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Levelop – Master coding and system design with AI-guided challenges


Levelop helps developers master coding patterns and system design through interactive challenges, an intuitive system design canvas, and daily practice. It adapts to your goals, tracks progress with personalized dashboards, and uses AI-powered guidance to keep you focused and productive. Join a community of learners and builders, set achievable milestones, and consistently grow your skills.

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Vimi – Transform your photos into styled portraits and artwork


Vimi is an AI-powered photo studio that turns selfies, pet shots, and couple photos into polished portraits and creative artwork. Browse themed collections like Cute 3D World, Premium Portrait, Playground FX, and Elegant Sari to find a look you love. Upload photos, pick a style, and generate unique images for profiles, gifts, or celebrations in minutes.

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NCLH: Weak Q3 Expected with Europe and Alaska Challenges

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings expects net yields to decline three to five percent, the company said in its earnings announcement on Monday. “This updated guidance reflects both the impact of the macroeconomic environment and the extent to which those pressures have compounded the execution and commercial challenges already facing our business,” said Mark Kempa, CFO,...

Phoenix Reisen’s Amera Enters Drydock

Following her 134-day world cruise, Phoenix Reisen’s Amera entered drydock this week at Chantiers Naval de Marseille for scheduled refurbishment work. Working with the ship management company BSM, Phoenix Reisen is investing approximately 15 million euros in a number of upgrades. Work will cover the modernization of 160 guest bathrooms as well as the redesign...

Gemini gets design refresh and model picker on Android

5 May 2026 at 14:08

Google is upgrading the Gemini app on Android with a design refresh and model picker. It follows the recent distribution on the iOS channel. There’s a mixed reaction from users after seeing the visuals available on X.

Model picker

Gemini app’s header now features a model picker with a drop-down button. Hitting the arrow would present the available models to users. It expands the app’s usability while making it easier to change the execution mechanism.

Design refresh

Gemini’s various buttons are getting a subtle tweak in order to increase visibility. The hamburger menu stays separate on the left, while the right side has three buttons together, including:

  1. New chat
  2. Share conversation
  3. More (expand options)

These new design tweaks don’t just make Gemini visually appealing, but also enhance the overall experience. The conversation section is also seeing application of subtle colorways in both light and dark modes.

The rollout may be sequential, and you may receive it days later. Keep the Gemini app updated to the latest version alongside the main Google app and the phone’s Google Play system update.

It can also be a server-side rollout, which means users may not see the new design on the latest version. In that case, waiting for the expansion is the only option left as Google maintains a phased rollout rather than broader.

Gemini Android Redesign

Source – AssembleDebug /X

The post Gemini gets design refresh and model picker on Android appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Step aside, DJI and Insta360: Budget "Feiyu Pocket 4" gimbal camera hands-on video shows innovative design

Expected to start at around $300, the Feiyu Pocket 4 has surfaced in a hands-on video, showcasing major upgrades over the Pocket 3. With a larger touchscreen and much improved sensor, this gimbal camera is positioned as an affordable rival to the premium DJI Osmo Pocket 4.

Fate smiles on Intel as Apple A21 SoC could ditch TSMC for Intel or Samsung

In a move that could see Apple diversify its supply chains, Apple is reportedly evaluating Intel and Samsung to manufacture its upcoming processors. So far, TSMC has been the sole producer for Apple's iPhone and MacBook chips. Apple's reliance on TSMC is so big that it is TSMC's second-largest customer, second only to Nvidia.

Kuo: OpenAI phone is closer than we thought, to use a custom Dimensity SoC

5 May 2026 at 14:07

Last month, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that OpenAI was developing an AI-agent smartphone slated for mass production in 2028. Now, Kuo suggests the timeline may have been accelerated and has also shared some early specifications of the device. According to Kuo, the OpenAI smartphone is now expected to enter mass production in the first half of 2027. The analyst attributes the accelerated timeline to the growing AI phone market, along with a potential year-end IPO. Ming-Chi Kuo also shared key specifications of OpenAI’s AI agent-focused smartphone. According to the analyst,...

Honor Play 80 Plus arrives with SD 4 Gen 4 and 7,500mAh battery

5 May 2026 at 13:08

The third entry in the Honor Play 80 series is here with the Play 80 Plus. It joins the Play 80 and Play 80 Pro, which were announced earlier this year in China, and brings a larger 7,500mAh battery alongside Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 chipset. Honor Play 80 Plus Play 80 Plus is built around a 6.61-inch TFT LCD with HD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate and 1,010 nits peak brightness. The panel also gets a 5MP front-facing camera inside a punch hole cutout. Around the back, we have a single 13MP cam with f/1.8 aperture, which supports up to 1080p video recording. Honor...

Teddy Atlas makes final Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois prediction: “Not going against him”

5 May 2026 at 14:07

This Saturday night, and go toe-to-toe in one of the most intriguing bouts in British heavyweight history, with the WBO crown at stake. Ahead of the action, well-respected former trainer and fight analyst, Teddy Atlas, has made his prediction for how the contest will play out. Wardley announced himself on the world stage with a […]

The post Teddy Atlas makes final Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois prediction: “Not going against him” appeared first on Boxing News.

Frank Bruno delivers verdict on Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury ‘Battle of Britain’

5 May 2026 at 13:20

Former WBC heavyweight world champion has shared his thoughts ahead of the planned ‘Battle of Britain’ between and later this year, in what is expected to be the biggest clash in the history of British boxing. Bruno looked set to be the man to break Britain’s heavyweight hoodoo, with the United Kingdom not producing a […]

The post Frank Bruno delivers verdict on Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury ‘Battle of Britain’ appeared first on Boxing News.

UK April 2026: Market up 24% on low year-ago volumes, Omoda 5 breaks into Top 10

5 May 2026 at 12:59

First UK Top 10 finish for the Omoda 5.

UK new car sales in April soar 24% year-on-year to 149,247 units, however year-ago volumes were particularly weak as buyers pulled purchases forward to March to beat incoming vehicle tax increases. The year-to-date tally is now up by a robust 9% to 764,101 and local association of manufacturers SMMT now predicts a Full Year 2026 tally at 2,093,000 units, up 3.6% on 2025. Private sales improve 20.2% to 56,116 units and 37.6% share vs. 38.8% a year ago while fleets are up 26.8% to 90,462 and 60.6% share vs. 59.3% and business sales are up 15% to 2,669 and 1.8% share vs. 1.9%. Year-to-date, this time private sales fare better at +11.7% to 306,211 and 40.1% share vs. 39.1% over the same period in 2025, fleet sales are up 6.9% to 441,094 and 57.7% share vs. 58.9% and business sales are up 19.3% to 16,796 and 2.2% share vs. 2%.

Looking at sales by fuel type, BEVs surge 59.1% to 39,084 and 26.2% share vs. 20.4% in April 2025. SMMT noted that April marked the registration of the 2 millionth BEV in the UK. Meanwhile HEVs are up 18.8% to 19,711 and 13.2% share vs. 13.8% a year ago, PHEVs are up 46.4% to 20,597 and 13.8% share vs. 11.7%, petrol is up 8.2% to 63,541 and 42.6% share vs. 48.8% and diesel down -1% to 6,314 and 4.2% share vs. 5.3%. Year-to-date, BEVs are up 22.1% to 176,698 and 23.1% share vs. 20.7% over the first 4 moths of 2025, HEVs are up 8.3% to 111,083 and 14.5% share vs. 14.6%, PHEVs are up 46.5% to 99,263 and 13% share vs. 9.7% while petrol is down -1.5% to 340,230 and 44.5% share vs. 49.3% and diesel falls -8.4% to 36,827 and 4.8% share vs. 5.7%.

Volkswagen (+23%) follows the market to keep a comfortable distance with the other carmakers present at 8.6% share vs. 6% for #2 Kia (+7.2%). BMW (+7.6%) completes the podium as it does YTD. In fact the Top 5 is identical to YTD with Ford (+17.5%) at #4 and Audi (+0.9%) at #5. MG (+84.9%) surges ahead to #6 with 4.7% share, distancing Mercedes (+30.1%) and Skoda (+13.9%). BYD (+101.5%) delivers the biggest YoY gain in the Top 15 at #12 with Jaecoo (+268.2%), Omoda (+259.9%), Citroen (+167%) and Mini (+90%) also impressive. 

Model-wise, the Ford Puma (+27.2%) reclaims the top spot it holds year-to-date with 2.8% share, ahead of the Kia Sportage (+3.7%). The Nissan Qashqai (+29.5%) stays at #3 ahead of two surging models: the VW Golf (+77.9%) scoring its best ranking since last October at #4 and the Mini Cooper (+58.7%) at #5. We have a new entrant in the Top 10: #1 in London over the Full Year 2025, the Omoda 5 lands directly in 6th place with 1.5% share. The VW Tiguan (+46.6%) and MG HS (+67.9%) also impress below. Surprise #1 in March, the Jaecoo 7 falls to #10 and #3 year-to-date.

Previous month: UK March 2026: Jaecoo 7 overall best-seller!

One year ago: UK April 2025: Peugeot (+37.9%), BYD (+654.1%) stand out in market down -10.4%

Full March 2026 Top 53 All brands and Top 10 models below.

UK March 2026 – brands:

PosBrandApr-26%/25Mar2026%/25PosFY25
1Volkswagen12,8848.6%+ 23.0%159,8787.8%– 5.9%11
2Kia8,9226.0%+ 7.2%343,5385.7%+ 0.4%24
3BMW  8,7005.8%+ 7.6%242,6075.6%– 2.4%32
4Ford  8,2305.5%+ 17.5%441,0045.4%– 1.7%43
5Audi  8,0905.4%+ 0.9%538,1335.0%+ 6.4%55
6MG7,0054.7%+ 84.9%1030,8834.0%+ 8.6%810
7Mercedes  6,9894.7%+ 30.1%735,2854.6%+ 7.6%69
8Skoda6,2444.2%+ 13.9%1430,6754.0%+ 9.3%911
9Hyundai6,0774.1%– 6.9%1330,2784.0%– 3.6%116
10Vauxhall  5,8893.9%+ 14.1%833,7294.4%+ 3.7%713
11Peugeot  5,3683.6%– 9.2%1230,1964.0%– 12.3%1212
12BYD5,0593.4%+ 101.5%1126,3963.5%+ 124.0%1417
13Volvo4,9923.3%+ 18.0%1624,1173.2%+ 4.0%1614
14Toyota4,9813.3%– 6.0%630,3894.0%– 3.4%107
15Renault4,8013.2%+ 9.9%1823,6453.1%+ 7.2%1715
16Mini4,7743.2%+ 90.0%2018,8142.5%+ 20.9%1918
17Nissan  4,0792.7%– 16.7%928,3893.7%– 13.3%138
18Jaecoo3,8772.6%+ 268.2%1722,7893.0%+ 431.5%1823
19Land Rover3,8342.6%+ 1.2%1525,3133.3%+ 1.5%1516
20Cupra3,3722.3%+ 52.9%2115,1712.0%+ 24.0%2020
21Omoda3,2752.2%+ 259.9%2312,3241.6%+ 200.3%2227
22Chery2,9001.9%new2810,9771.4%new2534
23Citroen2,5581.7%+ 167.0%2612,1421.6%+ 127.1%2326
24Dacia1,7981.2%– 9.1%2710,2501.3%– 8.8%2622
25Geely1,6491.1%new353,2440.4%new3547
26Porsche1,5601.0%+ 27.3%316,0410.8%– 7.9%2928
27Suzuki1,3210.9%+ 30.1%249,9091.3%+ 42.8%2729
28Lexus1,1590.8%+ 11.1%325,2230.7%– 4.1%3231
29Honda1,1550.8%– 4.2%258,5061.1%– 15.8%2824
30Mazda1,1260.8%– 26.9%2211,6691.5%– 6.9%2421
31Polestar1,0760.7%+ 25.3%335,2270.7%+ 14.8%3130
32Jeep8380.6%+ 2.8%304,6090.6%– 5.9%3332
33Tesla8310.6%+ 62.3%1912,5701.6%– 3.2%2119
34Seat7900.5%– 57.1%295,6200.7%– 36.1%3025
35Fiat7080.5%+ 145.0%362,3200.3%– 46.9%3633
36Leapmotor5800.4%+ 437.0%343,6760.5%+ 1121.3%3435
37Alpine3730.2%+ 554.4%381,0850.1%+ 996.0%3739
38Changan2160.1%new379690.1%new3849
39Alfa Romeo2100.1%+ 0.5%409490.1%– 0.1%3936
40Smart1570.1%+ 124.3%397400.1%+ 32.9%4038
41KGM930.1%+ 29.2%436710.1%+ 14.7%4241
42Xpeng880.1%+ 877.8%424410.1%+ 880.0%4345
43Genesis710.0%+ 73.2%453630.0%– 21.1%4442
44Lotus640.0%+ 45.5%442990.0%– 56.5%45n/a
45Subaru520.0%– 42.9%417090.1%– 22.6%4137
46Abarth380.0%+ 52.0%491290.0%– 18.9%4750
47Maserati320.0%+ 166.7%471360.0%+ 19.3%4648
48Ineos180.0%– 18.2%481010.0%+ 31.2%4951
49GWM Ora160.0%– 57.9%461250.0%+ 0.8%4846
50DS130.0%– 59.4%50590.0%– 74.3%5043
51Chevrolet120.0%+ 200.0%51220.0%– 29.0%5152
52Skywell40.0%+ 100.0%52190.0%+ 111.1%5254
53Jaguar00.0%n/a –70.0%– 99.6%5340
 –Other British2010.1%+ 47.8% –1,1050.1%– 16.8% – –
 –Other Imports980.1%– 21.6% –4460.1%– 39.0% – –

UK April 2026 – models:

PosModelApr-26%/25Mar2026%/25PosFY25
1Ford Puma4,2112.8%+ 27.2%220,3392.7%+ 11.5%11
2Kia Sportage3,6452.4%+ 3.7%417,8352.3%+ 8.9%22
3Nissan Qashqai2,8461.9%+ 29.5%315,6992.1%+ 12.2%43
4VW Golf2,8451.9%+ 77.9%812,0211.6%– 2.6%66
5Mini Cooper2,5771.7%+ 58.7%n/a10,6861.4%n/a912
6Omoda 52,3081.5%n/an/an/an/an/an/a29
7Vauxhall Corsa2,2361.5%– 5.9%512,7881.7%– 7.7%54
8VW Tiguan2,2341.5%+ 46.6%n/a10,2521.3%– 3.9%109
9MG HS2,1461.4%+ 67.9%711,2931.5%+ 2.5%88
10Jaecoo 72,0991.4%n/a117,6682.3%#DIV/0!313
n/aVolvo XC402,0721.4%+ 3.2%611,3601.5%+ 7.0%77

Source: SMMT

Futbolcular söz verdi: Sergen Yalçın prim sözü aldı

Beşiktaş'ta futbolcular, Konyaspor maçı öncesinde 'kupayı kazanacağız' diye Sergen Yalçın'a söz verdi. Hoca da Başkan Serdal Adalı'dan prim sözü aldı.

Beşiktaş bu akşam Konyaspor'la sezonun en kritik maçlarından birine çıkacak. Gaziantep deplasmanında alınan galibiyet biraz olsun keyifleri yerine getirdi. Ayrıca Nevzat Demir tesislerinde oldukça güzel bir hava var. Takım kampta, futbol şube sorumluları Ümraniye’de. Futbolcuların morali gayet yerinde.

Beşiktaş’ta futbolcular, “kupayı kazanacağız” diye teknik direktör Sergen Yalçın'a söz verdiler. Sergen Yalçın da, Başkan Serdal Adalı'ya "Oyuncularım söz verdiler. Kupayı kazanacağız. Siz de bu başarıya özel bir prim yazın" diyerek Konyaspor maçı için ekstra prim talebinde bulundu.

Gelen bilgilere göre Başkan Serdal Adalı'nın da, "kazansınlar gerisini düşünmesinler. Prim en doğal hakları" diyerek prim talebini kabul etti.

Mehmet Ali Aydınlar'ın son hamlesi Aziz Yıldırım'ı kızdıracak

Aziz Yıldırım'ın defalarca çok sert ithamlarda bulunduğu Hamdi Akın'ı listesine alması Mehmet Ali Aydınlar adına seçim sürecinde çok sorun yaratacak gibi duruyor.

Fenerbahçe Başkan Adayı Mehmet Ali Aydınlar, yönetim kurulu listesine Vodafone CEO'su Engin Aksoy, 1907 Derneği Kurucu Üyesi Necdet Ersoy ve iş insanı Gürel Aydın’ı ekledi.

Ali Koç döneminde Futbol AŞ'de yönetici olan Abdi İbrahim'in Sahibi Nezih Barut ile stat yapımını üstlenen ancak projesi rafa kaldırılan Akfen Holding'in sahibi Hamdi Akın ile de görüşmelerini sürdürüyor.

Ersoy, Barut ve Akın, Aydınlar'ın 2013'te Aziz Yıldırım'ın karşısında aday olup kaybettiği seçimde de listesinde olan isimlerdi.

Aydınlar'a o kongreyi kaybettirenlerden birisi de Aziz Yıldırım'ın Hamdi Akın hakkında söylediği, "3 Temmuz'da herkesin maskesi düştü. Bazıları Fenerbahçe'yi savunmak yerine kendi ihalelerini, kendi işlerini düşündü. Hamdi Akın da bunlardan biridir" sözleri olmuştu.

AYM'den Fenerbahçe'ye şok haber

Saldırıya ilişkin etkili soruşturma yürütülmediği iddiasıyla AYM'ye yapılan başvuruda, Anayasa'nın 17. maddesinde güvence altına alınan yaşam hakkının usul boyutunun ihlal edilmediğine hükmedildi.

Anayasa Mahkemesi (AYM), Fenerbahçe futbol takımı otobüsünün 4 Nisan 2015'te Trabzon'da silahlı saldırıya uğramasına ilişkin etkili soruşturma yürütülmediği gerekçesiyle "yaşam hakkının ihlal edildiği" iddiasıyla yapılan başvuruda hak ihlali yapılmadığına hükmetti.

AA muhabirinin derlediği bilgiye göre, aralarında futbolcular ve kulüp görevlilerinin de olduğu bazı Fenerbahçeliler, olayla ilgili etkili bir soruşturma yürütülmediği ve bazı şüpheliler hakkında ek kovuşturmaya yer olmadığına dair karar verildiği gerekçesiyle "yaşam hakkının ihlal edildiğini" iddia etmiş ve AYM'ye bireysel başvuruda bulunmuştu.

Yüksek Mahkeme, başvuruyu 22 Nisan'daki gündem toplantısında görüşerek karara bağladı.

Yaşam hakkının ihlal edildiğine ilişkin iddianın kabul edilebilir olduğuna karar veren AYM, esas yönünden incelemesinde ise Anayasa'nın 17. maddesinde güvence altına alınan yaşam hakkının usul boyutunun ihlal edilmediğine hükmetti.

AYM'nin kararının gerekçesi daha sonra yazılacak.

Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü'nün futbol takımı, Çaykur Rizespor maçından otobüsle dönerken 4 Nisan 2015'te Trabzon'da silahlı saldırıya uğramıştı. Olaya ilişkin yürütülen soruşturma, yaklaşık 5,5 yıl sonra takipsizlikle sonuçlanmıştı.

Leandro Andrade “Qarabağ”da 60-cı qola sevindi

5 May 2026 at 14:00

“Qarabağ”ın yarımmüdafiəçisi Leandro Andrade Ağdam klubunun heyətində bütün turnirlər nəzərə alınmaqla 60-cı qolunu vurub.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, portuqaliyalı futbolçunun yubileyi Azərbaycan Premyer Liqasının 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün 30-cu turunun “Turan Tovuz”la ev qarşılaşmasına (2:1) təsadüf edib.

Leandro 60-cı qolunu Ağdam klubunun heyətində çıxdığı 211-ci matçında vurub. O, Premyer Liqada 45 (135 oyunda), Azərbaycan Kubokunda 2 (20 oyunda), avrokuboklarda 13 (56 qoyunda) qola imza atıb.

Xatırladaq ki, Leandro Andrade “Qarabağ”da ilk qolunu 2022-ci aprelin 2-də “Səbail”lə (5:1) çempionat görüşündə vurub.

Andrade 2022-ci ilin yanvarından “Qarabağ”ın formasını geyinir. Onun Ağdam klubu ilə mövcud müqaviləsinin müddəti 2027-ci ilədək nəzərdə tutulub. Andradenin sözləşməsində 4 milyon avro qarşılığında sərbəst qalma bəndi də var.

Leo Ağdam klubunun heyətində bütövlükdə 211 oyun keçirib. O, bu oyunlarda 60 qola imza atıb, 61 assist müəllifi olub. Leandro “Qarabağ”ın heyətində 4 dəfə (2021/2022, 2022/2023, 2023/2024, 2024/2025) Azərbaycan çempionu, iki dəfə (2021/2022, 2023/2024) ölkə kubokunun qalibi olub.

Leandro Andrade daha öncə Portuqaliyada “Fatima”, Bolqarıstanda “Çerno More” kimi komandaların da şərəfini qoruyub. O, 2022-ci ilin mart ayında debüt etdiyi Kabo Verde yığma komandasında da 7 oyun keçirib, lakin məhsuldar fəaliyyəti ilə diqqət çəkməyib.

Rauf Hüseynli mövsümün rekordunu təkrarladı

5 May 2026 at 13:00

Azərbaycan Premyer Liqasının 30-cu turunun “Sumqayıt”la ev oyunu “Kəpəz”in futbolçusu Rauf Hüseynli üçün əlamətdar olub.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, o, bu oyunda 4 dəqiqəyə iki qol vurub.

Hüseynli 2:1 hesabıyla qalib gəldikləri oyunda dubla imza atmaqla cari mövsümün rekordunu da təkrarlayıb.

86-cı və 89-cu dəqiqələrdə qol sevinci yaşayan Raufa qədər yalnız Leandro Andrade matçın bir hissəsində belə qısa müddətdə dubl müəllifi olmuşdu. “Qarabağ”ın portuqaliyalı yarımmüdafiəçisi “Araz-Naxçıvan”la martın 8-də keçirilmiş qarşılaşmada (6:0) 33-cü və 36-cı dəqiqələrdəki qolları ilə dublunu rəsmiləşdirmişdi.

Leandrodan fərqli olaraq, Rauf Hüseynli hər iki qolu penaltidən vurub. O, cari mövsümdə bir matçda 2 dəfə 11 metrlik nöqtədən dəqiq olan 4-cü futbolçudur. Ona qədər Aleksandr Ramalinqom (“Sumqayıt”) və Coy Lens Mikels (“Sabah”) penaltilərlə dubl etmişdi, Toral Bayramov (“Qarabağ”) het-trik etdiyi qarşılaşmada iki dəfə “ağ nöqtə”dən fərqlənmişdi. Raufa qədər Ramalinqom daha qısa müddətdə – 12 dəqiqədə iki penalti zərbəsini qola çevirmişdi. O, “Karvan”la ötən il oktyabrın 18-də keçirilmiş matçın (4:1) 54-cü və 65-ci dəqiqələrində fərqlənmişdi.

“Hər kəs məsuliyyəti dərk etməlidir” – Pedro

5 May 2026 at 13:30

“Çelsi” Premyer Liqada XXXV turda “Nottingem Forest”ə uduzub – 1:3.

Futbolpress.az xarici KİV-ə istinadən xəbər verir ki, “zadəganlar”ın hücumçusu Joao Pedro matçdan sonra fikirlərini bölüşüb:

“İstəmədiyimiz nəticə oldu. Hər kəs məsuliyyəti dərk etməlidir. “Çelsi” bu nəticələrə layiq deyil. Vəziyyəti düzəltməliyik. Hamıdan üzr istəyirəm”.

“Çelsi” çempionatda 48 xalla 9-cu sıradadır.

Ölkə birinciliyi başladı

5 May 2026 at 13:24

Stolüstü tennis üzrə ölkə birinciliyinə start verilib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, “Şüa İdman Kompleksi”ndə keçirilən yarışda U-19 və U-15 yaş qrupları üzrə idmançılar bacarıqlarını göstərirlər.

4 gün davam edəcək birincilikdə Bakı ilə yanaşı, müxtəlif şəhər və rayonlardan 120-dən artıq stolüstü tennisçi qələbə uğrunda mübarizə aparır.

Qaliblər komanda, şəxsi, qoşa və qarışıq-qoşa növlərində müəyyənləşəcək. Ölkə birinciliyində fəxri kürsüyə qalxan idmançılara Gənclər və İdman Nazirliyinin diplom və medalları, həmçinin Azərbaycan Stolüstü Tennis Federasiyasının hədiyyələri təqdim olunacaq.

Simeone: “Onların rahat oynamasına imkan verməməliyik”

5 May 2026 at 12:51

“Atletiko”nun baş məşqçisi Dieqo Simeone Çempionlar Liqasının yarımfinal mərhələsində bu gün “Arsenal”a qarşı keçirəcəkləri oyunla bağlı fikirlərini bölüşüb.

Futbolpress.az “Marca”ya istinadən xəbər verir ki, mütəxəssis komandasının final şanslarını dəyərləndirib:

“Oyunun tələb etdiyi dərəcədə intensiv olmalıyıq. Həm komanda, həm də fərdi baxımdan yüksək səviyyədə çıxış etməliyik. Rəqibin heyətində keyfiyyətli futbolçular var, onlara rahat oynamaq imkanı verməməliyik.

İlk matçda pis təsir bağışlamadıq. İndi daha artırmalı və final üçün mübarizə aparmalıyıq. İnanıram ki, yaxşı nəticə qazanacağıq”.

“Arsenal” – “Atletiko” oyunu saat 23:00-da start götürəcək. Komandalar arasındakı ilk matçda bərabərlik qeydə alınıb.

“Mingəçevir”in Şamaxı səfəri

5 May 2026 at 12:27

Bu gün Azərbaycan I Liqasında XXV tura start veriləcək.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, ilk gündə bir qarşılaşma keçiriləcək. “Mingəçevir” səfərdə “Şahdağ Qusar”la üz-üzə gələcək. Şamaxı OİK stadionunda reallaşacaq görüşə saat 16:00-da start veriləcək.

Turun digər oyunları 6 və 7 may tarixlərində baş tutacaq.

Azərbaycan I Liqası
XXV tur

5 may

16:00 Şahdağ Qusar – Mingəçevir
Şamaxı OİK stadionu

Serie A relegation thriller: survival on a knife edge

5 May 2026 at 13:11

In the Italian Serie A, while Inter have secured their 21st Scudetto, there’s a true thriller going on in the lower parts of the table: Fiorentina, Cremonese, Lecce and Genoa are fighting to stay in the championship. One of them will certainly be relegated to Serie B. Two teams are already certain to go down: Pisa and Hellas Verona, who have already been mathematically relegated.

In such an uncertain situation, it’s not easy to predict which teams will be relegated or manage to stay up. For those who still want to place a bet, betting apps with free bets no deposit required are just what they need—allowing them to bet conveniently from their phone, while limiting potential losses should the outcome not go as hoped for the team they decide to trust in the not-so-easy mission of avoiding relegation.

Relegation trends in Serie A

The teams at the bottom of the table allow too many goals in a championship as defensively strong as Serie A traditionally is. Pisa and Verona are tied at the bottom and have almost no chance of escaping that position: together, the two teams have won fewer than five games at the midpoint of April. You can’t hope to avoid relegation with these few points.

Verona and Pisa scored 24 and 25 goals, respectively, in 35 matches, which is a pretty poor result. Lecce also managed 24, Cremonese found the back of the net 27 times, while Fiorentina and Genoa did considerably better: the Viola scored 38 times and Genoa 40. Their problem, though, are the goals they allowed. According to Opta Analyst statistics, Pisa allowed 63 goals. This is obviously the worst result of the season and the reason why they are so low in the standings. Cremonese allowed 53 goals; Verona 57; Lecce 47; Fiorentina 49 and Genoa 48. These are all among the highest in the league. 

In the cases of Pisa, Verona and Genoa, the goals they concede are considerably higher than the scores they are expected to allow. This is a key stat in order to establish the favourites for relegation, so Genoa should be aware that the company is keeping. Pisa and Verona are bound to go down, but the Grifone can still win out and has the players to do just that. Genoa is a way better team than the last two of the bunch.

Games that matter until the end of the league

In the next few weeks, there will be some massive games to decide the relegations. Let’s see what the near future holds for the teams fighting to stay in Serie A.

BOLOGNA, ITALY - APRIL 12: Eusebio Di Francesco, Head Coach of US Lecce, gestures to his players during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and US Lecce at Renato Dall'Ara Stadium on April 12, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 12: Eusebio Di Francesco, Head Coach of US Lecce, gestures to his players during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and US Lecce at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on April 12, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Lecce

Eusebio Di Francesco’s boys recently faced Fiorentina, Verona and Pisa in consecutive weeks, before closing down the season against Genoa. Obviously, they hope this last game will not matter at all, as it will be the case if they mathematically avoid relegation before that day. Their opponents are not that tough, and their position in the standings is no longer a concern.

Cremonese

The Grigiorossi have it worse. They play against Pisa (week 36), but must face Napoli and Como, two of the better sides in the league in a couple of games where Giampaolo’s team will probably drop points. So they must win out the other games, which are way more winnable but surely not easy.

VERONA, ITALY - APRIL 04: Paolo Vanoli, Head Coach of Fiorentina looks on during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on April 04, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
VERONA, ITALY – APRIL 04: Paolo Vanoli, Head Coach of Fiorentina looks on during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on April 04, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)

Fiorentina

The Viola is almost out of contention. The team is considerably better than the others we are writing about and must face Genoa, among other better teams. The Viola are probably the team that risks less, in the fight to avoid relegation, given their history, talent and financial means, but must play at their best to keep it safe.

Genoa

The Grifone plays against Fiorentina in a week 36 game where the Grifone is seen as the underdog and against Lecce, in a week 38 match that could be of paramount importance for one of the two sides, or could not matter at all, should Cremonese get to the last weekend of the season already sure of its relegation.

BERGAMO, ITALY - MAY 02: Daniele De Rossi of Genoa FC looks on during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Genoa CFC at Gewiss Stadium on May 02, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
BERGAMO, ITALY – MAY 02: Daniele De Rossi of Genoa FC looks on during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Genoa CFC at Gewiss Stadium on May 02, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Giampaolo’s team seem to be the worst-positioned to stay in Serie A. Their roster is depleted and their schedule is considerably tough. Motivation will be key for them and they could use some help from their rivals. 

Maybe some of them will lose out and eliminate themselves with their own hands. In Cremona, they would be quite delighted should that happen. On Football Italia, we will closely follow how this battle develops, keeping an eye on Cagliari as well, which is not in good shape after the defeat against Inter Milan and could be the sixth team involved in the clash to avoid relegation.

Donnarumma kneels to referee, becomes most-booked goalkeeper in Europe

5 May 2026 at 12:57

Gianluigi Donnarumma was desperate to see Everton’s second goal ruled out on Monday, even kneeling before referee Michael Oliver, a gesture that earned him his seventh yellow card of the season, the most of any goalkeeper in Europe.

Italy captain Donnarumma received his seventh yellow card of the season on Monday, during Manchester City’s 3-3 draw against Everton.

As reported by Goal.com, Gigio has received more yellow cards than any other goalkeeper in Europe’s top ten leagues.

Donnarumma believed he had been fouled in the build-up to Everton’s second goal, which stemmed from a corner kick routine. However, his protests to the referee did not yield the desired outcome.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 04: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City speaks with referee Michael Oliver during the Premier League match between Everton and Manchester City at Hill Dickinson Stadium on May 04, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MAY 04: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City speaks with referee Michael Oliver during the Premier League match between Everton and Manchester City at Hill Dickinson Stadium on May 04, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

The Italian goalkeeper had previously produced a couple of decisive saves and somehow contributed to Manchester City’s late equaliser by rushing inside the Everton box for a late corner kick which led to Jeremy Doku’s goal.

Donnarumma is in his first season at Manchester City, where he has conceded 40 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions and kept 16 clean sheets.

Donnarumma’s ups and downs in Everton 3-3 Man City

Donnarumma literally dropped to his knees begging Michael Oliver not to book him 😂😭#EVEMCI pic.twitter.com/cgfrC29eYp

— USHIE (@ustonysilva) May 5, 2026

WHA A RIDICULOUS SAVE BY DONNARUMMA TO DENY NDIAYE?🔥pic.twitter.com/yN2MjDnBaK https://t.co/v1gfcd8ATV

— TopCee (@UtdTopCee) May 4, 2026

breh! https://t.co/ulR54sytfH pic.twitter.com/NDCD9M3DwY

— Geronimo Morgans (@GeronimoMorgans) May 4, 2026

MADNESS!! 😱

Jeremy Doku with the EQUALIZER in the 97 minute!!

🔵 Everton: 3
⚪ Man City: 3
⏱ 97’ pic.twitter.com/07r87bbwS0

— USA Sports (@usasports) May 4, 2026

The reason why Cesc Fabregas is having second thoughts over taking the Chelsea job

5 May 2026 at 12:53

One name that is making waves in the managerial world is Spaniard Cesc Fabregas who has impressed with Como in Serie A.

His team is currently sitting in 5th position in the league and they could qualify for the Champions League next season in a major surprise, showing the impact Fabregas has had at the Italian club.

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Given his legendary status at both Arsenal and Chelsea, it makes perfect sense that English clubs are keeping a close eye on his rapidly rising coaching stock.

But if any Premier League owners think they can easily lure the Spaniard away from his current project, they are going to be severely disappointed.

Fabregas is ready to wait for Premier League opportunity

Fabregas recently made it crystal clear that while he fully intends to manage in England one day, he is in absolutely no rush to pack his bags and abandon ship.

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After initially guiding Como out of the depths of Serie B, he has completely transformed them into genuine heavyweights in the top flight.

A huge part of that success is down to their watertight defense. Fabregas has organised his team brilliantly, and they currently boast the best defensive record in Serie A, having conceded a league-low 28 goals so far this campaign.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Fabregas reiterated his deep love for English football, firmly declaring it the “best league in the world.”

However, he also revealed a brilliant piece of advice he received from Jose Mourinho during their time together at Stamford Bridge.

“The Premier League is the best league in the world,” Fabregas told the Daily Telegraph, as reported by Sky Sports.

“I’ve always been very, very clear about it. I felt it as a player, I feel it as a coach, as a fan.

“But [Jose] Mourinho told me one day when I was at Chelsea: ‘I still have 30 years to work.’ So I could be here [Como] for 10 years, and you can still go to the Premier League in 12, 15 years.

“Football is so unpredictable, it changes in one second. One day, you are the best. The day after, you are the worst. So let’s enjoy the moment. I like to enjoy the moment. It’s beautiful what we are living here. Let’s see what the future holds.”

Spaniard has highly impressed at Como

Chelsea are currently without a manager and are reportedly heavily monitoring their former midfield maestro.

But Fabregas recently revealed that at Como, he takes all the football decisions. He works seamlessly day-to-day with his sporting director and feels incredibly lucky to have a club president who completely trusts him to run the show.

That kind of absolute structural freedom is something he would likely struggle to find under Chelsea’s current ownership model.

At the end of the day, Fabregas knows exactly how brutal this industry can be. As he wisely pointed out, football changes in a second, one day you are hailed as the absolute best, and the very next day you are the worst.

The Premier League will undoubtedly be waiting for him whenever he is ready, but for now, he is determined to make Como successful.

Chelsea & Man United target move for 12 G/A Serie A attacker who has revived his career

The post The reason why Cesc Fabregas is having second thoughts over taking the Chelsea job appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Carragher makes Arsenal favourites against Atletico, mentions reason behind his prediction

5 May 2026 at 12:17

As Arsenal prepare to host Atletico Madrid in the decisive second leg of their massive Champions League semi-final showdown at the Emirates, the tension in North London is high.

With the tie beautifully poised at 1-1 following their meeting in the Spanish capital last week, the stakes couldn’t possibly be higher.

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While many fans and pundits are nervously biting their nails and sitting firmly on the fence, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has confidently backed Arsenal to beat the Spanish giants and qualify for their first Champions League final since 2006.

He is boldly predicting that Mikel Arteta’s men will punch their ticket to the grand finale.

For years, the narrative surrounding Arsenal in Europe was incredibly consistent, they were beautifully brilliant on the ball, but fragile when the going got tough.

Carragher backs Arsenal to qualify for UCL final

According to Carragher, that soft underbelly has been completely eradicated under Arteta.

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The “big change” the pundit is raving about is Arsenal’s newfound, ruthless pragmatism.

Carragher said on The Gary Neville podcast: “I think Arsenal will get through.

“I think they’re a better team than Atletico Madrid. I don’t think Atletico are that good if I’m being honest.

“Even in the first leg, there was a 20-minute period when Atletico were on top but either side of that Arsenal were in control of the game.

“I think the big thing Arsenal have done in the last couple of games is put Declan Rice a little bit deeper and I think that’s had a big impact.

“I thought he played well against Atletico, showed real authority, and was excellent at the weekend against Fulham.

“I’ve been worried about that midfield, we’ve highlighted that a lot recently, but there’s been a little change there and it helped.”

Gunners have evolved under the leadership of Arteta

In the past, a naive Arsenal side might have completely lost their heads during the chaotic 1-1 draw at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano last week.

Instead, they matched Atletico’s intense physicality blow-for-blow.

Carragher argues that because Arsenal have finally learned how to suffer without collapsing, they are the favourites to go through.

Not to forget, the Gunners have home advantage in the second leg and they would be hoping that the support from their fans will act as a catalyst to push them through this difficult match.

As Carragher pointed out Rice’s change in position recently, Arteta would be hoping to see his midfielder put his best performance of the season in the club’s biggest match in a long time.

Champions League final in Budapest is the target for Arteta and his players and they have a great chance of making history, or at least continue the process of making history.

Neville praises ‘top-class’ Arsenal player who was on top of his game against Fulham

The post Carragher makes Arsenal favourites against Atletico, mentions reason behind his prediction appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Is Sandro Tonali the man to partner Kobbie Mainoo at the heart of Manchester United’s midfield next season?

Officially punching their Champions League ticket on Sunday afternoon as they clinched a rollercoaster 3-2 victory at home against historic rivals Liverpool, Manchester United are clearly relishing life under Michael Carrick’s guidance. Embarking on a stellar resurge since the former Middlesbrough boss made a shock return to the Old Trafford dugout back in January, United […]

The post Is Sandro Tonali the man to partner Kobbie Mainoo at the heart of Manchester United’s midfield next season? appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Is Sandro Tonali the man to partner Kobbie Mainoo at the heart of Manchester United’s midfield next season? appeared first on Soccer News.

Is Sandro Tonali the man to partner Kobbie Mainoo at the heart of Manchester United’s midfield next season?

Officially punching their Champions League ticket on Sunday afternoon as they clinched a rollercoaster 3-2 victory at home against historic rivals Liverpool, Manchester United are clearly relishing life under Michael Carrick’s guidance. Embarking on a stellar resurge since the former Middlesbrough boss made a shock return to the Old Trafford dugout back in January, United […]

The post Is Sandro Tonali the man to partner Kobbie Mainoo at the heart of Manchester United’s midfield next season? appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Is Sandro Tonali the man to partner Kobbie Mainoo at the heart of Manchester United’s midfield next season? appeared first on Soccer News.

‘95 off 30 balls!’: Langer cites practice blitz to back ‘selfless’ Pant despite LSG defeat

NEW DELHI: Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer has thrown his full support behind captain Rishabh Pant despite another disappointing outing in the IPL 2026, insisting the wicketkeeper-batter is “not far off” rediscovering his best.

LSG slumped to yet another defeat, against Mumbai Indians on Monday, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the table with just two wins in nine matches. Much of the scrutiny has centred on Pant’s form and his decision to shuffle the batting order, but Langer offered a strong defence of both.


Revealing a glimpse of Pant’s recent form behind the scenes, Langer highlighted a stunning practice performance that convinced the team management of his readiness.

“We played a practice game here two days ago, and Rishi… maybe 95 off 40 or 30 balls — you’re just looking at it and you go, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s Rishabh Pant at his very best,’” Langer said.

“So, he’s a very good player; we know that. We’ve seen him in Test cricket destroy teams at number five, and we felt today… it might be a good option for the team.”

‘Selfless’ move for the team

Pant’s decision to push himself down the order, allowing Nicholas Pooran to bat higher, raised eyebrows — but Langer described it as a selfless call taken purely in the team’s interest.

“He selflessly moved down the order to let Nicky P bat, whose batting was unbelievable,” Langer explained, referring to Pooran’s explosive 63 off 21 balls.

Backing his captain’s leadership, Langer added, “As a captain in the IPL… you’ve got to keep fronting up. That’s all you can do, and he’ll keep fronting up and hopefully help us get some wins.”

The coach also dismissed suggestions that Pant’s record price tag is affecting his performances.

“Honestly, I don’t think the money has anything to do with it… leadership is a tough position, you’re carrying lots of pressure, and he knows that,” he said. “He’s working hard… and he’s not far off.”

Pant admits LSG fell short

Pant himself acknowledged that LSG left runs on the table after a strong start.

“Definitely, the way we started, I think we should have gotten more runs… we were short 10-15 runs because it was a 220-230 wicket,” he said.

While refusing to blame the bowlers, Pant admitted the team needs a bit of fortune to turn things around. “I think we need some good luck… and it’s going to take some more effort from us, for sure.”

With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, LSG will now hope Pant’s practice brilliance soon translates into match-winning performances.


130817352

What is the Titans' biggest remaining post-draft question?

With all of the changes made by the Tennessee Titans this offseason, it is easy to see why everything feels different, and there is a tangible air of excitement surrounding the organization.

But, for the Titans to take the next step and see a massive jump in performance in 2026, Cam Ward must take a significant step forward in his second season. That being said, it’s no surprise that Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports believes Wards’ development is the biggest post-draft question for the Titans.

Tennessee TitansQuestion: Will Cam Ward enjoy a Year 2 breakout?

Cam Ward sneakily started to break out at the tail end of last season. Over his final seven games, his completion percentage (62%), total touchdowns to turnover ratio (11-2), and passer rating (90.5) all saw a noticeable tick up. The Titans also averaged 20.1 points over that stretch compared to the 14.3 points per game they averaged over his first 10 games.

The former No. 1 overall pick will try to keep that momentum rolling into 2026 with a totally new cast around him. Tennessee hired Robert Saleh as head coach and brought in Brian Daboll as the offensive coordinator, while adding veteran receiver Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency and using the No. 4 overall pick at the 2026 NFL Draft on Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate.

That's the type of firepower that Ward was missing over his rookie season and could help him fully break out in Year 2. If he does, Tennessee could surprise teams in 2026.

Ward and the Titans’ offense took off after the team parted ways with Brian Callahan, and they looked like one of the more complete units in the league, even though they lacked established playmakers on that side of the ball. Now with a new staff and added talent, Ward should be in a position to take that step forward in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans: What is the biggest remaining post-draft question?

Pirates need to take the training wheels off of Paul Skenes

Apr 28, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes (30) watches game action from the dugout against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Pirates have on paper one of the best rotations in baseball, but they cannot expect to maximize that talent if they continue to limit their ace, Paul Skenes.

In 2026, Skenes has seven starts under his belt with a 4-2 record and a 3.18 ERA. When he’s on the mound, he’s mostly been very effective, with his starts against the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals being outliers. Outside of those two ugly starts though ,Skenes has only allowed one earned run or less in his other appearances. The problem now though is when Skenes, pitches he’s averaging less than five innings pitched, 4.76 innings on average to be exact.

If this is the plan the Pirates have to keep Skenes fresh for the postseason, they will fail. The game plan of playing not to lose instead of playing to win has a weak foundation, and the Pirates won’t even sniff the playoffs if they continue to utilize Skenes this way. The middle innings have been rough for Pittsburgh’s bullpen, and the longer those arms are out there the more likely it is that opposing teams are going to win.

Paul Skenes took a perfect game into the 7th inning in one of his best career starts 👏 pic.twitter.com/FRQcvx949K

— MLB (@MLB) April 25, 2026

Perhaps the biggest flaw in Skenes’ game is why the Pirates have been cautious with his starts; his biggest flaw being that he throws a lot of pitches. Skenes relies a lot on swing and miss pitches, and balls that just barely miss the strike zone. Because of his approach, he racks up pitches, sometimes quickly. In his most recent start against the Cardinals, the 23-year-old righty threw 102 pitches in just five innings. His start before that against Milwaukee, he threw 93 pitches, and twice this season topped 85 pitches thrown as well. If it’s a matter of workload ,the Pirates are still letting him throw a high number of pitches in a smaller amount of innings, as he’s currently averaging roughly 78.3 pitches thrown per contest.

Perhaps the reason that the Pirates have limited the action that Skenes sees is the dark underlying one that all Buccos fans fear. It’s possible that the Pirates don’t see Skenes as a long term option for the club, but instead as a massive trade package for future assets. Let’s not sugarcoat it, Skenes is the best pitcher in baseball. The best pitcher in baseball figures to fetch quite the contract extension when his time comes. However, the 19-year-old unproven prospect who hadn’t yet played an inning of Major League ball got the largest contract extension in franchise history. Meanwhile Skenes is already a two-time All-Star and Cy Young Award winner, and is still playing on the deal he signed when he was drafted.

Ever since he was drafted but especially last season, there have been numerous rumors about the Pirates receiving trade offers for Skenes. Now even if the Pirates have no intention of trading the superstar pitcher now, they might not have him in the budget long term. Skenes could easily garner a $5o million yearly salary, which would break the bank for the thrifty Pirates. Zach Wheeler and Jacob DeGrom are currently averaging about $40 million a year, and Skenes could easily get that or more. Perhaps the Pirates are just trying to keep Skenes as healthy as possible to keep the trade market as bountiful as possible, or it’s entirely possible that Skenes doesn’t want to be a Pirate long term, although nothing to this point has indicated that.

"We should do this more often."

Henry Davis goes yard with Paul Skenes mic'd up 🔥 pic.twitter.com/9nia216teJ

— MLB (@MLB) May 2, 2026

Regardless of what the Pirates or Skenes’ plans are longterm, both parties need to be focused on the task at hand. Pittsburgh is at the bottom of the NL Central, and it’s not going to get any easier down the stretch. The goal should be to win, and Skenes is the guy that can help bring this team out of the basement and into the limelight.

Two Phil Parkinsons? Chester appoint Wrexham boss namesake

New Chester boss Phil Parkinson (left) and Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson (right)
Chester have appointed Phil Parkinson (left) as their new manager, while Phil Parkinson (right) remains manager of their bitter rivals Wrexham [Shutterstock]

They say if you can't beat them them join them and that's exactly what Chester have done with their managerial appointment.

No doubt less than delighted at watching bitter rivals Wrexham rocket through the leagues under the management of Phil Parkinson, the National League North side have gone and appointed Phil Parkinson as their new boss.

It would of course be quite the story had Phil Parkinson gone from missing out on a Championship play-off place and a potential fourth successive promotion, to the Premier League, to take over a side who have just finished seventh in the sixth tier.

On this occasion that isn't quite the case.

Chester have appointed former Altrincham boss Phil Parkinson as they look to secure promotion back to the National League after eight years away.

Whether Phil Parkinson will face Phil Parkinson during his time in charge of the Blues is probably unlikely but the two have met during Wrexham's time in non-league.

All four league meetings went the way of the Hollywood-backed Welsh side then but Alty did take the win on penalties when they met in the FA Trophy in 2023.

Phil Parkinson, the new Chester boss, has signed a two-year deal and said fans can "expect a real modern-day approach to football. We have a set way of going about things, an identity that we won't deviate from".

If he can have anywhere near the same success that his namesake has had with the Welsh neighbours then Blues supporters will be ecstatic.

French broadcaster hits back at Bath's TMO criticism

Bath's Alfie Barbeary is tackled by Bordeaux's Adam Coleman
Johann van Graan called for "consistency" after saying that three carries from Alfie Barbeary made direct contact to the head [Getty Images]

France's television broadcaster of the Champions Cup has responded to criticism of the television match official (TMO) from Bath boss Johann van Graan, saying "the video referee is the master of what he wants to see".

Van Graan said that foul play incidents were missed in his side's semi-final loss to Bordeaux-Begles, and called for more consistency in the replays shown to the officials.

He said they missed three instances of head contact on Bath's Alfie Barbeary, but the broadcaster says all footage was shared correctly.

"The video referee is the master of what he wants to see, and nowadays he has access to every camera, every angle," France Televisions' rugby editor Cedric Beaudou told AFP.

"Until he makes his decisions, we leave him to see what he wants to see. It's impossible to hide footage."

Van Graan accepted his side was outplayed in the 38-26 defeat but said "certain things are not picked up when you play away from home in France".

European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), who organise the tournament, also defended the TMO and explained how the video footage is used by the video referee.

"The TMO interventions are managed by the television broadcast," EPCR told AFP.

"Two screens are used: one live, and another with a five-second delay. This is identical for all EPCR matches.

"Every incident the TMO wants to study can be the subject of a formal review."

The Champions Cup final takes place on 23 May where Bordeaux will defend their title against Leinster.

The Origins Of Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu’s Iron Grip: From Bare-Handed Miner To ONE World Champion

In the modern landscape of mixed martial arts, fighters utilize state-of-the-art sports science, hyperbaric chambers, and perfectly calibrated strength and conditioning programs to gain a competitive edge.

But occasionally, an athlete emerges whose physical power was forged not in a high-tech facility, but in the unforgiving crucible of absolute hardship. 

Reigning ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion “The Tormentor” Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu is the terrifying embodiment of that raw, unrefined power.

The Mongolian superstar has captivated fans around the globe with his suffocating grappling and an unbreakable, vice-like grip that has dismantled some of the best fighters on the planet.

Most famously, Baatarkhuu showcased this explosive upper-body strength when he claimed the organization’s bantamweight MMA crown by wrapping his arms around the neck of former divisional king Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade at ONE Fight Night 38 last December.

Once the Mongolian locked in the rear-naked choke, it was less like a standard submission and more like an industrial steel trap snapping shut. Andrade had no choice but to tap out or go to sleep.

But that world-class squeeze was not built in a gym. Long before he was strapping ONE Championship gold around his waist or capturing the attention of millions as a member of Team Mongolia on the hit reality show Physical: Asia, “The Tormentor” was a young man breaking his body against the earth to survive.

Forged In The Mountains Of Mongolia

To understand the impressive functional strength of the bantamweight MMA king, one must look back to the dark, freezing confines of the Mongolian mines.

At an age when most aspiring athletes are focused on amateur tournaments and high school wrestling brackets, Baatarkhuu was quite literally tearing minerals from the ground using nothing but his flesh and bone. Without access to proper industrial tools, he relied entirely on his hands to extract raw ore.

It was a brutal, grueling existence, but it secretly built the foundation of a World Champion. Grasping jagged rocks, tearing at roots, and hauling heavy, unbalanced loads day after day naturally developed a level of tendon density and crushing grip strength that no barbell or dumbbell could ever replicate. 

Baatarkhuu explained:

“There are two reasons that I developed this grip strength. When I was 17, I worked in the mines. Copper, iron, fluorite, and other minerals, I mined with my bare hands. We had no machines at the time. That job was quite hard. I really worked hard. 

“A year after that, I also worked in the mountains. We cut the trees down with our hands as well. That was really, really hard labor. We had no good tools, and it was quite cold outside. But I still had to work. These two jobs gave me great upper body and arm strength.”

Enkh Orgil Baatarkhuu working in the mines in Mongolia.
Photo courtesy of ONE Championship/Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu

The sheer mechanical force required to chop down timber with inadequate hand tools – absorbing the reverberating shock of every single strike – thickened his wrists, forearms, and shoulders.

It was an involuntary masterclass in isometric and concentric power development that built the physique he is known for today.

Unbeknownst to him at the time, every swing of the axe and every rock pulled from the earth was a deposit into an athletic arsenal that would one day rule the world’s largest martial arts organization.

Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu in his mining uniform.
Photo courtesy of ONE Championship/Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu

The 12-Hour Shifts And The Frozen Steppes

Physical strength alone does not crown a World Champion. It must be coupled with an unbreakable mental fortitude. Baatarkhuu’s legendary stamina and sheer force of will were cultivated through a daily routine that would break the spirit of an ordinary man.

Working exhaustive 12-hour shifts of manual labor in the mines was merely the prerequisite for his actual passion. When his grueling workday finally ended, Baatarkhuu’s training had just begun.

“The Tormentor” recalled:

“While I was working in the mines in 12-hour shifts, even if I worked for long hours, I still trained so hard. My training was even harder than those mining shifts. When I stopped working in the mines, that gave me more time to train. 

“So, I started training twice a day after that, got some good rest, and worked really hard again. That was the turning point in my career. I truly became a professional athlete.”

Yet even as a full-time professional, Baatarkhuu never abandoned the extreme environments of his homeland.

Mongolia’s unforgiving climate is famously brutal, with winter temperatures plunging to lethal depths. Rather than hiding from the bitter cold in a climate-controlled gym, the bantamweight MMA king actively uses the frozen steppes to harden his mind and body. 

His conditioning routine sounds less like a modern athletic program and more like a mythical warrior’s rite of passage. This daily exposure to absolute physical extremes is what he believes granted him the superhuman strength he has been able to showcase to the world.

Baatarkhuu said:

“I have a few special workouts and training [routines] that I like to do, but it’s not something special. It’s pretty common among Mongolian people. But it is very hard for other people. 

“We train in the mountains, wrestling in the cold with just our training gear. We live in these extreme temperatures, rubbing snow on our bodies. When it’s minus 40 Celsius outside and there are parts of the lake or the river that have not frozen over, we take a bath there. It’s quite common in our country. I’m also one of those crazy guys who love to do that.”

An Unbreakable Hold On The Bantamweight MMA Throne

Today, the man who once mined copper with his bare hands stands alone at the summit of the martial arts world. 

His journey from the brutal mines of rural Mongolia to the global stage of ONE Championship is a testament to the fact that some fighters are simply built different. Baatarkhuu’s power is not a product of lifting weights. It is the physical manifestation of a lifetime spent conquering immovable objects.

Currently, the ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion is awaiting his next assignment. While an official fight has not been booked yet, fans are eagerly anticipating his first World Title defense.

The division is teeming with world-class grapplers, elite strikers, and hungry contenders desperate to claim the 26 pounds of gold.

But whoever steps into the Circle with Baatarkhuu next will have to solve an impossible physical puzzle.

They will not just be fighting a mixed martial artist. They will be fighting a man whose hands were hardened by the mountains, whose lungs were strengthened by the freezing steppes, and whose iron grip refuses to let go.

Source

Guardiola makes title race admission after damaging Everton draw

Guardiola makes title race admission after damaging Everton draw
Guardiola makes title race admission after damaging Everton draw

Pep Guardiola has conceded the Premier League title race is now in Arsenal’s control, and Manchester City can only win their games and hope for the best.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Despite a late comeback to draw 3-3, Manchester City dropped two points in the title race away to Everton on Monday night, leaving them five behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.

City still have a game in hand on the leaders, so they can cut that gap to two points with a win over Brentford on Saturday. But they can no longer catch Arsenal unless the Gunners drop points in their final three matches.

Speaking after the match, Pep Guardiola reflected on the state of the title race following his team’s latest dropped points.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

“It was in our hands, in Arsenal’s hands as well before that game, depends on the goals conceded. Now it’s not,” Guardiola admitted. “We have to win our games. Now it’s not in our hands, if they win all the games, the title will be for Arsenal.

“So what we have to do is win our games, recover well, and then to have a series of games, three days, three days, three days. This is what we have to do.

“Brentford, recover and go for them, and after, Crystal Palace, and FA Cup final, and game by game it will happen.”

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

The encouraging thing for Arsenal fans is that City have slipped up at the first hurdle in these final five games, with the Gunners already having secured two wins.

The pressure is certainly on City to get a result against a high-flying Brentford side on Saturday, and the team still have to go away to Bournemouth in the final week of the season as well.

As for Arsenal, the Gunners have the midweek distraction of a Champions League semi-final, but they’ll then turn their attentions to a huge away game against relegation-battling West Ham United.

The Hammers have been in better form lately, and they desperately need the win, so it’s unlikely to be an easy three points.

The rest of this week could prove pivotal for the remainder of the season. If City slip up again and Arsenal win, it will be all but over. But if City win against Brentford and Arsenal falter against West Ham, we’ll be back to square one.

Joel Embiid addresses Mikal Bridges play after Sixers fall to Knicks

NEW YORK -- The Philadelphia 76ers fell in Game 1 to the New York Knicks by an ugly score of 137-98 to fall down 0-1 to open the Eastern Conference semifinals. Not a lot went right for the Sixers on the night as they shot just 41.1% on the night while the Knicks shot 63.1% and made 19 from deep compared to 11 for Philadelphia.

There was one play that stood out in the loss, and it was Knicks forward Mikal Bridges running into Sixers star Joel Embiid in the abdomen. Embiid then doubled over in pain as he is coming off an appendectomy and it is, obviously, quite painful for him to deal with at the moment.

Bridges was chasing Tyrese Maxey off the screen, but Maxey was already gone. It seemed like an odd and peculiar play for Bridges to keep going and run into Embiid.

"I got hit on it," Embiid said. "I don't know if it was—obviously, based on what’s been going on. I guess I got to protect it more. I don't know if it was dirty or not. I guess I gotta do a better job of protecting my (stomach), yeah, especially that part."

Joel Embiid is struggling with some abdominal pain after taking a shot from Mikal Bridges while setting a screen.

He's staying in the game, but something to keep an eye on. Embiid had an appendectomy less than four weeks ago. pic.twitter.com/b4wtNvT2AC

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) May 5, 2026

When asked a follow up on the play, Embiid went into a little more detail as he was, obviously, setting a screen for Maxey. Once Maxey came off the screen and was gone, the play should have been over from the perspective of Bridges. Instead, he kept going and hit Embiid which caused pain.

"Yeah, it was off the screen," Embiid added. "I don't think that was necessary, because, you know, Tyrese was already gone, and it was kind of like after the play. I just felt like it was unnecessary, but we move on. It’s playoff basketball. If that's the reality of it, I guess we got to go out and be physical, too and do it, too."

Embiid had 14 points on 3-for-11 shooting while going 8-for-9 from the foul line. He and the Sixers will look to bounce back in Game 2 on Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Joel Embiid addresses Mikal Bridges play after Sixers fall to Knicks

High school softball rankings, 2026 USA Today Ohio Super 25, May 5

This is the third 2026 regular-season USA Today Co. Ohio High School Super 25 poll for softball, featuring voters from across the state. The Ohio Super 25 ranks the teams sportswriters believe are the state's 25 best, regardless of division.

The Ohio Super 25 softball poll is conducted during the regular season using a panel of sportswriters from across the state's USA Today network. Each voter submits a Top 25 list, with a first-place vote worth 25 points, second place 24, and so on down to one point for 25th.

Here's a look at our rankings.

High school softball rankings ‒ May 5, 2026

RankTeamTotal pointsFirst-place votes
1Austintown Fitch3007
2Kenton Ridge2953
3Anthony Wayne2901
4Dover276
5Walsh Jesuit2672
6Licking Valley235
7Hilliard Bradley210
8Greenville178
9Liberty Union176
10 (tie)Archbishop Hoban169
10 (tie)Kings169
12Painesville Riverside149
13Bloom-Carroll138
14Springfield Shawnee129
15Western Brown121
16Wheelersburg120
17Massillon Jackson119
18Green112
19Portsmouth Notre Dame109
20Mount Vernon103
21Lakota East82
22Alliance Marlington71
23Milford61
24Tri-Village60
25Badin48

Others receiving votes

Boardman, Centerville, Holland Springfield, Lancaster, Lebanon, Oak Hills, Talawanda, Taylor,Tuscarawas Valley, Tuslaw and Watkins Memorial.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: USA Today Ohio Super 25 high school softball rankings, May 5, 2026

Ohio high school softball rankings, USA Today Super 25 for May 5

This is the third 2026 regular-season USA Today Co. Ohio High School Super 25 poll for softball, featuring voters from across the state. The Ohio Super 25 ranks the teams sportswriters believe are the state's 25 best, regardless of division.

The Ohio Super 25 softball poll is conducted during the regular season using a panel of sportswriters from across the state's USA Today network. Each voter submits a Top 25 list, with a first-place vote worth 25 points, second place 24, and so on down to one point for 25th.

Here's a look at our rankings.

Liberty Union's Ryleigh Brown bats in a 1-0 win over Bloom-Carroll on April 30.

Ohio high school softball rankings ‒ May 5, 2026

RankTeamTotal pointsFirst-place votes
1Austintown Fitch3007
2Springfield Kenton Ridge2953
3Whitehouse Anthony Wayne2901
4Dover276
5Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit2672
6Licking Valley235
7Hilliard Bradley210
8Greenville178
9Liberty Union176
10 (tie)Akron Hoban169
10 (tie)Kings Mills Kings169
12Painesville Riverside149
13Bloom-Carroll138
14Springfield Shawnee129
15Mount Orab Western Brown121
16Wheelersburg120
17Massillon Jackson119
18Uniontown Green112
19Portsmouth Notre Dame109
20Mount Vernon103
21Liberty Township Lakota East82
22Alliance Marlington71
23Milford61
24New Madison Tri-Village60
25Hamilton Badin48

Others receiving votes

Boardman, Centerville, Cin. Oak Hills, Cleves Taylor, Holland Springfield, Lancaster, Lebanon, Massillon Tuslaw, Oxford Talawanda, Watkins Memorial and Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio high school softball, USA Today Super 25 for May 5

Ohio high school baseball rankings, USA Today Super 25 for May 5

This is the third 2026 regular-season USA Today Co. Ohio High School Super 25 poll for baseball, featuring voters from across the state. The Ohio Super 25 ranks the teams sportswriters believe are the state's 25 best, regardless of division.

The Ohio Super 25 baseball poll is conducted during the regular season using a panel of sportswriters from across the state's USA Today network. Each voter submits a Top 25 list, with a first-place vote worth 25 points, second place 24, and so on down to one point for 25th.

Here's a look at our rankings.

AJ Goldmeyer and Olentangy Liberty earned the No. 1 ranking in this week's USA Today Co. Ohio High School Super 25 poll.

Ohio high school baseball rankings ‒ May 5, 2026

RankTeamTotal pointsFirst-place votes
1Olentangy Liberty3117
2Cin. Moeller2914
3 (tie)Jonathan Alder2381
3 (tie)Lakewood2381
5Hamilton Badin220
6Troy215
7Vandalia Butler190
8Amherst Steele189
9Youngs. Mooney172
10Loveland151
11Centerville140
12Olentangy139
13Olentangy Orange1231
14Medina121
15North Canton Hoover109
16Akron Hoban107
17Watterson98
18New Albany87
19Springboro85
20Berlin Hiland82
21Apple Creek Waynedale81
22 (tie)Lakewood St. Edward80
22 (tie)West Jefferson80
24Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit67
25Cin. Elder66

Others receiving votes

Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, Big Walnut, Brunswick, Cin. Indian Hill, Cin. La Salle, Cin. McNicholas, Gahanna Lincoln, Hartley, Hartville Lake Center Christian, Licking Valley, Mason, Medina Highland, Minster, Newark, Norton, Painesville Riverside, Olentangy Berlin, Sandusky Perkins and West Chester Lakota West.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio high school baseball, USA Today Super 25 for May 5

PBA Desires to Own Made-for-TV Barroom Games

PBA Desires to Own Made-for-TV Barroom Games

The Professional Bowlers Association (or PBA) World Championship is scheduled for Saturday, June 13. The event, which will take place at Thunderbird Lanes in Allen Park, MI and air on CBS, CBS Sports Network, and Paramount+, is the last of five PBA Tour majors this season. 

But unlike next week’s PGA Championship or the upcoming French Open, the flagship competition will take place off the radar of mainstream sports fans. 

Peter Murray, the Chief Executive Officer of the PBA and Head of Media for Lucky Strike Entertainment, is working to change that––and turn the challenger property into a ‘world class global sports league’. He previously served as the CEO of PFL International.

There is an “opportunity to drive meaningful growth through three things: contemporary brand building, strategic innovation, and monetization,” Murray said. 

And then to replicate the model across adjacent sports.  

“We envision becoming the leader in made-for-TV barroom games,” Murray added.

The PBA has a rich history. It’s been operating the Professional Bowlers Tour since 1958. Nearly all of the sport’s biggest stars, including Earl Anthony and Walter Ray Williams Jr., have competed on the circuit over the last 65+ years. 

The Tour was once a strong TV draw (see: 1970s). But as media fragmentation began to occur and consumer preferences shifted in the 80s and early 90s, ratings fell off and the property no longer had a place on broadcast television. 

The PBA re-emerged on Fox in 2019. While that deal has since expired, it now has 10 ‘Championship Sunday’ dates/season on the CW, along with a pair of tentpole events airing on CBS (including next month’s PBA World Championship).

The PBA is owned and operated by Lucky Strike Entertainment (NYSE: LUCK). Formerly Bowlero (and Bowlmor AMF before that), the company acquired Lucky Strike in ‘23 before rebranding under that name a year later.  

LUCK maintains a physical footprint of over 360 locations across the U.S. For context, ~70mm Americans will bowl a game this year. ~30mm of them will do so in a Lucky Strike O&O establishment. 

“That’s a very powerful foundation to further incorporate or leverage as part of the PBA Tour’s next phase of growth,” Murray said. “We have the opportunity to regularly engage fans from a marketing point of view and to launch new events and experiences within that ecosystem that are PBA driven.” 

The bet is that the pro league will be able to convert a meaningful number of Lucky Strike visitors into consumers of those experiences/viewers of those events over time. 

While profitable, the PBA Tour currently exists to serve as a marketing vehicle for the sport and Lucky Strike’s brick and mortar locations. It represents just a small fraction of LUCK’s overall revenue. 

Murray has been tasked with expanding the PBA Tour’s contribution to Lucky Strike’s top line. 

Media rights, sponsorships, and memberships drive the business today. The PBA is exploring new revenue streams, including site fees, sports betting data licensing, and the launch of a FAST channel. 

Skeptics will argue that turning a near-seven-decade-old property into a culturally relevant sports platform with billion-dollar potential is an uphill battle. They’ll tell you, like boxing or horse racing, bowling is a sport from another era with an aging, working-class fan base. 

But the PBA executive doesn’t see it that way.  

“You really have all of these trends converging around bowling,” Murray said. “You have mass participation, it’s accessible on linear television, it ticks all these boxes that other sports properties are looking for.” 

That includes TV viewership. The PBA Tour has been drawing audiences that many other leagues would envy.  

“Our first time on CBS broadcast we did 672,000 outperforming the NWSL and Major League Pickleball on the network that day,” Murray said. 

