə həsr edilən avarçəkmə üzrə “Prezident Kuboku 2026” reqatası Ağdərədə start götürüb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Qarabağın dilbər guşəsi Ağdərədə təşkil olunan tədbirdə əvvəlcə Dövlət Himninin səsləndirilib.
Sonra Vətən uğrunda canlarından keçmiş şəhidlərin xatirəsi bir dəqiqəlik sükutla yad edilib.
Ardınca reqatanın ilk dəfə Sərsəng su anbarında keçirilməsinin qürurverici olduğunu bildirən gənclər və idman naziri Fərid Qayıbov təşkilatçılığın ildən-ilə təkmilləşdiyini deyib.
Nazir idmançıların yarışdan zövq alacaqlarına inandığını bildirib.
Ardınca nümunəvi çıxışlar start götürüb. Tədbir çərçivəsində milli musiqi və rəqs nümunələri də nümayiş etdirilib.
Daha sonra akademik avarçəkmə, kayak, kanoe, draqon qayıqları və yelkənli qayıqlar üzrə idmançıların nümunəvi çıxışları və ilk yarışlar keçirilib. İştirakçı ölkələrin bayraqlarını daşıyan skuterlər su üzərində dövrə vurublar.
Qeyd edək ki, “Prezident Kuboku 2026” beynəlxalq reqatasının rəsmi açılış mərasimi sabah Mingəçevirdə keçiriləcək.Yarışda Azərbaycan, Çexiya, Gürcüstan, Almaniya, Yunanıstan, Qazaxıstan, Qırğızıstan, Litva, Moldova, Rumıniya, Serbiya, İsveç, Tacikistan, Türkiyə, Ukrayna və Özbəkistandan 100-dən artıq idmançı mübarizə aparacaq. Reqataya mayın 1-də yekun vurulacaq. (Report)
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, komandanın hücumçusu Məhəmməd Salah sıradan çıxıb. Bu barədə klubun mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb. Bud nahiyəsindən zədə alan futbolçu mövsümün qalan oyunlarını buraxacaq.
Bununla da, Salahın “Liverpul” karyerası başa çatıb. O, daha əvvəl yayda klubdan ayrılacağını bildirmişdi.
“Şamaxı” Misli Premyer Liqasının XXIX turunda “Kəpəz”i məğlub edib – 2:0.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, “şirlər”in futbolçusu Ravil Qafarov bu görüşdə meydana çıxmaqla Premyer Liqada debüt edib. O, oyunun ikinci hissəsində Rüfət Abbasovu əvəzləyib.
“Şamaxı” çempionatda 29 turdan sonra 35 xalla 8-ci sıradadır.
Yazın gəlişinə rəğmən havalar hələ soyuq keçsə də, Azərbaycan Premyer Liqasında temperatur çox qalxıb.
Turnir cədvəlinin “zirzəmisində” də, avrokuboklara vəsiqə uğrunda da şiddətli mübarizə gedir. Kimisi APL-i tərk edəcək, kimisi Avropaya vəsiqənin sevincini yaşayacaq… və bu arada, çempionluq uğrunda mübarizə son illərdə ilk dəfə “erkən doğuş” yaşadı.
Sona 4 tur qalmış, 13 xallıq fərq yaradan “Sabah”ın kürsünü əldən verməyəcəyi dəqiqdir.
“Bayquşlar”la “atlılar” Azərbaycan Kubokunda münasibətlərinə aydınlı gətirdi.
Diqqətləri üzərinə çəkən bu çəkişmə illər sonra ölkə futboluna canlanma gətirib. Ona görə də son ərəfələrin əsas manşetləri məhz bu iki klubla bağlı olur.
Maraqlı məqamlardan biri də proseslərin baş rolunda olan bu klubların növbəti mövsümə necə keçəcəyidir.
“Futbolpress.az” araşdırıb, yay fasiləsində “Qarabağ”ın 5, “Sabah”ın isə 10 futbolçu ilə müqaviləsi bitir.
“Atlılar”ın nə qərar verəcəyi hələ tam məlum deyil, amma heyəti gücləndirməkçün ciddi səbəblərin qabardığı bir mövsüm yaşadı.
“Futuristlər” isə gələcəyə daha yaxşı getmək üçün siyahıdakıların əksəri ilə anlaşma əldə etməyə çalışır. Məlumata görə Mikels, Pokatilov, Sekidika, Simiç və Puxaçla danışıqlar başlayıb və əsasən razılıq əldə olunub.
Güclülərin daha da güclənməsi daimi ehtiyacdır. Reallaşması diləyilə…
Müqavilə ilə “Barselona”ya məxsus olan Ansu Fatinin gələcək taleyi maraq doğurur. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, hazırda icarə əsasında “Monako”da çıxış […]
Ruben Amorim 2026/27 mövsümündə fasilə götürməyi planlaşdırır. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, portuqaliyalı məşqçi yanvar ayında “Mançester Yunayted”dən ayrıldıqdan sonra işsiz […]
İngiltərə Kubokunun 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün növbəti finalçısı müəyyənləşib. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, evdə “Lids”i 1 qolla məğlub edən “Çelsi” finala […]
Former Italian striker Pasquale Luiso recalls his time at Vicenza, especially his goal at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea in the Cup Winners’ Cup and explains why he rejected offers from Milan, Lazio and Roma: ‘I preferred being a small-club top scorer.’
Former Vicenza star Luiso released an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport to talk about his career as a footballer, during which he scored 25 goals in 87 Serie A matches.
The former Italian striker became an icon in the 90s for his bicycle kick goals, especially one against Milan in 1996.
Luiso was playing for Piacenza back then, bagging 14 goals in 32 appearances, attracting interest from many top clubs in Italy.
“Both Milan and Roma wanted me. The following year, Lazio too. But I always said no,” he said.
“I wanted to play, not to be the fourth striker. I preferred being a small-club top scorer to being one of many on a big team. Of course, maybe two forwards get injured, and you play, but I was afraid of rotting on the bench.
“It was a different kind of football back then. On the pitch, we used to really go at each other. I remember clashes with Montero; we’d beat each other up for 90 minutes,” he continued.
“Then, off the pitch, we were friends. Same thing against Andrea Sottil, as well as Ferrara and Nesta. They were incredibly strong defenders, and every match against them felt like a war.”
In the summer of 1997, despite requests from Milan and Roma, Luiso joined Vicenza.
“I couldn’t have made a better decision. Guidolin was a master, even if we didn’t talk much. Practically, never,” he recalled.
“He said he didn’t want to hug us or give us compliments. Football, for him, was his fake world. He limited himself to the pitch and the dressing room; for everything else, he kept to himself. And I think he paid a bit for that. On top of that, he was incredibly superstitious. He would put plasters on his fingers because he used to bite them so much…”
During the 1997-98 season, Vincenza beat Chelsea 1-0 at home in the first leg of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup semifinal. They went on to lose the decider 3-1 at Stamford Bridge, with Luiso scoring the only goal for the Italian side.
2 Apr 1998: GianLuca Vialli of Chelsea beats a Vicenza tackle during the European Cup Winners Cup semi-final between Vicenza and Chelsea played at the \ Mandatory Credit: Ben Radford /Allsport
“So many memories! We won the first leg at the Menti, and in the return match, I scored, silencing the opposing fans,” said the ex-Italian striker.
“I even told them to shut up, since they were booing. I also had a goal disallowed, which should have stood. Who knows how it would have gone otherwise? Gianluca Vialli played against us. He was my absolute idol. When I was a kid, I used to wear my socks down in his honour. He gave me his shirt, and I still keep it today like a relic.”
Luiso never got to make his senior Italy debut, but had been long considered by the Azzurri coach back then, Cesare Maldini.
16 Apr 1998: Pierluigi Brivio of Vicenza loses his cool with Jody Morris of Chelsea in the European Cup Winners” Cup Semi-final at Stamford Bridge, London, England. Chelsea won the match 3-1 to go into the Final. \ Mandatory Credit: Stu Forster /Allsport
“Look, I was an ‘unpolished’ footballer. I couldn’t juggle the ball twice in a row,” Luiso admitted.
“I came through with hunger and the desire to conquer the world. On the pitch, I was unbearable for both teammates and opponents. I wasn’t pleasant to watch. Just the fact that [Cesare] Maldini thought about me was already a source of pride. And besides, in my time, there would have had to be an epidemic. Up front, we had phenomenal players.”
The situation of Italian football is much different now.
“I’m not saying this out of arrogance, but I think today I would score goals at will and probably be a starter for the national team,” Luiso said.
“When I played, everything was different. It was another kind of football.
“I’m enjoying life now. I’d like to return to football, but I don’t know,” he concluded.
“Nobody has ever called me. Maybe it’s because I’m not very social, and I’ve never sold myself well. I run a car rental business with my brother, and sometimes I go and help out.”
According to reports in Italy, VAR officials were allegedly influenced by external figures, such as referees’ chief Gianluca Rocchi, who used ‘coded messages’ to suggest whether to alert the referee on the pitch.
Serie A and Serie B designator Rocchi is under investigation for suspected participation in sports fraud and has therefore suspended himself from his duties.
Serie A referee scandal: latest updates
The former international referee is expected to be heard by the Milan Prosecutor on April 30, while the FIGC Prosecutor has denied having requested documents from authorities in the ongoing criminal investigation.
Rocchi is suspected of influencing VAR decisions, as a video appears to show.
On March 1, 2025, VAR official Daniele Paterna reviewed a potential penalty for Udinese in their home game against Parma and initially seemed reluctant to urge the on-the-pitch referee to the pitchside monitor.
However, Paterna suddenly turned right, seemingly talking to someone outside the VAR room. Paterna asked, ‘Is that a penalty?’ before telling the referee to review the incident on the monitor.
Repubblica reports that investigators believe VAR officials were aware of coded messages that would be used to assess controversial incidents and, therefore, to determine whether to alert the referee on the pitch.
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 05: Referee Gianluca Rocchi during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Chelsea FC and AFC Ajax at Stamford Bridge on November 05, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
A raised hand meant ‘do not intervene’, while a clenched fist meant ‘send the referee to monitor’.
“Whether these are exaggerations or even smear tactics burn out of internal feuds within the refereeing world, or instead pieces of evidence supporting the allegations, will become clear when the prosecutors reveal their findings,” wrote Repubblica.
BERGAMO, ITALY – MAY 12: Referee Simone Sozza checks the pitch side VAR monitor during the Serie A match between Atalanta and AS Roma at Gewiss Stadium on May 12, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
VAR supervisor Andrea Gervasoni is also under investigation and, just like Rocchi, he’s expected to be heard on April 30.
Rocchi is also accused of having appointed referees who were liked by Inter during the 2024-25 campaign, yet no evidence has emerged.
Nerazzurri President Marotta has insisted that the club is not involved in the scandal and, currently, no Inter representative is under investigation.
Manchester United are preparing for a busy summer transfer window as they look to strengthen the squad.
The primary focus of the Red Devils will be the midfield position which needs the most attention considering Casemiro is leaving and due to the inconsistent performances of Manuel Ugarte.
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After previously shutting down all approaches, the Seagulls have finally cracked the door open for a potential sale, and two of England’s biggest clubs are already circling.
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According to Nicolo Schira, Man United are ready to make an offer for the young midfielder but this time they are likely to face competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea.
The Red Devils actually had a verbal agreement in place with the Cameroonian international last summer, and the player was reportedly extremely keen on a move to Old Trafford.
However, the deal collapsed when Brighton slapped a jaw-dropping valuation of over £100 million on his head, pricing the new INEOS regime out of the move.
Fast forward to the end of the 2025/26 campaign, and the landscape has shifted. Baleba has enjoyed a solid season on the South Coast, racking up 27 Premier League appearances and cementing his reputation as a combative, high-energy defensive midfielder.
United are currently preparing a massive fresh offer to finally get their man.
Arsenal are reportedly closely monitoring Real Madrid attacking midfielder Brahim Diaz as a potential transfer target for this summer.
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The 26-year-old is not always a regular in the Real Madrid starting line up, but he’s still managed an impressive record of seven goals and seven assists in all competitions for club and country this season.
Diaz certainly looks like someone who could fit in well at Arsenal due to his technical ability and intelligence, and his ability to play a variety of midfield roles.
According to Fichajes, this has the Gunners keeping a close eye on his situation ahead of the summer, when it’s expected that Madrid could let him go for around €40m.
Brahim Diaz transfer could be one to watch for Arsenal
Even if Diaz probably wouldn’t be the name at the top of every Arsenal fan’s list of targets, the Morocco international looks a smart option on the market due to his low cost.
One imagines he’d probably only come in to add depth to Mikel Arteta’s squad, which is pretty much what he’s already doing at the Bernabeu, but all big clubs need a strong bench they can rely on over a long and difficult campaign.
Tottenham have confirmed that Xavi Simons has a serious injury that has ended his season and will keep him out of the 2026 World Cup this summer.
The Netherlands international would surely have had a key role to play for the Dutch national team at this summer’s World Cup in North America, but he’s now out after rupturing his ACL.
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Simons had to go off during Spurs’ win over Wolves at the weekend, and looked in a lot of pain, with journalist Ben Jacobs now reporting on today’s update from the club.
Tottenham have confirmed the seriousness of the injury, with Simons now set to undergo surgery in the coming weeks…
Spurs confirm Xavi Simons has ruptured the ACL in his right knee.
He undergo surgery in the coming weeks, missing the end of the season and World Cup.? https://t.co/N9fgUNpR10
This is a huge blow for a talented young player, who will now have to wait another four years before getting the chance to play for his country at a World Cup.
It’s also a worry for Spurs as they remain in the relegation zone and need everyone fit if they are to stand a strong chance of staying up.
Xavi Simons says “life can be cruel” after injury nightmare
Jacobs also quoted Simons as saying how disappointed he is with the news of his injury ending his World Cup hopes.
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“They say life can be cruel and today it feels that way,” the 23-year-old said.
“My season has come to an abrupt end and I’m just trying to process it. Honestly, I’m heartbroken. None of it makes sense.
“All l’ve wanted to do is fight for my team and now the ability to do that has been snatched away from me… along with the World Cup.”
Simons joined THFC from RB Leipzig last summer and has looked like one of the team’s better performers for much of what has ultimately been a really disappointing season for the north London club.
Liverpool shattered the British transfer record, handing Newcastle United a jaw-dropping £125 million to bring Alexander Isak to Merseyside.
He was supposed to be the undisputed focal point of Arne Slot’s new-look attack.
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Fast forward to today, and the dream move has quickly turned into a nightmare.
Now, club legend Jamie Carragher is publicly voicing the exact fears that have been quietly brewing among the fanbase.
It’s no secret that Isak has had a rough go of it. A brutal leg fracture sustained against Tottenham back in December derailed his momentum just as he was trying to find his feet in Slot’s system.
Jamie Carragher issues warning about Alexander Isak
Carraghers feels more pessimistic about Isak and his claim would worry the Liverpool faithful.
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“[The big-spending summer] hasn’t worked,” he told the Liverpool Echo.
“It might work in the future because I don’t think you can judge every signing in the first year.
“But I’ve said this before; my experience as a Liverpool player, every player who came to the club, I can’t remember one who didn’t really do much in his first season, and then was a revelation afterwards. Isak hasn’t got going. He obviously got the injury, but he didn’t look great to start with.”
Liverpool striker has to prove his worth at Anfield
There is no denying Isak’s natural talent, his time at St. James’ Park proved he can be one of the most lethal, dynamic finishers in the Premier League.
However, history is a heavy burden to carry. With a staggering £125m price tag on his back, stiff competition for starting minutes, and the pressure of a massive summer rebuild looming large, the Swedish international faces a monumental task to rewrite Carragher’s harsh narrative and salvage his Liverpool career.
Isak has a long way to go to prove himself as a success at Anfield. The fans will support him, the manager will back him but the question remains, can he justify the monumental price tag attached to his name? Time will tell.
Verdict: PSG over 1.5 cards Best Odds: 19/20 Bookmaker: Dachbet In what is a blockbuster Champions League semi-final showdown, PSG will welcome Bayern Munich to Paris for their first-leg battle on Tuesday night. PSG Starting with the hosts, while PSG might have been left shocked earlier in the month as they fell to a 2-1 […]
Official: Real Madrid confirm muscle injury to key superstar
Real Madrid have issued an official statement confirming that key forward Kylian Mbappe has sustained a muscle injury.
The French superstar had to be taken off late in the game against Real Betis this past week due to a hamstring strain. Initial scans had been positive but after he underwent an MRI today, a muscle injury has been confirmed.
“Following tests carried out today on our player Kylian Mbappe by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a semitendinosus muscle injury in his left leg. His recovery will be monitored,” the statement read.
While the official update from the club does not specify a recovery timeline, there is hope at Real Madrid that Mbappe could still feature for the club before the end of the season.
This comes amidst speculation that the France captain might not play again in La Liga this term so as to avoid any risk heading into the World Cup in the summer.
With big games coming up against Espanyol and Barcelona, Real Madrid will miss their top goalscorer’s services.
At the post-match press conference, Arbeloa had already confirmed the issue, but was awaiting the detailed tests that confirmed the muscle problem.
The timing of the injury is considered critical for the Spanish club in the final stretch of the season.
Real Madrid are second in La Liga with 74 points, eight behind rivals Barcelona.
With the decisive Clásico scheduled for May 10, Mbappé’s absence could be crucial to Los Blancos’ title hopes.
The team’s next match will be on May 3 against Espanyol.
Beyond the impact on the club, the news is also raising concern in France with less than two months to go before the start of the 2026 World Cup.
Although the initial information indicates that the striker is not at risk of being left out of the final squad list, time out at this stage could affect his match sharpness and physical preparation for the World Cup opener.
Now, both Real Madrid’s coaching staff and the French national team staff are closely monitoring the No. 10’s day-to-day progress to see whether he will be fit to play in the final matches of the half-season.
Read the full statement
Following tests carried out today by Real Madrid Medical Services on our player Kylian Mbappé, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left leg. His recovery will be monitored.
Sometimes, the most telling evaluation doesn’t come from scouts. It comes from the head coach who saw it every day.When the Baltimore Ravens selected Adam Randall in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, they weren’t just adding depth to the backfield. They were investing in a projection, one that Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney believes has a ceiling few prospects in this class can match.
Randall's story is what makes him so intriguing. At 6-foot-3 and over 230 pounds, he doesn't look like your typical modern running back. He looks like a sledgehammer, but that's only part of the equation.
A former wide receiver, Randall brings natural hands, open-field instincts, and explosiveness that shows up quickly once he finds space. It's a rare blend: size, speed, and receiving ability wrapped into one developmental prospect. That's seemingly part of the reason why Dabo Swinney could offer a critique about his former tailback that's so glowing.
Clemson HC Dabo Swinney on new Ravens RB Adam Randall:
"I think Adam Randall is one of the more unique players in this draft. I told a couple of GMs before the draft that I think he's a steal. He's like getting three players with one pick because I think he's just scraping the…
Randall only began taking meaningful snaps at running back recently, which makes his flashes even more encouraging. There's rawness to his game, particularly in pass protection and the finer details of the position. But those are areas that can be developed over time.
And he's just getting started...
Dabo Swinney's belief in Adam Randall should carry weight.
Swinney's endorsement cuts through any uncertainty. Few people understand Randall's growth curve better than the coach who oversaw his transition and watched his confidence build. That belief matters, especially for a player still learning the nuances of the position. It also aligns perfectly with Baltimore's approach. The Ravens don't need Randall to be the finished product right away. After all, Derrick Henry is still leading the room. That said, Randall has something many young backs don't have: time.
He has time to develop. He has time to refine and learn from one of the most physically dominant runners of this era.That's what makes this pick so fascinating. Randall may have entered the league under the radar, but the tools and the endorsement behind them suggest something much bigger could be coming.
Muirfield has hosted the Open Championship on 16 occasions [SNS]
Chief executive Mark Darbon says the R&A are having "ongoing dialogue" with Muirfield with a view to returning the Open Championship to the Gullane course.
Darbon also says there are "challenges" with bringing the event back to Turnberry.
Royal Lytham & St Annes will host the Open in 2028, with this year's 154th tournament taking place at Royal Birkdale and next year's staging at The Old Course at St Andrews.
Muirfield will host this year's Women's Amateur Championship from 22-27 June.
"We've got a great ongoing dialogue with Muirfield," Darbon said.
"There are some things we need to overcome to facilitate a modern Open Championship - the practice ground is one of those, along with a few on-course infrastructural points."
On US President Donald Trump's Turnberry, Darbon commented: "We really like the golf course.
"But there are challenges around staging a modern Open - primarily road, rail and accommodation infrastructure."
Manchester United could be set to move for Premier League midfielder
Xavi Simons Transfer Latest: Manchester United Track Tottenham Situation
Simons finds himself at a pivotal moment. “Xavi Simons is facing a critical situation at Tottenham Hotspur. The London club’s season has been disappointing, and his future is uncertain.” according to Fichajes. That uncertainty has been driven by results, with Tottenham now entrenched in a relegation battle. “The team is fighting to avoid relegation, a scenario unthinkable just a few months ago.”
Tottenham Crisis Shapes Transfer Plans
The wider context is unavoidable. “This sporting crisis directly impacts the club’s planning.” Spurs are braced for potential change across the squad, and Simons is among those assessing his position. “Given this situation, several players are considering leaving. Xavi Simons is one of the first to consider a change of direction.”
Photo IMAGO
Relegation would significantly alter the club’s trajectory. “Tottenham Hotspur faces a potential complete overhaul. Relegation would be a devastating blow.” In that scenario, Simons’ departure becomes increasingly likely. “In that case, Xavi Simons would be free to leave. His price would drop to around €45 million, an attractive figure in the market.”
From a recruitment standpoint, that valuation presents opportunity. Clubs across Europe are alert to situations where quality becomes available below peak market value.
Manchester United Monitor Developments
Manchester United have positioned themselves accordingly. “Manchester United are closely monitoring Xavi Simons’ situation.” Their strategy reflects a focus on emerging talent capable of contributing immediately while developing long term.
The rationale is clear. “They are looking to strengthen their squad with young talent and leadership.” With ambitions tied to European competition, United require players who can influence high level fixtures. “The Old Trafford club is preparing for its return to the Champions League.”
Photo IMAGO
Simons aligns with that profile. “His creativity, vision, and attacking prowess make him a top priority.” There is also recognition of timing. “Manchester United sees this as a market opportunity that’s hard to ignore.”
Premier League Future Remains Viable
A domestic move is firmly under consideration. “Xavi Simons’ future could remain in the Premier League.” Continuity offers advantages, particularly in terms of adaptation and performance consistency. “Changing teams, but not competitions, is a viable option.”
United’s project provides a defined pathway. “Competing for titles and progressing in Europe are clear objectives.” That clarity stands in contrast to Tottenham’s current position. “Tottenham Hotspur is experiencing a period of uncertainty. This tips the scales towards a move away.”
For Simons, the decision will centre on stability and ambition. “Staying at Tottenham would involve taking significant sporting risks.” Those risks are amplified by the threat of relegation and the subsequent impact on competitive level.
Summer Window Set to Decide Outcome
The coming transfer window is expected to bring resolution. “The summer transfer window will be crucial.” Discussions are ongoing, with multiple variables influencing the outcome.
The player’s intent appears increasingly aligned with a move. “Everything points to Xavi Simons not continuing in North London.” United remain prominent in the narrative, supported by financial capacity and strategic direction.
Competition within the Premier League remains intense. Manchester City, Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC continue to set performance benchmarks, shaping recruitment strategies across rival clubs.
As outlined, “Xavi Simons is set to be one of the key figures of the summer.” His next move will reflect both market dynamics and the evolving ambitions of the clubs involved.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
For Manchester United, this situation represents a calculated opportunity. Supporters will recognise the value in targeting a player who has already demonstrated Premier League adaptability. Simons offers creativity and forward drive, qualities that can elevate United’s attacking structure. If the reported fee holds around €45 million, it would be viewed as strong business in a competitive market. Fans would expect him to contribute immediately while developing into a central figure.
From a Tottenham viewpoint, the tone is markedly different. There is an acceptance that uncertainty invites exits. Supporters may feel frustration that another promising talent could depart before the club establishes stability. Simons has shown flashes of quality, and losing him would reinforce concerns around long term planning.
There is also a broader theme. Tottenham’s position near the bottom has shifted perception externally. Rivals are circling, identifying opportunities. For Spurs fans, the priority is clear. Survival must be secured, followed by a defined strategy that retains key players and rebuilds confidence.
In both camps, this potential transfer carries weight. For United, it signals ambition. For Tottenham, it underlines the consequences of instability.
Real Madrid make direct contact with World Cup-winning manager – report
In a major development, COPE (h/t RM4Arab) reports that Real Madrid have made direct contact with Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni as the hunt for a new head coach for the summer steps up.
Club president Florentino Perez is exploring all his options as Alvaro Arbeloa is expected to be removed from his position as the first-team head coach at the end of the season.
Scaloni high on Real Madrid’s list
Following a disastrous second half of the season, where they crashed out of the Copa del Rey to a lower division outfit, fell 11 points behind Barcelona in La Liga, and got eliminated from the UEFA Champions League vs Bayern Munich, the change is imminent.
Arbeloa, despite having some support from the locker room, will not continue beyond this season.
Names such as Jurgen Klopp, Mauricio Pochettino, and even former boss Jose Mourinho have been doing the rounds as possible candidates to take over the reins.
The next Real Madrid manager? (Photo by Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images)
However, Scaloni, too, is on the agenda, after the excellent job he has done with the Argentina national team, leading them to the 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph.
Now, it is being suggested that there have been direct talks between the Argentine manager and Real Madrid over the possibility of a move.
If Los Blancos do decide to go down this route, they would have to wait for Scaloni’s arrival until after the World Cup in North America, for he will be leading the Albiceleste at the tournament this summer.
Scaloni, though, has no experience managing a club, with his only assignment at a club level being a season-long tenure as the assistant manager at Sevilla.
So, it will be interesting to see whether Real Madrid are prepared to take a bet on the 47-year-old to replace Arbeloa in the summer.
Torino 2-2 Inter Milan – German Defender Urges Nerazzurri To “Get Serious” After Being “Too Casual” In Turin
Inter Milan defender Yann Bisseck delivered an honest verdict on Sunday’s 2-2 Serie A draw at Torino.
Speaking to Nuova DS via FCInterNews, the 25-year-old urged his teammates to bounce back against Parma next week.
Cristian Chivu’s side squandered a two-goal lead at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino yesterday.
Indeed, Marcus Thuram gave the Nerazzurri a narrow half-time advantage after heading home Federico Dimarco’s cross in the 23rd minute.
Furthermore, Yann Bisseck made it 2-0 for the visitors just after the hour mark. Indeed, the star center-back scored his third league goal in the 2025/26 campaign.
Dimarco registered his 17th Serie A assist of the season, setting up the former Aarhus man on a silver platter.
Though it looked like Inter would secure a fourth consecutive league win, Torino salvaged a point.
Giovanni Simeone sparked the comeback in the 70th minute before Nikola Vlasic converted a controversial penalty to restore parity.
As a result, the San Siro giants failed to beat Torino for the first time in eight Serie A clashes.
Goalscorer Yann Bisseck Offers Honest Admission on Torino 2-2 Inter Milan Draw
Asked what happened yesterday, Bisseck replied: “Good question. Torino did well – they didn’t give up.
“We had a bit of fatigue, a bit of carelessness, maybe even too much. A strong team like ours, once you’re 2-0 up, that shouldn’t happen anymore.”
Then, he urged his teammates to put Sunday’s disappointment behind them and prepare for the upcoming game against Parma.
Indeed, the Nerazzurri could seal their 21st Scudetto with a home win against season-long bottom-half strugglers next weekend.
“We have to do it, there’s nothing else to say. We have to win,” Bisseck insisted.
Finally, he discussed a potential title celebration at San Siro.
“First, we have to play 95 minutes of serious football,” he added. “Then if we do what I think we can do, we can have a nice celebration.”
The Frenchman has suffered an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left leg, and the length of his absence is unknown.
Real Madrid have just confirmed Kylian Mbappé’s injury, and everything suggests that the Frenchman will not play again for Los Blancos for the remainder of the season.
According to the club, he has suffered an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left leg. A problem that will keep him out for the rest of the season and allow him to arrive at the World Cup in good condition.
Mbappé may be saying goodbye in this way to his bid for the Pichichi, ending his second season in white with plenty of goals, but without a single title.
Substituted due to injury on Friday night against Real Betis, Kylian Mbappé is suffering from an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left leg, Real Madrid announced in a medical statement published this Monday afternoon!
"Following the tests carried out today by the Real Madrid medical department, our player Kylian Mbappé has been diagnosed with an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left leg. His condition will be closely monitored," the club's medical report states.
Manchester United boss Michael Carrick says central defence is not a position he is worried about even though he had to use Noussair Mazraoui as a stand-in at Chelsea last week.
With Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez both suspended, and Leny Yoro joining Matthijs de Ligt on the injured list, 19-year-old Ayden Heaven was Carrick's only recognised centre-back in the win at Stamford Bridge.
Maguire is available for Monday's game against Brentford at Old Trafford but given Martinez's patchy injury record and De Ligt's continued absence, it has been suggested Tottenham's Micky van de Ven could be a summer target, even though United's priority remains central midfield.
While Carrick accepts it is difficult to talk about the future too much, he is happy with his current crop of central defenders.
"It's not an area of concern for me," he said. "We've got a mixed blend of experience, real quality and two promising young players who have already shown what they can do.
"I haven't got concerns. I can't really get involved in what the future looks like, because I'm not sure myself."
The Brentford game will be the 22nd successive match De Ligt will have missed with a back complaint, having started all 15 Premier League games up to that point.
De Ligt was pictured running and doing fitness work on United's Carrington training pitches at the end of last week.
While Carrick accepts the training is "only in a small capacity", he is not prepared to rule the 26-year-old Netherlands defender out for the rest of the season.
"I am certainly hoping there is a chance that he can [play] without putting any pressure or deadlines on it," he said.
"Of course, it's something we're working towards but he needs to come back at the right time - when he's ready."
The Buffalo Bills added to their secondary by selecting Missouri cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. with the 220th overall pick in the seventh round.
It was the third defensive back taken by the Bills in the 2026 draft (CB Davison Igbinosun at pick No. 62, S Jalon Kilgore at pick No. 167).
Pride Jr. is a lightning-fast corner who ran a 4.32 40-yard dash at the combine and held his own in the SEC despite being a bit undersized for the position (5-10, 185). The senior recorded two interceptions with one being returned for a touchdown in each of his last two seasons.
He has great recovery speed and plays the deep ball well. He is also willing to come downhill in run support.
Bottom line
The Bills and general manager Brandon Beane are continuing to revamp and retool the secondary for first-year defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard. Pride Jr. has a clear path to a roster spot right now as a cornerback after the departures of Tre'Davious White, Taron Johnson and Dane Jackson, and also the ongoing medical concerns of Dorian Strong.
Projected as a seventh-round pick, Pride Jr. has the athletic upside to be a diamond in the rough and is more than worth the seventh-round dart-throw.
The two-month journey to a Stanley Cup has begun, with the NHL's best teams trying to work their way through the brackets to the best trophy in sports.
Only one thing is certain about what's to come in the postseason: The league will have a new champion in 2026. The Florida Panthers missed the playoffs after lifting the Cup the last two years and making the Final the year before that, guaranteeing a changing of the guard this June.
The Avalanche were the class of the league during the regular season, taking the Presidents' Trophy by eight points over the Hurricanes, and have to be considered the favorites. Contenders abound, though, from the 'Canes to the Stars to the Sabres, back in the playoffs after a 14-year absence.
However it shakes out, there will be playoff hockey to watch daily for weeks to come, and it doesn't get much better than that.
Here's everything you need to know about when and where to watch today's games in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs will be broadcast across ESPN and TNT Sports platforms, with six different channels being destinations for games. The Stanley Cup Final will be exclusively on ABC.
Fans can live stream every game from the Stanley Cup Playoffs on DIRECTV. Games appearing on ESPN networks, including ABC, can also be streamed live on fubo and the ESPN app.
Catch every game – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live MLB, March Madness, soccer and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.
Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.
Teams will be “queueing up” for Premier League manager who Chelsea aren’t so keen on
Chelsea’s hunt for a new manager could line up perfectly with Eddie Howe’s departure from Newcastle, and one pundit would like that.
If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.
Football fans are often keen to see their manager sacked, especially when things really aren’t working out.
But often, once it comes to looking at the list of favourites to replace the fired coach, they end up having second thoughts. Is this really better than what we already had?
Chelsea fans almost universally wanted Liam Rosenior fired – but we’re not sure many of them would be happy were he replaced by Eddie Howe. And that’s a real possibility, with the Newcastle coach high on the lists from the bookies.
Eddie Howe timing with Chelsea could line up perfectly
One person who would be in favour is Paul Merson. His piece from the Metro today makes it very clear he’s a fan of the former Bournemouth coach’s:
“I’m a big fan of Eddie Howe. If Eddie Howe leaves Newcastle, they’ll be queueing up around the corner for him.
“He’s just had injuries and with the [Alexander] Isak thing at the end of the season. I think Eddie has done enough to decide whatever he wants at the club. I think there’s a genuine love for him up there.”
In other news…
Enzo Fernandez was the TNT Sport man of the match, but Joe Cole had a different suggestion of a player who played a crucial tactical role.
Robert Sanchez was picked out for praise for his performance in the game by pundits and by his manager Calum McFarlane.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON THE APP STORE
Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
The Edmonton Oilers are in trouble. Connor McDavid's future is in doubt.
And it all was made worse by a controversial game-winning goal by the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night.
The overtime goal was called as such on the ice, then held up after video review.
The problem, in essence, is that camera angles didn't see the puck definitively go across the goal line. But because the angles also can't totally confirm that the puck didn't cross, the call on the ice stands.
"The issue I have with this is I don't understand how you can say that puck is completely crossing the goal line. There's no official behind the net there."
The reality, whether the Oilers agree with it or not, is that they're now down 3-1 in the series to Anaheim.
This was an Edmonton team expected to be dangerous because of its two superstars, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
McDavid didn't even tally a point in either of the first two games of the series. This hasn't been his best stretch of hockey, and the Oilers may not be deep enough around him to overcome that.
They'll have to rattle off three consecutive wins, or the worries about McDavid's future will start getting louder.
He signed a two-year contract extension before this season to eliminate the stress of a contract year. But now those next two years look shaky.
After two years in a row of losing in the Stanley Cup Finals, bowing out in the first round would be a rough look. McDavid is going to have to decide whether his best shot to actually hoist the Cup is elsewhere.
An Edmonton rally and deep playoff run can still change the vibes. But right now, the controversial ending on Sunday has the Oilers on the brink of disaster.
Tony Howarth says he is "absolutely" going to race again in the iconic costume [EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock]
A man who ran the London Marathon dressed as the Blackpool Tower said it was "great to put Blackpool on the map".
It was the 10th time Tony Howarth has run the race, and the third dressed as the famous seafront attraction.
Completing the race in 4 hours 46 minutes, the 67-year-old said he "absolutely loved it, the atmosphere was just tremendous, it's electric".
Tony, who has raised £70,000 over the years for Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Samaritans, added: "It's a good outfit to wear. It gets recognised as Blackpool Tower but also the Eiffel Tower, Rapunzel's tower, Big Ben, and someone even shouted out 'ooh look he's wearing a chess piece'."
He explained the costume was "actually quite light, it's got superb shoulder pads and a strap inside so it's not shaking about".
But "if it's windy then you've had it really, it's the leaning tower of Blackpool".
'Millions benefit'
Fortunately, this year "the weather was perfect, a nice sunny day but cool as well".
"I've only ever been training in it two or three times because I borrow it from a guy that lives in London whose got a production company, but who is from South Shore in Blackpool," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.
He said he was "absolutely" going to race again in the iconic costume "and I'll keep going as long as I can".
"You've got thousands of people running the marathon, raising millions for charity and millions benefit," he said.
"It's just good spirits all round, you can forget all the other stuff that's happening in the world.
The NBA Playoffs are underway, with two months of postseason basketball set to determine which team will take home the Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2026.
Oklahoma City took that honor last year and appears primed for a repeat after posting the league's best regular-season record at 64-18. The Spurs and Pistons also solidified their contender status by reaching the 60-win mark and the 2024 champion Celtics will like their chances as well.
Nothing is certain once the playoffs roll around, though, except the stars will be out and high drama awaits on the road to the NBA Finals.
Here's everything you need to know about when and where to watch today's games in the NBA Playoffs.
NBA Playoff action is spread across ABC, ESPN, NBC and Prime Video, though the NBA Finals remain on ABC. Fans have a wide range of streaming options to catch the postseason, including Prime, the ESPN app, and Peacock, with each service carrying specific games depending on their broadcast rights.
All games airing on ABC, ESPN and NBC are also available via DIRECTV Stream.
Catch every game – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live MLB, March Madness, soccer and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.
Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.
NBA Playoffs daily schedule 2026
Tuesday, April 28
Matchup
Time (ET)
Watch
Celtics vs. 76ers Game 5
7 p.m.
ESPN, ESPN app, DIRECTV
Knicks vs. Hawks Game 5
8 p.m.
NBC, Peacock, DIRECTV
Spurs vs. Trail Blazers Game 5
9:30 p.m.
ESPN, ESPN app, DIRECTV
Wednesday, April 29
Matchup
Time (ET)
Watch
Pistons vs. Magic Game 5
7 p.m.
Prime Video
Cavs vs. Raptors Game 5
7:30 p.m.
ESPN, ESPN app, DIRECTV
Thunder vs. Suns Game 5*
9:30 p.m.
Prime Video
Lakers vs. Rockets Game 5
10 p.m.
ESPN, ESPN app, DIRECTV
* if necessary
Thursday, April 30
Matchup
Time (ET)
Watch
76ers vs. Celtics Game 6*
TBD
TBD
Hawks vs. Knicks Game 6*
TBD
TBD
Timberwolves vs. Nuggets Game 6*
TBD
TBD
Trail Blazers vs. Spurs Game 6*
TBD
TBD
* if necessary
Friday, May 1
Matchup
Time (ET)
Watch
Magic vs. Pistons Game 6*
TBD
TBD
Raptors vs. Cavs Game 6*
TBD
TBD
Rockets vs. Lakers Game 6*
TBD
TBD
Suns vs. Thunder Game 6*
TBD
TBD
* if necessary
Saturday, May 2
Matchup
Time (ET)
Watch
Celtics vs. 76ers Game 7*
TBD
TBD
Knicks vs. Hawks Game 7*
TBD
TBD
Spurs vs. Trail Blazers Game 7*
TBD
TBD
Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Game 7*
TBD
TBD
* if necessary
Sunday, May 3
Matchup
Time (ET)
Watch
Pistons vs. Magic Game 7*
TBD
TBD
Cavs vs. Raptors Game 7*
TBD
TBD
Thunder vs. Suns Game 7*
TBD
TBD
Lakers vs. Rockets Game 7*
TBD
TBD
* if necessary
NBA Playoffs round-by-round schedule 2026
Play-In Tournament: April 14-17
First round: April 18
Conference semifinals: May 4-5 (possible move up to May 2-3)
Conference finals: May 19-20 (possible move up to May 17-18)
Former Wisconsin and Iowa State offensive lineman Dylan Barrett signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent Saturday.
Barrett joined a list of several former Badgers, including cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean, safety Austin Brown and wide receiver CJ Williams, to sign as a free agent following the 2026 NFL draft.
The St. Charles, Illinois, native arrived in Madison in 2020. 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals all considered the 6-foot-5, 320-pound lineman a three-star recruit from his class, and he received offers from over 10 Division I programs.
After redshirting in 2020, Barrett appeared in 13 games over four seasons, a majority of which came on special teams. The lineman, who committed while Paul Chryst served as head coach, elected to transfer to Iowa State after Luke Fickell secured the job in November 2023. With the Cyclones, he started 16 total games across two seasons, including 14 games at left guard. He logged over 300 snaps at the position in both 2024 and 2025, and he appeared at right guard at times as well.
Green Bay's offensive line room is headlined by Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, Anthony Belton and Zach Tom.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Rummenigge reveals why Bayern missed out on Dembélé and Doué
When Bayern Munich face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday, they will be up against two players they once targeted in the transfer market: Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué.
The Bavarians showed serious interest in Dembélé as early as 2016, when he was still at Stade Rennes, but ultimately lost the race to Borussia Dortmund.
In an interview with t-online, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Bayern’s CEO at the time, reflects on why the club failed to bring the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner to the Allianz Arena.
“I was still CEO when we tried to sign Dembélé. We – and above all our sporting director at the time, Michael Reschke – wanted him very badly, but Dortmund got there first,” Rummenigge said.
“He played for Stade Rennes at the time. The club owners also owned Puma. Dortmund had a Puma kit deal, so they had an advantage. As an Adidas club, we were not preferred. He was a great talent, but as seen, he quickly left Dortmund for Barcelona. There’s no question he is a very good player, but he is also someone who needs guidance.”
Eight years later, in 2024, Bayern attempted to sign another highly-rated French talent, Désiré Doué, also from Stade Rennes, but PSG won the race. Rummenigge explains:
“We would have liked to sign him – he would have suited us very well. But he chose Paris because he wanted to stay in his French homeland. In the future, we will also miss out on players because more money may be paid elsewhere. You have to accept that, as it's part of the business. As you can see, both Paris and we can live very well with our situations.”
Will Ferry says he will "always be thankful" for getting the opportunity to join Dundee United after admitting there weren't many takers for him when he made the move.
The 25-year-old, who joined in the summer of 2024, delivered a standout performance, netting twice in their 3-0 Scottish Premiership win over neighbours Dundee at Tannadice on Sunday.
After the game, manager Jim Goodwin hailed the impact he has made at Tannadice since arriving from Cheltenham Town two years ago.
"I didn't have too many takers when I came to United," Ferry said. "I will always be thankful for getting that opportunity in the first place, especially to the gaffer who had that bit of confidence in me.
"I would like to think I have been good, without sounding arrogant. I like to think I have done a good job. I have not been ripping up trees, I have not been a superstar, I know my place, but I like to think I have been consistent enough to start pretty much every week.
"I have loved the two years I have been here so far. I think you could see how much I enjoy it out there when I get a goal - it is almost a bit of relief every time I score.
"It has been a good two years of my life so far, so I can't complain."
Ferry has scored four goals in his past four games. Prior to that, he had failed to find the net in his previous 76 games for United.
So what has made the difference in recent weeks?
He added: "A bit of confidence. Players thrive on confidence, no matter what level it is. I can't tell you why I have got confidence now when I haven't had it previously. It is just something that sometimes just clicks into place.
"Even when it came to the second goal, earlier in the season I might have turned it down or tried to put a cross in, but sometimes things are just going your way and you make good decisions.
"I haven't got an explanation for it. I would like to think it is something that would carry on, but I am not going to take it for granted. It has been a good couple of weeks, especially today.
"I am not going to take it for granted. I am going to keep working hard and hopefully I will be the top goalscorer by the end of the season."
Royal Birkdale will be hosting The Open for an 11th time - and first since 2017 [Getty Images]
The Open Championship's final round may be brought forward in an "attempt to avoid a clash" with the World Cup final this summer.
Golf's oldest major, which is being played at Royal Birkdale in Southport, finishes on Sunday, 19 July, the same day as football's showpiece takes place in the United States.
The World Cup final, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, is scheduled to kick-off at 20:00 BST, while The Open's final round traditionally finishes around 18:30.
"We're conscious of other events happening on that date," said R&A chief executive Mark Darbon.
"Of course, some things are out of our control in terms of play-offs and the like, but we will attempt to avoid a clash.
"I think we're all looking forward to an England-Scotland final, so let's see how that plays out."
Should two or more players be tied for the lead at the end of the four rounds, a three-hole play-off will determine the winner, with sudden death holes following if required.
Darbon also announced that this year's Open will attract a record crowd of more than 300,000 spectators across the week, with practice days from 12-15 July before the first round is played on Thursday, 16 July.
And in an effort to "elongate the event week" the R&A has introduced the 'Last-Chance Qualifier' to be held on Monday, 13 July.
That will feature 12 players competing over 18 holes with the winner securing the 156th and last place in the Championship.
"We have had over one million applications the last few years for tickets, and we're absolutely at capacity on our championship days," said Darbon.
"Our attendance on the practice days is really strong, but we wanted to create additional things for them to see, and do that sensitively and in line with the context and nature of the rest of our championship.
"The Last-Chance Qualifier fits that ambition. We're looking forward to see how that goes this year, and we'll resolve and refine it into the future."
The last six years could not have been more different for the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks. In 2026, these two teams finished the regular season just one point apart and are ready for an opening-round matchup.
This marks the Ducks' first playoff appearance since 2018, when they lost in the opening round. With playoff hockey coming back to Anaheim, the Ducks look ahead to a matchup that is certainly winnable.
Oilers' fans have experienced heartbreak in back-to-back years, making it to the Stanley Cup finals two years in a row, only to lose twice to the Florida Panthers. But the Panthers are absent from this year's playoff.
The Oilers have pulled off major comebacks in previous playoff series and have another strong resume this season. But with the Ducks looking better than they have in years, this matchup could go either way.
Here's what you need to know to watch Oilers vs. Ducks, including broadcast information and start times.
Games in the Oilers vs. Ducks series will air on multiple channels.
Fans can stream every playoff game live on DIRECTV, which offers a free trial to new users. Games on ABC and ESPN networks can also be streamed on the ESPN app or fubo, which also has a free trial.
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2026
Here are the key dates to know for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and offseason. Some series start dates could move up depending on when previous series end.
Barcelona superstar’s agent set for key meetings with future close to being defined
According to SPORT, the future of FC Barcelona veteran superstar Robert Lewandowski is now very close to being resolved.
The Polish striker will make a decision in the coming days and everything indicates that he will either remain at FC Barcelona or accept one of the proposals received from Italian football.
Pini Zahavi making moves
As per the report, the agent of the forward, Pini Zahavi, is already in Italy to hold two decisive meetings with Juventus and AC Milan before travelling to Barcelona to review all scenarios with the player himself.
Options from the Major League Soccer or Saudi Arabia are not currently priorities for the 37-year-old veteran.
The decisive stage has arrived for Lewandowski, and the striker wants to have alternatives to Barcelona’s renewal offer in case he ultimately decides to leave.
He is aware that his sporting importance in the team has declined and wants clarity about the role he would have next season if he stays.
Either Barcelona or Italy for Lewandowski. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
The renewal would be for one year only, with a significant salary reduction in a contract model consisting of a fixed salary representing 50% of his current earnings, plus variables.
More than a financial issue, Lewandowski wants to understand Hansi Flick’s plans and how his minutes would be managed. He is willing to accept a more secondary role, but not a merely symbolic one.
This is where the Italian proposals come into play. Both Milan and Juventus aim to sign him by making a financial effort that would match Barcelona’s renewal proposal.
However, there is a key difference: both clubs are willing to offer a two-year contract, which would allow him to extend his career at the highest level and guarantee him a starting role.
In any case, Lewandowski would only consider offers from teams competing in the UEFA Champions League, something Milan are close to securing, while Juventus are not yet certain.
Lewandowski’s agent is currently in Italy to meet with both clubs. He was seen at San Siro this weekend and will listen to their proposals before travelling to Barcelona to speak with the player.
Kroupi’s agent has reportedly met with City director Hugo Viana, who has also been impressed with his skillset. However, City have yet to contact Bournemouth over a potential deal.
The Cherries want to keep Kroupi beyond this summer, but could consider a sale if they receive at least a €80 million offer for him.
City will face competition for his signing as Arsenal have contacted his agents, while Paris Saint-Germain are also considering a move for the France youth international.
The Cityzens are only likely to make a move for Kroupi if there is an attacking departure.
They are currently well-stocked at centre-forward — Kroupi’s natural position — with Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush, and Antoine Semenyo providing depth.
However, Marmoush could leave in search of regular playing time. Aston Villa are said to be interested in the Egypt international, after exploring to sign him on loan in January.
Marmoush’s departure would free up space and the proceeds from his potential sale could be used to fund a move for Kroupi.
It remains to be seen whether Kroupi would be open to joining City given the uncertainty of playing regularly. He would be expected to play second fiddle to Haaland.
Fine margins will decide the title race, with Manchester City well placed for the run home
Manchester City booked themselves a place in this season’s FA Cup final with a 2-0 win over Southampton at Wembley on Saturday. As Pep Guardiola’s side created history and became the first team to make four consecutive FA Cup finals, Arsenal beat Newcastle 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday to move to the top of the Premier League table. As of right now, Arsenal sitting top of the Premier League with 73 points, having played 34 games. City are second on 70 points, having played 33 matches. The title race is on a knife’s edge, but Manchester City are well placed for the run-in, as it is likely that fine margins will decide who wins this season’s Premier League title.
Manchester City are where they want to be for the run-in.
Only two weeks ago, Arsenal sat nine points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League title. Even football line betting in Uganda had Mikel Arteta’s side as unbackable favourites to claim the Premier League title. A lot has changed since then. Arsenal were beaten 2-1 by Bournemouth two weeks ago. Pep Guardiola’s side then beat the Gunners 2-1 in a pulsating top-of-the-table Premier League clash and followed that victory with a 1-0 victory over Burnley. Coupled with City’s 3-0 win over Chelsea, Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League before Arsenal beat Newcastle 1-0 on Saturday.
This is the position Pep Guardiola’s side wanted so desperately to be in entering the run-in. They overhauled Arsenal and are playing their best football of the season. There were stages across the 2025-26 season where it didn’t appear that this City side was ready to mount a meaningful Premier League title challenge. It seemed that this Manchester City side was building for next season when the penny would drop. However, the momentum has swung, and it does seem that this iteration of City is ready for what lies ahead across the final five games of the Premier League season.
Manchester City have their destiny in their own hands. As do Arsenal, given that both teams were level on 70 points, and on goal difference before Arsenal’s win over Newcastle. Pep Guardiola’s side would have dreamt to be in this position earlier this season. They are now in it, and it is exactly where they want to be with all to play for.
Fine margins will likely decide this season’s Premier League title race.
From here, given how tight it is at the top of the Premier League, fine margins will likely decide this season’s title race. If both teams win all of their five remaining matches, goal difference will decide the title race. However, to get to that point, a lot has to occur. It does seem unlikely at this stage that both teams will win each of their remaining matches. Pressure and fine margins in games will dictate the title race.
Every moment in every match that Manchester City and Arsenal play from here has high stakes attached to it. Every save, every missed and taken chance, and even every defensive mistake will have major consequences attached to it. A Premier League title is the prize for whichever team can handle their moments. Both teams know the stakes, and whatever team has the luck, and can negotiate the fine margins will likely emerge victorious in the title race. It is as simple as that from here.
From a Manchester City point of view, they have been here many times before and emerged successfully. While this is a new-look City team, they have players who have been here before, and in Pep Guardiola, they have a proven winner as manager. Perhaps that will tilt the title race Manchester City’s way. That remains to be seen. Fine margins will decide this season’s race to win the Premier League title, and you do sense that this is exactly where City want to be as the 2025-26 season reaches its crescendo.
Bayern to offer free-scoring Harry Kane a new contract
Bayern Munich will negotiate with Harry Kane over a new contract at the end of the current season.
The England captain's current deal expires at the end of next season but Bayern want to keep hold of their star striker.
"Getting Harry Kane to Munich was an important coup in the history of the club," Bayern board Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said about the 32-year-old.
"It is known that he had a release clause. He didn't trigger that and signalled that he would definitely stay in Munich. And, as agreed, now those responsible in the operational area will hold talks with him at some stage after the season."
Kane has been in incredible goalscoring form since making his move from Tottenham Hotspur to the Bundesliga in the summer of 2023.
In total, Kane has played 141 games for Bayern since his arrival scoring 138 games. This season he's well above a goal-a-game ratio, scoring 53 times in just 45 fixtures.
Rummenigge also underlined that Bayern had no intention of selling Michael Olise despite interest from Liverpool and other clubs stating that there's 'no price tag that would make us bat an eyelid.'
PSG host Bayern Munich in a monster UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg in Paris on Tuesday, as the reigning champs face a brilliant Bayern side.
In the knockout rounds Luis Enrique's PSG have beaten Monaco, Chelsea and Liverpool en-route to the semifinal and they have improved massively as the tournament has gone on. PSG are the reigning European champions for a reason and as well as controlling games in midfield and pressing high, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are so dangerous on the break.
After a brilliant league phase, Bayern Munich have beaten Atalanta and Real Madrid in the knockout rounds to book their spot in the final four. Vincent Kompany's side have already wrapped up the Bundesliga title with several weeks to spare too, as they look like scoring three or four goals every time they step onto the pitch. Harry Kane is fit and in fine form and Bayern are probably the favorites to win this tournament.
For live updates and highlights throughout PSG vs Bayern Munich, check out PST's live blog coverage below.
How to watch PSG vs Bayern Munich live, stream link and start time
Kick off time:3pm ET Tuesday (April 28) Venue:Parc des Princes — Paris TV Channel/Streaming: Paramount+
PSG team news, focus
Fabian Ruiz is back fit and ready to play a key role in midfield in the final weeks of the season, while Vitinha is also expected to be available so PSG are basically at full strength with Nuno Mendes also recovering from injury. The trio of Dembele, Doue and Kvaratskhelia are a real handful but PSG need to keep it tight at the other end and need a big performance from goalkeeper Matvey Safonov.
Bayern Munich team news, focus
Kompany will be missing from the sidelines due to suspension but his impact is clear as Bayern are playing with full confidence and the Belgian coach is beloved by his players. Young star Lennart Karl is out through injury with experienced duo Raphael Guerreiro and Serge Gnabry also out. Michael Olise and Luis Diaz will be tasked with feeding Kane with chances and that trio have been superb this season and tore PSG apart in Bayern's league phase win in Paris.
PSG vs Bayern Munich prediction
This feels like it could be quite an open first leg with PSG knowing they need a lead to take with them to Bavaria for the second leg. PSG 2-2 Bayern Munich.
UNITED STATES - MAY 26: Basketball: NBA Finals, Philadelphia 76ers Julius Dr, J Erving (6) in action, making dunk vs Portland Trail Blazers, Game 2, Philadelphia, PA 5/26/1977 (Photo by James Drake/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X21496 TK1)
The ABA and the NBA merged in 1976, and one of the big reasons was Julius Erving.
The ABA never really had any national television exposure, but everyone knew who Dr. J was. The afro, the kneepads, the dunks…everyone understood that he was a phenomenon, and that, once the 1976-77 season started, fans would get to see a lot of the Doctor.
He was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers after the merger, and that team was insane.
Aside from Erving, it had George McGinnis, a ball-dominant power forward, World B. Free, and Darryl Dawkins. They also had Doug Collins, Henry Bibby, Caldwell Jones, and Kobe Bryant’s dad, Joe, but the first four players really were the ones who drew the most attention, although at 6-6, Collins was an unusually tall guard for the day.
Philly got to the NBA Finals, where they met Bill Walton and the Portland Trail Blazers.
That series would be framed as a traditional NBA team vs. one that was more ABA-ish.
Portland ultimately won the championship 4-2, thanks largely to Walton’s exceptional brilliance, but before the series turned, the Sixers were up 2-0, and America got to see Erving’s brilliance up close and personal.
Joan Mir believes Johann Zarco’s performance at the Spanish Grand Prix does not alter Honda’s overall situation in MotoGP, despite the marque securing its best finish of the season.
LCR rider Zarco was able to mix with the Ducatis and Aprilias for much of Sunday’s race at Jerez, consolidating fifth position after a slow launch from the first row.
A late drop in tyre performance allowed Trackhouse duo Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura to move ahead, but seventh place still marked Honda’s best finish in a Sunday race this year.
It further lent credence to claims that poor one-lap pace is holding back Honda in MotoGP, with the RC213V having again proved competitive in race trim.
However, Mir believes Zarco’s excellent qualifying performance in mixed conditions actually skewed the picture, suggesting the result owed more to track position than outright speed.
“I’m happy for Johann, but we know here that everyone’s pace is very similar,” he said. “If you start up front, you can afford to ease off a bit and still finish in seventh place.
“Someone in front crashed [Marc Marquez], then it’s eighth. Whatever the case, it doesn’t tell me anything I don’t already know about this bike.
Joan Mir, Honda HRC
Joan Mir, Honda HRC
“We start up front, we fall back. If the race is five laps more, he will finish 10th, and if it's 10 laps more, he will finish 15th. And if you try anything else, you end up on the ground like what’s happened to us lately.
“So, it's not a matter of what the result that the other can accomplish. I know my potential, I know everything, but the reality is that we must accept the potential of the actual package and react.”
While Honda has made tangible gains compared to last year, Ducati and Aprilia have also delivered significant improvements to strengthen their stranglehold on MotoGP. On Sunday, the two Italian manufacturers locked out seven spots inside the top 10, leaving just three positions up for grabs for Honda and KTM.
KTM has fixed its tyre degradation issues to a large extent, with Enea Bastianini also emerging as a credible challenger over the last two weekends to assist Pedro Acosta’s efforts on the factory bike.
Honda has had a trickier run lately, not helped by Mir crashing out of the opening three grands prix of the season, including after qualifying fifth in Austin.
While Zarco took satisfaction from his result at Jerez, he stressed that aerodynamics remained the weak link for Honda in 2026.
Johann Zarco, Team LCR Honda
Johann Zarco, Team LCR Honda
“We worked on set-up, I'm sure we can improve the pace and the feeling on the bike by finding an even better set-up, plus me improving my riding on the bike,” he said. “So we need to make this compromise better and extract the best of what we have.
“If we look at the bike from outside, maybe we missed something on aero and on the fairing, but this won't change for the year. That's the limit of Honda at the moment.
“They are working on it, [but] they didn’t find anything better in aerodynamics. So we cannot think about the other bikes. There are differences and that's why we lose. We need to find out how to use our material better.”
Seve Ballesteros won two of his three Open titles at Royal Lytham & St Annes [Getty Images]
The Open will return to Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2028, with US President Donald Trump's Turnberry, and Muirfield, among the courses to miss out.
Turnberry last hosted The Open in 2009 - five years before Trump bought the course - while Muirfield has not held the tournament since 2013.
Last year R&A officials met with Trump's son Eric to discuss the tournament returning to Turnberry.
At the time R&A chief executive Mark Darbon said there were "big logistical issues" at the venue.
Darbon also acknowledged that the UK government had spoken with the R&A about Turnberry hosting The Open.
Asked on Monday about Turnberry and Muirfield's futures as Open venues, he said "dialogue was ongoing".
It will be the 12th time The Open has been held at Royal Lytham, which last staged golf's oldest major in 2012.
Darbon said: "This is one of golf's most cherished and historic venues."
The return to Lytham will mark the third time in six years that the north-west coast of England will host the tournament.
The Open was held at Royal Liverpool in 2023 and will be hosted by Royal Birkdale in Southport from 16-19 July this year.
In 2027 the Old Course in St Andrews will stage the event for a record-extending 31st time.
The Open, the final major of the year, is usually held during the third week of July, but is being pushed back to 3-6 August in 2028 to avoid clashing with the Los Angeles Olympic Games golf competitions, which are being played from 19-29 July.
Why Royal Lytham got the nod
Lytham, near Blackpool, has a pedigree of hosting some of golf's most prestigious tournaments.
It has staged 11 Opens, five Women's Opens, two Ryder Cups, five Senior Opens, the Walker Cup and the Curtis Cup.
Despite being close to the coast, players and spectators cannot see the sea, with the tight plot of land hemmed in by a railway track and houses.
The R&A has required Lytham to carry out significant work to create space for the demands of a modern Open.
The main change centred around remodelling the par-five 11th - turning it from a dog-leg to a 601-yard straight hole by removing numerous bushes - to allow for the construction of a new practice area.
There have also been improvements to the course's internal road system to provide better access and for routine maintenance.
The changes will be in the spotlight when the course hosts the AIG Women's Open from 29 July to 2 August.
The Open first went to Lytham in 1926, with legendary American amateur Bobby Jones, who would go on to help design Augusta National and co-found the Masters, winning the first of three Claret Jugs.
Spanish great Seve Ballesteros claimed two of his three Open wins in Lytham, in 1979 and 1988.
Why not Turnberry or Muirfield?
Turnberry, which hosted the most recent of its four Opens in 2009, has significant logistical issues, despite its Ailsa Course being recognised as one of the world's finest layouts.
Darbon said last year that he "would love" to return to the Ayrshire course on the west coast of Scotland and that a feasibility study had been commissioned.
It appeared to be a softening of the R&A's stance given Darbon's predecessor, Martin Slumbers, strongly suggested in 2021 that the course would not be restored to the Open rota while Trump was associated with the venue, expressing concerns that the focus would be on issues off the course.
Trump bought the resort in 2014 and has spent £200m on improvements.
BBC Sport was told last year that the UK government had asked the R&A about its position.
Darbon has said the main issue is not who owns Turnberry but whether the venue and town are equipped to cope with the number of people attending the tournament.
He pointed out that the total attendance at Turnberry 17 years ago was 120,000, while Royal Portrush, last year's Open hosts, coped with 280,000 spectators.
Muirfield, 18 miles to the east of Edinburgh, is one of Scotland's most historic courses and has hosted The Open 16 times, although not since 2013.
Two logistical issues are hampering the course now.
Darbon has pointed to infrastructure challenges around practice facilities, while the long-term staging of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club - next door to Muirfield - creates further complications.
Last week the Scottish Open signed a deal to stay at the Renaissance until 2030, with the tournament played in the week before The Open to allow players time to adapt to the unique challenges presented by seaside links courses.
BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 26: Red Sox Interim Manager Chad Tracy speaks to the media prior to the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Sunday, April 26, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Alyssa Piazza/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Hello and happy Monday, folks. Anything big happen over the weekend?
What a whirlwind we’ve gone through in the last few days. Managers being fired, CBOs being pinned for drastic organization changes, questions about which players would be saying what in the clubhouse after Alex Cora’s departure, the works.
But as a way to start moving forward, I pose to you: do you have any initial feelings about interim manager Chad Tracy at this point in time? Hard to judge a guy after exactly one (1) MLB game under his belt as the skipper—tied for the best winning percentage in league history as things stand, by the way—but I’ve heard some great things from those who have played or worked with him.
Not just saying this because I now am covering him: I have never heard a single thing but unbelievable praise for Chad Tracy.
The umpire refused Rybakina's request to come down from her chair to look at the disputed mark [Getty Images]
Elena Rybakina said she did not trust the electronic line-calling system at the Madrid Open following a disputed decision in her three-set win against Zheng Qinwen on Sunday.
The Kazakh remonstrated with the umpire after Zheng was awarded an ace for a serve when the Chinese player was 30-0 up and 4-3 down in the second set.
Rybakina, who went on to win 4-6 6-4 6-3, pointed to the mark and asked umpire Julie Kjendlie to come down to have a look at it on the clay court, but the official said she could not do so.
"The system is wrong, this is not a joke," Rybakina told the official, who said she had to go with the electronic line-calling system.
"Well with this thing, I won't trust it at all, because there was no mark even close to what the TV showed."
Last year at the Madrid Open, men's player Alexander Zverev was warned for a taking a picture of a contested ball mark during another electric line-calling controversy at the tournament.
The German said there was a "malfunction in the system" after a ball was called in but which he argued had gone wide.
Zverev ended up bringing his phone out of his bag and taking a picture of the mark before being given a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct.
"It was, I think, similar to what Zverev had last year because it was in front of her nose. You can't not see it. It was pretty frustrating," Rybakina added.
"It's kind of a stolen point. I understand it was her serve and she was serving really well, but it's really frustrating."
Former Colorado defensive end Keaten Wade was not one of the 257 players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, on Sunday, he was given a shot at making an NFL roster after receiving a rookie minicamp invite with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Wade will have a set of practices to impress the Chiefs' coaching staff and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. If the Chiefs like what they see, Wade could stay on the roster throughout OTAs and maybe even training camp.
Last season with the Buffs, Wade played and started in 12 games, finishing with 46 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, nine quarterback hurries, 2.5 sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble. He was arguably Colorado's top defensive lineman.
Wade played two seasons at Colorado, transferring from Kentucky after the 2022 season.
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) April 26, 2026
Wade joins a group of six former Buffaloes to sign with a team post-draft. Wade and quarterback Kaidon Salter are two of three players receiving rookie minicamp invites.
As a team, Colorado did not have any players selected in the seven-round NFL draft, but the program's success with undrafted free agents should be noted. In the last 11 seasons, CU has had at least one undrafted free agent make a final 53-man roster.
No. 7 Texas A&M (33-8, 14-6 SEC) pulled off its fifth consecutive SEC series win after defeating Florida 5-1 on Sunday afternoon, and after losing Game 1 9-2 on Friday night, Texas A&M's prolific offense came allive in back-to-back days, led by junior first baseman Gavin Grahovac's consistent and powerful bat, while freshman outfielder Jorian Wilson has also been playing out of his mind over the last two SEC series.
Once an undervalued recruit with elite potential based on his 6'4", 240-pound frame, Wilson outright earned a spot in the starting lineup after showcasing his strength at the plate, starting every game since the Aggies' road series vs. Missouri, and has since hit 11 home runs and averaged .330 with 26 RBI on the year thus far.
Against the Gators, Wilson hit solo homers in Games 2 and 3, combined with five hits, while his MLB-level throw to home to keep Florida from making it a two-run game reached epic proportions, and further solidified Wilson's standing as one of the country's top freshmen with an extremely bright future.
Fellow freshman third baseman Nico Partida, who's hitting .317 with 12 homers and 38 RBI, is already considered a first-round pick in the 2028 MLB Draft, and after the last two SEC series road wins over LSU and Florida, Jorian Wilson's many tools are now evident to every national scout.
Second-year head coach Michael Earley should be considered a finalist for SEC Coach of the Year at this point, as the Aggies are in the running to be in first place in the SEC by Monday morning. Even more impressive, Earley's ability to evaluate undiscovered talent led to Jorian Wilson making his way to College Station.
Look for Wilson to potentially be named SEC Player of the Week after this weekend's performance.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
Newcastle set sights on Jackson after Bayern decision
Newcastle United have set their sights on Nicolas Jackson after Bayern Munich confirmed they will not sign the Chelsea loanee on a permanent deal this summer.
Jackson has spent the current season on loan at Bayern from Chelsea, where he has scored 10 goals in 29 appearances.
A clause to make the move permanent for a fee of £56.2m was included in the loan arrangement, though Jackson has not made the appearances required to make that clause mandatory.
Bayern have decided against pursuing the player permanently, despite being satisfied with his displays as back-up to Harry Kane this season.
Talksport are reporting that Newcastle are ready to make a move. A centre-forward is top of the club’s list of priorities for the summer window, with last season’s recruits, Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade, disappointing this season.
Jackson is viewed as a Premier League-ready option to improve the club’s frontline, while the Senegal international is set to leave Chelsea permanently. Aston Villa have also been linked, with Unai Emery having worked with Jackson at Villarreal.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has suggested it will be a big summer for his squad, following a disappointing Premier League campaign.
“If the team’s not performing then, potentially, there might be bigger changes in the summer than was maybe previously first thought,” he said last week.
“I think you have to react to what you see and that goes on a daily basis, a weekly basis, behind the scenes. It’s about attitude, commitment to the team.”
Nelly Korda is a major champion once again after her wire-to-wire win at The Chevron Championship.
Korda secured a five-stroke victory at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, claiming her second win at the event and the third major championship win of her career.
She dominated the first major of the 2026 season, comfortably defeating Patty Tavatanakit and Ruoning Yin in T2.
She’s now added another win to that record, which will also help her return to the top of the Women’s World Golf Rankings.
The American is set to reclaim the top spot for the first time since Jeeno Thitikul rose to world number one in August 2025.
Korda will soon mark her 109th career week at the summit, which is a position she certainly doesn’t look like giving up anytime soon.
Her third career major championship win also brings her one step closer to another phenomenal milestone in women’s golf.
With her successful run in Houston, Korda earned two points towards the LPGA Hall of Fame, and needs just five more to claim a place among the exclusive group of golfing icons.
Agent attends Milan-Juventus clash ahead of Lewandowski talks
Sunday’s showdown between Milan and Juventus had a special guest in Pini Zahavi, the agent who represents Robert Lewandowski.
The experienced Barcelona hitman is currently running on an expiring contract, leaving his future up in the air.
In recent weeks, the 37-year-old has been linked with several potential destinations, including the two Serie A giants who played out a goalless draw at San Siro on Sunday.
Juventus & Milan to discuss Lewandowski with his agent
According to Tuttosport, Zahavi is currently touring around Europe to find Lewandowski a new club, although the Barcelona chapter hasn’t been fully closed yet, as the two parties are still willing to discuss the possibility of extending their collaboration for another year.
This weekend, the agent took the opportunity to attend the clash between Milan and Juventus, two of the Pole’s main suitors. He is thus expected to hold talks with the two Serie A giants who are sorely missing firepower upfront, as illustrated by Sunday’s stalemate.
But as the Turin-based newspaper reveals, Juventus are more likely to pursue the former Dortmund and Bayern Munich star than Milan, who have identified Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth as their top target
Why Juventus are interested in Robert Lewandowski
This summer, Juventus are expected to ring the changes up front. The management will be desperate to offload Lois Openda following a horrendous first season in Turin, even though his book value is likely to deter any potential buyers.
On the other hand, Luciano Spalletti could be willing to give Jonathan David another opportunity, but the Canadian would also be sold for the right offer.
Arkadiusz Milik could rescind his contract after two campaigns wrecked by injuries, while Dusan Vlahovic’s future remains shrouded in mystery, as the two parties have yet to find an agreement on a contract renewal.
Juventus are still determined to bring Randal Kolo Muani back to Turin, but it remains to be seen if they can find an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain.
Therefore, the Bianconeri are keeping their options open, and Lewandowski could represent an enticing opportunity for the short-term, as the team has been lacking a consistent goalscorer.
Nevertheless, the Polish legend will likely command a hefty salary, so it remains unclear if the Serie A giants will be willing to meet it.
Michigan edge Derrick Moore (8) celebrates a sack against Michigan State quarterback Alessio Milivojevic (11) during the second half at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, October 25, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books and, as usual, it was full of surprises.
The Arizona Cardinals went running back with the third-overall pick. The Los Angeles Rams selected a quarterback in the first round as an heir to Matthew Stafford. Jermod McCoy fell all the way to the fourth round amid concerns surrounding his knee.
In comparison, the Detroit Lions had a modestly surprising draft, but there were still some moves—or lack thereof—that raised eyebrows.
Today’s Question of the Day is:
What surprised you the most about the Detroit Lions’ 2026 NFL draft?
My answer: I was surprised by the emphasis on pass rush.
It is not surprising that the Lions went heavy on defense in the draft—entering the draft with a below-average depth chart, they needed reinforcements across multiple positions. However, I really expected Detroit to look for players built for run defense. Crushing the can has been the motto of the Lions defense for a few years now, with players like Tyleik Williams, Josh Paschal, Brodric Martin, and Ahmed Hassanein being a few examples of draftees with an acumen for run defense. Besides Aidan Hutchinson, the only drafted players that were pass rush-orientated were Mekhi Wingo and James Houston.
