AMD Software 26.5.1 breaks Blender Cycles, but a fix is incoming AMD released its AMD Software 26.5.1 Radeon GPU drivers last week, and they are causing mayhem amongst Blender users. Blender users have reported a number of issues, including crashes, non-functional denoising, and broken HIP support. These bugs are caused by AMD’s move to ROCm […]
I was able to grab Sandisk's official microSD card for the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X range. But ... it's honestly not much more than a logo. Here's what you need to know.
Intel's CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, has confirmed that the collaboration with NVIDIA is ongoing, and we are about to see the results of the partnership announced late last year. Yesterday, Carnegie Mellon University awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Science and Technology to NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang for his outstanding contributions to the fields of accelerated computing and AI. Intel's Lip-Bu Tan had the honor of placing the doctoral hood on him. In a post on X, the Intel CEO confirmed that Intel and NVIDIA are still working together to "develop exciting new products," indicating that the long-promised integration of NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs within Intel SoCs is still in progress. What began as an initial investment from NVIDIA into Intel and an announcement of product collaboration is evolving into a much deeper integration of both companies into a unified ecosystem.
First, we look forward to seeing Intel chips that integrate third-party GPU IP, this time from NVIDIA, with its GeForce RTX graphics embedded in an Intel-branded package. Similar to the now almost forgotten "Kaby Lake G" collaboration with AMD, Intel plans to integrate third-party graphics into its x86 SoC, codenamed "Serpent Lake," which is scheduled to be the first joint collaboration between NVIDIA and Intel in a single chip package. Second, we anticipate customized x86 Xeon server processors for NVIDIA, which Intel has been producing for large hyperscalers like Amazon for years. NVIDIA is also integrating Intel Xeon processors alongside its custom "Grace" and "Vera" CPUs, with designs customized by Intel for their HGX AI server nodes.
ASUS today announced that ProArt Display OLED PA27USD and OLED PA32USD will be available by May 2026. These two monitors are the latest additions to the ProArt OLED monitor lineup, with the PA27USD winning a CES 2026 Innovation Award earlier this year and Red Dot Product Design Awards. The 26.5-inch ProArt Display OLED PA27USD and 31.5-inch PA32USD boast 4K QD-OLED panels with up to 1000 nits peak brightness (3% area) for exceptional contrast. Both monitors offer 99% DCI-P3 and true 10-bit color depth for exceptional color reproduction that exceeds industry standards, making them ideal for video editing and other post-production workflows.
ProArt Display OLED PA27USD and PA32USD are factory calibrated to Delta E<1 color accuracy and support ProArt calibration software as well as Calman and Light Illusion ColourSpace CMS professional hardware-calibration software. Both monitors also offer an array of connectivity options, including dual Thunderbolt 4 ports (one supporting up to 96-watt Power Delivery and the other offering daisy-chain support), HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, and a built-in USB 3.2 hub with two USB Type-A and one USB Type-C ports to support a wide range of devices and peripherals. In addition, the PA27USD includes one 12G-SDI input and the PA32USD is equipped with dual 12G-SDI inputs to support uncompressed video signals at up to 4K @ 60 Hz.
Crypto.com says a new UAE Stored Value Facilities license will let residents pay Dubai government fees in crypto, as the company doubles down on regulated expansion in the Middle East and beyond.
Apple Pay makes contactless payments feel effortless, but behind that two-second tap is a surprisingly sophisticated chain of cryptography, tokenization, and real-time authorization.
Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate has been known to be in the works since the series' 35th anniversary in May 2021, but very little is known about the next main entry in the long-running JRPG series other than the fact that it will be powered by Unreal Engine 5. Since the game's reveal, we saw the release of four remakes, but series creator Yuji Horii recently teased that the game will be back in the spotlight starting later this month. Speaking during the latest episode of the KosoKoso broadcast, the Dragon Quest series creator confirmed that a series […]
Following the disappointing launch of the Steam Controller, which saw units sell out almost immediately, only to end up in the hands of scalpers, Valve introduced a reservation queue to prevent a repeat of the situation. As spotted in the same Steam update that introduced the system for the new controller, a similar safeguard will be in place for both the Steam Machine and the Steam Frame. Users analyzing the system via Steam Tracker have discovered code for four Steam Machine packages and two Steam Frame packages alongside the Steam Controller and Steam Deck entries. This heavily suggests that the […]
We might have a probable launch month for Gears of War: E-Day, The Coalition's new installment in the third-person shooter series. The rumor comes not from an insider but from an unlikely source: a sponsorship. During WWE Backlash on Saturday, May 9, it was announced that Gears of War: E-Day is the official presenting sponsor of AAA Triplemania 2026, the premier Lucha Libre event happening on September 11 and 13 in Mexico City. The thing is, publishers don't sponsor major live events months before their game releases: the whole point is to reach a mass audience at peak marketing momentum. Moreover, historically, […]
Missing the early weekend release window of the previous major patches, the Crimson Desert 1.06.00 patch is now live across PC and consoles, introducing yet another highly requested feature by the community - the Extraction feature that essentially rolls back weapon upgrades to receive materials back - new Special Mounts and the one feature no one would have expected to see in the game: a gacha vending machine. The new patch significantly expands the Special Mounts options, allowing you to register Bears, Boars, Wolves, Deer, Mountain Goats, Kuku Birds, Raptors, Camels, Lions, and Tigers as a mount after subduing and […]
Markat.ai is a private beta testing sandbox for product validation. It lets founders, product teams, and developers test early AI products with real users and capture structured feedback on usability, clarity, and direction. Use guided sessions to validate concepts, refine features, and reduce launch risk before going public. Testers explore pre-release products and share actionable insights that shape what you build next.
Zorq AI is a multimodal workspace for creative teams to produce finished assets from a single brief. It combines AI image and video generation, motion transfer, typography design, editing, voice cloning, and lip-sync into guided workflows, so you describe the outcome and receive the deliverable. Use one account and credit pool across twelve workflows, from text-to-video and image-to-video to create and edit images, plus talking avatars and cloned voiceovers. Skip model menus and handoffs; deliver cinematic clips, polished images, and production-ready audio quickly.
An 88-year-old woman has died while her ship was docked at Carnival’s private destination Celebration Key. The guest was sailing aboard the Carnival Celebration cruise ship when the incident occurred Saturday, the last full day of the cruise before returning to PortMiami.
Scooter fell off pier at Celebration Key
“A female guest using a mobility scooter drove off the pier at Celebration Key and fell into the water while Carnival Celebration was in port. Carnival teams responded, successfully retrieving her from the water. Despite resuscitation efforts, she did not survive,” the cruise line said.
A witness said the woman may have had a heart attack and banged her head before falling into the water, though that has not been confirmed. Separately, investigators believe she may have hit her head on the ship during the fall. Royal Bahamas Police took custody of the body and an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.
A diver later recovered the scooter from the water. A second ship, the Carnival Glory, was also docked at Celebration Key when the incident occurred.
(Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line)
“She banged her head pretty bad, and then her husband tried to do what he could, and he ended up hurting himself as well,” said ship guest Edward Egersheim, who witnessed the incident.
Third death at Celebration Key since opening
Carnival Glory and Conquest (Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line)
This is the third guest death at Celebration Key since the $600 million private destination opened in July 2025.
Two American guests in their 70s drowned in separate incidents in August 2025, less than three hours apart. One was sailing on Carnival Mardi Gras and the other on Carnival Elation. One died while snorkeling at the beach and the other in a lagoon pool.
Passengers stuck for days on the virus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius have started landing back in their home countries.
Guests disembarked in Tenerife under tight health restrictions and boarded government-organized repatriation flights home.
Last evacuation flights to depart Monday
Flights have landed in France, Spain, the Netherlands and the UK with American and Canadian nationals arriving home Sunday. Additional flights are expected to depart from Tenerife on Monday.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said one of the five French passengers on an evacuation flight displayed symptoms of hantavirus. All five were placed into strict isolation upon landing.
The World Health Organization recommended a 42-day quarantine for all ship guests. “Our recommendation is daily health checks, at home or in a specialized facility. It’s up to countries to develop their policies but our recommendations are very clear,” said the WHO’s acting director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, Maria Van Kerkhove.
Ship guests will self-isolate for several weeks
Countries have set their own quarantine and self-isolating rules. Spain will keep its citizens in hospital for the full 42 days, while French guests will be monitored in hospital for the first 72 hours and then permitted to self-isolate at home for 45 more days.
All 17 Americans who sailed on the ship were flown to the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha for an initial health assessment.
After evaluation, passengers without confirmed infection are expected to transition to home-based monitoring, with local health departments checking in daily for up to 42 days.
“This is not Covid. We don’t want to cause a public panic over this,” said acting U.S. CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya. “We don’t want to treat it like COVID. We want to treat it with the hantavirus protocols that were successful in containing outbreaks in the past.”
The hantavirus, which has claimed three lives with another six cases under medical evaluation, was first reported to the WHO in early May and is generally transmitted through contact with infected rodent droppings, urine or saliva. Spanish health officials said no rodents were discovered on the ship.
Health officials now suspect the Dutch couple who died may have contracted hantavirus during a birdwatching trip through Argentina, Chile and Uruguay before the cruise departed Ushuaia, as the route included stops in areas where the rodent species known to carry the virus is present.
Emirates has unveiled a striking livery of a large UAE flag emblazoned across the fuselage of its iconic Airbus A380 aircraft, the world’s largest commercial passenger aircraft. The new livery on A6-EVG, is an extension […]
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Flights Cancelled at Hollywood Burbank Airport as Passengers Stranded: Get the Latest Updates!Hollywood Burbank Airport cancellations disrupt flights to major...
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 FE begins picking up its Android 16-based One UI 8.5 update. Initially dropped in South Korea, the Stable update should soon become a Global affair.
The Galaxy S24 FE joins Samsung’s growing list of devices receiving the stable One UI 8.5. Earlier, the company released One UI 8.5 for the Galaxy S25 series, while the Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra also began getting the update in Korea.
The rollout is currently limited to Beta participants in Korea. Samsung has already confirmed wider availability for regions including Europe, India, North America, Latin America, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan over the next few days.
One UI 8.5 introduces a cleaner interface, smoother animations, redesigned Samsung apps, and deeper customization controls. Samsung is also bringing several AI improvements that originally debuted with the Galaxy S26 series.
Samsung has finally kicked off the official One UI 8.5 rollout for the Galaxy S24 series. The latest software update, which first debuted with the Galaxy S26 Ultra lineup earlier this year, is now making its way to Samsung’s 2024 flagships.
One UI 8.5 official rollout began on May 6 in South Korea, with Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra users now joining the stable release wave.
Samsung already confirmed that the update will gradually expand to more markets over the next few days, including India, Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
The company spent the past few months running an extensive One UI 8.5 Beta Program. The Beta initially started with the Galaxy S25 lineup before expanding to the Galaxy S24 series in March.
One UI 8.5 is more than just a regular maintenance update. Samsung is bringing several Galaxy AI features introduced with the Galaxy S26 series to older flagship devices.
Some of the headline additions include upgraded Bixby capabilities, AI Call Screening, live voicemail transcription, improved Photo Assist tools, and better cross-device experiences with Quick Share and My Files. Samsung also refined animations, polished the interface, and improved battery optimization.
For Galaxy S24 users currently running the Beta version, the stable One UI 8.5 DZDP build arrives as a smaller patch update. Meanwhile, users upgrading directly from One UI 8.0 can expect a much larger OTA package.
To download the update, head to Settings > Software update > Download and install on your Galaxy S24 device. Since Samsung rolls out firmware in phases, availability may vary depending on region and carrier.
Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold foldable phone joined the One UI 8.5 update party with plenty of 2025 flagship devices.
Galaxy Z TriFold is Samsung’s first dual-folding phone, released in select countries. The company has reportedly produced and sold around 30,000 units worldwide. The sale of the iconic device has ended in Korea and the US.
Samsung shipped the Galaxy Z TriFold with Android 16-based One UI 8, with the new One UI 8.5 elevating the experience. It feels like a mid-cycle update, but the reality is different; you get plenty of ways to improve your experience.
Update [11/05/2026]
Following the initial release on May 6, Samsung has now started the One UI 8.5 update’s rollout to the Galaxy Z TriFold smartphone in the Global market.
What’s new
One UI 8.5 feels tailor-made for a tri-fold device, especially with its deeply customizable Quick Panel. This flexibility becomes crucial on a triple-fold layout, where screen zones can behave like separate workspaces.
Samsung’s UI redesign also leans into multi-panel usability, with bottom-placed search bars and simplified navigation icons improving one-handed reach. This shift helps maintain usability whether you’re using one, two, or all three panels at once.
Galaxy AI is expected to play a bigger role here, with smarter task prediction, AI summaries, and enhanced photo editing tools. This could translate into real multitasking gains, like editing content on one panel while AI suggestions update on another.
Visual changes in core apps such as Gallery, Phone, and Clock bring cleaner layouts and icon-driven navigation. Privacy and cross-device features also get upgrades, including better protection for shared images
For a tri-fold flagship, these changes position One UI 8.5 as a bridge between phone, tablet, and PC-like experiences in a single device.
Samsung has officially ended the One UI 8.5 Beta Program for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, and the stable update is now rolling out. The rollout has started in Korea, with more regions expected to follow within the next few days.
After weeks of testing, Samsung has now pushed the stable One UI 8.5 update to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. The release marks the first major foldable software upgrade after Samsung debuted One UI 8.5 alongside the S26 series.
The company opened the Beta program shortly after unveiling the S26 lineup, giving foldable users early access to new features and UI tweaks. Now that the beta phase is over, Samsung is shifting to a wider public rollout.
As usual, South Korea is getting the update first. Samsung typically expands stable One UI releases to the US, Europe, India, and other global markets shortly after the initial rollout begins, so wider availability should not take long.
One UI 8.5 is not a dramatic visual overhaul, but it introduces several useful changes that first appeared on the S26 series. Samsung focused heavily on polish, smarter multitasking, and AI-powered features across the system.
How to download the One UI 8.5 update
Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 users can check for the update manually by heading to:
Settings > Software update > Download and install
Since the rollout is happening in phases, the update may not appear immediately for all users.
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 FE seems to have started getting the Stable One UI 8.5 update globally. The release first dropped in South Korea last week. Now, users in India are reporting the availability of the firmware, confirming expansion.
Galaxy S25 FE getting the major One UI 8.5 globally is a significant development. The update elevates the entire user experience with key design changes, system optimization and extra new features from the new flagships.
Samsung put the Galaxy S25 FE in the first wave, which is benefiting its buyers. The Fan Edition phone is getting the flagship-level treatment. Not many features are reserved for the latest flagship, with FE also having most.
The company has recently released the update for the Galaxy S25 series. Users of the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 are also getting the One UI 8.5. It remains to be seen whether second wave kicks off in South Korea today or takes some time.
How to download and install
First, swipe up to open the app drawer where you get Settings icon. Access system Settings and scroll up to reach the Software update menu. Tap Download and install to establish a connection with the software server.
The stable update is safe to install on your device. Meanwhile, creating a backup prior to installation is always recommended. Utilize the temporary cloud backup to avoid any potential loss of data if the firmware is broken.
The iPhone 17 has arguably one of the best front-facing cameras available right now. However, a leaker recently hinted that a similar square image sensor may be coming to future Android flagships from companies such as Oppo. This camera is also rumored to offer a significantly higher resolution.
In 2024, a modern version of the ZX Spectrum was released, however, it was available in the same black version as the original. Now, buyers can purchase The Spectrum in white, which is based on the one-millionth white version of the original that was specially made for Clive Sinclair.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is currently one of the best camera phones on the market. We took this flagship phone out for a spin in China and snapped plenty of photos. Does it have any weaknesses after all?
Following several teasers, HMD has confirmed the launch date for the Vibe 2 5G in India and also revealed some of its key specifications. The device will arrive as the successor to the HMD Vibe, which was unveiled in India in September last year.
The HMD Vibe 2 5G is set to launch on May 21 and will be available for purchase via Flipkart as well as offline retail stores.
It will come with a 6,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support, as confirmed by recent teasers, and a Flipkart page. The handset is also confirmed to offer a 50MP primary rear camera.
The Vibe 2 5G will be...
Binance has expanded access to its Institutional Loan product to all KYB-verified VIP clients while introducing higher leverage limits, fixed-rate borrowing terms, and a new interest rebate program tied to trading activity. According to a May 11 press release, Binance…
Sui price rallied to a 4-month high of $1.41, becoming one of the best-performing major crypto assets on Monday. According to data from crypto.news, Sui (SUI) price rallied nearly 40% from $1 to $1.41 on Monday before stabilizing near $1.27…
Capital B has raised €15.2 million ($17.8 million) from institutional investors, including Blockstream CEO Adam Back and French asset manager TOBAM. According to Capital B’s May 11 press release, the company issued 23 million shares with attached warrants at €0.66…
A malicious Hugging Face repository managed to take a spot in the platform's trending list by impersonating OpenAI's Privacy Filter open-weight model to deliver a Rust-based information stealer to Windows users.
The project, named Open-OSS/privacy-filter, masqueraded as its legitimate counterpart, released by OpenAI late last month (openai/privacy-filter), including copying the entire
has offered his thoughts on and ’s long-awaited showdown, considering the effect of their lifestyle choices and boxing skills. The two British heavyweights are set to collide later this year, just so long as Joshua comes through his tune-up fight against Kristian Prenga on July 25. His last outing culminated in a destructive sixth-round finish […]
İspanya ekibi Barcelona'nın Alman teknik direktörü Hansi Flick, LaLiga'da bitime 3 hafta kala şampiyonluğunu ilan ettiği "El Clasico" sonrası açıklama yaptı.
İspanya ekibi Barcelona'nın Alman teknik direktörü Hansi Flick, kulüpte gördüğü destekten dolayı minnettar olduğunu söyledi.
Barcelona'nın Real Madrid'i 2-0 yenerek LaLiga'da bitime 3 hafta kala şampiyonluğunu ilan ettiği "El Clasico" sonrası açıklamada bulunan Flick, "Bunu size anlatmak istiyorum çünkü normal bir durum olmadığını düşünüyorum. Bu sabah annem aradı ve babamın vefat ettiğini söyledi. Bunu saklamalı mıyım yoksa takımımla paylaşmalı mıyım diye düşündüm. Daha sonra 'Bu bilgiyi oyuncularıma da vermek istiyorum.' dedim. Öğrendiklerinde oyuncularımın verdiği reaksiyon inanılmazdı. Bu anı asla unutmayacağım. Oyuncularım, ekibim ve kulüple gurur duyuyorum, gerçekten çok mutluyum. Benim için burası gerçekten bir aile gibi." ifadelerini kullandı.
Kendisini doğru zamanda doğru yerde hissettiğini kaydeden Flick, "Bu harika kulüp için çalışmaktan ve Barselona'da yaşamaktan dolayı çok minnettarım. İnsanlar bana ve ekibime karşı gerçekten çok nazik. En çok takdir ettiğim şey de bu. Bu harika bir şey. Hepimiz devam etmek ve bu kulüp için daha fazlasını verip bir üst seviyeye ulaşmak istiyoruz. Barselona'da herkesin Şampiyonlar Ligi'ni kazanmak istediğinin farkındayım. Gelecek sezon tekrar deneyeceğiz ve umarım başarabiliriz." diye konuştu.
Flick, "El Clasico"dan saatler önce babasının vefat haberini almasına karşın takımının başında maça çıkmıştı. Real Madrid'i Marcus Rashford ve Ferran Torres'in golleriyle 2-0 yenerek üst üste ikinci şampiyonluğunu yaşayan Barcelona'da futbolcular, gollerden sonra yedek kulübesine giderek Flick'e sarılmıştı.
6-7 Haziran tarihinde yeni başkanını seçecek olan Fenerbahçe'de başkan adaylarından olan Hakan Safi, transfer çalışmalarına başladı. Hakan Safi, İtalya'da Milan-Atalanta maçını izledi.
Fenerbahçe'de 6-7 Haziran'da gerçekleşecek seçimli olağanüstü genel kongrede başkanlık için aday olan isimlerden Hakan Safi transfer çalışmalarına başladı. Fenerbahçe Başkan Adayı Hakan Safi, İtalya Serie A'da oynanan Milan-Atalanta maçını yerinde takip ederken görüntülendi.
Hakan Safi'nin AC Milan Sportif Direktörü Igli Tare'nin yanı sıra hem Rafael Leao'nun hem de Dusan Vlahovic'in temsilcileriyle görüşme halinde olduğu öğrenildi. Aynı zamanda Safi'nin İtalya'da görüştüğü başka oyuncularında olduğu iddia edildi.
HEDEFİ LEAO
Öte yandan Hakan Safi'nin en büyük hedeflerinden birisinin Milan’dan ayrılmasına kesin gözüyle bakılan Portekizli futbolcu Rafael Leao olduğu biliniyor. Galatasaray’ın da ilgilendiği oyuncu için Hakan Safi'nin bizzat İtalya'ya giderek görüşmelerde bulunduğu öğrenildi.
Bu sezonu ikincilikle bitirecek olan Fenerbahçe, gelecek sezona yeni başkanı ile başlayacak. Haziran'da yeni başkanını seçecek olan Fenerbahçe'de transfer hedeflerinden biri de Borussia Dortmund forması giyen Serhou Guirassy. Fenerbahçe'nin yeni başkanı 1 temmuz - 31 ağustos arasında 35 milyon Euro'yu yatırıp Gineli golcüyü kadrosuna katabilir.
Fenerbahçe bu sezon bir kez daha şampşiyonluk hayalini gerçekleştiremedi. Gelecek sezonda kesin olarak bir golcü transferi yapılacak. Bu sezonda belkide sarı-lacivertliler en büyük eksikliği santrfor mevkisinde yaşadı. Bu nedenle başkanlık seçiminde kulübün yeni başkanının ilk olarak golcü transferine yoğunlaşması bekleniyor.
HEDEF GUIRASSY
Fenerbahçe'de gündeme gelen isimlerden biri de Borussia Dortmund forması giyen Serhou Guirassy. Gineli golcü takımdan ayrılmaya sıcak bakıyor. BILD'in aktardığı bilgilere göre Guirassy, uzun süredir farklı bir ligde ve yeni bir ortamda forma giymenin kariyeri adına doğru adım olacağını düşünüyor. Fenerbahçe'de oyuncuyu listesine ekledi.
Öte yandan Guirassy'yi isteyen Fenerbahçe başkanı 1 Temmuz-31 Ağustos arasında 35 milyon Euro'yu yatrıp alabilir. Gineli oyuncunun serbest kalma bedeli 42 milyon Euro. Seçilecek yeni başkanının bu transferde nasıl bir yol izleyeceği merak ediliyor.
Azərbaycan millisinin yarımmüdafiəçisi Vüsal İsgəndərlinin formasını geyindiyi Albaniyanın “Partizani” komandası növbəti matçına çıxıb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, sözügedən komanda Albaniya çempionatının 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün sonuncu – 36-cı turu çərçivəsində Tirana “Dinamo”su ilə qarşılaşıb.
“Partizani” doğma meydanda baş tutmuş bu oyundan qələbə ilə ayrılıb – 2:1. İsgəndərli bu oyunun iştirakçısı olmayıb. Onun adı qarşılaşmanın iştirak ərizəsinə də daxil edilməyib.
“Partizani” 36 oyuna topladığı 48 xalla 10 komandanın mübarizə apardığı Albaniya çempionatının yarış cədvəlində 5-ci yeri tutub. Sözügedən komanda 36 oyunda 13 qələbə qazanıb, 9 heç-heçə edib, 14 məğlubiyyətə üzülüb.
Xatırladaq ki, Vüsal İsgəndərli Albaniya klubuna 2025-ci ilin yayında Türkiyənin “Boluspor” komandasından azad agent kimi keçib. Hücumçu “Partizani” ilə 1+1 illik müqaviləyə imza atıb. O, indiyə qədər bu komandanın heyətində 35 oyuna çıxıb, 6 qola imza atıb, 3 məhsuldar ötürmə verib.
Vüsal daha öncə “Şamaxı”, “Zirə”, “Sumqayıt”, “Ankara Keçiörengücü”, “Eqnatiya”, “Boluspor” və “Simurq”da da forma geyinib. 2019-cu ilin noyabrında Azərbaycan millisində debüt etmiş 29 yaşlı hücumçu meydana çıxdığı 7 oyunda 1 qola imza atıb, 1 məhsuldar ötürmə verib.
Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan milli komandasının yarımmüdafiəçisi Ozan Can Kökçü “Volendam”ın ötən gecə keçirdiyi oyunda iştirak etməyib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, sözügedən komanda Niderland çempionatının (Erediviziya) 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün 33-cü turunda “Ekselsior”la qarşılaşıb.
“Volendam” səfərdə baş tutmuş bu oyundan heç-heçə ilə ayrılıb – 1:1.
Ozan bu görüşün sonunadək ehtiyatda qalıb.
“Volendam” 33 turdan sonra 32 xalla 18 iştirakçı arasında 16-cı pillədə qərarlaşıb. Ozan bu oyunların 28-də iştirak edib, 1 qol vurub, 2 məhsuldar ötürmə müəllifi olub.
Xatırladaq ki, Özan Can Kökçü 2025-ci ilin may ayında “Volendam”la 1+1 illik müqavilə imzalayıb. O, Niderland klubuna Finlandiya təmsilçisi HJK-dan azad agent kimi keçib. Millimizin üzvü Niderland klubunun heyətində bütövlükdə 31 oyuna çıxıb, 1 qol vurub, 2 məhsuldar ötürmə verib.
Ozan daha öncə Niderlandda “Eyndhoven”, “Valveyk” və “Telstar”ın, Türkiyədə “Bursaspor” və “Girəsunspor”un, Azərbaycanda “Sabah”ın da uğurları üçün çalışıb. Azərbaycanın U-20 və U-21 yığmalarının formasını geyinmiş futbolçu 2022-ci ildən əsas millimizə dəvət alır. O, Azərbaycan milli komandasının heyətində 14 oyuna çıxıb, 2 məhsuldar ötürmə müəllifi olub.
Siyah-beyazlılar, ligde 2020-2021'deki şampiyonluğun ardından zirve yarışının uzağında kaldı ve son 5 sezonda ilk 2 sıraya giremedi. Beşiktaş'ta son 5 sezonda 4 başkan ve 9 teknik adam görev yaptı
Ziraat Türkiye Kupası yarı finalinde Natura Dünyası Gençlerbirliği'ne konuk olacak bordo-mavililer, rakibini elemesi halinde 18. kez finale yükselme başarısı gösterecek. Karadeniz ekibi, 5 sezonluk aranın ardından Türkiye Kupası'nı 10. kez müzesine götürme mücadelesi veriyor
Başkan Dursun Özbek ve teknik direktör Okan Buruk, Trendyol Süper Lig'de 13. sıraya düşerek tarihinin en kötü sezonunu geçiren Galatasaray'ı alıp üst üste 4 şampiyonluğa taşıdı.
2022-2023'te Bölgesel Amatör Lig'de yer alan Mardin 1969 ile 2023-2024'te aynı ligdeki Muğlaspor, Nesine 2. Lig play-off finallerinde 1. Lig vizesi aldı. Muğlaspor, 1996-1997'den sonra tekrar 1. Lig'e dönerken, Mardin 1969 ise ilk kez Süper Lig'e yükselme mücadelesi verecek
Arda Turan, Murat Yakın'dan sonra Avrupa liglerinde birinci lig seviyesinde şampiyonluk yaşayan ilk Türk teknik direktör oldu. 39 yaşındaki genç çalıştırıcı, 2023-2024 sezonunda Eyüpspor ile Trendyol 1. Lig'de de şampiyonluğa ulaşmıştı
Hocasını gönderen, başkanını arayan Fenerbahçe, en az 10 yabancıyla yollarını ayıracak. Her yıl yeni takım furyasından yeni yönetim de nasibini alacak...
As digital wallets continue their rapid expansion, industry conversation remains focused on the user interface - how seamless checkout is, how fast authentication happens and how frictionless the end-user experience feels.
Azərbaycan Kubokunun 2025/26 mövsümünün baş tutan 38 oyununu 41 min 895 tamaşaçı izləyib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu, son 10 mövsümdə ən yüksək göstəricidir.
Orta göstərici isə 1102-yə bərabərdir. Bu, indiki formatda – bütün klubların qatıldığı, təsnifat mərhələlərinin təşkil olunduğu və 39 matçdan ibarət mövsümlər üçün rekord göstəricidir. Bu formata ardıcıl 3-cü dəfə üstünlük verilir.
Azərbaycan Kuboku 18-ci dəfə PFL-in bayrağı altında təşkil olunub. 2008-ci ildən indiyədək olan dövrdə 465 matç təşkil olunub. Onlardan biri baş tutmayıb, biri yarımçıq dayandırılıb.
Bu qarşılaşmaları 695 min 272 tamaşaçı izləyib. Finaldan sonra bu rəqəm 700 mini keçə bilər.
Tamaşaçısız keçirilən 2020/21 mövsümünün qarşılaşmaları və baş tutmayan matç nəzərə alınmamaqla orta göstərici 1555-ə bərabər olub.
Orta tamaşaçı sayında 2010/11 mövsümü rekordla əlamətdar olub – 3369.
AFFA U-13 Liqasında 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünə yekun vurulub.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Bayıl stadionunda üçüncü yer uğrunda oyun və final görüşü keçirilib.
Bürünc mükafat uğrunda matçda “Turan Tovuz” üzərində 1:0 hesablı qələbə qazanan “Sabah” komandası yarışı üçüncü sırada tamamlayıb.
Ardından final qarşılaşmasında “Qarabağ” və “Neftçi“ komandaları üz-üzə gəliblər. Görüşün əsas və əlavə vaxtı 2:2 hesabı ilə yekunlaşıb. Penaltilər seriyasında rəqibini 4:3 hesabı ilə məğlub edən “Neftçi” çempion olub. “Qarabağ” isə gümüş medallar əldə edib.
Oyunlardan sonra “Sabah” bürünc, “Qarabağ” gümüş medalla, “Neftçi” qızıl medal və kubokla təltif olunub. Həmçinin fərdi mükafatçılar da müəyyənləşib. U-8 Liqasında “Ulduz” Futbol Akademiyasından Cəlal Quliyev, U-9 Liqasında “Qarabağ”dan Arda Babayev, U-13 Liqasında isə “Qarabağ”dan Yusif Əliyev feyr-pley mükafatçısı seçilib.
U-13 Liqasında mövsümün ən yaxşı qapıçısı “Qarabağ”ın qolkiperi Amid Şabanov, ən yaxşı futbolçusu isə “Neftçi”nin üzvü Adil Şabanov seçilib.
Mükafatları AFFA-nın baş katibinin müavini Elçin Məmmədov və Yarışların təşkili departamentinin rəhbəri Emin Cəfərov təqdim ediblər.
“Sabah” Misli Premyer Liqasının XXXI turunda “Kəpəz”ə uduzub – 0:1. Bu, çempionluğunu öncədən elan edən “bayquşlar”ın mövsümdə ikinci məğlubiyyətidir.
Komandanın müdafiəçisi Stiv Solvet “Futbolpress.az“a açıqlamasında fikirlərini bölüşdü:
“Öz meydanımızda 33 oyun idi, məğlub olmurduq. Ona görə, nəticə daha çox məyus edir. Buna baxmayaraq, bu məğlubiyyət qazandıqlarımızı kölgədə qoymur. Əla mövsüm keçirdik və klub tarixində ilk dəfə çempion oldu. Bunun həzzini yaşamalıyıq”.
“Sabah” ölkə kubokunun finalında “Zirə” ilə üz-üzə gələcək. Solvet matçdan gözləntilərini söylədi:
“Zirə” yaxşı komandadır. Onlar da avrokuboklara vəsiqə qazanmaq istəyir və titulun önəmi böyükdür. Final bir matçdan ibarət olur və hər nəticə mümkündür. Məncə, tempimizi saxlasaq və keyfiyyətlərimizi ortaya qoysaq, istədiyimiz nəticəni qazana bilərik. Qələbə öz əlimizdədir”.
Misli Premyer Liqasında 2025/26 mövsümünün ən erkən qollarından biri vurulub.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, XXXI turun “Neftçi” – “Şamaxı” matçında (3:0) hesabı açan Emin Mahmudov 1-ci dəqiqədə fərqlənib.
Bu, mövsümdə ilk dəqiqəyə təsadüf edən ikinci qoldur. Hesabın belə erkən açılması ilk dəfə II turda qeydə alınıb. 2025-ci il avqustun 24-də Coy Lens Mikels 1-ci dəqiqədə topu rəqib qapısından keçirib.
Emin kimi almaniyalı futbolçu da “Şamaxı” ilə görüşdə (2:1) fərqlənib. Çempionatın bombardiri səfər görüşündə buna nail olub.
Misli Premyer Liqasının XXXI turu “Turan Tovuz”un yarımmüdafiəçisi Alexandro Serrano üçün əlamətdar olub.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, ispaniyalı yarımmüdafiəçi Premyer Liqada 100-cü oyununu keçirib. Onun yubileyi “Karvan-Yevlax”la ev matçına (1:0) təsadüf edib.
Serrano bu qarşılaşmalarda 11 qola imza atıb. Premyer Liqada yalnız bir klubda çıxış edən futbolçu “Turan Tovuz”da 2023/24 mövsümündə debüt edib.
Serrano Premyer Liqada 100 və daha çox oyun keçirən ikinci ispaniyalıdır. Onadək yalnız “Qarabağ”ın sabiq futbolçusu Miçel buna nail olub.
Former Serie A and West Ham star Paolo Di Canio blames Milan players for their ‘lack of personality’ arguing that ‘many players do not have the stature suited to wearaing such a heavy shirt.’
Milan lost their second consecutive match in Serie A on Sunday against Atalanta, seeing Juventus overtake them in the third spot and, even more worryingly, Roma catch them in fourth.
The Rossoneri still have their fate into their own hands as two wins in the final two games of the season would give them Champions League qualification, having a better head-to-head record than Roma this season.
Milan, however, have only won one of their last seven league matches, losing three of the last five.
Last night, they went 3-0 down at home before scoring twice in the dying minutes.
MILAN, ITALY – MAY 10: Strahinja Pavlovic of AC Milan scores his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Atalanta BC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 10, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“Zero identity, zero personality, zero enthusiasm. It was painfully obvious, despite the effort,” Di Canio, a former Milan, Juventus and Lazio striker told Sky Sport Italia.
“They lack personality, courage and extra willingness to take responsibility and give something of themselves. There was none of that at all today. That’s the aggravating factor. I’m not fooled by the final minutes.
“Until their scored, it was absolutely devastating and some players in these conditions showed they do not have the stature to play in the Champions League,” the former striker continued.
Paolo Di Canio
“The substitutes did well, but even there it’s a matter of personality. Maybe the came on knowing they had nothing tlo lose. The others were being booed, so they came on and ran. It’s easier that way. The five substitues came on welland but if they had played like that all season, Milan would have solved their problems.
“In situations like these, you can see more clearly that many players do not have the stature suited to wearaing such a heavy shirt in front of 70,000 fans at San Siro.”
Milan legend Alessandro Costacurta, a five-time Champions League winner with the Rossoneri, added: “It’s not the first half alone. It comes from the games Udinese, Juventus and Sassuolo. It’s four games out of six played like this. I think they even had commitment, but they’ve lost mental clarity and ended up exhausted at the crucial part of the season.”
Giovanni Di Lorenzo will return to the Napoli line-up after over three months in a home Serie A match against Bologna, with the Partenopei needing a win to secure Champions League qualification with two games to spare.
It kicks off at 20:45 CET (19:45 BST) at the Stadio Maradona in Naples.
David Neres and Romelu Lukaku are unavailable for the Partenopei, who will, however, see Di Lorenzo return to the starting XI for the first time since the end of January.
Bologna have travelled to Naples without Nicolò Cambiaghi, Martin Vitik and Nicolò Casale.
Bologna have little hope of qualifying for the Conference League, as they are nine points below seventh-placed Atalanta, who they will meet in Bergamo next weekend.
NAPLES, ITALY – NOVEMBER 22: Giovanni Di Lorenzo of SSC Napoli battles for possession with Ederson of Atalanta BC during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Atalanta BC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on November 22, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
Napoli, on the other hand, sit second in the standings and will mathematically clinch a Champions League placement with a victory.
As reported by Gazzetta, Sky Sport, and other media outlets, Antonio Conte will confirm a 3-4-3 formation with Scott McTominay starting in central midfield.
Bologna will look to Santiago Castro up front, while Lewis Ferguson is expected to partner with Remo Freuler in the middle of the park.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 22: Stanislav Lobotka of SSC Napoli controls the ball whilst under pressure from Lewis Ferguson of Bologna during the Supercoppa Italiana Final between SSC Napoli and Bologna FC 1909 at King Saud University Stadium on December 22, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)
Napoli vs. Bologna – where to watch on TV
The match will be broadcast live on BBC Alba, BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website, DAZN in the UK and Ireland, and Paramount+ in the UK. Football Italia will provide live updates via a liveblog.
Napoli vs. Bologna – probable line-ups
Napoli (3-4-3):Milinkovic-Savic; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Politano, Lobotka, McTominay, Gutiérrez; De Bruyne, Højlund, Alisson.
Parma turned upside down with the Dutchman at minute 101. Dybala’s farewell: ‘I’ll wave goodbye to the Olimpico in the derby.’
Milan darkness
Boos at San Siro, Champions League at risk
Atalanta dominate and go 3-0. The Devil wakes up in the end. Disastrous and banned Leao. Allegri: ‘A tough moment.’
Inter of the big players for the double: Sarri prepares a new Lazio
Corriere dello Sport
More Malen, less Milan
Champions League bagarre
Donyell turns Parma upside down (2-3). Atalanta win at San Siro (2-3).
Crazy Roma: goal at 101′. Allegri collapses, and Gasps catches him
The ex-Aston Villa man makes the difference again: 13 goals in 16 games. Rensch scores too. Ederson, Zappacosta and Raspa put Max in trouble. Pavlovic and Nkunku (penalty) not enough. Protests against the players and Furlani.
Revolutionised fixture list: three or four games on Sunday at 12:30 with the derby?
Napoli, Conte can kill it off
They are qualified for the Champions League with three points. Di Lorenzo returns to the XI after 100 days. Transfer: Manna pounces on Gila and Khalali.
From Zielinski to Micki: It’s an Inter worthy of the double
Coppa Italia Final against Lazio on Wednesday: 29% of the 113 total goals scored by attacking midfielders or central midfielders. Only Frattesi is scoreless.
Tuttosport
Milan, what a hell
Shocking loss against Atalanta (2-3). Tough protest: Champions League bagarre.