And the PBA has a publicly traded company with a $1.1bn market cap behind it enabling Murray and Co. to focus on building without having to worry about constantly raising capital. 

Of course, scaling the PBA Tour fan base won’t be easy. The average American sports fan is not currently paying attention to professional bowling. 

“I’m looking at building a sport from the ground up, even though it has all this history,” Murray said. “The goal is to reimagine the PBA Tour using content for the next generation consumer.” 

Leadership started by adding digital and social capabilities. Those early brand building efforts have started to pay off. 

“We’ve seen over 35% growth on all channels,” Murray said. 

At the same time, the PBA Tour remains laser focused on developing broader cultural relevancy.  

It participated in a five-part HBO docuseries entitled Born to Bowl that was executive produced by Ben Stiller, produced by A24, and narrated by Liev Schreiber, and serves as a flagship storytelling vehicle. 

PBA is now exploring additional entertainment formats capable of expanding reach and deepening fan engagement. Concepts under consideration include a celebrity/influencer bowling league and game-show style programming. 

Murray articulated a clear product strategy centered on elevating the sport’s five majors into tentpole events and streamlining the PBA Tour schedule. Plans also call for a new “signature series,” featuring a more contemporary presentation and made-for-TV formats in the years ahead.

Global expansion is a part of the strategic growth plan too.  

As it stands, the PBA Tour generates virtually no international media rights revenue. That is despite roughly a quarter of its top bowlers hailing from outside the U.S.  

“Australia, parts of Europe, and Japan all have big bowling markets,” Murray said. “As does South Korea, parts of China, and even Latin America.” 

And not just as part of its distribution strategy. There is momentum to bring events overseas. 

“There will be a world cup of bowling or a world tour that'll be led by the PBA,” Murray said.  

But the PBA CEO actually believes the opportunity extends beyond bowling. Remember, Lucky Strike locations offer a host of different experiential activities (think: darts, billiards, ping pong, cornhole). 

While Matchroom Sport has established darts and billiards properties in Europe, Murray is convinced room remains for a second global offering. If right, he just may be on his way to building another billion-dollar sports entity.  

Whether the PBA remains under LUCK’s control or is spun out if that vision materializes remains to be seen.

On the latest episode of JohnWallStreet Presents: Big Business on Campus, a college sports podcast powered by Playfly Sports and sponsored by Short’s Sports Travel Logistics, JohnWallStreet Founder Corey Leff and Playfly Sports Chairman Michael Schreiber sit down for a commercially-focused conversation with Pac-12 Conference Commissioner Teresa Gould. 

In this 40-minute conversation, we touch on a differentiated conference-level revenue engine, agility as an asset, turning history into recurring income, and more.

📺 Watch the full video on JohnWallStreet’s YouTube Page
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

Guardiola admits Premier League title race is in Arsenal’s hands

Guardiola admits Premier League title race is in Arsenal’s hands
Guardiola admits Premier League title race is in Arsenal’s hands

Pep Guardiola admits that Arsenal are in control of the Premier League title race after Man City dropped points to Everton on Monday night. 

Jeremy Doku put the visitors ahead at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a brilliant strike on the stroke of halftime, but the Toffees hit back with three goals after the break.

City managed to pull off a late comeback thanks to a goal from Erling Haaland and another stunner from Doku deep into stoppage time.

The result means City are now five points off leaders Arsenal with a game in hand. Their hopes are now dependent on the Gunners dropping points in their final three games of the season, but Guardiola says they will keep fighting to until the final day.

Guardiola: Premier League title race is in Arsenal’s hands

“Really good performance,” he told Sky Sports at full-time. “We played an outstanding first half. It was so difficult with their physicality.

“Second half, they made a step up. We didn’t have as much control and we gave away the goal. After that they come back and make a proper English game, so aggressive in the duels.

“But in general we made a really good performance.

“It’s not easy because they play so well defensively, with 10 players there and transitions with Beto with [Kiernan] Dewsbury-Hall.

“We take the point and until it’s over, we’re going to continue.

Read – Man City centre-back to complete Inter move after Serie A win


“Everton away is always difficult and I give credit to them for their composure and aggression.

“It’s better than a loss. We played to win. It just shows what the team are. We tried and we have done it.

“It’s not in our hands. Before it was in our hands. Now, no.

“We have to do it in our four games that we have in the Premier League. It will be quite similar against Brentford. We will see what happens.”

Read – Guardiola jokes about ‘disaster’ PSG and Bayern Munich game

See Also – Premier League players with 10+ goals and assists in all competitions this season

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Smylie Kaufman predicts if Rory McIlroy would have beaten Cam Young if he’d played at Doral

Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images
Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

Smylie Kaufman has suggested whether he thinks Rory McIlroy would have had a chance of beating Cameron Young if he had been in the field for the Cadillac Championship this past week.

Young produced a stunning performance at Doral to secure his second victory of the season. The 28-year-old opened up a five-shot lead by the halfway stage and barely looked back.

Ultimately, the American finished six shots ahead of Scottie Scheffler to move back into third place in the world rankings. It was also his third PGA Tour victory.

There is a debate to be had about whether Young is the best golfer in the world right now. Of course, we have not seen Rory McIlroy in competitive action since the Northern Irishman won his second Masters title last month.

Whether Rory McIlroy would have had a chance against Cameron Young at the Cadillac Championship

McIlroy triumphed at Augusta National despite not having his A game. And Doral would have been a great fit for the 37-year-old given how important distance was.

However, Smylie Kaufman is not at all convinced that anyone would have been able to stop Young getting across the line on the Blue Monster.

Speaking on The Smylie Show about whether Young’s victory highlighted a problem with smaller field sizes, Kaufman insisted all that having all of the best players playing would have done is create just a little more drama.

Photo by Logan Whitton/Augusta National/Getty Images
Photo by Logan Whitton/Augusta National/Getty Images

“I think 120 was always the best number when it comes to competitors playing in their big events. It flowed the best as a player. And you got enough guys in to where you maybe would have a couple more guys who would have an opportunity to chase,” he said.

“But the way that Cam Young and Scottie and these guys are playing, it would have been tough, of course, to see any of the extra 40 players that you could have added would have potentially taken down Cameron Young. No one was beating Cam Young this week, and that’s just the bottom line.

“But where you could point to the bigger issue is that you need all the guys to play that are at the top, the Rory McIlroys, Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, Robert MacIntyre, the list goes on of players who were not there. Now those guys could have made a difference.

“Would they have beaten Cam Young again? No, no one was beating Cam, but that’s where my head’s at there.”

Smylie Kaufman left amazed by Cameron Young’s performance at Doral

It was a real statement from Young, particularly as he was alongside Scottie Scheffler for three of the four days.

It is the second time that he has won by six shots, with his maiden victory at the Wyndham Championship coming by the same margin.

Obviously, Young needs to take that quality into the majors. That is what will put him alongside the best two players in the world right now.

But Kaufman clearly thinks that he has all of the tools to win one of the game’s four biggest prizes.

“19 under par is ridiculous. This golf course is 7,700 yards, the second longest on the PGA Tour, with water that’s in play on 13 of the 18 holes. And I’m looking at his stats, and of course, Cameron Young has so many weapons,” he said.

“He’s an elite driver of the golf ball. He hits it long and straight, and his iron game has improved tremendously since making the golf ball change at Wyndham this past year. He went on to win that first PGA Tour event. The putter, this is something that we talked about with him on the podcast, he’s tremendously improved in that statistic. But the stats this week, I’m blown away by some of these numbers.

“When you have greens that are big, like the ones at Doral, you’re going to hit a couple more greens in regulation, but you’re also going to have more of those putts outside of 10 feet. So you’d love to make a couple a day if possible to shoot a low score, but a lot of guys weren’t making many putts outside of 10 feet. But Cam Young, from 10 to 15 feet this week, he was five from nine. From 15 to 20 feet, he was also five from nine. So this guy was making more than 50 per cent of the putts in that 10 to 20 feet range. This is how not only do you win golf tournaments, that’s how you blow fields away.”

Many will certainly be tipping Young to contend at the PGA Championship later this month. He appears to have absolutely everything in his game to be the man to beat at Aronimink.

Ira Winderman: Allowing uneven East to dictate Heat future would be a fool’s errand by Riley

MIAMI — The problem with being reduced to playoff bystander is the danger of getting caught up in possibilities lost, at a time when rational thought about realistic possibilities is paramount.

As he wrapped up his team’s season last week, Miami Heat President Pat Riley spoke of having pushed for the playoffs, instead of a midseason asset reset, because of what the team viewed as a potential wide-open East race.

Hope trafficking? Sure.

But hasn’t that been the case with the Heat since the Big Three of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade fractured 12 years ago?

Since Riley spoke last week of an open East, the Heat, from the postseason sidelines, watched the No. 8 Orlando Magic push the No. 1 Detroit Pistons to a Game 7, the No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers eliminate the No. 2 Boston Celtics and the No. 5 Toronto Raptors going to a Game 7 against the No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers.

Factor in a few shaky moments for the No. 3 New York Knicks early in their six-game elimination of the No. 6 Atlanta Hawks, and it would be difficult to argue there is anything as close to imposing in the East as the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs in the West.

Perhaps sensing what was to be teased in the first round in the East as he spoke last week, Riley offered a why-not-us take that either was prescient or puzzling.

“The only two teams,” Riley said, “that I would consider that I would be uncomfortable playing against would be OKC and San Antonio, and they’re out there (in the Western Conference).

“But if I can get into the (NBA) Finals, just like we did in ’23, then I would be happy.”

That, of course, is another element of what could be viewed as misguided optimism/hope trafficking, that outlier push to the 2023 NBA Finals with Jimmy Butler against the Denver Nuggets out of the play-in as the East No. 8 seed.

Since that 2023 postseason run before falling short, the Heat have won one playoff game, without even that the past two years. Butler by then had reached his Heat expiration date. But instead of regrouping, there was the hasty reach for Terry Rozier, of which Riley acknowledged, “We all know that turned out to be a nightmare.”

And even after that, incremental pushes forward instead of a reset, including landing Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell in the 2025 trade of Butler, and the Norman Powell addition last summer.

A year ago, it added up to 10th place in the East. This past season, again 10th place in the East, in a season that ended 17 games behind the first-place Pistons, who now play on.

And, still, another drag of hopium.

“I’m not dismissing any at the top of the conference, here in the East, because they’re all very good teams,” Riley said. “But take a look at what’s going on, it’s like very competitive. Anybody can almost win.”

When a franchise has won three championships and advanced to the NBA Finals four other times, “almost” has no place as the target for a reset.

The Heat are not the Pistons, who on Sunday won their first playoff series since 2008. The Heat are not the Magic, who with Sunday’s loss in Detroit remain without a series win since 2010.

The Heat have done enough in recent years to merit the right to step back, reset, not desperately chase fool’s gold in the belief of seizing on the perception of a down conference.

And yet, as one of the parties in the Heat hierarchy privately expressed recently, the view is that this could be the Summer of 2019 all over again, when the Heat exited from the lottery with Tyler Herro as the draft pick and exited free agency with Butler. By season’s end that time, the Heat were in the 2020 NBA Finals.

So, yes, possible.

But it has to be the right pick, the right player.

Basically, lightning striking in the same place seven years later.

Otherwise, no easy way out, no matter what the thinking about the state of the East after all the first-round mayhem that ultimately held to seed form, beyond the No. 2 Boston Celtics losing in the absence of Jayson Tatum.

Next season, Tatum likely will be back on the floor for the Celtics for a Game 7, unlike Saturday against the 76ers. Next season, Tyrese Haliburton will be back for the Pacers. Next season, the Pistons, Cavaliers, 76ers or Knicks could be more emboldened by the ongoing strides of this season.

Riley has spent the majority of the past two decades attempting to distance himself from his book-selling mantra of championship or misery.

From the depths of the bottom of the standings, with Alonzo Mourning again sent to scowl from the set of the draft lottery this coming Sunday in Chicago, the time has come for the Heat to reset with a championship mentality — no matter how long such a reset might require, no matter where the rest of the conference does or does not stand.

Even if the East was down this season, it was better, far better, than the Heat this season, as the first round of the playoffs ultimately showed.

____

“I don’t have a clue!” Arteta on why it took so long to start Arsenal youngster in midfield

“I don’t have a clue!” Arteta on why it took so long to start Arsenal youngster in midfield
“I don’t have a clue!” Arteta on why it took so long to start Arsenal youngster in midfield

Arsenal ran out 3-0 winners against Fulham at the Emirates stadium last weekend. After a tough midweek Champions League away match, where Arsenal drew 1-1 against Atletico Madrid, Mikel Arteta decided to make a few interesting changes to the starting XI against Fulham.

Surprise selection raises eyebrows

When the Arsenal Confirmed Team v Fulham was published there were a few raised eyebrows. Bukayo Saka was handed the captain’s armband and got his first start in a while following his return from injury. Richard Calafiori also returned to the starting lineup.

Probably most surprisingly, though, was Myles Lewis-Skelly being named in the starting XI ahead of Martin Zubimendi.

Lewis-Skelly played a blinder in midfield in a performance that was widely regarded as one of the most influential on the pitch. 

Speaking after the Gunners dominant victory, Lewis-Skelly said Honestly, I was buzzing.

Arteta admits uncertainty over timing

As quoted by Fabrizio Romano on X, Mikel Arteta was asked why it took so long for Myles Lewis-Skelly to start in midfield: “Probably I don’t have a clue! Maybe I should have done it earlier, I don’t know. It was a big risk, if we lost the game, what would have happened?”

The Arsenal boss was clearly aware of the gamble he had taken, but the decision ultimately paid off in emphatic fashion. Lewis Skelly’s performance not only justified his inclusion but also raised further questions about how he could be used moving forward.

With the season reaching its decisive stages, Arteta may now feel more confident in trusting the youngster in key moments, especially after such a composed and influential display.

Was this the breakthrough moment for Lewis Skelly in Arsenal’s midfield, and should he now be a regular starter?

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‘Up to the club’ – Van Persie addresses Liverpool links

‘Up to the club’ – Van Persie addresses Liverpool links
‘Up to the club’ – Van Persie addresses Liverpool links

Liverpool’s ongoing rebuild under Arne Slot could soon extend beyond the pitch, with movement behind the scenes gathering pace as speculation grows over a key addition to the coaching staff.


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The focus is on Etienne Reijnen, a trusted figure from Slot’s time in Rotterdam, whose potential move to Anfield now looks increasingly realistic.

Van Persie responds to Liverpool interest in Reijnen

Quoted via Liverpool.com, Robin van Persie addressed the situation directly and didn’t exactly shut the door on the possibility of losing his assistant.

“It is mainly up to the club and Etienne himself. What I can say is that I am very happy with his work. He is a fantastic person who also fulfills his role very well.”

That response feels telling, because while the Dutchman praises the 39-year-old, there’s a clear acceptance that the decision won’t ultimately rest with him, especially if Liverpool push to reunite the pair.

It points towards a situation where the groundwork is already in place, particularly given Slot’s long-standing desire to bring Reijnen into his backroom team.

Liverpool changes extend beyond the pitch

This isn’t a new story either, because our boss had already tried to bring the former Zwolle defender to Merseyside last season, only for work permit issues and coaching qualifications to block the move at the time.

Now, with those barriers easing and Reijnen close to completing his coaching diploma, the pathway appears far clearer, which explains why the links have resurfaced so strongly in recent weeks.

It’s also been reported that the Dutch coach is ‘on the verge’ of a move, which would underline just how much trust the Liverpool hierarchy are placing in Slot to reshape not just the squad, but the entire structure around him.

At a time when ticket price protests continue to highlight tensions between supporters and ownership, decisions like this carry extra weight, because they reflect the direction the club is choosing to take moving forward.

The key point is that while results like the Old Trafford defeat dominate the headlines, the bigger picture is being shaped behind the scenes, and if Reijnen does arrive, it will be another clear sign that Slot is being backed to build things his way.

Arsenal dominate as England defeat Northern Ireland 2-0 in u17 Women’s Euro opener

Arsenal dominate as England defeat Northern Ireland 2-0 in u17 Women’s Euro opener
Arsenal dominate as England defeat Northern Ireland 2-0 in u17 Women’s Euro opener

All six Arsenal players in the England squad featured, with De Bohan’s double winning the tournament opener against the hosts.

Arsenal’s Phoebe de Bohan scored twice as England opened their Under-17 European Championship campaign with a 2-0 win over Northern Ireland at Inver Park.

The match was well supported, with a strong attendance of 810, and there was significant Arsenal involvement throughout.

All six Arsenal players in the England squad featured, with Cairo Antoine, Bryony Brodie, Kyri Teer-Hutchins, Isabella Cowley and de Bohan starting.

Mia Dixon, who had been involved with the Arsenal first team in their last two games, including the Champions League semi-final, came on at half-time.

It was a classic attack-versus-defence contest, with England enjoying most of the possession and Northern Ireland looking to threaten with direct balls on the break.

Both sides set up in a 4-3-3, although Northern Ireland were tactically flexible without the ball, with captain Chloe Beckinsale moving from defensive midfield into a third centre-back role depending on the passage of play.

The opener came from an Antoine cross from the right that was not cleared by the Northern Ireland defence, allowing de Bohan to pounce and score in the 29th minute.

The second goal, which sealed the win late in the second half, came in similar fashion. Northern Ireland goalkeeper Ifeoma Agoha saved the initial shot well, but de Bohan was perfectly placed to put the rebound into the net in the 82nd minute.

Overall, it was a game of two halves.

England were physically and technically stronger, but did not always translate their periods of control into goals. They were also unfortunate, hitting the post twice through Antoine and Brodie. In the first half, England used the wings effectively to get around the Northern Ireland block and created a number of chances.

The second half was different. Northern Ireland moved to a back five to strengthen their defence, while England made three half-time changes, introducing players with different profiles in attacking areas. That led to fewer passing sequences, less continuity in attacking play, reduced off-the-ball movement and more predictability, which suited Northern Ireland’s game plan. The hosts also had a couple of chances on the break, including a one-on-one for Smyth, who rushed her shot and put it off target.

In the end, it was a deserved victory for England in their tournament opener, although there were plenty of positives for Northern Ireland too.

I spoke to Gail Edmondson, the Northern Ireland manager, afterwards and she was pleased with her team’s performance and resilience. She also confirmed the tactical use of her captain’s alternating position as a way to prevent some England attacks, as well as the move to a back five in the second half to stop some of the patterns that had been developing.

England will face Germany on Thursday, while Northern Ireland take on Norway.

The four tournament semi-finalists, as well as the play-off winner between the two third-placed teams, will qualify for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, which takes place later this autumn in Morocco

Paolo De Paola blames Spalletti for Juventus draw at Verona

Paolo De Paola blames Spalletti for Juventus draw at Verona
Paolo De Paola blames Spalletti for Juventus draw at Verona

Paolo De Paola has criticised Luciano Spalletti’s tactical approach and in-game management following Juventus’ 1-1 draw against Verona at the weekend. The result came as a disappointment for the Bianconeri, who had been expected to secure victory and extend their positive run of form in recent weeks.

Playing at the Allianz Stadium, Juventus entered the fixture with confidence but were unable to impose themselves fully. Verona proved to be a difficult opponent, matching their intensity and creating problems throughout the match. The situation could have been even more damaging for Juventus had Dusan Vlahovic not found an equaliser to salvage a point.

Tactical concerns and missed opportunity

The draw highlighted areas where Juventus fell short, particularly in terms of attacking cohesion and overall effectiveness. Despite their efforts, they were unable to produce the level of performance required to secure all three points in a match widely regarded as winnable.

This outcome has added further pressure during what is already a challenging period for the team. With competition for a top four finish intensifying, dropped points at this stage of the season carry significant consequences.

Juventus were aware of the importance of delivering a strong display but ultimately failed to capitalise on their opportunities, leaving questions about their tactical execution.

De Paola’s assessment

As reported by Tuttomercatoweb, De Paola offered a critical evaluation of both the manager’s decisions and the team’s limitations. He said, “I think Spalletti made a half failure in this match and half exposed this team’s limitations. He’s still trial and error, and the critical issues are primarily in the attack. Either Vlahovic comes on consistently from the start or we risk running into problems. David, after all, is a bit lightweight and doesn’t really make an impact in the penalty area. I’d also add that the criticism of Bremer and Kelly is justified”.

His remarks underline concerns about consistency in team selection and effectiveness in the final third. The criticism also reflects a broader view that Juventus must address key weaknesses if they are to achieve their objectives this season.

With several crucial fixtures remaining, Juventus will need to respond decisively and deliver improved performances to secure the results required.

Manchester United learn venue for FA Youth Cup final vs. Man City

Manchester United learn venue for FA Youth Cup final vs. Man City
Manchester United learn venue for FA Youth Cup final vs. Man City

Manchester United have discovered where their upcoming FA Youth Cup final clash against cross-town rivals Manchester City will be staged.

United reach final

United booked their spot in the final after beating Crystal Palace 2-1 in the semis.

The tightly contested game was unlocked in the 77th minute after substitute Samuel Lusale found Chido Obi, who proceeded to slip in JJ Gabriel. The 15-year-old drove towards goal before producing a brilliant chipped finish to beat the goalkeeper.

But United’s advantage didn’t last for too long as Raihaan Anderson ruthlessly punished a big mistake from United keeper Cameron Byrne-Hughes.

But Darren Fletcher’s starlets had the last laugh, as Obi got on the end of a sensational defence-splitting pass from James Overy to round off the goalkeeper and fire into the back of an empty net. This winner set up a final against City, who just narrowly pipped United to the title in the northern section of the Under-18s Premier League.

Venue confirmed

City were drawn as the home side, and the expectation was that the final would be played at the Etihad Stadium.

However, according to the Manchester Evening News, an alternative venue has now been confirmed after City were unable to agree on a date for the game to be played at the Etihad.

Simon Bajkowski writes that City will host Fletcher’s side at the Joie Stadium.

He further notes, “The showpiece fixture of the youth calendar will be held next week, with a date to be confirmed shortly so that tickets can go on sale.”

“In a decision that will disappoint tens of thousands on both sides, the decision has been made to play at the 7,000-capacity stadium at City’s training ground instead.”

While the Joie Stadium is reserved for City’s women’s and academy sides, a sell-out crowd is expected for the first Manchester derby final since 1986.

Meanwhile, Michael Carrick and his players are next in action on Saturday when they go away to Sunderland.

Featured image Michael Steele via Getty images

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Pressure part of the job for TNS boss Harrison

Craig Harrison looks on from the touchline during a game
Craig Harrison played for Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace [FAW]

The New Saints manager Craig Harrison insists he did not feel under pressure despite a poor start to the season.

Saints finished the season 22 points clear at the top of the JD Cymru Premier to claim their 18th Welsh title.

That came after a disappointing European campaign and a heavy home defeat to Briton Ferry Llansawel on the opening day of the league season.

"There's always pressure being TNS manager because you expect to win every single game," Harrison told BBC Sport Wales.

"If you draw a game, it's catastrophe. If you lose a game, it's the end of the world.

"So there's always pressure and it's something I've been involved with for 10 years plus."

Under Harrison, TNS became the first Welsh domestic side to play in the group stages of a European competition in the 2024-25 season.

But earlier this season they lost to North Macedonia's KF Shkendija in the Champions League and Luxembourg's FC Differdange in the Conference League.

TNS chairman Mike Harris described those European defeats as "disappointing" amid speculation over Harrison's position as manager.

"Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a fantastic time and it wasn't particularly comfortable," Harrison reflected.

"But as in pressure, there's pressure every single day from myself to perform.

"I put on myself to win games, the standards that I want, the standards that I set, the standards that I think are acceptable."

Despite indifferent early season form – following on from the early exits in Europe – Harrison's side went on to win 26 of their 32 league games, losing four times and drawing twice.

But the Oswestry-based side were knocked out by Cardiff Met in the third round of the JD Welsh Cup and beaten by Barry Town United in the Nathaniel MG Cup final.

"League-wise we've been as good as any," Harrison added.

"We've ended up winning the league by 22 points, which is massive.

"It was my 10th title so I'm very proud of that and I think the longevity of it is amazing.

"We're disappointed in the cup competitions and we're a little bit disappointed about the European campaign.

"Previously, we'd either won the League Cup or we'd won the Welsh Cup and the year before that, we'd won all three.

"So, that's the standards that are set and we do our best to win every trophy.

"At some point, we're going to be a little bit disappointed because their standards are so high."

TNS owner Mike Harris (left) and Craig Harrison with the Cymru Premier trophy
Under the ownership of Mike Harris (left) TNS have won the past five Cymru Premier trophies and been champions 13 times in 15 years [FAW]

With their domestic season completed, Saints players have a month's break before they return to training later in Mayprior to July's Champions League qualifiers.

Harrison is looking to add new faces to the squad over the coming weeks and has already signed Connah's Quay Nomads forward Rhys Hughes.

"Rhys brings creativity, he brings quality and he brings more options at the front end of the pitch," Harrison said of the former Wales Under-21 international.

"Rhys knows the league, played in the league for the last couple of years and he's proven in the league.

"So, we know what we're going to get from Rhys."

And with the Cymru Premier relaunching as a 16-team league next season, Harrison's objectives for TNS are clear.

"Back again trying to win all three competitions - League Cup, Welsh Cup and Welsh Prem," he said.

Prem rugby 2026-27 season to begin on 25 September

The Prem rugby trophy on a plinth inside an empty Allianz Stadium ahead of the Prem final 2024-25
Allianz Stadium Twickenham will again host the Prem final in June 2027 [Shutterstock]

The 2026-27 Prem rugby season will revert to a Friday night start on 25 September having begun on a weeknight this season for the first time in its history.

The Prem opened with a Thursday night game at the start of the current campaign to avoid a clash with the Women's World Cup final.

Next season's final will be held at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Saturday, 19 June 2027.

The 2026-27 campaign will see promotion and relegation within the top tier officially scrapped as part of a series of changes to the league voted through in February.

Although there has been no promotion or relegation in English rugby's top flight since 2020 and 2021, when Saracens went down to the Champ and then secured an immediate return, the rules still allowed it if clubs met certain criteria.

Not luck Hull are in the play-offs - McBurnie

Oli McBurnie, wearing a Hull City home kit, celebrates his goal against Norwich City by holding out his arms while a team-mate runs behind him to congratulate him
[Getty Images]

Hull City striker Oli McBurnie has claimed it "would have been a real shame" if the Tigers had failed to get into the play-offs.

The 29-year-old scored both goals during the side's 2-1 victory over Norwich City to end a miserable run of six winless games (D4 L2) and set up a play-off semi-final against Millwall.

Wrexham also failed to win their game against Middlesbrough, which allowed the Tigers to enter the sixth spot, but McBurnie denies that good fortune has anything to do with the club's success this season.

"After the year on the whole, it would have been a real shame if we didn't make it," the former Scotland international told BBC Radio Humberside.

"We've put ourselves in this position. No-one has put us there, it's not been luck. It's been real hard work from the boys, grind.

"We found something. We had to find it. We did it, we just wanted to make it more exciting for the fans, that's why we've been terrible for the last six weeks!"

Hull host the Lions on Friday for their first semi-final leg before a trip to the Den on Monday (both 20:00 BST).

Alex Neil's Millwall were denied a place in the top two by just one point - but McBurnie isn't afraid of a big game.

"I didn't want to come [back to England] for a team that was happy being mediocre," McBurnie added.

"Me and [Joel Ndala] had a little text message last night and I said to him 'these are the days you live for, these are the days big players turn up' and that's what we've done."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Listen to more Hull City content on BBC Sounds

Listen on BBC Sounds
[BBC]

'Henrik was the main guy, I was the foil' - Sutton

"I did get a feeling early on with Henrik that it would click and we would work well with each other."

One hundred and forty-four matches, 109 wins, and six major trophies later, it's fair to say Chris Sutton got rather more than he bargained for when he linked up with Henrik Larsson.

Seldom before or since has a strike partnership been so efficient and entertaining for Celtic, with fans pining for something similar ever since.

Speaking to BBC Scotland for a new series of Icons of Football, with an episode centring on Larsson, the former Blackburn striker says the almost psychic understanding in their play together wasn't an accident.

"We did discuss it, but that understanding comes from training, it comes from playing, and it comes from building that relationship," Sutton says.

"And then it's knowing what suits each other. My role in the team was to be the link man, the foil.

"Henrik was quicker than me - and let's be honest, most people were quicker than me - so I always had to have that awareness.

"If we were playing against quite a high line, I'd hold the ball and clip it in behind and Henrik would already be on the move.

"So as soon as the ball's on the way to me, I know that if I can help it into space, Henrik would be going, and the opposition defence would be getting deeper."

It wasn't all tactical intricacies or in-depth discussions about every game, either.

Sutton and Larsson based their link-up play on a foundation of the basics: hard work, clear communication, and a clear understanding of each other's roles.

In their 144 matches together, Larsson bagged a hugely impressive 130 goals, while Sutton notched 66, with both players assisting the other 12 times.

Sutton adds: "That was our thing - always working hard to make sure we stayed within 10 or 15 yards of each other. Then it didn't matter who the defenders were; you work little combinations and little moves.

"I was relatively experienced, albeit after an iffy season at Chelsea the year before. But I did get a feeling early on with Henrik that it would click and we would work well with each other.

"When things are telepathic, you just know where somebody is. I'm sitting here now and I can imagine Larsson over my shoulder, but that was because of Henrik's intelligence.

"As a player, there's nothing better than walking on to the field knowing that if you get the right service and the right ball, you can cause any defence all sorts of problems.

"I think when we were in our pomp, that's what we could do - and certainly Henrik was the main guy."

WATCH: Icons of Football: Henrik Larsson on BBC Scotland on Thursday 7 May at 22:00 BST.

Wardley v Dubois - all you need to know

Fabio Wardley faces off with Daniel Dubois
The winner of the fight between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois could face Oleksandr Usyk [Getty Images]

Fabio Wardley defends his WBO heavyweight title for the first time against Daniel Dubois in Manchester on Saturday.

An all-British heavyweight world title encounter is a rare thing in boxing, especially outside of London.

The Co-op Live Arena will host the fight with two of the division's biggest punchers in action.

Can Wardley continue his remarkable rise from white collar boxing? Or will Dubois become a two-time world champion at the age of 28?

Everything you need to know about the fight is below.

How to follow Wardley v Dubois on the BBC

Radio commentary will begin from 19:00 BST on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, and the BBC Sport website and app.

Live text commentary will start from 20:00 on the BBC Sport website and app, with radio commentary switching to BBC Radio 5 Live from 22:00.

You can follow all the action through fight week with the 5 Live Boxing podcast, with Steve Bunce and BBC Sport bringing you daily episodes from Manchester.

What time are the ringwalks for Wardley v Dubois?

The first fight begins at 18:00 on DAZN PPV.

Wardley v Dubois ringwalks are expected around 22:30, but as always, this depends on how the undercard fights go.

Wardley v Dubois undercard & running order

Fabio Wardley v Daniel Dubois - WBO heavyweight world title

  • Callum Morrell v Zac Chelli - light-heavyweight
  • Jack Rafferty v Ekow Essuman - light-welterweight
  • Bakhodir Jalolov v Agron Samkici - heavyweight
  • Liam Cameron v Bradley Rea - light-heavyweight
  • Khaleel Majid v Gavin Gwynne - light-welterweight

How do Wardley and Dubois' records compare?

Wardley and Dubois are both known as knockout artists. Dubois boasts 21 in 22 wins while Wardley has 19 in 20 victories. That gives them both a knockout rate of 95% in their wins.

While Dubois has three fights at world title level, winning one, Wardley is in unfamilar territory in his maiden world championship fight.

Dubois has faced the better opposition as well, with two bouts against Oleksandr Usyk and wins over Filip Hrgovic, Jarrell Miller and Anthony Joshua.

Wardley's best victory was against Joseph Parker in his last outing, but has also beaten Frazer Clarke and Justis Huni.

On paper, not much separates them in terms of reach or height, but the experience at the top level may well prove the difference.

Form is on 31-year-old's Wardley's side, with his only blemish since making his pro debut in 2017 being a draw with Clarke in 2024.

Dubois is coming into the contest off the back of defeat by Usyk, another crushing encounter with the Ukrainian last July and three victories in between.

Which belts are on the line - and will winner fight Usyk?

Wardley's WBO world title is the on the line, with Dubois aiming to become a two-time heavyweight world champion.

Wardley was upgraded to full world champion in November after beating Joseph Parker when Oleksandr Usyk decided to vacate the belt.

Usyk, 39, holds the other belts but will defend only one of them, the WBC, against Rico Verhoeven on 23 May.

It is unclear what Usyk might decide to do next, but he has expressed an interest in fighting the winner of Wardley v Dubois.

Whether that would be for the undisputed championship is anyone's guess, with the WBC's number one challenger Agit Kabayel expected to be given the next crack at Usyk, should he retain his world title.

Wardley v Dubois fight week schedule

Thursday: News conference from 14:00 BST in Manchester

Friday: Weigh-in from 18:00 BST at the Bowles Exhibition Centre in Manchester

More boxing from the BBC

Fabrizio Romano confirms Man Utd ‘keen’ on ‘relentless’ £39m star who agreed personal terms

Fabrizio Romano confirms Man Utd ‘keen’ on ‘relentless’ £39m star who agreed personal terms
Fabrizio Romano confirms Man Utd ‘keen’ on ‘relentless’ £39m star who agreed personal terms

Manchester United remain in the fray for Brazilian midfielder Ederson, who is expected to leave Atalanta at the end of the season.

The 26-year-old has been a mainstay in Bergamo since joining the club in the summer. He swiftly established himself as a pillar in Gian Piero Gasperini’s team, emerging as one of the most complete midfielders in Serie A.

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However, the ‘relentless’ Brazilian is now expected to leave Atalanta following a challenging campaign affected by Gasperini’s exit last summer.

Ederson’s Atletico Madrid move on the verge of collapse

In recent months, Atletico Madrid appeared to be Ederson’s next destination, with the two parties reaching an agreement on personal terms. However, the Colchoneros haven’t been able to strike a deal with Atalanta.

The Italian club are known for sticking to its guns in negotiations, and this time, they set their asking price at €45 million (£39m), a figure the Spanish capital side isn’t willing to shell out for a player whose contract will expire next year.

Hence, Fabrizio Romano believes that Ederson’s move to Atletico risks total collapse, as the club-to-club accord remains distant.

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The Italian journalist provided the latest on the midfielder’s situation in a video posted on his official YouTube channel.

The transfer market expert tells the viewers to ‘keep an eye on the Premier League’, revealing that Man Utd and an unnamed EPL club remain ‘keen’ on the Atalanta star.

Romano adds that United don’t consider Ederson a top target, but he represents a viable solution should they fail to acquire other profiles.

Should Man Utd meet Atalanta’s asking price for Ederson?

At this stage, Man Utd’s midfield plans remain shrouded in mystery. With Casemiro leaving and Manuel Ugarte placed on the transfer list, the club needs at least two new additions, while many observers insist three are required, as Kobbie Mainoo is the only out-and-out central midfielder who’s guaranteed to stay for next season.

Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Sandro Tonali, and Aurelien Tchouameni are some of the names that have been making the rounds for months, but INEOS are unlikely to afford signing more than one, given the hefty asking prices.

Therefore, Ederson can represent a cost-effective alternative. While Atalanta’s valuation might be inflated considering his expiring contract, he would still cost half or less compared with those mentioned above.

(Stats via DataMB)

The Brazilian is a well-rounded midfielder who combines physical strength and stamina with high tactical awareness and the ability to drive the ball forward.

These attributes render him a natural fit for the box-to-box role, but he can also act as a holding midfielder.

Benfica set to ramp up Jose Mourinho contract talks to ward off Real Madrid interest

Benfica set to ramp up Jose Mourinho contract talks to ward off Real Madrid interest
Benfica set to ramp up Jose Mourinho contract talks to ward off Real Madrid interest

Portuguese giants Benfica are set to step up talks with manager Jose Mourinho over a new contract.

Benfica are aware of the growing interest in Mourinho from his former employers, Real Madrid, and Ojogo reports that they’re pulling out all the stops to keep the “Special One” at Estadio da Luz.

Madrid are almost certainly going to make another managerial change this summer, especially after another embarrassing trophyless campaign.

Alvaro Arbeloa was brought in to replace Xabi Alonso, who buckled under the pressure of player power, but his former teammate has failed to build on his initial work.

Madrid were still within touching distance of fierce rivals Barcelona in the perennial two-way La Liga title race when Alonso was relieved of his duty.

Fast forward months later, Los Blancos have fallen a staggering 10 points behind the champions-elect.

With just four games remaining, Barcelona are one win away from being confirmed La Liga winners and could be crowned champions in next weekend’s El Clasico at Spotify Camp Nou.

Arbeloa’s place in the dugout is already under serious scrutiny, but losing to Barcelona and allowing them to clinch the title could put the final nail in his coffin.

With Arbeloa one foot out the door, Madrid are once again looking at another ex-employee to help wrestle the La Liga crown from Barcelona.

That search has led them back to Mourinho’s doorstep, although luring him away from Benfica would be a significant battle, with the Portuguese club determined to retain his services.

Mourinho has one year left on his contract with Benfica, but the club are desperate to keep him in Lisbon until 2028 or 2029, and that intent has already been backed up by action.

Benfica president Rui Costa has held talks with Mourinho to map out plans for the upcoming season. 

However, there’s a narrow window that could allow clubs to act quickly. Mourinho has a €3.5 million release clause in his contract, but it’s only active for ten days after the end of the season.

Once that period passes, any club interested in hiring him will need to negotiate directly with Benfica, who are notorious for being difficult to do business with.

Donald Trump Name-Drops Patrick Mahomes During White House Meet

Donald Trump Name-Drops Patrick Mahomes During White House Meet
Photo Credit: Roberto Schmidt via Getty Images

Donald Trump asked how Patrick Mahomes is doing to a Kansas City BBQ owner during the small business summit in Washington, DC. This question came when he was looking at the barbecues and t-shirts presented on the table. Last year in December, Mahomes suffered an injury in his left knee that disqualified him from playing the last three games of the season.

Donald Trump asks about Patrick Mahomes during White House meet

In a video shared by The White House’s Margo Martin, Donald Trump appeared to pay a visit to the stall of Joe Pearce, the owner of Slaps BBQ in Kansas City, during the summit. As he looked after the products, he asked Pearce about Mahomes. He questioned, “How is Mahomes doing?” He learned that he’s keeping well before wishing him a speedy recovery and praising his personality. “You tell the people of (Kansas City) we love him. He’s going to be OK. I hate to see that. He’s a fantastic guy,” he added.

“How’s Mahomes doing?! You tell the people we love him!” @POTUS speaks with the owners of Slap’s BBQ from Kansas City ?? pic.twitter.com/je8zceJf6k

— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) May 4, 2026

In mid-December, Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL, and the following day immediately underwent surgery. Since then, he has undergone rehabilitation and has been recovering from his condition as another season approaches.

Recently, Coach Andy Reid provided a positive update about Mahomes’ health. He said, “We’ll have to see about that. He is in a good position to be able to do some things. If he can do some things, [he’ll do it]. Phase 2 [of the offseason program], remember, there’s no contact, and there’s no offense vs. defense. It’s Phase 3 that you get into that. Once you start the clock, then the clock’s gotta be rolling, you just have to evaluate what you want to do there. He’s in a position where he can do everything, I think.” He revealed that Mahomes is up to a lot of stuff, but reassured that he can throw the ball on his own (via ESPN)

Originally written by Shazmeen Navrange on Mandatory.

The post Donald Trump Name-Drops Patrick Mahomes During White House Meet appeared first on Reality Tea.

Serie A relegation thriller: survival on a knife edge

Serie A relegation thriller: survival on a knife edge
Serie A relegation thriller: survival on a knife edge

In the Italian Serie A, while Inter have secured their 21st Scudetto, there’s a true thriller going on in the lower parts of the table: Fiorentina, Cremonese, Lecce and Genoa are fighting to stay in the championship. One of them will certainly be relegated to Serie B. Two teams are already certain to go down: Pisa and Hellas Verona, who have already been mathematically relegated.

In such an uncertain situation, it’s not easy to predict which teams will be relegated or manage to stay up. For those who still want to place a bet, betting apps with free bets no deposit required are just what they need—allowing them to bet conveniently from their phone, while limiting potential losses should the outcome not go as hoped for the team they decide to trust in the not-so-easy mission of avoiding relegation.

Relegation trends in Serie A

The teams at the bottom of the table allow too many goals in a championship as defensively strong as Serie A traditionally is. Pisa and Verona are tied at the bottom and have almost no chance of escaping that position: together, the two teams have won fewer than five games at the midpoint of April. You can’t hope to avoid relegation with these few points.

Verona and Pisa scored 24 and 25 goals, respectively, in 35 matches, which is a pretty poor result. Lecce also managed 24, Cremonese found the back of the net 27 times, while Fiorentina and Genoa did considerably better: the Viola scored 38 times and Genoa 40. Their problem, though, are the goals they allowed. According to Opta Analyst statistics, Pisa allowed 63 goals. This is obviously the worst result of the season and the reason why they are so low in the standings. Cremonese allowed 53 goals; Verona 57; Lecce 47; Fiorentina 49 and Genoa 48. These are all among the highest in the league.

In the cases of Pisa, Verona and Genoa, the goals they concede are considerably higher than the scores they are expected to allow. This is a key stat in order to establish the favourites for relegation, so Genoa should be aware that the company is keeping. Pisa and Verona are bound to go down, but the Grifone can still win out and has the players to do just that. Genoa is a way better team than the last two of the bunch.

Games that matter until the end of the league

In the next few weeks, there will be some massive games to decide the relegations. Let’s see what the near future holds for the teams fighting to stay in Serie A.

BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 12: Eusebio Di Francesco, Head Coach of US Lecce, gestures to his players during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and US Lecce at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on April 12, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Lecce

Eusebio Di Francesco’s boys recently faced Fiorentina, Verona and Pisa in consecutive weeks, before closing down the season against Genoa. Obviously, they hope this last game will not matter at all, as it will be the case if they mathematically avoid relegation before that day. Their opponents are not that tough, and their position in the standings is no longer a concern.

Cremonese

The Grigiorossi have it worse. They play against Pisa (week 36), but must face Napoli and Como, two of the better sides in the league in a couple of games where Giampaolo’s team will probably drop points. So they must win out the other games, which are way more winnable but surely not easy.

VERONA, ITALY – APRIL 04: Paolo Vanoli, Head Coach of Fiorentina looks on during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on April 04, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)

Fiorentina

The Viola is almost out of contention. The team is considerably better than the others we are writing about and must face Genoa, among other better teams. The Viola are probably the team that risks less, in the fight to avoid relegation, given their history, talent and financial means, but must play at their best to keep it safe.

Genoa

The Grifone plays against Fiorentina in a week 36 game where the Grifone is seen as the underdog and against Lecce, in a week 38 match that could be of paramount importance for one of the two sides, or could not matter at all, should Cremonese get to the last weekend of the season already sure of its relegation.

BERGAMO, ITALY – MAY 02: Daniele De Rossi of Genoa FC looks on during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Genoa CFC at Gewiss Stadium on May 02, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Giampaolo’s team seem to be the worst-positioned to stay in Serie A. Their roster is depleted and their schedule is considerably tough. Motivation will be key for them and they could use some help from their rivals.

Maybe some of them will lose out and eliminate themselves with their own hands. In Cremona, they would be quite delighted should that happen. On Football Italia, we will closely follow how this battle develops, keeping an eye on Cagliari as well, which is not in good shape after the defeat against Inter Milan and could be the sixth team involved in the clash to avoid relegation.

Foden reaches agreement over new Man City deal

Phil Foden claps
Phil Foden has won six Premier League titles with Manchester City [Getty Images]

Phil Foden has reached an agreement in principle over a new four-year deal at Manchester City.

The 25-year-old's current contract was due to expire next summer but fresh terms will keep him at Etihad Stadium until 2030, with the option of another year.

Though midfielder Foden has struggled for form in recent months and has not scored since 14 December, a new contract signals a commitment from both parties to continue working together.

Foden came on as a substitute in Monday's six-goal thriller at Everton, which leaves City five points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.

The midfielder will be hoping to secure a place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for this summer's World Cup.

Last month, boss Tuchel said Foden's place in the 24-man squad is not guaranteed despite being the only player to start both games in England's final camp before the tournament.

Foden was given his first-team debut as a 17-year-old by boss Pep Guardiola and has gone on to make 365 appearances for City, winning six Premier League titles, one Champions League and two FA Cups.

Despite his recent form, former Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney says Foden has to "play every game" for City.

"I think you have to put him in the team," he said on the BBC's Wayne Rooney Show. "I love watching him play, I love his little movements, how he gets into the pockets of space. It's not nice watching him sitting on the bench.

"I think he was doing well [this season]. He's had bad moments, but when you have a bad moment and you're taken out and put on the sidelines for weeks on end, I just think a player of that quality, you have to just keep playing him.

"You've got [Jeremy] Doku there who can do anything. You've got [Antoine] Semenyo, who can go outside, come inside. It's real power, pace and raw speed going up against you, so I don't know whether that's a reason why Foden's not playing. Pep may want a little bit more help defensively."

Doctor explains Tarik Skubal return to Detroit Tigers from surgery

The Detroit Tigers placed reigning two-time American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal on the injured list with loose bodies in his left elbow.

He will undergo surgery.

The Tigers declined to share an estimated timetable for his return.

There are a wide range of timelines for Skubal’s return, from six weeks to six months, according to Dr. Shahryar Ahmadi, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in shoulder and elbow injuries at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, California.

"If there is not much arthritis in the joint, the player doesn't have stiffness, there is no instability, and it's just a couple of small loose bodies, the recovery is very, very quick – and the chance of going back to the previous level of sport is very, very high,” Ahmed said. “If there is extensive arthritis, lots of loose bodies, instability, stiffness, that makes it more complicated with a longer recovery – and less chance of going back to the previous level of playing."

THE NEWS: Tarik Skubal to undergo surgery for loose bodies in left elbow

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) looks on from the dugout during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

Here's more from Ahmadi, who spoke with the Free Press on Monday, May 4, to help explain Skubal's injury, surgery, recovery – and if there's any reason to worry about a second Tommy John surgery:

What are loose bodies in the elbow?

"A loose body happens when you have damage to the joint. A piece of cartilage or a piece of bone breaks off inside the joint, and over time, it can gradually get bigger – and that's a loose body. Sometimes, it stays in one of the recesses in the capsule, and it doesn't cause any problems, but sometimes, it can cause problems. It can get stuck inside the joint all of a sudden, and then you can get locking, pain, inflammation. That's the way it works when it gets stuck in the joint. Sometimes, it can be big enough that it stays in one part of the joint, like the front or the back, and when that happens, it can block your flexion and extension, and that's called impingement."

WHAT NOW? A.J. Hinch on Tarik Skubal injury: 'We're not canceling the season'

How are loose bodies removed surgically?

"Most of the time, we can take them out through arthroscopy. We make a small incision around the joint, and then we put a camera in, and under direct vision from the camera through the small hole, we can remove the loose body. Sometimes, on top of the loose body, there can be extra bone on the edge of the joint, and at the same time, we can remove that. When arthritis in the joint is more advanced, we do something called debridement and capsular release, and what happens is we cut the capsule to release the joint and give them more motion."

What is the rehab process as a player returns from surgery?

"After the operation, we want to restore range of motion right away. Otherwise, the patient can get stiff. We start physical therapy right away. Initially, they do range of motion, and then they do strengthening, and then they gradually go back to sport activity. In terms of how fast it can go, it depends on the extent of the problem. If somebody has a couple of small loose bodies, not much arthritis in the joint, not much stiffness, then it'll be a quick recovery. When it's more extensive, it will be a much, much longer recovery."

What does the recovery timeline typically look like?

"It is a spectrum. You can't just put it in one category. If they have a few loose bodies, not much joint involvement, and you don't need to do any capsular release, the recovery can take anywhere from six to 12 weeks. If the joint is more involved with more capsular release, more extensive arthritis, more loose bodies, that can take anywhere from three to six months to go back to sports. The minor one can be six to 12 weeks, and the major one can be three to six months."

NO SKUB, BIG PROBLEM: Tigers lose Tarik Skubal in afternoon, bullpen game to Red Sox at night

How does prior elbow surgery – Tommy John surgery (in 2016) and flexor tendon surgery (in 2022) – impact this situation?

"If the medial collateral ligament [also known as the ulnar collateral ligament] that was reconstructed starts stretching over time, that can be another reason for damage in the joint because the elbow goes into more of a position called valgus, which puts stress on the joint. There can be bone-on-bone impingement in the posterior part of the elbow in full extension, and the bone spurs can potentially cause loose bodies in the joint. If you remove them, and that instability is there, unfortunately, the problem is not going to be solved because that residual instability over time can cause the same problem again. That can make the rehab longer because they have to recover and do more strengthening. But if they have no instability, the Tommy John is solid and the flexor repair is completely healed, that should not affect recovery."

Could another Tommy John surgery be required?

"If the medial collateral ligament has insufficiency, the player may need another Tommy John down the road. Before the operation, through imaging and physical exam, we can get enough information to see if it's unstable or not, but in the operation, we can get more information by stressing the elbow and seeing how much gap there is, how much instability we get."

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tarik Skubal return to Detroit Tigers? Doctor says 6 weeks or 6 months

Doctor explains Tarik Skubal return to Detroit Tigers from surgery

The Detroit Tigers placed reigning two-time American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal on the injured list with loose bodies in his left elbow.

He will undergo surgery.

The Tigers declined to share an estimated timetable for his return.

There are a wide range of timelines for Skubal’s return, from six weeks to six months, according to Dr. Shahryar Ahmadi, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in shoulder and elbow injuries at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, California.

"If there is not much arthritis in the joint, the player doesn't have stiffness, there is no instability, and it's just a couple of small loose bodies, the recovery is very, very quick – and the chance of going back to the previous level of sport is very, very high,” Ahmed said. “If there is extensive arthritis, lots of loose bodies, instability, stiffness, that makes it more complicated with a longer recovery – and less chance of going back to the previous level of playing."

THE NEWS: Tarik Skubal to undergo surgery for loose bodies in left elbow

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) looks on from the dugout during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

Here's more from Ahmadi, who spoke with the Free Press on Monday, May 4, to help explain Skubal's injury, surgery, recovery – and if there's any reason to worry about a second Tommy John surgery:

What are loose bodies in the elbow?

"A loose body happens when you have damage to the joint. A piece of cartilage or a piece of bone breaks off inside the joint, and over time, it can gradually get bigger – and that's a loose body. Sometimes, it stays in one of the recesses in the capsule, and it doesn't cause any problems, but sometimes, it can cause problems. It can get stuck inside the joint all of a sudden, and then you can get locking, pain, inflammation. That's the way it works when it gets stuck in the joint. Sometimes, it can be big enough that it stays in one part of the joint, like the front or the back, and when that happens, it can block your flexion and extension, and that's called impingement."

WHAT NOW? A.J. Hinch on Tarik Skubal injury: 'We're not canceling the season'

How are loose bodies removed surgically?

"Most of the time, we can take them out through arthroscopy. We make a small incision around the joint, and then we put a camera in, and under direct vision from the camera through the small hole, we can remove the loose body. Sometimes, on top of the loose body, there can be extra bone on the edge of the joint, and at the same time, we can remove that. When arthritis in the joint is more advanced, we do something called debridement and capsular release, and what happens is we cut the capsule to release the joint and give them more motion."

What is the rehab process as a player returns from surgery?

"After the operation, we want to restore range of motion right away. Otherwise, the patient can get stiff. We start physical therapy right away. Initially, they do range of motion, and then they do strengthening, and then they gradually go back to sport activity. In terms of how fast it can go, it depends on the extent of the problem. If somebody has a couple of small loose bodies, not much arthritis in the joint, not much stiffness, then it'll be a quick recovery. When it's more extensive, it will be a much, much longer recovery."

What does the recovery timeline typically look like?

"It is a spectrum. You can't just put it in one category. If they have a few loose bodies, not much joint involvement, and you don't need to do any capsular release, the recovery can take anywhere from six to 12 weeks. If the joint is more involved with more capsular release, more extensive arthritis, more loose bodies, that can take anywhere from three to six months to go back to sports. The minor one can be six to 12 weeks, and the major one can be three to six months."

NO SKUB, BIG PROBLEM: Tigers lose Tarik Skubal in afternoon, bullpen game to Red Sox at night

How does prior elbow surgery – Tommy John surgery (in 2016) and flexor tendon surgery (in 2022) – impact this situation?

"If the medial collateral ligament [also known as the ulnar collateral ligament] that was reconstructed starts stretching over time, that can be another reason for damage in the joint because the elbow goes into more of a position called valgus, which puts stress on the joint. There can be bone-on-bone impingement in the posterior part of the elbow in full extension, and the bone spurs can potentially cause loose bodies in the joint. If you remove them, and that instability is there, unfortunately, the problem is not going to be solved because that residual instability over time can cause the same problem again. That can make the rehab longer because they have to recover and do more strengthening. But if they have no instability, the Tommy John is solid and the flexor repair is completely healed, that should not affect recovery."

Could another Tommy John surgery be required?

"If the medial collateral ligament has insufficiency, the player may need another Tommy John down the road. Before the operation, through imaging and physical exam, we can get enough information to see if it's unstable or not, but in the operation, we can get more information by stressing the elbow and seeing how much gap there is, how much instability we get."

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tarik Skubal return to Detroit Tigers? Doctor says 6 weeks or 6 months

Match Gallery: Hibernian v Celtic

Match Gallery: Hibernian v Celtic
Match Gallery: Hibernian v Celtic

Celtic picked up a massive three points on the road on Sunday (May 3) with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Hibernian at Easter Road. 

After Hibs' Jamie McGrath was shown a red card for a foul on Alistair Johnston, Daizen Maedagave the Hoops a first-half lead which was cancelled out by the home side just before the break.

Midway through the second half, Martin O'Neill brought Kelechi Iheanacho off the bench and his impact was instantaneous, with the Nigerian striker producing an excellent finish to put Celtic ahead and seal the three points. 

Here are some of the best images from the match. 

MORE ON THE MATCH

  • Match report - Read now
  • Manager: Easter Road win was a big result for us - Full story
  • Iheanacho: I'm always haappy to help the team win - Full story

Fixtures

Hibernian Vs. Celtic - Sun, May 3rd 2026, 12:00 Final score: 1 - 2Match Report

Where Penn State's Gavin McKenna ranks entering NHL draft lottery

The hockey world may get a good glimpse at what is coming next for Penn State star freshman Gavin McKenna on Tuesday evening. The NHL will hold its draft lottery to determine the draft order for teams that did not make the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff, and the team drawing the first pick will be first in line to bring McKenna to their organization.

McKenna has been viewed as the NHL's top draft prospect since his arrival in Happy Valley, and that remains the case as the draft lottery is set to play out. ESPN's updated ranking of draft prospects has McKenna ranked as the top prospect in the draft pool, as he is the player with the most certainty of being an NHL player. But will he be the top pick?

"There is no consensus on any player except Gavin McKenna, and even he has scouts questioning whether he should be the first player off the board," Rachel Kryshak of ESPN says. "If your team needs a high-end defenseman, this is the year. There are a handful of prospects projected to become foundational pieces on the top pair."

So if the team with the top pick has a need to bolster its defense, McKenna could potentially have to wait to hear his name. But regardless, McKenna will not be waiting long before getting his call to the NHL.

McKenna played in 35 games with 15 goals and 36 assists during his freshman season at Penn State, giving him the Big Ten scoring championship and earning conference honors as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, All-Big Ten Second Team, and All-Big Ten Freshman Team. McKenna also earned AHCA West Second Team All-American accolades.

In addition to being a star forward for Penn State in the 2025-26 season, McKenna was part of gold medal teams for Canada in the 2024 world U18 championships and Hilinka Gretzky Cup. He is coming off a bronze medal performance for Canada in the World Junior Championships.

Kevin McGuire is the lead writer for Nittany Lions Wire, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on BlueSky, Threads or any of these other platforms.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Where Penn State's Gavin McKenna ranks entering NHL draft lottery

Steelers go quarterback in PFF's way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft

Pro Football Focus has released a new way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft, and the Pittsburgh Steelers were predicted to select a quarterback within the top 10.

In the new mock draft created by PFF's Daire Carragher, the Steelers selected Brendan Sorsby with the No. 8 overall pick.

"There is a strong possibility that four quarterbacks go in the top 10 next season, heightened by the fact that none of the obvious quarterback-needy teams selected Ty Simpson this year. Sorsby could be one of several quarterbacks to emerge in 2026, and the Steelers are among the teams in search of a franchise option," Carragher wrote. "Teams will value his decision-making and composure under pressure — he took just seven sacks on 114 pressures last season at Cincinnati."

While Sorsby would be a terrific pickup, it's difficult to imagine the Steelers heavily targeting a quarterback in 2027 over other positional needs, especially when the team is seemingly committed to Will Howard and Drew Allar's development.

For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers select Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby in 2027 nfl mock draft

Monday Seacoast Roundup: Exeter's Battles fans 13, rolls to fourth win

MERRIMACK - Senior Ethan Battles struck out 13 and allowed just three hits as the Exeter High School baseball team shut out Merrimack, 2-0 on Monday, May 4 in a Division I game.

It was Battles' third complete-game of the season, and he improved to 4-0 on the season. Exeter is now 8-2.

More: Portsmouth boys lacrosse pulls away from Oyster River, wins 14-9

Ethan Battles

Exeter scored both of its runs in the first inning on a John Bakker two-run double, scoring Brennan Schimoler and Battles. Schimoler had two of Exeter's four hits, while Andrew Martin had the other.

BASEBALL

Bishop Guertin 10

Portsmouth 0

PORTSMOUTH - Bishop Guertin broke open a 2-0 game with eight runs in the sixth inning of this Division I game.

Hugh Herter led Portsmouth (1-8) with two hits, while Zavier Lampert and Liam Belden both had one.

Dover 8

Timberlane 0

PLAISTOW - Tyler Tiedge allowed four hits and struck out six over six scoreless innings as Dover improved to 8-2 with this Division I win.

Logan Mosher had three hits, one RBI and two runs scored for Dover, while Daniel Conrad (hit, three RBIs), Sam MacGregor (solo home run), Bjorn Miller (two hits, three runs), Ben Cheek (hit, RBI, run), Connor Sprague (two hits, RBI, run), and Owen Lovering (hit, RBI) led the offense.

Winnacunnet 8

Memorial 2

HAMPTON - Ethan Roy and Sean Griffin both had two hits and two RBIs as Winnacunnet improved to 7-2 with this Division I win.

Harvey Reynoso and Braeden O'Hara both had two hits for the Warriors, while Bryce Pinsonnault (hit, two runs), Ryan Giuffre (hit, run), Oscar Fritz (hit, RBI), and Brantson Larck (run) contributed.

Fritz allowed five hits and two earned runs over five innings, striking out six for the win. Sophomore Cal Lauder pitched two scoreless innings in relief.

Pinkerton 3

Spaulding 0

ROCHESTER - Ty Lindsay, Carter Marcotte and Garrett Truax each had a hit for Spaulding (6-3) in its Division I loss. Spaulding's Carter Hanson threw three scoreless innings in relief.

Oyster River 10

Sanborn 3

KINGSTON - Casey Faul and Derek Brower combined to lead Oyster River to this Division II win. Faul got the win, allowing three runs over four innings, while Brower pitched three scoreless innings to close it out.

James Saunders and Nolan Swiesz both hit their first career home runs for the Bobcats, while Amos Winans had two doubles.

Coe-Brown 6

St. Thomas Aquinas 5

NORTHWOOD - Coe-Brown scored four runs in the seventh inning and walked off with this Division II win.

Gabe Carlisle had two of St. Thomas' five hits, while Kenny Avery, Finn Perry and Camden Stowell all had one. Stowell had both of STA's RBIs.

Portsmouth Christian 6

Epping 5, 8 inn.

EPPING - Grady Howe's drove in Brayden Leland with the game-winning run in the eighth inning of this Division IV game.

Cai Summers had four hits, including two doubles and two RBIs for PCA (4-2).

Newmarket 20

Mount Royal 0

SUNAPEE - Nate Fluet had two home runs and three RBIs for Newmarket (9-0) in this Division IV win.

Charlie Tudor, Colton  Durant  and Rian Fabrizio all had two hits and three RBIs for the Mules, while Jack Richards had four RBIs and Anthony Jurkoic had two.

Matt Napoletano struck out six over two hitless innings, earning the win.

York 25

Lake Region 9

NAPLES, Maine - Zach Tremblay had two hits and four RBIs, and Robbie Hanscom and Sam Jancovic both had two hits for York (2-1) in this Class B South win.

The Wildcats scored eight runs in the third inning, and 13 in the fourth.

Thornton Academy 10

Marshwood 2

SACO, Maine - Thornton broke open a one-run game with seven runs in the fifth inning en route to this Class A South win.

Sophomore John Galuppo led Marshwood with three hits and scored two runs, while Michael Sbrizza had one hit and two RBIs. Marshwood junior starter Sam Therrien allowed three runs over 4.1 innings.

SOFTBALL

Merrimack 6

Exeter 5

EXETER - Grace Goodreau had two hits, three RBIs and scored a run for Exeter (3-5) in its Division I loss.

Exeter led 4-3 after three innings, but Merrimack scored two in the fourth.

Mack Clark had two hits for the Blue Hawks, and Lana Ruffner, Maddy Mann (RBI), Landyn Theberge and Allie Patten all had one.

Oyster River 7

Sanborn 6

KINGSTON - Kate Michaud's two-run homer in the seventh rallied Oyster River to this Division II win. Aubrey DeJesus singled to start the Oyster River seventh and scored on Michaud's homer.

Both DeJesus and Michaud had two hits for Oyster River, while Gracy Spirito and Lorelye LeClair each doubled. Sam Bishop scattered seven hits over seven innings, striking out nine and earning the complete-game win.

Newmarket 13

Farmington 0

NEWMARKET - Emma Surina struck out six and allowed just one hit in this five-inning, complete-game Division IV win for the Mules. 

Surina also homered, singled and had three RBIs, while Grace Hiera had two hits and three RBIs, and Mariza Zygouri and Hannah Chesley each doubled and scored two runs. Teammates Paige Sweitzer (four walks, two runs) and Brielle Duffy (two runs) contributed.

Portsmouth Christian Academy 3

Epping 1

DOVER - Lexi Jordan allowed two hits and struck out 10 for PCA in it Division IV win.

Zuri Petlick had two hits and scored a run for the Eagles, while Emma Anderson also scored.

York 7

Lake Region 6

NAPLES, Maine - Piper Catanese's two-single in the sixth scored Ava Hickey with the game-winning run in this Class B South game.

Nya Avery had two hits for York (3-0), while Maddie Fitzgerald had two RBIs and Maya Babcock had one hit.

GIRLS LACROSSE

Portsmouth 18

Nashua South 1

NASHUA - Ginger Vinciguerra had five goals and two assists and Georgia Bouvier had four goals and one assist for Portsmouth (8-0) in its Division I win. 

Raegan Lawton and Elliott Blenkinsop both added two goals for the Clippers, and Addie Delisle, Liv Russo and Ellie Patrick all had one. Portsmouth goalie Sage Bussiere had one save. 

Pinkerton 9

Exeter 8 

DERRY - Riley Benevides had four goals, and Josie Drunsic, Grace McIlRoy, Avery Carrigan and Claire Wilhelm all had one for Exeter in its Division I loss.

Phoebe Christenson added two assists for the Blue Hawks, and Drunsic and Racquel Battle both had one.

St. Thomas Aquinas 23

Bishop Brady 5

DOVER - Talula Gregg and Charlotte De Tolla both scored four goals, and Lizzy Holden and Annita Parmelee each had three for St. Thomas in its Division III win.

Sophia Kelly and Reese Foss both had two goals for the Saints, and Julia Bryan, Izzy Taylor, Charlotte Kelly, Yuliana Elmoraghy and Rose Willerer all had one.

STA goalies Reese Foss and Anna Szufnarowski combined for four saves. Defensively, Jules Stowell and Harper Burlage starred. Parmalee reached 100 career points in the win.

Traip Academy 7

Waynflete 4

KITTERY, Maine - Sam Latchaw had three goals and Lucy Bolanos, Keira Durgin, Shea Johnson and Harper Malmquist all had one for Traip in its Class C win. Traip goalie Maddy Guay had eight saves. 

BOYS LACROSSE

Londonderry 13

Dover 12

DOVER - Senior Logan Carter had five goals and one assist, and senior Porter Gray had four goals and one assist for Dover in its Division I loss.

Sophomore Parker Ketcham (goal, two assists), junior Sylas Brown (goal, assist), freshman Finn Joyce (goal), sophomore Geffin Adorian (two assists) and senior Cooper Ketcham (assist) all figure in the scoring.

Timberlane 19

Spaulding 4

ROCHESTER - Kayleb Baker scored two goals and Rowan Hughes and Logan Hickman both had one for Spaulding in its Division II loss.

Spaulding goalie Seth Jones had 16 saves. 

Marshwood 22

Traip Academy 6

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine - Damien Gilmore had six goals and two assists and Hayden Demeroto had four goals and two assists, leading Class B Marshwood past Class C Traip.

Rogan Boisvert added three goals and two assists for the Hawks, and Robert Williams (three goals, assist), Asher Watts (two goals), Tyson Quater (goal), Brian Doukas (goal), Damien Ruth-McCarthy (goal) and Jack O’Brien (goal) all figured in the scoring.

BOYS TENNIS

Dover 9

Keene 0

KEENE - Diego Lopez (No. 1, 8-4), Matias Lopez (No. 2, 8-1), Evan Weete (No. 3, 8-2), Gavin Beauregard (No. 4, 8-2), Aidan McCann (No. 5, 8-0) and Sam Maravich (No. 6, 8-0) all won in singles for Dover (6-2) in its Division I match.

In doubles, the Lopez brothers won 8-4 at No. 1, Weete and Beauregard won 8-3 at No. 2, and McCann and Maravich won 8-0 at No. 3.

Derryfield 5

Exeter 4

MANCHESTER - Mike Burke (No. 4, 8-5), Will Rich (No. 5, 8-4) and Nolan Iacobucci (No. 6, 8-4) all won in singles for Exeter in its Division I loss.

In doubles, Burke and Iacobucci won 8-6 at No. 3.

Portsmouth 9

Alvirne 0

HUDSON - Jiles Tracz (No. 1, 8-1), Amitay Hay Tene (No. 2, 8-2), Hillel Hay-Tene (No. 3, 8-2), Julian Brosseau (No. 4, 8-1), Brandon Ganev (No. 5, 8-0) and Jackson French (No. 6, 8-0) all won in singles for Portsmouth in its Division II win.