In the 2026 draft, Detroit added three linemen, all of whom have pass rush as a strength. Second-round pick Derrick Moore could be the 2026 counterpart to Al-Quadin Muhammad, a player used primarily as a pass rusher (although Moore has the ceiling to be an every-down player). Sixth-round pick Skyler Gill-Howard provides the team with some much-needed interior pass rush, as Wingo has seemingly fallen out of favor in Detroit. With the final pick of their draft, Detroit added Tyre West, a larger defensive end in the mold of Tyler Lacy that can bring pressure from inside and out. Even linebacker Jimmy Rolder could factor in as a pass rushing SAM linebacker (although WILL is more likely his future position).
Aside from the signing of DJ Wonnum—the frontrunner to start across from Hutchinson—the Lions have done little to bolster their run defense. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as the pass rush was sorely lacking consistency last season, but it is nonetheless an interesting pivot for this organization. Plus, free agency tends to have a second wave following the draft, so Detroit could still add to their run defense. In particular, another nose tackle to replace DJ Reader and Roy Lopez could be needed (Reader returning could still be in the cards, however).
Is this a sign that the Lions want to prioritize pass rush next season? Perhaps, though it could also be a case of Detroit seeing potential in their new rookies to grow as run defenders. We likely will not know how the scheme materializes until Week 1.
Guardiola: Nunes ‘one of the best right-backs in the world’
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes Matheus Nunes is developing into ‘one of the best right-backs in the world’.
Nunes has deputised as a makeshift right-back for Manchester City for much of the campaign, with the Portugal international tasked with filling a problem position.
The 27-year-old has had an excellent season in the position, scoring once and providing five assists in 30 Premier League appearances. Only eight players in the Premier League have created more goals this season.
Nunes has made notable strides forward in the unfamiliar defensive role, and Guardiola believes has has all the attributes to become one of the very best right-backs in the world.
He praised the improvements in Nunes’s defensive awareness throughout the course of the campaign.
“Matheus Nunes is becoming one of the best right-backs in the world,” the Spaniard said.
“Defensively, attention to the line, arriving to the by-line – many, many good things!”
Now that the NFL Draft is over, it's all about focusing on figuring out the 53-man roster for the New England Patriots.
The New England Patriots are aiming to return to the Super Bowl and wash out the bad taste of last year’s bitter defeat. After a robust 2026 NFL Draft class, there stands to be some changes to the roster.
Who's in? Who's out? Here is how I'd project the 53-man roster moving forward.
Note: Players with a single asterisk (*) are 2026 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2026 undrafted free agents.
New England Patriots Way-Too-Early 53-man roster prediction
Quarterback (2)
IN: Drake Maye, Tommy DeVito OUT: Behren Morton*
The skinny: No surprises here with the top two. Drake Maye should continue to play at an MVP level. I’m not sure if Morton will be rostered every week, and seems likely to be snuck through as a PS member to be the emergency quarterback on gamedays.
The skinny: The top two backs are locked in with Stevenson and Henderson. The selection of Jam Miller is a perfect complement, and he should lock up the RB3 job early on in the room. Reggie Gilliam’s ability to handle running back and tight end duties allows them to get flexible with the roster numbers.
Wide Receiver (7)
IN: Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, Pop Douglas, Efton Chism III, Kyle Dixon** OUT: Jeremiah Webb, John Jiles, Nick DeGennaro**, Jimmy Kibble**, Cameron Dorner**
The skinny: I’m not entirely convinced this is how this room will look when the preseason begins (cough cough). However, with no additions in the draft, I’m pretty confident in everyone from last year keeping their jobs heading into this year. UDFA Kyle Dixon got a massive $252k deal in guarantees to sign, giving him pretty good odds of being a promising lock.
Tight End (4)
IN: Hunter Henry, Julian Hill, Eli Raridon*, Tanner Arkin** OUT: Jack Westover, CJ Dippre, Marshall Lang,
The skinny: Head coach Mike Vrabel said the team wanted to get more multiple, and I believe. Henry is the obvious TE1, but I think Eli Raridon can be a contributor early on. Hill was brought in to improve their run blocking, and I think Arkin can make the roster for the same reasons. With Gilliam rotating into this room as well, it’s bully ball time in New England.
Offensive Line (9)
IN: Will Campbell, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson, Mike Onwenu, Morgan Moses, Caleb Lomu*, Dametrious Crownover*, Ben Brown, Caedan Wallace OUT: James Hudson III, Marcus Bryant, Lorenz Metz, Sebastian Gutierrez, JonDarius Morgan**, Jacob Rizy**, Mehki Butler, Andrew Rupcich
The skinny: The starting lineup should remain the same as it was heading into the draft, but the depth is dramatically improved. Caleb Lomu and Dametrious Crownover likely lock up the depth tackle spots, pushing Hudson and Bryant out. Ben Brown and Caedan Wallace are valuable swing linemen as well.
Defensive Tackle (6)
IN: Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Cory Durden, Joshua Farmer, Eric Gregory, Leonard Taylor III OUT: Jeremiah Pharms Jr., David Blay Jr.**
The skinny: Surprisingly, the New England Patriots didn’t draft a single defensive tackle after being rumored to for months. This room should still be a strength of the team. However, they are banking on a lot of young talent in Farmer, Durden, and Taylor to take that next step.
Edge Rusher (5)
IN: Harold Landry, Dre’Mont Jones, Gabe Jacas, Elijah Ponder, Quintavyious Hutchins* OUT: Bradyn Swinson, Jesse Luketa, Korey Foreman**
The skinny: Mike Vrabel has frequently rostered four edge rushers, but this room is too deep to do so this year in my opinion. The starting three is set with Landry, Jones, and Jacas. However, Elijah Ponder was a tremendous rookie on special teams. I think Hutchins’ draft capital might give him the edge over a disappointing rookie season from Bradyn Swinson.
Linebacker (4)
IN: Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Namdi Obiazor*, K.J. Britt OUT: Chad Muma, Otis Reese, Amari Gainer, Jordan Kwiatkowski**
The skinny: Spillane and Elliss will be their starting linebackers, to no surprise. However, don’t be shocked if Obiazor carves out a strong role, especially on early downs. Britt is the special teams ace of the room, and that will be his ticket onto the roster over the field.
Cornerback (5)
IN: Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, Marcus Jones, Karon Prunty*, Kindle Vildor OUT: Charles Woods, Kobee Minor, Marcellas Dial Jr., Brandon Crossley, Kenneth Harris**, Channing Canada**
The skinny: New England had their starting trio set heading into the draft, while Vildor adds inside-outside ability. The addition of Prunty likely rounds out the room, keeping out the field.
Safety (4)
IN: Kevin Byard, Craig Woodson, Brendan Schooler, Dell Pettus OUT: Mike Brown, John Saunders Jr.
The skinny: There was some speculation the Patriots could draft a safety this year. However, the team didn’t, locking up the same rotation as they had pre-draft. Byard and Woodson should be one of the best safety duos in the AFC. Meanwhile, Schooler and Pettus are valuable special teams assets.
Specialists (3)
IN: Julian Ashby (LS), Andy Borregales (K), Bryce Baringer (P) OUT: Niko Lalos
The skinny: There weren’t any additions to compete at kicker or punter, locking in Borregales and Baringer. The battle between Ashby and Lalos could go into camp, but I have to imagine the draft capital and experience of Ashby would win out in the end.
Juventus player ratings vs Milan: Conceicao the only spark in attack
On Sunday evening, Milan and Juventus seemed content to share the spoils, much to the disappointment of the thousands at San Siro and millions watching all over the globe.
The Bianconeri had the bulk of possession, but only created a few chances. For their part, the Rossoneri almost snatched the lead through Alexis Saelemaekers, whose effort crashed against the post. However, Max Allegri’s men were too passive for the large part.
So, here are our player ratings for Juventus, who remained fourth in the Serie A table following their goalless draw against Milan.
Juventus XI (3-4-2-1)
Michele Di Gregorio – 6
The Italian goalkeeper comfortably dealt with Adrien Rabiot’s central shot in the first half, while the woodwork stood for him against Saelemaekers.
Pierre Kalulu – 7
A formidable defensive display from the former Milan defender, who frustrated Christian Pulisic.
Gleison Bremer – 7
The Brazilian stood his ground and won the vast majority of his duels against Rafael Leao and Co. He also pushed forward and tested Mike Maignan with a low drive.
Lloyd Kelly – 7
An almost flawless display from the Englishman who didn’t put a foot wrong all game.
Weston McKennie – 6
The USMNT star didn’t enjoy his best outing compared to some of his inspiring performances this season. But he did have his moments, especially after moving to the left flank.
Manuel Locatelli – 6
For some reason, the Juventus captain didn’t miss a chance to hurt his former teammate Adrien Rabiot, and he eventually received a yellow card for his troubles. Picked up Conceicao with a couple of delightful long passes.
Khephren Thuram – 6.5
The Frenchman had a goal ruled out for offside, but more importantly, he made vital defensive contributions and carried the ball forward on several occasions.
Andrea Cambiaso – 5.5
Another lukewarm display from the Italian international, who struggled to contain Alexis Saelemaekers. Found himself in promising positions in attack, but his delivery was rather poor.
Francisco Conceicao – 7
The Portuguese winger was Juve’s most inspirational player. Dribbled past his market almost at will, and made some outrageous ball controls, but just lacked the finishing touch.
Jeremie Boga – 5
The Ivorian had his worst performance since joining Juventus. He was suffocated by Fikayo Tomori and made wrong decisions while in promising positions.
Jonathan David – 5.5
The Canadian embarked on a solo run out of nowhere, but went down too easily following a slight push from Matteo Gabbia. A frustrating evening all in all, even if Spalletti praised him afterwards.
Substitutes
Emil Holm – 5.5
The Swedish international showed his attacking limitations, as he wasn’t able to add a spark at a time when Juventus were chasing a result.
Teun Koopmeiners – 6
A positive cameo from the Dutchman, who was willing to get his hands dirty in the middle of the park. Did well to retrieve the ball on a couple of occasions.
AUBURN, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 18: Connor Lew #75 of the Auburn Tigers runs on the field during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 18, 2025 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cincinnati Bengals looked at building for the future as they kicked off Day 3 of the NFL Draft, selecting Auburn center Connor Lew at No. 128 in the fourth round.
Lew was one of the better interior linemen in this year’s class, but a torn ACL suffered in October caused him to drop a little further than where he would have been originally selected.
Cincinnati felt comfortable with his injury status and upside as a potential successor to Ted Karras. And, shortly after being selected by the Bengals, Lew also gave a thumbs-up about his comeback from the ACL injury.
Connor Lew says no concerns in ACL recovery.
"The knee is great. No setbacks. If anything I'm a little ahead of schedule. Thinking I will be 100 percent for camp."
Going into the Draft, some pundits had Lew as a fringe first round talent, but one likely to get picked on Night 2. Because of a late-season ACL injury, Lew was available to the Bengals in the fourth.
Lew is known as a very cerebral player and one who studied aviation in college. He is known as a great technician at the position with good size (6’3”, 310). There are questions on his play strength, but he was a very effective lineman for the Tigers.
Cincinnati parted ways with the enigmatic Matt Lee, a 2024 seventh-round selection, shortly before the Draft. Because of that, it was widely thought that Cincinnati would be seeking a developmental center in this year’s class.
As for the injury, it’s good news for the Bengals, and they undoubtedly made their check-ups on the progress. Let’s hope Lew’s assessment of the injury is accurate, and he will be ready to go for training camp.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - OCTOBER 11: Wide receiver Jeff Caldwell #9 of the Cincinnati Bearcats seen in action during the game against the UCF Knights at Nippert Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Kansas City Chiefs may have scored one of the steals of the offseason as an undrafted free agent, as they agreed to terms with former Cincinnati wide receiver Jeff Caldwell. He is a 6-foot-5 pass-catcher that CBS Sports ranked as the No. 167 overall prospect in this entire class. NFL.com also projected him as a fourth-round pick. Yet, Caldwell went undrafted!
If you’re looking for a lofty NFL comparison for this prospect, Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson’s name has been thrown around. Let’s take a look at Caldwell, and why he’s arguably the most intriguing undrafted free agent this year.
Not only does Caldwell possess great size at nearly 6-6 and 216 pounds, but he’s also a freak athlete. At the NFL combine, he ran a 4.31 40-yard dash, registered a 1.48 10-yard split, 42-inch vertical and 11-foot-2 broad jump. He ranked in the top four among all receivers in those drills, plus the 1.48 10-yard split ranked No. 1 among everyone in Indy.
Describing Caldwell as a winner of the genetic lottery is an understatement. If you subscribe to the Relative Athletic Score, Caldwell registered a perfect 10.00 out of 10.00. It ranked No. 2 out of 3,926 wide receivers from 1987 to 2026, behind only … Calvin Johnson. Again, this guy went undrafted.
Smith, 32, played nine seasons in the NFL but has not appeared in a game since 2023.
“Dear Football,” Smith wrote in his announcement. “When I first started out this journey in seventh grade, I didn’t know what the other side would hold. . . . Football has made me feel and experience every emotion imaginable.
“Thank you to all that has helped me through the years along my football career. It has allowed me to grow and experience life in ways I can’t put into words.”
The Buccaneers made Smith a second-round pick in 2015, and he played eight seasons in Tampa. He spent 2023 with the Chiefs.
Smith won two Super Bowl rings, one with the Bucs and one with the Chiefs.
Following the 2026 NFL Draft, Texas A&M running back E.J. Smith – Emmitt Smith’s son – signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent. Smith played six years of college football, four at Stanford and two at Texas A&M.
In his six seasons, Smith had 207 carries for 969 yards and nine touchdowns plus 71 receptions for 470 yards and one touchdown.
The Chiefs already drafted Nebraska ball-carrier Emmett Johnson in round five and agreed to terms with undrafted free agent RBs Jaydn Ott and E.J. Smith, but Stewart might be the most interesting backfield addition of all.
Per fantasy football expert and podcaster Scott Barrett, “projected UDFA RB Terion Stewart narrowly edges out Ashton Jeanty and Bijan Robinson as the most elusive RB in PFF College history.”
Barrett included a graphic in his post, which shows Stewart as the only CFB running back with a missed tackles forced per attempt over 0.4, not to mention an average yards after contact over 4.5 yards.
2. His 46 catches ranked second in the FBS among all running backs.
Johnson was more than just a runner for Nebraska, recording 46 catches – the second-most among all FBS running backs – for 370 yards and three touchdowns.
Here’s more on Johnson’s pass-catching ability from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler:
“He’s a savvy pass-catcher with crisp route breaks that allow him to win against linebackers 1-on-1 (a ton of flare routes on his tape).”
It all helped Johnson become the only player in the FBS to average more than 150 scrimmage yards-per-game.
3. Johnson is as sure-handed as they come.
Despite touching the ball 297 times last season (with 251 carries and 46 catches), Johnson logged just one fumble and one drop over the course of the campaign.
Simply put, when the ball went Johnson’s way, it almost always resulted in a positive play.
“No new update right now,” Lynch said regarding Aiyuk on Saturday during his post-draft news conference, per team transcript. “We’re available. Give us a call. And like I said earlier, I think it’s the prudent thing to do. He’s an extremely talented player. He’s been an extremely effective player in our league; situation didn’t work itself out here. That’s not to say that it can’t be rekindled somewhere else. And we’d be happy to do something with anyone if the opportunity presented itself.”
Aiyuk has been destined for a San Francisco exit for months now after the team placed him on the reserve/left squad list in December. Lynch acknowledged in January that it was “safe to say” Aiyuk had played has last down as a Niner, but the months ticking along have done nothing to diminish the 49ers’ interest in getting something for the wideout after getting nothing from him in 2025.
“Not anytime soon,” Lynch said when asked if he was planning on releasing Aiyuk.
The former JUCO, New Mexico State and Vanderbilt quarterback became the first Heisman Trophy finalist to go undrafted since Northern Illinois QB Jordan Lynch was not picked in the 2014 draft.
Following the draft’s conclusion on Saturday, Pavia did not sign with an NFL team as a free agent. He reportedly visited the Carolina Panthers before the draft, but no other visits were publicized.
Yet on Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Pavia has accepted an invitation to join the Baltimore Ravens at their minicamp next week, finally giving the undrafted free agent an NFL landing spot. The Ravens currently have Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley on their QB depth chart.
Based on a viral interview clip with Jon Gruden earlier this spring made it appear that Pavia had not hired an agent ahead of the predraft process.
The Chiefs’ defense should immediately feel an impact from Thomas on pass downs or two-minute drill situations. Kansas City will want Thomas on the field for as many opponents’ pass plays as possible, because he is immediately the most dangerous edge rusher on the team because of the get off.
Defensive ends George Karlaftis and Ashton Gillotte will likely be the starters and lead the way on early downs, but Thomas will live on third down, and should live primarily on the edge in those pass-rush setups.
Of course, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will get creative, but he shouldn’t overcomplicate it when Thomas’ first step on third and long is enough to mess with a protection or disrupt the pocket. He and George would be the primary edge rushers for Spags’ third-down packages, and the presence of Thomas should also mark the end of the strategy to align defensive tacke Chris Jones on the edge.
He likely won’t complain. Jones has been missing an edge rusher who can aid his pass rush by forcing quarterbacks to step up in the pocket toward him.
“I loved him today” – Joe Cole picks alternate Chelsea man of the match who filled crucial tactical role
Joao Pedro got praise from Joe Cole for a really tough showing leading the line against Leeds at Wembley yesterday afternoon.
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Joe Cole was a pundit for TNT Sports last night, watching Chelsea take on Leeds in the FA Cup semi final. The former Blue picked out a starter who had made a real difference for his old team last night:
“[Joao Pedro] plays with that flair, I loved him today he was dropping off in the pockets. He did his centre forward job, he held up the play and when he got into good positions he was picking the right passes.”
Joao Pedro returns to play crucial role for Blues
Tosin embraces Robert Sanchez. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
While the TNT coverage had goalscorer Enzo Fernandez as Man of the Match and many others praised our defence too, we definitely had Joao Pedro as the outstanding player in the game. Chelsea decided to play the ball long a long, over the top of Leeds’ press, and it was essential the striker was able to hold the ball up.
He consistently won those battles and allowed his team to get higher up the pitch.
In other news…
Robert Sanchez was picked out for praise for his performance in the game by pundits and by his manager Calum McFarlane.
McFarlane’s tactical breakdown for the game was really fascinating, and he explained to TNT Sport how he countered the Leeds press.
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Chelsea consider new head coach with £17.3m release clause
Chelsea have included Porto manager Francesco Farioli on their shortlist to replace Liam Rosenior, but face a fee to agree a deal.
Farioli has impressed in his debut campaign at Porto, having led the Portuguese side to the brink of a first league title in four years. Porto have lost once in 31 league games this season and are one win from Primeira Liga success.
The 37-year-old’s immediate impact saw him handed a new contract in January, despite only arriving at The Estádio do Dragão last summer. That contract represents a blocker for Chelsea, given it runs until 2028 and contains a €20m (£17.3m) release clause.
According to journalist Nicolo Schira, Chelsea have approached Farioli to determine his interest in taking charge at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are no strangers to paying release clauses, with their appointments of Graham Potter (£21.5m), Andres Villas-Boas (£13.3m) and Enzo Maresca (£10m) among the most expensive managerial appointments of all time.
However, fresh from a huge pay-off for Liam Rosenior, the West Londoners could look to more cost-effective alternatives.
Several options, including outgoing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, are available as free agents this summer.
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle has been a great addition to the Tigers' roster since debuting in March. The 21-year-old has adjusted well to the big leagues, hitting .330 with a .951 OPS, two home runs, two triples (leading the American League) and walking 16 times to 15 strikeouts.
McGonigle’s hitting ability was never a question, with a 70/80 hit grade. However, his hitting ability has led to a high on-base percentage (.423), putting him in rarified air with one of the greatest Tigers, Hall of Famer Al Kaline.
Kevin McGonigle joins Detroit Tigers legend Al Kaline for one of the longest on-base streaks
According to Tigers PR on X, McGonigle has reached base safely in 24 consecutive starts. McGonigle’s streak is the longest by a player 21 or younger in the Tigers' history since Kaline had 34 from July 26 to August 28, 1956.
Kevin McGonigle has now reached base safely in 24 consecutive starts.
It's the longest streak for a Tigers player aged 21-or-younger since Al Kaline reached base in 34 straight starts from July 26 to August 28, 1956.#DNMWpic.twitter.com/vD7Yjt5i8q
Kaline had a great season in 1956, making his second of his 18 All-Star teams and hitting .314 with a .913 OPS, 27 home runs, 128 RBI in 153 games. Kaline would also finish third in the MVP voting that season behind New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra (second place) and Yankees outfielder Mickey Mantle (first).
McGonigle’s impressive start to the season could have him playing in his hometown of Philadelphia this summer in the All-Star game. Switching between third base (15 games, 32 defensive runs saved) and shortstop (18 games, zero defensive runs saved), McGonigle will have an uphill battle to secure a spot.
Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez will likely secure his sixth straight All-Star nod even though he's hitting .229. However, shortstop seems like McGonigle’s best chance to make the team, with some of the best shortstops off to slow starts.
For just the third time in more than three decades, UW will be hiring a new athletic director.
Chris McIntosh left earlier in April to take a new position with the Big Ten as its deputy commissioner for strategy. Marcus Sedberry will serve as interim athletic director during the national search.
Pat Richter had the job for about 15 years in the 1990s and 2000s, followed by Barry Alvarez’s 17 years in the job and McIntosh’s five years. Alvarez and McIntosh were internal hires, and Richter came across town from Oscar Mayer in Madison.
Many names could be floated in the coming weeks and months as people who should receive consideration. It could be any of the names mentioned below or none of them. Any inclusion (or exclusion) on the list below does not necessarily indicate interest from UW or the potential candidates themselves.
Wisconsin’s lack of announced search committee or search firm adds to the uncertainty at this point in the process. This is all while UW also lacks a permanent chancellor amid Jennifer Mnookin’s move to Columbia University.
Here is an early look at candidates who could be potential fits for the Badgers, depending on what UW is looking for in its next AD:
Marcus Sedberry, interim AD at Wisconsin
If Wisconsin chooses to take the internal route again, all signs would point toward Sedberry.
UW tapped him to be the interim AD after four years as deputy AD at Wisconsin. He has supervised football since arriving in 2022 and added football general manager responsibilities in 2025.
Sedberry previously worked at Baylor, Arkansas, Central Florida and the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. His role at Baylor as senior associate athletic director included oversight of the football program.
Oversight of Wisconsin football is not necessarily the best resume item after the Badgers’ first back-to-back losing seasons since the early 1990s, but Sedberry will have the opportunity to prove himself as he inherits several challenges.
Jamie Pollard combines strong Wisconsin connections with a proven track record as a power-conference athletic director.
Pollard’s 21-year tenure at Iowa State has been undeniably successful. Football reached new heights under Matt Campbell, men’s basketball has reached the Sweet 16 in three of the last five seasons and women’s basketball last missed the NCAA Tournament in 2017-18.
The Oshkosh native previously spent seven years with the Badgers under Richter and Alvarez’s leadership. He has other connections to the state, too, as a UW-Oshkosh alum who spent two years as an accountant in Milwaukee before beginning his college athletics career.
Pollard is 61, though, and would need to leave an athletic department that he has called home for more than two decades. At the same time, a Big Ten school’s resources can be appealing as the top two conferences separate themselves financially from the rest of the pack.
Brad Alberts comes with an impressive résumé in the professional sports ranks.
Alberts has been the president of the NHL’s Dallas Stars since 2018 and the team’s CEO since 2020. It’s been a successful tenure, too, as the Stars have played postseason hockey in seven of the last eight seasons. He had various roles tied to sponsorships and sales for pro sports teams such as the Stars and MLB’s Texas Rangers before that.
He has connections to the state as a Ripon College alum and a Delavan native. Do those connections provide a strong enough pull to bring him back to his home state and away from a premier pro sports job? We may soon find out.
Sean Frazier, AD at Northern Illinois
Sean Frazier did enough to be a finalist for the AD job last time around (and may be the most logical finalist to be in the running again in 2026).
The Journal Sentinel reported that the three finalists in 2021 were McIntosh, Frazier and Beth Goetz before UW unsurprisingly hired McIntosh. Goetz, then at Ball State, now holds an enviable position as rival Iowa’s athletic director (where the Hawkeyes are in a good spot in football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball).
That leaves Frazier, who was Alvarez’s deputy AD in Madison from 2007-13 before taking the top job at Northern Illinois.
Since then, Frazier helped the Huskies earn a football-only invitation to join the Mountain West Conference and was one of five finalists for the Sports Business Journal’s 2021-22 athletic director of the year. His NIU football program has earned only three bowl berths in the last seven years, though, and exceeded eight wins once in the last 11 years.
Shawn Eichorst, deputy AD/COO at Texas
Shawn Eichorst has notable experience as an athletic director in the Big Ten and ACC and plenty of connections to Wisconsin although his last experience in the Big Ten did not end on a high note.
Eichorst – a Lone Rock native and UW-Whitewater alum – was a deputy AD under Alvarez at Wisconsin before leading athletic departments at Miami (FL) from 2011-12 and Nebraska from 2012-17.
His nearly-18-month tenure at Miami included the hiring of men’s basketball coach Jim Larranaga. At Nebraska, he most notably fired Bo Pelini (who went 67-27 in eight seasons) and hired Mike Riley, who went 19-19 in three seasons before Eichorst’s successor fired him.
He joined Texas’ athletic department in 2018 and has been the Longhorns’ deputy AD and chief operating officer.
David Harris, AD at Tulane
David Harris has experience as a Division I athletic director, connections to Wisconsin and the Midwest and a strong football hire on his résumé.
Harris began his tenure as the athletic director at Tulane in early 2024 and replaced Houston-bound Willie Fritz with Jon Sumrall, whose success has included a College Football Playoff berth in his second season. (Sumrall then left to take the Florida job.)
Harris previously spent nearly eight years as the AD at FCS-level Northern Iowa. He worked before that with Pollard at Wisconsin and then Iowa State. He was promoted three times during his four-year UW tenure, according to his old Iowa State bio.
Garrett Klassy, AD at Fresno State
Garrett Klassy is another sitting Division I athletic director with plenty of connections to Wisconsin.
Klassy is a New Glarus native and Wisconsin alum who began his career in the UW ticket office and has since worked at Tulane, Alabama, Oregon, George Washington, UIC, Nebraska, Houston and now Fresno State.
That includes experience as athletic director at UIC from 2017-19, at Nebraska on an interim basis in 2021 and at Fresno State since 2024. He oversaw UIC’s first 20-win men’s basketball season since 2004 and the then-Horizon League school’s arena naming rights deal.
Klassy has led Fresno State during the Bulldogs’ upcoming move to the reformed Pac-12 and hired football coach Matt Entz, who won nine games (including the Arizona Bowl) in his first season.
For just the third time in more than three decades, UW will be hiring a new athletic director.
Chris McIntosh left earlier in April to take a new position with the Big Ten as its deputy commissioner for strategy. Marcus Sedberry will serve as interim athletic director during the national search.
Pat Richter had the job for about 15 years in the 1990s and 2000s, followed by Barry Alvarez’s 17 years in the job and McIntosh’s five years. Alvarez and McIntosh were internal hires, and Richter came across town from Oscar Mayer in Madison.
Many names could be floated in the coming weeks and months as people who should receive consideration. It could be any of the names mentioned below or none of them. Any inclusion (or exclusion) on the list below does not necessarily indicate interest from UW or the potential candidates themselves.
Wisconsin’s lack of announced search committee or search firm adds to the uncertainty at this point in the process. This is all while UW also lacks a permanent chancellor amid Jennifer Mnookin’s move to Columbia University.
Here is an early look at candidates who could be potential fits for the Badgers, depending on what UW is looking for in its next AD:
Marcus Sedberry, interim AD at Wisconsin
If Wisconsin chooses to take the internal route again, all signs would point toward Sedberry.
UW tapped him to be the interim AD after four years as deputy AD at Wisconsin. He has supervised football since arriving in 2022 and added football general manager responsibilities in 2025.
Sedberry previously worked at Baylor, Arkansas, Central Florida and the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. His role at Baylor as senior associate athletic director included oversight of the football program.
Oversight of Wisconsin football is not necessarily the best resume item after the Badgers’ first back-to-back losing seasons since the early 1990s, but Sedberry will have the opportunity to prove himself as he inherits several challenges.
Jamie Pollard combines strong Wisconsin connections with a proven track record as a power-conference athletic director.
Pollard’s 21-year tenure at Iowa State has been undeniably successful. Football reached new heights under Matt Campbell, men’s basketball has reached the Sweet 16 in three of the last five seasons and women’s basketball last missed the NCAA Tournament in 2017-18.
The Oshkosh native previously spent seven years with the Badgers under Richter and Alvarez’s leadership. He has other connections to the state, too, as a UW-Oshkosh alum who spent two years as an accountant in Milwaukee before beginning his college athletics career.
Pollard is 61, though, and would need to leave an athletic department that he has called home for more than two decades. At the same time, a Big Ten school’s resources can be appealing as the top two conferences separate themselves financially from the rest of the pack.
Brad Alberts comes with an impressive résumé in the professional sports ranks.
Alberts has been the president of the NHL’s Dallas Stars since 2018 and the team’s CEO since 2020. It’s been a successful tenure, too, as the Stars have played postseason hockey in seven of the last eight seasons. He had various roles tied to sponsorships and sales for pro sports teams such as the Stars and MLB’s Texas Rangers before that.
He has connections to the state as a Ripon College alum and a Delavan native. Do those connections provide a strong enough pull to bring him back to his home state and away from a premier pro sports job? We may soon find out.
Sean Frazier, AD at Northern Illinois
Sean Frazier did enough to be a finalist for the AD job last time around (and may be the most logical finalist to be in the running again in 2026).
The Journal Sentinel reported that the three finalists in 2021 were McIntosh, Frazier and Beth Goetz before UW unsurprisingly hired McIntosh. Goetz, then at Ball State, now holds an enviable position as rival Iowa’s athletic director (where the Hawkeyes are in a good spot in football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball).
That leaves Frazier, who was Alvarez’s deputy AD in Madison from 2007-13 before taking the top job at Northern Illinois.
Since then, Frazier helped the Huskies earn a football-only invitation to join the Mountain West Conference and was one of five finalists for the Sports Business Journal’s 2021-22 athletic director of the year. His NIU football program has earned only three bowl berths in the last seven years, though, and exceeded eight wins once in the last 11 years.
Shawn Eichorst, deputy AD/COO at Texas
Shawn Eichorst has notable experience as an athletic director in the Big Ten and ACC and plenty of connections to Wisconsin although his last experience in the Big Ten did not end on a high note.
Eichorst – a Lone Rock native and UW-Whitewater alum – was a deputy AD under Alvarez at Wisconsin before leading athletic departments at Miami (FL) from 2011-12 and Nebraska from 2012-17.
His nearly-18-month tenure at Miami included the hiring of men’s basketball coach Jim Larranaga. At Nebraska, he most notably fired Bo Pelini (who went 67-27 in eight seasons) and hired Mike Riley, who went 19-19 in three seasons before Eichorst’s successor fired him.
He joined Texas’ athletic department in 2018 and has been the Longhorns’ deputy AD and chief operating officer.
David Harris, AD at Tulane
David Harris has experience as a Division I athletic director, connections to Wisconsin and the Midwest and a strong football hire on his résumé.
Harris began his tenure as the athletic director at Tulane in early 2024 and replaced Houston-bound Willie Fritz with Jon Sumrall, whose success has included a College Football Playoff berth in his second season. (Sumrall then left to take the Florida job.)
Harris previously spent nearly eight years as the AD at FCS-level Northern Iowa. He worked before that with Pollard at Wisconsin and then Iowa State. He was promoted three times during his four-year UW tenure, according to his old Iowa State bio.
Garrett Klassy, AD at Fresno State
Garrett Klassy is another sitting Division I athletic director with plenty of connections to Wisconsin.
Klassy is a New Glarus native and Wisconsin alum who began his career in the UW ticket office and has since worked at Tulane, Alabama, Oregon, George Washington, UIC, Nebraska, Houston and now Fresno State.
That includes experience as athletic director at UIC from 2017-19, at Nebraska on an interim basis in 2021 and at Fresno State since 2024. He oversaw UIC’s first 20-win men’s basketball season since 2004 and the then-Horizon League school’s arena naming rights deal.
Klassy has led Fresno State during the Bulldogs’ upcoming move to the reformed Pac-12 and hired football coach Matt Entz, who won nine games (including the Arizona Bowl) in his first season.
Noctua releases 3D CAD models for most of its products Noctua has released official 3D CAD models for many of its products, enabling CAD users and animators to incorporate Noctua products into their designs and renders. These models are free to download for many Noctua products and are available as STEP files. These files are […]
Alien Isolation’s sequel will use Unreal Engine 5 – Creative Assembly Confirms Creative Assembly have recently released a teaser trailer for what could be Alien Isolation 2. Now, a Creative Assembly job listing has confirmed that their sequel to Alien Isolation will be “built in Unreal Engine 5”. Gamers should note that the original Alien […]
Amazon is hosting a Gaming Week sale, and one of its most lucrative discounts happening right now is for the WD_Black C50 Storage Expansion Cards for Xbox, with 50-66% price cuts to their 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB variants.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma highlights how rising memory costs could impact pricing and availability for the next-generation Xbox, Project Helix, while confirming development kits are planned for next year.
The crypto market news today turned on April 23 when Anchorage Digital activated institutional Solana staking through Marinade per Cointelegraph, and SoFi Bank flipped on XRP deposits for its 13.7 million customers per Yahoo Finance. When custodians and consumer banks open the floodgates in one week, sidelined capital hunts for entries that can outpace blue chips.
Pepeto pulled past $9.45 million as the Binance listing draws near, with a verified exchange already running, the original Pepe Coin founder behind the build, and a presale floor that makes it the cleanest 100x setup into the next leg.
Anchorage and SoFi Mark a Turning Point and the Crypto Market News Today Shifts
Anchorage Digital said institutional clients can now stake SOL through Marinade while keeping full custody, picking between compliant validator sets or yield-optimizing strategies per Anchorage Digital. The same week SoFi added XRP deposits beside Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana for its 13.7 million members, putting Ripple’s token inside a major U.S. digital bank.
A Goldman Sachs survey shows 71% of institutional managers plan to add crypto exposure this year while only 7% are already in. Fresh institutional rails unlock the next pool of capital, and the presale launches into the friendliest entry window the asset class has ever offered.
Pepeto, Solana (SOL), and XRP: The Entry That Launches Into the Strongest Institutional Window in Crypto History
Pepeto
When Anchorage opens institutional SOL staking and SoFi flips on XRP deposits in one week, the next wave of capital is no longer if but when. Pepeto is launching into that wave with the Binance listing closing in, $9.45 million committed during peak Fear, and analyst projections pointing toward 100x because the product layer backs the call.
The crypto market news today is exactly why a contract scanner reading every smart contract before a wallet connects matters now. PepetoSwap clears each trade at zero cost, and the cross-chain bridge ferries tokens between Ethereum, BNB, and Solana with no fees attached.
Over $9,450,000 has rolled in at $0.0000001866 with 178% APY staking. SolidProof finished a complete audit, and the founder who scaled the original Pepe Coin into an $11 billion market cap on 420 trillion tokens engineered this exchange beside a senior Binance developer leading the build.
Anchorage and SoFi just confirmed the door is opening. The largest crypto fortunes have all started with the same first step: entering before the crowd noticed. Pepeto at presale pricing is that step, and the Binance listing is when the rest of the market shows up.
Solana (SOL) Price at $86.06 as Anchorage Staking Brings Institutional Yield Online
Solana (SOL) trades at $86.06 per CoinMarketCap, up 1.8% after Anchorage opened institutional SOL staking through Marinade. Solana topped the dApp revenue table for five weeks running and handled 41% of total DEX volume in Q1 2026.
Support holds at $80 with resistance at $95 and $105. At a $46 billion market cap, a push to $95 means roughly 10% over weeks, not the multiple that flips a portfolio overnight. Institutional staking is a long-term story for SOL, while presale entries deliver a steeper return inside one event.
XRP prints $1.42 per CoinMarketCap, with cumulative spot ETF flows past $1.28 billion and SoFi flipping on deposits for 13.7 million customers. Whale wallets absorbed the recent dips while spot ETF products logged zero outflows since April 9.
Support sits at $1.35 with resistance at $1.50 and $1.65. XRP still trades around 58% under its $3.40 record from 2018, with a full reclaim unlikely before late 2027. From $1.42 to $1.50 is roughly 5% over weeks, not the listing multiplier presale entries carry.
Conclusion
The crypto market news today is plain. Anchorage, SoFi, and Morgan Stanley are all moving toward the rails that pipe institutional money into crypto. SOL and XRP still offer steady setups. But the verified exchange opens a wider return window with the Binance listing closing in and 100x to 300x building as the presale fills.
Your search led you to the right answer: Pepeto. The wallets that flipped small money into real wealth in crypto all did one thing: they bought before the crowd recognized what they were buying. The Pepeto official website is where that entry sits today, and the Binance listing turns this presale price into the kind of returns late buyers will spend 2026 wishing they had taken.
What drove the crypto market news today to shift toward institutional adoption in April 2026?
Anchorage Digital opened institutional Solana staking through Marinade on April 23, while SoFi Bank turned on XRP deposits for 13.7 million customers the same week. Goldman reports that 71% of institutional managers plan to add crypto exposure this year.
Is Solana (SOL) a strong buy at $86.06 after the Anchorage staking launch?
Solana (SOL) trades at $86.06 with a $46 billion market cap and targets $95 for roughly 10% upside over weeks. Pepeto through the Pepeto official website opens presale entry at $0.0000001866 and 100x listing returns that SOL at this size cannot deliver.
Pi Network holds approximately $1.85 billion in market capitalisation, accounting for nearly 95% of the $1.94 billion mobile mining sector, according to market data.
The figures put Pi Network in a position of near-total dominance within its category, with no other project coming close in terms of market value. The mobile mining segment, which was largely overlooked in earlier crypto cycles, has grown into a tracked and traded market, with Pi Network as its central asset.
Whether that attention translates into longer-term utility and adoption remains an open question, with the network still working through its mainnet development and ecosystem build-out.
Pi Price Analysis
Pi is currently trading around $0.1797, up 4.32% over the past 24 hours, with trading volume near $34 million. Short-term action shows a slight 0.85% dip in the last hour, hinting at a brief cooldown after the recent push.
Pi is sitting in a make-or-break zone right now, around $0.17–$0.18. If buying continues and hype builds into events like Consensus 2026, there are chances it pushes higher toward $0.25 and possibly even $0.40 as some analysts expect.
Over 10.29 billion PI is already in circulation out of a 100 billion max supply. Meanwhile, exchange outflows are exceeding inflows by about 310,000 tokens, meaning more supply is moving off exchanges. Token unlock pressure is also easing, reducing immediate selling risk.
Upcoming Catalysts
The Protocol 22 upgrade has reached its deadline, introducing smart contracts and expanding what the network can actually do beyond mining.
Founders Chengdiao Fan and Nicolas Kokkalis are set to appear at Consensus 2026 in Miami. That kind of exposure usually brings fresh attention right when interest is already growing.
The network also reports over 18 million KYC-verified users, giving it one of the largest active user bases in crypto.
Why This Phase Feels Important
This isn’t just about a short-term price move. The market is starting to position itself for what comes next. If utility begins to kick in after the upgrade, Pi starts moving beyond just a mining narrative into something more functional.
One X user points out that it’s still early. Mining continues, rewards are still available, and there’s no reason to stop while billions of tokens remain unmined. He argues the real value will come from demand and usage, not just supply mechanics.
YoungHoon Kim, the world’s Highest IQ 276 holder, was recognized by the World Memory Championships and claims a cryptocurrency “supercycle” could begin within the next 30 days.
With Bitcoin currently grinding near $78,000 and market momentum building, the timing of the call has made it impossible to ignore.
Few Words. Maximum Impact.
In a recent X post, YoungHoon Kim stated that a full cryptocurrency supercycle will arrive within the next 30 days
While there was no chart attached. No data. No long thread breaking down the reasoning. Just this:
“I THINK WE WILL SEE THE SUPERCYCLE IN 30 DAYS. 100%”
The idea of a crypto supercycle refers to a long and powerful rally where prices rise much higher than usual market cycles. According to the prediction, Bitcoin and altcoins could enter a strong upward phase soon.
The claim quickly gained attention, especially as Bitcoin is already trading below $80K levels, and institutional demand remains steady
The Community Fires Back
The post quickly gained attention, crypto X. One user says, “Your track record of predictions is seriously lacking.”
Another X users comment that, “I am starting to doubt that you are the highest IQ person, Younghoon Kim.”
That reply got attention because it was not completely wrong.
On March 16, 2026, yhbryankimiq posted “XRP supercycle confirmed,” but that move never happened as strongly as claimed.
Then on March 29, 2026, he said, “Crypto is about to explode,” but the market mostly stayed quiet in the following weeks.
That makes three big predictions in just over a month. Each was shared with full confidence.
On the other hand, veteran crypto analysts like Michael van de Poppe are openly targeting $86,000 to $88,000 for Bitcoin over the next one to two weeks.
30 Days on the Clock
The prediction is now live. The clock is running. By late May 2026, the market will have given its verdict.
If Bitcoin breaks $100,000, altcoins go parabolic, and institutional money floods in at a scale nobody has seen before, YoungHoon Kim will have called one of the most important moments in crypto history with pinpoint timing.
If it does not happen, it joins the XRP supercycle, and the crypto explosion calls in a growing list of confident predictions that the market quietly ignored.
GPU prices have stopped getting worse, but they have not gotten much better either. Demand has fallen, prices remain elevated, and most graphics cards still sell well above MSRP worldwide.
Intel is not only rolling right now, but also operating smartly, driving its revenue up by salvaging CPU dies and selling them off to hungry AI customers. CPUs Demand Is So High Right Now That Intel Got an Unexpected Margin Lift By Selling Salvaged Chips CPU demand is going off the charts as AI inferencing continues to surge with the arrival of Agentic AI. In countless posts, we have stated why CPUs have become so important for AI, a market that was previously dominated by GPUs. Now, AI inferencing is going after CPUs and Memory, in a big way, and […]
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Today, Sony announced pricing changes for its PS5, PS5 Pro, and PS Portal consoles across South Korea and Southeast Asia, effective May 1, 2026. Sony cited "continued pressures in the global economic landscape" as the reason. This follows similar hikes already announced for North America, Brazil, Europe, and Japan, which came into effect on April 2, 2026. You can find tables detailing the new, higher pricing in each territory below. New PS5 Console Prices by Territory Territory PS5 PS5 Digital PS5 Pro South Korea ₩948,000 (~$693) ₩858,000 (~$627) ₩1,298,000 (~$949) Singapore SGD 849 (~$629) SGD 764 (~$566) SGD 1,167 (~$864) Malaysia MYR 2,799 […]
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has long been one of the worst-kept gaming secrets of the current console generation due to so many leaks over the years, but there's a second series remake that could earn the honor in the future. Following reports that Ubisoft is remaking other entries in its popular series besides its acclaimed fourth entry, known YouTuber and reliable series leaker j0nathan revealed that the very first Assassin's Creed game is getting a full remake. Unfortunately, the leaker didn't add much else on the matter other than that they have known since 2023. However, this is still […]
IteroGO offers GPS-synchronized audio walking tours in over 20 languages that work fully offline. You can browse city routes created by verified local guides, download them once, and enjoy audio playback as you reach each stop. Guides create tours from their phones, set prices, and earn revenue per download with a generous share, reaching travelers worldwide.
Laiki is a dating app where your AI does the searching and first conversations for you. Connect the apps you already use like music, books, calendar, and photos, so Laiki learns your taste, values, and the kind of person you click with. Your AI has real conversations with other people's AIs to test compatibility, and you receive a handful of vetted introductions each week with a full picture of why you fit: values, humor, life goals, and looks. If both want to meet, Laiki picks a time and place and then steps aside. No swiping, no openers to strangers, no burnout. Your raw data never leaves your device. Currently in private beta, launching on iOS and Android.
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OpenAI has reportedly partnered with chipmakers and a manufacturing firm to develop an AI-focused smartphone, with mass production targeted for 2028. According to a recent post from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company is working with MediaTek and Qualcomm to co-develop…
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Framework is steadily growing with new products and availability in more regions. The company's latest notebook is the Framework Laptop 13 Pro. Framework's continued march forward has apparently attracted Dell's attention, as Dell is allegedly trying to sabotage Framework's influencer marketing on X.
TerraMow has announced a new all-wheel-drive robot mower called the X AWD, featuring several innovations. Among other things, it eliminates the need for turning maneuvers and includes an interface for expansions.
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While may have outlined his three-fight plan, a new contender has entered the fray, with the hope of landing a shot at the Ukrainian and claiming the unified heavyweight world titles. Next month’s meeting with Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven kickstarts what Usyk anticipated to be a run of three fights of his choice before a […]
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Süper Lig'in 31. haftasında Galatasaray, sahasında Fenerbahçe'yi ağırladı. Galatasaray, RAMS Park'taki maçı 3-0'lık skorla kazanırken tabiri caizse şampiyonluk için geri sayıma geçti. Maçın ardından sevinen Galatasaraylı futbolcu Roland Sallai'ye ise Fenerbahçe forması giyen İsmail Yüksek tepki gösterdi.
Süper Lig'de dün akşam oynanan Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derbisinde gülen taraf 3-0'lık skorla Galatasaray oldu. Sarı-kırmızılılar bu galibiyetle şampiyonluğa bir adım daha yaklaşarak resmen geri sayımı başlattı. Fenerbahçe'de ise durumlar gittikçe kötüleşti. Şampiyonluk hayalleri bir kez daha yıkıldı. Yönetim çatırdamaya başlarken istifa sesleri yükseldi.
SEVİNMEYE TEPKİ
Öte yandan maç sonu ise gerginlikler yaşandı. İddialara göre, maç sonunda sevinen Galatasaraylı futbolcu Roland Sallai'ye İsmail Yüksek tepki gösterdi. İsmail Yüksek, Sallai'nin sevincini abartılı buldu ve karışmak istedi. Yine aynı iddialara göre İsmail Yüksek'in Sallai'ye ''saldırmak istediği'' belirtildi.
Ancak, İsmail Yüksek iki takımın oyuncuları tarafından sakinleştirilerek soyunma odasına götürüldü. Böylelikle büyük bir tartışmanın da önüne geçilmiş oldu.
MAÇ SONU AÇIKLAMA
Öte yandan İsmail Yüksek maç sonunda yaptığı açıklamayla da dikkat çekti:
-Anlatamıyorum ki. Konuşamıyorum! Dilim varmıyor artık. Çok üzücü bir durum. Geçen hafta da söyledim utanç verici bir durum! Bu kadar gelmiş taraftarın önünde böyle bir skor yakışmıyor. Bu armaya, oyuncu grubuna yakışmıyor. Özür dilemek istiyorum ama kabul göreceğini düşünmüyorum taraftarımız üzerinde! Bir şey diyemiyorum!
Kocaelispor maçı sonrası PFDK'ya sevk edilen ve 15 günlük hak mahrumiyeti cezası alan Galatasaray'ın teknik direktörü Okan Buruk'un oğlu Ali Yiğit Buruk bu kez de gündeme yaptığı paylaşımla geldi.
Süper Lig'de dün akşam kritik bir maç oynandı...Galatasaray'ın evinde Fenerbahçe'yi ağırladığı dev derbide 3-0'lık skorla gülen taraf Galatasaray oldu. Fenerbahçe şampiyonluk şansını elinin tersiyle itmiş oldu. Sarı-kırmızılılar ise bu galibiyet ile mutlu sona bir adım daha yaklaştı.
Öte yandan maçtan sonra Galatasaray cephesinden peş peşe paylaşımlar gelmeye devam etti. En dikkat çeken paylaşım ise Okan Buruk'un oğlu Ali Yiğit Buruk'tan geldi.
Fenerbahçe'nin Hollandalı oyuncusu Oosterwolde'un dün gece doğum günüydü. Maçtan sonra kutlayan Galatasaray tarafı oldu. Ali Yiğit Buruk yaptığı paylaşımla bir kez daha gündem oldu.
İşte o paylaşım:
?? Ali Yiğit Buruk'tan Jayden Oosterwolde'ye: Doğum günün kutlu olsun, afiyet olsun ????" pic.twitter.com/uV6TsfWjm4
— Peşindeyiz Galatasaray! (@PesindeyizApp) April 26, 2026
Sərbəst güləş üzrə Avropa çempionu olmuş Ali Tsokayev (92 kq) Albaniyada keçirilmiş yarışla bağlı təəssüratlarını bölüşüb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, o, Azərbaycan Güləş Federasiyasının mətbuat xidmətinə açıqlamasında bunları söyləyib:
“Bu, böyüklərin Avropa çempionatında debütüm idi. Keçən ay U-23 Avropa çempionatında qalib olmuşdum. Üzərimdə əməyi olan bütün məşqçi heyətinə, məni dəstəkləkləyənlərə öz minnətdarlığımı bildirirəm. Final görüşü istədiyim kimi başlamadı. Görüş bir az gərgin keçdi və bir qədər təzyiq var idi. Amma şükür, nəticə istədiyim kimi oldu. Gələn il, inşallah, 97 kq-da çıxış etməyi planlaşdırıram”.
Xatırladaq ki, Albaniyanın paytaxtı Tiranada keçirilmiş Avropa çempionatına 92 kq çəki dərəcəsində qatılmış Ali Tsokayev belaruslu Yaraslav Yadkovskiyə tam üstünlüklə (10:0) qalib gəldikdən sonra gürcüstanlı dünya və Avropa mükafatçısı Miriani Maysuradzeyə gücünü göstərib – 5:0. Tsokayev yarımfinalda isveçrəli Samuel Şerrerə də şans tanımayıb – 6:0. Ali finalda bolqarıstanlı Ahmed Batayevlə güləşib. Rəqibinə 5:3 hesabıyla qalib gələn güləşçimiz ilk dəfə qatıldığı Avropa çempionatında fəxri kürsünün ən yüksək pilləsinə qalxıb.
UEFA Başkanı Aleksander Ceferin, İtalya Futbol Federasyonu'nun kayyuma devredilmesi durumunda İtalyan kulüplerini UEFA turnuvalarından men edecek ve EURO 2032 ev sahipliğini İtalya'dan geri alacak.
Galatasaray Fenerbahçe'yi 3-0 mağlup ederek şampiyonluk için büyük avantaj yakaladı. Karşılaşma sonrası stat hoparlöründen Kerem Aktürkoğlu'nun sesleri yankılandı.
Joao Palhinha, kiralık olarak formasını giydiği Tottenham'ın küme düşmesi halinde Bayern Münih'e dönecek. Beşiktaş, durumunu yakından takip ettiği oyuncu için sezon sonunda hamle yapacak
Dünya Badminton Federasiyası (BWF) üzv federasiyalar üçün məlumat sessiyaları keçirib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, federasiyalara yeni 3×15 hesab sistemi barədə izah verilib. Bu məsələ Dünya Badminton Federasiyasının İllik Ümumi Yığıncağında səsverməyə çıxarılıb.
BWF üzvləri bu sistemi təsdiqləyib. Yeni formatın 4 yanvar 2027-ci ildən tətbiq olunması planlaşdırılır.
3×15 hesab sistemi təklifi badmintonda mövcud 3×21 formatının əvəzinə setlərin 15 xala qədər oynanılmasını nəzərdə tutur. Məqsəd oyunların daha dinamik, qısa və tamaşaçılar üçün daha cəlbedici olmasına nail olmaqdır.
BWF bununla bağlı təqdimat slaydları, rəsmi hesabatlar və digər məlumat materiallarını üzv assosiasiyalar üçün əlçatan edib.
Qeyd olunan linkə keçid etməklə yeni formatla bağlı bütün məlumatları əldə edə bilərsiniz.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, komandanın hücumçusu Kilian Mbappe sıradan çıxıb. Bu barədə İspaniya mətbuatı məlumat yayıb. Fransalı futbolçu zədə səbəbindən mövsümün qalan hissəsini buraxacaq.
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“Barselona”nın ulduzu Robert Levandovski mövsümün sonunda klubu tərk edəcək. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, 37 yaşlı polşalı forvardın kataloniyalılar ilə müqaviləsi […]
Türkiyə Superliqasının 31-ci turunda “Qalatasaray”a məğlub olan “Fənərbağça”da baş məşqçi Domeniko Tedeskonun gələcəyi sual altına düşüb. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, […]
“Liverpul”un futbolçusu Məhəmməd Salah üçün mövsüm erkən başa çatıb. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, misirli hücumçu Premyer Liqanın son turunda “Kristal Pelas”la oyunda bud […]
Johan Cruijff will forever be remembered as one of the best players and coaches of all time, but back in 1994, his Barcelona side underestimated Milan, who secured an historic 4-0 victory in the Champions League Final.
Forget the last 15 years during which Milan have failed to leave their mark on the Champions League: the Serie A giants remain one of the most successful clubs in the competition, having lifted the trophy seven times. Only Real Madrid have more with 15.
Back in the days, Milan were the team to beat as they reached three consecutive Champions League Finals from 1993 to 1995.
On May 18, 1984, they won the fifth Champions League in their history, beating Cruyff’s Barcelona 4-0 in Athens.
On the eve of the game, the Catalans’ coach looked beyond confident, telling the media: “Barcelona are favourites. We’re more complete, competitive and experienced than [in the 1992 final] at Wembley. Milan are nothing out of this world. They base their game on defence; we base ours on attack.”
Barcelona had already won the Champions League (European Cup) in 1992, beating Sampdoria at Wembley Stadium.
Back then, it was already possible to gamble on football matches, but nowadays, an overview of the latest betting bonuses massively helps football fans spot the best offers, especially the wagering rules and limits, so they can make smarter, more confident bets.
Cruijff’s words surely produced a positive effect in the Milan squad, as Marcel Desailly, one of the legendary players of that Rossoneri team, said in a recent interview with the Italian Football Podcast.
“His words helped a lot. The coach didn’t give the speech at the hotel but in the dressing room, with the assistant coach who had a copy of the newspaper with the quote that we were crap,” said the former France defender.
“What are you talking about? We had Donadoni, Albertini, Savicevic and me all international players. So, saying that Milan wasn’t anything special as we were about to win the Serie A, really motivated us.
MADRID, SPAIN – APRIL 20: Fabio Capello attends the Sporting Mixed Zone ahead of Laureus World Sports Awards Madrid 2025 at Palacio De Cibeles on April 20, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images for Laureus)
“Capello and his assistants were very, very smart by giving us the adrenaline to make the difference. Barcelona was a bit deluded in their motivation. Because they had already won La Liga a couple of weeks earlier.
“So, automatically their adrenaline had dropped, so to bring back into the system the motivation back against a Milan that was like a wolf, they couldn’t make it. And also, with an amazing Marcel Desailly, they couldn’t make it [laughs].”
The last time Milan won the Champions League was in 2007, again in Athens, but against Liverpool, with Carlo Ancelotti in charge.
Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney insists he’s now backing Arsenal to edge Manchester City in this season’s title race.
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The Gunners beat Newcastle at the weekend to go back to the top of the Premier League table, though Man City have a game in hand.
It’s looking extremely close between the two teams, but Rooney feels that Bukayo Saka’s return from injury will be “huge” for Mikel Arteta’s side, while he also feels City will slip up due to having harder fixtures.
Arsenal have not been in great form in recent times, and lost that crucial six-pointer at the Etihad Stadium, but they have also been without key players due to injuries.
Wayne Rooney on Arsenal’s title hopes
Not only is Saka’s return a boost, but Arsenal have also had to cope without the likes of Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz for most of the campaign.
It’s perhaps not totally unfair to say that if AFC had had a fully fit squad more often then they might well have been further ahead by this point.
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Rooney clearly feels Saka coming back is a big boost for the north Londoners, as he backed them to just about get over the line due to City having one or two tough fixtures they could slip up in.
“Bukayo Saka has been great for Arsenal over the last few years – maybe this season he hasn’t hit the heights but he’s such an important player,” Rooney said on his BBC podcast.
“So to get him back at this time of the season is going to be massive, it’s going to be really important. He’s clearly one of the leaders in there so to have him back is huge.”
He added: “Having someone you know you can rely on out there is really important and all those Arsenal players know they can rely on Saka and know what he brings to the team.
“It’s huge for Arsenal, absolutely huge.”
Discussing the title race between Arsenal and City, Rooney added: “I think Arsenal will win the title and I do think they will win it.
“I thought the Newcastle game was so important and thought if they won that they could go on to win every game. If they didn’t they could have fallen apart but to win that game was so big.
“Man City have a couple of tricky games in there and I can see them slipping up once or twice. Man City have the trickier fixtures, if you look at Arsenal’s last four games they are really winnable, all four of them.
“The City ones, there’s a couple you think they could slip up, like Everton and Bournemouth. I give the edge to Arsenal based on the fixtures.
“Man City’s fixtures are a little bit trickier than Arsenal’s – I think Arsenal will win every game and Man City will mess up once or twice.”
Arsenal can still have a great season
Arsenal are clearly not out of this title race just yet, despite their recent blip, and they also have a Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid to look forward to.
For all the criticism Arteta has had over the team’s playing style and for all the talk of the side bottling it, there’s still a potential Premier League and Champions League double on the cards for the club.
It’s very fine margins, though, with MCFC also perhaps on course for a memorable campaign as they could win a domestic treble.
Pep Guardiola’s side have already beaten Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final, and won this weekend to set up an FA Cup final clash against Chelsea.
Still, it seems Farioli remains one of a number of leading candidates for the Blues, who plan to contact him and Andoni Iraola over taking over as the permanent successor to Liam Rosenior, who was sacked last week.
Who is Francesco Farioli and is he the right pick for Chelsea manager?
Farioli may be relatively young, but he has a decent amount of experience in the game, so could be a good option for Chelsea as they try to rebuild next season.
Currently at Porto, Farioli has also managed Nice and Ajax, and has been influenced a lot by Roberto De Zerbi after working as part of his coaching staff earlier in his career.
Farioli’s tactics are fairly typical of the modern game, with a lot of emphasis on dictating the play through control of possession, whilst also pressing aggressively without the ball. This has often seen his teams dominate games and concede few goals.
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It’s certainly easy to see that kind of style working well for CFC, though of course it will be a bigger challenge for him trying that in the Premier League.
Francesco Farioli not keen on Chelsea project
This is not the first time we’ve heard reports about Farioli not being keen on Chelsea, though, as O Jogo also made this claim earlier this season.
There will likely be a few other managers out there who are concerned about how the club’s project has gone under this ownership, so that’s something Chelsea will have to work around.
It seems they remain big admirers of Farioli so might try again to convince him, but perhaps they should also focus more on managers who are keen to buy into what these owners are trying to do.
Dutch manager has failed in all competitions this season
It’s a harsh assessment, but one that highlights the massive stakes at play.
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Following the disastrous recruitment missteps of the previous summer window, Liverpool’s top brass knows they cannot afford another expensive mistake.
Injury issues have not helped Slot this season but the manager has failed to get his summer signings going after spending heavily on them.
The style of football is what the fans don’t want to see at Anfield. It is failing miserably to get results as well as contributing to changing the over all mood at the club.
Yes, Slot has managed to stabilize the team recently. Grinding out three consecutive league wins is no small feat in a tense, high-pressure top-four race. But for many supporters and critics alike, the general decline hasn’t truly been reversed.
The England international has done well on loan at Barca this season, but it seems the Catalan giants have not yet made a final decision on whether or not to keep him.
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That’s according to reliable journalist Matteo Moretto, who says that there have recently been new talks between Man Utd and Barcelona to try to resolve the issue…
El futuro de Marcus Rashford en el Barcelona aún no está decidido al 100% ya que el club sigue valorando cuál es la mejor opción tanto desde el punto de vista deportivo como económico.
El futbolista quiere quedarse en el Barcelona. El Manchester United no bajará del precio… pic.twitter.com/4N84aJ2gzU
Posting on X, Moretto said: “Marcus Rashford’s future at Barcelona is not yet 100% decided, as the club continues to evaluate what the best option is from both a sporting and economic perspective. The footballer wants to stay at Barcelona. Manchester United will not go below the price agreed upon in the summer. Recently, there have been contacts between the parties, and Hansi Flick will have some weight in the final decision.”
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It’s perhaps slightly surprising that Barcelona are unsure about keeping Rashford, who looks like a reliable option to have in their squad after a record of 13 goals and nine assists in all competitions.
The 28-year-old probably isn’t the cheapest option out there due to United being stubborn about their demands for him, while he’s also likely on high wages.
Barcelona have financial issues that have restricted them in the market in recent years, but it’s also hard to imagine they’ll find a better option than this without paying a lot of money.
Liverpool are ready to make major changes at the end of the season.
With both Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson announcing that they will leave the Premier League side at the end of the season, the Reds will be out in the market for new players and signings who can bring them out of the crisis they suffered this season.
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Naturally, both Salah and Robertson are attracting attention from some top clubs ahead of the summer transfer window.
Atletico Madrid join race for Liverpool defender
Atletico Madrid have joined Tottenham in the race to sign Robertson, according to the Daily Record.
The left-back recently announced his decision to leave the club at the end of the season.
The Scottish defender claimed that it is time for him to ‘move on’ and look for a new challenge in his career.
The Spanish giants were heavily linked with the Scotland captain last summer after Liverpool brought in Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth for £40m to be his long-term successor.
While a move didn’t materialise then, Atletico has now revived their interest, sensing a massive opportunity to grab a world-class talent on a free transfer.
From a tactical perspective, it feels like a match made in heaven. Robertson’s relentless energy, grit, and defensive tenacity perfectly align with Simeone’s philosophy.
Plus, with Atletico currently sitting comfortably in La Liga’s top four and fresh off a massive Champions League quarter-final aggregate win over Barcelona, they can offer the high-stakes European football Robertson still craves.
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Spurs have been chasing Robertson since January and were reportedly in advanced talks to keep him in the Premier League. However, their league position and possible relegation could derail their move for Robertson.
With the 2026 World Cup kicking off on June 11, the Scotland captain reportedly wants his club future entirely sorted before he heads to the tournament.
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It’s been a bit of a chaotic period under this Chelsea ownership, with the west Londoners also going through other big-name managers like Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, and Mauricio Pochettino.
Merson now feels Chelsea need to be moving for Howe, who he feels is likely to have teams queuing up for him if he ends up leaving his role at St James’ Park any time soon.
Chelsea urged to hire Eddie Howe as manager
Merson says he’s a big fan of Howe and thinks he’d be ideal for Chelsea, though the pundit also said he could see him being a future England manager.
“I’m a big fan of Eddie Howe,” Merson told Sky Sports, as quoted by the Metro. “If Eddie Howe leaves Newcastle, they’ll be queueing up around the corner for him.
“So that tells you everything. Be careful Newcastle. Chelsea would take him tomorrow morning, you’d like to think so wouldn’t you?
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“In my opinion, they’d take him all day long. We’re talking about a next England manager, 100 per cent.
“As I say, everybody would be queueing up to take Eddie Howe, he’s a top manager.”
Eddie Howe’s credentials
Howe has done an impressive job at Newcastle, and was also highly regarded during his time as Bournemouth manager.
The 48-year-old has twice guided Newcastle to Champions League qualification, while he also ended the club’s decades-long wait for silverware last season when they beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.
Howe record
Wins
Draws
Losses
Win %
Bournemouth
143
77
136
40.2
Newcastle
110
47
70
48.5
It’s certainly easy to imagine Howe being successful at a top club, but Chelsea is a unique kind of challenge at the moment due to the ownership and recruitment structure.
A lot of good managers have found it difficult at CFC, and even if Howe might be a tempting option for the Blues, he might do well to wait and see if any other options become available.
Manchester United, for example, might be a better environment for him, and that’s another big job that could realistically be an opportunity for him this summer.
Arsenal and Chelsea scouts were reportedly present as Ajax winger Mika Godts scored one of the goals of the season at the weekend.
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If you haven’t already seen this absolutely sublime solo effort, stop what you’re doing and take a look at the clip below for an example of what an outrageous talent this guy is…
It’s no wonder they’re comparing Godts to Chelsea legend Eden Hazard, and it seems only a matter of time before someone snaps the young Belgium international up.
According to TEAMtalk, scouts from both Arsenal and Chelsea were watching this game, with the Gunners described as having long had Godts on their radar.
And if the 20-year-old needed one statement goal to really launch his career and convince everyone what he’s capable of, this may have been it.
The report also notes that Godts has 16 goals and 12 assists this season – hugely impressive numbers for such a young player, and just the kind of consistent end-product that Mikel Arteta’s side have been missing from inconsistent performers like Gabriel Martinelli, and even from star player Bukayo Saka, who has had a lot of injury problems.
Mika Godts looks like just what Arsenal are missing
Arsenal have had issues in attack all season, even if they have done well to grind out results that have helped them to the top of the Premier League table and the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Godts looks like a player with the skills to make AFC a bit more unpredictable, with that quick footwork and flair that can change a game in an instant.
Still only 20 years of age, he will also surely continue to improve, so would make sense as a smart long-term investment for a number of top clubs.
Chelsea are well known for focusing on recruiting elite young talents, so would also do well to snap him up if possible, though he’d surely favour the Emirates Stadium right now if he wants to play in the Champions League and challenge for major silverware.
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Inter Milan are interested in signing Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa in the summer transfer window, according to Football Insider. Martinez could have left Villa last summer, and the future of the Argentine goalkeeper is once again the subject of speculation. Inter are looking for a goalkeeper to replace Yann Sommer, and Martinez reportedly ‘ticks […]
Nottingham Forest could sell Morgan Gibbs-White in the summer transfer window, if they get relegated to the Championship at the end of the season, according to Football Insider. Journalist Pete O’Rourke said: “He’s a top player, Gibbs-White, 12 goals in the Premier League. That’s the most of any midfielder in the league. “Look, Forest have […]
Inter Milan are interested in signing Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa in the summer transfer window, according to Football Insider. Martinez could have left Villa last summer, and the future of the Argentine goalkeeper is once again the subject of speculation. Inter are looking for a goalkeeper to replace Yann Sommer, and Martinez reportedly ‘ticks […]
Nottingham Forest could sell Morgan Gibbs-White in the summer transfer window, if they get relegated to the Championship at the end of the season, according to Football Insider. Journalist Pete O’Rourke said: “He’s a top player, Gibbs-White, 12 goals in the Premier League. That’s the most of any midfielder in the league. “Look, Forest have […]
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke does not want Pascal Struijk to leave in the summer transfer window, according to Football Insider. The defender has been on the books of Leeds since January 2020 and is under contract at the Premier League club until the summer of 2027. Journalist Pete O’Rourke said: “From Leeds’ perspective, they […]
LUCKNOW: Sunil Narine has fought and won countless battles for Kolkata Knight Riders over the years. On Sunday night at the Ekana Stadium, the veteran once again stood at the centre of chaos, entrusted with bowling the first Super Over of this IPL in a finish that swung violently till the final delivery.
Lucknow Super Giants, who had clawed their way back to force the tie, erred immediately by sending an out-of-form Nicholas Pooran to open the Super Over alongside Aiden Markram. Narine flighted the first ball, bowled it slower through the air, and rattled Pooran’s stumps to decisively tilt the contest.
Markram followed three balls later, dismissed on the boundary as Rovman Powell and Rinku Singh combined to complete a superb catch under pressure. With just two runs to defend, Rinku needed only one ball, calmly striking it away to seal KKR’s second win of the season.
Earlier, chasing 156, LSG endured a roller-coaster pursuit. Brief contributions from Rishabh Pant and Ayush Badoni offered hope, but wickets continued to stall momentum. With 17 required in the final over, Kartik Tyagi bowled two costly waist-high no-balls and conceded sixes, yet still had seven to defend off the final ball. Mohammed Shami, however, held his nerve, dispatching a length delivery into the stands to force the Super Over.
The defeat will sting LSG fast bowler Mohsin Khan the most. The left-armer delivered a sensational spell of 5/23, nearly dragging his side home by restricting KKR to 155/7 despite a defiant 83 from Rinku Singh (51 balls).
Mohsin ripped through the top order early, dismissing Tim Seifert for a duck and removing captain Ajinkya Rahane for 10 in successive maiden overs. The innings took an extraordinary turn when Angkrish Raghuvanshi became only the fourth batter in IPL history to be given out obstructing the field, reacting angrily as he walked off.
With KKR struggling at 31/4, Cameron Green and Rinku steadied things before Mohsin struck again. Rinku then launched a late counter-attack, adding 62 off 29 balls with Narine, including four consecutive sixes in the final over, to give KKR a fighting total, one that ultimately proved just enough in a night where Narine’s calm proved decisive once more.
Brief Scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 155/7 (Rinku Singh 83 not out, Cameron Green 34; Mohsin Khan 5/23) tied with LSG 155/8 (A Markram 31, R Pant 42, A Badoni 24; V Arora 2/24, V Chakravarthy 2/33). Super Over LSG 1/2 in 0.3 overs lost to KKR 2/0 in 0.1 over.
In modern Formula 1, continuity is considered the ultimate virtue. Drivers like Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen define an era with a single team over years, sometimes over a decade. But behind the glamour of these long-term marriages hides a completely different species of racing driver: the nomads.
Drivers whose careers read like an prologued journey through the paddock and whose mailing addresses changed almost as quickly as their sets of tyres.
But who stayed the shortest in one place? We have undertaken a statistical analysis to identify the drivers who changed teams most frequently in relation to their total grand prix starts.
Of course, a line has to be drawn somewhere; otherwise, Jack Aitken would win by default, having averaged only one race per team – having only driven one single race in his entire career at Sakhir 2020 as a Williams stand-in.
For our ranking, we have therefore set the requirement that a driver must have switched teams at least three times to truly count as a nomad. Additionally, the requirement was that they must have made at least one start in this millennium – because Formula 1 statistics become increasingly diluted the further back you go.
This is also what placed our #1 on this list, as the driver only competed in two grands prix in the 2000s – all others were prior to that.
Had we set the threshold slightly lower, namely at two switches, Sakon Yamamoto would have won, having competed in 21 starts for three teams: Super Aguri, Spyker, and HRT. This gives the Japanese driver an average of only seven races per team - exactly how many he drove as a replacement for each of the three squads.
In this regard, the sheer number of teams was actually not the deciding factor and would only have led to confusion, as the example of 10th-placed Heikki Kovalainen shows: Renault, McLaren, and Lotus are clear. And then?
Podium: second place Heikki Kovalainen, Renault
Podium: second place Heikki Kovalainen, Renault
Caterham was officially a different team than Lotus, but the Finn didn't have to go looking for a new apartment. And does his appearance for Lotus – the other Lotus, namely Lotus Renault – in 2013 count as a new team or still as Renault?
Because of this, we kept it simple: If a driver changed addresses, it counts as a new team, even if they had been there once before.
To find out who switched even more often than Kovalainen, read on here.
The top 10 nomads of modern F1
10. Heikki Kovalainen: 4 teams in 111 races
His career began in 2007 at Renault as the successor to Fernando Alonso; a year later, he replaced the Spaniard once again, this time at McLaren. Driving alongside Lewis Hamilton, who became world champion in 2008, he managed only a single grand prix victory in Hungary. In 2010, the Finn found a new home at the newcomer Lotus but had no real chance of scoring points for three years. In 2013, he returned once more to Enstone, where he filled in for Kimi Raikkonen for two races at Lotus Renault (which was indeed a different team).
The Mercedes junior entered F1 in 1994 with Sauber, where he stayed for three years. In 1997, he moved to Williams, where he became world championship runner-up as Damon Hill’s successor. However, the German was mostly overshadowed there by Jacques Villeneuve and moved on to Jordan. He experienced his best years there and was a long-term contender in the 1999 title race. In 2001, however, he was fired during the season and moved to Prost in an exchange with Jean Alesi, where he drove for five races. His next stop, Arrows, shut down during the 2002 season before the circle closed with a farewell season at Sauber.