The Rossoneri first sink, then come close to an incredible comeback, but with the second consecutive loss, they leave the third spot and are caught by Roma, who completed a stunning 2-3 comeback in Parma amid controversy. Napoli can secure Champions League qualification tonight. Como are also in the race and in the meantime they celebrate a historic feat: the first time in Europe.
Juve, Lucio’s demands
From the attacking midfielder to Vlahovic’s renewal: Spalletti has clear requests for the club.
Behind the scenes of the Lecce outburst. The coach wants DV9’s renewal (‘We can’t play without somebody like him’) and valuable reinforcements. Elkann calls him from Taormina to reassure him, but an operative agreement with Comolli must be reached. Meeting with the Serbian this week.
Toro issue, Zapata can leave
The captain drags everyone, but earns 2.5m per season. D’Aversa deems him fundamental, but he’s also on the brink.
When Mikel Arteta made the ruthless call to replace fan-favourite Aaron Ramsdale, the footballing world was surprised.
Arsenal already possessed a top-class, highly popular English goalkeeper and making a move for David Raya felt something that was not needed.
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However, the Spaniard has more than justified his signing, as well as the decision that Arteta made.
Raya has won the Golden Glove award in the Premier League for three seasons in a row now.
Following yet another heroic, match-winning display in a crucial, highly dramatic victory over West Ham United, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp has joined a growing chorus of elite voices declaring the Spaniard not just the premier shot-stopper in England, but quite possibly the absolute best goalkeeper on the planet.
David Raya has been sensational for Arsenal
Against West Ham, in a fixture defined by intense late pressure and massive VAR controversy, Raya once again proved to be the ultimate difference-maker.
Redknapp was quick to hold his hands up and admit his own initial doubts, highlighting the incredible vision shown by the Arsenal manager.
‘When you think back, this is where the manager deserves credit because when David Raya first come, I wasn’t sure about that decision,’ Redknapp said on Sky Sports, as reported by Metro.
‘Arsenal already had a good goalkeeper in Aaron Ramsdale. I was thinking, “why are you making that change?”
‘But this season Raya has shown he’s definitely the best goalkeeper in the Premier League and maybe the best goalkeeper in the world.
‘It is an unbelievable save in the moment. You have to give the goalkeeper credit. He stands up and then he flicks out his right foot. It is an unbelievable save.’
Just last month, following Raya’s masterclass in the Champions League, teammate Kai Havertz publicly voiced the exact same opinion, calling the 30-year-old phenomenally underestimated and the best player in the world in his position.
Arteta himself has continuously lauded his number one as extraordinary, fully vindicated by a player who has single-handedly rescued points for the Gunners time and time again.
Raya has provided Arsenal with the calming, world-class foundation required to deal with pressure situations and ability to make saves when goals have looked certain.
Just a year after the excitement of lifting the Premier League trophy, Arne Slot finds himself navigating an increasingly turbulent storm at Anfield.
The Reds have struggled a lot this season and they are set to end the season without silverware, a huge surprise from how they performed last year and the kind of business they did in the summer transfer window last year.
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With frustrated supporters openly clamouring for a managerial change, reports inevitably linked the Merseyside club with former fan-favourite Xabi Alonso.
However, highly respected transfer authority Fabrizio Romano has definitively quashed the speculation, confirming that Fenway Sports Group (FSG) remain entirely committed to Slot and have absolutely no intention of making a change in the dugout.
Liverpool believe Arne Slot can revive the club again
Last season, Slot successfully capitalised on the world-class foundations left behind by Jürgen Klopp, steering the Reds to an incredible Premier League title in his debut campaign.
Fast forward to May 2026, and the contrast is stark. They are currently 20 points behind league leaders Arsenal.
While speaking on his Youtube channel, Romano provided the latest update. He said:
“At the moment, the feeling at Liverpool, I can confirm that it is absolutely in the direction that they want to continue with Slot. Why? Because so far, and it’s May now, it’s no longer February, March, or April. In May, Liverpool have not made contact with any other manager. There were many rumours on Liverpool making contact with Alonso coming from Germany, but I can guarantee that Liverpool this year never made any direct approach with Alonso or with his agents.”
Slot has been granted the opportunity to fix the ongoing structural issues, but if Liverpool do not hit the ground running with an energised, cohesive identity next season, the calls for his departure will become impossible to ignore.
It is going to be a crucial summer for Liverpool and they have some big decisions to make.
Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson are leaving the club while Alisson Becker could be heading out as well.
Liverpool speak to Spanish giants over potential Slot successor
Liverpool Sound Out Real Madrid Over Alonso Amid Growing Pressure on Slot
Liverpool’s interest in Alonso has moved beyond admiration and into serious due diligence, with reports from Spanish outlet AS.com claiming the club have contacted Real Madrid to gather information on the former midfielder’s coaching credentials and personality.
The Premier League side are enduring a turbulent campaign despite enormous investment in the squad. More than €450 million was spent across recent transfer windows, yet the return has fallen well short of expectations. Pressure has intensified around Arne Slot, whose position is no longer viewed as untouchable inside football circles.
According to the original source, Liverpool have “called Valdebebas to try and clear things up” regarding Alonso and his previous spell working within the Real Madrid structure. The article suggests Liverpool’s hierarchy are conducting extensive background checks before making any decisive move about the managerial future at Anfield.
It is hardly surprising that Alonso remains high on Liverpool’s list. Few figures bridge the emotional connection between club and supporter base quite like the Spaniard. He remains one of the most admired midfielders of the modern Liverpool era and has steadily built a reputation as one of Europe’s most promising coaches.
Photo: IMAGO
Real Madrid Relationship Opens Door
One intriguing aspect of the report is the willingness of Real Madrid to engage in conversations with Liverpool despite recent tensions between the clubs. The fallout surrounding Trent Alexander-Arnold speculation had complicated relations in some quarters, yet communication channels appear very much open.
The report states Liverpool sought “a kind of letter of recommendation from the business world”. That line alone reveals the seriousness of their approach. This is not idle gossip or opportunistic speculation. It reflects a club attempting to minimise risk before making a potentially defining appointment.
Real Madrid’s perspective on Alonso carries weight. He left the Spanish giants in January 2016 and has since climbed rapidly through the managerial ranks. His work has drawn admiration for tactical clarity, calm authority and an ability to improve younger players without sacrificing competitiveness.
Liverpool’s owners are understood to be taking a measured approach rather than reacting emotionally to disappointing results. The article notes that what appeared to be Slot’s dismissal was temporarily halted while the club entered a “period of reflection and decision-making”.
That phrase feels significant. Clubs at elite level rarely pause unless genuine uncertainty exists behind closed doors.
Alonso Reputation Continues To Grow
Alonso’s appeal stretches well beyond nostalgia. Liverpool supporters remember his elegance on the pitch, but executives will be more interested in his composure under pressure and the tactical sophistication he has demonstrated as a coach.
Modern football increasingly values managers capable of balancing identity with adaptability. Alonso appears to fit that mould. He has developed a reputation for structured football without becoming rigid, and for handling scrutiny with intelligence rather than defensiveness.
Importantly, Liverpool are not alone in monitoring the Spaniard. The report also mentions interest from Chelsea, reinforcing the sense that Alonso is becoming one of the most coveted managerial names in European football.
Yet admiration alone does not guarantee an appointment. Liverpool’s hesitation indicates there are still unanswered questions internally. Replacing a manager, particularly one backed heavily in the market, carries financial and sporting consequences.
That explains why conversations with Real Madrid matter. Liverpool are not merely evaluating tactics or formations. They are examining personality, leadership style, communication and resilience. Elite clubs increasingly recruit managers in the same manner major corporations recruit chief executives.
Liverpool Future Hinges On Summer Decisions
What happens next may depend on how Liverpool finish the season. Football moves quickly, and momentum can alter narratives within weeks. A strong end to the campaign could ease pressure around Slot. Further disappointments would almost certainly intensify calls for change.
For now, Alonso remains a compelling possibility rather than an inevitable successor. The original source makes clear that Liverpool’s enquiries “suggest it’s not a definitive move”.
Still, the very fact Liverpool have approached Real Madrid for insight tells its own story. Clubs do not conduct this level of investigation without serious intent behind the scenes.
Alonso’s connection with Liverpool guarantees emotion will surround the conversation, but the decision facing the club is ultimately a strategic one. They are searching for certainty in an uncertain season, and one of football’s most respected institutions has reportedly been asked whether Alonso could provide it.
Danny Rohl joined Rangers in October, with his contract running until the end of the 2027-28 season. [PA Media]
It's hard to have much perspective in the immediate aftermath of your first league Old Firm derby defeat. But Danny Rohl has to learn some lessons, and quickly.
The Rangers head coach has been put out of the League Cup, Scottish Cup and now condemned to third place in the Scottish Premiership by his wily old Celtic counterpart Martin O'Neill.
There will be no Champions League qualifier for the Ibrox side after three destructive post-split defeats against Motherwell, Hearts and Celtic.
It begs a series of difficult questions and another long summer of introspection and rebuilding at Ibrox.
But how many times can this keep happening? And will Rohl be there to be part of the latest fresh start amid reports of interest from Germany?
Is Rohl right man for Rangers?
The question is already being asked on social media feeds, down the pub and across the kitchen table among Rangers folk.
Up until the split, the answer would have been a fairly unequivocal 'yes'.
Rohl inherited a complete mess in October, including a 13-point deficit to Hearts. But, at the beginning of April, Rangers edged to the top of the league on goal difference with Hearts not playing until the following day.
However, they have won just once in four games since, losing three in a row in the top flight for the first time since 2000. Nowhere near good enough, as the German is the first to concede.
"We had a great position before the split and this is hard to take and we have to improve and develop quick," he told BBC Sport Scotland after the Celtic Park loss.
"We have to learn in these key moments to be clinical and play without mistakes. We will learn from this.
"I will take a lot from the last three games to be prepared the best way possible. I will lead this group and I am clear about what we have to improve."
Former Ibrox midfielder Andy Halliday said it was "only natural for some Rangers fans to have their doubts" over Rohl.
Speaking on the BBC Scottish Football Podcast, he added: "It's the manner of their last two performances, in particular. When Hearts gave them a punch on the nose at Tynecastle, they didn't respond and it was the same after Celtic gave them a one-two inside four minutes.
"He doesn't like questions about mentality but it's no surprise these questions are coming.
"I think there is quality in that squad and, at the moment, Rohl is struggling to get the best out of them."
Rangers can now only finish in third place [BBC]
How big is Rangers' summer rebuild?
Rangers have already spent a relative fortune this season on their squad - in the ball-park of £40m, although a significant amount came back into the club with some high-profile, lucrative departures.
Rohl may bristle when the mentality of his squad is queried, but the way the side buckled when it came to the crunch begs the question if there are enough of the right characters in the Ibrox dressing room.
Former Scotland international James McFadden isn't convinced.
"Winning's hard," he said on Sky Sports. "You need to run more, you need to up the intensity. That's the suffering you need. But Rangers drop their levels when they're in front and that's allowing teams in."
His former international colleague - and ex-Rangers player - Kris Boyd agrees.
"Danny Rohl will come under serious questions," Boyd said on Sky Sports. "There is a mentality problem within that group, there is no doubt about it.
"Again, it'll be another rebuild in the summer. How long does it go on for, though? There's a big, big summer for Rangers coming up and I'm fed-up saying it."
Rangers have been on a bit of goal-spree lately, scoring 18 in their past six matches.
But they have only taken half of the points available, which draws serious questions about the side's inability to keep them out at the other end.
Boyd admits he had to cover his eyes at some of the defending at Celtic Park. "That's 13 goals in the last five games that Rangers have conceded," he added.
"Celtic had to suffer in that first half but they dug in and that's what real teams do. Rangers, when the going gets tough, they disappear. They become individuals.
"The defending is incredible. I look at [Nasser] Djiga and [Emmanuel] Fernandez and I don't think there's any real pride in defending. I think they want to get on the ball, and look good. If that's the way you want to play, you have to make sure you defend properly and that was abysmal."
Rangers have nothing but pride left to play for now, while their bitter rivals have eyes on yet another league and cup double.
Not for the first time, a consequential summer is in store around Ibrox way.
"I think he will be backed", Halliday said of Rohl. "But there's no Champions League pot, or a guaranteed later round in the Europa League, so it wouldn't surprise me if there's a set figure leading up to the qualifiers and then it depends on how that goes.
"The difficulty with that is you're talking about the last two or three weeks of the window when a lot of people have done their business and you might have to pay over the odds."
What are Rangers fans saying?
Alex: "This was a weak performance. It doesn't matter how well they start as soon as the opposition score the team falls apart. No passion, fight, aggression, determination, absolutely nothing to give the fanbase any hope whatsoever."
Graeme: "Can't keep sacking managers and spending millions on players. Should give coach and players more time to develop together. Can then dominate again like 40 years ago."
Ian: "The truth is at least nine players won't be here in the summer - nearly all of Russell Martin's signings. Rohl needs to buy at least four defenders and three midfielders if he stays. The jury is out."
Lewis: "Rohl has to go. When the going has got tough his team have folded without a fight and his "cup finals" have all been lost. I don't see any signs that anything would be different next season. Bite the bullet and change now or regret."
Nick: "Rohl has to go. He's being better than the worst manager Rangers have ever had is not reason enough to stick with someone who is clearly out of his depth."
Rochdale duo Ian Henderson (left) and Ethan Ebanks-Landell lift the National League promotion final trophy at Wembley [Getty Images]
Chief executive Phil Alexander has renewed the National League's call for the English Football League (EFL) to adopt a three-up, three-down promotion and relegation system between the two leagues.
Rochdale came back from two goals down 12 minutes from the end of normal time to beat Boreham Wood on penalties in the promotion final at Wembley on Sunday.
The win came two weeks after one of the most memorable games of the season across the top five leagues, when first Rochdale and then York scored in stoppage time in a league title decider.
For long spells at Wembley, it appeared Rochdale would miss out on promotion despite amassing an incredible 106 points in their league campaign.
Alexander feels that should focus minds within the EFL.
"We think three up could be done, we think three up should be done," he said. "The EFL could take the higher ground and make that happen."
EFL chief executive Trevor Birch and chief operating officer Nick Craig were both at Wembley.
Before the game outgoing National League chairman Jack Pearce praised the pair but added they were not in charge of adopting three-up, three-down - the clubs were.
The National League feel there is broad agreement for its implementation and had hoped it would be voted on at a meeting of all 72 EFL clubs in March.
That did not happen. Instead, it was listed as a discussion topic, meaning it could not be adopted for another year.
In performance terms, three promotion places make sense. The top tier of the National League is virtually fully professional and the gap in standard to League Two is negligible.
While two recently promoted teams – Barrow and Harrogate – have been relegated from the EFL this season, Bromley, promoted out of the National League two years ago, have just won the League Two title.
Notts County and Chesterfield, who contested the 2023 National League promotion final, are facing each other in the League Two play-off semi-finals, while Wrexham, also a National League club as recently as 2023, only missed out on a Championship play-off spot on the final day of this season.
However, the fear at the National League is that EFL clubs will stick rigidly to their stance that change in their league should not be made until the Premier League – who provide significant financial backing to the fifth tier - reach a funding agreement with them, which, as yet, there are no signs of.
Alexander feels the newly installed Football Regulator, chaired by David Kogan, has a role to play but hopes a solution can be found for the good of the game.
"Really the National League should be part of a larger pyramid with regards to connection with the EFL," said Alexander.
"It is league five in every sense and needs to be recognised in that way. At the moment it is on a bit of an island.
"The regulator has the power to make changes for the betterment of the game and that's where I'm coming from.
"We do think there is good feeling within the EFL for three-up and pretty much everyone thinks it's the thing to do but I am very concerned it might just drag on."
West Ham United's late equaliser against Arsenal on Sunday was correctly disallowed by the referee and VAR, says former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney.
Callum Wilson scored in stoppage time to salvage a point at London Stadium but referee Chris Kavanagh overturned his on-field decision after being sent to the monitor by VAR, judging that Hammers forward Pablo had fouled Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya as he attempted to collect a corner-kick.
"A lot of people say it probably should have stood and because it's controversial, Manchester City players, staff and fans are going to say it should have stood and then the Tottenham fans, staff and players saying it shouldn't have stood.
"But it's a clear foul, you can clearly see his [Pablo's] arm across his [Raya's] face, and it impacted him getting to the ball so, I think it's the right decision."
Arsenal's victory meant they went five points clear of City in the Premier League title race while West Ham stay in the relegation zone, a point behind Tottenham.
Rooney added: "It's the one time I actually think VAR's done a really good job in such an important game. I didn't think it was a hard decision – I think it was a simple decision and I get the importance of it but you can't take that into account, you've just got to take it for what it is and it's a foul."
NFL players love Dan Quinn. He may be the most player-friendly coach in the NFL. It's easy to see why players revere Quinn. He builds relationships, not just with every player on the 90-man roster, but with everyone in the building, too. He also takes care of his players.
Since taking over as head coach of the Washington Commanders in 2024, Quinn has given his veteran players a rest day during the week. Whether it was Zach Ertz, Laremy Tunsil, or others, Quinn takes care of his guys. You could add Bobby Wagner to that mix, too, but Wagner didn't like to miss any practice unless he was dealing with an injury.
Quinn taking care of his players also extends to the offseason workouts and training camp. Teams are already restricted in what they can do during offseason workouts and OTAs. In training camp, you're not allowed to practice in full pads until Day 7. Two-a-days, which used to be common, are much different now. If you schedule two-a-days, one must be a walkthrough only.
Dating back to his time as head coach of the Falcons, many have said Quinn takes it too easy on players in training camp. That was mentioned often last summer, with the Commanders coming off a 12-5 season, in which they reached the NFC Championship game.
Whether that's true or not, it's the perception. Players like it. But after a 5-12 season in 2025 that Quinn said went "terribly," could things be changing this summer?
In his rookie minicamp notebook from Friday, Zach Selby of commanders.com offered the following observation:
Practice felt a little more loaded compared to previous years. The afternoon featured two team periods and two seven-on-seven periods -- a marked increase from what the 2025 class experienced during their first rookie minicamp practice. Perhaps it doesn't mean much, but Quinn did say at the end of the season that there would be several changes to the team's operations during the week. It's possible it's the start of something new for the team.
This is an encouraging sign. Remember, Quinn also hired two new coordinators, OC David Blough and DC Daronte Jones. He may be allowing them to run things at their discretion. But since the end of last season, he's had a bit of a different tone when he's met with the media. Quinn hasn't treated anyone differently, but he's stressed that the 2025 season was unacceptable for everyone, including himself.
Selby, noting that practice felt a little more "loaded" is an excellent observation. While it may mean nothing, it could also be significant. We'll know more when Washington's OTAs begin later this month, and the Commanders hold their mandatory minicamp next month.
Quinn has always tried to maintain a true balance by making sure he gets the most out of players while also taking care of them. After running what many believed was a soft camp last year, the Commanders were among the most injured teams in the NFL.
Quinn understands how important this season is not only for him and his future in Washington, but also for the entire organization.
CHENNAI: Chennai Super Kings snapped an eight-year jinx at Chepauk on Sunday, and it took an unlikely hero, Urvil Patel, playing in place of the injured Ayush Mhatre, to script it.
Chasing 204 against Lucknow Super Giants, CSK completed their first 180-plus chase since 2018, powered by Urvil’s astonishing 23-ball 65. Slotted at No. 3 after Sanju Samson’s brisk 28 off 14, the 27-year-old turned the game on its head with a breathtaking burst.
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His 13-ball half-century, joint-fastest in IPL history alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, broke the back of the asking rate on a surface where the ball occasionally gripped. Urvil’s assault ensured CSK raced to half the target inside seven overs.
The carnage began after a quiet start. Avesh Khan’s over disappeared for 25 runs as Urvil hammered three sixes, shifting momentum instantly. Digvesh Rathi suffered a similar fate in the next over, conceding 25 as Urvil surged to 42 off just 10 balls.
With Chepauk roaring, Urvil took on Mohammed Shami, bringing up his fifty with a towering six, then revealing a note from his pocket that read, “This is for you, Papa.”
His approach was uncomplicated but devastatingly effective, repeatedly targeting the midwicket arc. Seven of his eight sixes sailed there, as he relied on timing and brute power rather than innovation.
Though Shahbaz Ahmed eventually dismissed him and a dropped catch on 62 briefly prolonged the onslaught, the damage was already done. CSK still wobbled, 78 off 64 balls should have been routine, but Shivam Dube’s late sixes sealed a five-wicket win.
The victory, CSK’s third straight, lifted them to fifth with 12 points from 11 matches, though a significant net run rate boost eluded them. Earlier, Josh Inglis had lit up Chepauk with a blistering 85 off 33 balls, propelling LSG to a record powerplay score of 91/1. But CSK hit back through Jamie Overton and Noor Ahmad, who tightened the screws on their rivals in the middle overs.
Overton struck twice in the 10th over, getting the wicket of Inglis, who was dismissed while playing the reverse scoop. A late push from Shahbaz Ahmed took LSG past 200, but under lights and against Urvil in full flow, even that proved insufficient.
Brief Scores: Lucknow Super Giants: 203/8 in 20 overs (Josh Inglis 85, Shahbaz Ahmed 43 not out; Jamie Overton 3/36, Anshul Kamboj 2/47) lost to Chennai Super Kings: 208/5 in 19.2 overs (Urvil Patel 65, Ruturaj Gaikwad 42; Digvesh Rathi 2/45) by five wickets and four balls to spare.
Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has predicted that George Russell will end the 2026 season as runner-up if Kimi Antonelli can "keep his cool".
While we are only four rounds into the season, Steiner has seen enough to boldly predict the final drivers' championship standings.
During an appearance on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner discussed Antonelli's impressive start. The Italian driver took the lead in the standings after back-to-back wins in China and Japan and has since extended his advantage over Russell to 20 points after another victory in Miami.
"It's not only that you need the machine, but his team-mate is George Russell. He has got a good team-mate, a very good driver, who I rate highly," Steiner said. "And I thought it's his time to bring it home this year, the championship. But I think Kimi is slowly taking it away from him, if he can keep his cool.
"George, I think he will be the vice champion, not the champion."
When asked if he thought it was now Antonelli's championship to lose, the former team chief added: "He still needs to win it. But he's showing all the signs of not being bothered by whatever is happening. The thing which I mostly fear is that maybe he has got some issues and then loses his cool about it, a little bit like Oscar did last year.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
"He was well in command before the summer break, and after the summer break, two things happened which he didn't like, and he lost the championship. Maybe it is for him to lose, but I think we are early in the season."
The season will continue with the Canadian Grand Prix on 22-24 May at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a track that Russell argues is one of his strongest. Heading into the Canadian Grand Prix, Antonelli leads the drivers' standings on 100 points, with Russell following on 80 points in second. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc sits third with 59 points and 2025 champion Lando Norris is fourth with 51 points.
Pep Guardiola's side overcame European hopefuls Brentford in a must-win game to keep their slim Premier League title hopes alive, with the Belgium international playing an "important" part.
"Brentford made it difficult and I was sat there thinking: 'Who's going to produce a bit of magic?' - and it was Jeremy Doku who did with an unbelievable finish," Morrison said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily.
"He has been brilliant. He is breathtaking. When he plays like that, he is a world-beater and one of the best around.
"He causes opposition full-backs all kinds of problems by being able to go inside and outside.
"This particular finish against Brentford was outstanding. He has been outstanding.
"If Manchester City want to win the league, he needs to continue to keep these kinds of levels. It will even be important in the FA Cup final."
With the penultimate matchday of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season in the books, Bulinews Editor-in-Chief Rune Gjerulff has named his Team of the Week, set up in a 4-2-2-2 formation.
Goalkeeper:
Jonas Urbig, FC Bayern
Urbig produced a series of outstanding saves – five in total – to help Bayern secure a hard-fought 1-0 win over Wolfsburg.
Defenders:
Vladimir Coufal, Hoffenheim
A rock on the right side of defence, Coufal was strong in duels, created five key passes, and completed four dribbles in Hoffenheim’s 1-0 win over Werder.
Luka Vuskovic, Hamburger SV
In what was almost certainly his final home appearance for HSV, Vušković once again showcased his class, winning seven duels and getting on the scoresheet. A fitting farewell performance.
Wili Orban, RB Leipzig
The experienced defender stepped up when it mattered most, helping Leipzig secure Champions League qualification. He won five of six duels, scored the winner, and completed 96% of his 146 passes.
Robin Fellhauer, Augsburg
Made a real impact off the bench after an early injury to Dimitrios Giannoulis. Fellhauer was heavily involved going forward, scoring once and later seeing another effort ruled out for offside.
Midfielders:
Jan Schöppner, Heidenheim
Struck an impressive brace to guide Heidenheim to a vital 3-1 win over 1. FC Köln.
Fabian Rieder, Augsburg
A composed and creative presence in midfield, Rieder registered four key passes and also won four duels.
Michael Olise, FC Bayern
Delivered another moment of brilliance, scoring a superb long-range effort to seal Bayern’s victory.
Arijon Ibrahimovic, Heidenheim
Scored a goal, along with three key passes and a completed dribble in Heidenheim’s win.
Strikers:
Michael Gregoritsch, Augsburg
The Austrian striker led the line superbly, scoring twice to inspire Augsburg’s 3-1 win over Mönchengladbach.
Ermedin Demirovic, Stuttgart
A constant threat in Stuttgart’s crucial 3-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, Demirović found the net again and also won a penalty.
Rock's victory was his first European Tour win in almost two years [Getty Images]
Northern Ireland's Josh Rock secured his first title on the European Tour in almost two years with a 8-6 win over Kevin Doets in the final of the Austrian Darts Open on Sunday.
The 25-year-old from Broughshane scored five straight wins in Graz to secure the £35,000 top prize and a green jacket - joking "I'm just happy that two Northern Irishmen got a green jacket this year".
Rock saw off Patrik Kovacs on Saturday to move into finals day on Sunday where he survived three match darts against Niko Springer to come through in a last leg decider to reach the last eight where he overcame Cristo Reyes.
In an all-Northern Ireland semi-final, Rock was a 7-3 winner over Daryl Gurney and finished the job in the decider with an 8-6 win against Netherlands' Doets.
"I'm very relieved," Rock said afterwards.
"To come here this weekend and win is a massive achievement. I'm just happy that two Northern Irishmen got a green jacket this year!
"I made my first final against Jonny [Clayton] here [in 2023], and when he got the jacket I was kind of jealous. Then Martin [Schindler] beat me last year in the semi-final and won it, so I was determined to win it this year, and I'm happy I finally got it.
"Kevin has been playing unbelievable this year, and he has proved it by winning his first ProTour on Monday. He's only going to keep winning more, I'm just grateful I got the edge against him in this one."
In the final, the opening four legs were shared with breaks of throw before Doets edged ahead thanks to an 11-darter.
Rock rattled off the next three legs which included a 170 checkout, but the Dutchman hit back as he punished a checkout error to level the final at 6-6.
However, Rock held his nerve to break back thanks to a 78 checkout and with the darts, produced a 14-dart leg to claim his first Austraian Darts Open and the customary green jacket.
Monaco’s Lukas Hradecky: ‘Tonight’s match shows that we don’t belong in the Champions League.’
AS Monaco waved goodbye to their slender chances of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League following a 1-0 loss to Lille OSC on Sunday night. It leaves the Principality club seventh going into the final day of the season. They will have to win and hope that Olympique de Marseille lose against Stade Rennais next weekend to have any hope of climbing into sixth. Otherwise, they will have to rely on RC Lens beating OGC Nice in the final of the Coupe de France in order to qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League.
‘We don’t get the maximum out of this team’ – Monaco’s Hradecky
Any form of European football will now do for Monaco, who, according to Lukas Hradecky, didn’t deserve to return for a third successive UCL campaign. “Tonight’s match showed that we don’t belong in the Champions League. We can forget about it. Overall, individually, as a club, as a team, we have to do much better,” said Hradecky in a mixed zone interview attended by Get French Football News.
He continued, “The sixth or seventh spot is not what I came to play for. At the end of the day, we are where we deserve to be, and next season has to be better […] we have to look at ourselves in the mirror. We have really good players, but as a team, we underperformed […] we don’t get the maximum out of this team, and maybe there are multiple reasons, but also today, there was not too much freshness. Lille were more controlled on the ball.”
Historic: João Cancelo becomes the first to win four of the top 5 leagues
Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 2-0 on Sunday evening to secure the Spanish league for the second straight season. As a result, João Cancelo became the first player ever to win four titles in Europe's 'big 5' leagues.
Cancelo's first title in one of the world's top leagues came in 2018/19. That season, the full-back was at Juventus, alongside international teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, and won Serie A with an 11-point lead over second place (Napoli).
The following season, Cancelo moved Manchester City, but had to wait until his second year in England before lifting the Premier League title.
After a period of tension with City boss Pep Guardiola, Cancelo was loaned to Bayern München for the second half of 2022/23 campaign. The Bavarians clinched the title on the final matchday, under Thomas Tuchel to add a third 'big 5' title to Cancelo's collection.
The 31-year-old played all of the 90 minutes at Camp Nou at the weekend to help his side seal their second La Liga title in a row to put his tally up to four out of five.
And Cancelo has been important to his sides – across the Big 5 clubs where he has won a domestic league title, he has scored 16 goals and provided 40 assists in 271 appearances.
All that's left now is to win in France to complete the set...
Alan Shearer has criticised inconsistent officiating after Arsenal’s controversial 1-0 win over West Ham.
Relegation-battling West Ham had a stoppage-time equaliser from Callum Wilson disallowed for a foul by Pablo on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
The VAR check, with official Darren England reviewing replays before sending referee Chris Kavanagh to the screen, lasted over four minutes.
Appearing on The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer agreed with Gary Lineker and Micah Richards that the officials ultimately made the right call, but argued VAR has failed to eradicate inconsistency in officiating.
“I guess some people will think it was a foul, some won’t, some will think, ‘Where on earth is the consistency?’ because we’re seeing something like that every single week,” Shearer said.
“I do think it was a foul but I also think the one at Everton last week with Bernardo Silva, when that was given as holding, clearly, the defender (Merlin Rohl) – where was VAR for that one?”
Pablo was ruled to have fouled David Raya (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
The former England captain added: “We’re having this discussion all the time, they’re taking far too long. I know it’s a hugely important decision, but so is every decision.
“Every fan will give you a screenshot of a similar incident that’s happened this season and they probably didn’t get the foul. So that’s where the anger comes from.”
The decision cost West Ham a goal which could have earned them a priceless point in their fight against relegation, while Arsenal survived to stay five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table.
Lineker added: “(It was) probably a foul, but that’s not quite what they are supposed to be, is it? If I were a West Ham fan, or indeed a Manchester City fan, I think I’d be a little bit angry, because there was a lot of fouling going on at that corner.
“There was a lot of grappling by Arsenal players on the West Ham attacks. I know goalkeepers are protected more than anyone else, and it was probably a foul on him, but do you look at what happened before when people are being held which is probably a more obvious foul?”
Former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney praised the officials for getting the decision right.
Speaking on the Wayne Rooney Show, he said: “It’s a clear foul. I think you can clearly see the arm crosses (Raya’s) face and it impacts him getting to the ball. So I think it’s the right decision.
“It’s the one time I actually think VAR has done a really good job in such an important game.”
Grant Scott: We didn't show enough of our qualities against Hearts
Celtic FC Women lost out narrowly to Hearts at the weekend, going down 2-1 against the league leaders.
It was a game which had some positives and negatives for manager, Grant Scott, though, ultimately, he was disappointed to have lost the game.
Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, he said: “Overall, I’m not massively displeased apart from the result, but I don’t think it’s been our best performance.
“I was a wee bit disappointed with the urgency we showed. At times, in flashes, we saw the attacking team I want us to be, but I don’t think our quality shone through and we didn’t create enough chances to put them under enough stress.
“It’s always disappointing in a defeat but we’ll take what we can from it, take our learnings and try to keep moving on.
“There wasn’t a lot in the match. In individual battles all over the pitch, some won, some lost, but ultimately, our quality with the ball didn’t really show through.
"It was there at times, but we didn’t really threaten their goal enough.”
Next up for Celtic is a Glasgow derby on Sunday (May 17) when they take on Rangers at Broadwood Stadium (KO: 4pm).
The game is a dress rehearsal for the Scottish Cup final between the sides at the end of the month, and the Celtic manager is looking for a positive performance and, of course, a positive result.
“It’s the oldest thing in football but you need to dust yourself down from these tough moments,” he said.
“It’s a good game to bounce back in, a good game to play in.
"They’re always tough battles but, again, I’ll ask the players for performance and quality over anything else next week and we’ll go into the game and try to win it.”
Fixtures
Celtic Women Vs. Hearts Women - Sun, May 10th 2026, 16:10 Final score: 1 - 2
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have emerged as the strongest playoff contenders in IPL 2026 after their dramatic last-ball win over Mumbai Indians, with the latest projection showing RCB at a massive 94.82% probability of qualification following Sunday’s results.
The projections generated after 100,000 simulated league-stage finishes also confirmed the effective elimination of both Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants from playoff contention. MI and LSG failed to qualify in any of the latest simulations after slipping to eight defeats each from 11 matches.
RCB’s thrilling two-wicket victory over Mumbai in Raipur not only lifted them to the top of the points table on 14 points, but also significantly strengthened both their qualification and top-two projections. Bengaluru now possess a 63.41% probability of finishing inside the top two, with their strong +1.103 Net Run Rate continuing to act as a major separator in tight qualification scenarios.
IPL 2026 Playoff Qualification Scenarios
Team
Playoff Probability
Top-Two Probability
Average Finish
RCB
94.82%
63.41%
2.31
SRH
91.74%
58.66%
2.54
GT
87.53%
54.11%
2.83
PBKS
84.69%
49.52%
3.04
CSK
58.47%
18.76%
4.68
RR
54.33%
14.91%
4.96
KKR
19.84%
1.63%
6.22
DC
8.41%
0.44%
7.11
MI
0.00%
0.00%
8.67
LSG
0.00%
0.00%
8.94
Sunrisers Hyderabad remain close behind with a 91.74% playoff probability and a 58.66% top-two projection despite slipping from first to second on Net Run Rate. Gujarat Titans also strengthened their position considerably after their dominant win over Rajasthan Royals earlier in the week and now stand at 87.53% playoff probability.
Punjab Kings, despite sitting fourth with 13 points, continue to project extremely strongly because they still have four matches remaining, more than every other top-six contender. PBKS currently qualify in 84.69% of simulations and still hold nearly a 50% chance of securing a top-two finish.
The biggest movement after Sunday’s results came in the middle of the table.
Chennai Super Kings’ five-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants dramatically revived their campaign. CSK’s playoff probability has now jumped to 58.47%, making them statistical favourites over Rajasthan Royals despite both teams sitting on 12 points.
The difference is largely schedule-driven. Chennai still have fixtures remaining against SRH and GT but have already recovered momentum with four wins in their last five games, while Rajasthan’s projections continue to be weighed down by poor recent form and a damaged Net Run Rate after their 77-run defeat to Gujarat.
RR now project at 54.33% playoff probability: a notable drop compared to earlier simulations where they were tracking above 80%.
Kolkata Knight Riders remain alive at 19.84%, though they likely require at least three wins from their final four matches combined with favourable external results.
Delhi Capitals still retain faint mathematical pathways at 8.41%, but their disastrous -1.154 Net Run Rate continues to heavily damage qualification projections in tie scenarios.
For Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants, however, the race is now effectively over.
131004040
With PBKS on 13th points and occupying the last playoff spot at the moment, neither MI nor LSG can surpass or go level on points with PBKS even if they win their remaining games. With only three league matches remaining and multiple teams already sitting on 12-14 points, the playoff cut-off has effectively moved beyond their realistic reach.
Remaining IPL 2026 Fixtures: Projected Favourites
Match Fixture
Predicted Favourite
Match 55: PBKS vs DC
PBKS
Match 56: GT vs SRH
GT (very close)
Match 57: RCB vs KKR
RCB
Match 58: PBKS vs MI
PBKS
Match 59: LSG vs CSK
CSK
Match 60: KKR vs GT
GT
Match 61: PBKS vs RCB
PBKS (very close)
Match 62: DC vs RR
RR
Match 63: CSK vs SRH
SRH
Match 64: RR vs LSG
RR
Match 65: KKR vs MI
KKR
Match 66: GT vs CSK
GT
Match 67: SRH vs RCB
SRH
Match 68: LSG vs PBKS
PBKS
Match 69: MI vs RR
RR
Match 70: KKR vs DC
KKR
The probabilities were generated using a simulation model that replayed the remaining IPL 2026 league stage 100,000 times using current points, Net Run Rate, recent form, remaining fixtures and weighted team-strength probabilities.
PHILADELPHIA − We'll find out the Eagles' schedule on May 14. But until the official 272-game NFL schedule is officially announced, we can't resist predicting whom the Eagles will open their season against.
Last season, we knew, as Super Bowl champions, that the Eagles were hosting the Thursday night game. That was the official kickoff of the NFL season. That is obviously not the case this season as the Seattle Seahawks, the reigning Super Bowl champs, are kicking off the season with a home game on Sept. 9.
The Seahawks are on the Eagles' schedule this season. But the Eagles are the home team for that game. So the Seahawks are eliminated as a possible opening opponent.
We also know that the 49ers are playing the Rams on Sept. 10 in Australia. Both of those teams are on the Eagles' schedule this season, so both are eliminated as the Eagles' opening opponent.
That leaves the Eagles with 14 possible opponents. But since the Eagles play their NFC East opponents twice, that's really 11 possible opponents. Here, then, is a ranking, from least likely to most likely, of possible Week 1 opponents:
Eliminated from Eagles' opener
Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers
11. Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys, Sept. 13, 4:25 p.m.
There's no way the NFL schedules Eagles vs. Cowboys as each team's season opener for the second straight season. And since one of the games will likely be in late December, it's doubtful that either the Eagles' home or road game against Dallas will happen on opening weekend.
10. Eagles at Chicago Bears, Sept. 13, 4:25 p.m.
Sure, this is a really good matchup of two playoff teams from last season, and it would work well in the late Sunday afternoon time slot. But it seems silly to waste this one on a late summer date when you can play this in prime time in the cold and wind of late November or early December. You know, Monsters of the Midway and all that.
9. Eagles vs. Washington Commanders, Sept. 13, 1 p.m.
The Eagles opened last season against NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys. So an NFC East game could be possible. But I'm guessing that the Eagles play their road game against Washington in London. That game should take place in mid-October. If that's the case, then the second game between the two teams will likely take place in the final few weeks of the season in Philly.