In doubles, Gerado Navarro-Manchego and Calean French won 8-4 at No. 1, Parker Wittnebert and Max Baumgart won 8-2 at No. 2, and Benjamin Fischer and Wyatt Baker won 8-0 at No. 3.

Marshwood 5

Westbrook 0

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine - The Hawks improved to 3-1 with this Class A South win.

In singles, Carlos Carbonell-Monte won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1, Ethan Waddell won 6-0, 6-2 at No. 2, and David Duvall won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3.

In doubles, Carter Shaw and Alex Rafferty won 6-0, 6-3 at No. 1, and Parker Dixon and Fisher Drisko won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2.

St. Thomas Aquinas 5

Gilford 4

NORTH HAMPTON - Alex Molda (No. 1, 8-0), Aaron Molda (No. 2, 8-0), and Nick Adams (No. 3, 8-0) won in singles for St. Thomas (8-0) in its Division III match.

In doubles, the Molda Brothers won 8-0 at No. 1, and Adams and Ben Puertas won 8-2 at No. 2.

York 5

Freeport 0

YORK, Maine - Owen Kassalty won 6-1, 6-4 at No. 1 singles, Ryan Grinnell won 6-1, 6-4 at No. 2, and Brennan Ciani won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 for York in its Class B South match.

In doubles, Zander Grinnell and Cody Jean won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1, and Colin Topping and Brendan Barron won 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2.

GIRLS TENNIS

Keene 5

Dover 4

DOVER - Jane Mathews (No. 3, 9-7), Siena D’Ambrosio (No. 4, 9-8), and Ella Froton (No. 6, 8-2) all won in singles for Dover in its Division I match.

In doubles, Kim Tarr and Mathews won 8-4 at No. 2.

Derryfield 9

Exeter 0

MANCHESTER - The Blue Hawks fell to 4-4 with this Division I loss.

Portsmouth 9

Alvirne 0

PORTSMOUTH - Avery Porter (No. 1, 8-0), Aia Tracz (No. 2, 8-4), Elyse White (No. 3, 8-2), Anna Syphers (No. 4, 8-1), Aoife Ryan (No. 5, 8-1) and Ailish Honda (No. 6, 8-1) all won in singles for Portsmouth (7-1) in its Division II match.

In doubles, Porter and White won 8-2 at No. 1, Tracz and Syphers won 8-2 at No. 2, and Ryan and Honda won 8-2 at No. 3.

Oyster River 7

Milford 2

DURHAM - Saarika Arthanat (No. 1, 8-2), Jessica Li (No. 2, 8-1), Diya Sridharan (No. 4, 8-0), Siena Pelaggi (No. 5, 8-0) and Maggie Aldous (No. 6, 8-6) all won in singles for Oyster River in its Division II match.

In doubles, Arthanat & Jessica Li won 8-2 at No. 1, and Reed Reed and Sridharan won 8-1 at No. 2. 

VOLLEYBALL

Keene 3

Winnacunnet 2

KEENE - Ryan Roseburg had 20 assists and three kills for Winnacunnet, while Connor Kelly had eight kills and five digs.

Individual game scores were 24-26, 25-15, 15-25, 25-17, 16-14.

GIRLS TRACK

Exeter wins four-team meet

EXETER - Seven different girls won an individual event and the Blue Hawks scored 131.5 points and beat Pinkerton (75), Winnacunnet (19.5) and Newmarket (19).

Exeter's Molly Bault (pole vault, 7 feet, 6 inches), Callen Myers (shot put, 32-08.5), Samantha Gutowski (discus, 97-10), Aubrie Proulx (javelin, 76-11), Martelle McBride (400, 59.54 seconds), Karlee Norris (300 hurdles, 52.32) and Molly Kells (800, 2:33.82) all won their respective events.

Exeter also won two relays as the 4x100 team, consisting of Claire Ahern, Lexie Rogers, Finley Mason, and Taryn Hebel, won in 52.61; and the 4x400 team, comprised of Saylor Gregory, Kendall McBride, Izzy Parsons, and Lily Maher, won in 4:38.28.

Exeter's Lucille Beem was second in both the discus (93-07) and shot put (32-01.5) and was third in the discus (93-07), and Mallory Fisher was second in the 300 hurdles (53.64), 100 hurdles (16.82) and long jump (15-05).

Other top-three performances from Exeter were turned in by Emma Roeder (second, 400, 1:01.63), Claire Ahern (second, long jump, 15-05), Paige Karam (triple jump, 29-08.5), Finley Mason (second, pole vault, 7-6), Caroline Bowie (third, javelin, 67-09), Dani Caron (third, 400, 1:02.49), Sydney MacVicar (third, 100 hurdles, 17.6), Emma Hamilton (third, 1,600, 6:09.36), Sloane Hanson (third, high jump, 4-04), Rebecca Martin (third, pole vault, 7-0), and Autumn Fabiano (third, shot put, 30-10.25).

BOYS TRACK

Exeter second in four-team meet

EXETER - Exeter won five events, scored 92 points and placed second, behind Pinkerton (101) in a four-team meet. Winnacunnet (28) and Newmarket (20) placed third and fourth, respectively.

Exeter's Colby Orleans won the 300 hurdles (44.65) and pole vault (12-07), while teammates Frankie Zagami (800, 2:14.31), Colton Ray (long jump, 19-11) and Jack Thibodeau (shot put, 42-01) won their respective events.

Other top-three performances from Exeter were turned in by Avery Bourgeault (second, 400, 52.93; third, long jump, 18-02), Eli Smith (second, triple jump, 37-06), Thomas Eastwood (second, pole vault, 10-06), Kenji Chase (second, javelin, 138-02) Ian Cottrill (third, 1,600, 5:11.44), Agee Griffith (third, 400, 54.46), Marcus Clark (third, 800, 2:16.11), Dylan O'Kane (third, shot put, 37-03), and Thibodeau (third, javelin, 133-01; third, discus, 101-1).

Exeter's 4x400-meter relay team, consisting of Zagami, Jackson Tooker, Andrew Allen, and Mathias Skrabal, placed second in 3:54.33.

-Coaches are asked to e-mail game summaries to sports@seacoastonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Monday Seacoast Roundup, Exeter's Battles fans 13, rolls to fourth win

Chris Finch Bluntly Calls Out Victor Wembanyama for Goaltending on Spurs Superstar’s Record-Breaking Night

Image Credits: Imagn ©Image Credits: Imagn
Image Credits: Imagn ©Image Credits: Imagn

In the final game of the Round 1 series against the Blazers, Victor Wembanyama had 6 blocks. The unanimous DPOY picked right where he left off and created playoff history with 12 blocks against the Minnesota Timberwolves. But fans remained vocal about missed foul calls, and even the Wolves’ head coach pointed out the same issue against the 22-year-old Frenchman.

“A little bit, yeah, better spacing a little bit, better ball movement,” Chris Finch spoke about containing Wemby for just 11 points. Then shared his thoughts on some of the blocks that robbed the Timberwolves of crucial points. “He had a lot of blocks. He had a couple uncalled goaltendings too. So, those are valuable points we’d like to have back. I thought there was smarter offense to be had in the second half, and I think we did a better job of finding that.”

Victor Wembanyama had 3 blocks in 3.5 minutes at the start of Game 1, but not all were legal.

Long-time NBA writer and reporter, Tom Azarly, tweeted out the glaring mistakes. “– A good block – An uncalled goaltend – An uncalled foul”. He made another tweet, “Another missed goaltend on Wemby on this Randle drive to the basket.” But the officials did not make one goaltending call against the Spurs center. Within the first half, his blocks tally reached seven. By the end of the third quarter, he reached 10, breaking Tim Duncan’s record for most blocks in a playoff game in Spurs history.

Two more rejections later, Victor Wembanyama made history for the most blocks recorded in a playoff game period. While on the court, he was heating up, and the netizens on social media had similar raging reactions. The referees did appear to miss a few obvious calls against the French Phenom.

On one possession, Wemby got away with hitting Rudy Gobert’s arm. In the second half, the two-time All-Star had another block where the first contact seemed to be on a Timberwolves player’s arm, before Wembanyama used his other hand to swat the ball away. And the goal tend call against Randle was missed as the ball’s trajectory was clearly downward, but the officials missed it.

Victor Wembanyama gets challenged for Game 2

While Wemby blocked 12 attempts, Terrence Shannon Jr. is not afraid to drive again. The 25-year-old had his shot blocked three times by the Spurs star (one was a goaltend early in the first quarter). Shannon Jr. recently got extended minutes as Anthony Edwards started from the bench. So, he is ready for the challenge that the French phenom might throw at him again.

“He gonna have to block it every time, I ain’t gonna stop going downhill, and I told him that when he said a little something after he blocked my second one. He gonna have to block it every time, man. I know he ain’t gonna block it every single time. I’m gonna dunk on him,” he said. Shannon Jr. is a 6’6” wing with a near 40-inch vertical.

That’s why he is ready to challenge Victor Wembanyama once again. The 25-year-old remains 46% shooter from FG, but against the Spurs tonight, he was limited to just 38%. Another reason why Shannon Jr. wants to have this battle once again.

The post Chris Finch Bluntly Calls Out Victor Wembanyama for Goaltending on Spurs Superstar’s Record-Breaking Night appeared first on EssentiallySports. Add EssentiallySports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Strength of schedule for all 32 NFL teams: Which teams have the hardest, easiest schedule for 2026?

Strength of schedule for all 32 NFL teams: Which teams have the hardest, easiest schedule for 2026? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Free agency and the draft have come and passed. That means just one more significant event is on the way for the NFL's offseason: the schedule release.

While teams do know which opponents they'll play this fall, they do not know the order of those games quite yet. It may be a bit early to start game planning — but because opponents are already pre-determined, all 32 squads do have an idea of how difficult their path to the playoffs may be.

Things are sure to change by the time the 2026 season begins, but by using each team's 2025 record, an early strength of schedule can be assessed.

Here's a look at the hardest and easiest projected NFL schedules for the 2026 season. 

MORE:Grading every 2026 NFL draft class from each team

Toughest NFL schedule 2026

Chicago Bears (.550 opponent win percentage)

Last season, the Bears returned to the top spot in the NFC North behind Caleb Williams and first-year head coach Ben Johnson. Their path back to the playoffs, however, could prove difficult.

Chicago's 2026 opponents had a collective .550 win percentage last year, which can partially be attributed to a strong NFC North division, but also because the Bears are set to host the Patriots, Eagles, Jaguars and Buccaneers, then travel to face the Bills, Panthers and Seahawks.

HomeAway
LionsLions
PackersPackers
VikingsVikings
BuccaneersBills
EaglesDolphins
JaguarsFalcons
JetsPanthers
PatriotsSeahawks
Saints--

MORE: Who were the winners and losers from the 2026 NFL Draft?

Who has the easiest NFL schedule in 2026?

Cleveland Browns (.429)

Based purely on teams' 2025 win percentage, the Cleveland Browns would appear to have a favorable path to a good 2026 season behind new head coach Todd Monken.

Outside of AFC North play, Cleveland is set to face plenty of non-playoff teams from last year, including hosting the Colts, Falcons and Raiders, then traveling to face the Titans, Saints, Giants and Jets. 

HomeAway
RavensRavens
BengalsBengals
SteelersSteelers
TexansJaguars
ColtsSaints
FalconsBuccaneers
PanthersTitans
RaidersGiants
--Jets

MORE: 2026 NFL Draft picks by college: Which schools topped the list?

2026 NFL strength of schedule rankings

Here is the strength of schedule rankings for 2026. No. 1 is the toughest strength of schedule based on 2025 win percentages, while No. 32 is the easiest.

RankTeamOpponent win pct. (2025)
1Bears.550
2Dolphins.542
3Cardinals.538
Packers.538
5Chiefs.536
6Patriots.531
7Raiders.529
8Bills.528
9Chargers.522
10Panthers.521
11Vikings.519
12Jets.517
13Rams.516
14Seahawks.514
15Broncos.512
16Commanders.502
17Giants.498
1849ers.497
19Steelers.495
20Cowboys.493
21Buccaneers.491
22Jaguars.490
23Eagles.481
24Ravens.479
25Titans.476
26Texans.474
27Lions.467
28Falcons.465
Colts.465
30Bengals.450
31Saints.334
32Browns.429

Last season's win percentage isn't always a perfect way to assess a team's schedule, however —a lot changes between offseasons, between coaching changes, signings, trades and the draft. 

Below is a look at Sharp Football Analysis' strength of schedule rankings based on their opponents' projected 2026 win total from oddmakers, from easiest (Lions) to hardest (Cardinals). 

RankTeam
1Lions
2Saints
3Bengals
4Browns
5Jets
6Ravens
7Eagles
849ers
9Colts
10Chiefs
11Broncos
12Patriots
13Titans
14Bills
15Jaguars
16Vikings
17Packers
18Steelers
19Raiders
20Falcons
21Chargers
22Seahawks
23Buccaneers
24Giants
25Commanders
26Texans
27Bears
28Rams
29Cowboys
30Panthers
31Dolphins
32Cardinals

MORE:First look at 2027 NFL Draft big board

How is the NFL schedule determined?

Virtually every aspect of the NFL schedule process, outside of when the games are played, is predetermined — opponents are decided upon long before the schedule is released, which is why every team already knows its 2026 home and road opponents.

The NFL uses this formula to put together each team's schedule:

  1. Each team plays six divisional games, facing each divisional opponent three times at home and three times on the road (six games).
  2. Each team faces all four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (four games).
  3. Each team faces all four teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle (four games)
  4. Each team faces two more intraconference opponents based on the prior year’s standings. For example, because the Browns already play the entire AFC North and AFC South in 2026, they face the teams in the AFC West and AFC East that finished in the same spot in the standings as Cleveland did (fourth) the previous season. In their case, it's the Jets and Raiders (two games).
  5. Each team plays one additional game against a team from the other conference based on the prior year's standings on a rotating four-year cycle. These games match a first-place team from one division against a first-place team in an opposite conference division that the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place, and fourth-place teams in each division are similarly paired. The home conference for this game rotates each season (one game). Using the Browns example, they will travel to face the NFC East's Giants in 2026. 

How can I watch City v Brentford on TV?

How can I watch City v Brentford on TV?
How can I watch City v Brentford on TV?

Find out how you can watch City's Premier League home clash with Brentford from wherever you are in the world.

We host the Bees at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday 9 May with a 17:30 (UK) kick-off.

The game will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event.

You can also keep across all of the action via mancity.com and our official app with our Matchday Live show featuring Keith Curle and Neil Warnock alongside host Cel Spellman while audio commentary comes to you via Alistair Mann and Clive Allen.

Our team of journalists will also keep you updated in the Matchday Centre which starts two hours before kick-off while you can also check out the key moments on X/Twitter: @ManCity.

Supporters living around the world can find out how they can tune in via our global listings below, courtesy of livesoccertv.com.

(Listings correct as of Tuesday 5 May)

Recruiting your own roster: 10 retention wins that matter more than portal adds

Florida only added one player via the college basketball transfer portal ahead of the 2026-27 season, but came away as one of the biggest winners of the offseason due to retention.

The Gators were able to keep leading scorer Thomas Haugh and two-year starting forward Alex Condon for next season, despite both players having heavy NBA interest. Starting guard Boogie Fland is also returning, and starting center Rueben Chinyelu is testing the NBA draft waters while maintaining his eligibility.

Elsewhere, Connecticut was able to keep March Madness hero Braylon Mullins for his second season, despite Mullins being projected as a first-round pick.

There's a new No. 1: College basketball transfer portal team rankings

Basketball portal’s early losers: Big names, big swings, bigger questions

Sometimes the best additions are the ones already on the roster, especially in today’s era of the transfer portal and name, image and likeness influencing players' decisions.

Here’s a look at our top-10 retentions ahead of the 2026-27 college basketball season, whether it was an NBA or portal decision looming:

College Basketball Transfer Portal Retention Wins

Braylon Mullins, UConn

Mullins proved to be a missing puzzle piece for Dan Hurley and UConn to get back to the Final Four as an all-around player, highlighted by his ability to hit challenging shots. He hit the game-winning shot to get the Huskies to within two wins of their third national championship title in the past four NCAA tournaments.

After averaging 12.0 points per game, 33.5% from 3-point shooting and 29 starts in 33 games, he was being projected as a mid- to late-first round draft pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. However, he opted to return to the Huskies for his sophomore season, where there's "unfinished business" to be settled.

Mullins’ return to UConn positions him as one of the top players in the country and one of the Huskies' leading scorers next season, but also gives him a real chance to elevate his stock into a lottery pick for the 2027 NBA Draft.

Thomas Haugh, Florida

Haugh is another player who seemed destined to declare for the draft. He decided to pass up on being a projected lottery pick and return to the Gators in an attempt to making one last deep run in March Madness after an abrupt end this past season.

"Most guys in my position in the draft, it would be a no-brainer to go to the NBA," Haugh said on his reasoning. "It’s not just the NIL. It’s a chance to play with my boys. To play for coach (Todd) Golden." While NIL certainly isn't the main reason in his return, it certainly is a factor in why the Gators were able to retain him. As noted by ESPN, Haugh is expected to be one of the highest-paid players in the country this upcoming season which, like Mullins, will likely be more than he would have potentially made in the NBA.

His return gives Golden an All-American returning to his frontcourt and a reliable go-to scorer and rebounder who averaged 17.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last season.

MORE: When the stars are gone, the smart transfer portal moves matter most

Patrick Ngongba II, Duke

Patrick Ngongba II was another top talent who opted to run it back one more year in college rather than go to the NBA, where he was projected as a late first-round draft pick.

The return of the 6-11 center is a big one for Duke, who will look to give it another go at snapping an 11-year national championship drought. Ngongba finished as Duke's third-leading scorer last season with 10.1 points per game and 60.6% shooting from the field, while being one of the top defensive players in the country with 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.

Before sustaining a foot injury just before the ACC Tournament, Ngongba was playing some of his best basketball down the stretch of the regular season, as he scored in double figures in five straight games before the injury.

Nigel James Jr, Marquette

Marquette guard Nigel James Jr. (0) celebrates his dunk during the second half of their game Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Marquette beat Creighton 86-62.

One of Marquette's most important offseasons in the Shaka Smart era began with retaining the core three — Nigel James Jr., Adrian Phillips and Royce Parham — of the Golden Eagles' freshman class for their 2026-27 roster rebuild.

The first domino to fall came on Day 1 of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden when James announced he was returning to the Golden Eagles for his sophomore season during his Big East Freshman of the Year acceptance speech. It was not only a moment that shut down any thought of him potentially entering the transfer portal, but it also provided Marquette with a point guard and go-to scorer to build around with its expected portal activity.

The 6-foot guard finished as one of just two freshmen in the country to finish with at least 19.0 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game in conference games this past season, with the other being Darius Acuff Jr. at Arkansas.

Cayden Boozer, Duke

All signs pointed to Cayden Boozer returning to Duke for a sophomore season after playing alongside his brother, Cameron Boozer. His announcement of his return was a big one for Jon Scheyer.

Boozer provided Duke with quality minutes at the end of the season when Caleb Foster got injured ahead of the ACC Tournament. The 6-4 guard, the son of former Duke legend Carlos Boozer, averaged 13 points per game in the seven starts he made during Foster's absence.

Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt

Tyler Tanner enjoyed a breakout season in 2025-26, averaging 19.5 points with 3.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game for Vanderbilt. The 6-foot sophomore declared for the 2026 NBA Draft while maintaining his eligibility, keeping the option to return to school.

Tanner returning to Vanderbilt looks likely, where he’ll be well-compensated and be one of the best returning guards in college basketball. His size (listed at 6-foot), along with the 2026 class being loaded at guard, could factor into his decision.

Alex Condon, Florida

Florida Gators forward/center Alex Condon (21) drives the ball in the first half against the Prairie View A&M Panthers during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena.

Condon nearly left Florida for the NBA Draft after winning a national championship in 2025. He returned for 2025-26 and now will be back again for 2026-27 as a senior.

The 6-11 Australian averaged 15.1 points with 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game last season for the Gators, and formed one of the best frontcourts in college basketball with Haugh and Chinyelu, who’s also trending toward a return next season.

Condon could be the best returning big man in college basketball next season, especially with his playmaking ability as both a scorer and passer.

Trey McKenney, Michigan

One of the most popular breakout picks for next season, former five-star recruit Trey McKenney is returning for 2026-27 despite having NBA interest after his true freshman season at Michigan.

The 6-4 former McDonald’s All American averaged 9.9 points while shooting 39.1% from 3-point range off the bench for the reigning national champions. He should enter the starting lineup next season, and has a chance to turn into Michigan’s go-to scorer as a sophomore.

McKenney averaged 12 points per game during the NCAA Tournament and was a huge retention win for coach Dusty May and the Wolverines.

MBB recruiting 2026 team rankings: Kansas lands top player, but another program is No. 1

Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois

Illinois guard Andrej Stojakovic also entered his name into 2026 NBA Draft consideration, although it's becoming increasingly likely he'll return to school.

The 6-7 guard was an NCAA Tournament breakout, earning All-Region honors after averaging 13.8 points with four rebounds per game off the bench for the Fighting Illini. The two-time transfer will likely start alongside a cast of Illinois returners, including Tomislav Ivisic and David Mirkovic, along with transfer Stefan Vaaks from Providence.

Stojakovic, the son of former NBA star Peja Stojakovic, averaged 13.5 points per game in his first season after transferring from Stanford and Cal.

Rob Wright III, BYU

BYU guard Rob Wright III initially entered the transfer portal, but the Cougars were able to retain their second-leading scorer for his junior season.

Wright averaged 18.1 points with 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game last season, despite playing second fiddle to projected No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa. Wright will pace BYU in 2026-27 and will be the No. 1 option for the squad in his second season after transferring from Baylor.

Wright was one of the top-ranked players in the transfer portal, but he ends up returning to BYU, where he’ll be asked to score early and often.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fastDownload for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sometimes best transfer portal move is keeping what you already have

Nebraska volleyball learns Big Ten opponents for 2026 season

The Big Ten Conference announced the volleyball opponent rotations for the 2026 season. Nebraska will play nine Big Ten home matches and eight away matches.

Nebraska's nine home matches will be against Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA, USC and Wisconsin. The eight away matches are at Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Oregon, Penn State and Washington

The creation of a Big Ten Volleyball Tournament for 2026 will see teams play 17 regular-season matches, down from the previous 20. The schedule operates on a two-year cycle, so the Huskers will flip home-and-away matches for 2027.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: Nebraska volleyball learns Big Ten opponents for 2026 season

See which Pensacola area track and field athletes qualified for state

The Pensacola area's best track and field athletes head to Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville this week to try to run, jump or throw their way to state titles.

The action starts Wednesday with the 1A meet, continues Thursday with the 2A meet and concludes for local competitors on Friday with the 3A meet. No Escambia or Santa Rosa County schools are in the 4A classification, which competes Saturday.

Athletes either had to finish in the top two at their respective regional meet or qualify as an at-large bid. 1A and 2A athletes will have to battle the heat, with high temperatures around 90 degrees expected both days. 3A athletes will have to battle the elements, with rain in the forecast on Friday.

Below is a complete list of area athletes competing at the FHSAA state championship, as well as where they're seeded in each event. All times and rankings are courtesy of FloridaTFFRS.

Class 3A

Girls

  • 100 meters: Layanna Banks, jr., Tate (7th, 11.86); Danica Wright, so., Navarre (9th, 11.92)
  • 1600 meters: Ashton Dahlem, jr., Gulf Breeze (12th, 5:16.16)
  • 400-meter hurdles: Trinity Jordan, sr., Escambia (16th, 1:07.36)
  • 4x100 relay: Tate (Nancy Clay, Niyana Wiggins, Camdyn Green, Layanna Banks, 13th, 48.50), Booker T. Washington (Anaya Walker, Rileigh Smith, Taylor Mitchell, Naryia Simpkins, 17th, 48.99)
  • High jump: Brianna Beacham, sr., Booker T. Washington (2nd, 5-5.75); Mbayang Niass, so., Booker T. Washington (5th, 5-3.75); Addison Wand, jr., Tate (6th, 5-3.75)
  • Pole vault: Daveigh Meredith, so., Tate (12th, 9-10)
  • Triple jump: My'rea Brock, sr., Pine Forest (17th, 36-5); Orriyah Randall, so., Booker T. Washington (18th, 36-3)
  • Discus: Za'Khiya Shaw-Rease, sr., Pine Forest (12th, 116-4)
  • Javelin: Leighton Osborn, jr., Pace (3rd, 126-6)

Boys

  • 100 meters: Leslie McMillian, jr., Escambia (9th, 10.64); Zion Heard, jr., Pine Forest (17th, 10.81)
  • 400 meters: Jayden Jones, so., Navarre (15th, 49.14); Noah Chin, sr., Navarre (17th, 49.21)
  • 800 meters: Eric Dennard, sr., Escambia (6th, 1:56.04)
  • 1600 meters: Brody Bruce, sr., Navarre (8th, 4:24.67)
  • 110-meter hurdles: Anthony Gee, sr., Pine Forest (2nd, 13.88)
  • 400-meter hurdles: Anthony Gee, sr., Pine Forest (4th, 54.65); Matthew Beam, sr., Gulf Breeze (17th, 56.84)
  • 4x100 relay: Escambia (Charles Lyons, Alonzo Harris, Christopher Dunn, Leslie McMillian, 17th, 42.16)
  • 4x400 relay: Navarre (Jayden Jones, Mason Cameron, Aiden Gargus, Noah Chin, 8th, 3:19.00), Escambia (Kaeo Wright, Alonzo Harris, Leslie McMillian, Eric Dennard, 14th, 3:22.44)
  • High jump: Tylan Chambers, sr., Booker T. Washington (1st, 6-11.5); Tate Rodriguez, jr., Milton (3rd, 6-5.5); Sergio Robinson, sr., Milton (4th, 6-5.5); Daniel McDaniel, sr., Escambia (5th, 6-5.5)
  • Pole vault: Paul Arthur, sr., Pace (2nd, 14-3.25)
  • Long jump: Darian Blanks, sr., Pine Forest (16th, 21-10.75)
  • Triple jump: Darian Blanks, sr., Pine Forest (3rd, 48-4); Tristen Pace, sr. Gulf Breeze (18th, 43-5.75)
  • Shot put: Kade Rollins, sr., Gulf Breeze (8th, 50-8)
  • Discus: Keegan Dickerson, sr., Pace (4th, 162-10)
  • Javelin: Tate Jernigan, so., Pace (6th, 181-9); Alec Leach, jr., Pace (15th, 162-9)

Class 2A

Girls

  • 100-meter hurdles: Synia Hughley, jr., Pensacola (6th, 15.09)
  • 400-meter hurdles: Synia Hughley, jr., Pensacola (5th, 1:05.42); Knaviah Badilishamwalimu, sr., West Florida (13th, 1:07.63)
  • 4x100 relay: Pensacola Catholic (Addison Manning, Savannah Broughton, Natalie Jackson, Jillian Lacour, 6th, 49.22)
  • High jump: Savannah Broughton, so., Pensacola Catholic (13th, 4-11.75)
  • Pole vault: Parker Brown, jr., West Florida (14th, 9-10)
  • Long jump: Addison Manning, jr., Pensacola Catholic (17th, 17-1.5)
  • Shot put: Amani Bartholomew, jr., West Florida (2nd, 38-6.75)
  • Discus: Amani Bartholomew, jr., West Florida (13th, 103-5)
  • Javelin: Amani Bartholomew, jr., West Florida (8th, 111-6); Aubree Baldwin, fr., Pensacola Catholic (15th, 101-0)

Boys

  • 100 meters: Dane Elliott, jr., West Florida (5th, 10.60)
  • 200 meters: Dane Elliott, jr., West Florida (8th, 22.02)
  • 1600 meters: Donovan Carmichael, so., West Florida (5th, 4:29.43); Frederick Gunther, fr., Pensacola Catholic (12th, 4:33.42)
  • 3200 meters: Donovan Carmichael, so., West Florida (4th, 9:41.94)
  • 4x100 relay: West Florida (Savon McLemore, Nicolas Savage, Christopher Truitt, Jaylen Phillips, 5th, 41.93)
  • 4x400 relay: West Florida (Isaiah Simpson, Don Williams, Izaiya Rolle, Dane Elliott, 6th, 3:22.22)
  • High jump: Khylen Eccles, jr., Pensacola (10th, 6-3.5)
  • Pole vault: Cameron Kelley, so., West Florida (12th, 12-3.5); Dakari Burnette, fr., West Florida (15th, 11-9.75)
  • Long jump: Jonathan Showers, sr., Pensacola Catholic (8th, 22-0.25); Khylen Eccles, jr., Pensacola (11th, 21-9.5)
  • Triple jump: Khylen Eccles, jr., Pensacola (4th, 45-7); Myles Davis, sr., Pensacola Catholic (16th, 42-4)

Class 1A

Girls

  • 400 meters: Ziyonna Carter, fr., Pensacola Christian (13th, 1:00.62)
  • 1600 meters: Jaimee Tutton, sr., Pensacola Christian (4th, 5:10.68)
  • 3200 meters: Jaimee Tutton, sr., Pensacola Christian (6th, 11:29.79)
  • 4x400 relay: Pensacola Christian (Zahara Carter, Jayln Johnson, Ziyonna Carter, Rezaria Carter, 16th, 4:14.66)
  • 4x800 relay: Pensacola Christian (Karissa Keyser, Jayln Johnson, Reagan Smith, Jaimee Tutton, 11th, 10:09.27)
  • High jump: Summer Bowman, so., Central (11th, 4-9.75); Emma Posey, jr., Central (16th, 4-9.75)
  • Pole vault: Elaina Shimmin, sr., Pensacola Christian (12th, 8-10.25); Oceana Griego, fr., Pensacola Christian (13th, 8-10.25); Jessica Hansen, sr., Pensacola Christian (16th, 8-4.25)
  • Javelin: Callie Posey, sr., Central (14th, 107-1); Adriana Stephens, so., L.E.A.D. Academy (15th, 105-11)

Boys

  • 100 meters: Nathan Londrigan, jr., Pensacola Christian (8th, 10.88)
  • 1600 meters: Isaiah Manderson, jr., Pensacola Christian (13th, 4:31.31)
  • 3200 meters: Isaiah Manderson, jr., Pensacola Christian (10th, 9:56.10)
  • 4x800 relay: Pensacola Christian (Carson Ohman, Moses Peterlevitz, Walter Goncalves, Jed Fears, 7th, 8:19.97)
  • Pole vault: Josiah Miner, so., Pensacola Christian (7th, 12-3.5); Alex Smith, so., Pensacola Christian (8th, 12-3.5); Elijah Percival, fr., Pensacola Christian (13th, 11-9.75)
  • Discus: James Allen, jr., Central (4th, 153-5); Jason Wenhold, sr., Pensacola Christian (12th, 139-7)
  • Javelin: Tristan Randolph, sr., L.E.A.D. Academy (11th, 152-5); Carson Ellison, jr., Central (16th, 148-4)

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola area 2026 track and field state championship qualifiers

Vote for the Free Press Buffalo Wild Wings Boys Athlete of the Week

It's time to vote for the Detroit Free Press Buffalo Wild Wings Boys Prep Athlete of the Week.

This week's poll features five players – two each from lacrosse and baseball, and one from boys volleyball – who had standout performances during the week of April 26-May 2.

Voting will close at noon on Friday, May 8.

Here are the nominees (listed in alphabetical order by last name):

Michael DeCarlo, Ecorse, baseball

DeCarlo provided big contributions for Ecorse in the team's five-game winning streak last week. The senior pitcher threw a total of 12 innings and had 18 strikeouts for the Raiders.

Zachary Dobrin, White Lake Lakeland, boys volleyball

Dorbin led White Lake Lakeland to four consecutive wins against Clarkston and neighbors Walled Lake Central and Northern. The Mr. Volleyball finalist had 51 assists, 31 kills and 14 aces.

Logan Evans, Richmond, baseball

Richmond won both games in its doubleheader against Imlay City on April 28. Logan Evans, a senior outfielder and first baseman, went 6-for-10 at the plate, including three singles and two triples with four RBIs.

Brody Giacona, Romeo, lacrosse

Romeo won three straight games against Port Huron, Utica Eisenhower and Grand Blanc. Giacona, a senior defenseman, had 13 ground balls and three goals for the Bulldogs last week.

Xavier Liepe, Allen Park, lacrosse

Allen Park won two out of three games last week, including a 10-3 victory over Woodhaven on April 28 and a 21-2 win over Ann Arbor Greenhill on May 2. The senior midfielder had 28 ground balls, six assists and five goals.

The Buffalo Wild Wings Athlete of the Week and the Detroit Free Press recognize athletes across metro Detroit.

Miss the deadline to nominate an athlete?

We take nominations through 10 a.m. Monday for the previous week's games. Nominate for the week of May 3-9 at freep.com/athlete. Note: Don't use the nomination link to vote. You can vote in the poll below.

Editor's Note: We reserve the right to disqualify a candidate or declare a vote "no contest" if tampering such as bots or offering to pay for voting is evident. Please respect the integrity of the vote the way these athletes respect the integrity of the game.

TO YOUR INBOX: Sign up for our weekly Michigan Preps newsletter to get high school sports and news sent directly to you!

Eric Guzmán covers youth sports culture at the Free Press as a corps member for Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project. Make a tax-deductible contribution to support this work.

Contact Eric Guzmán: eguzman@freepress.com; 313-222-1850. Follow him on X and Bluesky.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Vote now for Freep Buffalo Wild Wings Boys Prep Athlete of the Week

Vote for the Free Press Buffalo Wild Wings Girls Athlete of the Week

It's time to vote for the Detroit Free Press Buffalo Wild Wings Girls Prep Athlete of the Week.

This week's poll features three players – one each from lacrosse, softball and soccer – who had standout performances during the week of April 26-May 2.

Voting will close at noon on Friday, May 8.

Here are the nominees (listed in alphabetical order by last name):

Lyla Hampton, Grosse Pointe South, lacrosse

Grosse Pointe South opened its week with a 17-9 loss to Birmingham Seaholm on April 27 but bounced back with a 15-6 victory against Novi on April 30. The team's final game of the week resulted in a 8-8 draw on May 1 against Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood. Hampton, a senior, led the Blue Devils on offense with 12 goals, 17 ground balls and three assists for the week.

Tiara Hyles, Harrison Township L'Anse Creuse, softball

The sophomore pitcher played in five of the team's six games last week. Hyles had 42 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched and had a 1.82 ERA. On offense, she had a .529 batting average and nine RBIs.

Francesca Sines, Fraser, soccer

Sines led Fraser to consecutive victories against Grosse Pointe North and Lake Shore. The senior scored five goals across both games.

The Buffalo Wild Wings Athlete of the Week and the Detroit Free Press recognize athletes across metro Detroit.

Miss the deadline to nominate an athlete?

We take nominations through 10 a.m. Monday for the previous week's games. Nominate for the week of May 3-9 at freep.com/athlete. Note: Don't use the nomination link to vote. You can vote in the poll below.

Editor's Note: We reserve the right to disqualify a candidate or declare a vote "no contest" if tampering such as bots or offering to pay for voting is evident. Please respect the integrity of the vote the way these athletes respect the integrity of the game.

TO YOUR INBOX: Sign up for our weekly Michigan Preps newsletter to get high school sports and news sent directly to you!

Eric Guzmán covers youth sports culture at the Free Press as a corps member for Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project. Make a tax-deductible contribution to support this work.

Contact Eric Guzmán: eguzman@freepress.com; 313-222-1850. Follow him on X and Bluesky.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Vote now for Freep Buffalo Wild Wings Boys Prep Athlete of the Week

Vote now for Cape Cod and Islands baseball Player of the Week

Welcome to our latest Cape Cod and Islands High School Player of the Week Poll.

High school sports fans can vote for which baseball players they think were standouts during the previous week.

The poll will be open from Tuesday through Monday. The winner will be announced on Tuesday along with the new poll. Votes are unlimited.

Rules of the Road

Votes must be cast via the Cape Cod Times website/mobile sites. Votes submitted via email and social media will NOT be accepted. To vote for this week's Player of the Week, scroll down on this page.

Last week's winner

Lincoln Slade, Dennis-Yarmouth

A Dolphins' player won for the second straight week as Slade won his first poll with 21% of the votes. Slade went 3-for-4, scored twice and had two RBIs in a victory over Marshfield.

This week's candidates

Trey Cardoza, Falmouth

Cardoza hit a home run in the second inning and a double in the third to bring home his second RBI of the game. He earned the save in the final two innings of work. He allowed one hit and struck out three.

Martha's Vineyard's Joe Medeiros beats the throw to second ahead of Barnstable's Max Clark during a game at Barnstable High School in Barnstable, MA on Apr. 27, 2026.

Max Clark, Barnstable

Clark earned the win on the mound after he allowed just two runs on four hits in five innings and struck out two. He then went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored in a 13-2 win over Dartmouth.

Barnstable's Braedon Costello checks the pitch on the base path during a game at Barnstable High School in Barnstable, MA on Apr. 27, 2026.

Braedon Costello, Barnstable

Costello led the Red Hawks offensively going 3-for-4 at the plate with a stolen base in a loss to Martha's Vineyard.

Sandwich batter Joe Coughlan moves out of the way of a second inning pitch. 
Sandwich High School hosted Dartmouth High School in baseball action Friday. 
Photo taken April 24, 2026

Joe Coughlan, Sandwich

Coughlan was strong on the mound as he went 7 2/3 innings with 16 strikeouts and two runs allowed in a 3-2 victory over Dennis-Yarmouth.

Coughlan went 3-for-3 that included a solo blast in the third inning as the Blue Knights defeated Bishop Stang 6-2.

RJ Delcourt, Dennis-Yarmouth

Delcourt also pitched the final four innings, struck out seven and allowed one hit and no runs or walks in a 7-5 win over Nauset in eight innings.

Sam Fischer, Upper Cape

Fischer combined for a 15-0 shutout over Norfolk Aggie in five innings. He also had an in-the-park three-run homer.

Connor Gent, Cape Tech

Gent went 3-for-3 with a walk and three stolen bases in a 7-2 win over South Shore Tech.

Tucker Enos Gresham, Cape Tech

Gresham pitched four innings, recorded eight strikeouts and gave up just one hit, no walks and zero runs in a 17-1 win over Bristol Aggie in five innings.

Ben Hager, Monomoy

Hager pitched seven innings, allowed six hits and three runs (one earned), struck out eight batters and walked one in a 5-3 win over Nantucket.

Barnstable third baseman Teegan Hayden charges in to make a play on the ball during a game at Barnstable High School in Barnstable, MA on Apr. 27, 2026.

Teegan Hayden, Barnstable

Hayden went 4-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and one run scored in a win over Dartmouth. He flashed the glove as well, recording a pivotal double play in the fourth inning, while leading the defense with six putouts.

Max Inman, Falmouth

Inman had a big day at the plate for the Clippers going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs in a 7-5 win over Martha's Vineyard.

Sandwich pitcher Tyler Jones makes a first inning pitch. 
Sandwich High School hosted Dartmouth High School in baseball action Friday. 
Photo taken April 24, 2026

Tyler Jones, Sandwich

Jones pitched over seven innings with nine Ks, scattered three hits and walked one on 89 pitches in a victory over Nauset.

Martha's Vineyard starting pitcher Lathrop Keene enters his delivery during a game at Barnstable High School in Barnstable, MA on Apr. 27, 2026.

Lathrop Keene, Martha's Vineyard

Keene threw a complete game striking out seven batters, while giving up one earned run in a 4-3 victory over Barnstable.

Josh Matta, Falmouth

Matta earned the win in tough conditions as he pitched five innings, struck out 12 and allowed three earned runs on four hits in a 7-4 win over Nauset.

Martha's Vineyard's Joe Medeiros sprints for third base during a game at Barnstable High School in Barnstable, MA on Apr. 27, 2026.

Joe Medeiros, Martha's Vineyard

Medeiros went 2-for-2 with a double and a triple, three runs scored and a RBI for the Vineyarders as they beat Barnstable.

Brian Mancinelli, St. John Paul II

Brian Mancinelli earned the win with three strikeouts in a 19-2 win over Nantucket. He also went 4-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored.

James Niemiec, Sandwich

Niemiec walked off the Blue Knights in a win over D-Y in eight innings.

Alex Saunders, Sturgis

Saunders pitched five innings of one run ball and had 10 strikeouts in a 16-1 win over Rising Tide.

Devyn Shultze, Upper Cape

Shultze pitched a no-hitter, striking out ten and walking just one in a 14-0 win over South Shore Tech in five innings. He also led the Rams offensively with a single, a double and a triple to go with four RBIs.

Mike Shea, Cape Tech

Shea recorded three hits, a stolen base and two RBIs as the Crusaders beat South Shore Tech.

Lincoln Slade of Dennis-Yarmouth gets hold of a Mashpee pitch for a bases loaded double. Baseball
March 27 2026

Lincoln Slade, Dennis-Yarmouth

The defending champ will look for back-to-back wins as he went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored in a 8-2 win over New Bedford.

Mason Tomlinson, Cape Tech

Tomlinson tallied three hits and two RBIs in a win over South Shore Tech.

Courtney Jacobs is the Sports Editor for the Cape Cod Times. You can contact him at cjacobs@capecodonline.com and follow him on X: @coolinwithCJ.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Vote for the Cape and Islands High School Baseball Player of the Week

Identify PSG scenes & win a new home shirt!

Identify PSG scenes & win a new home shirt!
Identify PSG scenes & win a new home shirt!

The eyes of the footballing continent will be on the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night. Who will advance to the Champions League final – FC Bayern or Paris Saint-Germain? Ahead of the semi-final second leg, you can put your football knowledge to the test and win an FC Bayern 2026/27 home shirt in our minigame! What happens next in the following scenes from matches against PSG?

Once you’ve solved all scenes, you can take part in our competition and get your hands on the adidas home jersey for next season.

Dieser Inhalt kann hier leider nicht dargestellt werden. Zum Anschauen kannst du die Website des FC Bayern München besuchen:Artikel auf fcbayern.com

Win more prizes with the Matchday Quiz:

Matchday Quiz: FC Bayern vs. PSG

Vote for top defensive player in Bucks County high school baseball poll

We want to know who you think is the best 2026 high school baseball defensive player in the Bucks County area.

Readers can vote until Tuesday, May 12, at 8 p.m. Voting more than once is permitted.

Our polls are designed to recognize excellent local high school athletes and we ask that you vote for your favorites as many times as you wish. But we also ask that you play fair. In other words, keep the bots or crazy cheats out of our polls. We shouldn't see a bunch of players with a significant number of votes from various European countries.

Any suspicion of bot activity will result in immediate removal of the athlete, and possibly teammates, from this and future polls.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: PA High School Baseball Top Defensive Player Poll Bucks County PIAA

Shreveport-Bossier high school golfers who left the biggest legacies

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: The high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states.

Today, we're honoring the heroes of the greens. Here are our selections for the golfers who defined the Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana area. And below is your chance to vote for who you believe is the greatest from our area all-time, including a write-in option.

1. Hal Sutton, Northwood High School

The inaugural bigtime golfer from the Shreveport-Bossier City community, Sutton won the U.S. Junior Amateur championship in 1971 leading up to his explosive career at Northwood, Centenary College and on the PGA Tour. Sutton received The Payne Stewart Award following his role in the establishment of the Christus Schumpert Sutton Children's Hospital in Shreveport in 2006. The five-story wing with 80 beds was opened with Sutton leading the charge after the 7-year-old daughter of his agent, Gilbert Little, died of spinal meningitis.

2. David Toms, Airline High School

Not only was Toms a standout at Byrd, LSU and on the PGA Tour, he has continued to give back to the high school athletes in Shreveport by completing his golf academy, known as 265. It has been instrumental in cultivating elite talent, including Sam Burns, who was ranked as college golf’s No. 1 golfer during his time at LSU.

Sam Burns, shown after his victory at the Junior PGA Championship, was named the Rolex Junior Player of the Year on Thursday.

3. Sam Burns, Calvary Baptist Academy

Currently a multi-event winner on the PGA Tour, Burns also burned up the courses in Northwest Louisiana as a Cavalier. He was a three-time individual state champion and the 2014 AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year. He also won the Junior PGA Championship and was on the victorious U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team.

4. Meredith Duncan, C.E. Byrd High School

Prior to a successful career at LSU and on the LPGA Tour, Duncan was a standout in golf and basketball at Byrd. She finished second in the 1997 and 1998 high school state golf championships and was runner-up in the prestigious Texas-Oklahoma junior event. She continues to give back as Byrd’s boys and girls golf coach where her teams have won multiple LHSAA state titles.

Byrd golf coach Meredith Duncan shares a moment Wednesday with state champion golfer Sydney Moss, who signed with Memphis.

5. Philip Barbaree, C.E. Byrd High School

Barbaree won just about every junior accolade available and was considered the top golf recruit in the country in 2017 before heading to LSU. He was a four-time member of the AJGA Gary Gilchrist Junior All-Star Team from 2011-14 and was named an AJGA Rolex Junior All-American four times during his junior golf career, including three honorable mention selections in 2012, 2014 and 2016 along with his first-team selection in 2015.

6. Perry Moss, Huntington High School

The best golfer to come out of Huntington and still a Shreveport resident, Moss was not only a celebrated prep and LSU golfer, he delivered championship daughter, Sydney, to Byrd. Perry was an LHSAA 4A state champion in 1986 and 1987 and the 1986 junior golf champion. He was the first state champion at Huntington in any sport and was the top five in the 1986 Junior World Tournament.

7. Ryan Alford, Calvary Baptist Academy

Alford helped lead the Cavaliers to five consecutive state titles under coach Sam Rogers before having success at Louisiana Tech. He earned an eighth-place individual finish in the LHSAA Division III state championship as a senior. He was selected to represent the First Tee of Louisiana at Pebble Beach Nature Valley First Tee Open in 2011 and he captured the Alexander AJGT Junior Boys title in 2010.

8. Jack Smith, Loyola College Prep

While Smith was a championship golfer for the Flyers, he has become one of the longest drivers in the world, achieving No. 1 in the World Long Drive rankings in 2025. His longest drive of the year went 432 yards, while he averaged 389.5 yards in competition.

Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Shreveport-Bossier high school golfers who left the biggest legacies

Kalen DeBoer opens up on embracing Alabama, ignoring Michigan: 'I never flinched'

Kalen Deboer of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2026 in Pasadena, California.

TUSCALOOSA, AL – Kalen DeBoer never talked to anyone at Michigan. Those are his words.

We’re seated inside DeBoer’s office at Alabama, and we’ve dispensed with a couple of softball questions to warm up the conversation, before shifting to some brass tacks.

Michigan.

You know, that blue-blooded job that opened last winter, that job that had DeBoer’s name linked to it for days, attached with enough stickiness it seemed like maybe this was more than rampant speculation.

Exlcusive: He's not a Michigan Man, but Kyle Whittingham is exactly what Wolverines need

More: How deep does Auburn’s hatred of Alabama go? Check the Gatorade

Did DeBoer have interest in Michigan?

“I never once talked to anyone there,” he says.

He never talked to anyone at Penn State, either. Also, his words.

It’s important to be clear on these matters. So, I ask a second time: You personally did not talk to Penn State or Michigan, is that accurate?

“That’s accurate,” DeBoer said in an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with USA TODAY Sports earlier this spring. “That’s 100% accurate.”

As for whom his agent might have spoken to, well, agents like to talk, don’t they?

So, what of it, did DeBoer’s representatives talk to anyone?

“I mean, when they’re reaching out to people...,” he answers, before transitioning to another thought.

Hey, that’s agent business.

Agents drive up market value and secure extensions and raises, and they fatten buyouts. They use job openings to aid their quest. DeBoer’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, plays the coaching carousel game like Bobby Fischer played chess.

Only a fool would say the Michigan and Penn State coaching vacancies did nothing to help DeBoer’s paycheck. Those are premier jobs within college football’s best conference. DeBoer would’ve been well-qualified for either position. Those are my words.

Now, let’s return to DeBoer’s words, the words of a coach who’s not built to tuck and run.

“I never flinched or looked at or talked with anyone about going there once,” DeBoer says of Michigan. “I’m at Alabama. I don’t mean that in an arrogant way. I just, I have a great opportunity. I’m at a great place. I’ve got great support.

“I didn’t leave a place that I really enjoyed being at, at Washington, that was one of the premier programs in the country in my mind, to come to Alabama, to then leave Alabama two years later. My family enjoys it here.”

DeBoer came to Alabama, because he wants to be at Alabama. He wants this job. He accepted being Nick Saban’s heir. And, he embraces the demands of a fanbase that’ll only truly cherish him if he restores Alabama to a perch it hasn’t held since 2020.

That’s the only way to interpret his words.

In April, Alabama announced a contract extension for DeBoer that included a raise and a beefed-up buyout. Alabama would be on the hook for nearly $70 million if it fired DeBoer after this season. The deal runs through the 2032 season.

Alabama’s administration wants DeBoer to be its coach, wants him badly enough to push in more chips, lest it risk losing him during a particularly active carousel.

That’s how to interpret this extension.

“I’d much rather have a coach in demand,” Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne told me in March, when I asked him whether Alabama worried it might lose DeBoer, “than one that you’re saying, ‘Is that going to work here, long-term?’”

In truth, it’s fair to hold both thoughts, simultaneously.

Fair to recognize DeBoer was in demand, and why shouldn’t he be? He catapulted Washington to national runner-up status within two seasons. He took Alabama to the CFP quarterfinals and won 11 games in his second season. At almost any other program, that’d be a celebrated Year 2 achievement.

Alabama isn’t any other program, and Saban set an unreachable bar, so it’s also fair to wonder: Is this going to work, long-term?

What’s unfair to question anymore: Whether DeBoer wants to be at Alabama, and whether Alabama wants him.

They’re married to one another, and they’ve renewed their vows.

What Kalen DeBoer did after Alabama got trounced in Rose Bowl

What does one do in the 24 hours after suffering the ugliest postseason loss in program history?

That’s not a rhetorical question. It demands an answer.

So, what did DeBoer do the day after the Rose Bowl spanking?

Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen Deboer leaves the field after the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff against the Indiana Hoosiers at Rose Bowl Stadium.

“We flew home, and I was up here doing Zooms by 9 o’clock the next morning,” DeBoer said. “It was roster retention, it was portal. We were on it.”

“The very next morning,” DeBoer added, “our whole staff was locked in and rolling.”

No time to sit in the failure. No day off for a pity party. No coming in late so he could spend the morning licking wounds.

“When you fall short like we did,” DeBoer said, “we’ve got to raise our bar to catch others and close the gap.”

If anyone needs a reminder, the scoreboard looked like this:

Indiana 38, Alabama 3.

That’s the gap between the national champion and the SEC’s runner-up.

“We’re hungry,” says senior safety Bray Hubbard. “Obviously we lost in the Rose Bowl last year, and there’s guys that still remember that. We’ve obviously got to learn from that.

“You have to use it as motivation.”

Hunger and motivation are good fuel.

Discipline, execution, sound fundamentals, all of those buzz words matter, too.

Also, another important maxim was on display in Pasadena, California: If you have a quarterback, you have a chance. Nobody possessed a better quarterback than Indiana. Fernando Mendoza torched the Tide, while Alabama starter Ty Simpson had one of his worst performances, before heading to the NFL.

The starting quarterbacks in DeBoer’s first two seasons at Alabama were Saban leftovers. Now, one of DeBoer’s recruits will take the controls.

That’s where we must take this conversation next.

How do you know Keelon Russell’s talent? Just listen

Close your eyes if you want to understand Keelon Russell’s talent.

Listen.

That’s Hubbard’s advice.

“You can hear the ball sizzle when he throws it,” Hubbard said of Russell, Alabama’s redshirt freshman quarterback.

DeBoer won’t name a starting quarterback at this point in the calendar. No need to.

Maybe, the quarterback battle between Russell, the promising 19-year-old, and veteran Austin Mack is as competitive as DeBoer makes it out to be. The spring game told a different story.

Russell sizzled. Mack struggled.

Teammates point to attributes in each that they like.

“Austin, he does a really good job of commanding the offense,” Hubbard told USA TODAY Sports, before the spring game. “Keelon is a younger guy. Austin has been in the system (longer), but I will say, Keelon has got a cannon. He gets us all the time with some balls. I’m like, ‘Wow, that takes a really impressive arm to throw.’ ”

Wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams brags on Russell’s playmaking skills. Of Mack, he says he knows ball, as a former backup to Michael Penix Jr., then Jalen Milroe and finally Simpson.

Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell throws a pass at Bryant-Denny Stadium during the Alabama A Day scrimmage, April 11, 2026.

Perhaps this oversimplifies the situation, but the choice appears to boil down to talent and upside versus age and experience.

Mack hasn’t played much, but he’s played more than Russell. Mack's time with DeBoer extends to Washington. Russell signed as a five-star prospect, as one of the first high-profile prospects to pledge to DeBoer after Alabama hired him to replace Saban. Russell’s talent “speaks for itself,” DeBoer says.

What’ll tip the scales? As DeBoer tells it, the quarterback who’ll win this competition will be the one who provides big-play ability and also ball security.

“There’s a fine line between a guy who can attack and be aggressive and make big plays," DeBoer said, "and also balance that with risk-reward and not having the big mistakes."

Fair enough, but a quarterback whose passes sizzle, so that you hear his talent, sounds appealing.

Kalen DeBoer reveals “the big question” facing his team

In Penix and Simpson, DeBoer coached first-round draft picks in two of the past three years. DeBoer's offensive acumen accelerated his career.

Defense, though, saved Alabama’s 2025 season and helped the Tide win seven of eight SEC games.

Ask DeBoer what he likes about this team, and he’ll likely begin his answer on defense.

In the secondary, everybody’s back.

“That’s exciting,” he says.

DeBoer saw the need to get bigger on the defensive line after Alabama got outmuscled in losses to Florida State and Indiana. Transfers Terrance Green (330 pounds) and Kedrick Bingley-Jones (320 pounds) supply some beef.

“I like the potential that exists,” on the defensive line, DeBoer said.

Alabama's stagnant ground game last season offered a stark reminder the program's heyday under Saban has faded into yesteryear. Fixing that run attack rates as a top priority.

“The big question,” DeBoer said, “is how much better can we be offensive line wise, as a whole, and in particular the run blocking?”

Those are the types of questions a third-year Alabama coach must begin to answer, if he wants to gain affection from a fanbase that can be best described as still on the fence.

Alabama football aches for a king. Can Kalen DeBoer wear crown?

DeBoer works a pressure-cooker job. Year 3 represents and up-or-down inflection point for his tenure. But, he’s not on the hot seat. His exorbitant buyout should tell you that.

And, still, there are miles between the hot seat and the king’s throne Saban once occupied, or that Kirby Smart built for himself at Georgia, or that Curt Cignetti swiftly ascended to at Indiana. DeBoer stands amid those many miles, not on the hot seat, but no king, either.

Alabama fans ache for a king.

“Until you experience being here at Alabama,” Byrne said, “there are very few, if any things, that prepare you for” the demands and scrutiny of the job.

Head coach Kalen DeBoer arrives for the Captain's Ceremony at Denny Chimes during the Alabama A Day at the University of Alabama.

DeBoer’s second season represented progress. Only the most ardent naysayers would deny it. He beat Smart for a second time, before losing the rematch in the SEC Championship. He swept rivals Tennessee, LSU and Auburn. He won a playoff game.

At programs like Alabama, though, coaches who’ve never won a national championship are only as good as their last game. In Alabama’s last game, Indiana defaced the elephant. That lingers in the zeitgeist.

Is it fair DeBoer didn’t earn more praise and affection for Alabama’s achievements in Year 2?

“When you say, is that fair? No,” Byrne says. “But, it’s reality, and you have to deal with reality.”

“Kalen,” Byrne adds, “is really steady-eddie.”

And, I’d add, he’s become increasingly aware of this job's realities.

“We have high expectations. That’s why I came here,” DeBoer said. “That’s what we signed up for. I remind the guys of that when the criticism comes: ‘Hey, this is part of it, and we got a choice, and we’re going to be better because of it.’”

He’s talking like a coach who chose Alabama, more than once. To be feted as king, he must rule like one.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppme

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alabama football craves a king. Can Kalen DeBoer wear crown?

Liverpool could wrap up the perfect free signing this summer – Opinion

Liverpool could wrap up the perfect free signing this summer – Opinion
Liverpool could wrap up the perfect free signing this summer – Opinion

Liverpool Could Secure Bargain Summer Signing

Liverpool’s reported interest in Marcos Senesi feels less like opportunism and more like quiet preparation for what comes next. The Bournemouth defender, approaching the end of his contract, represents the kind of market move that has defined Liverpool’s smarter recruitment cycles—low risk, tactically useful, and financially efficient.

At face value, adding another left-sided centre-back might seem unnecessary. Virgil van Dijk remains elite, a commanding presence who continues to operate at a level most defenders never reach. But this is not about replacing Van Dijk. It is about supporting him, future-proofing the defensive unit, and—perhaps more importantly—reshaping the system entirely.

Senesi offers something Liverpool currently lacks in depth: a naturally left-footed central defender who is comfortable progressing the ball under pressure. His ability to step into midfield, break lines with passing, and carry possession forward would immediately add balance to a side that has often looked uneven in build-up phases.

But the real intrigue lies in what his arrival could signal.

This is not just a squad addition. This is a structural hint.

Because signing Senesi only truly makes sense if Liverpool is preparing to shift toward a back three.

In that context, the move becomes far clearer.

As a left-sided centre-back in a three, Senesi would have the license to step wider, engage higher, and use his technical ability to support transitions. It would also reduce the physical burden on Van Dijk, allowing him to remain central, dominant, and protected.

For a player potentially available without a transfer fee, the upside is obvious.

And for a club needing to be smart with its resources this summer, it fits the model perfectly.

Photo: IMAGO

Built for the Next Manager, Not the Current One

It is becoming increasingly difficult to view Liverpool’s transfer links through the lens of the current manager. Arne Slot’s future feels uncertain at best, and decisions like this suggest planning that extends beyond his tenure.

This is not a move that aligns with what we are currently seeing on the pitch.

Liverpool under Slot has looked disjointed, structurally confused, and tactically inconsistent. There has been little to suggest a clear long-term defensive identity, let alone one that would require a specialist like Senesi.

Which brings us to the bigger picture.

If Liverpool is indeed preparing for a managerial change—as many expect—then this type of signing makes far more sense. Under a coach like Xabi Alonso, who has demonstrated a clear preference for fluid systems and back-three structures, Senesi becomes a logical and valuable addition.

Alonso’s teams rely heavily on ball-playing defenders who are comfortable operating in wider channels and contributing to build-up phases. Senesi fits that profile almost perfectly. His composure, positioning, and distribution would allow Liverpool to evolve tactically without needing a complete defensive overhaul.

And that is where the intelligence of this move lies.

It is not reactive. It is proactive.

Rather than waiting for a new manager to arrive and then scrambling to reshape the squad, Liverpool appears to be laying the groundwork early. Identifying players who can adapt to multiple systems, who raise the technical floor of the team, and who do so without major financial outlay.

That is how transitions should be managed.

Of course, none of this matters if the direction at the top remains unclear. But increasingly, moves like this suggest that clarity may already exist behind the scenes.

Senesi would not be a headline signing.

But he could be an important one.

Because sometimes, the smartest transfers are not about who you are—but about who you are about to become.

It’s official; no PS4 – Call of Duty is abandoning last-gen

The next Call of Duty game isn’t coming to PlayStation 4 Over the weekend, rumours began circulating that the next Call of Duty game is being developed for last-generation consoles. This means that the game was being developed with PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in mind. In response to these rumours, Activision has used their […]

The post It’s official; no PS4 – Call of Duty is abandoning last-gen appeared first on OC3D.

DDR6 memory is officially in development – 2028-2029 launch planned

DDR6 memory is officially in development All major memory manufacturers, including Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, have reportedly started developing DDR6 memory. Alongside substrate manufacturers, “joint development” for the standard has reportedly begun. According to The Elec, this happens “more than two years before product launch”, placing DDR6’s launch in a 2028-2029 timeframe. JEDEC has […]

The post DDR6 memory is officially in development – 2028-2029 launch planned appeared first on OC3D.

(PR) Sharkoon Releases Skiller SGM70W Gaming Mouse

5 May 2026 at 13:18
Are you looking for esports-level performance without unnecessary weight? The SKILLER SGM70W delivers professional performance in an ultra-lightweight design - whether used wired or wireless. Equipped with the precise PixArt PAW3395 sensor, an extremely high polling rate, and ultra-smooth glass feet, it offers maximum control with minimal weight and is perfect for ambitious gamers who demand speed, precision, and flexibility.

The SKILLER SGM70W relies on the proven optical PixArt PAW3395 sensor, delivering up to 26,000 DPI to capture even the smallest movements with accuracy. This ensures the precision needed for fast reactions and exact tracking during competitive gameplay. Whether wired or wireless, the SKILLER SGM70W adapts effortlessly to any gaming situation. Both modes offer professional performance, while the wireless mode benefits from an impressive 8,000 Hz polling rate for especially responsive input.

Weaver E-cology RCE Flaw CVE-2026-22679 Actively Exploited via Debug API

A critical security vulnerability in Weaver (Fanwei) E-cology, an enterprise office automation (OA) and collaboration platform, has come under active exploitation in the wild. The vulnerability (CVE-2026-22679, CVSS score: 9.8) relates to a case of unauthenticated remote code execution affecting Weaver E-cology 10.0 versions prior to 20260312. The issue resides in the "/papi/esearch/data/devops/

Microsoft Details Phishing Campaign Targeting 35,000 Users Across 26 Countries

Microsoft has disclosed details of a large-scale credential theft campaign that has leveraged a combination of code of conduct-themed lures and legitimate email services to direct users to attacker-controlled domains and steal authentication tokens. The multi-stage campaign, observed between April 14 and 16, 2026, targeted more than 35,000 users across over 13,000 organizations in 26 countries,

Remedy’s New CEO Personally Vouches for CONTROL Resonant after Franchise Crosses 6 Million Units

5 May 2026 at 13:00

A character in the game Control Resonant stands on a wrecked taxi as floating figures rise from a surreal, distorted cityscape.

This morning, Finnish developer Remedy Entertainment posted its Q1 2026 financial report, which revealed, among other things, a new sales milestone for CONTROL: 6 million units sold. The year's first quarter was profitable but slightly down year over year, with revenue falling 1.9% to €13.1 million, though EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) actually improved to €2.9 million from €2.6 million. The more notable shift is in the revenue mix: game sales and royalties nearly doubled to €5.0 million (from €2.6 million in Q1 2025), while development fees fell from €10.7 million to €8.2 million as CONTROL Resonant nears completion. […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/remedy-ceo-control-resonant-franchise-6-million-units/

Galaxy S26 Ultra getting 24MP camera improvement in more regions

5 May 2026 at 12:29

Samsung has finally expanded the second April 2026 update to the Galaxy S26 series, which brings 24MP camera improvement for the Ultra model.

A couple of days ago, Samsung started the rollout of the second April firmware in South Korea. It followed the release in the US, but the Korean build included fixes for the close-up camera problems tied to 24MP mode.

Now, users of Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra are getting a camera improvement that refines the 24MP mode experience. It’s coming as part of another incremental update carrying the April patch, despite releasing in May 2026.

Users reported camera behaviour problems while capturing 24MP shots. The processed image was getting cropped from one side. The preview was optimal, but the bug in processing caused the final image to be broken.

Samsung faced countless reports in its community and online forums. One UI staff acted swiftly and prepared the fix on an immediate note. Now, the rollout is expanding to more regions, with European users getting it today, via TarunVats.

Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus are also receiving the 2nd April update, but the 24MP camera is limited to the Ultra version. Still, the firmware is expected to improve the overall camera experience on the latest Samsung flagship phones.

The firmware AZDE is available across European countries, with a Global expansion likely soon. To get the latest update, head over to the system Settings, followed by Software update page and hit Download and install.

The post Galaxy S26 Ultra getting 24MP camera improvement in more regions appeared first on Sammy Fans.

One UI 9 leak reveals Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold8 Wide design

5 May 2026 at 11:13

Samsung is working on One UI 9 and the firmware also features visuals of the upcoming foldable phones: Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold8 Wide.

The new foldable phones are reportedly being unveiled on July 22 in London. Earlier, we’ve seen their potential design in leaked CAD renders. Now, the One UI 9 software itself revealed the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold8 Wide.

The pictures surfaced in One UI 9 look familiar to the leaked renders. The appearance of the devices confirms their monikers, including the Galaxy Z Fold 8 (codenamed Q8) and Galaxy Z Fold8 Wide (codenamed H8).

Galaxy Z Fold 8 looks identical to its predecessor. We may see upgrades in build quality, screen crease, and hinge technology. Major aspects, such as thickness and weight, would also see a slight generational improvement.

Galaxy Z Fold8 Wide comes with a camera design familiar to the S25 Edge. It has a dual camera setup on the back, surrounded by a camera bump. The LED flashlight isn’t shown in the visuals, but they were in CAD renders.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold8 Wide

Image – Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold8 Wide spotted in One UI 9

Samsung is also working on the Galaxy Z Flip 8. The next clamshell foldable phone may be almost the same as its predecessor. However, the device may use a new hinge technology for better durability and crease resistance.

The Fold 8 and Flip 8 will succeed their predecessors and continue the portfolio. Meanwhile, the Fold8 Wide is coming to compete with Apple’s first foldable. The form factor is like a passport to deliver more practical usability.

The post One UI 9 leak reveals Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold8 Wide design appeared first on Sammy Fans.

iOS 26.5 will bring this new feature to the Messages app

5 May 2026 at 12:09

Apple has released the iOS 26.5 release candidate build for developers, and this means two things: the public release is coming very soon (either tomorrow or within a few days, next week tops), and there's an official changelog from Apple now. This reveals what has been rumored so far: with iOS 26.5, Apple is adding support for end-to-end encryption in RCS messaging. There are caveats for this, however. First, the feature will be in beta. Then, it's important to note that end-to-end RCS encryption will only be "available with supported carriers", and will "roll out over time". So it...

vivo V70 Lite 4G and Y05e get certified on their way to release

5 May 2026 at 11:11

vivo's V70 family currently comprises three members - the vanilla V70, the V70 FE, and the V70 Elite. Soon, however, they will be joined by a fourth device, and that is the V70 Lite 4G. This handset has been certified by the FCC with the model number V2604. The certification has revealed that the phone has a battery capacity rated at 7,920 mAh, which probably means it will be advertised as an 8,000 mAh or 8,100 mAh typical capacity. vivo V70 Lite 4G certification documents The V70 Lite 4G will be offered with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and it obviously doesn't support 5G,...