One wouldn’t have thought the Pole would appear here after the first years of his career, as he remained loyal to BMW-Sauber for three and a half years after his 2006 debut. In 2010, he moved to Renault, where he stayed for only one year – though involuntarily. His horrific rally accident before the 2011 season initially ended his F1 career. However, Kubica fought his way back and completed a comeback season with Williams in 2018, which proved to be sobering in an underperforming car. In 2021, he also stepped in for Kimi Raikkonen at Alfa Romeo for two races.
The classic pay-driver of the 90s, who nevertheless performed quite respectably. Despite modest prior success, he was signed by Forti in 1995 because he brought a lot of money from Brazil. He was actually supposed to stay there for three years, but Forti was a hapless case. Consequently, Diniz moved to Ligier after just one year and then to Arrows a year later, where he managed to last two years. The Brazilian also stayed for two years at his final stop, Sauber, before his career ended following a scoreless 2000 season.
Herbert also just barely qualifies for this list due to his final season in 2000. The Briton was dismissed by Flavio Briatore after only a few races at Benetton in 1989, had a brief stint at Tyrrell, and was then active for Lotus until 1994, before completing one start for Ligier. After returning to Benetton alongside Michael Schumacher, he moved via Sauber to Stewart, where he took a surprise victory at the Nurburgring in 1999. Jaguar bought the team, but after the 2000 season, Herbert’s time in Formula 1 was over.
After stints at Arrows and Jaguar, driving two seasons for each, he signed as a test driver for McLaren, where he replaced Juan Pablo Montoya, first temporarily and then permanently at the end of 2006. This was the Spaniard's most successful period in F1. De la Rosa moved back into the second tier to make way for Lewis Hamilton, but received an unexpected comeback chance at Sauber in 2010. He drove his final season in 2012 for the hopelessly outclassed backmarker team HRT.
Originally, he was supposed to share a cockpit with Christian Klien during Red Bull’s 2005 entry, but Liuzzi only got four races and became one of the drivers for Red Bull’s new second team, Toro Rosso, the following year. After being outperformed there by Sebastian Vettel, he joined Force India as a test driver. In mid-2009, he replaced Giancarlo Fisichella, who had moved to Ferrari as Felipe Massa’s replacement, and remained on board through 2010. In 2011, there was one final, unsuccessful swan song season with backmarker HRT.
After two races for Lotus at the end of 1994, the Finn actually seemed stable. Three years at Tyrrell was an enormously long time for a driver in the 90s, but after that, Salo became the king of team-switching. He first went to Arrows for one season before 1999 became his major year. That season, he became the ultimate "super-sub" for two teams: first replacing Ricardo Zonta at BAR for three races, and then Michael Schumacher at Ferrari - he famously handed a victory in Hockenheim over to team-mate Eddie Irvine. Salo then found a seat at Sauber and helped Toyota enter F1 in 2002.
The Dutchman was passed around the midfield in the 90s. With Benetton, Simtek, Footwork, Tyrrell and Stewart, he drove for five teams in five years between 1994 and 1998. In 1999, he also nearly became the replacement at Jordan for Damon Hill, who wanted to quit spontaneously. Arrows is the only team where Verstappen stayed for more than a year, but with only three points-scoring finishes in two years, success remained elusive. After a scoreless 2003 season with Minardi, he bid farewell to F1.
The Italian still holds the record for the most world championship starts without ever scoring a point. With Scuderia Italia (1993), Minardi (1995), Forti (1996), and Minardi again (1999), the machinery was simply too poor – though it almost worked out at the Nurburgring in 1999. In the current millennium, Badoer drove only two races: in 2009 as a replacement for the injured Felipe Massa. Ferrari rewarded him at the time for his long years of service as a test driver, but the comeback turned into a disaster, and Badoer was taken out of the car after only two races.
MADRID — Seven days in, the Madrid Open and the players left in the field could really use a break.
First, there was the torrent of withdrawals, some for acute injuries and some for players managing their bodies, a month out from the climax of the clay swing at the French Open.
Then came the pollen, yellow and white snowflakes of allergy-inducing grains from the vegetation around the Caja Mágica, the tennis center roughly six miles south of Madrid’s city center. It swirled in the air and fell on the courts, sometimes in a blanket, reddening players’ eyes and irritating their throats.
Then came the sickness.
The 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys withdrew due to illness April 24. Marin Čilić, the 2014 U.S. Open champion, gave João Fonseca a walkover the following day. Liudmila Samsonova gave Linda Nosková one too.
“Hi everyone,” Čilić said on social media.
“Unfortunately, I got food poisoning yesterday. After trying to recover all night, my body is unfortunately exhausted and not at the proper level to get into the battle.”
On the same day, seven-time Grand Slam champion Iga Świątek retired in the third set of her match against Ann Li, having appeared to struggle in her practice and throughout the match. “The last two days were pretty terrible. I think I have some virus, so it’s been some hours, fine, some hours, pretty bad,” she said in a mixed zone afterward.
Sunday, it was Coco Gauff’s turn. She was puking in the bathroom between the first two sets of her three-set win over Sorana Cîrstea. Gauff teared up on and off throughout the afternoon on Court Manolo Santana. She said it was the worst she has felt on a tennis court — ever.
Gauff said she felt “a little weird” Saturday night but woke up feeling fine. The nausea came on in the middle of the first set on a sun-splashed day in the Spanish capital. Then came some actual throwing up, in the bathroom and at the side of the court.
“I just didn’t want to throw up in the middle of a point, which I almost did at one point,” she told a huddle of reporters.
She took some pills, which helped manage the queasiness. She told herself just to get through the second set so she wouldn’t have to quit. But then Cîrstea started to spray errors and grow frustrated, and then Gauff found herself surviving the second set and cruising through the third.
“It’s just a virus going around between the city and then I think the players got it, and then I think I got it from another player that was sick and their locker is close to mine,” Gauff said.
“What can you do except just try to get through it.”
Gauff’s diagnosis of herself and the tournament put her in line with the event’s organizers, who have had to work overtime trying to tamp down rumors that the food in the player dining area might be the source of the problems.
“There is no issue with the food. It is a gastroenteritis virus, like any other virus, but the food is perfectly OK,” Rafael Plaza, a spokesperson for the tournament, wrote in a message Sunday.
The intestinal issue comes on the heels of the pollen struggles that have plagued the tournament in the past. Jannik Sinner mentioned it after a loss to Alexei Popyrin in 2021, and even for players who do not have severe hayfever, it can have enough of an impact on congestion and breathing to cause issues.
There is plenty of overgrowth around the Caja Mágica, and a warm and dry spring has compounded the problem this year. Plaza said this has been the worst season for pollen in years. Climate change has made matters worse, extending the growing season. Some rain would help, and there is some in the forecast for the second week, but there isn’t much the tournament can do to make it better. Madrid’s largely idyllic climate this time of year comes with some disadvantages.
Dr. Robby Sikka, the medical director for the Professional Tennis Players Association, said pollen-induced allergic reactions can go well beyond itchy eyes and runny noses.
“For athletes, it can be a performance issue,” Sikka wrote in a text message last week. “When pollen counts are high, players are breathing huge volumes of air during long, high-intensity matches. If they are mouth-breathing, they bypass some of the nose’s natural filtering system, so more pollen and irritants can reach the lower airways. That can trigger inflammation, coughing, chest tightness, or exercise-induced bronchospasm.”
Gauff gave her on-court interview with an ice towel around her neck, putting it to her mouth several times as she spoke to try to avoid spreading it, and also keeping it close in case there were any lingering symptoms about to emerge. She said hydration and rest were on her schedule for the afternoon following the 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 win over Cirstea.
Caty McNally, who saved a match point with a nasty backhand drop shot before prevailing over Kateřina Siniaková in three sets, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(2), said the virus has spared her so far. After two years of injuries and surgery, McNally will make a rare appearance in the round of 16 at a WTA 1000 Monday and isn’t taking any chances.
“My only diet on site is chicken and rice,” McNally said. “There are a couple of good places that I’ve been eating, back by the hotel, and I’ve just been keeping it really simple, like really simple foods.”
Welcome back to the Monday Tennis Briefing, where The Athletic will explain the stories behind the stories from the past week on court.
This week, yet another player could not put away a cramping opponent, a top star made positive moves on a crucial shot, and a college tennis program was axed as the name, image and likeness (NIL) era continues to impact the sport.
If you’d like to follow our fantastic tennis coverage, click here.
How can tennis stars stay composed when an injured opponent is on the other side of the net?
Ugo Humbert is not the first player to lose to someone who can barely move around the court, and he will not be the last.
On Saturday at the Madrid Open, Humbert’s opponent, Térence Atmane, was sprawled on his back in agony, covered in brick dust, and two points from losing the second set in a tiebreak. That would have meant playing a third set, which looked entirely beyond Atmane. Humbert had sportingly provided a chair for his opponent before the tiebreak, perhaps in a moment of French camaraderie, and perhaps feeling that there was no chance he could lose the set.
Well: He could.
Serving up 7-6(3), 6-6(2-5), Atmane was so stricken that he could not even complete his service motion, swatting forehands into the service box instead of even trying to hit a regulation over- or underarm serve. It worked the first time …
… So he did it again, and it worked again. In reply, Humbert did what most tennis players do against an injured opponent. He played just as he might have done if Atmane could move properly, using the same shots and making the same errors. This dynamic plays out across tournaments, big and small, as the physically compromised player is forced to do as much as they can on every ball with minimum exertion, while the opponent can get lost in overthinking.
Keeping the ball in the court feels overwhelmingly important, so changing strategy — using more angles or drop shots — feels too risky. So after Atmane won both of his service points despite not hitting a proper serve at all, Humbert gathered himself to hit two of his own.
On the first point, he missed a first serve, made the second, but played too conservatively. In the second point, he made a first serve, but he played the rally too cautiously again and missed at the net.
That left Atmane serving at 7-6(3), 6-6(6-5), and by moving about during the previous two points, he had unlocked his muscles just enough to hit a real serve just when he needed one: On match point. He made it, ripped another backhand and Humbert missed again to lose the match. Then came an unsurprisingly cool handshake, before Atmane sheepishly held his hands palms to the ground, as if to apologize for the win.
Humbert had a case for complaint: Atmane was allowed to go well past the allotted 25 seconds between points on several occasions without a warning, committing enough time violations that he could have received a point penalty, or perhaps two. But when those points started, Humbert found his brain scrambled by what was going on across the net. While Atmane’s limited movement focused his mind on what he had to do, Humbert found himself with a buffet of tantalizing options, but was far more paralyzed than the opponent who had been writhing in the clay minutes before sealing a 7-6(3), 7-6(5) victory.
— James Hansen
Has Iga Świątek started to turn a corner on a shot that can limit her on the court?
At January’s Australian Open, Iga Świątek spoke about the difficulty of making fundamental changes mid-season. “I see Carlos Alcaraz, for example, changing his serve every year,” she joked in a news conference. For her, Świątek said, these things take “much longer.”
The seven-time Grand Slam champion was speaking after losing in the quarterfinals to Elena Rybakina, a match that showcased the difference between the two players’ serves. Rybakina’s serve gave her a platform to attack, or it simply won points outright; Świątek’s meant pretty much every point began at neutral. The disadvantage eventually took its toll in an unraveling straight-sets defeat, a recurring theme during Świątek’s uneven start to 2026.
She parted ways with coach Wim Fissette in March, only eight months after they had won Wimbledon together, and with new coach Francisco Roig in tow, Świątek has set about making a change she knew she needed, but that is so hard to implement during the relentless tennis season.
At the end of March, footage emerged of Świątek working on her serve before the Stuttgart Open, bending her right arm at the elbow earlier in her swing to abbreviate it, get more power, and reduce the number of places in the motion her kinetic chain can be interrupted.
After beating Daria Snigur to reach the third round of the Madrid Open, Świątek admitted that in Stuttgart, she had been caught between her old habits and serving the way she and Roig were working on, during a run that ended in a semifinal. But in her first match in Madrid, Świątek said she was properly implementing the changes for the first time. A 6-1, 6-2 win saw the world No. 4 make 70 percent of her first serves and win 78 percent of those points.
TC's Alison Riske-Amritraj breaking down Iga's slight service adjustment.
Biggest change is Iga's starting position which gives her an earlier elbow bend in that serving arm. pic.twitter.com/nLqGNmOgO9
“I was supposed to serve like that in Stuttgart, but it was on and off!” Świątek told Sky Sports.
“So, the last few days on the practice court, I was really making sure my elbow was in the right position and today was the first match where I felt it was how I wanted.
“The serve was great. I need to get used to the movement and that was a good step forward.
“In Stuttgart, I thought it was going to be a bit easier for my body to remember it on its own but I realised that no, I still need to think about it a lot.
“I was naive to think that way because one week is not enough for the body to remember the movements.
“I don’t care that it is the middle of the season because maybe it wasn’t that visible but we adjusted my serve a few times a year last year and it wasn’t a comfortable situation for me when I constantly needed to change something.
“But still, the changes weren’t what we wanted in the end, they were just steps forward. Now I have made a big change, but I can stay with it if it goes well and adjust little things, so I have much more belief in it.
“I did not feel comfortable in Indian Wells and Miami with my serve, so that was the best time to change it, just because of the feeling. I did not care it was before the clay, I wanted to feel good on my serve.”
Improvements to Świątek’s serve would make a substantial difference to her prospects. Yes, she has a complex game, but the serve is absolutely fundamental for any player. When she won Wimbledon last year, Świątek won points on her first serve more frequently (78 percent) than any other player who played more than one match.
— Charlie Eccleshare
What did a huge celebration mean for Stefanos Tsitsipas?
On the face of it, a 27-year-old two-time Grand Slam finalist beating an unheralded world No. 90 would not be a cause for big celebration.
But when that former Australian Open and French Open finalist is Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has almost dropped out of the world’s top 100, every victory feels like a major success.
Tsitsipas was within a set of winning the 2021 French Open but is now the world No. 80, and hadn’t won a match on clay this year until he beat American lucky loser Patrick Kypson Thursday. He did so by the narrowest of margins, eking out a 3-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(4) win to reach the second round of the Madrid Open.
When it was over, Tsitsipas yelled before raising his arms aloft. After shaking Kypson’s hand, he put his finger to his ear, asking the crowd for more noise. He then gestured for more and raised his hand again in celebration.
Not so long ago, it would have been unthinkable to see Tsitsipas wildly celebrating progress to the second round of an ATP Masters 1000. Even needing to play a first-round match at an event like this would have been hard to imagine, given that the 32 seeded players are given a bye. That was always Tsitsipas, until his ranking dropped from No. 30 to No. 80 over a couple of months from late February to last week, as points from last year fell off his total.
A chronic back injury, uncertainty over his best racket and a loss of confidence have combined to leave Tsitsipas a long way from the days when he was tipped as a major champion in the making as a teenager. He admitted a few months ago that in 2025, those persistent lower back problems forced him to consider retirement.
Celebrating so passionately against Kypson can be seen as a reflection of how far Tsitsipas has fallen, but few would begrudge him the moment after a rough year. Victory did not come easily, either, and he could be seen berating his father, Apostolos, during a change of ends. Apostolos was also given an all-too-common coaching violation.
But his son backed up the win by beating the increasingly consistent Alexander Bublik 6-2, 7-5 in the following round and setting up a match against Spanish qualifier Daniel Mérida.
Charlie Eccleshare
Why did one college sports program axe tennis?
So much of the talk around college tennis these days centers on what a great training ground it is for the professional tours.
With the new rules of college sports allowing athletes to get paid, promising tennis players in their late teens and early 20s can make money, face solid competition, not worry about paying for rent or food or a coaching staff, and train in top-notch facilities while getting an education, if they are interested in doing so.
The flip side of all that is an increasingly competitive and expensive system for sustaining a top-level tennis program. As the revenue sports (football and basketball) adopt a similar approach, competing meaningfully in those already expensive sports becomes even pricier. Consequently, resources can be pulled into them from elsewhere in colleges’ programs.
Some top tennis programs have benefactors who can help cover the costs. The programs without outside investment struggle to compete — or, in the case of the University of Arkansas, decide they don’t want to anymore.
“After considerable reflection and thoughtful discussion, we have made the very difficult decision to discontinue our men’s and women’s tennis programs,” vice chancellor and director of athletics Hunter Yurachek announced late last week.
“We understand the disappointment and emotion this news will bring to many. The landscape of college athletics continues to evolve, requiring us to make challenging choices as we balance competitive opportunities, resources and the long-term sustainability of our department.”
Razorback tennis, which produced a bevy of players with pro tour rankings points, will disappear at the end of the current season. The decision has sparked an outcry that college sports in general, and college tennis specifically, have already reached an inflection point. John Isner, who played for the University of Georgia, said that the post-name, image and likeness (NIL) “college landscape is out of control” on X.
“Flat out ruining college sports and now a very proud men’s and women’s program is being cut altogether because of all this BS. This is a travesty.”
Patrick McEnroe, who led player development at the U.S. Tennis Association from 2008 to 2014, described the situation as “very serious”.
Current players at the University of Arkansas will have their scholarships honored through the completion of their degree programs if they choose to remain at the university, Urachek said. They will also continue to have access to the support services. They just can’t play intercollegiate tennis anymore.
— Matt Futterman
Shot of the week
Aryna Sabalenka described this single-handed backhand winner as the “shot of her life.” She probably isn’t wrong:
📅 Coming up
🎾 ATP
📍Madrid: Madrid Open (1,000) featuring Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, Rafael Jódar.
📺 UK: Sky Sports; U.S.: Tennis Channel 💻 Tennis TV
🎾 WTA
📍Madrid: Madrid Open (1,000) featuring Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Mirra Andreeva.
📺 UK: Sky Sports; U.S.: Tennis Channel
Tell us what you noticed this week in the comments below as the men’s and women’s tours continue.
CHENNAI: The stark contrast in Powerplay efficiency proved decisive as Gujarat Titans dismantled Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.
The stars of the show were South African paceman Kagiso Rabada (3-25), who broke the back of the CSK top-order, and in-form ‘home boy’ B Sai Sudharsan (87,46 balls; 4x4, 7x6), whose orthodox strokeplay propelled GT to fifth on the table with eight points. CSK now have six from eight and their hopes of a last-four berth are fast diminishing.
The tone was set early when the Titans’ pace duo of Rabada and Mohammed Siraj ripped through the hosts with a ferocious opening spell on a rare lively Chepauk surface, restricting them to a paltry 28-3 in the Powerplay. On the other hand, GT’s openers mastered the two-paced conditions, during their chase of a tricky 159. Captain Shubman Gill (33) and Sudharsan helped the Titans race to 55-0 in the first six overs, effectively seizing control despite a disciplined opening from Anshul Kamboj, who conceded just 3 runs in his first two overs.
Sudharsan continued his stellar run this season and remained unfazed even after losing Gill in the seventh over. His innings, marked by control and clean striking, was studded with seven sixes and four fours. The youngster and the No. 3 batter Jos Buttler, hardly put a foot wrong and went on to stitch a 97-run partnership for the second wicket. With CSK’s attack offering little resistance, the duo turned the chase into a formality, finishing it off with 20 balls to spare.
However, Rababa and Siraj set up the win under the sweltering sun. They bent their backs, got bounce off the Chepauk surface, occasionally pitching one up, making it difficult for the CSK openers Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Rabada’s clinical double-strike, pounding in at 148–149 kph, removed the man in form Samson and Urvil Patel, playing his first game of this IPL. Siraj followed up with a cross-seamer to send back the ‘Impact Player’ Sarfaraz Khan for a golden duck, and suddenly skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (74*, 60b; 4x6, 6x4) was watching his side crumble before the Powerplay had even run its course.
The nightmare only deepened as the bowlers forced a suffocating dry spell. There were no boundaries for five overs, and the pressure mounted when left-arm spinner Manav Suthar dismissed Dewald Brevis just as he looked to break the shackles. By the time CSK crawled to 50 in 12 overs, they had recorded their second-slowest team fifty in IPL history and the slowest by any side this season.
With the innings stalling at a precarious 43-3 at the halfway stage, Gaikwad finally took charge and played a gritty knock. He began shifting gears slowly and stitched together a recovery with useful cameos from Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, and Jamie Overton. En route, he brought up a much-needed half-century -his first in 11 IPL innings and his first this season -on a surface that remained far from easy for batters.
In a frantic penultimate over burst, Overton hammered four consecutive boundaries off Arshad Khan to inject momentum as the hosts collected 107 runs in the final eight overs.
However, the early damage proved too great to overcome, as the recovery ultimately fell short against GT’s well-settled top order.
Wisconsin’s women's hockey team kept the celebration going in Madison this week, bringing its trophy tour to American Family Children’s Hospital.
The Badgers spent time with patients, families, and staff, posing for photos, sharing conversations, and giving kids a chance to see the trophy up close. The stop was a part of Badger Fridays, a program where UW athletes connect with the community by spending time with younger fans through reading, art, and visiting.
Stops like this are a regular part of being a Wisconsin athlete and a reminder that college athletics still hold the community-based aspect that separates them from their professional counterparts. Championship moments and big seasons don't just stay in the locker room; they make their way around Madison, where players are reminded of who they represent every time they put on the jersey.
The trophy was the reason for the visit, but the day was about more than hardware. It was another reminder that the impact of a Wisconsin program can stretch well beyond the ice.
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Placing a bet on the Kentucky Derby has the same appeal, innocence even, as filling out an NCAA Tournament bracket during March Madness. Picking winners can be based on knowledge or, in the case of many, based solely on liking the horse’s name or jockeys silks, in the same way choosing a basketball team for its mascot or colors sometimes yields success.
There’s something building on the horizon that could ultimately take the fun out of it.
There’s no joy in finding out the game is rigged.
Computer-assisted wagering (CAW) barely caused a blip two decades ago, but improved technology, and an increase in volume, threatens to destroy the integrity of betting on horse racing by allowing what's akin to insider trading to thrive.
A level playing field is all we ask for, and that is truly becoming a facade with the CAW groups taking over.
Velocity, which is owned by Churchill Downs Inc., is one of the groups of high-volume bettors using CAW. The biggest team is believed to be the Elite Turf Club, owned by the New York Racing Association and The Stronach Group, the latter of which owns Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park.
It’s a secret society of sorts, existing and operating outside of perusing a Daily Racing Form to handicap races. They’re tapping into algorithms and artificial intelligence to process data and fluctuations in seconds, then make automated bets on a grand scale. And their ability to wait until the last millisecond to drop bets in odds-changing sums has skewed the scales in their favor.
The language in the lawsuit didn’t mince words and simply labeled it illegal:
“As a result of this scheme, the betting pools are not being operated lawfully as parimutuel wagering and have become illegal gambling operations. And the “odds” presented to the average bettor at the time a bet is placed are false as a result of the manipulation of the bettors’ pool.”
There’s no application the general public can use to get into the club. There’s not a lot of transparency from the tracks about the groups, either.
The CAW players work covertly, to the extent that there’s not even a way to know how much money they’re dropping in a given pool that may influence the odds in a race.
There needs to be.
Transparency is the first place to start with making CAW acceptable. It’s not that the technology is harmful and should be abandoned. And horse racing tracks certainly don’t want to push away high-volume bettors whose participation helps drive up purses.
But some of their advantages need to be curtailed. Perhaps a separate pool for CAW bets that would manipulate odds? Perhaps a time limit to prevent last-second bets of a certain volume from doing the same? California and New York made the change in win pools already, as they now close CAW bets two minutes before post time. Kentucky needs to explore following suit.
And we haven’t even dipped into how the rebates that CAW players earn have to be torn apart and re-imagined. They get a percentage of their total wagering volume back regardless of results. That allows their betting style to play out more like a trading strategy than handicapping.
As Kentucky Derby 152 approaches, bettors will take to the windows and the kiosks with visions of winning big on the Run for the Roses.
It’ll draw the old and, hopefully, the not-too-young. It will welcome the patrons who sit on Millionaires’ Row and those with infield tickets. It contrasts women clutching Hermes Birkin bags, standing tall in their best Christian Louboutin red-bottom heels, against disheveled-looking men in the old pair of lucky loafers they only break out for Derby Day.
Through the course of the day’s races leading up to Race 12 and the most exciting two minutes in sports, everyone — no matter their socioeconomic status, education level or ethnicity — has the same chance to hit that trifecta or Pick Six and walk away feeling like a million bucks.
And that level of equality must be protected at all costs.
Keith Abney II never played slot cornerback in college. He was ticketed for nickel duties before his sophomore season, but when Arizona State lost a starting cornerback to the transfer portal Abney moved outside.
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes saw Abney excel in his two seasons as a starting outside cornerback for the Sun Devils, when he had five interceptions and forced two fumbles.
But Holmes said Abney, the Lions’ first of two fifth-round picks in last week’s NFL draft, “might tilt a little bit more” to playing inside in Detroit.
“He’s another instinctive guy that he could find the football, he can trigger, he can tackle, he’s pretty sticky,” Holmes said Saturday in Allen Park after the draft. “He was just a simple one [for us to draft] because we had him ranked a couple rounds higher than where he was, so that was a no-brainer for us.”
The Lions return starting outside cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold, plus do-it-all backups Rock Ya-Sin and Avonte Maddox, and added two potential slot cornerbacks in free agency in Roger McCreary and Christian Izien.
McCreary played 167 of his 210 coverage snaps out of the slot last season for the Los Angeles Rams, according to the NFL’s Next Gen stats, while Izien started at slot corner for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers early in his career before moving to safety.
Abney, a shade under 5 feet 10 and 187 pounds, has similar size to Izien and McCreary.
And while Holmes said that won’t hinder Abney’s ability to play outside – “I do think he can play outside for sure,” Holmes said – he said Abney is rich in two traits he looks for in slot corners: toughness and instincts.
“You’ve got to do a lot of things at that nickel spot,” Holmes said. “Yeah, you want speed to be able to match vertically, but you want a guy that has a little bit more short-area suddenness just to handle the two-way goes and to be able to get off the spot. But there’s a lot of run action coming at you, too, at that spot. So, he’s going to be just fine.”
Abney said he practiced some as Arizona State’s backup slot cornerback last season but had to stay outside when injuries struck the Sun Devils’ secondary “so we can get elite play on the outside.”
In Detroit, he said he’s willing to play wherever for a team he called “a perfect fit” for his skills.
“I just want to win games,” Abney said. “If it takes me to play nickel to win games, that's what we're going to do. Outside, safety, anything, I just want to win. So whatever coach's plan is to put the team in best position to win, I'm willing to do anything, willing to play any role."
Keith Abney II never played slot cornerback in college. He was ticketed for nickel duties before his sophomore season, but when Arizona State lost a starting cornerback to the transfer portal Abney moved outside.
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes saw Abney excel in his two seasons as a starting outside cornerback for the Sun Devils, when he had five interceptions and forced two fumbles.
But Holmes said Abney, the Lions’ first of two fifth-round picks in last week’s NFL draft, “might tilt a little bit more” to playing inside in Detroit.
“He’s another instinctive guy that he could find the football, he can trigger, he can tackle, he’s pretty sticky,” Holmes said Saturday in Allen Park after the draft. “He was just a simple one [for us to draft] because we had him ranked a couple rounds higher than where he was, so that was a no-brainer for us.”
The Lions return starting outside cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold, plus do-it-all backups Rock Ya-Sin and Avonte Maddox, and added two potential slot cornerbacks in free agency in Roger McCreary and Christian Izien.
McCreary played 167 of his 210 coverage snaps out of the slot last season for the Los Angeles Rams, according to the NFL’s Next Gen stats, while Izien started at slot corner for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers early in his career before moving to safety.
Abney, a shade under 5 feet 10 and 187 pounds, has similar size to Izien and McCreary.
And while Holmes said that won’t hinder Abney’s ability to play outside – “I do think he can play outside for sure,” Holmes said – he said Abney is rich in two traits he looks for in slot corners: toughness and instincts.
“You’ve got to do a lot of things at that nickel spot,” Holmes said. “Yeah, you want speed to be able to match vertically, but you want a guy that has a little bit more short-area suddenness just to handle the two-way goes and to be able to get off the spot. But there’s a lot of run action coming at you, too, at that spot. So, he’s going to be just fine.”
Abney said he practiced some as Arizona State’s backup slot cornerback last season but had to stay outside when injuries struck the Sun Devils’ secondary “so we can get elite play on the outside.”
In Detroit, he said he’s willing to play wherever for a team he called “a perfect fit” for his skills.
“I just want to win games,” Abney said. “If it takes me to play nickel to win games, that's what we're going to do. Outside, safety, anything, I just want to win. So whatever coach's plan is to put the team in best position to win, I'm willing to do anything, willing to play any role."
Wirtz admits he needs to “feed” world record signing more
Florian Wirtz drives Liverpool surge with Kop-end goal and Isak connection against Palace
Liverpool’s late flourish against Palace carried the unmistakable imprint of Florian Wirtz, whose stoppage-time strike settled nerves and sealed a 3-1 win that could prove decisive in the race for Champions League football. Speaking after the match, as reported by the original source on Liverpoolfc.com, the German playmaker framed the result in blunt, purposeful terms.
“I think we needed these three points, especially at home,” Wirtz said. “So, really happy that we keep them here.”
There was no glossing over the challenge Palace posed. Their direct approach and willingness to stretch the pitch forced Liverpool into a disciplined defensive display before quality told at the other end.
“We knew before the game what was coming,” Wirtz explained. “They play a lot of balls in behind, take not too much risk, just looking for deep runs, so I think we defended it quite well.”
That blend of tactical awareness and attacking execution defined Liverpool’s performance. They absorbed pressure, trusted their structure, and waited for the moments that would tilt the game.
Photo IMAGO
Kop-end goal seals momentum
The defining image of the afternoon came deep into stoppage time, Wirtz gliding onto a precise delivery before striking cleanly towards the Kop. It was a finish that combined instinct with execution, and one that extinguished any lingering hope Palace might have had.
“First of all, I knew that Joey would throw the ball over me,” he said. “Then a good pass from Macca, and I had to take the risk to just hit it on target. I hit it quite well so I’m happy about that. Sometimes you can feel it that it’s a good strike.”
That Kop-end goal was more than a flourish. It was a statement of control, a reminder that Liverpool possess the cutting edge required in tight contests. The timing of the strike, arriving just as Palace sensed an opening after pulling a goal back, underlined its importance.
Isak partnership growing influence
Much of Liverpool’s attacking promise revolved around the link-up between Wirtz and Isak. The striker, returning from injury, found the net and offered a focal point that had been missing in recent weeks.
“Especially as a striker it’s always important to score goals so I’m happy for him,” Wirtz said. “I hope it’s the start of many and he can keep going like this.”
Wirtz was clear about the dynamic required to unlock Isak’s potential. Service is everything.
“I think it’s also important for him that we feed him with balls because if he’s just there on top alone, then it’s hard for him to score goals. He needs the balls to score them and as you could see today, if he gets the chance, he normally scores.”
There is a growing understanding between the pair, one built on timing, movement and trust. If sustained, it could become a decisive factor in Liverpool’s run-in.
Champions League push intensifies
With the victory over Palace, Liverpool strengthened their grip on a top-five position, opening a valuable gap with only four matches remaining. The significance of the result was not lost on Wirtz.
“It is a massive three points today,” he said. “It was clear for us that this game today is really important for the qualification for the Champions League. It’s not done yet, we have a few more games, but a good step today.”
There was also praise for the defensive resilience that underpinned the win, particularly goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.
“He was unbelievable today,” Wirtz added. “He had two or three top saves so I’m really happy for him. He saved us the points.”
In a season defined by fine margins, performances like this carry weight. Liverpool did not dominate throughout, nor did they cruise to victory. Instead, they showed the hallmarks of a side learning how to win when conditions are less than perfect.
Against Palace, it was the combination of structure, opportunism and individual brilliance that made the difference. At the heart of it all was Wirtz, orchestrating, finishing, and articulating a performance that could yet shape Liverpool’s season.
Barcelona handed two major boosts as they close on La Liga title
Barcelona can secure the La Liga title as early as next weekend, should they win at Osasuna and Real Madrid fail to defeat Espanyol. However, the trip to Pamplona will be a tricky one for Hansi Flick’s side, who were defeated 4-2 at the same venue last season.
To make it more difficult, Barcelona will be without the services of Lamine Yamal, whose hamstring tear has ruled him out for the remainder of the season. However, they are able to get two piece of good news on the injury front, with Diario AS reporting that Raphinha and Marc Bernal are due back in group training this week.
Raphinha injured his hamstring while in action for Brazil a month ago, and Barcelona have been counting down the days until his return, such is his important to Flick. He should be able to receive the medical green light in for the trip to Osasuna at the weekend, and the same should be said for Bernal, who has been out for three weeks with a sprained ankle.
Returns come at good time for Barcelona
The return of Raphinha in particular is very timely for Barcelona, given Lamine Yamal’s absence. He can be used on the right wing, although the likelihood is that he will regain his place on the left, where Marcus Rashford and Fermin Lopez have deputised in the last month.
As for Bernal, he will find it difficult to regain the starting spot he had prior to his injury. Frenkie de Jong’s return to action, coupled with Gavi’s impressive performance levels, will mean that the teenager has work to do if he is to find his way back into Flick’s plans before the end of the season.
The hope for Barcelona is that Raphinha and Bernal are back in training on Monday or Tuesday, which will give them plenty of time to earn the medical green light before the weekend.
ORLANDO – The Detroit Pistons, once again, are facing an uphill battle.
They will look to bounce back against the Orlando Magic in Game 4 on Monday (8 p.m., Peacock), after dropping Game 3, 113-105. A 26-8 rally in the fourth quarter erased a 17-point deficit and gave the Pistons the lead, 105-104, with 2:52 to play.
But they went scoreless the rest of the way, and the Magic used a 9-0 run to take a 2-1 series lead.
"It’s one game at a time, and that’s what playoff series are," coach J.B. Bickerstaff said postgame. "We come down here, we win on Monday, we take homecourt advantage back. Today’s game, we’ll learn from it. But it’s over with and it gives us more opportunities, more film to watch, more time to prepare, to get ready for Monday.
"But you can’t hang onto it and our guys have been consistent all year, that we’ve been able to move on from the next. I trust our guys that we’ll focus on it, we’ll learn from it, we’ll study it, we’ll get better at it and then Monday we’ll be ready to go."
Here are two questions the Pistons will have to answer in Game 4, plus a Magic vs. Pistons prediction.
Saturday comfortably was Cunningham's worst game in the series – 27 points (on 8-for-23 shooting), nine assists, five rebounds and nine turnovers. He settled down in the fourth quarter, leading their 18-point run with 12 points, four assists and one turnover, and hit the tying pull-up 3-pointer and split a trip at the foul line to briefly take the lead.
"It’s a possession game in the playoffs in general," Cunningham said postgame. "That’s why I say a lot of this falls on my shoulders where I have to be better and make sure that I’m doing a good job of getting the ball out to my guys and making sure that they can make plays out of it and just making sure we have shots on the rim. Too many times we’re having empty possessions giving the ball back to them."
Orlando scored 24 points off 16 Pistons turnovers, seven of which were committed in the first quarter. Four of those were by Cunningham. He's coming off his best season as a playmaker, averaging more assists than last season (9.9, from 9.1) while reducing his turnovers (3.7, from 4.4). They can't afford much slippage from him moving forward.
Can Jalen Duren's offensive execution match his defense?
Though the first-time All-Star has yet to find his comfort zone offensively, he submitted his best defensive stretches of the playoffs on Saturday. He tallied eight points, nine rebounds and five blocks. His struggles on the offensive end (3-for-10 shooting) didn't impact his defensive effort to the extent it did in Games 1 and 2. He made good rotations more consistently and was active as a shot blocker.
"He’s been great," Cunningham said. "Presenting himself at the rim, making them have to score over him, I think he’s been doing a great job. He’s done a lot of really good things in series that don’t show up on the stat sheet. Obviously blocks does, but making guys score over him. It’s tough for guys to get over him and he’s strong in the air and all that stuff. I think he’s done a great job of that and we’re going to continue to need that from him."
It was an uneven game for Duren, who was benched − along with backup Isaiah Stewart − for third-stringer Paul Reed early in the third quarter after a rough start to the second half. But Duren made strides in the right direction on one end of the floor, which he and the Pistons both hope is an omen for his play moving forward. Through three games, he's averaging just nine points on 41.7% shooting (10-for-24), far below his regular-season averages of 19.5 points on 65% shooting.
Pistons vs Magic prediction for Game 4
The Pistons have yet to submit a complete effort in the playoffs. Despite that, no game has gotten away from them. A 17-point deficit dissipated quickly in the fourth quarter once Cunningham locked in, and the team rallied behind him. With their backs against the wall, they've consistently responded this season and should do so on Monday in Game 4 as well. The pick: Pistons 101, Magic 94.
ORLANDO – The Detroit Pistons, once again, are facing an uphill battle.
They will look to bounce back against the Orlando Magic in Game 4 on Monday (8 p.m., Peacock), after dropping Game 3, 113-105. A 26-8 rally in the fourth quarter erased a 17-point deficit and gave the Pistons the lead, 105-104, with 2:52 to play.
But they went scoreless the rest of the way, and the Magic used a 9-0 run to take a 2-1 series lead.
"It’s one game at a time, and that’s what playoff series are," coach J.B. Bickerstaff said postgame. "We come down here, we win on Monday, we take homecourt advantage back. Today’s game, we’ll learn from it. But it’s over with and it gives us more opportunities, more film to watch, more time to prepare, to get ready for Monday.
"But you can’t hang onto it and our guys have been consistent all year, that we’ve been able to move on from the next. I trust our guys that we’ll focus on it, we’ll learn from it, we’ll study it, we’ll get better at it and then Monday we’ll be ready to go."
Here are two questions the Pistons will have to answer in Game 4, plus a Magic vs. Pistons prediction.
Saturday comfortably was Cunningham's worst game in the series – 27 points (on 8-for-23 shooting), nine assists, five rebounds and nine turnovers. He settled down in the fourth quarter, leading their 18-point run with 12 points, four assists and one turnover, and hit the tying pull-up 3-pointer and split a trip at the foul line to briefly take the lead.
"It’s a possession game in the playoffs in general," Cunningham said postgame. "That’s why I say a lot of this falls on my shoulders where I have to be better and make sure that I’m doing a good job of getting the ball out to my guys and making sure that they can make plays out of it and just making sure we have shots on the rim. Too many times we’re having empty possessions giving the ball back to them."
Orlando scored 24 points off 16 Pistons turnovers, seven of which were committed in the first quarter. Four of those were by Cunningham. He's coming off his best season as a playmaker, averaging more assists than last season (9.9, from 9.1) while reducing his turnovers (3.7, from 4.4). They can't afford much slippage from him moving forward.
Can Jalen Duren's offensive execution match his defense?
Though the first-time All-Star has yet to find his comfort zone offensively, he submitted his best defensive stretches of the playoffs on Saturday. He tallied eight points, nine rebounds and five blocks. His struggles on the offensive end (3-for-10 shooting) didn't impact his defensive effort to the extent it did in Games 1 and 2. He made good rotations more consistently and was active as a shot blocker.
"He’s been great," Cunningham said. "Presenting himself at the rim, making them have to score over him, I think he’s been doing a great job. He’s done a lot of really good things in series that don’t show up on the stat sheet. Obviously blocks does, but making guys score over him. It’s tough for guys to get over him and he’s strong in the air and all that stuff. I think he’s done a great job of that and we’re going to continue to need that from him."
It was an uneven game for Duren, who was benched − along with backup Isaiah Stewart − for third-stringer Paul Reed early in the third quarter after a rough start to the second half. But Duren made strides in the right direction on one end of the floor, which he and the Pistons both hope is an omen for his play moving forward. Through three games, he's averaging just nine points on 41.7% shooting (10-for-24), far below his regular-season averages of 19.5 points on 65% shooting.
Pistons vs Magic prediction for Game 4
The Pistons have yet to submit a complete effort in the playoffs. Despite that, no game has gotten away from them. A 17-point deficit dissipated quickly in the fourth quarter once Cunningham locked in, and the team rallied behind him. With their backs against the wall, they've consistently responded this season and should do so on Monday in Game 4 as well. The pick: Pistons 101, Magic 94.
Mike Tomlin has broken his silence on his shocking decision to step down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it apparently wasn't an easy one to make.
Tomlin, who made his NBC debut on Sunday, explained his thought process about why he finally decided to leave the Steelers after 19 years.
"It's probably not an overnight decision, but it's probably not something I could articulate or share with people," Tomlin said via NBC's Football Night in America. "It's just, there's a loneliness in leadership. I just thought it was a good time for me, personally. And by that, I mean just where I am in life. I thought it was a good time for the organization, to be quite honest with you. We didn't have a lot of success in the playoffs in recent years. There's just some veteran players, guys like Cam Heyward, and T.J. Watt, and [Chris] Boswell, that I thought were worthy of the excitement and the optimism associated with new leadership."
Mike Tomlin joins Maria Taylor to talk about his new role on Football Night In America on NBC and Peacock! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/dxiLKFQlw4
Tomlin, who was the head coach of the Steelers for almost two decades, decided to leave Pittsburgh following another first-round playoff loss, a pattern that had become all too familiar.
Here's to hoping Tomlin finds success and joy in his new endeavor as a sports analyst for NBC, where he'll have the opportunity to comment on his Steelers from afar.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
The 2026 NFL Draft is behind us, and teams are preparing to get a first look at their new draftees as rookie minicamps are about to take center stage.
For the Tennessee Titans, it will be a great chance to get a closer look at what many consider another solid haul for general manager Mike Borgonzi. Although that isn’t a unanimous opinion. In fact, Bucky Brooks of Fox Sports believes the Titans were one of the biggest losers in the draft.
The 2026 draft pivoted when the Titans shocked the world with the Carnell Tate pick at No. 4 overall. Although most observers viewed the Ohio State star as the No. 1 wideout in the class, the decision to take a collegiate WR2 over a freakishly athletic pass rusher (Arvell Reese) and off-ball linebacker (Sonny Styles) has put Robert Saleh’s debut class under the microscope. Perhaps Tate will silence the critics by playing at a superstar level, but he will need to adapt to a new role and more responsibility as the WR1 for a team that lacks an elite supporting cast around him.
The Titans traded back into the first round to acquire a big-bodied edge rusher, Keldric Faulk, with modest sack production. While there was plenty of love in the scouting community for the Auburn star as a run defender, the Titans are counting on the 21-year-old to transform into an Arik Armstead-type defender with inside-outside versatility. Considering how collegiate sack production typically translates into NFL performance, the Titans will need their second first-rounder to remake his game to match his draft expectations.
With second-round pick Anthony Hill slated to be a Day 1 starter at middle linebacker, the Titans are counting on three developmental playmakers to fill voids on a squad looking to climb out of the AFC South cellar.
The logic being displayed by this (and a few other national) takes is somewhat confusing. Tennessee chose to add a weapon with the fourth overall selection, and they clearly scouted and valued Carnell Tate as a player, and are being somewhat criticized for drafting a player that was widely regarded as a top 5 to 10 player in this class.
Yes, the pick went against what many “experts” perceived as the team's biggest need, but those needs were based on opinion and perception rather than on what the coaching staff and front office believe. Only time will tell what this draft class accomplishes, but to list this Titans’ draft class as a loser because they went against outside expectations is somewhat frustrating, and a perfect example of why grades or evaluations should be made at least two years after the fact. Just look back at the opinions on another Ohio State wide receiver taken fourth overall: Marvin Harrison Jr.
No. 7 Texas A&M (33-8, 14-6 SEC) is possibly the hottest team in the country after winning its fifth SEC series, defeating Florida on the road for the first time since joining the SEC, and after losing Game 1 9-2, the Aggies stormed back on Saturday, winning 8-4, while Sunday's rubber-match was never in doubt thanks to impressive pitching from Weston Moss, Gavin Lyons, and closer Clayton Freshcorn.
The biggest takeaway from the weekend has to be the play of freshman outfielder Jorian Wilson, who recorded five hits and two home runs, hitting his 11th homer on Sunday, while his eye-popping throw from right field to catch Bear Harrison to prevent a Florida run might earn the young star an SEC Player of the Week award by Monday morning.
Texas A&M has now won nine out of its last ten games, and is heading back to Blue Bell Park for the first time in nearly three weeks, set to host Tarleton State before Auburn comes down for another crucial SEC series.
Across the rest of the SEC, Georgia's road series win over Ole Miss was similar to the Aggies' comeback over the Gators, while Texas has now won back-to-back series after defeating Vanderbilt, following Texas A&M's sweep of the Longhorns two weeks ago.
Before hosting Auburn, Texas A&M remains in sole second place in the SEC standings, trailing Georgia by just half a game, while the Bulldogs' early series win over the Aggies will serve as a head-to-head advantage down the stretch.
Updated SEC Standings
Georgia (34-11, 15-6 SEC)
Texas A&M (33-8, 14-6 SEC)
Texas (32-9, 13-7 SEC)
Mississippi State (34-10, 13-8 SEC)
Auburn (30-13, 12-9 SEC)
Florida (29-16, 11-10 SEC)
Ole Miss (31-14, 11-10 SEC)
Arkansas (29-16, 11-10 SEC)
Oklahoma (29-14, 11-10 SEC)
Alabama (29-16, 10-11 SEC)
Vanderbilt (29-19, 10-11 SEC)
Tennessee (29-15, 10-11 SEC)
Kentucky (27-15, 9-12 SEC)
South Carolina (22-23, 7-14 SEC)
LSU (24-21, 6-15 SEC)
Missouri (21-23, 4-17 SEC)
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
Matt Fitzpatrick is the hottest golfer on the planet right now and remains the top earner on the PGA Tour entering a key stretch of tournaments.
Fitzpatrick won the Zurich Classic on April 26 and he and his brother Alex both took home $1,372,750. That enabled Fitzpatrick to stay ahead of Scottie Scheffler for first place on the Tour money list with more than $10.5 million.
Scheffler, who did not play at the Zurich Classic, remains at just over $8.4 million, and Cameron Young, also idle, has nearly $7.7 million.
In his last five starts, Fitzpatrick has finished second at The Players, won the Valspar Championship, tied for 18th at the Masters, won the RBC Heritage and then won the Zurich Classic with his brother.
Money list may get volatile
The next three tournaments will see the PGA Tour’s biggest stars coming out of a post-Masters hibernation in some cases.
The Tour returns to the Doral Blue Monster Course in Miami, April 30-May 3, for the Cadillac Championship, then goes to Quail Hollow in Charlotte the following week for the Truist Championship. Both are signature events with purses of $20 million and $3.6 million for the winner.
After that will be the PGA Championship May 14-17 at the Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia. The purse won’t be announced until the week of the tournament but given last year’s purse and first-place check ($19 million and $3.42 million), the combined total of the next three tournaments will be at least $59 million total, with $10.62 going to the winners.
🥱Serie A, 0-0 problem! It’s a record, is our football boring? The fix... 👀
Serie A has a problem, and its name is boredom. Last night’s 0-0 at the Meazza, in what was supposed to be the headline match of the 34th round, instead turned into the worst possible advertisement for Italian football, in a weekend when the spotlight was already on our league for a far less noble reason: the investigation into the work of referees’ chief Gianluca Rocchi.
A point that moves Milan and Juve up the table, but one that disappointed the San Siro crowd, who at the final whistle did not spare either side from boos. The numbers on chances created speak clearly: 0.65xG for the Rossoneri against 0.52xG for the Bianconeri. Little, far too little.
The one between Allegri and Spalletti, however, was not an isolated case. In the reverse fixture, in fact, Juve-Milan had also ended goalless, with the only difference being that back then Igor Tudor was sitting on the Old Lady’s bench. Sticking with yesterday, the Meazza clash was the third goalless draw of the round, after Hellas-Lecce and Fiorentina-Sassuolo. Again, not exactly the best way to promote the product.
🫣 A record number of 0-0s!
The tally of 0-0 draws has now risen to 30 in Serie A, an extremely high number. Across Europe’s top five leagues, no one can keep up with us. The Premier League is on 23, Ligue 1 on 18, La Liga on 13, and the Bundesliga, finally, has just 12 goalless matches.
With two more matches still to be played tonight, there is a risk the season record could be matched or even broken, considering that in Matchday 7 there were as many as four 0-0 draws and only eleven goals in total.
Leading this special table is Parma, who have finished a match without conceding or scoring as many as 6 times. Then come Verona and Cremonese on 5, and the group made up of Como, Lazio, Genoa, Pisa, Fiorentina and Lecce on 4.
🤔 The solution from... Serie B?
Looking at the teams involved, it becomes clear how many of these 0-0s are driven by fear or a lack of motivation. So why not take a cue from Serie B, one of the most unpredictable and exciting leagues in the world?
Thanks to the playoffs and playouts, in fact, there is currently not a single club without a goal to fight for. The promotion race is one of the best ever, with three teams battling for two spots with just 180 minutes left. There is also a dogfight in the playoff zone, where aside from Palermo and Catanzaro, certain of finishing 4th and 5th respectively, everyone from 6th-placed Modena to 10th-placed Carrarese can still dream.
At the bottom, finally, nobody is safe, not even 14th-placed Padova who, with a difficult chain of results, could slip from 14th to 18th, which would mean relegation.
⏳ No more time should be wasted
In short, something should also be rethought when it comes to Serie A. Perhaps by introducing a playout, which would already halve the number of “safe” teams and therefore teams with no motivation left. The same system would probably be complicated for the Scudetto and Champions League places, but a solution for the spots that lead to European competition could also come from introducing a playoff for, for example, the Conference League.
For now, it is just an idea. With the FIGC without a president, the national team out of the World Cup and without a head coach, and the chaos surrounding the investigation into the work of the referees’ chief, the Serie A format is probably not the priority right now. It seems clear, however, that sooner or later things will have to change, one way or another. Our football has already lost too much time and, above all, appeal.
Johnson had a tremendous final season with the Huskers in 2025. He tallied 241 carries for 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was a key piece of the offense and carried the team on his back in multiple games. Now, he will have a chance to blossom with one of the best organizations in the NFL.
The Minneapolis native is the first Husker running back selected in the NFL draft since the Detroit Lions selected Ameer Abdullah with pick 54 in the second round. Johnson was named the Big Ten Running Back of the Year for his performance last season.
Nebraska and Chiefs fans were excited for Johnson’s selections. We compiled some of the best reactions from social media and placed them below.
Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson is @PSchrags’ favorite NFL prospect in the draft 👀
“Johnson was a beast last year… he seems to do it all. Now, he doesn’t have that top-line speed, but I love producers—especially in big conferences—who step up and play in big games.” pic.twitter.com/d7mOyjJvol
— Check the Mic with Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson (@CTM_Show) April 22, 2026
#Chiefs No. 161 pick, RB Emmett Johnson says he's ready to get to work in Kansas City.
He adds, "My whole life I've been passed on and doubted, so I just know that as long as I got faith in myself and my abilities, nothing else matters." pic.twitter.com/MZT3dbIRIU
Johnson was the only player in the FBS to average more than 150 scrimmage yards-per-game in 2025. He led the Big 10 with 1,451 rushing yards and finished second among all FBS running backs in catches (46). Scored 15 TDs, too.
Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.
There’s a lot of high school sports going on this time of year to put it lightly. Every sport is in postseason mode, with softball in district tournament play and every other sport in either regional or state tournaments.
To try to keep track of everything, the PNJ created a guide for state playoff events this week. You can check out a schedule for district softball here.
Some sports have already started the path to a state championship, while others had their brackets released this weekend. Below is a breakdown along with dates, for where Pensacola teams stand in each sport.
Check back throughout the week for roundups on area postseason sports action.
Baseball
(All regional semifinals will be a best 2-out-of-3 series, with game 1 on Friday, game 2 and an if necessary Game 3 on Saturday)
Region 1-6A semifinals
No. 5 Tocoi Creek at No. 1 Pace
No. 6 Oakleaf at No. 2 Buchholz
Analysis: Pace (24-4) continued its walkoff magic against Lake Howell in the regional quarterfinals, with Bryce Hatton dashing home on a groundball to second base in the bottom of the seventh for a 3-2 win. Now, they face a Tocoi Creek (15-13) squad that kept Tate’s bats mostly silent. Look for South Florida commit Kaleb Stockwell to try to do the same to the Patriots in game one.
The winner will either see defending regional champion Buchholz (20-7) or an upstart Oakleaf (13-14) squad that mercy ruled Bartram Trail in the regional quarterfinals.
Region 1-4A semifinals
No. 5 St. Augustine at No. 1 Choctawhatchee
No. 7 Escambia at No. 3 Clay
Analysis: Escambia (16-12) gets a rematch with Clay (15-13) after a stellar performance by Clayton Sanders on the mound at Bishop Kenny in the regional quarterfinals.
Clay threw a combined no-hitter in a 4-0 win over Wakulla in the regional quarterfinals, with Florida commit Ryan McMahan walking three and striking out 10 in six innings pitched. The Blue Devils swept Escambia 2-1, 6-2 in this same round a year ago.
Choctaw (23-5) swept St. Augustine (15-13) in the regional quarterfinals last year and is looking to advance to the regional finals for the first time since 1999.
Region 1-3A semifinals
No. 4 West Florida at No. 1 South Walton
No. 3 Suwanee at No. 2 Fernandina Beach
Analysis: West Florida (18-8) gets another shot at South Walton (24-4) after the Seahawks beat the Jaguars 3-1 in the District 1-3A final on April 16.
South Walton is perfectly set up for a best two-out-of-three series with three Power 4 commits in Coleman Borthwick (Auburn), Griffin Loy (Virginia) and Denton Lord (Mississippi State).
West Florida sophomore Harrison Vernier will take the mound Friday night for Game 1 coming off a 61-pitch shutout against Baldwin in the regional quarterfinals.
Fernandina Beach (22-4) will match up with a Suwanee (17-11) team that cruised past a West Nassau team that had several seniors miss the regional quarterfinals due to prom.
Rural Region 1 semifinals
No. 4 Chipley at No. 1 Northview*
No. 2 Jay at No. 3 Holmes County*
Analysis: Rural teams around the state start their march to Fort Myers after a two week layoff.
Rural District 1 champion Northview (18-8) matches up with a Chipley squad it beat 17-3 on Feb. 24. Jay (14-7) has to travel despite being the higher seed after Holmes County (12-14) won the Rural District 2 title. The Blue Devils ended the Royals season in the regional a year ago on their way to a state championship.
Beach volleyball
All district champions marked with an asterisk (*)
Region 1-2A quarterfinals (April 27)
No. 8 Beachside at No. 1 Chiles*
No. 4 South Walton at No. 5 Ponte Vedra*
No. 7 Crestview at No. 2 Bishop Kenny*
No. 6 Leon at No. 3 Gulf Breeze*
Analysis: Gulf Breeze will have to be road warriors if it wants to win a third straight state championship. The Dolphins lost at Bishop Kenny on March 9 and split with Chiles during the regular season. Gulf Breeze will play in the regional semifinals on Thursday if it advances.
Flag football
All district champions marked with an asterisk (*)
Region 1-3A quarterfinals (Wednesday)
No. 8 Nease at No. 1 Ponte Vedra*
No. 5 Bartram Trail at No. 4 Oviedo*
No. 7 Lincoln at No. 2 Chiles*
No. 6 Pace at No. 3 Niceville*
Analysis: Pace (11-6) is hoping the third time is the charm against Niceville (15-2). The Eagles beat the Patriots 39-20 on March 26 and 20-0 in the District 1-2A championship on April 23.
The top five seeds in the region are all ranked in the FHSAA 3A top 10. That includes undefeated Ponte Vedra (17-0) and defending state runner-up Chiles (14-2).
Region 1-2A quarterfinals (Tuesday)
No. 8 Menendez at No. 1 Choctawhatchee*
No. 5 Booker T. Washington at No. 4 St. Augustine*
No. 7 Godby at No. 2 Paxon*
No. 6 Yulee at No. 3 Arnold*
Analysis: Booker T. Washington (10-2) dropped from the No. 3 seed to the No. 5 seed after losing to Fort Walton Beach in the District 1-2A semifinals and now has to make the long trip to St. Augustine as a result. Neither the Wildcats nor the Yellow Jackets (12-5) have won a state playoff game.
Choctaw (14-3) and Paxon (14-2) are the only teams in the region ranked inside the top 20 in 2A. The Indians were 2A state runner-up last year.
Analysis: Wesley Morrill’s overtime goal against Nease sent the Dolphins to a third straight regional semifinals and avenged a regional semifinal loss to the Golden Bears a year ago. Gulf Breeze (11-7) will look to avenge another recent loss, as Fletcher (11-6) beat the Dolphins 8-5 on Feb. 14.
Gulf Breeze has lost five straight regional semifinals, while the Senators have never been to a regional final.
Ponte Vedra (17-2) will likely await in the regional final on May 1. The Sharks stomped Niceville 21-3 in the regional quarterfinals to take the first step to back-to-back Final Four appearances.
Tennis
FHSAA State Championship
April 27-May 1, Sanlando Park, Red Bug Park and Sylvan Lake Park
Analysis: Pensacola Catholic’s boys team was the only area team to qualify and they’ll compete in the 1A state championship April 29-May 1 at Red Bug Lake Park.
The FHSAA has only listed full qualifiers for 4A and 2A on its website, and Pensacola’s Cash Schweigert will compete in the 2A singles tournament.
Track and field
Region 1-1A and Region 1-2A championships, May 1 (Pine Forest)
Region 1-3A championship, May 2 (Pine Forest)
Analysis: Arguably the state’s toughest region will flock to Pine Forest's impressive facility to try to qualify for the FHSAA state championship. The top two finishers in each event will automatically qualify state, which will be held May 6-9 at the University of North Florida.
All district champions marked with an asterisk (*)
Region 1-2A quarterfinals
No. 8 St. Augustine* at No. 1 Gulf Breeze*
No. 5 Bartram Trail at No. 4 North Bay Haven
No. 7 Belleview* at No. 2 Beachside*
No. 6 Nease at No. 3 Choctawhatchee
Analysis: A year after advancing to the Final Four in just their second season as a program, Gulf Breeze (18-5) is the top seed in the region. The Dolphins will have to play all regional matches at the yet to be opened Soundside High School due to end of year testing, but still will make every team come to Santa Rosa County.
Gulf Breeze swept St. Augustine (7-16) in the regional quarterfinals a year ago, and could play North Bay Haven (5-10) for a fifth time this year in the regional semifinals. Beachside (15-11) is the only other team in the region with a winning record, while Gulf Breeze is the only team ranked inside the FHSAA 2A top 20.
For every prospect that entered its name in the NFL Draft poll, every aspect of their game has been evaluated, from athleticism to skill set, while parts of their personal background has been examined.
For the newest Miami Dolphin, one item from his background has made some waves.
Dolphins first-round pick Kadyn Proctor has an obsession with cologne. That was one of the topics the 6-foot-7, 352-pound offensive lineman discussed during his introductory press conference on Friday.
Proctor stated that he owns more than 300 bottles of cologne.
“Yeah, I got a problem. But it’s a good problem to have,” said Proctor, who revealed he was wearing Clive Christian Blonde Amber when his name was called by commissioner Roger Goodell on Draft night.
The problem started as a kid as he never went to elementary or grade school without spraying on cologne from the collections of his father, Konta Collins, and stepfather, Kevin Perkins. Following the compliments heard from classmates, an obsession was born.
Proctor’s passion first made headlines during SEC Media Day last summer. With his collection standing at 170 bottles at the time, the lineman explained why it’s important for a man his size to smell good.
"How I see it is, if you're a big guy, you can't stink,” Proctor told reporters last July. “You got to be fresh, man. Because the narrative right now is if you're big, you stink, you smell, you're sweaty. That's not how it goes for me. That's why I be saying flip the narrative."
Proctor added on Friday that he used his NIL money during college to grow his personal collection.
He also admits that he’s received free bottles of cologne as a result of the publicity.
“It’s definitely good to be out there and have people know that you love smelling good,“ Proctor said with a smile at the podium. “They want to send you their product and it’s always good getting free stuff.”
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at 772-985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.
All signs point to clear skies on May 1, but the weather is hardly ever predictable during Kentucky Derby weekend. The high of 65 degrees, according to weather.com, for the Kentucky Oaks can quickly turn into a colder, rainy climate, especially with the later post time, which could be trouble for the fillies in the race.
Only one of the fillies has previously raced on a muddy or sloppy track heading into the Oaks race at Churchill Downs. The rest will be at a disadvantage, including Meaning, who topped the Oaks leaderboard with 126 points coming into the contest. Sired by Gun Runner, the filly is 3-0-0 over four career starts, but all have been on a fast track.
So, in the event of rain, who will have the upper hoof in the 152nd Oaks race?
Here's the lone filly who has raced in muddy and/or sloppy conditions and how she fared:
The filly has a pair of top-two finishes when racing on a sloppy track. In her first-ever race, Luv Your Neighbor won the maiden special weight on Sept. 10 at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Virginia. Three months later, the 3-year-old was the runner-up in an allowance optional claiming at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.
Luv Your Neighbor has an overall record of 1-4-1 over seven starts with $204,071 in career earnings.
Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
Bayern Munich's Harry Kane celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the German DFB Cup semifinal soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich at BayArena. Federico Gambarini/dpa
Bayern Munich will start contract renewal talks with forward Harry Kane after the season and winger Michael Olise is not for sale, supervisory board member Kar-Heinz Rummenigge has said.
Former Bayern CEO Rummenigge told the t-online portal on the eve of Tuesday's Champions League semi-final at Paris Saint-Germain that regarding Kane it is Bayern's "clear aim to renew his contract."
England captain Kane came to Bayern in 2023 from Tottenham Hotspur for a club record €100 million ($117 million) and has scored 138 goals for them in 141 matches. He has a contract until 2027.
"Getting Harry Kane to Munich was an important coup in the history of the club," Rummenigge said.
"It is known that he had a release clause. He didn't trigger that and signalled that he would definitely stay in Munich. And, as agreed, now those responsible in the operational area will hold talks with him at some stage after the season."
Rummenigge said that Kane has undergone a transformation under coach Vincent Kompany from a striker who scored many goals to "a playing striker" who also drops back into midfield, which he named "very important" for Bayern's game.
Almost as important is French winger Olise, who arrived in 2024 from Crystal Palace and boasts 39 goals plus 45 assists.
Olise is said to have caught the interest of European top clubs but Rummenigge effectively declared the "wonderful player" not for sale because Bayern bosses decided several years ago "not to sell any player in the future who we would miss for sporting reasons.
"This unwritten rule still applies today. For a player like Olise, there’s no price tag that would make us bat an eyelid," Rummenigge said.
The Eagles selected eight players in the 2026 NFL draft, with Howie Roseman getting tremendous value with his first four picks. Value is an integral part of the draft process. Understanding the board is vital to judging how teams maximized value during the draft. Establishing actual “value” on NFL draft prospects is incredibly difficult, with all 32 NFL teams having different schemes, cultures, and ideas of what elite talent looks like.
Arif Hasan of Wide Left Football creates the go-to consensus board, ranking the top 300 players in the draft class based on 101 big boards from draft analysts. As Hasan noted, “the consensus of these experts does a better predictive job than individual experts.”
With the draft now final, here are Philadelphia's picks, consensus rank, pick number, and the difference between the two.
1st round-20th overall: Makai Lemon, WR, Southern Cal
Consensus rank: 12
Pick number: 20
Difference: +8
Considered one of the top pass catchers in the draft, Lemon was the third wide receiver selected and went eight picks later than he was ranked.
2d-54: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
Consensus rank: 58
Pick number: 54
Difference: -4
The second-best tight end on the board, Stowers went four higher than he was ranked, signifying the value he had on the Eagles' draft board.
3d-68: Markel Bell, T, Miami
Consensus rank: 116
Pick number: 68
Difference: -48
The Eagles aren't known to reach, but landed the giant offensive tackle 48 spots higher than expected.
5th-178: Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
Consensus rank: 127
Pick number: 178
Difference:+51
A player who can do some thinking, he'd be a potential third or fourth round pick. Payton fell into the Eagles' lap, highlighting the value Philadelphia had to secure.
6th-207: Micah Morris, G, Georgia
Consensus rank: 221
Pick number: 207
Difference:-14
Philadelphia felt strongly about Morris' unique intangibles and landed the former Georgia offensive guard some 14 picks before his expected draft rank.
7th-244: Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech
Consensus rank: 228
Pick number:244
Difference:+16
A talented safety who could replicate Reed Blankenship's rise, Wisniewski fell into the Eagles' lap late in round seven.
7th-251: Uar Bernard, DT, Nigeria
Consensus rank: 358
Pick number: 251
Difference: -107
A 300+ pound defensive player who can run faster than running backs, the International Pathway Program pick was scooped up by Philadelphia in the seventh round when most prognosticators didn't have him on draft boards.
7th-252: Keyshawn James-Newby, Edge, New Mexico
Consensus rank: 303
Pick number: 252
Difference: -51
The talented edge rusher was projected as an undrafted free agent; instead, he'll join the Eagles as a seventh-round pick.
Amazon and New Heights, with retired Philadelphia Eagles legend Jason Kelce and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, will bring a special live edition of their Wondery podcast, “New Heights Live in LA,” to Los Angeles at the historic Orpheum Theatre on June 15.
The live podcast will take place in front of fans and soccer enthusiasts in connection with the World Cup kicking off in Los Angeles. Tickets can be purchased beginning today. The “New Heights Live in LA” recorded episode will be available on YouTube, Prime Video, and wherever podcasts are available on Wednesday, June 17.
New News ... WE'RE DOING IT LIVE!!!
New Heights Live is coming to the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles on June 15th!!!
“We’re excited to announce we’re getting outta the house this summer and bringing our live show to the West Coast for ‘New Heights Live in LA.’ When the World Cup is bringing the world together, we couldn’t think of a better time to party with the 92%ers.” said the Kelce brothers in a joint statement, “The energy of a live show is unmatched, and we can’t wait to have some unforgettable moments with the fans, have a blast with some ‘friends of the show,’ and get everyone fired up to cheer on Team USA.”
Earlier this year, they launched Kelce Clubhouse, a dynamic retail and content destination inspired by “New Heights,” and will release No Dumb Questionswith HarperCollins in June.
The high school sports calendar is going full steam ahead as we enter the final week of April.
Pace (6A), Escambia (4A) and West Florida (3A) baseball advanced to their respective regional semifinals, which will be best two-out-of-three series on Friday and Saturday. Northview and Jay will play in the Rural Region 1 semifinals as the rural state playoffs get going this week.
Pensacola Catholic boys tennis advanced to the 1A state championship for the first time since 2023 after winning the Region 1-1A championship and will play April 29-May 1 at Sylvan Lake Park.
Weightlifting regionals were held over the weekend, with Pace (3A) and Jay (1A) sweeping their respective regional titles as athletes from around the area qualified for the state championship in Lakeland in two weeks.
Gulf Breeze boys lacrosse is moving on in the state playoffs as well and will play Fletcher at Atlantic Coast High School in the Region 1-2A semifinals on Tuesday. The Dolphins beat Nease 8-7 in overtime in the regional quarterfinals on April 24, avenging a loss to the Golden Panthers in the regional semifinals a year ago.
Gulf Breeze beach and boys volleyball brought home district titles last week and will host regional quarterfinals on Monday and Thursday, respectively. The Dolphins boys volleyball team is the top seed in Region 1-2A, but will play all regional matches at the yet to be opened Soundside High School due to end of year testing at Gulf Breeze.
Pace and Booker T. Washington flag football are heading on the round for the opening round of the flag football state playoffs, with the Wildcats playing in the Region 1-2A quarterfinal on Tuesday and the Patriots playing in the Region 1-3A quarterfinal on Wednesday.
Track and field takes the next step in their postseason this week too, with all three regional meets featuring area teams at Pine Forest High School. The Region 1-1A and Region 1-2A meets will be May 1, while the Region 1-3A meet will be May 2.
Oh, and softball district tournaments begin this week. Pace (6A), Escambia (4A) and Northview (Rural) are top seeds in their respective districts.
A jam-packed schedule means a bevy of nominees for the Florida Power & Light PNJ Athlete of the Week.
Last week West Florida baseball’s Owen Morgan won the boys award and Escambia softball’s Callie Menard won the girls award. Morgan totaled 53.97% of the vote, while Minard totaled 69.17% of the vote.
Voting closes at 11 a.m. Saturday, and the winners will be announced each Monday after the poll closes. Each weekly winner will be awarded a PNJ Athlete of the Week shirt provided by BSN SPORTS. An athlete can only win one time per season.
Nominees will be accepted via phone or email, but the poll is decided by PNJ staff. Send nominations by Sunday night.
The high school sports calendar is going full steam ahead as we enter the final week of April.
Pace (6A), Escambia (4A) and West Florida (3A) baseball advanced to their respective regional semifinals, which will be best two-out-of-three series on Friday and Saturday. Northview and Jay will play in the Rural Region 1 semifinals as the rural state playoffs get going this week.
Pensacola Catholic boys tennis advanced to the 1A state championship for the first time since 2023 after winning the Region 1-1A championship and will play April 29-May 1 at Sylvan Lake Park.
Weightlifting regionals were held over the weekend, with Pace (3A) and Jay (1A) sweeping their respective regional titles as athletes from around the area qualified for the state championship in Lakeland in two weeks.
Gulf Breeze boys lacrosse is moving on in the state playoffs as well and will play Fletcher at Atlantic Coast High School in the Region 1-2A semifinals on Tuesday. The Dolphins beat Nease 8-7 in overtime in the regional quarterfinals on April 24, avenging a loss to the Golden Panthers in the regional semifinals a year ago.
Gulf Breeze beach and boys volleyball brought home district titles last week and will host regional quarterfinals on Monday and Thursday, respectively. The Dolphins boys volleyball team is the top seed in Region 1-2A, but will play all regional matches at the yet to be opened Soundside High School due to end of year testing at Gulf Breeze.
Pace and Booker T. Washington flag football are heading on the round for the opening round of the flag football state playoffs, with the Wildcats playing in the Region 1-2A quarterfinal on Tuesday and the Patriots playing in the Region 1-3A quarterfinal on Wednesday.
Track and field takes the next step in their postseason this week too, with all three regional meets featuring area teams at Pine Forest High School. The Region 1-1A and Region 1-2A meets will be May 1, while the Region 1-3A meet will be May 2.
Oh, and softball district tournaments begin this week. Pace (6A), Escambia (4A) and Northview (Rural) are top seeds in their respective districts.
A jam-packed schedule means a bevy of nominees for the Florida Power & Light PNJ Athlete of the Week.
Last week West Florida baseball’s Owen Morgan won the boys award and Escambia softball’s Callie Menard won the girls award. Morgan totaled 53.97% of the vote, while Minard totaled 69.17% of the vote.
Voting closes at 11 a.m. Saturday, and the winners will be announced each Monday after the poll closes. Each weekly winner will be awarded a PNJ Athlete of the Week shirt provided by BSN SPORTS. An athlete can only win one time per season.
Nominees will be accepted via phone or email, but the poll is decided by PNJ staff. Send nominations by Sunday night.
Class 5A and 6A got the first round started on April 23-24, playing the extra round. But now the rest of the AHSAA classes will make their playoff debuts Monday and Tuesday.
Below is the schedule for the second-round of the AHSAA boys soccer playoffs, and scores once contests are final.