8. Eagles at Jacksonville Jaguars, Sept. 14, 8:15 p.m.
This is another good matchup of 2025 playoff teams that would be better suited for a Monday night or Thursday night game later in the season. Since I'm guessing the Eagles will face Washington in London, the Eagles won't be the Jaguars' opponent there. So why not play this game in early October?
7. Eagles at Arizona Cardinals, Sept. 13, 4:05 p.m.
If the NFL wanted to make this a non-marquee game, as it should, this would be a good time to send the Eagles to Arizona. Sure, it could be 105 degrees in the Phoenix area, but the dome will be closed, so that won't be a factor. But I like this game as a Thursday night game later in September or early October.
6. Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts, Sept. 13, 1 p.m.
This game would have some panache to it, especially if Colts QB Daniel Jones is able to return from his torn Achilles. And of course, it's a chance for ex-Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen to go against his former team for the first time as the Colts' head coach.
5. Eagles vs. New York Giants, Sept. 13, 1 p.m.
I wouldn't rule out the Eagles opening the season against an NFC East opponent for the second straight season. If they do, the Giants could be the opponent, whether the game is at home or on the road. In fact, why not open the John Harbaugh era against the team in which he made his bones as the Eagles' special teams coordinator and DB coach during the Andy Reid era?
This should be a good game with plenty of intrigue. For one, it would be Reed Blankenship's return to Philly. For another, it would be a huge game for Texans QB C.J. Stroud to prove himself after his 4-interception dud in the Texans' Divisional Round loss to the Patriots.
3. Eagles vs. Carolina Panthers, Sept. 13, 1 p.m.
I like this game as an opener. The Panthers surprised many last season by making the playoffs, albeit with an 8-9 record. But Carolina then loaded up by signing edge rusher Jaelan Phillips away from the Eagles. It would be a good chance to see if the Panthers are for real this season.
2. Eagles vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Sept. 14, 8:15 p.m.
This game has Monday Night Football written all over it. There's the Aaron Rodgers factor. The mercurial QB hasn't announced his decision yet. If he does return, that's TV gold. And of course, having two Pennsylvania teams open the season against each other is good theater as well.
But I don't think it's the likeliest Eagles' opener. If the Eagles get a home game to open the season, it would be the third straight (the Eagles were the home team for the 2024 opener in Brazil). It's not out of the realm of possibility. I just think they're going to open on the road.
1. Eagles at Tennessee Titans, Sept. 13, 1 p.m.
Yes, Eagles fans invading Nashville and tearing up Broadway would make for an interesting season opener for the Birds. But it's also intriguing for the rebuilding Titans who are entering Year 2 with Cam Ward as the quarterback with new offensive coordinator in Brian Daboll, the ex-Giants head coach, and new head coach Robert Saleh.
For the Eagles, there is intrigue too under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion and new edge rusher Jonathan Greenard. And, of course, it will most likely be the Eagles' first game without A.J. Brown. How big of a role will the Eagles' first two draft picks in WR Makai Lemon and TE Eli Stowers have?
We won't know those and other answers for another four months. But we'll at least know when and where the Eagles will begin answering them.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the "Eye On The Eagles" newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday morning. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
Fifa's rules allow a player to switch the nation they represent for a number of reasons.
Inter Milan striker Ange-Yoan Bonny is among the latest players to officially switch nations, transferring from France to Ivory Coast ahead of this summer's World Cup.
Ivory Coast are competing at the tournament, meaning Bonny could feature if called up to the squad.
In order to do so, players must be eligible to play for the nation they are switching to.
There are five different sets of circumstances in which a player is eligible to switch nations.
A new rule introduced in 2021 allowed players who had played up to three senior international caps prior to the age of 21 to switch nations.
Previously, the rule stated that players could not switch nations once they had earned a senior cap in a competitive match.
England midfielder Declan Rice benefited from this rule when switching from the Republic of Ireland.
Rice won three senior caps for the Republic, all of which came in international friendlies, before opting to instead play for England in 2019.
Former Chelsea striker Diego Costa also swapped nations to Spain in 2014, having played for Brazil in two friendly matches in 2013.
How can a player switch nationalities?
Ange-Yoan Bonny had represented France at under-21, under-20 and under-19 levels [Getty Images]
While Fifa sets guidelines for nations and players in their rules on switching nationalities, it is ultimately the responsibility of all of Fifa's 211 members to individually ensure the players they are registering are eligible.
There are five different sets of circumstances in which a player can become eligible to switch nationalities.
The player has played for the country they are leaving only at youth level and was already dual-registered to the country they are joining
The player has played for the country they are leaving only at youth level, was not dual-registered to the country they are joining, their last international appearance for the country they are leaving came prior to the age of 21, and meets article six or seven of Fifa's player eligibility guidelines
The player played for the country they are leaving at senior level, were dual-registered with the nation they are joining whilst making their debut for the nation they are leaving, have not played for the country they are leaving since before turning 21, have not played more than three times for the country they are leaving at senior level, three years have passed since their last international appearance, and they have not played for their first nation at a major tournament
The player wishes to represent a nation that were not Fifa members when they made their debut for the nation they are leaving, have not played for their first nation since the second nation became Fifa members, were either dual-registered or obtained nationality with the nation they wish to join as soon as reasonably practical, and meets article six or seven of Fifa's player eligibility guidelines
The player has played in a senior match for their first nation but then permanently loses their nationality without their consent due to government authority and holds the association they wish to represent
Johnny Matthews was quite emotional talking about the tremendous ovation he received from the Glasgow fans as he left the field in the second half of the victory over Cardiff.
The hooker has become a cult hero at Scotstoun in his seven years at the club – for his phenomenal try-scoring exploits, but even more so for his personality.
He marked what could possibly be his last home appearance in Warriors colours before his summer move to France with a couple of tries.
Gregor Hiddleston and Seb Stephen may well be preferred when it come to the playoffs and if this was Matthews' last outing for the club, what a way to sign off.
Destructive Dempsey to the fore again
Another man sailing off into the sunset this summer is Jack Dempsey and the number eight showed Glasgow exactly what they will be missing with another destructive display.
It was Dempsey who got Glasgow on their way with the opening try, charging up the wing for the initial break and then getting himself back into position to crash over when the ball was recycled.
He was a menace to Cardiff in those wide channels all evening and rarely does he go to ground without the attention of at least two defenders.
Glasgow have made moves to compensate for his departure from the back-row, not least the impending arrival of Jamie Ritchie, but Dempsey's bludgeoning carrying will be missed.
Horne brings the tempo
There were a number of reasons why Glasgow were off the boil in the defeats to Toulon, Lions and Stormers, but right at the top of the list was the absence of George Horne.
On his return from injury Horne brought all the energy and tempo that has been missing from Warriors play in recent weeks.
He was quick to every breakdown, either getting the ball away sharply or having a snipe himself, but always keeping the Cardiff defence guessing.
Horne nailed four of his five attempts at goal (the game was done when his final effort drifted wide) and his all-round influence helped his side rediscover their form just when they needed to.
The Telegraph's Luke Edwards believes Manchester United's performance against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light was "a reminder of how bad and limp" the Red Devils can be at the moment.
Having already secured Champions League for next season, Michael Carrick's side failed to find a breakthrough away from home, with their only shot on target coming in second-half stoppage time.
"Michael Carrick said the suggestion that there is nothing to play for offended him in his post-match news conference," Edwards added on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily.
"The suggestion offended him because they are playing for a magnificent football club etc - but I do think they had switched off mentally.
"Sunderland should've won because they were the better team. They were sharper, hungrier and stronger. I do think Carrick might've just wanted to take a look at a few of his fringe players though.
"He had a little look at Mason Mount, who was neat and tidy with a few flashes but was outmuscled. He also got a look at Joshua Zirkzee up front, who has probably come to the end of being a viable option to lead the line for Manchester United.
"Their mentality is still worrying to me, if not only a slight worry because they have had a fantastic run and they are back in the Champions League.
"They just looked flaky against Sunderland and if there's still that mentality in the dressing room, it raises the question of whether they are going to let Carrick down as well.
"It showed me they are still capable of throwing up the performances they did earlier on in the season."
Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison said: "I would agree. When you are Manchester United boss, you cannot be saying a point at Sunderland is good. I still don't understand what they are waiting for to give him this job, though."
Liverpool to battle Man United & Arsenal for perfect £30m defender
Liverpool disappointing season on the pitch has many supporters focussing on what could happen in the summer transfer window.
For many, the upcoming window represents the perfect opportunity to get Liverpool back competing for titles, but there is a lot of work to be done.
Several positions need to be addressed if Liverpool are to get back to their best and Richard Hughes and the Reds’ recruitment team will no doubt be hard at work identifying the best value targets.
Last summer saw the Reds pay out several massive fees, breaking the British transfer record twice and spending over £400 million in total, but that level of spending is unlikely to be repeated this year.
Liverpool to battle Premier League rivals for perfect defender
One of the players that Liverpool are considering is Juventus defender Andrea Cambiaso, but they are not the only side interested.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, the Reds will face competition from Manchester United and Arsenal for the 26-year-old who could be available for around £30 million this summer.
The Italian defender’s biggest strength is his versatility, with experience playing as a fullback on either side, a wingback on either side and also as a central midfielder.
This level of versatility will be a huge positive for Liverpool, who have struggled with injuries this campaign, and Cambiaso is a player who could fix multiple problems for the Reds this summer.
Right-back has been a particular issue, with Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai often being relied upon to cover and Conor Bradley out with a serious injury.
One of the club’s two left-backs, Andrew Robertson, is also leaving in the summer so bringing in Cambiaso to reinforce both fullback positions would be excellent business, especially for £30 million.
Liverpool will be looking for high value transfers in the upcoming window, and Cambiaso represents an excellent market opportunity if the Reds can secure his signature ahead of Manchester United and Arsenal.
This Sunday wasn't just about the ADMIRAL Bundesliga for us. While thousands of runners worldwide took part in the Wings for Life World Run 2026, our lads were also running in their own way at the Raiffeisen Arena. For every kilometre covered during the match, we donated €100 to the Wings for Life Foundation, which puts all proceeds straight into spinal cord research. The goal: to find a cure for spinal cord injuries.
The result on the pitch wasn't what we had hoped for. All the more reason to be pleased with what the odometers showed at the end of the game, as we significantly surpassed our previous year's result of €11,300. This time, we covered a total of 121.93 kilometres against LASK, which means we're donating €12,200 to this good cause.
The motto Run for those who can't will apply again next year when thousands of people from all over the world take part in the 14th edition of the Wings for Life World Run. You can find more details on the official website:
Marcus Rashford sends clear message to Barcelona as transfer decisions nears – “I’m not a magician, but…”
Now that the La Liga title has been wrapped up, Barcelona are expected to turn their attention to off-field matters. One of the most pressing issues centres on Marcus Rashford, with the Catalans set to decide whether they will seek to sign the Manchester United loanee on a permanent basis.
Hansi Flick will be the one to decide whether Rashford stays, and if he gives the go-ahead, the Catalans have an option to sign him for €30m – they are keen to reduce this price, although they have not received any encouragement from Man United in this regard. This has placed the England international’s future in doubt, with a return to Old Trafford looking increasingly likely.
The man himself has made his priorities clear during an interview with the BBC (via Diario AS). Rashford has very much enjoyed his time in Catalonia, and he hopes to have it extended beyond the summer.
“I don’t know (what will happen). I’m not a magician, but if I were, I’d stay. I would stay, so we’ll see. I came here to win. I want to win as many things as possible, and this is another title. Yes, this team is a great team, and they will also get better and better in the future. To be a part of that would be something special, so we’ll see.”
Rashford on El Clasico goal – “I didn’t plan on shooting”
Rashford got the ball rolling for Barcelona in Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Real Madrid, a result that confirmed Flick’s side as La Liga champions for the second season in a row. His spectacular free-kick opened the scoring at the Spotify Camp Nou, but he revealed that his initial intention was not to shoot.
“I didn’t intend to shoot. I wasn’t going to shoot, because when I placed the ball I didn’t see the right angle. I didn’t feel confident that it was going to be a goal, so I intended to send a cross, but everyone was shouting at me to shoot, and that raised my enthusiasm a bit, and it’s good that in the end I shot. It was a beautiful goal.”
Last weekend’s French Grand Prix could prove to be a defining moment in the 2026 MotoGP season. Not only did Aprilia stamp its authority with a 1-2-3 finish, Jorge Martin also put together his most convincing weekend yet aboard the RS-GP to score a commanding double win.
At Ducati, Francesco Bagnaia made a major breakthrough, only to retire due to a combination of mechanical issues and his eagerness to stay in the fight, while Marc Marquez suffered yet another injury after a nasty crash in the sprint.
Here are the winners and losers from MotoGP’s French Grand Prix.
Winner: Jorge Martin
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team
Jorge Martin had already hinted at his title credentials with some standout performances at the start of the year, including a victory in the Austin sprint race. But what he achieved at Le Mans was nothing short of exceptional, and made him the outright title favourite in many people’s eyes.
The rocket start from eighth on the grid to grab victory on Saturday was vintage Martin, reminiscent of the rider who built his 2024 title challenge around sprint dominance. But he dealt the biggest damage on Sunday when he beat Bezzecchi on his own turf to claim his first grand prix win in two years. The history books will show that it was Martin - not Marco Bezzecchi - who led Aprilia’s first podium lockout in MotoGP
Even his previous employer Ducati must be looking at the Spaniard in awe. Just 12 months on from his contract saga and an injury-hit 2025 season that damaged his reputation in MotoGP, Martin is back at the top step of the podium - and firmly on course to fight for the championship again.
Loser: Marco Bezzecchi
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
On paper, this was Bezzecchi’s highest-scoring weekend since Brazil, as he finished on the podium in both races and bagged a healthy total of 27 points. But this was also the first time this season that he struggled to feel comfortable on the bike and was completely outgunned by another Aprilia rider. While his defeat in the Spanish GP can be put down to Ducati’s superiority, there was nowhere to hide at Le Mans with Aprilia sweeping the podium.
To Bezzecchi’s credit, he executed a perfect sprint race to overcome a weakness that has been hurting him since the start of last year. The Italian needed to score regularly on Saturdays in order to keep his team-mate at bay. But with Martin upping his game in France, Bezzecchi is now under even more pressure from his team-mate and will have to pull something special out of the bag to remain Aprilia’s number one rider.
Winner and loser: Marc Marquez
If that highside looked scary on TV, one can only imagine what Marquez went through as he was thrown violently from his Ducati heading into Turn 14. The image of Marquez limping in the pits and struggling to maintain balance was a stark reminder of the physical toll MotoGP takes on its riders.
But even Marquez couldn’t help but admit that the timing of the injury actually worked in his favour. After flying back to Madrid overnight, Marquez underwent surgery on not only the broken foot, but also the shoulder that has been troubling him since last year’s Indonesian GP. So, instead of waiting until after Barcelona, he was able to bring forward the planned operation and immediately begin rehabilitation.
Marquez’s revelation that a screw had become dislodged on his battered shoulder cast his record-breaking Q1 lap in a new light. But at the same time, the injury - and the enforced absence from racing - marks the final nail in the coffin of his title challenge. Even if he is able to rejoin the grid at the Italian GP later this month, he might be facing a significant 100-point deficit to the Aprilias at the front.
You can always count on Fabio Quartararo outperforming the machinery at his disposal, but he is on the ‘winners’ list for a different reason. For the first time this season, he was able to manipulate the brakes on the M1 the way he wanted to - something that came in handy as he tried to keep the soft tyres alive till the end. This improved feeling, if it continues for the rest of the season, will help Quartararo survive what could be a long season for him.
The credit for that small but significant step goes to Yamaha, and the Frenchman duly repaid the faith by delivering the marque its best finish of the year. Jumping up to second early on, he did not have the pace to stay with the frontrunners and did drop firmly in the midfield. But while the likes of Alex Marquez, Bagnaia and Joan Mir crashed out for various reasons, Quartararo stayed upright to finish sixth on what is regarded as the slowest bike on the grid. In just one weekend, Quartararo scored more points than Yamaha accumulated in the opening four rounds.
Loser: Alex Marquez
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing crash
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing crash
After the highs of Jerez, Alex Marquez had another unremarkable weekend in Le Mans, where he failed to make much of an impression. While he looked quick in practice on Friday, a fiercely competitive qualifying left him 10th on the grid and he never truly recovered from there. Saturday ended with an eight-place finish and a measly two points, but things got worse on Sunday when he crashed out on lap 2.
When the Gresini rider described it as a “stupid mistake” after he lost the front at Turn 2 early in the race. He was fortunate to walk away from the incident without injury as his head hit the asphalt before he slid onto the gravel.
With Fabio di Giannantonio finishing fourth, Bagnaia fighting for the podium until his late crash and Marc Marquez performing strongly until his mid-weekend exit, Alex Marquez was arguably the fourth-fastest Ducati rider at Le Mans.
Ai Ogura’s maiden podium finish in MotoGP had been a long time coming. Since the season opener in Thailand, Ogura has been threatening to mix with the frontrunners, particularly with his late-race pace. Only poor qualifying sessions were holding him back.
While one-lap performance remains a weakness for him (he hasn’t qualified higher than sixth this year), he was able to pick up his rivals one after the other to grab an excellent third place at Le Mans. In fact, if the race had been a lap or two longer, he might have even challenged the factory Aprilia of Bezzecchi for second.
His charge through the field ultimately secured the podium lockout Aprilia had been yearning for. But even for Ogura himself, it was a significant achievement as he became the first Japanese rider since Katsuyuki Nakasuga to finish a grand prix inside the top-three.
Remarkably, he has now moved up to fifth in the championship, ahead of his more experienced team-mate Raul Fernandez, and just 16 points behind Pedro Acosta.
Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison believes there will be "some big question marks" around Arne Slot after fans booed his decision-making in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
The Dutch head coach took Liverpool's bright spark Rio Ngumoha during the second half at Anfield, a decision which was widely booed by the crowd.
Morrison said: "Liverpool started off brilliantly and got a goal through Ryan Gravenberch but they just sat back after that, let Chelsea back into the game and made mistakes.
"I've watched Liverpool so much this season and they are so passive. They don't go and press the ball like they did under Jurgen Klopp, they just let teams back into games.
"Then Arne Slot went and took off the one player who was taking the ball on and giving his side a spark in Rio Ngumoha this weekend, all because he wanted to keep the likes of Cody Gakpo on.
"I've never heard a crowd get onto a manager and a group of players as much as I'm currently seeing at Liverpool. It is a club known for having some of the best fans, who always stick with the team and the management.
"So there are going to be some big question marks over Arne Slot."
The Telegraph's Luke Edwards added: "I've got a lot of Liverpool supporting friends and they have turned, they have gone.
"They feel the team and the players have regressed. They aren't sure that the players look like they want to play for the manager anymore. They feel there is no passion or determination. They feel there isn't really an identity there.
"Now that is pretty harsh for any manager, isn't it? It is very hard to win back a fanbase when they are turning inside a stadium."
“He’s played 2,000 more minutes than Ousmane Dembele” – Pep Guardiola raves about Manchester City’s Erling Haaland
Guardiola describes Haaland’s season as “incredible” despite an indifferent second half of the term
Man City boss compares Haaland’s minutes to PSG’s Dembele; Norwegian has played 2,000 more
Catalan insists City must get more players into the box to support Haaland & maximise his threat
Pep Guardiola has hailed Erling Haaland’s season as ‘incredible’ after the Norwegian found the net in Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Brentford on Saturday.
Haaland has scored 37 goals and provided eight assists in 50 outings in all competitions this term, netted Manchester City‘s second against Brentford to continue a run of form that has carried the Blues through the most intense period of their campaign.
The 25-year-old has started every significant fixture in City’s run-in and has done so despite carrying a considerable burden in terms of minutes played.
Five Things Learned: Manchester City 3-0 Brentford (Premier League)
Speaking in a press conference after the win over Brentford, Guardiola placed Haaland’s season in context, acknowledging a difficult spell mid-campaign while making clear his admiration for how the striker has sustained his output regardless.
Guardiola: Erling is always Erling
Guardiola opened by addressing a period earlier in the season when Haaland visibly struggled for sharpness after returning from international duty with Norway.
“It’s incredible! There was a period where he was so tired when he came back from Norway qualification and struggled, but it’s for the amount of minutes,” Guardiola said.
“For example, I saw the minutes of (Ousmane) Dembele in PSG compared to Erling – he has 2,000 more! It’s a lot of minutes and he carries on – and the moment Omar (Marmoush) was in AFCON, Erling always is Erling, a threat for opponents, set-pieces, sense of goal.
“It’s just we have to bring more players closer to him when we arrive from sides, more players there because we’ll score more and more goals. When he’s alone in the box, it’s so difficult for him to score!”
The comparison with Dembele is a striking one. Guardiola’s point is not simply that Haaland has played a lot of football, it is that he has played considerably more than one of the other elite forwards in European football this season – and has done so while maintaining a level of output that most strikers could not sustain across half that number of minutes.
“He doesn’t like the spotlight” – Rafaela Pimenta’s peak through the curtain into Manchester City’s Erling Haaland
What does Guardiola’s assessment mean for City’s run-in?
Guardiola’s observation that City need more bodies arriving into the box around Haaland is a tactical note as much as a compliment, an acknowledgement that the striker’s threat is maximised not by isolation but by support.
Saturday’s win over Brentford showed exactly that, with Marmoush adding a third after arriving late to meet a delightful through-ball from Haaland to cap off a stunning team move.
With the FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley and three Premier League games against Crystal Palace, BournemouthAston Villa still to come, Haaland’s fitness and form will be central to how City’s season ends. On the evidence of Guardiola’s words on Saturday evening, there is no concern on either front.
Mainz appoint Leicester icon Shinji Okazaki as ambassador
Shinji Okazaki will serve as Mainz’s ambassador with a focus on the entire Asian region as the Bundesliga club announced the news on Sunday. The former striker netted 29 goals in 70 appearances in his two-year spell at the club.
After leaving the 05ers, Okazaki played a major role in Leicester City’s sensational Premier League triumph. The 40-year-old co-founded the current sixth-tier club FC Basara Mainz and FC Basara Hyogo alongside Mainz women's team head coach Takashi "Taka" Yamashita in 2014.
Yamashita’s team could get promoted to the Frauen-Bundesliga as they currently sit second after champions Stuttgart. Okazaki is one of the coaches at FC Basara Mainz as he’s still involved in football after retirement. With the connection between the two clubs, Okazaki’s Mainz-based club offers Japanese footballers further chances.
"Shinji Okazaki has always maintained the connection to Mainz and Mainz 05. That’s expanded with his commitment to Basara. We are very pleased that we were able to convince him to take the role of ambassador for the next few years.” said Mainz’s executive Christian Heidel.
Okazaki also commented on his role as he was introduced to the Mewa Arena crowd ahead of their last home game of the season against Union Berlin. "Mainz 05 was and is an important part of my footballing life. I have been allowed to spend the most beautiful time of my Bundesliga career here and have always kept the connection to the city and club.
“I am therefore all the more pleased that I can now, as a coach and football official, also take on the role of club ambassador for Mainz 05 to connect Japan and Germany even more closely in terms of youth football.”
Barcelona interim president sends emotional tribute to Hansi Flick after title-winning night
Barcelona continued their emotional La Liga title celebrations after defeating Real Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou, with interim club president Rafa Yuste offering an emotional reflection on the achievement.
Barcelona sealed the championship in historic fashion by overcoming their biggest rivals in El Clasico, sparking huge celebrations both inside the stadium and across the city.
Throughout the celebrations, Yuste remained alongside president-elect Joan Laporta and manager Hansi Flick, sharing in what became one of the club’s most emotional nights in recent years.
Yuste’s emotional message
Speaking after the final whistle, Yuste admitted it was difficult to fully describe the emotions surrounding Barcelona’s latest league triumph.
“It’s hard to explain how I feel. It’s for the manager, for the fans, for thousands of people who are no longer with us… for everyone.”
The Barcelona official also made sure to highlight the incredible work done by Flick in his second season at the club, especially considering the personal tragedy the German coach suffered just before the match.
Flick received the heartbreaking news of his father’s passing only hours before Barcelona secured the La Liga title against Real Madrid.
Yuste offered condolences to the Barcelona manager while praising the way he guided the team throughout the campaign.
“Flick has suffered the loss of his father. Our condolences.
Barcelona are the champions of Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
“He is a very important man to all of us and has brought out the best in the lads through humility, effort and hard work.”
The emotional connection between Flick and the squad has become one of the defining stories of Barcelona’s season, with several players already describing the manager as a father figure inside the dressing room.
Message to the fans
Yuste also reflected on the match itself and admitted Barcelona could have increased their advantage after taking control early through goals from Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres.
“You focus on the three points whilst respecting a great rival like Real Madrid.”
Another major talking point after the title victory was Barcelona’s incredible form at Spotify Camp Nou this season, where the team managed to win every single home match.
Yuste took the opportunity to personally thank the supporters for the role they played during difficult moments throughout the campaign.
“I would say to them, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for the support you give us when we’re struggling.
“The players welcome that support with open arms and that is reflected in the way we play,” he concluded.
Matt Fitzpatrick told Alex Fitzpatrick the Truist Championship outcome wasn’t important
Alex Fitzpatrick praised Matt Fitzpatrick for helping him quickly become comfortable on the PGA Tour, which the latter has since responded to.
Speaking to Golf on CBS after his final round but before Alex’s final round, Matt said: “Yeah I think firstly it’s just a great experience for him.
“Obviously to be in those last couple of groups who were in Zurich, I guess kind of eased him into that scenario with me being there as well.
“Obviously this is a niche experience because he’s on his own now.
“For me I think it’s just about trying to enjoy it as much as he can.
“He’s in a great spot, he’s obviously been playing well.
“I said to him last night, ‘It doesn’t matter what happens, it’s going to be a great week regardless’.
“And if you can kind of stick to that and have the patience out there then you never know what happens.”
Alex ultimately fell short of success, but he can hold his head high after another fantastic performance on the PGA Tour.
Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Matt Fitzpatrick and Kristoffer Reitan earn big from $20million Truist Championship purse
Matt Fitzpatrick is clearly hugely proud of his brother for what he’s achieved in his brief PGA Tour career so far.
And it’s fair to say his performances have really surprised many, with the Englishman boasting one win and three top 10s from his three starts so far.
But also trending in the right direction lately has been Reitan, who incidentally finished in a tie for second alongside Kris Ventura at the Zurich Classic.
He has, however, now managed to get over the line for the very first time in his PGA Tour career, having improved upon his T14 finish at last week’s Cadillac Championship.
And his debut win has arrived at the perfect time, with the Norwegian earning $3.6million from the $20million purse for his 15-under 269.
Meanwhile Fitzpatrick has earned $960,000 from the Signature Event at Quail Hollow, with his older brother Matt receiving $45,187.50 for finishing T52.
26 March 2026, North Rhine-Westphalia, Münster: Uli Hoeneß, Honorary President of FC Bayern Munich, sits on stage at the Data and AI Festival. Photo: Bernd Thissen/dpa (Photo by Bernd Thissen/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Bayern Munich legend and supervisory board member Uli Hoeneß knows that life was not always so easy at the club, but he is proud of how FC Bayern has embraced who it is and how to stay on top.
“One of my life lessons is: Getting to the top is possible and relatively easy. But once you’re there, the air gets thinner, they pull at you, they want to tear you down. When I hear our competitors say, ‘The economic advantage, the economic advantage’ – don’t you think that Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart would have had the same conditions we found in Munich? That will be the challenge for our successors in the coming years: to defend the status we have today,” Hoeneß told FAZ (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “Because I have to say, FC Bayern is in better shape than it has been in a long time. And I’m not the only one saying that. When we meet up with our friends from Real Madrid before Champions League matches, they always ask: How do you do it? No debt, no sheikh, no oligarch, no hedge fund. That’s what we can be proud of.”
Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge have played massive roles in ensuring that Bayern Munich reached this level, but will eventually have to step down from the supervisory board and hand over the reins. When will that time be?
That is surely a question that many fans either dread…or are looking forward to. Either way, no one can deny that Hoeneß has been one of the most integral figures in the club’s long history.
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…
When Martin Odegaard came on at London Stadium against West Ham United, he looked like he had a point to prove and he lifted everything about the way Arsenal were playing.
Odegaard has this great pressing ability, which he always does, that sets the tone for the whole team but also, when he got the ball, his passing was crisp and brave. He started playing through West Ham's defensive line and hit a couple of great balls that got Arsenal in on goal.
Then, when that magic moment comes where he has played a lovely little give and go with Declan Rice and found space himself inside the area, did he have the calmness and awareness to wait and play the perfect pass for Leandro Trossard? Yes, of course he does.
We knew Odegaard was capable of that, but we have not seen him do it very often recently. He has not had a great season but it was Odegaard that Arsenal wanted on the ball at that precise moment, in that exact area... and there he was.
These are the kind of moments when your best players come through for you - all of them - and when that quality in your squad counts.
Before now, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres and Bukayo Saka have all played their part in crucial goals at important times. Against West Ham, it was Odegaard and Trossard.
Arsenal are in a wonderful position now but they are not relying on any one player to get them over the line in this title race. Instead it is their squad that is making the difference.
That's down to the strength in depth they have, and their big players producing in the big moments, but the narrative would still be very different if Arteta's big decisions on Sunday had not come off.
Danny Murphy was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
The Ravens continue building one of the NFL's most versatile defenses, and Jaylinn Hawkins believes his game fits perfectly into what Baltimore wants defensively. One thing the Ravens consistently value in the secondary is flexibility, and Hawkins sounds ready to embrace whatever role the defense asks of him. So, how does Hawkins believe he can help this Ravens defense heading into 2026?
During an appearance on The Collective Podcast, Hawkins pointed directly to the versatility he brings to the field.
“I think my versatility could really help um just, you know, by the knowledge and the things that I do, you know, either playing in the box, blitzing, playing in the deep end of the field, um getting interception, stuff like that, guarding tight ends or whatever. Um have a lot of experience of that.”
The Ravens have long valued defensive backs capable of handling multiple responsibilities, and Hawkins believes his experience covering tight ends, blitzing off the edge, playing in the box, and creating turnovers can immediately strengthen the secondary.
That type of flexibility is exactly what Baltimore values defensively. Whether it's blitzing, covering tight ends, or making plays deep down the field, Hawkins already sounds fully bought into doing whatever the Ravens need from him this season.
For Jaylinn Hawkins, versatility isn't just part of his game — it's the reason Baltimore made sense as a destination.
Spurs, who are one point above the Hammers with a game in hand, will be safe if they win two of their final three games.
After playing Leeds, they face Chelsea away and then Everton at home on the final day.
West Ham, who host Leeds on the final day, will need to pick up at least two points more than Spurs because of a significantly inferior goal difference.
"We played well," said West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo after Sunday's defeat by Arsenal.
"The character of the boys, the noise of the stadium. We knew the position that we are in and the boys gave it a proper fight.
"This is what we will try to do until the last minute of the season. Two games to go, it is our job to bounce back and fight and know that anything can still happen.
"Of course it is hard but we have been competing well, especially at London Stadium. The energy of the crowd was contagious for the boys. We're going to give it a go. This group of players will react."
Bournemouth captain Adam Smith says "it's kind of bonkers" that the Cherries are so close to qualifying for European football this season for the first time in club history.
Long-serving stalwart Smith told BBC Radio Solent: "It's an exciting time to be at this club, whether you're a fan, player or staff member.
"To potentially be in the Champions League or Europa or Conference is what dreams are made of.
"I never thought this club would be anywhere near that. It is kind of bonkers.
"The players we have at this club is scary. Somehow the club finds these players and credit for them for doing that.
"We've got a good group here which means you can bring in new players and they settle really quickly.
"It's a privilege to be here."
Smith came back into the side for Saturday's win at Fulham and replaced Alex Jimenez, who has been dropped from the squad while the club investigates posts on social media.
As captain, he said he "didn't do a meeting or anything like that" with the players, but he did call for them to keep their focus.
"I've been in this game a long time and it's something you can't prepare for," added Smith. "It's a tough time and I didn't expect to play, but it's under investigation.
"I just told the lads to concentrate on the game and they did so credit to the lads for not getting distracted.
"I felt we all stuck together out there and that's all we can do. Deal with it with professionalism and we done our job."
Brighton midfielder Jack Hinshelwood says his opening goal with 35 seocnds on the clock epitomises what head coach Fabian Hurzeler installs in his team.
It took them just over half a minute to breach the Wolves defence on Saturday as Hinshelwood made history as he headed home a cross from left-back Maxim de Cuyper.
"The manager always speaks about starting the game fast and with intensity so that our opponents feel it," said Hinshelwood.
"And we did that. It was such a nice feeling [to score] and it set us on our way.
"It probably wasn't our best performance in terms of the ball, but it's results at this stage of the season that matter.
"We've just got to do what we can do. We did that against Wolves and we go to Elland Road next weekend and try to do the same again.
"We just have to give our all like we have been doing and get two good results to see where it takes us."
Carlos Mendoza shot straight to the point late Sunday afternoon.
Sure, the Mets had finished with a 5-4 record on their nine-game road trip, featuring matchups with the Angels, Rockies and Diamondbacks, but they also stumbled in a massive opportunity.
The Mets had sealed a winning trek with a 3-1 victory over the Diamondbacks on Friday night. Then, the offense looked feckless in the final two games as they managed a combined seven hits and scored two runs in two straight losses to tarnish the back half of their voyage.
"You could say on this road trip we went 5-4, but we're better than that, especially the last couple of days," Mendoza told reporters. "We needed to be better."
The Mets' opportunity to fill up the valley they created in the National League East sank in the final two games of their trip. Now, they head home for a six game homestand, beginning with three games against the Tigers followed by the Subway Series with the Yankees, with an MLB-worst 15-25 record and 12.5 games behind the Braves (29-13) in the NL East.
Juan Soto, Bo Bichette lacking a 1-2 punch
As the Mets offense sputtered to close the weekend and their west coast trip, the expected catalysts were missing.
Across the team's three-game series with the Dbacks, Juan Soto was 0-for-10 with two walks, two strikeouts, no runs and no RBI. Bo Bichette was also 0-for-10 with two walks, no runs, no RBI and no strikeouts.
With the Mets reeling under the weight of injuries to Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr., the contributions from Soto and Bichette are all the more important, and they came up empty this weekend.
Soto believes a performance like the one Eduardo Rodriguez put forward on Sunday, where he allowed one earned run in 8⅓ innings, comes from opposing pitchers being able to set the tone in each at-bat.
"He was throwing the ball well," Soto told reporters. "He was being careful with the big guys and being aggressive with the guys he thought he could be aggressive (with). I think that's what he did."
Soto's struggles have been particularly noticeable. In the month of May, Soto is slashing .121/.231/.273 with one home run, two RBI, three runs and five walks with eight strikeouts. He has seen his average drop from .345 to .264 in the process.
"It's tough. I've just been missing a lot of balls," Soto said. "They've been throwing me pitches right there, and I'm a little under. I've been working with my hitting coaches, swinging the bat, doing my routines and working on mechanics. We're at the point where you just got to stop missing it."
Jorge Polanco, Luis Robert Jr. still healing
The reinforcements are still a ways from returning for a Mets offense, which ended Sunday with the lowest OPS (.628), second-fewest runs (169) and second-worst batting average (.222) in Major League Baseball.
Jorge Polanco, who has been nursing Achilles bursitis since early April and then landed on the injured list retroactive to April 15 with a right wrist contusion, continues to be hampered by his left leg.
"Some good days, some other days when it's not as good," Mendoza told reporters. "He did baseball activities (Saturday). Nothing new there. It's more the bursitis he's dealing with. The wrist is in a good place, it's just the same thing he was dealing with from the very beginning."
Meanwhile, Luis Robert Jr. has yet to resume baseball activities since receiving an injection to treat a herniated disc in his lower back that has kept him out since April 27.
Mark Vientos has received the majority of time at first base with Polanco down. He hit three home runs and drove in eight runs on the road trip but was 7-for-32 (.219). Tyrone Taylor and MJ Melendez have helped fill in the gap in the outfield and designated hitter but they combined for six hits on the road trip.
With the switch-hitting Lindor and Polanco and right-handed Robert on the shelf, journeymen cast-offs Austin Slater and Andy Ibañez have been thrust into bigger roles.
Encouraging signs from David Peterson
The Mets' pitching, particularly from the starting rotation, has provided the one glimmer of hope in an up-and-down excursion.
Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes and Freddy Peralta all registered wins during the road trip. And David Peterson, who has been sent to the bullpen to try and correct his course, provided two strong outings in relief.
The latest encouraging effort came against the Diamondbacks on Sunday as the veteran left-hander worked five innings, allowed no earned runs (three total runs due to two errors by Ibañez at third base), struck out three and worked around four hits.
"I thought he was really good. He got ground balls, made pitches," Mendoza said. "We didn't make a couple of plays that ended up costing us runs, but overall, I thought he threw the ball very well. Mixed the slider, the curveball, everything, so he was in good rhythm with Luis (Torrens) there."
Peterson also notched a victory in relief against the Rockies on May 4 when he allowed two earned runs in four innings with six strikeouts.
Out of the bullpen this season, Peterson has allowed three earned runs in 16 innings (1.69 ERA) with a 0.94 WHIP, comparted to a 8.10 ERA and 1.89 WHIP as a starter.
"I don't think it's anything earth-shattering. I think it's just getting back to who I am as a pitcher and getting the sinker down, using the four-seam and then I feel like I've had better feel the the last couple of outings with the changeup and the slider continues to be good," Peterson told reporters. "Kind of making sure where we're in the right spot with usages and whatnot. I think just mechanically feeling in sync."
AUSTIN, TX - APRIL 22: Utility Katie Stewart #20 of the Texas Longhorns hits a long fly ball during the college softball game between Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma State Cowgirls on April 22, 2026, at Red & Charlie McCombs Field in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The SEC’s softball coaches announced late last week that Katie Stewart, a first baseman for Texas softball, is the conference’s latest Player of the Year.
Katie Stewart, a junior first baseman for Texas softball, was named the SEC's player of the year on Friday by the conference coaches https://t.co/pn5TgDJzJK
Subramaniam Badrinath made a tasteless joke suggesting Ryan Rickelton should let Krunal Panya "die" on the pitch.
Krunal Pandya battled severe cramps throughout his match-winning 73 off 46 balls for RCB.
Rickelton's gesture of checking on Pandya mid-match won hearts.
Subramaniam Badrinath faces backlash over 'die' joke on a cramping Krunal Pandya
While Krunal Pandya's courage under severe cramps won hearts, Subramaniam Badrinath's ill-timed remark left a sour note on an otherwise memorable night for Royal Challengers Bengaluru's fans in Raipur as they beat Mumbai Indians by two wickets.