Conor Benn refused to fight three world champions says Hearn: “He knows his limitations”

5 May 2026 at 11:13

Eddie Hearn has claimed that rejected three world title opportunities before inking a deal with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing. It was announced in February that ‘The Destroyer’ had signed a one-fight agreement with the new promotional outfit, ending his working relationship with Matchroom Boxing. This followed his successful revenge mission against Chris Eubank Jr in […]

The post Conor Benn refused to fight three world champions says Hearn: “He knows his limitations” appeared first on Boxing News.

Australia April 2026: BYD up to #2 brand, BEVs up 157.2% to record 16.4% share

5 May 2026 at 11:47

The BYD Sealion 7 ranks inside the Australian Top 10 in April.

94,049 new vehicles hit Australian roads in April, a 3.8% year-on-year increase. The year-to-date tally is now down -0.7% to 384,636. Private sales are up an encouraging 7.4% to 47,850 units, business fleets are up 2.2% to 34,898 but rentals are down -18.8% to 4,800 and government sales off -19.3% to 2,056. SUVs account for 66.1% of the market in April vs. 60.3% a year ago and 55.7% in 2025, light commercials are at 18.5% vs. 22.6% and 22%, passenger cars at 12.2% vs. 14.2% and 17.8% and heavy commercials at 3.2% vs. 3.8% in 2025. As far as country of production is concerned, China is up by a whopping 88.9% to cement its newfound leadership at 29,499 sales, followed by Japan (-18.2%) at 22,904, Thailand (-17.4%) at 15,873, South Korea (+1.4%) at 11,247 and Germany (+1.9%) at 4,438.

Petrol sales sink -30.1% to 25,399, diesel is down -21.7% to 22,414 and HEVs improve 27.1% to 18,162. The big news this month is the record share of BEVs at 16.4% thanks to sales up 157.2% to 15,459. This is compared with 6.6% in April 2025 and 14.6% last month which was a record at the time. It is all the more impressive because Tesla is weak this month. Finally PHEVs surge an even more spectacular 270.2% to 9,628 and 10.2% share vs. 2.8% in April 2025. Looking at sales by state and region, New South Wales is up 2.8% to 27,830, Victoria up 1.6% to 24,789, Queensland down -1.4% to 19,912, Western Australia up 4.4% to 10,093, South Australia up 3.6% to 6,074, Tasmania up 19.8% to 1,637, Australian Capital Territory up 16.2% to 1,392 and Northern Territory up 3.1% to 864.

There are a few striking trends at play in the brands charts. Toyota (-21.6%) continues its race to the bottom, enduring a 4th consecutive double-digit YoY loss and a 6th straight decline. The event of the month is delivered by BYD, up a spectacular 140.2% to snap the 2nd spot overall. Needless to say the Chinese carmaker breaks all its records this month with 7,702 sales and a stunning 8.2% share. Kia (+2.3%) is down one spot to #3, ahead of Hyundai (+8.2%) up two to #4. Ford (-21.6%) and Mazda (-14.3%) both struggle mightily, with the latter hitting its lowest ranking in at least 15 years.

Three Chinese brands follow: GWM (+21.8%), Chery (+89%) breaking its volume record for the 15th month in a row at 4,322 and also reaching a record share at 4.6%. MG (+18.5%) ranks #9. Mitsubishi (-23%) is kicked out of the Top 10 for the first time in at least 15 years and probably a lot more as it used to be a successful local producer here. The Chinese don’t stop there and a lot of them post record results this month. Geely (+519.1%) is inside the Top 15 and above 2,000 monthly sales for the first time, newcomer Omoda Jaecoo cracks the Top 20 at #19 with record volumes and share, Zeekr (+1634.5%) does the same at #24 and 1.1% share, while newcomer Denza breaks into the Top 30 for the first time at #28.

Looking at the models ranking, finally through with its painful generation changeover, the Toyota RAV4 (-2.1%) returns to the pole position for the first time this year. It distances the Ford Ranger (-9.2%) and a Toyota Hilux (-31.2%) clearly not helped by the new model. The Chery Tiggo 4 (+104.2%) is back to #4 and cements its third place YTD. Excellent showing for the Hyundai Kona (+34.5%), up to a splendid #4 YTD whereas its best ever ranking is #5 last October. The BYD Sealion 7 (+139.6%) is up three spots on March to #8 and the GWM Haval Jolion (+23.3%) is up one to #9. In fact BYD places five models in the Top 50: the Shark 6 (+6%) at #15, the new Sealion 8 at #30, the Atto 3 (+87%) at #40, the new Atto 2 at #41 and the new Atto 1 at #49. Other notable performers include the Geely EX5 (+271%) and #21, the new Zeekr 7X at #24, the new Geely Starray at #36 and the new Jaecoo J5 at #39.

Previous month: Australia March 2026: BYD first Chinese on monthly podium, BEVs (+88.9%) at record 14.6% share

One year ago: Australia April 2025: GWM and Chery break records, Toyota Hilux #1

Full April 2026 Top 58 All brands and Top 50 models below.

Australia April 2026 – brands:

PosBrandApr-26%/25Mar2026%/25PosFY25
1Toyota  15,18516.1%– 21.6%159,67515.5%– 22.7%11
2BYD7,7028.2%+ 140.2%325,2436.6%+ 110.8%58
3Kia  6,4506.9%+ 2.3%227,0807.0%+ 4.0%34
4Hyundai  6,0026.4%+ 8.2%625,1036.5%+ 5.3%65
5Ford  5,7486.1%– 21.6%525,9206.7%– 9.8%42
6Mazda  5,6366.0%– 14.3%427,5267.2%– 13.1%23
7GWM4,7175.0%+ 21.8%719,5955.1%+ 26.8%77
8Chery4,3224.6%+ 89.0%1016,0584.2%+ 92.4%913
9MG3,6783.9%+ 18.5%914,2733.7%– 1.6%1010
10Isuzu Ute3,4473.7%+ 3.5%1213,2853.5%+ 6.7%119
11Mitsubishi3,2423.4%– 23.0%817,3454.5%– 25.5%86
12Nissan2,3762.5%– 35.6%119,7372.5%– 32.2%1212
13Mercedes2,0832.2%+ 5.9%168,5282.2%+ 3.7%1416
14Subaru  2,0542.2%– 15.5%149,7372.5%– 19.3%1311
15Geely2,0062.1%+ 519.1%204,8271.3%+ 842.8%1927
16Volkswagen1,9112.0%– 7.9%177,8162.0%– 15.7%1614
17BMW1,5101.6%– 43.0%157,6962.0%– 7.0%1717
18Tesla1,2251.3%+ 145.0%138,4852.2%+ 49.9%1515
19Omoda Jaecoo1,1811.3%new233,6971.0%new2432
20Suzuki  1,1081.2%– 3.8%194,3011.1%– 23.4%2020
21Honda  1,0911.2%+ 0.2%185,2771.4%– 1.0%1819
22Lexus1,0801.1%– 11.5%223,9141.0%– 13.8%2221
23Audi1,0501.1%+ 57.2%243,7001.0%– 8.9%2318
24Zeekr1,0061.1%+ 1634.5%272,8380.7%+ 955.0%2536
25LDV9081.0%– 13.1%214,1721.1%– 9.4%2122
26Land Rover6310.7%– 13.4%252,3380.6%– 13.2%2723
27Volvo5450.6%+ 34.9%262,3510.6%+ 1.9%2624
28Denza5040.5%new311,1310.3%new3257
29Mini3860.4%– 8.7%281,7560.5%– 3.4%2825
30Porsche3560.4%– 21.2%321,4230.4%– 25.0%2926
31Renault3090.3%– 14.9%301,2910.3%– 15.4%3129
32Skoda2880.3%+ 2.9%291,3990.4%+ 1.4%3028
33Chevrolet2490.3%+ 0.0%331,0790.3%– 14.1%3331
34KGM2450.3%– 6.8%359370.2%– 32.0%3530
35Polestar2330.2%+ 15.3%396980.2%+ 18.1%3735
36Fiat1940.2%+ 36.6%376020.2%– 10.7%3837
37Deepal1900.2%new444230.1%new4145
38Ram1880.2%– 32.9%349990.3%– 4.7%3433
39Cupra1700.2%– 26.7%368140.2%– 20.2%3634
40Leapmotor1430.2%+ 155.4%384200.1%+ 116.5%4242
41Foton1010.1%new414290.1%new4051
42Genesis850.1%– 29.2%404640.1%+ 1.8%3939
43Peugeot680.1%– 32.0%423200.1%– 32.3%4441
44Jeep650.1%– 65.6%452560.1%– 65.0%4538
45JAC560.1%– 55.2%433590.1%– 44.8%4340
46Farizon290.0%new48740.0%new48 –
47GMC200.0%new461260.0%new4646
48Alfa Romeo170.0%– 63.8%471130.0%– 31.9%4744
49Lamborghini140.0%– 33.3%53450.0%– 56.3%5347
50Aston Martin120.0%– 25.0%50500.0%– 29.6%5250
51Rolls-Royce100.0%– 9.1%57240.0%– 20.0%5455
52Bentley90.0%– 18.2%51510.0%+ 18.6%5152
53Maserati80.0%– 50.0%52620.0%– 40.4%4948
54Ferrari60.0%– 53.8%49600.0%– 15.5%5049
55McLaren40.0%– 50.0%54140.0%– 50.0%5554
56Lotus20.0%– 66.7%5550.0%– 77.3%5753
57Citroen00.0%n/a5620.0%– 60.0%5856
58Jaguar00.0%– 100.0% –70.0%– 96.6%5643

Australia April 2026 – models:

PosModelApr-26%/25Mar2026%/25PosFY25
1Toyota RAV43,7294.0%– 2.1%207,5712.0%– 57.0%72
2Ford Ranger3,6613.9%– 9.2%115,8414.1%– 8.2%11
3Toyota Hilux2,8353.0%– 31.2%213,4273.5%– 11.2%23
4Chery Tiggo 42,3792.5%+ 104.2%79,1862.4%+ 104.0%311
5Isuzu D-Max2,1952.3%+ 4.2%88,2522.1%– 0.6%54
6Hyundai Kona2,1582.3%+ 34.5%68,3362.2%+ 22.5%47
7Toyota Prado1,8702.0%– 16.3%156,3851.7%– 40.2%146
8BYD Sealion 71,7801.9%+ 139.6%116,2481.6%+ 324.2%1525
9GWM Haval Jolion1,7541.9%+ 23.3%107,3601.9%+ 31.8%914
10Ford Everest1,5851.7%– 29.1%167,0811.8%– 1.9%105
11Mitsubishi Outlander1,5401.6%+ 16.1%57,9032.1%– 10.3%69
12MG ZS1,5211.6%– 4.2%136,0211.6%– 7.9%1613
13Kia Sportage1,4211.5%– 16.5%195,7431.5%– 21.3%1715
14Nissan X-Trail1,4041.5%– 13.1%45,1651.3%– 16.4%2019
15BYD Shark 61,3711.5%+ 6.0%224,8511.3%– 20.9%2218
16Hyundai Tucson1,3661.5%– 3.1%96,8421.8%+ 11.3%1212
17Mitsubishi Triton1,3161.4%+ 16.5%126,9201.8%+ 20.8%1117
18Isuzu MU-X1,2521.3%+ 2.4%215,2131.4%+ 25.9%1820
19Mazda CX-51,2301.3%– 23.5%147,4771.9%+ 4.6%88
20GWM Haval H61,2191.3%+ 23.6%185,0631.3%+ 14.6%2126
21Geely EX51,2021.3%+ 271.0%452,6390.7%+ 415.4%3878
22Toyota Corolla Cross1,1521.2%– 4.2%174,7621.2%+ 7.9%2327
23Toyota Land Cruiser Wagon1,0101.1%– 1.2%293,8671.0%+ 100.8%3228
24Zeekr 7X9731.0%new422,6980.7%new35146
25Toyota Camry9621.0%+ 14.1%254,1871.1%+ 61.0%2636
26Subaru Forester9561.0%+ 21.3%273,9351.0%– 1.5%3122
27Mazda CX-39501.0%– 9.8%284,4391.2%– 17.6%2421
28Kia Carnival9481.0%+ 16.9%324,1091.1%+ 27.9%2730
29Mazda BT-509461.0%– 17.8%314,0591.1%– 19.1%2823
30BYD Sealion 89291.0%new352,4910.6%new41 –
31Chery Tiggo 7 Pro8850.9%+ 143.8%413,2080.8%+ 199.0%3458
32Toyota Hiace8660.9%– 37.1%244,2791.1%– 14.9%2524
33GWM Cannon/Cannon Alpha8460.9%+ 53.8%303,9771.0%+ 257.3%3045
34Tesla Model Y8220.9%+ 193.6%36,7191.7%+ 98.0%1310
35Toyota Corolla8180.9%– 50.7%235,2081.4%– 17.7%1916
36Geely Starray8040.9%new462,1880.6%new44154
37Mazda CX-307950.8%– 6.8%264,0411.1%+ 3.2%2929
38Kia EV57940.8%+ 132.2%481,9420.5%+ 28.7%4768
39Jaecoo J56920.7%new511,8450.5%new50 –
40BYD Atto 36640.7%+ 87.0%661,7480.5%+ 82.8%5580
41BYD Atto 26600.7%new492,1410.6%new46168
42Hyundai Venue5860.6%– 7.0%701,9380.5%– 21.1%4844
43Kia K45840.6%+ 16.3%363,3550.9%+ 190.7%3350
44Suzuki Jimny5790.6%– 15.5%372,5370.7%– 12.8%4048
45Mazda35590.6%– 19.7%402,6970.7%– 29.0%3635
46MG 35590.6%– 1.6%532,4180.6%– 33.7%4342
47Kia Seltos5500.6%– 20.1%342,6820.7%– 6.5%3738
48Chery Tiggo 8 Pro5440.6%+ 97.1%761,6380.4%+ 75.9%5786
49BYD Atto 15330.6%new631,6150.4%new58311
50MG 45220.6%+ 43.8%711,5380.4%– 9.4%6395

Source: VFACTS

Mehmet Ali Aydınlar resmen duyuruyor! Tarih bile netleşti

Mehmet Ali Aydınlar, Fenerbahçe başkanlığı için aday olduğunu en geç perşembe günü duyuracak.

Fenerbahçe'de Mehmet Ali Aydınlar beklenen açıklamayı yapmaya hazırlanıyor. Çarşamba ya da Perşembe günü yazılı açıklama ile adaylığını resmi olarak duyuracak. Daha sonra bir basın toplantısı düzenleyecek. Plan ve projelerinden bahsedecek.

Aydınlar şu anda yurt dışında... iddialara göre bazı sportif direktör ve teknik direktör adaylarıyla görüşmeler gerçekleştirdi.

Mehmet Ali Aydınlar tarafı Aziz Yıldırım ve diğer adaylar hakkında açıklama yapmamayı tercih ediyor. Barış Göktürk için de yakı çevresinden şu açıklama geldi:

- 3 ay önce bize geldi ve "ben aday olacağım bana destek verir misiniz?" Dedi. Biz de, 'daha önce Aziz Yıldırım ve Ali Koç'a verdiğimiz gibi elbette destek veririz' dedik.

Tüzük adaylığa engel mi? Fenerbahçe'de başkan adayı krizi

Kongre üyelerinin adaylığı için imza toplamaya başladığı adaylardan birisi son YDK'de yaptıkları yüzünden Şekip Mosturoğlu tarafından disipline sevk edildi. Bu durum aday olmasına engel mi?

Kongre üyeleri, adaylarından birinin başkan adaylığı için imza toplamaya başladı. Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü Tüzüğü'ne göre, başkan adayı olabilmek için seçime katılma hakkı olan en az 200 üyenin noter onaylı imzası gerekiyor. Aday olacak kişinin de en az 10 yıllık kulüp üyesi olması şart. Ayrıca adayın kulübe muaccel (vadesi gelmiş) borcunun bulunmaması ve tüzükteki diğer seçilme kriterlerini (adli sicil vb.) karşılaması gerekir.

Gelen haberlere göre bu başkan adayı son Yüksek Divan Kurulu (YDK) toplantısına yasa dışı üye girişine aracılık ettiği iddiası için YDK Başkanı Şekip Mosturoğlu tarafından disipline verilmişti.

Ancak Fenerbahçe Tüzüğü’ne göre, YDK veya ilgili disiplin kurulları tarafından disipline sevk edilmiş olmak, tek başına adaylığa engel teşkil etmez.

Bu yüzden başkan adayı disipline sevk edilmiş olsa bile seçim tarihine kadar hakkında nihai bir karar verilmediyse veya karar infaz edilmediyse, hukuki olarak "masumiyet karinesi" çerçevesinde adaylık dosyasını teslim edebilir.

Antalyaspor'da Galatasaray maçına ekstra prim

Antalyaspor'un ligde kalmayı büyük ölçüde garantilemesi için kalan Galatasaray maçından en az 1 puan çıkarmak zorunda. Bu yüzden yönetim İstanbul'deki zorlu maç için ekstra prim belirledi.

Önceki gece Alanyaspor'dan 0-0'lık beraberlikle 1 puan alan Antalyaspor, ligde kalmak için tüm tuşlara basmaya başladı. Antalyaspor Başkanı Rıza Perçin hafta sonunda İstanbul'da oynanacak Galatasaray maçı için ekstra prim uygulaması olacağını açıkladı. Başkan şöyle konuştu:

- Kendi prim sistemimiz var. Galatasaray maçına illa ki prim koyacağız.

Antalyaspor Başkanı Rıza Perçin ayrıca İstanbul'a teslim olmaya gitmeyeceklerini şu sözlerle açıkladı:

- Galatasaray maçı bizim için çok çok önemli bir maç. Enseyi karartmıyoruz, elimizden ne geliyorsa yapacağız. Bizi kendi durumumuz ilgilendiriyor. Şu anda tüm konsantrasyonumuz bu maçtan puan alabilmek. Tabii ki çok zor ama elimizden geleni yapacağız.

Şu anki tabloda, Antalyaspor'un ligde kalmayı büyük ölçüde garantilemesi için kalan 2 maçından en az 4 veya 6 puan çıkarması gerekiyor. 29 puanda kalması durumunda, rakipleri Gençlerbirliği ve Kayserispor'un alacağı tek bir galibiyet bile Antalyaspor'u küme düşme hattına itebilir.

Dursun Özbek rakipsiz kaldı! ‘Önce Fenerbahçeliler duyacak‘

Divan Kurulu Başkanı Aykutalp Derkan, Dursun Özbek'in Galatasaray başkanlığı için tek aday olarak seçime gireceğini açıkladı. Özbek aday tanıtımını Fenerbahçe'nin Kalamış tesislerinin hemen yanında olan tesislerde yapacak

Galatasaray'da seçimin tek adaylı olması artık kesinleşti. Divan Kurulu Başkanı Aykutalp Derkan, Dursun Özbek dışında adaylık başvurusu yapılmadığını açıkladı.

Üst üste gelen 4 şampiyonluk, Bankalar Birliği borcunun kapatılması ve Aslantepe Vadisi projesinin temelinin atıldığı dönemde muhalefetin zaten bir aday çıkarması beklenmiyordu.

Bu arada Galatasaray'da Dursun Özbek 19 Mayıs'ta aday tanıtım toplantısını Kalamış Tesisleri'nde yapacak.

Fenerbahçe'nin Kalamış tesislerinin hemen yanında olan tesisler 24 Mayıs'ta üyelere hizmet vermeye başlayacak.

Galatasaray Adası da yeni yüzüyle 1 haziranda açılacak.

Galatasaray'da yine prim krizi! ‘Fenerbahçe primi bile yatmadı‘

Samsunspor maçından önce Fenerbahçe maçının priminin sadece yarısı yatarken şampiyonluk için 5 milyon euro prim belirlendiği iddiası Galatasaraylı oyuncuların kafasını karıştırdı.

Hafta sonunda Antalyaspor'u yenerek 26. şampiyonluk kutlamalarına bir hafta gecikmeli olsa da başlamak isteyen Galatasaray yönetim şampiyonluk primini 5 milyon euro olarak belirledi.

Ancak Samsunspor maçından önce Fenerbahçe maçında söz verilen 5 milyon euro'luk primin sadece yarısının yatırıldığı ortamda çok fazla soru işareti var.

Trabzonspor maçının eski primler yatırılmadığı için kaybedildiğinin iddia edildiği ortamda Samsunspor maçından önce ödenen 2.5 milyon Euro'nun Juventus ve Beşiktaş maçlarının primi olduğu iddia edilmişti.

Galatasaraylı oyuncular ayrıca geçen sezondan kalma şampiyonluk primlerini bu sezonun hemen hemen ortasında ancak kapatabilmişti.

Lemina ile Amedspor ilk görüşmeyi yaptı! 'Galatasaray ile işimiz bitti'

"Lemina'nın sözleşmesi uzadı" dedikodusunun altının boş olduğu menajeri tarafından "sezon başında yüzde 60 maddesini iptal ettik" diyerek Amedsporlu yöneticilerle paylaşıldı. Galatasaray'dan ayrılması kesinleşen Gabonlu oyuncu içi operasyon başladı.

Mauro Icardi dışında Lemina, Fred ve Ersin Destanoğlu dörtlüsü için 6 ila 8 milyon euro'luk maaş bütçesi belirlediği konuşulan Amedspor'un kafası "Lemina'nın sözleşmesi uzadı" dedikodusuyla karışmıştı. Ancak bu dedikodunun yalan olduğu, sözleşmesinde yer alan "maçların yüzde 60'ında oynarsa sözleşmesi 1 yıl daha uzar maddesinin" sezon başında çift taraflı anlaşma ile iptal edildiği ortaya çıktı.

Menajeri bu maddenin kendilerinin talebiyle kaldırıldığını Amedsporlu yöneticilerle paylaştı. Şu anda Lemina için maaş konusunu serbest oyuncu olarak görüşebileceklerini iletti.

Lemina, Premier League ve Serie A geçmişiyle fiziksel temasın yüksek olduğu seviyelerde kendini kanıtlayan bir isim. Süper Lig'in sert oyun yapısında, orta sahada rakibi yıpratan, top kapan ve oyunu dikine taşıyan profiliyle Amedspor'un "merkez" direncini tek başına bir üst seviyeye çıkarabilir.

Amedspor, lige yeni çıkan bir takım olarak özellikle deplasmanlarda geçiş oyununa ihtiyaç duyacak. Lemina’nın en büyük özelliği, kaptığı topları güvenli bir şekilde ileri uca servis etmesi veya top sürerek hat kırması.

Amedspor'un 'müthiş havalı' transfer listesi sızdı! Icardi'yle beraber bakın kimler var?

“Şamaxı” tarixində 10-cu dəfə bu aqibəti yaşadı

5 May 2026 at 12:00

“Şamaxı” komandası futbol üzrə Azərbaycan çempionatlarının yüksək dəstəsində 10-cu dəfə öz meydanında böyük hesabla uduzub.

Arena.az bu barədə Peşəkar Futbol Liqasının (PFL) rəsmi saytına istinadən xəbər verir.

Əvvəllər “Xəzər Universiteti”, “İnter” və “Keşlə” adlarını da daşımış komanda Azərbaycan Premyer Liqasının 30-cu turunda “Sabah”a 0:3 hesabı ilə məğlub olub. Komanda 363-cü ev oyununda buna üzülüb.

“Şamaxı” tarixində bir mövsümdə 3-cü dəfə öz meydanında üç və ya daha çox top fərqi ilə uduzub. “Sabah”a qədər onların qonağı olan “Kəpəz” 4:1, “Qəbələ” 4:0 hesablı səfər qələbəsinə nail olub. Buna qədər antirekord iki belə nəticənin yaşandığı 2022/2023-cü illər mövsümündə qeydə alınmışdı.

Komandanın öz meydanında ilk ağır yenilgisi isə 2000/2001-ci illər mövsümünə təsadüf edib. 2000-ci il oktyabrın 20-də “Neftçi” “Xəzər Universiteti” adlanan rəqibinin meydanında 4:1 hesabı ilə qalib gəlib.

ÇL: İlk finalçı müəyyənləşir

5 May 2026 at 11:00

Bu gün futbol üzrə UEFA Çempionlar Liqasında (ÇL) 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün ilk finalçısı müəyyənləşəcək.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, yarımfinal mərhələsinin cavab oyununda İspaniyanın “Atletiko” komandası İngiltərədə “Arsenal”ın qonağı olacaq.

“Emireyts” stadionunda baş tutacaq qarşılaşmaya Bakı vaxtı ilə saat 23:00-da start veriləcək.

Xatırladaq ki, bu komandalar arasında Madrid şəhərində baş tutmuş ilk görüşdə qalib müəyyənləşməyib – 1:1.

Digər finalçı mayın 6-da bəlli olacaq. “Bayern” Almaniyada ÇL-in sonuncu qalibi olan Fransanın PSJ kollektivi ilə münasibətlərə aydınlıq gətirəcək. Birinci qarşılaşmada parislilər sevinən tərəf olublar – 5:4.

UEFA Çempionlar Liqası
Yarımfinalın cavab oyunları
5 may

23:00. Arsenal (İngiltərə) – Atletiko (İspaniya)
Baş hakim: Daniel Zibert (Almaniya).
London. “Emireyts” stadionu.
İlk oyun – 1:1.

6 may

23:00. Bayern (Almaniya) – PSJ (Fransa)
Baş hakim: Pineyro (Portuqaliya).
Münhen. “Alyans Arena”.
İlk oyun – 4:5.

Aziz Yıldırım aday olacak mı? Gürcan Bilgiç görüşmeyi açıkladı

Fenerbahçe'de kongre süreci yaklaşırken, adaylık için Aziz Yıldırım, Mehmet Ali Aydınlar, Barış Göktürk ve Hakan Safi'nin isimleri konuşuluyor. Sabah Spor yazarları; Gürcan Bilgiç, Levent Tüzemen, Ahmet Çakar ve Ömer Üründül süreci masaya yatırdı. Yazarlardan Bilgiç, Aziz Yıldırım'ın kararını duyurdu.

“Çelsi” 33 il sonra bunu yaşadı

5 May 2026 at 12:12

“Çelsi” İngiltərə Premyer Liqasının XXXV turunda “Nottingem Forest”ə uduzub – 1:5.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, London klubu son altı oyunda qələbə qazana bilməyib. Bu, “zadəganlar”ın 1993-cü ildən sonra göstərdiyi ən pis nəticədir. Komanda sonuncu dəfə 33 il əvvəl bu vəziyyətlə üzləşmişdi.

“Çelsi” Premyer Liqada 35 turdan sonra 48 xalla 9-cu sıradadır.

Babək Quliyevə UEFA-dan dəvət

5 May 2026 at 11:38

Beynəlxalq dərəcəli hakim-inspektor Babək Quliyev UEFA-dan dəvət alıb.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, o, Almaniyanın paytaxtı Berlində keçiriləcək UEFA hakim-inspektorlar üçün seminara qatılacaq.

Mayın 11-dən 13-dək təşkil olunacaq tədbirdə Avropanın müxtəlif ölkələrindən 70 UEFA hakim-inspektorun iştirakı nəzərdə tutulur.

Ukrayna millisinin “sükanı” italiyalıya tapşırılır

5 May 2026 at 11:34

Ukrayna millisinin yeni baş məşqçisi məlum olub.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, yığmanın “sükanı” italiyalı Andre Malderaya tapşırılacaq. Bu barədə insayder Fabrizio Romano məlumat yayıb.

Mütəxəssis son olaraq “Marsel”də baş məşqçi Roberto De Zerbinin köməkçisi olub. O, 2016-2021-ci illərdə də Ukrayna millisində çalışıb.

Ukrayna yığmasında ötən ay baş məşqçi Sergey Rebrovla yollar ayrılıb.

Hansı oyun, hansı kanalda? – TV

5 May 2026 at 11:17

Bu gün dünyanın yaşıl meydanlarında futbol oyunları keçiriləcək.

Futbolpress.az qarşılaşmaları canlı yayımlayacaq telekanalların siyahısını təqdim edir:

Azərbaycan, Premyer Liqa
16:00 Karvan-Yevlax – Neftçi (CBC Sport)

Türkiyə Kuboku
21:30 Beşiktaş – Konyaspor (ATV Türkiyə)

UEFA Çempionlar Liqası
23:00 Arsenal – Atletiko (İctimai TV, TRT 1)

Andrade üçün yubiley

5 May 2026 at 11:00

Leandro Andrade “Qarabağ”ın heyətində bütün turnirlər nəzərə alınmaqla 60-cı qolunu vurub.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, portuqaliyalı yarımmüdafiəçinin yubileyi Misli Premyer Liqasının XXX turunun “Turan Tovuz”la ev qarşılaşmasına (2:1) təsadüf edib.

Leandro 60-cı qolunu Ağdam klubunda çıxdığı 211-ci matçında vurub. O, Premyer Liqada 45 (135 oyunda), ölkə kubokunda 2 (20 oyunda), avrokuboklarda 13 (56 qoyunda) qola imza atıb.

Qeyd edək ki, Leandro “Qarabağ”da ilk qolunu 2022-ci il aprelin 2-də “Səbail”lə (5:1) çempionat görüşündə vurub.

“Kəpəz”in futbolçusundan mövsümün rekordu

5 May 2026 at 10:46

Misli Premyer Liqasının XXX turu “Kəpəz”in futbolçusu Rauf Hüseynlinin 4 dəqiqəyə iki qol vurması ilə əlamətdar olub.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, “Sumqayıt”la ev oyununda (2:1) fərqlənən futbolçu bununla da mövsümün rekordunu təkrarlayıb. 86-cı və 89-cu dəqiqələrdə qol sevinci yaşayan Raufa qədər yalnız Leandro Andrade matçın bir hissəsində belə qısa müddətdə dubl müəllifi olub. “Qarabağ”ın portuqaliyalı yarımmüdafiəçisi “Araz-Naxçıvan”la martın 8-də keçirilən qarşılaşmada (6:0) 33-cü və 36-cı dəqiqələrdəki qolları ilə dublunu rəsmiləşdirib.

Leandrodan fərqli olaraq Hüseynli hər iki qolu penaltidən vurub. O, cari mövsümdə bir matçda 2 dəfə 11 metrlik nöqtədən dəqiq olan 4-cü futbolçudur. Onadək Aleksandr Ramalinqom (“Sumqayıt”) və Coy Lens Mikels (“Sabah”) penaltilərlə dubl edib, Toral Bayramov (“Qarabağ”) het-trik etdiyi qarşılaşmada iki dəfə “ağ nöqtə”dən fərqlənib. Raufa qədər Ramalinqom daha qısa müddətdə – 12 dəqiqədə iki penalti zərbəsini qola çevirmişdi. O, “Karvan-Yevlax”la ötən il oktyabrın 18-də keçirilən matçın (4:1) 54-cü və 65-ci dəqiqələrində fərqlənib.

“Şamaxı”nın uğursuz “3”ləri

5 May 2026 at 10:39

“Şamaxı” Azərbaycan çempionatlarının yüksək dəstəsində 10-cu dəfə öz meydanında böyük hesabla uduzub.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, əvvəllər “Xəzər Universiteti”, “İnter” və “Keşlə” adlarını da daşımış komanda Misli Premyer Liqasının XXX turunda “Sabah”a 0:3 hesabı ilə məğlub olub. Komanda 363-cü ev oyununda bu nəticəyə görə üzülüb.

“Şamaxı” tarixində bir mövsümdə 3-cü dəfə öz meydanında üç və ya daha çox top fərqi ilə uduzub. “Sabah”a qədər onların qonağı olan “Kəpəz” 4:1, “Qəbələ” 4:0 hesablı səfər qələbəsinə nail olub. Bunadək antirekord iki belə nəticənin yaşandığı 2022/23 mövsümündə qeydə alınmışdı.

Komandanın öz meydanında ilk ağır məğlubiyyəti isə 2000/01 mövsümünə təsadüf edib. 2000-ci il oktyabrın 20-də “Neftçi” “Xəzər Universiteti” adlanan rəqibinin meydanında 4:1 hesabı ilə qalib gəlib.

“Çalışırıq ki, gəncləri pis vərdişlərdən uzaqlaşdıraq, güləşdə kütləvilik yaradaq”

5 May 2026 at 10:25

Azərbaycan güləşçiləri ötən ay Albaniyanın paytaxtı Tiranada keçirilən Avropa çempionatını 13 medalla başa vurub.

Sərbəst güləş üzrə yığmamız Avropanın zirvəsini fəth edib. 3 qızıl, 2 gümüş və 1 bürünc medal qazanan komandamız 152 xal toplayaraq 6-cı dəfə Avropa çempionu olub. Tiranada İslam Bazarqanov (57 kq), Ali Tsokayev (92 kq) və Giorgi Meşvildişvili (125 kq) Avropa çempionu olub. Turan Bayramov (74 kq) və Arseniy Djioyev (86 kq) gümüş, Cəbrayıl Hacıyev (79 kq) isə bürünc medal qazanıb.

Yunan-Roma güləşçiləri də adını tarixə yazdırıb. Millimiz uğurlu çıxış edərək çempion titulunu qoruyub. Belə ki, 2 qızıl, 3 bürünc medal qazanan yığmamız 133 xalla yenidən Avropa çempionu olub. Türkiyə (121) ikinci, Gürcüstan (118) isə üçüncü yeri tutub. Millinin heyətində Həsrət Cəfərovla (67 kq) Qurban Qurbanov (82 kq) qızıl, Rəşad Məmmədov (55 kq), Nihat Məmmədli (60 kq) və İslam Abbasov (87 kq) bürünc medal qazanıb.

Azərbaycan güləşçiləri son illərdə Avropada dominantlıq edir. Qazanılan beynəlxalq uğurlar görülən işlərin və çəkilən əziyyətlərin məntiqi nəticəsidir.

Komandanın Avropa çempionatındakı çıxışı və perspektivlər haqqında Güləş Federasiyasının mətbuat xidmətinin rəhbəri Sərxan Musalı ilə danışdıq. Qurumun rəsmisi nəticələri belə dəyərləndirdi: 

“Komanda üç növün ikisində Avropa çempionu olubsa, nəticəni müsbət qiymətləndirmək olar. Artıq üçüncü dəfədir ki, qatıldığımız yarışın iki növündə zirvəyə yüksəlirik. 5 qızıl, 2 gümüş və 6 bürünc medal qazandıq. Düzdür, medal sayı daha çox ola bilərdi. Bəzi güləşçilərin çıxışından fərdi şəkildə narazılığımız oldu. Sərbəst güləşdə Kənan Heybətov, Nurəddin Novruzovdan, yunan-Roma güləşində Sənan Süleymanovdan medal gözləyirdik. Qadınların güləşində isə azı üç finala ümid edirdik. Amma səhvləri gördük və onların üzərində işləyəcəyik. Məşqçilər həm komanda, həm fərdi şəkildə çatışmazlıqları aradan qaldırmağa çalışacaq”.

Musalı güləş üzrə milli komandaların əsas hədəflərinə toxundu:

“Bu nəticə bizi arxayınlaşdırmır. Son illərdə güləşdə Avropada dominant ölkə rolundayıq. Qarşıda dünya çempionatı var və bizim üçün əsas məqsəd orada uğur qazanmaqdır. Bu turnirdə İran, ABŞ, Yaponiya, eləcə də, Orta Asiya ölkələrinin idmançıları da olacaq. Eyforiyaya qapılmadan yarışa hazırlaşmalıyıq”.

Federasiya rəsmisi güləşin gənclər arasında populyarlığı və təbliğat işləri ilə bağlı danışdı:

“Hər qələbə həmin idman növünü bir qədər daha populyarlaşdırır. Ölkə başçısı İlham Əliyevin bizi qəbul etməsi gündəmi zəbt etdi, nəticəmiz diqqət mərkəzinə düşdü. Məsələn, Həsrət Cəfərovun, Qurban Qurbanovun, Jalə Əliyevanın qələbələri gənclərə motivasiya verir, onlar bu güləşçiləri özlərinə kumir seçirlər.

Güləşin təbliği üçün müxtəlif istiqamətlərdə addımlar atırıq. Xüsusilə, məktəblərdə layihələr həyata keçiririk. “Güləş və sağlam yaşa” sloqanı ilə yeni işlərimiz olacaq. Eyni zamanda sosial çarxlarımız da yayımlanır. Çalışırıq ki, gəncləri zərərli vərdişlərdən uzaqlaşdıraq, güləşdə kütləvilik yaradaq. Azərbaycan çempionatlarının vizual keyfiyyətinin yaxşılaşdırılması da bu kampaniyaların tərkib hissəsidir”.

Yunan-Roma güləşi üzrə Azərbaycan yığmasının böyük məşqçisi Nurəddin Rəcəbov da fikirlərini bölüşdü. O, idmançıların çıxışından razı qaldığını bildirdi:

“Həqiqətən, çox yüksək səviyyədə çıxış etdik. Bu nəticə müzakirə olunmur. Komanda olaraq dünyanın ən böyük güləş ölkələrindən üstün olduq. Gücümüzü göstərdik, məşqçilərlə idmançıların gecə-gündüz birlikdə çəkdiyi əziyyətin bəhrəsini gördük. Hələ əsas heyətdən iki üzvümüz- dünya çempionları Eldəniz və Ülvi – yarışdan kənarda idi.

Ümumi götürəndə, yüksək səviyyədə mübarizə apardıq. Belə nəticələri qazanmaq çox çətin olur. Sübut etdik ki, Avropanın ən güclü güləş komandalarından biriyik. Hər çəkidə yaxşı mübarizə apardıq. Düzdür, medalların sayı və əyarı fərqli ola bilərdi, lakin ümumi baxsaq, nəticə qənaətbəxşdir. Qarşıda dünya çempionatı var. Çalışacağıq ki, çatışmazlıqlarımızı aradan qaldıraq. Federasiya tərəfindən hər cür şərait yaradılıb. Toplanışlar vaxtında keçirilməsəydi, belə yaxşı hazırlaşmaq mümkün olmazdı. Hər kəsə minnətdaram”.

Şahin Cəfərov

Yazı Azərbaycan Respublikasının Medianın İnkişafı Agentliyinin maliyyə dəstəyi ilə hazırlanıb.

Sahə: Uşaq və gənclərin fiziki və mənəvi inkişafında idmanın rolu.

 

Mövsümdə 3-cü, tarixdə 10-cu

5 May 2026 at 12:15
“Şamaxı” Azərbaycan çempionatlarının yüksək dəstəsində 10-cu dəfə öz meydanında böyük hesabla uduzub. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, əvvəllər “Xəzər Universiteti”, “İnter” […]

Source

Marca: Mbappé’s controversial trip to Italy concerned Real Madrid

5 May 2026 at 12:14

Kylian Mbappé used a day off last week for a trip to Italy, which, according to Marca, upset Real Madrid.

Mbappé’s recent trip to Italy has raised concerns at Real Madrid, as the French superstar is reportedly on bad terms with some members of the Merengues’ dressing room.

According to Marca, Mbappé’s trip to Cagliari, Italy, last week has further worsened his standing with his club and teammates.

Mbappé is recovering from an injury, but Marca has described his trip to Italy as ‘controversial.’

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 26: Bremer of Brazil runs with the ball against Kylian Mbappe of France during the international friendly match between Brazil and France at Gillette Stadium on March 26, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 26: Bremer of Brazil runs with the ball against Kylian Mbappé of France during the international friendly match between Brazil and France at Gillette Stadium on March 26, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Although the Frenchman is recovering from an injury and other players in the same situation travelled abroad last week, his short trip to Sardinia has raised further concerns at the Bernabeu, affecting his status inside the dressing room.

The Spanish newspaper reports that Mbappé has distanced himself from the team in recent weeks, and not only because of his injuries.

France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe gives a press conference at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on September 5, 2024 on the eve of he UEFA Nations League football match between France and Italy. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

The Frenchman is reported to be on bad terms with parts of the dressing room, including Vinicius Junior, and his attitude, on and off the pitch, is not appreciated by most of his Real Madrid teammates.

His recent trip to Italy with his girlfriend, Ester Exposito, has increased dissatisfaction within the team and the club.

Kylian Mbappé, İtalya’nın Cagliari şehrinde Ester Exposito ile birlikte zamanının tadını çıkarıyor. pic.twitter.com/Do3nJkPU75

— Kapitano Sports (@kapitanosport) May 2, 2026

Today’s Papers – Milan and Juventus risk, Inter change

5 May 2026 at 11:28

La Gazzetta dello Sport

Inter make themselves European

Four-man defence and an assaulting team to go beyond the Scudetto.

Milan and Juve, Champions risk

Stars at stake

The Devil without Cup? Allegri doubt, Modric’s farewell. The Old Lady might lose Yildiz, and Comolli is no longer safe.

Roma arrive, one point from the fourth spot

Sarri: ‘Derby at 12:30? I won’t go on the bench.’

Corriere dello Sport

New Inter

From the 21st Scudetto to market moves: more powers to Cristian and renewal to 2028

Chivu, let’s change

Assault on Paz, Koné and Palestra. Moratti: ‘Marvellous Nico.’

The Argentine will return to Real Madrid: Marotta tries. A new attempt for the Frenchman. Pressing on, Atalanta: the full-back is a priority. Chasing a centre-back: from Muharemovic to Leoni.

Poker Roma: Gasp goes -1 from Juve

Endless Lazio: Noslin’s magic

Referee managers called by the Prosecutor

Tuttosport

Toro in Superga: rage and pride

Juve, enough! Now Silva and Alisson

The coach expects six high-level reinforcements. First of all, he wants to feel safe with a central midfielder and a goalkeeper, like the experienced players of City and Liverpool. Tough speech to the players: if you do the minimum, you won’t go to the Champions League. Blitz in Stuttgart for Stiller and Grimaldo.

Roma boom: once again -1 from the fourth spot with four goals.

Defending champions Inter have Paz ready

45m plus sales to persuade Real Madrid, who will re-sign him from Como.

 

 

Ornstein confirms Man City reach agreement with 25-year-old England international

5 May 2026 at 12:01

Seeing Phil Foden wearing any shirt other than sky blue just wouldn’t feel right.

According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Manchester City have reached an agreement in principle to extend their homegrown superstar’s contract.

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At 25 years old, Foden is currently entering the absolute prime of his career, and tying him down is undoubtedly one of the most crucial pieces of boardroom business the Premier League giants will conduct all year.

Foden’s current deal was slowly ticking down toward a 2027 expiration, a timeline that naturally might have started causing a few nervous murmurs around the blue half of Manchester.

However, the club’s hierarchy has moved decisively to nip any potential drama in the bud.

Phil Foden is set to stay at Man City

The freshly agreed terms will see the England international ink a massive four-year extension, keeping him firmly locked into the Etihad project until June 2030.

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Crucially, the blockbuster deal also includes a club option for an additional year.

While the final legal formalities still need to be officially rubber-stamped before an announcement, the deal has been successfully navigated by Foden’s high-profile agent, Rafaela Pimenta.

Foden is the ultimate proof of concept for the City Football Academy, a local Stockport lad who successfully navigated his way through the youth ranks to become a completely undroppable cog in Pep Guardiola’s relentless winning machine.

Versatile Englishman has a crucial role at the Etihad

As the squad naturally transitions and legendary figures gradually begin to age out or move on, Foden is no longer just a brilliant supporting act or a promising youngster, his role has increased at the club.

Despite having a poor season by his high standards, the England international remains the future of Man City.

He dictates the tempo, unlocks deep defensive blocks, and scores crucial goals when the lights are brightest.

Securing his signature ensures that the beating, creative heart of City’s attack remains firmly in place for the next half-decade.

Reduction in playing time could lead to shock exit of Man City star who joined last year 

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Real Madrid plotting ambitious move for manager linked with the Man United job

5 May 2026 at 11:43

Real Madrid, along with Manchester United, are looking for a new manager at the end of the season.

Both the clubs are set to end the season without a trophy, following spells of struggles in the season.

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Both Real Madrid and Man United parted ways with their managers in the middle of the season.

Xabi Alonso was shown the exit door at the Santiago Bernabeu while Ruben Amorim was sacked following a poor run of form at Old Trafford.

Coincidentally, both the club turned to their former players. Alvaro Arbeloa joined Real Madrid while Michael Carrick was given the keys to the kingdom at Old Trafford.

However, both of them were interim appointments and now the search for a permanent manager has started.

Real Madrid are set to target Unai Emery

According to talkSPORT, Spanish giants Real Madrid have officially placed Aston Villa mastermind Unai Emery on their highly exclusive shortlist to become their next manager.

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As Los Blancos begin mapping out their long-term future, their search for a proven, tactically astute leader has seemingly led them straight to the Premier League.

When the Spaniard first arrived at Villa Park, the club was struggling to find a clear identity.

Fast forward to today, and he has completely transformed them into a legitimate Premier League heavyweight, consistently disrupting the established elite and turning their home ground into a genuine fortress.

His brilliant ability to elevate individual players and implement a highly effective, possession-heavy system has rightfully re-established him as one of the elite managers in world football.

From Real Madrid’s perspective, adding Emery to their wishlist makes perfect logical sense.

Club president Florentino Perez knows exactly what it takes to survive in the Spanish capital, and Emery’s La Liga pedigree is absolutely undeniable.

Spaniard has been highly successful in La Liga

He has a massive history of overachieving in Spain, having previously delivered immense success and multiple trophies during his stints at Sevilla and Villarreal.

More importantly, he possesses the one thing Madrid values above all else, elite European knockout pedigree.

As a serial winner on the continental stage, his tactical blueprint is practically tailor-made for navigating tricky Champions League ties.

Emery is totally bought into the long-term project backed by Villa’s highly ambitious ownership group. More importantly, he is firmly locked into a massive contract that runs all the way until the summer of 2029.

Even Man United are interested in him but both Real Madrid and the Red Devils face a mountain to climb to convince him to leave the promising project at Aston Villa.

Liverpool in advanced talks for “incredible” Real Madrid target who could cost a fortune

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Alisson Becker becomes top target for Euro giants as Brazilian faces Liverpool uncertainty

5 May 2026 at 11:25

Liverpool’s legendary goalkeeper, Alisson Becker, has emerged as the absolute top transfer target for Italian giants Juventus.

At 33 years old, the Brazilian shot-stopper finds himself at a major career crossroads.

With his contract at Anfield entering its final twelve months, following the club’s recent decision to trigger a one-year extension option to keep him until the summer of 2027, the whispers of a blockbuster move back to Serie A are growing louder by the day.

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Sky Sports have confirmed that the Premier League legend has become the primary target for Italian giants Juventus.

It all comes down to the man currently sitting in the Juventus dugout.

Alisson Becker is being eyed by his former manager

Manager Luciano Spalletti, who previously worked closely with Alisson during their time together at AS Roma, is reportedly pushing incredibly hard for a reunion.

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Spalletti is embarking on a massive summer rebuild in Turin and views his former number one as the absolute perfect anchor for a revamped defense.

The Italian club are apparently ready to devote significant time and financial resources to get the deal across the line before the new season kicks off.

From Liverpool’s perspective, cashing in on their iconic goalkeeper might actually make a lot of logical sense right now.

Let’s be completely honest, Alisson has endured a deeply frustrating campaign ravaged by nagging hamstring injuries, forcing him to miss crucial Premier League and Champions League fixtures.

Liverpool already have a replacement at the club

Furthermore, the Reds already have their succession plan completely sorted out.

Giorgi Mamardashvili has seamlessly stepped up to the plate during Alisson’s injury absences, proving to the Anfield hierarchy that he is more than ready to permanently take over the gloves.

With huge, experienced dressing room figures like Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson already heading out the exit door this summer, Liverpool are firmly in the middle of a ruthless, sweeping squad evolution under Arne Slot.

Losing a player of Alisson’s immense caliber is never an easy pill to swallow. Even club captain Virgil van Dijk recently admitted that while players will inevitably leave, the Brazilian remains “the best goalkeeper in the world” and a genuinely crucial leader on the pitch.

If Juventus can match Liverpool’s financial demands and offer a tempting package, a return to Italy might be the perfect fresh start for Alisson to cap off his career.

‘I wouldn’t be surprised’ – Lineker tips sacked manager for Liverpool job next season

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‘I wouldn’t be surprised’ – Lineker tips sacked manager for Liverpool job next season

5 May 2026 at 10:38

The narrative surrounding Anfield has definitively turned negative in recent weeks.

Following a deeply frustrating 3-2 defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Manchester United over the weekend, Liverpool’s 2025/26 campaign has officially hit another massive speed bump.

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That loss marked their 11th Premier League defeat of the season.

While manager Arne Slot is still expected to keep his job provided he guides the Reds to a top-five finish and secures elite European football, the immense pressure is undeniably starting to mount.

Legendary striker and pundit Gary Lineker has just thrown gas on the fire, admitting he genuinely wouldn’t be surprised to see the club make a ruthless managerial change by bringing in former midfield maestro Xabi Alonso this summer.

Arne Slot continues to struggle at Liverpool

Just 12 months ago, Slot was viewed as untouchable after brilliantly winning the Premier League title during his debut season in the Anfield dugout. However, this current campaign has been an absolute slog.

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Big-money acquisitions like Florian Wirtz have struggled to find their absolute best form, and a frustrating injury to striker Alexander Isak has severely hampered their attacking flow.

Speaking on the latest episode of The Rest is Football podcast alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, Lineker didn’t hold back his thoughts on the situation.

“Would Slot be there next season?” Lineker asked Shearer and Richards.

“Eleven defeats in the Premier League, still in the Champions League positions. I wouldn’t be surprised if Xabi Alonso was there next season.”

It is worth noting that Alonso is currently a high-profile free agent, having been out of work since parting ways with Real Madrid in January 2026.

He was heavily linked to the Liverpool job when Jurgen Klopp initially stepped down, but he opted to stay at Bayer Leverkusen before eventually making his move to Madrid in June 2025.

Alonso’s availability could pressure on Slot

Currently, Liverpool are incredibly close to mathematically securing their primary objective for the season.

They need just four more points from their remaining fixtures against Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Brentford to completely guarantee Champions League qualification for next term.

Slot has undoubtedly earned the right to try and fix this current mess, but the shadow of Alonso will naturally continue to loom large over Anfield.

If Liverpool stumble poorly through their final three fixtures, the club’s ownership group might just decide that bringing their former Champions League-winning midfielder back home is the perfect way revive the club.

Van Dijk replacement: Liverpool have two names on shortlist to replace the Dutchman

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Manchester City agree new long-term deal in principle with Phil Foden, keeping star at Etihad until 2030

Manchester City agree new long-term deal in principle with Phil Foden, keeping star at Etihad until 2030
Manchester City agree new long-term deal in principle with Phil Foden, keeping star at Etihad until 2030

Manchester City have reached an agreement in principle with Phil Foden over a new long-term contract.

Foden is set to re-commit his future to the club with a new deal at the Etihad, that will run until 2030, with the option of a further season. The 25-year-old's current contract had been set to expire in 2027, with the Cityzens working in recent months to tie down his future.

Foden has been with Manchester City since joining his boyhood side the age of eight. He made his debut as a teenager and has since recorded 110 goals in 365 appearances across all competitions, becoming one of English football's most decorated players during that period.

The England international has won 18 trophies, including sixPremier League titles and the Champions League.

His performances have been scrutinised over the last two seasons, as Foden has struggled to replicate the standard from his 2023/24 PFA Player of the Year season. He has started 21Premier League games this season, scoring seven goals and adding three assists.

However, City view Foden as a key part of their long-term future, withThe Athletic reporting that an agreement in principle is completed. There are still formalities to be finalised but an announcement is expected imminently.

Sunshine, replica shirts and emotion

Brentford fan's voice banner
[BBC]
Josh Dasilva of Brentford celebrates with the supporters
[Getty Images]

If a certain Danish lager company did football days, Saturday at the Gtech was the perfect one.

Watching a very welcome victory in sunshine and replica shirts, while moving up to sixth in the table, was brilliant - and the cherry on the cake was the return to action of the much-loved Josh Dasilva.

Brentford last won at home on the first Wednesday in January and hadn't won anywhere since the end of February - and we undoubtedly rode our luck at times on Saturday.

West Ham had an equaliser disallowed for a player's arm being offside and hit the woodwork four times.

But while they were unlucky to go in behind at the break, there is no doubt that the Bees stepped it up in the second half and thoroughly deserved the three points.

The Hammers must hate playing us - that's eight Brentford wins in 10 Premier League games against them.

The victory kept alive our European hopes and, although we were always unlikely to end the weekend in sixth, and we are away to Manchester City next, it looks like the qualification race will go right down to the wire.

Saturday also ended on a highly emotional note with Dasilva's first Premier League appearance since January 2024 after a nightmare run of injuries.

Dasilva, who joined us from Arsenal in 2018, played a massive part in our promotion from the Championship but has had only one injury-free season in five in the Premier League.

The stoppage-time substitution was one of three and of course he came on last. Many of us had a tear in our eye as we all gave him a standing ovation.

And it was wonderful to see the other players push him forward and then stand back so he could receive more thunderous applause on his own from us after the game.

Find more from Ian Westbrook at Beesotted podcast

'A revelation'

Leeds United fan's voice graphic
[BBC]
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
[Getty Images]

When Ao Tanaka's shot was parried into the warm Elland Road air on Friday night by a sprawling Martin Dubravka, there was one player in the penalty area, eyes-wide, that was more alert than anyone else.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin's leap seemed to leave his outstretched boot dangling for an age before his touch clipped the ball into the Burnley net for Leeds' third goal on the night and the Englishman's 13th of the season.

Leeds' number nine has matched his tally for his previous three campaigns at Everton combined; and part of the reason for his resurgence has been his fitness.

The three games Calvert-Lewin has missed this year are his fewest absent for five seasons.

Brought in at the back end of last summer on a free transfer, the Leeds striker was part of a trio of attackers that the club recruited who all had worrying injury records, that included Lukas Nmecha and Noah Okafor.

But United's medical team have ensured the Whites squad has missed the fewest games this season of any Premier League side on 77. By comparison Tottenham have missed the most on 363.

However, Calvert-Lewin's form cannot be explained by fitness alone.

Five months ago, the striker called Leeds "a breath of fresh air".

In March, he credited the club as the key reason he was back in an England shirt.

And after the Burnley game, the striker praised Daniel Farke, stating: "He has certainly helped get the best out of me this season and filled me with confidence."

Calvert-Lewin's improvised finish last Friday might have come off the boot of a free transfer, but if it keeps Leeds in the Premier League, it will be a golden touch worth over £100m.

From his hold-up play to his goals and goal-line clearances, Calvert-Lewin has been a revelation for Leeds this season and a big reason why they are almost mathematically safe.

Find more from Adonis Storr at The Roaring Peacock

'We look content to play a bit-part role in our own storyline'

Fulham fan's voice banner
[BBC]

Fulham were never going to play a starring role in determining the destination of the Premier League trophy on Saturday - our record in north London could tell you that.

But what is concerning is that we look content to play a bit-part role in our own storyline: the race for Europe.

We do not have the momentum of Bournemouth - 15 games unbeaten and destined for the top six. Or of Brighton, who have won four of their past six despite a surprise loss at the weekend.

Our form in our past six reads two wins, two draws, and two losses. And that sums up our season. It has been good in places, bad in others and often indifferent. And that is why, ultimately, we look destined to finish outside the European places.

Playing Arsenal away was never going to determine the fate of our season, but Fulham's task is a tough one now: collect seven points from a possible nine to surpass our record points total of 54 and finish in the top eight.

It starts against in-form Bournemouth on Saturday. The Cherries have not lost since the first game of 2026, but we must hand them that L to have any chance of giving our own story a happy ending.

There are chapters left in this tale - and plenty of players with narratives yet to conclude. Harry Wilson, so often the man behind our best moments this season, could play a key role.

Then there is Rodrigo Muniz, a man who has struggled since his early season injury, but who turned down a multi-million pound approach in the summer to lead us to the next level.

It might even be Antonee Robinson, who has endured the toughest season of his life, the nadir of which was at the Emirates on Saturday. Could he begin his redemption arc against the Cherries?

One thing is for sure, we need that main character energy in these next three games. The season depends on it.

Find more from Drew Heatley at Fulhamish

Travelling fans 'well aware' of Glasner balancing act

Crystal Palace fan's voice banner
[BBC]
Oliver Glasner waves at the end of time against Bournemouth towards Crystal Palace fans
[Getty Images]

On Thursday evening, Crystal Palace took a massive step closer to a European final in Leipzig. On Sunday, they were humbled by AFC Bournemouth. The question in the aftermath is whether the Sunday result matters, or, in fact, whether there was likely to have been a different outcome.

Such are the competitive standards in the Premier League this season, especially against a club currently occupying sixth in the table, heavy squad rotation and seemingly pre-planned half-time substitutes were never likely to be a recipe for success – especially when the team lacks composure in possession.

If there was a time to question whether Palace should prioritise success in Europe over league position, that debate was out the window when the team reached the round of 16 in the Conference League. The club finds itself equal distance from eighth in the table, as it does 18th, and yet can't feasibly fight on both fronts.

Oliver Glasner's team has now played 54 matches across all competitions to Andoni Iraola's 37. That 17-game difference isn't an inbuilt excuse, but it speaks to the challenge faced by smaller clubs playing across multiple competitions.

The goal for now is for the squad to draw a line after a disappointing Sunday and refocus on the main prize. Thursday's encounter with Shakhtar Donetsk isn't without risk, despite a two-goal cushion from the first leg. It's likely that they will be forced to work out of possession, to contain the Ukrainian's Brazilian attacking talents, as they did the week before, and will have the chance to counter, which is ultimately where a Glasner team thrives.

The past twelve months have offered Palace fans success beyond our dreams, and if the travelling fans in Bournemouth proved anything at 3-0 down, it is that they were well aware of that, despite the scoreline.

Find more from Alex Pewter at FYP podcast

Emma Raducanu faces potential Coco Gauff rematch as Rome Open draw revealed

Emma Raducanu has not competed since Indian Wells (PA Wire)

Emma Raducanu faces a potential rematch with Coco Gauff in the third round of the Rome Open, with the American responsible for her fourth-round exit at the tournament last year.

The British No 1 has not played since Indian Wells in March after struggling to shake off a viral illness, and has yet to play a clay-court match this season.

Her stop-start beginning to 2026 was complicated by an injury to her right hand, which she cited as her reason for pulling out of last week’s Madrid Open.

But she is slated to take part in Rome. She will begin her campaign in the second round - after receiving a first-round bye - against either world No 72 Solana Sierra or a qualifier.

All of the WTA top 20 are taking part in the final WTA 1000 event before the French Open, where Gauff is the reigning champion. The American will face either Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva or Czech teenager Tereza Valentova in her opening match in Rome.

Should Raducanu replicate her strong run in Rome last year, her likeliest opponent in the quarter-finals would be world No 8 Mirra Andreeva, who has enjoyed a brilliant clay season so far, winning the Linz Open and finishing runner-up in Madrid.

World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka - who has been drawn in Raducanu’s half - willl play either 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova, who is returning from injury, or Elsa Jacquemot. Defending champion Jasmine Paolini has been drawn in the same quarter as Gauff, Raducanu and Andreeva.

Four-time Roland-Garros champion Iga Swiatek has yet to reach her usual heights this season and faces a tough draw in Rome, with Emma Navarro potentially awaiting in the third round and Naomi Osaka in the fourth.

British No 3 Katie Boulter will open against Eva Lys; should she win that encounter, she will play Osaka in the second round.

While the women's Rome field looks highly competitive, Sinner is the overwhelming favourite on the men's side (Getty)
While the women's Rome field looks highly competitive, Sinner is the overwhelming favourite on the men's side (Getty)

In the men’s draw, British No 1 Cameron Norrie, who reached the Barcelona Open quarter-finals on clay, has a bye to the second round. Jack Draper is out for the remainder of the clay season as he continues to battle a series of injuries.

World No 1 Jannik Sinner is on a record run of five consecutive Masters 1000 titles and looking to make that six at his home Masters, while Novak Djokovic will be relieved he can only face the Italian in the final.

Sinner is aiming to replicate Djokovic’s achievement as the only man to complete the career Golden Masters - winning all nine titles at this level - with Rome the only one the 24-year-old has yet to claim.

Sinner is seeded to meet Jakub Mensik - one of the few players to beat him this year, in the Qatar Open quarter-finals - in the third round and rapidly rising Frenchman Arthur Fils, whom he defeated in the Madrid semi-finals, in the fourth.

Djokovic, who has been out of action since Indian Wells as he recovers from injury, will open against Marton Fucsovics or a qualifier.

IPL 2026 | Will MS Dhoni play vs DC? CSK bowling coach's blunt 'above my pay grade' reply goes viral

NEW DELHI: When will MS Dhoni play? Will he feature today? What is the status of his injury? These questions continue to dominate social media, with CSK fans eager to see their superstar in action. Dhoni is yet to play a game this season due to a calf injury, and the topic once again surfaced when Chennai Super Kings bowling coach Eric Simons addressed the media ahead of the IPL 2026 clash between Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings.

Simons said Dhoni has not travelled for the away fixture against Delhi Capitals, though he is steadily improving.


More than half the season is done, with CSK set to play their 10th match in what has been an underwhelming campaign. As has been the case every season since his international retirement, there is intense speculation around the future of the 44-year-old Indian great in the IPL.

In the pre-match interaction, it was hardly surprising that the first question was on Dhoni, who has been batting in the nets recently.

"Update on MS Dhoni is way above my pay grade. He's not with us (in Delhi), but steadily improving. He'll be ready when he's ready, and he knows when he's ready to play," that was all Simons had to say on the team icon.

Speaking about the bowling unit, Simons was full of praise for Anshul Kamboj, who has impressed across all phases and is the joint highest wicket-taker with 17 scalps.

"Anshul went away. Anshul you see today is not this season, he started last year. The things that we worked on, he went into the domestic season and worked on different angles of approach to the crease to be more accurate with his yorkers in particular. We've introduced round the wicket, which is no secret now.

"There's a lot of nuances to what we're doing around the wicket that make him particularly effective. He's picked up wickets and been able to restrict the run rate as well. But I think what it really boils down to is his professionalism, the way that he trains," Simons said.

"If you stood next to me and watched the way that he trains, the way that he understands what he's going to do, the simplicity I spoke about, the clarity, I think in the modern game a bowler needs to be clear about what he wants to do. He's very clear about his tactics, and he's very clear about what his field setting is. There's no grey area for him," added Simons.

With four wins from nine matches, CSK find themselves in a must-win situation for the remaining five league games. They arrive in Delhi after a comprehensive win over Mumbai Indians. Simons remains confident that his side can still make the playoffs from here.


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"There has become a bit of a gap between the top four and the rest, but we still have our destiny in our own hands and we do know that we can beat any team in the league. So if we keep playing to our potential, there's no reason why we can't be on the top of the table. When we play well, we look really unbeatable," he said.

La Liga winger is Barcelona’s primary alternative to Anthony Gordon

La Liga winger is Barcelona’s primary alternative to Anthony Gordon
La Liga winger is Barcelona’s primary alternative to Anthony Gordon

Barcelona are looking to bring in a new left winger this summer if they do not find a deal with Manchester United for Marcus Rashford. Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon has been revealed as one of the alternatives that they would consider signing for the position.

United are adamant that Rashford will not leave for less than the €30m buy option stipulated in his contract this summer, but Barcelona have equally made it clear that they do not intend to stump up that money. On Monday night it emerged that Barcelona had met with the agents of Anthony Gordon, the Newcastle United forward also cited as an alternative.

Ez Abde is other leading option for Barcelona

As explained by Matteo Moretto, Real Betis winger Ez Abde is the other name high on Barcelona’s shortlist for the position. The Morocco international is enjoying a fine season in Seville, with 13 goals and 13 assists in his 39 appearances this season. Having sold him to Betis themselves, Barcelona also have a 20% sell-on fee on Abde, which would bring down the cost of the signing a little.

Abde for Rashford, Gordon for Raphinha?

Given the respective price tags, it has been discussed that Abde could be on his way out of Betis for as little as €25m this summer, and Gordon could cost suitors upward of €80m, it seems far more likely that Abde would be an alternative to Rashford. With some talk that Barcelona would consider offers for Raphinha, Gordon makes far more sense as his replacement, should it happen.

RCD Mallorca winger Jan Virgili is another name that is on their shortlist an economic alternative at the position, while Benfica’s Andreas Schjelderup has also been mentioned. Links to the Norwegian have cooled a little, while interest in re-signing Virgili seems dependent on Barcelona’s budget, and whether they can strike a deal for the other options.

Final Thoughts: Arne Slot is on ‘borrowed time’ after Liverpool’s defeat to Man United

Final Thoughts: Arne Slot is on ‘borrowed time’ after Liverpool’s defeat to Man United
Final Thoughts: Arne Slot is on ‘borrowed time’ after Liverpool’s defeat to Man United

Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool – Premier League Postmortem

After another week of pressure, scrutiny, and growing uncertainty, Liverpool arrived at Old Trafford knowing that anything less than a complete performance would likely end in defeat. What followed was a tale of two halves — one defined by chaos and vulnerability, the other by fight and fleeting belief — but ultimately, the same outcome persisted.

Another loss.

Another step closer to the end for Arne Slot.

The Starting Eleven

Liverpool XI

• GK – Freddie Woodman

• RB – Curtis Jones

• CB – Ibrahima Konaté

• CB – Virgil van Dijk (c)

• LB – Andy Robertson

• CM – Ryan Gravenberch

• AM – Dominik Szoboszlai

• CM – Alexis Mac Allister

• LW – Florian Wirtz

• CF – Cody Gakpo

• RW – Jeremie Frimpong

Substitutes Used

Milos Kerkez → Andy Robertson (59’)

Rio Ngumoha → Jeremie Frimpong (75’)

Federico Chiesa → Ibrahima Konaté (87’)

Goals

Man United 1–0 Liverpool – Matheus Cunha – 6’

Man United 2–0 Liverpool – Benjamin Šeško (Amad Diallo) – 14’

Man United 2–1 Liverpool – Dominik Szoboszlai – 47’

Man United 2–2 Liverpool – Cody Gakpo (Dominik Szoboszlai) – 56’

Man United 3–2 Liverpool – Kobe Mainoo – 77’

Match Statistics

• Possession – Man U 37% | Liverpool 63%

• xG – Man U 2.14 | Liverpool 0.89

• Total Shots – Man U 18 | Liverpool 13

• Shots on Target – Man U 6 | Liverpool 3

• Fouls – Man U 12 | Liverpool 11

• Corners – Man U 3 | Liverpool 2

First Half

The opening half was nothing short of dreadful for Liverpool. From the first whistle, the lack of structure, intensity, and organisation was glaring. Manchester United did not need to dominate the ball — they simply waited, pressed at the right moments, and cut through Liverpool with alarming ease.