2026 AHSAA boys soccer playoffs second round scores, schedule
Class 7A
Monday, April 27
Enterprise at Auburn, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, April 28
Daphne at Davidson, 7 p.m.
McGill-Toolen at Fairhope, 7:45 p.m.
Opelika at Montgomery Academy, 7 p.m.
Hewitt-Trussville at Thompson, 7 p.m.
Grissom at Florence, 6:30 p.m.
Prattville at Vestavia Hills, 7 p.m.
Scottsboro at A.P. Brewer, 7 p.m.
Bob Jones at Huntsville, 7 p.m.
Class 6A
Monday, April 27
Pelham at Calera , 7 p.m.
Randolph School at Cullman, 7:30 p.m.
Athens at Gadsden City, 6 p.m.
Garden Dale at Homewood, 7 p.m.
Pinson Valley at Mountain Brook, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 28
Northridge at Briarwood Christian, 7 p.m.
Wetumpka at St. Paul's Episcopal, 7 p.m.
Pike Road at Spanish Fort, 7 p.m.
Class 5A
Monday, April 27
Indian Springs at Marbury, 7 p.m.
East Limestone at Guntersville, 7 p.m.
Douglas at John Carroll Catholic, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 28
Russellville at Scottsboro, 7 p.m.
Lincoln at Springville, 7:30 p.m.
Charles Henderson at Faith Academy, 7 p.m.
Eufaula at St. Michael Catholic, 7 p.m.
Sylacauga at Brewbaker Tech, 6 p.m.
Class 4A
Monday, April 27
Hamilton at St. John Paul II, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 28
Bullock County at St. Luke's Episcopal, 7 p.m.
Trinity Presbyterian at Westminster at Oak Mountain, 7 p.m.
Satsuma at Dale County, 7 p.m.
Fultondale at Saint James, 7:30 p.m.
Hokes Bluff at White Plains, 6:30 p.m.
West Morgan at Mars Hill Bible, 7 p.m.
Munford at Oneonta, 6 p.m.
Class 1-3A
Monday, April 27
Houston Academy at Bayshore Christian, 6 p.m.
Glenwood at Altamont, 6 p.m.
Cottage Hill at Providence Christian, 6 p.m.
Tuscaloosa Academy at Lee-Scott Academy, 6:30 p.m.
Saks at Susan Moore, 6 p.m.
Tanner at Collinsville, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 28
Coosa Christian at Weaver, 5 p.m.
Geraldine at Madison Academy, 7 p.m.
Jaeden Day covers high school sports, Alabama State football and Auburn recruiting for the Montgomery Advertiser/USA Today. You can find him on X at dayjaeden12, or reach him at JDay@montgome.gannett.com.
Five candidates are finalists for the 2026 Michigan Mr. Volleyball Award.
The Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association debuted the Mr. Volleyball award last season. Similar to the Michigan Miss Volleyball Award, the organization nominates seniors based on both individual and team success, along with taking into consideration each players' academic accomplishments.
Boys volleyball is the newest spring sport sponsored by the Michigan High School Athletic Association. It began as a club sport in 2018 on the west side of the state with four schools. This season, 118 schools are competing for the first MHSAA state championship.
Here are this year's five nominees, in alphabetical order:
The buzz: Burns led Saline to semifinal appearances in 2023 and 2024, when the Michigan Boys Volleyball organization oversaw the tournament. Saline has a 71-14 record over the past three seasons. Burns received first-team all-state honors for the previous two seasons and was second-team all-state in 2023.
College plans: Long Island University.
Quinn Cochran
School: Jenison.
Position: Outside hitter/setter.
Height: 6-2.
Stats: None provided.
The buzz: Cochran earned second-team all-state honors last season and was all-state honorable mention in 2024. He has also been a team captain for the Wildcats for the past two seasons.
The buzz: Cryst led Grand Haven to the state finals the past three seasons, with his squad finishing as runner-up in each appearance. The Buccaneers have a three-season record of 134-13. Cryst has earned first-team all-state honors for 2024 and 2025.
The buzz: Dorbin entered the starting lineup for the Eagles as a freshman in 2023. Lakeland went undefeated in conference play last season and won its second consecutive conference title. Last season, Dorbin earned first-team all-state honors
College plans: Undecided.
Charlie Engelhardt
School: Farmington.
Position: Setter/libero.
Height: 5-11.
2025 stats: 3.5 assists per set, 4 digs per set, 0.5 aces per set, 2.49 passer rating.
The buzz: Engelhardt has been a part of Farmington's program since its inception four seasons ago. He has received first-team all-conference honors every year since 2023 and was second-team all-state last season.
First-round action for AHSAA Class 5A-6A teams wrapped up April 23-25, trimming the field for the next stage of the bracket. Now, the remaining classifications begin their postseason runs April 27-28, while Class 5A and 6A programs move on to second-round games during that stretch.
Those larger classifications will have an extra round on the road to the finals. All roads ultimately lead to Huntsville, where state title matches are scheduled for May 6-9.
Below is the schedule for the next slate of the 2026 AHSAA girls soccer playoffs, with scores to be added as games go final.
Stanhope Elmore at St. Paul’s Episcopal, 4:45 p.m.
Briarwood Christian at Benjamin Russell, 5 p.m.
Pike Road at Spanish Fort, 5 p.m.
Cullman at Decatur, 5 p.m.
Class 5A
Monday, April 27
Indian Springs at Marbury, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 28
Westminster Christian at Guntersville, 5 p.m.
Crossville at John Carroll Catholic, 5 p.m.
Charles Henderson at St. Michael Catholic, 5:30 p.m.
Westbrook Christian at Springville, 5:30 p.m.
A.P. Brewer at East Limestone, 6 p.m.
Sylacauga at Elmore County, 6:30 p.m.
Carroll at Elberta, 7 p.m.
Class 4A
Monday, April 27
Munford at Cherokee County, 5 p.m.
Wilson at St. John Paul II, 5 p.m.
Oneonta at White Plains, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 28
Geneva at St. Luke’s Episcopal, 5 p.m.
Montgomery Catholic at Westminster School, 5 p.m.
Danville at Mars Hill Bible, 5 p.m.
Orange Beach at New Brockton, 5:30 p.m.
American Christian at St. James, 5:30 p.m.
Class 1A-3A
Monday, April 27
Altamont at Lee-Scott Academy, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 28
Glenwood at Tuscaloosa Academy, 5 p.m.
Collinsville at Madison Academy, 5 p.m.
Clements at Whitesburg Christian, 5 p.m.
Childersburg at Glencoe, 5:30 p.m.
Bayshore Christian at Houston Academy, 6 p.m.
Northside Methodist at Mobile Christian, 6:30 p.m.
Susan Moore at Donoho, 6:30 p.m.
Maxwell Donaldson, Amelia Hurley and Jaeden Day cover Alabama high school sports and more for the USA TODAY Network. Reach out to them at MDonaldson@usatodayco.com; AHurley@usatodayco.com and JDay@usatodayco.com.
NEW DELHI: Yuzvendra Chahal brimmed with confidence after Punjab Kings scripted T20 history at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, pulling off the highest successful chase in men’s T20 cricket by hunting down a daunting 265 against Delhi Capitals.
“It will be hard for any team to face our batting line-up,” the veteran leg-spinner said.
Chahal stressed that belief coursed through the camp even before a ball was bowled. “We accepted the total and were feeling very positive before the innings. We know the quality we possess with the bat. It was a batting-friendly wicket, and we needed an excellent start if we were to chase such a big score. We got exactly that.”
Openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya provided the perfect launchpad, smashing 116 runs in the Powerplay alone. “Prabhsimran and Priyansh gave us the momentum we needed in the first six overs. That helped our batters through the middle overs and put the bowlers under pressure,” Chahal said.
While Punjab’s batting unit continues to shine, Chahal acknowledged the mounting challenge bowlers face in high-scoring encounters, especially with modern regulations such as the Impact Sub rule. “I can understand why dealing with the Impact Sub rule can be challenging, but you have to adapt; that’s what the tournament demands. This is the direction the format is heading in, and we have to find solutions because we can’t change it. It becomes even more difficult on smaller grounds.”
With 13 points from seven matches, Punjab Kings sit firmly atop the IPL 2026 standings.
Athletes can be nominated, not voted for, via email to sports@dailyamerican.com. Please include details of their achievements for that week only, including any notable statistics or results. All email submissions will be considered but not necessarily selected as a nominee.
The winners will be featured in the top performers section in the following Tuesday's Daily American print edition.
This week's polls are below:
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Adam Ripple is the Daily American sports editor. He can be reached at 814-444-5926. Follow him on X @ARipple_DAsport. Follow Daily American Sports on Facebook and @dailyamericanmedia on Instagram.
All the while, Harrison is recovering from a neck injury as she aims to defend the UFC bantamweight title for the first time. She was scheduled to do so against a returning Amanda Nunes in January, before she sustained her injury.
UFC women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison (Getty)
Harrison, 35, and Rousey, 39, actually have similar backgrounds, with the latter winning Olympic judo bronze for Team USA in 2008, before Harrison won gold in the same discipline in 2012 and 2016. Rousey also held the UFC bantamweight title from 2013 until 2015.
Rousey actually retired after a knockout loss to Nunes in 2016, but now she is back to face Carano, a fellow Strikeforce legend, who hasn’t fought since 2009. And Rousey has been typically outspoken during the build-up, leading Harrison to respond.
“I’m just going to go ahead and say I could be meaner,” Harrison said during on Saturday. “I think that it would be really hard... I can’t imagine what it would be like for someone to come in and beat everything I’ve ever done. That would be hard. I get it.
“Imagine hating me and I’m just over here in my backyard feeding chickens. It’s got to be rough.”
“I think that the part that bothers me most about Ronda is at one point she was a real athlete. She was training for the Olympics. She’s an Olympic bronze medalist. She became a UFC champion. She was really trying to chase greatness. I will never take away the fact that Ronda is probably the most-important female fighter; if it weren’t for her, for sure I wouldn’t be where I’m at. I wouldn’t have a job.
“But this fight [with Carano] is not the greatest fight of all time. It’s between someone who hasn’t fought in 10 years and is coming off two knockout losses, and another woman – again another legend, another pioneer, but [who] hasn’t fought in 17 years and is in her 40s. Don’t call it the greatest fight of all time.
Ronda Rousey (left) boldly claimed her bout with Gina Carano is the biggest MMA fight of all time (Getty)
It is unclear when Harrison will return to the cage, but she is still expected to fight Nunes next time out.
Harrison was a lightweight champion in the PFL before debuting in the UFC in 2024 and cutting down to bantamweight. Her UFC debut was a submission win over Holly Holm, who dethroned Rousey via KO in 2015, and Harrison next outpointed Ketlen Vieira before challenging Julianna Pena last June. Harrison submitted Pena to become bantamweight champion.
Tottenham have been dealt a major blow in their fight for Premier League survival after Xavi Simons was ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury.
The club confirmed the Netherlands international has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and is expected to be sidelined for around eight months. The injury also means Simons is set to miss this summer’s World Cup, leaving the 23-year-old devastated.
Simons suffered the injury during Spurs’ 1-0 win over Wolves on Saturday. He went down after a collision with Hugo Bueno and initially tried to continue, but quickly collapsed again in front of Tottenham’s medical staff. He was later stretchered off the pitch at Molineux.
The setback is a huge one for Spurs and manager Roberto De Zerbi, who has already seen several key players sidelined since taking charge. Spurs are battling to avoid relegation and, despite ending a long winless run with victory at Wolves, they remain in the bottom three.
The midfielder will undergo surgery in the coming weeks before beginning rehabilitation with the club’s medical team.
The 2026 World Snooker Championship takes place at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield from 18 April to 4 May - and you can watch every shot of the tournament live on the BBC.
Top seed Zhao Xintong, who became the first champion from China by beating Mark Williams in last year's final, is the favourite this year.
Ronnie O'Sullivan hopes to win a record eighth world title at the age of 50 - 25 years after claiming his first - to move clear of Stephen Hendry as the championship's most successful player.
World number one Judd Trump aims to lift the trophy for the second time, while other contenders include former champions Neil Robertson, John Higgins, and Shaun Murphy.
The 50-year-old has not won a ranking title this season and has played a limited schedule, but opened his campaign with an emphatic 10-2 win over He Guoqiang.
O'Sullivan is currently 9-7 up against Higgins in the second-round in a best-of-25 contest which continues on Monday afternoon at 13:00 BST.
The Englishman, whose most recent world title triumph was in 2022, is making his 34th consecutive appearance at the World Championship.
O'Sullivan, who made the sport's highest-ever professional break with a 153 at the World Open in March, is seeded 12th and is in the same half of the draw as defending champion Zhao.
'The Rocket' lost 17-7 with a session to spare to Zhao in the semi-finals last year.
With comprehensive television coverage across BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Four, and uninterrupted streaming on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app, audiences won't miss a moment from the first break to the final frame.
Legends of the game Hendry, Steve Davis, John Parrott, Ken Doherty and Dennis Taylor will offer their expert analysis throughout the tournament.
The BBC Sport website and app will provide daily coverage via live streams and live text pages, including updates from our reporters at the Crucible.
BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds will have regular updates throughout the Championship.
BBC Sport social media channels will deliver behind-the-scenes content as well as highlight clips from the tournament and player interviews.
All times BST and subject to late changes, while session times could finish earlier or later than listed below. *denotes final session
Monday, 27 April
13:00
John Higgins (5) 7-9 Ronnie O'Sullivan (12) *
Mark Selby (7) 7-9 Wu Yize (10) *
19:00
Chris Wakelin (13) 6-10 Neil Robertson (4) *
Hossein Vafaei 7-9 Judd Trump (2) *
Live coverage
13:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
15:00-17:00 - BBC Two & Red Button
19:00-22:00 - BBC Four & Red Button
Highlights
00:00-02:00 - World Championship Extra on BBC Two
Quarter-finals (best of 25 frames)
Tuesday, 28 April
10:00
Zhao Xintong (1) v Shaun Murphy (8)
Mark Allen (14) v Barry Hawkins (11)
14:30
John Higgins (5)/Ronnie O'Sullivan (12) v Chris Wakelin (13)/Neil Robertson (4)
Mark Selby (7)/Wu Yize (10) v Hossein Vafaei/Judd Trump (2)
19:00
Zhao Xintong (1) v Shaun Murphy (8)
Mark Allen (14) v Barry Hawkins (11)
Live coverage
10:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
10:00-12:15 - BBC Two
10:00-14:00 - Red Button
14:15-18:00 - BBC Two & Red Button
19:00-22:00 - BBC Two & Red Button
Highlights
00:00-02:00 - World Championship Extra on BBC Two
Wednesday, 29 April
10:00
John Higgins (5)/Ronnie O'Sullivan (12) v Chris Wakelin (13)/Neil Robertson (4)
Mark Allen (14) v Barry Hawkins (11)
14:30
Zhao Xintong (1)/Ding Junhui (16) v Shaun Murphy (8) *
Mark Selby (7)/Wu Yize (10) v Hossein Vafaei/Judd Trump (2)
19:00
John Higgins (5)/Ronnie O'Sullivan (12) v Chris Wakelin (13)/Neil Robertson (4) *
Mark Selby (7)/Wu Yize (10) v Hossein Vafaei/Judd Trump (2) *
Live coverage
10:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
10:00-11:15 - BBC Two
10:00-14:00 - Red Button
14:15-18:00 - BBC Two & Red Button
19:00-22:00 - BBC Two & Red Button
Highlights
00:00-02:00 - World Championship Extra on BBC Two
Semi-finals (best of 33 frames)
Thursday, 30 April
Live coverage
13:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
13:00-16:00 - BBC Two
19:00-22:00 - BBC Two
Highlights
00:00-02:00 - World Championship Extra on BBC Two
Friday, 1 May
Live coverage
10:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
10:00-12:00 - BBC Two
14:15-18:00 - BBC Two
19:00-22:00 - BBC Two
Saturday, 2 May
Live coverage
10:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
10:00-12:30 - BBC Two
14:00-16:30 - BBC One
16:30-17:30 - BBC Two
19:00-22:00 - BBC Two
Final (best of 35 frames)
Sunday, 3 May
Live coverage
13:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
13:00-16:00 - BBC Two
19:00-22:00 - BBC Two
Monday, 4 May
13:00-23:00 - uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, website and app
13:00-16:00 - BBC Two
19:00-22:00 - BBC Two
What is the highest break?
Chang Bingyu made a magnificent 147 break against Luca Brecel in the qualifying tournament to earn himself a £147,000 bonus and a shot at the £15,000 highest break prize.
The Chinese player, who lost his match to Brecel, also made a 147 in the qualifying tournament for the UK Championship and earned the £147,000 bonus on offer for any player making two maximums in snooker's major tournaments.
The highest break at the Crucible is currently 140, a score achieved twice by Mark Allen and once by Murphy.
Northern Ireland's Mark Allen made a 147 break in his second-round match against Chris Wakelin last year, becoming only the 11th player to make a 147 at the Crucible.
The maximum was the 15th at the venue in the tournament's history and the first since Selby's clearance in the 2023 final.
Results
Second round
Shaun Murphy (8) 13-3 Xiao Gudong (9)
Zhao Xintong (1) 13-9 Ding Junhui (16)
Barry Hawkins (11) 13-9 Mark Williams (6)
Mark Allen (14) 13-9 Kyren Wilson (3)
First round
Zhao Xintong (1) 10-7 Liam Highfield
Mark Allen (14) 10-6 Zhang Anda
Barry Hawkins (11) 10-4 Matthew Stevens
Mark Williams (6) 10-4 Antoni Kowalsk
Xiao Guodong (9) 10-6 Zhou Yuelong
Ding Junhui (16) 10-5 David Gilbert
John Higgins(5) 10-7 Ali Carter
Kyren Wilson (3) 10-7 Stan Moody
Wu Yize (10) 10-2 Lei Peifan
Judd Trump (2) 10-5 Gary Wilson
Shaun Murphy (8) 10-9 Fan Zhengyi
Chris Wakelin (13) 10-6 Liam Pullen
Ronnie O'Sullivan (12) 10-2 He Guoqiang
Mark Selby (7) 10-2 Jak Jones
Hossein Vafaei 10-3 Si Jiahui (15)
Neil Robertson (4) 10-4 Pang Junxu
Who were the 16 qualifiers?
Moody and Liam Pullen both made their debuts after coming through the qualifying tournament at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
Moody gave 2024 champion Wilson a tough test before falling to a 10-7 defeat, while Pullen lost 10-6 to 13th seed Chris Wakelin.
China's He was another debutant, while Antoni Kowalski, 22, became the first player from Poland to play at the Crucible.
Former finalists Matthew Stevens, Ali Carter and Jak Jones all claimed one of the 16 qualifying places before being beaten in the first round.
Iran's Hossein Vafaei was the only unseeded player to make it into the second round thanks to a comprehensive 10-3 victory over 15th seed Si Jiahui.
Rob Baxter's side have lost their last two Prem matches [Getty Images]
Exeter boss Rob Baxter says he is unhappy with the attitude his players showed in their 34-31 loss at Gloucester.
Chiefs conceded four tries before half-time, but rallied to get within three points of the Cherry and Whites before Ethan Roots was sent off in the closing stages.
"I'm frustrated by how things unravelled around that lack of emotional preparedness for the game," Baxter told BBC Radio Devon.
"I said before the game my biggest concern was actually that Gloucester had been on the end of quite a bad scoreline last week, because it's actually rare that you don't get emotional responses in teams.
"Gloucester did get an emotional response, and I think maybe we did as well, but our emotional response was backwards, not forwards, and theirs was certainly a step up."
Exeter made eight changes to their side with one eye on this Saturday's European Challenge Cup semi-final at Ulster.
Baxter defended his decision to make so many changes - with six of them coming in his forward pack.
"I still think we did the right thing making some changes because we can't just keep running the group over and over again and we have to improve," he said.
"We have to improve the depth. We're not going to improve it without it playing against some tough lessons.
"The good thing we can do, with some of the guys who stepped in today and potentially aren't going to be involved next week, is they can have a bit of a tough review this week based on what they have to do and how they have to turn up and perform."
Australia centre Len Ikitau made his return to the Exeter side after four months out with a shoulder injury [Getty Images]
Having not reached the play-offs since 2021, Exeter's hopes of a return are still in their hands.
They are a point above fifth-placed Bristol in the final play-off place and three behind third-placed Leicester, who were beaten at Saracens on Saturday.
Exeter face a tough end to the season with fixtures against second-placed Bath, Harlequins, Leicester and sixth-placed Saracens in their final four Prem games.
"Our next Prem game is Bath at home, we've got to go to Harlequins in the Big Game, we actually need to roll our sleeves up and get on with things a bit better than we did today," Baxter added.
"But on the whole we have this season, so I'm not looking at us on the slide now, I'm thinking we've still got plenty left in the tank.
"We've rested quite a large number of players today who should be absolutely flying next week.
"We're under a bit of pressure, but it's a privileged pressure because every game means something.
"For some clubs they're not in that scenario. We need to make sure it brings the best out of us, not the worst out of us.
"Unfortunately there were times today where I think it brought the worst out of us, that's the bit we've got to try and work with the players to improve."
Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom has praised his depleted squad after the side claimed a 3-2 win over Sheffield United on Saturday.
The 48-year-old made four changes to face his former side, with defender Andrew Hughes, who had scored North End's only goal in their previous 2-1 loss to Birmingham City, missing out.
"I'm proud of the players," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"We had a lot of damage coming out of the game on Wednesday night [at Birmingham City] that we weren't really aware of.
"We were missing a lot of key players, but the boys who had to go again were excellent, and the ones who we put back in were very good. I'm proud of what they did today.
"I don't think we've been good enough at set-plays all season, and you've just seen the value of them."
Keith: These players should hang their heads in shame. The difference between the Brighton game and this game, performance-wise, cost a man his job. Having said that... come on, the Chelsea!
James: Slightly more tense than I was hoping for but, nevertheless, job done and on to what will be a very tough final. Manchester City will no doubt be favourites but, as we saw in last season's final, anything can happen.
Chris: Much, much better but we still need to keep improving to get anywhere near a Champions League place or a result against City in the final. Caicedo is still kicking everything that moves and he needs to show some discipline. If we can keep improving from this result, who knows? As long as we keep going forward - and not backwards and sideways - we may surprise a few people.
David: Not pretty but we needed to win - it didn't matter how. We showed grit, determination and skill (not to mention the dark arts). About time!
Seb: As a Chelsea fan of 30 years, this is a team that I just can't remotely like. The gamesmanship, petulance and egos might reflect modern football (ugh) but it does ill to the legends of Chelsea - Vialli, Di Matteo, Zola etc - who won my adoration as a 10-year-old. We very well might go on to win the FA Cup but it doesn't feel the same somehow.
Valentine: It was a gritty performance from Chelsea. Congratulations to the lads.
Brian: Good, solid performance overall. Joao Pedro was outstanding - he is different class. Great saves from Sanchez to keep us in it. Need to play like this for the remaining games but so good to get to a final again, which we will win 1-0. Come on, Chelsea.
Paul: That is what a real manager can do for a team. Give them belief, not just talk a good game - and pick the right players at the back, not leave all the best defenders on the bench. The last manager didn't know what he was doing.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 23: Sonny Styles of Ohio State celebrates after being selected seventh overall pick by the Washington Commanders during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ohio State has always been loaded with NFL talent, but the Buckeyes’ 2024-25 national title team may have been their most stacked roster to date.
With the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft, all 11 defensive starters from Ohio State’s College Football Playoff National Championship victory over Notre Dame on Jan. 20, 2025 have now been drafted to the NFL, with each and every guy being taken within the first five rounds of the last two NFL Drafts.
As if that wasn’t impressive enough, several rotational guys on defense from that year’s squad are also now on their way to the league. In fact, every defensive player to receive at lease five snaps against the Fighting Irish has either been drafted to the NFL or is still on the Ohio State roster waiting for their chance in the 2027 NFL Draft.
The only outlier among that group is Mitchell Melton, who played eight snaps in the national title game but transferred to Virginia, where he became an UDFA and signed with the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
Here is where every one of those 11 starters was taken in order of draft position between the 2025 and 2026 NFL Drafts. All recruiting rankings are based on the 247Sports Composite.
The Starters
Sonny Styles – 2026 Rd 1 Pick 7 – Commanders
A homegrown talent, Styles came to Columbus as a five-star safety out of Pickerington, Ohio. Despite reclassifying and getting to Ohio State a year early, Styles did play a little bit for the Buckeyes as a freshman when he should’ve still been a high school senior.
Styles then played more than 540 snaps as a sophomore at safety, where he racked up 53 total tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. It wasn’t until his junior season that Styles made the transition to linebacker, where after a bit of a slow start, he quickly became one of the very best at the position in all of college football.
By the end of that 2024 season, Styles was an absolute stud at linebacker under the tutelage of James Laurinaitis. He posted 100 total tackles with 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks that year, and followed it up 82 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss in 2025 as one of the nation’s most dependable and consistent defenders.
Styles was taken with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders.
Caleb Downs – 2026 Rd 1 Pick 11 – Cowboys
Downs has been a star since he first stepped foot on a college campus, beginning his career at Alabama. A five-star safety and a top-10 player nationally, Ohio State finished second in his recruitment to the Crimson Tide, and Downs would tally more than 100 tackles as a freshman under Nick Saban.
Once Saban announced his retirement, Downs took his talents to Columbus, where he spent the final two years of his career as the focal point of the Buckeyes’ defense both under defensive coordinators Jim Knowles and Matt Patricia. The true do-it-all athlete managed 147 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and four interceptions in his two years at Ohio State.
Downs’ contributions extend way past the box score. The quarterback of the defense, Downs seemed to always be where the action was happening, whether he was lined up deep at safety, in the middle of the field as a linebacker or even down near the line of scrimmage.
For his efforts, Downs earned two-time Unanimous All-American honors, the 2025 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Award, as well as the Jim Thorpe Award and Ronnie Lott Trophy in his junior campaign. He was selected at No. 11 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Tyleik Williams – 2025 Rd 1 Pick 28 – Lions
Unlike Ohio State’s two first round picks in 2026, Williams did not come to Columbus as a cant-miss, five-star talent. The Virginia native was no slouch by any means, ranking as the No. 25 DL and No. 166 player nationally in the 2021 recruiting class, but he became a true star with the Buckeyes.
The latest in a string of incredibly disruptive interior lineman at Ohio State, Williams did a little bit of everything on Larry Johnson’s defensive line, as the 6-foot-3, 330-pound tackle was adept at both rushing the passer and stopping the run. All told, Williams posted 136 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks in his time in Columbus.
Williams was taken with the No. 28 overall pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2025 NFL Draft.
JT Tuimoloau – 2025 Rd 2 Pick 45 – Colts
Alongside Williams on that defensive line was Tuimoloau, a former five-star prospect and one of the very best overall players in the 2021 class as the No. 2 DL. The Washington native was a massive recruiting win for the Buckeyes, but for awhile it didn’t look like Tuimoloau could quite live up to the billing.
More of a run-stopping defensive end rather than a pass-rusher, Tuimoloau wasn’t that same flashy edge player like the Bosas and Chase Youngs before him. However, when the lights shined the brightest, the lineman played some of the best football of his career.
After notching 11 total sacks over his first three seasons in Columbus, Tuimoloau broke out for 12.5 sacks in his senior campaign, with 6.5 of those coming in the College Football Playoff. Tallying 61 tackles and 21.5 TFLs as well in 2024, Tuimoloau became a second round selection by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Davison Igbinosun – 2026 Rd 2 Pick 62 – Bills
Igbinosun had a fascinating college career. After spending his freshman season at Ole Miss, Iggy followed running back Quinshon Judkins to Ohio State, where he became a three-year starter for the Buckeyes at cornerback.
One of college football’s most physical cover corners, that physicality got Igbinsoun in trouble far too often when it came to penalties. In 2024, the New Jersey native was the most penalized player in the sport, racking up an astonishing 16 flags that year — most of which were either defensive holding or pass interference.
Still, Igbinosun’s coverage skills were undeniable, and he was a crucial part of the Buckeyes’ defense even despite the flags. The young defensive back refined his game in his senior season, earning only five flags in 2025, and finished his Ohio State career with 157 tackles, four TFLs, 22 PBUs and four interceptions.
Igbinosun was a late second round selection by the Buffalo Bills in the 2026 NFL Draft, where he joins former teammate Jordan Hancock.
Cody Simon – 2025 Rd 4 Pick 115 – Cardinals
Simon was a high four-star prospect in the 2020 class, ranking as the No. 4 LB and No. 75 overall player. The New Jersey native spent five seasons at Ohio State, redshirting his freshman year but playing more than 1,800 career snaps as a Buckeye.
Simon saved his best season for last as Sonny Styles’ running mate. One of the very best linebacker duos in the country, Simon led the team with a whopping 112 total tackles to go along with 12.5 TFLs, seven sacks and seven PBUs.
The stud defender had a great rookie year with the Arizona Cardinals after being selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, finishing fourth on the team with 76 total tackles.
Lathan Ransom – 2025 Rd 4 Pick 122 – Panthers
Ransom was a four-star prospect out of Arizona in the 2020 class, coming in as the No. 11 safety and No. 167 player nationally. The 6-foot-1 athlete overcame a number of injuries during his time at Ohio State, but still managed to log more than 2,400 snaps as a Buckeye.
The defensive back’s career was nearly over before it even started, having broken his leg on special teams coverage during the Rose Bowl against Utah at the end of the 2020 season. Despite missing all of spring camp the following season, Ransom was back on the field for preseason practice. Beginning the year as a backup, it wasn’t long before Ransom took over a starting job that he would not relinquish.
As a senior in 2023, Ransom was having another great season, but it would be cut short by a foot injury suffered against Wisconsin. Taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility due to COVID rules, Ransom announced he would return for Ohio State in 2024, and the rest is history.
Ransom went on to have the best season of his career, posting 76 tackles with nine TFLs, a sack, a pick and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. Ransom was then taken in the fourth round by the Carolina Panthers in the 2025 NFL Draft, starting six games and recording an interception in his rookie season.
Jack Sawyer – 2025 Rd 4 Pick 123 – Steelers
Like Tuimoloau, Sawyer had a bit of a tough time living up to his recruiting ranking. Sawyer came to Ohio State as one of the very best players in the 2021 class, a five-star prospect and the No. 1 player in Ohio in the cycle. A homegrown talent with sky high expectations, Sawyer struggled to find consistency early on.
Sawyer showed flashes of tremendous talent over his first two years on campus, tallying 9.5 TFLs and 7.5 sacks as a freshman and sophomore. The defensive end was even better in 2023, posting 10 TFLs and 6.5 sacks, but he finally put it all together in his final season at Ohio State.
Sawyer had what should have been a legendary play by an Ohio native with a goal line interception against Michigan in The Game, but the Buckeyes managed to lose a 13-10 contest to the Wolverines, so that would ultimately be forgotten. Instead, Sawyer came up with an even bigger moment in the College Football Playoff — a game-ending pick-six in the final minutes against Texas to send Ohio State to the national title game.
All told, Sawyer finished his senior campaign with 59 total tackles, nine TFLs and nine sacks, plus the pick-six. He was taken in the fourth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Ty Hamilton – 2025 Rd 4 Pick 148 – Rams
Hamilton was never a flashy player at tackle like the Tyleik Williams’ and Kayden McDonald’s of the world, but he did his job incredibly well and was a consistent force up the middle for Ohio State. Just a three-star prospect ranked in the low-700s as a recruit, Hamilton was largely an afterthought early in his career.
After redshirting as a freshman, Hamilton played between 250-350 snaps for the Buckeyes each of the next three seasons, posting 65 total tackles and seven TFLs over those three years. The tackle really came into his own as a senior, notching career-highs across the board with 51 tackles, six TFLs and 3.5 sacks.
Hamilton was a fourth round selection by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jordan Hancock – 2025 Rd 5 Pick 170 – Bills
Hancock was maybe one of the most underrated players on Ohio State’s entire national championship team. A former top-75 prospect and an important recruiting win over Clemson, where he had initially been committed, Hancock was never a guy who stuffed the stat sheet, but his role was paramount to everything else the Buckeyes were doing on defense.
Hancock was responsible for locking down the middle of the field from his nickel safety/slot corner role, and he did that about as well as anyone in the country. The Georgia native started each of his last two seasons at Ohio State, totaling 98 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks and three interceptions as a Buckeye.
Hancock was taken in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.
Denzel Burke – 2025 Rd 5 Pick 174 – Cardinals
Burke had a bit of an up-and-down career at Ohio State. At times the Arizona native looked like he could be the next big cornerback to come out of Columbus, but at others he found himself running behind receivers who were en route to the end zone.
Perhaps the worst game of Burke’s career came early in that 2024 season against Oregon, where PFF credits him with allowing seven catches on seven targets for 162 yards and two touchdowns. To Burke’s credit, he did not allow that bad performance to sour the rest of his season, as the corner allowed more than three receptions in a game only once the remainder of the year.
Notre Dame tried to go after Burke in that national title game, but the DB allowed only three catches for 19 yards on seven targets. Playing more than 2,600 snaps in his Ohio State career, Burke finished with 28 PBUs and four interceptions across four seasons.
Burke was a fifth round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Rotational Guys
Four reserves on that Ohio State College Football Playoff National Championship team went on to play massive roles for the Buckeyes in 2025, with all of them being taken in the 2026 NFL Draft…
Arvell Reese – 2026 Rd 1 Pick 5 – Giants
Reese played six snaps in the national title game
2024 totals: 43 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 0.5 sacks
2025 totals: 69 tackles, 10 TFLs, 6.5 sacks – All American
Kayden McDonald – 2026 Rd 2 Pick 36 – Texans
McDonald played eight snaps in the national title game
2024 totals: 19 tackles, 1.5 TFLs
2025 totals: 65 tackles, 9 TFLs, 3 sacks – All American
Lorenzo Styles – 2026 Rd 5 Pick 172 – Saints
Styles played five snaps in the national title game
2024 totals: 16 tackles, 4 PBUs
2025 totals: 30 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 3 PBUs
Caden Curry – 2026 Rd 6 Pick 214 – Colts
Curry played six snaps in the national title game
2024 totals: 22 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks
2025 totals: 66 tackles, 16.5 TFLs, 11 sacks
Who’s Left?
Only four other Ohio State defensive players logged at least five snaps in that national title game against Notre Dame:
Jermaine Mathews Jr. (23 snaps) – still on team, potential 2027 NFL Draft pick
Kenyatta Jackson (15) – still on team, likely 2027 NFL Draft pick
Eddrick Houston (11) – still on team, likely 2027 NFL Draft pick
Mitchell Melton (8) – transferred to Virginia (UDFA in 2026 – Colts)
But the Liverpool captain is convinced his departing teammate will to everything in his power to return before the end of the season and play for the club again.
“I hope so,” said the defender. “There will be a medical assessment and then that will determine what the issue is going to be. I know he is doing everything in his power to be back on the pitch as soon as possible.”
Liverpool have four matches remaining, starting with Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford, with their other trip being to Aston Villa. They are at home to Chelsea on 9 May and Brentford on 24 May, in what had shaped up as Salah’s final game for the club.
“If you get injured at this stage of the season, especially in the situation he is in, there is only two more home games left for him it’s a combination of feelings that go through your mind when you go off,” Van Dijk said.
Mohamed Salah suffered a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace (Reuters)
“The reality is he has to get scanned, assessed, hopefully he won’t be long but at this point I don’t know. Maybe he’s back next week, maybe not. I have no idea.”
Salah is the third highest scorer in Liverpool’s history, with 257 goals in 440 appearances, and Van Dijk believes his achievements – including winning the Champions League in 2019, the Premier League twice and the PFA Player of the Year award three times – mean he will be celebrated, whether or not he is able to play for the club again.
“He will get the send-off regardless,” he added. “I don’t think that is the thing at this point, we shouldn’t think too far ahead. Knowing Mo he is a quick healer with the right people around us and let’s see.”
Ty Simpson, Mike Vrabel, Spencer Fano and Makai Lemon all played their parts in this year’s draft. Composite: Guardian Picture Desk
Grading a draft immediately after it happens is an interesting concept – a bit like giving out marks for a meal in a restaurant right after you order. But the NFL Draft Industrial Complex will not rest until verdicts are handed out, so here we are.
So, with the standard disclaimer that we won’t know for years just how these moves turn out – who had the last pick of the 2022 draft leading his team to a Super Bowl appearance? – here’s a rundown of what caught our eye over the last few days.
WINNER: Cleveland Browns
We are not used to praising the Browns this time of year – there are reasons that this was the franchise immortalized in the legendarily awful Draft Day movie. But it’s tough to argue with the draft class Cleveland put together. The Browns traded down from the sixth to the ninth overall pick, and selected Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano. Fano is one of the cleanest blockers in this class, and he’ll help a Browns line that had the mammoth but raw Dawand Jones last season. General manager Andrew Berry said that the plan is to park Fano at left tackle and leave him there.
Then, with the 24th and 39th overall picks, the Browns took two receivers to add to a very thin group. First up was KC Concepcion, dismissed by some as a gimmick receiver, but the tape shows a fully formed weapon if he can solve his drop problem (he had seven in 2025). At pick 39, 6ft 4in Denzel Boston is a big, fast, contested-catch wizard who brings skill sets the Browns’ receiver group lacked in 2025.
But the steal of the Browns’ draft may well be Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, who they took at No 58. The 6ft 4in, 201lbs McNeil-Warren may have the most pure athletic upside of the do-it-all defensive backs in this draft class, and the two other such players – Caleb Downs (Dallas Cowboys, 11th overall pick) and Dillon Thieneman (Chicago Bears, 25th overall pick) went much higher than McNeil-Warren.
Add in athletic quarterback Taylen Green, and the Browns had a fascinating draft – in a good way. We still don’t know who Cleveland’s quarterback will be in 2026, but that’s just the way the Browns seem to roll.
LOSER: Jermod McCoy
If McCoy’s draft position was solely based on his 2024 season with the Tennessee Volunteers, when he allowed just 31 catches on 62 targets for 386 yards and an opponent passer rating of 53.6, he would have gone in the first half of the first round. Unfortunately, McCoy missed the entire 2025 season due to a torn ACL, but when he performed well at Tennessee’s pro day in March, most analysts believed that he had shown enough of a recovery that teams would still be keen on him.
Before the draft, however, multiple reports said that McCoy may need surgery to repair a bone plug, a procedure that would most likely see him miss the entire 2026 season. In the end, the Raiders selected McCoy with the first pick of the fourth round, presumably thinking that using a lower-round pick was worth the risk.
“All my doctors that did my surgery, they told me I’m good,” McCoy said in his post-draft press conference. ”I feel like I’m good, but if there’s something that they’re wanting me to do for the longevity of my career, I’m willing to do that. I’m going to listen to the team, because I feel like they have my best interest. So, honestly, whatever the team’s plan for me is, I’m going to do that.”
We don’t yet know how things will go for McCoy, but right now, every possible outcome is in play – from multiple All-Pro nods, to a future in which the NFL is denied to him through no fault of his own.
WINNERS: AJ and Avieon Terrell, Atlanta Falcons
Speaking of cornerbacks who were selected later than they expected, it was a bit of a surprise when Clemson’s Avieon Terrell, who looked like a future first-rounder in college, lasted until the 48th overall pick when he was grabbed by the Falcons. The good news? Avieon will be teammates with his older brother AJ, who the Falcons picked in the first-round of the 2020 draft.
AJ and Avieon will become the third known set of brothers in NFL history to play in the same secondary, following in the footsteps of Jason and Devin McCourty of the New England Patriots from 2018 to 2020, and Lyle and Glenn Blackwood of the Miami Dolphins from 1981 to 1986.
“Just getting that call, it was a blessing,” he said after the pick was made. “My heart dropped. AJ played it cool. I didn’t even know it was going to happen, but once I’d seen that call, it felt good and I already knew what time it was.”
Well, this one got interesting in a hurry. With the 13th pick, the Los Angeles Rams selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, a one-year starter whose performance waned as the 2025 season went along. Even with the reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford already under center, the move raises questions because of the significant draft capital spent on a prospect with major questions surrounding his potential in the pros. Instead of addressing quarterback, where they already have Stafford, Los Angeles could have used the 13th pick to fortify a roster that is already in the Super Bowl conversation – especially after acquiring the Kansas City Chiefs’ top two cornerbacks, Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, through trade and free agency.
At the press conference after the pick, Rams general manager Les Snead talked far more than head coach Sean McVay did, and for the most part, McVay looked despondent. This led to some damage control. On Friday, McVay said that his demeanor was the result of his relationship with Stafford – he didn’t want to appear too happy about the Simpson pick, because he wanted to show respect to the veteran. Whether that’s true or not, using a first-rounder on a quarterback who appears to lack the talent to ever reach Stafford’s level raises all sorts of questions.
WINNER (as usual): Howie Roseman, general manager, Philadelphia Eagles
Roseman is a familiar figure in the winners category of the draft. One of the NFL’s most astute executives was at it again this year, and he once again helped his team immeasurably. Before we even get to the actual draft, we should mention the trade with the Minnesota Vikings for edge-rusher Jonathan Greenard, who fills a right-now need, and signed a four-year, $100m deal with his new team.
In the first round, the Eagles traded up with the arch-rivals Dallas Cowboys to select USC receiver Makai Lemon, who has what it takes to be the team’s new No 1 receiver with AJ Brown likely to be traded. In the second round, Philly selected Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers, who could eventually replace Dallas Goedert. In the third round, Roseman selected Markel Bell, a massive (6ft 9in, 346lbs) blocker who has some of the same traits as starting Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata.
In the fifth round, the Eagles took North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton, another one-year starter, but in this case, one with a combination of passing and rushing ability that makes him the perfect backup for Jalen Hurts. Sixth-round pick Micah Morris, a guard from Georgia, and seventh-round pick Cole Wisniewski, a safety from Texas Tech, could contribute sooner than later.
As usual, Roseman went after the guys he knew would help, he did it without overspending on cap space or draft capital, and his team will be better for it. Some guys just know how to do this job.
LOSER: Mike Vrabel, head coach, New England Patriots
The alleged extramarital affair between Vrabel and NFL reporter Dianna Russini, has caused its own set of complications. Russini has resigned from The Athletic, and Vrabel announced that he would miss the third day of the draft to engage in counseling.
We are not here to impugn Vrabel’s focus on his family, but a head coach is fairly important in a team’s draft process, and one wonders if this could not have waited an extra day.
New England’s general manager, Eliot Wolf, was asked over the weekend what the Patriots would be missing in Vrabel’s absence.
“The stability of him as a person, some of the leadership, some of the presence,” Wolf said. “He does a nice job for us with the undrafted players. Obviously, he’s a tremendous recruiter, so that’s maybe something that we’ll be missing. But again, we’re very confident in the people we have with the process. The assistant coaches have done a tremendous job, as have the scouts, preparing for day three. And we’re excited about it.”
If you’re missing anything in a draft due to your head coach’s indiscretions, that’s not a great look.
Can the Penguins send their first-round series back to Philadelphia with a Game 5 win?
Pittsburgh secured its first victory of the 2026 NHL Playoffs on Saturday, avoiding a sweep against a Flyers squad that outscored the Penguins, 11-4, through the first three games of the series. Sidney Crosby had two points (one goal, one assist) in the 4-2 win, and Arturs Silovs finished with 28 saves in his first postseason start with the Pens.
If the Penguins want to be the first team to overcome a 3-0 deficit since 2014, they will need to carry the momentum from Game 4 into PPG Paints Arena on Monday night.
Here is everything you need to know about Penguins vs. Flyers, including TV and streaming options for Game 5 of the first-round series.
How to watch Penguins vs. Flyers Game 5: TV channel, live stream
Penguins vs. Flyers will air locally on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Game 5 will also be available to stream on SNP 360 and fubo.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
Penguins vs. Flyers Game 5 start time
Date: Monday, April 27
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Penguins vs. Flyers is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, April 27. Game 5 will be played at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
Penguins vs. Flyers schedule: Philadelphia leads 3-1
The Pittsburgh Steelers had a 2026 NFL Draft that was, well, perplexing to put it nicely. There are a lot of ways to skin a cat when it comes to the draft process, and in three to four years, there's a chance we look back on the class and the prevailing notion was dead wrong.
So today, we are going to name the three biggest overreactions to what the Steelers just did over the course of the weekend. Let's jump in.
Overreaction No. 1: Max Iheanachor is another Broderick Jones
Look, if we want to reprimand what happened in the first round and the phone-gate debacle, that's fine. But as Omar Khan said after the draft, the Steelers stuck true to their board and went with their highest rated player once Makai Lemon was poached by the Eagles.
And yes, Iheanachor is raw. Yes, he didn't start playing football until very recently and was mostly a soccer player. But the truth is, there might not be a tackle with higher potential and a greater ceiling than Iheanachor.
The feet, the length, the traits, it's all there. Sure, the Steelers will need to be patient, but this isn't a player who is fundamentally flawed the way that Jones was. This is a player who you don't have to fix; you have to build up. So it's far too soon to write off Iheanachor.
Overreaction No.2: Mike McCarthy doesn't like Will Howard
When the rhetoric coming out of Pittsburgh is always about how much the Steelers love Will Howard, and on day two, with their third pick in the draft, the Steelers take another quarterback that many view as a reach, it's easy to see why some may believe that McCarthy doesn't like Howard.
The truth is, McCarthy doesn't know what he likes. He needs to see both Allar and Howard competing in a live environment before making any rash decisions. And when you don't have an obvious quarterback of the future, taking as many shots as possible makes a lot of sense.
Overreaction No.3: Omar Khan was carried by Mike Tomlin
If you look at Omar Khan's draft history since he took over for Kevin Colbert in 2023, you see draft classes littered with talent and starters. And honestly, just about every time it reached Sunday of draft weekend, the consensus view was that Khan and the Steelers nailed the draft.
Well, the only obvious difference in the decision-making process this year was no Mike Tomlin. And under Mike Tomlin, the Steelers were at every big-time Pro Day, the Senior Bowl, and well represented at the NFL Combine. A lot of that changed this year, but it doesn't mean that Omar Khan wasn’t heavily involved, if not making picks, before.
We’ll see if the media and fans, or Khan and co., are right in 3-4 years.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 23: Kadyn Proctor of Alabama poses for a photo after being selected 12th overall by the Miami Dolphins during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images) | Getty Images
To quote Jon- Eric Sullivan: “Fast gets slow, but big doesn’t get small”. The Miami Dolphins have a new philosophy heading forward and it showed during the draft. The previous iteration of the Dolphins was based around speed and unfortunately, Sullivan’s quote became pretty true. This new regime wants to change the opinion of this team and wants to build a physical football team heading forward. We saw that with their first selection in Kadyn Proctor, who is a massive human being along the offensive line.
You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below.
Miami Dolphins Discussion: UDFA Edition We ask Miami Dolphins fans which undrafted free agents will make the final roster and which might contribute in 2026.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Jacob Rodriguez #10 and Romello Height #9 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders lines up against the Oregon Ducks during the fourth quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on January 01, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Nguyen: NFL Draft’s 10 best scheme fits: Giants, Cowboys, Bucs among teams picking perfect pieces (paywall) “I thought Stribling would be a perfect fit for the 49ers because of his ability to run after the catch, and he’s the best blocking receiver in the draft, both skills that former 49er Jauan Jennings was adept at. Stribling averaged 7.3 yards after the catch, which was slightly higher than Omar Cooper Jr., whom many regarded as the best YAC receiver in the draft.
I’m sure coach Kyle Shanahan envisions Stribling as a supercharged version of Jennings. Jennings was a big possession slot receiver, whereas Stribling can play outside and win deep with speed and physicality at the catch point. According to Matt Harmon’s reception perception, Stribling’s best route is the dig (83.3 percent success rate), a prominent route in Shanahan’s offense and one of Brock Purdy’s favorites. Stribling will give the 49ers a physical runner after the catch, one they really don’t have after moving on from Deebo Samuel last season and Jennings this season, and with tight end George Kittle recovering from tearing an Achilles tendon in the playoffs.”
Evaluating 49ers’ 2026 draft class: No A’s, some eyebrow-raisers and one polarizing pick (paywall) “The 49ers’ still-good-but-getting-geriatric offense desperately needed an infusion of speed. And Stribling ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash that’s even more impressive given his size (Note: Boston isn’t known for his wheels and passed on running a pre-draft 40). Stribling had strong production at Power 5 schools, was one of 16 draft prospects given the 49ers’ gold-helmet designation for qualities such as work ethic and character and is an elite run blocker.”
Despite the cautious tone, Kittle emphasized that his recovery is trending in the right direction.
“Achilles is doing great,” Kittle said. “We’re 13 weeks out of surgery. I think I’m ahead of schedule. My surgeon’s super happy with it. So, we’re on track to play a lot of football next season. So, I’m in a great place.”
MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 24: Jasson Domínguez #24 of the New York Yankees high fives teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during a spring training game at Sloan Park on March 24, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MLB Trade Rumors | Mark Polishuk: Jasson Domínguez is being called up to the big-league roster from Triple-A ahead of the upcoming series against the Rangers. He fills the spot opened by Luis Gil’s demotion to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and could factor into the DH and outfield pictures with Giancarlo Stanton sidelined with a calf injury. After getting optioned to the minors out of spring camp, Domínguez has performed well to open the season, slashing .306/.404/.471 with three home runs, 13 RBIs, eight stolen bases, a 135 wRC+, and almost as many walks as strikeouts in 22 games. His defense will not come under as much scrutiny with the 23-year-old slated to mostly DH, and he’ll look to improve upon his 103 wRC+ in 122 games last season. The Yankees will face three righties in this upcoming series against the Rangers, allowing the switch-hitting Domínguez to contribute from his superior side.
The Athletic | Brendan Kuty ($): Gil’s demotion to Triple-A opened the spot on the roster for Domínguez’s call-up. He got shelled for six runs in four innings in the series finale against Houston and always looked like the first name to be called with Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole nearing their returns to the rotation from injury. Until Rodón is ready to return, the Yankees will likely use Ryan Yarbrough in a spot start, though they are also weighing calling up one of their top prospects including Carlos Lagrange or Elmer Rodríguez (they are at least able to skip his next start due to the Thursday offday).
Aaron Boone and Matt Blake said they hope Gil can work on finding a consistent release point and better command in the minors. His path back to the majors is uncertain with Will Warren and Ryan Weathers ahead of him in the rotation pecking order. In four starts, Gil is 1-2 with a 6.05 ERA, 8.43 FIP, more walks than strikeouts, and -0.4 fWAR across 19.1 innings.
MLB.com | Steve Schaeffer: Domínguez’s promotion coincides with lingering uncertainty over the severity of Giancarlo Stanton’s calf injury. He was removed from Saturday’s game in Houston with right calf tightness after feeling discomfort running the bases and missed the final two games of the series. The team said they will make a final decision on Monday as to whether he will go on IL. In 24 games, Stanton is hitting .256/.302/.422 with three home runs, 14 RBIs, and a 101 wRC+.
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: The Yankees have made several ill-advised ABS challenges over the last few weeks and have had to institute a fining system for particularly egregious decisions. To hold each other accountable for wasting challenges, players are fining themselves $500 for a challenge on a pitch that is fully inside of the strike zone, Jazz Chisholm Jr. even fining himself $1,000 for challenging a strike right down the middle against the Astros on Saturday. The Yankees have made the second-most challenges in baseball but own the ninth-worst success rate (43-percent). Boone has even indicated that some players might have their ABS challenge privileges revoked if they don’t follow the guidelines laid out by the team at the start of the year, Boone notably calling José Caballero into his office for a “stern” one-on-one meeting about wasting challenges.
New York Post | Greg Joyce: The Red Sox front office made waves when they fired manager Alex Cora and much of his staff on Saturday, Triple-A skipper Chad Tracy replacing him yesterday in a win over Baltimore. Cora had been at the helm of the team for eight years and won the 2018 World Series, but with the Red Sox in last place, Cora had to go. Also getting the axe is former Yankees hitting coach Dillon Lawson — his second midseason firing in just a few years — and Jason Varitek, who had been serving as the club’s game planning and run prevention coach (the longtime catcher was reassigned within the organization). Boone is close friends with Cora from their time working together on ESPN broadcasts, and revealed he reached out with words of support for his now-former rival manager.
It ended in a goalless draw between AC Milan and Juventus on matchday 34 of Serie A, a result that brings both sides closer to their objective of qualifying for the Champions League. On a night at San Siro in which Saelemaekers' strike against the bar was the clearest chance, Luka Modrić once again shone brightest.
It was a commanding performance from the Croatian, the heartbeat of the Rossoneri midfield and influential in both defence and attack. Substituted in the 80th minute after a collision with Locatelli, his display included 53 successful passes as well as several fine touches to evade the Juventus press.
He also won four of six duels, made three recoveries, and provided calmness and quality throughout the game. As the games go by and the minutes add up, Luka's level of performance does not drop, despite the fatigue of the season run-in.
This was more than appreciated by the Rossoneri fans, who voted him MVP of AC Milan v Juventus with 43% of the vote, ahead of Saelemaekers on 30% and Adrien Rabiot on 15%. Now, focus turns to the away fixture against Sassuolo on Sunday at 15:00 CEST at the Mapei Stadium, with hopes of a swift recovery for Luka.
Valve Steam Controller release date revealed by leaked review Another review outlet has accidentally leaked its Steam Controller review. While the review is now hidden, it has unveiled the release date for Valve’s new controller. According to 4Gamers, the controller will be released on May 4th at 3 PM in Japan local time. Last week, […]
Intel's Arc gaming GPU roadmap is in a weird state, as the company has reportedly been reshuffling a significant portion of its dedicated Arc desktop GPU launches for the upcoming quarters. Currently, Intel offers its second-generation "Battlemage" architecture, based on the Xe2 IP, as a dedicated desktop gaming GPU in the form of the B580 mid-range graphics card. For those interested in Xe3-based "Celestial" or Xe3P-based "Crescent Island" dedicated GPU variants, Intel leaker Jaykihn has confirmed that there won't be an update anytime soon. Even the next-generation Xe4 "Druid" is being reconsidered for dedicated gaming GPUs. Intel has previously confirmed that it will continue GPU development, but desktop gamers might not be the primary focus, leaving notebook users in a better position.
Intel currently offers new GPU IP through integrated graphics, such as the Arc B390 iGPU found in "Panther Lake" processors, which use Xe3 IP. However, desktop dedicated GPUs are still using Xe2, and even for a maxed-out "Battlemage" configuration, Intel only offers the Arc Pro B70 and Arc Pro B65 graphics cards. These cards maximize the BMG-G31 Xe2 silicon but are intended for professional users. A recent driver update added the ability to play games on these cards, but they are still primarily designed for AI workloads and professional visualization, and they are priced higher than what the average gamer would want. Gamers are still seeking clarity about future updates, and the lack of recent rumors regarding an additional Arc gaming discrete GPU is concerning. Below are older roadmaps, and we expect to see an updated version sometimes in the near future as Intel confirms changes.
Crypto has opened the door to a different way of handling money, but it also comes with its own set of risks. Stories about lost access, hacked wallets, or fake platforms are not rare anymore. The good part is that most of these situations can be avoided with some awareness and a few practical habits.
According to Influere Investigations, a leading name in crypto security, people often underestimate how small mistakes can lead to bigger problems over time. Below are some grounded, realistic ways to better protect your crypto without overcomplicating things.
Start with the basics: wallet safety
The first layer of protection is your wallet. Whether you use a mobile app, desktop software, or a hardware wallet, how you manage access matters more than the type itself.
A strong password is a given, but it’s not enough on its own. Two-factor authentication adds an extra step that makes a big difference. It may feel like a hassle at first, but it blocks most simple intrusion attempts.
Another thing people overlook is where they store their security phrase. Writing it down and keeping it offline is still one of the safest approaches. Saving it in cloud storage or sending it to yourself by email creates unnecessary exposure.
Experts from Influere Investigations often point out that many incidents don’t involve advanced attacks. They come from poor storage habits or shortcuts taken during setup.
Be careful with links and messages
A common way people lose access to their crypto is through fake websites or phishing messages. These can look very convincing. A platform login page might seem identical to the real one, but a small difference in the URL can make all the difference.
If you receive a message asking you to “verify” or “secure” your account, take a step back. Avoid clicking links directly. Instead, go to the official website manually.
It’s also worth mentioning that no legitimate service will ask for your private keys or security phrase. If something like that appears, it’s a clear red flag. Analysts highlight that slowing down for a few seconds before acting can prevent most of these situations. Quick reactions are often what attackers rely on.
Use trusted platforms, but stay alert
Choosing where you store or trade your crypto matters. Well-known platforms usually have stronger security practices, but that doesn’t mean users can switch off completely.
Always double-check URLs, especially if you’re logging in from a new device. Bookmarking official pages can help avoid confusion later. Also, avoid sharing too much about your holdings online. Even casual posts can attract unwanted attention. It’s not about being secretive, just cautious.
From what Influere Investigations analysts have observed, many issues happen when people assume that a platform alone will handle all aspects of safety. In reality, personal habits still play a big role.
Keep your devices clean and updated
Security doesn’t stop at the wallet or platform level. The device you use matters just as much. Make sure your operating system and apps are updated regularly. Updates often fix vulnerabilities that could otherwise be used to gain access. Avoid installing random extensions or software, especially from unknown sources. Even something that looks harmless can carry hidden risks.
Using antivirus tools and scanning your system from time to time is a simple step that many skip. It doesn’t guarantee full protection, but it adds another layer. Influere Investigations often reviews cases where compromised devices were part of the problem, even if the user didn’t notice anything unusual at first.
Separate long-term storage from daily use
Not all crypto needs to be treated the same way. If you hold assets for the long term, consider keeping them in a more secure environment that you don’t access daily. For smaller amounts used for trading or regular activity, a more accessible wallet might make sense. The idea is to limit exposure. If one part is affected, the rest remains untouched.
This approach might seem a bit extra, but it’s a common practice among experienced users. It reduces the impact of potential issues. As noted by security experts, spreading risk instead of concentrating everything in one place is a simple but effective strategy.
Get an outside perspective when unsure
Sometimes, it’s not clear whether a situation is safe or not. Maybe something feels off, but you can’t quite tell why. This is where getting a second opinion can help. influereinvestigations.com focuses on reviewing situations and pointing out potential risks people might miss. They don’t step in or act on behalf of users, but they can help clarify what’s going on and what steps might make sense next.
Final thoughts
Keeping your crypto safe doesn’t require complex tools or deep technical knowledge. Most of it comes down to awareness, consistency, and avoiding rushed decisions.
Small habits, like checking links, storing your security phrase properly, and keeping your devices clean, go a long way. According to Influere Investigations, people who take these basics seriously are far less likely to run into serious problems.
Solana is closing in on a decisive test near $86, with the price holding firm at a level that has yet to reject the move. While the market remains pinned below resistance, the structure behind it has already taken shape. A higher timeframe cup-and-handle formation is nearing completion, and network growth continues to expand alongside rising liquidity, both aligning with the current price strength. With pressure building at this level and no rejection so far, the next move from here carries more weight, either confirming the breakout or keeping the market within its current range, a setup that has been widely discussed across recent Solana News.
Network Growth Builds, but Momentum Remains Uneven
Solana’s underlying network strength continues to expand, even as speculative activity remains soft. Upgrades like Firedancer and Alpenglow are improving scalability and execution speed, positioning the network for sustained demand. At the same time, stablecoin supply has climbed to around $17.4 billion, with growing activity in real-world assets and consistent on-chain usage.
SOLANA ECOSYSTEM WATCH: WHAT'S MOVING ON-CHAIN THIS WEEK$SOL is trading near $86 with the network now sitting at the intersection of major upgrades and a sluggish memecoin recovery. Firedancer is running over 1M TPS, Alpenglow is delivering sub-150ms finality, and the SEC-CFTC… pic.twitter.com/hDdGZMbJZI
However, momentum from high-risk segments has yet to recover, with memecoin-driven activity and network revenue still below prior peaks. This leaves Solana in a position where the foundation is strengthening, but broader momentum is yet to fully align with it.
Solana’s price structure aligns with a developing cup-and-handle formation, where the broader rounding base has already formed and price is now consolidating within the handle phase. While, support continues to hold during this consolidation, with pullbacks getting absorbed early and failing to extend lower. This reflects controlled positioning rather than distribution, keeping the structure intact beneath resistance.
The handle is compressing price just below key levels, with repeated tests failing to trigger downside continuation. This behavior indicates that selling pressure is not expanding despite resistance holding. If this structure confirms with a breakout, the pattern extends beyond short-term targets.
Based on classical technical projections, a completed higher timeframe cup-and-handle opens the possibility of a broader expansion phase, with some long-cycle projections placing Solana price toward the $500 region. That scenario, however, remains conditional on sustained structure, liquidity continuation, and macro alignment.
Key Levels in Focus as SOL Price Tests Resistance
The $86 zone remains the immediate level in play, with price continuing to press against it without meaningful rejection. A sustained move above this region would confirm a breakout from the current compression and open the path toward the $95–$100 range, where the next supply cluster is likely to emerge.
On the downside, the $80–$82 region acts as the first layer of support, where recent pullbacks have been absorbed. Holding above this zone keeps the current structure intact and maintains breakout pressure. A deeper shift below this range would weaken the setup, exposing the $74–$76 area as the next demand zone and signaling a return to broader consolidation rather than continuation.
Outlook
Holding near $86 keeps the structure intact, with the market positioned just below a key resistance zone. If pressure continues to build without rejection, the setup remains aligned for a breakout into a higher range. Failure to hold this structure would keep SOL within consolidation, delaying the move. For now, SOL remains at a decision point, with the next move likely to define short-term direction.
The Sui price is facing renewed pressure after a series of exploit-related incidents shook confidence across its DeFi ecosystem. Reports of multi-million-dollar losses linked to protocols such as Volo and Scallop triggered immediate selling, with traders reacting to heightened security concerns.
Despite the negative headlines, SUI’s price reaction has remained relatively controlled compared to typical post-exploit crashes, suggesting the market is not fully capitulating. This puts SUI in a critical spot, balancing fear-driven selling and potential dip-buying interest as the broader crypto market attempts to hold on to its recent gains.
SUI Exploit: What Happened and Why It Matters
The recent selling pressure on Sui follows a series of exploit-related incidents that impacted its DeFi ecosystem and raised fresh security concerns. Volo Protocol reportedly lost around $3.5 million after an admin key compromise, while Scallop faced losses due to a vulnerability in a deprecated contract. These back-to-back incidents triggered a decline in confidence, prompting traders to reassess risk exposure across SUI-based protocols.
Such exploits tend to have a broader impact beyond the affected platforms, as they highlight potential weaknesses in ecosystem security and increase the likelihood of liquidity outflows. In the short term, this has led to cautious sentiment and selling pressure on SUI, with market participants closely watching whether the token can stabilize or face deeper downside as trust rebuilds.
SUI Price Analysis: Holding Structure or Losing Momentum?
Sui is currently showing signs of short-term stabilization after its sharp February decline, with price consolidating in the $0.90–$1.00 range. The chart indicates a gradual higher-low formation, dropping below the ascending trendline, suggesting buyers are attempting to build a base. However, price continues to struggle near the $0.95–$1.00 resistance zone, indicating a lack of strong breakout momentum despite recovery attempts.
The RSI has maintained a significant upward trajectory, but the latest drop in the price has caused the levels to break the ascending trend line or support. On the other hand, the CMF has been constantly forming lower lows and highs, hinting towards a constant outflow of liquidity. With the momentum fading, the SUI price is now believed to drop below $0.9 and hit the local base, followed by which a rebound may be expected.
What’s Next for SUI Price?
Sui price is holding above the $0.90 support zone despite exploit-driven sentiment damage, but continues to face resistance near $0.95–$1.00, keeping the market in a fragile balance.
Holding above $0.90 and reclaiming $1.00 could open a move toward $1.10–$1.15 as confidence returns. While a breakdown below $0.90, especially toward $0.81 support, could trigger further downside and extend the correction.
For now, SUI’s next move hinges on one question: will buyers defend $0.90 and push back above $1.00, or will fading confidence trigger another leg lower?
Binance received nearly $6 billion in stablecoin deposits during March and April, including $3.5 billion in April alone. This happened even as global tensions and inflation fears created uncertainty in financial markets. The inflow shows that many traders are moving money back to the exchange, likely preparing to buy crypto assets again. Earlier months had seen heavy withdrawals, so this marks a reversal in trend. If stablecoin deposits continue rising, it could support stronger crypto market activity and improve short-term investor confidence.
Last week, we learned more information on the Steam Controller via an early review by YouTuber Techy Talk that went live before the end of the embargo. Japanese publication 4Gamer has made the same mistake today, and its early review confirmed the controller will be released in just a week, on May 4. While the publication already took their early review down and their social media post promoting it, it wasn't swift enough to prevent some eagle-eyed Reddit users from saving both. Gaming Leaks and Rumors user ___Steve managed to save the images that accompanied 4Gamer's review, which offer a […]
Intel Core 5 320, a Wildcat Lake CPU designed for budget laptops, has been tested, showcasing good numbers against its competition. Intel Wildcat Lake, Core 5 320, Shows ST and MT Wins Against Current-Gen Chips While Offering 50% iGPU Performance With Just A Quarter of The Xe3 Cores Wildcat Lake should turn out to be a surprise hit from Intel if OEMs build upon the reference design and specs. Just recently, we saw a stunning reference design from Intel, featuring an aluminum body, stunning colors, and decent specs for an everyday PC. Now, we have the first independent benchmarks coming […]
According to movie insider V Scooper, Nintendo is pitching a movie based on its sci-fi franchise Metroid. V Scooper added that Sony Pictures and Universal Pictures are fighting to win the rights to produce it: Metroid, last I heard a few months ago, was still in a bit of a push between studios, no updates since. Sony is one of the stronger contenders for Metroid, Universal is also fighting for it, both are leaning for live action but this could change. Both studios have experience adapting Nintendo IPs to the big screen. Universal, through its Illumination subsidiary, was extremely successful […]
Google's next-generation TPUv8e AI chip will reportedly utilize Intel Foundry's EMIB packaging, marking a series of wins for Intel in recent days. Intel Foundry Might Be Making Google's Next-Gen TPU With Its Advanced Packaging "EMIB" Capabilities Intel has been in the limelight for the past couple of days as it buisnesses gain traction from the recent surge in Agentic AI, which has led to CPUs becoming the hottest commodity after GPUs and memory. Now, reports are coming from Taiwanese outlet, Commercial Times, that Google will leverage Intel's EMIB technology for its next-generation TPU chip. Intel Foundry has already secured Tesla […]
A few hours ago, British developer Creative Assembly and publisher SEGA have posted what looks like a teaser trailer for Alien: Isolation 2 on the official YouTube channel of the first game. The teaser is only 25 seconds long, and most of the video is pitch black, but you can see the Creative Assembly and 20th Century Studios (which owns the IP) logos. The trailer is titled "False Sense of Security," and its description reads: "A feeling of being safer than one really is." Interestingly, DSO Gaming spotted that Alien: Isolation 2 will be powered by Epic's Unreal Engine 5 rather […]
Read to Unlock turns reading into screen time you actually earn. Scan a physical book page with your camera, answer a quick comprehension question, and collect credits to spend on your favorite apps. Use it to build a steady reading habit and enjoy guilt-free scrolling. The iOS app works without an account and enforces discipline that builds over time.
Saarathy is a multi-platform organizational suite that provides an all-in-one communication solution for any community. It offers a rich framework including chats, emails, calls, tasks, files, calendar, web hosting, support, networking, administration, and more. As sovereign software, it is self-hostable on cloud or PC and can be white-labeled with your own branding. Saarathy is approved by the Government E Marketplace, India, and is commercially available at $5 per user per year.
Qvery is an autonomous AI agent that tracks your brand’s visibility across AI search. Add your brand and it auto-generates topics and queries, runs daily checks in ChatGPT and Google AI Mode, and logs every citation and competitor it finds. From these responses, Qvery delivers insights like Visibility, Share of Voice, and Sentiment so you can measure, compare, and act on. The roadmap expands into a suite of marketing agents, including Mention Builder, UGC Agent, and Content Optimizer.
XRP price has been consolidating over the past week, holding the $1.40 support despite market volatility. But now a potential bearish MACD crossover threatens a breakdown below the major support level. According to data from crypto.news, XRP (XRP) price rallied…
South Korea’s internet-only lender KBank has entered into a strategic partnership with Ripple to test blockchain-based cross-border remittances. According to multiple local media reports, the collaboration focuses on a proof-of-concept designed to measure improvements in transaction speed, cost efficiency, and…
Cybersecurity researchers have disclosed details of a telecommunications fraud campaign that uses fake CAPTCHA verification tricks to dupe unsuspecting users into sending international text messages that incur charges on their mobile bills, generating illicit revenue for the threat actors who lease the phone numbers.
According to a new report published by Infoblox, the operation is believed to
Samsung is sweetening the deal on its mid-range phones in South America, quietly rolling out a Spotify Premium bundle for buyers of select Galaxy A series devices in the region.
Spotify Premium is being offered to Samsung Galaxy buyers across countries in South America, reports ETNews. It’s a smart play, and it tells you a lot about how nervous Samsung actually is.
Buyers of the Galaxy A57, A37, A17, and A07 pick up three months of Spotify Premium at no cost. Existing subscribers aren’t left out either; they can snag up to two bonus months depending on conditions.
Benefits of Spotify Premium include ad-free streaming, offline downloads, and curated recommendations. Samsung fans buying Galaxy A phones are getting free access, and it should be available globally.
Latin America shipped 140.5 million phones last year, and Samsung held the top spot with 46.9 million units. Omdia reported that the Korean company’s shipments were carried largely by a 32% surge in entry-level A0x and A1x models.
South Americans consume content, including music, video, and social media, eagerly. Attaching a streaming benefit to a phone purchase isn’t random. It’s targeted at a behavior that already exists, just redirected toward the Galaxy ecosystem.
Rising memory costs are squeezing manufacturers across the board this year, and inventory strategies in the region are tightening. Bundling Spotify is the move you make when a race to the bottom stops being an option.
Selfie camera cutout is a major thing remaining to be innovated on mobile displays, and it looks like Samsung is already on it. It seems Samsung had a way to reduce the Galaxy S26 Ultra selfie camera cutout, but S27 Ultra may adopt it.
Galaxy S26 Ultra was introduced in February 2026, and in particular, it brings a bigger selfie camera hole over its predecessor. The shift results in a wider field of view on the front camera to improve group selfies.
Samsung seems to have had a new technology to shrink the selfie camera cutout, which was skipped on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, reportedly debuting with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and potentially expanding to the Galaxy S27 Ultra.
Recently, tipster IceUniverse revealed that Samsung could use a new technology in the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s cover screen. The new solution significantly reduces the diameter of the hole of the front camera on the display.
With under-display camera tech, which isn’t favorable for premium phones, it’s great to see the hole is getting smaller. Galaxy Z Fold 8 may bring the innovation, which could potentially head to the S27 Ultra next year.
Ice Universe today posted a handful of images of the Galaxy S26 Ultra with its actual selfie camera cutout (4.0mm) and how it could have looked if the Fold 8’s tech (2.5mm) was adopted in it. The difference is big; big enough to flip the script.
That said, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 may bring a preview of the Galaxy S27 Ultra’s possible selfie camera hole. The Unpacked is likely to take place in late July in London, while the Galaxy S event may take place early next year.