As RCB chased 167 against Mumbai Indians in the Raipur humidity, Krunal began cramping badly during his innings of 73 runs off 47 balls. The pain spread from his calf up to his glutes and eventually his back, leaving him lying flat on the pitch at one point while the physio rushed onto the field to treat him.
Mumbai Indians wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton helped Pandya stretch and even crouched beside his opponent on the pitch to check whether he was all right.
However, not everyone chose decency. Badrinath reportedly suggested, apparently in jest, that Rickelton should not help Pandya and simply leave him on the ground to die so MI could win.
After the match, Krunal admitted that he does not usually bat that long, and the experience was sobering for him.
"I was cramping a lot. It started from my calf, went to my glutes, went to my back, everywhere. I was cramping," he said.
"I mean, not often I bat that long, right? (smiles) So it was something new for me. But yeah, I'm pretty happy. At the end of the day, what matters is those two points. I guess I'll take care of a lot of fluids and food, and hopefully it will be better in the next game."
The Cricket News Opinion: Badrinath should be ashamed of his comment
Badrinath may have meant it as banter, but timing and context matter. Joking about letting an injured person suffer, even in jest, is the kind of humour that belongs nowhere near a public broadcast.
He should be ashamed of making that 'joke' and should apologise to Pandya on a public platform. Star Sports might just serve a warning as well to the former CSK batter.
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This may go down the most consequential VAR call in Premier League history so far, such are the ramifications at both ends of the table, writes Phil McNulty
Should the goal have stood? Have your say by pressing Get Involved on this page
Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United are among 18 clubs to have already qualified for the 2026-27 Champions League.
United became the third English side to book a place in the competition after they secured enough points to ensure they can finish no lower than fifth in the Premier League.
Traditionally, England is awarded four places in the Champions League. But strong performances by English sides in Uefa club competitions this season mean the nation has been given one of two Elite Performance Spots (EPS) for next season, resulting in the top five Premier League clubs qualifying for the Champions League.
Joining them so far are Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, Paris St-Germain, Lens, PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord, Galatasaray, Shakhtar Donetsk and Porto.
Inter have secured a top-four finish in Serie A, with Barcelona, Real, Villarreal and Atletico doing the same in La Liga.
Like the Premier League, Spain's La Liga will be awarded an EPS, meaning they will also take five places in next season's Champions League.
Bayern, PSV, Porto and Galatasaray have already won league titles in Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and Turkey respectively, guaranteeing their places.
Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig have guaranteed themselves second and third respectively in the Bundesliga this season, while PSG and Lens will finish in the top two of Ligue 1.
For winning Ukraine's top-flight, Shakhtar were due to enter in the second round of qualifying. However, with this season's Champions League finalists Arsenal and Atletico Madrid already guaranteed a place in next season's Champions League, a titleholder replacement was required.
Shakhtar are the highest-ranked club in Uefa's club coefficient ranking not to have already qualified for the competition, meaning they will take the spot that was initially reserved for the winner of this season's competition.
A total of 36 teams will compete in the league phase of the Champions League, 29 of which will be decided before the end of this season.
The other seven all come from qualification, taking place in the early months of the 2026-27 campaign.
How many spots are given to each nation?
Galatasaray won the Turkish Super Lig title with a 4-2 win over Antalyaspor [Getty Images]
The first two places into next season's Champions League's league phase go to the winners of this season's Champions League and Europa League.
Following that, to determine how many places each nation gets, Uefa uses their association rankings from the five-year period ending two seasons prior to that campaign.
For example, for the 2026-27 season, places are used based on Uefa's rankings between the 2020-21 and 2024-25 seasons.
With England, Italy, Spain and Germany ranked first to fourth respectively, the top four teams in their leagues qualify straight to the league path.
France, ranked in fifth, see the top three teams in Ligue 1 directly qualify. Fourth place will also earn a spot in the third qualifying round of the competition.
Netherlands are ranked sixth and are awarded spots for the top two Eredivisie sides, as well as third place entering the third qualifying round.
Portugal, Belgium, Czech Republic and Turkey, ranked seventh to 10th in order, are given two places each. The league winners from all four countries get a spot in the league phase. The league runners-up in Portugal, Belgium and Czech Republic all get a place in the third qualifying round, while Turkey are given an extra team in the second qualifying round.
Norway, Greece, Austria and Scotland are the nations ranked 11th to 14th. The winners of each league all get a place in the play-off qualifying round, effectively the fourth and final round of qualifying. All four countries also get a second place in the second qualifying round.
Poland, ranked 15th, will see their top two clubs enter in the second qualifying round. All other nations only get one team each, all of which will enter in either of the first two rounds of qualifying.
In qualifying, seven spots are available. Teams are split into the 'champions path' and the 'league path'.
Champions path clubs, league winners from nations outside the top 10 during the qualifying period, will compete for one of five spots.
The other two spots go to league path clubs, a separate qualifying path for clubs from nations given multiple qualifying spots without winning their domestic league.
The other EPS spot is yet to be decided, but only Germany, Spain and Portugal can mathematically qualify for it.
While not officially guaranteed, there is a likely scenario in which the winners of this season's Champions League will have already qualified for next season's competition via their domestic competition.
In that instance, Uefa will re-award that spot to the league winner that has yet to directly qualify for the Champions League with the highest club coefficient ranking over a five-year period ending this season.
Olympiakos are the highest-ranked club in the race for the title-holder replacement spot but are five points shy of Greek Super League leaders AEK Athens.
Second on the list is Rangers, meaning if they win the Scottish Premiership and Olympiakos do not overturn their current deficit in their domestic league, Rangers would qualify straight into next season's league phase.
Full list of teams in the 2026-27 Champions League
Arsenal (Premier League)
Manchester City (Premier League)
Manchester United (Premier League)
Inter Milan (Serie A)
Barcelona (La Liga)
Real Madrid (La Liga)
Villarreal (La Liga)
Atletico Madrid (La Liga)
Bayern Munich (Bundesliga)
Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga)
RB Leipzig (Bundesliga)
Paris St-Germain (Ligue 1)
Lens (Ligue 1)
PSV Eindhoven (Eredivisie)
Feyenoord (Eredivisie)
Porto (Liga Portugal)
Galatasaray (Super Lig)
Shakhtar Donetsk (Titleholder replacement)
Europa League winner
Premier League top four
Premier League fifth (EPS)
Serie A top four
Serie A top four
Serie A top four
La Liga fifth (EPS)
Bundesliga top four
Ligue 1 top three
Belgian Pro League winners
Czech First League winners
Winner of play-off qualifying round tie (Champions Path)
Winner of play-off qualifying round tie (Champions Path)
Winner of play-off qualifying round tie (Champions Path)
Winner of play-off qualifying round tie (Champions Path)
Winner of play-off qualifying round tie (Champions Path)
Winner of play-off qualifying round tie (League Path)
Winner of play-off qualifying round tie (League Path)
This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.
Unai Emery comments show rivals no longer fear Liverpool
Unai Emery has sent a confident message ahead of Aston Villa’s huge clash with Liverpool on Friday night, with the Spaniard openly admitting he is “excited” to face Arne Slot’s struggling side.
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The Villa boss watched his team draw 2-2 away at Burnley on Sunday, but despite dropping points, the former Arsenal manager was full of belief about what lies ahead at Villa Park.
That confidence says plenty about the current mood surrounding Liverpool after the frustrating 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Anfield.
Emery excited to face Liverpool
Speaking via avfc.co.uk after Villa’s draw at Turf Moor, Emery made it clear he sees Friday night as a huge opportunity for his side.
The 54-year-old said: “I am so motivated, so excited for the match on Friday against Liverpool.”
The Aston Villa manager then added a line Liverpool supporters may not enjoy hearing.
“We are going to test against them as well in Villa Park, which team is – in this moment – better than the other in the table.”
Villa and Liverpool currently sit level on points heading into the game, although the Reds still hold a slight advantage in the race for Champions League qualification.
Emery repeatedly praised his side’s mentality despite their demanding Europa League schedule.
The Spaniard explained: “We deserved more, we deserved to win.”
Opponents no longer fear Liverpool
What stands out most from Emery’s comments is the lack of fear surrounding Liverpool right now.
That growing confidence from opponents reflects how passive Slot’s side have become in recent months.
Liverpool controlled spells against Chelsea early on before once again retreating into a slower, reactive style that frustrated supporters inside Anfield.
The Reds still have a strong recent record at Villa Park, having lost just one of the last 11 league visits there dating back to 2011, while the last two meetings there have both ended level.
However, form and momentum currently feel more important than history.
Villa are heading into Friday’s clash energised by a Europa League final appearance and believing they can expose Liverpool’s weaknesses just like Chelsea did at Anfield.
The victory was only their second of the season and the first since beating the same opponents by an innings and 137 runs at Southampton at the start of the season.
It lifted Essex up to second place in the Division One table, pending the outcomes of another four top-flight games on Monday.
"We've played some really good cricket in patches but without being able to string three or four days together – other than the Oval, where I thought we played fantastically well to secure a draw [against Surrey]," said Westley.
"What I think is exciting for us is to win games like this, which was really challenging for three days. I think the scorecard flatters us a little bit, winning by six wickets, but it wasn't easy batting out there, especially against a world-class bowler like Kyle Abbott.
"By our own high standards we didn't play to the level that we can. We haven't played to the best of our ability but to come away with 20 points is something we desperately wanted."
Essex were guided home by all-rounder Matt Critchley, who hit 15 fours in a superb 90 not out from only 73 balls and shared a 101-run fourth-wicket stand with Charlie Allison (34).
"For a number of years, Critch has stepped up. He is such a reliable cricketer with bat and ball," said Westley.
"He richly deserves it, for all the hard work he puts in with Tom Huggins [batting coach], to have moments like this."
Essex - who last won the title in 2019 - will be at home against Leicestershire on Friday in their final game of the opening block of Championship matches before switching focus to the T20 Blast.
"Hopefully we have turned a corner. While morale in the camp has been good, we firmly believe we are one of the best teams in the division," Westley added.
"The first four-game block [in April] didn't go to plan with external factors as well - broken fingers not being ideal and Wiaan [Mulder] having to go home - so there are things we've had to deal with. But we believe that when we play our best we can beat any team.
"We just want to use this victory as momentum going forward. We just need to string some wins together and see where we are in a month or two months' time."
More than 100 people came from Middle and East Tennessee and launched 33 boats on Melton Hill Lake in pursuit of elusive bass. To his delight, Korbin Crabtree, a 14-year old from Overton County, caught a 50 pounder.
The top winners were awarded prizes including reels, rods, and contributions to their college funds. Even if they did not catch a fish, the TBF awards all the young people a prize.
Clark Center Park is a 40-acre park located on Bluff Creek Road in Anderson County. The park offers opportunities for birding, boating, biking, fishing, hiking, paddling, picnicking, star gazing, swimming, and wildlife viewing. The newly improved boat ramp is a favorite of local fisherman, and the wheelchair accessible fishing ramp allows everyone to enjoy fishing.
Clark Center Park is the gateway to the Gallaher Bend Greenway and provides access to Solway Bend and Freels Bend, which have important scientific, historic, habitat, and biodiversity attributes. While access to protected areas on Solway and Freels bends are limited, the public is invited to participate in occasional guided walks.
Beast of the East is a grassroots group of anglers who promote catch-and-release, encourage community involvement, and enjoy introducing youth to fishing. Sherrie and Jeff Stafford from Sparta, Tennessee, have been running the youth fishing program for decades. They started with six kids and now have more than 200 youth, ages 9-17, engaged in fishing.
Most of the people participating in the tournament had never heard of Clark Center Park. The group enjoyed their visit so much that they voted to return for a tournament next year.
Real Madrid supporters fume at Kylian Mbappe social media post during El Clasico
Real Madrid were soundly beaten in El Clasico on Sunday, with the 2-0 defeat to Barcelona confirming they will end the season without a trophy. It has been an utterly dismal campaign for the club, and their woes have been the subject of much focus in recent weeks due to the recent infighting at Valdebebas.
Last week, there were two separate incidents where players came to blows: Antonio Rudiger slapped Alvaro Carreras, while Aurelien Tchouameni’s clash with Fede Valverde left the latter hospitalised with a concussion. The Real Madrid dressing room has been at breaking point for some time, so it was no surprise that tensions boiled over.
Mbappe did not travel with his Real Madrid teammates, choosing to stay back in the Spanish capital. However, he did show his support on social media, although that did not go down too well among the fanbase.
Mbappe posted himself on Instagram watching the match, with the caption “Hala Madrid”. Interestingly, he did so when Arbeloa’s side were already 2-0 down thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres, and this did not impress a number of the club’s supporters, who took to social media to express their displeasure.
Mbappe situation is reaching boiling point
It’s safe to say that Mbappe’s first two years at Real Madrid have not been successful. He’s been in very good form, but with the club itself failing to win any major trophies during this period, pressure has fallen on the Frenchman’s shoulders.
For now, there is no indication that Mbappe could leave Real Madrid, but if things do not improve, pressure could be on president Florentino Perez to make a big decision regarding a possible sale.
Luis Enrique (FC Paris Saint-Germain) celebrate during UEFA Champions League Semi final: Bayern Munich and PSG at Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany on May 06 2026. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
The PSG boss has made it clear on several occasions how much he admires Flick’s football. He said the following earlier this season:
”I’ve loved Hansi Flick since the beginning for what he’s done with this team. He attacks, he knows how to defend very well, he adapts to all game situations,” he told reporters.
“I love watching this team play, I watch all Barça matches and I love it. I’m a Barça fan and their matches entertain me a lot.”
The win means that Flick joins Luis Enrique on an exclusive list of four coaches who have won La Liga titles in their first two seasons with Barca (Pep Guardiola and Ernesto Valverde are the other two).
Anaheim Ducks (43-33-6, in the Pacific Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (39-26-17, in the Pacific Division)
Paradise, Nevada; Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Golden Knights -148, Ducks +124; over/under is 6
NHL PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUND: Series tied 2-2
BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights host the Anaheim Ducks in game five of the second round of the NHL Playoffs with the series tied 2-2. The teams meet Sunday for the eighth time this season. The Ducks won 4-3 in the last matchup.
Vegas is 39-26-17 overall with a 17-7-6 record against the Pacific Division. The Golden Knights have a +22 scoring differential, with 264 total goals scored and 242 given up.
Anaheim has a 43-33-6 record overall and a 21-14-1 record in Pacific Division games. The Ducks have gone 18-6-5 in games they score one or more power-play goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jack Eichel has scored 27 goals with 63 assists for the Golden Knights. Brett Howden has seven goals and two assists over the last 10 games.
John Carlson has 14 goals and 46 assists for the Ducks. Cutter Gauthier has four goals and six assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 6-4-0, averaging 3.6 goals, 5.9 assists, four penalties and 8.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game.
Ducks: 6-4-0, averaging 3.6 goals, six assists, 3.2 penalties and 6.7 penalty minutes while giving up 3.2 goals per game.
INJURIES: Golden Knights: Jeremy Lauzon: out (undisclosed), Mark Stone: day to day (undisclosed).
Ducks: Radko Gudas: out (lower body), Petr Mrazek: out for season (lower-body), Drew Helleson: day to day (undisclosed).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Buffalo Sabres (50-23-9, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Montreal Canadiens (48-24-10, in the Atlantic Division)
Montreal, Quebec; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDT
LINE: Canadiens -135, Sabres +113; over/under is 6
NHL PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUND: Canadiens lead series 2-1
BOTTOM LINE: The Montreal Canadiens host the Buffalo Sabres in the second round of the NHL Playoffs with a 2-1 lead in the series. The teams meet Sunday for the eighth time this season. The Canadiens won the previous matchup 6-2. Alexander Newhook scored two goals in the victory.
Montreal has a 22-11-3 record in Atlantic Division games and a 48-24-10 record overall. The Canadiens are 48-8-9 in games they score three or more goals.
Buffalo has gone 50-23-9 overall with a 21-9-5 record in Atlantic Division play. The Sabres are 49-4-8 in games they score three or more goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Nicholas Suzuki has scored 29 goals with 72 assists for the Canadiens. Lane Hutson has two goals and seven assists over the last 10 games.
Tage Thompson has 40 goals and 41 assists for the Sabres. Alex Tuch has scored five goals with three assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Canadiens: 6-2-2, averaging 2.9 goals, five assists, 6.6 penalties and 16.1 penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game.
Sabres: 5-3-2, averaging three goals, 4.8 assists, 5.6 penalties and 14.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
INJURIES: Canadiens: Patrik Laine: out (abdomen).
Sabres: Noah Ostlund: out (lower body), Jiri Kulich: out for season (ear), Sam Carrick: day to day (arm), Justin Danforth: out for season (kneecap).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
ESPN pundit claims FSG will soon take massive decision which’ll make Liverpool fans ‘very happy’
Frank Leboeuf believes that Liverpool will make a change in the dugout this summer, amid growing pressure on Arne Slot.
The 47-year-old’s position as the Reds’ head coach feels increasingly tenuous after the mutinous scenes at Anfield on Saturday, with several journalists hinting that whatever patience fans had remaining may have finally run out.
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Fabrizio Romano claimed over the weekend that FSG want to continue with the Dutchman, but one World Cup-winning defender believes that the hierarchy will soon call time on the incumbent’s tenure and get in Xabi Alonso as his successor.
Leboeuf expects Liverpool to appoint Alonso this summer
Speaking on ESPN FC, Leboeuf stated: “Slot brought in new players, but no good tactics I would say, according to what he had, and we saw that team going down and down. I think that’s somewhat the end of it. I don’t see how he can turn it to a better team.
“He said that he had almost the recipe for next season. I don’t know how he’s going to do it, saying that he can prepare, but there is the World Cup so I don’t see that coming.
“I don’t think the board will wait, especially because they have Xabi Alonso available. Why will they wait for Slot to find something different? I think they’re going to get rid of him. I think they’re going to get Xabi Alonso and all the fans will be very happy.”
(Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
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Liverpool must be proactive while Alonso remains available
The official line from multiple reliable sources would seem to be that FSG will stick with Slot for the time being, but the air of rebellion at Anfield on Saturday must’ve been hard for the hierarchy to ignore.
As Leboeuf said, the Dutchman’s proclamations that things will get better under his watch next season feel hollow after Kopites have been forced to endure a campaign rife with poor results and uninspiring football, with the draw against Chelsea being the latest addition to both categories.
David Ornstein claimed last month that Alonso isn’t in FSG’s thinking at present, but surely the Liverpool hierarchy must be tempted to at least sound out the Spaniard while he’s still available, having been out of work since his sacking at Real Madrid four months ago.
There’s growing speculation over a potential move to Chelsea for our former midfielder, with the Blues on the lookout for a permanent successor to Liam Rosenior, and the danger is that the Merseysiders could miss the boat if they’re not proactive now.
Leboeuf seems confident that the ex-Liverpool player will take over from Slot this summer, and he’s right in saying that such an appointment would be rapturously received by a fan base who need some cheering up after a thoroughly miserable campaign.
Rashford reacts to La Liga glory as he issues fresh statement on his future
Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford couldn’t contain his joy as he spoke out on winning La Liga after Sunday’s victory over Real Madrid in El Clásico.
La Liga triumph
Rashford scored a stunning free-kick in the first half to set Barcelona on their way, as they beat bitter rivals Real Madrid 2-0 at Camp Nou.
Ferran Torres scored the other goal as the Blaugrana sealed their 29th La Liga title with three games remaining of the season. After securing consecutive La Liga crowns, Barcelona now sit seven titles behind all-time leaders Madrid.
The Blaugrana have gone on an 11-game winning run in the top flight to secure the title and open a 14-point gap between themselves and Los Blancos.
Having joined Barcelona on loan from United last summer, Rashford has enjoyed a superb year. His excellent finish against Madrid marked his eighth league goal of the campaign. He boasts an impressive 14 goals and as many assists across all competitions.
Now that the league is secured, Barcelona must clarify whether they intend to keep the forward. Barcelona retain the option to make his stay permanent for £26m. But they have been dithering, as they look to get him on another loan deal or drive the price down.
United have maintained that there is no room for renegotiating. Speaking to reporters after the final whistle, Rashford reiterated his desire to remain with Barcelona.
Rashford’s remarks
The Carrington academy graduate told ESPN, “This is the perfect way I want it to end. I’m very happy, I just want to enjoy today.”
“I live in the moment. At the end of the season we will see. I came here to win and we do this, so I’m very happy. It’s an incredible feeling.”
“The feeling is amazing. It’s been a long season with ups and downs, but I think we deserved to win [LaLiga].”
He said about his free-kick finish, “I wasn’t going to shoot. When I put the ball down, I didn’t see the angle, I didn’t feel confident it would be a goal. I was going to cross. But everyone told me to shoot, so I hyped myself up a bit. It was good I shot in the end; it was a good goal.”
Rashford replied when asked about his future, “I don’t know. I am not a magician, but if I was, I would stay. We will see.”
“I came here to win. I want to win as many things as I can. This is one more to add to this. This is a wonderful team, they’re going to win so much in the future; to be a part of that would be special.”
PSG Land Major Transfer News on Arsenal, Barcelona Target
The PSG attack could look a little different for the 2026-27 season. Although the capital club could be winning back-to-back UEFA Champions League titles, some players may want a bigger role.
As a result, this summer, the Ligue 1 side will be in the attacking market if certain players depart after this season. Potential names who could be on the move are Bradley Barcola, Gonçalo Ramos, and Lee Kang-in.
So, who could the Parisians target if they need to go into the transfer market? Well, the name emerging is one with experience winning major titles and would transition well to the demand.
PSG Have Attacking Target In Mind to Replace Any Departure
(Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
Should PSG lose one of their attacking players this summer, the club already appears to have a replacement in mind: Julián Álvarez.
According to Cadena SER, the Argentine forward could consider leaving Atlético Madrid despite being under contract until 2030.
Just two years after arriving in Spain from Manchester City, Álvarez is also drawing interest from FC Barcelona and Arsenal. Several people within Atlético reportedly believe the 26-year-old is open to a move this summer.
The report also claims that Barcelona is among his preferred destinations, while a return to England does not currently appeal to him. As for PSG, discussions between the clubs have reportedly already taken place. However, Álvarez has not informed Atlético Madrid that he wants to leave.
Despite strong competition for his signature, PSG is prepared to push hard for the World Cup winner. In 49 appearances this season, Álvarez has scored 20 goals and added nine assists in 3,549 minutes played.
He has also been especially effective in the UEFA Champions League, where he scored 10 goals, compared to eight in La Liga.
It's a potentially multi-million dollar error. Playground Games' uploaded fresh pre-load files to Steam, albeit without encryption. The raw files quickly made their way to the world wide web, and the rest is history.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite was a surprise win for Xbox PC and Play Anywhere a few years ago. The sequel has not only ditched Play Anywhere, but Xbox PC all up.
SK hynix is collaborating with Intel to utilize its Embedded Multi-die Interconnect Bridge (EMIB) 2.5D packaging technology for HBM memory. As SK hynix aims to diversify its supply chain and customers are increasingly considering Intel Foundry, the South Korean memory giant is exploring research and development efforts with Intel on 2.5D packaging technology. Intel's premier 2.5D packaging technology is its EMIB, which interconnects multiple silicon dies using bridges embedded in a packaging substrate. SK hynix is interested in integrating this technology into its HBM memory, presumably to bring its HBM4 memory modules up to standard for EMIB integration, should its AI chip partners choose Intel Foundry for advanced packaging of their next-generation solutions.
We have already covered that small silicon EMIB bridges—available in variants like EMIB-M with embedded MIM capacitors and EMIB-T with TSVs—provide low-cost, high-density shoreline connections ideal for logic-to-logic and logic-to-HBM interfaces. However, until now, SK hynix has been using TSMC and its CoWoS 2.5D packaging technology. As CoWoS is gradually reaching its limits and customers are seeking alternative packaging methods, EMIB is emerging as a strong candidate to continue the scaling of chiplets in many directions beyond the traditional reticle limit of 830 mm² of silicon area.
AMD's latest Adrenalin Edition 26.5.1 WHQL Drivers are causing problems for Blender users, according to the latest Blender issue tracker. Blender 5.1.1 is crashing with these drivers, particularly when using the Cycles path-tracing render engine. The issue appears to be a ROCm runtime mismatch. Blender 5.1.1 uses ROCm 6 runtimes, but the latest AMD driver 26.5.1 only includes ROCm 7, leading to compatibility issues that prevent the application from running smoothly. Multiple users have reported crashes, and we now understand the background.
Developer involved in AMD evosystem Sahar A. Kashi confirmed that when a factory reset is performed and the system is installed from scratch, the amdhip64_6.dll file is removed, causing Blender Cycles to attempt loading ROCm 7 kernels. However, since Blender version 5.1.1 is compiled only for ROCm 6, this runtime mismatch results in application crashes. To resolve this issue on AMD GPU systems, users should install the older 26.4.1 drivers and use them until Blender version 5.2 is released, and the Cycles path-tracing render engine achieves full ROCm 7 compatibility.
The CLARITY Act, introduced in July 2025, stalled in January after Coinbase withdrew its support for the legislation over concerns about legal protections and stablecoin yields.
The Albanese government’s budget plans to replace the 50% capital gains tax discount on assets held over 12 months with a model taxing full real gains adjusted for inflation.
As the race for the AI buildout continues to intensify, a shortage in the packaging industry has led memory manufacturer SK hynix to team up with Intel for chip packaging technology. After a strong comeback under CEO Lip-Bu Tan, Intel is now aiming to expand its presence in the packaging industry. The firm and SK hynix are collaborating on 2.5D packaging technology and Intel's Embedded Multi-die Interconnect Bridge (EMIB) technology as shortages create tightness in the current packaging supply chain. Intel & SK hynix Collaborating On EMIB Packaging As Shortages Impact 2.5D Packaging Supply Chain Intel's EMIB packaging technology is […]
Renowned CAPCOM leaker Dusk Golem recently corroborated a claim from an anonymous insider that Ada Wong will appear in Resident Evil Requiem DLC. However, after Dusk Golem named that insider as his source, Reddit users went digging through the same person's post history and surfaced a series of additional CAPCOM-related claims, none of which Dusk Golem has vouched for. The leaker has since explicitly distanced himself from the two most attention-grabbing ones: "The Devil May Cry 1 Remake and RE10 protag rumor did not come from me. Typical deal of people stuffing rumors together and then claiming I said them — that […]
One UI 8.5 starts releasing for Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 in the Global markets. As scheduled, Samsung has started to expand the availability, with Beta participants getting priority access, starting in India.
On May 6, Samsung announced that the Global One UI 8.5 rollout will begin on May 11, with the promise being fulfilled as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 join the BZDP update party, moments after the Galaxy S25 series.
While the Global rollout has begun, you may not immediately see the update. The expansion is gradual, and a broader availability takes time. The pace of spread will be decided depending on the reliability of the firmware.
Galaxy S25 series, including the S25 Edge, is also getting the update outside Korea. More devices to follow include the Galaxy S25 FE and Galaxy Z TriFold. You may also see the update for the Galaxy Tab S11 series today.
The first wave was completed in South Korea, with the second wave including devices from the year 2024. Users of the Galaxy S24 series, S24 FE, Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 should also receive the major update over the next few days.
How to download and install
From the Settings screen, scroll to and select Software update, then select Download and install.
The system will automatically check for updates.
If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to perform the update.
If an update is not available, select the back arrow.
If you are on Beta, the update size will be smaller than others. The reason is most of the changes and features are already available in Beta. For users climbing from One UI 8.0 to One UI 8.5, the update size will be significant.
Samsung is expanding the stable One UI 8.5 rollout for the Galaxy S25 series to more markets. After debuting in South Korea earlier this week, the update is now reaching users in India, Canada, Europe, and several other global regions.
The Android 16-based firmware arrives after months of Beta testing and marks Samsung’s first major software refresh for the Galaxy S25 lineup since launch.
Samsung’s Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, Galaxy S25 Ultra, and even the Galaxy S25 Edge are now gradually receiving the stable One UI 8.5 build.
Software rollout info:
India [B] – Beta to Stable
Canada [W] – Stable
Europe [B] – Beta to Stable
One UI 8.5 introduces a refined interface with smoother system animations, upgraded Quick Panel customization, improved multitasking, enhanced battery optimization, and several AI-powered additions borrowed from the S26 series.
Users are getting smarter communication tools, upgraded Bixby natural language processing, improved Photo Assist capabilities, better file sharing through Quick Share, and new creative AI experiences across supported Galaxy devices.
However, not every Galaxy S26-exclusive feature has made its way to the Galaxy S25 series. Reports suggest that features like Now Nudge and some AI-powered notification prioritization tools are still missing from the stable release.
Samsung officially started the One UI 8.5 stable rollout in South Korea on May 6. The company later confirmed that markets including the US, India, Europe, Canada, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Taiwan would follow shortly after.
Deal | Amazon has discounted the Casio MTP–B145D-2A2V from $99 to just $68.95, making it more affordable than before. The analog watch has a stainless steel case, a blue-finished dial, a date window, 50 m (5 bar) water resistance, and a stainless band.
The Xiaomi Gaming Mouse 2 is now available in China, and while it has an affordable price tag, the wireless mouse comes with flagship specs, including the PAW3955XMT sensor and 8kHz polling rate. Its initial price is CNY 349, around $31.
The Oppo Find X10 series is expected to debut in October and is rumored to include the base Find X10, the Find X10 Pro, and the Find X10 Pro Max. While previous leaks have revealed several details about the base and Pro variants, a new leak has now shed light on the camera specs of the Pro Max model.
According to tipster Digital Chat Station, the Find X10 Pro Max will offer a triple 200MP camera setup at the back, along with a 3MP multispectral sensor.
The Oppo Find X10 Pro
The Find X10 Pro Max could feature a 200MP primary camera with a 1/1.3-inch sensor, paired with a 200MP...
Australia’s Labor government has proposed replacing the country’s long-standing capital gains tax discount with an inflation-indexed model that could raise tax liabilities for crypto investors holding assets over extended periods. The Australian Financial Review reported on Sunday, citing people familiar…
Renegade.fi has recovered about $190,000 after a whitehat hacker exploited a vulnerability in one of its Arbitrum-based dark pools and later returned more than 90% of the stolen assets. Blockchain security firm Blockaid said the exploit drained roughly $209,000 from…
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has warned that international regulators could face a difficult confrontation with the United States over how stablecoins should be governed across global payment systems. According to Reuters, Bailey said at a conference on Friday…
Car Inc. (Shenzhou Zuche), one of China's largest auto rental firms, has signed a letter of intent with BYD on 100,000 new cars and Flash Charging stations.
Daniel Dubois won the WBO heavyweight world title this weekend, surviving two early knockdowns to beat the fight out of Fabio Wardley. The main event thriller is an early contender for fight of the year, with both men giving all that they had to put on a show for the fans in Manchester. When referee […]
The EX2 accounts for 90% of Geely sales in Brazil this month.
Another outstanding month for Brazilian new light vehicle sales, up 21% year-on-year in April to 237,498 units. The year-to-date tally is now up a fantastic 17.3% to 835,710, now well above the 801,330 sales achieved over the first 4 months of pre-pandemic 2019. Fiat (+6.3%) is discreet this month but easily holds onto the brands top spot at 19.2% share. Volkswagen (+20.3%) and Chevrolet (+22.3%) both evolve similarly to the market to complete the podium. Hyundai (+12%) is relatively weak at #4 but local producer BYD (+117.7%) surges to a record volume (18,474) and share (7.8%), ending the month just 89 units below Hyundai. Below, GWM (+137%) and Caoa Chery (+61.1%) stand out while newcomer Geely smashes all its records at #14 with 4,003 sales and 1.7% share.
Over in the models charts, the Fiat Strada (+47.9%) continues to perform markedly better than a year ago and ruthlessly dominate the ranking with 6.3% share vs. just 3.5% for the #2m the VW Polo (-23.5%) in dire straits. The Fiat Argo (-5.4%) and Chevrolet Onix (+44.9%) exchange positions on last month despite the latter surging year-on-year. The Hyundai Creta (+55.9%) is also in great shape at #6 but the performer of the month is once again the BYD Dolphin Mini (+216.3%) up a further two spots on its March result to #7 with 6,880 sales and 2.9% share, all records. The VW Tera is the best-selling launch but drops outside the Top 10 at #11. It is followed by the Toyota Yaris Cross at #24 and the Geely EX2 at #25.
Hem Galatasaray hem de Fenerbahçe, Milan'dan ayrılması beklenen Rafael Leao için devrede bulunuyor. İtalyan ekibinin 50-60 milyon euro arasında bir bonservis beklentisi var. Peki Portekizli yıldız kendisi için ne istiyor?
Milan'da sorunlar yaşayan Rafael Leao'nun yaz döneminde satılması bekleniyor. Serie A temsilcisinin 50-60 milyon euro aralığında bir bonservis beklentisi olduğu konuşuluyor. Elbette transfer sadece bonservisle bitmiyor. Oyuncunun da ikna edilmesi gerekiyor...
100 MİLYONUN ÜZERİNDE!
26 yaşındaki kanat oyucusunun, 4 yıllık mukavele karşılığında senelik 15 milyon euro net maaş istediği öğrenildi. Bu rakama bonus maddeleri dahil değil. Milan'a ödenecek bonservisi de hesaba katarsak, Portekizli yıldızın 4 senelik maliyeti 100 milyon euronun üzerine çıkıyor.
DİĞER GİDER KALEMLERİ
Milan 50 milyon euroya ikna edilirse, Leao'ya da 4 yıl için garanti 60 milyon euro verilecek (bonuslar hariç). Basit hesapla zaten bu tabloda 110 milyon euroya çıkılıyor. Diğer gider kalemleriyle birlikte 110 milyon da geride bırakılacak. Hem Galatasaray hem de Fenerbahçe, 1.88 boyundaki futbolcuyu istiyor. Sarı-Lacivertliler'de seçim sonrasında çalışmalar artacak. Bu esnada Sarı-Kırmızılılar temaslarını sürdürüyor.
Birçok Beşiktaş taraftarı hem Teknik Direktör Sergen Yalçın hem de yönetime istifa çağrısında bulunuyor. Peki Siyah-Beyazlı camiada bu konuda nasıl bir karar verildi?
Şampiyonluk yarışına yine çok erken havlu atan Beşiktaş, Türkiye Kupası'na da veda etmişti. Doğal olarak Siyah-Beyazlı taraftarlar çok öfkelendi. Hem Teknik Direktör Sergen Yalçın hem de yönetime istifa çağrıları yapılıyor. Peki kulüp içinde istifa gündemi bulunuyor mu?
KESİNLİKLE DÜŞÜNÜLMÜYOR
Başkan Serdal Adalı ve yönetimin istifayı düşünmediği öğrenildi. Yani bu anlamda bir hareketlilik yaşanmayacak. Bugün itibarıyla teknik adam değişikliği de söz konusu değil. Yönetim hiçbir hocayla temas kurmadı. Görünen tabloda, Sergen Yalçın 30 Haziran 2027'de bitecek mukavelesini tamamlayacak.
DEĞİŞKEN DİNAMİKLER
Özetle Beşiktaş'ın gündeminde şu anda "istifa" bulunmuyor. Ancak futbolda dinamikler çok çabuk değişebiliyor. Alınan kararlar farklı bir yere gidebiliyor. Ya da yeni sezona aynı isimlerle başlansa da haftalar ilerledikçe bazı önemli değişiklikler yaşanabiliyor.
Galatasaray, Danimarka ekibi Midtjylland'da forma giyen Aral Şimşir transferinde önemli mesafe kaydetti. 23 yaşındaki kanat oyuncusuyla kişisel şartlar üzerinde el sıkışıldı.
26. şampiyonluğunu elde eden Galatasaray, bir yandan transfer çalışmalarını sürdürüyor. Sarı-Kırmızılılar, hem yerli havuzunu güçlendirmek hem de kanatlardaki opsiyonları artırmak için bir süredir Aral Şimşir'le ilgileniyordu. 1.75 boyundaki futbolcuyla kişisel şartlar üzerinde anlaşma sağlandığı öğrenildi.
EN AZ 15 MİLYON EURO
Midtjylland Kulübü'yle bonservis konusunda el sıkışılırsa iş bitecek. Danimarka temsilcisinin, 15 milyon euronun altındaki teklifleri kabul etmeyeceği öğrenildi. Aral'ın 31 Aralık 2029 tarihine kadar mukavelesi buluyor. Oyuncuyla Beşiktaş ve Trabzonspor da ilgileniyordu.
8 GOL-13 ASİST
Aral, Danimarka Ligi'nin normal sezonunda 21 karşılaşmaya çıktı. Sahada 1.342 dakika kaldı. 8 gol ve 13 asist üretti. Oyuncunun şu anda Galatasaray ve Midtjylland'ın anlaşmasını beklediği öğrenildi. Haziran başına doğru konunun netleşmesi bekleniyor. Asıl yeri sol kanat olan Aral Şimşir aynı zamanda sağ tarafta ve 10 numara bölgesinde de görev yapabiliyor.
Beşiktaş'ın son 3 sezonda Tüpraş Stadyumu'ndaki galibiyet yüzdesi kafa karıştırıyor. Özellikle 2023-2024 ve 2025-2026'da Kartal'ın 3 puan ihtimali neredeyse yazı turaya döndü!
Beşiktaş'ın son 3 sezonda Tüpraş Stadyumu'nda oynanan lig maçlarındaki galibiyet yüzdesi şöyle oluştu:
2023-2024: %52
2024-2025: %61
2025-2026: %53
Siyah-Beyazlılar, son yıllarda şampiyonluk yarışlarına çok erken havlu attı. Açıkça görülüyor ki; ev sahibi avantajı da pek kalmadı...
ŞAMPİYONLUK ŞARTI
Hem ülkemizde hem de dünyada, şampiyonluğun ilk şartlarından biri iç sahada güçlü olmak... Bir takım, kendi taraftarı önünde sık sık puan bırakıyorsa, doğal olarak şampiyonluk ihtimali de kalmıyor. Üstelik bu konuda istikrar gelmezse, durum adeta bataklık gibi daha kötüye gidiyor.
STRES SEVİYESİ
Kötü futbol ve puan kayıpları sonrasında taraftarlar kendi takımlarının üzerinde baskı yaratmaya başlıyor. Yapılan en küçük hatada, çok büyük tepkiler gelebiliyor. Yani Beşiktaş yeni sezona mutlaka iyi bir giriş yapmak zorunda... Özellikle kendi sahasında hiç hata şansı yok. Son 3 sezondaki gibi bir tablo oluşursa, ortalık iyice karışabilir.