The opening goal came early, a warning that was not heeded. The second, just minutes later, exposed everything that has gone wrong this season — poor spacing, slow reactions, and a midfield that offered no protection to a vulnerable defensive line.

Liverpool had possession, but it was meaningless. Slow, predictable, and entirely ineffective. There was no cohesion between units, no control in midfield, and no threat in attack. It was a passive performance dressed up as dominance, and United punished it ruthlessly.

At 2–0 down, it could have been worse.

Much worse.

Second Half

The second half brought a response — finally.

Driven by Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool found energy, urgency, and belief. His goal immediately after the restart changed the tone of the game, injecting life into a side that had looked beaten. Moments later, his influence continued as Cody Gakpo finished well to bring Liverpool level.

For a brief period, Liverpool looked like a team capable of turning the game around. The pressing improved, the tempo increased, and the midfield finally showed signs of aggression.

But even in that improved spell, the fragility remained.

And when the decisive moment came, Liverpool were once again found wanting. The winning goal arrived from yet another lapse — a failure to control space, a failure to track runners, and a failure to impose any defensive authority.

The fight was there.

The structure was not.

Final Thoughts

This was a performance of two contrasting halves, but one consistent theme — a team that is fundamentally broken in its organisation.

The first half was unacceptable. The second half was spirited but ultimately insufficient. And across both, the same issues persisted: a lack of structure, poor defensive coordination, and an overreliance on individual brilliance.

Arne Slot now looks like a manager on borrowed time.

There are only so many explanations, so many excuses, and so many “transitional” narratives that can be offered before reality takes over. Liverpool is not functioning as a cohesive unit, and that responsibility lies with the man on the touchline.

The end feels close.

And performances like this only accelerate that feeling.

Steven Smith’s Pre-Match Prediction:

Manchester United 2 – 1 Liverpool

What's the cost of no Champions League football?

A lone supporter of Chelsea FC sits in the stands above “World Champions” signage inside Stamford Bridge
[Getty Images]

Whoever Chelsea appoint as their next head coach - with former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola and Fulham's Marco Silva among those in contention - will have to navigate the forthcoming transfer window astutely.

In their recently published 2024-25 accounts, Chelsea reported a Premier League‑record £262m pre‑tax loss despite bringing in £490.9m in revenue - the club's second highest ever.

Following their triumph in last year's Club World Cup and a now rare season in the Champions League, Chelsea are predicting revenues will increase to £700m in next year's accounts.

However, forward Cole Palmer said in an interview this month that "everything changes" without Champions League football.

Chelsea earned approximately £78.9m in prize money for reaching the last 16 of European club football's premier competition this season compared to about £15m for winning the Conference League in 2025.

A conservative estimate would suggest those Champions League earnings rise beyond £100m when ticketing, hospitality and sponsorship revenue are included.

Accounts from parent company 22 Holdco Limited show transfer activity is a major factor behind the substantial losses, and the success of the men's team is a "clear driver" of revenues - while Chelsea are reliant on owner funding and loans to subsidise the club, which has long-term implications.

In the short term, Chelsea are bound by their Uefa settlement agreement after breaching their football earnings and squad cost rules in 2023-24.

The regulations stipulate Chelsea cannot record losses of more than than £52.2m once certain Uefa allowances are applied when filing their accounts at the end of June.

Any loss beyond that threshold would result in a fine of up to £17.4m, while losses exceeding £69.7m would trigger a one‑season ban from European competition, provided they qualify within three seasons following the breach.

That pressure continues into the 2028-29 season, with Uefa constantly monitoring Chelsea's situation.

'Mainoo is looking like a proper player now'

Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United in action
[Getty Images]

It was another fine performance from Kobbie Mainoo as he donned his boyhood colours for the 99th time in the 3-2 victory over Liverpool.

Already, the 21-year-old has a wealth of experience for club and country, and Mainoo is on track to join the hundred club, if he features again this season for the Red Devils.

On The Devils' Advocate podcast, supporter Sam Drinkwater believes working alongside Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes has turned Mainoo into "the ultimate midfielder".

"He is one of those players that, when he's on the ball, you feel safe," said Drinkwater. "You feel he is going to make the right decision or at least the decision I want him to make. That attribute is so underrated in a footballer."

Although Mainoo's minutes were hindered earlier in the season due to falling out of favour under ex-boss, Ruben Amorim. Michael Carrick has helped revitalise Manchester United and the youngster's season.

The midfielder's best season came under Erik ten Hag in the 2023-24 campaign, where he featured in 24 games and accumulated 1,924 playing minutes.

"What we are talking about is a player who has certainly improved from two years ago when he was at his best for Man Utd. I think he is a better all-rounded player [now]," said Drinkwater.

Fellow Devils' Advocate guest Nick McCabe added: "He is looking like a proper player now. When you watch Frenkie de Jong for Barcelona, the way they carry themselves across the pitch, the way they link, he is that perfect piece between Casemiro and Bruno. He links it really well, and he is only 21."

Listen to The Devils' Advocate below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Manchester United content on BBC Sounds

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Roma’s sporting director shortlist revealed

Roma’s sporting director shortlist revealed
Roma’s sporting director shortlist revealed

Roma is seeking clarity regarding the future. Gasperini was eloquent in his press conference: mistakes are forbidden in the pursuit of returning to the Champions League, and no more confusion in planning next season.

The Giallorossi are monitoring several candidates to replace Frederic Massara, who spoke yesterday before the match against Fiorentina, avoiding escalating conflicts with Gasperini by not even answering questions about next season.

Frederic Massara is set to leave Roma. Despite yesterday’s talk of a bright future for the club, he is unlikely to be a part of it.

As Il Tempo reports, given that the former AC Milan and Rennes executive will not continue his career in the capital, a casting call is currently underway to find his replacement.

Manna and D’Amico remain in the running, both under contract with their respective clubs (Napoli and Atalanta). Giuntoli and Sogliano are also in the mix, though they remain more distantly linked.

Paratici should also be added, although he is behind all the others given his ties to Fiorentina, even though he expressed his appreciation for Roma’s interest yesterday.

Barcelona veteran turns down two-year offer from a La Liga club that would have guaranteed starting role

Barcelona veteran turns down two-year offer from a La Liga club that would have guaranteed starting role
Barcelona veteran turns down two-year offer from a La Liga club that would have guaranteed starting role

In a summer where Barcelona are expected to make key decisions in goal, Wojciech Szczesny has already made his position clear. 

The experienced goalkeeper is not interested in leaving the club, even if it means giving up a guaranteed starting role elsewhere.

According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, Szczesny recently rejected a two-year contract offer from a top La Liga side that would have seen him become their first-choice goalkeeper. 

Despite the appeal of regular football, the Polish international has chosen to stay at Barcelona and honour the final year of his current deal.

Committed to Barcelona

It must be noted that Barcelona are actively exploring options in the market, with Alex Remiro being linked as a potential addition

If that move goes through, Szczesny could drop further down the pecking order, possibly becoming a third-choice option. Yet, none of that appears to concern him.

The veteran goalkeeper is said to be fully focused on continuing his journey at Barcelona, regardless of how much he plays. 

Wojciech Szczesny rejected a two-year offer from a La Liga club. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

His decision is not driven by money or status, but by personal comfort and stability. 

At this stage of his career, he values his happiness and family life more than chasing minutes elsewhere.

Szczesny initially arrived as a short-term solution, but his impact within the dressing room has been significant. 

His professionalism and experience have earned him the trust of manager Hansi Flick, while also making him a respected figure among teammates.

One of his key contributions has been his role in mentoring younger players. He has developed a strong connection with Joan Garcia, who treats every piece of advice as a valuable lesson. 

Even if his minutes remain limited, Szczesny believes he can continue to play an important role behind the scenes, helping guide a young and evolving squad.

'A few twists and turns to come' in relegation battle - Given

Who will suffer Premier League relegation this season? Former goalkeeper Shay Given is still undecided, after Tottenham picked up three points against Aston Villa and West Ham suffered a heavy defeat at Brentford.

"A couple of weeks ago, I thought Tottenham were literally doomed," Given explained on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "I thought they were gone.

"It is amazing what one set of fixtures can do because us 'experts' are now saying it looks like West Ham are doomed.

"But they have been in this position all season, they know exactly what they need to do, and they have been fighting for their lives.

"Tottenham got a great result [against Aston Villa] but that doesn't mean they can just turn the tap on now. Things don't just change after one result.

"I think there are still a few twists and turns to come, and I think it is still too early to call who's going to go down."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

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[BBC]
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‘You have to win’ – Henry stance emerges during fan unrest

‘You have to win’ – Henry stance emerges during fan unrest
‘You have to win’ – Henry stance emerges during fan unrest

There’s a growing disconnect at Liverpool right now, and understanding the mindset of the man at the top might go some way to explaining why.


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A detailed profile from Sports Business Journal has offered a rare insight into John Henry, just as protests over ticket prices and fan treatment continue to dominate the conversation around Anfield.

Henry’s ‘strange’ path to building Liverpool empire

Henry himself summed up his journey in a way that feels both revealing and slightly detached from the reality supporters experience.

Reflecting on his ownership journey, he said: “I always refer to it as high levels of strangeness.”

That comment came as part of a broader explanation of how the American businessman has built a $14bn sports portfolio, including Liverpool, the Boston Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Penguins, often through unconventional thinking and complex deals.

He added: “In that portfolio, it has never, ever been about investment… it’s what you want to do with your time.”

That philosophy is central to how Fenway Sports Group operates, focusing on long-term value, sustainability and growth, rather than emotional or reactive decision-making.

Liverpool protests highlight growing tension

However, while that approach has delivered success on the pitch, including Premier League and Champions League titles, it’s now clashing with the current mood among supporters.

Recent protests, including the “not a pound in the ground” movement, have shown just how fractured things have become, with even a lifelong fan being banned after a viral video highlighted divisions among us inside the stadium.

The financial backdrop only adds to that frustration, with figures showing matchday revenue has risen from £40.9m in 2010/11 to £115.6m last season, an increase of 183%, while ticket prices have risen at a significantly faster rate than inflation.

Henry has acknowledged fan unrest in the past, stating: “Fans get frustrated… it doesn’t mean you ignore them, it means you work harder – you don’t settle for mediocrity. You have to win.”

From our perspective, that’s where the tension lies, because while success on the pitch has often been delivered, the feeling of being valued off it is increasingly being questioned.

With protests ongoing and further talks expected, the challenge now is whether that calculated, long-term philosophy can adapt quickly enough to repair the relationship with the supporters who ultimately define the club.

Real Madrid star’s injury nightmare costs club €23,000 per minute – report

Real Madrid star’s injury nightmare costs club €23,000 per minute – report
Real Madrid star’s injury nightmare costs club €23,000 per minute – report

Real Madrid have been dealt yet another setback on the injury front, and this time it involves one of their most important defensive figures. 

Ferland Mendy has suffered his fifth injury of the season, and early indications suggest he could be sidelined for several months, potentially up to five.

For a team still chasing consistency, this is a serious blow, as Mendy’s presence at left-back has often brought balance and defensive stability to the side. 

When fully fit, he is one of the most reliable players in the squad, and his impact is reflected in the team’s improved performances when he features regularly.

Financially drying

As such, the ongoing injury issues have not only affected Real Madrid on the pitch but also financially.

According to reports from Defensa Central, the French defender’s situation has turned into a costly affair for the club. 

Based on his current salary, every minute Mendy plays costs Real Madrid over €23,000 in gross terms. 

With an annual salary of around €10.4 million gross (€5.2 million net), the numbers quickly add up, especially given how little he has played this season.

Ferland Mendy could be out for five months. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

His campaign has been disrupted from the very beginning. Mendy made his first appearance of the season in November during an away fixture against Olympiacos, only to suffer another injury setback in that same match. 

The situation worsened in January, when he managed just one minute against Real Betis and 21 minutes against Atletico Madrid before being ruled out again.

It was not until March that he began to see more consistent game time, featuring more regularly. 

Now, looking ahead, if surgery is required, Mendy could be out until December, effectively ruling him out for a significant portion of next season as well. 

Despite this, he is expected to remain at the club, as his contract runs until 2027.

However, there are growing indications that Real Madrid may not extend his deal beyond that point. 

With recurring injuries limiting his availability and increasing costs, the club could soon be forced to make a difficult decision regarding his future.

What now for Rohl's Rangers as title hopes fade?

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl
Danny Rohl was left to rue a second-half turnaround as Rangers lost at Hearts [SNS]

Successive defeats. Seven points off the Scottish Premiership summit. Four points behind second place.

Rangers' title challenge has been dismantled in two games after Danny Rohl's side had, in his own words, "worked so hard" to get in the fight.

Eight days on from a 3-2 loss at home to Motherwell that featured a winning goal in added time, Rohl took his players to Tynecastle knowing they realistically had to win or at least draw to preserve their hopes.

Forty-five minutes in, those hopes were high. Dujon Sterling's deflected volley had Rangers in front and their overall performance merited such a lead.

By 90 minutes, Hearts had scored twice without reply and Rangers, save for a late header off the bar by Thelo Aasgaard, never looked like recovering.

And therein lies Rangers' Achilles Heel this season - the inability to consistently produce over 90 minutes.

'Mentality questions' for 'choking' Rangers

"We knew that they would come with power," Rohl told BBC Scotland afterwards. "They played much, much more direct in behind. We had less pressure on the ball and then you have to defend in critical areas very often.

"We have to learn from this, we have a young, potential squad but this is a job in the next weeks and months to improve."

The youthfulness and inexperience of Rangers' squad perhaps accounts for some of their inconsistency.

Against Motherwell, Rangers were outplayed in the first half and trailed 2-0. They improved markedly in the second half and battled back to level only for Well to score again. In the previous game, Rangers also conceded two first-half goals but eventually ran out 6-3 winners at Falkirk.

They also had to recover from two down to draw with Livingston and were 2-0 up on Celtic after an impressive first half but ultimately drew 2-2.

Those Celtic, Motherwell and Hearts games in particular have undone the progress made previously under Rohl this term. A total of 12 league draws has not helped either.

Rangers had lost just twice in 33 games before the split, and have now lost consecutive games at the most crucial stage of the campaign.

Former Rangers forward Kris Boyd gave his assessment on Rangers in the wake of their Tynecastle loss on Sky Sports.

"There will be mentality questions asked of Rangers," he said.

"Hearts have been top for a number of months. You have to expect that you're going to suffer in the second half and that's mentality.

"You have to dig in and get a result, but they didn't. Rangers had to strike and once again they didn't - they have failed."

Ex-Celtic forward Chris Sutton shared similar sentiments: "They have spent a fortune this season, so there will be questions asked. This isn't a one-off, Rangers choking."

However, Rohl said: "This is not about mentality. Everyone who plays football knows what happens if the home team make the equaliser, then the crowd is there. The crowd in the first half was very quiet.

"It's not enough to play 45 minutes on a high level, you have to play 90 minutes on your highest level."

Another rebuild on the way?

The former Sheffield Wednesday boss can only take so much responsibility for Rangers' campaign. When he arrived in October to replace Russell Martin, Rangers were, after a significant summer squad overhaul, 13 points behind Hearts and eight off Celtic.

Improved form up until mid-April had Rangers within a point of Hearts and in front of Celtic before those recent losses pulled them back to third. Overall, Rohl has a 2.22 points per league game average, which is higher than Derek McInnes at Hearts (2.11) but short of Martin O'Neill's 2.5 for the Premiership fixtures he has had in charge of Celtic this season.

Only a win at Celtic Park on Sunday combined with a concession of points by Hearts at Motherwell the night before will give Rangers any hope in the final two games of the season. Defeat on Sunday would consign Rangers to their first third-placed finish since 2018.

When Rangers won 3-1 at Celtic Park in December, it was the last match of Wilfried Nancy's short spell in charge of the hosts. Rohl will need to get the better of O'Neill for the first time to secure a second victory at the home of their city rivals this season.

The German was only a couple of weeks in to the job when he took Rangers to Hampden to face interim boss O'Neill's Celtic and, despite a valiant recovery with 10 players after Aasgaard's first-half red card, the Ibrox side lost 3-1 after extra time.

By the time of their March Scottish Cup quarter-final with Celtic, O'Neill had been back in charge of Celtic since January. Rangers pressed and pressed without end product and Celtic won on penalties after 120 goalless minutes at Ibrox.

"It's over when it's over and it means it's not over because we have still three games to go," Rohl said.

"The last two games bring us in a really difficult situation. We worked so hard to come to this point and then you lose two times, so tight 2-1 and 3-2 and this is not good enough for the moment.

"What I demand from my group now is show personality and courage for the next three games and this is our job to do."

With captain James Tavernier having already announced he will leave this summer, six players coming to the end of their loan spells and the likes of goalkeeper Jack Butland about to enter the final year of their contracts, another significant turnover of players beckons.

"We will analyse the season - what was right, what was wrong, what we have to improve and then I'm totally convinced from the summer on, we go again," Rohl, 37, explained.

"How we make decisions in moments, this is really a part that we really have to improve."

Man Utd kids book another City showdown

Chido Obi (left), Sonny Aljofree and Godwill Kukonki (right) celebrate Manchester United's win
Chido Obi (left), Sonny Aljofree and Godwill Kukonki (right) celebrate Manchester United's win at Crystal Palace [Getty Images]

Manchester United set up a repeat of last season's PL2 play-off semi-final with Manchester City by winning at Crystal Palace last night.

Central defender Dan Armer and striker Chido Obi scored the goals that sent Adam Lawrence's side through to the last four.

It means United must play City away from home twice in two key youth fixtures in a matter of days.

The two clubs are also due to meet in the FA Youth Cup final. The deadline for the match is 9 May, although that will not be met as talks continue over an actual date and whether the game will be played at the Etihad Stadium as scheduled.

United finished second in PL2 but only the winners, Chelsea, were guaranteed home draws throughout the tournament.

However, as the Blues were knocked out themselves by Tottenham on Friday, it is anticipated the winners of their semi-final with Brighton will host the final.

Last season, City beat United in the semi-final and went on to lift the trophy after overcoming Southampton.

It was noteworthy previous PL2 regulars James Scanlon and Gabriele Biancheri, whose unsatisfactory loan spells at Swindon and Rotherham have now ended, were both involved against Palace after being named as substitutes.

Inter monitoring 4 Roma players

Inter monitoring 4 Roma players
Inter monitoring 4 Roma players

Inter Milan won the Scudetto, dominating the league with three games to spare.

Chivu’s team scored 82 goals, 23 more than Como, second in this ranking. The Nerazzurri are thinking about the future and strengthening an already very strong squad.

The club’s plan is to bring in players who can bring unpredictability and strength to the team: midfielders like Manu Koné or Ederson.

Inter’s interest in Roma’s number 17 is not new, but rather has deep roots that date back to last summer’s transfer window.

Inter are also considering solving their defensive problems, starting with the goalkeeper.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport reports, Marotta’s club has long blocked Vicario, but there’s another No. 1 who’s very intriguing: Roma’s Mile Svilar.

The Giallorossi could sacrifice their star player on the altar of capital gains to settle their financial fair play accounts. Additionally, Inter are monitoring several central defenders, including Roma’s Evan Ndicka.

Obviously, it’s impossible to imagine the Nerazzurri spending only on the Giallorossi, with at least three players.

Corriere dello Sport adds another: Gianluca Mancini.

According to the Roman newspaper, Marotta and Ausilio also like the No. 23 of Gian Piero Gasperini’s team: an experienced player to strengthen the defense.

Roma win 75% of duels in win over Fiorentina

Roma win 75% of duels in win over Fiorentina
Roma win 75% of duels in win over Fiorentina

Roma won and impressed in front of their fans at a passionate Stadio Olimpico.

This time, the team capitalized on the opportunity presented over the weekend: closing the gap by one point on fourth-place Juventus and closing in on third-place AC Milan (-3 points).

Gasperini’s side took control of the match after 13 minutes with a goal from Gianluca Mancini. Wesley, Hermoso, and Pisilli completed the scoreline: 4-0 and Fiorentina annihilated.

Roma delivered a top-notch performance against Fiorentina, showcasing their coach’s principles.

Goals from central defenders who transformed into attackers, aggression off the ball, effective wingers, and agility in scoring.

As Corriere dello Sport reports, at halftime, the 61,000 spectators at the Olimpico saw their team shoot more (7-1), retain possession more (63% vs. 37%), successfully complete twice as many passes (300 to 150), and by the end of the match, they had 130 attempts into the opponent’s penalty area.

In short, there was no match between Roma and Fiorentina.

Another statistic that draws the attention of numbers lovers is the percentage of duels won: an incredible 75% depicts a Gasperini team that thrashed Vanoli’s team.

He plays just like him! Liverpool's next Trent Alexander-Arnold is finally here

He plays just like him! Liverpool's next Trent Alexander-Arnold is finally here
He plays just like him! Liverpool's next Trent Alexander-Arnold is finally here

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold is finally here.

With each passing week, the absence of the Reds' former right-back at Anfield has grown harder to ignore.

Few players in world football can match his quality, especially in terms of distribution and creativity from deep. His capacity to dictate play and break down defences is close to unrivalled.

Conor Bradley has often been tipped as the natural heir, but ongoing injury issues have raised concerns about his ability to hold down the role consistently over the long term.

He can still contribute meaningfully within the squad, but Liverpool need greater reliability in such a key position.

Meanwhile, Jeremie Frimpong has yet to prove himself as a dependable defensive option, with his strengths clearly leaning more toward attacking play higher up the pitch.

That uncertainty only underlines the need for a more specialised solution.

This summer offers the perfect opportunity for Richard Hughes to take decisive action.

More than a year after Alexander-Arnold’s departure, Liverpool now have the chance to secure a genuine successor.

But while the right-back position does need to be addressed, in terms of that creativity and control Alexander-Arnold offered, Hughes won't have to dip into the market.

There's already a young academy star at the club, who plays just like Alexander-Arnold.

Meet U18 midfielder Haydn Murray-Holme, who might just be the standout talent currently flying under the radar in Liverpool’s academy.

Much like Alexander-Arnold, Murray-Holme is very capable of dictating a game and playing through balls and decisive passes that ultimate determine the outcome of games.

But he's not a right-back, he’s a graceful midfielder, technically gifted, with the awareness and composure to spray passes left, right and centre.

His vision and scanning ability mirrors Trent's closely - as does the range and precision of his distribution.

So far this season, Murray-Holme has registered one goal and five assists in 24 appearances across the club’s U18 and U19 sides.

These are decent numbers but it's the numbers behind those that are on the surface are the ones that stand-out.

Murray-Holme is an intelligent reader of the game, someone who contributes just as effectively off the ball as he does on it.

He’s averaging 4.91 recoveries per 90 minutes in the opposition’s half - an excellent return. On top of that, he’s winning 63.4% of his 6.63 defensive duels per 90, while also averaging 3.27 interceptions per 90 minutes, highlighting his defensive sharpness and anticipation.

It’s in possession where the midfielder truly stands out.

On the ball, he’s a rare talent - arguably the most technically gifted player the academy has produced since Alexander-Arnold.

Murray-Holme’s first touch is outstanding, and his ability to shape passes is equally impressive. Whether it’s a daring outside-of-the-boot through ball or a perfectly weighted long pass over a defensive line, his execution is consistently precise.

His range of distribution is strikingly reminiscent of Trent.

He excels at breaking lines and has the kind of vision that can open up even the most stubborn defences, regularly putting opponents on the back foot.

The numbers back it up too. He has averaged 12.5 progressive passes per 90 minutes - the highest among midfielders in the U18 Premier League - while also ranking third for passes into the final third with 13.56 per 90.

He’s already had a taste of U21 football in a friendly last year, and given his skill set and Liverpool’s current needs, it feels like only a matter of time before he steps into the first-team picture.

🥐Mbappé, the Champions League, a lifeline... Tuesday’s 5️⃣ stories

🥐Mbappé, the Champions League, a lifeline... Tuesday’s 5️⃣ stories

We’re in the middle of a week of Champions League and Libertadores action, with leagues like the Premier League and the relegation battle in La Liga being decided.



Atleti, this is the big night

It’s now or never today for Atlético de Madrid, who have the chance to reach a Champions League final again ten years later. The first ticket to the grand final will be decided against Arsenal at the Emirates.


Mbappé pulls away

The latest developments involving the Frenchman and his recovery have not gone down well with a certain section of the Madrid fanbase, and he is being blamed for having gone two years without winning a major title.


Guardiola, goodbye to the Premier?

After their draw against Everton, City are four points behind Arsenal with a game in hand and three matchdays left in the Premier League. Difficult, yes, but not impossible.


Sevilla can breathe this matchday

After the fans’ rallying cry to support the team, the players responded on the pitch with a great performance against Real Sociedad that allows them to climb out of the relegation zone for the time being.


The Libertadores goes on

We are now heading into the fourth round of the Libertadores, with some truly interesting matches where the group standings are already starting to take shape.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

IPL 2026: Time for Sanju Samson to silence doubters

NEW DELHI: The last time Sanju Samson was here at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, his international career was almost on the brink. Pencilled into the Indian XI only because Abhishek Sharma fell ill before the T20 World Cup match against Namibia in Feb, a deflated Samson walked off after scoring 22 off eight balls.

On Tuesday, he will be back here as the toast of the nation. Samson’s counterfeit Chennai Super Kings jerseys will make for the majority of the inventory with the street vendors.


Samson has been at the crossroads for much of his career. But seldom has his stock been so high. His turnaround at the back end of the T20 World Cup was an answer to years of doubts over his consistency.

Now that he has cemented himself as the biggest superstar in the CSK XI, it’s time he consolidated his IPL form to run for a spot in India’s 2027 ODI World Cup team.

Both DC and CSK are in the logjam in the middle of the table. The losing team on Tuesday will be on the brink of elimination from the league.

Despite scoring two centuries, Samson has 315 runs to his name in nine matches.
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As much as he has been the facesaving force for CSK, his allor-nothing form will frustrate the franchise. But then, that has been the norm with Samson’s IPL seasons.


If he has to compel the national selectors to consider him for the second wicketkeeper’s role, he may have to replicate the T20 World Cup performances for CSK.

It won’t be easy though.

The Capital has become cooler with rain in the air. The last match at the venue saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru seamers Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar blow away DC for 75. And at the top of the mark will be the lethal Mitchell Starc looking to expose Samson’s technique against top quality pace, movement and bounce.

It’s up to Samson to dispel doubts. Tuesday will be a test of his technique and temperament to play the lead batter.

'A lot of players will have to come and go' - Given on recruitment

Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given says he would "look to strengthen" the Magpies' attack this summer.

Given believes signings such as Nick Woltemade, Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa have not paid off for Eddie Howe.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, he explained: "Woltemade is a different kind of striker, a nine, a 10, I don't know what he is if I'm brutally honest. I don't know if he's suited to how Eddie Howe sets up his team, especially without the ball as much as with it.

"Wissa hasn't worked. Even at the weekend he had a big chance and didn't take it. Elanga looks like a different player as well.

"I just felt last summer, no director of football, no CEO, a lot of missing links. I think Eddie's season has sort of taken the brunt of that. I just think a lot of players will have to come and go this season to go again."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

The pink BBC iPlayer logo on a black background
[BBC]
The orange BBC Sounds logo against a black background
[BBC]

Newcastle United attacker Anthony Gordon could sign five-year deal with Bayern Munich

Newcastle United attacker Anthony Gordon could sign five-year deal with Bayern Munich
Newcastle United attacker Anthony Gordon could sign five-year deal with Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich have offered Newcastle United attacker Anthony Gordon and his representatives the terms of a five-year contract,according to Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg. The Bundesliga club want to lure the Newcastle star away from the St James Park club this summer in what could be a big blow for manager Eddie Howe. Concrete talks have already taken place between Bayern and Gordon’s camp, but an agreement with the Magpies could prove tricky as there are yet to be club-to-club talks.

Newcastle are set to miss out on Champions League football next season from the look of things, and Gordon wants to join a club where he can compete for major silverware regularly. A move to Germany could appeal to the 25-year-old and the Magpies may need to sell him this summer to balance the books. The England international has not told Newcastle that he wants to leave, but the feeling inside St James’ Park is that he will seek a move in the summer. The Toons’ asking price for him is likely to exceed £80 million and whether Bayern are willing to meet it remains to be seen.

“They’ve missed him” – Ally McCoist echoes Rooney with verdict on one man Liverpool sold last year

“They’ve missed him” – Ally McCoist echoes Rooney with verdict on one man Liverpool sold last year
“They’ve missed him” – Ally McCoist echoes Rooney with verdict on one man Liverpool sold last year

Ally McCoist has claimed that Liverpool have ‘missed’ one player in particular who they sold last summer.

There was a significant exodus from Anfield after the 2024/25 Premier League title triumph, with several members of that squad moving on to pastures new in the subsequent months.

One of those was Darwin Nunez, who joined Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia for £46.3m (BBC Sport) and has netted nine goals in 24 games so far for his current club.


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McCoist: Liverpool have ‘missed’ Nunez this season

Speaking on talkSPORT, McCoist was discussing Liverpool’s transfer activity from last summer in reflecting upon what’s gone wrong this season, and he feels that the much-maligned Uruguayan striker has been missed at Anfield.

He said: “Do you know something? I think they’ve missed the big boy up front, Darwin Nunez. He was criticised, and a lot of it was justified, but the one thing he did, he was a presence. He ran about, he made himself a real nuisance, he chipped in with some goals. They’ve missed him as well I think.”

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Nunez was an enigma but Liverpool have missed him this season

McCoist’s verdict on the 26-year-old has strong echoes of what Wayne Rooney said about him in February, with the ex-Manchester United striker remarking that our former no.9 ‘brought something to the team’ even if he ‘wasn’t great’.

Nunez was a frequent target for criticism during his time in England, with Robbie Fowler among those who lamented his finishing at times, and he’d lost his place in the Liverpool starting XI in the second half of last season, which ended with a poor return of seven goals in 47 matches.

One thing he did guarantee, though, was a wholehearted effort on the pitch which made him a popular figure among supporters, as did a happy knack for coming up with decisive stoppage-time winners – just ask Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Brentford!

It’s easy to be wise in hindsight, of course, and last August it certainly felt like a sensible move to take £46m for the Uruguayan when he was clearly out of favour under Arne Slot.

However, there’s definitely been times this season that Liverpool could’ve done with Nunez to call upon, particularly on Sunday when we’d no centre-forward in the matchday squad and six academy players on the bench.

FSG made what they felt was the right decision nine months ago – they now need to live with it.

Former Husky Voi Tunuufi Dies at 23

News came out on Monday afternoon that former Husky DL Voi Tunuufi had passed away. Initial reports indicated that he was killed in a motorcycle accident. Tunuufi, who played for Washington from 2021-2024, was 23 years old.

I have two memories of Tunuufi that will always stay with me. The first is that he was part of Jimmy Lake’s ‘21 recruiting class that looked good on paper and produced so little on the field outside of a few unheralded prospects. Tunuufi was one of them. He was a three-star recruit as a tweener DL, too small to plug the middle and too big to be an edge rusher. Nonetheless, he carved out a niche as a hybrid player, made an impact in his freshman year, and continued to fill whatever needs the Dawgs had over his four-year career. He and Quentin Moore were the only members of that recruiting class to play their full careers for UW.

My other memory of Tunuufi is how versatile and adaptable he was. Instead of being a tweener, he used his size to his advantage and became a Swiss Army Knife on the defensive front. He could slide inside on passing downs and provide pressure up the middle. He could line up outside on a three or four-man front on running downs without sacrificing the pass rush. If the roster needed something, he stepped in and filled the void. By all accounts, he was a great teammate and always found a way to make an impact.

The picture tagged to this article is from our own Mark Schafer, who met Tunuufi before the Dawgs’ National Championship game against Michigan. Mark had this to say about Tunuufi: “Thinking about this interaction today I was struck by the fact that he seemed so happy that I knew who he was. He was very nice and I will always remember him being very dependable as a Husky, even if he didn’t always stick out in the stat sheet. I remember him coming over and I was like ‘oh hey Voi! How are you, man?’ And he just got a big smile on his face.”

Tunuufi’s death is untimely, tragic, and depressing. I wanted to put up this post to give our community a chance to process it together. If you have a great Voi memory or story, share it below. There’s no better way to honor someone than to celebrate what they did in life.

What an EFFORT play by Voi Tunuufi#PMSCFBNattypic.twitter.com/o3jymxjK60

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 9, 2024

Prayers for the Tunuufi family

Voi was one of those players that just jumped off the game tape. You weren’t supposed to puncture and damage OL’s at his size, but he so often did

So much heart, drive & determination
🙏 🤲 https://t.co/Un52KH5UXp

— Brock Huard (@BrockHuard) May 5, 2026

4. 4th Quarter, 8:02 – Oct. 5, 2024 vs No. 10 Michigan (Home, Husky Stadium) – Tunuufi’s clutch strip-sack swings momentum

—-With the game tied at 17 in a critical late-game scenario, defensive end Voi Tunuufi delivered a crushing blindside hit on Michigan QB Jack Tuttle,… pic.twitter.com/HHoyuXGUhV

— Dub'd Up  (@dubduphuskies) April 22, 2025

Washington EDGE 52 Voi Tunuufi with a big tackle in pursuit https://t.co/me40sudALTpic.twitter.com/CTAqi87fdd

— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) March 12, 2025

“First off, that season was wonderful. I couldn’t believe half the things that we did. Just being tight-knit like we was—we got the job done. We got to see places that I never thought I’d be able to go see.” — Voi Tunuufi

Fly high, rest easy. pic.twitter.com/ax5c67Hwgw

— Lars Hanson (@LarsHanson) May 4, 2026

RIP to a REAL DAWG! My brother, I love you. 💔 pic.twitter.com/j1hCPTIPhw

— Faatui Tuitele (@Tuitele99) May 4, 2026

Voi Tunuufi was always smiling and happy to chat. He made more big plays than he probably got credit for. His teammates loved him. Hard to believe he's gone at 23:

— Christian Caple (@ChristianCaple) May 5, 2026

Man, just devastating news. Instant impact as a freshman. Key contributor during unforgettable seasons. Stuck around during the post-natty exodus and helped lead the rebuild. A guy the locker room loved. I’m so sad for him, his loved ones and his teammates. Every single day is a… https://t.co/iQFYEfPOZv

— Tony Castricone (@Castricone) May 5, 2026

Missed Ducks chances elevate icing non-call to Game 1 flashpoint in Vegas

May 4, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights left wing Ivan Barbashev (49) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period of game one of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena.
May 4, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights left wing Ivan Barbashev (49) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period of game one of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena.

LAS VEGAS – Game 1 was a contest of fine margins, and it was the finest of them that served as the flashpoint to open this second-round series.

One minute after Mikael Granlund’s game-tying goal, an icing was waved off on a potentially 50-50 play in the Anaheim Ducks end, which sent coach Joel Quenneville into a frenzy on the bench. The Vegas Golden Knights jumped into the lull of play to capitalize a back-door play to Ivan Barbashev for the go-ahead goal with five minutes to play in a 3-1 victory on Monday at T-Mobile Arena.

Anaheim will get its shot to capitalize on an otherwise strong opening performance and even the series in Game 2 on Wednesday back here on the Vegas Strip.

"We're fortunate that we found a way to win," Vegas coach John Tortorella said. "They played well, but we have some things to work on... It’s a ‘dind a way’ league and we found a way to win."

With 6:03 remaining in the game, Jackson LaCombe made up for an earlier open-net whiff by driving to the net and setting up Granlund’s own open-cage chance to tie the game, 1-1.

Anaheim had dominated in possession time and earned the advantages on the shot clock (34-22), shot attempt share (55.68%) and expected goal share (67%), but a singular elite play by Mitch Marner set up Vegas’ opening goal by Brett Howden in the second period.

LaCombe’s play-creation felt like a just result for himself and for the Ducks’ overall game.

“I thought we did a great job,” LaCombe said. “I think our pace was good. We're making plays. We were kind of playing to our game, which was great. We just got to clean up those two mistakes there, and we will be good.”

The first came on that second-period strike in opening the lane for Marner to create.

The second came less than a minute after Granlund’s game-tying goal.


Ivan Barbashev flipped a high puck diagonally from left wing of the Vegas side of the center red line, and LaCombe was the last man back between Jack Eichel and the puck. Eichel never got fully around LaCombe, but as the puck went to the corner and the players hit the hashmarks, the linesman had yet to make a call.

"I just tried to put the puck deep. I saw Jack on the far side going through," Barbashev said. "I thought for a second he beat him, and that's why they waved it off."

On icing plays, the linesman is to make the call when the player or players chasing the puck hit the hashmarks of the face-off circle. This was changed several years ago to curtail dangerous races into the boards, which had led to injuries.

The linesman made his call a beat after LaCombe and Eichel crossed that threshold, and the call–despite neither player having a chance to reach the puck before it crossed the final red line and both players seemingly letting up at the moment of truth–was no icing.

Officials declined to speak to, or offer a statement on this waved icing call by linesman Bevan Mills. pic.twitter.com/KsnhJ9wYrR

— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) May 5, 2026

Quenneville and the Ducks bench exploded on the officials while play continued.

“Clearly, I disagree with the call, and it was clearly icing,” Quenneville said. “Their guy stopped skating, which really made me annoyed.”

"I didn’t even see it. I was blocked," Tortorella said.

What followed made the call into a series-opening flashpoint, as LaCombe tapped the puck up the wall and Pavel Dorofeyev jumped on the soft clear.

“As soon as I heard him wave it off, I just made a mistake,” LaCombe said. “I made a soft play at the wall, and I just, I can't do that, it's not a good play.”

Dorofeyev then split LaCombe and Leo Carlsson coming off the wall and hit Barbashev for the back-door goal–Vegas’ second of the game–and the go-ahead marker.

Quenneville was FURIOUS that icing wasn't called on Vegas' 2nd goal 😳🤬 pic.twitter.com/383fIjH7fa

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 5, 2026

In a game where the Ducks weren’t capitalizing on their own chances and had finally broken through, it’s a small call that becomes a stand out.

“We just scored. It was a huge call and it was an easy call,” Quenneville said.

It’s a call that gets magnified because of how strong the Ducks played without much else to show for it.

In many ways, it was extremely similar to Anaheim’s first playoff effort in Edmonton, where after a eye-opening first period, the Ducks took it to the Oilers and proved they were able to skate with their renowned opposition and may even be the better team.

“There's a lot of emotions right now,” Terry said. “Kind of a hard one to swallow. We can feel we deserve better or whatever. That's why they've been so far in the playoffs as many years, they're hard to beat in those close games. But leaving the game, similar feelings (to Game 1 in Edmonton). I think we feel good about this group. We feel good about how we match up with them. I thought we used our speed all night. Honestly, I thought we made it hard on them and I like how we played.”

Terry said there were three or four plays he’d be kicking himself over tonight, as the Ducks couldn’t get any more past the 33 saves of Carter Hart to support a smaller but stellar 19 saves from Lukas Dostal.

However, the biggest “kicking himself” play of the night went back to LaCombe in the second period.

Carlsson made a dazzling play to find space in the zone and spun a pass to LaCombe, who had a wide open cage to look at. However, LaCombe immediately passed it to an unaware Terry in front, and the pass glanced off the stick and out of the zone.

“I thought Hart kind of slid over, and as soon as I fully turned my head around, he wasn't there, and I already kind of made the decision to pass,” LaCombe said. “It was just a stupid mistake. Yeah, I want that one back.”

Plays like the non-call or the passed-up shot become magnified in a game where Anaheim didn’t capitalize in the areas it should.

After being red hot on the power play against Edmonton, where the Ducks converted eight of 16 opportunities with a power play goal in all six games, Anaheim with 0-for-4 with the extra man with five shots generated.

As previously mentioned, the Ducks also outchanced Vegas all over the ice at five-on-five.

The fine margins were elevated in Game 1, but it’s still a performance Anaheim can ride with confidence into Game 2.

“I thought the pace that we played at tonight, if we can play like that for the length of this series, I think we should put ourselves in a good spot,” Terry said. “They're a good team. They going to make adjustments. We're going to make adjustments. This group's excited for Game 2 already.”



Al-Hilal deny any interest in Barcelona captain: ‘Not requested the signing’

Al-Hilal deny any interest in Barcelona captain: ‘Not requested the signing’
Al-Hilal deny any interest in Barcelona captain: ‘Not requested the signing’

Speculation around Raphinha and a potential move to Saudi Arabia has taken a sharp turn, with fresh clarity emerging from within the Al Hilal camp. 

In recent days, reports had suggested that the Barcelona winger was the subject of a major offer, with Al-Hilal positioned as the driving force behind the move. However, those claims have now been dismissed.

The rumours had quickly gained traction, largely fuelled by the growing trend of high-profile players being linked with lucrative Saudi deals. 

Raphinha’s name was the latest to be added to that list, with talk of a multi-million-euro proposal doing the rounds. 

But according to those close to the situation, the story never truly developed beyond speculation.

Denying Saudi talks

The denial came from Federico Pastorello, who represents Al Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi. 

Speaking recently, as relayed by SPORT, Pastorello made it clear that the manager has not requested the signing of the Barcelona forward. 

Al-Hilal were never interested in Raphinha. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

He stressed that the reports of negotiations or formal offers were inaccurate and should not be taken seriously.

“Inzaghi has not requested the signing of Raphinha Diaz, as has been rumoured in recent hours.”

He went even further by dismissing the idea of ongoing talks or formal proposals, adding strong clarity to the situation. 

Emphasising that the reports were baseless, Pastorello insisted that everything being said about negotiations or official offers was simply not true.

“Inzaghi has decided to postpone all matters relating to new signings or the list of potential departures until the end of the current season. 

“The fact is, Inzaghi does not want the transfer market to distract a team focused on the final stretch of the championship,” he added.

As far as Barcelona are concerned, they know that Raphinha remains settled at the club, but there is an understanding that decisions about his future may soon need to be made. 

🗞️Today’s headlines: Budapest goes through London, Clásico fever

🗞️Today’s headlines: Budapest goes through London, Clásico fever

The second leg of the semi-final between Arsenal and Atlético de Madrid for a place in the Champions League final takes center stage today.

Today the first ticket to the Champions League final will be decided between Arsenal and Atleti. The Emirates will witness a blockbuster clash, and today the sports press is split between that, the start of a Clásico week, and a goal that means survival in Seville.


MARCA

AS

Mundo Deportivo

SPORT

Superdeporte

Estadio Deportivo

Sphera Sports

L'Esportiu

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Brunson and the Knicks host Philadelphia with 1-0 series lead

Philadelphia 76ers (45-37, seventh in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)

New York; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT

LINE: Knicks -6.5; over/under is 215

EASTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Knicks lead series 1-0

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference second round with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Knicks won the last meeting 137-98 on Tuesday, led by 35 points from Jalen Brunson. Paul George led the 76ers with 17.

The Knicks are 14-3 against opponents in the Atlantic Division. New York averages 116.5 points and has outscored opponents by 6.4 points per game.

The 76ers are 9-7 in division matchups. Philadelphia ranks eighth in the Eastern Conference scoring 50.1 points per game in the paint led by Tyrese Maxey averaging 14.0.

The Knicks score 116.5 points per game, 0.4 more points than the 116.1 the 76ers allow. The 76ers score 5.8 more points per game (115.9) than the Knicks give up (110.1).

TOP PERFORMERS: Brunson is scoring 26.0 points per game with 3.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists for the Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 16.7 points and 9.6 rebounds while shooting 58.1% over the last 10 games.

Quentin Grimes is shooting 45.0% and averaging 13.4 points for the 76ers. George is averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 7-3, averaging 116.4 points, 42.0 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 9.2 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 51.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.1 points per game.

76ers: 6-4, averaging 105.5 points, 41.9 rebounds, 21.2 assists, 6.5 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.3 points.

INJURIES: Knicks: None listed.

76ers: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Yesterday IPL Match Result: Rohit Sharma's fluent 84 helps Mumbai Indians beat LSG

MUMBAI : It took the ‘Hitman’ to keep Mumbai Indians’ slender hopes alive of making it to the playoffs. Returning from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for five matches, Rohit Sharma led the charge with a vintage 84 off 44 balls as MI beat Lucknow Super Giants by six wickets in a run-fest at the Wankhede on Monday.

Amid chants of “Rohit, Rohit”, the 39-year-old, playing as an Impact Player, rolled back the years, smashing six sixes and seven fours in a commanding knock. Alongside the in-form Ryan Rickelton (83 off 32; 6x4, 8x6), Rohit powered MI to a daunting 229 chase, handing the hosts just their third win of IPL 2026.


The ‘R & R’ duo all but sealed the game with a blistering 143-run opening stand off just 65 balls. Naman Dhir (23* off 12) and Will Jacks (10* off 4) then finished the job with ease, the latter sealing it with a straight six off Avesh Khan.

MI were dealt a blow before the start, with skipper Hardik Pandya ruled out due to back spasms, leaving Suryakumar Yadav to lead the franchise. The result kept MI’s slim hopes alive while LSG slumped to a sixth straight defeat, effectively ending their playoff chances.

Rickelton, fresh from a 123* in MI’s previous home game, continued his purple patch on a flat surface, racing to a 22-ball fifty. Rohit matched him stroke for stroke, taking down Mohsin Khan with two fours and two sixes in one over, and then lofting Mohammed Shami. His fifty came off 26 balls, bringing up MI’s 100 in 8.1 overs.

MI cruised to 71/0 in the Powerplay and took 23 off Manimaran Siddharth in the ninth over. Rohit eventually fell to Siddharth, mistiming a sweep to short fine leg, but by then the equation was down to 52 off 37, a formality on a Wankhede deck that offered nothing to the bowlers.

Earlier, Nicholas Pooran finally broke his slump emphatically, hammering 63 off 21 balls (8x6) after managing just 82 runs in his first eight games. His 16-ball fifty set the tone as LSG surged to 90/1 in six overs, their best Powerplay this season.

Mitchell Marsh (44 off 25) also found rhythm, and his 94run stand with Pooran off 35 balls left MI on the ropes. However, the hosts pulled things back with four wickets for 37 runs in 20 balls, including the dismissal of a struggling Rishabh Pant (15) off Jacks.

A late 68-run unbeaten stand between Himmat Singh (40* off 31) and Aiden Markram (31* off 25) lifted LSG to 228/5 after being put in. It was their first 200-plus total this season, powered by 16 sixes — half of them from Pooran.

MI’s Jasprit Bumrah, though, endured another forgettable outing. He struggled for rhythm and finished with unflattering figures of 0/45, including three no-balls and two wides. His second over cost 21 runs. Among the few positives, spinner Raghu Sharma returned figures of 1/36 in four tidy overs, while Deepak Chahar did well to concede just six runs in the final over to prevent further damage.

High school soccer scores in Siouxland from 5/4/26

SIOUX CITY, IA (KCAU) – Here is a look at some scores from Siouxland high school soccer games on Monday, May 4th!

Boys

South Sioux 1, Millard South 0

Denison-Schleswig 8, Kuemper Catholic 0

Spencer 4, Western Christian 0

East Sac County 1, Atlantic 0

Unity Christian 2, MOC-Floyd Valley 0

Sioux City East 3, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley 2

Sioux Center 4, Sheldon Sibley-Ocheyedan 1

West Sioux 4, Spirit Lake 3

Omaha Buena Vista 3, Norfolk 1

Girls

Sioux City East 2, Glenwood 0

East Sac County 3, Atlantic 0

Kuemper Catholic 5, Denison-Schleswig 0

MOC-Floyd Valley 2, Unity Christian 0

Spencer 2, Western Christian 0

Sioux Center 2, Sheldon Sibley-Ocheyedan 1

Omaha Marian 10, South Sioux 0

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KCAU 9 News | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.

Browns’ Shedeur Sanders warned entering 2026 NFL season, given bad news about future in Cleveland

Browns’ Shedeur Sanders warned entering 2026 NFL season, given bad news about future in Cleveland originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The writing seems to be on the wall for the Cleveland Browns and their quarterback situation long term, as many expect the organization to go in a different direction than the players currently on the roster. 

Right now, Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders are the top guys, and both should have an opportunity to win the job throughout the year. 

If the Browns do what's needed on both sides of the football and win games with one of them under center, returning them for another year as the starting quarterback would make sense.

However, if Watson continues to struggle after these injuries and Sanders isn't the guy again, it's all but certain that the Browns will go in a different direction. When examining that, some believe that's very bad news for Sanders because of how good the upcoming 2027 NFL Draft will be at the quarterback position.

“Oh, and to make matters even more confusing for Sanders and Browns fans, the upcoming 2027 NFL Draft might be one of the richest in terms of QB prospects we've ever seen… And if Sanders, Watson, Gabriel, and Green don't show enough to lock down that spot in 2026, they might add a new Carr to the ranks as well next offseason,” Tyler Erzberger of Newsweek wrote.

It's always tough to look ahead in the NFL, but this is what teams do. A lot of media members have suggested that the Browns have a strong interest in Arch Manning, who some predict will be the first pick in next year's draft.

If the Browns have that selection, the season obviously didn't go as planned, so it would make a lot of sense to take somebody like Manning and hope things work out.

More NFL news:

Images: Real Madrid’s rumoured home shirt for the 2026/27 season

Images: Real Madrid’s rumoured home shirt for the 2026/27 season
Images: Real Madrid’s rumoured home shirt for the 2026/27 season

Real Madrid’s iconic white shirt is set for a striking twist next season, with fresh leaks offering a new look at what could be one of the club’s most unique home kits in recent memory. 

The images, revealed by Footy Headlines, suggest that Adidas are preparing a design that blends tradition with a bold modern touch.

As expected, the base of the shirt remains the club’s famous white, a colour that defines Real Madrid’s identity. 

However, what truly sets this design apart is the use of accent colours never seen together on a home kit before.

A unique design

The leaked design shows dark green being used for the sponsor logos, paired with pink stripes running along the shoulders. 

Real Madrid home kit for the 2026/27 season. (Picture credit: Footy Headlines)

The collar and sleeve cuffs also feature green detailing, complete with a subtle pattern that adds a refined touch to the overall look. 

On the back, just below the collar, a large tonal “RMCF” detail further highlights the club’s branding in a clean but noticeable way.

While Adidas have often experimented with colours over the years, this combination feels like a deliberate nod to different eras. 

Pink has appeared in previous kits, most notably in the 2014-15 and 2020-21 seasons, but green is a completely new addition to a Real Madrid home shirt. 

Real Madrid’s new home kit will be quite unique. (Picture credit: Footy Headlines)

The closest reference comes from the 2012-13 third kit, where a similar shade was used, but never on the iconic white strip.

Notably, the shirt is expected to be officially released in May 2026, and if the leaks prove accurate, it is likely to divide opinion among fans. 

Some will appreciate the fresh take on tradition, while others may prefer the classic, minimal style that has defined Real Madrid for decades.

Either way, this kit is already making headlines and it has not even been officially unveiled yet.

A 'smart' press and visible confidence - De Zerbi so far

Roberto De Zerbi and assistant Andreas Georgson celebrate
[Getty Images]

Roberto de Zerbi took over a Tottenham side struggling for form, confidence and with a series of key players out injured.

But he has already drilled into his side a set of principles that echo what he has done at previous jobs - albeit adapting them to the quality of his players.

Spurs play short from their keeper but are more willing to go long to a target man in Richarlison than De Zerbi's Brighton were.

Given the impressive physicality of the Spurs squad, utilising a high press as a method of chance creation has been smart too.

Igor Tudor looked to take a similar albeit less coordinated approach out of possession, but De Zerbi has built on that - not defending man-to-man across the pitch but instead asking his side to pick moments in which to win the ball back.

None of these tactics however are possible without a squad that believes in the message the coach is relaying.

In his news conferences so far, De Zerbi has been focused on one idea - that Spurs must believe in themselves, and shake off any negativity, if they are to be a Premier League side next season.

Their performance against Villa will have certainly helped.

Read a tactical breakdown from Umir

Browns predicted to end Shedeur Sanders experiment by landing Notre Dame star that no one is talking about

Shedeur Sanders

Browns predicted to end Shedeur Sanders experiment by landing Notre Dame star that no one is talking about originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It's all but certain that at some point over the next year or so, if the Cleveland Browns don't find their answer at the quarterback position, they're going to have to draft another young signal-caller. 

Whether that means taking one in the first round, trying to find a late-round option as they did with Shedeur Sanders and others, or making a trade, the Browns definitely need to get better on the quarterback side of things and will hopefully do just that this year.

In the event that they don't, which most expect to happen, there will be some intriguing names for Cleveland to go after next year in the 2027 NFL Draft. That includes Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, who was recently predicted to go fourth overall to the Browns in the next draft.

“Every year a QB ascends from the pack and shoots up the draft. Carr could be that guy in 2027 after an encouraging first season as a starter. He finished last season with 2,741 passing yards and 24 touchdowns to six interceptions. He has a snappy release and excellent command at the line. And Carr has polished throwing mechanics, with his eyes, base and throwing motion all tying together.

“The sample is small (12 starts), but expanding on his 2025 season would put him in position to be taken by a team such as the Browns, who will likely be willing to take a swing at a QB early despite selecting three in the past two drafts,” Jordan Reid of ESPN wrote.

Carr is a very good player and someone who would make a lot of sense for Cleveland if he's as good as he looked at times throughout his college career. It's tough to say that he's the perfect option right now, as he doesn't have a ton of experience, but he'd be a nice option for Cleveland if things go as planned.

More NFL news:

Dolphins predicted to add Ohio State star in move that would change Malik Willis’ future in Miami

Dolphins predicted to add Ohio State star in move that would change Malik Willis’ future in Miami originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Entering the 2026 season, the Miami Dolphins have a lot to be excited about. The hope is that Malik Willis proves he can be a franchise quarterback for this organization, and if that happens, building around him in the future will be the plan.

A lot of what the Dolphins' future looks like revolves around Willis. If he can be the guy the Dolphins are looking for, it'll make their lives a lot easier. If the Dolphins don't have the answer at the quarterback position, something they've been searching for for a very long time now, the decisions will be a lot different. 

In the event that things go as planned, the Dolphins will need to add a few decent options around Willis, with ESPN recently predicting them to do so in the 2027 NFL Draft by taking Jeremiah Smith, the Ohio State star wide receiver.

“Quarterback would be a consideration if the Dolphins pick this high, but getting a truly elite receiver would be hard to pass up, especially with the Dolphins moving on from Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle this offseason. Smith has a great blend of size and speed. He's a swift vertical mover who eats up coverages in a hurry while showing exceptional strength at the catch point. 

“Eight of Smith's 12 receiving touchdowns last season came in the red zone, as he's an upper-echelon player in that area. But he can also make big plays down the field. Andre Johnson and Julio Jones come to mind as easy NFL comparisons,” Jordan Reid of ESPN wrote.

Smith has a very good chance to be the first non-quarterback selected next year, with many expecting that to be the case. Depending on what happens with the quarterback class, which is viewed as generational, Smith even has a chance to be the first overall pick, something the Dolphins will hope not to receive

More NFL news:

WWE Raw - Oba Femi’s Rise Has 3 Important Elements

Monday Night RAW

OMAHA, NEBRASKA - MAY 4: Oba Femi makes his entrance during Monday Night RAW at the CHI Health Center on May 4, 2026 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images)

WWE via Getty Images

Oba Femi's Open Challenge began on Raw in Omaha, Nebraska and the Ruler was in top form. It's been a long time since WWE handled a new magnetic superstar's initial push this well. Oba's match with Otis had everything you'd want and expect at this point in the former's measured and entertaining rise.

What Has WWE Done Right With Oba Femi's Booking So Far?

The segment had comedy, which allowed Femi the continued runway to show he's far more than a brute. Akira Tozawa continues to deliver as comic relief and Femi's body language carried the requisite weight.

Athletically Femi displayed the kind of explosion that separates him from most other performers of a similar archetype. The diving spinning elbow isn't quite as graceful as R-Truth's back in the day, but for a man who weighs upwards of 300 pounds, it is pretty impressive.

The feats of strength that we have seen consistently also continued. He hit the Fall From Grace on Otis after propping him on the second rope, but he held him in the air for 3-5 seconds before finishing the move. Before the finisher, Oba hit the belly-to-back toss on the big man. During this run, Oba is showing himself to be more than the strut. He's more than a big, strong guy. He's a complete performer.

The booking has built around those tools instead of forcing him into a finished-product role too early. That patience is exactly what's been missing from a lot of post-NXT call-up runs in recent years.

How Did The Otis Match Showcase What Makes Oba Work?

Otis was the perfect dance partner for this segment. The former tag team champion brings legitimate size at 330 pounds, real championship pedigree from his Alpha Academy run, and the comedy/agility hybrid that lets a heavyweight match breathe in ways a pure power-on-power bout often can't.

That booking decision matters because it lets Oba look dominant without requiring WWE to bury a developmental name to do it. Both men come out of the segment fine — Oba elevated, Otis still a credible foil for the next time WWE needs him.

Why Does The Open Challenge Format Fit Oba's Character?

The open challenge allows Oba to escalate through the ranks on his way to the title picture. He's already defeated Brock Lesnar. Perhaps Lesnar returns and they clash again at SummerSlam, but either way, it will feel more earned when Oba challenges for a title.

The format itself has historical pedigree as a star-builder — John Cena's US Title Open Challenge era and Sami Zayn's various title runs have shown how it can be used to rotate a young performer through varied styles without committing them to a single feud before they're ready. For Oba, that flexibility is the whole point.

What's Next For Oba Femi On Raw?

I'd expect Oba to get a new challenger next week, which will be right after Backlash on Saturday, May 9. The opponent probably won't be another super heavyweight. It'll likely be a heel of some sort who has a group with him. Austin Theory could fit the bill.

A Theory matchup would slot in cleanly because it gives Oba a different kind of opponent — smaller, faster, with outside interference baked in via Theory's group framing. That's the kind of variety the Open Challenge format thrives on, and it keeps the runway open for the bigger payoffs WWE is clearly building toward.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Mark Zuckerberg reportedly not interested in purchasing Seahawks after rumors about Meta owner buying team

Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Mark Zuckerberg (right) and Dana White (left) during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena.

Mark Zuckerberg reportedly not interested in purchasing Seahawks after rumors about Meta owner buying team originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Seattle Seahawks announced they’re interested in selling the franchise, with some suggesting there are massive buyers out there at the moment. 

The Seahawks are one of the top franchises in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl a season ago.

Reports indicated last week that names such as Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, Apple's Tim Cook, and others had an interest in potentially buying the Seahawks.

“At least four potential majority buyers have expressed interest, including two very familiar names: tech titans Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and Apple’s Tim Cook, who recently announced he will step down as CEO and become EVP of the company’s board of directors,” Ben Horney wrote of the Seahawks' expected sale.

“Five sources familiar with the matter tell Front Office Sports they’ve heard Zuckerberg is considering a bid, while four say Cook is separately weighing an offer. The identities of the other two potential bidders were not clear, nor was it known whether any formal offers had been made.”

It remains uncertain what buyers would be looking for at the moment, as there's a lot of money to be made in the NFL, but there would also be a hope that they would continue to put together the best possible team for Seattle, as the city deserves it, especially after winning a Super Bowl.

While many questions remain about what could happen in this sale, it was reported on Monday that Zuckerberg is not interested, taking at least one name off the list of potential big buyers.

“Glad we could intercept the rumors on this one: Mark is not making any investment or bid for the Seattle Seahawks,” a Meta spokesperson told Bloomberg.

More NFL news:

'We have missed Saka badly'

Arsenal fan's voice banner
[BBC]
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates
[Getty Images]

I've never seen the crowd at the Emirates so raucous after the half-time whistle as it was on Saturday evening. The Gunners had blown Fulham away in the 45 minutes, scoring three excellent goals and all but sealing the three points within the first half.

Before the game, I chatted to another fan outside the ground who was absolutely convinced we'd win 4-0. I was less certain, with the nightmare of Arsenal's 2-1 home defeat against Bournemouth last month still haunting me. He was almost right, and my prediction of a narrow 1-0 win was very wrong.

When I compare and contrast these two home games there are a number of obvious differences. The return of Bukayo Saka is a clear differentiator. His goal and assist this weekend were a clear reminder of how Arsenal have got to the top of the league in the first place. We have missed him badly.

Outside of this, the game felt different as a fan. Ahead of Bournemouth, the messaging around the game had emphasised the importance of a win. It felt desperate. It was all or nothing. It was agony.

This time around, there was none of the above. The loss of the significant lead over rivals Manchester City has in a way shifted the way I've watched Arsenal. There is simply no time for sitting and looking anxiously over our shoulders - there's nobody there. Arsenal have their blinkers on now, and the only way they can see is forward.

As a fan, the game flew by on Saturday evening. For months, I have spent much of the ninety minutes staring agonisingly at the match clock on the big screen willing it to go faster. I couldn't quite believe my eyes on Saturday when the clock showed we had just five minutes left.

I don't expect the remaining three games to be quite as fun as Saturday's, but the first half performance should serve as a good reminder of why Arsenal are in this position in the first place.

Find more from Laura Kirk-Francis at the Latte Firm podcast

Bayern youngster suffers new injury setback

Bayern youngster suffers new injury setback
Bayern youngster suffers new injury setback

FC Bayern Munich youngster David Santos Daiber is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

As reported by Bild, the 19-year-old has suffered a torn muscle tendon in his left thigh and is expected to be out for at least three months.

It’s a frustrating setback for both Bayern and Daiber, who had only just returned to team training.

The injury is set to rule him out for the remainder of the season, as well as Bayern’s pre-season preparations ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Daiber is not the only academy prospect currently sidelined, with Wisdom Mike, Maycon Cardozo, Erblin Osmani and Guido Della Rovere also unavailable.

The Portuguese U19 international made his Bundesliga debut in a 4-0 win over Heidenheim on December 21, and also featured in a 4-1 victory against Gladbach in March.

Vikings get update on free agency saga with 49ers’ Jauan Jennings after visit

Vikings get update on free agency saga with 49ers’ Jauan Jennings after visit originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

San Francisco 49ers free agent Jauan Jennings is surprisingly still there for the taking. 

Jennings, who proved during his time in San Francisco that he can be a wide receiver who makes plays at a very high level, hasn't gotten a ton of love on the free agent market. It's a bit surprising that he is unsigned just yet, but he also might be looking for a lot more money or a better system than what's out there.

According to the latest report, as Jennings recently visited with the Minnesota Vikings, it doesn't sound like there's much urgency to get a deal done right now. According to The Athletic's Alec Lewis, the visit was more about the Vikings getting a feel for where Jennings stands in free agency and what they can offer him.

“That visit was always kind of an exploratory type of feel,” Lewis said, per Heavy. “It was never billed as ‘Jauan Jennings is coming here, it’s signing, done deal, over with and done for.’ It was always more of a, ‘Hey, you come meet us.

“We’re going to spend time with you, see where you’re at, talk through everything, fit, role, what we’re about, what this building is about, and then, obviously, some of the financial ideas with where both sides stand.”

There's a lot that has to happen over the next few weeks to days for Jennings to likely sign a contract, though him visiting Minnesota is a step in the right direction for his free agency case. The Vikings can use another decent wide receiver, as Jennings would likely fit in as their WR3.

More NFL news:

Steelers bashed by long-time analyst, and the Jets caught the worst end of it

Steelers bashed by long-time analyst, and the Jets caught the worst end of it originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Jets are typically viewed as one of the worst organizations in the NFL, and at times, that's tough to argue with. 

The Jets just haven't done enough over much of their existence to suggest that they're a good football team. 

As things currently stand, New York is certainly trying to change its ways, hoping that this most recent draft class and other decisions over the past year or so with head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey can put them in a position to succeed.

Around the league, there are a lot of very impressive franchises, including the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the Steelers haven't played the type of football that anybody expects out of them in recent years, and they were recently criticized for some of the decisions they've made, with Colin Cowherd saying that the Steelers are closer to the Jets than they are to an elite franchise.

“The Steelers view themselves, because of their history, as an elite franchise. The Steelers are much closer to the Jets… but they’re a more functional version,” Cowherd said, H/T Heavy. “The idea that the good teams in the league would just allow a 41-year-old quarterback to string them along is laughable. Eagles aren’t doing that. Rams aren’t doing that. Chiefs aren’t doing that.”

I wouldn't say a team that is always in the playoffs is any bit close to the Jets, but that's just my opinion. 

I understand what Cowherd is saying, as the Steelers haven't necessarily been in a position to win a Super Bowl despite making the playoffs, but there's still something to be said about some of the success they've found over the past few decades.

More NFL news:

Familiar foes Dunfermline & Arbroath enter play-off arena - watch on BBC

Dunfermline Athletic manager Neil Lennon and Arbroath forward Findlay Marshall
Dunfermline Athletic manager Neil Lennon and Arbroath forward Findlay Marshall could have a big say in who progresses in the Scottish Premiership play-offs [SNS]

Dunfermline Athletic and Arbroath go head-to-head in the first leg of the Scottish Premiership play-off quarter-final, just four days after slugging out a 0-0 draw in their final match of the regular season.

Expect a much more highly charged two-legged affair between the two this week, with both matches shown live on BBC Scotland, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

After Friday's match, Dunfermline manager Neil Lennon talked about wanting to shelve talk of the Scottish Cup final with Celtic for now and have a mentality shift to really focus on these next two matches.

Arbroath assured themselves of third place with a point at East End Park and the slight advantage of being at home for the second leg. Without question, the Red Lichties have been one of the success stories of the season.

Under the co-management of David Gold and Colin Hamilton they have exceeded all expectations by finishing third, after the part-time side were promoted from League 1.

There have been echoes of the same heights they reached under Dick Campbell four years ago when they pushed Kilmarnock almost all the way for the Championship title.

A fairytale chance is there again to make the leap to the top flight.

Dunfermline and Arbroath have played each other four times this season, with the first game a thumping 5-0 win for the Pars away from home. Arbroath then won the next two, before the Friday night 0-0 draw.

This week, 180 minutes or maybe even 210 minutes stands between one of these teams and semi-final against Partick Thistle.

'It has to be Arsenal's title now' - pundit reaction

Erling Haaland consoles a dejected Marc Guehi of Manchester City at full time
[Getty Images]

Manchester City's late rally but points slip at Everton has everyone talking.

On BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, former Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam described it as a "big dent" in City's title push.

Ex-City goalkeeper Shay Given said however: "Let's not forget, this is two points dropped, but it could be a huge point. I don't think anybody thought they were going to drop two points tonight. Now it is wide open. It has to be Arsenal's title now."