Deal | The Casio Amazon storefront has slashed the price of the MTP-B145-2A2V retro-looking watch, making it more affordable than its list price. The analog watch has a minimalist dial design, a blue-finished dial, a date window, 5 bar (50 m) water resistance, and a stainless steel case and band.
Sony has officially confirmed hardware price hikes in more Asian markets. Gamers in the affected countries will pay more for the PS5 and PlayStation Portal, following increases in the US, UK, Europe, and Japan.
FIFA Heroes has slipped past its April 28 release date to May 2026. The 5v5 arcade football game remains in early access ahead of a full global rollout.
Chinese brand TOPC has launched a new mini PC with an MCIO port. This PCIe 4.0 x8 interface can offer better eGPU performance than traditional OCuLink PCIe 4.0 x4. The system is powered by an AMD CPU, and in China, it starts at CNY 2,699, around $395.
French law enforcement agencies have been investigating wrench attacks and found that some of the alleged offenders were involved in multiple incidents
About 3.5% of informed traders, including market makers and skilled takers, capture over 30% of profits on prediction platforms, while about 67% of users absorb the entirety of losses.
Western Union CEO Devin McGranahan said the company will focus on expanding adoption and embedding digital assets into its core money movement platform going forward.
The Xiaomi 17T could debut as early as next month, according to a recent rumor. While several details about the device have already surfaced in recent weeks, it has now appeared on the Geekbench benchmarking platform.
A Xiaomi phone with the model number 2602DPT53G, which is said to be the Xiaomi 17T, has been listed on the Geekbench AI website.
Xiaomi 15T
According to the listing, the phone is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8500 chipset, in line with an earlier leak. It is shown running Android 16 and equipped with 12GB of RAM. In Geekbench AI tests, the device scored 1,017...
vivo is reportedly working on the successor to its X300 series, with a launch expected later this year. A new leak has now revealed more details about the upcoming X500 lineup.
According to a tipster, the vivo X500 series could include a Pro Max variant this time. The lineup is said to feature models with 6.4-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes.
vivo X300 Pro
The Pro Max model is tipped to sport a 50MP primary camera using a LOFIC sensor, alongside a 200MP periscope telephoto camera. It is also expected to include a multispectral sensor.
A separate leak from last week hinted at...
The Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua super fight may yet face another obstacle, reminding fans of failed attempts to make it happen in the past. This generation’s heavyweight ‘Battle of Britain’ edges closer, with no promotional politics or title obligations standing in the way. Following Fury’s comeback win over Arslanbek Makhmudov this month, he confirmed […]
Beşiktaş, sol bek için Bayer Leverkusen'den Alejandro Grimaldo'yla ilgileniyor. Ancak Kartal'ın, diğer talipler dışında çözmesi gereken daha ciddi bir problem bulunuyor.
Beşiktaş, yıllardır süren sol bek problemini Alejandro Grimaldo'yla çözmek istiyor. 30 yaşındaki futbolcunun Bayer Leverkusen'le mukavelesi 30 Haziran 2027 tarihinde bitecek. Yani 2026 yazında sözleşmesinin son senesine giriyor. Bu sebeple de satış listesine koyuldu.
SORUN SADECE PARA DEĞİL
Kartal, İspanyol futbolcuda maddi şartları zorlayacak. Ancak olay bununla bitmiyor. Alejandro Grimaldo'nun ailesinin, İspanya'ya dönmek istediği belirtildi. Ayrıca Beşiktaş haricinde Barcelona da devrede bulunuyor. Fakat Barça'dan şu ana kadar resmi bir hamle gelmedi.
2016'DAN BERİ İSPANYA DIŞINDA
1.71 boyundaki futbolcu, 2016'ın Ocak ayında Barcelona'nın B takımından Benfica'ya transfer olmuştu. 2023'te ise bedelsiz şekilde Bayer Leverkusen'in yolunu tuttu. Alejandro Grimaldo, çok uzun bir süredir ülkesi İspanya'nın dışında oynuyor. Ailesi de bu sebeple geri dönmek istiyor. Kartal'ın, oyuncu dışında aile bireylerini de ikna etmesi gerekebilir.
Galatasaray karşısında kötü performans gösteren isimlerden biri Milan Skriniar'dı... Tecrübeli stoper, sakatlıktan %100 dönemedi. Yaz döneminde herkes forvet takviyesini konuşuyor. Ancak defans hattı komple değişebilir...
Fenerbahçe'nin kaptanı Skriniar, sakatlığı sebebiyle takım arkadaşlarını yalnız bırakmıştı. Ve Sarı-Lacivertliler bu dönemde kritik puan kayıpları yaptı. 31 yaşındaki tecrübeli savunmacı, sakatlıktan %100 şekilde dönemedi. 3-0 kaybedilen Galatasaray derbisinde de sahanın en kötülerinden biriydi.
İŞTE RAKAMLAR
Slovakyalı stoperin Galatasaray karşısındaki performansı şöyleydi:
İkili Mücadele: 1 Kazanılan/3 Kaybedilen
Kaybedilen Hava Topu: 3
Sahipsiz Top Kazanma: 1
Top Çalma: 1
Uzaklaştırma: 4
Faul: 1
Tecrübeli futbolcu ayrıca topla çok az buluştu. Onun performansı, transfer dönemini bile etkileyebilir.
HER TARAFA YENİ YÜZLER
Fenerbahçe'nin, Skriniar'ın yerine bile stoper alabileceği konuşuluyor. Savunmanın sağına ve soluna da takviye gerekiyor. Sarı-Lacivertliler'de ağırlıklı olarak golcü transferi konuşuluyor. Ancak defansta bir kriz olduğu açık. Şu anda kadroda bulunan birçok savunmacıyla 2026 yazında yollar ayrılabilir.
Galatasaray'ın, Napoli'den satın alma opsiyonuyla kiraladığı Noa Lang için Beşiktaş'ın bir ilgisi var. Kartal'daki en büyük çekince; Lang'ın Rashica'ya dönüşmesi!
Galatasaray devre arasında Napoli'den Noa Lang'ı kiralamıştı. Teknik Direktör Conte ile sorunlar yaşayan Hollandalı kanat oyuncusu, 30 milyon euroluk satın alma opsiyonuyla birlikte Sarı-Kırmızılılar'a geldi. 26 yaşındaki futbolcu, Süper Lig'de 10 karşılaşmaya çıktı.
ÇOCUKLUĞUNDA OYNADI
Sahada 553 dakika kalan Noa Lang, 2 asist üretti. Galatasaray'ın satın alma opsiyonunu kullanması beklenmiyor. 1.73 boyundaki kanat, sezon sonunda Napoli'ye dönecek. Orada 30 Haziran 2030 tarihine kadar mukavelesi bulunuyor. Çocukluğunda bir dönem Beşiktaş altyapısında oynayan Lang'a Kartal'ın bir ilgisi mevcut...
MİLOT RASHİCA KORKUSU
Beşiktaş'ı bu transferde en çok düşündüren konu ise Milot Rashica örneği... Rashica da tıpkı Lang gibi kiralık olarak Galatasaray forması giymişti. Ancak oradaki performansını Beşiktaş'ta gösteremedi. Aynı sıkıntının Lang'da da yaşanmasından korkuluyor. Kartal'ın transfer listesinde farklı alternatifler de var.
Galatasaray'ın Alman yıldızı Leroy Sane, 3-0 kazanılan Fenerbahçe derbisinde gol atmadı ve asist yapmadı. Ancak buna rağmen maçın kahramanı oldu. Tribünde Almanya Milli Takımı'nın yetkilileri de vardı. Sane, Dünya Kupası'ndaki yerini de garantiledi.
Leroy Sane, Fenerbahçe derbisinde şu istatistiklere imza attı:
Asist Beklentisi: 0.47
Kilit Pas: 5
Pas İsabeti: %88 (43/49)
Rakip Yarı Sahada Pas İsabeti: %89 (41/46)
Başarılı Çalım: %71 (5/7)
İsabetli Orta: %57 (4/7)
Sahipsiz Top Kazanma: 3
Topla Buluşma: 75
30 yaşındaki kanat oyuncusu, gol veya asist katkısında bulunmasa bile derbinin kahramanı olmayı başardı.
NOTLAR ALDILAR
Fenerbahçe karşılaşmasında Almanya Milli Takımı'nın yetkilileri de tribündeydi. Leroy Sane sadece kendi taraftarlarına değil, onlara da resital sundu. Tecrübeli yıldız, Dünya Kupası kadrosundaki yerini de garantiledi. Zaten son dönemlerde davet alıyordu...
BEDAVA GELMİŞTİ!
Galatasaray, 1.83 boyundaki futbolcuyu bu sezon başında bedelsiz olarak kadrosuna katmıştı. Sarı-Kırmızılılar, Bayern Münih'le sözleşmesi biten yıldızı adeta kaptı. Leroy Sane, Süper Lig'de 25 karşılaşmaya çıktı. Sahada 2.087 dakika kaldı. 7 gol ve 5 asismt üretti.
Beşiktaş, Bayer Leverkusen'in 27 yaşındaki stoperi Edmond Tapsoba'yı kadrosuna katmak istiyor. Oyuncunun önceliği Premier Lig'di... Ve Everton Kulübü devreye girdi. Bu gelişme, Kartal açısından işleri epey zorlaştırabilir.
Beşiktaş, kaliteli bir stoper konusunda çalışmalarını sürdürüyor. Listenin zirvesinde ise Bayer Leverkusen'den Edmond Tapsoba var... Burkina Fasolu savunmacının önceliği ise Premier Lig'de oynamaktı. Ve alınan bilgilere göre Everton devreye girdi. Leverkusen'le görüşmelere başladılar.
HER ŞEY BİTMEDİ
Ancak Everton Kulübü'nün temaslara başlaması, her şeyin bittiği anlamına gelmiyor. Yine de işlerin zorlaştığını söylemek mümkün... 1.94 boyundaki stoper, bu sezon Bundesliga'da 26 karşılaşmaya çıktı. Sahada 2.306 dakika kaldı. 5 gol ve 3 asist üretti. Bu rakamlar; savunmada görev yapan bir oyuncu için gerçekten de etkileyici...
20 MİLYONA ALMIŞLARDI
Bayer Leverkusen, Edmond Tapsoba'yı 2020'nin Ocak ayında Vitoria Kulübü'nden transfer etmişti. O dönemde 20 milyon euro bonservis bedeli ödediler. 27 yaşındaki futbolcunun 30 Haziran 2028 tarihine kadar mukavelesi bulunuyor. Edmond Tapsoba, Burkina Faso Milli Takımı'nın formasını da 60 kez giydi. Ülkesi adına 4 gol kaydetti.
Trabzonspor, Trendyol Süper Lig'in 31. haftasında deplasmanda TÜMOSAN Konyaspor ile karşılaşacak. Trabzonspor-Konyaspor maçı ne zaman, saat kaçta ve hangi kanalda canlı yayınlanacak? Detaylar haberimizde...
Trabzonspor, Trendyol Süper Lig'in 31. haftasında deplasmanda TÜMOSAN Konyaspor ile karşılaşacak. Ligin son 2 haftasında Corendon Alanyaspor ve RAMS Başakşehir ile berabere kalarak şampiyonluk yarışında yara alan bordo-mavili takım, Konya deplasmanından galibiyetle ayrılarak zirve mücadelesini sürdürmek istiyor.
Bordo-mavililerde Savic, Batagov ve Okay Yokuşlu'nun sakatlıkları bulunuyor. Uzun süreli tedavisi tamamlanan Visca'nın ise hazır olmaması nedeniyle kadroda yer alması beklenmiyor.
KONYASPOR-TRABZONSPOR MAÇI NE ZAMAN, SAAT KAÇTA VE HANGİ KANALDA CANLI YAYINLANACAK?
MEDAŞ Konya Büyükşehir Stadı'nda saat 20.00'de başlayacak karşılaşmayı, hakem Halil Umut Meler yönetecek. Karşılaşma beIN Sports 1'den canlı yayınlanacak.
Trabzonspor ile TÜMOSAN Konyaspor, Konya'da yapacakları maçla Trendyol Süper Lig'de 50. kez karşı karşıya gelecek.
İki takım arasında geride kalan 49 lig maçında Karadeniz temsilcisinin galibiyetlerde 25-12 üstünlüğü bulunuyor. Rekabetteki 12 müsabakada ise taraflar sahadan beraberlikle ayrıldı.
Trabzonspor, söz konusu maçlarda 80 kez rakip fileleri havalandırdı, kalesinde 58 gol gördü.
KONYA'DA EN ÇOK BERABERLİK
Trabzonspor ile TÜMOSAN Konyaspor karşısında Konya'da oynanan karşılaşmada en çok beraberlik sonucu alındı.
Söz konusu 24 maçta bordo-mavililer, 8 galibiyet yaşadı. Konya temsilcisi 6 kez kazanırken 10 karşılaşma ise beraberlikle sona erdi.
SON 5 DEPLASMANDA TEK GALİBİYET
Trabzonspor, deplasmanda TÜMOSAN Konyaspor önünde son 5 lig maçının sadece 1'ini kazandı.
Söz konusu dönemdeki 2 maç beraberlikle tamamlanırken, 2 karşılaşmada da ev sahibi takım galip geldi.
İki takım arasında 2020-2021 sezonunda oynanan karşılaşma 1-1, 2021-2022 sezonundaki müsabaka ise 2-2 beraberlikle sona erdi. 2022-2023 sezonunda ise TÜMOSAN Konyaspor 2-1 galip geldi.
2023-2024 sezonunda oynanan müsabaka bordo-mavililerin 3-1'lik üstünlüğüyle sonuçlanırken geçen sezon da ev sahibi takım sahadan 1-0'lık galibiyetle ayrılmayı başardı.
İki takım arasında Trabzon'da oynanan sezonun ilk maçını Trabzonspor 3-1 kazandı.
Beşiktaş, Trendyol Süper Lig'in 31. haftasında sahasında Mısırlı.com.tr Fatih Karagümrük ile karşı karşıya gelecek. Beşiktaş-Fatih Karagümrük maçı ne zaman, saat kaçta ve hangi kanalda canlı yayınlanacak? Detaylar haberimizde...
Beşiktaş, Trendyol Süper Lig'in 31. haftasında sahasında Mısırlı.com.tr Fatih Karagümrük ile karşı karşıya gelecek. Beşiktaş, Süper Lig'de oynadığı 30 maçta 16 galibiyet, 7'şer beraberlik ve yenilgi yaşadı. Siyah-beyazlı futbol takımı, topladığı 55 puanla 4. sırada yer aldı.
Fatih Karagümrük ise çıktığı 30 müsabakada 5'er galibiyet ve beraberliğin yanı sıra 20 kez sahadan yenilgiyle ayrıldı. Kırmızı-siyahlı ekip, 20 puanla 18. ve son basamakta bulunuyor.
Beşiktaş, ligde çıktığı son maçta deplasmanda Samsunspor'a, Fatih Karagümrük ise evinde ikas Eyüpspor'a 2-1'lik skorlarla mağlup oldu.
BEŞİKTAŞ-FATİH KARAGÜMRÜK MAÇI NE ZAMAN, SAAT KAÇTA VE HANGİ KANALDA CANLI YAYINLANACAK?
Tüpraş Stadı'nda oynanacak mücadele saat 20.00'de başlayacak. Karşılaşmayı hakem Batuhan Kolak yönetecek. Karşılaşma beIN Sports 2'den canlı yayınlanacak.
MUHTEMEL 11'LER
Beşiktaş: Devis Vasquez, Gökhan Sazdağı, Agbadou, Uduokhai, Rıdvan, Ndidi, Cerny, Orkun, Olaitan, El Bilal Toure, Hyeon-Gyu Oh.
Fatih Karagümrük: Grbic, Esgaio, Biraschi, Lichnovsky, Mladenovic, Barış Kalaycı, Kranevitter, Bartuğ, Tiago Çukur, Larsson, Serginho.
KALEDE DEVIS VAZQUEZ
Beşiktaş'ın devre arasında kiralık olarak kadrosuna kattığı kaleci Devis Vasquez'in Fatih Karagümrük karşısında forma giymesi bekleniyor.
Kolombiyalı file bekçisi, teknik direktör Sergen Yalçın'ın görev vermesi halinde ilk kez siyah-beyazlı formayı giyecek.
Beşiktaş'ta sarı kart cezalısı kaleci Ersin Destanoğlu, mücadelede görev yapamayacak.
BEŞİKTAŞ'TA EKSİKLER
Beşiktaş'ta Fatih Karagümrük karşılaşmasında üç oyuncu forma giyemeyecek.
Siyah-beyazlı ekipte sakatlığı bulunan Kartal Kayra Yılmaz'ın yanı sıra, sarı kart cezalısı Amir Murillo ile kaleci Ersin Destanoğlu, mücadelede formasından uzak kalacak.
Fatih Karagümrük'te ise Joao Camacho, Ahmet Sivri ve Moussa Kone'nin forma giymesi beklenmiyor.
SARI KART SINIRINDAKİ OYUNCULAR
Beşiktaş'ta Fatih Karagümrük maçı öncesinde üç oyuncu ceza sınırında yer alıyor.
Siyah-beyazlılarda Emmanuel Agbadou, Rıdvan Yılmaz ve Salih Uçan, söz konusu karşılaşmada sarı kart görmesi durumunda gelecek hafta oynanacak Gaziantep FK maçında cezalı olacak.
Fatih Karagümrük'te sarı kart ceza sınırında bulunan Ivo Grbic ve Ricardo Esgaio ise Beşiktaş müsabakasında aynı durumu yaşadığı takdirde Gençlerbirliği karşılaşmasında cezalı duruma düşecek.
Beşiktaş GAİN, yarın akşam Fransa'da sadece bir maç değil, İstanbul'da şampiyonluk kupasını kaldırma şansı için parkeye çıkacak. Tüm gözler, "Kartal"ın geri dönüş mücadelesinde olacak.
Beşiktaş GAİN Erkek Basketbol Takımı, BKT Avrupa Kupası (EuroCup) final serisi ikinci maçında kader randevusuna hazır. Siyah-beyazlılar, seride 1-0 geride olduğu Fransız temsilcisi Cosea JL Bourg ile deplasmanda karşı karşıya gelecek.
Ekinox Salonu'nda oynanacak dev karşılaşma yarın akşam TSİ 20.30’da başlayacak. Siyah-beyazlılar kupa umudunu son maça taşıma savaşı TRT Spor'da canlı yayınlanacak.
İstanbul’da oynanan serinin ilk maçında rakibine 72-60 mağlup olan Beşiktaş, seride 1-0 geriye düşmüştü. İki galibiyete ulaşan takımın şampiyonluk kupasını kaldıracağı eşleşmede Beşiktaş’ın tek bir opsiyonu kazanmak.
Beşiktaş kazanırsa seri 1-1’e gelecek ve şampiyonluk maçı 1 Mayıs Cuma günü İstanbul’da oynanacak.
JL Bourg kazanırsa seriyi 2-0’a getirerek kupanın sahibi olacak.
Sezonun bitimine 3 hafta kala Fenerbahçe'yi geçme şansını bir kez daha yakalayan Trabzonspor'da teknik direktör Fatih Tekke tüm planlarını 3 puan üzerine yaptı. Stoper hattındaki revir görüntüsü bile bordo-mavililerin hocasının beklentisinin önüne geçemedi.
Trabzonspor daha önce iki kez "ben almayayım" diyerek reddettiği Fenerbahçe'den bir ikram daha aldı... Galatasaray'a 3-0 yenilen sarı-lacivertliler bir kez daha "biz istemiyoruz, siz gidin" diye Trabzonspor'a Şampiyonlar Ligi yolu açtı.
Bordo-mavilier bu akşam ligde herhangi bir iddiası olmayan Türkiye Kupası yarı finalisti Konyaspor'a konuk olacak. Ancak bordo-mavililer sezonun en kritik "revir" görüntüsüyle hazır.
YA OZAN YA LÖVİK
Savic ve Batagov sakatlıkları nedeniyle kritik maçta yok. Zaman zaman stoperde oynayan Okay da bu maçta forma giyemeyecek. Sakatlık kervanına katılan son isim de genç stoper Taha Emre oldu.
Fatih Tekke bu akşam ya Lövik’e güvenecek... ya da tecrübesiyle Ozan Tufan’ı stopere çekecek.
4 YIL SONRA YENİDEN
Galibiyet gelmesi halinde Trabzonspor, Fenerbahçe’yi geride bırakarak ikincilik koltuğuna oturacak. Ligin bitimine 3 hafta kala ele geçirilecek bu avantaj, takımı hem mental hem de stratejik olarak zirveye taşıyacak. Eğer Trabzonspor bu sezonu ikinci sırada bitirmeyi başarırsa, 4 yıl aradan sonra yeniden Şampiyonlar Ligi'ne adım atacak.
SEZON ERKEN AÇILACAK
Sezonu erken açacak olan bordo-mavililer, 2 ön eleme turunu geçmesi halinde gruplara kalacak. Gruplara katılım, kulüp tarihinin en büyük mali gelirlerinden birini kasaya koyacak. Matematiksel olarak şampiyonluk ihtimali hâlâ masada olsa da, camianın ve teknik heyetin öncelikli hedefi gerçekçi bir başarı olan lig ikinciliği.
Sadettin Saran, Ederson'ın sözleşmesini tek taraflı feshetmesi için içeride kalan son 3 aylık maaşını ceza olarak ödememe karar aldı... bu durumda Brezilyalı kaleci CAS'a gidecek. 1.5 yıl sonra çıkacak karara göre Fenerbahçe 200 bin Euro civarında faiz ödeyecek. İddialara göre Saran bu faizi cebinden ödemeyi kabul etti.
Fenerbahçe yönetimi zaten ilk günden bu yana çok yüksek maaş aldığı için göndermek istediği Ederson konusunda sürpriz bir karar alma aşamasında... gelen bilgilere göre sarı-lacivertli yönetim Galatasaray derbisinde kendini bile isteye attıran Ederson'a tarihi bir ceza kesecek.
Sarı-lacivertli yönetim Brezilyalı kalecinin yıllık maaşının brütünün yüzde 25'ini ceza olarak kesecek... bu sayede Ederson'un bu durumu "sözleşmenin kulüp tarafından ihlali" olarak gösterip sözleşmesini tek taraflı feshetmesinin önünü açacak. Zaten 3 ay geriden gelen maaşında yer alan 2 milyon 750 bin euro'luk kısmı ödemeyecek.
Başkan Sadettin Saran çok kızdığı Ederson'dan bu şekilde intikam alacak. CAS sonunda ortaya çıkacak tüm faizi cebinden ödeyecek.
FIFA ve CAS süreçlerinin toplamda yaklaşık 1,5 yıl sürüyor. Böyle bir durumda 2 milyon Euro'nun faiz yükü yaklaşık 206-207 bin Euro olacak.
Fenerbahçe Başkanı Sadettin Saran 3-0 kaybettikleri Galatasaray derbisinden sonra kendisine yakın yöneticilere adeta günah çıkardı... en büyük hatalarını bir bir sıraladı.
Başkan Sadettin Saran kendisine ayrılan sürenin sonuna geldiğini itiraf etti... dün akşam 3-0'lık Galatasaray yenilgisinden sonra kendisine yakın yöneticilerle kısa bir toplantı yaptı. Bugün "seçim" kararını açıklayacaklarını söyledi. Ayrıca yaptığı hatalar yüzünden özür diledi.
Başkan Saran'ın itiraf ettiği hataları ve yöneticilerin de "biz seni uyardık" dediği hataları birbir sıraladı:
- Seçim kazanmadan önce "maaşları ödeyemez" diyenlerin seçimi kazandıktan sonra sırtımı sıvazlayıp yüzüme gülmesine kandım. Onları dinlemek ise en büyük hatamdı.
- İnanmadığım halde Tedesco ve hayal satan Devin'le (Özek) çalışmaya devam etmemeliydim. Aykut hoca (Kocaman) ve Volkan'a (Demirel) ayıp ettim.
- UEFA'nın yaptırımı falan dinlemeyecektim ültimatom falan boş işmiş... o gece Tedesco'yu gönderip Tuncay (Şanlı) ile devam etmeliydim. Bugünden daha iyi olacağı kesin.
Galatasaray cephesi 3-0'lık zafere rağmen Yasin Kol'u suçlamaya devam ediyor... Başkan Özbek'e göre en az iki penaltıları verilmedi. Diğer yöneticilere göre penaltılar verilse ve maç erken kopsa belki de derbiden 6-7 farklı skorlar çıkacaktı.
Galatasaray bulutların üzerinde... 4'üncü kez üst üste şampiyonluk için artık sarı-kırmızılı camia saatleri saymaya başladı. Başkan Dursun Özbek'in de keyfine diyecek.
Derbiden sonra şu ifadeleri kullandı:
Son derece mutlu oldum! Fenerbahçe'ye karşı hak ettiğimiz bir galibiyet aldık, hakeme rağmen aldık! Verilmeyen penaltılar...
Başkan Özbek'e göre Yasin Kol iki penaltılarını birden atladı... eğer ilk yarıda Yasin Kol çalması gereken penaltıları çalsaydı, fark daha önce açılacaktı.
Galatasaraylı yöneticiler ise Yasin Kol'un görevini yaptığını iddia ederek, "6-0, 7-0 bitecek tarihi bir maç Yasin Kol yüzünden 3-0 bitti" diye isyan etti.
Tedesco'yu bu kez UEFA'da kurtaramayacak gibi duruyor... çünkü Mart ayında FFP denetimi tamamlandı. Alman teknik adama 2.5 milyon Euro tazminat verilip gönderilmesi, sezonun Tuncay Şanlı ile tamamlanması Fenerbahçe'nin ilk önceliği gibi duruyor.
Fenerbahçe'de bugün öğlen saatlerinde başlaması planlanan yönetim kurulu toplantısında önemli kararların alınması bekleniyor... bu kararların başında da Tedesco'nun görevden alınması, sezonun kalan 3 maçının ise Tuncay Şanlı ile tamamlanması gündemde.
Daha önce Mourinho’nun tazminat yükünü atamadığı için UEFA ile yüzyüze kalmak istemediği için Tedesco’yu kovamayan Fenerbahçe yönetimi bu kez çok daha rahat.
Çünkü Mart ayındaki kritik FFP denetimi tamamlandı... bazılarına göre sorunlu geçti. Yönetime göre ceza çıkacak bir durum yok. Bu yüzden Tedesco'nun kovulup sezonun geri kalan 3 maçının Şanlı ile tamamlanmasında ve camianın seçime Şanlı ile gitmesinde bir engel kalmadı.
Alman kaynaklarına göre yıllık 2.5 milyon Euro kazanan Tedesco’nun görevine son verilmesi durumunda, kulübün kasasından bu yılın sonuna kadar olan maaş hak edişi ve gelecek yılın 2.5 milyon Euro tutarındaki garanti ücreti tazminat olarak çıkacak.
Başkan Sadettin Saran iddia edildiği gibi seçim kararını bugün açıklarsa en erken 16-17 Mayıs tarihlerinde bir seçim sandığı Fenerbahçe kongre üyelerinin önüne gelir. Ancak beklenti ve makul tarih olarak 30-31 Mayıs veya 6-7 Haziran tarihleri öne çıkıyor.
Galatasaray'a 3-0 kaybeden Fenerbahçe bir sezonu daha "ellerim bomboş" şarkısıyla kapatacak... bugünün beklentisi ise öğle saatlerinde yapılacak yönetim kurulu toplantısından seçim kararının çıkması. Başkan Sadettin Saran zaten sezon sonunda bir seçim vadetmişti. Her ne kadar sonradan "pişman" olduğu her halinden belli olsa da Mayıs sonu Haziran başı gibi bir seçim kaçınılmaz.
İLK OTURUMDA ZOR
Eğer bugün yani 27 Nisan tarihinde resmi duyuru yapılırsa 15 günlük yasal duyuru süresi de eklendiğinde ilk toplantı en erken 12-13 Mayıs civarında yapılabilir. Ancak seçim için hafta sonları tercih edilir... bu da 16-17 Mayıs tarihini öne çıkarıyor.
İlk toplantıda 30 ila 40 bin üyenin katılımı teknik olarak imkansız... bu yüzden seçim genellikle bir sonraki haftaya kalır. Bu durumda seçim en erken 23-24 Mayıs veya tüzükteki 15 günlük süre ve hazırlıklar baz alındığında Haziran başı (örneğin 30-31 Mayıs veya 6-7 Haziran) olarak belirlenebilir.
Mehmet Ali Aydınlar'ın kaçarı yok... artık Fenerbahçe'de başkan adayı olarak görülen birinci isim. Camiada herkes "tek adaylı" ve o adayın da Aydınlar olduğu seçime hazırlanıyor. Peki Aydınlar'ın listesinde kimler olacak?
Fenerbahçe'de Başkan Sadettin Saran veda hazırlığında... hatta bugün seçim kararını ve aday olmayacağını camiayı duyuracağı iddiaları var. Her ne kadar Barış Göktürk ya da Hakan Safi gibi isimler konuşulsa da camiada yetersiz bulunuyorlar.
Sarı-lacivertli camianın 'ağır topları'nın bir süredir ikna etmeye çalıştığı Mehmet Ali Aydınlar ise teslim olmuş durumda. Adaylığı artık kaçınılmaz bir hal aldı.
Ancak burada Aydınlar'ın kuracağı yönetim kurulu Aziz Yıldırım ve Ali Koç'tan alacağı destek açısından çok önemli.
Aziz Yıldırım'a kaybettiği 2013'te Aydınlar'ın listesi şu isimlerden oluşuyordu:
- Hamdi Akın, Nezih Barut, Şaban Erdikler, Necdet Ersoy, Selim Koray, Recep Tanrıverdi, Nuri Tuna, Cem Topçuoğlu, Mehmet Torun, Tankut Turnaoğlu, Dursun Ekşioğlu, Faik İçmeli, Metin Şen, Engin Keçeli, Mehmet Okay, Nejat Taşdemir, Erkan Güral, Esra Kazancıbaşı Öztekin, Selim Ergüder, Hasan Tanyeli, Ekrem Eray Arda.
Yıldırım bu isimlerden Hamdi Akın'a net şekilde karşı. Ali Koç ise daha önce çalıştığı sonra yollarını ayırdığı Erdikler, Metin Şen gibi isimleri veto edebilir.
Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan milli komandasının yarımmüdafiəçisi Ozan Can Kökçü “Volendam”ın ötən gecə keçirdiyi oyunda iştirak etməyib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, sözügedən komanda Niderland çempionatının (Erediviziya) 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün 31-ci turunda “Herakles”lə qarşılaşıb.
“Volendam” səfərdə baş tutmuş bu oyundan qələbə ilə ayrılıb – 2:0.
Ozan bu görüşün sonunadək ehtiyatda qalıb.
“Volendam” 31 turdan sonra 31 xalla 18 iştirakçı arasında 15-ci pillədə qərarlaşıb. Ozan bu oyunların 27-də iştirak edib, 1 qol vurub, 2 məhsuldar ötürmə müəllifi olub.
Xatırladaq ki, Özan Can Kökçü 2025-ci ilin may ayında “Volendam”la 1+1 illik müqavilə imzalayıb. O, Niderland klubuna Finlandiya təmsilçisi HJK-dan azad agent kimi keçib. Millimizin üzvü Niderland klubunun heyətində bütövlükdə 30 oyuna çıxıb, 1 qol vurub, 2 məhsuldar ötürmə verib.
Ozan daha öncə Niderlandda “Eyndhoven”, “Valveyk” və “Telstar”ın, Türkiyədə “Bursaspor” və “Girəsunspor”un, Azərbaycanda “Sabah”ın da uğurları üçün çalışıb. Azərbaycanın U-20 və U-21 yığmalarının formasını geyinmiş futbolçu 2022-ci ildən əsas millimizə dəvət alır. O, Azərbaycan milli komandasının heyətində 14 oyuna çıxıb, 2 məhsuldar ötürmə müəllifi olub.
Sərbəst güləş üzrə Avropa ikincisi olmuş Azərbaycan təmsilçisi Arseniy Djioyev (86 kq) çıxışı ilə bağlı təəssüratlarını bölüşüb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, o, Azərbaycan Güləş Federasiyasının mətbuat xidmətinə açıqlamasında bunları söyləyib:
“Allaha şükür olsun ki, bu nəticəni əldə etdim. Fürsətdən istifadə edib, Azərbaycan Güləş Federasiyasına, məni dəstəkləyən hər kəsə öz minnətdarlığımı bildirmək istəyirəm. Bizə bu cür şərait yaradan federasiyamıza təşəkkür edirəm. Çəkdiyimiz əziyyət onu göstərir ki, gələcəkdə qızıl medal da əldə bilərik. Çalışacağam ki, bu medalın əyarını qızıla çevirim”.
Xatırladaq ki, Albaniyanın paytaxtı Tiranada təşkil edilmiş yarışa 86 kq çəki dərəcəsində qatılmış Arseniy Djioyev (86 kq) əvvəlcə ukraynalı Denis Bikova (10:0), daha sonra moldovalı Yevgeni Mihaelkana (11:0) tam üstünlüklə qalib gələrək yarımfinala vəsiqə qazanıb. Bu mərhələdə isə latviyalı İvars Samusonok vaxtından əvvəl xalçanı məyus tərk edib – 12:2. Arseniy finalda rusiyalı İbrahim Kadiyevlə üz-üzə gəlib. O, minimal fərqlə məğlub olub (1:2) və gümüş medala sahib çıxıb.
Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan millisinin hücumçusu Renat Dadaşov Polşanın “Motor” komandasının “Vidzev”ə qarşı keçirdiyi oyunu buraxıb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, 26 yaşlı hücumçunun komandası Polşa çempionatının 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün 30-cu turu çərçivəsində “Vidzev”lə qarşılaşıb.
Lyublin təmsilçisi bu rəqiblə səfərdə üz-üzə gəlib və 0:2 hesablı məğlubiyyətə üzülüb. Renat bu görüşün iştirakçısı olmayıb. O, sonadək ehtiyatda qalıb.
30 turdan sonra 39 xalı olan “Motor” hazırda Polşa çempionatının turnir cədvəlində 18 iştirakçı arasında 9-cu pillədə qərarlaşıb. Renatın komandası keçirdiyi 30 oyunda 9 qələbə qazanıb, 12 heç-heçə edib, 9 məğlubiyyətə üzülüb.
Xatırladaq ki, Dadaşov “Motor”la 2025-ci ilin yayında 1+1 illik müqaviləyə imza atıb. O, Lyublin klubunun heyətində meydana çıxdığı 20 oyunda fərqlənə bilməyib.
Renat Dadaşov ötən mövsümü Polşanın digər klubu “Radomyak”da keçirib. Amma o, mövsüm bitən kimi sözügedən klubu tərk edib və “Motor”la razılaşıb. Renat karyerası ərzində “Qrasshopper”, “Tondela”, “Eştoril”, “Pasuş de Ferreyra”, “Hatayspor”, “Ankaragücü” kimi klublarda da forma geyinib. O, Azərbaycan milli komandasının heyətində meydana çıxdığı 43 oyunda 6 qol, 2 məhsuldar ötürmə müəllifi olub.
Galatasaray, 23 Mayıs'ta seçime gidecek. Sarı-kırmızılılarda seçimin ardından teknik direktör Okan Buruk ile 2 yıllık yeni sözleşme imzalanması bekleniyor.
Beşiktaş'ta özellikle sezonun ikinci devresinde gösterdiği performans ile alkış toplayan Ersin Destanoğlu, yeni sözleşme konusunda istediği kararı verecek.
Bəlli ki, millinin baş məşqçisi postu strateji yerdir. Deməli, Ayxan Abbasovun dedikləri daim diqqətdə saxlanılmalıdır. Görək strateji posta kim qoyulub, necə fikirləşir, proseslərə yanaşması nədir və s.
29-cu turun “Şamaxı” – “Kəpəz” (2:0) oyunundan sonra mətbuat konfransında Abbasova verilən sual və onun cavabına diqqət yetirək:
– AFFA rəhbərliyi ilə söhbətlərinizdə çempionatdakı hakim səhvlərini müzakirə edirsiniz? – Cahangir müəllimlə söhbətlərimizdə bütün mövzulara toxunuruq, hakimlik də bunların arasındadır. Federasiya da səhvlərin az olmasını istəyir. Lakin həqiqəti demək lazımdır, burda medianın, AFFA-nın, klubların da payı var. Bəzən lazımsız ajiotaj yaradır, futbolumuzu sanki şouya çeviririk. Türkiyəyə baxıb, müəyyən addımlar atırıq. Bəzi gənc hakimlər də səhvlərdən tam şəkildə qurtula bilmirlər. Mənimlə razılaşmaya bilərsiniz, amma bu gün səhvsiz yer yoxdur. Hər şeyi hakimlərin üzərinə yıxmaq da düzgün deyil. Klubların haqqına girilib, bunu da demək lazımdır. Amma çıxış yolu hakimləri silmək deyil. Onlar da təcrübə qazanmalıdır, üzərlərinə bu qədər getmək olmaz. Səhvlər həddən artıq müzakirə olunanda, bəzi hakimlərdə qorxu yaranır.
Abbasov, etiraf edirik, qarışıq dönəmdən keçirik. Ancaq bu qarışıqlığın içində fikirlərin də qarışması üçün hər hansı zəmin yoxdur.
Qarışıqlıqda media tərəf kimi göstərilir. Qarışdırmayaq…
Ümumiyyətlə, gəlin belə edək: media deyəndə nə nəzərdə tutulur?
Kiminçünsə “sarı mətbuat” nümunəsi də mediadır.
Futbol aləmindəki oxucu kütləsi nə boyda olar?
Onların neçə faizi peşəkar KİV oxuyur?
Ümumiyyətlə, peşəkarla “obıvatel” ayırımı edə bilən məşqçi, futbolçu, futbol funksioneri nə qədərdir?
Bunu ayırd edə bilməsək – ki bilmərik – dəyərləndirmədə mizanı qaçırmaq ehtimalı böyükdür.
Peşəkar mühakimə, təhlil qabiliyyətli media ümumi kütlənin 10-15%-ni təşkil edər, ya etməz.
Bu kiçik faiz Azərbaycan futbolu başda olmaqla, idmanında əsas hərəkətverici qüvvədir.
Olmasaydı, nələr olardı…
Gələk məğzə. Hakimlərin qınanması onların səhvinə görə deyil, qələtinə görədir. Əslində “qələt” ərəbcədən tərcümədə elə “səhv”dir. Sizin üstünə çox da gedilməməsini məqbul bildiyiniz hakim nöqsanları yığılıb qalaq-qalaq, nə boyda səhv tayası yaradıbsa, vəziyyəti ifadə etməkçün qələt sözünü işlətməyə bilmirsən.
Mövsüm sonunda milliyə görə tərk edəcəyiniz klub baş məşqçiliyi postu bu həqiqətin toksikliyini sizə də az yaşatmayıb.
Absurd hakim səhvlərindən şikayətlənən APL məşqçiləri arasında aktivlərdən olmusunuz.
İndi nə oldu?
Sizin çıxışınızdakı ideyanı əslində anlayırıq. Lap yaxşı anlayırıq. Neqativ periodun uzun-uzadı keçməməsi naminə elə danışırsınız. Lakin medianın (peşəkar medianın) ucuz şouya çevrilməsində rolu yoxdur. Məsələni “maski-şou”ya çevirənlər var.
Bəli, AFFA-nın iki ildən çoxdur təmərküzləşə bilməyən yeni idarəçiliyi bu cür şouların mənbə və mənsəbini görə bilmədiyi (?) üçün vəziyyət “şou” halını alır.
Bu haqda ipucu xarakterli məqalələr dərc etməkdən usandıq, irəliləyiş yoxdur ki, yoxdur. Davam edir özbaşınalıq.
Futbol naminə bir yaxşı iş görüləndə bir hakim qələti vurub o yaxşı işin gözünü deşir. Bir zəhmət, artıq suların hardan bulandığını sezib, bilib, real addımlar atsın da AFFA. Bu ki, özbaşına olası iş deyil.
Qələtləri də gənc hakimlərdən çox təcrübəlilər edir. Odur ki, təcrübə qazanılası bir şey yoxdur. Səhnə qurulub və oyun gedir.
Ssenarisi və oyunçuları bəlli tamaşa.
Bir-birimizi ittiham etməklə heç nəyə nail ola bilməyəcəyimiz bir şounun içindəyik.
Freddi Merkurinin oxuduğu kimi, “The show must go on!” – Tamaşa davam etməlidir…
AFFA-nın təşkilatçılığı və FIFA-nın dəstəyi ilə “FIFA Women’s Development Programme” çərçivəsində 8-10 yaşlı qızlar üçün futbol festivalı keçirilib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Lənkəran Olimpiya İdman Kompleksində baş tutan tədbirdə 63 qız iştirak edib.
Proqram çərçivəsində iştirakçılar üçün sadə futbol məşqləri, estafet oyunları və əyləncəli fəaliyyətlər təşkil olunub. Həmçinin milli komandanın futbolçuları ilə fotozona yaradılıb və məşqçilər tərəfindən topla ilkin davranış qaydaları göstərilib. Qızlar həm əyləniblər, həm də futbol bacarıqlarını inkişaf etdirmək imkanı qazanıblar.
Tədbirdə AFFA-nın baş katibinin müşaviri Orxan Həsənov, Qadın Futbolu Departamentinin rəhbəri Zümrüd Ağayeva, assosiasiya nümayəndələri, qadınlardan ibarət milli komandaların məşqçiləri və oyunçuları iştirak ediblər. Millinin üzvü Mədinə Curuqova festivalın gənc səfiri seçilib.
İştirakçılar AFFA tərəfindən idman geyimi, toplar və gödəkçələrlə təmin olunublar.
Bu cür festivalların gələcəkdə də davamlı keçirilməsi planlaşdırılır. Layihənin təşkilində əsas məqsəd qızlar arasında sağlam həyat tərzini təşviq etmək, futbola marağı artırmaq, gələcəkdə onları liqalara və milli komandalara hazırlamaqdır.
AFFA-nın təşkilatçılığı və FIFA-nın dəstəyi ilə “FIFA Women’s Development Programme” çərçivəsində 8-10 yaşlı qızlar üçün futbol festivalı keçirilib. Msport.az xəbər […]
Saelemaekers hits the crossbar, Roma and Como remain at a distance.
Inter, it’s yours
Great Toro comeback, but the Scudetto is three points away
+10 with four games remaining. Party ready at San Siro against Parma on Sunday. Marotta: ‘Fans, be calm, we are not involved in the scandal. We’ve always been correct.’
The referees shield themselves.
Rocchi and Gervasoni heard on Thursday, and they might not reply to the prosecutors. The investigation is nearly closed; it started a year ago.
FIGC commissioner, the Government pushes, the board is divided.
Corriere dello Sport
Referees, the prosecutors investigate: Inter’s rebellion
Marotta: ‘We are not involved.’
‘We’ve always acted with the utmost fairness, never indicated unwanted referees.’ Chiné: ‘I’ve never asked for the documents.’ Rocchi: ‘Heard on Thursday? We’ll see.’ The Government wants to appoint a commissioner.
It doesn’t end here
Draw (0-0) in the match between Allegri and Spalletti: Fabregas and Gasperini are three points behind Lucio.
Champions League race: Milan, Juve, Como and Roma within six points
Disallowed Thuram goal and Saelemaekers’ crossbar. Little emotions at San Siro. Cesc wins 2-0 in Marassi. Four games to go: a race for two spots.
Napoli, McTominay’s record
13 goals so far, the next one will mark a personal record
Roma, Malen leaves the others behind
181m invested in No.9 since 2020: Donyell is the leader
Arezzo celebrate: Here’s Serie B
Bucchi beats Torres (3-1): 80 points in 36 matches.
Tuttosport
Simeone+Vlasic: 15 minutes of fury block Inter’s joy.
Toro’s comeback with pride
Thuram and Bisseck appear to legitimise the Nerazzurri’s certainty of winning at the Grande Torino, but D’Aversa gets the substitutions right: Zapata and Nije give a shake. Ilkhan lights up, and the stadium finally gets excited. The coach: ‘The attitude has changed too, Cholito was so determined!’ Duvan: ‘We must rebuild our relationship with the fans.’ Chivu needs three points for the Scudetto.
Once upon a time, there was Milan-Juve
A disappointing 0-0 at San Siro
Thuram’s disallowed goal for offside and Saelemaekers’ crossbar were the only highlights; then the two teams settled for a goalless draw, as in the reverse fixture. Allegri slips -2 from Napoli, Spalletti remains fourth, but Como and Roma get closer: ‘Now let’s see who is worthy of Juve.’
According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, the Gunners are heavily monitoring his situation and are fully prepared to launch a blockbuster bid if Real Madrid decide to cash in.
After arriving in Spain with sky-high expectations, the teenager struggled to lock down consistent minutes under manager Xabi Alonso.
The situation got so tense that his father, Douglas Sousa, recently hit out at the Spanish giants in the media, claiming they had essentially “taken away his playground.”
Endrick has revived his career away from Real Madrid
Seeking a fresh start and regular playing time, Endrick secured a winter loan move to Olympique Lyonnais, a decision reportedly influenced by his wife, Gabriely Miranda.
He is playing with a smile on his face again, and Europe’s elite are taking notice.
Arsenal’s recruitment team has reportedly been tracking the Brazilian’s resurgence very closely.
Mikel Arteta is always on the hunt for dynamic, versatile forwards, and Endrick’s explosive pace, physical strength, and lethal left foot make him a dream fit for the physical demands of the Premier League.
Arsenal are waiting to see if they can sign the Brazilian
The North London club is ready to strike the second an opportunity arises. However, pulling this deal off will be incredibly difficult. Despite his frustrations earlier in the campaign, Real Madrid still view Endrick as a generational talent and a massive part of their long-term future.
He is tied down to a contract until the summer of 2030, meaning Florentino Perez holds all the cards and has absolutely no financial pressure to sell his prized asset.
If Endrick decides he wants guaranteed starter status rather than returning to a rotation role in Spain, he might just force the issue himself.
While a summer transfer currently remains a long shot, Arsenal are making sure they are first in line if the Brazilian’s Madrid dream officially comes to an end.
When Xavi Simons arrived at Tottenham Hotspur last August in a high-profile £51.8 million move from RB Leipzig, he was supposed to be the creative spark.
Fast forward to the spring of 2026, and the dream has turned into an absolute nightmare.
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According to sources in Spain, Manchester United are closely monitoring the 23-year-old Netherlands international Xavi Simons, lining up a sensational summer swoop to bring him to Old Trafford.
Tottenham could be open to a fire sale
To understand why Simons might be packing his bags so soon, you only need to look at the current Premier League table. Tottenham’s season has been nothing short of a disaster.
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Roberto De Zerbi’s heavily-invested squad is in genuine danger of dropping down to the Championship.
Reports suggest that the financial reality of relegation could see Simons leave for an absolute pittance, potentially as low as £26 million.
For a player who was widely regarded as one of the best young No. 10s in European football just a year ago, that price tag represents an incredible market opportunity for Man United.
Simons will be a gamble for Man United due to his injury
There is, however, a massive elephant in the room: Simons’ fitness. Just this past weekend, the Dutch playmaker was stretchered off during a clash against Wolves, with scans confirming a devastating ACL rupture.
He is facing up to eight months on the sidelines, meaning whoever buys him won’t see him kick a competitive ball until at least January 2027.
So, why would Man United want to invest in a player who is facing a serious rehabilitation process?
The Red Devils need players who can make instant impact in the team and challenge for a place in the starting line up straightaway.
A fully fit Simons offers a level of technical brilliance and versatility that is incredibly rare.
Buying him while he’s injured is undeniably a massive risk, but it’s precisely that injury, combined with Tottenham’s league struggles, that makes this heavily discounted fee possible in the first place.
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With eight wins, two draws, and just two defeats in 12 games, no Premier League side has racked up more points during his time in charge. He has transformed a wildly inconsistent squad into a cohesive unit that currently sits comfortably in third place, firmly on track to secure Champions League football.
Despite his brilliant job at Old Trafford, Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants the club to consider former England boss Gareth Southgate for the Man United job, according to TEAMtalk.
While director of football Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada are conducting a thorough managerial search, the ultimate decision rests with Ratcliffe.
Since stepping down from the Three Lions post in July 2024 following the Euro 2024 final against Spain, the 55-year-old Southgate has been biding his time away from management.
Ratcliffe believes Southgate’s profile is perfect for the club
Former England coach Gareth Southgate (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Ratcliffe reportedly believes Southgate’s profile, man-management skills, and experience handling immense media pressure perfectly align with the heavy demands of Old Trafford.
While other heavyweights like Thomas Tuchel, Julian Nagelsmann, and Carlo Ancelotti have been floated by the board, Southgate’s name keeps surfacing as a serious, genuine threat to Carrick’s permanent ambitions.
As we head into the final stretch of the season, Man United find themselves at a massive crossroads.
Do they reward the undeniable results and internal harmony that Carrick has built, or do they pivot to the established, higher-profile vision that Ratcliffe seems to crave with Southgate?
It’s entirely up to INEOS to decide if they want to roll the dice on a new era or stick with the man who successfully brought the magic back to the Theatre of Dreams.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke does not want Pascal Struijk to leave in the summer transfer window, according to Football Insider. The defender has been on the books of Leeds since January 2020 and is under contract at the Premier League club until the summer of 2027. Journalist Pete O’Rourke said: “From Leeds’ perspective, they […]
While Aston Villa might have been frustrated on Saturday lunchtime as they were hit with a 1-0 loss away at Fulham, Unai Emery’s men could be set for an historic month in the Midlands. Travelling to local rivals Nottingham Forest on Thursday night as they get their Europa League semi-final adventure underway, the Villains are […]
Real Madrid ready for massive clearout as eight players face exit – report
Change is no longer a possibility at Real Madrid – it is becoming an inevitability.
After a disappointing campaign that has raised serious questions about the squad’s balance and long-term direction, the club is now preparing for what could be one of the most significant rebuilds in recent years.
Reports from Defensa Central suggest that as many as eight players are currently facing uncertain futures, with the club internally assessing who fits into the next phase of the project and who does not.
Three veterans in spotlight
Among the most straightforward cases are David Alaba and Dani Carvajal.
Unless there is a late and unexpected turnaround, their departures appear almost certain, marking the first steps in what could be a wider squad reset.
Another situation that continues to attract attention is that of Antonio Rudiger. Unlike Alaba and Carvajal, the German defender does have a renewal offer on the table.
However, the lack of response so far has created uncertainty and the club is reportedly unwilling to improve their current proposal, meaning the next move rests entirely with the player.
Who are the other players?
Further down the squad, several players are facing a different kind of reality.
Camavinga could be sold to generate revenue. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
The likes of Dani Ceballos and Fran Garcia have both struggled for consistent minutes this season.
That lack of involvement has naturally led to frustration, and both players are now open to exploring exits if suitable offers arrive.
However, the more complex decisions lie elsewhere.
The futures of Eduardo Camavinga, Gonzalo Garcia, and Raul Asencio present a different kind of dilemma.
These are not fringe players lacking quality, but individuals whose roles within the squad are now being reassessed.
Internally, there is a growing belief that certain departures may be necessary to sign new players.
Lastly, there is the unique case of Franco Mastantuono. Unlike others on the list, Real Madrid are not looking to sell him outright.
Instead, the plan is to send the young talent out on loan, allowing him to gain valuable experience before potentially reintegrating into the squad in the future.
At the end of the final home game of the season, Stoke's players were sent out to do a lap of appreciation, honouring the fans, and were faced with row upon row of empty red seats.
The supporters have stuck with their team admirably this season, but over the last few weeks patience that was wearing thin has been worn through.
The performance against Portsmouth was abject, lacking enthusiasm, energy, desire and resolve from more than a handful of players in red and white.
After the game manager Mark Robins said players would be "cut loose."
Damningly, he added that Stoke "need to move people on who are mercenary, don't want to train and don't want to work hard."
Robins reiterated again that the club has a lot of work to do and fans are again staring down a summer during which one failed project will be torn down and another one put in place, all in the space of three or four months.
He has repeatedly said that greater physicality will be a priority and promised significant change and a focus on players with the right mindset to compete.
Everyone associated to Stoke will hope it's ninth time lucky for a club stuck in Championship purgatory.
Apr 26, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) shoots the ball as Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) defends during the third quarter during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center.
HOUSTON -- The Los Angeles Lakers were bracing for a sweep Sunday night in Houston.
After an emotional Game 3 overtime victory that defied the laws of win probability, the Lakers needed 48 more minutes to eliminate the Houston Rockets and advance to the Western Conference Semifinals for the first time since 2023.
The mission was not accomplished in a 115-96 Game 4 defeat, but the Lakers finally unlocked the version of Deandre Ayton they awaited all series. With the offense struggling to the tune of 24 turnovers and a 5-of-22 showing from three, Ayton kept his team afloat through two-and-a-half quarters with one of his best showings donning purple and gold.
The former No. 1 overall pick combined for a mere eight points in his prior two outings. But on Sunday night, he contributed a team-high 19 points — six more than the next closest Laker — on an efficient 9-of-12 shooting, regularly getting favorable position in the post to drain high-percentage hook shots.
“It’s been tough for DA,” Lakers point guard Marcus Smart said. “We’ve been hard on him. He’s been hard on himself. [The media] has been hard on him. It’s all good though. He’s been taking it and embracing it and trying to get better and better. Today he showed that. He came out, we relied on him a bit more, he made plays for us.”
However, Ayton’s stellar night came to an abrupt halt with 5:41 remaining in the third quarter when his left elbow collided with the face of Rockets center Alperen Sengun. After a lengthy review, Ayton was assessed a flagrant 2 — warranting an ejection from the contest.
“I was really just trying to brace the contact with Sengun,” Ayton said. “We’re both sweaty guys. I just slipped off his shoulder, and literally, my elbow hit him right above his shoulder. It looked crazy on camera, but I’m not a guy who is a dirty player or plays like that. If anything with me trying to play dirty, I’d be hurting myself. I just hope he’s alright and he doesn’t think it was intentional.”
Ayton’s teammates vehemently disagreed with the decision to eject their starting center, believing the contact was incidental and did not meet the criteria for a flagrant 2.
“We all understood it was some BS,” Smart said. “That’s what we felt. He was just trying to brace himself. Two guys who were sweating their butts off playing the game, his arm slips up. But we’re proud of the way he handled it, and I think that just speaks volumes about who he is and his progression. He’s learning. He could have easily — and it probably would have been justified — if he went off. But he kept his composure and stayed positive. That’s only going to help him and this team.”
Combining regular season and playoffs, Game 4 was Ayton’s 519th game of his NBA career. It also marked his first career ejection. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka was also surprised by the officials’ decision to remove Ayton from the game, implying the grounds for an ejection have become too strict in recent years.
“It looked intentional, but I was surprised it was a flagrant 2,” Udoka said. “That’s the NBA nowadays. They call it a little softer than they used to.”
Ayton’s teammates complimented his poise through the frustrating moment in the Lakers’ 19-point road defeat. But the center looks to channel that frustration into positive energy, as Los Angeles retakes the hardwood Wednesday night at home for a potential closeout Game 5.
“We’re pretty angry,” Ayton said. “I’m pretty angry. Honestly I wish we could play tomorrow. I have a lot of energy now. We’re gonna go back, watch the film, and turn up our level of intensity a little bit higher as well. And we’ll have our fans out there cheering for us.”
HOUSTON — In order to achieve something that had never been done before — clawing back from a 3-0 playoff deficit — Rockets head coach Ime Udoka had to attempt the impossible by calling on a few lineups that hadn’t played more than a few seconds prior to Game 4.
Udoka had raved about the prospect of playing small for weeks leading up to the playoffs — and teased the idea every now and then — his passion about the strategy was Houston’s worst-kept secret. The potential for speed, switching, versatility and chaos as an in-game changeup outweighed the ability to predict the future.
The Rockets’ desperation naturally played a part in Sunday night’s brawl; the sheer pride, ego and confidence displayed for months wouldn’t so easily go into the night without some resistance. But in a first-round series that has been decided by timely chess moves and adjustments, Udoka’s latest trick delayed a dance with disaster, reinvigorating a group not ready to call it quits on its season.
“The switching was good for us,” Udoka said following Houston’s 115-96 win. “We like small [ball] and the fact that some guys are out — obviously Kevin [Durant] — we can activate Dorian [Finney-Smith] and certain guys, so there will be lineups that we haven’t seen as much of. Everyone that came in contributed, defensive intensity was on point, focus was good and that’s the result you get, holding them under 100.”
Houston’s small ball, with at least four defenders on the floor at all times who can switch any matchup, slowed the game down for a Lakers team that had found success hunting and exploiting matchups in this series. Game 4 was always going to be a mud-wrestling bout — this matchup was already operating at the league’s second-lowest pace — but the uglier the game got, the slower it became and the longer it wore on, fortune favoring the fierce. The Lakers scored just 84.7 points per 100 half-court plays, which ranks in the 16th percentile of all playoff games to date, were woeful from deep (5-of-22) and turned the ball over 25.6% percent of offensive possessions, the worst in the postseason.
The thinking is simple: small ball breeds switching, and switching breeds stagnation. During the regular season, the Lakers scored just 0.97 points per chance against opponent switches, according to Synergy tracking data — a workable number and worthy gamble for a Rockets team desperate to leave the casino with something. Houston isn’t a heavy switching group by nature, a byproduct of playing Alperen Şengün and Reed Sheppard, which comes with hesitancy.
Still, the Rockets had been able to find success when they did switch, allowing .946 points per chance, just outside the top 10. That math works against a player even as great as LeBron James, who is shooting around 36% from 3 on five attempts per game. Houston begins the possession below with Finney-Smith on James, who motions for Deandre Ayton to screen to get Jabari Smith Jr., a perceived mismatch. Notice how quickly Houston aligns itself to switch and extend, ensuring James’ potential driving lane is being monitored and he only has the option to launch a deep triple.
Pertaining to James, the most important player atop the scouting report, small ball played a pivotal role in keeping him off balance, rushing his play and causing mistakes. LeBron struggled tremendously in Game 4, finishing the night with 10 points on 2-for-9 shooting along with a game-high 8 turnovers — his second straight game with that many cough-ups. Smith, who anchored Houston’s small lineups as a multi-faceted stretch center, instructed his teammates on assignments coming up the floor. In the blink of an eye, Smith was able to align his feet with James’ dribble, angle his body toward the ever-eager Tari Eason, who is there to simply blow up the action. Udoka praised Eason’s ability to go rouge defensively, citing his uncanny instincts and timing.
“It’s tough,” Smith said. “It’s not easy. We try to help each other. We all hang our hat on the defensive end. Me, Tari and Amen [Thompson] try to set the tone to start the game. Try to anchor the defense, be in the right spot, be vocal and focus on the mental side of it, too. We gotta get better at the mental side of it, knowing who to close out on, who to rotate off of, and knowing where to be. And I think we did that tonight.”
Where the Lakers might continue to find difficulty, even as they return home for a closeout Game 5, is exactly how the Rockets set up when they indeed go small. (LIneups that didn’t feature a center in Game 4 were plus-16 in 19 possessions). The lack of a traditional center puts more emphasis on perimeter accountability, pushing Houston’s defensive shell further out. Think of the shell as the total surface area connecting each individual player’s feet on the ground. The closer they are together, the more compact the shell and vice-versa.
NBC broadcast screengrab
Being further out and closer to the opposition allows for more aggression, particularly in the passing lanes, where the Rockets rank No. 1 among playoff teams with 91 deflections. Houston also tied a franchise-record in steals in Game 4 with 17, with Smith and Eason combining for 8. Smith’s presence, experience as a small ball center and physicality continue to be extremely useful tools for Udoka as the Rockets extend the series.
“We’ve played them four times now, so you kind of know the tendencies of guys,” Smith said. “You know some sets they run. I’m just trying to use my voice as much as I can to help people be in spots, fly around and help. Try to stop what they’re doing.”
"We know we can do it!" – Jackson Irvine backs St. Pauli's survival hopes after Heidenheim setback
FC St. Pauli suffered a major setback in their bid to avoid relegation at the weekend, falling 2-0 to bottom-placed 1. FC Heidenheim.
With just three games left to play, the Kiezkicker sit in the relegation play-off spot in 16th, five points behind 15th-placed local rivals Hamburger SV and just one point above 17th-placed Wolfsburg.
Speaking after the match, St. Pauli captain Jackson Irvine admitted the frustration of the defeat, but called for focus on the final stretch of the season, maintaining belief that the team can still secure survival.
“It’s tough because we had a huge chance. If you don’t reach your peak performance in this league, you’ll get rolled over. We were too passive and didn’t put the tackles in, and when you make the wrong decisions on top of that, you lose the game. It’s as simple as that," Irvine said.
"We have to focus on the last three games and the nine points that are up for grabs. The task now is to pull together and regroup. We all have to look at ourselves and what we can control as a group. We know we can do it – we’ve put in some good performances, especially at home, even if the results haven’t always gone our way.”
St. Pauli face Mainz, RB Leipzig and Wolfsburg, respectively, in their last three league games of the season.
Jersey Bulls Women have won every game they have played this season [BBC]
Jersey Bulls Women completed a perfect season as they thrashed Milford and Witley 12-3 to win their league title.
The islanders - in their first-ever season in English league football - won every game they played in South East Counties Women's Football League Surrey Division One.
"The idea of the Jersey Bulls Women was set up for the better players on the island to get opportunities to go off, but it was also for them to then become role models, which they've taken on and for younger players to look up to them," manager Chad Morris told BBC Radio Jersey.
"All the credit's got to go the players. They could have switched off today and I'd have moaned at them, but really you couldn't moan at them because they'd done the job; it's been a hard season.
"We sat here in June and wanted dedication and for them all to buy into it, but that's easy to do in June when it's sunny and you're sitting here in your shorts.
"It's a different matter at 04:30 in January when you're travelling away and it's freezing cold, so I've got nothing but praise for them, they're a great bunch of players and the effort and the dedication they put in is just unreal."
Top scorer Anita Tavares gave Bulls an eighth-minute lead before Milford pulled a goal back a minute later.
Roisin Flynn scored the first of five goals soon after before Sam Silva Pinto made it 3-1 after 15 minutes.
Flynn got her second before the visitors scored again to make it 4-2 at half time.
The hosts ran riot in the second half as they scored five goals in the first 20 minutes to take it to 9-2 - Holly Sundby scoring a hat-trick and Flynn and Tavares each getting another.
Flynn hit two more while Leah Morris also got on the scoresheet in between a third Milford goal.
"It was absolutely amazing," said Tavares, who took her tally to 41 goals for the season.
"It was such a nice feeling to win it with these girls. We've obviously played the whole season and won every single game, gone unbeaten, so it's just an amazing feeling to be crowned champions."
Tavares will be leaving the side to head off to university, as will Morris, meaning there will be some changes for the 2026-27 campaign.
"There'll be players coming back from uni plus academy players coming in, so that's like the evolution of a football team and this happens," manager Morris explained.
"We might have to tweak a bit how we play and we're going up a league so we need to have a look at them.
"It keeps changing year after year with younger players coming in, players coming back from uni, some players leaving, so it's a case of a season by season but the strength to your team is to build a way of playing around that."
🗞️Today’s front pages: El Clásico could seal Barça’s title
Although the spotlight in the press is on a historic event, in football Barça and their possible La Liga title this weekend are already making headlines.
The week begins with several fronts open: on one side Real Madrid against La Liga, on another Atleti gearing up for the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals, and on another, a Barça side doing the math to become La Liga champions.
Real Madrid’s ‘real problem’ may not be the bench – It is inside the dressing room
At some point, patterns stop being coincidental and start becoming reality.
For Real Madrid, another trophyless season is forcing a difficult but necessary question: Is the problem really the managers, or something much deeper?
In less than 12 months, the club has already cycled through three managers, and now even Alvaro Arbeloa finds his future hanging in the balance.
If he departs, which is a certainty, he will become the third managerial casualty in a single year, meaning by the summer, the team will have its fourth manager in nearly a year.
This is a statistic that points towards instability at a structural level rather than isolated failures.
Mbappe’s arrival and further destruction
When different managers fail under similar circumstances, attention inevitably shifts towards the players.
In that context, the arrival of Kylian Mbappe appears to have been a turning point, but not necessarily in the way many expected.
On paper, signing one of the world’s best players should elevate a squad. Instead, it seems to have disrupted an already delicate balance.
Before Mbappe’s arrival, the hierarchy within the squad was at its peak.
Players like Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham were naturally emerging as leaders, driving the team forward through strong performance.
But the introduction of a global superstar altered that dynamic, creating a shift not just in roles, but in perception and status.
The issue is not competition, as top teams like Real Madrid thrive on it. Rather, the problem is when status outweighs structure.
Three managers have failed
Ancelotti’s end to his Real Madrid tenure was tough. (Photo by Ruano Carneiro/Getty Images)
Managers like Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso, and now Arbeloa have all faced similar challenges.
Each has made tactical errors, yes, but the recurring theme has been their struggle to fully control a dressing room filled with strong personalities and established egos.
Ancelotti, in his final stretch, appeared to prioritise stability over confrontation.
Known for his calm authority, he chose to go through the situation carefully rather than risk open conflict, even as signs of disconnect between the squad and coaching staff became increasingly visible on the pitch.
Alonso’s tenure, meanwhile, happened more publicly. His tensions with Vinicius complicated his authority within the group, and ultimately, the club’s decision to back the player over the manager sent a powerful message.
That message may have long-term consequences, as it more or less conveyed the idea that player influence had reached a level where it could directly influence managerial futures.
Then there is Arbeloa
Now, with Arbeloa, the situation appears slightly different, but not necessarily resolved.
While he has managed to bring a degree of calm to parts of the squad, cracks are still evident.
Reports of friction involving players like Dani Carvajal and Dani Ceballos show that tensions have not disappeared. Instead, they have simply shifted.
Interestingly, a section of the dressing room is said to support Arbeloa’s continuity.
But that backing shows uncertainty about what comes next and whether a new manager would challenge the existing power dynamics more aggressively.
This is where the real issue lies.
Real Madrid are not lacking talent, nor are they short of tactical ideas. What they are struggling with is control – the ability to establish a clear hierarchy where the manager’s authority is unquestioned.
Until that balance is restored, changing coaches will continue to be a temporary solution to a deeper problem.
Gian Piero Gasperini has clear ideas on how to strengthen his Roma team.
Raising the quality level ahead of next season is the Grugliasco-born coach’s main goal. He already spoke at a press conference: “I’m a professional who takes care of the technical side. The club has always shown faith in me. The club is powerful and can achieve great things, and I hope to contribute. I have some ideas on how to raise the level and strength of this team. But if I have technical responsibilities, it’s right to have credibility and that I get my wish.”
The Giallorossi coach wants attackers, the ones he’s been looking for since arriving in Rome. Soulé and Malen aren’t enough.
The Giallorossi will also need to strengthen on the flanks, with Wesley currently the only certainty.
Roma is seeking reinforcements on the flanks for next season.
Gasperini will lose Tsimikas and likely Celik, whose contracts expire.
The only key player forced to move to the left is Wesley, who is found everywhere on the pitch.
As Il Messaggero reports, the Roma coach is considering another Brazilian winger to raise the bar on the flanks.
Gasperini, in fact, is interested in Fiorentina’s Dodô. The 1998-born player has played 32 Serie A games this season, scoring one goal and providing two assists. His contract expires in 2027 and could be a credible option on the right flank.
“Lasagna-gate” to Relegation: The bitter Tottenham-West Ham rivalry
Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United have one of the most unusual rivalries that goes far beyond the regular disdain between clubs from the same region.
This has gone on for the better part of the last 131 years and shows no signs of letting up, even as both clubs now fight to preserve their top-flight status.
Tottenham and West Ham have been sucked into a relegation battle that’ll likely end with one of these two iconic London clubs dropping into the Championship.
The North Londoners have brought in Roberto De Zerbi to lead their survival, although whether he can pull that off depends on how he approaches Tottenham’s fixtures in May.
West Ham also have a tricky run of games coming up, and Nottingham Forest’s 5-0 victory over Sunderland makes it more likely that one of the two London clubs will be relegated.
In light of both clubs trying to keep their head above water, we have decided to take a look at the history of the rivalry between the London duo.
A rivalry born in the streets of London
The rivalry between Tottenham and West Ham may not be the Premier League’s loudest feud, but it has lasted for more than a century and continues to find new life in unexpected moments.
The bad blood between the two clubs dates back to 1898 when West Ham, then known as Thames Ironworks, travelled across London to face Tottenham in a local league fixture.
At the time, neither club could have imagined how often their paths would cross, but they kept bumping into each other in the Southern League, the Western League, and the London League.
They then found themselves in the Football League and locked horns there for the first time in 1920.
Since then, Tottenham and West Ham have squared off a remarkable 227 times over the past 128 years, and there’s a high chance that their paths will diverge at the end of this season.
How Lasagna sparked an intense rivalry between both clubs
There wasn’t much of a rivalry between Tottenham and West Ham in the early days. But all of that changed in May 2006 when things became more intense.
Former Tottenham midfielder Jermain Jenas explained how the North Londoners arrived at West Ham’s then home ground, Upton Park, with everything to play for on the final day of the season.
Led by Martin Jol, Tottenham needed all three points to finish fourth above Arsenal and qualify for the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.
They ultimately fell short as West Ham claimed a 2-1 victory, but what happened in the build-up to the game quickly became a major headline.
Most of the Tottenham players suddenly fell ill the night before the memorable clash, struck by food poisoning from a lasagna served at their hotel.
That incident was later referred to as “Lasagna-gate”, and Jenas believes it was the moment when Tottenham’s rivalry with West Ham truly began.
The Olympic Stadium dispute
Six years after the events of “Lasagna-gate”, Tottenham and West Ham were once again in the headlines during the famous Olympic Stadium dispute.
After the 2012 Summer Olympics, the future of the main stadium in Stratford became a major talking point as both clubs wanted to make it their new home.
With neither willing to compromise, what followed was one of the most memorable turf wars in the history of the English top flight.
Tottenham offered to redevelop the stadium and wanted the athletic tracks removed. West Ham preferred to keep the stadium the way it was, but make it suitable for football.
The Hammers wanted to reduce the capacity from 80,000 to 60,000 and were even willing to keep the running track. But Tottenham argued that it would leave fans too far away from the action.
Instead, they wanted to tear down the stadium and rebuild it as a football venue. They also proposed refurbishing the National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace to compensate for removing the athletics track.
The Olympic Park Legacy Committee ultimately chose West Ham as its preferred club to move in after the Olympics, but the deal fell through due to a legal dispute with Spurs.
They ultimately decided that the stadium should remain in public ownership. West Ham now call London Stadium home, although they could be plying their trade in the Championship next season.
The Hammers are facing a fight to avoid relegation in their final four Premier League fixtures. They cannot afford to drop any more points in the home stretch.
That level of consistency explains why Barcelona bet big on the former Espanyol stopper.
From an analytical standpoint, conceding only 19 goals in 27 La Liga appearances, Garcia currently holds the lowest goals-against average in the division at 0.70.
Joan Garcia could win the Zamora trophy this season. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
Yet, despite those standout metrics, there is a technicality delaying his rise to the top of the Zamora Trophy standings.
The rules require goalkeepers to complete at least 28 matches, each with a minimum of 60 minutes played, before they can officially lead the rankings.
That requirement now puts all eyes on the upcoming fixture against Osasuna, as one more appearance would be enough for Garcia to qualify and unless Barcelona suffer a heavy defeat, he is expected to move straight into first place.