Büyük ekonomik problemleri bulunan Marsilya'nın Şampiyonlar Ligi'ne katılma ihtimali kalmadı. Mason Greenwood'un beklenenden daha düşük bir bonservisle satılması bekleniyor. Galatasaray ve Fenerbahçe ise takipte...
Ligue 1'de Marsilya'nın Şampiyonlar Ligi’ne katılma ihtimali kalmadı. Fransa basınındaki haberlere göre; Marsilya, Mason Greenwood için 40 milyon euronun altındaki teklifleri bile değerlendirmek zorunda kalabilir. Çünkü şu anda ciddi ekonomik problemlerle karşı karşıyalar.
ANLAŞMAYA UYAMIYORLAR
Marsilya, 2022 yılında UEFA ile bir uzlaşma anlaşması yapmıştı. Ancak şartları yerine getirmekte ciddi anlamda sorun yaşıyorlar. Ligue 1 temsilcisi, UEFA'dan ağır cezalar almamak için oyuncu satmak zorunda... Şampiyonlar Ligi şansı kaçtığı için buradan gelebilecek paralar da hayal oldu.
İNANILMAZ BİR SEZON
Mason Greenwood hem Galatasaray hem de Fenerbahçe'nin gündeminde bulunuyor. 24 yaşındaki İngiliz sağ kanat bu sezon Ligue 1'de 31 karşılaşmaya çıktı. Sahada 2.381 dakika kaldı. 16 gol ve 6 asist üretti. 1.81 boyundaki yıldızla Juventus da ilgileniyor. Fenerbahçe'de başkan adaylarından birinin Greenwood konusunda çok ciddi olduğu konuşuluyor.
Fenerbahçe'de başkanlığa adaylığını açıklayan Aziz Yıldırım harekete geçti. Yıldırım'ın seçim kampanyası ile ilgili billboardları asılmaya başladı.
Fenerbahçe'de mevcut başkan Sadettin Saran, Galatasaray derbisinde alınan 3-0'lık mağlubiyetin ardından seçim kararı aldıklarını duyurmuştu. 6-7 Haziran tarihlerinde sandığa gidecek ve yeni başkanını seçecek olan sarı-lacivertlilerde başkan adaylarından biri de Aziz Yıldırım olmuştu. Fenerbahçe'nin eski başkanlarından olan Aziz Yıldırım seçim için hazırlıklara başladı.
BİLLBOARDLAR ASILDI
Aziz Yıldırım seçim için start verdi. Hazırlıklarına başlayan eski başkanın seçim kampanyası ile ilgili billboardları asılmaya başladı. Öte yandan Eski başkan, seçim yarışında taraftara ve kongre üyelerine “BİZİM FENERBAHÇEMİZ...” sloganıyla seslenecek. Afişlerde dikkat çeken en büyük ve en kritik detay ise ‘kupa’ vurgusu oldu.
SEÇİM NE ZAMAN?
Fenerbahçe seçim kongresi 6-7 Haziran 2026 tarihlerinde gerçekleştirilecek. Aziz Yıldırım ve Hakan Safi başkanlığa aday olan isimler olarak öne çıkıyor.
Galatasaray'ın karşısında alınan 3-0'lık mağlubiyetin ardından bütün dengeleri değişen Fenerbahçe şampiyonluğun gitmesi ile radikal kararlar almıştı. Teknik direktör Domenico Tedesco ile yollarını ayıran sarı-lacivertliler yeni hocasını buldu.
Fenerbahçe bu sezonu da şampiyonluk umutlarını yitirerek kapattı...Seçim kararı alan sarı-lacivertliler köklü bir değişiklik için kolları sıvadı. Haziran'da yeni başkanını seçecek olan Fenerbahçe aynı zamanda gelecek sezona yeni hocası ile başlayacak. Tedesco ile yollarını ayıran sarı-lacivertliler aradığı ismi buldu.
Voetbalprimeur'a göre, PSV ve Royal Antwerp FC'nin eski teknik direktörü, Van Bommel, Fenerbahçe'nin dördüncü Hollandalı teknik direktörü olabilir. Hollandalı teknik adam iki sezondur kulüpsüz durumda.
49 yaşındaki Van Bommel, daha önce PSV, VfL Wolfsburg ve Antwerp'in teknik direktörlüğünü yapmıştı. Özellikle Belçika'da başarılar elde etti. İlk sezonunda Antwerp'i hem lig şampiyonluğuna hem de kupa zaferine taşıdı ve kulüp 66 yıl sonra ilk kez Belçika şampiyonu oldu. Bir sezon sonra Van Bommel, Antwerp kulübüyle Belçika Süper Kupası'nı da kazandı.
Sezonu şampiyon olarak kapatan Okan Buruk yönetimindeki Galatasaray transfer sürecine odaklandı. Galatasaray'ın en büyük hedeflerinden biri olan Bernardo Silva için acele etmesi gerekiyor.
Trendyol Süper Lig 2025-2026 sezonunu şampiyon olarak kapatan ve böylelikle 26.şampiyonluğunu elde eden Galatasaray için sıra transfer sürecine geldi. Gelecek sezon için de şampiyonluk hedefi olan bu nedenle kadroda önemli hamleler yapmak isteyen sarı-kırmızılılar listesinde uzun süredir Bernardo Silva'nın adı var. Ancak Fabrizio Romano, yıldız futbolcu için önemli bir gerçeği ortaya döktü.
ACELE ETMESİ GEREKİYOR
Fabrizio Romano'ya göre, gelecek haftadan itibaren, Bernardo Silva'nın menajeri George Mendes, Bernardo ile ilgilenen kulüplerle doğrudan temasa geçmeye başlayacak. Dünya Kupası'nın başlangıcına kadar, yani önümüzdeki ay içinde bir karar alınması hedefleniyor. Bernardo Silva, yeni takımını belirlemek istiyor. Bernardo, Dünya Kupası'na yeni takımıyla anlaşmış olarak gitmeyi umuyor.
Bernardo Silva için en büyük rakiplerden biri Juventus. İtalyan kulübü kısa süre içerisinde resmi hamleler atacak. Bu nedenle Galatasaray'ın elini çabuk tutması gerekiyor. Romano'ya göre, Bernardo Silva mümkün olan en rekabetçi seviyede kalmak istiyor.
Süper Lig'in bitimine 1 hafta kala evinde Antalyaspor'u 4-2 mağlup ederek 26.şampiyonluğunu ilan eden Galatasaray şampiyonluk kutlamaları planı belli oldu.
Trendyol Süper Lig 2025-2026 sezonunu şampiyon olarak kapatan ve böylelikle 26.şampiyonluğunu elde eden Galatasaray kutlamalar için start verdi. Galatasaray'da şampiyonluk kutlamalarının 16 Mayıs 2026 Cumartesi günü gerçekleştirilmesi bekleniyor. Kutlamalar için merak edilen plan da belli oldu.
Galatasaray’ın şampiyonluk kutlaması planı şöyle:
-Liseden saat 15.00 civarında hareket
-18.00: Stadyumda programın başlangıcı
-19.05: DJ Suat Ateşdağlı’nın performansı ve futbolcuların seçtiği şarkılar eşliğinde sahneye çıkışları
-Kupa töreni
-22.00: Programın sona ermesi
KUTLAMALAR HANGİ KANALDA YAYINLANACAK?
Galatasaray'ın 26. şampiyonluk kupasını kaldıracağı bu tarihi anlar, yayıncı kuruluş ve kulüp kanalları üzerinden canlı olarak ekranlara gelmesi bekleniyor. Kanal bilgileri önümüzdeki günlerde netlik kazanacak.
Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan milli komandasının mərkəz hücumçusu Renat Dadaşov Polşanın “Motor” komandasında növbəti oyununa çıxıb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, 26 yaşlı hücumçunun komandası Polşa çempionatının 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün 32-ci turu çərçivəsində “Visla” (Plok) ilə qarşılaşıb.
Lyublin təmsilçisi bu rəqiblə səfərdə üz-üzə gəlib və darmadağına sevinib – 4:0. Renat bu görüşün 77-ci dəqiqəsində meydana buraxılıb. Amma o, komandasının qələbəsində xüsusi pay sahibi ola bilməyib.
32 turdan sonra 42 xalı olan “Motor” hazırda Polşa çempionatının turnir cədvəlində 18 iştirakçı arasında 10-cu pillədə qərarlaşıb. Renatın komandası keçirdiyi 32 oyunda 10 qələbə qazanıb, 12 heç-heçə edib, 10 məğlubiyyətə üzülüb.
Xatırladaq ki, Dadaşov “Motor”la 2025-ci ilin yayında 1+1 illik müqaviləyə imza atıb. O, Lyublin klubunun heyətində meydana çıxdığı 22 oyunda fərqlənə bilməyib.
Renat Dadaşov ötən mövsümü Polşanın digər klubu “Radomyak”da keçirib. Amma o, mövsüm bitən kimi sözügedən klubu tərk edib və “Motor”la razılaşıb. Renat karyerası ərzində “Qrasshopper”, “Tondela”, “Eştoril”, “Pasuş de Ferreyra”, “Hatayspor”, “Ankaragücü” kimi klublarda da forma geyinib. O, Azərbaycan milli komandasının heyətində meydana çıxdığı 43 oyunda 6 qol, 2 məhsuldar ötürmə müəllifi olub.
5'te 5 yapıp kendisine ait rekoru kırmak için yola koyulacak Galatasaray, Şampiyonlar Ligi'nde bu sezon elde edilen başarının üzerine çıkma adına dev bir bütçe ayırdı.
Fenerbahçe, 2008'den beri süren Şampiyonlar Ligi hasretini bitirmeye hedefliyor. Başkan adayları Aziz Yıldırım ve Hakan Safi de Şampiyonlar Ligi'ni gözeterek çalışıyor.
25 üçlükle play-off rekorunu egale eden Knicks, 76ers'ı 144-114 yenerek seriyi 4-0 kazandı- Wembanyama'nın ihraç edildiği maçta Timberwolves, sahasında Spurs'ü 114-109 mağlup etti ve seriyi 2-2 yaptı
19 Mayıs Atatürk'ü Anma, Gençlik ve Spor Bayramı etkinlikleri kapsamında 6-18 yaş arası sporcuların havalimanının iç hatlar giden yolcu kısmındaki gösterisini bazı yolcular çocuklarıyla izledi
2'nci Lig Beyaz Grup'ta şampiyon olarak 24 yıl aradan sonra 1'inci Lig'e yükselen Batman Petrolspor'un başarısı kentte coşkuyla kutlandı. Kutlamalarda sahne alan Murat Boz ve Blok 3, taraftarlara konser verdi.
Fenerbahçe'de adaylar hücum hattındaki transferlere yoğunlaştı. Borussia Dortmund'la kontratı bitecek 10 numara Julian Brandt ve Atletico Madrid'den ayrılması beklenen golcü Alexander Sörloth öne çıktı.
Liverpool forması giyen ve Galatasaray'ın transfer gündemine gelen Virgil van Dijk, Galatasaraylı Noa Lang'ın şampiyonluk sonrası sosyal medya paylaşımını beğendi.
Fenerbahçe'de başkan adayları Aziz Yıldırım ve Hakan Safi, teknik direktör adaylarına yoğunlaştı. Chelsea'den ayrılan Enzo Maresca ve Crystal Palace'tan Oliver Glasner'in isimleri listede yer aldı. Haziran ayında hocanın netleşeceği vurgulandı.
Birləşmiş Ərəb Əmirlikləri (BƏƏ) təmsilçisi “Palm Siti” argentinalı hücumçu Mauro İkardi ilə maraqlanır.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, klub “Qalatasaray”la müqaviləsi yayda bitəcək forvardı azad agent kimi sıralarına qatmaq niyyətindədir. Bu barədə insayder Maurizio Ruzzo məlumat yayıb.
İkardi “Palm Siti”də oynamağa müsbət yanaşmır.
Argentinalı hücumçu bu mövsüm Super Liqada 30 oyunda 14 qol vurub.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Kataloniya təmsilçisi XXXV turda “Real”ı məğlub edərək (2:0) sona üç tur qalmış qızıl medalları təmin edib.
Komandanın baş məşqçisi Hansi Flik “Marca”ya açıqlamasında çempionluğu belə dəyərləndirib:
“Bu anı heç vaxt unutmayacağam. İlk dəfə “el klasiko”da qələbə qazanaraq, çempionluğumuzu elan etdik. Azarkeşlərimiz üçün inanılmaz anlar oldu. Həqiqətən, çox yaxşı oynadıq və əla qələbə qazandıq”.
Azərbaycan tarixində ilk dəfə Avropa klublarında ölkəmizi təmsil etmiş Tovuzun təmsilçisi Premyer Liqanın 31-ci turunda “Karvan-Yevlax”ı 1:0 hesabı ilə qalib […]
“Roma”nın argentinalı hücumçusu Paulu Dibala gələcək karyerası ilə bağlı açıqlama verib. Msport.az Sky Sports-a istinadən xəbər verir ki, forvard diz […]
Francisco Trincão’s revival at Sporting CP has quietly turned him into one of the most interesting attacking names on the European transfer market.
Once regarded as one of Portugal’s brightest young talents during his move to Barcelona, the winger has rebuilt his reputation in Lisbon with maturity, consistency and end product.
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The 26-year-old is now attracting attention from several Premier League clubs, with Liverpool and Chelsea both linked with a possible summer move, sources close to the agents industry have informed CaughtOffside.
His current Sporting contract runs until 2030, while recent reports claim his deal includes a €60 million release clause, giving interested clubs a clear figure to work with.
Trincão has impressed top clubs including Liverpool & Chelsea
Trincão has become a vital part of Sporting’s attack since joining the club permanently in 2023.
His ability to operate from wide areas, drift inside and create chances has made him especially valuable in a modern system where forwards are expected to contribute beyond goals.
Chelsea’s interest also makes sense. The London club have repeatedly looked for technically gifted forwards who can beat defenders, create chances and offer tactical flexibility.
Trincão’s left-footed profile, experience in Portugal and Spain, and improved decision-making would make him a useful addition to a squad still searching for reliable attacking balance.
Arsenal and other English clubs are also said to be monitoring the situation, but Sporting will not be under pressure to sell cheaply.
With his contract secured until 2030 and a reported €60m clause in place, the Portuguese champions are in a strong negotiating position.
Liverpool appear to be moving with real intent, Chelsea are watching closely, and Sporting know they possess a player whose value has risen sharply.
Manchester United are on the lookout for defensive options in the summer transfer window.
A major rebuild is expected at Old Trafford under the leadership if INEOS and almost all positions are expected to be strengthened by the club this summer.
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AC Milan’s formidable centre-back Strahinja Pavlović has emerged as a target for the Red Devils, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Man United and Crystal Palace are both positioning themselves to test the resolve of the Rossoneri hierarchy.
While Crystal Palace have acted swiftly as the first club to formally gauge the parameters of a potential deal, Man United are understood to harbor a highly concrete, long-term interest.
However, prying the dominant 24-year-old away from San Siro will require a massive financial and structural push, as Milan have currently placed a strict “not for sale” tag on their defensive cornerstone.
Man United have closely monitored Pavlović
Pavlović’s steep rise to the top of English scouting lists is a testament to his exceptional individual development under manager Massimiliano Allegri.
Arriving in Lombardy in the summer of 2024 from RB Salzburg for an initial fee of €18.5 million, the aggressive, left-footed defender initially had to bide his time to adapt to the rigorous tactical demands of Italian football.
Fast forward to the current campaign, and the Serbian international has undeniably transformed into one of the most improved and dominant figures in Serie A.
Man United remain committed to acquiring elite, left-sided defensive profiles who can combine rugged aerial dominance with progressive ball-carrying abilities.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace’s early probing highlights their ambitious recruitment strategy, aiming to secure premium European talent before market valuations spiral completely out of reach.
Despite the growing external noise, AC Milan’s current public stance is uncompromising. The club views Pavlović as an indispensable pillar to build around for the future, firmly valuing him at a base floor of €40 million to €50 million.
Contractually, the Italian giants hold total leverage, Pavlović’s existing agreement runs until the summer of 2028, complete with a club option to extend the deal for an additional season.
However, reliable Italian insiders suggest that Milan’s absolute resolve could eventually be tested by their collective finish to the season.
Should the club suffer a disastrous failure to secure lucrative Champions League qualification, the hierarchy at Via Aldo Rossi may be forced to reluctantly reconsider their non-negotiable stance to balance the books.
Tokenized gold products generated $90.7 billion in spot trading volume during the first quarter of 2026, surpassing the entire 2025 total of $84.6 billion, according to CoinGecko data. The market continues to be dominated by PAX Gold and Tether Gold, reflecting rising investor demand for blockchain-based exposure to physical gold. The surge highlights growing adoption of tokenized real-world assets as traders increasingly seek 24/7 liquidity and digital alternatives to traditional commodity markets.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the April CPI inflation report on May 12, and crypto traders are preparing for major volatility. Economists expect inflation to rise again, which could delay Federal Reserve rate cuts and pressure Bitcoin below key support levels.
But if inflation cools, Bitcoin could quickly rally toward $90,000 again.
CPI Inflation Expected to Rise Again: 3.7%
According to market estimates, April inflation is expected to come in much hotter than March.
Economists are currently expecting headline CPI to rise by 0.6% month-over-month, while annual inflation is forecast to increase to 3.7%, up from the previous 3.3% reading.
Meanwhile, core CPI is projected to come in at 2.7% year-over-year, with monthly core inflation expected to rise by 0.4%.
Prediction markets are also signaling higher inflation data. On Polymarket, traders are assigning a 100% probability that inflation in 2026 remains above 3%, along with a 94% chance it stays above 3.5%.
April CPI prints Tuesday. Here's what prediction markets are saying:
• Polymarket: 100% chance 2026 inflation tops 3%, 94% chance it tops 3.5% • Kalshi: 100% pricing CPI > 3.2% YoY for April • Polymarket: 55.6% chance the Fed cuts ZERO times in 2026 • 95.5% chance the June…
However, some analysts believe inflation could come in even hotter.
Top Analysts Expect Even Higher Inflation
Adding to growing inflation concerns, Edward Dowd warned that April CPI could climb as high as 4.1%. He believes the U.S. economy is facing rising recession risks, persistent oil-driven inflation, and weakening consumer demand.
A hotter-than-expected CPI reading would likely reinforce the Fed’s “higher for longer” stance on interest rates, especially after Jerome Powell recently emphasized that policymakers still need more confidence inflation is moving back toward the 2% target.
What Happens to Bitcoin if CPI Comes in Hot?
If the April CPI report comes in hotter than expected, analysts believe crypto markets could face immediate selling pressure. Several traders are warning that Bitcoin could fall back toward the $80,000 level, retest the key $78,000 support zone, or even revisit the $70,000 range if panic selling intensifies.
The market remains especially sensitive after Bitcoin recently failed to maintain momentum above the $82,000–$84,000 resistance area.
If inflation comes in lower than expected, markets could quickly begin pricing in potential. Bitcoin may gain momentum toward the unfilled CME gap near $93,000, along with the broader $90,000–$95,000 resistance zone that traders are closely watching.
While Bitcoin and major altcoins continue to display strong bullish momentum, the XRP price remains stuck within a tight consolidation range despite recent breakout attempts. XRP recently moved above a crucial resistance zone and has managed to hold those levels even as selling pressure intensifies across the market. Over the past 24 hours, the token gained more than 2.5% to trade near $1.45, while trading volume surged by over 200%, signaling a sharp rise in market activity.
The broader market sentiment surrounding XRP also remains bullish, supported by growing social media engagement, breakout discussions, and renewed institutional optimism. However, despite the price recovery, the breakout still lacks strong spot buying confirmation, raising concerns that the current rally could weaken if bullish momentum fades.
As XRP trades near a decisive zone, traders are now watching whether the bulls can push the price above the immediate resistance and reclaim $1.50 in the short term.
XRP Price Analysis for This Week
As seen in the chart above, the XRP price has finally broken above the descending trend line that had acted as a major resistance barrier since February. More importantly, the bulls continue to defend this breakout despite rising selling pressure, indicating that the previous resistance zone is now attempting to flip into strong support. The latest rebound from the lower levels also suggests buyers are actively accumulating near the $1.42–$1.44 range.
However, the rally still faces a major obstacle between $1.48 and $1.50, a supply zone that has repeatedly rejected bullish attempts over the past few months, which now stands as the most important resistance level for XRP in the short term.
The technical indicators are also beginning to support the bullish narrative. The RSI continues to trend higher with a sequence of higher lows, reflecting strengthening momentum despite short-term consolidation. At the same time, the Gaussian Channel has flipped bullish, historically signaling a shift toward positive trend continuation and sustained upside momentum.
In the short term, XRP must continue defending the immediate support at $1.44 to maintain the current bullish structure. Failure to hold this level could trigger a healthy correction toward the $1.42 region before the next move. On the other hand, if buyers successfully push the price above $1.48 and secure a breakout beyond $1.50, the XRP rally could regain significant momentum and attract renewed trader interest.
Since XRP has struggled to sustain levels above $1.50 for several months, a successful breakout above this range could act as a major psychological trigger for the market. In such a scenario, the next upside targets could emerge around $1.60, followed by a potential extended rally toward the long-awaited $2 milestone.
The Cardano price prediction is heating up as Cardano submitted its hard fork to the preview network this week, and Node 11.0 is expected to be the last release before protocol v11 goes live on mainnet. BTC climbed above $82,000 on May 6 as Bitcoin ETFs logged over $630 million in a single day, the strongest daily inflow of 2026.
The Cardano price prediction for this cycle now depends on which coins deliver real products and carry clear catalysts ahead, because those are the ones pulling capital right now.
Pepeto is preparing for its expected Binance listing with a working exchange and a SolidProof audit, and the presale has pulled in more than $9.84 million while the entry stays open at $0.0000001868 with less than 3% of the allocation remaining.
Cardano Hard Fork Reaches Preview as Hoskinson Defends Scaling Path
Cardano developer Samuel Leathers confirmed that Node 10.7.1 is mainnet ready and called it the last version before 11.0, which will carry the protocol v11 hard fork with no user facing changes.
Founder Charles Hoskinson pushed back against criticism of the network’s scaling progress by arguing that the research driven path trades speed for system resilience.
The Leios throughput upgrade is targeting a testnet launch in June 2026 with the goal of pushing Cardano past 1,000 transactions per second, according to CoinDesk. Meanwhile ADA trades near $0.26 this week after pulling back from a brief spike above $0.265, with $0.267 still the resistance that has capped the Cardano price prediction range since late March.
Where the Cardano Price Prediction Stands and Why One Presale Could Deliver More
Pepeto
Getting fair prices across different blockchains is still the biggest problem in crypto trading. Traders find the same token priced differently on two networks, and figuring out how to capture that gap without losing it to fees and slow bridges is where most people stop trying.
With Pepeto, the PepetoSwap exchange links six blockchains into one trading layer where users swap tokens across all of them without leaving the platform. The cross-chain bridge moves assets between networks without forcing traders to use three different platforms and pay fees on every step. This is an exchange built by a former Pepe cofounder who already helped create an $11 billion token with the same 420 trillion supply, and the SolidProof audit backs every contract with a clean third party review. PepetoSwap handles the swaps at low cost while the cross-chain bridge handles the movement between chains, so traders control everything from one screen.
Together these tools give traders one place to trade, bridge, and manage tokens instead of jumping between five separate platforms. This is the kind of exchange that does for meme coin traders what large centralized platforms do for big cap holders, except it runs on a presale token priced at $0.0000001868 and carries the expected Binance listing that none of those platforms had at this stage.
Staking pays 175% APY, the supply is locked at 420 trillion tokens, and the expected Binance listing gives every presale wallet the one catalyst that turns a low entry into the kind of return that ADA holders at $0.26 will not see from a hard fork alone. One wallet turned $8,000 into $5.7 billion with Shiba Inu, and SHIB had zero tools on launch day. Pepeto carries real exchange infrastructure at a fraction of a cent, and the presale is almost gone.
Cardano Price Prediction
ADA trades near $0.2625 after briefly touching $0.265 this week before pulling back, with the $0.267 resistance level still limiting movement since March, according to CoinMarketCap.
The Node 11.0 hard fork is the next scheduled catalyst, and the Leios throughput upgrade targeting 1,000 transactions per second could change the Cardano price prediction outlook if the June testnet performs well.
Short term forecasts place ADA between $0.27 and $0.30 for May if the resistance breaks cleanly on volume. Analysts tracking the Cardano price prediction for 2026 see a wider range of $0.30 to $1.33 by year end depending on whether enterprise adoption and the broader altcoin rotation build enough force to push past the current ceiling.
Conclusion
The Cardano price prediction matters, but the size of the entry matters more. Every cycle produces the same story, and the people who built real wealth from early BTC and early Pepe all made one decision before the rest of the market caught on. They moved while the price had not yet been set by the public market, and they held while everyone else debated whether it was too early.
That same entry is open right now with Pepeto, built by the same Pepe cofounder with an expected Binance listing and real exchange tools already working, and once the listing goes live this entry disappears permanently.
Less than 3% of the presale remains with $9.84 million already committed, which means the listing could arrive any day, and every day of waiting is a day closer to the price reset that turns presale wallets into the winners and latecomers into the ones who calculate what they missed. Entering now is simple, the presale is still open on the Pepeto official website, and the cost of delay is not just missing a trade but watching the kind of return that changes portfolios go to the wallets that acted first.
What is the Cardano price prediction for 2026 after the Node 11.0 hard fork?
The Cardano price prediction for 2026 ranges from $0.30 to $1.33 by year end. ADA trades near $0.26 today, and the Node 11.0 hard fork combined with the Leios upgrade targeting 1,000 TPS are the two catalysts that could push the price past the $0.267 resistance.
What is the best crypto presale to buy before a Binance listing in 2026?
Pepeto is the strongest presale candidate before a Binance listing in 2026, with $9.84 million raised, a SolidProof audit, a working exchange, and 175% APY staking already live. The listing event alone can reprice every presale wallet in a single day, a catalyst that large caps like ADA do not carry.
How does the Pepeto presale compare to holding ADA for the Cardano price prediction upside?
Pepeto at $0.0000001868 offers a presale-to-listing gap that can deliver triple digit returns from one event. ADA at $0.26 targets single digit gains from the hard fork, giving Pepeto a far wider return distance per dollar committed.
Official Trump developers transferred roughly $12.09 million worth of TRUMP tokens to Fireblocks before the funds were later deposited into BitGo, according to Arkham monitoring data. The transfer originated from a wallet reportedly holding around $1.86 billion in TRUMP tokens. While the purpose of the movement remains unclear, large token transfers to custodial platforms often attract trader attention due to potential implications for liquidity management, institutional custody, or possible exchange-related activity.
XRP news is heating up again as ETF inflows bring Ripple back into the institutional spotlight. Recent market coverage shows spot XRP ETF cumulative inflows reaching $1.32 billion after another three-day inflow streak, while April also marked XRP’s strongest ETF inflow month since December 2025.
But the bigger question is not only whether XRP can keep recovering. It is whether a large-cap token already backed by ETF demand can still offer the kind of x100 potential retail traders want. That is why AlphaPepe is gaining attention as Stage 16 continues at $0.01683 after Stage 15 sold out, with the round approaching $1.2 million and more than 8,500 holders already inside.
XRP ETF Buzz Gives Bulls a Real Signal
XRP finally has the kind of institutional story traders wanted. ETF products have brought regulated exposure into the market, and Ripple’s own ETF commentary points to major institutional participation, including a disclosed Goldman Sachs position in spot XRP ETF shares earlier this year.
That matters because XRP has spent years fighting for mainstream acceptance. ETF flows give the token a cleaner demand story. They also make XRP easier for institutions to hold without dealing directly with wallets, custody, or exchange accounts.
Still, ETF demand does not automatically create explosive retail upside. XRP is already one of the most watched assets in crypto. It can move higher if inflows continue, but it is no longer an early discovery trade. The biggest XRP returns went to wallets that entered before the institutional story arrived.
The Entry Most Traders Notice After It Closes
AlphaPepe is sitting in the kind of window retail traders usually chase before a listing. Stage 15 has already sold out, and Stage 16 is live at $0.01683. The presale is approaching $1.2 million raised, with more than 8,500 holders already onboard before the planned Q2 exchange debut.
The reason AlphaPepe is being pulled into x100 talk is simple. It starts from a much smaller base than XRP, and the market has not fully priced the project yet. AlphaSwap, its AI-powered exchange, gives the presale a product story before listing. It is designed to scan contracts, flag risky tokens, track whale movement, and surface coins gaining attention before the wider market reacts.
That gives AlphaPepe more than meme coin reach. The meme angle brings attention. AlphaSwap gives utility. The Stage 15 sellout shows demand is moving before exchanges get their turn.
Is XRP Still the Better Trade?
XRP can still climb if ETF inflows continue and institutional demand builds. With cumulative inflows already above the billion-dollar mark, the bull case is not empty.
XRP has liquidity, name recognition, and regulated products supporting the story.
But for buyers chasing x100 potential, the answer changes. XRP may offer a cleaner large-cap recovery trade, but AlphaPepe offers the earlier-stage setup. XRP is already listed, liquid, and widely covered. AlphaPepe is still before its listing window.
That is why the comparison matters. XRP can confirm that institutional crypto appetite is returning. AlphaPepe can benefit if that appetite spreads into smaller presales where retail still has the chance to enter before the market reprices the token.
Why Stage 16 Is Becoming the Real FOMO Window
Every cycle creates the same mistake. Traders wait for confirmation, then realize the best entry was available before the headline arrived. DOGE, SHIB, PEPE, and early XRP all had moments where the setup looked too early until the market suddenly caught up.
AlphaPepe is trying to own that moment now. Stage 15 is gone. Stage 16 is live. The holder count has passed 8,500, and AlphaSwap gives the project more than a basic meme story.
The team is connected to builders from the Shibarium ecosystem, and the project has completed a 10/10 BlockSAFU audit. In a presale market full of empty promises, shipped utility and audit confidence matter.
Conclusion
XRP news is bullish again as ETF inflows build and Ripple gets more institutional attention. XRP could keep recovering if regulated demand continues and broader crypto sentiment stays strong.
But the x100 potential retail wants is usually found earlier. AlphaPepe Stage 16 is live at $0.01683 after Stage 15 sold out, with the presale approaching $1.2 million raised and more than 8,500 holders already inside. With AlphaSwap live, audit confidence, and a planned Q2 exchange debut ahead, AlphaPepe is becoming the presale traders are watching while XRP leads the ETF conversation.
Why is XRP getting ETF buzz? XRP is getting ETF buzz because spot XRP ETF products have seen strong inflows, including cumulative inflows reported at around $1.32 billion after a recent three-day streak.
Why is AlphaPepe linked to x100 potential? AlphaPepe is still in presale at $0.01683 before its planned Q2 exchange debut, with growing holder demand and AlphaSwap utility before listing.
What is AlphaSwap? AlphaSwap is AlphaPepe’s AI-powered exchange. It scans contracts, tracks whale movement, and surfaces trending coins before the wider market reacts
Sui announced plans to launch native confidential transactions later this year, enabling private payments where only senders and receivers can view transaction details while preserving institutional compliance. The network said the feature is designed to support up to 866 transactions per second alongside upcoming free stablecoin transfers. Separately, Nasdaq-listed Sui Group Holdings staked 108.7 million SUI tokens — around 2.7% of circulating supply, locking a significant amount of tokens into long-term positions and reinforcing confidence in the ecosystem’s growth trajectory.
Bitcoin climbed back above $82,000 on Monday before reversing lower. The trigger was four words from President Trump posted on social media: “I don’t like it.” Within minutes of the post, Bitcoin dropped nearly $1,200 from around $81,500 to $80,300.
BREAKING: President Trump responds to Iran's response to the US' 14-point peace proposal:
"I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called 'Representatives.' I don’t like it," he says.
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) May 10, 2026
The move triggered immediate liquidations across the crypto market and set off one of the most volatile 12-hour periods Bitcoin has seen. Roughly $81 million worth of long positions were liquidated within the first hour of the drop. Bitcoin then rebounded toward $82,400 after US futures markets opened, before reversing lower again.
BREAKING: Bitcoin just dumped $1,900 in 4 hours, fully retracing the entire pump.
In the last 12 hours, Bitcoin dumped $1200 from $81.2k to $80.3k Then pumped $2100 from $80.3k to $82.4k Now again down $1900 from $82.4k to $80.5k
In total, more than $370 million worth of long and short positions were liquidated during the swings. Bitcoin moved nearly $4,000 in both directions within 12 hours.
The Iran Connection
Trump’s post was not random. Iran had just sent its response to the US peace proposal through Pakistani mediators. The response rejected dismantling its nuclear facilities, pushed back on nuclear demands, and proposed transferring some uranium to a third country while asking for nuclear issues to be negotiated over the next 30 days.
Trump responded publicly by saying Iran has been “playing games” with the US for 47 years and “they will be laughing no longer.” Analysts noted that the last time Trump used similar language, military strikes followed within 48 hours.
Geopolitical risk returned to markets instantly.
Where Analysts Stand Now
Despite the bounce back toward $82,000, some analysts are turning cautious. Crypto analyst Doctor Profit said the current range between $82,000 and $85,000 resembles the same setup he used to short Bitcoin near its 2025 peak. He has been gradually opening short positions daily within this range while taking profits from longs entered around $71,000.
These are the last days and if you are lucky the last few weeks above the 80k range, the area of 50k and below is calling and the big crash is a matter of time, the trap… pic.twitter.com/9svoqd7dzV
The crypto market has turned mildly bullish after recovering from recent lows, with the global market cap and trading volume witnessing a brief rise. The Bitcoin price reclaimed higher levels over the weekend, while the Ethereum price continues to trade strongly near $2,350 despite facing a crucial resistance zone.
Among the top altcoin gainers, the SUI price led the rally with a strong breakout fueled by rising buying pressure. Tokens like Osmosis, Octra, and MEME HORSE also posted notable gains, reflecting improving sentiment across the altcoin market.
After a bullish weekend, the crypto market has entered a consolidation phase at the start of the weekly trade. If Bitcoin, Ethereum, and major altcoins fail to break above key resistance levels in the coming days, a minor correction could follow before the next major move.
The Bitcoin price is currently trading around $80,700, following a pullback from the intraday high at around $82,380. The volume also increased moderately while the market cap remained restricted to $1.61 trillion. However, the price continues to respect the bullish pattern, maintaining strength above a key trendline, acting as a strong support.
However, until the price sustains above the 20/50/100/200 MA, the possibility of a bullish reversal is active. On the other hand, the ETH price is also struggling at an important resistance zone and has also failed to break the bearish structure. Meanwhile, the price remains within a range-bound as the volatility decreases, hinting towards a choppy week ahead.
Although the price has been stuck within a descending parallel channel since mid-April, the broader pattern remains bullish within an ascending parallel channel. The Bollinger bands indicate a drop in volatility, while the CMF fails to clear the average zone, indicating an outflow of liquidity. Therefore, the ETH price may remain under bullish influence until it respects the lower bands of Bollinger, but strong buying volume is required to break the bearish structure.
Altcoins Display Strength, SUI Leads the Market
As Bitcoin & Ethereum sustain above $80,000 and $2,300, respectively, the altcoins have begun to explode. While the SUI price breaks out by nearly 20%, reaching $1.30, the SKYAI price plunges by 11.22%. Other tokens in the top gainers include Binance Life by 13.13%, XDC Network by 8.93%, Terra Classic by 7% and DeXe & SEI by more than 6% each.
On the other hand, Toncoin drops by 9.45%, Dash by 6.32%, Siren by 6.23% and Filecoin & Internet Computer by more than 5% each. The global market cap faces a brief pullback from $2.73 trillion to $2.69 trillion while the volume increases from around $58 billion to $97 billion. This suggests the trades are taking minor profit after small jumps, which may not be a positive factor for a sustained bull run.
Geopolitical Factors Impacting the Crypto Market in the Past 24 Hours
Rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran increased uncertainty across global financial markets, triggering higher volatility in Bitcoin and altcoins
Concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz pushed oil prices higher, raising fears of inflation and tighter macroeconomic conditions
Investors closely monitored the possibility of delayed Federal Reserve rate cuts due to conflict-driven inflation risks
Bitcoin briefly surged above $82,000 after a temporary easing in geopolitical fears improved short-term market sentiment
Increased geopolitical uncertainty led to cautious trading activity, with markets entering a consolidation phase after the recent rally
Analysts expect crypto market volatility to remain elevated throughout the week as global political developments continue influencing investor sentiment
What to Expect in the Next 24 hours?
The crypto market is expected to remain highly volatile over the next 24 hours as traders closely monitor Bitcoin’s movement near the crucial $82,000 resistance zone and Ethereum’s struggle to break above key levels around $2,350. While selective altcoins like SUI continue to attract strong buying pressure, the broader market sentiment still depends heavily on macroeconomic and geopolitical developments.
Any fresh updates surrounding the U.S.-Iran conflict, oil prices, or Federal Reserve rate-cut expectations could trigger sharp price swings across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the altcoin market. If the leading cryptocurrencies successfully break above their immediate resistance levels, the bullish momentum could extend further. However, failure to sustain the current recovery may result in a minor pullback before the next major move.
Stock markets in Japan and South Korea opened at new all-time highs on May 11, 2026, extending a strong rally driven by easing geopolitical tensions and surging demand for AI-related technology.
The Nikkei 225 gained around 1% at the open, while South Korea’s KOSPI jumped nearly 4%, marking one of the strongest starts across Asian markets this year. According to market data, Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 0.78% to 63,201.36, surpassing its previous record of 62,833 set only days earlier.
Japan and South Korea's stock markets have opened at NEW ALL-TIME HIGH.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s KOSPI surged 3.85% to 7,786.73, breaking above the 7,700 level for the first time ever and leading gains across Asian equities.
Major semiconductor and tech stocks also posted massive gains at the open. Samsung Electronics jumped more than 5%, while SK hynix surged over 8%, with both companies reaching new all-time highs.
AI Boom Is Fueling Asian Markets
A major driver behind the rally continues to be the global artificial intelligence boom.
South Korea recently reported a massive 139% year-on-year increase in semiconductor exports during the first quarter of 2026, fueled largely by rising demand for memory chips powering AI data centers worldwide.
This surge has strengthened investor confidence in Asian semiconductor giants, especially as global tech firms continue expanding AI infrastructure spending.
The rally also reflects how Asian markets are increasingly becoming central players in the global AI supply chain, particularly in semiconductors, chip manufacturing, and advanced hardware.
Geopolitical Optimism Boosts Investor Sentiment
Markets also reacted positively to improving geopolitical developments involving the United States and Iran.
President Donald Trump recently described talks with Iran as “very productive,” raising hopes for a possible agreement that could reduce tensions and improve global market stability.