Rory Smith, Football Correspondent for The Observer, added:"That late goal from Jeremy Doku changes it a little bit. It means Arsenal can't afford to lose a game. That was the break Arsenal have been waiting for. It proves that Manchester City's players are susceptible to nerves as well. We have been treating it as though the only team that can buckle in the title race is Arsenal.

"Arsenal laid down the gauntlet on Saturday, they got the win and got the goal difference and said to City: 'Go on, try and catch us.' And City couldn't ultimately."

On Sky Sports, former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry said: "I wouldn't be thinking 'we can afford to drop points now' if I was Arsenal, but it is back in their hands, that is a fact.

"I am going to stay in my lane, I am not going to celebrate too early. Nothing is done.

"Manchester City dropped two points, but you can't start to think that maybe [you can drop points]. There is no maybe. I am worried for the West Ham game, like I was worried for City [against Everton] today."

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said: "We don't know if that point will be vital towards the end of the season, but it almost feels like everyone is disappointed.

"Man City will be because they were up 1-0. Arsenal's biggest rivals have dropped two points but their players and supporters will be absolutely devastated that it could have been a defeat.

"What a game. Unbelievable."

CLARITY Act Progress Drives Crypto Rally, Bitcoin Jumps To $81,000

5 May 2026 at 11:23
A "CLARITY ACT" scroll in front of the US Capitol Building, surrounded by various cryptocurrency coins including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana against a trading chart background.

The post CLARITY Act Progress Drives Crypto Rally, Bitcoin Jumps To $81,000 appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The crypto market got a strong boost after progress on the CLARITY Act. U.S. Senators Thom Tillis and Angela Alsobrooks reached a key deal, lifting investor confidence.

The Bitcoin price jumped as regulatory clarity improved. While crypto-linked stocks also rose. Now all eyes are on 21 May.

Bipartisan Deal Clears Major Roadblock

According to a joint statement from Senators Thom Tillis and Angela Alsobrooks, a final agreement has been reached on one of the most debated parts of the bill, i.e, stablecoin rewards.

After months of closed-door talks involving the White House, banks, and crypto firms, both sides agreed on a middle ground. Both senators made their stance clear, stating,

“We respectfully agree to disagree,” signaling that the compromise is final and ready to move forward.

Senator Thom Tillis explained the outcome in detail.

“Our compromise prohibits stablecoin rewards from resembling interest on bank deposits,” while also confirming that “it allows crypto companies to offer other forms of customer rewards. 

However, this approach tries to balance concerns from both banks and crypto companies.

Why This Deal Matters for Crypto

The compromise directly addresses the concerns of traditional banks.

Banks had warned that stablecoins offering interest-like rewards could pull deposits away from the banking system. The new rule removes that risk by restricting such reward structures.

At the same time, lawmakers pointed toward balanced approaches, noting the goal is to “encourage compromise and avoid letting the perfect become the enemy of the good.”

This means crypto firms still have room to innovate, while the financial system remains protected.

Crypto Market Reacts Quickly to Positive Signal

The crypto market responded almost immediately. Bitcoin surged past $81,000, and crypto-related stocks, including Coinbase (COIN), MicroStrategy (MSTR), and Circle (CRCL), rose 4% to 8%. The rally shows how sensitive the market is to regulatory clarity.

Prediction markets are also reflecting this shift. Polymarket shows that the chances of the CLARITY Act becoming law in 2026 have jumped to 70%, up from 42% previously.

What Happens Next?

That gives the Clarity Act a window of roughly two weeks before Congress’s Memorial Day recess on May 21. 

If the markup does not happen before that deadline, the political calendar could push the entire bill past the point of no return for 2026.

Russia’s Biggest Exchange Adds XRP Solana TRON and BNB Indexes

Russia to Launch Exclusive Crypto Exchange for Ultra-Wealthy Investors

The post Russia’s Biggest Exchange Adds XRP Solana TRON and BNB Indexes appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Russia is stepping deeper into crypto, but not through hype cycles or speculative mania. Instead, it’s building quietly through structured financial products and regulatory alignment. The Moscow Exchange (MOEX), the country’s largest securities exchange, is now expanding its crypto footprint in a way that reflects long-term positioning rather than short-term noise.

Expanding Beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum

From May 13, MOEX will introduce four new crypto indexes tracking Solana, XRP, TRON, and BNB. These will trade under MOEXSOL, MOEXXRP, MOEXTRX, and MOEXBNB, expanding its existing lineup that already includes Bitcoin and Ethereum indexes launched in 2025.

This move signals a clear shift; Russia is no longer just tracking the top two assets, it’s opening the door to broader altcoin exposure within a regulated framework.

Built on Global Liquidity

The structure behind these indexes is carefully designed. Pricing data will be aggregated from leading global exchanges, with Binance contributing 50%, Bybit 20%, OKX 15%, and Bitget 15%.

At the same time, MOEX is upgrading how these indexes function. Instead of daily updates, all crypto indexes will now refresh every 15 seconds during trading sessions, bringing them much closer to real-time market conditions.

A Derivatives-First Strategy

This expansion isn’t about spot trading yet. These indexes will primarily serve as the foundation for crypto derivatives, which are currently restricted to professional investors. Under existing rules, these instruments cannot involve direct delivery of crypto assets, keeping exposure indirect but regulated.

MOEX has already been active in this space, offering derivatives linked to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and even products from BlackRock, showing how traditional finance and crypto are beginning to overlap.

Regulation Is Catching Up

Behind the scenes, Russia is working toward a broader legal framework. A new digital asset bill under review is expected to be finalized by mid-2026, potentially allowing limited retail participation with caps of around $4,000 annually.

At the same time, MOEX plans to expand its crypto index suite to at least 10 assets, with future additions likely including Dogecoin and Cardano.

Polygon Introduces Private Stablecoin Payments

5 May 2026 at 10:32
Polygon Introduces Private Stablecoin Payments

The post Polygon Introduces Private Stablecoin Payments appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Polygon Labs has introduced shielded payments for USDC and USDT in its wallet, enabling users to send funds privately through Hinkal’s system instead of standard on-chain transfers. The feature uses zero-knowledge proofs to hide sender, receiver, and transaction details while still verifying activity on the network. Each transfer is checked through KYT screening to ensure compliance. The system remains non-custodial, allowing users to keep full control of their funds while improving privacy and usability.

April Closes as Strongest ETF Month of 2026 at $2.44 Billion While Pepeto Presale Passes $9.7 Million

5 May 2026 at 10:13
pepeto (6)

The post April Closes as Strongest ETF Month of 2026 at $2.44 Billion While Pepeto Presale Passes $9.7 Million appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The crypto news this week centers on April closing as the strongest Bitcoin ETF inflow month of 2026 at $2.44 billion per CryptoTimes. Bitcoin reclaimed $78,000, Ethereum held $2,302 on $101 million in ETH ETF inflows on May 1, and XRP maintained $1.39 as spot XRP ETFs posted steady gains.

Meanwhile, Pepeto crossed $9.7 million in presale capital while each stage sells faster. Every cycle proves the same pattern: wallets that entered during fear ended up with the largest returns, and presales multiply far more because one listing event turns fractional cent entries into real positions overnight.

Meanwhile, Pepeto crossed $9.7 million in presale capital while each stage sells faster. Every cycle proves the same pattern: wallets that entered during fear ended up with the largest returns, and presales multiply far more because one listing event turns fractional cent entries into real positions overnight.

Crypto News: April Posts $2.44 Billion in Bitcoin ETF Inflows as BTC Holds $78,000

The crypto news this week confirmed what the data has been building toward. April 2026 saw $2.44 billion flow into U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, the strongest month since October 2025. BlackRock’s IBIT captured the largest share, and cumulative inflows since January 2024 now pass $58 billion.

The crypto news this week confirmed what the data has been building toward. April 2026 saw $2.44 billion flow into U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, the strongest month since October 2025. BlackRock’s IBIT captured the largest share, and cumulative inflows since January 2024 now pass $58 billion.

Bitcoin trades at $78,149 on May 2, down 0.27% after holding $75,000 support. Ethereum followed with $101.2 million in ETH ETF inflows on May 1, and XRP held at $1.39 while spot XRP ETFs posted inflows in 11 of the last 13 sessions.

Bitcoin trades at $78,149 on May 2, down 0.27% after holding $75,000 support. Ethereum followed with $101.2 million in ETH ETF inflows on May 1, and XRP held at $1.39 while spot XRP ETFs posted inflows in 11 of the last 13 sessions.

Pepeto: The Crypto Opportunity Built for 2026

The presale that moves the fastest during fear is usually the one that delivers the most after listing. Right now, no project is pulling capital faster than Pepeto, with $9.7 million committed while the Fear and Greed Index reads 29.The presale that moves the fastest during fear is usually the one that delivers the most after listing. Right now, no project is pulling capital faster than Pepeto, with $9.7 million committed while the Fear and Greed Index reads 29.

Gas costs eat into every cross-chain transfer, thin liquidity causes fills to miss, and most token screening tools cost money or show data too late. Pepeto’s exchange handles all of that with zero-fee swaps on Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Solana, a free bridge between networks, and a risk scanner that checks every token before capital moves. Gas costs eat into every cross-chain transfer, thin liquidity causes fills to miss, and most token screening tools cost money or show data too late. 

cross-chain-pepeto

Pepeto’s exchange handles all of that with zero-fee swaps on Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Solana, a free bridge between networks, and a risk scanner that checks every token before capital moves.

Due to the growing attention, Pepeto’s original domain has been targeted by attackers. The team launched Pepetoswap as the provisional entry point for all presale activity.

Once Bitcoin stabilizes and Ethereum and XRP follow, meme tokens have historically captured the largest multiples. The original Pepe builder developed every feature with a senior Binance developer, SolidProof verified the full contract, and 176% APY staking compounds daily at $0.0000001868.

Once Bitcoin stabilizes and Ethereum and XRP follow, meme tokens have historically captured the largest multiples. The original Pepe builder developed every feature with a senior Binance developer, SolidProof verified the full contract, and 176% APY staking compounds daily at $0.0000001868.

Bitcoin (BTC) Price at $78,149 as April ETF Inflows Hit $2.44 Billion

Bitcoin (BTC) trades at $78,149 per CoinMarketCap, down 0.27% in the past 24 hours after April delivered the strongest ETF month of 2026. BlackRock holds more than 810,000 BTC and total Bitcoin ETF assets passed $100 billion. 

bitcoin-btc-chart

Whale wallets holding 1,000 or more BTC grew by 142 addresses over six months per Bitcoin Magazine Pro. Support holds at $75,000 with resistance near $80,000.

Ethereum (ETH) Price at $2,302 as Q1 Transactions Hit a Record 200.4 Million

Ethereum (ETH) trades at $2,302 per CoinMarketCap, as ETH ETFs pulled $101.2 million on May 1. Ethereum set a Q1 record with 200.4 million transactions, and stablecoin supply on Ethereum holds near $180 billion. 

Standard Chartered maintains a $7,500 target for 2026. Support holds at $2,100 with resistance at $2,500.

XRP Price at $1.39 as Spot ETF Inflows Hit 11 of Last 13 Sessions

XRP trades at $1.39 per CoinMarketCap, holding steady while Bitcoin and Ethereum moved higher. Spot XRP ETFs posted inflows in 11 of the last 13 sessions, pulling $83.9 million in April per SoSoValue. 

That April total marked the strongest monthly XRP ETF inflow since December 2025. XRP support sits at $1.35 with resistance near $1.51.

Conclusion: 

Bitcoin held $78,149 and Ethereum and XRP both gained alongside the strongest ETF month of 2026. But all three sit at caps where the best case is a 2x over the coming year.Bitcoin held $78,149 and Ethereum and XRP both gained alongside the strongest ETF month of 2026. But all three sit at caps where the best case is a 2x over the coming year.

The crypto news that matters most is not what happened to BTC at $78,000 or ETH at $2,302. It is what happens to presale wallets when a project with a working exchange, a SolidProof audit, and the original Pepe builder reaches Binance at $0.0000001868. That listing will close the presale permanently, and the original domain is under attack, so the entry runs through Pepetoswap. The wallets that act before that date will look back on this price the way early SOL and SHIB holders look back on theirs.

Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale

FAQs

What is the most important crypto news for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP in May 2026?

April 2026 closed as the strongest Bitcoin ETF inflow month of the year at $2.44 billion, ETH ETFs pulled $101.2 million on May 1, and XRP spot ETFs posted inflows in 11 of the last 13 sessions. Total Bitcoin ETF assets crossed $100 billion again. April 2026 closed as the strongest Bitcoin ETF inflow month of the year at $2.44 billion, ETH ETFs pulled $101.2 million on May 1, and XRP spot ETFs posted inflows in 11 of the last 13 sessions. Total Bitcoin ETF assets crossed $100 billion again.

Why is Pepeto leading the crypto news cycle as a presale opportunity?

Pepeto is the working zero-fee exchange built by the original Pepe builder with $9.7 million raised at $0.0000001868, SolidProof verification, 176% APY staking, and the Binance listing approaching. The project’s original domain is under attack from growing attention, so the presale runs through Pepetoswap.

Toncoin (TON) Price Jumps 22% as Telegram Integration Sparks Fresh Demand 

TON Slashes Fees 6x After Validator Vote

The post Toncoin (TON) Price Jumps 22% as Telegram Integration Sparks Fresh Demand  appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Toncoin (TON) price has staged a sharp 22% rally, snapping out of its consolidation phase and pushing into a critical resistance zone. A deeper structural shift tied to Telegram’s expanding role within the TON ecosystem is beginning to reflect in price action, on-chain activity, and liquidity flows. As volume accelerates and key levels come into play, TON price rally signals more than short-term momentum, it points to a possible revaluation phase driven by real demand expansion.

So what’s really driving this sudden surge in Toncoin (TON), and can the momentum sustain from here?

Telegram Integration Drives Structural Demand Shift

The core driver behind TON’s rally lies in Telegram’s deepening integration into the ecosystem. Rather than acting as a passive partner, Telegram is increasingly positioning itself as a key infrastructure layer, aligning its massive user base with TON’s blockchain.

TELEGRAM TO REPLACE TON FOUNDATION AS PRIMARY NETWORK OPERATOR

Telegram is officially taking over as the primary driving force behind the $TON network, replacing the independent TON Foundation.

CEO @Durov confirms that network fees have dropped 6x to near-zero levels, paving… pic.twitter.com/zQhdiHJ0Nz

— BSCN (@BSCNews) May 4, 2026

With 900M+ users, Telegram effectively acts as a native distribution engine for TON. Wallet functionality, mini-app ecosystems, and payment rails are being embedded directly into the platform, significantly reducing onboarding friction. This transforms TON from a traditional Layer-1 into a user-integrated network, where adoption is driven organically through existing user behavior. This shift changes demand dynamics. Instead of relying purely on external speculation, TON now benefits from embedded utility, where transactions, interactions, and applications generate consistent on-chain activity.

On-Chain Growth and Liquidity Confirm Expansion

The rally is supported by clear improvements in ecosystem metrics. TON’s Total Value Locked (TVL) has climbed toward ~$69 million, signaling renewed capital inflows into its DeFi layer. At the same time, the stablecoin supply has expanded to around $750M+, strengthening liquidity depth across the network.

TON on-chain data

Network usage is also picking up pace. Daily DEX volume is holding near $15M, while application-level revenue and fees have shown steady growth, indicating real transactional activity rather than passive holding.

Notably, derivatives activity remains relatively low compared to spot, suggesting that the current rally is being driven more by organic demand than leveraged speculation, a healthier structure for continuation.

Toncoin Price Rally Enters Decision Zone as TON Price Pressures Resistance

As Toncoin’s price rally gains traction, price is now entering a decisive phase where structure meets resistance. After breaking out of a prolonged consolidation, TON is trading around $1.65–$1.70, signaling a shift from accumulation into early expansion.

Toncoin price rally

The immediate focus is the $1.70–$2.00 resistance band, a prior supply zone that previously capped upside. In the current move, price is compressing just below this level with minimal pullbacks, suggesting that selling pressure is being steadily absorbed as buyers step in at higher levels. Furthermore, volume spike during the breakout reinforces this shift, indicating real participation rather than a low-liquidity spike, while momentum indicators remain supportive of continuation.

A clean break and hold above $2.00 would confirm acceptance and open the path toward $2.50–$3.00, where the next liquidity cluster sits. On the downside, the $1.40–$1.50 range now acts as structural support, keeping the broader bullish setup intact as long as it holds.

What’s Next for Toncoin (TON)?

Toncoin is approaching a decisive moment where narrative and price structure are beginning to align. The $2.00 resistance now stands as the key trigger, clearing it could shift TON from breakout attempt to full expansion, opening room toward $2.50–$3.00. 

With Telegram integration steadily building real demand, the current setup suggests more than a short-term rally. However, without confirmation, consolidation remains possible. For now, TON appears to be moving from momentum into a structurally driven growth phase, where the next move will define the trend.

Bitcoin Price Prediction Turns Bullish But This Presale Exchange Could 100x Before BTC Hits $100K

5 May 2026 at 09:02
Bitcoin (BTC) Price Just Started Rising—Top 3 Signals Point to a Move Toward $100K

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction Turns Bullish But This Presale Exchange Could 100x Before BTC Hits $100K appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The Bitcoin price prediction heated up again after Strategy confirmed it holds 818,334 BTC worth over $64 billion ahead of its May 5 Q1 earnings report, and incoming Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is expected to push for faster rate cuts after replacing Jerome Powell on May 15 per CoinDesk. When the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder keeps buying through extreme fear and a new Fed Chair signals easier policy, the direction becomes hard to miss.

The Bitcoin price climbed above $78,154 after spot ETFs pulled $629.8 million on May 1. Strategy holds 818,334 BTC through a Fear and Greed reading of 26 while BlackRock manages over $50 billion in Bitcoin assets. Pepeto crossed $9.7 million raised at $0.0000001868 with 176% APY staking compounding daily, and each day the presale runs is one day closer to the listing that ends this price permanently.

Total ETF assets crossed $100 billion again, and Strategy’s average cost across all 818,334 BTC is $75,537, barely above today’s price. When the Bitcoin price prediction aligns this tightly with institutional buying, presale entries ride the biggest wave.

Bitcoin Price Prediction Goes Institutional: Pepeto Leads the Best Crypto to Buy Now Before Listing

Among the strongest presale raises running right now, Pepeto leads after crossing $9.7 million while the Bitcoin price holds above $78,000, and corporate balance sheets keep adding digital assets through the fear.

Confidence has grown week after week because buyers tracking the BTC outlook understand how cycles work. When BTC recovers from fear-driven drops, the altcoin move that follows pushes presale positions into return ranges no large cap can touch.

The problem Pepeto solves is simple: traders currently jump between five or six separate tools to bridge, swap, scan contracts, and track portfolios, paying fees at every stop. Pepeto puts all of that on one screen.

pepeto-token

Due to the project’s fast growth, Pepeto is facing targeted attacks on its original domain. The team set up a temporary website at Pepetoswap where buyers can access the presale safely.

Users bridge tokens across Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Solana at zero cost, run any contract through a threat scanner before committing funds, and manage their entire portfolio from a single dashboard. Every smart contract passed a full SolidProof audit, and at $0.0000001868 a $10,000 entry generates roughly $17,600 per year through 176% APY staking. The Pepe creator designed Pepeto for exactly this kind of turning point, and the approaching Binance listing will lock in the final presale price the moment the order book opens.

Due to the project’s fast growth, Pepeto is facing targeted attacks on its original domain. The team set up a temporary website at Pepetoswap where buyers can access the presale safely.

Users bridge tokens across Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Solana at zero cost, run any contract through a threat scanner before committing funds, and manage their entire portfolio from a single dashboard. Every smart contract passed a full SolidProof audit, and at $0.0000001868 a $10,000 entry generates roughly $17,600 per year through 176% APY staking. The Pepe creator designed Pepeto for exactly this kind of turning point, and the approaching Binance listing will lock in the final presale price the moment the order book opens.

Bitcoin (BTC) Price at $78,154 as Strategy Holds 818,334 BTC and New Fed Chair Signals Faster Cuts

Bitcoin (BTC) trades near $78,154 on May 2 per CoinMarketCap, up 11.87% in April for its best monthly gain of the year. Strategy holds 818,334 BTC at an average cost of $75,537, and incoming Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is expected to push for rate cuts faster than his predecessor. 

bitcoin-btc-chart

BTC faces resistance between $80,000 and $82,000 where whale sell walls sit, with support at $75,000. From current levels, Bitcoin needs roughly a 28% move to reach $100,000. But the wallets that entered Pepeto at six zeros will already be sitting on returns that large-cap holders would need years to match once the listing arrives.

Conclusion: 

Every indicator is lining up. The Bitcoin price prediction turning bullish, Strategy sitting on 818,334 BTC through extreme fear, BlackRock managing $50 billion in Bitcoin exposure, and a presale exchange pairing meme culture with real trading tools positioned for the complete market recovery.

The returns from this cycle belong to the buyers who identified the right product, the right team, and the right timing before the crowd showed up. Go to Pepetoswap today and secure your entry. The listing gets closer with each passing day, and the moment Binance starts trading, today’s presale price is gone forever. Every person who delays past that point will look at their screen and wish they had acted when the door was still open.

Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale

FAQs

What is the Bitcoin price prediction for 2026 after Strategy confirms 818,334 BTC holdings?

The Bitcoin price prediction for 2026 points toward a new all-time high as institutional products and corporate buyers keep adding at record pace. Pepeto at presale pricing targets return multiples that BTC cannot match from $78,154.

What is the best crypto to buy now alongside the Bitcoin price prediction?

The best crypto to buy now is Pepeto, which leads with $9.7 million raised, a completed SolidProof audit, 176% APY staking, and a Binance listing approaching fast. The presale sits at $0.0000001868 while Bitcoin trades above $78,000.

TRON (TRX) Price Prediction 2026, 2027 – 2030: How High Can TRX Go?

Tron Price Prediction 2026, 2027 - 2030

The post TRON (TRX) Price Prediction 2026, 2027 – 2030: How High Can TRX Go? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Story Highlights

  • The live price of the Tron coin is  $ 0.34047420
  • Tron’s price 2026 target is $1.20, if breakout structure confirms above $0.50.
  • TRX’s 2030 projection toward $4 is possible, under a strong ecosystem and stablecoin growth.

TRON’s position in the current market cycle is increasingly being shaped by its dominance in real transactional activity, particularly as a primary settlement layer for stablecoins like USDT. With consistent on-chain demand, strong network revenue, and expanding global usage, TRON continues to stand out as one of the few networks where utility directly supports price stability. At the same time, its price structure is beginning to reflect that strength.

After an extended period of gradual upside, TRX is now holding near the $0.32–$0.33 range, consolidating just below recent highs rather than correcting sharply. This creates a setup where fundamentals and price action are starting to align. As TRON continues to benefit from strong network activity and steady demand, the focus now shifts to whether this consolidation phase can translate into further expansion. 

With the market already progressing through 2026, the focus now shifts to whether TRON can sustain its network dominance while translating usage into continued price expansion. Read on as we break down TRON’s May outlook and TRX price prediction 2026-30.

TRON Price Today

Cryptocurrency TRON
Token TRX
Price $0.3405 up 0.16%
Market Cap$ 32,274,374,635.12
24h Volume$ 814,896,246.1544
Circulating Supply94,792,424,094.6773
Total Supply94,792,422,074.4794
All-Time High$ 0.4407 on 03 December 2024
All-Time Low$ 0.0011 on 15 September 2017

Tron (TRX) Price May 2026 Outlook

TRON is entering May holding firm near the $0.33–$0.34 region, continuing to consolidate just below key resistance after its recent upward move. The structure remains constructive, with higher lows forming and downside pressure being absorbed, signaling that buyers are still active despite repeated tests of resistance.

The focus now shifts to the $0.34–$0.36 zone, which continues to act as the immediate ceiling. TRX has tested this range multiple times, and a sustained breakout above it could mark the next leg higher. If bulls manage to push through, the path opens toward the $0.40–$0.45 range, aligning with previous reaction zones and signaling continuation of the broader uptrend. Momentum, however, will depend on whether price can maintain acceptance above resistance rather than facing another rejection.

On the downside, the structure remains stable as long as TRX holds above the $0.30–$0.31 support band. A drop below this region could lead to extended consolidation, delaying any immediate breakout. For now, TRON is holding strength near highs, with price compression just below resistance suggesting that a breakout attempt could unfold in May, provided buyers maintain control at current levels.

Coinpedia’s TRX Price Prediction 2026

TRON’s broader trajectory in 2026 is increasingly supported by a combination of sustained network activity and a price structure that continues to hold firm at higher levels. Unlike many altcoins that rely heavily on speculative cycles, TRX is being underpinned by consistent demand through stablecoin settlements, rising transaction volumes, and steady protocol revenue.

TRX price continues to consolidate near highs rather than retracing deeply, suggesting that buyers are actively defending higher levels while absorbing supply. This behavior typically precedes continuation, especially when supported by real usage rather than short-term sentiment.

TRX price prediction

The key progression now depends on how TRX expands from this base. A sustained move above the $0.35–$0.40 region would likely accelerate momentum, opening the path toward the $0.60–$0.80 range as the next phase of expansion. As higher levels begin to hold and participation increases, the structure can gradually transition into a stronger trending environment.

Under a sustained growth scenario, TRON could advance toward the $0.80–$1.20 range by the end of 2026, driven by continued network dominance, stablecoin activity, and increasing market participation.

Recent Catalysts for Tron (TRX)

TRON continues to lead in USDT transaction volume, reinforcing its role as a core settlement layer in the crypto economy.

Listing expansion and improved accessibility in regulated markets are gradually increasing institutional visibility and liquidity.

Strong on-chain revenue and rising user activity are highlighting TRON’s position as one of the few networks generating consistent real usage, not just narrative-driven demand.

TRX Long-Term Price Prediction 2026-2030

YearPotential Low ($)Potential Average ($Potential High ($)
20260.801.001.20
20271.101.501.90
20281.802.302.80
20292.503.203.70
20303.203.604.00

TRON Coin Price Projection 2027

As per the Tron Price Prediction 2027, Tron may see a potential low price of $1.10. The potential high for Tron price in 2027 is estimated to reach $1.90.

TRON Crypto Price Forecast 2028

In 2028, the Tron  price is forecasted to potentially reach a low price of $1.80 and a high price of $2.80

TRON Token Price Action 2029

Thereafter, the Tron  (Tron) price for the year 2029 could range between $2.50 and $3.70.

TRON (TRX) Price Prediction 2030

Finally, in 2030, the price of Tron is predicted to maintain a steady positive. It may trade between $3.20 and $4.00.

Tron Price Prediction 2031, 2032, 2033, 2040, 2050

The long-term projection assumes Tron sustains relevance in enterprise blockchain use cases, with growth moderating over time as the asset matures.

YearPotential Low ($)Potential Average ($)Potential High ($)
20313.504.305.20
20324.506.007.00
20339.0011.0015.00
204020.0028.0038.00
205080.00110.00150.00

Tron (TRX) Price Prediction: Market Analysis?

Year202620272030
Changelly$0.95$1.50$2.20
CoinCodex$1.00$1.80$3.00
WalletInvestor$1.50$2.00$3.50
Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!

Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.

FAQs

What is the TRX price prediction for 2026?

TRX could trade between $0.80 and $1.20 in 2026 if it breaks above $0.50 and maintains strong stablecoin settlement growth.

What is the TRX Coin price prediction for 2027?

In 2027, TRX could trade between $1.10 and $1.90 if network growth continues and broader crypto market conditions remain favorable.

What is the TRX price prediction for 2028?

TRX may reach $0.94–$2.07 in 2028, with an average price of $1.50, driven by growing network usage and stablecoin dominance.

How high can TRX price go by 2030?

TRX may reach up to $4.00 by 2030 under strong ecosystem expansion, stablecoin dominance, and sustained crypto market growth.

What is the TRX price prediction for 2040?

By 2040, TRX could trade between $20 and $38 if global blockchain adoption expands and TRON remains a major settlement network.

What is the Tron price prediction for 2050?

In a strong long-term adoption scenario, Tron may range between $80 and $150 by 2050, assuming sustained utility and ecosystem growth.

Is TRX a good investment for the future?

TRX shows strong long-term potential, with projected growth through 2030, backed by real-world use in payments, stablecoins, and global adoption.

Can TRON (TRX) reach $1 in the next bull cycle?

Yes, TRX reaching $1 is possible if resistance flips to support and network activity, especially USDT transfers, keeps expanding.

Dogecoin (DOGE) Price Prediction 2026, 2027 – 2030: Will DOGE Reach 1 Dollar?

3D Dogecoin (DOGE) price prediction chart showing the potential $1 price target - Coinpedia Analysis

The post Dogecoin (DOGE) Price Prediction 2026, 2027 – 2030: Will DOGE Reach 1 Dollar? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Story Highlights

  • The live price of the Dogecoin is  $ 0.11167052.
  • DOGE price prediction for 2026 suggests potential highs of $1.25
  • Long term forecasts indicate DOGE could reach $3.00 by 2030.

Dogecoin continues to hold its position as one of the most widely recognized meme-driven assets in the market, supported by strong community backing, increasing integration in payment use cases, and periodic attention from high-profile endorsements. While it does not rely on deep protocol-level fundamentals like traditional Layer-1 networks, its strength lies in liquidity, accessibility, and its ability to capture retail-driven momentum during favorable market cycles.

At the same time, its 2026 price structure reflects a shift from prolonged decline toward early stabilization. After trending lower through 2025, DOGE has started forming a base near key demand zones, with price compressing within a defined range rather than continuing downward. This change in behavior suggests that selling pressure is easing, while accumulation is gradually building beneath resistance.

This sets up a familiar pattern. When Dogecoin transitions from low-volatility consolidation into expansion, the move tends to be sharp and sentiment-driven rather than gradual. The current structure indicates that the market is approaching that decision point.

In this Dogecoin price prediction 2026–2030, we will break down how this evolving structure, combined with market momentum and adoption trends, could shape DOGE’s long-term trajectory. Keep reading for more clarity.

Dogecoin Price Today

Cryptocurrency Dogecoin
Token DOGE
Price $0.1117 down -0.62%
Market Cap$ 18,963,988,186.36
24h Volume$ 1,891,468,766.9868
Circulating Supply169,820,903,126.58
Total Supply169,820,903,126.58
All-Time High$ 0.7376 on 08 May 2021
All-Time Low$ 0.0001 on 07 May 2015

Dogecoin (DOGE) Price Prediction for May 2026

Dogecoin has kicked off May on a stronger footing, trading near $0.11–$0.112 after finally breaking out of its long-standing $0.095–$0.10 consolidation range. The move signals a shift in market behavior, with buyers stepping in more aggressively and absorbing supply that had previously capped upside.

For weeks, DOGE struggled to gain traction above resistance, but the recent push higher suggests momentum is beginning to tilt in favor of bulls. The former resistance zone around $0.105–$0.11 is now being tested as support, and holding this level will be key in determining whether the breakout can sustain.

If buyers maintain control, the next upside target sits in the $0.13–$0.15 range, where previous selling pressure has historically emerged. A clean move through this zone could accelerate gains toward $0.18, especially if broader altcoin sentiment continues to improve alongside Bitcoin’s strength.

Still, the move is not fully confirmed. A failure to hold above the breakout zone could drag DOGE back into its prior range, with $0.095 acting as the next major support. That would suggest the market needs more time before a sustained rally can unfold.

For now, Dogecoin is showing early signs of a breakout, but the focus remains on whether bulls can defend higher levels and build momentum into the rest of May.

Coinpedia’s Dogecoin (DOGE) Price Prediction 2026

Moving into the broader 2026 outlook, Dogecoin’s direction will likely be shaped by how the overall crypto cycle develops. Historically, DOGE has not required strong fundamentals to rally, it tends to respond quickly once liquidity and attention return to the market. 

Dogecoin Price Prediction

A move above $0.15–$0.18 would be the first sign that sentiment is shifting. From there, the next important zone lies around $0.30–$0.35, which could act as a mid-cycle barrier. If DOGE manages to maintain strength above this region, the structure begins to look more constructive, opening the door for a move toward $0.45–$0.50. Such a move would likely depend on broader market participation and renewed interest in meme-driven assets.

At the same time, if Dogecoin price struggles to hold above $0.08, the recovery timeline could extend, keeping DOGE in a longer consolidation phase. Overall, 2026 may not be about explosive moves initially, but rather about gradual rebuilding, with upside accelerating only if market conditions align.

Recent News/Catalysts for Dogecoin (DOGE)

Retail-driven momentum building again: Social sentiment around meme coins is picking up into May, with Dogecoin seeing renewed retail attention after months of muted activity, often an early signal before volatility expansion.

Whale accumulation near base: Large wallet activity has been gradually increasing around the $0.09–$0.10 zone, indicating accumulation rather than distribution, reinforcing the current support structure.

Altcoin rotation narrative strengthening: As Bitcoin stabilizes near higher levels, capital rotation toward high-beta assets like DOGE is starting to re-emerge, positioning it as a potential beneficiary if momentum expands in May.

Dogecoin Price Prediction 2026 – 2030

YearPotential Low ($)Potential Average ($)Potential High ($)
20260.751.001.25
20271.151.351.50
20281.251.752.00
20291.502.152.65
20302.502.753.00

This table, based on historical movements, shows DOGE price to reach $3 by 2030 based on compounding market cap each year. This table provides a framework for understanding the potential DOGE price movements. Yet, the actual price will depend on a combination of market dynamics, investor behavior, and external factors influencing the cryptocurrency landscape.

Dogecoin (DOGE) Price Prediction 2026

As per Dogecoin’s Price forecast for 2026, the high price could be $1.25, the low may reach $0.75. This makes the average around $1.00.

Dogecoin Price Prediction 2027

Moving to 2027, the DOGE Price projects that it might hit a high price of $1.50 potentially. With a $1.15 low and an average of $1.35

DOGE Coin Price Prediction 2028

Moving to 2028, the Dogecoin Price Forecast predicts a high price of $2.00. On the flip side, the low may fall to $1.25, and the average is projected to be around $1.75.

DOGE Price Prediction 2029

As per Dogecoin Price Forecast 2029, DOGE’s high price is predicted to be $2.65, with a low of $1.50 and an average of $2.15.

Dogecoin (DOGE) Price Prediction 2030

Finally, as per the Dogecoin Price Forecast 2030, DOGE’s price can reach a high price of $3.00. With a low of $2.50 and an average of $2.75.

Dogecoin Price Prediction 2031, 2032, 2033, 2040, 2050

Based on the historic market sentiments and trend analysis of the altcoin, here are the possible Dogecoin price targets for the longer time frames.

YearPotential Low ($)Potential Average ($)Potential High ($)
20313.013.494.00
20323.794.475.25
20334.965.756.75
204014.2219.5025.00
205054.99105.00155.00

Market Analysis

Year202620272030
Changelly$1.50$1.80 $3.00
CoinCodex$1.40$2.00$3.40
WalletInvestor$1.60$2.10$3.50
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FAQs

What is Dogecoin price prediction for 2026?

DOGE could trade between $0.75 and $1.25 in 2026, with an average around $1.00, depending on market sentiment and crypto adoption.

How much will Dogecoin be worth in 2030?

By 2030, DOGE may average around $2.75, with potential lows near $2.50 and highs reaching $3.00, depending on market conditions.

What will Dogecoin be worth in 2040?

Dogecoin may range between $14 and $25 by 2040 if long-term adoption and crypto market enthusiasm continue

Where will Dogecoin be in 10 years?

In 10 years, DOGE could trade between $2.50 and $3.00, depending on adoption, investor interest, and broader crypto trends.

Is Dogecoin a good investment?

DOGE can be a high-risk, high-reward investment, influenced by market sentiment, popularity, and crypto adoption cycles.

What factors influence Dogecoin’s future price?

DOGE price depends on market sentiment, crypto cycles, investor activity, broader adoption, and interest in meme-driven assets.

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Can BTC Hit $100K Before AlphaPepe Reaches $1?

5 May 2026 at 08:25
bitcoin-price-prediction (1)

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: Can BTC Hit $100K Before AlphaPepe Reaches $1? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Bitcoin price prediction headlines are back everywhere, and the question is simple. Can BTC hit $100,000 before the next major crypto rotation begins? The setup is strong. Bitcoin has just come through one of its best monthly runs of the year, ETF demand is returning, and traders are watching whether fresh macro catalysts can push the chart into six-figure territory.

But the bigger question is not only whether Bitcoin can hit $100K. It is whether that move still offers the upside retail traders are chasing. Bitcoin may lead the market, but wallets looking for life-changing multiples are watching AlphaPepe, where Stage 15 is still open under $0.02 and the presale has crossed the $1 million mark.

Bitcoin Price Prediction Builds as $100K Comes Back Into View

The bullish case for Bitcoin is easy to understand. BTC remains the market leader, ETF inflows are giving buyers confidence, and long-term holders continue treating dips as accumulation. When Bitcoin moves, the whole market pays attention.

Bitcoin price prediction headlines are back everywhere, and the question is simple. Can BTC hit $100,000 before the next major crypto rotation begins? The setup is strong. Bitcoin has just come through one of its best monthly runs of the year, ETF demand is returning, and traders are watching whether fresh macro catalysts can push the chart into six-figure territory.

But the bigger question is not only whether Bitcoin can hit $100K. It is whether that move still offers the upside retail traders are chasing. Bitcoin may lead the market, but wallets looking for life-changing multiples are watching AlphaPepe, where Stage 15 is still open under $0.02 and the presale has crossed the $1 million mark.

Bitcoin Price Prediction Builds as $100K Comes Back Into View

The bullish case for Bitcoin is easy to understand. BTC remains the market leader, ETF inflows are giving buyers confidence, and long-term holders continue treating dips as accumulation. When Bitcoin moves, the whole market pays attention.

alphaswap

That gives AlphaPepe the kind of setup retail traders look for before a listing. The meme angle creates reach. The AI DEX gives utility. The presale price keeps the entry early. The project also carries a 10/10 BlockSAFU audit, instant token delivery, and a team connected to the Shibarium ecosystem.

Bitcoin has the institutional story. AlphaPepe has the early-window story.

Can BTC Hit $100K Before AlphaPepe Reaches $1?

Bitcoin can hit $100,000 if ETF inflows keep building, macro conditions stay supportive, and buyers defend the current trend. A move to six figures would be a major headline and could pull the wider crypto market higher.

bitcoin-btc-chart

But the answer depends on what traders want. BTC reaching $100K would be a strong large-cap move. AlphaPepe reaching $1 would be a different kind of trade because it starts from presale pricing under $0.02.

That is why the comparison matters. Bitcoin needs massive capital to make its next move. AlphaPepe needs listing momentum, retail attention, and meme-cycle energy to reprice from a smaller base. That does not make the trade risk-free, but it explains why the $1 conversation is getting attention.

Bitcoin leads confidence. Then traders search for the smaller token that has not yet had its breakout. If BTC pushes toward $100K, AlphaPepe could become one of the presales retail watches for the bigger multiplier.

Why This Presale Is Heating Up Now

Every cycle leaves behind the same regret story. Someone saw DOGE early and ignored it. Someone watched SHIB before the run and waited. Someone noticed PEPE at tiny prices and closed the tab. The opportunity was never obvious in the moment. It only looked obvious after the chart moved.

AlphaPepe is trying to own that moment now. Stage 15 is open, the price is still under $0.02, AlphaSwap gives the project more than a meme story, and the listing window has not yet erased the presale entry.

The strongest upside usually belongs to wallets that move before confirmation arrives. By the time everyone agrees, the early price is gone.

Conclusion

Bitcoin price prediction talk is bullish again, and $100,000 is back on the table if ETF inflows, macro confidence, and buyer momentum continue. BTC may lead the next market move, but the biggest multiplier search is happening earlier.

AlphaPepe has crossed more than $1 million raised, Stage 15 remains open under $0.02, and AlphaSwap gives the project AI DEX utility before its planned Q2 exchange debut. Bitcoin may be chasing six figures, but AlphaPepe is where traders are looking for the presale move that could run harder from a smaller base.

VISIT ALPHAPEPE OFFICIAL WEBSITE

FAQs

Can Bitcoin hit $100K in 2026?

Bitcoin can reach $100,000 if ETF demand keeps building, macro conditions stay supportive, and BTC breaks through major resistance.

What is the AlphaPepe presale price right now?

AlphaPepe is in Stage 15 under $0.02, with more than $1 million raised before the planned Q2 exchange debut.

What is AlphaSwap?

AlphaSwap is AlphaPepe’s cross-chain AI DEX. It scans contracts, flags risky tokens, tracks whale movement, and surfaces trending coins before the wider market reacts.

Crypto Press Release Distribution by CoinFunnel.

Former Ripple CTO Says He Had 26 Million XRP, Recalls Co-Founder Selling Bitcoin Not XRP

XRP News Today

The post Former Ripple CTO Says He Had 26 Million XRP, Recalls Co-Founder Selling Bitcoin Not XRP appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

David Schwartz, aka JoelKatz and formerly Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, disclosed in a social media exchange this week that he once held 26 million XRP, significantly more than what he currently holds.

Responding to a question on X about the size of his personal XRP position, Schwartz offered an unexpected point of reference. “My idea of not a lot is still more than a million,” he wrote. “I once had 26 million XRP.”

The comment came in the context of a broader exchange about risk tolerance and crypto exposure among Ripple’s founding figures.

David Schwartz reveals he once held 26M XRP and touches on Arthur Britto’s historical preference for holding XRP over BTC. pic.twitter.com/ZvmaF6c0IK

— 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸XRP (@BankXRP) May 4, 2026

When asked whether Ripple co-founder Arthur Britto shares a similar approach to risk and asset exposure, Schwartz said the two had never directly discussed the topic. He added that his vague recollection from years ago was that Britto had been selling Bitcoin to cover personal expenses while holding onto most or all of his XRP.

“I vaguely remember him saying that he’s been selling Bitcoin to cover expenses and hadn’t sold any, or very little, XRP,” Schwartz wrote. “But that was many years ago and I have no idea what he’s done since then.”

Schwartz was careful to note the limits of his knowledge, stressing that the recollection was both vague and dated, and that Britto’s current holdings and strategy are unknown to him.

The exchange drew attention within the XRP community, given the rarity of public disclosures from Ripple’s founding figures about their personal crypto positions. Schwartz’s acknowledgement that he once held 26 million XRP, a sum worth tens of millions of dollars at current prices, added context to how his personal holdings have changed over the years since the network launched.

Neither Schwartz nor Ripple made any further comment on the matter at the time of publication.

Polygon rolls out private stablecoin payments with hidden transfers

5 May 2026 at 11:18
Polygon has introduced a privacy layer for stablecoin transfers, allowing transactions to remain hidden from public view while still meeting compliance checks. According to a statement released by Polygon on Sunday, the update adds a wallet feature that routes payments…

Bank groups challenge Senator Thom Tillis over stablecoin proposal

5 May 2026 at 11:01
U.S. banking groups have pushed back against the latest CLARITY Act language on stablecoin rewards, arguing it does not sufficiently prevent risks to bank deposits. According to a joint statement from the American Bankers Association, Bank Policy Institute, Consumer Bankers…

(PR) ADATA XPG Unveils the World's First Infinity Mirror Gaming Memory NOVAKEY RGB DDR5

5 May 2026 at 11:19
XPG, a leading provider of high-performance products for gamers, esports pros, and tech enthusiasts, today announced the launch of its groundbreaking new memory series, NOVAKEY. As the flagship of the series, the NOVAKEY RGB DDR5 features the world's first patented "Infinity Mirror" design. Delivering speeds up to 6,400 MT/s and capacities up to 32 GB per module, it is engineered for mainstream gamers and creators who demand a perfect balance between sophisticated style and rock-solid performance.

The launch of NOVAKEY marks a significant milestone in XPG's brand evolution. The name combines "Nova," representing the brilliant energy and infinite potential of a supernova, with "Key," symbolizing the essential technology that unlocks next-level performance. Its patented "Infinity Mirror" design utilizes a futuristic geometric silhouette to create mesmerizing 3D visual depth. To complement the trend of modern PC builds with large glass panels, the XPG design team applied optical reflection principles to the heat sink, creating an "infinite time tunnel" effect from any viewing angle. The exterior features XPG's signature slanted-cut language, while the matte black metal accents and brushed aluminium finish ensure a premium, refined look even when the RGB lighting is turned off.

(PR) Team Group Expands ELITE PLUS DDR5 and ELITE DDR5 Lineup with New DDR5-8000 Models

5 May 2026 at 10:44
Global memory leader Team Group Inc. continues to advance product performance with the introduction of new high-frequency specifications for its ELITE PLUS DDR5 and ELITE DDR5 desktop memory modules. Both products deliver speeds of up to 8000 MT/s and operate at 1.1 V with CL56-56-56-128 timings, fully compliant with JEDEC standards. Designed to meet the growing demand for high-frequency operation, these modules not only fulfill performance requirements but also enhance overall system performance and computing experience, highlighting Team Group's technological strengths in high-performance memory. Both products are expected to be available soon on Amazon in North America.

As demand for high-performance computing and digital technologies continues to grow, Team Group introduces the ELITE PLUS DDR5 8000 MT/s and ELITE DDR5 8000 MT/s as new high-frequency, low-power consumption desktop memory modules. Through frequency upgrades, they are engineered to support a variety of desktop use scenarios, including learning and entertainment. Operating at 1.1 V, the modules effectively lower power consumption while extending the computer's lifespan. They are also equipped with DDR5 Same-Bank Refresh technology and an optimized IC architecture, maintaining smooth operation under multitasking conditions and improving overall system efficiency.

OpenAI Picks MediaTek Over Qualcomm For Its First Smartphone, Customizing The Dimensity 9600 With A Dual-NPU Architecture To Challenge The iPhone

5 May 2026 at 10:25

First Dimensity 9600 Pro single-core and multi-core scores comprehensively beat the A19 Pro and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

OpenAI appears to be fast-tracking its plans for an AI-enabled smartphone, partially in a bid to bolster its IPO that might land as soon as this year. And, in its urgency, OpenAI appears to be settling on a customized version of MediaTek's upcoming flagship Dimensity 9600 chip as the SoC of choice for the planned smartphone. OpenAI's smartphone will use a customized version of the Dimensity 9600 chip, replete with a dual-NPU architecture and enhanced HDR for real-world visual sensing The famous analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed towards the end of April that OpenAI had relegated its planned range of consumer […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/openai-picks-mediatek-over-qualcomm-for-its-first-smartphone-customizing-the-dimensity-9600-with-a-dual-npu-architecture-to-challenge-the-iphone/

TwainGPT – Turn AI text into human writing that bypasses AI detectors


TwainGPT is an AI humanizer that transforms AI-generated text into natural, undetectable writing using advanced algorithms. Simply paste any draft and TwainGPT rewrites your content to sound genuinely human, bypassing leading detectors like GPTZero, ZeroGPT, Copyleaks, Turnitin, QuillBot, and Grammarly. The platform also includes a built-in AI detector to analyze content from models like ChatGPT and Gemini before publishing. With support for 100+ languages and a smooth mobile experience, TwainGPT is built for anyone who needs human writing that bypasses AI detectors.

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Incident Index – Turn incident notes into consistent RCAs and reports in minutes


Incident Index turns raw incident notes into structured RCAs and stakeholder-ready reports in minutes. Paste a plain-language description or run a guided Conduct session, and it generates timelines, root causes, 5 Whys, and fishbone diagrams aligned to your team's standards.

Export to PDF, Word, or Markdown, collaborate with version history, and keep a searchable knowledge base of past incidents to spot patterns and reuse learnings.

View startup

Samsung could make Apple iPhone processors

5 May 2026 at 09:46

Samsung could produce iPhone processors as Apple quietly explores alternatives to TSMC amid supply chain risks and geopolitical shifts reshaping its chip strategy.

According to Bloomberg, Apple has held early discussions with both Samsung Electronics and Intel about manufacturing the processors that power the iPhone.

For years, TSMC has been Apple’s undisputed partner for advanced chips. That relationship still stands strong, yet it also represents a single point of failure.

Geopolitical tensions around Taiwan, combined with periodic capacity crunches, have turned that reliance into a strategic risk. Apple felt it recently; supply constraints limited iPhone shipments, and even Tim Cook acknowledged the pressure.

Apple executives have reportedly visited Samsung’s upcoming fab in Taylor, Texas. A US-based production line offers geographic diversification, something Apple has been steadily pushing across its entire supply chain.

Samsung moved early to Gate-All-Around transistor architecture at the 3nm node, and is pushing further toward 2nm. On paper, that is a meaningful leap over the FinFET approach still used elsewhere.

Samsung has struggled with yields, and that gap has kept Apple firmly tied to TSMC so far. If the Korean company can stabilize production at scale, GAA could become the hook Apple needs to justify a split strategy.

Intel, meanwhile, represents a different kind of gamble. Its foundry ambitions are growing, but it is still playing catch-up in the ultra-advanced node race.

The post Samsung could make Apple iPhone processors appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Casio to launch new digital watches this May in Japan with 10-year battery life

Casio is officially launching W-738H watches this May in Japan. The Casio W-738H series consists of two models, namely, the W-738H-1AJF and the W-738H-3AJF. Key features of the latest digital watch include a square digital display, a 10-year battery life, vibration alerts, and 100 m (10 bar) water resistance.

Unofficial Tomb Raider Nintendo 64 port finally becomes reality after 30 years

Nearly 30 years after Core Design’s planned Nintendo 64 version of Tomb Raider was canceled, a homebrew developer known as Snake has demonstrated a work-in-progress port running on N64 hardware via the Analogue 3D. Built from scratch using the TRX decompilation approach alongside libdragon and Tiny3D, the project reportedly implements most of the full game but still faces major bugs and performance constraints, with no release date or ROM distribution confirmed.

Oppo Find X9 Ultra, Find X9s India launch date and price tipped

5 May 2026 at 10:03

Following the debut of the Find X9 Ultra and Find X9s in China last month, Oppo confirmed that the phones will arrive in the Indian subcontinent this May. While the company has yet to announce an exact date, a new leak has now revealed both the expected launch date and pricing details for the phones. The launch date and pricing details come from tipster Sanju Choudhary, who claims that the Oppo Find X9 Ultra and Find X9s will debut in India on May 15. The Oppo Find X9 Ultra Notably, Oppo India has been teasing the arrival of the devices on social media since the beginning of the...

Neymar’s situation at Santos escalates as Robinho Jr. reportedly discuss contract termination over ‘lack of security’

5 May 2026 at 09:24
Neymar's controversy with Robinho Jr. at Santos keeps escalating as the 18-year-old is reportedly looking to discuss the termination of his contract over "lack of security" in the Brazilian side.

Neymar‘s recent friction with Robinho Jr. dominated headlines over the weekend following a physical confrontation between the two Santos teammates during a training session. The conflict has now escalated to a critical level, as Robinho Jr. is reportedly discussing a contract termination, citing a “lack of security” within the Brazilian club.

Players who missed the recent match against Palmeiras were called in for a Sunday training session, including both Neymar and Robinho Jr. However, Globo Esporte reported an altercation between the two, with allegations surfacing that Neymar slapped the 18-year-old during the session.

While some reports suggest Neymar offered an apology to Robinho Jr., the situation has continued to spiral. The youngster, son of former Brazil international Robinho, has officially notified the club regarding the alleged assault he suffered at the hands of the veteran superstar during Sunday’s practice.

Santos released an official statement confirming that the matter has been elevated to the club’s legal department: “Santos FC informs that, by order of the presidency, an internal inquiry process was initiated immediately following the events to analyze the episode involving athletes Neymar Jr. and Robson de Souza Jr. (Robinho) during training this past Sunday (05/03), at the CT Rei Pelé.

Neymar of Santos celebrates after scoring with Robinho Junior.
Neymar of Santos celebrates after scoring with Robinho Junior.

A conflict that could trigger a contract termination

Reports from Globo Esporte indicate that Neymar attempted to de-escalate the situation by not only apologizing to Robinho Jr. directly but also reaching out to the youngster’s family. Those gestures, however, did not prevent the 18-year-old’s legal team from taking formal action.

According to ESPN Brasil, the attorney representing Robinho’s family has notified Santos of three specific accusations against Neymar, involving verbal insults and physical offenses. Consequently, the legal team has demanded a meeting to discuss a contract termination, citing a “lack of minimum security conditions” for the player at the club.

The eventual consequences for either Neymar or Robinho Jr. remain to be seen as the investigation unfolds. However, reports from R7 Esportes suggest the relationship between the squad and the youngster has soured; his decision to take the matter to the legal department, combined with a perception that he has benefited from his father’s ties to the club, has reportedly damaged his standing in the locker room.

In the meantime, there has been radio silence from both Neymar and his PR team regarding the public fallout. Santos is scheduled to play in Paraguay on Tuesday, May 5th, for the CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana, a trip for which both Neymar and Robinho Jr. were originally included in the traveling squad.

Neymar Junior of Santos.

Italy April 2026: Leapmotor T03 repeats at #3, MG ZS up to record #5

5 May 2026 at 09:09

Once again the ridiculously cheap Leapmotor T03 ranks #3 in Italy.

Outstanding month for new car sales in Italy at +11.6% year-on-year in April to 155,210 units, leading to a year-to-date volume up 9.8% to 640,083. Strikingly, private sales are up 19.3% to 78,583 and 50.3% share vs. 47% a year ago (+10.2% to 52.5% share YTD), the sign of a healthier market. Self registrations are up 14.7% to 16,105 and 10.3% share vs. 10% in April 2025 (+18.5% to 9.5% share YTD), Long term leases are down -7.2% to 33,112 and 21.2% share vs. 25.5% (down -4% to 21.1% share YTD), short term rentals soar 22.9% to 20,469 and 13.1% share vs. 11.9% (up 42% to 11.8% share YTD) and company sales edge up 4% to 8,079 and 5.2% share vs. 5.6% (up 1.5% to 5.1% share YTD).

HEV sales are up 24% to 76,808 and 49.1% share vs. 44.2% a year ago, including 25,851 full hybrids (+45.1%) and 50,957 mild hybrids (+15.5%), PHEVs surge 75.3% to 14,184 and 9.1% share vs. 5.7% in April 2025 and BEVs double their sales year-on-year (+98.6%) to 8.5% share vs. 4.8%. This means rechargeable vehicles are up 85.8% to 27,422 and 17.6% share vs. 10.5% a year ago.

In the brands ranking, Fiat (+31%) continues to catch up on poor year-ago results but can only muster a 10.3% share, by far its lowest this year. It holds 12.1% of its home market year-to-date. Toyota (+7.3%) returns to the 2nd spot it holds year-to-date ahead of Volkswagen (+1%). Peugeot (-7.5%) is up three ranks on last month to #4 and despite a YoY loss. Dacia (-2.3%) stabilises its sales at #5 but is still down -22% YTD. Audi (+15.5%) performs very well in the remainder of the Top 10 but drops to #8. Mercedes (+32%) is also strong at #12 while BYD (+171.7%) is up to #14, Leapmotor (+1300.6%) stays at #16 and Omoda+Jaecoo (+310.8%) breaks all its records at #18 with 3,857 sales and 2.5% share.

As for models, the Fiat Panda (-3%) falls further to 5.5% share, its lowest since last November, compared with 7.1% YTD. The Jeep Avenger (-19%) confirms it is now a solid 2nd best-seller despite a harsh YoY fall. Once again the event of the month is the third place of the €4,900 Leapmotor T03 (+1725.9%), “cheaper than a bike” says the advertising campaign, and having accumulated almost 15,000 sales since the start of the year (#4). Below the Dacia Sandero (+5.3%), the MG ZS (+38.7%) rallies back up nine spots on March to land at #5, simply the model’s highest ever monthly ranking in Italy. The Fiat Grande Panda (+3093.1%) falls again month-on-month to #6, could it have peaked already?

Previous month: Italy March 2026: Leapmotor T03 on podium

One year ago: Italy April 2025: Jeep Avenger breaks all records

Full April 2026 Top 58 All brands and Top 50 models below.

Italy April 2026 – brands:

PosBrandApr-26%/25Mar2026%/25PosFY25
1Fiat16,00910.3%+ 31.0%177,42012.1%+ 30.1%11
2Toyota11,3697.3%+ 7.3%344,6607.0%+ 0.4%22
3Volkswagen11,2607.3%+ 1.0%242,9966.7%+ 2.7%33
4Peugeot8,1685.3%– 7.5%730,5504.8%– 11.3%45
5Dacia7,5754.9%– 2.3%430,2904.7%– 22.0%64
6Renault7,2574.7%+ 1.8%530,3824.7%+ 9.5%56
7BMW6,8754.4%+ 4.5%827,5294.3%+ 5.2%87
8Audi6,8504.4%+ 15.5%629,0974.5%+ 17.9%78
9Jeep6,2564.0%– 4.3%925,9714.1%– 1.2%99
10Citroen5,8703.8%– 4.8%1023,8983.7%– 1.7%1011
11MG5,8513.8%+ 6.6%1421,5003.4%+ 3.1%1113
12Mercedes5,5783.6%+ 32.0%1521,1153.3%+ 9.5%1212
13Ford5,3483.4%– 26.8%1220,6613.2%– 18.5%1310
14BYD4,5722.9%+ 171.7%1717,4272.7%+ 208.2%1521
15Opel4,5222.9%+ 19.6%1916,5872.6%+ 8.3%1617
16Leapmotor4,4962.9%+ 1300.6%1616,1352.5%+ 1702.8%1732
17Kia4,4582.9%+ 25.6%1118,0152.8%+ 13.2%1415
18Omoda+Jaecoo3,8572.5%+ 310.8%2012,8482.0%+ 329.0%2125
19Skoda3,5072.3%+ 17.4%1815,1552.4%+ 16.4%1916
20Hyundai2,5791.7%– 36.3%2213,1962.1%– 21.1%2014
21Suzuki2,3961.5%– 8.9%2111,1221.7%– 7.2%2219
22Cupra2,2171.4%+ 18.7%258,2731.3%+ 17.1%2422
23Alfa Romeo2,1841.4%– 33.0%239,5721.5%– 18.6%2320
24Nissan2,1241.4%+ 28.1%1315,3992.4%+ 0.6%1818
25Mini1,6431.1%+ 13.7%276,4391.0%+ 28.6%2524
26Volvo1,5121.0%+ 12.5%285,2370.8%+ 3.9%2726
27Honda1,4050.9%+ 62.8%304,5370.7%+ 46.6%2929
28DR Motor1,2650.8%+ 1.5%323,9460.6%– 28.5%3123
29Lancia9280.6%– 14.4%294,1290.6%+ 3.0%3030
30Mazda8950.6%+ 12.9%265,2900.8%+ 38.9%2628
31Seat7130.5%– 25.4%313,2540.5%– 12.8%3231
32Land Rover6250.4%– 1.4%342,6090.4%– 10.5%3334
33EVO6160.4%+ 41.9%332,5770.4%+ 6.8%3435
34Geely5510.4%new391,4600.2%new39 –
35Porsche5240.3%– 0.2%372,0270.3%– 12.1%3633
36Lexus4710.3%– 12.1%362,2200.3%– 3.0%3536
37Tesla4220.3%– 5.4%244,8410.8%+ 23.6%2827
38EMC3380.2%+ 69.0%351,8160.3%+ 122.8%3738
39DS2760.2%– 47.6%381,5530.2%– 18.6%3837
40DFSK2480.2%+ 172.5%411,0470.2%+ 185.3%4143
41Subaru2100.1%+ 6.6%401,0320.2%+ 32.5%4239
42Sportequipe1960.1%– 36.6%431,1590.2%+ 69.4%4040
43KGM1850.1%+ 193.6%427790.1%+ 565.8%4350
44Lynk & Co1620.1%+ 295.1%446760.1%+ 347.7%4445
45SWM970.1%+ 76.4%n/a4640.1%+ 181.2%45n/a
46Ferrari950.1%+ 53.2%463650.1%+ 22.1%4744
47Maserati690.0%– 57.9%453460.1%– 45.8%4841
48Lamborghini630.0%+ 57.5%472830.0%+ 44.4%5048
49Alpine620.0%+ 82.4%531460.0%+ 73.8%53n/a
50Mitsubishi580.0%– 31.8%481690.0%– 72.3%5242
51Tiger530.0%+ 47.2%514490.1%+ 447.6%46n/a
52Polestar530.0%+ 55.9%502150.0%+ 73.4%5149
53Ich-X340.0%– 8.1%493410.1%+ 354.7%49n/a
54Smart230.0%– 54.9%521100.0%– 63.3%5446
55Lotus170.0%+ 6.3%54650.0%– 30.1%5551
56Aston Martin40.0%– 63.6%55480.0%+ 0.0%5653
57Jaguar00.0%– 100.0% –40.0%– 97.6%5752
58Mahindra00.0%– 100.0% –10.0%– 99.8%5847
 –Others2190.1%+ 95.5% –6510.1%+ 14.8% – –

Italy April 2026 – models:

PosModelApr-26%/25Mar2026%/25PosFY25
1Fiat Panda8,5715.5%– 3.0%145,6017.1%– 2.2%11
2Jeep Avenger4,3502.8%– 19.0%220,7573.2%+ 5.5%23
3Leapmotor T034,0902.6%+ 1725.9%314,8392.3%+ 1881.2%4n/a
4Dacia Sandero4,0642.6%+ 5.3%413,4182.1%– 34.6%62
5MG ZS3,7422.4%+ 38.7%1411,7671.8%– 2.6%1010
6Fiat Grande Panda3,7042.4%+ 3093.1%516,8942.6%+ 3161.4%337
7Peugeot 2083,5582.3%– 2.0%2210,9671.7%– 28.3%118
8Citroen C33,5052.3%– 25.4%614,3062.2%– 29.0%54
9Toyota Aygo X3,3722.2%+ 72.4%1013,0612.0%+ 77.5%714
10VW T-Roc3,0742.0%+ 27.0%1310,6021.7%+ 12.8%1411
11Toyota Yaris Cross2,9211.9%– 10.1%1112,2921.9%– 2.1%85
12Renault Clio2,7621.8%– 8.3%812,1631.9%+ 21.6%99
13Toyota Yaris2,6331.7%– 17.2%1710,5701.7%– 21.6%156
14Renault Captur2,5921.7%+ 34.1%1810,6061.7%+ 9.0%1313
15VW T-Cross2,5561.6%+ 38.4%219,5371.5%+ 15.0%1617
16Ford Puma2,5091.6%– 5.2%199,4961.5%– 2.3%1712
17Opel Corsa2,4681.6%– 0.9%239,2891.5%– 11.2%1918
18Peugeot 20082,1281.4%– 4.1%257,5471.2%– 10.3%2521
19Dacia Duster2,0811.3%– 32.4%910,6541.7%– 22.9%127
20Fiat 6002,0291.3%– 24.0%127,8881.2%– 12.5%2419
21Kia Sportage2,0111.3%+ 19.6%158,4631.3%+ 16.1%2220
22Jeep Compass1,9601.3%+ 251.3%324,8140.8%+ 45.4%39n/a
23Audi Q31,9361.2%+ 99.4%268,2271.3%+ 74.2%2340
24BMW X11,9281.2%+ 1.2%208,8891.4%+ 16.0%2016
25VW Tiguan1,8621.2%– 24.2%248,7291.4%+ 3.6%2115
26Citroen C3 Aircross1,6961.1%n/a365,5630.9%n/a34n/a
27BYD Seal U1,5901.0%+ 29.4%426,2051.0%+ 52.7%2926
28BYD Atto 21,5571.0%+ 6977.3%165,7740.9%+ 5674.0%30n/a
29Toyota C-HR1,5441.0%+ 21.5%376,3201.0%– 8.1%2724
30Omoda 51,5191.0%+ 330.3%435,5400.9%+ 311.9%35n/a
31Fiat 5001,4921.0%+ 832.5%275,6820.9%+ 627.5%32n/a
32Kia Picanto1,4500.9%+ 49.9%295,7360.9%+ 28.4%3130
33VW Golf1,3060.8%– 14.8%335,4980.9%– 4.7%3629
34Peugeot 30081,2650.8%– 20.6%287,3621.2%+ 21.9%2623
35Mercedes GLA1,2240.8%+ 37.4%n/a4,4600.7%– 0.7%4133
36Ford Kuga1,2200.8%+ 11.6%394,2570.7%– 2.5%4443
37Hyundai Tucson1,2190.8%+ 1.9%385,6480.9%+ 18.3%3332
38MG 31,1980.8%– 43.8%316,2771.0%– 3.8%2831
39Nissan Qashqai1,1860.8%+ 65.4%79,3631.5%+ 18.6%1822
40BMW X31,1430.7%+ 87.4%n/a3,8130.6%+ 51.3%4947
41Jaecoo 71,1160.7%n/an/an/an/an/an/an/a
42Suzuki Swift1,0840.7%+ 26.3%355,0850.8%+ 37.4%3835
43Alfa Romeo Tonale1,0680.7%– 8.8%40n/an/an/an/a39
44Alfa Romeo Junior9700.6%– 45.4%465,3510.8%– 12.3%3728
45Audi A19520.6%+ 23.0%414,3710.7%+ 26.9%4246
46Lancia Ypsilon9250.6%– 14.7%494,1260.6%+ 2.9%4644
47Volvo XC408920.6%+ 15.4%n/an/an/an/an/a50
48Audi Q28880.6%+ 14.9%n/an/an/an/an/an/a
49Mercedes GLC8870.6%+ 56.7%503,7390.6%+ 31.1%50n/a
50Audi Q58480.5%+ 102.4%n/a3,1460.5%+ 31.1%n/an/a
n/aSkoda Kamiq8370.5%– 9.1%473,9930.6%+ 2.9%4738
n/aAudi A38230.5%– 48.3%n/a4,1960.7%– 24.2%4525
n/aSuzuki Vitara8230.5%– 11.8%483,9860.6%– 1.9%4841
n/aSkoda Fabia8180.5%– 15.4%444,3460.7%+ 8.1%4336
n/aNissan Juke6650.4%– 5.7%304,6010.7%– 19.5%4034

Source: UNRAE

Amedspor'u heyecanlandıran haber: Icardi eşyalarını topladı

Galatasaray'dan ayrılması hemen hemen kesinleşen Icardi'yi Süper Ligde tutma projesini merkezine koyan Amedspor yönetimi Arjantinli için ortaya atılan "eşyalarını Milano'ya gönderiyor" haberiyle heveslendi.

Süper Lig'de kalıcı olmak isteyen Amedspor yönetimi Galatasaray'dan ayrılmaya hazırlanan Mauro Icardi için sponsorlardan söz aldı. Henüz Arjantinli yıldızla transfer görüşmesi yapmayan Amedsporlu yöneticiler İstanbul'dan gelen, "Türkiye'deki eşyalarını topladı, Milano'daki evine gönderiyor" haberiyle heyecanlandı.