Meanwhile, the current benchmark is set by Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid, who has conceded 24 goals in 28 matches, maintaining a goals-against average of 0.86 despite dealing with injury setbacks.
Further down the list, David Soria and Luiz Junior remain in contention, but neither currently matches the efficiency Garcia has shown.
If the current trend continues, the story could shift quickly as Courtois is not expected to play until the final few games of the season.
This is why Barcelona may soon celebrate not just a team triumph, but also an individual recognition.
😡 We see your malice: Gala tweet during derby causes uproar!
The intercontinental derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce once again delivered everything it had promised. A tremendous atmosphere, hard-fought challenges, and numerous mass confrontations shaped the game.
Unsurprisingly, referee Yasin Kol was also at the center of attention. After 14 minutes, the official awarded Fener a penalty. Shortly afterward, however, Gala did not receive a spot-kick in a tricky situation.
That sent the reigning Turkish champions into a fury and prompted the social media team to post the following: “Despite this referee, we are still leading 1-0. We see through you, your plans, and the evil within you. This cannot go on. We are here and we will not stay silent! In the end, good will triumph again!”
This unmistakable message was clearly aimed at the Turkish federation, with which the club has been at odds for quite some time. The background is frustration over refereeing performances, match scheduling, VAR decisions, and the federation’s general leadership.
Despite all the uproar, Gala ultimately won the derby convincingly 3-0. That leaves Leroy Sané’s side all but certain to retain the title – despite an allegedly large-scale conspiracy on the part of the league and the federation.
It’s fair to say we’re all reaching the end of our tether: with this season, this manager and the ineptitude of this team to play any kind of attacking, entertaining football.
The worst bit is that we saw nothing new against Rotherham United. This is now our modus operandi. Bland, boring, aimless football is our default. At this point I think we’re all just a bit numb to it.
Somehow, some of the fans managed to muster enough emotion to react to another depressing afternoon watching Reading Football Club.
I agree wholeheartedly with Couhig that stability is key, absolutely it is. But stability with the wrong man isn’t, and everything we’re seeing on the pitch right now suggests that Richardson is not the right man.
And as for Richardson’s post-match interview, calling this “another positive result” and saying Daniel Kyerewaa’s equaliser was “as good a goal you’ll see”… yeah, it just leaves me a bit speechless to be honest.
To be honest if Leam had any self respect and dignity, he’d walk out the job, he knows the fans have turned and it’s only the right thing to do. Time for a fresh start #readingfc
An undercurrent throughout Richardson’s time at Reading has been his lack of trust in the academy.
Up until Saturday we’d had bigger fish to fry than the lack of experience being given to youth-team players. However, against Rotherham – in a complete dead rubber and a game in which Richardson himself said he’d be prioritising looking to the future – to sub on Emmanuel Osho and Sean Patton with only minutes to go was really, really naff.
In the grand scheme of things, it perhaps wasn’t that big of a deal, but for many it’s just more confirmation that Richardson isn’t the man for this club…
Talks about 50% of the team sheet being academy products but then gives several of them virtually bugger all game time because he was worried about how the game was going & didn’t want them to make mistakes. #readingfc
— @andycrfc.bsky.social (@AndyRFCCharman) April 25, 2026
What was the point in recalling Sean Patton from his loan? #readingfc
Barring a sudden u-turn from Couhig, Richardson is going to be in charge come August. A good transfer window and strong pre-season will give us all a bit of a boost, sure, but it’s going to take a hell of a lot more than that for the fans to get behind Richardson.
Richardson likes to mention in his post-match interviews that this team is still learning and needs to learn together. I get that. But that’s something I’d expect to hear from someone who’s just got into the job – Richardson has been here since October.
He’s got out of this league before, but if this is the way he wants to try and replicate that here, it’s just not going to work.
Here’s to it being one game closer to the end of the season.
The Buffalo Bills have one of the NFL's best draft classes. Or one of the worst, depending on who you ask.
NFL.com gave Buffalo the only perfect report card in the league, awarding an A for each day and an overall A.
But ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. gave the Bills a B-, the lowest grade in the AFC East. Other outlets were less enthusiastic, including a ranking of 26 of 32 teams and a C+ grade from Walter Football.
The Bills traded down three times in Round 1 to gain additional mid-round selections and still found a much-needed physical pass rush presence on the edge in Parker. Igbinosun possesses the size and physicality to start on the outside, especially if he continues reducing his pass-interference penalties. Buffalo's original second-round pick was wisely used to acquire receiver DJ Moore and a fifth-round selection from Chicago.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see Bowry slide inside to guard, where the Bills have to replace David Edwards . Reed - Adams will also add depth on the interior of the line. The Bills found excellent value in the dynamic yet reliable Bell, the athletic/big-hitting Elarms-Orr, the speedy/productive Kilgore and undersized but quick Durant.
There were a lot of directions Buffalo could have gone at No. 26. But trading back not once, not twice, but three times was not on my Bingo card. The Bills went to No. 28, then No. 31 and finally to No. 35. That gave general manager Brandon Beane some maneuverability.
That was key. Entering the draft, Buffalo wasn't slated to pick again after No. 26 until No. 91, super late on Day 2. And after seven straight playoff appearances ended in heartbreak (and the firing of coach Sean McDermott), the pressure is on right now. Quarterback Josh Allen is turning 30 next month; the Bills need to get over the hump and find a way into the Super Bowl. As a result of the trades, Buffalo shuffled its fourth-rounders and moved up from No. 91 to the back end of Round 2 (No. 66).
Salary cap cuts opened some holes on defense this offseason, so Buffalo needed starters. The Bills turned their first two picks into T.J. Parker and Davison Igbinosun. I had higher-rated edges at No. 35 and higher-rated corners at No. 62. However, both players should play big roles for the Bills.
Parker's production dipped in 2025, with his sack total falling from 11 in 2024 to five in 2025. But he has outstanding speed-to-power and active hands, and he changes up quickly when his first pass-rush plan doesn't work. He'd join Bradley Chubb and Greg Rousseau and try to keep Buffalo among the league's better pressure-generating teams.
Igbinosun was 103rd on my board, and I would have preferred someone like Malik Muhammad in that spot. He struggled with penalties in college. He gets a little grabby in coverage.
Matt Milano is still unsigned (and 31 years old now), so linebacker was my top need for this roster going into Round 1. Kaleb Elarms-Orr can help. He had 130 tackles last season. Jalon Kilgore is an effective player in the star position with 4.4 speed and explosive traits. And Zane Durant gives Buffalo a 3-technique with 17 tackles for loss and 36 pressures over the past two years.
One of my favorite Bills picks was Skyler Bell. He is a Khalil Shakir-type pass catcher with speed and after-the-catch ability. And he can line up either in the slot or outside.
For a team that’s admittedly in Super Bowl or bust mode for the remainder of QB Josh Allen’s tenure in Western New York, the Bills did a nice job of addressing needs – especially in Round 2 with CB Davison Igbinosun and OLB T.J. Parker, who could be a steal here as he goes to work opposite Bradley Chubb. And don’t forget that that Buffalo invested the 60th pick last month to pry WR DJ Moore out of Chicago. New Highmark Stadium, which opens later this year, could be rocking right through the AFC championship game.
Buffalo fans were understandably frustrated on Thursday because their team traded down twice from No. 26 and failed to make a pick in the first round. While they acquired some draft capital, they also allowed the Patriots to secure the final first-round tackle prospect in the first round, which could end up being detrimental in future matchups.
The Bills eventually picked at No. 35, taking T.J. Parker. This was a solid selection, but Buffalo’s other second-round choice was not, as it was a major reach on Davison Igbinosun. Even worse, the Bills squandered whatever capital they earned in an irresponsible trade up for him. They probably could have traded down and acquired him instead.
Trades and Igbinosun aside, the Bills had a fine draft. I really like what they did on Day 3, securing plenty of quality values, including Jude Bowry, Skyler Bell, and Jalon Kilgore. Kilgore, in particular, was a tremendous bargain because he could have gone at the end of Round 2 with no complaints.
The Bills definitely made a couple of mistakes in this draft – namely helping their arch rival and top competitor – but they didn’t do a bad job overall.
Entering the draft with no pick between Nos. 26 and 91, the Bills traded down twice, dropping out of the first round entirely and picking up extra selections to reshape the roster in new head coach Joe Brady’s vision. The Bills still added a quality edge rusher in T.J. Parker, who I thought was going to come off the board on Day 1. He is already a well-rounded and productive player and is still just scratching the surface of his potential. While Parker will understandably get most of the attention, I thought GM Brandon Beane found quality value and stylistic fits throughout the draft.
Cornerback Davison Igbinosun and offensive tackle Jude Bowry were two of my favorite "second-tier" prospects at their respective positions. Wideout Skyler Bell and safeties Jalon Kigore and Zane Durant also have the athleticism that suggests they could be future NFL starters. Perhaps my favorite Day 3 pick for the Bills, however, was TCU linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr, a heat-seeking missile who might compete for a starting role immediately.
The Bills finally got on the board in Round 2 after trading out of the first round. The expectation was that, once they went on the clock, they would select a defensive player. That played out with each of their first two picks. T.J. Parker bolsters the defensive front while Davison Igbinosun helps the secondary. Both units must improve if Buffalo wants to break through and get the most out of Josh Allen and its elite offense.
Buffalo then opened Day 3 by trading back one spot and using the second pick of the fourth round on an offensive lineman. Jude Bowry brings some depth to a group that lost David Edwards in free agency.
It also went back-to-back in the draft order in the fourth round. Picks 125 and 126 filled team needs at the right value, as Josh Edwards projected the Bills to select Skyler Bell at No. 126 in his fourth-round mock draft.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall knows Everton need to do better defending poor goals
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall celebrates after scoring his eighth goal of the season against West Ham on Saturday
(Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall clearly shares the frustration of many fans who watched Everton give another two awful goals at the weekend, either side of his eighth goal for the club this season.
“It’s very tough, it’s very frustrating. I didn’t think we were probably good enough anyway on the day, but it was a nervy atmosphere from the start, and we didn’t capitalise on that.
“The two goals are awful to concede, so there’s no excuse and accountability needs to be taken. We’re men, we need to do that.
"We’ve put ourselves in a position to at least get a point from the game, to be the team to go on and take the three points. But a lapse of judgement two minutes later has killed us, and that’s not enough if you want to do something this year.”
“I’m very surprised. It’s not been us this year, pretty much. For large parts of the season, we’ve been really resolute and defensively strong. For one reason or another, the last two games, the four goals we’ve conceded have just been so bad.
“Teams aren’t having to do an awful lot to score. The set-piece ones especially, they’re so big in the game these days, it’s giving teams an edge on us going into the games.
“We’ve worked on it, but we’ve obviously not worked on it enough because teams are looking at us like we’ve got a weak link on set-pieces at the moment. It’s something we need to look at next week and work harder on because they’re killing us at the moment.
“Of course it’s been mentioned in the dressing room. Everyone should know that, everyone needs to take accountability and everyone has got a job. If they score from a set-piece then somebody is not doing their job. That’s as a collective.
“Even if it’s not you, you need to get everyone together and make sure they’re doing their job. At the moment, we’re not doing that and we need to change it quick.
“Like I said, they’re so important in the game these days and two set-pieces in the last two games have cost us points.”
Liverpool have secret weapon in race for Yan Diomande
Liverpool’s admiration for Yan Diomande is no secret.
The 19-year-old has announced himself as one of world football’s most exciting prospects this season, and many view him as the perfect addition to Arne Slot’s squad.
The news that Mohamed Salah will be departing Anfield at the end of the season has only amplified talk of Diomande making a Merseyside move.
Liverpool aren’t the only side chasing a deal for the Ivorian forward though, and a €100 million (~£87m) valuation could complicate things.
A deal to bring Diomande to Anfield won’t be simple, but Slot’s side have a secret weapon that could give them the upper hand.
Liverpool’s advantage in the race for Diomande
The Reds are clearly big admirers of Diomande, but that feeling is reciprocated. The Ivorian has made it clear that he can see himself playing at Anfield one day.
A shared appreciation isn’t the only thing working in Liverpool’s favour though, as the club’s previous dealings with RB Leipzig could prove key.
That’s according to a report from Football Insider that states that the relationship developed when negotiating deals for both Dominik Szoboszlai and Ibrahima Konate could be key for Liverpool in negotiations for Diomande.
The Reds’ iconic former manager, Jurgen Klopp, is also Red Bull’s global head of soccer which can only be a positive for Richard Hughes and Co.
The report claims that agreeing personal terms will likely be no problem if a club-to-club agreement can be reached, and Liverpool could find themselves ahead of other clubs already due to their good working relationship with the RB Leipzig.
Diomande already boasts an impressive 22 goal involvements in 33 matches for the German outfit and will look to impress further when he heads to the World Cup with the Ivory Coast in June.
But he was cleared to play on Sunday and scored 27 points as the Spurs won 114-93 in Portland to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
The NBA's defensive player of the year added 11 rebounds, seven blocks and four steals on returning and later admitted to being "very disappointed" with aspects of the NBA's concussion protocol.
"I won't get into the details," he said. "Ask me again at the end of the season."
The 22-year-old added: "I had lots of emotions before the game - excitement, frustration. I let it all out tonight."
The concussion protocol requires 48 hours of rest followed by a gradual return to physical activity and daily neurological tests.
A player must then be cleared by his team and the NBA's concussion programme director in order to resume playing.
De'Aaron Fox scored a game-high 28 points for the Spurs, who are second seeds in the Western Conference and can clinch the series back in San Antonio on Tuesday.
The Los Angeles Lakers can do the same as they return home on Tuesday, with the Houston Rockets having won 115-96 to prevent the Lakers sweeping the series.
Kevin Durant (ankle) missed his third game of the series for Houston but all five of their starters reached double figures, with Amen Thompson scoring a game-high 23 points.
Joel Embiid made his first appearance of the series for Philadelphia but could not prevent the 76ers losing 128-96 at home to the Boston Celtics.
Boston's Payton Pritchard scored 32 points off the bench - a career high for the play-offs - while Jayson Tatum claimed 30 points and 11 assists.
The Celtics, the Eastern Conference's second seed, now lead 3-1 and can clinch the series in Boston on Tuesday.
Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes each scored 23 points as the Toronto Raptors held on for a 93-89 win at home to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Eastern Conference rivals are now level at 2-2, with game five taking place in Cleveland on Wednesday.
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid literally and figuratively loomed large over the Boston Celtics heading into the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. He was sidelined for the first two games of the series rather definitively, yet there was always a chance he could return following his recovery from an appendectomy in early April. That moment finally came on Sunday night, as Embiid went from "doubtful" on the injury report to "questionable" less than an hour later and then was cleared to play 30 minutes before tipoff at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
While Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla refused to explicitly say whether or not his squad was previously preparing for Embiid's arrival, their coordinated play in Game 4 suggests that they weren't exactly startled. Although the 2023 league MVP started off hot with 10 points in the first quarter on 60 percent shooting, he missed 10 of his next 16 shots and finished with a dismal plus-minus rating of minus-25. The Celtics went on to dominate, 128-96, and take a 3-1 series lead behind stellar performances from star Jayson Tatum and sixth man Payton Pritchard.
Joe Mazzulla said the Celtics’ defense was good but he understands that the Sixers also just missed some shots:
"You're not going to be able to stop him," Mazzulla described of Embiid. "You just have to try to contain him."
At times, the Celtics took a laissez faire approach while guarding the Cameroon center. They'd let him square up for a long jumper or a 3-pointer because they were willing to live with the result. Those calculated risks paid off.
Embiid failed to connect on 5 of his 6 attempts from deep and shot under 50% on his tries outside of the paint but within the 3-point arc.
"You have to be able to just contain him and defend him as a team," Mazzulla said. "He's so effective to the point where you just got to know what you're willing to live with, what you're willing to take away. And you got to be ready to do that."
The Celtics gave Embiid a few different looks defensively. Everybody from big man Nikola Vucevic to the 6-foot-1 Pritchard guarded Embiid and did their best to spoil his first playoff game in almost 2 full years.
"I thought we were physical at the point of attack," Mazzulla stated. "And you have to be that against a team like this."
Of course, not everything worked against the 7-footer. Embiid quickly got Celtics starting center Neemias Queta into foul trouble and still finished with a team-high 9 free throw attempts. Mazzulla also pointed out that some shooting variance was involved, and the Celtics can't always bank on Embiid being rusty.
"I think Embiid missed some shots that he'll make," Mazzulla admitted.
In his first game since April 6, Embiid recorded 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. On paper, that sounds like a successful night. However, it was probably the kind of outing the Celtics were willing to accept in exchange for Sixers star Tyrese Maxey having less of an offensive impact.
After averaging around 26 attempts per game through the first three contests of this first-round series, Maxey shot the ball just 14 times in 40 minutes on Sunday. He wanted to make room for a rusty Embiid, but the speedy point guard ironically slowed down the Sixers in the process.
"Regardless of who we're playing against, we have to have an understanding of they're a really good team," Mazzulla said humbly of Philly's changing personnel. "They can beat you on any given night."
The Celtics learned that in Game 2 when the seventh-seeded Sixers shocked them 111-97 at TD Garden. In response, the C's took Games 3 and 4 in Philly, with the most recent win coming via a 32-point blowout.
"You can't have an expectation of it's supposed to go a certain way," Mazzulla reiterated. "At the end of the day, we just have to play Celtics basketball and stick to the process of winning."
If there's one thing the Celtics can expect for Game 5 on Tuesday night, it's that the 76ers will be desperate to avoid elimination. The C's will prepare for such a play style and likely reuse their strategy of taking calculated risks with Embiid until he proves they can't afford to do that.
RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 02: Matt Able #3 of the NC State Wolfpack drives past Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils during the college basketball game between the NC State Wolfpack and the Duke Blue Devils on March 2, 2026 at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Photo by Nicholas Faulkner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Portal season is well underway, and that means lots of player movement. We’ll do our best to keep up with it here. Lots of activity as the portal entry closed Tuesday night. Check below for updates.
By the way, there’s not really any place to put this right now, but at Louisiana State, former NC State coach Will Wade currently has an empty roster.
Ndicka’s future remains uncertain as player fires agent
Evan Ndicka was one of the best players on the pitch in Roma’s 2-0 win at Bologna on Saturday.
The Ivorian defender was perfect in reading the defense and blocking the attacks of Italiano’s attackers, who struggled to create any real threat.
The 1999-born defender, who arrived on a free transfer, has increased his market value with solid performances, providing an assist for the Giallorossi, who need to make capital gains by June 30th. There’s no shortage of interest from European clubs.
Evan Ndicka announced on Instagram that he will manage his future personally.
The Giallorossi defender has parted ways with the agency that handled his interests.
This news could impact his transfer market and, consequently, that of Roma, who could sacrifice him for capital gains.
The 1999-born defender was keen to inform everyone with a photo on his social media with the following caption: “I would like to inform you that, following the end of my collaboration with my former agent Michael Ncho and his company AMS Consulting, we are now continuing our professional activities separately. From now on, I will personally manage my professional career.”
NEW DELHI: Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s controversial dismissal for obstructing the field during Kolkata Knight Riders’s (KKR) clash against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Sunday has sparked a wider debate, not just about the law, but also the “spirit of the game” and whether LSG skipper Rishabh Pant should have withdrawn the appeal.
The incident occurred when Raghuvanshi, attempting a quick single, was sent back and dived to make his ground as a throw came in from the infield. The ball struck him mid-dive, leading to an appeal from Mohammed Shami. After referral, the third umpire ruled him out, citing a change in running line.
As per IPL playing conditions (Clause 37.1.4), a batter can be given out if he “significantly changed his direction without probable cause and thereby obstructed a fielder’s attempt to effect a run out,” regardless of whether a run-out was likely.
Speaking to Cricbuzz after the match, former India cricketer Rohan Gavaskar disagreed with the decision, saying, “I think it's not out becuase when the ball came and the batter dived, he was not looking at the ball.
— StarSportsIndia (@StarSportsIndia)
“He was looking to make that dive. If he was looking at the ball, then he wouldn't have dived, knowing that if he had dived, the ball would hit his body. When he made that dive, it means that it was unintentional. So I would think that it was not out.”
IPL 2026: Should Rishabh Pant have withdrawn the appeal?
The bigger question, however, was whether Pant, as captain, could have withdrawn the appeal.
Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag weighed in, “When you are winning, you, as the captain, think that we can let go of this. But since Lucknow were not winning, then they thought that that we could get this wicket, and we would get benefit. So they appealed and as per law, it is a correct appeal.
“But we can say that in spirit of the game, they should not have done it. But when you have made a law, then where was spirit of the game?
— cricbuzz (@cricbuzz)
“But I will say that this was third umpire's decision, and he was watching it on the TV. And when he put in the dive, it's not that he was looking at the ball... so it was indeed a harsh call.”
130544154
In the game, Sunil Narine and Rinku Singh starred as Kolkata Knight Riders edged Lucknow Super Giants in a thrilling Super Over in IPL 2026. Narine’s double strike restricted LSG, while Rinku sealed the win with a boundary.
The victory lifted KKR off the bottom of the points table after a tense contest in Lucknow.
Manchester United Under-21s chief Adam Lawrence says Shea Lacey's regular exposure to first-team training is developing his all-round game.
Lacey was excellent in the 3-2 win over Sunderland in the PL2 play-off last-16 tie at Leigh Sports Village.
The 19-year-old showed off his superb close control, balance and excellent passing skills before he cut in off the right wing and drilled a precise low shot into the bottom corner that effectively sealed a last-eight trip to Crystal Palace.
It was a surprise to see Lacey involved given he was on the first-team bench for their most recent games against Leeds and Chelsea, but Lawrence was glad to have him available.
"Shea is playing with a lot of maturity," he said. "You can see training with the first team and being around their programme consistently is definitely helping him in a lot of areas of his game.
"It was a really good performance. He got his goal and he looked like a real threat at the top end of the pitch."
Lacey had a long spell out of the game during the 2023-24 campaign with a thigh complaint, then missed a month more recently after suffering a calf strain.
Generally, he has been operating at a high level and United feel he has huge potential.
"Credit to all the staff who work behind the scenes managing him - all the sports science and medical staff, just in terms of where he's got himself to," said Lawrence.
"He's a young man and maturing all the time. Sometimes we forget he's going through those years of growth.
"But that maturity is something we've definitely seen an improvement with, on and off the pitch.
"Hopefully he will continue to build on that and take confidence from it."
The 2026 NFL Draft is over, and everyone wants to know what ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. thought of their favorite team's draft class. The Washington Commanders held six picks in the 2026 draft, beginning with No. 7 overall, where they selected Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.
Washington was without picks in the second and fourth rounds as a result of last year's trade for left tackle Laremy Tunsil. That proved to be an excellent move for the Commanders, who recently inked Tunsil to a new two-year extension, keeping him under contract for the next three seasons.
Sonny Styles (fourth in my rankings) shows his former-safety self, using 4.46 speed and elite-level explosion to read the play and close in a flash. He doesn't miss tackles and chases down running backs before they can get to the edge. He's a high-floor, high-ceiling prospect who is going to make this team better. It was a really good start to the draft.
Antonio Williams and Kaytron Allen will boost the offense. Williams catches a lot of passes and is productive after the catch (331 of his 604 yards last year came after securing the football). He missed a little time last season and wasn't as effective as he was in 2024 (11 touchdowns), but he will be a reliable outlet out of the slot for Daniels while also making an impact as a returner. Allen isn't Love, but he did score 15 touchdowns on the ground last season and broke 30 runs for at least 10 yards. The Commanders brought in Rachaad White and Jerome Ford to join Jacory Croskey-Merritt in the backfield, but Allen will see his share of touches.
Joshua Josephs fell a little bit in the pre-draft process (only four sacks last season), and the Athan Kaliakmanis pick was a little off the wall. He was QB19 on my board. If Washington wanted a backup quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier was still there.
It sounds like Kiper knocked the Commanders for using a seventh-round pick on Rutgers QB Athan Kaliakmanis, instead of LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier. Considering it was a seventh-round pick, not sure that's worth knocking Washington for. Clearly, the Commanders like Kaliakmanis, as they hosted him on an official top-30 visit before the draft.
Considering Washington had only six picks, it did an outstanding job of finding value, filling needs and finding at least four players who could help them in 2026.
Mike Tomczak is trying to catch passes in the NFL. His uncle threw them for 15 years.
The Buffalo Bills are signing the former Youngstown State wide receiver as an undrafted free agent, according to multiple reports. Tomczak is the nephew of former NFL quarterback Mike Tomczak, who played for the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers during his 15-year NFL career.
Max Tomczak is coming off a 1,000-yard season and decorated career at Youngstown State. He holds schools records for career receptions with 225 and consecutive games with a catch with 46. He ranks second in program history with 3,024 career receiving yards.
Tomczak had 70 receptions for 1,021 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025, earning All-American honors and first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference recognition.
Tomczak is viewed as a reliable, possession-style receiver with strong hands and route-running ability, though he'll need to prove he can separate consistently against NFL defensive backs.
His uncle has also been part of his development. Mike Tomczak serves as a volunteer advisor to the head coach at Youngstown State.
Mike Tomczak played in the NFL from 1985-1999 and made 73 starts, throwing for 16,079 yards and 88 touchdowns. He won a Super Bowl ring as a rookie with the 1985 Chicago Bears and went 42-31 as a starter.
As a friendly reminder to the #lohudsoftball coaches, players, parents and fans: Please make sure you tag me on Twitter/X @LoHud_Debbie & @LoHudSoftball with the final score immediately after the game, then game results as soon as possible. The final score should be the first thing you send and that way we have something from each team. This is so we have accurate records throughout the season. That gives you time to add up your stats and send them as soon as you can.
Monday, April 27
Mahopac at Lakeland, 4:30 p.m.
Mount Vernon at Poughkeepsie, 4:30 p.m.
Pearl River at Clarkstown North, 4:30 p.m.
Ursuline at Rye, 4:30 p.m.
Edgemont vs. Irvington at Scenic Park, 4:30 p.m.
Dobbs Ferry at Rye Neck, 4:30 p.m.
Pawling at Dover, 4:30 p.m.
Westlake at Pleasantville, 4:30 p.m.
New Rochelle at White Plains, 4:30 p.m.
Sleepy Hollow vs. Hen Hud at Frank G. Lindsey Elementary, 4:30 p.m.
Albertus Magnus at Nanuet, 4:30 p.m.
Byram Hills at Saunders, 4:30 p.m.
Ketcham vs. Scarsdale at Supply Field, 4:45 p.m.
Tuckahoe at Ardsley, 4:45 p.m.
Suffern vs. East Ramapo at Spring Valley, 4:45 p.m.
Hamilton vs. Peekskill at Torpy Field, 4:45 p.m.
Harrison at North Rockland, 4:45 p.m.
Hastings vs. John Jay-Cross River at AP Farms Softball Field, 4:45 p.m.
Haldane vs. Ossining at Veterans Memorial Park, 5 p.m.
Somers at Arlington, 5 p.m.
Mamaroneck vs. Fox Lane at Fox Lane MS, 5 p.m.
Yonkers City tournament
Lincoln vs. Yonkers at Sullivan Oval, 4 p.m.
Gorton at Yonkers Montessori, 4 p.m.
Barack Obama School vs. Roosevelt at Andrus Field, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, April 28
Arlington at Marlboro, 4:15 p.m.
Pelham vs. Port Chester at Park Avenue Softball Field, 4:30 p.m.
Harrison vs. Mamaroneck at Central Elementary, 4:30 p.m.
John Jay-Cross River at Yorktown, 4:30 p.m.
Spackenkill vs. Pawling at Pawling Elementary, 4:30 p.m.
Rye at Tappan Zee, 4:30 p.m.
Nyack vs. Ossining at Veterans Memorial Park, 4:30 p.m.
Scarsdale vs. Tuckahoe at Cottle School Field, 4:30 p.m.
Brewster at Carmel, 4:30 p.m.
Croton-Harmon at Lakeland, 4:30 p.m.
Hastings at Putnam Valley, 4:30 p.m.
Briarcliff at Blind Brook, 4:30 p.m.
Pleasantville at Valhalla, 4:30 p.m.
North Salem vs. Dobbs Ferry at Springhurst Elementary, 5 p.m.
Fox Lane at Eastchester, 5 p.m.
Haldane at Rye Neck, 5 p.m.
Wednesday, April 29
East Ramapo at Mount Vernon, 4:30 p.m.
Westlake at Sleepy Hollow, 4:30 p.m.
Edgemont vs. Hen Hud at Frank G. Lindsey Elementary, 4:30 p.m.
Clarkstown South at Nanuet, 4:30 p.m.
Rondout Valley at Poughkeepsie, 4:30 p.m.
Ardsley vs. Pleasantville at HS Back Field, 4:30 p.m.
Rye Neck at Byram Hills, 5 p.m.
Clarkstown North vs. Somers at Primrose School Softball field, 5 p.m.
Tappan Zee at North Rockland, 6 p.m.
Elmsford Classic
At Hamilton
Woodlands at Hamilton, 4:30 p.m.
Yonkers City tournament
Round 2
TBD at Saunders, 4 p.m.
TBD at Yonkers Montessori, 4 p.m.
Thursday, April 30
Blind Brook vs. Port Chester at Park Avenue Softball Field, 4 p.m.
North Rockland at Yorktown, 4:30 p.m.
Ketcham at Brewster, 4:30 p.m.
Panas at Briarcliff, 4:30 p.m.
Byram Hills vs. John Jay-Cross River at AP Farms Softball Field, 4:30 p.m.
Lakeland at Greeley, 4:30 p.m.
Harrison at White Plains, 4:30 p.m.
Valhalla vs. North Salem at PQ Elementary, 4:30 p.m.
Ursuline at Clarkstown South, 4:30 p.m.
Nyack at Pearl River, 4:30 p.m.
Leffell School vs. East Ramapo at Spring Valley, 4:30 p.m.
Mahopac at Putnam Valley, 4:30 p.m.
Rye vs. Scarsdale at Supply Field, 4:30 p.m.
Pawling vs. Tuckahoe at Cottle School Field, 4:30 p.m.
Albertus Magnus at Suffern, 4:30 p.m.
Eastchester at Clarkstown North, 4:30 p.m.
Fox Lane vs. Ossining at Veterans Memorial Park, 5 p.m.
Carmel vs. Pelham at Friendship Field, 6 p.m.
Elmsford Classic
At Hamilton
Peekskill vs. Yonkers CSEE, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, May 1
Westlake at Putnam Valley, 4:30 p.m.
Pleasantville vs. Irvington at Scenic Park, 4:30 p.m.
Tuckahoe at Woodlands, 4:30 p.m.
Dover vs. Pawling at Pawling Elementary, 4:30 p.m.
Hen Hud at Ardsley, 4:30 p.m.
Sleepy Hollow vs. East Ramapo at Spring Valley, 4:45 p.m.
Croton-Harmon vs. Somers at Primrose School Softball Field, 5 p.m.
John Jay-East Fishkill at North Rockland, 6 p.m.
Yonkers City tournament
Consolation: at Yonkers, 4 p.m.
Championship: at Saunders, 4 p.m.
Saturday, May 2
Suffern at Tappan Zee, 11 a.m.
Yonkers Montessori at Haldane, 11 a.m.
Greeley vs. Somers at Primrose School Softball Field, 11 a.m..
Just a day ago at the Madrid Open, Jeļena Ostapenko delivered an unintentionally comic spectacle as her racket slipped mid-serve, cartwheeled toward the net, and narrowly missed her partner Erin Routliffe. The moment blended chaos with laughter, a flash of unpredictability on clay. Then, almost eerily, Elmer Moller, opponent of Jannik Sinner, repeated the madness, producing a bizarre, attention-grabbing mishit.
During the second set, an unusual moment stole the spotlight. Moller’s racket slipped from his hand in the middle of a rally. Instinctively, he tried to return the ball with his fist. The crowd reacted instantly to the bizarre attempt. It was not just amusing, but revealing of his fighting spirit. That single moment captured his determination to stay in the contest.
Earlier in the set, Moller had taken a medical timeout. At 2-5, he received treatment on his abdominal area from the tournament physio. Despite that concern, he chose to continue competing. Even while dealing with discomfort, he showed resilience. He pushed through the physical strain and stayed engaged in the rallies. His effort kept the match competitive in patches.
Moller’s backhand remained his standout weapon. It was the shot that had helped him climb toward the world’s Top 100. In the second set, he found a better rhythm through that wing.
However, it was not enough to stop Sinner. The Italian maintained control and composure throughout. He closed out the match in straight sets without allowing momentum to shift.
Sinner may have faced an unfamiliar opponent, but his approach remained unchanged. He delivered a clean 6-2, 6-3 victory in the third round of the Madrid Open. The performance was efficient and clinical.
For Moller, the defeat still came with positives. It was at this same event last year that he made his ATP Tour debut, losing to João Fonseca. This time, he returned with greater confidence and results.
He secured two wins in qualifying and added two more in the main draw. That run set up his clash with the world No. 1. Facing a Top-10 player for the first time was a significant step in his journey.
Sinner, however, proved too strong. He wrapped up the match in one hour and 17 minutes inside Manolo Santana Stadium. The victory extended his Masters 1000 winning streak to 24 matches, the fourth longest since 1990.
Next, the 24-year-old will face Cameron Norrie, who defeated Thiago Agustin Tirante 7-5, 7-6(5), for a place in the quarter-finals. The challenge will be different, but Sinner’s form remains dominant.
As for the racket-slipping moment, it may have been rare, but it added to the spectacle. Such incidents have caught fans’ attention before and continue to do so.
Alexander Shevchenko’s racket shatters mid-serve after slipping from his hand
At the Delray Beach Open 2025, Alexander Shevchenko found himself at the center of a bizarre moment. It came during a crucial match against Michael Mmoh. What followed was something rarely seen on a tennis court.
While serving, Shevchenko lost control of his racket. It slipped out of his hand in the middle of the motion. The situation escalated instantly upon impact. As the racket hit the court, it snapped cleanly in half. The handle separated from the head. The visual was dramatic and unexpected.
The incident quickly became the “image of the day.” It spread across the tennis world as a rare and shocking moment. Fans and analysts were left surprised.
Tennis rackets are usually built for durability. They are designed to last for years under intense use. Breakages typically occur only when players smash them in frustration.
In this case, however, the reason appeared different. Extreme humidity in Delray Beach, Florida, was considered a possible factor. The conditions may have weakened the equipment unexpectedly.
Despite the malfunction, play continued under the rules. Since his first serve had already been called out, Shevchenko was allowed to take his second serve. The point resumed without penalty.
Incidents involving rackets slipping from players’ hands are rare but not unheard of. At times, they have led to chaotic and even controversial outcomes. The unpredictability adds a strange edge to the sport.
One such case dates back to 2017. Tiago Cação defaulted during an ITF Futures event in Idanha-a-Nova. He was facing João Monteiro in a tense second-round match.
The match stood at 4-4 in the third set after more than two hours of play. Then, Cação’s racket slipped from his hand. It accidentally struck Monteiro, forcing an abrupt end.
Speaking afterward, Cação explained the moment. “My racket escaped from my hand and all of sudden it hit Monteiro’s foot,” he said. “I had already understood that I would have been banned, which I accept.”
Now, with Elmer Moller adding another twist by attempting a shot with his hand after a similar slip, these moments continue to stand out. They underline how even rare mishaps can shape matches in unexpected ways.
Javon Solomon isn't new player for the Buffalo Bills. But he may have a new role.
Solomon may finally have a natural position on Buffalo's defense. That could be one of the ripple effects of the team's shift to a 3-4 scheme under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane said Solomon is one of the existing players from the Sean McDermott era who stands to benefit most from the change.
"I think an easy one is Javon Solomon," Beane said last week. "In our old defense you would kind of call him a DPR: designated pass rusher. Javon really found a nice niche on special teams in his first two years. Had some opportunities, but not a lot as part of third-down packages.
"I think he fits more of a standup 3-4 standup outside backer then a hand-in-the-dirt defensive end."
A 3-4 defense asks outside linebackers to play in space, rush off the edge and handle a more versatile workload than traditional defense ends. It could give Solomon a clearer path to more snaps.
The Bills selected Solomon in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Troy, where he played outside linebacker before transitioning to defensive end, thriving in both roles. He earned second-team All-American honors after leading the FBS with 16 sacks.
The 6-foot-1, 246-pounder has recorded 30 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 31 games over his first two seasons with the Bills.
Jorge Martin says there is "no gap" between Aprilia and Ducati following the Spanish Grand Prix and he believes it is down to the riders to make the difference as the MotoGP season unfolds.
Aprilia was defeated for the first time this year at Jerez last Sunday, when Alex Marquez took victory for the Gresini Ducati squad. After the factory Aprilias, Marco Bezzecchi and Martin, came home second and fourth respectively, Martin said there was nothing to choose between the two Italian marques.
Asked in his media briefing if Ducati had closed the gap in Spain, he replied: "There is no gap. I think there is no sense to continue comparing Aprilia with Ducati.
"I know it's your job," he joked with the journalists in attendance. "You need to speak about something. But there's no gap.
"The Aprilia and the Ducati are different. One is faster in one point, the other one is faster in another one.
"Today, a Ducati won, with an Aprilia second. I was in fourth, so a bit of a mix. I think it will be like this all season. Ducati versus Aprilia, or, I don't know, Marquez versus Martin versus Bezzecchi.
"So, it's more about the rider than the bike at the moment."
Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Martin's countryman Pedro Acosta, who struggled to 10th aboard the factory KTM, on a bad weekend he hopes will be an outlier, was more forthright about Ducati having made progress upon MotoGP's return to Europe.
"It's clear that Ducati woke up again," said the man from Murcia, who went on to offer an opinion on a key storyline in that battle among the top riders: Marc Marquez's struggles.
Once again, Marc failed to assume his usual position as leader of the Ducati brigade. Not only was he unable to match the pace of his brother Alex, he also crashed. Asked about the accident at the fast Criville right-hander, Acosta referenced the injury Marquez picked up in Indonesia last season, just after he wrapped up the world championship.
"It looks like since Indonesia, he's not riding as comfortably as he was last year," said Acosta, who is slated to join Marquez at the Ducati factory team next season. "[That's why] I imagine that he's not at his 100%, because it's quite strange to see Marc crashing in this type of corner."
Marquez reiterated after the Spanish GP that he was fully recovered and fit, but echoed Acosta's observation.
"For some reason, at the moment I'm not feeling [the way I did] last year," he said. "Last year, I was riding in an easy way, always in a good position on the bike. And this year, I'm not able to do it."
Photos from Spanish GP - Sunday
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Media VR46
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pramac Racing
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pramac Racing
Burak Akbulut - Anadolu - Getty Images
Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Team
Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Red Bull Content Pool
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team autograph
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team autograph
Media VR46
The World Championship trophy
The World Championship trophy
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Ducati Corse
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Yamaha
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Ducati Corse
Giacomo Agostini
Giacomo Agostini
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing umbrella girl on the grid.
Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing umbrella girl on the grid.
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Team
Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Fans
Fans
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Alex Rins, Yamaha Factory Racing
Alex Rins, Yamaha Factory Racing
Yamaha
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Pierre-Philippe Marcou / AFP via Getty Images
Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Team
Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Team
Pierre-Philippe Marcou / AFP via Getty Images
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Jorge Guerrero - AFP - Getty Images
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Jorge Guerrero - AFP - Getty Images
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Yamaha
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Red Bull Content Pool
Franco Morbidelli, VR46 Racing Team
Franco Morbidelli, VR46 Racing Team
Media VR46
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team
Red Bull Content Pool
Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Team, Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Team, Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Red Bull Content Pool
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Jorge Guerrero - AFP - Getty Images
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team
Red Bull Content Pool
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Jorge Guerrero - AFP - Getty Images
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Jorge Guerrero - AFP - Getty Images
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Jorge Guerrero - AFP - Getty Images
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Media VR46
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Media VR46
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Jose Breton - Pics Action - NurPhoto - Getty Images
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Media VR46
Alex Márquez, Gresini Racing, Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing, Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Alex Márquez, Gresini Racing, Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing, Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Jose Breton - Pics Action - NurPhoto - Getty Images
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Pierre-Philippe Marcou / AFP via Getty Images
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Aprilia Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Jose Breton - Pics Action - NurPhoto - Getty Images
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Jose Breton - Pics Action - NurPhoto - Getty Images
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Borussia Dortmund ready to pay €30m for Real Madrid talent but club demands €60m
Transfer interest around Gonzalo Garcia is beginning to intensify, but Real Madrid have made one thing absolutely clear that they are not prepared to let their academy talent leave on the cheap.
Recent developments from AS suggest that Borussia Dortmund have now entered the race for the young forward, identifying him as a potential attacking reinforcement.
In fact, the Bundesliga side are reportedly willing to invest around €30 million to secure his services.
However, Real Madrid’s position has quickly cooled any immediate optimism around a deal.
Real Madrid’s asking price
According to the outlet, the club have set a valuation of €60 million for the striker, showing how highly they rate Gonzalo and position him among the most valuable talents to emerge from their academy in recent years.
It is said that while Real Madrid are open to player sales when it suits the squad’s long-term structure, they are increasingly selective about the terms.
That message was made evident during a recent visit from an Italian club, whose representatives travelled to Valdebebas to explore the availability of several Madrid players and as per sources, among those discussed was Garcia.
Borussia Dortmund are interested in Gonzalo Garcia. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
When asked about his valuation during those talks, Madrid’s response was €60 million.
The figure effectively sets the benchmark for any club hoping to enter serious negotiations and highlights the club’s refusal to undervalue its assets.
Real Madrid’s statement of intent
For Dortmund, this presents both an opportunity and a challenge, as the German side has built a reputation for developing young talent, and Garcia could fit that model perfectly.
But unless they are prepared to significantly increase their offer, a deal looks difficult at this stage.
Ultimately, this is less about one transfer and more about a statement of intent.
Real Madrid are making it clear that their academy products are no longer viewed as expendable assets.
Rather, they are investments, and any club hoping to acquire them will have to pay accordingly.
The Juventus Men's First Team secured a valuable point on the road by drawing 0-0 with AC Milan on Serie A Matchday 34.
Let’s take a look at the standout stats from the game.
STALEMATE | For the first time in the history of Serie A, both matches between Milan and Juventus in a single season have ended 0-0.
SHUTOUTS | Juventus kept a clean sheet in six of their last seven Serie A matches, as many as in the previous 21 games combined. Since March 7, the Bianconeri are the team that has recorded the most clean sheets (six) in the top five European leagues.
UNBEATEN | Juventus remain unbeaten in their last eight Serie A matches (5W, 3D) and, since early March, are the only team still unbeaten in the top flight.
FANCY FEET | Francisco Conceicao successfully completed five of the six dribbles he attempted during Milan vs Juventus. In addition, the Portuguese player was involved in 14 duels, winning 10 of them, more than anyone in the match.
INVOLVED | Manuel Locatelli was the player who touched the ball the most (94) and attempted (85) and successfully completed (78) the most passes in the match between Milan and Juventus.
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - APRIL 22: Harry Kane of FC Bayern Munich celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the DFB Cup semifinal match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern München at BayArena on April 22, 2026 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Pau Barrena/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bayern Munich’s new kit for the upcoming season has been fully leaked.
The good people at Footy Headlines have released a couple of new images of the home kit for the 2026/27 season. The kit features a classic red and white design, with dark red pinstripes running down the front and back of the shirt. Gold details adorn the sleeves and the collar.
The kits will be released sometime next month, presumably the week before the team’s final Bundesliga match against FC Köln. As is tradition, the team will most likely wear the kit during the Meisterschale celebration, and in the DFB-Pokal final against VfB Stuttgart. The kit might also be worn in the Champions League final, if Bayern defeat Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals. However, since both potential final opponents Arsenal and Atlético Madrid wear red and white, it will depend on who gets named the “home” side.
There is also a possibility that the Frauen will debut it before the men, since their final home Bundesliga game (and potential Meisterschale celebration) is on the 9th of May, the week before the men face Köln.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
Barcelona considering former La Masia star as a cost-effective alternative
While Julian Alvarez has dominated the headlines in recent weeks in lieu of speculations linking him to Barcelona, the club are aware that the operation will be tricky due to cost involved.
In addition to signing a top striker, Barcelona are also looking for another attacker and that is where Marcus Rashford comes into the fray.
Although the Catalans are actively looking to sign Rashford permanently, their sticky financial situation means the club are also looking for cost-effective alternatives.
To that end, Jan Virgili emerging as one of the options. Formerly of La Masia, Virgili left the club to join Mallorca on a permanent deal last summer. Since then, he has mightily impressed with his dynamism and flair, notably racking up two goals and six assists.
Virgili an alternative, but not a priority
According to Diario SPORT, Jan Virgili is indeed one of the players on Barcelona’s radar following his impressive performances for Mallorca this season.
Virgili has impressed mightily at Mallorca. (Photo by Rafa Babot/Getty Images)
The young Spaniard has impressed this season with his productivity in the final third and is being considered as a strong alternative, especially if Barcelona fail to land a permanent deal for Marcus Rashford.
Although Virgili, too, has a release clause worth around €30 million, Barcelona can sign him for much cheaper as the club own 40% of the player’s transfer rights.
This effectively means that Barcelona can bring back the young Spaniard for a figure of around €13-17 million, making him a potential bargain.
Virgili, after all, is well aware of Barcelona’s style of play and has already flourished under that system. A return to Barcelona, this time in the first team, will be a natural progression for the young forward.
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - APRIL 26: Lawrence Shankland of Heart of Midlothian celebrates following the team's victory in the William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Falkirk at Easter Road on April 26, 2026 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Biggest
5 – Nottingham Forest have recorded the biggest Premier League victory on a Friday since Leicester City won 9-0 at Southampton in October 2019. Feeling. pic.twitter.com/xm60kt9mtw
4 – Sunderland have conceded four first half goals for the first time since September 2015 against Manchester City in the League Cup. Floored. pic.twitter.com/Ky9GqU4EnO
🚨📲 𝗡𝗘𝗪: Nicolas Jackson's agent Diomansy Kamara on Instagram after Bayern confirmed they will not retain the player:
"Nicolas Jackson is having an excellent season. 28 matches played, 10 goals. African champion, German champion and also qualified for the (cup) final."… pic.twitter.com/WlFuTVyJ1b
Chelsea stance on Enzo Fernandez sale revealed amid newfound Manchester City interest
Man City have identified Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez as summer transfer target
Fernandez widely expected to leave Chelsea this summer amid UCL doubts
Argentina midfielder will be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge for the right price
Executives at Stamford Bridge are willing to discuss a possible departure for Chelsea vice-captain Enzo Fernandez this summer, as per a new report.
Fernandez has emerged as a transfer target for Manchester City for the summer as they plan for life beyond departing club captain Bernardo Silva, who will leave in June.
City director of football Hugo Viana will prioritise the acquisition of at least one world-class midfielder ahead of the 2026-27 season as the Portuguese official progresses his rebuild of the Blues’ first-team ranks.
Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson has been widely reported as Manchester City’s top target in midfield in recent months and there is confidence at the Etihad Stadium that a deal can be done for the 23-year-old England international around the FIFA World Cup.
Manchester City identify Chelsea vice-captain Enzo Fernandez as Elliot Anderson alternative
Report: Chelsea willing to Fernandez sale to Man City
City officials have added Fernandez to their list of targets for the summer transfer window as they monitor the market to bolster their ranks and build on their January signings of Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi.
As reported by Jacob Steinberg of Guardian Sport, Chelsea are willing to sanction a sale for Enzo Fernandez but will demand a lucrative sum for the former British transfer record signing.
Manchester City’s interest in Fernandez remains at an early stage amid uncertainty over the Chelsea vice-captain’s future at Stamford Bridge as the west London club grapple with the after-effects of sacking Liam Rosenior as head coach.
Fernandez has publicly flirted with the idea of leaving Chelsea in the last month, having opened the door to living in Madrid in an interview that saw his club sanction him for two games.
Are Man City expected to sign Fernandez?
City are frontrunners to sign Anderson from Nottingham Forest and there is a growing belief in the English press than the Blues will close a deal for the midfielder at some point of the summer.
However, should Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis stick to his reported £125 million asking price for Anderson, City will have no choice but to walk away from negotiations and pursue other targets.
Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali is also being monitored by Manchester City but Manchester United are currently believed to be leading the race to sign the Italy international, who is almost certain to leave St. James’ Park this summer.
Before City step up their interest in Fernandez, the Blues will hold direct talks with Nottingham Forest to understand whether a deal for Anderson can be done as they put plans in motion for what is expected to be a busy transfer window at the Etihad Stadium.
Mark: Never looked like scoring. No obvious threat tactics. Busy trying not to lose and giving the opposition the initiative in the process.
Dan: A major rebuild is needed in the summer to have any chance of surviving, never mind coming straight back up. The only gameplan I can see is to keep it 0-0 until 70 minutes and then try to nick it at the end. We are already down, so why not just go for it and let the fans be entertained for a change?
Wol: Another poor performance. First half was terrible but I thought we were better after the break. No threat up front again. A lot of this squad will leave and I don't think Fosun will invest massively in the summer and we will see academy players coming through. I don't think that we will get automatic promotion but will possibly finish in the play-offs with the new format coming in next season. Cheaper season tickets is a bonus for us but was done in the hope it will help fill the ground.
Mel: It was a very poor performance from start to finish. The defence looks very weak and we didn't look like the home team. Midfield effort was there but clearly not good enough to compete at Premier League level. Going forward, why would we persist in pumping high balls to a player much smaller than Spurs’ defenders? Clearly, we have to rebuild the team from back to front, otherwise we are going to struggle in the Championship. Such a disappointing season and the supporters deserve so much more.
Tottenham fans
Dave: Kinsky's save was massive. He was my man of the match. Defence more solid. Midfield combative but still lacked creativity. Solanke and Simons big losses for the rest of our campaign. Overall, high marks for effort and application… there's no doubt we are getting better.
Bert: This hard-fought victory against the bottom side of the Premier League leaves a bitter taste. Nothing in our performance suggests we have any chance of avoiding relegation. Meanwhile, West Ham showed more drive and determination.
Ian: After 70 years of loyal support, nothing surprises me about Spurs. Champions or relegated, it seems it's all the same to some of these players. I think I'm too old to plough my way through another season like this.
Christopher: Finally, a win in the league and well deserved. Sure, it wasn't pretty and Wolves were poor - but the signs are encouraging under De Zerbi. A pattern of play and more forward passing rather than hopeful long balls. The fans were superb as usual before during and afterwards. COYS.
🚨 Official: another star pulls out of the World Cup!
Another withdrawal for the World Cup!
After Hugo Ekitiké, Serge Gnabry and Rodrygo, another star has officially withdrawn from the 2026 World Cup!
Injured this Saturday on the Wolverhampton pitch with Tottenham, Xavi Simons will not play in the World Cup with the Netherlands.
The former Leipzig and PSG player announced the terrible news on his Instagram account during the night from Sunday to Monday!
"My season has come to an abrupt end. All I wanted was to fight for my team. My chance to do that has been taken away from me, just like the World Cup. It will take time to come to terms with this, but I will continue to be the best teammate I can be," the player said in his message.
Suffering from a knee injury, the Dutch playmaker had to be stretchered off on Saturday.
📸 DARREN STAPLES - AFP or licensors
As a reminder, the Netherlands are in World Cup Group F, alongside Japan, Sweden and Tunisia.
Dutch attacking midfielder is another World Cup absentee
Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons, of Tottenham, announced on his social media that he is out of the World Cup due to an injury to his right knee.
The injury occurred last Saturday during the 1-0 win over Wolverhampton in the Premier League. The incident happened while contesting the ball, without any contact with the opposing defender.
Although Tottenham have not disclosed the clinical details, English media outlets report that there is suspicion of ligament damage. Even without the club’s official diagnosis, the 23-year-old player has already confirmed the end of his dream of playing in his second World Cup.
In 2022, in Qatar, he played only the final minutes of the Netherlands’ 3-1 victory over the United States in the round of 16.
In a post on Instagram, the player shared a lengthy message about the pain of having his season brought to an abrupt halt.
The Netherlands are in World Cup Group F, alongside Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia.
Below is the full statement released by the player:
They say life can be cruel, and today that’s exactly how I feel. My season has come to an abrupt end, and I’m just trying to process it. Honestly, I’m heartbroken. None of this makes sense. All I wanted was to fight for my team, and now the chance to do that has been taken from me… along with the World Cup. Representing my country this summer… it’s simply over. It will take time for me to find peace with this, but I will continue to be the best teammate I can be. I have no doubt that, together, we will win this fight. I will walk this path now, guided by faith, with strength, with resilience, with conviction, as I count the days until I return to the pitch. Please be patient with me.
Like his brother, Alex is a gear-free agent (aside from Matt’s deal with Bettinardi for his putter) and his bag, while not quite as unique as his brother’s, has a few neat quirks to it, including his three TaylorMade Qi4D fairways (making for five TM fairways between the brothers) and his Vokey WedgeWorks A+-Grind lob wedge.
As is often a talking point at the Zurich, both Fitzpatricks play a version of the Titleist Pro V1x, so switching between the two models likely wasn’t a big issue for the team.
Keep reading below for more on Team Fitzpatrick’s complete WITB specs.
Alex Fitzpatrick’s winning clubs at the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Driver: Ping G440 LST 9.0˚ Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6-X
PING G440 LST Custom Driver
The G440 driver family (MAX, LST, SFT) is optimized to deliver more ball speed through multiple advancements, including PING’s deepest CG in a driver to date and a shallower, thinner face, while continuing to ensure the game-changing forgiveness expected from a PING driver. The G440 LST (Low Spin) design appeals to players with faster swing speeds, providing lower spin and more control in 9° and 10.5° lofts with the three-position back weight. HIGHLY FORGIVING Lighter head weight allows for heavier back weight. FASTER FACE Shallow, thinner, face increases ball speed for more distance, higher launch. SOUND DESIGN New shaping, carbon crown and internal ribs produce muted impact experience. FREE-HOSEL DESIGN Saves weight to lower CG, increase forgiveness. Allows for more heel-side face flexing for consistent ball speed across face.
The Fujikura Ventus Black utilizes a Tour-inspired profile and the first to include Fujikura’s VeloCore Technology in an accelerated taper, ultra stiff tip profile. Maximum energy transfer from the tip section boosts the clubhead’s performance and a straight taper design enhances loading and feel. You can purchase the Fujikura Ventus Black in the following models: 6, 7, and 8. You can buy the Fujikura Ventus Black with the adaptor sleeve of choice built to your requires specifications. JOCKEY TIP: The Fujikura Ventus Black is ideal for the player looking for a low launch, low spin shaft that was designed to significantly tighten shot dispersion and maximize ball speed especially on off-center shots.
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D 15˚ Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7-X
7-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D 21˚ Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9-X
9-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D 24˚ Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9-X
TaylorMade Qi4D Custom Fairway Wood
PROVEN RECIPE TaylorMade Fairways have dominated on Tour for over a decade because of their unique performance recipe, which enables maximum distance and versatility. The Qi4D fairway is designed for golfers who want the most advanced technology while still prioritizing versatility and control with amazing distance. ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE Utilizing a single Trajectory Adjustment System weight (8g x1) provides the golfer a more mass efficient way to adjust flight, spin and swing weight. 4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight and is available in all lofts. REFINED ATTRIBUTES, BIG CHANGES Engineers conducted an objective analysis of all the performance attributes and discovered new methods to enhance performance and confidence. Sit points, lie angles, address views, and center of gravity locations were all updated based on Tour feedback and the expertise of leading fitters worldwide, ensuring the optimal fairway across skill levels. TOUR-PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes. Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation for TaylorMade fairway performance. Twist Face™ features corrective face curvature designed to provide straighter shots on mishits. Multi-Material Construction allows engineers to maximize performance by increasing discretionary weight.
Irons: Titleist T100 (5-9) Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Titleist 2025 T100 Custom Irons
Unmatched precision meets unrivaled feel with T100 Irons. Fully forged with more aggressive grooves in the mid/short irons, T100 offers pure player’s feel with improved consistency in variable conditions. Now with higher long-iron launch for optimal trajectory control in every club. Forged Player’s Design Masterfully forged into a pure player’s design that offers precision control and buttery feel. Superior Flight and Stability Split High-Density Tungsten produces optimal CG with remarkable stability for precise shotmaking. Consistent Speed & Spin New VFT technology and progressive groove design for consistent spin and speed across the face in variable conditions. Elevated Long-Iron Launch Lower CG and a new muscle channel help improve peak height and carry.
The A+ Grind is a mid-bounce wedge that originated from removing the grind lines from an M Grind — the same modification that turns an L Grind into an A. Because of this, the A+ moves faster through the turf than its related M Grind, but it features more bounce and a wider sole than the A. This helps the A+ Grind excel in firm to neutral conditions. “On tour over the years, we started seeing some loyal M Grind players who were finding that sole to be a little too bouncy for their liking,” said Dill. “Those players found the leading edge of the A+ sat a bit lower, and the wedge moved faster through the ground, unlocking a bit more versatility.” The 2013 Masters champion is one such player, regularly gaming a 58A+ on the PGA TOUR.
Total Performance With Higher Flight And More Spin Pro V1x golf balls are the optimal premium performance choice for players looking for maximum distance, higher flight and more stopping power. Why Play Pro V1x? Pro V1x is recommended to players who are looking for high-trajectory flight, low long game spin with maximum short game spin, and firmer feel. Comparison to Pro V1 Due to its unique dimple pattern, Pro V1x has a higher flight than Pro V1. A high-gradient dual core produces slightly more iron and wedge spin than Pro V1.
GT3 – Speed-Tuned Distance & Control GT3 offers Titleist’s boldest combination of power and personalization. With a speed-tuned design that allows you to precisely match performance to your most frequent contact location, you can make your biggest drives even bigger while taking total control over flight and shaping. For players with a relatively consistent impact location, GT3 offers a precisely adjustable CG Track to max out distance and directional control. Seamless Thermoform Crown A reimagined ultra-lightweight design, born from a new Proprietary Matrix Polymer. The tunable acoustic properties of this unique composite allow Titleist engineers to realize new material gains while maintaining our signature sound and feel. All wrapped in a clean look that inspires total confidence. Split Mass Construction A breakthrough in internal weighting unlocks longer drives and enhanced directional control in GT3. The Adjustable CG Track now sits closer to the face for more dynamic CG control, while additional discretionary mass is pushed to the back of the club to maintain optimal stability through impact. Advanced Aerodynamics GT3 features a new raised tail contour that represents a dramatic shift in driver aerodynamics. Previously impossible to execute due to design constraints, this advanced shaping results in a driver that swings faster while still providing optimal CG control.
Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Orange Wood Shaft
NOW AVAILABLE — A material improvement. TENSEI™ 1K Pro Orange builds on the legacy of CK Pro Orange by incorporating 1K Carbon Fiber into the shaft’s construction. The result is Mitsubishi Chemical’s most premium counterbalanced offering ever, a shaft that features even lower torque and tighter dispersion than its renowned Carbon Kevlar predecessor. TENSEI loosely translates to “transformation” and the latest iteration of our 1K family represents yet another transformation. Built using the incredible 1K Carbon Fiber in the handle for a tighter weave and less imperfections and bolstered with additional tungsten handle side, MR70 tip side, and the new Xlink Tech™ Resin System, TENSEI 1K Pro Orange turns over every stone to create the finest Orange profile Mitsubishi has ever made.
The Tour-inspired i240 advances our popular Players technology, providing added forgiveness along with the control, look and feel that will appeal to a wide range of skill levels. It’s PING’s highest-launching Players model, giving golfers more control and the ability to consistently hit their distance numbers and stop the ball close to the hole. A new ABS badge in the true cavity-back design is 8.5g lighter, and combined with an elastomer insert allows for more perimeter weighting to increase the MOI in the mid and long irons. This helps achieve an 11% reduction in dispersion. The badge and insert contribute to a more desirable sound and a softer, responsive feel from the 431 stainless steel cast head.
THE GREATEST COMBINATION OF SPEED, SPIN AND FEEL For players who prioritize total performance, with higher flight and higher spin. New faster high gradient core Speed amplifying high-flex casing layer Spherically-tiled 348 tetrahedral dimple design Soft cast urethane elastomer cover
John Stones to Barcelona, Smart Move or Sentimental Gamble?
There is a certain rhythm to modern transfers, a pattern shaped by finance, opportunity and timing. The latest development, reported by Fichajes, fits that rhythm neatly. John Stones, a player synonymous with Manchester City’s era of dominance, has “offered himself to FC Barcelona and is willing to take a pay cut to sign.”
That sentence alone captures the shifting dynamics of European football. Experience is now currency, and flexibility is often as valuable as talent.
Barcelona’s Calculated Risk
Barcelona are operating within tight financial parameters, a reality that continues to shape every decision. The appeal of a free transfer, particularly one involving a player of Stones’ pedigree, is obvious. The club’s recruitment strategy increasingly leans towards low risk, high intelligence deals.
“FC Barcelona is already working on its plans for next season and has received an unexpected offer from the Premier League.” That unexpected nature is key. Barcelona are not chasing Stones, rather, the opportunity has presented itself.
At 31, Stones represents experience, composure and tactical intelligence. His ability to step into midfield, something refined under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, aligns with the positional fluidity expected under Hansi Flick.
Career Arc Reaching Turning Point
There is a sense of inevitability about this moment. “After a decade at Manchester City, all signs point to John Stones ending his time at the English club.” That decade has been transformative. Stones arrived as a talented but inconsistent defender and leaves as one of Europe’s most tactically refined centre backs.
Photo IMAGO
Elite careers often pivot not on decline, but on reinvention. For Stones, this move would be less about escape and more about extension. A new league, a new tactical framework, and a different kind of pressure.
Financial Reality Meets Sporting Ambition
“John Stones prioritizes the FC Barcelona project.” That line speaks volumes. Players at this stage rarely accept reduced wages without a compelling vision. Barcelona, despite their financial constraints, still offer prestige, identity and a stage that few clubs can replicate.
The willingness “to make a significant financial sacrifice” is not just admirable, it is strategic. It signals a player intent on controlling his narrative rather than drifting towards the final years of his career.
Strategic Fit or Short Term Fix?
Barcelona’s internal debate is understandable. “Market opportunities like John Stones are rare.” Yet age, squad evolution and long term planning cannot be ignored.
This is not simply about adding depth. It is about whether Stones can elevate the collective, whether his intelligence can accelerate Flick’s ideas, and whether experience can bridge Barcelona’s transitional phase.
In a market increasingly driven by data and youth, this feels almost old fashioned. And yet, that may be precisely why it works.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
From a Manchester City perspective, this development feels both logical and quietly significant. John Stones has been integral to one of the most dominant sides English football has seen, but there has been a gradual shift in his role and availability.
City fans will recognise that “the end of this chapter seems inevitable.” Injuries have disrupted rhythm, and the squad has evolved with younger, more physically robust options emerging. Letting Stones leave on a free may feel underwhelming on paper, yet it reflects the club’s ruthless efficiency.
There is also a sense of pride. Stones reinvented himself under Guardiola, becoming more than a defender. He became a hybrid, stepping into midfield, dictating tempo, shaping games. That evolution will be remembered.
From a supporter’s viewpoint, Barcelona gaining a player of that intelligence, even at 31, carries risk. La Liga demands technical excellence, but also consistency across a long season. If Stones adapts, he could become a leader within that dressing room.
For City, the question is less about what is lost and more about what comes next. Squad regeneration has been relentless, and this departure would simply be another step in that cycle.
Interview with 'Bulle' Roth to mark his 80th birthday
Franz 'Bulle' Roth scored crucial goals in three of FC Bayern's European finals. Without him, the record champions' history would look very different today. On 27 April, the man for the important goals turns 80. In our interview, he talks about his friendship with Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller, his admiration for Harry Kane and Vincent Kompany - and the secret of his success: a slice of strawberry cream cake before a game.
Interview with Franz ‘Bulle’ Roth
Herr Roth, a few weeks before your 80th birthday, you attended an FC Bayern reserves match at your old stomping ground, the Grünwalder Stadion. What was that like? ”It’s almost unbelievable: it was my first time there since our team moved to the Olympiastadion in 1972. A lot has changed; our changing rooms have been completely refurbished – back then, there was no such thing as comfort: the bags would just be dumped in there – with shirts, shorts and boots – and everyone had to sort through everything themselves. I still remember how, once in the depths of winter, we wanted to wear tights because the pitch was frozen. Our manager Robert Schwan just said: ‘No way.’ End of discussion (laughs).”
What else came to mind? "The atmosphere was incredible. Our grandstand was standing room only – a fantastic atmosphere. Back then, a ticket cost two or three marks. I remember the first time I went to Säbener Straße. The route took me up Giesinger Berg, past the stadium, and I thought: I might play there one day. As a reserve, you don’t know if you’ll actually ever make it. Those memories, that feeling, will stay with me forever.”
Dieser Inhalt kann hier leider nicht dargestellt werden. Zum Anschauen kannst du die Website des FC Bayern München besuchen:Artikel auf fcbayern.com
Is it true that one of your shots once broke the scoreboard? “Yes, it really was in pieces. I wanted to shoot at goal from distance, so I had to put some power into the shot. I just put too much into it (laughs). I’d just joined Bayern from the Bayernliga. We lost the first match 2-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt. In the second match in Düsseldorf, I made the team – and from then on I was a regular starter.”
And you became a legend at FC Bayern alongside Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller and Sepp Maier. “We were a close-knit group; we did everything together, even off the pitch. I often went to the cinema with Gerd; he loved Westerns. During ‘A Fistful of Dollars’, we even stayed behind and watched the film twice in a row. Gerd loved it, so I said, ‘All right then, I’ll stay too!’ I’m incredibly grateful to FC Bayern for everything I was able to experience. ‘Legend’ is a bit too grand a term for me – for me, it was simply always something special to wear those colours.”
Statues have been erected in front of the Allianz Arena in honour of Franz and Gerd. What would you like to say to them today? "(haltingly) That we had such a wonderful time. That I'm so incredibly happy that we became friends. That they were unique people, something truly special."
You yourself scored decisive goals in three European finals. Which one was the most important to you? “The most important goal was the 1–0 – the winner in the European Cup Winners’ Cup final against Glasgow Rangers in Nuremberg. That was the breakthrough; it was the first time FC Bayern were on everyone’s lips internationally. We’d only been promoted to the Bundesliga two years earlier; we were a very young team, clearly the underdogs, but we came out on top. From then on, things went from strength to strength year on year.”
There’s that famous photo of you in bed with the trophy on the nightstand… “Actually, you weren’t allowed to take the trophy. I really wanted the match ball back then, but it was reserved for the referee. Schwan went into his dressing room with me and gave it to me. I got everyone to sign it, but unfortunately the signatures have faded over time. The ball is on display at the FC Bayern Museum.”
You regularly go to the Allianz Arena. What do you think of FC Bayern today, in 2026 – 50 years after your third consecutive European Cup victory? "There are always different eras, but FC Bayern have enjoyed consistent success over the decades. Ever since I joined – almost 60 years ago now – the club has been among the world’s elite. The fans have every reason to be proud. That’s because the club is managed exceptionally well. Uli Hoeneß becoming general manager in 1979 was the biggest stroke of luck. FC Bayern is Uli Hoeneß – and Uli Hoeneß is FC Bayern. There’s no need to say any more than that. Franz Beckenbauer and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge also achieved great things here after their playing careers."
Who in the current squad particularly impresses you? "Harry Kane is a phenomenon, an exceptional footballer. He can defend, score goals – he can do it all. What’s more, he’s the England captain, yet he never tries to hog the limelight. That’s another reason why he’s so successful. But you have to mention them all: Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala, Joshua Kimmich, Manuel Neuer – you could list them all. And Vincent Kompany is currently the best coach in the whole of Europe in my view. It goes beyond the pitch and the dressing room: that sense of calm, that charisma. He’s got everything under control.”
Dieser Inhalt kann hier leider nicht dargestellt werden. Zum Anschauen kannst du die Website des FC Bayern München besuchen:Artikel auf fcbayern.com
How do you think Kimmich and Aleks Pavlović are doing in your old position? "They’re both outstanding. They set the pace. They complement each other perfectly; they’re a perfect match. I can’t think of many better in the whole of Europe. They’re both absolute professionals.”
You yourself used to keep a sweet secret about your strength… "I grew up on a farm, so I was always the first one of the team awake. On matchdays, I'd need a quick bite to eat before setting off for the game, so I had a secret arrangement with the hotel staff – there was always a slice of strawberry cream cake waiting for me in the corner of the kitchen. Schwan eventually caught me: ‘What on earth are you doing?’ At first he was stunned, then he said: ‘Carry on eating if that’s what you need.’"
What are your hopes for FC Bayern in the future? “I have no doubt FC Bayern will still be right at the top of world football in 20 or 30 years’ time. They always think ahead here. The core philosophy of FC Bayern is success. And that will never be lost. We always said to ourselves: ‘No one’s taking off our lederhosen.’ FC Bayern cannot go under. That’s not going to happen. ‘Mia san mia’ – that has to remain.”
We look back at FC Bayern’s Champions League semi-finals:
Apr 26, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Angel City FC defender Gisele Thompson (20) pursues the ball against the Portland Thorns FC in the first half at BMO Stadium.
LOS ANGELES -- The international break has come to an end, and the NWSL is back. In Los Angeles at the always lively BMO Stadium, Angel City FC and Portland Thorns faced off. This hard fought physical and at times frustrating match ended in a 2-1 win for the Thorns. These two teams came into this one holding extremely similar records, Angel City FC with three wins and one loss, while Portland had three wins, one draw and one loss. This one was going to show who could rise above, and that Portland did.
Forward Pietra Tordin opened up the scoring in this game in the 76th minute for Portland. Along with the celebration that came from the away team, there was confusion coming from the home team. Following the game veteran and captain defender Sarah Gorden said that they thought there was a foul on the play that led to the goal.
“On the first goal we did feel like there was a foul on the play and that's kind of why we were hoping that the ref would look at it, we felt like there was a push in the back.” Gorden continued, “I’m one of those people that will never blame one moment or one call or no call on a reason that things don't go our way.”
No one team today was noticeably more dominant than the other. Angel City FC head coach Alex Straus mentioned that in a result like this one, it is due to their own mistakes. He said that in their last game before the international break on April 3 against the Orlando Pride, they were “pretty average”. While touching on what they need to change, he had an emphasis on how if the game were to end after the first half, there needs to be more energy and production right out the gate.
A highlight for the Los Angeles team came from Prisca Chilufya who was subbed into the game late in the second half put a point on the board for LA, and did not hold back any energy. The Kitwe, Zambia native in a break away moment sprinted towards the goal and made sure to be the first one to put a foot on it.
Chilufya’s goal made the score 2-1, and even though the goal came in the 98th minute there is something to be said for being able to still score with only moments left in the game rather than remaining scoreless.
“I think it’s extremely important [to end the game with Prisca’s goal].” Gorden then added, “Prisca’s goal gave us a little bit of life even though we only had a few minutes left, it gave us a little bit of life to go out there and try and push for just anything to make anything happen.”
Angel City is currently dealing with a few injured players that have been key assets to the team. In this thriller of a game, one of the few players that were drafted to the inaugural Angel City FC season, June Endo, entered this game coming back from injury. Endo received welcoming cheers from the Angel City FC crowd as she jogged onto the field, and of course again when she made her first play.
“To echo Prisca, I mean it's amazing to have Jun come back.” Gorden went on to say, “she’s worked so hard and had some unfortunate injuries, so to see her out there, you guys can see the magic she brings is really special.”
Angel City FC now have a record of three wins and two loses, and are ranked 5th in the National Women's Soccer League following this loss.