At the same time, investors are increasingly shifting capital into Asian equities as both a growth opportunity and a relatively safe haven during global uncertainty.
South Korea’s stock market has now surpassed Britain and Canada to become the world’s seventh-largest equity market, highlighting the growing global influence of Asian technology and semiconductor companies.
Liverpool could steal €30m star in magnificent deal
Liverpool have a chance to steal a brilliant player for a fantastic fee. A can't-miss opportunity.
L'Equipe claims Liverpool could steal in with a fantastic signing this summer. It comes as they look turn their attention towards midfield with the mass overhaul that started in 2025.
The Reds have renewed Ryan Gravenberch's contract as a part of that. Now they're looking to add players alongside him long-term - both by renewing more contracts and signing new faces.
One they could sign is Lamine Camara. The L'Equipe report suggests Liverpool are high on Camara, who has enjoyed a fantastic campaign at AS Monaco.
Even better, the fee they suggest is 'twice' the €15m Monaco paid for Camara. A fee of €30m for such a player feels like an absolute steal and exactly the kind of move Liverpool are crying out for.
Their midfield is weak right now, lacking the kind of bite that wins territory in the middle of the pitch. Camara can add that - and seemingly at a truly magnificent price.
Lamine Camara: Situation Summary
AS Monaco Performance and Stats
As of 10 May 2026, Lamine Camara is a key figure in AS Monaco’s midfield during his second season with the club. The 22-year-old Senegalese international has made 40 appearances this term, recording two goals and seven assists across 2,726 minutes. In Ligue 1, he maintains an impressive average FotMob rating of 7.52, notably scoring a goal in a 2–2 draw with Toulouse on 25 April. Camara’s season has been defined by high-work-rate performances, such as his MVP display in a 1–0 win over PSG in March.
Transfer Speculation
Camara’s "Nugget of the Season" form has attracted major interest from the Premier League. Reports from 10 May 2026 indicate that Liverpool and Newcastle United are monitoring the midfielder, who is valued at approximately €40 million. While his contract runs until 2029, Liverpool are reportedly considering a formal bid to bolster their midfield rebuild this summer.
International Standing
A vital member of the Senegal squad, Camara has earned 43 caps and is expected to be a central figure for the Lions of Teranga at the 2026 World Cup this June. Following the draw, he expressed excitement about facing France in Group I.
‘We feel it’ – Joe Gomez reacts to boos from Liverpool supporters
Joe Gomez has spoken honestly about the growing frustration among Liverpool supporters after the disappointing 1-1 draw against Chelsea, admitting the reaction from Anfield “hurts” the players following another difficult performance.
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The atmosphere turned sour during the second half when Rio Ngumoha was substituted by Arne Slot, with boos heard around the stadium as Liverpool once again struggled to control a match they had started brightly.
Speaking via The Independent after the game, the England international admitted the dressing room fully understands supporter frustration.
Joe Gomez responds to Liverpool boos
“We feel it, it’s the last thing we want,” said Gomez.
The defender continued: “For us older boys who have experienced so many good times here it does hurt. If it didn’t then you shouldn’t still be here.”
The 28-year-old also revealed there have already been serious conversations internally following recent performances.
“There’s frustrations and there’s been plenty of voices and discussions and meetings from different people – staff, players.”
Gomez then made Liverpool’s immediate objective crystal clear.
“Black and white now, we need Champions League football, that’s the objective.”
That honesty will probably resonate with supporters because, despite Liverpool still sitting fourth, confidence around the team is visibly draining.
Gomez defends Ngumoha substitution and Slot style
The academy graduate also defended Slot’s controversial decision to substitute Ngumoha, explaining the teenager was physically struggling late in the match.
“Rio he’s young and he played in the high-intense game… physically, he was tired.”
Gomez added: “But I get it: he’s flying, he looks good for us, he’s a big threat and if he comes off it’s like ‘Oh’ and the fans are entitled to that opinion.”
The Liverpool defender also addressed criticism surrounding the slower, more possession-based style under the Dutch coach.
“I think we have to remember that tactically we made a step last year which was very effective,” Gomez explained.
However, he also admitted the approach can become frustrating when matches lose rhythm and intensity.
That probably sums up exactly where Liverpool supporters are right now.
Fans can accept tactical evolution, but after another passive display against a struggling Chelsea side, many are beginning to question whether this current direction is really working.
Inter aren't done yet! 3-0 against Lazio at the Olimpico!
The Champions of Italy aren't finished yet as another victory sweeps Rome. A true show of strength from Cristian Chivu's side, it ends 3-0 against Lazio at the Olimpico on matchday 36 of Serie A. A match that was never a doubt, immediately set in motion by the captain's inevitable goal. Lautaro scored in the 6th minute with one of his trademark finishes, then provided the assist for the second which came in the 39th minute thanks to a brilliant long-range strike from Sucic. It wasn't over: in the second half Lazio went down to 10 men, reacted well, but were punished once again by Mkhitaryan's left-foot, who Bonny found in the box and made no mistake. 3-0, and now attention turns to Wednesday, when Lazio and Inter face each other again in the Coppa Italia Final.
The NFL announced that the 2026 regular-season schedule will be released on Thursday, May 14.
With there likely to be some games, let's have some fun and produce a 2026 mock Washington Commanders schedule before the league might begin leaking games on Monday. You can't simply schedule games. There must be a rationale behind game days and times, along with which teams match a criteria.
Yet NFL schedule makers have their own minds and reasons for their decisions. I'll provide a few notes at the bottom on why a game may happen in a particular week. Of course, the odds of getting the games on the exact week are awfully slim, but it's fun looking ahead. So, here we go.
NFL likes divisional matchps in Week 1. In addition, Commanders have opened at home Eagles, Chargers, Jaguars, Cardinals (2020-2023), Giants, (2025). So Washington on the road to open 2026.
Week 2: NFL markets the MNF matchup of former Heisman winners and LSU quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Joe Burrow. The NFL also remembers the high-scoring, exciting MNF game these two played in 2024.
Week 4: NFL likes an AFC - NFC match up internationally. Plus Jayden Daniels vs C.J. Stroud
Week 5: BYE Week for the teams coming off their international game schedule.
Week 6: NBC Sunday Night Football Prime Time NFC East Match up.
Week 8: NFL likes a Thursday night game featuring Trevor Lawrence and Jayden Daniels
Week 11: Gives the NFL a SNF Matthew Stafford and Jayden Daniels match up
Week 16: NFL likes Eagles and Commanders late in the season
Week 17: NFL always schedules Commanders and Cowboys late in season as well
Final Note: Commanders 2026 schedule includes one MNF game, one Sunday morning international game, one Thursday night game, three Sunday night games, and three 4:25 PM games.
Joley Bennett, D’Arbonne Woods Charter girls track and field: The sophomore clinched the LHSAA Class 2A individual championship in javelin.
Madison Boyd, West Ouachita girls track and field: The senior clinched the LHSAA Class 4A individual championship in the 300-meter hurdles.
Drew Browning, Weston baseball: The senior went 2-for-2 with a home run in an 8-3 quarterfinal victory against Holden.
Tayven Carter, Delhi Charter boys track and field: The junior clinched LHSAA Class 2A individual championships in two events (long jump and triple jump).
Cedar Creek boys golf: The Cougars clinched the LHSAA Division IV team championship as two golfers (junior Alex Roebuck and freshman Jase Martin) had top-five finishes.
Rylan Davis, Claiborne Christian softball: The sophomore went 3-for-4 with a triple and an RBI and pitched a two-hit shutout with three walks and 13 strikeouts in a 7-0 quarterfinal victory against False River.
Devyn Downs, Sterlington baseball: The junior pitched nine innings with two hits, four walks and a strikeout in a 3-0 semifinal victory against South Beauregard.
Delhi boys track and field: The Bears clinched the LHSAA Class 1A individual championship in the 4x400-meter relay.
Nolan Gandy, Mangham baseball: The sophomore went 3-for-3 with four RBIs in a quarterfinal victory against Delcambre.
Ciara Gray, Jonesboro-Hodge girls track and field: The senior and LSU signee clinched LHSAA Class 1A individual championships in three events (300-meter hurdles, long jump and triple jump).
Leah James, Cedar Creek girls track and field: The senior clinched the LHSAA Class 1A individual championship in the 400-meter dash.
Jack Kelley, West Ouachita boys track and field: The senior clinched the LHSAA Class 4A individual championship in the 3,200-meter run.
Kade Luker, Cedar Creek baseball: The junior went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs and yielded two hits, an earned run, two walks and 12 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings in a 4-3 quarterfinal victory against Riverside Academy.
Maddox Mowad, Neville boys golf: The junior clinched the LHSAA Division I individual championship.
Cody Nelson, Ouachita boys track and field: The senior clinched the LHSAA Class 5A individual championship in triple jump.
Presley Parks-Smith, Sterlington boys track and field: The junior clinched the LHSAA Class 3A individual championship in javelin.
Gavin Polk, Ouachita Christian baseball: The senior pitched a three-hit shutout with two walks and six strikeouts in a 1-0 quarterfinal victory against Ascension Episcopal.
Quitman track and field: The Wolverines sweep the LHSAA Class B titles and had six individual champions (boys 4x200-meter relay, boys 4x400-meter relay, senior Nathan Harvey in 300-meter hurdles, senior Gage Horton in 400-meter dash and 1,600-meter run, junior Kaleigh King in 300-meter hurdles and pole vault, senior Asher Shultz in javelin).
Ruston girls track and field: The Bearcats clinched the LHSAA Class 5A individual championship in the 4x800-meter relay.
Miller Sheets, Sterlington baseball: The senior went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs in a 5-0 semifinal victory against South Beauregard.
Jaxon Talley, West Monroe boys track and field: The junior clinched the LHSAA Class 5A individual championship in javelin.
Amaren Woodard, Simsboro boys track and field: The senior clinched the LHSAA Class B individual championship in the 200-meter dash.
The Cleveland Cavaliers may have saved their season on Saturday by defeating the Detroit Pistons in Game 3, cutting the series deficit to 2-1.
James Harden had a strong performance down the stretch, collecting huge buckets to fend off a fierce Pistons comeback. While Cleveland blew a 17-point lead in the game, the Cavs were able to hang on with strong defense in the final minutes of the game.
Now, the Cavaliers hope to tie the series at two games each before the teams head back to Detroit. Cleveland is 5-0 in home games during this postseason run, and the Cavs will need that to remain the case to avoid a deep hole in the series. The Pistons, meanwhile, have shown the ability to deal with adversity and can still take a stranglehold on the series with a win on Monday night; Detroit will need Cade Cunningham to avoid turnovers, which doomed the team in Game 3.
Here's what you need to know about Monday's matchup between the Cavs and Pistons, including broadcast information and start time.
Cavaliers vs. Pistons Game 4 will be broadcast by NBC and will stream live on Peacock.
Peacock features live coverage of NFL Sunday Night Football, the NBA, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Premier League soccer, Big Ten football and basketball, Notre Dame football, Big East and Big 12 basketball, PGA Tour golf, the Tour de France, and more.
Cavs vs. Pistons start time
Date: Monday, May 11
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Game 4 of the NBA Playoffs series between Cavaliers and Pistons is set to tip off at 8:00 p.m. ET from Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
PSG Receive Fresh Bradley Barcola Update Amid Liverpool Rumor
PSG winger Bradley Barcola appears to be on the verge of needing to decide where he wants to continue his career. After making the move from Olympique Lyonnais to the French capital, his profile has risen.
However, Barcola hasn’t solidified himself as an undisputed starter for manager Luis Enrique. Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean he isn’t an important piece for the Parisians.
Moreover, if the club wins back-to-back Champions League trophies, players may feel content with the trophies and pursue a more prominent role elsewhere. With the summer transfer window right around the corner, Barcola continues to see his name in transfer rumors.
PSG Winger Bradley Barcola Remains in Transfer Rumor Mill
Moreover, the report states that Barcola is said to be intrigued by the project Liverpool is offering. Furthermore, PSG are also keeping the door open, per the French outlet.
Although the Parisians are reportedly not actively looking to sell, they would be willing to consider a deal if the player decides he wants a move.
So far this season for PSG, Barcola has recorded 12 goals and seven assists in 46 appearances across all competitions for the Ligue 1 side, per Transfermarkt.
Report – Real Madrid players already know there is ‘no solution’ with Mbappe
Fresh concerns surrounding Real Madrid and the relationship between Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe have emerged following another difficult week for the Spanish giants.
According to a recent report from Carrusel Deportivo, there are growing doubts internally over how well both forwards function together on the pitch.
The report goes as far as suggesting that the partnership between the two stars simply is not working at the moment.
“They don’t get on, and the team plays worse with the Frenchman in the line-up,” says Anton Meana.
The comments have only intensified discussions surrounding Mbappe’s second season at Real Madrid, especially after the club’s painful El Clasico defeat to Barcelona.
Journalist questions Mbappe’s adaptation
Meana also delivered a strong assessment of the French forward’s current situation at the club.
Real Madrid’s stats with and without Kylian Mbappe before El Clasico. (Picture credit: SofaScore)
According to him, there is frustration over the lack of adaptation shown by Mbappe since his arrival.
The forward is further accused of not contributing enough to the overall structure of the team, and it is suggested that even players inside the dressing room are aware of the issue.
“He’s doing nothing to adapt, and he’s not making an impact. His teammates know it. There’s no solution,” says Meana.
Real Madrid statistics without Mbappe
The debate surrounding Mbappe’s impact has also been fuelled by recent statistics.
Before the defeat against Barcelona in El Clasico, Real Madrid had won eight of the 10 matches played without Mbappe available, producing an impressive 80% win rate.
During those games, Madrid averaged 2.50 goals scored per match while conceding just 0.90 goals on average, numbers that have naturally increased scrutiny over how the team functions with the French star in the lineup.
La Liga president praises Flick’s Barcelona project after La Liga triumph: ‘They have built a brave team’
Barcelona officially secured the La Liga title in unforgettable fashion after defeating Real Madrid 2-0 at Spotify Camp Nou, and the celebrations quickly attracted reactions from across Spanish football.
Among those present inside the stadium was Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, who watched Barcelona clinch the championship against their biggest rivals before publicly congratulating the club after the final whistle.
Barcelona’s title victory capped off what has been an outstanding domestic campaign under Hansi Flick, with the Catalan side dominating much of the season through their aggressive style, attacking football and consistency.
Tebas praises Barcelona’s project
Shortly after the match, Tebas shared a message on social media praising the work done by Barcelona throughout the campaign.
The La Liga president highlighted the team’s identity, youth development and overall mentality.
“They have built a brave, intense and distinctive team. With young talent, ambition and a very clear playing philosophy, they are all working together to build a very solid project.
“They have won the best league in the world – LaLiga – with authority and merit.”
Tebas published the message in both Spanish and Catalan before extending further congratulations to everyone connected with the club.
“Congratulations to the coaching staff, players, directors and fans of FC Barcelona on this title.”
Barcelona make history against Real Madrid
The victory over Real Madrid carried even greater significance because Barcelona had never previously secured the league title directly against their eternal rivals.
Heading into Sunday’s El Clasico, Barcelona needed just one point to officially become champions, but Flick’s side made sure there would be no late drama by producing another dominant performance in front of their home supporters.
The 2-0 victory allowed Barcelona to celebrate the title with three matches still remaining in the season, while also moving 14 points clear of Madrid in the table.
Now, with three league games still to play, Barcelona has the opportunity to reach the 100-point mark in La Liga, an achievement only accomplished twice before in the competition’s history.
SITTARD, NETHERLANDS - MAY 3: Givairo Read of Feyenoord Rotterdam celebrates with teammates after scoring his teams second during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Fortuna Sittard and Feyenoord Rotterdam at Fortuna Sittard Stadion on May 3, 2026 in Sittard, Netherlands. (Photo by Gabriel Calvino Alonso/BSR Agency/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The summer transfer window is edging closer as this season winds to an end for Bayern Munich with once piece of silverware still on offer in the form of the DFB-Pokal final against VfB Stuttgart in Berlin. It’s already been made official that the German Rekordmeister will be saying goodbye to both Leon Goretzka and Raphaël Guerreiro after this season, and there could still be other players that wind up getting sold in efforts to bring in funds to reinvest in the transfer market. Not to mention, Bayern also sold Sacha Boey back to Galatasaray in the winter transfer window, losing another defender in a season where there have been key injury spells for Alphonso Davies, Hiroki Ito, Josip Stanišić, and shorter injury spells for both Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae.
Feyenoord youngster Givairo Read has been on Bayern’s radar for quite some time now, but there has not been much progress beyond their interest because the Dutch club don’t really want to let their right back go for anything less than €30 million. For Bayern, they do not want to spend €30 million or over and Feyenoord will be well aware of the fact that there’s other interested clubs in Europe that might be willing to pay a higher fee with a player that has great potential and who’s current contract runs through June 2029.
After Feyenoord’s 1-1 draw with AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie over the weekend, Read spoke about his future now that there’s only one league match remaining in the Dutch top flight. He’s well aware he could be leaving this summer, but he doesn’t yet know exactly what will happen. “It is no longer a secret that clubs are watching me and that a move might be coming up in the summer. I don’t want to keep that a secret either. But I haven’t made a choice yet, so I’m still under contract with Feyenoord. It could very well have been my last home match, but I don’t want to say that too soon,” the defender told ESPN NL (via @iMiaSanMia).
Thing could still change for Bayern, especially when they consider the injury problems that have plagued their backline throughout the season. Vincent Kompany has had the luxury of being able to use Tom Bischof at left back on a handful of occasions as well as always being able to rely on Konrad Laimer to do as much of a job at right or left back as he can in midefield.
Still, as of right now, Bayern’s top transfer targets appear to be Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon and Hertha Berlin’s Kennet Eichhorn.
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…
Marius Bülter shares disappointment after Köln’s defeat in last home game
Köln were unable to celebrate victory in their last home game of the season as Heidenheim climbed off the bottom of Bundesliga with a deserved 3-1 win. For Marius Bülter, it was the first occasion he scored in back-to-back games since the first couple of matchdays. However, that wasn’t at the top of his concerns after the game.
“From a tight angle, you know you have to shoot high,” said the vastly experienced winger about his 10th-minute strike before the talk centered on the lackluster result. “In the end, you have to say that we were just two or three percent short of winning the game today.
“You saw a team fighting for survival, and that wasn't us. That was disappointing. We have to be careful not to let one bad game ruin the whole season.”
Köln will end the season away at champions FC Bayern next Saturday. “Even if it's difficult to accept it after this game, we secured our place in the league with two matchdays to go.” concluded Bülter with a far positive outlook.
Pep Guardiola drops Omar Marmoush and Phil Foden selection hint ahead of FA Cup final
Guardiola discusses selection dilemma posed by Omar Marmoush & Phil Foden in City’s run-in
Man City boss praises Marmoush’s goal contribution rate; hints both will feature in next 15 days
Rotation to continue in Man City’s domestic treble pursuit, confirms Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has acknowledged the selection headache presented by Omar Marmoush and Phil Foden heading into Manchester City’s final four games of the season.
Marmoush and Foden have made encouraging contributions from the bench in recent outings, with Guardiola now facing the challenge of integrating them into a starting line-up that accommodates Erling Haaland as the focal point of Manchester City‘s attack.
The dilemma is a welcome one for a manager who has relied heavily on the same core group of players across an intense and relentless run of fixtures since February, hardly rotating with the exception of injuries and when he’s had to manage fatigue in his ranks.
Five Things Learned: Manchester City 3-0 Brentford (Premier League)
City face Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Aston Villa in their remaining Premier League games alongside the FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley – a schedule that makes squad rotation not just desirable but essential if Guardiola’s side are to sustain their intensity in the final two weeks of the season.
Guardiola: Marmoush’s rate for minutes played is really good
Asked about the selection puzzle posed by Marmoush and Foden, Guardiola was candid about the difficulty of finding minutes for both players while acknowledging their recent impact.
“Yeah especially Omar – it’s not easy because normally we play with just one striker, a proper striker – and Erling is there,” Guardiola said in a press conference after Saturday’s 3-0 win over Brentford.
“Erling is so important for us but the contribution of Omar always when he plays, the amount of goals, and the rate for minutes played is really good.”
The reference to Marmoush’s goal contribution rate is a telling one. The Egyptian international, albeit having not played regularly this term, has consistently produced when called upon since joining City, with a return that comfortably justifies a more prominent role in the coming weeks.
The challenge for Guardiola is finding a way to accommodate Marmoush alongside Haaland in a system built around the Norwegian’s unique strengths as a central striker.
Foden, meanwhile, has been the subject of considerable attention following Guardiola’s extended and personal tribute to the England international in his pre-Brentford press conference.
Pep Guardiola delivers passionate speech in support of Phil Foden after contract breakthrough
The Manchester City manager drew a parallel with Bernardo Silva‘s difficult third season – the 2019-20 campaign – at the Etihad Stadium and insisted Foden will “explode again” once he rediscovers his joy of playing.
Guardiola hints at improved Foden & Marmoush minutes
On the importance of those coming off the bench and the rotation required to sustain City’s push across four remaining fixtures, Guardiola added: “Top! I know it’s not easy for them, but I’m pretty sure in the next games they’re going to play.
“I’m going to rotate otherwise we cannot arrive finals or Bournemouth. We’ll see the result (of West Ham vs Arsenal, which eventually finished 0-1) and after, we’ll take decisions.”
The reference to the FA Cup final against Chelsea and the trip to Bournemouth in the same breath underlines the scale of what City are managing across the final fortnight of the season.
Rotation is not a luxury at this stage, it is a necessity and Guardiola has never been shy about using his full squad when the demands of a congested fixture list require it.
Why impact from the bench could define City’s treble push
City’s domestic treble pursuit now hinges on sustaining a level of performance and intensity across four games in the space of two weeks that would test even the deepest squads in European football.
“Extraordinary” – Pep Guardiola hails Manchester City duo after crucial Brentford win
The Carabao Cup is already secured, the FA Cup final against Chelsea awaits at Wembley this weekend and the Premier League title race remains alive by the narrowest of margins.
It is in that context that the contributions of players like Marmoush, Foden and Mateo Kovacic, all of whom have made telling impacts from the bench in recent weeks, could prove decisive.
Kovacic’s brilliant assist for Haaland in last week’s 3-3 draw at Everton was a reminder that the decisive moments of a season are rarely confined to the starting XI.
Guardiola’s squad know their roles and on the evidence of Saturday’s win over Brentford, they are ready to play them.
WATKINS GLEN, NEW YORK - MAY 10: Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #97 Superfile Chevrolet, and Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Hardee's/Coca-Cola Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on May 10, 2026 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hmm
🚨 Nottingham Forest and Leeds United are staying in Premier League following West Ham defeat.
Relegation battle only between West Ham and Tottenham now.
1 – Marcus Rashford is the first Barcelona player to score a free-kick against Real Madrid since Lionel Messi in October 2012. Classic. pic.twitter.com/g14ynFmeTw
Liverpool Fan Patience Snaps as Arne Slot Faces Defining Summer
Anfield Anger Sends Clear Message
There are days at Anfield when the noise tells you more than the numbers. Saturday felt like one of them. Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea was not merely another flat result in a draining season, it felt like a public referendum on Arne Slot’s authority.
James Pearce of The Athletic captured the mood sharply, writing that “the mutinous mood inside Anfield on Saturday sent a clear message to the hierarchy about the scale of the unrest.” That line matters because this was not routine frustration. It was sharper, louder, more personal.
When Rio Ngumoha’s number went up midway through the second half, boos rolled around the ground. The 17-year-old had created Ryan Gravenberch’s opener and looked one of the few players capable of lifting Liverpool out of their lethargy.
Slot defended the call, saying: “I knew the moment Rio’s number went up that would be the reaction, but that’s not a reason not to do it and keep a player in the team that tells me he cannot continue.”
Photo: IMAGO
Slot’s Goodwill Is Running Thin
Pearce drew a compelling comparison with Brendan Rodgers in 2015, when a once hopeful reign began to sag beneath the weight of fan disillusionment. Rodgers said then: “A lot has happened this year that has made the job difficult. They have every right to be angry and frustrated, and I take full responsibility. There’s an awful lot of work to do and the job is now to go and fix that, and make sure we come back with a motivation greater than ever to push on next season.”
The question for Liverpool’s hierarchy is whether they see Slot through the same lens. He has won the Premier League. He has suffered a brutal season shaped by injuries and grief after the loss of Diogo Jota. Yet patience is not elastic forever.
Slot remains publicly convinced he can recover ground. Asked whether he could win back supporters, he replied: “Yes, I do. Not this season, by the way.
“This season, they will have their opinion and it will not change. But if we can have the summer that we are planning to have, then I’m 100 per cent convinced we will be a different team next season than we are now.”
Chelsea Draw Exposes Liverpool’s Deeper Problems
Liverpool’s performance was the bigger concern. Chelsea arrived wounded, yet after Gravenberch’s early goal, the home side retreated. Pearce’s line, “No urgency, no tempo, no intensity,” felt painfully accurate.
Slot rejected the idea that caution came from him, saying: “Didn’t you see me screaming on the sidelines: ‘Go back! Go back! Defend your own box’,” before adding: “Of course that wasn’t the idea for us to back off. We wanted to keep going but we played against a team who got more and more comfortable on the ball.”
He continued: “I don’t think it’s fair that anyone could ever think I tell my players to back off, drop deep and not to press. Either you haven’t seen my teams playing… it did look like we dropped deep — but that was never the intention. We just couldn’t control all their midfielders.”
Summer Decision Looms Large
The statistics were damning, three shots on target, 0.56 xG, Cody Gakpo anonymous for long periods, midfield duels lost too easily, and a late absence of urgency that drew fury from the stands.
Pearce’s conclusion was stark, “There’s so much wrong and it requires a sizeable leap of faith to believe Slot can fix it.” That is where Liverpool now stand, not in crisis by league position alone, but by feeling. Anfield no longer sounds convinced.
Our View – Anfield Index Analysis
From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, this report cuts close to the bone because it captures something many fans have felt for months, the numbers are poor, but the feeling is worse.
Supporters can accept injuries. They can accept young players learning, form dipping, and even the odd miserable afternoon. What they struggle to accept is a Liverpool team that looks passive when the moment demands aggression. Against a vulnerable Chelsea side, the opening goal should have been the signal to squeeze, suffocate and overwhelm. Instead, Liverpool allowed the game to drift into Chelsea’s rhythm.
That is why the Ngumoha substitution mattered so much. It was not only about one teenager leaving the pitch. It became symbolic. Fans saw energy being removed while underperforming senior players stayed on. Once that perception takes hold, every decision becomes evidence in the wider case against the manager.
Slot’s point about cramp is fair, but football crowds react emotionally before they process explanation. Right now, Anfield does not trust the process. That is the danger for FSG.
Liverpool need more than signings this summer. They need identity, tempo, conviction and a reason to believe again.
In this 1xBet Ireland review, we’ll take a look at the top five candidates who could replace Mo Salah at Anfield. The reliable, licensed bookmaker has made a shortlist based on transfer insider information, and has also prepared a nice welcome bonus for all fans of Liverpool and the ‘Egyptian King’.
Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig)
The RB Leipzig winger has become the main target for many Premier League giants, but according to Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein, Liverpool have the best chance of success in this transfer race. The fact is that Diomande’s father is a long-time fan of the Merseyside club, and the player himself has spoken on social media about his dream of building a career at Anfield.
The Ivorian’s profile is a perfect match for the Reds’ requirements. Diomande has one of the highest successful dribble rates among all players in Europe’s top five leagues. In terms of dribbling effectiveness, he rivals Jérémy Doku and Lamine Yamal.
He combines all the best qualities of Luis Díaz and Salah: incredible speed, elegant technique and excellent finishing (12 goals with an xG of 6.74).
Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain)
PSG are in talks to extend the winger’s contract, but if the negotiations fail, Liverpool are the favourites to sign him. Barcola is only 23, but he has extensive experience playing at the highest level, including a Champions League triumph. The Frenchman can play on both wings and even fill the centre-forward position.
Barcola is less effective at dribbling, but his excellent passing ability offers more options in combination play, and his trademark moves from the wing into the centre can cause any defender to lose their bearings. However, the outcome of this transfer saga depends entirely on PSG’s plans.
Rodrygo (Real Madrid)
Liverpool tried to sign the winger when he was playing for Santos, but Rodrygo chose Real Madrid at the time. Last summer, the Brazilian was close to leaving the Bernabéu, and leading transfer insiders were convinced that the Merseyside club would renew their interest. Nevertheless, Rodrygo decided to stay at Real Madrid and has scored only three goals in 26 games this season. #
He remains in the shadow of Vinícius Júnior and other Los Blancos stars. The royal club is set for a major overhaul this summer, and Liverpool could seize this unique opportunity to bring Rodrygo to Anfield.
Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United)
Ahead of Euro 2024, Liverpool were on the verge of signing the Magpies winger. Newcastle had failed to qualify for the Champions League and were forced to sell players to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations. However, Brighton disrupted the Reds’ plans by signing Yankuba Minteh from the Magpies. Gordon’s move to Liverpool fell through, although his England teammates later spoke of the player’s strong desire to return to the club which had let him go to Everton’s academy at the age of 11.
It appears that the 2025/26 season will be the winger’s last at St. James’ Park – he has a strained relationship with Eddie Howe and is ready for a change of scenery. Insiders say that Liverpool have no plans to revisit the idea of signing Gordon this summer, but who knows – perhaps this is just Richard Hughes’ mind games ahead of a long transfer saga.
Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund)
Just a few months ago, reports emerged in the media that the 24-year-old winger had requested a transfer and was ready for a new challenge. Liverpool have all the necessary resources to sign Adeyemi, who could fill the right winger position for at least the next five or six years. His phenomenal technique and explosive pace boost the German’s chances of making it onto the Reds’ shortlist. Even his hairstyle will remind Liverpool fans of Salah!
Every day, various rumours circulate on social media about who will replace the ‘Egyptian King’, with Michael Olise, Jarrod Bowen and even Oskar Pietuszewski among the names mentioned. Follow the exciting transfer saga with the licensed 1xBet sports betting Ireland company and boost your Welcome Bonus:
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Rob Baxter has been in charge of Exeter since 2009 [Getty Images]
Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter says any potential new investment in the club could take a number of years to show on the field.
Club members and shareholders have approved a bid for Cannae Holdings' Black Knight Sports and Entertainment - who own Premier League side AFC Bournemouth - to take control of the club.
The American investors will now enter into negotiations with the club and begin carrying out a due diligence process which will not be completed before the end of May.
"Some people are going 'oh, there's going to be investment so that means there's immediate change," Baxter told BBC Sport.
"Newcastle will be able to understand, when you get significant investment it actually takes a little while for that to come through, because normally when you need significant investment what's happened is you've under-invested for a few years.
"So getting that back online, like a really well-funded, well-invested in academy, does take a couple of years to start to bring those players through.
"It's a little bit the same in your recruitment process. A recruitment process you really develop the strength in depth, like a Bath have got or like we had in the past - knowing you're going to spend a salary cap for the foreseeable future for a number of seasons.
"Not knowing where your budget is for the next year until later in a season, you can't do that.
"If we had significant investment, I would think the future moving forward over the next three or four years would be fantastically bright for the club, because I know where we can invest to significantly improve things and we look pretty good now."
Len Ikitau - one of Exeter's major summer signings - scored a try in their win over Bath [Shutterstock]
Baxter says the club academy, pitches and training facilities at Sandy Park are all areas that could benefit from investment - as well as the senior playing squad.
The club increased its spending last summer when Len Ikitau, Tom Hooper and Andrea Zambonin were all recruited.
But Baxter says with planning almost complete for next season it is unlikely there will be any major surprises this summer.
"We've moved to a certain level of salary cap where it's not like we've just got this big pot of money we've just got to hold that back for one player," he added.
"We've started to front load some contracts already, now we've got a little bit of room in the cap.
"How you plan your squad going forward takes a little bit longer than that going, 'oh, suddenly we've got some money, let's go and spend it', it doesn't really work like that.
"I think you have to build your whole squad through to that level."
Shock protests at San Siro 😱 Curva empties, boos for Furlani and Leao ❌
Whistles, whistles, and more whistles. In the long night at San Siro, which saw Milan come away battered and bruised after a 3-2 defeat to Atalanta, the fans made their feelings clear. From the club to Leao, including the team. The Meazza spared no one. And based on what was seen on the pitch, rightly so.
In what was supposed to be, on one hand, a night to bounce back after the poor showings of recent weeks and, on the other, a key match in the race for the Champions League, the Rossoneri looked slow, nervous, and out of rhythm, with play that was often predictable and very few real chances created. Too many technical mistakes, too little intensity, and the constant feeling of a team that is mentally fragile. After the 1-0 win in the derby on March 8, the Diavolo has gone on a string of negative results. Not just in terms of the scoreline, but also in the quality of the play.
From being a possible rival to Inter in the Scudetto race, Milan has slipped to fourth place, level with Roma on 67 points, and qualification for next season’s Champions League has now become significantly more complicated. A dreadful second half of the season—just consider that the Rossoneri have taken 7 points in 8 matches. A rate that speaks for itself.
San Siro turns against Giorgio Furlani
The protests began even before kickoff. The Curva Sud and much of San Siro targeted Rossoneri CEO Giorgio Furlani with extremely harsh chants and explicit calls for his resignation. It was a protest born of a disappointing season and a relationship between the fans and the club that has now turned ice-cold.
Outside the Meazza, the Curva Sud arrived with a clear banner: "Furlani get out". The fierce protest continued inside the stadium as well, with the organized supporters remaining silent before the start of the match and displaying a choreography reading "GFOUT".
The Curva Sud leaves the stadium
One of the strongest moments of the evening came when, shortly after the start of the second half, the Curva Sud decided to leave the stands as a sign of protest. It was a dramatic gesture, symbolic of the total breakdown between the organized support and the club, and it left San Siro in a surreal silence for several minutes.
Deafening whistles for Rafa Leao
The script repeats itself. And once again, the finger was pointed at Rafa Leao, who delivered a flat performance and was never truly influential. As had already happened in recent matches, the fans did not like the Rossoneri No. 10’s display at all, and his substitution was drowned out by a storm of whistles.
San Siro calls for Paolo Maldini’s return
Amid the chaos of an extremely tense evening, the name of Paolo Maldini rang out several times from the stands. The fans called for the return of the former captain and executive, still considered today the symbol of the club’s identity and Milanismo that this club has lost since winning the Scudetto in 2022.
🥐 Barça rule La Liga, Nico concern... 5️⃣ stories to start Monday
The morning of this May 11, 2026 dawns with a contrast of emotions in Spanish football.
After a magical night at Camp Nou, the competition now officially has an owner following a Clásico that will go down in history for its intensity and its outcome. The Blaugrana side not only took all three points, but also mathematically sealed its absolute dominance in a championship it has led with unquestionable solidity from start to finish.
However, the joy of the title coexists with the uncertainty coming from S. With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, the physical condition of the biggest stars becomes a matter of national importance for the national teams.
Today’s news swings between the euphoria of celebrations in the streets of Barcelona and concern over medical reports, on a day when Europe is beginning to be dyed in the colors of its champions.
Barça seals La Liga in the Clásico
FC Barcelona has been crowned league champion after defeating Real Madrid 2-0 at a packed Camp Nou. With goals that are already part of Barça folklore, the Blaugrana side mathematically secures a title that rewards its consistency. The victory over its eternal rival is the golden finishing touch to an impeccable season.
Full-on party in the streets of Barcelona
The Catalan capital is preparing today for a day of massive celebrations. The champions’ parade is expected to travel through the city’s main arteries, where the players will share the trophy with fans who already began celebrating last night at Canaletes. The parade will set the news agenda for this holiday Monday.
PSG all but wraps up Ligue 1
In France, PSG all but sealed its title after beating Brest convincingly. The Parisians now need just one slip-up from their pursuers to be officially crowned. The superiority of Luis Enrique's squad has once again been on full display, maintaining an unreachable pace in domestic competition.
Nico Williams injury scare a month before the World Cup
The negative note of the day comes from Nico Williams, who set off all the alarm bells in the match against Valencia. The international winger, who had been the best player on the pitch, had to come off in the 36th minute with muscular discomfort. With three league matches remaining and just one month until the World Cup, his recovery is the nation’s biggest concern.
Arsenal withstands the Premier League pressure
The battle for England remains red-hot in this final stretch. Arsenal stays firm at the top, maintaining its advantage over a Manchester City side that is giving up no ground. With only a few weeks left until the finish, the Premier League is heading toward a nail-biting conclusion where even the slightest mistake could hand the trophy to the rival.
The Longhorns not only prevented a sweep at the hands of Tennessee, but they won the 1,500th game in program history. Texas is the first college baseball team to reach that milestone, according to UT athletics.
Casey Borba was the star in the series finale, driving in six runs as part of a two-home run performance. The junior infielder now has 31 career homers, tied for the ninth-most in school history (Drew Stubbs, Eric Kennedy). Texas (37-12, 16-10 SEC) hit four home runs in total, including two in the first inning.
Next up for UT is the final SEC series of the regular season, against Missouri.
Kompany and Urbig understand Belocian’s unsportsmanlike act
Harry Kane missed a Bundesliga penalty-kick for the first time in FC Bayern’s narrow win over VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday. After the game, the moment of Jeanuël Belocian trampling the penalty spot divided opinions.
England’s captain slipped before his shot, which entirely missed the target, while there is also a possibility of multiple touches. "What do you expect them to do? Should they just clap when we score a goal?" said Vincent Kompany calmly regarding the incident.
When he was asked about why his players didn’t protect the penalty spot, the coach predicted it would have been different on another day. "If we had gotten a penalty against PSG on Wednesday, we'd have had two or three guys there. It's sometimes these little details that make a difference," reflected the Belgian with an honest reflection.
Bayern winning the game with a second-half goal could also play a role in the relaxed way Kompany and goalkeeper Jonas Urbig reacted to the incident. "For Wolfsburg, it's about everything. That's why I'm not angry with them about that." said the shot-stopper who was Bayern’s best player of the first-half.
Both goals came in the opening 18 minutes as Rashford’s stunning curling effort in the ninth minute was quickly followed by a second from Ferran Torres.
Marcus Rashford celebrates his free kick (Getty)
Jude Bellingham put the ball in the net for Real in the second half but it was ruled out for offside and the visitors were second best throughout the night.
Barca could have had more but Thibaut Courtois produced fine saves to deny Rashford and Torres.
El Clasico victory lifted Barca 14 points clear at the top of the table with just three games to play and they could yet finish the season with 100 points.
It was an emotional triumph for manager Hansi Flick after the passing of his father this weekend.