Amedspor'un 'müthiş havalı' transfer listesi sızdı! Icardi'yle beraber bakın kimler var?

Hali hazırda Galatasaray'da 4.5 milyon Euro'su garanti diğer kalemlerle 10 milyon Euro kazanan Icardi için Amedspor yönetiminin net maaş olarak 3 milyon Euro düşündüğü, sponsorların ise ekstra 3 ila 4 milyon euro'luk destek sözü verdiği öğrenildi.

Icardi'nin önüne konulacak projeyi düşünmesi sürecinde Amedspor'un taraftarlarını da devreye süreceği gelen bilgiler arasında.

Fabrizio Romano açıkladı: Bruno Fernandes'in Galatasaray kararı

Alman gazeteci Florian Plettenberg, Bruno Fernandes için Galatasaray'ın 'rüya hedefi' dese de Fabrizio Romano, "Manchester United'da kalıp Şampiyonlar Liginde oynamak istiyor" dedi.

Uzun yıllar sonra Şampiyonlar Ligine dönen Manchester United'da Bruno Fernandes'in kaderi netleşti. Her ne kadar Galatasaray'a geleceği iddia edilse de ManU'da kalacak gibi duruyor.

Alman gazeteci Florian Plettenberg, Bruno Fernandes için şu ifadeleri kullandı:

- Bruno Fernandes, Galatasaray’ın 10 numara pozisyonu için “rüya hedef” olarak görülüyor.

Fabrizio Romano bu iddialara son noktayı koydu:

- Bruno Fernandes'in Manchester United'da kalma ihtimali oldukça yüksek. Bruno, Carrick ile çok mutlu. Aralarındaki uyum mükemmel ve Şampiyonlar Ligi'nde oynamak Bruno için bir tutku.

- Bruno Şampiyonlar Ligi'nde, elit seviyede oynamak istiyor. Bruno'nun Suudi Arabistan'a gitme olasılığı vardı, bu olasılığı birkaç kez reddetti.

- Manchester United ile tekrar Şampiyonlar Ligi'nde oynama şansı yakaladı. Bu yüzden, edindiğim bilgilere göre, Suudi Arabistan'dan ve Avrupa kulüplerinden gelen ilgiye rağmen, Bruno'nun Manchester United'da kalıp kulüple birlikte Avrupa yolculuğuna devam etme konusunda gerçekten istekli olduğunu düşünüyorum.

“Çelsi” 33 il idi Premyer Liqada bu aqibəti yaşamırdı

5 May 2026 at 10:00

Futbol üzrə İngiltərə Premyer Liqasının 35-ci turunda evdə “Nottingem Forest”ə uduzan “Çelsi” 33 il sonra antirektordunu təkrarlayıb.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, “zadəganlar” “Stemford Bric”də baş tutmuş bu görüşdə rəqibinə 1:3 hesabı ilə məğlub olub.

“Nottingem Forest”in qollarını Tayvo Avoni (2, 52) və İqor Jesus (15-pen.) vurublar. London kollektivinin heyətində isə təsəlli qoluna Joao Pedro (90+3) imza atıb.

Qeyd edək ki, bu, “zadəganlar”ın cari mövsümdə Premyer Liqada ardıcıl 6-cı məğlubiyyəti olub. London təmsilçisi sonuncu dəfə 1993-cü ildə eyni uğursuzluğu yaşamışdı.

“Çelsi” son 6 oyununda cəmi 1 qol vurub və qapısından 14 qol buraxıb. Komanda turnir cədvəlində 48 xalla 9-cu pillədə yer alıb. Paytaxt təmsilçisi keçirdiyi 35 oyunda 13 qələbə qazanıb, 9 heç-heçə edib, 13 məğlubiyyətə üzülüb.

“Real”ın zədəlisi 5 ay oynamayacaq

5 May 2026 at 10:10

“Real”ın zədəli futbolçusu Ferlan Mendinin son durumu açıqlanıb.

Futbolpress.az COPE-yə istinadən xəbər verir ki, sağ ayağının bud əzələsindən xəsarət alan müdafiəçi əməliyyat olunacaq. Mendi 5 ay yaşıl meydanlardan uzaq qalacaq.

Fransalı futbolçu bu mövsüm 9 oyunda meydana çıxıb.

Kubokun finalına bilet qiymətləri

5 May 2026 at 09:44

Azərbaycan Kubokunda final oyununun biletləri satışa çıxarılıb.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, 13 may tarixində saat 20:00-da başlayacaq “Sabah” – “Zirə” qarşılaşmasının biletlərini bu gündən etibarən “iticket.az” saytından əldə etmək mümkündür.

“Palms Sports Arena”da baş tutacaq matçın biletlərinin qiymətləri yerlərdən asılı olaraq 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 və 50 (“VIP Gold”) manatdır.

Bilet almaq üçün keçid.

ABL: “Sabah” bu gün çempion ola bilər

5 May 2026 at 09:28

Bu gün Azərbaycan Basketbol Liqasında çempion bəlli ola bilər.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, “Sabah” final seriyasının üçüncü oyununda “Abşeron Lions”la üz-üzə gələcək. Görüşə saat 19:00-da start veriləcək.

Bundan əvvəlki iki matçda “Sabah” qələbə qazanıb. Çempionluq üçün isə üç qələbəyə ehtiyac var.

“Ayaks”ın yetirməsi Azərbaycanda oynamaq istəmir

5 May 2026 at 09:19

“Qarabağ” Kiprin “Pafos” klubunun qapıçısı Cey Korter ilə maraqlanır.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Niderland mətbuatı məlumat yayıb.

Qolkiper “Pafos”dan ayrılmaq niyyətindədir. O, “Qarabağ”ın marağına baxmayaraq, Azərbaycanda oynamağa müsbət yanaşmır.

Korter Niderlanda qayıtmaq niyyətindədir. Onunla sabiq klubu “Qo İhed İqlz” da maraqlanır. Qapıçının seçimi məhz Erediviziya təmsilçisindən yanadır.

Korter “Ayaks”ın yetirməsidir. O, karyerası ərzində ölkəsində “Alkmaar”, “Qo İhed İqlz”,  Şotlandiyada “Aberdin” kimi klublarda çıxış edib. Qapıçının “Pafos”la müqaviləsi 2028-ci ilin yayına kimidir.

Volkanla yollar ayrıldı

5 May 2026 at 09:00

Türkiyənin “Gənclərbirliyi” klubu baş məşqçisi Volkan Demirellə yollarını ayırıb.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Super Liqa təmsilçisinin mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb. Mütəxəssislə müqaviləyə qarşılıqlı razılaşma əsasında xitam verilib.

“Gənclərbirliyi” çempionatda 32 turdan sonra 28 xalla 16-cı sıradadır.

Van Dijk replacement: Liverpool have two names on shortlist to replace the Dutchman

5 May 2026 at 09:48

Liverpool are preparing for life without influential defender Virgil Van Dijk.

It is an open secret that Liverpool’s recruitment team is heavily focused on future-proofing their defensive line.

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With Ibrahima Konaté’s long-term future remaining slightly uncertain and the legendary Virgil van Dijk entering the twilight years of his brilliant career, finding elite reinforcements at the back is an absolute necessity.

According to Football Insider, the Reds have aggressively narrowed their search, drafting a highly ambitious shortlist that features two of Europe’s absolute best left-footed centre-backs: Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni and Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck.

Liverpool start search for Van Dijk’s replacement

Slot’s possession-heavy system heavily relies on building out from the back with quick, precise passing under high pressure.

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Having a naturally left-footed centre-back is considered the ultimate tactical luxury these days.

While cheaper domestic options have been floated around, Bastoni and Schlotterbeck represent genuine, marquee additions designed to keep Liverpool firmly at the top of the English game.

Bastoni is widely regarded as one of the most complete, elegant ball-playing defenders on the planet.

At Inter Milan, he has developed into an absolute anchor, famous for his ice-cold composure, elite long-range passing, and brilliant ability to comfortably carry the ball out of tight spaces.

The Italian defender has helped Inter win the Serie A title this season with his consistent performances.

He is deeply embedded in Inter’s long-term project, meaning Liverpool would likely need to drop an astronomical, statement-making fee to even bring the Serie A champions to the negotiating table.

German defender Schlotterbeck is on the shortlist

On the other hand, Schlotterbeck offers a slightly grittier, more aggressive defensive profile.

The Borussia Dortmund star is an absolute warrior in the air and thrives on stepping out of the defensive line to crunch into tackles and disrupt attacks early.

He brings a massive wealth of Champions League experience and that relentless, high-intensity energy that translates perfectly to the grueling pace of English football.

Ultimately, securing either of these defensive juggernauts will require Liverpool’s ownership group to significantly open their checkbooks this summer.

Landing a player of Bastoni or Schlotterbeck’s caliber wouldn’t just solve a massive tactical puzzle, it would send an undeniable warning shot to the rest of Europe.

Report: Liverpool & Arsenal on alert as 19 G/A attacker could soon become available

The post Van Dijk replacement: Liverpool have two names on shortlist to replace the Dutchman appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Sources: Man United ready to sign ‘new Casemiro’ from Premier League rivals in record-breaking move

5 May 2026 at 09:38

Manchester United are searching for a long term replacement of Brazilian midfielder Casemiro.

The iconic midfielder is set to leave the club at the end of the season having impressed during his spell at Old Trafford.

However, his time in the Premier League is now coming to an end and the deep search has started to replace him at the club.

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Carlos Baleba of Brighton is one of the names on Man United’s radar to replace Casemiro, having held long term interest in the young midfielder, sources close to the agents industry have informed CaughtOffside.

The 22-year-old Cameroonian midfielder has enjoyed a strong campaign, establishing himself as a key figure in Brighton’s system.

After high-profile sales like Moisés Caicedo in recent years, the Seagulls are once again preparing for a potentially huge transfer, with Baleba now attracting serious interest from across Europe.

Baleba is high in demand among Premier League elites

Baleba’s rise this season has been impressive. Featuring in 28 Premier League matches, he has showcased the kind of consistency and composure that top clubs look for in a defensive midfielder.

His 86% passing accuracy highlights his reliability in possession, while his ability to break up play and shield the defense has made him one of Brighton’s most important players.

What stands out most is his balance. Baleba isn’t just a defensive presence, he’s also capable of progressing the ball forward and supporting attacking transitions.

That combination of physical strength and technical quality has drawn comparisons to elite holding midfielders, which explains why clubs are lining up to secure his signature.

Man United are leading the race for Baleba

Man United are believed to be leading the race. The club has been searching for a long-term midfield solution, especially with Casemiro leaving.

United view Baleba as a potential cornerstone of their rebuild, a player who can anchor the midfield for years to come. There is also talk that the player himself is open to the move, with interest dating back to last summer.

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The management team at Red Devils see Baleba as the ‘new Casemiro’.

Brighton, however, are known for their tough negotiating stance. While earlier reports suggested a €100 million valuation, more recent updates indicate the club could consider offers in the €75-80 million range.

Even so, they are unlikely to accept anything significantly below that figure, given Baleba’s importance and long-term potential.

Other clubs are also monitoring the situation. Arsenal and Chelsea have both shown interest in the past, while scouts from Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich have followed his progress closely.

Talks held: Man United performer is on his way out after holding talks with high-profile club

The post Sources: Man United ready to sign ‘new Casemiro’ from Premier League rivals in record-breaking move appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Not for sale: 19-year-old has no chance of leaving European giants to join Arsenal

5 May 2026 at 09:30

The upcoming summer transfer window wouldn’t be complete without a massive tug-of-war over one of the world’s brightest young talents.

Right now, that spotlight is firmly locked onto 19-year-old Brazilian sensation Endrick.

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According to TEAMtalk, Premier League heavyweights, specifically Arsenal and Chelsea, have recently made formal enquiries about the striker’s availability.

But if the Gunners were hoping to pull off a sensational summer heist to bolster their attack, they are completely out of luck.

Real Madrid have made their stance crystal clear: Endrick is absolutely not for sale.

After struggling to find regular minutes under former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso during the first half of the campaign, the teenager actively pushed for a temporary move and joined Lyon in the winter window.

Endrick has revived his career in France

Since arriving at Lyon on loan in January, he has been absolutely electric. By racking up seven goals and seven assists in just 18 appearances across all competitions, Endrick has completely reignited the massive hype surrounding his long-term potential.

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That kind of elite, explosive production is exactly why Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing Arsenal viewed him as a perfect, high-upside fit for their squad.

Despite the massive financial pull of the English top flight, Real Madrid are ruthlessly slamming the door shut.

Sources confirm that the Spanish giants have directly informed both Arsenal and Chelsea that the Brazilian will be returning to the Bernabeu, as he is firmly part of their first-team plans for next season.

Arsenal target is not for sale by Real Madrid

Club president Florentino Perez still fiercely maintains his belief that Madrid signed the absolute best young player in world football, effectively turning any potential exit into a total non-starter.

Perhaps the biggest hurdle for Arsenal is the player himself. Even if Madrid were somehow willing to negotiate, Endrick is completely eager to stay and fight for his place in the Spanish capital.

He genuinely believes that proving himself on the grandest stage with Los Blancos is the best way to secure his international future, and he wants at least one more solid opportunity to establish himself as a regular.

Real Madrid are simply not in the business of losing control over their most prized young assets.

If the Gunners want to add some serious firepower to their attacking lines this summer, they will have to cross Endrick’s name off their wishlist and quickly move on to more realistic targets.

Report: Liverpool & Arsenal on alert as 19 G/A attacker could soon become available

The post Not for sale: 19-year-old has no chance of leaving European giants to join Arsenal appeared first on CaughtOffside.

A lack of composure and leadership cost Manchester City against Everton

A lack of composure and leadership cost Manchester City against Everton
A lack of composure and leadership cost Manchester City against Everton

Last night saw Manchester City escape the Hill Dickinson Stadium with a 3-3 draw with Everton. The draw in a pulsating Premier League fixture sees City hand the initiative in this season’s title race to Arsenal. City sit five points behind Mikel Arteta’s side on the Premier League table, although they do have a game in hand on the Gunners. Once Thierno Barry gave Everton a 3-1 lead in the 81st minute last night, City did well to salvage a point from the match. However, the period where Pep Guardiola’s side conceded three goals in 13 minutes proved costly. What stood out in the second half and across that 13-minute spell was a lack of composure and leadership from Manchester City. It cost City dearly last night at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Manchester City couldn’t gain control of last night’s match after halftime.

After Manchester City went in at halftime with a 1-0 lead after controlling the first half of last night’s match, the match swung in the second half. Everton were determined to get at City in the second half. David Moyes had clearly instructed his team not to allow City to settle into their rhythm in possession. Also, Everton made a concerted effort to play long balls over the top of Manchester City’s defence. The effects of this were clear to see in the lead-up to 13 minutes of carnage that saw Everton turn a 1-0 deficit in the 68th minute into a 3-1 lead in the 81st.

It was Marc Guehi’s poor back pass which gifted Thierno Barry an equalizer for Everton. But the rot for Manchester City had set in well before that moment. City were rattled by a hungry Everton side by that point. Only two quality saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma denied Everton an equalizer before the 68th minute. Throughout this period, and the 13 minutes that turned last night’s match, and potentially the title race on its head, City lacked composure to their play and leadership.

No City player, up until a frantic final push from Pep Guardiola’s side, could take control of the second half. It did seem like panic set in throughout the second half for Manchester City. Bernardo Silva couldn’t steady the ship. Nico was swamped or bypassed in midfield. Rayan Cherki couldn’t get on the ball. The City defence wilted and lost their duels as errors and misjudgment set in. Everton deserves all the credit in the world for their second half display. But City would have expected more from their leaders during that period. Last night’s second half was a harsh lesson for this City side. Composure is needed in such moments, especially in such a tight title race.

Pep Guardiola’s side do deserve credit for salvaging a point from last night’s match.

Despite a second half where Manchester City lacked composure and their leadership was lacking, they did find a way to salvage a point from last night’s match. Pep Guardiola’s side willed themselves back into the game and late goals from Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku made it 3-3 come the final whistle. City do deserve credit for that. Somehow, they lifted themselves out of the mire to ensure that they remain in the title race. Although, the initiative in the title race is now firmly in Arsenal’s hands.

From the beginning of the second half until Everton took a 3-1 lead in the 81st minute, Manchester City lacked composure and leadership. It proved ever so costly last night at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. The manner of the second half was a harsh lesson for Pep Guardiola’s side, but it may be an invaluable one for a team that needs to go through those phases to learn what it takes to navigate them. Manchester City’s latest fightback showed that they are made of the right stuff, although they had to suffer to show it in the game’s latter stages last night.

Carolina Holds Off Philadelphia – Hurricanes 3, Flyers 2 OT

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 04: Taylor Hall #71 celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal with Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Carolina Hurricanes to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 during overtime in Game Two of the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center on May 04, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Carolina Hurricanes fell behind for the first time this postseason but regrouped and went on to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2, in overtime on Monday night at the Lenovo Center.

The win gives the Hurricanes a 2-0 lead over the Flyers in their Round 2 matchup. They are 6-0 so far this postseason.

Taylor Hall knocked in the game-winner with 1:06 left in the overtime to send the everyone home happy.

Sean Walker started the rush then passed off to Hall, who took the puck to the net. He was initially stopped and taken to his knees but Jackson Blake was battling and kept the puck alive then Hall was able to get his stick on it to bang it home.

It was not the prettiest game in the world as a total of 15 penalties were called, eight for Carolina and seven for the Flyers. Each team was able to score one powerplay goal.

The Flyers got off to a quick start when they scored on the first powerplay of the game just four minutes into the opening period. Then just 39 second later, they made the score 2-0 when they scrambled in front of the net on a loose puck that eventually got by goalie Frederik Andersen.

After that goal, Andersen had a perfect game and made several key stops especially in OT when the Flyers outshot the Canes 15-8.

The Hurricanes did not look their best in this one but got on the board themselves when Nikolaj Ehlers blasted in a shot off a nice pass from Blake, who earned two assists in the game. The goal was a powerplay tally scored at about the 10 minute mark of the first period.

After a scoreless second period Brind’Amour mixed the lines up a bit and had Seth Jarvis and Jordan Martinook switch lines.

Jarvis took advantage of the switch immediately as he buried a pass from Ehlers to tie the score. After the game he said that he enjoyed playing with Staal and Ehlers and felt comfortable there.

After the game, Brind’Amour gave credit to assistant coach, Jeff Daniels for the change up. He told me “it’s time” so I made the move.

The Flyers had the advantage in overtime but again, Andersen was equal to the task until the Hall game-winner. After the game, Hall said that he knew he was not having his best game but tried extra hard to contribute in some way and was thrilled to be able to do so.

Eric Robinson had a team high six shots on goal and was second with eight hits in his 11:59 of ice time. He had a couple of open breakaways but was unable to solve Dan Vladar, who also played well.

William Carrier had a team high 12 hits. In all, both teams had a total of 48.

Next up, the Canes will travel to Philadelphia for game three on Thursday night.

Game Summary – https://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20252026/GS030222.HTM

Event Summary – https://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20252026/ES030222.HTM

Interviews – https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/rqrxpiyv7lijoo8jdqfei/AAxNL1urDuIXcU-PGbWOeUs/Postgame?dl=0&rlkey=sohgevnzx6h40o0pbujq282q6&subfolder_nav_tracking=1

Mumbai Indians IPL 2026 playoff qualification scenarios: Can MI still make it to the top-4?

It took a throwback night from Rohit Sharma and a blazing Ryan Rickelton to keep Mumbai Indians alive. Chasing 229 against Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede, MI rode on Rohit’s 84 (44) and Rickelton’s 83 (32) in a stunning six-wicket win - only their third of the season. The 143-run opening stand flipped the script, but the bigger picture hasn’t changed much. With just six points from 10 games, MI remain deep in trouble, and even this emphatic chase only marginally revives their fading playoff hopes.


Mumbai Indians’ current points table standings


  • Matches: 10
  • Wins: 3
  • Losses: 7
  • Points: 6
  • Net Run Rate: -0.649
  • Position: 9th

Mumbai Indians are already in deep trouble.


IPL 2026 playoff qualification benchmark


  • 14 points (7 wins): Minimum realistic cutoff
  • 16 points (8 wins): Safe zone

Only exception: 2019 - Sunrisers Hyderabad qualified with 12 points, the only instance of a team qualifying with more losses than wins.


In most seasons, 7 wins keeps you alive, 8 wins puts you in control.


What Mumbai Indians need from here


  • Matches remaining: 4
  • Current points: 6
  • To reach 14 points: need 4 wins from 4 matches
  • To reach 16 points: no longer possible

Simply put: Mumbai Indians need 4 wins from 4 games One more loss and they are almost out.


MI’s inconsistent season


MI’s season has been defined by inconsistency, and a spate of injuries as well. Their last five results read: W, L, L, L, W. Even in victory, structural issues persist. Against LSG, they conceded 228 on a flat track, with bowlers leaking 16 sixes. Prior to this, defeats were often marked by either bowling collapses or inability to close games under pressure.


The big problem: A broken bowling unit and misfiring SKY and Varma


Mumbai’s biggest concern is not their position on the table, but it’s their bowling. They have conceded 1916 runs in 182.3 overs, one of the worst defensive records this season. Even their spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has struggled for rhythm, going for 0/45 in the last game and leaking extras, a rare dip from one of the best in the business. Opponents have repeatedly dominated MI in the Powerplay and death overs. LSG raced to 90/1 in six overs and still posted 228 despite a mid-innings slowdown. Apart from Allah Ghazanfar, who is placed 7th in the most wickets this season tally (IPL 2026 Purple Cap), there is not a single MI bowler even in the top 40 wicket-takers list this season.


Another major concern is the form of their middle-order duo of Suryakumar Yadav and Tilka Varma. SKY in the 10 matches he has played has managed 195 runs at an average of mere 19.50, while Varma is slightly better with 204 runs in 10 matches, but nearly half of the runs came in a single match (101* vs GT). In all other games, he has managed 5 single-digit scores and scores of 37, 20, 14 and 11. Apart from a Ryan Rickelton, who is played 6th in the most runs this season tally (IPL 2026 Orange Cap), no a single MI player features in the top 20 list of most runs scored this season.
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Upcoming IPL 2026 fixtures for Mumbai Indians


  • May 10 vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Raipur) - must-win against a top-two side
  • May 14 vs Punjab Kings (Dharamsala) - tough away test vs table leaders
  • May 20 vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Kolkata) - direct rival clash, high pressure
  • May 24 vs Rajasthan Royals (Mumbai) - final league game, likely knockout scenario

Every match from here is effectively an elimination game. Net Run Rate could come into play, but only if they win all four. Mumbai Indians are not out, but they are hanging by a thread. Four wins in four games is the bare minimum, and even that may not guarantee qualification given their poor NRR. With a misfiring bowling unit and inconsistent form, MI need a near-perfect run to stay alive. The fightback has begun, but time is running out fast.

Fernando Mendoza called out the White House visit question—here’s exactly how he dodged it

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza walks past the Raiders’ logo after a press conference, Friday April 24, 2026 in Henderson, Nev.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza walks past the Raiders’ logo after a press conference, Friday April 24, 2026 in Henderson, Nev.

For Fernando Mendoza, the sweat of hard work matters more than the shine of a championship — it’s what earns a leader respect inside the locker room.

The Las Vegas Raiders’ No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft recently surprised many by turning down a chance to visit the White House with the Indiana Hoosiers. As a rookie, Mendoza felt skipping practice for a celebration wasn’t “a good look.” Although Raiders OTAs (Organized Team Activities) officially begin May 18 and the White House visit is scheduled for May 11, Mendoza’s ‘football-first’ attitude shows he came to Vegas not to sell jerseys, but to win.

“I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here. I’ve got to prove myself. I can’t miss practice,” Mendoza said. “I don’t have the calendar, but as a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look.”

#Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza says if Indiana’s White House visit on May 11 coincides with a day of practice, he won’t be able to go:

“I’m at the bottom of the totem pole here. I gotta prove myself. I can’t miss practice. … As a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look.” pic.twitter.com/flg4VGLiXX

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 3, 2026


“Although I’ve come off as very humble, and pretty fuzzy and warm, at the end of my Indiana career when you have that equity, you’re able to be like No. 4 [Brett Favre] and No. 12 [Aaron Rodgers],” he told the Raiders broadcast this week.

Mendoza knows that with a veteran like Kirk Cousins present, he’ll have to fight for every rep.

“He has no fears about working and staying late and being the best he can be,” said his mother, Elsa Mendoza. “He’s just confident that he knows he can outwork anybody.”

From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: #Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza is there to learn, but he also showed he knows a thing or two. pic.twitter.com/MWGVgxAUUG

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 4, 2026


Also:Fernando Mendoza talks about journey to the Raiders

The Raiders have made only two playoff appearances in the past 23 years, which is why on his very first day after the draft, Mendoza met legends like Marcus Allen and Tim Brown before immediately shifting back into football mode. Reports also note that by the second day of rookie minicamp, Mendoza was already bonding with teammates.

Mendoza’s mindset recalls 1984, when Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird declined President Ronald Reagan’s White House invitation. Bird famously said, “[The President] knows where to find me,” meaning his real work was on the basketball court, not at a ceremony.

More Las Vegas Raiders Storylines:

TST Images: Raiders Rookie Mini Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center

TST Images: Raiders introduce Fernando Mendoza at Intermountain Health Performance Center

Who do the Raiders select on Day Three of the Draft?

What the Raiders did on Day Two, what is still left to do on Day Three

Raiders' challenge? Make Fernando Mendoza successful

Padres offensive struggles continue in series opener against Giants

May 4, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill (3) after scoring a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park.
May 4, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill (3) after scoring a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Monday was overall a frustrating night for the San Diego Padres, who were held to just three hits in their 3-2 series opening loss against the Giants at Oracle Park.    

Despite an average performance on the mound from right-hander Randy Vásquez (3-1, 3.20 ERA), the offense couldn't figure out San Francisco's young right-hander Trevor McDonald (1-0, 1.29 ERA). On 81 pitches (60 counted for strikes), the 25-year-old allowed just one run, two hits and eight strikeouts in his season debut. 

"The kid was making pitches," Padres manager Craig Stammen said. "He's throwing a little harder than what he's doing all year. You know, his season debut, came out firing in front the home crowd. And then I think a little bit is, you know, we've got to fight him a little bit more. We made it a little easier on him." 

The only offense the Padres had against McDonald came from one player and it was outfielder Jackson Merrill. Merrill struck in the first inning with the game first run on a first pitch solo home run, and then in the fourth inning, he got on base with a lead-off single to right field. 

The other remaining offense from the night came on a lead-off solo shot by Ramón Laureano in the ninth inning and Jake Cronenworth getting hit by a pitch earlier in the game. San Diego only had two runners left on base and went 0-for-1 with runners in scoring position. 

To list a few performances by some Padres tonight: Fernando Tatis Jr. (0-for-4, 3 K), Manny Machado (0-for-4), Gavin Sheets (0-for-3, 2 K), Miguel Andújar (0-for-3) and Freddy Fermin (0-for-3) did not reach on base.  

For a team that is coming off a 2-4 record during last week's homestand, this type of night is very concerning. 

Even with a performance like tonight by McDonald, it is unsettling because a team like the Padres, who have superstar players, should not be shutdown this easily and it shouldn't happen this consistently. This season, opposing starting pitchers have 16 quality starts against the Padres, which is the most in the majors. 

One thing that is true about the Padres up until this point is that they're a good baseball team, but they haven't crossed that great threshold. If they choose to hit that mark this season, they have to find way to work passed pitchers like McDonald. 

"We haven't really broken through on offense," Stammen said. "We've had a couple games where we looked really good, but for the most part, we've grinded out some games and got some wins... But I think eventually, if we're gonna be who we want to be - not just a good team, but a great team - we've got to be able to handle pitchers like that and figure out a way to put a few more runs on the board." 

Following the Merrill homer in the first inning, the Giants were quick to answer back with a two-run frame to give the club the lead. Third-baseman Casey Schmitt connected on a four-seam fastball for a solo home run and first baseman Rafael Devers batted in the go-ahead run with a ground ball single to center field to score former Padre Luis Arraez. 

Later in the sixth inning, Arraez reached on base with his second double of the game and was brought in to score by a sac-fly from Devers to give San Francisco a 3-1 lead. That final run plus a single by Willy Adames would Vásquez's night.

In his first loss of the season, Vásquez pitched 5 2/3 innings on 88 pitches (58 counting for strikes), and he allowed five hits, three earned runs, two walks and two strikeouts. This is the first time this season that the Padres have lost a game where the right-hander has started on the mound. 

The Padres will look to even the series on Tuesday with a 6:45 p.m. first pitch. The starting pitching matchup with be RHP Walker Buehler (1-2, 5.40 ERA) for the Friars and RHP Logan Webb (2-3, 4.30 ERA) for the Giants. 

Former Cardinals cornerback killed in auto accident

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MARCH 07: Chris Payton-Jones #9 of the St. Louis Battlehawks poses for a portrait on March 07, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Fox Sports/UFL/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Players and coaches in the NFL come and go all the time in the league. They aren’t supposed to die young. Recently, former Arizona Cardinals cornerback Chris Payton-Jones passed away after injuries he sustained in an auto accident.

A beloved teammate. An even greater man.

Rest in peace, CPJ 💙 pic.twitter.com/ixXfKWc5Ua

— United Football League (@TheUFL) April 12, 2026

Payton-Jones, just 30-years old, played for the Cardinals during the 2018, 2019, and 2020 seasons.

RELATED:CHRIS PAYTON-JONES’ YOUTUBE CHANNEL, “FLASHFLIX”

He played for Steve Wilks in his only year as the head coach in 2018. Then he played for Kliff Kingsbury in his first two seasons as the new head coach. He played in 13 games with Arizona with three starts. Payton-Jones had minimal stats, including 22 tackles and six batted passes. He played on 273 defensive reps and 163 special teams snaps.

Chris Payton-Jones was killed on State Road 24 in Florida when he was seen driving eastbound in the westbound lane and then collided with a pickup truck head-on. His car overturned and burst into flames. Three people in the pickup sustained various injuries, while Payton-Jones was pronounced dead on the scene.

State Road 24 goes southwest from Gainesville, Florida, and ends just north of Tampa at the Gulf of Mexico.

Payton-Jones grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, and then went to Nebraska, where he played in 26 games during his three-year tenure, but suffered a knee injury in his senior year, which hurt his draft status. He went undrafted and signed with the Detroit Lions.

A cornerback who played 29 games in four NFL seasons with the Cardinals, Lions, Vikings and Titans died in a Florida car accident. https://t.co/QKhNDHtDg6

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) April 12, 2026

He was a last-day cut, and then the Cardinals claimed him off waivers, where he signed to their practice squad. Over the next three seasons, he was cut, re-signed to the practice squad, elevated to the main roster, and then went through the same cycle several times. He made his NFL debut in November 2018.

In 2020, the Lions grabbed him off of Arizona’s practice squad but waived him in October. He then bounced around with the Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans, and Las Vegas Raiders.

Payton-Jones then played for the Seattle Dragons of the XFL and then the St. Louis Battlehawks of the UFL before a bad injury ended his season. He retired from the game this past January. His head coach at St. Louis, Anthony Becht, posted this tribute:

Loved and Missed❤️🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/SKdh75WyAI

— Anthony Becht (@Anthony_Becht) April 12, 2026

Another tragic aspect of this story is that Payton-Jones had become a father to a baby daughter less than a month before his accident. He was a beloved teammate and leader in the locker room who demonstrated the importance of hard work, determination, and resilience throughout his career. 

May his family find peace.    

America and Pumas battle to a thrilling tie in the first leg of their Quarterfinals matchup

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - MAY 03: Jordan Carrillo of Pumas celebrates after scoring the team's third goal during the quarterfinals first leg match between America and Pumas UNAM as part of the Torneo Clausura 2026 Liga MX at Banorte Stadium on May 03, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

America bounced back from trailing by a 3-1 score to grab a 3-3 tie in the first leg of their Quarterfinal series against Pumas. It was an exciting match with controversial moments which still leaves Pumas as going thru as America will need to win next week in Estadio Olimpico to be able to go thru to the Semifinals of the Clausura 2026.

The 1st half started with the news that Brian Rodriguez would not play because of injury. The America player had been named as a starter and had come out the team to the warm ups but he was injured. For Pumas, they had Uriel Antuna as well as Robert Morales and Juninho up top. After a mistake from America with a pass, the ball would get to Jordan Carrillo, who found Juninho just outside the area, and he would get off a right footed shot past America’s goalkeeper, Rodolfo Cota, for an early goal that gave Pumas the shock 1-0 lead. Off a counter, Carrillo got off a right footed shot from outside the area that went wide. A cross into the area ended with a great combination play in which Patricio Salas would find Isaias Violante, who got off a left footed shot in the area past Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas, to score and tie the match at 1-1. A cross into the area was headed wide by Alejandro Zendejas. From outside the area, Kevin Alvarez got off a right footed shot straight to Navas. From outside the area, Zendejas got off a great right footed shot that hit the post. A cross into the area was headed just wide by Alexis Gutierrez. From outside the area, Adalberto Carrasquilla got off a right footed shot that Cota saved. Alvarez would once again have a right footed shot from outside the area that Navas would easily save. A great chance for America came about when a bad clearance left the ball there for Cristian Borja, but he whiffed on his left footed shot. From outside the area, Carrillo got off a good right footed shot that Cota did a terrible shot in blocking, leaving the ball for Uriel Antuna to get to the rebound and get off a shot into the net that gave Pumas the 2-1 lead. Prior to the start of the counter, Rodrigo Lopez had been fouled by Rodrigo Dourado, which sent him flying into the leg of Borja, who was severely injured. He would have to be carted out of the match. Ramon Juarez would be subbed in to replace him. Off a corner kick that was failed to be cleared, the ball would fall to Miguel Vasquez, who was on the line and volleyed the ball wide, in a terrible miss. The halftime whistle blew as Pumas took their lead to the break.

The 2nd half started with neither team making a change during it. After getting past a defender, Jordan Carrillo would get off an incredible right footed shot from outside the area that went past Cota and into the net to score and give Pumas the 3-1 lead. It was a great goal although once again, Cota could have done better on the play. Zendejas got off another terrible left footed shot that went well wide. Pumas subbed out Juninho for Pablo Bennevendo. After a head clash between Alvaro Angulo and Sebastian Caceres, the America defender looked to have a head injury and needed medical attention. America subbed out Sebastian Caceres, Patricio Salas and Alexis Gutierrez for Thiago Espinosa, Henry Martin and Raphael Veiga. It was a controversial move as it already looked like Vasquez had gone out for Espinosa before an assistant from America realized that Caceres had to come out and pushed him to get back in. A cross into the area was headed wide by Juarez. Off a corner kick, there was a play where it looked like Dourado was brought down by Carrasquilla. After going to VAR, the referee gave America a Penalty Kick. Henry Martin took the PK and got off a right footed shot past Navas to score and place the match at 3-2. America subbed out Rodrigo Dourado and Erick Sanchez for Jonathan Dos Santos and Vinicius de Lima. Off a free kick, Pedro Vite got off a left footed that tried to surprise Cota but he did well. Off a free kick in the area, Martin would fall after the ball was failed to be clear and the referee gave another PK to America after he ruled that Nathan kicked him. Alejandro Zendejas took the PK and got off a left footed shot past Navas to score and tie the match at 3-3. Espinoza got off a great left footed shot but Navas made a great save. Pumas subbed out Rodrigo Lopez, Uriel Antuna and Jordan Carrillo for Jesus Rivas, Antonio Leone and Cesar Garza. A long ball that reached Morales would turn into a great chance when Cota tried to get to the ball and missed but Morales shot into the empty net went wide. A great pass from Carrasquilla allowed Angulo to get a wide open chance in the area but he got off a terrible left footed shot that went wide. From way outside the area, Lima got off a right footed shot that went well wide.The whistle blew and America bounced back to get a tie but Pumas still had the advantage with the result in the Quarterfinal series.

In an exiting match, Pumas gave up a great opportunity to kill their series against America after taking a 3-1 lead that looked to be terminal for the home sides. But two Penalty Kicks gave America the tie but it’s a result that still has Pumas going thru. There was more controversy when a substitution by America looked to have been done incorrectly. Pumas would later ask for a ruling to overturn the result and get a 3-0 victory but the league decided not to and only fined America. America will still have a tough task as they need to get a victory in the 2nd leg while Pumas only need to win. Pumas will have to improve on defense and show a better management as they were the superior side in the 1st half and up to the 3-1 lead but started to falter and when America tied, they had regained possession. The controversial effort from Pumas to get the victory thru the strange events during the 2nd half substitution will add to the animosity for Sunday’s match. While Pumas is the favorite, it will be tough and it will not be surprising at all if America pulls off the upset.

Pub toasts Ipswich success with record beer levels

Tristan Finbow is standing near a lorry loaded with kegs of beer. He has short, brown hair and is wearing a black hoodie.
Tristan Finbow says his pub ordered in a record quantity of beer ahead of Ipswich Town's big match on Saturday [Darren Rozier/BBC]

A pub toasted Ipswich Town's return to the Premier League by ordering record quantities of beer for supporters.

Isaacs on the Quay brought in 220 kegs ahead of the Tractor Boys' promotion-clinching win at Portman Road on Saturday.

Some of the triumphant players later came to the waterfront venue to celebrate, spraying beer over jubilant fans.

Tristan Finbow, one of the pub's managers said: "Without days like Saturday, we might not still be here."

He said the amount of alcohol stashed inside the pub had been "the most we've had for a while".

"Growing up in Ipswich - ignoring the business side - it's phenomenally exciting being a Town fan, but from the business aspect, it's brilliant as well," Finbow added.

Ipswich celebrate after beating QPR to seal promotion from the Championship
Ipswich celebrated after beating QPR to seal promotion from the Championship [Shutterstock]

To cope with the surge in customers, the venue "roughly doubled" the number of staff working on Saturday.

Finbow had warned them to expect "very long hours" while the Suffolk town was in fever pitch.

Some fans who did not manage to secure a golden ticket for the match against QPR gathered inside Isaacs to watch it on TV.

After Ipswich scored two goals inside the first 10 minutes, Finbow said "people started enjoying themselves" and had a "very, very good day".

They were later joined by the players themselves, who came to celebrate in style.

"The videos of those guys singing on the balcony and spraying beer over the customers is fantastic," the pub manager added.

"Without days like Saturday we might not still be here. The big days are really what keep a lot of pubs going.

"I'm not saying we can have a promotion every single year, but it really does help."

Asked what might be the next goal, he quipped: "We can be in Europe - that's the aim."

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Wolves offers fans mental health training

Molineux as seen from the outside. The words Billy Wright Stand are on the side of that stand, which is side on to the camera, while seats in another stand within the stadium are visible in the distance.
The club said the training was about fans looking out for each other [BBC]

Wolverhampton Wanderers is inviting fans to take part in a wellbeing and mental health training session at Molineux.

The club and its charity, the Wolves Foundation, will be hosting the session on Friday at 18:00 BST, giving supporters training on practical ways to support fellow fans.

Lisa Carter, head of safeguarding at the club, said: "We want to support fans in breaking the stigma around mental health, understand how to spot when someone might be struggling and learning simple, practical ways to support each other on match days.

"Small actions could change someone's day and maybe even save a life."

The training is being delivered jointly by the club's safeguarding team, the Wolves Foundation and their partners Samaritans, and will touch on the Premier League funded Together Against Suicide matchday support programme.

Carter said one of the key messages was the power of small talk.

She said: "At Wolves we're encouraging everyone to use the Black Country phrase, 'how am ya?'

"It sounds simple but that quick hello or check-in can make someone feel noticed, valued and less alone.

"You don't need to be a professional to make a difference, sometimes it's just noticing someone's a bit quieter than usual, saying hello or taking a moment to listen."

There are a limited number of spaces for this session available on a first come first served basis, with supporters able to sign up here.

Carter added: "We want to build as many fans' confidence up as possible so they can support their mates and help make Molineux, a place where everyone feels seen and heard."

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Spark from Anthony Edwards off bench helps Timberwolves steal Game 1 on road from Spurs, 104-102

With two top-10 defenses facing off, points were always going to be hard to come by in a second-round series between Minnesota and San Antonio.

Victor Wembanyama took that to another level — he had 12 blocks in Game 1, the most in a playoff game in 52 years.
All of which is why Anthony Edwards' return from a bone bruise in his knee to play 25 minutes off the bench was so critical for Minnesota. His 18 points were a huge boost, as was the emotion of just having him back on the floor. Mike Conley also gave the Timberwolves a boost, shooting 4-of-7 from 3-point range, and Julius Randle did the same, scoring 21, including a clutch bucket in the final minute.

And yet, the Spurs had a good chance to win it. Julian Champagnie — who set a Spurs franchise record this season for made 3-pointers — got a quality look at the game-winner. It just didn't fall.

JULIAN CHAMPAGNIE'S SHOT AT THE BUZZER RIMS OUT AND THE WOLVES TAKE GAME 1! pic.twitter.com/vwe3s3gUNq

— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) May 5, 2026

Minnesota stole Game 1 on the road by the score of 104-102. Game 2 is in San Antonio on Wednesday.

This has the potential to be the best series of the second round, two very evenly matched teams.

Minnesota's physical defense threw off Wembanyama (5-of-17 shooting) and De'Aaron Fox (5-of-14), who combined to score just 21 points.

"They did what they do, they're physical, they guard the ball well," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said of the Timberwolves defense.

What do the Spurs need to do to change that dynamic?

"Start by making some shots," Wembanyama said bluntly.
Minnesota might be one of the all-time great flip-the-switch teams the league has seen, a group disinterested in the regular season but come the playoffs, they are a different team.

Having Edwards back helped with that — he was his vintage self, chirping at the Spurs bench after a made basket, then not long after begging coach Chris Finch to leave him in the game.

This game was close the entire way, neither team ever led by double digits.

The 45-45 score at the half and the fact that both teams shot less than 42% overall were signs of what a defensive series this is going to be. Or there was the fact that Wembanyama had seven blocks in the first half alone.

Minnesota got 16 points from Jaden McDaniels despite his spending much of the night in foul trouble. Terrence Shannon Jr. added 16 points as well, and Naz Reid had a dozen off the bench.

Rookie Dylan Harper was doing his thing getting downhill and led the Spurs with 18 points, while Stephon Castle and Champagnie each added 17 for the Spurs.

San Antonio shot just 10-of-36 (27.8%) from 3 for the game, expect that to improve, and the young Spurs to improve.

Just don't expect a scoring explosion, it's not going to be that kind of series.

Kingsford Boakye: Man United make transfer decision on explosive winger

Kingsford Boakye: Man United make transfer decision on explosive winger
Kingsford Boakye: Man United make transfer decision on explosive winger

Manchester United are always on the lookout for exceptional young talent.

Recent signings

In Ineos’ first year in charge at the club, they signed players such as Chido Obi, Ayden Heaven and Diego Leon.

Cristian Orozco from Colombia was also snapped up and will join the squad this summer. Sekou Kone is another young talent who was brought in, but his development has been cruelly delayed this season by various injuries.

Kingsford Boakye

According to Sports World Ghana, United have their eye on another young academy prospect.

They report that, “Kingsford Boakye-Yiadom is drawing significant attention from across Europe after parting ways with Everton’s academy, with several top clubs monitoring his next move.”

The news outlet continues to explain that, “the 21-year-old winger has emerged as a sought-after talent, with interest reportedly coming from Manchester United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Atlético Madrid, RB Leipzig, AS Monaco, Feyenoord and Genoa.”

The youngster, who has already impressed at youth level in England, is known for his “explosive pace, close control, and ability to take on defenders in one-on-one situations.”

As a result, he has already been compared to former Premier League stars Eden Hazard and Leroy Sané.

He has played 21 matches this season for the youth teams, scoring three goals and providing three assists.

His name shot to prominence at the club when he scored the team’s first goal from open play at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium for the youth team.

The electric winger has also represented Ghana at U17 and U20 level and won the AFCON title at under-20 level.

The news outlet suggests that Everton were ready to promote him to the senior side, but a change of representation has helped convince him that a move away from the Toffees will be the best decision for his future progress.

Kingsford Boakye season stats

Source: transfermarkt.com

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The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Liverpool legend can replace Arne Slot immediately

Liverpool legend can replace Arne Slot immediately
Liverpool legend can replace Arne Slot immediately

A club legend can now replace Arne Slot at Liverpool.

Whether you like him or not the Dutchman’s time at Anfield will always be defined by his early success.

Winning the Premier League in his first season is no small feat. While he undoubtedly benefited from the foundations laid by Jurgen Klopp, Slot also made key adjustments that played a role in guiding Liverpool to the title.

However, that achievement does not excuse what has followed. This season, the responsibility lies squarely with him, and the evidence suggests he is out of his depth.

Since lifting the Premier League trophy, Liverpool have endured one of the poorest runs in the club’s history.

Results have declined sharply, and performances have lacked the consistency expected at this level. Slot has won fewer than half of his matches throughout 2025 and has continued on a similar trajectory into 2026. In their last 27 games, Liverpool have managed just 13 wins - a record well below the standards the club demands.

The drop-off is even more stark when looking at the club's league form. After winning their opening five matches of the season, Liverpool have secured only 12 victories in their next 30 Premier League games.

Even more concerning is their record in big fixtures, having lost both league encounters against Manchester City and Manchester United for the first time in 113 years.

Such statistics underline a worrying decline. The negative records continue to mount, and on current evidence, it's clear there is no going back from this for Slot.

Liverpool remain in a position to salvage their season largely due to the struggles of Manchester United and Chelsea.

In the long term, though, change is necessary, and that starts with appointing a manager who truly understands what it takes to operate at an elite level.

The club needs someone capable of working with top players, delivering both success and attractive football, while also implementing an aggressive, well-drilled pressing system.

Right now, Slot does not appear to offer that.

What Liverpool require is a return to identity: a manager in the mould of a gegenpressing specialist, someone who aligns with the expectations of the fanbase and can restore the high-intensity, “heavy metal” football that once defined Anfield.

However, before all of that Liverpool need to end the season on a high. That won't happen with Slot in charge. The Reds need a lift - something they can cling onto.

Boston a team to keep an eye on in Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes?

Speaking on Sirius XM’s “Deals and Dunks” on Monday, NBA insider Marc Stein tabbed the Celtics as a team that could be in the running for the two-time MVP if the Bucks opt to move him after a disappointing 2025-26 season. “Because they’ve created this [cap] flexibility for themselves when it looked like it was gonna be really hard to do so — I feel like they’re gonna be able to make moves,” Stein said of the Celtics. “There will inevitably be people who bring back the, ‘Do they break up Tatum and [Jaylen] Brown’ — like, that storyline will probably come back. “There have been some rumblings at various points during the season that the Celtics could be a stealth Giannis team and a team that potentially interests Giannis. So let’s keep our eye on the Celtics. We know Brad Stevens is not afraid to make big moves and take big swings. So I think we have to be ready for just about anything with Boston.”

Boston Globe

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Boston a team to keep an eye on in Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes?

In order for Joel Embiid to have legacy games, Joel …

But, Warriors forward Draymond Green doesn’t think the performance was a “legacy game” for Embiid, who has now reached the Eastern Conference semifinals for the sixth time in his career. “I know a lot of people are saying, ‘Yo, is this a legacy game for Joel Embiid?’ and I say no, 'hell no,' ” Green said on “The Draymond Green Show.” “Joel Embiid is a great player, Joel Embiid is an NBA MVP, Joel Embiid is all of those things. Gold medalist, perennial All-Star, one of the best bigs in this league. “Joel Embiid, also for those same reasons, is the reason that a game in the first round, I don’t care if it’s Game 7 or Game 2. … It’s still a first-round game and we’ve seen Joel Embiid in the first round. In order for Joel Embiid to have legacy games, Joel Embiid has to get to the conference finals and then Joel Embiid needs to help push that team to the NBA Finals.”

NBC Sports Bay Area

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: In order for Joel Embiid to have legacy games, Joel …

He also sustained an injury and developed swelling in …

Braun missed 38 games during the regular season after suffering a severe left ankle sprain on Nov. 12. He initially tried to return on Jan. 4, but after struggling for three games, it was clear he wasn’t ready. He was able to run. He wasn’t able to jump. He went back on the shelf for another three weeks, then spent the rest of the season growing accustomed to a routine of postgame treatment on the ankle. He had torn the ligaments on the inside and outside of it. It was the first serious injury of his basketball career. It continued to swell up during the playoffs. Meanwhile, he also sustained an injury and developed swelling in his left calf in Game 1 against the Timberwolves, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation. It exacerbated Braun’s inability to explode off the ground — his left leg is the one he usually pushes off of when he jumps.

Denver Post

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: He also sustained an injury and developed swelling in …

Melissa Rohlin identifies X-factor for Lakers against Thunder

Needless to say, if the Los Angeles Lakers are going to have any chance of winning their upcoming NBA playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, every rotation player will need to step up, especially offensively. That means no passivity, no lazy passes and no passing up shots, at a minimum.

In their previous series against the Houston Rockets, guard Luke Kennard started out as hot as a summer afternoon in Southeast Texas. In the first two games, he scored a combined 50 points and shot 17-of-26 from the field and 8-of-11 from 3-point range. But since then, the sharpshooter has managed to score only 25 points in four games while shooting 26.7% overall and 15.4% from downtown.

Melissa Rohlin, who covers the Lakers for the California Post, wrote in a recent article that Kennard will be the team's X-factor in the upcoming series versus the Thunder.

"The Lakers have a Luke Kennard problem," Rohlin wrote.

"He defers too much.

"Against a Thunder team with the NBA’s top-rated defense, Kennard will be the X-factor in their second-round playoff series. Without Luka Doncic, the Thunder will collapse on LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

"The Lakers desperately need scoring help. They need a sharpshooter to open up the court. They need a 3-point specialist.

"They need Kennard."

Kennard is a little too selective with when he takes shots sometimes. While he led the NBA in 3-point accuracy during the regular season for the third time with a 47.8% rate, he attempted 5.2 3-pointers per 36 minutes, which isn't a low number but isn't a high volume either. Coach JJ Redick said he would encourage Kennard to be more aggressive in looking to shoot the ball shortly after Kennard arrived in a February trade, but the guard hasn't consistently done so.

Rohlin set the bar high for Kennard in her article by defining a goal for him in this series.

"The Lakers need Kennard to be their third-leading scorer. To be aggressive. To hunt for his shot.

"... Even though he’s going to share the court with James and Reaves, he needs to play as though he’s a star.

"He needs to think of himself as a scorer. He needs to make his presence known."

Against the Thunder, the Lakers need points, more points and more points. Oklahoma City has one of the best defenses seen in recent memory, and it forces turnovers in bunches and led the league in points off turnovers during the regular season.

If Kennard is aggressive enough on a consistent basis, it will stretch Oklahoma City's defense and make its players move their feet instead of being able to simply remain in place and bait the Lakers into making risky passes. The Lakers need to play with pace, both in transition and in the halfcourt, and exercise constant ball and player movement.

Kennard has moved back to the bench with Reaves' recent return from an oblique strain. Los Angeles was 29th in bench scoring this season, which puts even more of an onus on Kennard to look to score rather than simply looking to hit open shots.

It's something he's capable of doing. But as Rohlin alluded to, he will have to change his mindset, at least for a fortnight or so.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Melissa Rohlin identifies X-factor for Lakers against Thunder

Eagles DB shares brutally honest truth about A.J. Brown trade talk

A.J. Brown is still officially a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, but in many ways, it feels like his time with the team is coming to an end.

Eagles First-Team All-Pro cornerback Cooper DeJean was asked about the holding pattern with Brown during a recent appearance on Takeoff. DeJean admitted the NFL is a business with each player doing what's best for them in their personal situation.

“We talk pretty often still. Obviously, he’s a great teammate, a great friend of mine. Nothing will change the way I think about A.J.," DeJean told NBC Sports Philadelphia's John Clark. "Obviously, it’s a business, and everybody has to do what’s best for them. I know whatever happens, he'll always be a close friend of mine. ...I’m going to miss just seeing him in the building, if he's gone. Just seeing him out on the practice field and talking trash, those are some fun times. And just learning from him, too. He instilled confidence in me. That is something I will always appreciate.”

“We talk pretty often still. Obviously, he’s a great teammate, a great friend of mine. Nothing will change the way I feel about AJ. Obviously it’s a business and everybody has to do what’s best for them. I know whatever happens, he will always be a close friend of mine. I’m going… pic.twitter.com/qUrQ1IJPZB

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) May 4, 2026

The Eagles are expected to trade Brown on or after June 1, when they would avoid a dead cap hit north of $40 million. As of right now, the New England Patriots are viewed as the likeliest destination for the three-time All-Pro wide receiver.

Things could obviously change if another team gets in on the negotiations, but everything has pointed in the Patriots' direction throughout the offseason. Both teams even drafted like a deal was already done behind the scenes, even though it reportedly isn't.

The Eagles used a first-round draft pick on rookie receiver Makai Lemon, which probably isn't a move they would have made if they thought Brown would still be on their roster for the season. Meanwhile, the Patriots didn't draft a receiver at all—another fishy move from a team that cut its leading receiver, Stefon Diggs, in the offseason.

The Brown drama is entering spoiler territory at this point, and everyone can see the writing on the wall. It all feels like a waiting game before the inevitable happens.

Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Eagles DB shares brutally honest truth about A.J. Brown trade talk

Anthony Edwards after Game 1 win: 'I'm disappointed in myself'

Edwards finished the game with 18 points, three rebounds, and three assists on 8-of-13 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. It was a fantastic showing for a player many expected not to be available for the start of this series. And yet, after the game, Edwards told the NBA on NBC broadcast that he was, “disappointed,” with his play. “I made so many mistakes at the end of the game,” Edwards said after Game 1. “I'm disappointed in myself. For me, 75 percent of the game for me is my mind. My mind's got to be where it needs to be and in the last minutes of the game, it wasn't. I gave up two offensive rebounds, turned the ball over. Yeah. I'll be better.”

Clutch Points

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Anthony Edwards after Game 1 win: 'I'm disappointed in myself'

Youngest player in NBA history with a triple-double …

‪NBA‬: WEMBY: Youngest player in NBA history with a triple-double including blocks in a postseason game since '73–74 👀 👽 11 PTS 👽 15 REB (postseason career-high) 👽 12 BLK (NBA postseason record) Also becomes the first player in NBA history to record 10+ PTS, 15+ REB, and 10+ BLK in a postseason game!

bsky.app

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Youngest player in NBA history with a triple-double …

The family sacrifices that helped Wu become world champion

Wu Yize with his parents
Wu Yize, 22, is the second-youngest winner of the World Snooker Championship [Getty Images]

A new superstar of snooker. Another Chinese world champion.

A year earlier, it had been Zhao Xintong lifting the trophy and creating history for his country. On Monday, it was Wu Yize - who had defeated Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a compelling final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

And it was a particularly poignant moment for the 22-year-old, who relocated to the UK from his home city of Lanzhou aged 16, with his father, and attempted to pursue his dream amid concerns over the health of his mother.

"My mum wasn't in very good health condition for a long time," he said. "During that time we were in Sheffield, she has been in hospital a lot. She is forever a source of strength to me.

"She is feeling much better now. This is the second time she has visited me in the UK. I think in the future I will take her more to be by my side.

"She sacrificed everything for me. At that time she told me 'don't come back home, I can manage everything'. It was the second year I was playing in the UK.

"At that time my ranking was very low so it was a crucial time for me to achieve some good results and keep my professional status. She means everything to me."

Wu, who uses a translator in his news conferences, shared a bed with his father in a windowless flat in the Steel City as he tried to carve out a career in professional snooker.

But his attacking style and individuality, in a sport known for its formal attire and disciplined approach, marked him out for greatness.

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan and Murphy, who won the title in 2005, both tipped him as a future world champion earlier in the campaign.

Jason Ferguson - chairman of the sport's governing body - says he and others have the ability to transform the sport and deliver "a changing of the tide".

He told BBC Sport: "This boy is just outstanding. I've known Wu for a number of years, known his father for many years and seen the struggles and the tough battles to get to this stage.

"You cannot believe what it means to that family to actually be in that arena holding that trophy. It's quite an incredible moment. We are seeing a changing of the tide and it has to happen.

"Wu is really now entering that era of becoming a great where he can go on and win and win and win."

Wu is seen as one of the new breed that is helping to shape the future of the game.

"This will not be seen simply as another sporting victory but as part of a broader generational storyline, following Zhao Xintong's breakthrough," said May Zhao, who has been in Sheffield to report for the International Sport Press Association.

"It confirms a new era for Chinese snooker at the very top level.

"The reaction in China will be enormous. During the peak moments, the number of viewers may have exceeded 100 million people."

Is Wu changing the face of snooker?

Zhao's victory 12 months ago was regarded as a seismic moment for Chinese snooker.

With Wu following in his footsteps, it suggests that a golden period has arrived for players from the Asian country and possibly a new chapter for the sport as a whole.

Wu's triumph at the International Championship in Nanjing last November was a breakthrough moment, lifting him to a then career-high 13th in the world rankings.

"After that win, he was received by the vice governor of the Gansu province and this will be much bigger than that," said Chinese snooker reporter Joe Liu, who works for World Snooker.

"Lanzhou is the capital of Gansu and is not a place where they have huge sports traditions or achievement, so this will be huge for his home city.

"During my time associating with him, at all the tournaments I've been to, I can sense his confidence. He's very confident and I think he knows he can do a lot more in the future."

Wu's world title win has propelled him to fourth in the rankings and only added fuel to the belief that Chinese players could dominate the sport for years to come, playing a new brand of snooker.

"The game is changing, shot selection is changing and the likes of Wu Yize are changing the face of snooker to make it much more aggressive," said six-time world champion Steve Davis during the BBC's TV coverage of the final.

"The modern-day players coming through have got to copy this. You can't win playing safe."

Seven-time winner Stephen Hendry added: "He's just brilliant. He plays the game properly and goes for the shots.

"He's obviously at a stage of his career when he's not had many scars and he's not thinking about the consequences of missing. He just gets on with it and he's having fun."

A changing of the guard?

Chinese players won three times on the professional circuit during 2024-25. That figure increased to seven from 23 events this season, albeit courtesy of only three players - Zhao, Xiao Guodong and Wu.

And they are not the only numbers that are trending positively.

The number of players from China appearing for the televised stage of the World Championship rose from a record 10 in 2025 to 11 this year.

Prior to the start of the tournament last year, only four - Ding Junhui, Zhang Anda, Xiao and Si Jiahui - sat inside the top 16.

This time there have been five, with Zhao and Wu added to the list and Zhang dropping out. Furthermore, 10 will start next term inside the top 32.

The top five players in the world were all British 12 months ago, but that is now no longer the case.

While John Higgins reached the last four in Sheffield and the final of the Masters this term, O'Sullivan's win at Alexandra Palace in January 2024 was the most recent occasion that a member of the sport's fabled 'Class of 92' won a Triple Crown event.

"There is a finite amount of time that a player can perform at the optimum level," said Ferguson.

"There is now a lot more talent chasing them and a lot more talent that's capable of winning. We've seen a big shift in the younger players. What we're seeing now is multiple players that can actually beat the 'Class of 92' and go all the way."

Liu echoed those comments, adding: "He's almost 30 years younger than those guys so I think we're definitely witnessing a change of era.

"A lot of players have already predicted Zhao will be the one who is in the dominant position in the next 10 years or so, but if Wu continues to grow in the next two or three years, he can up there together with Zhao."

However, it should be noted that English duo Mark Selby and Kyren Wilson, between them, hold five world titles and have won five tournaments this season, including the two other Triple Crown events - the UK Championship and the Masters.

“I hate when people try to set guys up like, ‘Aw man, …

Green said he believes the people stating that it was a legacy performance are the same ones who will be ready to blame Embiid if the 76ers fail to reach the conference championship – somewhere Embiid has never been since entering the league in 2014. “I hate when people try to set guys up like, ‘Aw man, this is a legacy game for Joel Embiid,’ only to set him up to try to tear him down in the weeks to come,” Green said. “I don’t like stuff like that. There’s no way a guy of Joel Embiid’s stature can have a legacy game in Round 1 and he still hasn’t accomplished, ultimately, what he wants to accomplish.”

NBC Sports Bay Area

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “I hate when people try to set guys up like, ‘Aw man, …

Pablo Torre wins Pulitzer Award for Clippers reporting

Before the start of the 2025-26 NBA season, the league was wrapped up in multiple controversies. For one, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups were among those arrested for alleged involvement in gambling schemes. But in September, reporting from "Pablo Torre Finds Out" also revealed another scandal: potential cap circumvention by the Los Angeles Clippers involving Kawhi Leonard. Pablo Torre, a journalist and podcaster also previously known for his time at ESPN, revealed the details of the potential cap circumvention involving the company Aspiration — and now, the team at "Pablo Torre Finds Out" is being rewarded for that story with the most prestigious honor in journalism, a Pulitzer Prize.

Sporting News

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Pablo Torre wins Pulitzer Award for Clippers reporting

Pep Guardiola issues spiky response to Michael Keane’s horror Jeremy Doku tackle

Pep Guardiola issues spiky response to Michael Keane’s horror Jeremy Doku tackle
Pep Guardiola issues spiky response to Michael Keane’s horror Jeremy Doku tackle
  • Jeremy Doku was the victim of a reckless challenge from Everton defender Michael Keane late in the first-half, leaving the Belgian sidelined for nearly a minute while receiving treatment.
  • Despite loud protests from the Manchester City bench and players on the pitch, referee Michael Oliver opted to brandish only a yellow card for the veteran Toffees defender.
  • Doku remained on the pitch, salvaging a 3-3 draw in a result that leaves City five points behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.

Pep Guardiola has hit out at the officiating during Monday night’s 3-3 draw against Everton, following a controversial decision over a heavy challenge on Jeremy Doku.

The match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium was defined by individual brilliance and physical intensity, as Manchester City initially led through a sensational Jeremy Doku opener before a second-half collapse saw Everton surge into a 3-1 lead.

While a late Erling Haaland strike and a 97th-minute Doku equaliser rescued a point, the post-match talk was dominated by Michael Keane’s robust tackle on City’s Belgian international star.

Match Report and Player Ratings: Everton 3-3 Manchester City (Premier League)

The challenge, which occurred just before the half-time break, saw Jeremy Doku require significant medical attention and left the Manchester City bench incensed at the lack of a red card.

The result has significant implications for the Premier League title race, handing Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal the chance to secure the trophy for the first time in over 20 years if they win their remaining games.

Pep Guardiola’s frustration was palpable, as the Catalan appeared to grow weary of questions surrounding the physical treatment his star flair player received during the encounter. With the FA Cup Final against Chelsea looming, any potential injury to Doku would no doubt be a catastrophic blow, given his importance over the last few weeks.

“It’s not my job”, says Pep Guardiola

When asked about the tackle, Pep Guardiola gave a characteristically quick-fire response, pointing towards subsequent punditry analysis to decide on the deserving punishment for Michael Keane.

“OK. Your pundits can say it,” Guardiola told Sky Sports.

Later addressing reporters during his post-match press conference, Guardiola continued, “What can I say? Yellow card. 50 seconds, Doku out, waiting to come back.”

On whether he personally felt the challenge was deserving of a red card, Pep Guardiola said, “It’s not my job.”

Doku’s fitness in the spotlight

The spiky nature of Pep Guardiola’s comments perhaps reflects a deeper concern regarding player protection, with Jeremy Doku’s ability to stay on and score a dramatic equaliser showing his own personal nature and willingness to continue for his side’s cause.

With a nightmare run-in of five games in the next 18 days, Guardiola certainly cannot afford to lose his most in-form creative outlet, with the focus now turning to recovery as City prepare for their next Premier League hurdle against Brentford at the Etihad Stadium.

“Why would I sign for Chelsea?” – Worrying admission after Chelsea lose to Forest

“Why would I sign for Chelsea?” – Worrying admission after Chelsea lose to Forest
“Why would I sign for Chelsea?” – Worrying admission after Chelsea lose to Forest

At one point yesterday, Chelsea were down to 10th in the league but moved back up to 9th after a late Manchester City goal.

It saved them some blushes of officially being midtable in the league but even still, 9th position is very dire for Chelsea Football Club. They should be nowhere near that position with all the money they have spent signing new players in the last four years since the new owners came in.

EXCLUSIVE! Chelsea contact former Blues player for shock return to the club this summer!

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Chelsea fans absolutely detest their owners right now for what they believe is them ruining the club from top to bottom. Another defeat yesterday, going down 3-1 at home to Nottingham Forest, saw many Chelsea fans leaving the game as early as the 75th minute because they’d had enough.

And former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher says he’d never sign for Chelsea as a young player right now.

Carragher is right

Jamie Carragher on the Overlap.

In fact, with his criticisms and concerns over the Chelsea owners in the last four years, Carragher was always right, even if he often got hammered for saying some of the things he said.

As you can see in the video posted on X, Carragher yet again made some really good points and he is spot on.

“If I was a young player, why would I sign for Chelsea?”

In other news today…

Joao Pedro has said it was an early goal that cost Chelsea against Nottingham Forest – but he had no answers to why his team start badly even if he says he feels sorry for the fans.

Four overpaid scammers who should be sacked right now were pictured at Stamford Bridge during the game yesterday looking very glum. A lot of our issues are their faults.

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Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:

Report: Bayern Munich heavily interested in Tornike Kvaratskhelia, little brother of PSG star Kvicha

24 April 2026, Bavaria, Munich: The logo and lettering of FC Bayern Munich can be seen on the facade of a fan store in the city center of Munich (Bavaria, Germany). FC Bayern München AG is a German soccer company that operates the professional soccer division of FC Bayern Munich. An FC Bayern Store is the official fan store of FC Bayern Muenchen, which sells a wide range of merchandise such as fan articles, jerseys and merchandise products. (company, brand, brand logo, soccer club, symbol image, symbol photo, illustration, symbolic photo, illustrative photo, theme image, general image, theme photo, club logo, brand logo, branding) Photo: Matthias Balk/dpa (Photo by Matthias Balk/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Looks like football runs in the Kvaratskhelia family. Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and his club PSG will face Bayern Munich in a Champions League semifinal second leg, in which the Georgian has already proven his class.

But while Bayern look to stop the former Napoli SC player, they are apparently also looking to sign his younger brother, Toni Kvaratskhelia (I am getting good at remembering to write that name). According to Georgian publication La Gazzetta Georgia (as captured by @iMiaSanMia) Bayern have even gone as far as to fly the 16-year-old to Munich:

Bayern are interested in signing Tornike Kvaratskhelia (16/left-winger), brother of PSG star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Kvaratskhelia flew to Munich, will have a meeting with Bayern officials and visit the club’s facilities as an introduction. The 16-year old was included in Dinamo Tbilisi’s first team squad for the first time last Saturday. Several other European clubs are also interested.