Key Barcelona duo to rejoin training this week; will receive medical clearance for Osasuna clash
Barcelona’s march towards the La Liga title could soon receive a significant lift, with key players edging closer to full fitness at just the right time of the season.
As things stand, Barcelona are on the brink of wrapping up the league, and the return of important squad members could prove decisive in getting them over the line.
According to recent developments from AS, both Raphinha and Marc Bernal are expected to rejoin the group this week.
The plan is for both players to target medical clearance by Saturday, just in time for the crucial clash against Osasuna.
Perfect timing
That fixture could effectively seal the title, as a victory would put Barcelona 14 points clear at the top, leaving Real Madrid with no room for error.
Should Madrid fail to beat Espanyol the following day, Hansi Flick and his squad could be crowned champions with four games still left to play.
Raphinha’s potential return is particularly significant, as the Brazilian winger has been sidelined since late March after picking up a right hamstring injury while on international duty against France.
Bernal will rejoin training this week. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
As per the outlet, Barcelona’s medical team have taken a cautious approach.
This is because earlier this season, Raphinha suffered two separate setbacks while attempting to rush back in time for the Clasico at the Bernabeu.
That experience has influenced the club’s current handling of his situation, ensuring there are no unnecessary risks taken at such a critical stage of the campaign.
Meanwhile, Bernal’s recovery has taken slightly longer than expected, as the young midfielder sustained a grade-one sprain in his left ankle, with an initial recovery timeline of around ten days.
That period has now effectively doubled, though it is important to stress that this is not due to any relapse, but rather a cautious approach to ensure full fitness.
It's all over, Liverpool star has played his last game for the club
One star has played his last game for Liverpool.
The past few years have taken the club's supporters on an emotional rollercoaster. What once felt like a golden era now seems to be slowly fading into memory.
For nearly a decade, Jurgen Klopp brought not just success, but identity and belief back to the club. Alongside him was a carefully built squad of players who weren’t just talented footballers, but personalities who connected deeply with the fans.
Together, they created moments that will live forever at Anfield, nights we simply will never forget.
However, as with all great teams, change has been inevitable. It began gradual, with key figures departing one after another.
First it was Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. Then came the biggest shift of all - Klopp’s departure - and with it the rest of his coaching staff.
What remains now is only a fragment of that legendary group. A few familiar faces are still there, reminders of what once was, but even they seem to be edging closer to the exit.
This summer feels like a defining moment. Much like the one before it, significant changes are on the horizon, with another major rebuild expected. The squad is set to evolve once again, ushering in a new generation.
For supporters, it’s a bittersweet transition, the end of an era that gave so much joy, and the uncertain beginning of what comes next.
We don't know what the future brings. We don't know what life will look like after Mo Salah, Andy Robertson and Alisson Becker all leave for pastures new.
And then there is also the question of Virgil van Dijk, will he stay? Will he go? Even if he stays, he's only got one more year left on his contract, so sooner or later he will be departing as well.
The saddest of all the news though is that one of these stars could have played his final game for the club.
Salah pulled up with a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace on Saturday and was forced off the pitch.
Arne Slot did not reveal the extent of his injury. However, a source close to the Egyptian national team has shed light on a damning revelation that could have seen Salah play his last game for the Reds.
Speaking to Reuters via The Sunday Guardian, Egypt’s team doctor Ibrahim Hassan suggested the 33-year-old may be sidelined for the rest of the season, though his participation in the 2026 World Cup is not believed to be at risk.
“The diagnosis has been confirmed for Mohamed Salah‘s hamstring tear, and he will be sidelined from the pitches for four weeks,” Hassan said.
“There is ongoing monitoring of Mohamed Salah‘s condition, and his injury will not affect his participation in the 2026 World Cup.”
At the very best case scenario, if this is true, Salah may be able to play the final game of the season against Brentford. However, even that is going to be a race against time, given the four weeks he needs to recuperate for.
And with the World Cup on the horizon, aggravating an injury or coming back too soon is not something Salah will want to do.
On-loan Real Madrid prodigy talks about his future: ‘Honestly, I don’t know’
Real Madrid may still be chalking out a final plan for the summer transfer window, but there are certain moves that the administration is already certain must go through.
One such move that Real Madrid are reportedly set to trigger is the return of Endrick to the first team after his loan stint at Olympique Lyon, which runs out in the summer.
The Brazilian youngster left the club in the winter transfer window after seeing a few minutes under Xabi Alonso, and the timing of his exit coincided with a managerial change and an injury crisis in attack – both of which made Los Blancos value his presence.
Now, they have decided to bet on him next season, although it remains to be seen whether he is prioritised as a starter or a bench option.
Endrick’s interview
The Brazilian phenom recently spoke to Canal Plus, where he was asked if it was a possibility for him to stay at Olympique Lyon beyond his current loan stint.
“Chance to stay at Lyon? Honestly, I don’t know. I’m here on a 6-month loan deal,” he said.
Endrick is making waves in France. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)
“If I have to return to Real Madrid, I will gladly return. If I have to go elsewhere, I will go elsewhere,” he added, maintaining flexibility around his future.
The player then spoke on his adaptation to life in France, and explained his efforts to integrate into the new country, despite it just being for a few months.
“I’m learning French, I’m taking classes.I’ve also learned a lot at Real Madrid with the French players,” he added.
Finally, he spoke about his strong relationship with Real Madrid’s French duo and how they helped him in the linguistic aspect.
“Camavinga was my friend, and Mbappe and I sat next to each other, that’s how I started learning.”
Microsoft is... giving users exactly what they want? In the latest Windows Insider preview for Windows 11, Microsoft is rolling out an updated Windows Update experience that gives users more control over their update process. This includes the option to skip updates entirely during the out-of-box experience (OOBE) menu, allowing you to set up a PC without applying updates first. Previously, new PC configurations and installations might have been several months behind on Windows 11 updates, and Microsoft would force users to apply these updates immediately. This led to prolonged OS setup times and user frustration. Now, for those who need to move to a new desktop quickly and apply updates at a later date, Microsoft is finally offering an option during OOBE to install the OS first and apply updates later.
Additionally, Microsoft is now allowing users to pause Windows 11 updates in the settings with a dedicated calendar that extends up to 35 days. This ensures you have ample time to schedule an update session without disrupting your workflow. However, the 35-day mark is not a hard stop, as users can re-pause updates for another 35 days even after the original period has expired, essentially allowing updates to be paused indefinitely. There are no limits on how many times you can reset this pause date, giving you full control over the entire update process. This could be especially useful when a new update series arrives, and you want to wait and see if there are any OS issues or known problems before applying the update. For example, in the latest Windows 11 April update, some PCs might experience a BitLocker trigger, but this will be resolved in a future fix. Users can wait a few days for a fix to arrive and then install updates all at once without being forced to do so immediately.
The latest Ethereum price analysis on April 25 reads sharper after SharpLink CEO Joseph Chalom told Bloomberg the firm now stakes the entire 868,000 ETH it holds, set a 5% supply target, and called Ether the core layer of the coming AI agent economy per Bloomberg. The remarks landed alongside an Ethereum Foundation sale to BitMine on April 24 that funds protocol R&D and ecosystem grants per The Block.
That stack of corporate buyers loading up on Ether sits next to a presale where the math runs faster. Pepeto trades at $0.0000001866 with $9.45 million raised and an approaching Binance listing, and the Ethereum price analysis points to multiples a $278 billion market cap simply cannot match in the same window.
Ethereum Price Analysis Tightens as SharpLink Stakes 868,000 ETH and BitMine Buys Direct From the Foundation
Chalom architected BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs before joining SharpLink. His April 23 remarks anchor the bull side of the tape: asset managers running on smartphones will plug straight into Ether once AI agents take over portfolio decisions per CoinDesk.
The Ethereum Foundation followed on April 24 with a sale to BitMine that funds protocol R&D and community grants per Decrypt. BitMine now holds 4.12% of total ETH supply and added another 24,266 coins last week.
A 200% target by year end is a real number for ETH, yet returns still measure in single digits across quarters, not the 150x a presale compresses into one listing event.
Ethereum Price Outlook and the Presale That Beats It
Pepeto: The Sharpest Crypto Entry of 2026
I keep landing on one pattern in this market. Most traders meet a token after it already prints a 10x or 100x. Pepeto inverts that, because the wallet locks the position before the listing wave hits, not after the chart has already moved.
The platform pulls every tool a trader needs into a single venue. PepetoSwap clears trades at zero fees, so the entry size never bleeds out to gas or platform cuts. The contract scanner reads each token before any wallet connects and flags risk inside a few seconds, putting retail wallets behind the same protection a desk pays a premium to access. A built-in bridge slides assets across Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Solana with no fee, so capital never sits trapped while a listing window closes.
The presale crossed $9.45 million during the April fear stretch. The same builder who turned Pepe into an $11 billion print on 420 trillion tokens shaped this exchange, with a Binance listing veteran heading the launch desk and SolidProof signing off on every contract. Staking compounds at 178% APY, the next presale tier prices higher than this one, and the listing window is closing fast.
Pepe ran to $11 billion with no real engine under the hood. Pepeto runs the same supply blueprint with a working exchange wired in, and the leap from $0.0000001866 to that mark prints past 150x. The wallets stacking entries this week are loading up on what the Ethereum price analysis needs years to deliver, even with treasuries piling on.
Ethereum (ETH) Price at $2,309 as Treasury Demand Holds the Floor
Ethereum (ETH) trades at $2,309 on April 25 after defending $2,300 through the week per CoinMarketCap. The Coinbase Premium flipped bullish, spot ETF flows ran positive nine sessions in a row, and resistance sits at $2,400 with $2,500 the next test.
Standard Chartered targets $7,500 by late 2026. Tom Lee maps $10,000 inside the cycle. Arthur Hayes pencils $10,000 to $20,000 by the next U.S. election window. Even the aggressive call lands at roughly 4x across many months.
The Ethereum price analysis carries weight, yet a 4x spread across quarters does not match what a presale entry delivers when a Binance listing flips the price discovery switch on day one.
Conclusion
The bullish Ethereum price analysis case stands. SharpLink stakes 868,000 ETH, BitMine bought direct from the Foundation on April 24, and corporate treasuries control more than 8% of the supply between them.
The heaviest gains in 2026 will not land on a $278 billion market cap. They will land on wallets that opened a Pepeto position at $0.0000001866 before the Binance listing erased presale pricing for good. 2026 is the year that changes lives, and the early Pepeto wallet is the move that does it.
What does the Ethereum price analysis show after SharpLink and BitMine kept buying through April 24?
SharpLink stakes 100% of 868,000 ETH and targets 5% of the total Ether supply per Bloomberg. BitMine bought direct from the Ethereum Foundation on April 24 to fund protocol R&D, lifting its holding to 4.12% of all ETH per The Block.
Why is Pepeto rated stronger than Ethereum (ETH) for asymmetric returns this cycle?
Pepeto opens a presale-to-Binance-listing path where 150x is still on the table at $0.0000001866. The Pepe cofounder, a SolidProof audit, and a live zero-fee exchange place it ahead of large caps that need full cycles to print modest multiples.
The crypto market starts the week with strength and renewed bullish momentum, led by the Bitcoin price hitting $79,000. Besides, the Ethereum price is also pushing higher, heading to $2,400. The total market cap climbed to $2.64 trillion and has settled around $2.60 trillion. However, the crypto market volume has increased from $96 billion to close to $120 billion, hinting towards a rise in the trader’s participation. The weekend activity remained elevated, which is a key sign of the move backed by enough liquidity.
The top gainers for the day are Zebec Network with over a 12.14% jump, followed by Pudgy Penguins with 11.91% and Jupiter by over 5.92%. On the other hand, siren price plunges by 9%, followed by Humanity Protocol by 8.36% and Chiliz by 3.41%. However, traders remain vigilant over Pi, Solana & Terra Classic, along with Bitcoin, Ethereum & XRP. The current trade setup hints towards a broad participation, but not an isolated pump.
Why Is the Crypto Market Pulling Back Today?
The latest pullback in the crypto market comes after a strong rally that pushed Bitcoin close to the $80,000 mark and lifted Ethereum alongside it. While the broader trend remains constructive, several short-term factors are driving the current dip.
Strong Resistance Near $79K–$80K: Bitcoin faced heavy selling pressure near the $79,000–$80,000 zone, a key resistance level that previously triggered a market decline. The failure to break above this range has led to a temporary rejection, causing prices to pull back.
Profit-Taking After a Sharp Rally: After gaining significantly in recent sessions, traders are locking in profits. Such pullbacks are common after rapid price increases and often help the market stabilize before the next move.
Liquidation-Driven Volatility: The recent rally was partly fueled by short liquidations, which accelerated upward momentum. As this effect fades, the market is experiencing a cooldown, leading to increased volatility and short-term declines.
Weak Follow-Through Buying: Despite the initial breakout attempt, buying pressure failed to sustain above key levels. This lack of strong follow-through demand has contributed to the pullback.
Ongoing Market Consolidation: The crypto market remains range-bound, with Bitcoin trading between key support and resistance levels. Until a decisive breakout occurs, price action is likely to remain choppy.
The current pullback appears to be a short-term correction rather than a full trend reversal. As long as Bitcoin holds above key support levels, the broader bullish structure remains intact. However, a sustained move above $80,000 is needed to confirm continued upside momentum.
Key News Impacting the Crypto Market Today
SUI ecosystem exploits shake confidence: Volo Protocol lost ~$3.5M after an admin key compromise. Scallop exploit drained additional funds from a deprecated contract
Strong Bitcoin ETF inflows continue: Consistent institutional inflows into spot BTC ETFs are providing underlying support and stabilizing market sentiment. Nearly $2 billion in the past week continues to act as a price support driver.
Heavy short liquidations earlier in the rally: Overleveraged shorts got wiped out during the move to $79K. Current pullback is partly due to the post-liquidation cooldown
Geopolitical easing boosted the recent rally: Ceasefire developments improved global risk sentiment, which helped push crypto higher, but now momentum is cooling
What’s Next for the Crypto Market?
The market is at a decision point, not a confirmed trend. Bitcoin is holding near a key resistance zone around $78K–$80K, while Ethereum is attempting to sustain its recent strength. The next move depends on whether buyers can maintain control after the recent rejection and pullback.
Bullish scenario: If Bitcoin holds above the $75K–$78K range and reclaims $80K with strong volume, the market could see a continuation higher, with Ethereum and altcoins following through.
Bearish scenario: If Bitcoin fails to hold support and drops below ~$73K–$75K, the current move risks turning into a bull trap, potentially leading to a deeper correction.
The crypto market entered the week under pressure as investors prepared for several major U.S. economic events that could influence Bitcoin, altcoins, and broader risk sentiment.
Total crypto market capitalization fell 0.5% to $2.59 trillion on Monday, while Bitcoin traded near $77,800. At the same time, the Crypto Fear & Greed Index remained near the fear zone, showing traders are still cautious despite recent market gains.
What Are the Key U.S. Economic Events This Week?
The most important U.S. economic events this week for crypto investors include:
April Consumer Confidence data on April 28
Federal Reserve interest-rate decision on April 29
Jerome Powell’s press conference on April 29
Initial Jobless Claims and PCE inflation data on April 30
ISM Manufacturing PMI on May 1
Markets are watching these reports closely because they could affect expectations for future Federal Reserve rate cuts.
April 28 – Consumer Confidence Data
The week begins with April’s Consumer Confidence report, a monthly reading of how optimistic or pessimistic everyday Americans are feeling about the economy.
March confidence data came at 91.8, up from 91.0 previously. The next release is due this week and is expected to drop further to 89.4.
For crypto, if the number comes below 89.4, it would show people are feeling weaker about the economy. If the number disappoints, Bitcoin could see short-term pressure as investors move defensively.
April 29 – Fed Rate Decision and Powell Speech
The biggest event of the week will likely be the Federal Reserve interest-rate decision. CME Fed watch tool shows that FOMC will keep interest rates unchanged at the current target range of 3.50% to 3.75%, for a second straight meeting.
Further, we have Jerome Powell’s final press conference before his term as Fed Chair expires on May 15, 2026
The same day, earnings from Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Google could also impact broader market sentiment. Strong tech earnings often help risk markets, including crypto.
April 30 – Jobless Claims and PCE Inflation
Another key day arrives with Initial Jobless Claims and PCE inflation data. Initial jobless claims rose by 6,000 last week to 214,000. This week, a small drop is expected.
If the number goes above 220,000, it may show the job market is weakening. That could increase hopes for rate cuts and help crypto prices rise.
A weaker labor market may increase hopes for future rate cuts.
Meanwhile, PCE inflation is expected to be near 2.8%. Since this is the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, a hotter reading may pressure crypto, while a cooler number could spark gains.
May 1 – ISM Manufacturing PMI
The week closes with April’s ISM Manufacturing PMI. March came in at 52.7, the third consecutive month of expansion above the critical 50 level.
If April reaches the expected 53.2, it may signal economic strength.
What This Week Really Means for Crypto
Last week, the crypto market rose over 6%, with Bitcoin nearing $80K and major coins gaining 4% to 5%. Spot Bitcoin ETFs also saw strong demand, recording 8 straight days of inflows worth $2.43 billion in April, almost double March’s $1.32 billion. This shows big investors are still buying even while retail sentiment remains in fear at 31.
Now, this week brings a new volatility test. If economic data increases hopes for lower rates, crypto could rally again. If not, traders should expect sharp market swings.
The latest bnb news shifted gears this week after Binance unveiled a keyless Agentic Wallet that lets AI bots trade and transfer tokens for 250 million users per CryptoNews. The release lined up alongside fresh data showing BNB Chain hosts more than 150,000 onchain AI agents as of April 20 per BNB Chain.
While this bnb news pulls institutional eyes toward agentic finance, Pepeto draws capital from buyers who treat presale timing as the cleanest setup ahead of any listing reprice.
Binance Wires AI Agents Into BNB Chain as Token Holders Cross 329 Million
The BNB news pipeline confirmed on April 23 that the Agentic Wallet runs as an isolated account inside the main Binance Wallet and lets autonomous bots route trades without touching the user’s primary keys per Yellow.
The launch lands as BNB Chain crossed 329.5 million token holders, a print that beats Ethereum’s 308.2 million per BNB Chain. AI agents on the chain grew from under 400 in January to more than 150,000 by April 20, a 43,750% climb that BAP-578 and ERC-8004 standards keep accelerating.
This bnb news lifts the floor for BNB, yet even the aggressive month-end target leaves the token deep below the $1,200 all-time high zone.
BNB News Points Forward, but Presale Entries Open the Window Large Caps Cannot
Pepeto
The fog that froze new launches across 2025 keeps lifting, and that is not the only reason Pepeto keeps drawing capital ahead of an approaching Binance listing. The wider real-world adoption push, from Binance’s AI wallet rollout to the spot ETF chase, is putting fresh eyes on a presale where the products already work, and the listing date is on the calendar.
Three exchange tools share one ecosystem. The zero-fee swap engine moves tokens between chains without paying a routing fee, and the cross-chain bridge ferries assets between Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Solana so no wallet stays stuck on a single network.
Most of that infrastructure is live before listing day, which is why my read keeps tilting toward Pepeto. A Binance listing veteran sits on the build team, and the architect who cofounded the original Pepe coin engineered Pepeto from concept stage forward, with SolidProof confirming every contract through a clean audit. Above $9.45 million flowed in despite the broader market sitting in fear, and that capital arriving while traders sat still tells you exactly where the smart money landed.
A $10,000 stake compounding at 178% APY pays back roughly $17,800 across a year, with the listing window tightening on every fresh entry. The current price tier closes quickly, and the approaching Binance debut puts this round among the few open windows left this cycle.
BNB Price at $627 With Osaka Hard Fork Days Away
BNB trades at $627 on April 25, 2026 after holding the $620 floor since the Osaka hard fork was scheduled for April 28 per CoinMarketCap. Resistance stacks at $660 with $700 next, and network throughput climbs toward 20,000 TPS on the upgrade.
The 35th quarterly burn removed 1.57 million BNB worth roughly $1.02 billion in mid-April, yet BNB still trades 21% under the cycle high. A 1.6x grind toward $1,000 needs every catalyst to cooperate, and that pales next to the listing-day window a presale produces.
Avalanche (AVAX) Price at $9,30 With Subnet Activity Climbing
Avalanche (AVAX) trades at $9,30 on April 25 after recovering from $18 support, with subnet deployments lifting the institutional pipeline per CoinMarketCap.
AVAX still sits 86% below its 2021 record above $146, and a path back to $20 prints roughly 50% across weeks. That is meaningful for a $7 billion cap, far short of what presale pricing pays once a Binance listing fills the order book.
Conclusion
Binance wiring AI agents into 250 million wallets and BNB Chain crossing 329 million token holders are the kind of signals that arrive before a bull run repaints every portfolio, and right now is when the right entry shows up, because Pepeto runs an open presale with whale entries stacking and three products closing in on launch.
BONK holders who collected free airdrop tokens in late 2022 watched a 10,000% climb inside a year, while late buyers paid prices early wallets would never accept. Pepeto still trades at presale pricing, but this raise can close on short notice. The bnb news cycle is loud, but the cleanest 2026 setup sits on this presale, and the early Pepeto position is the move that opens the door.
What is the most important bnb news today and how does it affect 2026 returns?
Binance launched an Agentic AI Wallet on April 23 that lets AI bots run trades for 250 million users, and BNB Chain crossed 329.5 million token holders to lead every Layer 1. The upgrades reduce friction, but Pepeto’s approaching Binance debut is where the bigger 2026 returns set up.
Why is Pepeto pulling smart money during this bnb news cycle?
Pepeto opens presale pricing at $0.0000001866 with three working tools, a SolidProof audit, and an approaching Binance listing, so the entry today disappears the moment new buyers compete for 420 trillion tokens.
The meme coin rankings just got a shake up, and the race for the next Pepe coin has never been this clear.
MemeCore overtook both PEPE and SHIB to become the second-largest meme coin this month, and the official PEPE account posted a grim reaper image targeting SHIB as the next flip.
While established meme coins fight over existing market cap, a presale backed by a former Binance expert has stacked more than $8 million from buyers who tested the live exchange tools before entering.
PEPE and SHIB Rivalry Reignites as MemeCore Takes the Number Two Spot
The battle for meme coin dominance heated up after PEPE’s official account shared a post showing its mascot as a grim reaper walking past doors labelled with rival tokens, placing SHIB as the next target. SHIB fired back with a mocking response, but the numbers tell a bigger story.
MemeCore climbed from $1.57 to over $4.66 this year, a 197% gain that pushed it past both rivals into the number two meme coin spot according to The Crypto Basic. That kind of disruption proves the next Pepe coin will not come from fighting over old positions.
Where the Next Meme Coin Wealth Gets Built
Pepeto
While PEPE and SHIB trade social media jabs over existing rankings, the next pepe coin is building exchange infrastructure that neither of them ever had. Pepeto is a network that turns meme coin energy into a working exchange where every trade, bridge, and contract check happens on one platform without hidden costs.
A former Binance expert on the development team brings the kind of exchange building experience that most meme coins never have access to, and that skill shows in tools that run live today.
PepetoSwap processes zero fee trades so meme coin rotations keep the full position intact instead of bleeding value to platform charges with every swap. The risk scorer flags contract issues before a single token gets purchased, which means wallets stay protected from the rug pulls that wipe out meme coin traders during the exact moments when speed matters most.
SolidProof verified every contract on the network, and the architect of the original Pepe token set the 420 trillion supply to echo the structure that hit billions despite having no exchange tools at all. Staking at 178% APY adds yield while the expected Binance listing draws closer.
The presale sits at $0.000000186, and more than $8 million has been stacked from wallets that ran every tool before buying in. The 100x projection from one expected Binance debut holds weight because presale to exchange is the exact window that turned early PEPE buyers into the holders everyone else envies now. Visit Pepeto to see the exchange running live.
PEPE
PEPE trades near $0.0000038 according to CoinMarketCap, down 1.88% on the day as the Canary spot PEPE ETF moves through SEC review.
The token needs a 6.8x to reclaim the $0.00002803 level from its peak run, and the rivalry with SHIB keeps attention on the next pepe coin debate.
But from this market cap, the returns that early 2023 buyers captured are no longer available to new entries.
DOGE
DOGE sits near $0.097 per CoinMarketCap, holding above key support but stuck below the $0.10 level that has acted as a ceiling for weeks.
The original meme coin carries deep liquidity and cultural weight, but the distance from $0.097 to even $0.50 is a 5x that requires broad market rotation, and presale entries with listing events ahead carry multiples that large cap meme coins cannot match.
Conclusion
Will meme coins keep climbing? The signals point to higher levels as the sector draws fresh capital and ETF interest builds. But Pepeto carries a different signal entirely, the kind of outcome that early PEPE holders built and now wish they grabbed more of.
Those wallets turned small entries into generational returns, and the same setup is forming around a presale with a working exchange and an expected Binance listing ahead.
The Pepeto official website is where the next round of early wallets are entering, and the listing will decide who collected and who watched from the outside wishing they had moved while the presale was still open.
Pepeto carries the same cofounder, the same 420 trillion supply, and a working exchange that PEPE never had, making it the strongest candidate.
Why did MemeCore overtake PEPE and SHIB?
MemeCore gained 197% this year on fresh demand, proving that meme coin rankings shift toward projects that deliver new value.
How does the Pepeto presale compare to holding PEPE?
PEPE needs 6.8x to reclaim old highs, but the Pepeto official website presents a presale where 100x from one expected Binance debut is the floor projection that vanishes once trading goes live.
175-Year-Old Money Transfer Giant Western Union is now preparing for a major move into crypto. The payments giant says it will launch its own stablecoin, called USDPT, next month on the Solana blockchain.
The update signals that traditional finance firms are no longer watching from the sidelines. If successful, this could reshape how millions of users move money worldwide.
Western Union Bets on Solana-Based Stablecoins
Western Union is entering the stablecoin space with USDPT, a U.S. dollar-backed digital token built on the Solana network.
CEO Devin McGranahan confirmed that USDPT is in the final stage of readiness and expected to go live next month. The token will be backed by the U.S. dollar, meaning its value is designed to remain stable.
“At the foundation of our strategy is USDPT, our US dollar-backed stablecoin. USDPT is now in its final stages of readiness and is expected to go live next month.”
Western Union plans to first use USDPT as a new settlement tool for agents and partners in selected countries. This could give the company an alternative to older systems like SWIFT, which has traditionally been used for international settlements.
NEWS: During its Q1 earnings call, @WesternUnion said its @Solana-based U.S. dollar stablecoin $USDPT is in final-stage preparation and expected to launch next month as an alternate to SWIFT for cross-border settlements. pic.twitter.com/vR9VgTUtuV
Western Union did not pick Solana by accident. Solana processed $650 billion in adjusted stablecoin volume in a single month earlier this year, making it the fastest-growing stablecoin settlement network by global transaction volume.
For a company that handles millions of transactions across 200 countries every single day, choosing a blockchain that settles in seconds at fractions of a cent per transaction is the only decision that makes practical sense.
That makes it attractive for a company focused on cross-border transfers, where speed and cost matter the most.
PayPal, Fiserv, and now Western Union have all chosen Solana as the chain for their stablecoins.
USDPT is not arriving alone. Western Union is launching an entire ecosystem around it, three connected products that together form the company’s complete blockchain strategy.
It is also launching the Digital Asset Network (DAN), which will connect crypto wallets to Western Union’s retail and agent network. With over 600,000 agents in more than 200 countries, users may be able to send tokens from a wallet and collect cash locally without needing a bank account.
Another product is the USD Stable Card, a prepaid card backed by stablecoins, which is expected later this year.
Built with Rain and Visa, the card is aimed at high-inflation countries like Argentina, where people look for safer ways to protect their money.
What Happens Next?
USDPT is expected to launch as early as May 2026, starting with selected markets before expanding globally.
Interestingly, despite this major update, Solana’s price has remained mostly stable, trading around $86 after recently touching $91.
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Samsung’s One UI 8.5 Beta 2 update has started rolling out to the Galaxy S23 series. The latest software update carries the PDA version ZZDP, which brings fixes for key issues linked to the display, calling, camera, and more.
The update improves call reliability, addressing cases where the screen would turn black or respond late when receiving a call. It also fixes problems with the proximity sensor during calls, which could behave inconsistently.
Camera stability gets a boost too, with a fix for green line issues that appeared while recording 4K HDR videos in some apps. Samsung has now addressed it, so video recording should be cleaner.
One of the notable fixes targets the “green line” problem, but this isn’t the display defect some users worry about. Instead, it was a camera-related glitch that could show green lines while recording 4K HDR videos in certain apps.
On top of that, Samsung has improved Bluetooth stability to prevent crashes. The update also resolves a multi-touch issue that could occur when certain accessibility settings were enabled, making overall touch response reliable.
One thing that caught my attention is the continuity of security patch. Samsung should have included the May 2026 security patch. Instead, the second Beta retains the current security patch dated April 5, 2026.
Get the latest Beta update through Settings > Software update > Download and install.
Earlier, Samsung started the One UI 8.5 Beta Program and delivered the first Beta. The opportunity opens access to the upcoming software. Beta is limited to select markets, and Stable rollout may start by the end of next month.
Samsung SDS quietly expanded its OpenAI partnership this week, locking in reseller rights for ChatGPT Edu and targeting educational institutions across Korea.
According to SBSBiz, Samsung is already running a proof of concept with the Korea National Open University, which has roughly 90,000 students, faculty, and staff.
Real numbers, real stakes; if that deployment goes live, it signals Samsung SDS has stopped treating education as a secondary market and started treating it as a priority.
ChatGPT Edu
ChatGPT Edu is a version of ChatGPT built specifically for universities and research organizations. Conversations don’t feed back into OpenAI’s training data.
That matters enormously when you are talking about student records, unpublished research, and faculty work. Arizona State, Cal State, and Harvard are already running it globally, with Korea catching up fast.
Samsung SDS is bringing its one-team model to these deployments, folding AI consulting, development, cloud infrastructure, and security into a single framework.
Additionally, LG CNS signed a similar reseller deal and is already running seminars at major Seoul-area universities. It operates through something called the OpenAI Launch Center.
Samsung SDS and LG CNS are racing to own the institutional AI stack. The security angle is the real battleground. Schools won’t touch AI tools that compromise student data, and both sides know it.
Samsung SDS head of strategic marketing Lee Jung-heon said the goal goes beyond reselling, pointing toward full deployment and operational support.
Microsoft is rolling out new Windows 11 update controls that let Insiders pause updates with no set limit and always choose to shut down without installing.
The GPD Box and GPD G2 have been formally introduced. These are the new Panther Lake mini PC and eGPU dock with the MCIO interface, which promises near-native GPU performance. They are expected to launch soon.
The chances of Robert Lewandowski arriving to the MLS have cooled down as Chicago Fire have reportedly changed their priorities in the transfer market.
Robert Lewandowski has been one of the most intriguing names heading into the upcoming transfer window, with his contract at Barcelona set to expire and Chicago Fire among the clubs showing the most concrete interest. However, the prospect of the Polish striker making his way to MLS has cooled significantly, with the Fire reportedly shifting their attention elsewhere.
With the four-year deal Lewandowski signed with FC Barcelona expiring at the end of the 2025-26 season, the veteran has some significant decisions ahead of him. With Poland absent from the 2026 World Cup, he will have the summer window to weigh his options, whether that means accepting a heavily reduced salary to stay at Barcelona or entertaining offers from other clubs.
Chicago Fire had been among those clubs, going as far as holding preliminary discussions with the striker’s camp about a potential move. However, according to Tom Bogert of The Athletic, the Fire’s interest in Lewandowski appears to have dissipated, with the club having “changed their priorities.”
Hugo Cuypers’ form and a change of heart for Chicago Fire
On paper, landing Lewandowski made sense for Chicago Fire, with a Designated Player slot available and the marketing appeal of a high-profile European name arriving in the city. But the recent form of Hugo Cuypers, combined with the club’s efforts to secure him on a new deal, appears to have played a significant role in cooling their pursuit of the Polish striker.
Hugo Cuypers #9 of the Chicago Fire FC.
Cuypers has been nothing short of sensational in his role as the team’s lead striker, finding the net in every match he has appeared in and sitting among the MLS scoring leaders with eight goals in six games, having missed three fixtures through injury. With the Fire sitting seventh in the standings with 17 points from nine games and Cuypers thriving in coach Gregg Berhalter’s system, the club’s front office has concluded that adding another striker to compete with the Belgian would disrupt rather than improve what is already working.
Where will Lewandowski go?
In the 2025-26 campaign, Lewandowski has gradually lost his grip on a starting spot at Barcelona, featuring in 23 of the club’s 41 games and rotating with Ferran Torres in a striker role that neither has fully made their own. Barcelona are reportedly open to keeping the veteran, but only under a significant wage reduction from what is currently the highest salary at the club, a condition that could push Lewandowski toward the exit door.
While AC Milan’s pursuit remains complicated by internal disagreements between the club’s board and coaching staff, Juventus have emerged as the frontrunners. According to Tuttosport, the Bianconeri are prepared to offer Lewandowski a one-year deal worth six million euros plus bonuses, along with the guaranteed starting role as the central striker in Luciano Spalletti’s system.
Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona looks on during pre-match warm up.
The new Capital International Exhibition Center of China
As is the case every year, BSCB had the opportunity to attend the China Auto Show in 2026, this time in Beijing. Firstly the Show is now a dual-venue format, held at the old China Exhibition Center (Shunyi Hall) and the adjacent all new Capital International Exhibition Center of China (CIECC). Combined, the two venues feature no less than 17 indoor exhibition halls across a record-breaking 380,000 square meters, or over 50 football fields. I walked 21 km across two days to cover all brands showcased inside the two buildings. First we study the most impressive foreign brands present at the Show, in alphabetical order.
Audi
Last year Audi made a splash by launching a new China-only brand in cooperation with SAIC: AUDIi in capital letters instead of the four rings. Hopes were high this would revive the German manufacturer, and the E5 sportback was presented. However the E5 EV only accumulated a little more than 10,000 units since its launch in August, peaking at 2,630 sales last month. Only a drop in the ocean of the very competitive Chinese EV market, and as a result Audi sales are down again over Q1 2026. One year on, and with added pressure to succeed, the carmaker presented the E7X electric SUV, featuring the same end-to-end digital dashboard and digital rear view mirrors, and the same LED light both at the front and back as the E5. One more EV is scheduled to start in 2027, a pace of new launches far from what the Chinese are doing.
BMW
BMW came to the Show all guns blazing with a gigantic stand across two sections of its hall (see picture above). Its main new model is the iX3 SUV, which in my view is one of the most beautiful car designs currently on sale.
Ford
I was very impressed by the large digital tile on the Ford Mondeo’s dashboard. Foreign carmakers are really trying their best to remain competitive. In the case of Ford, it is also badly needed as sales are down -30.9% year-on-year over Q1 2026.
Hyundai
At the Show, Hyundai officially (and belatedly) launched the Ioniq NEV brand in China. It did so with the Ioniq V, a strikingly angular vehicle, as per the brand’s usage of exploring new design frontiers. The dashboard features the now mandatory digital tile expanding to the passenger side.
Jetta
Volkswagen’s attempt at a China-only low cost brand, Jetta, launched in 2019. It has had disappointing results ever since and vegetates at #41 in the brands charts in March with just over 9,000 sales. The issue is it didn’t offer any NEV models. This is all about to change, with the Beijing Auto Show the stage for the brand’s complete relaunch, including a new logo. The only visible vehicle on the stand though is a concept: the Jetta X, a rugged all-electric SUV. The brand says it will launch four new NEV models by 2028, and one sedan was displayed in camouflage.
Lexus
Lexus’s only “news” in China in 2026 is the ES sedan which was unveiled last year at the Shanghai Auto Show. The ES interior is now visible and features a large digital tile extending to the passenger as is now the “norm” in China. The ES is still scheduled to be produced in the brand’s new Shanghai plant in 2027 and will be the first Lexus built in China.
Nissan
Nissan has rightfully embarked on a series of China-only model EV launches. Last year it showcased the N7 sedan. After a fantastic start (10,148 sales last August), the N7 has fallen to just 587 units in February and 1,382 in March. Nissan has also added the N6 which peaked at 6,822 sales in December but dropped to 2,665 last month. Wildly varying scores make it difficult to call them a success or failure so far. Now the brand is launching the NX8 SUV, proposed in EV and EREV versions, and which reportedly secured 8,423 orders within the first 30 minutes of sales. Very encouraging but let’s see whether the model can sustain strong sales after launch unlike the N6 and N7.
Peugeot
A total surprise for me at the Show is the presence of Peugeot (and Citroen). The French manufacturer, in doldrums sales-wise (975 units in March), presented two new concepts: the Concept 6 shooting brake sedan and Concept 8 SUV. The stand also had the Polygon Concept (an advance look at the future 208) and the Citroen Elo concept. The two new Peugeot concepts prefigure a new line-up of large sedans and SUVs, produced in China for China, as well as for export from China to Peugeot’s overseas markets. The first of these new Chinese-built models is expected to launch in 2027. The stand also featured Peugeot’s new visual identity: three horizontal stripes forming the shape of the head- and backlights.
Smart
Smart, now a Mercedes-Benz/Geely joint venture, has unveiled the #6, its first sedan, which will be confined to China. It is the brand’s largest vehicle to date, and is badly needed as sales figures are dismal (1,717 sales in March). The task will be difficult, and the carmaker has completely changed the way it does interiors with the #6 featuring end-to-end digital tile as is now the norm in vehicles aimed at the Chinese customer.
Toyota Wildlander
Toyota
Toyota outsold (just) Volkswagen in March and has managed to contain its YoY loss over Q1 to -5%, a strong result given the environment foreign brands find themselves in in 2026. The Show was the opportunity for me to discover the new generation RAV4 (and its twin the Wildlander) in the flesh. Note it’s the Wildlander that uses the international look whereas the RAV4 proposes a more squaring front. Toyota always opts for conservatism and tried and tested features over extravagant advances. True to form, the RAV4/Wildlander’s interior is solid but its screens are rather small in the current context. Toyota also presented the bZ7 flagship sedan secured over 3,100 orders one hour after launch.
I spent the day exploring the Beijing Auto Show with industry superstar Felipe Muñoz
Volkswagen
Volkswagen was by far the most impressive foreign carmaker at the Show and seems to have finally woken up after losing its market pole position to BYD and then the second place to Geely, plus being outsold by Toyota in March. The German manufacturer had more than a few new EV models at the Show.
The ID. Aura T6 stands for Advanced, User-centric, Reliable, and All-access. The letter T means Travel, and the digit 6 refers to the “golden balance point.” It’s a 6-seater family oriented urban crossover, and looks like a sedan from the front. It has Xpeng tech on board.
The ID. Era 9X was also unveiled, coming from the SAIC-VW joint venture. It is an EREV (extended range EV) with six seats and will act as the flagship NEV model for the brand. It has the mandatory digital tile extending to the passenger side.
The ID. Unyx 07 was co-developed with Xpeng. It’s a mid-size electric fastback sedan offering a 231 hp electric motor and a 59.9 kWh battery, for a range of 558 km.
The ID. Unyx 08 is Volkswagen’s first mass produced vehicle developed in collaboration with Xpeng. It breaks with the brand’s previous design codes with a distinctive fascia. At 5m long, this is a large SUV but only comes as a five-seater.
This is all for our coverage of the notable foreign carmakers at the Beijing Auto Show 2026. Next we will talk about the domestic manufacturers.
Ederson'ın oyundan atıldıktan sonra da çirkin hareketlerine devam ettiği iddia ediliyordu... Brezilyalı kalecinin, "sinirle VAR odasına doğru ani bir hareket yaptım" sözleriyle çirkin hareketlerine devam ettiği ortaya çıktı.
Derbide atılmak için elinden geleni yapan Ederson sonunda muradına erdi... Brezilyalı kalecinin sadece Yasin Kol'un üzerine yürümekle kalmayıp aynı zamanda oyundan çıkarken VAR monitörüne de "terbiyesiz bir hareket" yaptığı iddia edildi. O görüntüler sosyal medya ya da yayın kuruluşa yansımadı.
Ancak dedikodular Ederson'ın maç sonu açıklamasıyla adeta resmiyet kazandı:
- Bu hafta sonu oynanan derbide yaşananlardan dolayı taraftarlardan ve takım arkadaşlarımdan özür dilemek istiyorum.
- Kırmızı kart kararına katılmıyorum ve hakem yönetimine yönelik eleştirilerimi sürdürüyorum; haksızlığa uğradığımıza inanıyorum.
- Sahadan çıkarken, sinirle VAR odasına doğru ani bir hareket yaptım; bunu yapmamam gerekirdi.
Tüm Fenerbahçe ailesinden bir kez daha özür diliyorum!
Yasin Kol'un kendisine küfür ettiği içi rapor ettiği Ederson'ın 41'ni maddeden PFDK'ya sevk edilmesi bekleniyordu. Brezilyalı kalecinin bu hareketi yüzünden de ceza alması durumunda sezonu kapatacağı ise gelen bilgiler arasında.
Fenerbahçeli taraftarlar Galatasaray derbisinde hiç bir varlık gösteremeyen oyuncularını taşıyan takım otobüsünü taşladı... her ne kadar 3-5 taraftar olsa da bu olay camiada yara açtı.
Derbi sonrası bir kez daha istenmeyen olaylar yaşandı. 3-0’lık galibiyet Galatasaray camiasında bayram havası estirdi. Mağlubiyetin sokağa yansıması çirkin oldu.
Stadı terk eden bir grup taraftar, alınan 3-0'lık mağlubiyete tepki göstermek amacıyla tesislerin önünde toplandı. Gerginliğin tırmanmasıyla birlikte Fenerbahçe takım otobüsü, kendi taraftarlarının taşlı saldırısına uğradı.
BİR GALATASARAYLI BIÇAKLANDI
İddiaya göre, kutlamalar sırasında bir Fenerbahçe taraftarı ile Galatasaray taraftarı arasında tartışma çıktı. Tartışmanın büyümesi üzerine sarı-kırmızılı taraftar, kalçasından iki kez bıçaklandı.
Emniyet stadyum içinde de operasyon yaptı. Meşale yakan ve çevreye zarar veren bazı Galatasaray taraftarları gözaltına alındı.
Osimhen'in Fenerbahçe derbisini, "antrenmandakilerden daha az yorulduk" sözleri ile tanımlamaması istatistikleri devreye soktu.
Nijeryalı haklı mıydı?
Galatasaray derbide Fenerbahçe'yi 3-0 gibi net bir skorla yendi... geceye damga vuran ise sarı-kırmızıların "zırhlı ve tehlikeli" yıldızı Victor Osimhen oldu.
- Bunu bütün saygımla söylüyorum rakibimize ama gerçekten antrenmandakilerden daha az yorulduk bu maçta.
İlk etapta Nijeryalının açıklaması Fenerbahçeliler için "abartlı" gelebilir. Ancak maçın istatistiklerine bakıldığında sahadaki Galatasaray baskınlığı bu sözleri destekleyecek nitelikte.
Victor Osimhen: Galatasaray'ı her şeyiyle seviyorum. Fırsat olduğu sürece bu armayı hep koruyacağım. Bunu kalbimden söylüyorum; her şeyimle mücadele edeceğim bu arma için.
Bunu rakibimize bütün saygımla söylüyorum ama bu maçta gerçekten antrenmandakilerden daha az yorulduk. pic.twitter.com/9KM4Xocy5e
— Tivibu Spor (@tivibuspor) April 26, 2026
İŞTE EZİCİ RAKAMLAR
- Topla oynamada %63-%37 gibi çok ciddi bir fark var oluştu. Maçtan önce "top veren maçı alır" tezi çüdürüdü.
- Galatasaray 35 kez rakip ceza sahasına girerken, Fenerbahçe sadece 10 kez girebildi. Sarı-kırmızılıların 21 isabetli şutta 5 tehlikesi karşısında Fenerbahçe sadece 5 şut çıkarabildi.
- Galatasaray ikili mücadelelerin %56'sını kazandı. Hava toplarında %61'lik bir üstünlük sağladı.
ALTI ÇOK DA BOŞ DEĞİL
İstatistikler, Galatasaray'ın oyun kurulumunda ve fiziksel anlamda çok da zorlanmadığını net şekilde ortaya koyuyor. Dolayısıyla Osimhen’in "fiziksel yük" anlamında bu maçı bir antrenman temposuna benzettiği çıkarımı aslında aldı çok da boş olmayan bir ifade gibi duruyor.
Sərbəst güləş üzrə Avropa ikincisi Turan Bayramov (74 kq) Albaniyada keçirilmiş yarışla bağlı təəssüratlarını bölüşüb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, o, Azərbaycan Güləş Federasiyasının rəsmi saytına açıqlamasında bunları söyləyib:
“Hədəfim Avropa çempionu olmaq idi. Artıq ikinci dəfədir ki, bu şansı əldən verirəm. Çox təəssüflənirəm. Final görüşündə taktiki səhv etdim. Bütün hesablarım 3:0-dan sonra puça düşdü. Bu medalı qızıla çevirmək üçün əlimdən gələni edəcəyəm. Rəqiblə güləş üslubumuz tamam fərqlidir. O, rəqibi tutub saxlamaqla fəndi edir. Mənə açıq güləşən rəqiblər daha rahat olur. Bu idmançı isə ancaq fiziki gücün hesabına, döşəkdən kənarlaşdıraraq üstünlük əldən edir. Bu, mənim güləş üslubuma əks olduğu üçün çətinlik çəkirəm. Yunan-Roma güləşində 77 kq, sərbəst güləşdə isə 74 kq ən çox rəqabətin olduğu çəkidir. Hər bir medal idmançı üçün dəyərlidir”.
Xatırladaq ki, Albaniyanın paytaxtı Tiranada təşkil edilmiş Avropa çempionatında 74 kq çəki dərəcəsində yarışan Turan Bayramov startda çətinliklə də olsa, neytral atlet statusuyla Avropa çempionatına qatılmış Fərhad Nurixorjestana minimal fərqlə (3:2) qalib gəlib. Güləşçimiz 1/4 finalda belaruslu Nikita Mayevskiyə heç bir şans tanımayıb – 8:0. Yarımfinalda gürcüstanlı Georgi Elbakidzeni (2:1) üstələmiş Bayramov finala yüksəlib. Turan həlledici görüşdə slovakiyalı Taymuraz Salkazanovla qarşılaşıb. Güləşçimiz rəqibinə 2:4 fərqlə uduzub və gümüş medalı boynundan asıb.
Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan millisinin mərkəz müdafiəçisi Cəlal Hüseynov Bolqarıstanın “Arda” komandasının heyətində növbəti matçına çıxıb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Cəlalın komandası Bolqarıstan çempionatının 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün 31-ci turu çərçivəsində Plovdiv “Botev”i ilə qarşılaşıb.
“Arda” doğma meydanda baş tutmuş bu oyundan məğlubiyyətlə ayrılıb – 0:2. Hüseynov fasilədən dərhal sonra – 46-cı dəqiqədə meydana buraxılıb.
“Arda” 31 turdan sonra 44 xalla 16 iştirakçı arasında 7-ci pillədə qərarlaşıb. Komanda cari mövsümdə 12 qələbə qazanıb, 8 heç-heçə edib, 11 məğlubiyyətə üzülüb.
Xatırladaq ki, “Zirə”nin yetirməsi olan Cəlal Hüseynov Bolqarıstan təmsilçisi ilə 2023-cü ilin iyun ayında 3 illik müqavilə imzalayıb. Azərbaycanlı futbolçu bu komandada 80 rəsmi oyuna çıxıb, 2 qol vurub. Cəlal 2024/2025-ci illər mövsümünü icarə əsasında “Şamaxı”da keçirsə də, ötən ilin yayında yenidən Bolqarıstan klubuna qayıdıb.
Hüseynov 2021-ci ilin noyabrında debüt etdiyi Azərbaycan milli komandasının heyətində 9 oyuna çıxsa da, məhsuldar fəaliyyəti ilə yadda qalmayıb.
Sərbəst güləş üzrə Avropa üçüncüsü Cəbrayıl Hacıyev (79 kq) Albaniyada keçirilmiş turnirlə bağlı təəssüratlarını bölüşüb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, o, Azərbaycan Güləş Federasiyasının rəsmi saytına açıqlamasında bunları söyləyib:
“Şükürlər olsun, komanda olaraq yaxşı çıxış etdik. Kislovodskidə yaxşı təlim-məşq toplanışı keçdik. Axırıncı hazırlığımız Bakıda oldu. Müəllimlərimin hamısı yanımda idi. Bu mənim böyüklərin Avropa çempionatında ikinci çıxışım idi. Əlbəttə, çempion olmaq istəyirdim. Bu dəfə üçüncü yerə çıxdım. İnşallah, gələn il daha da yaxşı hazırlaşıb, bu medalın əyarını qızıl edərəm. Qarşıdan dünya çempionatı gəlir. Ona da yaxşı hazırlaşacağam”.
Xatırladaq ki, Cəbrayıl Hacıyev (79 kq) Albaniyanın paytaxtı Tiranada təşkil edilmiş Avropa çempionatının 1/4 finalında slovakiyalı Avropa çempionu və dünya mükafatçısı Axsarbek Qulayevdən güclü olub – 7:2. Ancaq yarımfinalda belaruslu olimpiya və Avropa mükafatçısı Maqamedxabib Kadimaqamedova 1:5 hesabıyla məğlub olub. Güləşçimiz üçüncü yer uğrunda görüşdə Şimali Makedoniyanı təmsil edən Rasul Şapiyevə şans tanımayıb – 8:0. Bununla da Cəbrayıl Avropa çempionatının bürünc medalını boynundan asıb və karyerasının ən böyük uğuruna imza atıb.
Fenerbahçe'nin devre arasında yollarını ayırdığı Jhon Duran, Galatasaraylı Davinson Sanchez'in derbi paylaşımına yorum yaptı. Fenerbahçeli taraftarlar, Duran'a tepki gösterdi.
Beşiktaş'ta özellikle sezonun ikinci devresinde gösterdiği performans ile alkış toplayan Ersin Destanoğlu için, siyah-beyazlılar geleceği hakkında tamamen özgür bıraktı.
Takımdaki yerli oyuncu kalitesini yükseltmek isteyen Beşiktaş; Oğuz Aydın için Fenerbahçe'ye, Muhammed Şengezer için de Başakşehir'e sezon sonunda teklif yapmayı planlıyor.
2026 NBA Playoffları Batı Konferansı 1. tur 4. maçında Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers'ı 115-96 yenerek playoff serisini 3-1'e getirdi. Amen Thompson 23, Tari Eason 20, Alperen Şengün 19 sayı üretti. LeBron James 8 top kayıbıyla 10 sayıda kaldı. 5. maç 30 Nisan'da Los Angeles'ta.
Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray deplasmanında henüz 11. dakikada penaltı kazansa da Anderson Talisca dev fırsatı kaçırdı. Brezilyalı yıldızın 45+1'de de bir net şutu direğe çarptı.
Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi Rams Park'ta oynanan Trendyol Süper Lig 31. hafta mücadelesinde Galatasaray dev derbide Fenerbahçe'yi 3-0 yenerek önemli bir galibiyet aldı. Sarı-kırmızılı ekip bu sonuçla puanını...Devamı için tıklayınız
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Süper Lig’de haftanın kapanış maçında Beşiktaş ile Fatih Karagümrük karşı karşıya geliyor. Geçtiğimiz hafta Samsunspor deplasmanında mağlup olan siyah-beyazlılar, taraftarı önünde çıkış ararken ligin son...Devamı için tıklayınız
Braziliyanın Fos-du-İquasu şəhərində keçirilən boks üzrə Dünya kubokuna yekun vurulub.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, 49 ölkədən 400 idmançının qatıldığı yarışda Azərbaycan millisi tarixi nəticəyə imza atıb. Komandamız Dünya kubokunda ilk dəfə 3 qızıl və 1 bürünc medal qazanıb.
Finalda Sübhan Mamedov (50 kq) İssam Bensayarla (Mərakeş) döyüşüb. Hər 3 raundu xeyrinə bitirən boksçumuz yekunda 5:0 (30:27, 30:27, 29:28, 29:28, 30:27) hesabı ilə qələbə qazanıb və qızıl medala yiyələnib.
Onun ardınca Məhəmməd Abdullayev (+90 kq) də fəxri kürsünün ən yüksək pilləsinə qalxıb. O, həlledici görüşdə Davit Çaloyana (Ermənistan) gücünü göstərib. Rəqibini 3:2 (29:28, 28:29, 28:29, 29:28, 29:28) hesabı ilə məğlub edən Abdullayev komandamızın üçüncü qızıl medalını rəsmiləşdirib və Braziliyada üçüncü dəfə Azərbaycan himnini səsləndirib.
Millimizin heyətində final mərhələsinin ilk sessiyasında Səidcəmşid Cəfərov (75 kq) Dünya kubokunun qalibi olub, daha öncə isə Nəbi İsgəndərov (70 kq) bürünc medala yiyələnib.
Beləliklə, 3 qızıl və 1 bürünc medal qazanan kişilərdən ibarət millimiz Dünya kubokunu komanda hesabında ikinci yerdə başa vurub. Yarışa 6 kişi boksçu ilə qatılan yığmamızı ev sahibləri yalnız gümüş medal hesabına qabaqlayıb.
Qeyd edək ki, boksçularımız Vətənə aprelin 29-da qayıdacaqlar.
Honda avtomobil sənayesində samballı marka sayılır. “Neftçi” “probeqi” aşmış Hondanı gətirmişdi.
Yaponun yaxşısını gətirmək çətindir. Başa düşürük. Düşməyə çalışırıq…
Hələliksə “Neftçi” elə haldadır, yaponun pisini gətirib ona tətbiq etmək lazımdır – harakiri…
Bu il əzəmətini geri qaytarmağa çalışan, bununçün vurnuxan “flaqman” nələrisə düz etmir ki, “qaş düzəltmək əvəzinə, vurub gözü də çıxarır”…
“Sabah”a heç cür qalib gələ bilməyən “atlılar” kükrəmiş halda bütün qəzəbini “Neftçi”dən çıxdı – 5:1.
Yuri Vernidubun gəlişindən bəri yüksəliş və özünəinam mövzularının baş qəhrəmanına çevrilmiş komanda bu nəticəylə xarizmanı yerlə bir etdi.
Konfrans Liqasına vəsiqə ehtimalı qalır, lakin bu durum və gedişatla çətin… Olsa da, bu “Neftçi” yenidən yığılmalıdır.
Onsuz da son illərin ən çox sökülüb-yığılan komandasıdır, ortada real nəticə görünmür. Ancaq Vernidubun oyun fəlsəfəsi, yanaşması ilkin işartıları ilə ümid verir. Bu mütəxəssisin ideyalarına yatırım etməyə dəyər. Yalnız bir şərtlə – kosmetik yox, köklü dəyişikliklə…
İndiki heyət natarazdı, köntöydür, istəniləni icra etmək potensialı aşağıdır.
“Qarabağ”dan alınan acınacaqlı məğlubiyyətin əsas səbəbi oyun modeli yox, sürətli icraetmə problemi idi. Təkbətək mübarizələrdə keyfiyyət fərqi buna bariz nümunə idi.
Varsa, başbilən önə çıxmalı, indidən gələn mövsümün fakturasını Vernidubun fəlsəfəsi əsasında qurmalıdır. Bəlkə belə geridönüşə nail oluna…
“Neftçi” əzəli rəqibi “Qarabağ”a azarkeşləri önündə 1:5 hesablı məğlubiyyətə üzüldü.
“Atlılar”ın enişi və bununla yanaşı, “Neftçi”nin artan performansı görüşdən əvvəl “ağ-qaralar”ın şanslarının yüksək dəyərləndirilməsinə səbəb olmuşdu. Vəziyyət fərqli imiş…
Müdafiədə ciddi boşluqlara yol verən “ağ-qaralar” nəticədə darmadağın oldu. Hücum fazasında da rəqibinə “diş keçirə bilməyən” ev sahibləri əzəli rəqibinə qarşı ardıcıl 11-ci oyunda qələbə qazana bilmədi.
Bakılıların məşqçisi Vitali Vernidubun oyun sonrası açıqlaması isə “Neftçi” azarkeşləri arasında daha böyük qəzəb doğurdu. Mütəxəssis məğlubiyyəti şərh edərkən rəqibin səviyyəsinin yüksək olduğunu, komandanın hələ onlarla mübarizə aparacaq gücə çatmadığını bildirdi.
Bunu futbol ictimaiyyəti də görür. İllərdir uğursuz nəticələrinə görə tənqid hədəfi olan “Neftçi” Yuri Vernidubun gəlişindən sonra dirçəlməkdə idi. Lakin oğlu, həm də köməkçisi Vitalinin açıqlaması yerinə düşmədi. Hər kəs anlayır “Neftçi” ilə “Qarabağ” arasında yaranan fərqi, uçurumu.
Ancaq flaqmanı təmsil edən məşqçi nə üçün belə açıqlama versin?
Axı “Neftçi” böyükdür və miqyas sənin də məsuliyyətindədir… Belə məzlum mahiyətli açıqlama nəyə/kimə lazımdır?
Məğlub olmusan, yaxşı, mövsüm bir oyundan ibarət deyil, avrokuboklara vəsiqə şansların davam edir, hələ üstəlik qarşıda yenidən “Qarabağ”la oyun var…
Niyə bu qədər bədbin yanaşma?
“Kəpəz” səndən daha güclüdür? Ya “Zirə”si, “Turan Tovuz”u, mövsümdə “Qarabağ”a ilk məğlubiyyəti yaşadan “Sumqayıt”ı?
Yəqin, Vernidub bu açıqlamaya görə, oğlunu tənbehləyər.
Maraqlıdır, gəlişindən sonra hər konfransda “Neftçi” əzəmətindən danışan Yuri oğlu ilə bu haqda söhbətləşməyib? Ya Vitali “Neftçi”nin nə məna daşıdığını anlamır?
Hər halda, “Qəbələ”də çıxış etdiyi illərdə bunu bilirdi…
Luzer məşqçilərə xas olan bu açıqlama növbəti oyun öncəsi komandaya necə təsir edəcək?
Cavabı üç gün sonra, yenidən “Palms Sports Arena”da baş tutacaq dueldə daha aydın olacaq.
In recent weeks, Arsenal’s issues in the midfield have been evident.
While Declan Rice has done well for most part of the season, Martin Zubimendi has struggled to have the same impact.
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After joining the club in the summer transfer window, Zubimendi started the season well but since the start of the new year, the Spaniard has found it difficult to cope up with the pace and physicality of the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta is now looking at alternative options in the market for his midfield as he looks to build on his strong squad.
Arsenal boss Arteta is an admirer of Bruno Guimaraes
According to reports in Spain, as cited by Football 365, Arteta is keen to sign Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.
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Arteta wants a reliable, top-class enforcer. Guimaraes fits the bill perfectly. He’s got the grit, the elite vision, and the proven Premier League pedigree that the Arsenal manager craves.
But prying the 26-year-old Brazilian away from St. James’ Park is going to be incredibly difficult and wildly expensive.
The figures floating around suggest a fee in the region of €100 million to trigger his release clause, which would make him one of the biggest signings of the upcoming window.
However, Premier League profit and sustainability rules are tight for everyone and that could give the Gunners an opportunity to sign the midfielder.
The Gunners aren’t the only ones circling the waters. Manchester City are reportedly huge admirers of the Brazilian, viewing him as the perfect engine-room addition.
If the Arsenal board can somehow navigate the sky-high asking price and beat out their Manchester rivals, Guimaraes might take their team to the next level that Arteta wants to reach.
After a season-long stint in the Bundesliga, 24-year-old striker Nicolas Jackson is packing his bags but he might not be staying at Stamford Bridge for long.
Instead, Newcastle United are reportedly waiting with open arms to bring him back to the Premier League.
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The attacker was signed by Bayern Munich as a back up option to first choice striker Harry Kane but the German champions are set to pass up the option to sign him on a permanent basis this summer.
They are ready to send him back to Chelsea and with that in mind, Newcastle United are targeting a move for him, according to talkSPORT.
Newcastle United target move for Chelsea attacker
Racking up a highly respectable 10 goals and four assists in 29 appearances across all competitions, the Senegalese forward has proven he can still deliver the goods.
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Despite his solid form, Bayern’s sporting director Max Eberl recently went on the record to confirm they won’t be triggering the permanent buy option.
Honestly, you can’t blame them, the massive €65 million (£56.2m) price tag attached to that clause is steep.
Even Bayern fans have admitted that while Jackson has been a reliable backup, the valuation is simply too high for a rotation player.
Enter Eddie Howe and Newcastle United. The Magpies are crying out for a dynamic, reliable hitman.
Last summer, they heavily invested in Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, but the duo have completely misfired.
Together, they’ve managed a measly combined total of just eight Premier League goals all season.
The situation has gotten so dire that Howe has been forced to lean heavily on 20-year-old Will Osula to lead the line in recent weeks.
The most fascinating part of this potential deal is the absolute chaos currently unfolding at Jackson’s parent club. Chelsea is in the middle of a major sporting crisis.
They’ve been suffering through a shocking five-game goal drought that recently led to the sacking of manager Liam Rosenior, who only just replaced Enzo Maresca.
You’d think the Blues would be begging for Jackson to return, especially since big-money summer signing Liam Delap has struggled immensely, netting just one league goal all year.
Following the abrupt and messy sacking of Liam Rosenior, who lasted a mere 106 days, Chelsea’s hierarchy is right back to the drawing board.
With interim boss Calum McFarlane currently holding the fort and remarkably guiding the team to the FA Cup final, the search for a permanent savior has sparked a massive managerial tug-of-war behind the scenes.
According to sources close to the agents industry informing CaughtOffside, the Chelsea board is frantically trying to lock down a figure who can finally restore order, bring back the fierce, winning atmosphere at the Bridge, and survive the pressure cooker of West London.
As the shortlist narrows down, the competition is getting incredibly spicy.
Andoni Iraola is the frontrunner for the Chelsea job
Right now, the man firmly at the top of the wishlist is Andoni Iraola.
The Spanish tactician has already confirmed he’ll be leaving Bournemouth at the end of the season after a brilliant spell, and reports suggest he’s already given the Chelsea project the green light.
However, stepping into the Chelsea dugout comes with a massive warning label.
It’s a massive gamble for the 43-year-old, but the allure of the Chelsea job might just be too strong to turn down.
The main hurdle? Como’s board is currently fighting tooth and nail to block his departure, though Chelsea is keeping the pressure on.
Meanwhile, whispers from inside the club’s boardroom suggest some voices are actively pushing for the return of absolute club icons John Terry or Frank Lampard, hoping their legendary status alone can inject some desperately needed fighting spirit into a fragile dressing room.
If those big names fail to materialise, the Blues have a fascinating backup plan warming up in the wings: Régis Le Bris.
The Sunderland miracle-worker has done a phenomenal job up north, and his tactical flexibility makes him a highly intriguing fallback option.
While McFarlane has temporarily lifted the gloom by securing a trip to Wembley, the long-term fix remains a massive question mark.
Whether they go for the tactical brains of Iraola, the nostalgia of Fàbregas, or a blockbuster name like Alonso, the Chelsea board simply has to get this one right.
While Aston Villa might have been frustrated on Saturday lunchtime as they were hit with a 1-0 loss away at Fulham, Unai Emery’s men could be set for an historic month in the Midlands. Travelling to local rivals Nottingham Forest on Thursday night as they get their Europa League semi-final adventure underway, the Villains are […]
Manchester United aim to take a step closer to securing a return to the Champions League as they face a Brentford side with European aspirations of their own. BBC Sport takes a look at the key themes ahead of Monday night's clash at Old Trafford (20:00 BST).
Fernandes continues to inspire United
After only one win in four, the first small murmurs of discontent about Michael Carrick's suitability to take on the Manchester United role permanently were aired ahead of last weekend's trip to Chelsea.
They were far from perfect at Stamford Bridge, having less shots and only one on target, an expected goals tally of 0.29 compared to Chelsea's 1.55 and just 10 touches in the opposition box, but the three points were all that mattered as their 1-0 win edged them ever closer to a Champions League return.
The eight wins they have amassed in 12 league games under Carrick is as many as they had managed across their first 21 matches of the campaign, while the 28 points they have secured in 2026 is more than any other side.
The Chelsea win marked the 21st successive top-flight game in which they have scored, their longest such run since doing so 23 times under Sir Alex Ferguson between November 2012 and April 2013.
The Red Devils were once again indebted to the creative brilliance of Bruno Fernandes as their captain laid on an 18th top-flight assist of the season to further his claims to be named PFA player of the season.
He is only the fourth player to create 10 assists in a Premier League season away from home, while he is now just two shy of equalling the all-time record for assists in a season.
[BBC]
Draw specialists Brentford still dreaming of Europe
Brentford enjoyed a superb 3-1 win over Manchester United back in September and are now targeting a first victory at Old Trafford since 1937.
After a rip-roaring run of nine wins in 14 matches in all competition the Bees have forgotten how to turn one point into three. Their last six matches in all competitions have ended in draws, three of which have ended 2-2 and three 0-0. Its the longest such run in their history while five straight league draws is the most in the top flight since Manchester City had seven between October and November 2009.
They haven't fallen behind in any of their last six league matches dating back two months, but Keith Andrews will be desperate for his side to go on and keep their noses in front as they try to secure European qualification for the very first time.
One quirk of last Saturday's draw with Fulham is that Keith Andrews became only the second Premier League boss this season to not make a single substitution in a match, following Oliver Glasner, who also decided not to make a change in Crystal Palace's defeat to Sunderland in January.
General manager Joe Hortiz chose to bolster the defense with the Chargers' first-round pick, selecting edge rusher Akheem Mesidor.
The 25-year-old recorded 63 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles last season at Miami. The 2025 campaign marked the edge's sixth collegiate season, and he entered the draft with both age and injury concerns.
However, Hortiz dismissed both as potential issues throughout his Chargers tenure.
"We interviewed him in Indy. You felt that in the room," Hortiz said of the edge's maturity. "He's experienced. He got an education in football at Miami. ... Age is just a number."
Mesidor is slated to be the third edge rusher, behind Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipolotu, on the depth chart.
The Chargers welcomed Mesidor to the organization this past Friday, with head coach Jim Harbaugh greeting the rookie and allowing him to pick his jersey number.
Mesidor couldn't choose the number he wore with the Hurricanes as safety Derwin James already wears No. 3 for the Chargers.
He went with a number he's worn before: 90.
"Ninety was my first number in college," Mesidor said. Back to it, monster number."
MILAN, ITALY - APRIL 26: Jonathan David of Juventus reacts during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 26, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Games between old hands like Luciano Spalletti and Massimiliano Allegri will always be highly tactical affairs.
Of course, those tactics tend to be diametrically opposed. Between Spalletti’s attacking innovation and Allegri’s defend-at-all-costs approach, it’s always interesting to see how the two would work to get the advantage over each other.
It’s been hard for Juventus and AC Milan to gain an advantage over each other the last few years. Three of the last four games against each other had ended in goalless draws, including their first game this year at the Allianz. The return at this critical juncture of the season was heavy with meaning. Milan’s recent breakdown in form had allowed Juve to pull up three points behind them. A victory would’ve seen them pull past them into third on the head-to-head tiebreaker and keep the distance between Roma and Como at five.
But that tendency to cancel each other came back out again. Both sides had their chances — Juve hit the target with five of their 10 shots and had a goal called back, Milan saw Alexis Saelemaekers slam a ball off the crossbar—but in the end, neither team had the push to get the ball over the other’s goal line. With the results earlier in the weekend, Juve finished three points above the chasing pack and still in control of their own destiny in the race for the top four with four games to go.
Spalletti got Dusan Vlahovic back to the bench after yet another injury stop, but Kenan Yildiz was still only fit for sub appearances, and Arkadiusz Milik and Juan Cabal were out. Spalletti named a strong 3-4-2-1 lineup, with Michele Di Gregorio at its base. Pierre Kalulu, Bremer, and Lloyd Kelly made up the back three, while Weston McKennie and Andrea Cambiaso started as wing-backs. Former Milan prospect Manuel Locatelli joined Khéphren Thuram in midfield, while Francisco Conceição and Jérémie Boga supported Jonathan David in attack.
Allegri wasn’t missing many to injuries, although Davide Bartesaghi started despite not being 100 percent. The 3-5-2 that has become his staple remained, however ill-fitting some of his players were for it. Mike Maignan started in goal behind the defensive trio of Matteo Gabbia, Strahinja Pavlovic, and Fikayo Tomori. Bartesaghi joined Saelemaekers out on the wings, while Adrien Rabiot, Luka Modric, and Youssouf Fofana ran the midfield. Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leão started together as an unconventional strike pair.
As expected, the game started cagey. Juve, usually a team that presses hard up top, allowed Milan to hold the ball in their own half, with Maignan getting time to survey the entire field when his team tried to recycle the ball. Modric found himself getting man-marked by Thuram, the old Croatian war horse having been identified as the biggest threat on the field.
It wasn’t until the 10th minute that either side took a shot, an effort from range by Thuram that was blocked in close. In the 16th minute the Frenchman was teed up beautifully by Boga, but couldn’t get to the ball in time to get a shot off. Locatelli clearly had come out with a point to prove against the club that gave up on him, slamming into his former teammate Rabiot in midfield and sending him sprawling.
Milan took their first attempt in the 21st minute, but Fofana got selfish and fired well off target after Cambiaso, who had been booked, proved ineffective in defending the pass that game his way. With 10 minutes left in the half Rabiot took a shot from the top of the box that fortunately went right at Di Gregorio, who parried it back out into the box to find Leão blazing way over.
Seconds after that Juve thought they had taken the lead after Conceição made a lovely move in the box and found Thuram with a low cross—but the midfielder was well offside, and the goal was quite rightly disallowed. The Portuguese continued to present danger, taking down a beautiful long pass from Locatelli and shaking Bartesaghi before firing at a tight angle right into Maignan’s chest. He shook the young Italian winger again in first-half stoppage time, but again hit it too centrally for it to be of much trouble for Maingan.
Less than five minutes into the second period Saelamaekers blasted into the crossbar after a beautiful, flowing pass move, while David couldn’t quite work his way through the middle on a breakaway a few minutes later. Bremer tried his luck from outside the box, but again hit the ball far too centrally and saw another simple hate by Maignan.
Milan had a bit more control of things in the middle of the half, but didn’t look like they had any idea how to penetrate the Juve defense. Locatelli, on the other hand, was able to break Conceição through the lines, but Pavlovic was able to stop him in the nick of time before a shot. Teun Koopmeiners had a long-range shot slightly deflected to make it a little easier for Maignan, then put a free kick in that was punched out.
There was a scary moment with 15 minutes to go when Locatelli and Modric both went up for the ball and violently clashed heads, with the Croatian clearly getting the worst of it. Locatelli eventually went to check on his stricken opponent, who was replaced by Ardon Jashari with a massive swelling on his face.
Spalletti wasn’t satisfied with the draw, and sent Yildiz and Edon Zhegrova into the fray for the final 15 minutes. The latter saw a cross fly just over the head of David as Juve kept their hosts pinned in their own half for the final phases. The Canadian did get to a cross from Emil Holm moments later, but couldn’t make clean contact and instead flashed it across the face of goal.
Vlahovic was a welcome sight coming off the bench in the last few minutes. Locatelli made a long pass toward the byline that Yildiz simply whiffed at, while Vlahovic went a little early before he forced Maignan into a kick save. Milan was clearly content with not losing, while Juve pushed until the end to actually win the match, but simply couldn’t find the opening in Milan’s armor to make the final thrust. The final seconds ticked by, and when the last whistle blew, it brought the curtain down on 180 minutes of goalless football between the two sides.