“I will never forget this day,” Flick said. “It was a tough day for me. It starts with this [news that] my father passed away, but here, my team were fantastic. I really love it, this is like a family and they gave everything today and I’m really proud. It’s amazing, in this stadium, and also in the Clasico against Real Madrid, to win La Liga.”
Hansi Flick could celebrate at the end of a tough day (AP)
Midfielders Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni were each given hefty fines having been involved in a training ground bust-up that reportedly left the Uruguayan hospitalised.
While Austin Reaves has developed into a borderline All-Star-caliber player for the Los Angeles Lakers, his flaws remain obvious. He lacks footspeed and athleticism by NBA standards, and he remains a below-average defender, especially against certain types of players.
In Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday, he was targeted — a lot — when he was on defense. The defending world champions often made him look as stationary as the Statue of Liberty, and it was a significant factor in their 131-108 win that put Los Angeles one loss away from playoff elimination.
How bad was Reaves defensively in Game 3? Law Murray of The Athletic pointed out one stat that was ugly.
"NBA Advanced Stats credits the Thunder for scoring on 17 of 22 field goal attempts in Game 3 on shots defended by Austin Reaves," Murray wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
NBA Advanced Stats credits the Thunder for scoring on 17 of 22 field goal attempts in Game 3 on shots defended by Austin Reaves https://t.co/0iGgnjqZsz
There is an old saying that time will either promote or expose people. Right now, Reaves' weaknesses are being exposed, and this is something that opponents have been doing for the last two or three years. More and more Lakers fans are starting to clamor for the team to trade him this offseason (he's expected to opt out of his contract and become a free agent) for a player or players who are more balanced and productive on both ends of the floor.
The Arkansas native will have at least one more opportunity to prove his doubters wrong when the Lakers look to stave off elimination in Game 4 against the Thunder on Monday.
‘He is a fighter’ – Emery praises fantastic Watkins after Aston Villa draw vs Burnley
Aston Villa played an enthralling 2-2 draw with Burnley, losing two crucial points in the race to secure UEFA Champions League football next season.
The Villains missed a chance to take three points against the already-relegated side and will rue the opportunity.
However, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery cannot be disappointed with the performance, knowing his side was exhausted after the midweek Europa League semi-final win.
Emery reserved praise for Aston Villa talisman Ollie Watkins following his performance up top.
The Spanish tactician said (via the BBC), “He is doing fantastic. He is a fighter.
“Three months ago, he was a little down, but we always have conversations about being consistent and working for the team every match. Now he is getting the numbers.”
Watkins has now bagged in back-to-back games for Aston Villa, adding an assist to the tally. He has seven goals and two assists in his last 10 appearances.
The Villains suffered a particularly difficult start, and one of the major reasons was Watkins misfiring.
Now that he has found his scoring boots, the Villans look destined to finish the season in terrific fashion.
The Birmingham-based outfit will be desperate to hold onto fifth place on the Premier League table for the remaining two games of the season.
However, it will be quite the challenge for the Villains as they face title-chasing Manchester City and fourth-place Liverpool, equally eager to consolidate their positions.
Aston Villa are also up against Freiburg in the Europa League final on May 20, and Watkins will be key to winning that battle.
If the England international can keep up his current form, he will prove too hot to handle for the Bundesliga side’s defence.
Watkins can fire the Villains to glory, securing the club’s first title in 30 years and first European trophy since 1982.
Spanish journalist slams Real Madrid superstar over questionable post: ‘Having a laugh at us’
Even though Kylian Mbappe was not part of the squad for Real Madrid during Sunday’s El Clasico against Barcelona, the French superstar still managed to become one of the biggest talking points of the evening.
While Real Madrid were struggling at Spotify Camp Nou and Barcelona were moving closer to sealing the La Liga title with a 2-0 lead, Mbappe posted a message on social media in support of his teammates.
The forward shared a picture of the match being shown on television alongside the short caption: “Hala Madrid”.
Backlash from Real Madrid fans
The message quickly attracted strong reactions online, particularly from frustrated Real Madrid supporters already upset with the team’s performance and the loss of the league title.
Among those who publicly criticised Mbappe’s actions was well-known journalist Tomas Roncero, who appeared far from impressed by the timing of the social media post.
“Kylian is having a laugh at all of us,” he wrote on his official X account.
Injury continue to raise questions
According to reports from Spain, Mbappe pulled out just minutes before the end of Saturday’s final training session after suffering an injury that has since fuelled growing speculation around the club.
As a result, he avoided travelling to Barcelona for one of the most difficult nights of the season for Real Madrid, with their biggest rivals celebrating another La Liga title in front of their own supporters.
While his teammates witnessed Barcelona’s celebrations at Camp Nou, Mbappe watched from afar.
Still, his social media activity during the game ensured that attention once again shifted toward the French star, whose recent actions continue to divide opinion among sections of the Real Madrid fanbase.
Gasperini considers Manna the ideal sporting director
Roma could play in the Champions League, Europa League, or the Conference next season.
With two games to go, nothing is yet decided.
The Giallorossi have joined AC Milan in fourth place, but are tied on points due to their head-to-head record, trailing Allegri’s side.
Currently, they would be competing in the Europa League. Roma, however, can’t wait until the end of the season to start planning their future and searching for a sporting director to replace Frederic Massara, who is set to leave the capital.
The casting call includes several candidates, but at the top of Gasperini’s, and therefore the Friedkins’, wish list is Giovanni Manna, currently at Napoli.
Giovanni Manna is the sporting director in pole position to replace Frederic Massara.
As Fabrizio Romano reports, the Friedkin family is directly involved in convincing Napoli to release their sporting director.
The negotiations aren’t simple; the choice depends on the decision of Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis, who tends to be reluctant to release his own employees who still have long contracts.
Antonio Conte’s future is also unclear.
Roma will therefore try to convince both parties with a significant offer: Manna, in fact, is Gian Piero Gasperini’s number one candidate.
The Giallorossi coach considers him perfect for next season: an ideal name for football in Rome, proposed to the Friedkins, who are making moves.
Barcelona stars erupt with emotional reactions after sealing La Liga glory – ‘We have earned it’
Barcelona celebrated their La Liga title in unforgettable fashion after defeating Real Madrid in El Clasico, and the post-match scenes offered plenty of emotional moments, strong statements and honest revelations from the dressing room.
One of the players who quickly grabbed attention was Gavi, who admitted he had a heated exchange with Vinicius Jr. during the match.
“I told Vinícius to shut his mouth,” he said.
Despite the strong words, Gavi insisted there was no deeper issue behind the confrontation and explained that moments like these are simply part of football rivalry at the highest level.
“I’m a hot-headed player, so is he… But what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch. It’s football.”
Reflecting on difficult comeback season
The title celebrations also carried extra meaning for Gavi personally after a challenging period marked by injury problems.
“It’s not easy to come back from two serious injuries and play at this level against a great team like Madrid.”
Gavi once again collided with Vinicius Jr. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Gavi also reserved special praise for Hansi Flick, revealing just how important the Barcelona coach has been during his recovery process.
“Flick is like a father to me; he has a lot of faith in me and has helped me every step of the way.”
More reaction from the players
The victory over Real Madrid was particularly emotional for several members of Barcelona’s younger generation, many of whom grew up dreaming about nights like this.
Teenage defender Pau Cubarsi highlighted how important El Clasico victories are for the club’s supporters.
“For our fans, winning the Clásico is the ultimate achievement.”
Meanwhile, Eric Garcia praised the consistency shown by the squad throughout the campaign.
“The league title is the reward for consistency, and we’ve earned it.”
Defender Gerard Martin also acknowledged the historic nature of winning the title against Madrid at Camp Nou.
“Winning La Liga against Madrid at home has never happened before and it’s a very special occasion.”
There is more
Barcelona deserve this league title. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
For Fermin Lopez, the moment carried a particularly personal meaning after rising through La Masia and achieving success with the first team.
“I’ve been a Barça fan since I was a child, I’ve lived at La Masia and it’s a dream to experience this.”
Another emotional reaction came from Raphinha, who once again praised Flick for restoring his confidence and helping the squad believe in themselves.
“We often say that football gives you a big family, and to me he’s like a father; he’s made me believe in myself again and I’m really happy for us and for him.”
The Brazilian winger also reflected on Barcelona’s difficult moments earlier in the season and the way the team managed to recover strongly when it mattered most.
“At the start of the season, we set out to win titles, and that’s what it’s all about. Winning a league title is something to celebrate properly because it’s a big deal.
“Everyone goes through tough times, but in the end, coming back from difficult moments stronger is something few can do, and this team has shown it knows how.”
Chargers defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary delivered glowing remarks about first-round draft pick Akheem Mesidor, spotlighting the edge rusher’s maturity, football intellect, and refined technique.
O’Leary was particularly impressed by Mesidor’s mindset and preparation. “Mature, professional, technician on the field,” he said. “When you listen to him talk about pass rush, you can tell he loves the game, you can tell he’s got a high football IQ, you can tell he’s really into building his craft and treating his pass rush like a craft.”
O'Leary highlighted the rookie’s immediate mental readiness for the NFL. “That’s what I see when I look at him,” he added. “I see a guy that is going to walk in here, compete with everybody and is already at a place mentally where he approaches the game as a pro.”
Selected No. 22 overall out of Miami, the 25-year-old Mesidor joins a talented Chargers edge rusher group alongside Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu.
O’Leary went into detail on Mesidor’s on-field strengths: “His pass rush technique. You talk about how he uses his hands, the leverage he plays with, how he attacks different tackles in different ways, his timing, his get-off, how he can move into the interior in his pass rush.” He concluded by calling Mesidor “an exceptional pass rusher,” noting the staff’s plans to nurture his development while integrating his versatility into the defensive scheme.
In his standout 2025 final college season, Mesidor recorded 12.5 sacks across 15 games. He boasted 71 total pressures, 21.3% pass-rush win (94th percentile) rate and 16.0% pressure rate, according to Pro Football Focus.
Mesidor should play a prominent rotational role in his rookie season, projecting as the primary third edge rusher, with versatility to kick inside on passing downs. His relentless motor, hand usage, and array of pass-rush moves make him a mismatch weapon right off the bat.
"Get as many pass rushers on the field as we can," O'Leary said. "Get teams into obvious pass situations, get those guys on the field, utilize them in ways that allow them to use their traits so if they're good inside, use them inside. In a general point of view, that's how I'm looking at it."
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque batted resolutely to help Bangladesh reach 93-2, and extend its lead to 115 at lunch on Day 4 of the first cricket test against Pakistan on Monday.
The pair added 70 runs for the third wicket, after Bangladesh was reduced to 23-2 in 11th over of its second innings.
Resuming at seven for no loss, Bangladesh received an early blow when Mahmudul Hasan was trapped leg-before by pacer Mohammad Abbas for 5.
Pacer Hasan Ali dismissed Shadman Islam for 10, with Saud Shakeel taking a catch at gully after the batter was surprised by the extra bounce.
In a repeat of their first innings rearguard, Mominul and Shanto showed resolve to frustrate Pakistan's attack, keeping Bangladesh on course to setting a challenging final innings target for the tourists.
The Vegas Golden Knights entered Sunday’s Game 4 with a chance to go up 3-1 in their Second Round series against the Anaheim Ducks. Instead, they fell 4-3 in a coin-flip game and will return to Las Vegas with the series tied 2-2.
If you asked a magic eight-ball about the start of the game for the Golden Knights, it would respond: outlook not so good. Despite a shaky performance in Game 3 from Lukáš Dostál that resulted in an early goaltender change, it took the Golden Knights nearly seven minutes to record their first shot.
The Ducks broke the ice on the power play at 8:43 in the first. Alex Killorn found Beckett Sennecke above the right circle, and the Calder finalist blasted a one-timer past Carter Hart far-side.
That’s a rocket from Beckett Sennecke and the Golden Knights finally give up a power play goal.
The Golden Knights responded on the power play at 10:22 in the first. Lukáš Dostál couldn’t secure the puck after Mitch Marner got a piece of Jack Eichel’s shot, and Pavel Dorofeyev was out in front to collect the change.
Cole Smith tries to block Mikael Granlund’s shot, and the puck takes a weird bounce and flutters through Hart.
The Ducks regained the lead at 15:25 in the first. Jeffrey Viel made a play along the boards to find Mikael Granlund cutting towards the center of the ice. Cole Smith lunged to try to knock Granlund’s shot away, but the puck took an odd bounce and fluttered through Carter Hart.
Cole Smith tries to block Mikael Granlund’s shot, and the puck takes a weird bounce and flutters through Hart.
The Golden Knights found the equalizer just 4:04 into the second. Mitch Marner dumped the puck in, and William Karlsson got to it behind the net. Karlsson backhanded a centering pass past Jackson LaCombe, and Brett Howden chipped a shot past Lukáš Dostál with Tim Washe draped all over him.
Karlsson to Howden in front of the net and we are tied.
For the rest of the second, the Ducks generated the lion’s share of chances and outshot the Golden Knights 9-7. Cole Smith took a penalty at the end of the period, and Anaheim cashed in on the ensuing power play to retake the lead.
Beckett Sennecke spun away from Brett Howden, entered the zone, and threaded a cross-ice pass to Alex Killorn at the point. Cutter Gauthier couldn’t handle Killorn’s pass, but he chipped a return feed to the 36-year-old. Unmarked, Killorn pressed deeper into the zone, swung towards the net, and banked a shot in.
When it rains, it pours. Beckett Sennecke with a video game spin move on the entry, and Alex Killorn goes to the net and makes it happen.
“I think we needed to get out of the second period tied 2-2. That gave them some life,” said Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella postgame. “They scored their fourth goal, and they’re just filling the neutral zone, just stacking it. I thought that was the most important part of the game.”
At the start of the third, the Golden Knights looked like they were shot out of a cannon. They recorded the first three shots of the period and swarmed in waves. But despite the Golden Knights tilting the ice, Anaheim got the ever-important next goal.
The Ducks doubled their lead just 3:43 into the third. Cutter Gauthier found Ian Moore at the point, and the defenseman fired a wrister through traffic that found its way home.
An Ian Moore shot from the point gets through. There was traffic in front, but Moore leads the handshake line.
Down by two, the Golden Knights took risks defensively to produce offense. For every look they generated, they gave one to Anaheim as well; both teams generated five scoring chances.
The Golden Knights pulled Carter Hart for the extra attacker with just under three minutes remaining, and it eventually paid off. The Golden Knights entered the zone, and Mitch Marner threaded a cross-ice pass to find Tomáš Hertl back-door.
Tomáš Hertl… has scored a goal! Amazing feed from Mitch Marner and Hertl gets off the schneid.
Now down by just one with over a minute remaining in regulation, the Golden Knights again pulled Hart for the extra attacker. They managed just one shot on goal, and iced the puck with 11 seconds remaining to effectively end the game. Jack Eichel lost the ensuing defensive zone draw, and the Golden Knights fell 4-3.
Roma hadn’t scored 2 goals in injury time in over 2 years
Roma overturned a last-gasp result at the Tardini against Parma (2-3) and sent a message to the league: anyone hoping to play in next season’s Champions League will also have to contend with the Giallorossi.
Gasperini’s team caught up with AC Milan, who collapsed at San Siro, with the same scoreline that made the Grugliasco-born coach smile after Malen’s penalty, against a resurgent Atalanta.
As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma scored two goals after the hour mark in a Serie A match for the first time since November 5, 2023: Azmoun and Lukaku against Lecce. Mourinho was on the bench, a different era.
Roma stormed to victory against Parma in injury time, rallying to secure three points that seemed so distant. Goals from Rensch and Malen were the first goals scored in extra time in the second half by the Giallorossi under Gian Piero Gasperini.
With their hat-trick at the Tardini, Roma have now scored in at least 13 consecutive Serie A matches for the first time since December 2024 and May 2025 (22 under Ranieri).
Furthermore, at Parma, Roma remained unbeaten for the fifth consecutive league game (4 wins and 1 draw), the longest unbeaten streak under Gasperini’s reign in the capital.
Liverpool take first step towards €50m deal for creative force
Liverpool have taken their first real step towards a deal for a brilliant creative force.
There's no question that Liverpool need more creativity in their team. Especially as Mo Salah, the creative force for many, many years now, will leave at the end of the season.
In fact, the Reds' right hand side has been hit hard by exits. Salah's comes just one year after Trent Alexander-Arnold departed for Real Madrid, leaving Liverpool with an impossible rebuild.
But they need to do something and that primarily means finding someone who can replace Salah with creativity on the right. It seems they've found a potential candidate, with L'Equipe reporting that Liverpool like Maghnes Akliouche and are currently looking into the player.
Akliouche does fit the bill - 24 years old, right-sided forward who creates as much as he scores. Liverpool would be hoping that he's the kind of player who can move up another level at Anfield, much as Salah himself did.
This is one to watch, then. Salah's exit forces Liverpool into something special this summer Akliouche may ultimately be the kind of gamble they want to take.
Maghnes Akliouche: Situation Summary
AS Monaco Performance and Stats
As of 10 May 2026, Maghnes Akliouche is enjoying a highly productive season with AS Monaco, solidifying his reputation as one of Ligue 1’s elite playmakers. The 24-year-old has recorded eight goals and 12 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions, logging 3,450 minutes. He has been in exceptional form recently, providing an assist in three successive matches against Auxerre, Toulouse, and Metz. Akliouche currently maintains an average FotMob rating of 7.30 and is praised for his technical subtlety and ability to link the midfield to the forward line.
Transfer Speculation
Akliouche’s "huge potential" has made him a primary target for Liverpool as they search for a successor to Mohamed Salah. Reports from 10 May suggest the Reds are prepared to table a €50 million bid for the Frenchman. Former teammate Takumi Minamino recently endorsed the move, describing Akliouche as the best young player he encountered at Monaco.
International Standing
Having made his senior debut for France in September 2025, Akliouche is a strong candidate for Didier Deschamps’ 2026 World Cup squad. He played a key role in Les Bleus' qualification and has publicly stated his dream of winning the trophy this summer in North America.
‘The feeling at Liverpool…’ – Romano outlines FSG’s stance on Arne Slot after Anfield mutiny
Fabrizio Romano has indicated that the Liverpool hierarchy’s stance on Arne Slot hasn’t wavered despite the mutinous feeling at Anfield at the weekend.
The final whistle of a frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea was met with boos from many in attendance, and there was uproar from the stands when Rio Ngumoha was substituted midway through the second half, a change the head coach attributed to the winger feeling a need to come off.
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There’s a growing sense that the patience of the fan base at large has snapped, with James Pearce making comparisons to the depressing end of Roy Hodgson’s tenure midway through 2010/11, although the decision-makers in the boardroom seem to be holding firm in their backing of the Dutchman.
Romano: Liverpool intend to stick with Slot
Speaking on his eponymous YouTube channel, Romano claimed that Liverpool chiefs are determined to stick with Slot, adding that no approach has been made to Xabi Alonso despite his continued availability.
The reporter said: “At the moment, the feeling at Liverpool, I can confirm, that it is absolutely in the direction that they want to continue with Slot. Why? Because so far – and it’s May now; it’s no longer February, March, or April – in May, Liverpool have not made contact with any other manager.
“There were many rumours on Liverpool making contact with Alonso coming from Germany, but I can guarantee that Liverpool this year never made any direct approach with Alonso or with his agents.”
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Hard to see Slot winning back the fans’ trust from here
At this juncture it seems certain that Slot will see out the remainder of this horrendous season, but it now feels as though he’s past the point of no return in the eyes of many supporters.
Liverpool are still on course to salvage Champions League qualification – a win at Aston Villa on Friday night would guarantee it – but it’s been a long, long time since there was such open revolt against a Reds manager/head coach as there had been at Anfield two days ago.
Having scored inside five minutes against a Chelsea side in such woeful form, that should’ve been the platform to drive on and get the win which would’ve all but secured a top-five finish. Instead, we eased off and rolled out the red carpet for the Blues to find a way back into the game, which they did.
Slot was also culpable of doing nothing to remedy the clear problem that his team had on the right flank, with Marc Cucurella having a field day up against Jeremie Frimpong and Curtis Jones, and fans had every right to be disgruntled with such a passive, error-strewn performance.
The Dutchman will forever have our gratitude for delivering the Premier League title last season, and it’d be wrong not to acknowledge the extreme difficulty he’s faced in trying to guide his squad through the trauma of Diogo Jota’s death.
However, there comes a tipping point where it feels as though a relationship is irreparable, and Saturday felt like that. FSG might be willing to keep faith in him, but that ship has sailed for much of the fan base.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma added another historic milestone to their legendary IPL journeys during the clash between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur on Sunday.
The IPL 2026 fixture marked the 278th appearance in the tournament for both Kohli and Rohit, allowing the two modern-day greats to equal MS Dhoni’s all-time record for the most matches played in IPL history.
Dhoni, who remains part of Chennai Super Kings’s IPL 2026 squad despite not featuring in a game this season, reached the landmark across an iconic career spanning from 2008 to 2025. The former India captain represented both CSK and Rising Pune Supergiant during his IPL journey.
Kohli’s record carries extra significance given his loyalty to a single franchise. The batting superstar has represented only Royal Challengers Bengaluru ever since the inaugural IPL season in 2008 and has now gone level with Dhoni after 278 appearances for the franchise.
Rohit, meanwhile, achieved the feat after representing two teams in the competition. He began his IPL career with Deccan Chargers between 2008 and 2010 before moving to Mumbai Indians, where he went on to become one of the most successful captains in tournament history.
Most matches in IPL history
Player
Team(s)
Matches
Runs
Wickets
MS Dhoni
CSK, Rising Pune Supergiant
278
5439
0
Rohit Sharma
Deccan Chargers, MI
278*
7267*
15
Virat Kohli
RCB
278*
9040*
4
Ravindra Jadeja
RR, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, CSK, Gujarat Lions
265
3450
178
Dinesh Karthik
DC, PBKS, RCB, MI, Gujarat Lions, KKR
257
4842
0
Shikhar Dhawan
DC, MI, Deccan Chargers, SRH
222
6769
4
Ravichandran Ashwin
CSK, Rising Pune Supergiant, PBKS, DC, RR
221
833
187
Ajinkya Rahane
MI, RR, Rising Pune Supergiant, DC, KKR, CSK
208
5250
1
Suresh Raina
CSK, Gujarat Lions
205
5528
25
Robin Uthappa
MI, RCB, Pune Warriors India, KKR, RR, CSK
205
4952
0
The milestone came in a thrilling contest that eventually saw RCB edge past Mumbai Indians in a dramatic last-ball finish.
Earlier, Bhuvneshwar Kumar starred with the ball for RCB with figures of 4/23, while Tilak Varma top-scored for Mumbai with a fighting half-century.
RCB’s chase was then revived by a counterattacking knock from Krunal Pandya before Bengaluru sealed a tense victory in the final over.
West Ham were denied a stoppage-time equaliser by the VAR as Arsenal clung on to a vital 1-0 win to close in on the Premier League title.
Callum Wilson looked to have earned West Ham a vital point in their fight against relegation when he lashed home following a goalmouth scramble that came from a corner delivered from the right.
The striker’s half-volley was blocked beyond the line by Declan Rice, clearly crossing, with the goal quickly awarded by referee Chris Kavanagh.
West Ham were denied by VAR (PA)
Arsenal, however, immediately cried foul due to an incident involving goalkeeper David Raya and West Ham substitute Pablo.
In a thicket of bodies in the six-yard box, Raya appear to be grasped by the Brazilian as he attempted to claim the initial delivery into the box.
After a long deliberation of the available angles, VAR Darren England instructed referee Kavanagh to review the footage on the pitchside monitor.
Following a discussion between the officials, Kavanagh chalked the goal off, awarding a free kick to the visiting team.
“After review, West Ham No 19 commits a foul on the goalkeeper,” the referee said. “Final decision: direct free kick.”
Soon after, he blew the final whistle on a potentially decisive day at both ends of the table, with Leandro Trossard’s goal enough for Arsenal to remain in control of their own destiny.
Afterwards Mikel Arteta congratulated the “brave” match officials for overturning an “obvious error” in Arsenal’s win, which edges them closer to a first Premier League title in 22 years.
West Ham were furious with the decision, but for Arsenal it takes them five points clear of City, and leaves them only two matches away from the title.
And Arteta said: “It was a call from the ref that is very brave, but very consistent with what they’ve been talking about all season.
“When I have to be critical, I have been. And today I have to praise them, at least for giving the option to a referee to decide, away from the lights and the chaos, to give clarity to him to make the right call. And when you look at the action in that way, it is an obvious error.
“It is a free-kick, and the goal has to be disallowed. So congratulations, because they made a big call in very, very difficult circumstances.
Arteta congratulated the officials (Getty)
“Today I have realised how difficult and how big the referee’s job is. Because you’re talking about a moment that can decide the history, and the course, of two massive clubs that are fighting with their lives to achieve their objectives. And the pressure is huge.”
But for relegation-threatened West Ham, the disallowed goal leaves them a point behind Tottenham, having played a game more.
Forward Jarrod Bowen told Sky Sports: “We had our big moment, and we thought we’d got back into the game. (But if you) look at something for five minutes, you’re trying to find something.
Referee Chris Kavanagh made a huge call on a VAR review (PA Wire)
“Goalkeepers are protected more than outfield players. There’s lots of holding and grappling that goes on in the box. Are you going to look at those every time and give a penalty? Because that’s the only way that is the right way to do it.
“It’s a corner kick, it’s physical, it’s the Premier League. There’s going to be contact and tussles.
“People are going to say I sound bitter but I’m just being honest. I’m sure we could go back through every single game and see goalkeepers getting fouled and not getting decisions. If you’re going to give it, give it for every single thing every week.”
Liverpool make discreet checks with Real Madrid about Xabi Alonso
Liverpool have reservations about appointing Xabi Alonso to replace Arne Slot this summer, despite the former midfielder emerging as a fan favourite for the role at Anfield.
According to AS, Liverpool have made discreet enquiries to Real Madrid about Alonso’s work and character.
The Reds continue to weigh up whether to entrust him with what insiders view as a multimillion-dollar rebuild that has failed to deliver this season.
Slot remains under pressure after a disappointing campaign in which Liverpool’s huge investment in the transfer market has not translated into success on the pitch.
The Reds spent heavily last summer in a bid to build on recent progress, but inconsistent performances and poor results have intensified scrutiny around the Dutchman.
Alonso has frequently been linked with the Liverpool job over recent months, with some influential former players and figures close to the club openly backing him.
There were even suggestions earlier in the season that Liverpool could move for him before the campaign ended, although those rumours eventually cooled.
Now, with the season about to conclude, Liverpool’s hierarchy is conducting background checks on several candidates before making a decision on Slot.
The Reds made a direct call to Real Madrid headquarters to gain insight into Alonso’s methods and his time with the Spanish giants before his departure in January.
Despite the strong emotional connection between Alonso and Liverpool supporters following his legendary playing career at Anfield, club officials remain unconvinced.
The uncertainty surrounding Alonso is also understood to be one reason why Liverpool previously paused discussions over dismissing Slot during difficult moments this season.
A decisive summer now awaits at Anfield, with the incredible Alonso firmly in the frame, but far from guaranteed to land the job.
Liverpool will also be wary of Chelsea. Per reports, he is their first choice target to replace Liam Rosenior this summer.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MAY 03: Randal Kolo Muani of Tottenham Hotspur interacts with the fans, as he leaves the pitch following being substituted during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park on May 03, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rochdale have done it!
In dramatic fashion, Rochdale have returned to the Football League for the first time in three years. All it took was a chaotic season in the National League and a remarkable final.
For those unaware, Rochdale were not given an automatic promotion even after ending the season on 106 points which is insanity. So they had to do it the hard way. And, boy, did they.
Rochdale were down 0-2 to Boreham Wood at Wembley on Sunday. After gaining one back, they were still one goal shy seven minutes into stoppage time. Then comes the madness:
Meanwhile in the National League playoff final, Rochdale score a 96th-minute equalizer to keep their promotion dream alive 🤯
And so, after an additional 30 minutes, it went to penalties.
And then, it was Rochdale back in the Football League.
The National League represents the two largest extremes of football: anguish and ecstasy.
For Boreham Wood it was anguish. To surrender two goals very late into the final, and then be denied promotion, only to pick up the boulder and attempt the ascent next season.
For Rochdale it was a moment of ecstasy. A return to the league. to escape the fifth circle of hell.
The thing is it could have easily been different. Were it not for that incredible spot kick play in the 90+7th minute, I would’ve swapped the two. That’s how thin the margin is between anguish and ecstasy, and how easy it is to cross that line.
Fitzie’s Track of the Day: Black Throated Wind, by the Grateful Dead
And now for your links:
Alasdair Gold: “Roberto De Zerbi delivers Dejan Kulusevski return update after text exchange and makes Vicario claim”
Jay Harris ($$): “De Zerbi is right, for Archie Gray to flourish at Spurs he has to settle in one position”
BBC: “Biggest VAR call ever? Four chaotic minutes that may define the season”
The Guardian: “Rochdale return to Football League in shootout after Boreham Wood thriller”
Köln delay decision on permanent coach as Wagner impresses Kessler
Köln lost their last home game of the season to relegation-threatened Heidenheim. The result disappointed the home fans as some sections of the 50,000-seat stadium booed the team after the final whistle.
However, sporting director Thomas Kessler and captain Marwin Schwäbe decided to stay calm. The Billy Goats have only collected six points from as many games since René Wagner replaced Lukas Kwasniok as an interim coach until the end of the season.
"At the end of the day, he (Wagner) took over in a situation that was rough for us,” said Kessler after the game as he thanked the 37-year-old coach for securing Köln’s league status. “He stabilized our team as it’s now very quiet. It's a success that we stay in Bundesliga."
Schwäbe also praised the interim coach's influence as he sees plenty of reasons for Köln to continue working with him. The goalkeeper added that Wagner created a good relationship with the team with “a clear and good” structure.
As it was the last home fixture, Kessler was quizzed about the subject of appointing a permanent coach. "I have commented very extensively on the topic this week," said the former goalkeeper in the flash interview with DAZN.
He ruled out the possibility of announcing the coach for the 2026/27 season before next week’s game away at champions Bayern. "Then, we'll sit down and analyse the whole season. But it is not only about the coaching issue. I feel absolutely no pressure about the timing of the decision.”
Kristoffer Reitan is the second Norwegian to win a PGA event after Viktor Hovland [Getty Images]
Truist Championship final leaderboard
-15 K Reitan (Nor); -13 N Hojgaard (Den), R Fowler (US), -12 A Fitzpatrick (Eng); -11 JJ Spaun (US), SJ Im (Kor), T Fleetwood (Eng)
Selected others: -10 H Hall (Eng); -9 C Young (US); -5 R McIlroy (NI); -2 M Wallace (Eng); -1 J Rose (Eng); +1 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); +2 R MacIntyre (Sco)
Alex Fitzpatrick's hopes of a first individual win on the PGA Tour were dashed as Kristoffer Reitan claimed a maiden victory at the Truist Championship on Sunday.
England's Fitzpatrick went into the final round with a one-shot lead over Reitan but his Norwegian rival secured a two-shot victory at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The 28-year-old fired a two-under round of 69 to reach 15 under overall, with Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard and American Rickie Fowler tied for second.
Fitzpatrick was a shot further back after a round of 73, which began with a bogey and double bogey inside his first three holes.
The 27-year-old recovered to level par with his fourth birdie on the 13th hole, giving him a share of the lead.
There was a four-way tie at the top of the leaderboard on the back nine but, while others faltered, Reitan stayed steady to win on only his 15th PGA start.
"I'm over the moon," said Reitan. "It happened way sooner than I would've imagined. Absolutely thrilled, awesome experience and very grateful.
"There are a lot of pieces that have to fall in place. There's a whole puzzle that needs to shape up and I've made some steps in multiple areas of the game.
He then finished in the top 10 at the Cadillac Championship and was one stroke behind Reitan before his second double bogey of the day on the par-three 17th.
Compatriot Tommy Fleetwood finished in a tie for fifth on 11 under after closing with a two-under 69.
Fitzpatrick, the world number 120, told Sky Sports: "It's still very surreal [to be in contention]. It's crazy to feel disappointed but I still am.
"I'm happy for Kris, he deserves it, and hopefully it'll be mine another time."
Fitzpatrick felt "one bad swing" cost him on the 17th after he had recovered from a "slow start".
He added: "I'm disappointed not to have won, but I'm also really proud of myself for how I battled out there.
"I was three over through three and then in my head I'm thinking I could shoot 81 here. So I was super happy that I was very patient."
World number four Matt Fitzpatrick finished on one over after a final round 72, while Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy bounced back from a 75 on Saturday to finish with a 67 on five under.
A crucial 1-0 was only stopped from becoming a costly 1-1, in the 94th minute, by one man’s interpretation of “wrestling” – as Nuno Espirito Santo put it – at a set-piece.
A VAR decision denied West Ham a point with David Raya deemed to have been fouled (Getty)
“Probably today I have realised how difficult and how big is the referee's job,” the Arsenal manager said. “Because you're talking about a moment that can decide the history, the course, of two massive clubs that they are fighting with their lives to achieve their objectives.”
Indeed, very few moments in modern football history will rival that one for tension, even if it said a lot about where modern football is.
Players from both sides were lined up behind Kavanagh, some arguing with each other about what happened.
The emotion was spilling over. This was the title and relegation on the line, so much coming together in one game - and one moment - in a way the Premier League has actually rarely seen.
There was almost a cinematic element to it. Football has rarely seen it. This was maybe the biggest VAR decision the game has seen, and perhaps the refereeing decision that was going to have the biggest influence on a title since Colin Suggett was adjudged to not be interfering with play in 1971 - when Arsenal won a double.
Kavanagh had to get it right. He looked at it 17 times, over four minutes and 17 seconds.
He probably just did get it right. Pablo’s arm clearly impedes Raya, while Jean-Clair Todibo had pulled his shirt. It is the correct decision.
Arteta of course said “it is an obvious error”. Nuno Espirito Santo seemed to accept it was but touched on a much bigger debate now raging about what the Premier League has generally allowed in terms of “wrestling in the box” – many were pointing to the movements of Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard in the same action – as well as a leniency in similar moments throughout the campaign.
Chris Kavanagh ruled out West Ham's would-be equaliser against Arsenal (Reuters)Jarrod Bowen was disappointed after West Ham's equaliser was ruled out (AP)
On that, Nuno somewhat philosophically said: “It's frustrating the duality of criteria. It seems like the rules have changed. Everybody feels confused.”
But Kavanagh is there to referee the moment - not the whole season.
Maybe it’s a strangely fitting way for the 2025-26 title to be decided – if it is actually to be decided. Even in the few minutes remaining after the Callum Wilson strike, Arsenal were struggling to just clear the ball, panicking in every kick.
By the end, even before celebrating, many of their players sank to the ground in emotional exhaustion.
Leandro Trossard's goal gave Arsenal a 1-0 victory (Reuters)
It’s one of the remarkable things about football. This was a dog of a game but one that was utterly absorbing, and had at least three moments that could yet go down in Premier League history.
The last was obviously Kavanagh’s call.
The first was another “magic moment” - as Arteta put it - from Raya himself. After so much debate about player of the season, the goalkeeper has a huge claim. “The story of the season again,” Arteta said.
Raya rightly got man of the match here.
David Raya’s save from Mateus Fernandes was crucial (Getty)
He may well have secured the league, too. The save from Mateus Fernandes felt the equivalent of Manchester City’s Stefan Ortega stopping Spurs’ Son Heung-Min to also stop Arsenal two seasons ago.
It was at that point an anguished 0-0, with both sides needing to win but visibly suppressed by the tension of it all.
Arsenal’s strong start had been disrupted by the departure of Ben White - who Arteta said faces scans in the morning, from an injury that “doesn’t look good”.
The manager’s decision to move Rice to right-back was the intervention that really broke their rhythm, and Arteta spent the next half-hour trying to correct it. He eventually took Martin Zubimendi off, having brought him on, the Spaniard’s one big moment an overhit pass just when Eberechi Eze looked to break.
At that point, Arsenal were toiling. They need someone to make the difference. It didn’t have the feel of a champion team gradually upping the tempo and building wave after wave.
Martin Odegaard made a crucial impact to take Arsenal closer to the title (AP)
It did have Martin Odegaard, though. After a season when the Arsenal captain has barely been involved in key moments, here he was setting up what might be the most important of all. The pass for Trossard was just a follow-on from the way he had got on the ball and finally got Arsenal moving again. Odegaard was actually trying to hurt West Ham, seizing the moment in the manner a passive Arsenal badly needed. “He had an incredible impact in the game, an action that he's now in a top position to score the goal,” Arteta said.
And there was Trossard to fire home. “Well, there is a player that makes a difference for us,” Arteta quipped.
It will do the same for West Ham. They now have a real fight to stay up, but they did show they are up for it. Nuno rightly praised his team for their performance. Konstantin Mavropanos personified that, with two brilliant stops.
It somehow wasn’t enough. Arsenal just had more. And it means more on the table. This defeat also has the effect of ensuring Leeds United are mathematically safe, and that on the day before they are due to travel to Tottenham Hotspur, who West Ham badly need to lose.
West Ham were denied by VAR against Arsenal to slip closer to the drop (Getty)
Again, there’s rarely a game like this in terms of consequences. There’s never been a moment like that VAR stoppage.
“What an afternoon,” Arteta said. “What a week it’s been for us.”
And after a game like that, that seemed to bring in all of the emotions and themes of this campaign, it might end up quite a season for them, too.
The Vegas Golden Knights Carter Hart #79 blocks a goal attempt during an NHL playoffs game against The Anaheim Ducks on May 10th, 2026 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — On a night where their captain was missing, the Vegas Golden Knights probably needed their goaltender to try and steal a game for them in the playoffs.
But Carter Hart was unable to do that. In fact, he looked very mortal in the Vegas net, surrendering four goals on Sunday, at least three of which he probably wanted to have back as the Knights dropped Game 4 of their second-round Stanley Cup Playoff series to the Anaheim Ducks, 4-3.
The series returns to T-Mobile Arena Tuesday for Game 5 all even at 2-2, making it a best-of-three affair with two of those three in Las Vegas. There will be a Game 6 and it’ll be Thursday at the Honda Center.
“I think the biggest part of the game was not being able to get out of the second period 2-2,” Knights coach John Tortorella said. “It gave them some life and then they scored their fourth goal and that was the turning point.”
The Knights revealed the bad news earlier in the day when Tortorella said Mark Stone would not play in Game 4 after he suffered an apparent lower body injury in the first period of Game 3 on Friday. He was replaced in the lineup by veteran winger Brandon Said, who last played back on April 11 against Colorado.
“Stoney’s a big part of our team,” Tortorella said. “We miss him as far as his presence and what he does.”