The first immediate snag in any potential transfer dealings would be that Bayern cannot sign Tornike before he turns 18. UEFA ruling stipulate Bayern cannot transfer a player from a non-EU country (such as Georgia) before this age. Bayern would not be able to bring Tornike before the first transfer window after his 18th birthday, which would be in the summer of 2028. Nor would the regulations, as current Bayern loanee Bara Sapoko Ndiaye is currently a very good example of, allow Tornike to play for the club’s youth teams. Bayern’s Uli Hoeness has already openly complained about the rules. This issue is the same one that prevented early Bayern interest in Kvicha Kvaratskhelia from becoming something from concrete nearly a decade go. It does not mean, however, that the transfer is impossible or that the player’s skill should not be discussed.

Tornike at first bears a lot of footballing similarities to his older brother. The youngster likes to play on the left, though he plays centrally as well, and his unbelievably quick movements with a surprisingly large frame make him seem a lot like his brother. If one wants to get something of an impression of the youngster and what kind of player he is, watch YouTube channel Geo Scout’s video here.

Interestingly enough, there is an established connection between Tornike’s club Dinamo Tbilisi and Bayern. In early 2023, Bayern signed highly rated youngster Luka Parkadze (as soon as he turned 18) from Tbilisi following a very promising trial. Parkadze’s time at Bayern was a huge disappointment, unfortunately, with huge injuries and a very poor development plan involving two unsuccessful loans in 2 and a half years leading to disappointment. 2025 marked the end of said 30 month period, with the Georgian moving to second division Austrian side SV Austria Salzburg.

Perhaps Bayern should neglect to tell Tornike how that went if the Bavarians wish to sign him.


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…

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Adriano, Samba, R.Larcos - ranking the most iconic video game footballers

Roberto Carlos, Adriano and David Beckham
[BBC]

The childhood bunk bed was a technicolour dreamcoat of late-night results, felt tip pen scribbled on the oak-stained frame a record of who was winning the ultimate, never-ending championship of brotherly video game encounters.

The history of our battles on Fifa and Pro Evolution Soccer died with the bunk bed. No-one wanted the 'Man Red v Merseyside Blue' decor, it seems. Time to move out and grow up, we thought, or at least channel more time into bleary-eyed Football Manager saves.

But every so often the teams we loved, formations we favoured and cult players we came to rely on spring up in nostalgia-fuelled conversation.

Trying to rank the most iconic football video game stars of all time is quite subjective, then - everyone has their favourite players, a personal bond with those little pixilated heroes who led them to virtual glory, the wonderkids they developed into world beaters.

But there are some who demand wider legendary status - the Fifa stars with searing pace, the PES forwards boasting net-busting boots, the Football Manager gems with outrageous potential.

I've attempted to rank some of the most iconic below, from 10 to 1, but would love to read your memories in the comments, too.

10. To Madeira (Championship Manager 01-02)

Deep in the Portuguese lower leagues a future Ballon d'Or contender was emerging at the turn of the century. To Madeira was a bargain wonderkid on Championship Manager 01-02, a guaranteed goal-getter available for a few hundred thousand pounds who would evolve into one of the game's greatest strikers.

It's just the youngster, who started out at small-town outfit Gouveia, never actually existed. The forward was slipped into the database by a local researcher by the name of Antonio Madeira.

Madeira, the real one, was probably unaware at the time his mischief would create a cult figure whose legacy lives on among early-noughties wannabe managers.

9. Marvell Wynne (Fifa 12)

Now, Marvell Wynne is very much real. The defender enjoyed a solid Major League Soccer career spanning a decade between 2006 and 2016, appearing for New York Red Bulls, Toronto, Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquakes.

So far, so forgettable for those fans who aren't MLS aficionados. Wynne, after all, came with a fairly average set of attributes on Fifa. Apart from one, his 96 pace.

That made him a one-on-one defensive phenomenon and turned him into a Fifa legend.

Wynne says he often gets tagged in Instagram posts about the fastest players in the game. But it wasn't a glitch, the American ran the 100m in 10.39 seconds in high school.

8. David Beckham (Fifa: Road to World Cup 98)

Sweeping on to this list like one of his trademark free-kicks, David Beckham makes it by virtue of being the cover star for Fifa: Road to World Cup 98 - a game which boasted a bit of everything and deserves a mention.

Full World Cup qualifying campaign with 174 teams, indoor mode - which was a breathless five-a-side feast with no throw-ins - red cards for slide-tackling the goalkeeper and the ability to customise kits.

All washed down to a belting soundtrack of Blur's Song 2.

7. Roberto Larcos (Pro Evolution Soccer)

Ryan Greggs. Ruud Vom Mistelroum, Ronarid... the early Pro Evolution Soccer titles were a peak era of arcade football. Not just because of the masterable game-play, but for the iconic made-up names Konami gave players, teams and stadiums.

Without a license, the makers had to get creative. Although it shouldn't take too many guesses to figure out who, on the opposite flank to Facu, Brazilian left-back Roberto Larcos was meant to represent.

The game nailed his short-step stuttering free-kick run-up and ability to belt a ball with whip and swerve off the outside of his boot. And he played for MD White.

6. Anthony Vanden Borre (Football Manager)

I could flood this list with Championship Manager 01-02 wonderkids - there is room for more later - but we'll just give honorary nods to Maksim Tsigalko, Mark Kerr, Mike Duff, Kennedy Bakircioglu et al.

It only feels right to include a legend from the Football Manager titles too, however.

Anthony Vanden Borre is that guy. A go-to signing from the same Anderlecht side that featured Vincent Kompany, the Belgian would blossom into a right-back with the attacking threat of Cafu, defensive composure of Lilian Thuram and passing range of Zinedine Zidane.

Initially dubbed a bigger talent than Kompany, in real life he didn't quite reach the same heights. But in the virtual world, my word this boy could play.

Tijani Babangida gets a shoulder ride from another video game legend, Taribo West
Tijani Babangida gets a shoulder ride from another video game legend, Taribo West [Getty Images]

5. Tijani Babangida (Pro Evolution Soccer)

Legend has it that Tijani Babangida was the fastest player in the world on the early Pro Evolution titles, the Nigeria and Ajax winger blessed with blistering pace and 99 acceleration, making him a Master League must.

In fact, Konami celebrated the PES series' 20th anniversary in 2016 by reintroducing Babangida as a player on the myClub mode.

He was always an effective buy as a youngster on Championship Manager, too, though not quite as special as brother Haruna - a teenager with frightening potential from Barcelona B.

4. Juninho Pernambucano (Pro Evolution Soccer)

There are few things more satisfying in life than winning a free-kick in any PES game from the mid-noughties and lining up behind it with Juninho Pernambucano.

The dip, the swerve, the knuckle-ball genius. This Brazilian boasted 99 for free-kick accuracy and his 'curling' stat wasn't far behind. The ball was heading top bins and everyone knew it.

Juninho made you want to play with Lyon (or 'Rhone'), a gateway to more legends such as Hatem Ben Arfa, Florent Malouda and Nilmar.

Tonton Zola Moukoko meeting room
Tonton Zola Moukoko has a meeting room named after him at Sports Interactive HQ [BBC]

3. Tonton Zolo Moukoko (Championship Manager 01-02)

"We went to a small village in Malaysia," Tonton Zola Moukoko told me. "I gave my passport to the officer. He was shocked. 'Are you really Tonton Zola Moukoko?' he asked. 'You can't be the one that was playing at Derby!'"

Moukoko's legend travelled far and wide, carried on fans' forums and whispered between Championship Manager anoraks. And there was truth in its roots.

Derby beat AC Milan and Bologna to sign the 15-year-old from Djurgardens in Sweden, where he moved from Democratic Republic of Congo to live with his brother after losing both parents.

He was a fledgling star in County's academy, whose attributes on the game would see him grow into a skilful number 10 in the mould of Lionel Messi, often ending up at Europe's biggest clubs.

At real-life youth or reserve games, fans would ask for his signature. But Moukoko never made a senior appearance at Derby. The death of his older brother saw him return to Sweden, and he spent his career in the lower Scandinavian leagues.

"Things happened around me which changed me a lot, changed my football career," he said. "I didn't really enjoy football any more.

"I found it very difficult to sleep for a long time after my brother died. Football was not the right thing for me after that."

Moukoko is happy, though, that his legend endures among those who signed him on the game: "Still now, I have people calling from Australia, France, all over the place."

2. Cherno Samba (Championship Manager 01-02)

The Championship Manager 01-02 edition was a goldmine for cult heroes, and Cherno Samba is arguably the most renowned.

He turned into a global superstar on screen, but in reality a career that began at Millwall zigzagged through Plymouth, Wrexham and Scandinavia before injury forced his retirement aged 29.

"I know players like Cherno Samba became legends because of how good they were on the game but didn't end up making it. For me, those players were data errors," Miles Jacobson, director of Football Manager, previously told me.

Samba, though, has seen his cult status work for him in other ways.

"I had to order a new phone from my network provider," he told BBC Sport in 2015. "I rang them up and was told to wait two to three months for it to arrive. I thought: 'No problem'.

"The guy then asked my name and I said: 'Cherno Samba'. With surprise, he asked: 'The one from Championship Manager? You'll get it the next day'."

Adriano profile on PES
[BBC]

1. Adriano (Pro Evolution Soccer)

Did you hear that? It was the sound of virtual ball breaking pixilated net. And it came from the boot of Adriano. If any ever game boasted a "cheat" code it was the Inter Milan forward on Pro Evo.

Adriano, at his peak, was a phenomenal forward - skilful and powerful with a venomous strike, racking up 48 caps and 27 goals for Brazil.

It's just when cast into the video game matrix, those attributes were only exaggerated. It made the forward unstoppable, his left foot a lethal weapon.

Blessed with a shot power of 99, what really earned Adriano legendary status among fans was the ability to thunder an effort into the top corner as soon as his avatar got within 40 yards of the net.

Adriano, when it comes to iconic video game stars, is the undoubted king.

Let us know your own favourites below. And at least I can now mark those button-bashing days on the bunk bed down as 'research'.

After yet another blowout win, the Knicks are looking like the class of the East

NEW YORK — If there was ever any concern that the New York Knicks, coming off their annihilation of the Atlanta Hawks and freshly minted as the new favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in the 2026 NBA Finals, had spent the last few days getting fat and happy, Mike Brown sought to assuage them.

Yes, the Knicks won eight more games than the Philadelphia 76ers during the regular season. And yes, they finished four seeds higher than the 76ers in the Eastern playoff bracket. But before Game 1 on Monday, the Knicks head coach emphasized that the iteration of the Sixers that would be coming into Madison Square Garden — one finally featuring a healthy three-headed monster in Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George — had New York’s full, undivided attention.

“You know, when that combination was on the floor together, they won, I think, almost 65% of their games,” Brown told reporters in his pregame news conference. “So, they were on pace to be almost a 60-win team. And if you're on pace to be a 60-win team — I can't remember what Boston did, but that's better than us, you know, record-wise. And they're completely healthy. So it's gonna be a tough series.”

(The Sixers were actually only 11-10 in the 21 games that their Big Three played together this season. But who can begrudge a coach his preferred motivational tactic?)

It may well still be a tough series. It wasn’t a tough Game 1, though — far from it. Because this Knicks team, which shifted into a dramatically higher gear in the second half of its series against the Hawks, is showing absolutely no signs of slowing down.

With a two-day rest advantage on a Sixers squad that was fighting for its life in Boston on Saturday night, New York looked the fresher, deeper, more balanced and significantly more offensively potent team, opening the Eastern Conference semifinals with an emphatic 137-98 beatdown to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven set.

Forty-eight hours after winning Game 7 in Boston, Philadelphia hung tight for a quarter before effectively running out of gas. The Knicks opened up a double-digit lead late in the first, pushed it to 16 on a pair of OG Anunoby baskets with four minutes to go in the second and never looked back.

“Honestly, you gotta take this game with a grain of salt and just kind of move forward,” Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson said after Philly struggled to string together much of anything for the bulk of the competitive portion of Monday’s proceedings. “I don't think we're gonna see that team that we saw in Game 1 in Game 2. They're gonna be ready to go.”

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse pulled his starters with more than five minutes to go in the third quarter and the Knicks leading by 31. They’d go up by as many as 40 in a fourth quarter that began with copious “WE WANT KOLEK!” chants from the Madison Square Garden faithful. (Tyler Kolek did indeed check in with 10:14 to go in the fourth quarter, scoring eight points with four assists as the reserves on both sides played out the string.)

That extended garbage time session came about because New York’s starters needed less than three quarters to set the terms of engagement. The perimeter defense that smothered the Hawks stifled Maxey, holding the All-Star guard to 13 points on 3-for-9 shooting with twice as many turnovers (four) as assists (two). Embiid drew his fair share of fouls, catching Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson and Anunoby often enough to work his way to nine free throws, but he couldn’t find his touch from the field, missing eight of his 11 shots en route to a quiet 14 points.

Well, quiet for him, anyway.

It appears that it will not take MSG two games to figure out which guy's the villain in this series. Extremely loud "F*** EMBIID" chants from literally the opening tip.

— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) May 5, 2026

George knocked down some pull-up 3s and generated some good looks attacking Towns and Robinson in the pick-and-roll when he ran the show early in the second quarter. For the most part, though, the Knicks grinded the Sixers down, holding Philly to 41.1% shooting from the field with 19 turnovers against 15 assists, and just 101 points per 100 possessions, according to Cleaning the Glass — a bottom-10 offensive performance of the season for Nurse’s club.

And that wasn’t nearly as ugly as what happened on the other end.

The Knicks had 33 points after 12 minutes, 74 points at halftime, and 109 at the end of three quarters. They shot 63.1% from the field — a franchise record for field-goal percentage in a playoff game. They went 19-of-37 from 3-point range — a franchise record for long-distance makes in a postseason contest. They had 34 assists — one more than they managed in Game 6 against Atlanta and more than any Knicks team has put up in a playoff game since 1990.

“Toward the end of the first, we just weren’t getting … six straight mid pick-and-rolls were just too easy,” Nurse said after the game. “It was just all … it wasn’t challenged. You gotta challenge one way or the other, at the rim or the 3. Somebody’s gotta be running out there to challenge. We couldn’t get around ’em, back in front of ’em. We left them open for too many wide-open 3s. We even gave up a couple of dunks behind us. We just gotta clean all that stuff up.”

Freed from the annoyance of trying to shed Dyson Daniels, Brunson got off to a roaring start, scoring 14 of his game-high 35 points in the first quarter to set the tone. His 27-point first half was the second-highest-scoring playoff half by any Knick in the play-by-play era, which stretches back to the 1996-97 season, trailing only … Jalen Brunson, who scored 28 points against the Pacers in the first half of Game 5 in 2024.

Towns continued to facilitate from the high post in Brown’s reoriented offense, attacking when driving lanes opened up and stepping back for 3s when Embiid and Andre Drummond sagged off him in drop coverage. He finished with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks in 20 minutes. (Towns had seven six-assist games over the course of the regular season; he has now dropped six or more dimes in four straight playoff games.)

Anunoby continued to flex his shot-making and basket-attacking muscles to the tune of 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting. Mikal Bridges built on his Game 6 breakout against Atlanta, aggressively looking for his shot, hunting early-offense opportunities in transition and making some great extra passes on his way to 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting and five assists in 26 minutes, all while working overtime to stay connected to Maxey.

“[Bridges has] been our starting two guard all year, and he's had a really good season, so for me, it was easy, you know, to stick with him,” Brown said after the game when asked about Bridges’ breakthrough after such a rocky start to the Atlanta series. “I mean, as a coach, it's up to me to think about everything — whether I need to change this or change that. I'm always thinking. But in terms of sticking with him, it's a no-brainer.”

With the starters combining for 95 points on 54 field-goal attempts, the Knicks scored a scorching 141.2 points per 100 possessions, according to Cleaning the Glass — a top-10 offensive performance of the season for a New York team that seems to have reached a terrifying new level as April turns to May.

Knicks are first team in play by play era (since 1997) to take a lead of 30+ points in 3 straight playoff games, per @sportradar

— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) May 5, 2026

The Knicks have now played 16 straight quarters in which they’ve looked basically untouchable, outscoring the Hawks and now the Sixers to a degree that is unmatched in NBA postseason history …

New York has outscored their opponents by a combined 135 points in the last 4 games, the biggest point differential in any 4-game span in NBA playoff history.@Stathead

— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) May 5, 2026

… and maybe the most exciting thing about it, if you’re a Knicks fan, is that they do not seem at all satisfied with or impressed by themselves.

“We're playing well, but it doesn't mean anything if we can't find a way to get three more wins, so we’ve just got to stick to the task at hand,” Towns said when presented with the plus-135 statistic. “You said it’s the last four games? The key word is ‘last.’ It doesn't have anything to do with the next three, four, five, six. You know, we got to stay locked in and be disciplined and execute at a high level.”

And if you can maintain that focus, that discipline and that execution, you can go from a team that looked adrift at times in the dead of winter to one that looks more and more like a championship contender as the weather warms.

“That's why you play a season — that's why you go through the ups and downs of the season,” Brunson said. “That's why you go through adversity. You know, you find things to make you the best team as possible by the end of the year, and you continue to work. And even when you're at this point, you continue to find ways to get better and improve. There's never a time where you look back and you say, ‘All right, we're good now, and we don't have to continue to work or to continue to get better.’ It's not the case at all. You continue to fight. You continue to improve, you find ways, whether it's mental or physical, to get better.”

These Knicks continue finding those ways, treating these postseason challenges as a proving ground — an opportunity to exhibit and sharpen a relentless drive to sweat all the small stuff that can wind up having a massive impact.

“They're trying to focus on the details, no matter what the score is,” Brown said. “They're still trying to stay locked in, and it shows by, you know, whether we're up double digits or not, we're still diving on the floor for loose balls. We're still trying to get out in transition and get to the corners to put pressure on the defense. You know, we're still trying to play the right way.”

Let’s be honest, Coach: Right now, the Knicks are doing a hell of a lot more than trying.

“I mean, I can't deny it,” Brown said. “Our guys are playing pretty good basketball.”

MLB Injury Report: Ronald Acuña Jr. sidelined with hamstring strain, Jackson Chourio shines in season debut

In this week’s Injury Report, Jackson Chourio returns to make his season debut for the Brewers. The Tigers’ rotation takes a hit with defending Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal set for a lengthy absence. The early-round hits keep coming as Ronald Acuña Jr. lands on the injured list with a hamstring strain. Let's break it all down as we run through the relevant injury news around baseball.

⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

Tarik Skubal (elbow)

Skubal came out of his last start reportedly feeling fine despite a check-in with a trainer in the seventh inning. Turns out, the two-time AL Cy Young winner was not fine. He was scratched from his start on Monday as a precaution, and it took all of about ten minutes to report that he needed surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. Hunter Greene and Spencer Schwellenbach underwent the same procedure before the season, with a projected return timeline sometime after the All-Star break. And Edwin Díaz is looking at a three-month recovery, as well. It seems like in a best-case scenario, we get six weeks of Skubal to end the season, something he may be more motivated to do as a pending free agent. But in leagues without IL spots, he’s probably a drop.

Ronald Acuña Jr. (hamstring)

Skubal wasn’t the only first-round pick to hit the injured list this week. Acuña pulled up, grabbing at his hamstring as he ran out of the box on a ground ball in the second inning on Saturday. He was placed on the 10-day injured list on Sunday. Imagining revealed a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, which was much better news than expected. The timeline of a Grade 1 strain varies, but I wouldn’t expect the 28-year-old star back after the minimum. But a return before June could be in play. For reference, Jeremy Peña has been sidelined since April 11 with a Grade 1 strain.

Ryan Helsley (elbow)

Another week, another closer goes down. Helsley was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 29 with right elbow inflammation. The 31-year-old right-hander was one of the top-performing closers over the first month, posting a 2.53 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 15 strikeouts over 10 2/3 innings while going 7-for-7 in save chances. An MRI revealed no structural damage, and he’ll be reevaluated later this week to determine a plan to resume throwing. Barring any setbacks, we could see him back before the end of the month. Of course, the occurrence of elbow inflammation will put him at an elevated risk of re-injury throughout the season. Rico Garcia could be in line to handle closing duties in Helsley’s absence.

Joe Ryan (elbow)

Ryan threw nine pitches on Sunday against the Blue Jays before leaving the game with a trainer in the first inning with right elbow soreness. There’s been no word on the severity of Ryan’s injury or what exactly he’s dealing with, but the team is expected to provide an update on Tuesday. It’s a good sign that Ryan traveled with the team ahead of their series opener against the Nationals.

Garrett Crochet (shoulder)

Crochet hit the 15-day injured list last week with left shoulder inflammation. It came as a surprise following one of his better starts in which he struck out seven batters over six shutout innings against the Orioles. While there’s no timetable for a return, an MRI revealed no structural damage, and he played catch on Sunday. Of course, the Red Sox will likely be extra cautious with their ace.

Jackson Chourio(hand)

Andrew Vaughn (hand)

Christian Yelich (groin)

The Brewers are getting some much-needed major reinforcements back, activating both Chourio and Vaughn on Monday. Chourio made his season debut after suffering a broken hand during the World Baseball Classic, making an impact right away, going 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles. In fact, all four of his hits were on batted balls of over 102 mph. Vaughn had been missing in action since late March with a hamate bone fracture. While the young star Chourio was universally stashed, Vaughn deserves some consideration in deeper leagues after hitting .309 with nine homers over 64 games with the Brewers last season. Meanwhile, Yelich is inching closer to a return as he recovers from a groin injury that has sidelined him since April 14. He took batting practice on Monday and is still aiming to return in mid to late May. The Brewers have a team WRC+ of 88 since Yelich hit the injured list.

Jackson Chourio just doubled on his first swing of 2026... pic.twitter.com/mgetVFEJ1f

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) May 4, 2026

Yainer Diaz (oblique)

Diaz was scratched from Monday’s lineup with what was described as an abdominal injury. After the game, manager Joe Espada indicated he’ll be placed on the 10-day injured list with an oblique issue. The team recalled César Salazar in anticipation of the move. Christian Vasquez will step in as the primary catcher in Diaz’s absence. The 27-year-old backstop hasn’t exactly been lighting it up, hitting .248/.264/.356 with two homers and 14 RBI across 106 plate appearances.

Josh Hader (shoulder)

After a couple of live batting practice sessions, Hader is ready to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday. The 32-year-old left-hander is on the 60-day injured list and eligible to be activated on May 24. So he’ll have plenty of time to build up and be ready for activation, barring any setbacks.

Brandon Woodruff (shoulder)

Woodruff left his start against the Diamondbacks last Thursday in the second inning. You knew something was wrong when he topped out at just 86.9 mph. It was no surprise when he landed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. Woodruff seemed to downplay the issue, calling it a dead arm situation. He’ll begin his throwing program this week, signaling it could be a short stay on the IL. Woodruff’s injury opened the door for Logan Henderson, who struck out eight over six innings in his first start on Sunday. The talented 24-year-old right-hander deserves to be added in all formats.

Roman Anthony (wrist)

Anthony’s status will be one to watch this week. He was removed from Monday’s game against the Tigers in the first inning following an awkward swing with right wrist discomfort. X-rays came back negative for any fractures, but Anthony will travel back to Boston for further evaluation, meaning he’ll likely miss at least a couple of games.

Cal Raleigh (side)

Raleigh will be another one to look out for on Tuesday. He missed his third consecutive game on Monday since experiencing right side tightness during Friday's contest against the Royals. The 29-year-old slugger indicated that he's feeling better, but the Mariners should have an update following an MRI. A trip to the injured list seems to remain in play.

Where to watch DC vs CSK IPL 2026 match: TV channel, live stream details and start time in India

In a mid-table IPL clash, Delhi Capitals take on Chennai Super Kings in Delhi on Tuesday.

DC have been struggling to build consistency this term but defeated Rajasthan Royals by seven runs, chasing a target of  highlighting their unpredictable form.

Coming off an eight-wicket win over Mumbai Indians, it's been a similar story for CSK; however, with their fours wins coming in the last six games.

In this article, The Sporting News takes you through all the details related to how and where to watch the IPL 2026 match between Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings.

Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

Where to watch DC vs CSK: Live stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch the Delhi Capitals vs. Chennai Super Kings IPL 2026 game in India:

  • TV channel: Star Sports Network channels
  • Live stream: JioHotstar app and website

IPL 2026 matches are available for live TV broadcast across Star Sports Network channels in India. Fans can also watch the live stream on the JioHotstar app and website.

MORE: Visit Cricket News for all the latest cricket coverage and opinion

What time does DC vs CSK match kick off?

The IPL 2026 match between Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings will be played at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, Delhi.

The match will start at 7:30 p.m. IST on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

MORE: Which teams are out of IPL 2026 playoffs contention?

DC vs CSK lineups, team news

DC are boosted with Lungi Ngidi's availability after coming back from an injury and providing depth to their fast bowling lineup.

Mitchell Starc will continue after making an impact on his comeback. However, there will be a few decisions to make about the middle order players such as Sameer Rizvi and David Miller.

Delhi Capitals predicted XI: Pathum Nissanka, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Sameer Rizvi / David Miller, Axar Patel (c), Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Lungi Ngidi.

CSK are still without MS Dhoni, who is absent because of an injury sustained in the calf muscle and has not travelled with the team.

There are unlikely to be any changes after the win against MI.

Chennai Super Kings predicted XI: Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Urvil Patel, Kartik Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Prashant Veer, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary.

DC vs CSK: Betting odds

Delhi Capitals are the favourites to win this IPL 2026 match at 1.78 on Dafa, while the odds for Chennai Super Kings to win are 2.06.

* Odds are correct at time of publish but subject to change.

Related links:

In Pictures: Relive Coventry City's promotion party

Thousands of people crowd around a bus surrounded on all sides by police officers in high-vis jackets. many of the people are carrying flares giving off lots of blue smoke. Many are also carrying light blue Coventry City flags. At the centre is the open top bus with the team at the top. At thr front is a sign, reading: "We are back"
[PA Media]

More than 50,000 people turned out to celebrate in Coventry's War Memorial Park as the Sky Blues celebrated winning the Championship title.

Thousands more lined the streets as the team showed off the trophy having claimed the top spot 11 points ahead of Ipswich.

It means the club will return to the Premier League next season after a 25-year absence.

Fans standing on make-do platforms to get a better view. One is carrying a Coventry City flag
[BBC]
The bus leaving the CBS Arena with a large crowd behind fencing on the right
[PA Media]
Fans lining the street as the bus approaches, with police in front of it in high-vis jackets. One young fan in the foreground on the left is on an adult's shoulders
[PA Media]
Coventry City owner Doug King holding Frank Lampard's arm aloft, while holding a microphone on stage. Several members of the team are behind them, with a giant screen in the background
[PA Media]

Speaking to BBC Radio CWR, club chairman Doug King said Monday's celebrations summed up why he had bought the club

"This was my day today... this is why I did it. It was massive," he said.

"It's been bigger than I thought it would be."

Jamie Allen is on a team-mate's shoulders, holding the Championship trophy aloft on stage. Lots of other players are in the background, smiling
[PA Media]
A players view from the stage at War Memorial Park. Thousands of fans are behind barriers, looking towards the stage
[PA Media]
Tom Grennan is wearing a light brown jacket and holding a red BBC CWR microphone. He is speaking to radio presenter Lorna  Bailey, who is in a denim jacket and holding two microphones. there is a TV camera on the right and yellow demountables and white marquees in background
[BBC]

Singer Tom Grennan said he "fell in love" with Coventry City when he first went to watch them 10 years ago.

"This city has taken me in and called me one of their own, and it doesn't ever get better than that. Every time I'm down here I feel like I'm from Cov," he said.

BBC CWR sports presenter Rob Gurney has his right arm around Brandon Thomas-Asante. Both are sporting light blue bucket hats
[BBC]
Frank Lampard is on stage with his hands on the shoulders of midfielder Josh Eccles
[PA Media]

Addressing the crowd at a raucous War Memorial Park, Sky Blues coach Frank Lampard said the turnout and the fans' response had been "amazing" and it had meant a lot to him and all the players.

Band The Enemy are on stage performing. One is holding a green guitar singing into a microphone, while another in a red t-shirt is playing a bass. In the background is a screen reading: The Enemy. Monitor speakers are in the foreground on the front of the stage
[BBC]
A member of the The Enemy holding a bass guitar and wearing a bright red t-shirt and blue jeans grinning on stage
[BBC]
A sea of fans dressed in sky blue can be seen from the stage as the team holds the Championship cup
[Coventry City Council]
Blue fireworks go off behind the stage at the Memorial Park event
[Coventry City Council]

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📸 See Chivas' commemorative shirt for their 120th anniversary

📸 See Chivas' commemorative shirt for their 120th anniversary

Chivas is preparing to celebrate its 120th anniversary with a commemorative jersey that pays tribute to its history and tradition in Mexican soccer.

With the message: "120 years of history you wear on your skin. Be part of the legacy!" the Rebaño announced the sale of the jersey, which features red stripes, the years of its existence on the collar, and a blue logo in the center. 

This would be the Guadalajara side’s last collaboration with Pumas amid the supposed arrival of Nike.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Prep sports recap for May 4, 2026

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — RJ Duncheon hurt Morton with his arm and his bat.

The East Peoria senior tossed a one-hitter with ten strikeouts as East Peoria blanked Morton, 6-0, at Westwood Park on Monday. The win pulls East Peoria (15-8, 7-2) into a second-place tie with Morton and Metamora in the tight Mid-Ilini Conference race.

Duncheon, an Illinois State recruit, also belted a home run in the win. With the loss, Morton (17-7, 7-2) is knocked out of first place in the conference.

Dunlap (21-4, 8-1) is in sole possession of first after a 4-1 win over visiting Washington. Metamora (18-4, 7-2) won its ninth straight game, a 7-4 decision over visiting Limestone, to forge a three-way tie for second with Morton and East Peoria.

Other baseball winners Monday included Normal Community, Normal West, Pekin and Tremont, which locked up the Heart of Illinois Conference with a 5-1 win at rival Deer Creek-Mackinaw.

In softball, East Peoria won at Metamora, 5-2.

East Peoria won baseball and softball games but lost an all-state basketball player. Junior wingman Quinton Kitt will play his final year at a prep school, EP head coach Jarrett Brown confirmed on Monday.

The 6-foot-6 Kitt is a University of Illinois recruit.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid – Match preview and team news

Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid – Match preview and team news
Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid – Match preview and team news

Arsenal host Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night with a place in the Champions League final on the line.

The first leg in Madrid finished as a 1–1 draw last week after Viktor Gyökeres and Julián Álvarez both found the net from the penalty spot. Arsenal enter this fixture six points clear at the top of the Premier League after comfortably beating Fulham 3–0 on Saturday.

That result provided a significant boost for Mikel Arteta’s side as they attempt to reach their first final in this competition since 2006. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid rested several first-team stars during their 2–0 weekend win over Valencia.

Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid – Match preview and team news

  • Competition: UEFA Champions League
  • Date: Tuesday, 5 May 2026
  • Kick-off: 20:00 BST
  • Venue: Emirates Stadium
  • Referee: Daniel Siebert
  • VAR: Bastian Dankert
  • Last Meeting: Atletico Madrid 1–1 Arsenal (29 April 2026, Champions League)

Team news

Arsenal

Mikel Arteta is keeping his fingers crossed that Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz will be passed fit to feature. Ødegaard is dealing with a knee issue while Havertz has a muscular problem. Bukayo Saka was withdrawn at the break against Fulham, but the move was a precautionary measure. However, Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino are definitely ruled out for this crucial second leg. Martin Zubimendi and Piero Hincapie are both expected to be restored to the starting lineup.

Atletico Madrid

Julián Álvarez is expected to lead the line despite hobbling off during the second half of the first leg. The Argentine has been included in the traveling squad along with fellow doubts Giuliano Simeone and Alexander Sørloth. However, Pablo Barrios and Nico Gonzalez remain unavailable for the visitors due to thigh injuries. Jose Gimenez is also ruled out with a muscular problem. Antoine Griezmann could make his 128th appearance in major European competition.

Form

Arsenal

Arsenal left Madrid feeling they could have done more after a controversial disallowed penalty. They recovered with a cohesive attacking display on Saturday to brush aside Fulham. The Gunners remain the only unbeaten team in this season’s competition. They also boast the meanest defence, having conceded just six goals in thirteen matches. Arteta’s side has only lost two of their last twenty-three matches in the Champions League.

Atletico Madrid

Atletico approach the return fixture after rotating heavily during a 2–0 victory over Valencia. Diego Simeone’s side has rediscovered its winning feeling despite a run of seven defeats in eight games this spring. The visitors have lost six of their last seven away games against English opposition. That said, they have scored a club-record thirty-five goals in the tournament this season. Simeone aims to reach the final for the third time during his tenure.

Predicted lineups

Arsenal Predicted XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Gyökeres, Martinelli

Atletico Madrid Predicted XI: Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Le Normand, Ruggeri; Simeone, Koke, Cardoso, Lookman; Alvarez, Griezmann

How to watch Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid?

The match on Tuesday, 5th May 2026, can be watched live in the UK on Amazon Prime Video. Kick-off is at 20:00 BST at the Emirates Stadium. Subscribers can stream the contest via the Amazon Prime Video app on various devices.

Read more- Joao Pedro matches Hasselbaink and Costa feat for Chelsea

See Also- Fabregas in no rush to make Premier League move amid Chelsea links

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Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid – Predicted lineup and team news

Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid – Predicted lineup and team news
Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid – Predicted lineup and team news

Arsenal face Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, aiming to secure their first European final berth in twenty years.

The Gunners have been remarkably consistent in the Champions League this season and remain the only unbeaten team left in the tournament. Mikel Arteta’s men have already defeated Los Rojiblancos 4–0 on home soil during the league phase earlier this campaign. That said, Diego Simeone’s side has netted a club-record thirty-five goals in the competition this term.

Arsenal team news

Mikel Arteta remains hopeful that Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz can overcome knee and muscle issues to feature. Both players are currently listed as doubts, although Arteta is keeping his fingers crossed for a positive update.

Bukayo Saka was substituted at half-time against Fulham as a precautionary measure and is expected to start on the right flank. However, Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are definitely ruled out through foot and groin injuries, respectively.

Martin Zubimendi is poised to return to the engine room after being rested during the weekend victory. Myles Lewis-Skelly excelled in midfield against Fulham but will likely make way for the more experienced Spaniard.

Meanwhile, Piero Hincapie is expected to start at left-back instead of Riccardo Calafiori. Viktor Gyökeres aims to become just the third player to score in both legs of a semi-final for a Premier League team.

Declan Rice remains a vital presence for the hosts after leading all players in the first leg for line-breaking passes and progressive carries. David Raya has prevented more goals than any other goalkeeper in the competition since the start of last season.

Arsenal average just 0.65 goals conceded per game under Arteta in this tournament, the lowest ratio of any manager with twenty or more games. The Gunners can set a new club record of fourteen consecutive matches without defeat if they avoid a loss on Tuesday.

Arsenal predicted lineup

Arsenal predicted XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Gyökeres, Martinelli.

When will the match kick off?

The Champions League semi-final second leg at the Emirates Stadium kicks off at 20:00 BST on Tuesday, 5th May 2026.

How to watch Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid?

UK supporters can watch the match live on Amazon Prime Video. Fans can also follow the action via the Amazon Prime app or website on various devices.

Read more- Joao Pedro matches Hasselbaink and Costa feat for Chelsea

See Also- Fabregas in no rush to make Premier League move amid Chelsea links

Follow the Football Faithful on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTubeTikTok

Real Madrid President Florentino Perez angry with Kylian Mbappe – expected to feature in El Clasico

Real Madrid President Florentino Perez angry with Kylian Mbappe – expected to feature in El Clasico
Real Madrid President Florentino Perez angry with Kylian Mbappe – expected to feature in El Clasico

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has statistically had arguably the best season of any player at the Santiago Bernabeu, yet it has not halted a growing discontent with the Frenchman. As he recovers from a hamstring injury, Los Blancos are keen to see him feature during El Clasico.

Mbappe traveled to Sardinia with girlfriend Ester Exposito over the weekend, and as Real Madrid were preparing to kick off against Espanyol, in an attempt to prevent Barcelona from winning La Liga, he was seen disembarking from a private jet in the Madrid airport. It was a move that was seen as disrespectful in the Spanish media, and without naming names, manager Alvaro Arbeloa questioned his commitment.

Mbappe relations with Real Madrid squad deteriorating

As per Marca, between his trip to Paris in March while he was injured, and his latest jaunt to Cagliari during a delicate time, it has served not only to irritate the fans, but has gone down poorly in the dressing room. They note that the relationship with many teammates and coaches is more distant, and that there is far more affection for Vinicius Junior than Mbappe.

It is added by Diario AS that while Mbappe had permission to continue his recovery in Cagliari, his lack of discretion with his arrival back in the Spanish capital has gone down poorly. They were not banking on a public fallout as a result of it.

Florentino Perez wants Mbappe against Barcelona

Mbappe is set to undergo further tests on Wednesday to determine whether he can return to action this weekend, as Real Madrid travel to Camp Nou to face Barcelona in El Clasico. Sport report that President Florentino Perez is not happy with Mbappe and his attitude. He expects Mbappe to be fit to face the Catalan side, and wants him out on the pitch, despite the fact the tests are yet to take place.

Certainly after two years without a major trophy, Mbappe is increasingly under pressure to deliver. Even if his goal record is beyond doubt, the dysfunction of the team, and their lack of success has found a number of Real Madrid’s stars called out for their performances. Mbappe is increasingly being referred to as part of the problem.

Atletico Madrid predicted lineup and team news vs Arsenal

Atletico Madrid predicted lineup and team news vs Arsenal
Atletico Madrid predicted lineup and team news vs Arsenal

Atletico Madrid is set to face Arsenal in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final at the Emirates Stadium in London on Tuesday night.

Both teams failed to find a winning goal in the first leg and will now look to secure their spot in the final.

It has been 10 years since Atletico Madrid reached the UCL final in 2016, while Arsenal played their only UCL final back in 2006.

Atletico Madrid team news

Atletico arrives in London with several key players winning their race against time.

Julian Alvarez is in the 25-man squad and expected to lead the line despite suffering an ankle scare in the first leg.

He is joined by Giuliano Simeone, Alexander Sorloth, and Jose Maria Gimenez, all of whom have recovered from recent knocks to make the trip.

While the return of Jan Oblak in goal provides a massive boost after he was rested over the weekend, Diego Simeone will be without Pablo Barrios and Nico Gonzalez, who are both sidelined with thigh injuries.

Diego Simeone is expected to maintain a disciplined 4-4-2 shape, with Johnny Cardoso and Koke starting in midfield and Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann starting up front in a bid to outscore their opponent.

Atletico Madrid predicted lineup

Possible Atletico Madrid starting XI: Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Koke, Cardoso, Lookman; Alvarez, Griezmann

When will the match kick off?

The match will kick off at 8pm BST on Tuesday, 5th May.

How to watch Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid?

In the UK, the Champions League semi-final second leg between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid will be broadcast exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

Read Also – Chelsea provide positive update on Jesse Derry injury

See More – Nottingham Forest thrash Chelsea to near Premier League safety

Follow the Football Faithful on Social Media:

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New ballot world record for 2027 London Marathon

London Marathon runners with the London Eye in the background
A record 59,000 people took part in the 2026 London Marathon [Getty Images]

A record number of people have applied to participate in the 2027 London Marathon via the public ballot.

In total, 1,338,544 people have applied for the event which will take place on 25 April, breaking last year's record of 1,133,813.

The 2026 marathon had a record 59,830 finishers and was the biggest annual one-day fundraising event in the world.

"This astonishing total of applicants firmly establishes London as the world's most sought-after marathon," said Hugh Brasher, chief executive of London Marathon Events.

"Nothing else comes close. Our mission is to inspire people of every age and ability to get active - and these extraordinary numbers show the massive draw and power of the London Marathon."

The ballot results will be released early in July, with places allocated through a random draw.

It is the first time that more than a million applications from the UK alone have been submitted, and there was near parity in male and female registrations.

At last weekend's historic event, Kenya's Sabastian Sawe ran the first sub-two-hour marathon in a competitive race, and Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa broke her own women's world record.

Organisers look at expanding event to two days

The possibility of holding the 2027 London Marathon across two days - Saturday and Sunday - is still being explored.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, Brasher said he hoped it would be confirmed by the end of May.

"This is for one year only. We are engaging, and have been engaging for a long time, with a lot of stakeholders," he said.

"Rightly, they want us to go through a process to ensure what we do is appropriate. People will get disrupted - it's never happened before on a Saturday.

"There are lots of plans and mitigations that we've got and we would have do some unique things.

"But I think this shows the desire, the need, for the country. More than £400m of economic and social benefit would happen as a result of the two days, and we believe more than £150m would be raised for charities.

"It would be a one-off. We hope to get there - we're not there yet. I'm positive it's the right thing to do."

High school girls golf: 4A region recaps 2026, Orem, Pine View, Park City, Green Canyon win region titles

High school girls 5A golf championship at Glendale Golf Course in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
High school girls 5A golf championship at Glendale Golf Course in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

The 4A girls golf regular season came to a close last week, as the focus now shifts to Glendale Golf Course in Salt Lake City this Wednesday and Thursday for the 4A state tournament.

Orem, Pine View, Park City and Green Canyon won their respective region championships and will each be in the hunt for the 4A state title. Crimson Cliffs is the defending 4A state champs.

The low golfers in each 4A region were Orem’s Kaylee Westfall (71.31), Crimson Cliffs’ Kate Walker (69), Park City’s Ella Henderson (73.3) and Green Canyon’s Renna McMullin (79.2).

Here’s a look at the final region results from all three 4A regions.

Region 8

Final team standings

Stroke average — School

  • 334.6 — Orem
  • 351.4 — Timpanogos
  • 388.6 — Uintah
  • 392.3 — Mountain  View
  • 493 — Provo

Final Individual standings

Stroke average — School

  • 71.31 — Kaylee Westfall, Orem
  • 78.83 — Emma Hill, Orem
  • 85.33 — Holly Fisher, Timpanogos
  • 86.77 — Christy Merrell, Uintah
  • 86.81 — Callie Magleby, Timpanogos
  • 87.82 — Samantha Standfield, Timpanogos
  • 88.52 — Skylar Camberlango, Orem
  • 89.24 — Gretchen Kondel, Timpanogos
  • 92.99 — Lilly Gordon, Mountain View
  • 94.61 — Eva Roberts, Mountain View

Most recent tournament (April 20)

At Fox Hollow Golf Course

  • 75 — Kaylee Westfall, Orem
  • 82 — Emma Hill, Orem
  • 89 — Holly Fisher, Timpanogos
  • 94 — Christy Merrell, Uintah
  • 90 — Callie Magleby, Timpanogos
  • 89 — Samantha Standfield, Timpanogos
  • 93 — Skylar Camberlango, Orem
  • 88 — Gretchen Kondel, Timpanogos
  • 97 — Lilly Gordon, Mountain View
  • 91 — Eva Roberts, Mountain View

Most recent tournament (April 21)

At Fore Lakes Golf Course

  • 67 — Kaylee Westfall, Orem
  • 66 — Emma Hill, Orem
  • 73 — Holly Fisher, Timpanogos
  • 77 — Christy Merrell, Uintah
  • 75 — Callie Magleby, Timpanogos
  • 74 — Samantha Standfield, Timpanogos
  • 75 — Skylar Camberlango, Orem
  • 77 — Gretchen Kondel, Timpanogos
  • 87 — Lilly Gordon, Mountain View
  • 90 — Eva Roberts, Mountain View

Region 9

Final team standings

Stroke average — School

  • 337 — Pine View
  • 339 — Crimson Cliffs
  • 361 — Dixie
  • 376 — Snow Canyon
  • 395 — Hurricne
  • 419 — Cedar
  • 419 — Desert Hills

Final individual standings

Stroke average — School

  • 69 — Kate Walker, Crimson Cliffs
  • 74 — Brynlee Welch, Crimson Cliffs
  • 75 — Molli Mulhall, Pine View
  • 82 — Piper Burgess, Dixie
  • 83 — Mattisen Wieland, Pine View
  • 85 — Brooklyn Kendrick, Snow Canyon
  • 88 — Malea Andrew, Pine View
  • 89 — Ella Phelps, Dixie
  • 90 — Penny Ashley, Dixie
  • 92 — Allison Bergeson, Cedar
  • 92 — Addison Butterfus, Pine View
  • 92 — Hearten McMurdie, Snow Canyon

Region 10

Final team standings

Stroke average — School

  • 325.6 — Park City
  • 323.5 — Juan Diego
  • 344.1 — Highland
  • 360.6 — East
  • 362.5 — Cottonwood
  • 375.1 — Judge
  • 420.4 — Murray
  • 511.5 — Jordan

Final Individual standings

Stroke average — School

  • 73.3 — Ella Henderson, Park City
  • 77.2 — Amelia Swenson-Pruss, Highland
  • 78.2 — Isabella Werner, Juan Diego
  • 79.5 — Sabrina Macias, Juan Diego
  • 81 — Ava Werner, Juan Diego
  • 82.3 — Nicole Nelson, Cottonwood
  • 83.3 — Maddie Hadar, Park City
  • 84.4 — Ava Miller, Park City
  • 86 — Camila Macias, Juan Diego
  • 86.8 — Chloe Aldous, Park City

Most recent tournament (April 27)

At Meadowbrook Golf Course

  • 74 — Ella Henderson, Park City
  • 77 — Maddie Hadar, Park City
  • 78 — Isabella Werner, Juan Diego
  • 78 — Sabrina Macias, Juan Diego
  • 79 — Kelly Hough, Park City
  • 79 — Amelia Swenson-Pruss, Highland
  • 80 — Nicole Nelson, Cottonwood
  • 82 — Alexis Burt, Juan Diego
  • 84 — Zoe Bystrov, Highland
  • 84 — Caroline Gardner, Highland

Region 11

Final team standings

Stroke average — School

  • 359.00 — Green Canyon
  • 380.78 — Sky View
  • 384.33 — Bear River
  • 391.78 — Ridgeline
  • 396.22 — Tooele
  • 402.44 — Stansbury
  • 409.78 — Mountain Crest
  • 517.57 — Deseret Peak

Final individual standings

Stroke average — School

  • 78.2 — Renna McMullin, Green Canyon
  • 84.4 — Ava Feser, Sky View
  • 85.8 — Jaylee Blotter, Green Canyon
  • 86.2 — Norah Mortensen, Green Canyon
  • 86.8 — Brooklyn Hillman, Tooele
  • 89.4 — Addi Holm, Stansbury
  • 89.8 — Maggie Garn, Bear River
  • 89.8 — Katelyn Bolin, Stansbury
  • 89.8 — Hayden Lusk, Tooele
  • 90.6 — Eva McKay, Sky View

Most recent tournament (April 22)

At Schneiter’s Riverside Golf Course

  • 81 — Renna McMullin, Green Canyon
  • 89 — McKenna Earl, Bear River
  • 89 — Katelyn Bolin, Stansbury
  • 90 — Eva McKay, Sky View
  • 90 — Brooklyn Hillman, Tooele
  • 90 — Hayden Lusk, Tooele
  • 91 — Norah Mortensen, Green Canyon
  • 91 — Kenedi Bywater, Bear River
  • 91 — Morgan Coombs, Bear River
  • 93 — Rylie McGinnis, Mountain Crest

Spurs HC remains absolute about timeout decision in loss to T'Wolves

Spurs HC remains absolute about timeout decision in loss to T'Wolves originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson has absolutely no regret whatsoever about what unfolded just before Julian Champagnie's buzzer-beating 3-point shot attempt.

The Minnesota Timberwolves flipped the game on its head in the final two minutes against the San Antonio Spurs with their 7-0 decisive run. The Spurs' lead evaporated as they missed putting the perimeter shots in the basket on the other end. On the other hand, Mike Conley, Naz Reid and Terrence Shannon Jr. dropped their shots successfully.

However, the Spurs tightened their defense in the last minute and got one final possession. But instead of taking a timeout, they hoped to take advantage of Minnesota's unorganized defense in the chaotic transition, even if that means asking Champagnie to shoot the game-winner.

Champagnie's buzzer-beating 3-point shot attempt was off as the Timberwolves won Game 1, 104-102.

MORE: Despite Victor Wembanyama's playoff record, Spurs lose thriller to Wolves

Spurs HC Mitch Johnson reveals reason behind not taking timeout for final possession

After the loss, questions were raised about Mitch Johnson's decision not to take the timeout, where he could have drawn up a play for a potential game-winner. With no regret, Johnson said they didn't want to take a timeout because this would have allowed the Timberwolves to make proper plans for defense.

"On the last play, we just got a rebound, and it felt like they weren't organized and that there was enough time for us to push the ball and get a look, but we didn't push it right away," Johnson explained. "So it got to that do-or-die moment where you have to decide whether to call a timeout or not. I thought Dylan did a good job pushing the ball and kicking it ahead to Julian. Julian had a fly-by and got a three-pointer in rhythm. I had no problem with the shot, I thought it was a great shot. I hope he shoots it every time."

Mitch Johnson on not taking a timeout on the last possession:

"It felt like they weren't organized and there was enough time for us to push the ball and get a look ... Julian got a fly-by, got a 3-pointer in rhythm. I had no problem with the shot."pic.twitter.com/Kx6bjMKEz6

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) May 5, 2026

It seems Johnson's bet failed as his man couldn't put the 3-ball in. But let's not forget if the ball went in, we would probably be celebrating this decision of Johnson.

More Spurs news:

What's the Playoffs record for most blocks? Victor Wembanyama breaks the record in Game 1

Victor Wembanyama wants to see Anthony Edwards at full strength

Victor Wembanyama singles out the Timberwolves player who has inspired him

Premier League manager high on Real Madrid shortlist to become new head coach

Premier League manager high on Real Madrid shortlist to become new head coach
Premier League manager high on Real Madrid shortlist to become new head coach

Premier League boss Unai Emery is high on Real Madrid’s shortlist to become their new head coach, according to talkSPORT

Madrid are expected to part company with Alvaro Arbeloa after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign. 

Arbeloa replaced Xabi Alonso at the helm in January, but performances have been poor under the Spaniard. 

Los Blancos crashed out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage and they currently sit 11 points behind Barcelona in the La Liga table

Madrid have been linked with several names to replace Arbeloa, and the latest is Aston Villa coach Emery. 

The 54-year-old is under contract at Villa Park until 2029, but he could be tempted by a new challenge in Spain. 

Emery has transformed Villa since taking over as manager in October 2022. 

The Lions were just two places above the relegation zone at the time of his appointment, but he quickly improved results as they qualified for the Conference League. 

Emery achieved Champions League qualification in his second season, and then oversaw their run to the quarter-finals of the competition in 2024-25. 

Villa are in a brilliant position to secure a top-five Premier League finish this term, while they could also reach the Europa League final. 

Jose Mourinho is another name Madrid are considering for the head coach role. 

The club’s president Florentino Perez is said to be the main supporter of bringing the Portuguese back to the Santiago Bernabeu. 

There was one ray of light to emerge against Everton for Manchester City

There was one ray of light to emerge against Everton for Manchester City
There was one ray of light to emerge against Everton for Manchester City

Manchester City drew 3-3 with Everton last night at the Hill Dickinson Stadium after a pulsating match. Pep Guardiola’s side took a 1-0 lead into halftime before the game was flipped on its head in the second half. Everton surged after halftime to take a 3-1 lead in the 81st minute before two late goals from Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku salvaged a point for City. For now, Manchester City have lost ground in the title race to Arsenal. That was the overwhelming feeling to come out of last night’s match. While the result and the manner of City’s second half performance were disappointing, there was a major ray of light to come out of last night’s match for City. That was the performance of Jeremy Doku. Doku did all he could to lead his team to victory last night.

Jeremy Doku put an inspired performance for Manchester City against Everton.

As Manchester City dominated the opening half-hour of last night’s match, Jeremy Doku was by far City’s most dangerous attacking player. He had Everton right-back Jake O’Brien on skates time and time again throughout the first half. As City dominated the opening half-hour and dropped Everton deep in their own area, Doku and his combination play with Nico O’Reilly on the left wing seemed City’s most likely route to goal. Only Everton’s stubborn defensive display kept Doku from having a bigger impact in the games opening stages.

After City dominated the opening half-hour, Everton did grow into the match. Approaching halftime, you did sense that Pep Guardiola’s side needed a goal to cap off their first half dominance. It would arrive in the 43rd minute through Jeremy Doku. Doku collected a simple pass from Rayan Cherki and curled a superb left-footed strike into the top corner to beat Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal. Doku’s goal was exactly what his first half display deserved.

Unfortunately for Manchester City, Everton sprung to life after halftime. Their decision to play long balls over the top of the midfield exposed City’s defence. They got their rewards as they took a 3-1 lead in the 81st minute after Thierno Barry scored his second goal of the night. It seemed like all lost at that point for Pep Guardiola’s side. Erling Haaland pulled a goal back in the 83rd minute to set up a grand stand finish. Jeremy Doku would score a screamer with his right foot in the 97th minute to rescue a point for his team. As Everton dominated the second half, Doku was Manchester City’s most dangerous attacking player. He got his reward late on to earn City a point that may be crucial depending on how this season’s title race unfolds.

Jeremy Doku’s display last night showed his growth as a player.

A major positive to take from the 2025-26 season for Manchester City has been the growth of Jeremy Doku. Doku has gone from being a flashy, but at times inconsistent winger, to a consistent contributor for Pep Guardiola’s side. The Belgian winger is now a key player for this Manchester City side. Doku is beginning to fulfill his potential, and his performance last night against Everton perfectly illustrated this.

This wasn’t lost on Pep Guardiola when he spoke after Manchester City’s 3-3 draw with Everton. The Manchester City manager said that Doku is now becoming a match-winning player for his team. He explained: “He make a big step up with that, winning games. He is starting to be a winning player. He’s always been incredible but in the final third maybe he miss the last pass, but he arrives there many times.

The shining light last night for Manchester City in their 3-3 draw with Everton was the performance of Jeremy Doku. Doku bagged a sublime brace, and his performance illustrated the tremendous steps he has taken as a player this season. Doku’s performance may get lost in the reaction to City dropping points in the title race, but it shouldn’t, as the Belgian winger put in one of his best performances for Manchester City last night.

Raven Johnson Draws Attention for What She Said About Fever Coach Stephanie White

Stephanie White and Raven Johnson (Image via: Imagn) ©Stephanie White and Raven Johnson (Image via: Imagn)
Stephanie White and Raven Johnson (Image via: Imagn) ©Stephanie White and Raven Johnson (Image via: Imagn)

For Raven Johnson, attention hasn’t left her shoulders ever since her advent to Indiana Fever, but her latest hook is far from basketball, leaving the fans out of sorts. In most her time so far in her pro career, we’ve seen Johnson grab the headlines for her formidable performances as the floor general in the preseason. But on Monday, it was a bit different as she showcased a different side to her through a comment regarding Fever head coach Stephanie White after the practice session, prompting the fans to react.

The moment unfolded in the media availability session where she was asked of the learnings she derived from White. In turn, Johnson gave an answer far from the basketball court, directed towards White’s partner, Lisa Salters which even got the reporters cracking in that exact moment.

“She’s funny. Don’t tell her this but her wife came to practice the other day and I was like, dang! you got some taste in there,” she said. “She has a little bit of taste for her. Her wife is beautiful.”

White and Salters have been together since 2016. There haven’t been any reports of them getting married, and are generally referred to as partners. Salters is a veteran journalist and has worked for mainstream media like ESPN and ABC for NBA and “Monday Night Football” and shares a home with White in Nashville where they live with the Fever head coach’s three kids from previous marriage and Salter’s only child.

Even though they aren’t in the public as much as other high-profile queer couples, they have consistently showcased their support for each other. For instance, last year when Salters’ mother was ill, White took a few days off from her coaching duties and even missed a game against the Golden State Valkyries and the latest instance being Salters coming to a Fever training camp to back up White.

While the couple continues to navigate their own path amid their professional lives, Raven Johnson’s comment in the public domain regarding them without any prior context has created a stir in the hoops community as the fans too couldn’t help but appreciate the Fever rookie’s sarcastic comment.

Fans Pinpoint Raven Johnson’s Unhinged Humor After Stephanie White Comment

“RAV…JUST SAY WHATEVER COMES OUT. GOTTA LOVE HER. ❤️ Ms.Swiper,” a fan wrote.

“This kid has so much personality. She should be getting endorsements soon. I can see why they drafted her even though they needed forward help. She is a charismatic leader,” stated another.

Johnson has always been quite vocal in anything she does. Be it bossing the basketball court as the general or expressing her stance in the clearest possible way, the Fever rookie doesn’t take a step back. And as this incident turns out, it seems that she is confident enough in the press conference to express her admiration for head coach Stephanie White’s partner.

Now, of course, this confidence wasn’t alone to get her drafted her to Indiana Fever but these comments perfectly reflect Johnson’s upbeat personality that the fans are quietly falling in love with.

Aug 31, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White before the game against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Aug 31, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White before the game against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

“So basically she’s learned nothing basketball related…” remarked another fan.

“The reporters love Raven 😂😭😭😭😭” chimed in another.

It’s quite certain that Johnson’s answer came as a surprise to many as most would have thought that a tactical answer was incoming. Especially for a rookie in her first year to comment on her head coach’s wife does take some serious guts. While some fans might feel that John was digressing away from her basketball assignment with White, but it isn’t that. Soon after her jolly remark on White’s partner Lisa Salters, Johnson quickly reflected on the Fever head coach’s exploits on the court.

“She’s teaching me a lot of things, she gets on me. I think she’s a great coach, a great person to go to, and I ask her a lot of questions often,” the Fever rookie said. And if there are any doubts of Johnson’s jolly behavior during the press interview, that’s who she’s actually is: unhinged at times, straightforward, and topped with sarcasm. Some might feel it a bit over the top but that sarcasm comes naturally to her.

“I hope she soften up that fan base and let this season be enjoyable for her and everyone,” summed up another.

Johnson is blending quite well with her Indiana Fever entourage ever since her advent to the team training camp. From an on-court perspective, we’ve seen her be in her element and dominate the court by dishing out assists (18 points and 14 assists in the three preseason games). Stephanie White has already taken note of these performances, remarking that she will have to draw out more minutes for Johnson.

“I love her energy,” White said after the Dallas Wings loss. “We’ve got to find minutes for her. And we’ve got to find minutes for her in a good rotation.” But from an off-court scenario as well, we’ve seen her not get too much reserved in her media availability sessions and just be herself. The latest one where she cracked a joke about her coach’s partner just adds weight to it.

All in all, it’s just a matter of time when we’ll see a packed-up Gainbridge Fieldhouse iterate chants of Raven! Raven! quite similar to the ones she received during her South Carolina days. For now, Johnson will have to sync even more efficiently with her head coach from an on-court perspective as there won’t be any room for excuses when the regular season starts for Fever on May 8 against the Dallas Wings.

The post Raven Johnson Draws Attention for What She Said About Fever Coach Stephanie White appeared first on EssentiallySports. Add EssentiallySports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Apple Quietly Courts Intel And Samsung For Its Most Critical Chips As TSMC’s Advanced Nodes Remain Choked Under AI Demand

5 May 2026 at 09:25

Apple's unified memory architecture and one decision could make it the 3rd biggest notebook maker in the world

TSMC is turning into a victim of its own success as the world's preferred chip foundry, leaving its heretofore prized customers such as Apple in a bind of sorts as they suddenly find themselves crowded out by AI hyperscalers. In its frustration, Apple is now reportedly exploring the possibility of dividing up its silicon load between Samsung, Intel, and TSMC rather than remaining largely TSMC-exclusive. Apple is looking for contingencies by tentatively probing Intel and Samsung as additional vectors for manufacturing its custom chips According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has already held "early-stage talks" with Intel for using its […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/apple-quietly-courts-intel-and-samsung-for-its-most-critical-chips-as-tsmcs-advanced-nodes-remain-choked-under-ai-demand/

Samsung Flaunts A Smartphone Display That Can Measure Blood Pressure With A Single Touch

5 May 2026 at 08:16

A person interacts with a Samsung Display screen showing health metrics and 'Heart Rate Sensing.'

Samsung might have a lot of faults, but a lack of innovation is certainly not among those. As a case in point, look no further than the recent SID exhibition in the United States, where Samsung just unveiled two revolutionary display technologies, unlocking a veritable suite of biomarker-led applications in the process. Samsung flexes its innovative muscle with the "Flex Chroma Pixel" and "Sensor OLED" The famous tipster Ice Universe has just detailed two new display technologies that Samsung recently showcased at the SID exhibition. Samsung's "Flex Chroma Pixel" display combines next-gen emissive materials, such as phosphorescent sensitized fluorescence (PSF), […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/samsung-flaunts-a-smartphone-display-that-can-measure-blood-pressure-with-a-single-touch/

Online Whiteboard – Create and share a real-time whiteboard with one click


Online Whiteboard lets you create and share a real-time canvas with one click. Open a board in your browser, send the link, and collaborate instantly across devices with no sign-up or installs. Teachers, remote teams, and creators sketch ideas, plan projects, and diagram concepts on an infinite canvas that loads fast and stays simple, so you can focus on thinking together.

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GPT Image 2 – Generate realistic marketing visuals with strong prompt fidelity


GPT Image 2 lets teams create marketing visuals, product imagery, realistic screenshots, and editable assets with high prompt fidelity and readable text. You can start from a prompt or reference, then refine layout, style, and subject with targeted edits that preserve the brief. Use it to produce campaign key visuals, posters, explainers, commerce imagery, and storyboards, then carry the approved still into video workflows.

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CreatorSpark – AI writing for YouTube creators that sounds like you


CreatorSpark is an AI writing tool for educational YouTube creators that learns your voice, beliefs, and point of view—not just how you sound. Instead of just copying your word choices, it learns what you actually think—your beliefs, your take on your niche, and the positions you’d push back on. You tell it once and it applies that to everything it helps you write. With training from your best content, it helps creators reach 80-90% accuracy instead of the industry standard 60%. Built by a YouTube creator and 10-year copywriter who built her own solution out of frustration.

View startup

UAE Joins Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Singapore, UK, Canada, Australia and US as Visa Screening, Dubai Property Reforms, Golden Visa Expansion and Stricter DXB Entry Rules Transform Middle East and Worldwide Travel Trends Across India, Europe and Southeast Asia in 2026 : Latest New Update Everyone Should Know

3 May 2026 at 09:09

Read full article: https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/uae-joins-oman-qatar-saudi-arabia-bahrain-singapore-uk-canada-australia-and-us-as-visa-screening-dubai-property-reforms-golden-visa-expansion-and-stricter-dxb-entry-rules-transform-middle-eas/

UAE Joins Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Singapore, UK, Canada, Australia and US as Visa Screening, Dubai Property Reforms, Golden...

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Source: Travel And Tour World

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Galaxy S26 Ultra narrowly misses top 10 as iPhone 17 leads Q1 2026 sales

5 May 2026 at 08:52

Apple’s iPhone 17 series led the worldwide smartphone sales in Q1 2026 as the Galaxy S26 Ultra narrowly missed entry in the top 10 chart.

iPhone 17 captured 6 percent of global unit sales to become the world’s best-selling smartphone in Q1 2026. Apple seized four spots, Samsung dominated with five, with one going to Xiaomi for its entry level smartphone.

According to Counterpoint Research, Apple’s iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone 17 Pro were the top 3 best-selling phones in Q1 2026. Samsung dominated the top 10 chart with the highest five entries, but no flagship was included.

Galaxy A07 4G, Galaxy A17 5G, Galaxy A56, Galaxy A36, and Galaxy A17 4G were the five entries from Samsung world. Xiaomi’s Redmi also managed to enter the list, though in the 10th spot, due to its Redmi 5 phone.

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series is selling better than its predecessor. Still, none of the flagship models were able to make an entry into the top 10. The reason is the launch window, which favored Apple in the first quarter.

Galaxy S26 series was launched in late February, and worldwide sales began in the second week of March 2026. The first quarter ended on March 31, leaving no significant timespan for the Samsung flagships to sell at scale.

The chart of the second quarter should include at least one model from the Galaxy S26 series. Apple has historically dominated the best-selling segment. Meanwhile, Samsung leads the charge of keeping Android relevant.

Galaxy A07 4G from Samsung was the world’s best-selling Android phone in the first quarter. The device received high contribution from emerging regions like the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

Commenting on outlook, Senior Analyst Karn Chauhan said, “Looking ahead to 2026, the top 10 smartphone models are expected to expand their share of global unit sales. The anticipated market decline is likely to impact mass-market segments more significantly, while high-end smartphones continue to gain share. In response, OEMs are shifting focus toward premium portfolios, prioritizing value over volume.”

Q1 2026 Top 10 Best Selling Phones

Image – Q1 2026 Top 10 Best Selling Phones | Source – Counterpoint Research

The post Galaxy S26 Ultra narrowly misses top 10 as iPhone 17 leads Q1 2026 sales appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Samsung phones getting April 2026 Google Play system update

5 May 2026 at 08:04

Samsung phones have started receiving the April 2026 Google Play system update. The sequential rollout began for a wide range of Galaxy devices, including phones, foldable models, and tablets.

The latest Google Play system update, hitting Samsung phones install the April 2026 version (via Kailash). This release elevates the core Android experience, thanks to its broad range of content and enhancements.

Here’s what actually matters in April’s Google Play system updates if you’re using a Samsung phone:

Google is quietly laying the groundwork for smoother sign-ins and device setup. Transferring your data from an old phone should feel quicker and less clunky now, especially when moving accounts and settings.

The Play Store is seeing some practical improvements. You’ll now spot clearer content ratings with an additional view, which makes it easier to judge apps before installing. There’s also a new badge for apps optimized for large screens.

Subscriptions are more transparent, too, since you can now see the plans inside app reviews. Some app install prompts will no longer throw you into the Play Store unexpectedly, which should make the experience feel less disruptive.

On the Wallet side, there are a few subtle but useful tweaks. There’s a redesigned interface focused on quicker access and better discovery, along with more control over how your passes interact with other Google services like Autofill.

Location accuracy has been improved, which should benefit everything from Maps to weather apps. Security and privacy updates are, as usual, baked in. WebView and Play services updates bring ongoing fixes and protections.

Lastly, there are a bunch of under-the-hood improvements. Device connectivity, system performance, and stability have all been tuned across phones, wearables, TVs, and even cars.

Overall, this isn’t a headline-grabbing update, but it’s a meaningful one.

The post Samsung phones getting April 2026 Google Play system update appeared first on Sammy Fans.

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