Apr 26, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Poehling (25) in a face off during the first period against the Edmonton Oilers in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images
Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Ryan Poehling scored 2:29 into overtime, and the Anaheim Ducks pushed Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers to the brink of first-round elimination with a 4-3 victory in Game 4 on Sunday night.
Jeffrey Viel tied it with 6:29 left in regulation for the Ducks, who rallied from an early two-goal deficit and another third-period hole before taking a 3-1 series lead with their third consecutive victory over the back-to-back Western Conference champion Oilers.
The Ducks won when Poehling’s sharp-angled shot reluctantly trickled under goalie Tristan Jarry, who had played well in his first playoff start for his new team. An extensive video review revealed no reason to overturn the judgment on the ice that the puck had barely crossed the goal line underneath Jarry’s skate.
Game 5 is Tuesday night in Edmonton.
Cutter Gauthier and Mikael Granlund scored power-play goals in the second period for the Ducks, whose first playoff series in eight years has been an exciting demonstration of their revamped roster’s ample skill. Lukas Dostal stopped 24 shots for Anaheim, which has scored 20 goals in four games against the vaunted Oilers.
Evan Bouchard scored a tiebreaking goal early in the third period and Jarry made 34 saves for the Oilers. Kasperi Kapanen and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored first-period goals.
Edmonton nearly won it late in regulation, but Dostal made a spectacular, sprawling pad save to deny McDavid on a late breakaway. The Oilers’ superstar center had two assists in Game 4.
Jarry struggled for Edmonton after arriving in a midseason trade with Pittsburgh, losing his job to Connor Ingram. But with the Oilers struggling mightily to stop the fast, exciting Ducks, coach Kris Knoblauch made the switch got a solid effort from Jarry, who hadn’t played since April 8.
The Oilers also improved their defensive structure after a shambolic Game 3 – and yet the energetic, hungry Ducks still pumped in four more goals despite playing from behind for most of the night.
Kapanen silenced the raucous sellout crowd at Honda Center 38 seconds after the opening faceoff with his fourth goal in four games. Nugent-Hopkins then scored just Edmonton’s second power-play goal of the series.
The Ducks began yet another comeback with vicious wrist shot from Gauthier, their 22-year-old top scorer. Anaheim’s once-awful power play has scored in eight consecutive games.
Granlund and Leo Carlsson then teamed up for a fluid give-and-go to tie it.
Bouchard ripped a wrist shot for a tiebreaking goal just 4 seconds into an Oilers power play, but the Ducks’ fourth line tied it again, with Viel punching home a rebound of John Carlson’s shot for his second career playoff goal.
Facing a 0-3 series deficit, 23-year-old Sengun challenged his teammates to keep their season alive, a message that resonated throughout a balanced offensive performance where every starter scored at least 16 points. “I didn’t give up on this series, and I just wanted to let everybody know,” underlined the Turkish starting center to open his postgame press conference. “Just going into the games, watching the films. I just wanted to do something different. I’m glad it worked, and everyone came out to play today. Hopefully, everybody’s mindset has changed going into the fifth game. We saw it today, and I’m really happy for that.” The Giresun native reflected on the difficulty of displaying leadership while navigating a second language. “After the talk, everybody was saying that you really motivated me. And I was like, ‘My language was good?’. They were, ‘You messed up one point, but I don’t care’. I was happy because they understood me. It’s hard to talk in another language, but I try every day,” Sengun added.
Will Guillory: Alperen Şengün said it was a different experience giving a speech in front of the team this morning, knowing English isn't his first language. He said Amen Thompson came to him after and said the speech really motivated him going into Game 4. Şengün: "Did I mess up any words?" Amen: "You did once, but I was still motivated."
Ryan Ward: Per Lakers: With his second field goal tonight at Houston, LeBron James recorded his 3,000th career playoff field goal, becoming the first player in NBA history to reach the mark. 1. LeBron James (3,000) 2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (2,356) 3. Michael Jordan (2,188)
Lou Williams: I want to put you on the hot seat. With all things considered, obviously AD is traded away now. Should the Mavs have kept Luka at this point? Devin Harris: That’s such a hard question. I will say, even after the trade and everything went down, that game against Houston, for those first 15 minutes of that game, and watching everything go down, I’m looking like, “Oh my God, we could win this championship.” That’s how dominant it looked. So at that point, I saw the vision that Nico had. In that moment, I was like, “Okay, this could really work out really well for us.” Obviously, he got hurt, I think, like two minutes later, and then we didn’t see him again for another couple weeks. It just kind of went down from there. But in hindsight, yes. If you’re looking at it, we probably should have kept him, absolutely. I mean, we’re talking about a top-five player.
How do you compare Jordan, your teammate, to LeBron James, who entered the league the year you retired? Steve Kerr: LeBron’s brilliance doesn’t lie in the same skill set that Michael’s did. It lies in more of a holistic game where he dominates with his pace and his athleticism and his passing. I’ve always felt scoring is secondary for LeBron, but he’s the greatest scorer in the history of the N.B.A.! Almost incidentally. Steve Kerr: Yeah, incidentally. Some of that is longevity: he’s a machine. I mean, I think he’s literally the greatest athlete on the face of the planet and in the course of human history. Playing with Michael, I saw the killer instinct, the emotional dominance he had over not only the other team but the officials, the entire arena. I don’t see that with LeBron. So they’re different, as far as the emotional part of it. Everybody came into a series against Michael knowing they were going to lose. There’s never been anybody like that. Maybe Bill Russell. But I’ve never felt the same way on a basketball floor as I did with Michael.
Liverpool are looking for a stop-gap option to replace Hugo Ekitike
As mentioned, Ekitike has been one of Liverpool's best players this season.
And, even though Alexander Isak is back in action and could take the reigns, it's been made clear that he's a tad unreliable.
Liverpool will want to be back challenging for titles in the 2026-27 campaign but without Salah and Ekitike to help them, it's clear that some additions need to be made.
Unsurprisingly, a fresh report from Football Insider has claimed that the Reds are going to do exactly that but maybe not in the way fans think.
"Liverpool will explore the market for a new striker in the summer transfer window but will hold back from spending big, sources have told Football Insider," they wrote.
"The Merseyside giants are eyeing a possible loan move or bargain transfer, using the bulk of their summer kitty for other squad acquisitions.
"The club’s recruitment team are honing their strategy for the window after it was confirmed that Hugo Ekitike is set to be ruled out for the rest of 2026 with a ruptured Achilles."
Liverpool need to upgrade several areas of their team in the summer
Comparing draft prospects to NFL players, both former and current, is an annual tradition.
It doesn't necessarily mean they'll have the same kind of success at this level. Yet, the comparisons are made based on how similar the prospects' game play, physical measurements, production, roles and traits are.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, Bleacher Report's Matt Holder wrote a scouting report on Chargers first-round pick Akheem Mesidor and provided an NFL comparison.
Latu, who was the first defensive player taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, has played two professional seasons. This past season, he became a full-time starter, finishing the season with 27 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 3 interceptions.
I can see the comparison between Mesidor and Latu, as the two are technically advanced pass rushers who excel at using their hands and quickness to beat offensive linemen.
Additionally, Mesidor, like Latu, can kick inside to rush over guards on passing downs, adding value to sub-packages.
AUSTIN, TEXAS - APRIL 05: Jordan Davis and NEEDTOBREATHE perfom onstage during CMT Crossroads at UT Tower on April 05, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Nicola Gell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Athletics announced earlier today its intentions to light UT Tower after the beach volleyball program won the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship — the program’s conference.
From Texas Athletics:
“In its first season in the conference, Texas captured the MPSF tournament title Friday with wins over No. 1 UCLA, No. 5 USC and No. 6 Grand Canyon. The Longhorns were selected as the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Championship earlier Sunday, the highest in program history. Texas will face Georgia State in the first round at Gulf Shores, Alabama.”
Welcome to the 52nd and final instalment of On This Week – we’ve completed a whole year, and we’re rounding off in style.
Although, in typical OTW fashion, we’re not talking about the famous first FA Cup win in 1937, nor a league title win or two – no. We’ve gone for some much more obscure things than that!
On today’s show…
Kelvin explores the 1969 FA Youth Cup win over West Brom – a thrilling two legged game that featured a number of players who became household names.
He also looks back on Sunderland’s first ever competitive European game – a Roker Park fixture against Lazio.
Meanwhile, Andrew looks back on Dan Ballard and Luke O’Nien appearing on the same Stadium of Light pitch for the first time!
All of this and, as always, much much more!
Get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never miss another episode of our free daily show.Want to get in touch with us? You can drop us an email at HawayThePodcastSAFC@Gmail.com, or you can contact us via social media – we’re @RokerReport on almost every platform. For your daily SAFC fan-written content, head over toRokerReport.SBNation.com
𝗛𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗢𝗗𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧 🎙️
✨ ON THIS WEEK POD ✨
In our 52nd and final installment of On This Week, the Lads look back at even more retro Sunderland memories!
LISBON, PORTUGAL - AUGUST 23: Kingsley Coman of FC Bayern Munich poses with the UEFA Champions League Man of the Match Trophy following the UEFA Champions League Final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on August 23, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) | UEFA via Getty Images
The year 2020 truly was the best of times and the worst of times for Bayern Munich fans.
While much of the world was shut-in due to the pandemic, things eventually had to return to normal — and they did…at least somewhat.
Football was one of the first aspects of “normal life” to help people remember what it was like after masks, vaccines, and fears of a plague dominated the conversation for months.
Finally, football gave people some of those old time (pre-pandemic) feelings. And for Bayern Munich fans, it was a glorious time on the pitch. Hansi Flick had the squad rolling to a treble (and an eventual sextuple) and the Bavarians were just a rollicking and fun show to watch.
When it came to the Champions League final, though, it was not really all that much fun. Tension, intensity, and uncertainty reigned supreme as Bayern Munich could not break through vs. PSG. Finally, the Bavarians took a 1-0 lead on a header from Kingsley Coman of all people in the 59th minute.
That showdown was just one of many recent UCL battles between the two legendary clubs. Amid that war, was a player who had history with organizations — Coman. The Frenchman recently took some time to talk to FCBayern.com and think about to 2020, that Bayern Munich team, and his Champions League finale:
FCBayern.com: Everyone remembers the image of your header in the 2020 Champions League final against PSG. When you think back to the seconds before the goal: What small moment – a run, a glance, a thought, a shout – has stayed with you most vividly?
Coman: “Perhaps Thomas’s shout after the goal. I’m not sure if I actually heard it. I remember more the moment I opened my eyes and saw that the ball was in. It was during the pandemic, so there were no fans in the stadium. But even if there are sounds: In a moment like that, you hardly notice them. You’re only focused on the ball, on the player crossing, on your opponent, and your teammates. I wanted to be as focused as possible in every situation.”
FCBayern.com: Did you know when the ball came that it could be your moment?
Coman: “No, it all happens far too quickly. It’s not like in a movie where time stands still and you think: Now’s my moment. You don’t have time to think, you just run to where you think the ball might go – and suddenly it’s there. Headers were never my strongest point. So I just wanted to hit it as cleanly as possible. The execution might not have been textbook, but the ball went exactly where it needed to go, with the necessary force. In the end, that’s all that matters.”
FCBayern.com: You say that heading the ball was never your strongest skill. Yet it was precisely such a moment that landed you in the FC Bayern history books. What does that tell you about big games today?
“It’s almost a strange situation. This very weakness helped me fulfill my biggest dream. It’s a beautiful contrast. For me, it shows that with focus, courage, and belief in yourself, you can achieve things on the biggest stage, even if they aren’t among your greatest strengths. That will always make me smile.”
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
Steven Gerrard names Chelsea player who was “absolutely tremendous from the get-go” vs Leeds
Former Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard has named the Chelsea player who was ‘absolutely tremendous from the get-go’ yesterday.
Enzo Fernandez got named the official Player of the Match for the game, and he fully deserved to take that medal home with him.
EXCLUSIVE! Chelsea showing interest in strong Premier League centre forward!
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Fernandez was the driving force behind Chelsea’s race into the FA Cup final yesterday, scoring the only goal of the game to help his side beat Leeds United 1-0 in the semi final at Wembley.
After a turmoil time these last few weeks, Fernandez stepped up to lead his side into the final, putting on a superb performance- and playing with a smile on his face.
Gerrard praises Fernandez
Enzo Fernandez celebrates his goal. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Speaking on TNT Sports, Gerrard was quick to emphasise that Fernandez’s impact extended far beyond his crucial goal.
“You have to say Enzo Fernandez has been absolutely tremendous from the get-go. He keeps picking up positions on the sides of them, behind them. He’s jumping on second balls.
“He played a lovely pass earlier to Joao Pedro, so he’s certainly influencing this game. It’s a big goal for Chelsea, in the context of the day and also for the run they are on.”
Big praise from a legend of the game.
In other news today
Robert Sanchez was a key figure in Chelsea’s cup win yesterday, and he got some well earned praise from his manager at full time. Callum McFarlane says Sanchez’s saves were massive yesterday!
McFarlane has also explained his tactical approach in the lead up to the game and how they looked to use Sanchez, as well as ‘athletes’ to unlock Leeds.
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Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
An East Yorkshire boxing club is aiming to raise £225,000 to expand its premises.
Goole Amateur Boxing Club (GABC) hopes to buy its existing building on Boothferry Road and also a property next door.
The club said the modernisation would meet growing demand and "increase accessibility for the local community".
GABC offers boxing classes for all ages as well as people with Parkinson's Disease.
The club opened in 2021 and has more than 225 members ranging in age from eight to over 60s.
In a statement, chair of trustees Andrew Horncastle MBE said GABC "does not just aim to create champions in the ring, but champions in life".
"To continue doing the great work it does, GABC needs a permanent home," he said.
"Having the opportunity to buy both buildings is exactly what we need, but it is a huge financial undertaking."
Local farmer Richard Longthorp, who has the condition, regularly trains at the club.
He said the club "does fantastic work for all of its members whatever their age".
"Everyone can benefit from boxing training, whether you simply want to get a bit fitter and lose a bit of weight, or you've set your sights on being the next Olympic champion," he said.
"There is already waiting list of people who want to train at the club and that will only get longer.
"Without this expansion, they could miss out."
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The Fitzpatrick brothers made out like bandits at the Zurich Classic.Getty Images
Matt Fitzpatrick will collect a check, but really, Alex Fitzpatrick will emerge from this week’s Zurich Classic as the winner.
You needed only to watch the scene on the 18th green on Sunday evening at the Zurich Classic to know that was true. It was there, on the 18th, that the Fitzpatrick Brothers emerged victorious after a glorious mid-range sand-shot from elder brother (and U.S. Open champ) Matt. And it was there, on the 18th, that Alex realized the fulfillment of his greatest life dream.
“Yeah, I’m still lost for words,” Alex Fitzpatrick said afterward, still gobsmacked. “Just an overwhelming emotion of happiness. Like Matt said, at the start of the week it was coming here to be a family and spend time with each other, eat Mr. B’s, and have a great week. To be sitting here now and done what we did, yeah, I’m pretty speechless.”
If you wanted to know why Alex Fitzpatrick was speechless, the trophy celebration didn’t provide all the answers. You see, his win was bigger than just a title at a PGA Tour event, and bigger than a winner’s check. By winning at the Zurich, the younger Fitzpatrick also clinched a series of career-altering perks, which we list in their entirety below.
What Alex Fitzpatrick really won at the Zurich Classic
1. A PGA Tour card
The biggest and most significant benefit of Alex Fitzpatrick’s victory is PGA Tour status. By virtue of a winner’s exemption, Alex earned full PGA Tour status through the end of 2028, giving him the rarest gift in pro golf — job security — for the next 18 months.
2. A PGA Championship invite
Hopefully Alex hadn’t planned out his spring break for the second week in May, because those plans went up in smoke the second his final putt hit the bottom of the cup. Fitzpatrick earned an invite into the PGA Championship at Aronimink with his win, giving him his second career major championship start, following only the 2023 Open Championship.
3. A Players Championship invite
Thanks to his victory on Sunday, Fitzpatrick will also play in the PGA Tour’s flagship event next March at TPC Sawgrass.
4. Signature Events!
If you’re a player with $3 million in career earnings and you’re hoping to multiply your bank account, the Tour’s $20 million Signature Events series is a pretty good place to start. Fitzpatrick will have the chance to do exactly that over the coming months thanks to the Signature Events invites he received on Sunday evening. Fitzpatrick will spend the rest of his 2026 teeing up in some of the most lucrative events in golf, including the Cadillac Championship, Truist Championship, Memorial Tournament and Travelers Championship.
5. $1,375,000
Fitzpatrick’s win wasn’t just about money, but it was a little bit about money. He’d won $3 million in his career as a pro prior to Sunday’s victory, and he won nearly half of that total on Sunday evening, adding $1.375 million to his career earnings with the win.
MEN: Man Utd’s academy action on Sunday indicates major first-team squad hint with two returnees expected v Bees
Michael Carrick could see his options boosted by the returns of Leny Yoro and Patrick Dorgu against Brentford this evening.
Manchester Evening News’ Steven Railston claimed on Sunday that he ‘assumes’ the pair will be available tonight due to Shea Lacey and Tyler Fletcher, who made up Carrick’s matchday squad as substitutes in the win over Chelsea, starting for the academy yesterday.
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Will Yoro and Dorgu start vs the Bees?
It remains to be seen if the two young Reds will be instantly restored to the starting XI, though.
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However, Carrick may opt to gradually reintroduce him to action by utilising him off the bench tonight.
As for Yoro, he was ruled out of the Chelsea trip on the day the players travelled down to London, leaving the manager with only one senior centre-half available: Ayden Heaven.
How Heaven fared last time out
The teenager excelled in the absence of his counterparts, with Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez suspended and Matthijs de Ligt sidelined.
Heaven was partnered by natural full-back Noussair Mazraoui, yet they oversaw a formidable shift between them, securing a clean sheet and playing a vital role in Manchester United claiming their first win at Stamford Bridge in six years.
As a result, it would be incredibly harsh for Heaven to be dropped out of the side just because Maguire and Yoro are set to be available.
A record crowd watched the NFL Draft this year, where Ty Simpson was a big shock selection in the first round by the Los Angeles Rams [Getty Images]
Another NFL Draft is in the books and the 2026 edition had all the usual shock picks and surprise slides as the 32 teams attempted to reload their rosters for an assault on the Super Bowl.
There was no surprise with the Las Vegas Raiders' number one overall pick but a huge one was later sprung by the Los Angeles Rams, while another surprise came with the New York duo of Jets and Giants actually looking like putting a good draft class together.
It was a good draft for UK involvement and an even better one for hosts Pittsburgh and the NFL itself, with the event continuing to grow.
So after three days and 257 players being chosen, let's take a look at who made the headlines for the right, or wrong, reasons.
The shock of the draft was the Rams picking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick - because Simpson was not even a consensus first-round talent.
The Rams also have MVP Matthew Stafford at quarterback for a team many thought was the best in the NFL last season and even more see as Super Bowl contenders this coming campaign.
Head coach Sean McVay's instant subdued reaction to the pick went viral, but he insisted he did not want to seem too excited out of respect for Stafford - but his mood was one plenty of Rams fans shared.
Stafford is 38 and playing year-to-year so getting a long-term successor makes sense, but to take full advantage of his talents many thought a pick as high as 13 should be used to add a final elite piece to the roster that could just be the difference.
A star pass rusher or another top pass catcher being two options, but instead the Rams used that selection on a player who in all probability will not see the field at all in 2026.
The Rams made eye-catching moves in free agency for cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to strengthen even further - so as usual only time will tell if they won or lost this one.
The Raiders will have a sixth head coach for their seventh season in Las Vegas, but after all the turmoil they finally they look like heading in the right direction with some savvy picks.
Most notable was Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, who is a super talent but slipped down to the fourth round, pick 101, after missing all of last season with a torn ACL.
It's a flier with a big upside if McCoy's knee is right, which he insists it is. He's got tremendous ability, and with fellow draftee Treydan Stukes at safety could add some much-needed playmakers in the secondary.
Mendoza has first-round picks around him already with running back Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers at tight end, while the Raiders splashed out big money to grab centre Tyler Linderbaum to add yet more assistance.
Whisper it quietly, but the Raiders are heading in the right direction and could be the biggest winners of the draft.
New dawns in New York?
The Giants have made the play-offs just twice in 14 seasons, while the Jets have the longest active play-off drought in American sports with 15 seasons on the outside looking in. So fans in the Big Apple needed a big draft.
They had five first-round picks between them and both teams, for once, seem to have emerged as draft winners.
Signing John Harbaugh as new head coach was already a win for the Giants, and getting edge rusher Arvell Reese at pick five was another big victory, which adds to what's looking a scary Big Blue defence.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart got a new weapon in third-round receiver Malachi Fields, who combined with superstar Malik Nabers gives the Giants the look of a side capable of making a leap this year.
The Jets are behind in their transition but pass rusher David Bailey, tight end Kenyon Sadiq and receiver Omar Cooper all add star talent as first-round picks.
Quarterback Cade Klubnik was a bit of a flier in the fourth round but one worth taking if veteran Geno Smith struggles. Still, there are positive signs for a change with the Jets.
Pittsburgh sets NFL Draft record
A record crowd of 802,000 watched the three days of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh [Getty Images]
You have to hand it to the NFL for making three days of reading names off cards into the second-biggest event on the league calendar.
A record 805,000 fans visited the three-day event in Pittsburgh, with a single-day attendance record of 320,000 for Thursday's first round.
Only the Super Bowl is bigger, and even then that's only of serious interest to two teams, but all 32 are involved in the draft for one simple reason - hope.
The worst teams get the best picks of the college superstars and that gives them hope of a magical turnaround - and the NFL has managed to market it all as a must-see experience.
Detroit hosted 775,000 fans in 2024, Green Bay had 600,000 last year, and both were topped by Pittsburgh.
Washington DC will hope for even more next year and commissioner Roger Goodell revealed cities were lining up to win hosting duties in years to come - with representatives from 10 on scouting trips in Pittsburgh this weekend.
History was made by the International Player Pathway (IPP) as Britain's Seydou Traore and Nigerian Uar Bernard were selected by the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles respectively.
The gazumping of the draft came in the first round when Makai Lemon was on the phone to the Pittsburgh Steelers being informed they were drafting him at spot 21, only to then see the Philadelphia Eagles trying to call him.
The Eagles in fact traded up to number 20 to pinch Lemon from under the noses of their fellow Pennsylvanians - a move that did not go down too well with the home fans in Pittsburgh as they certainly lost that one.
Possibly both winners and losers, the Cleveland Browns made six trades in the first five rounds and became the first team in 30 years to draft two receivers in the top 40 - KC Concepcion at 24 and Denzel Boston at 39.
The Browns are also the first team in 15 years to draft three quarterbacks in two years as they added Taylen Green to a crowded four-man line-up including Deshaun Watson and last year's two draftees Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.
For all of Cleveland's good draft work, they will head into the season with another confusing four-way quarterback battle.
Had LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier entered the draft last year he may well have been a first-round pick. Instead he was only pick number 249 in the seventh round this year.
That's the downside. The upside is that he was picked by the Kansas City Chiefs and has only Justin Fields to battle for the job of backing up the injured Patrick Mahomes. That's turning a loss into a big win.
Billed as the biggest losers of the draft, the San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars were among the more underwhelming teams - with both accused of 'reaching' when drafting players higher than their consensus rating.
San Francisco traded out of the first round then picked receiver De'Zhaun Stribling with the first pick of the second - much higher than he was expected to go.
They then added running back Kaelon Black - who did not even get an invitation to the NFL Combine - in the third round. The Niners have a poor recent record both with second round picks and running backs, so neither bodes well.
Jacksonville may have picked up steals with their first four picks, but all four were drafted miles ahead of where they sat on most pre-draft rankings. General manager James Gladstone is still only 35 but in his second draft he's either pulled off some masterstrokes or made some huge errors.
Chelsea interim manager Calum McFarlane (right) applauds the fan following victory in the Emirates FA Cup semi-final match at Wembley Stadium, London. Picture date: Sunday April 26, 2026. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images) | PA Images via Getty Images
Calum McFarlane has his first win as interim head coach — on his third attempt, in now his second stint — and he’s hoping that it will prove a momentous one indeed. Chelsea have been in historically bad form over the past many weeks, but we still have six games left (five in the league and one in the FA Cup: the final itself) and we still some hope of achieving European qualification (at least the Europa League).
Those may be some bold intentions, perhaps a bit too bold even based on just this one game, but it’s good to still be aiming high.
“It was important to get the win. […] It was important to break the momentum and the form that we were in. And I thought we were confident that we would do that today, and I think that completely changes the feel within the group […] and gives us confidence going into the next five games. [Of course] we want to win every single game from now to the end of the season, as you do in any season. [We] want to do it for ourselves, we want to do it for the fans and the club, everyone. A massive competition in the FA Cup, historic, and we want to win the final and win every Premier League game remaining.”
It wasn’t exactly a spectacular performance from the Blues on a glorious Wembley afternoon, but it was solid enough and that’s something we haven’t been able to say too often of late against top flight opposition. We still needed a couple spectacular saves from Bob and our chance creation overall was quite lacking (0.39 xG on just eight shots and two on target; and just 0.05 xG after we scored halfway through the first half), but we would see out the clean sheet relatively comfortably and avoid any sort of self-sabotage in the meantime (including not messing around with the ball at the back needlessly). Baby steps.
And solid is something you can build on. Obviously, there isn’t much left of the season iself, but if we have to go back to the basics, we need to start with a foundation.
That was precisely the point behind some of McFarlene’s tactical choices, including at the back.
“[Giving Tosin the start] was one of the most difficult decisions in the preparation for this game, because Jorrel Hato has been probably our best player over the last five, six games. But I decided to go with Tosin, mainly down to the Dominic Calvert-Lewin threat, and probably being the best match-up to defend that. Also set-pieces is a massive part of their game, Tosin’s a great leader, a great character, I fully trust Jorrel, and Jorrel could have played in this game, as could Wesley Fofana, so you make decisions as a manager, and you hope you get them right, and I thought Tosin was exceptional today.”
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — The Angelo State Rambelles’ win streak continues with another doubleheader sweep on Sunday, April 26.
Angelo State Rambelles softball carried a 10-game winning streak into its matchup Sunday versus Midwestern State. This was quite the favorable matchup for the home team, given that the second-place Rambelles faced the Lone Star Conference’s last place team in the Mustangs.
The Rambelles did start slowly in game one, but they quickly broke a scoreless draw in the bottom of the fourth inning to lead 6-0. Midwestern State cut the deficit to three in the top of the sixth inning, but ASU’s Zoey Sifuentes hit a no-doubter solo home run in the ensuing bottom half to ice the game, leading to Angelo State’s 7-3 win.
Game two was a different story at first, as the Rambelles quickly jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and led 4-0 after three. The Rambelles’ offense remained quiet the rest of the game, totaling just four hits, but pitching was once again outstanding as Addy Ewing pitched a complete seven-inning game. She allowed just three hits, recorded three strikeouts, allowed no walks and no runs. The Rambelles completed the sweep with a 4-0 win. This extends the team’s winning streak to 12 games, also now having won 15 of their last 16.
Angelo State’s next matchup is one the team has had circled on its calendar all season. A showdown of the top two teams in the Lone Star Conference awaits in Canyon, Texas as second-place Angelo State travels to face first-place West Texas A&M. Only one game separates these teams in the LSC standings with one week remaining in the regular season.
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Morgan Morris made his Ospreys debut in 2018 [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
Morgan Morris is already looking forward to next season but his Ospreys boss believes the number eight might extend an injury-hit campaign with a Wales breakthrough.
The 27-year-old strong-running forward has endured a frustrating 2025-26 in which he has made 10 appearances.
Morris missed the end of last season after a foot operation and calf issues delayed his return until mid-December, then he was forced off again the following month against Lions.
"It has probably been my toughest season," he admitted. "I came into it injured, picked up another couple of injuries, got back into the flow of it and then got injured again.
"I'm just happy to be back out there and I'm looking to be involved. I am taking that as a positive and looking to next season now."
Morris had been an Ospreys regular when averaging 20 games in the four seasons before the current campaign.
"It's the first time I've had a season like this," he said. "I've been pretty lucky in the last few years and haven't really missed many games.
"It's been a tough year for me but it happens as a rugby player and I've come back from it."
Ospreys are blessed with some strong back row performers in Gloucester-bound Jac Morgan, recent Wales caps Harri Deaves and Morgan Morse, Ross Moriaty and James Ratti.
Nonetheless, Wales hopeful Morris has shown what they have missed since returning with his strong carrying.
"Deep down, sadistically, we all enjoy it," said the consistent back-rower. "To be a forward in this game you've got to love the physicality."
Morris pushing for a Wales debut
Morgan Morris made his first appearance of 2025-26 in December because of injury [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
Morris was frequently mentioned as a Wales contender without getting a call-up by former boss Warren Gatland.
Current national head coach Steve Tandy gave debuts to Ospreys back-rowers Morse and Deaves and, with Taulupe Faletau injured again, is sure to be looking at Morris.
A strong end to the campaign could earn a shot to feature in the summer fixtures against Barbarians, Fiji, Argentina and South Africa.
"Morgan is a unique player for us," said Ospreys head coach Mark Jones. "He is very physical and wins a lot of collisions while from a cultural point of view he's such a good guy in the environment.
"He has been like a new signing and him and Jac Morgan have done a great job since returning to really put some depth into our squad.
"His performances have been really good and I know he is keen to push on and really get into Steve Tandy's eyes and impress for a summer tour."
Morris and his Ospreys team-mates now have a week off while the semi-finals of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup take place.
Ospreys finish the season with a final home fixture against Scarlets before a trip to Leinster, and are not lacking motivation even if their hopes of the top eight have gone.
Captain Jac Morgan heads the list of leavers from a squad that have battled hard throughout the season despite off-field uncertainty and protests.
"The boys love each other," said Morris. "We care about each other a lot and we owe it to the boys who are moving on to see out the season with as much happiness and as many wins as we can."
There was some surprise when the move was announced, with local pundit Mauro Cezar Pereira describing it as a "strange kind of signing".
But former Manchester United forward Lingard, who joined Corinthians after leaving FC Seoul, is settling in well.
"It's still high-level football," he says. "I think I can play at a high level. For me, it was just about the competition - how big the club is here, how big the league is.
"I had offers on the table, but I still test myself out."
And Lingard's motivation is clear when he says: "I've come here to lift a trophy."
In his first major interview since moving to Brazil, the 33-year-old sat down with the BBC to reflect on his new life, Manchester United and coming up against Neymar.
Lingard on life in Brazil
Lingard's former United team-mate Memphis Depay was among those who convinced him to join Corinthians - and the Dutchman has since helped him settle in.
Lingard made his Corinthians debut against Fluminense at the world-famous Maracana in Rio earlier this month.
It was, he says, "amazing" to be back on the pitch after months without playing and spells of having to train alone.
But within a week manager Dorival Junior had been sacked after an eight-match winless run left them in the relegation zone.
Former Brazil interim coach Fernando Diniz has come in, and the team have since won both their Libertadores games.
Lingard has already felt the intensity of the Corinthians fanbase up close, with supporters turning up at the club's training ground.
"I'd never experienced it before," he says. "Fans going into the training ground... speaking to us. You see how passionate they are for us to do well and win. It only gives us more reason to win on a matchday.
"When you fall short, of course, you're going to get the scrutiny."
One particular challenge has been the language.
Lingard had a translator at FC Seoul, but is navigating life in Brazil without one.
"Some players speak a little bit of English and do translate a little bit," he says.
"But I want to pick up Portuguese. The Korean language was very difficult. I picked up a few words, but I feel like here I could actually learn the language."
And he has already picked up some basics, including how to greet people and order his coffee.
Jesse Lingard has joined Corinthians on a contract until the end of the year [Getty Images]
Lingard on Manchester United
It is no surprise Lingard is following developments at Manchester United closely, and he reflects on an "amazing chapter" at his boyhood club.
Lingard spent 20 years at United, leaving in June 2022 when his contract expired. He joined Nottingham Forest the following month.
"We achieved amazing things," he says. "But there's going to be a point in time where you move on. For me, it was Korea."
Lingard knows "everyone was a bit shocked" when he moved there, but says he needed to do so to focus on football and "clear my mind".
Lingard says United have come on "leaps and bounds" under his former team-mate and is certain Carrick should be given the job permanently.
"It can be difficult with different managers coming in, having different ideas, different personnel," he says.
"But I think they're really on the right track with Michael. I know him from my United days. I know how he operates. The lads are doing really well under him.
"He's got that Manchester United DNA inside of him. He knows the ins and outs of the club."
Lingard remains in close contact with United captain Bruno Fernandes.
"He always wanted to see the best of me at United," says Lingard. "He's always been a guy that's been there, that I can always reach out to."
Fernandes, 31, has provided 18 assists in the Premier League season - two short of the record with five matches remaining.
Lingard believes Fernandes should be in the running anyway.
"100%," he says. "His performances at Manchester United this season have been extraordinary. He has to be up there."
Facing Neymar and the World Cup
Asked to pick his favourite Brazilian players, Lingard names Neymar and 2005 Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldinho.
He says he occasionally speaks to Neymar - still the world's most expensive footballer having moved from Barcelona to Paris St-Germain for £200m in 2017 - and is relaxed about the prospect of facing him if Corinthians play Santos.
"It's always good to play against world-class players," he says. "You can test yourself against some of these guys."
Lingard once went viral for teasing former United team-mate Marcus Rashford for apparently talking to Neymar about the weather in the tunnel before a match.
Asked what he would say in the same situation, he laughs and says: "There'd be too many memes about that, to be honest. I might mention the Brazilian weather... it is sunny!"
Lingard played 32 times for England - including at the 2018 World Cup, where England were beaten by Croatia in the semi-finals.
Looking ahead to this summer's tournament in North America, he highlights Brazil, England and France as very strong sides - and fancies the Three Lions to go all the way.
"We've always had a good chance," he says. "I think in big tournaments, we always do well. I believe in the lads. I know how good they are, so I don't see why not."
Mauricio Pochettino: Former United target lifts lid on lunch with Sir Alex Ferguson
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has opened up about his famous meal with Sir Alex Ferguson.
Success in England
The former Espanyol player and manager arrived in England in 2013.
He spent one year at Southampton before joining Tottenham Hotspur in 2014, where he would remain until 2019 after leading them to the Champions League final.
After some time out of football, he spent a year at Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Chelsea for the 2023-2024 season.
Pochettino has been manager of the United States national team since 2024 and is preparing for the World Cup on home soil later this summer.
Links with United
For over a decade, the Argentine has regularly been linked with a move to Old Trafford and was very close to being offered the job in 2022 before losing out to Erik ten Hag.
Speaking to FourFourTwo magazine, Pochettino revealed what happened during his famous meal with the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, who is a known admirer of his coaching career.
Commenting on the meal, he said, “through the secretary of the League Managers Association, Sir Alex asked for my phone number so that we could have lunch.”
He described the encounter as “a meeting in London between colleagues, between a genius and an apprentice.”
The Argentine also revealed the amusing story: “when we asked for the bill, I wanted to take it, and so did he. We started arguing over who’d pay.”
Sir Alex’s solution was to ask him to name an Argentine who scored in the 1930 World Cup final, and if he answered correctly, Pochettino would need to pay.
Much to Ferguson’s surprise, Pochettino responded “Stabile”, so the former Tottenham Hotspur manager ended up paying the bill.
"I'm more pissed off about them kicking Adou out. That was uncalled for and it made no sense. Think that's his first time he's ever been thrown out of a game in his life. I don't think that was warranted. Give him two technicals, the kid just got in the game, that was… https://t.co/QE0xNYSUJopic.twitter.com/GCWoAW8vIF
Coming into Game 4 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets on Sunday, the Rockets were in the improbable scenario of being down 3-0 to a Lakers team that has been without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. With Kevin Durant missing his second straight game due to an ankle injury, it looked like the Rockets had little chance of winning even one game in this series.
But they started to assert themselves in the second quarter, allowing them to take a 56-47 lead at halftime. The Lakers were plagued by miscues — they committed eight turnovers in the first quarter and 14 in the first half — and for the first time in the series, they had trouble hitting from long range.
This game was practically over by the middle of the third quarter. Houston went ahead by 21 points with 6:20 left in the quarter, and L.A. could never get anything going offensively for an extended period of time. The Lakers lost by a final score of 115-96, which means this series will continue for at least one more game.
In all, they committed 24 turnovers and gave up 30 points off those turnovers, and they went just 5-of-22 from 3-point range. While they still have a 3-1 series lead, they have lost a significant amount of momentum, and if they end up losing Game 5, the tone of this whole matchup will likely feel a lot different.
Luke Kennard: C
Kennard played very well in the first three games of this series, but he wasn't nearly as aggressive when it came to looking for his shot throughout Game 4. He attempted eight shots and made three of them, and he missed all three of his 3-point attempts. In 32 minutes, Kennard finished with seven points, three rebounds and two assists.
Rui Hachimura: B
Hachimura was one of only two players who were a consistent offensive threat for the Lakers in this game. He made six of his 10 field-goal attempts to score 13 points, and he also had three rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in 30 minutes.
Deandre Ayton: B
Ayton was a force in the first half as he kept the Lakers in contention during that time with 15 points and eight rebounds. His teammates were looking to get him the ball in the paint quite often, and he seemed emboldened by the opportunities he was getting.
Unfortunately, Ayton was ejected with 5:41 left in the third quarter when he committed a flagrant 2 foul by elbowing Alperen Sengun in the head. He ended up with 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting and 10 rebounds.
Marcus Smart: B-minus
Smart wasn't nearly as aggressive as he was in the first three games. He went 3-of-8 from the field and ended up with nine points, two rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks in 31 minutes. All four of his turnovers came in the first half.
LeBron James: D
James just didn't have it at all in this game. Perhaps it was a bit of fatigue with just two days between Game 3 and Game 4, or perhaps it was just one of those games that everyone has to deal with occasionally.
He had three turnovers in the first half and seemed to have some trouble handling the ball properly against the Rockets' defense, and he was 1-of-7 from the field through three quarters. He didn't make a single shot from the 7:33 mark of the first quarter until the 8:36 mark of the final period.
James played 33 minutes and finished with 10 points on 2-of-9 field-goal shooting, four rebounds, nine assists and eight turnovers. Interestingly, Lakers coach JJ Redick kept him on the floor for the first 4:35 of the fourth quarter, even though the outcome of the game wasn't exactly in doubt anymore.
Jaxson Hayes: D
Hayes made almost no impact in Game 4. He played 15 minutes and made one basket in two attempts and had two rebounds and one block. He also didn't do a good job of protecting the rim, and he missed both of his free throw attempts.
Jake LaRavia: C
LaRavia was able to score six points on 2-of-5 shooting, to go along with three rebounds and one block in 16 minutes. The Lakers will likely need a little more from him offensively, especially in terms of outside shooting, moving forward. He has missed all three of his 3-point attempts so far in this series, and he hasn't made a single trey since an April 9 win at the Golden State Warriors when he nailed four of them.
Jarred Vanderbilt: B
Vanderbilt got onto the court for 14 minutes on Sunday, and he scored eight points on 4-of-6 shooting, with all eight points coming within a span of just over three minutes early in the fourth quarter. He also contributed four rebounds and one steal.
Bronny James: B
The younger James had a solid performance in Game 4. He played 15 minutes and dropped four assists, including a nice lob pass to Ayton for a layup early in the second quarter. In the fourth quarter, he made a steal and then threw an alley-oop pass to rookie forward Adou Thiero for an emphatic and-one dunk on the ensuing fast break.
The second-year guard also scored five points on 2-of-5 shooting and chipped in two rebounds.
Dalton Knecht: B-plus
Knecht came in for the last eight minutes of the game, and he flashed a bit of the potential that allowed him to be the No. 17 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He attempted three shots, all of which were 3-pointers, and made two of them while also making two free throws to score eight points. Knecht also grabbed three rebounds.
Maxi Kleber, Adou Thiero, Nick Smith Jr.: Incomplete
Kleber, Thiero and Smith came in for some extended garbage-time reps. Kleber had one point, one rebound, two assists and one steal. Thiero had three points on that alley-oop dunk and the ensuing free throw, and Smith turned in five points on 2-of-5 shooting, plus one block.
Thiero was ejected, along with the Rockets' Aaron Holiday, with 1:11 left in the game, when Holiday hit Thiero and the two got entangled for a moment.
The Boston Celtics won Game 4 of their 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs first round series with the Philadelphia 76ers 128-96 behind a monster game off the bench from Payton Pritchard (32 points, 5 assists), with string play from Jayson Tatum (30 points, 7 boards, 11 assists), and Jaylen Brown (20 points, 7 rebounds).
The Celtics bench added 57 points overall, nearly more than Joel Embiid (26 points, 10 boards) scored in tandem with Tyrese Maxey (22 points, 6 assists) for Philadelphia in Embiid's return, the Sixers big man ending the night a -25 despite his impressive line. What went right for Boston? What did Philly do wrong? And most importantly, what do we expect in Game 5 of the series as the play shifts back to TD Garden?
The hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" convened after the win to hear what was said in the locker room as well as what we think might be coming down the (Mass) pike, so be sure to tune in for this playoffs edition of the show.
The Blues are looking for a new head coach following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior, and the impressive Italian tactician is reportedly one of the names on their shortlist.
However, Farioli announced that he will continue with Porto next season following an outstanding debut campaign.
Considering that Porto are leading the Primeira Liga table and desperate to stave off the challenge of Benfica and Sporting CP, Farioli could not afford to say anything different.
If Chelsea settle for him after their search for a new permanent manager, he might reconsider his stance.
The 37-year-old caught the eye with his remarkable work at OGC Nice in France, where he made Les Aiglons a formidable force.
He also rebuilt a struggling and amateurish Ajax squad, turning them into title contenders, even though he is most remembered for the capitulation that saw PSV Eindhoven seal the title.
Farioli joined Porto last summer and has them atop the Primeira Liga, where they are seven points clear with three games to go.
One thing Farioli has going for him is his ability to coach a defence. His team has the stingiest defence in the Portuguese top flight, a league where Jose Mourinho coaches Benfica.
Farioli’s Nice and Ajax teams were also defensively sturdy. He can help shore up Chelsea’s leaky backline and make the club a reputable institution once again.
He should be one of the top names on the Chelsea shortlist and certainly seems a better fit than Andoni Iraola, whose name simply won’t go away.
Farioli’s European exposure, stylistic fit, and well-structured game model should have Chelsea’s sporting directors at the front of the queue for his signature. It remains to be seen if they will look beyond their nose.
Their penchant for poor decision-making could see them hire another dud when, in fact, the Blues should be working through a small shortlist of Farioli, Cesc Fabregas, and Xabi Alonso.
Don’t have time to read everything about Arsenal? Let us catch you up…
Arsenal’s weekend brought a return to the top, a major European win for the women and more concern lower down the academy pathway.
The men beat Newcastle, the women came from behind against Lyon, while the under-21s and under-18s endured difficult defeats.
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Arsenal men
Arsenal beat Newcastle 1-0 at the Emirates on Saturday, picking up three new injuries as they went back to the top of the table.
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Kai Havertz and Ebere Eze both were taken off with muscular injuries while Gabriel Martinelli seemed concerned with his hamstring at the end of the game.
Neither Mikel Arteta nor Eze seemed that bothered by his problem, although that was also the case before he recently missed a month out.
Arteta was asked about the view that Nick Pope should have been sent off for his foul on Viktor Gyokeres and was unequivocal in his answer. “I don’t know [why the referee didn’t give a red card],” he said.
“They will have their opinion. I’m here to give my opinion. I’m someone who has been in the game for a long time, and you talk to any of the players because the trajectory, where the ball is, there’s no keeper there. If that were to happen the other way around, it’s a red card.”
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
He was then asked if he felt decisions were going against Arsenal, and said, “I’m saying it’s been the reality of the last two games in crucial moments when everything is at stake. We need everything to go our way and it hasn’t. I’m not making any excuses; I’m the first one to understand. I didn’t talk about it when we lost the game. I’m doing it when we won. It’s a red card today, it’s a red card in Manchester and the world is different. That’s it.”
It’s the second time this season that Pope has got away with one against Gyokeres after he should have conceded a penalty at St James’ Park earlier in the season.
Eze scored Arsenal’s only goal, a wonderful finish that curled away from a flailing Pope after a short corner, the third in a row that had fans groaning before the net rippled.
Next up for Arsenal men
Wednesday 29 April, 8pm BST – Champions League semi-final first leg v Atletico Madrid in Madrid.
Opposition news
Atletico Madrid‘s Pablo Barrios has suffered an injury setback, and is now a major doubt to face Arsenal in the Champions League semi-finals. More here.
Arsenal women
Arsenal Women will take a 2-1 lead to France after an excellent second-half comeback against Lyon in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
On Sunday, Arsenal women took on Lyon in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, hoping to make the final as they defend their trophy.
After a solid start in which Lyon were allowed to put in a number of heavy challenges on Arsenal players (mostly on Olivia Smith), Lyon’s quality alongside poor Arsenal defending, cut the Gunners wide open to take the lead with 20 minutes on the clock. It was to be the only shot they would be allowed in the match, and that’s how it remained to the break.
In the second half, however, Arsenal came out flying and within five minutes Kim Little, bursting in to the box, was fouled. The referee pointed to the spot.
VAR, however, called the ref to the monitor as this ‘touched the ball’ nonsense continues to infect football. Nowhere in the rules does it mention getting the ball as being relevant and the Lyon captain’s touch on the ball was so minimal Little would have had it at her feet in front of goal, had she not been fouled.
Nevertheless, it was overturned.
Less than 10 minutes later, Set Piece FC and Own Goal FC combined to level in hilarious fashion. A free kick, slid harmlessly into the box was fumbled by the Lyon keeper, sending it spinning towards the goal and in off the post. 1-1.
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Arsenal pushed and dominated, searching for a winner. With less than 10 minutes remaining, Smith’s speed and determination forced an error in the centre of Lyon’s defence between their centreback and keeper. Smith got a toe in and took it from both of them as they collided with each other, leaving her to slot into an empty net.
It was the perfect response to the kicking she took all afternoon. Arsenal finally had the lead they deserved and were able to see it by smothering the life out of Lyon.
The game finished with Arsenal having 16 shots and making six fouls while Lyon had six shots and 16 fouls.
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Leah Williamson returned to the starting lineup and we already knew that Steph Catley had not recovered from the calf problem she picked up at the start of the month.
Beth Mead was left out due to personal reasons (as was her partner, Vivianne Miedema from City’s squad this weekend for the same reason). After the match, Slegers said “we don’t know when Beth will be back”.
Chloe Kelly, however, was a surprise omission, missing out with a ‘small’ muscular issue according to Sylvain Jamet.
The other semi-final first leg, between Bayern Munich and Barcelona finished 1-1.
In other news, Arsenal appeared to leak an article that seemed hint that Williamson might have renewed her contract at the club. It was hastily deleted but not before the post, which featured a picture of Williamson and the caption “Always Arsenal”, was saved by some eager watchers. Contracts in women’s football are much more secretive than in the men’s game but tend to be two-years in length. On that basis, we think she could be out of contract this summer, like Stina Blackstenius who recently extended hers, but we’re not 100% on that and trying to get confirmation.
When we recently did a review of Arsenal women’s loans this season Sylvain noted that Laila Harbert’s at Everton had been a ‘disaster’ given she’d played no football. On Sunday, she finally got her first minutes as a Toffee, coming on in the 85th minute with her side already 4-1 down at home to Chelsea. The score stayed that way and she got to touch the ball five times.
With Manchester City losing surprisingly against Brighton, Arsenal are now 11 points behind with three games in hand having only played 17. City have two games remaining.
Man United played out a 0-0 draw with Spurs, meaning United, in third, are only one point ahead of the Gunners but have also played three more. Chelsea, in second after 20 games, are five ahead of Slegers & co.
Next up for Arsenal women
Wednesday 29 April, 7pm BST – FA WSL v Leicester at The Emirates.
Arsenal youth
The Arsenal u21s and Arsenal u18sboth lost on Saturday, bringing the u21 campaign to an early end and leaving the u18s floundering in the bottom half of the table.
Arsenal’s under-21 campaign ended with a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City in the Premier League 2 play-offs. Despite taking the lead before half-time, they were overrun after the break. Having finished 14th in the regular season, the early exit underlines a disappointing year and raises wider concerns about development at this level. More on that here.
Arsenal’s under-18s suffered a 4-3 defeat to West Ham despite leading twice and playing 10 men late on. A stoppage-time winner sealed another setback, leaving them 11th in the table. With little prospect of a strong finish, it caps a difficult season marked by inconsistency and underperformance across competitions. More on that here.
Next up for Arsenal youth
Tuesday, 28 April, 12pm BST – Premier League u18 v Crystal Palace at the Sobha Realty Training Centre
Other Arsenal stuff
Photo by James Fearn/Getty Images
Mikel Arteta seemed to hint that the number of subs allowed on the bench could increase next season, although there currently seems to be no plans for to change things. After the game against Newcastle, he was asked why Christian Norgaaard wasn’t included in the squad. He replied, “We had to leave two players out of the squad at the end, Mikel [Merino] is out and there were Christian and Richi [Calafiori], so that’s going to happen.
“As I said, if the Premier League allows us to have 20 or 22 players, we can have everybody involved and hopefully next season that will be the case.”
Currently, nine subs are allowed (which, when added to the starting XI, is 20).
Arsenal gossip
Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Arsenal fans are generally very excited that the club is being reliably linked with a move for Julian Alvarez but were perhaps not so happy recently when it was claimed he was heading to Barcelona.
Fear not, his agent has said those rumours are “1000% false.”” No one in the family has been in Barcelona,” Fernando Hidalgo said. “The last time was for the match against Atletico and they returned to Madrid.”
Ex Arsenal
Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images
Arsenal fan favourite, Hector Bellerin is enjoying his best scoring season since the 17-18 campaign when he was still at Arsenal. He has two goals and three assists in 22 league games for Real Betis.
In the 17-18 season, he scored two and assisted three in 35 Premier League games.
Finally, Alex Manninger will be laid out in a funeral hall in Salzburg on Tuesday, to give people a chance to say goodbye, before a private ceremony for family.
24 Jan 1999: Alex Manninger of Arsenal in action during the FA Cup Fourth round match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium, Wolverh…
Anything else?
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
The referee who took charge of Arsenal’s debacle in Baku against Chelsea in the Europa League final in 2019 has stepped aside from his current role after being told he is under investigation for sporting fraud.
The Houston Rockets finally won their first game of the series against the Los Angeles Lakers. It was an impressive result, considering Kevin Durant did not play in the game. Despite that result, there were some bizarre moments in the game.
That included two ejections for the Lakers, which were given to Deandre Ayton and Adou Thiero. The Rockets also had Aaron Holiday sent off at the same time as Thiero in the late stages of Game 4.
JJ Redick speaks about the Lakers' bizarre ejections
Ayton got ejected when his forearm hit Rockets center Alperen Sengun at the back of the head. While it might look unintentional, it was dangerous, so the officials deemed it a flagrant two and an automatic ejection for the game.
After a late Dalton Knecht three-pointer in the final moments of the game, referee James Williams ejected both Thiero and Holiday. That was yet another peculiar moment in this game, which had everyone, including Redick, puzzled.
This game had a shocking trio of ejections. Emotions can get heightened in the NBA Playoffs, but three ejections in one game is not something that happens every postseason.
This was a unique case for both teams, but the Lakers had more compared to their opponents. Redick spoke after the game in his press conference about what happened with the ejections.
"I didn't get a great explanation on Adou. I'm sure James will give you that. DA, he's got such a sweet, kind soul. That wasn't dirty or intentional," Redick said in his presser after Game 4 in Houston.
"He was trying to brace himself with that off arm against Sengun's body, and it looked like his arm just kind of slipped. I don't think DA would ever do anything malicious."
It will definitely be an interesting situation to track. Considering referee Williams was calling this game, this furthered the stories surrounding him, including the one with Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns.
The son of the NFL’s all-time leading rusher is coming to the Chiefs. E.J. Smith, son of Emmitt Smith, had previously taken part in the Dallas Cowboys’ local prospect workout but ultimately decided Kansas City was the better fit. There, he’ll get the chance to work under former Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray. While his agent, Sean Morgan, confirmed the deal, the 23-year-old opened up about it on Instagram with a heartfelt message.
“Excited to officially sign with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent,” E.J. Smith wrote in the caption of his announcement post. “Nothing is given. Everything is earned. I’m ready to work, learn, and prove myself every single day. Thank you to my family, coaches, teammates, and everyone who believed in me and pushed me to this moment. The journey hasn’t been easy, but every challenge has prepared me for this next step. “Grateful” is an understatement. All glory to God for this opportunity. Let’s get it, Chiefs Kingdom.”
He signed as an undrafted free agent on Sunday, April 26, 2026. The running back spent four seasons at Stanford and two at Texas A&M, but did not put up big numbers. He finished his college career with 969 rushing yards, nine touchdowns, and 71 receptions for 470 yards in 48 games. Last season, he recorded just 44 carries for 205 yards and four catches for 18 yards. Even so, he showed flashes in key moments.
As also noted by Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk, Smith came up big in a key moment against Arkansas, converting a fourth-and-1 from his own 34-yard line with just over 10 minutes to play.
Even after getting bumped in the backfield by tight end Micah Riley, he kept his balance and pushed forward to move the chains. In another game against UTSA, he showed his impact beyond carrying the ball, delivering three key blocks to help spring K.C. Concepcion on an 80-yard punt return.
Now, he joins a crowded Chiefs backfield that includes Kenneth Walker III, Emmett Johnson, Emari Demercado, and ShunDerrick Powell. The team will be hoping he brings the same effort as he fights for a place. His goal is to earn a spot on the final 53-man roster for the 2026 season.
Emmitt Smith’s son lands with the Chiefs despite the Cowboys’ buzz
Many expected E.J. Smith to join Dallas because his father, Emmitt Smith, is a Pro Football Hall of Famer, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, and a 3-time Super Bowl champion with the Cowboys. E.J. Smith even participated in Dallas Day, the Cowboys’ local prospect workout event before the draft, and Dallas appeared to be the best landing spot because of his hometown roots and family ties.
However, the Cowboys did not move quickly enough to make it happen; he ultimately signed with the Chiefs. Notably, if he had signed with the Cowboys, there would have been a lot of attention on his move. His father had an iconic career there, with 8 Pro Bowls, 5 All-Pro selections, 4 rushing titles, and NFL records for rushing yards, attempts, and touchdowns.
He is considered one of the greatest running backs of all time. Joining the Cowboys would have led to constant comparisons, but now E.J. Smith can try to build his own path in Kansas City. His father has supported that idea.
“Here’s the thing—you have to run your race, and you have to disregard what other people are saying,” Emmitt Smith said. “Because you have whatever ability you have, you have to be yourself. And you have to work at being yourself and work at what you need to do to hone your craft. Just go play the game. Put your blinders on. Run your race. You like the horses at the Kentucky Derby. And then when the blinders come off, you may look up one day and find yourself in the damn Super Bowl. You never know.”
There is still a small connection to Dallas, though. The Chiefs’ running backs coach is DeMarco Murray, who used to play for the Cowboys and even broke Emmitt Smith’s single-season rushing record in 2014 with 1,854 yards. Now it will be interesting to see how E.J. Smith develops in Kansas City under a coach linked to his father’s legacy, as he starts his own NFL journey.
Saïd Benrahma played for West Ham from 2020 to 2024, before moving abroad to continue his footballing career [Reuters]
Former West Ham United footballer Saïd Benrahma pleaded guilty to two counts of owning dangerously out of control dogs in October, but the fine and compensation have not been paid.
The dogs, both XL bullies, escaped from his home in Hornchurch, east London, and attacked a golden retriever called Bailey and his owner Luke Rehbein in July 2023.
Both were injured with Bailey needing vet treatment.
Benrahma was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay Rehbein £2,500 in compensation plus £495 in kennel costs at a hearing at Willesden Magistrates' Court in October. Benrahma appeared via video-link from a car in Saudi Arabia.
More than six months on, Rehbein says he has yet to receive any of the compensation.
Saïd Benrahma includes photos of himself with his dogs on his Instagram profile [Said Benrahma / Instagram]
Remembering the dog attack, Rehbein said: "They came out of nowhere, the only thing on my mind was to get these dogs off Bailey.
"Bailey got bitten everywhere and I also got bitten on my arm as well. They didn't have any collars on.
"We had to take Bailey to the vet straight away and I had to go to the hospital as well," he said.
Speaking about the lack of compensation Rehbein said: "I think it just shows that he doesn't care and he hasn't had the common decency to pay the fine.
"It shows a complete lack of respect for everyone involved and even to date I still haven't received an apology," he said.
The Courts and Tribunal Service has said no payments have been received.
It said: "We are doing all that we can to recover the money owed."
'Outdated system'
Rehbein says the experience has left him feeling frustrated.
"If someone has pleaded guilty or if they are found guilty and if the issue is a fine, then in my opinion they should pay the fine during the court proceedings.
"In this case the courts have been chasing Benrahma to pay the fine; I think it shows how outdated the system is," he said.
The Courts and Tribunals Service responded to the criticism by saying: "We do everything possible to make sure criminals pay what they owe to victims – including taking money from an offender's salary – and they can face jail for non-payment. "
Benrahma joined West Ham from Brentford in October 2020 and scored 24 goals in 155 games for the club.
He later transferred to Lyon and then to his current team Neom in Saudi Arabia. He also plays for the Algerian national team.
When Crokes Cross entered the history books of horse racing, her owner Kevin Mercer should have been there to cheer her on.
The seven-year-old mare equalled the UK racing record for the longest-priced winner at odds of 300/1.
But although the win happened at Kelso racecourse in the Scottish Borders - about 25 miles (40km) from Kevin's home in Fountainhall, he was not there to see it.
Instead, he was in a meeting for his work with Hawick-based animal feed company Harbro.
The 43-year-old only learned about the unexpected victory as his mobile began to light up with messages.
The purchasing and distribution manager grew up in the countryside so horses have always been part of his life and are now part of his career.
"Part of my job involves dealing with racehorse trainers to supply the feed into most of the huge number of racing yards in Scotland and the north of England," he said.
It was after sponsoring a race at Kelso - and enjoying the hospitality - that he and a group of friends decided to take a bigger role in the sport.
"They thought - after some drink - that it would be a good idea to try and get involved in ownership of horses," he explained.
They have had five or six horses with local trainer Stuart Coltherd since then as a syndicate of family and friends, but it is Kevin's name that is registered as co-owner of Crokes Cross alongside its trainer.
A big crowd saw the shock result but Kevin was not among them [Getty Images]
However, he was not at the track as it fought out a thrilling finish before taking the honours ahead of stablemate Changemyluck earlier this month.
"I wasn't at Kelso, I had a meeting at one of our production sites, so I was otherwise engaged that day," he said.
"I didn't actually tell any of the guys that I was in the meeting with that the horse was running."
He soon knew something had happened when the other members of his syndicate - which includes his mother, auntie, sister and friends he knows through football - started to contact him.
"Everyone was chuffed to bits and I'm sitting in a meeting with my phone on silent and it's lighting up and buzzing away with everyone trying to get in touch," he said.
"A little bit disappointed we weren't there, but these things happen, unfortunately."
There was some consolation, however, in the form of a £10 each-way bet he said he placed "more in hope than anything else". He won more than £3,000.
It was Crokes Cross' first run for Kevin and his friends and family and first with her new trainer.
She was the fourth horse to win for the syndicate but has gathered much more attention than any of the others.
"They've all meant something to us, but probably nobody else remembers," said Kevin.
"Whereas now you've got a horse that will always be etched in history books at Kelso and in British racing."
Crokes Cross is unlikely to be at such long odds the next time she runs [Getty Images]
As for Crokes Cross, they have no precise plans on where she will run next but she is unlikely to be such a longshot.
"I think the days of 300/1 will be long gone," Kevin admitted.
The record she matched was only set a few months ago - at Exeter - when the Nigel Hawke-trained Blowers won at the same price.
Prior to that, it had stood at 250-1 for 35 years having been set by Equinoctial in 1990 - also at Kelso.
Racecourse managing director Jonathan Garratt said there was "no specific reason" the track threw up such results but added that good prize money attracted a mix of horses from both large and smaller yards.
"The chances of representatives from the larger yards can sometimes be overestimated, which can lead to other runners being exceptionally good value in the betting," he added.
The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs are the gift that keep giving.
The Anaheim Ducks took a 3-1 series lead over the Edmonton Oilers after Ryan Poehling got the puck to sneak under Tristan Jarry's skate. The Ducks won 4-3.
It's Poehling's first career overtime goal, which came 2:29 into the period. The Ducks and their home fans celebrated three times. Once after it went in, another after it was called a goal on the ice and the loudest came after the review.
The puck barely crossed over the red line, but the view was just clear enough to confirm the call on the ice. The Ducks now take the lead to Edmonton where they can clinch on Tuesday.
Edmonton started up 2-0 after Kasperi Kapanen and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins netted goals in the first period. Anaheim tied it in the second period with goals from Cutter Gauthier and Mikael Granlund.
The Oilers took the lead again a few minutes into the third period, which the Ducks responded to with six and a half minutes left.
The Honda Center was intense all throughout the night, with Ducks fans trying to see their team advance past the first round for the first time since the 2017 playoffs.
The Ducks have now won three straight games and show no sign of slowing down. The offense is the star of the show, as they have scored at least three goals in every game.
Anaheim has scored 20 goals over four games. There's no better time to be hot.
NEW DELHI: Babar Azam may be dominating the Pakistan Super League this season, but he recently found himself at the receiving end of a light-hearted moment involving Shaheen Afridi’s one-year-old son, Aliyar.
Babar, currently the second-highest run-scorer in PSL 2026, has been in stellar form with 485 runs in nine innings at an impressive average of 80.83 and a strike rate of 141.40. However, a viral video from the tournament showed him being playfully “bowled” by young Aliyar, leaving the star batter momentarily stunned while Afridi burst into laughter.
The clip quickly spread across social media, drawing humorous reactions from fans.
"Bobzy getting owned by a kid lol," one fan wrote.
"Bachay say bhi beat hogya," another user joked.
— RebelStar__45 (@RebelStar__45)
— Shahzad12165877 (@Shahzad12165877)
— rishushukla1991 (@rishushukla1991)
The moment came after the clash between Babar’s Peshawar Zalmi and Afridi’s Lahore Qalandars at the Gaddafi Stadium.
On the field, Lahore Qalandars registered a six-wicket win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Despite the defeat - their first of the season - Peshawar Zalmi continue to sit comfortably at the top of the table with eight wins from 10 matches and 17 points.
Lahore Qalandars, meanwhile, climbed to fourth place with five wins and five losses, taking their tally to 10 points and staying in contention for a playoff spot.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - April 27: Peter Reid manager of Sunderland celebrates after winning the League Division 1 match between Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion at Roker Park on April 27, 1996 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Graham Whitby Boot/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images) | Getty Images
As much as the owners of Wrexham thought they might throw up a Hollywood-style script or two when they took charge of the then National League side, they probably didn’t realise that football has a habit of throwing up these scripts year after year.
It’s why we love it so much. Look at the story arc Sunderland are on at the moment for instance, Leicester being relegated to League One ten years after winning the Premier League – which in itself will likely be made into a movie at some point, and I’m getting grey enough to throw my hat in the ring to play Ranieri by the way – and well, let’s see what happens at Spurs in the coming weeks.
But going back to the mid-1990’s, there was a crazy rebirth of Sunderland AFC that got going – and we didn’t have a clue where the ride would end up.
Like any good Disney movie, however, you have to hit the big low early on in the story – and ours occurs at Oakwell on a cold Friday evening at the end of March 1995. Mick Buxton’s Sunderland go into the game against Barnsley having lost five out of the last six, and sit just two points and two places above the drop to the third tier.
Add to that the fact that the two sides below us, Stoke City and Swindon Town, have played fewer games than we have. In Stoke’s case, they have three games in hand, and Steve McMahon’s Swindon have two. At this point, relegation looks a formality.
Our game at Oakwell is a last throw of the dice, coming just after the transfer deadline. New investment from John Fickling (~£600,000) all went on the signature of Brett Angell from Everton, and a young Dominic Matteo joined on loan from Liverpool.
Both played, we lost 2-0, and it turns out Matteo shouldn’t have played because we screwed up the paperwork – and there was potential for points being docked. So here is our movie script, low point, ladies and gentlemen.
Enter stage left, Peter Reid. Our last three managerial appointments – stretching back almost eight years at this point – had been from the existing backroom or playing staff, and this was a surprise to everyone.
At a time when the club had seemingly run out of ideas, they brought in someone with a good track record who was unlucky to be sacked by Peter Swailes at Manchester City. He had seven games to keep us up, and by the end, we were six points clear of Swindon.
In the summer, Paul Bracewell arrived at Sunderland for a third time – this time in the role of player/assistant manager – a young John Mullin arrived from Burnley, and most importantly perhaps, Bobby Saxton joined Reid’s coaching staff. But that was it.
With pretty much the same squad, the season slowly built up momentum. After winning just two of the first seven, we hit the top of the table in mid-December after beating Millwall 6-0 at Roker.
Going back to our movie script, it isn’t all plain sailing after the montage – there needs to be another twist. It would have been too easy if we’d simply hit the top of the league and gone on to win the title by ten points. We’re also forgetting this is Sunderland, and that isn’t how we do things.
I’m saying this because we won once in the next nine games, and we’re clinging on to a play-off place by our fingernails by mid-February. At this point, new loan signing Shay Given has found his feet, and Lee Howey scores a bullet header at Portsmouth, and we win nine on the bounce, conceding only once in eight games.
In the weeks to come, Reid’s side claims promotion without playing due to results elsewhere, and when the last home game of the season arrives, we need just a point to claim the title.
The visitors were Alan Buckley’s West Bromwich Albion, and in front of a party atmosphere on a typically windy Roker day, the game was pretty dismal. Lee Howey placed a shot from the edge of the box over the bar, and hit the post with a header, and Brett Angell got on the pitch… for West Brom (as he went out on loan).
By far the biggest cheer of the day was the final whistle, and the cheers continued as the party started at Roker. Kevin Ball and Peter Reid were last out of the tunnel, and the trophy was presented. The players paraded the pitch, there were tears in the stands, tears from Bobby Saxton on the pitch – it was a day that nobody who was in attendance will forget.
Saturday 27th April, 1996
Division One
Sunderland0-0 West Bromwich Albion
Roker Park
Sunderland: Chamberlain, Kubicki, Melville, Ord, Scott, Agnew, Bracewell, Hall, Gray, Russell, Howey (Bridges)Substitutes not used: Aiston, Smith
West Brom: Spink, Burgess, Darby, Sneekes, Rees (Angell), Comyn, Butler, Holmes, Hunt, Hamilton, GilbertSubstitutes not used: Coldicott, Donovan
“That sums up this season a lot,” said Arne Slot. It is a sentiment he has started to voice often, particularly in the context of injuries. On Saturday, though, he felt the emblematic element was that Alexander Isak’s first Premier League goal for Liverpool at home came at the end of April. Even Nordi Mukiele and Axel Disasi had struck for Liverpool in the top flight on Merseyside before Isak, albeit not deliberately.
“It is quite an understatement to say he’s had a tough year,” said captain Virgil van Dijk. “The injuries he had and the timing of it has been bad.” True, though neither Liverpool nor Isak are blameless in that. He made the decision to go on strike at Newcastle, they made the choice to spend £125m on an injury-prone striker who had not had a pre-season. When injuries and ineffectual performances followed from a semi-fit forward, it was not misfortune alone.
Isak can be the face of failure in recruitment. Liverpool were the supposed to be the smartest buyers around, the men with a plan. They spent £450m last summer and have gone from first to fifth. They may have averted further damage – not least to their income – with the combination of their three consecutive league wins and Chelsea’s meltdown positioning them to return to the Champions League.
Isak has endured a tough first season at Anfield (Reuters)
But, as Slot suggested, Saturday was the sort of occasion that Liverpool expected to happen rather earlier. Isak and Florian Wirtz scored in the same game, which could offer optimism for the future. “That was always the plan,” added Van Dijk. “These two particular players have been brought to the club to make an impact.” There has never been a more expensive double act on a Premier League scoresheet than the £125m man and the one who could cost £116m.
But they have not had the desired impact. Isak’s debut year has been awful, Wirtz’s underwhelming. A goal apiece does not alter fundamental questions about the configuration of the side or the strategy behind their arrivals. Slot does not need to find a way to accommodate both Hugo Ekitike and Isak on the pitch for several months, with the Frenchman sidelined by his achilles injury, but there are few signs he has an ideal solution.
Nor, seemingly, is there an answer to the conundrum of Wirtz. Play him as a No 10, as Slot did at the start of the season and again on Saturday, and Liverpool can look too open; Palace had an xG of 2.20 at Anfield. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s outstanding player this season, Dominik Szoboszlai, can be at his best in that role. The sense is that Liverpool need three midfielders, including the Hungarian, for solidity.
All of which can reflect badly on Slot. And yet the architects of the biggest spending spree in Premier League history are more culpable. Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards paid out record amounts, and yet left gaps in the squad which have become glaringly apparent this season.
They paid over the odds for Isak and Wirtz. If the German may yet justify his fee, Manchester City got the magical Rayan Cherki for a third of the price. Liverpool should not have signed the Swede at all.
Meanwhile, recruiting two new full-backs was required, with Trent Alexander-Arnold going and Andy Robertson entering the autumn of his career. But, while Milos Kerkez has improved after an unconvincing start, he has lost his place to the veteran in the run-in. Slot’s lack of trust in Jeremie Frimpong was evident when, for the second consecutive week, he came on as a right winger, with midfielder Curtis Jones carrying on at right-back.
Arne Slot has been left with gaping holes in his squad (Reuters)
Liverpool were unlucky that Giovanni Leoni was injured on his debut. They can feel that Giorgi Mamardashvili, whose arrival was arranged in 2024, has been a decent deputy to Alisson. Freddie Woodman, the third-choice signed on a free transfer, did well against Palace. But of those bought, only Ekitike can be classed as a success now.
Meanwhile, the sight of Palace underlined one of the fundamental errors the Liverpool brains trust made. While they signed Isak on deadline day, they missed out of Marc Guehi. They had dawdled amid their interest in the Palace captain, tried to play a game of brinkmanship on deadline day and it backfired. At £35m, Guehi would have delivered value for money; he would have reduced the burden on Van Dijk and enabled Slot to omit Ibrahima Konate when his form faltered. Guehi instead joined City, has been one of the finest defenders in the division this season and may win the title.
And even if Liverpool had sold the same players – largely, it should be said, for what seemed excellent prices – including Jarell Quansah, there was a second seismic mistake. Liverpool may have underestimated the importance of Luis Diaz, though £65.5m felt as much as they could get for a 28-year-old. But by signing two specialist strikers, rather than one who was equally or more adept as a winger, became a still greater miscalculation when Mohamed Salah accelerated into decline, Cody Gakpo’s goals dried up and it became apparent Liverpool’s wide players struggled to beat a man.
Salah’s imminent departure underlines the need for another overhaul at Anfield this summer. It could be costly. And it comes when Liverpool’s powerbrokers spent £450m last year, much of it on Isak and Wirtz.
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