With Stone in the lineup, Vegas is 31-17-12 this season. When he’s out, the Knights are 8-10-5. There’s no question he was missed on the ice Sunday, both on 5-on-5 situations as well as special teams. Whether he’ll be back Tuesday, or the remainder of the series for that matter, is anyone’s guess. Tortorella has said repeatedly he will not talk about injuries so the only way anyone will know of Stone’s availability will be if you see him on the ice.
“It’s always tough losing your captain,” forward Colton Sissons said of the team not having Stone on the ice. “We’re all going to have to step up. That’s what good teams do. But we’ve got a lot of good leaders.”
Saad found himself on the third line with Tomas Hertl and Keegan Kolesar, two players that have struggled mightily during the postseason. Pavel Dorofeyev took Stone’s spot on the top line with Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev.
“I’ve tried to stay ready, physically and mentally,” Saad said after the morning skate Sunday where Tortorella announced the lineup change. “It’s never easy. It’s something I haven’t been used to. But the coaches have done a good job of encouraging me, helping me stay ready in case my number got called.
Saad didn’t get a lot of ice time in Game 4. He hit the crossbar on his one shot attempt and made a nice backcheck play in the second period that prevented a close-in shot attempt by the Ducks. His impact was negligible as he had only 10 shifts and 7:20 TOI, the least of Vegas’ skaters.
With Stone out, it also impacted Vegas’ special teams as Stone is a key cog on the power play as well as being an effective penalty kiiller. It meant Hertl would get more time on the power play and hopefully finally find the back of the net. He had last scored a goal more than two months ago, March 4 vs. Detroit.
But Hertl’s long drought ended when he scored with 1:04 remaining to pull the Knights within one. He looked toward the rafters after scoring, no doubt relieved that he finally scored.
“Hopefully it releases him a little bit,” Tortorella said. “He’s been close for quite a while and hopefully it’ll help him moving forward.”
The Ducks, who played with renewed energy and physicality, finally figured things out on their power play, cashing in twice — in the first period from Beckett Sennecke and in the second from Alex Killorn. They were 0-for-11 with the man advantage the first three games of the series.
Vegas managed a power play goal of its own, Dorofeyev providing it in the first period to tie it 1-1. Brett Howden’s seventh of the playoffs tied it again 2-2 in the second,. But that was as close as the Knights would get as the Ducks were the more energetic and determined team. Coach Joel Quenneville talked about preparing to go to war after his team dropped Game 3 Friday and Anaheim looked like a team that was ready to do battle.
The Knights? Pockets of good play and even domination at times. But certainly not for long enough of a duration to control the game and ultimately prevail. Hart, who has been very good for the most part in this series and has raised his game from the opening round against Utah, had an off-night. He faced 23 shots but four got by him. He'll look to bounce back on Tuesday.
Twenty-one shots on Lukas Dostal aren’t enough. Visits to the penalty box continue to happen too often (four more penalties taken in Game 4).
“You want to stay out of the box,” Tortorella said. “I think when we took the penalties it stopped the momentum we had and then they scored on a couple. We were killing them off and then they scored a couple. It was a big part of the game.”
The Ducks played desperate hockey and were rewarded for it. McNabb said it’s now up to the Knights to raise their game.
“They played desperate and I thought we played a decent game,” McNabb said. “We had some looks and we didn’t cash in. So move on."
Tortorella is confident his team will respond come Tuesday.
“I have zero worry about this team,” Tortorella said. “I have total trust.”
Arsenal Get Clear Message on Willian Pacho Before PSG Game
PSG showed in their second leg against Bayern Munich that they can defend, keeping the German side to one goal. Moreover, one of the standout performers for the Parisians was centerback Willian Pacho.
Pacho played 90 minutes against Bayern Munich, in which the Ecuadorian recorded 13 defensive contributions, five clearances, six recoveries, went 7-for-7 in his ground duels, and two interceptions, per SofaScore.
As a result, if the Parisians want to win back-to-back Champions League titles, they will need another big game from Pacho. Meanwhile, if the Gunners want to edge PSG, their attack will need to get the best of the defender.
Former PSG Defender Issues True Feelings on Willian Pacho
(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
While it’s possible that the Premier League side could get the best of Pacho, former PSG defender Grégory Bourillon doesn’t see that happening.
Bourillon shared major praise of the 24-year-old, who has turned himself into one of the backbones of PSG’s defense during his two seasons in the French capital.
“He’s the complete defender par excellence, whether it’s his game intelligence, his physical presence, his duels or his distribution,” Bourillon told So Foot (h/t Le10Sport).
“I find him to be a great complement to Marquinhos. His composure is truly contagious. Since he arrived, we’ve seen a more solid defense.”
Moreover, Bourillon noted that one thing that Pacho does on the pitch which gives off a calm demeanor.
“Did I chew that much gum? No, I didn’t,” Bourillon added. “It’s dangerous! Isn’t he afraid of choking? That attitude alone makes him seem like a calm guy with presence. I like his attitude on the pitch. With the way he projects, the attackers know they’re in for a tough match.”
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 10: Marcus Rashford of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Pau Cubarsi during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Spotify Camp Nou on May 10, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Manchester United loanee opened the scoring in style with a brilliant effort that flew over a helpless Thibaut Courtois and into the back of the net.
Rashford was asked about his effort after the game and revealed that his team-mates made him change his mind.
“No, I wasn’t going to shoot because when I put that ball down I didn’t see the angles, I didn’t feel confident it was going to be a goal so I was going to cross,” he told BBC Sport. “But everyone was telling me to shoot and then I hyped myself up a little bit.
“It was a good goal. I came here to win, so this is it. I want to win as many things as I can. This team is wonderful, is going to win so much in the future. To be part of that would be special.”
Rashford was also asked about his future and admitted he does not know what happens next.
“I don’t know. I’m not a magician but if I was I would stay at Barcelona. We will see,” he added.
“Football is unpredictable but for now, I will just enjoy it, live in the moment and reassess at the end of the season and see what is possible.”
Rashford loan deal expires at the end of the season. It’s being reported Barca want him to stay but don’t want to pay the 30 million option in his contract and are hoping to secure him on a second loan.
West Ham’s dramatic defeat to Arsenal ensured that they remain a point behind their relegation rivals, and Roberto De Zerbi’s side will hope to widen the gap as they fight to stay up.
That result at the London Stadium yesterday means that Leeds are mathematically safe, though Daniel Farke will want a strong finish to a season in which he has done fine work.
Can they give West Ham a major boost by taking points off the home side?
Here’s everything you need to know.
When is Tottenham vs Leeds?
Tottenham vs Leeds is due to kick off at 8pm BST on Monday 11 May at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage on the channels from 6.30pm BST. A live stream will be available via Sky Go and NOW.
Team news
Tottenham have no fresh injury concerns. Dominic Solanke and Guglielmo Vicario are among those out, though the striker could return before the end of the campaign, and James Maddison will be carefully managed as he continues his comeback from a long lay-off.
Pascal Struijk is a doubt for Leeds with a hip issue. Daniel Farke will be without Gabriel Gudmundsson and Noah Okafor.
Line-ups
Tottenham XI: Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Palhinha; Kolo Muani, Gallagher, Tel; Richarlison.
The atmosphere inside the stadium was electric from the final whistle, with players, coaching staff and supporters all celebrating a victory that not only sealed the championship, but also came against their biggest rivals in El Clasico.
Among the first Barcelona players to speak after the match was Pedri, who struggled to hide his emotions following the huge result.
The midfielder described the night as one of the most special moments of his career so far.
“It feels like a dream come true; we wanted to win it here, like this, in a Clásico that will go down in history.”
The Spanish midfielder also admitted that lifting the league trophy in front of the home fans made the achievement even more emotional for the squad.
“It’s something that’s hardly ever happened in history; it’s lovely to celebrate with family, friends and the fans – it’s not something you get to do every day.”
Dedicated to Hansi Flick
Much of the post-match attention also centred around Hansi Flick following the emotional events surrounding the Barcelona manager earlier in the day.
Pedri explained that the squad wanted to dedicate the victory to Flick and his family.
Barcelona players dedicated the win to Hansi Flick. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
“I’d like to keep him up there. We wanted to do it for him, for everything he’s given us and for the loss he’s suffered – this is dedicated to him in heaven following the loss of his father.”
De Jong praises Flick’s influence
Barcelona captain Frenkie de Jong also spoke after the game and highlighted just how important this particular title felt to the dressing room.
“Every title is special, but this one is even more so because we won it at home against Madrid.”
The Dutch midfielder went on to praise Flick’s management style and the freedom he gives the players on the pitch.
“Hansi is very important; he has a clear vision and gives us plenty of freedom to show our quality.”
Despite the celebrations, the Barcelona players are already looking ahead to next season and the possibility of finally bringing the Champions League trophy back to Camp Nou.
De Jong admitted the squad still has unfinished business in Europe, although he insisted the players fully intend to enjoy their league success first.
“Every title you win should be celebrated in style, and even more so a La Liga title.
“Of course, we want to win the Champions League; that’s the goal, and next year we’ll have another chance,” he added.
Real Madrid TV launches furious VAR rant after El Clasico loss: ‘Spanish league is a circus’
While Barcelona celebrated being crowned La Liga champions after their victory over Real Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou, frustration quickly took over on the Madrid side following a controversial refereeing moment late in the match.
As such, much of the post-match discussion from the Madrid camp focused on an incident involving Eric García and Jude Bellingham.
The challenge occurred deep into stoppage time with Barcelona already leading 2-0.
Bellingham was left on the ground after contact from Eric Garcia, but neither the referee nor the VAR team, led by Iglesias Villanueva, decided to intervene.
RMTV furious with VAR decision
The incident triggered a furious reaction from Real Madrid TV commentators during the live broadcast, with several explosive comments aimed at both the officiating and the television production.
As frustration grew over the lack of replay angles being shown, the commentary team strongly criticised La Liga and the handling of the situation.
“The Spanish league isn’t serious. The Spanish league, Tebas’s league, Negreira’s league. It’s a circus and a joke. This is terrifying.
“What a disgrace the Spanish league’s production is.”
The complaints did not stop there, as the broadcasters questioned why clearer replays of the incident were never provided during the match coverage.
“Whenever there have been controversial incidents, we’ve seen a very clear wide shot when Real Madrid were the ones committing the foul.
“Suddenly, once again, the broadcast is hijacked during a decisive foul.”
Broadcasters questioned over missing replay angles
Real Madrid TV also argued that supporters watching at home were intentionally prevented from seeing the full sequence of the incident involving Bellingham.
“It could have been a red card for Dani Olmo. Viewers are being denied a replay of something that has clearly happened.
“If we haven’t seen it by now, we’re not going to see it, just like so many other things that weren’t shown—because they didn’t want to show Mbappe bleeding.”
The commentary team then suggested that the absence of replay footage only increased suspicion surrounding the decision-making process.
“The fact that they’re not showing the footage already gives you an idea of what might have happened, given the history.
“If they’d shown it, there wouldn’t have been a problem.”
Insists Bellingham deserved penalty
As the debate continued, Real Madrid TV made its position completely clear regarding the Eric Garcia challenge, insisting that both a penalty and a red card should have been awarded.
“Perhaps a push to the neck is something more serious, but we haven’t seen it.
“What we have seen is an elbow from Eric Garcia, which is, clearly, first and foremost a penalty and also a sending-off.”
Despite the anger toward the officials, the broadcasters admitted that Real Madrid themselves did not produce their best display at Camp Nou.
However, they still accused VAR of deliberately refusing to correct what they viewed as a clear refereeing mistake.
“This is yet another example of VAR failing to act, which does nothing to rectify what may well be an injustice.
“If this is deemed part of the game, then anything could be deemed part of the game; anyone who has played football knows that Eric García does that on purpose.”
The criticism concluded with another direct attack on VAR’s consistency in matches involving Real Madrid.
“Whenever there are controversial incidents, VAR intervenes when it suits them. And when does VAR intervene? It intervenes solely to harm Real Madrid.”
On-loan Marcus Rashford has played a significant part in Barcelona's title win [Getty Images]
There have been title races in Spain built on drama, momentum swings and late collapses. This year's was not one of them.
Instead, Barcelona's 2-0 win against Real Madrid means they clinched the title with the perfect script: at home, against their biggest rivals, by an emphatic 14-point margin.
Sunday's El Clasico became the first in almost 100 years to definitively decide who won the league.
It is a title Barca boss Hansi Flick has won in his two seasons in charge.
BBC Sport looks at how Barcelona have dominated La Liga again this season.
Barca maintain 100% home record
Flick's side have been on a relentless run of form since February, and have won their past 11 consecutive matches.
They have lost just four league games all season and have a 100% winning La Liga home record.
Barcelona endured disappointment by exiting the Copa del Rey semi-finals and the Champions League quarter-finals, but have never relinquished their control of the La Liga title race.
Barca have won 42 of their 53 games this term, a win rate of 79% - only Bayern Munich (83%) can better that across all competitions among teams from the big five European leagues.
In terms of goals scored, Bayern are the only team who have scored more than Barcelona in all competitions and in their respective leagues.
The scale of their dominance is reflected not only in the table, but in the context surrounding it.
When Flick arrived at the club in May 2024, Real had won the Champions League and La Liga and just added Kylian Mbappe to an already star-studded squad.
Yet within two years, Barca have won five domestic trophies from the six available under the German coach, while Madrid have to endure a second consecutive season without silverware.
Barcelona have won back-to-back La Liga titles [Getty Images]
Flick's impact on players
A key reason for Barcelona's dominance has been Flick's impact on individual players and how they are used within his system.
The German coach reshaped Barca from the moment he arrived, introducing discipline, increasing the squad's physical intensity, and restoring a more direct attacking identity.
This happened at the same time as a new La Masia generation emerged, led by Lamine Yamal.
Flick has accelerated Lamine Yamal's integration, trusting the teenager by creating tactical patterns that maximise his dribbling ability and creativity in one-on-one situations.
Defenders double up against him yet still struggle to contain him. His ability to accelerate attacks, create chances and decide matches has transformed Barcelona's right flank into the most dangerous outlet in Spain.
Despite a recent injury, the 18-year-old has scored 24 goals in 45 games this season.
Alongside Lamine Yamal, Flick has also leaned on other academy products such as Pau Cubarsi and Fermin Lopez, integrating them into a high-intensity system.
Putting trust in Rashford
Marcus Rashford has contributed to three goals (two goals, one assist) in his last three La Liga games [Getty Images]
Under Flick's management Raphinha, despite a season interrupted with injuries, has developed into a more consistent and influential attacker.
Flick has increased the Brazilian's attacking responsibility and refined his role, encouraging quicker decision-making in transition and a more direct style of play that suits his strengths.
Pedri has remained a central figure in midfield, thriving in a system built around quick progression.
Robert Lewandowski, meanwhile, has rediscovered his sharpness within Flick's system. With better service and more structured attacking patterns around him, the veteran Poland striker, 37, once again looks decisive. His future at the club is still unknown with his contract expiring in June.
Eric Garcia has emerged as one of the season's most valuable tactical players, filling multiple positions seamlessly, while Gerard Martin has exceeded expectations after being placed into a key defensive role.
Even in defeat, Barcelona consistently responded. Following losses to Girona and Real Madrid in October, they immediately launched long winning streaks in the league, rather than allowing setbacks to spiral.
Flick has also shown a strong willingness to rotate and trust squad players, which has helped Barcelona maintain intensity and consistency across a demanding season. Marcus Rashford has been one of those players.
Although he has not been a guaranteed starter, Flick has regularly used him off the bench in key moments and statistics show he ranks among the best forwards at the top-three Spanish clubs - Barca, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid - if you measure goals and assists per minute across La Liga this season.
Rashford scored the most important goal of his Barcelona career on Sunday, a phenomenal free-kick that opened the score in El Clasico.
It was a fitting moment for the 28-year-old, who could be signed by the Catalan club on a permanent basis for 35m euros (£30m) - although whether they turn Rashford's loan into a permanent signing remains to be seen.
Flick has also been praised for showing care for his players.
The manager granted Ronald Araujo a leave of absence in December to prioritise his mental health, describing it as a private situation. Flick did not share further details about the situation and asked the media to respect the defender's privacy.
Real Madrid's collapse
Real Madrid have lost six La Liga games this season [Getty Images]
While Barcelona were accelerating, Real began dropping points in games they would normally expect to win.
Damaging draws in November against Elche, Rayo Vallecano and Girona steadily weakened Los Blancos' challenge and manager Xabi Alonso's status.
Those results set the platform for Alonso's departure in January, just after Real had been beaten by Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup. At that point, though, they trailed their rivals by just four points in La Liga.
The gap has grown under Alonso's successor Alvaro Arbeloa - Real are now 14 points behind champions Barcelona.
And the week leading up to El Clasico for Real was dominated less by football and more by dressing-room unrest, player altercations and internal disciplinary action.
A combination of management inconsistency, injuries across the season and costly moments in big games ultimately proved decisive for Real.
More potential for Barca
When Flick arrived at Barcelona in 2024, he made it clear he wanted an aggressive, high-intensity team that combined attacking football with the club's traditional identity, saying his ideas were close to those of Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola.
Those principles have become established in Barcelona's play - and have helped the club win a second successive title.
Perhaps most importantly, Barcelona have shown resilience throughout the campaign.
They have suffered setbacks with injuries that meant team reshuffles became necessary - yet the team rarely fractured. Flick maintained cohesion regardless of who was available.
Despite a disappointing run in Europe, which was ended by Atletico in the Champions League quarter-finals, Barcelona's title winning campaign has hugely promising signs.
And with a squad built on elite young talent, it feels safe to say Barcelona's future is incredibly promising.
After an almost flawless opening half of the season, Punjab Kings have hit a rough patch before they host Delhi Capitals on Monday evening.
Three defeats in a row have replaced confidence with questions, and even the cushion built by six wins in their first seven games feels slightly less comfortable than it did a few weeks ago.
Fast-bowling coach James Hopes hinted that the arrival of Azmatullah Omarzai in the squad could lead to a reshaped playing XI, with Harpreet Brar potentially slotting in as a second spinning option.
For Delhi Capitals, the stakes could not be higher. With only three games remaining in their campaign and currently outside the playoff spots, a loss on Monday ends their season on the spot.
They arrive knowing the equation exactly, win or go home, and that kind of clarity, while brutal, sometimes produces the best cricket.
HPCA Stadium pitch report: Is it a batting or bowling wicket in Raipur?
Unlike other IPL stadiums, the HPCA stadium is not known to be a batting-friendly pitch.
In fact, its pitch helps quick pace bowlers in thwarting the batsmen and keeping the totals low. Most often, teams chasing the match lose it due to the nature of the pitch aiding the bowlers during the second innings.
What are the chances of dew at the HPCA Stadium in IPL?
There are chances of dew in Dharamshala despite the peak summer months of April and May.
What is the highest score by a team at the HPCA Stadium in IPL?
RCB hold the record for the highest team score on the ground as they put up 241/7 on the board against PBKS in 2024.
What is the lowest score by a team at the HPCA Stadium in IPL?
Kings XI were stifled to just 116 after a stellar bowling display by Deccan Chargers.
What is the average score at the HPCA in IPL?
The average first innings score at the stadium is around 160, whereas the average first innings winning score is about 165.
What is the highest individual score at the HPCA Stadium in IPL?
Adam Gilchrist owns the record of the highest-ever individual score in an IPL match at the HPCA Stadium with 106 (55 balls) for Kings XI Punjab v RCB in 2011.
Which batsman has the most runs at HPCA Stadium in IPL?
Shaun Marsh leads the charts with 334 runs at the venue. Following him are:
Adam Gilchrist (295)
Mahela Jayawardene (295)
David Warner (154)
Which bowler has the most wickets at HPCA Stadium in IPL?
Piyush Chawla has taken the most number of wickets in IPL at HPCA Stadium with a total of 13 scalps each. Following him are:
Ryan Harris (9)
Arshdeep Singh (7)
IPL 2026 schedule at HPCA Stadium
Date
Match
Time (IST)
May 10, 2026 (Sunday)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians
7:30 PM
May 13, 2026 (Wednesday)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders
What will happen to Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau if LIV folds?Sarah Reed/Getty Images
Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, our writers discuss the future of LIV Golf’s star players and the upcoming PGA Championship at Aronimink.
Jack Hirsh, Associate Equipment Editor (@JR_HIRSHey): That LIV is on the ropes. I think we knew this already, but nothing O’Neil said would do anything to convince me otherwise. It seemed like O’Neil was acting more reactionary than anything, which means he didn’t see the PIF pulling funding. That’s not a death sentence, but the next time the media hears from him, he’s going to need to come up with a more concrete plan about how LIV was going to survive. It didn’t sound like he knew how that would happen yet.
Josh Schrock, associate news editor (@Schrock_And_Awe): As expected, it feels like everyone is trying to figure out what’s next or if there is a next for LIV Golf. O’Neil didn’t offer many specifics on what funding they might get or how a 2027 season would look. I thought Jon Rahm saying that the players would need to make “concessions” to keep the business alive was telling. What does that look like? Who is interested in doing that? Still a lot of unknowns.
Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): LIV as we know it is over. That’s already been true — the original vision was a marriage of Greg Norman and Yasir Al-Rumayyan and had nearly blank-check access to the Saudi PIF reserves — but it was even clearer this week, as O’Neil explained that the plan is to make a new plan and players spoke of concessions and unknowns.
One looming question is the future of Bryson DeChambeau, whose contract is up at the end of this year and who said last week he could focus on growing his YouTube channel and playing “tournaments that want me” if it doesn’t work for him to return to LIV or the PGA Tour. How valuable is Bryson to the future of the PGA Tour? And who holds the leverage in Bryson’s future?
Hirsh: There’s no doubt Bryson is super important to the PGA Tour from the standpoint of how many eyeballs he can draw to it that wouldn’t otherwise watch. That said, people are going to see right through his bluff. Bryson is entertaining, no doubt, but if he’s not playing competitive golf, then some of that really goes away. What is to differentiate him from any other YouTuber? I think his viewers hold the greatest amount of leverage in his future. Maybe I’m wrong and people would continue to watch him if he stopped playing any competitive golf once his exemptions ran out. But if I’m not and he loses his command on his viewers, you’re going to see he come back to the PGA Tour with his tail tucked.
Schrock: Bryson has value to the PGA Tour. If you’re just looking at a spreadsheet of who brings in eyeballs and whose presence would translate into dollars and cents, Bryson would be in the green. But the PGA Tour is doing good without him and I don’t think he’s doing himself a lot of favors by saying the PGA Tour is struggling and complaining about the policy regulating players’ social media content creation at tournaments. It will be fascinating to see what a return would look like for Bryson, should he want to come back. He was the lead plaintiff in the antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour in 2022, which members had to pay to defend. He disparaged the PGA Tour on his way out and worked to recruit players to LIV. Basically, everything Brooks Koepka didn’t do, he did. Bryson had all the leverage in negotiations when Koepka ditched LIV. With the PIF no longer involved, he has lost that leverage and now it’s up to the PGA Tour to decide if and how he returns. Playing YouTube full-time is a good headline but, as Jack noted, eventually the exemptions run out. They don’t hand those out for breaking 50 with Steph Curry.
Dethier: They each really stand to benefit from an enthusiastic partnership. They’ll also each survive just fine without the other. There’s some risk in trying to force something that neither side fully buys in on; to Bryson’s point, he should only play the PGA Tour if he wants to and if they want him to.
While appearing on The Rich Eisen Show last week, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said he’s interested in doing whatever makes the PGA Tour better when it comes to player reintegration, but “we need to balance that with the interest of our current golfers.” How does Rolapp go about improving his Tour while also not irking current members who never left in the first place?
Hirsh: Oh man! Isn’t that the million-dollar question? I don’t think there’s a scenario where the PGA Tour product vastly improves for the fan, but the majority of Tour pros (especially guys ranked from like 75-125) aren’t irked. Personally, I’m not a fan of the proposed two-tier Tour, but I can see how that would make it easier for the casual fan. As for reintegration. I say guys who wouldn’t otherwise be exempt need to take the Patrick Reed route. Sorry, not sorry.
Schrock: When someone finds the answer to this question, let me know. I do think we’re really only talking about a handful of players and the real questions revolve around Bryson and Rahm. Feels like the second-tier bucket — the Tyrrell Hattons and Joaquin Niemanns — can take the Patrick Reed route back via the DP World Tour and most of the membership wouldn’t bat an eye. But how Rolapp constructs a punishment and way back for Bryson and Rahm, two players who have irked membership in a way Brooks Koepka didn’t, will be a fascinating tight-rope act.
Dethier: I think we’ve seen versions of these reintegration programs with Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed — but those guys returned voluntarily, while LIV was still in existence. This version is far more complex. Especially with Bryson declaring that he’ll be with LIV as long as LIV exists, and that he wants to watch out for the league’s young would-be stars and their futures, too. I don’t see a simple fix.
The second men’s major of the year has arrived, as we head to Aronimink outside of Philadelphia for the PGA Championship. What’s your top storyline for this year’s event?
Hirsh: That more golf tournaments need to be in Philly. I’m biased, but come on, we only get a golf tournament in the Philly metro every four years (the next one on the schedule is the 2030 U.S. Open at Merion). There are dozens of outstanding tournament-quality venues within 90 minutes of the airport. Not to mention it’s the best food city in the northeast (I said what I said). I think the Philly crowds are going to show out in force this week and show everyone exactly why we need to have a regular event. I’m sure the Cobbs Creek project will be highlighted and hopefully, soon, that might be the host of a tournament in Philly.
Schrock: I feel like every PGA Championship has the same top storyline, which is: So, what’s the identity of this major? Ever since the move to May, the PGA Championship has been adrift. It’s a major, but doesn’t really have the major juice we will get at the U.S. Open, Masters or Open. It’s almost Chevron-esque in that you’re telling me it’s a major but I’m not seeing it. Going to Valhalla and Quail Hollow hasn’t helped. I’m bullish on Aronomink giving us a major feel we’ve been missing at this event but we’re still looking for an identity for the fourth major.
Dethier: Jordan Spieth hunting the career Grand Slam, fellas! [Returns to earth] Honestly, for me it’s the ongoing Scottie-Rory major hunt. To Schrock’s point, as the PGA continues to hunt for an identity, its strongest virtue is that yeah, it’s a major! These are the ones that we really keep track of. I can’t wait.
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler have won four of the last five majors, with McIlroy already taking the Masters this year. Which player do you like better heading into the PGA?
Hirsh: Rory just won one. Scottie has finished second his last like bajillion events. I more likely see him defending his title than Rory getting halfway to the slam.
Schrock: Rory won at Augusta with his B- game. Scottie has been playing with his B- game for like the last two months and barely finishes outside the top five. I feel like Scottie’s floor is Sunday contention and a to -five, whereas Rory could win or bomb out early. I’ll take Scottie.
Dethier: Scottie’s the best golfer in the world and continues to play like it, so I’ll take him at an old-school major championship test over anyone. But I think Cameron Young might win, and I also think these three could end up 1-2-3 in some order, like they did at Augusta National.
Alex Fitzpatrick wasn’t a PGA Tour member until he teamed with his brother, World No. 4 Matthew Fitzpatrick, to win the Zurich Classic last month. But in his first two starts as a Tour member, Alex tied for 9th at the Cadillac Championship and now 4th at the Truist Championship Sunday. Has his play been the biggest surprise of 2026? If not, what has been?
Hirsh: Yeah, and I don’t think anything will top it. To go from having zero status to winning a team event with your brother and finishing top-10 in the next two Siggies? Now he’s playing in his second major. Quite the whirlwind.
Schrock: In a year of surprises, from Brooks Koepka’s return to Rory’s second jacket and a freakin’ Gary Woodland win, I think Alex Fitzpatrick’s last month, namely how he has played post-Zurich, is the biggest surprise. I would like to throw in Brandt Snedeker winning in Myrtle Beach today, which was his first win in almost eight years and first since he had experimental surgery on his sternum. He had five top-10s in six years coming into this week!
Dethier: The biggest surprise of 2026 is what Sungjae Im did from that bunker on the weekend. Other than that, though? Yeah, I’d say the Brothers Fitzpatrick take the cake, with a nod to some epic, inspiring wins from the trio of 40-somethings (Rose, Woodland, Snedeker). Also, did you see what happened on the Euro Tour this weekend? Golf is full of glorious, unexpected surprises. Maybe another one this week.
Wayne Rooney: Former Man United star tears into “flat” performance
Manchester United drew 0-0 with Sunderland at the weekend.
The Red Devils were scintillating at times versus Liverpool the week before, but this match was a far cry from that performance.
In fact, United were fortunate to escape with a draw, relying on the brilliance of goalkeeper Senne Lammens to keep them in the game.
Despite this, the Red Devils did have a great chance in the final seconds of the game to win it when Matheus Cunha was left alone in the penalty area, but he fired his effort straight at the Sunderland goalkeeper.
It turned out to be a valuable point, as both Liverpool and Aston Villa also dropped points, and United now only need a point from their remaining two matches to secure third place.
Wayne Rooney
United’s all-time leading goalscorer, Wayne Rooney, was speaking on the BBC’s Match of the Day programme reviewing the game, and it is safe to say that he was far from impressed by what he witnessed.
Reflecting on the match, he stated, “Manchester United’s performance was flat. It felt like an ‘end-of-season’ game for both teams.”
Numerous players were given a chance to start who do not normally feature, such as Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount, but they did not seem to take the assignment that seriously.
Rooney posed the question, “but did the players that came in today for United do enough to prove that they should be at the club next season? Probably not.”
Depth needed
The former teammate of current manager Michael Carrick claimed the match would be a useful reminder to see what his former side need to improve in the summer window.
Rooney explained, “it will be clear to Michael Carrick that there has to be some big investment in the summer for them to compete in the Champions League.”
Global regulators will have to confront US policy on dollar-backed stablecoins as they seek international standards for payment tokens, Andrew Bailey said.
Adeniyi Abiodun, co-founder of Mysten Labs, announced at an event in Miami plans for zero-fee stablecoin transfers on Sui and reiterated the ambition to add private transactions.
Apple and Intel Foundry Services have reached a preliminary agreement to onboard Apple as a foundry customer for manufacturing of Apple Silicon on its latest foundry nodes, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The move could see Apple end its near-total reliance on TSMC for production of its chips. Apple is looking to leverage the Intel 18A foundry node that offers comparable transistor densities and electric characteristics as TSMC's 2 nm-class nodes. Intel manufactures chips on the Intel 18A node in the state of Oregon, and is building new facilities in Ohio that will cater to future nodes. The company also has chip packaging facilities in states such as Arizona and Nevada. The move could improve Apple's contribution to the U.S. Government's efforts to onshore manufacturing of chips and other strategic commodities.
Late last year, AMD released a paper introducing its new Dense Geometry Format (DGF) 3D graphics technology, designed to compete with NVIDIA's RTX Mega Geometry. Today, the company is unveiling DGF SuperCompression (DGFS), a new compression technique within the DGF graphics stack, which reduces game geometry file sizes by up to 22% compared to standard DGF. With DGFS, AMD aims to achieve an average 22% reduction in compressed game asset streams when GDeflate is applied. This results in significantly smaller asset sizes, allowing for larger games without the need for expanded storage. As games now often require hundreds of gigabytes of installation space, compressing storage formats is a key strategy to fit more games on your PC without immediately needing additional storage. A 22% reduction in file size through proprietary compression makes installation sizes much more manageable.
However, it's important to note that since DGFS is a compression format for DGF, the mesh stream array produced by DGFS must be decoded before the game can load it. It's similar to a ZIP file, which you can't use until it's unzipped. DGFS data will behave in the same way, residing only in PC storage, not in memory as it is not a component that will be directly processed by the GPU. AMD has developed a CPU-based decoding process that decodes the compressed DGFS assets in real time during asset streaming, which AMD claims "should be sufficiently fast." There are also potential GPU-based decoding solutions, suggesting we might see faster implementations in the future when it hits software SDKs.
GIGABYTE, the world's leading computer brand, announced a new limited-time bundle campaign offering gamers an enhanced way to experience today's most popular titles. Starting April 24 through May 31, 2026, customers who purchase select GIGABYTE OLED gaming monitors will receive three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, unlocking access to a vast library of high-quality games across genres.
At the center of this campaign is the GIGABYTE MO27Q2A, a premium QHD OLED gaming monitor designed to deliver exceptional visual clarity, ultra-fast responsiveness, and immersive color performance. With its OLED panel technology, the MO27Q2A delivers VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400, 1.5M:1 vibrant contrast ratio, and stunning color accuracy, bringing every scene to life whether players are exploring expansive RPG worlds, competing in fast-paced shooters, or enjoying cinematic story-driven experiences available through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
For more information about the GIGABYTE MO27Q2A and the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate bundle, visit this page.
Clubly is a nightlife discovery and social app that answers the question everyone asks on a Friday night: where should we go tonight? Open the app to see which friends are heading out, discover nearby venues worth going to, RSVP, check in, and share moments from the night all in one place. For venue owners, Clubly offers an easy way to reach people who are actively deciding where to go. Claim your venue, get discovered, and promote your night to the right audience at the right moment.
Actvtec is an Israeli digital marketing agency with 19 years of experience. It specializes in Google Ads management, SEO, and GEO, optimizing brand visibility in AI answers from ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. As a certified Google Partner, the team focuses on ROAS, lower CAC, and conversion lift with transparent reporting and senior-level management. Actvtec also runs Meta campaigns, builds high-converting landing pages and websites, and provides strategy supported by proprietary AI automations and a GEO Checker to monitor AI citations.
Malaysia Joins Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand for Spearheading the Expansive Regional Cross‑Border QR Payment Network to Turbocharge Travel Avenues in...
Samsung has finally kicked off the official One UI 8.5 rollout for the Galaxy S25 Edge in the US, marking the beginning of the software’s wider global expansion after its initial debut in South Korea last week.
The update first went live on May 6 in Samsung’s home market, and now US users are starting to receive the stable firmware (S937USQU6CZDP) as part of the second phase of the rollout.
This release is particularly notable because Samsung skipped the public Beta Program for the Galaxy S25 Edge. Samsung appears to have finalized the software quietly after extensive internal testing and its Korea-first deployment strategy.
While Galaxy S25 series users participated in One UI 8.5 Beta testing over the past few months, owners of the S25 Edge are jumping straight from One UI 8.0 to the stable One UI 8.5 build.
Built on Android 16, the update introduces a refreshed interface with smoother animations, redesigned system elements, upgraded Quick Panel customization, and several Galaxy AI enhancements.
Users are getting features such as improved natural language processing in Bixby, smarter communication tools, new lock screen customization, and advanced Galaxy AI functions, including Call Screening and Creative Studio.
Samsung initially started the One UI 8.5 rollout in Korea on May 6, but the company had already confirmed that North America, India, Europe, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and other global markets would follow shortly after.
The US rollout now confirms that Samsung’s wider expansion phase is officially underway. You can also manually check by heading to Settings > Software update > Download and install on your device.
Samsung begins the Global rollout of the One UI 8.5 update to the Galaxy S25 series. Initially released in South Korea, the software is now making its way to more regions, starting in the United States.
One UI 8.5 update is an important moment for the users of the Galaxy S25 series in the Global market, as it introduces a more refined design language and a plethora of new features.
Samsung is sequentially rolling out the CZDP (4.4GB) update to the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra. Global availability has started, but a broader (international) one may take some time, probably hours, days, and even weeks.
One UI 8.5 brings select new features from the Galaxy S26 series. Owners are aware of the additions during the Beta testing activity. Features that are missing include Now Nudge as well as AI-powered Notification Prioritise and Summarise.
What I like the most is Quick Share to AirDrop connection, which ends the sharing frustration. Sharing files across Android and Apple devices has become simpler than before, thanks to the upgraded Quick Share application.
How to download and install
From a Home screen, touch and swipe up or down to display all apps, tap Settings > Software update.
If your device finds a new software update, tap Download now.
When complete, a screen will appear advising you that the new software version is ready to be installed; tap Install update.
The device will power down and power back on. A screen will appear stating that the installation has been completed. Tap OK.
This week, the new, AI-powered Google Finance is launching across Europe, with full local language support. This reimagined experience offers a suite of powerful capabil…
The Xiaomi UltraThin Magnetic Power Bank 10,000mAh is now official in China. It's a follow-up to the 5,000mAh model launched in early 2026. This higher capacity variant also sees an upgrade in charging speed, and it's currently available for CNY 349, around $51.
A new Windows tablet in Surface Pro style: the Ninkear S13 combines a modern 2-in-1 design with the latest Intel Core Ultra hardware. Promising on paper, but everyday use shows that in the end it's the price that decides whether the overall package is really worth it.
Morgan Stanley’s spot bitcoin ETF has completed its first month without a single day of net outflows, even as larger rival funds posted repeated redemption sessions during the same period. SoSoValue data reviewed by crypto.news showed Morgan Stanley’s MSBT continued…
The Renault Clio is the faraway leader in Turkiye in April.
104,287 new light vehicle hit Turkish roads in April, a small -1% year-on-year drop making it the second highest ever April volume below the record 105,352 of last year. The year-to-date tally is off -3.1% to 369,696. The top 2 carmakers post surging results: Renault is up 39.6% to 13% share while Volkswagen grows 35.7% to 10.5% of the market vs. 8.1% so far this year (#4). Fiat (-9.2%) is in difficulty but ascends to 2nd place year-to-date, overtaking Toyota (-15.3%) in even worse shape this month. Citroen (+37.8%) also shines in the remainder of the Top 10 while local EV maker Togg (+8%) repeats at #10. BYD implodes -91.7% to #27 as its local factory is scheduled to start production by the end of the year.
Model-wise (Passenger Cars only), the Renault Clio (+29.5%) is once again the runaway leader with 6.5%, this time followed by stablemate the Megane Sedan (+9.2%). The VW Taigo (+266.7%) climbs onto the third step of the podium, a second consecutive month of record rankings. The Toyota Corolla (+2.2%) is back up three spots on last month to #4 and ranks #2 year-to-date. The Togg T10X (-35.6%) is up to #5 but freefalls year-on-year. Notice also the Renault Duster up 110.8% to #6 and the KGM Torres up 85.4% to #11. Best-selling recent launches are the Opel Frontera (#15) and Togg T10F (#17).
The Skoda Octavia is the best-selling vehicle in Hungary in April.
New Passenger Cars sales in Hungary progress 9.7% year-on-year in April to 11,832 units, leading to a year-to-date volume up 10.5% to 48,287. Skoda (+17%) takes the lead of the brands ranking with 9.8% share but is stuck at #3 year-to-date with 9.5% of the market. Toyota (-5.4%) repeats at #2 and retains the YTD top spot while local producer Suzuki (-14.1%) is in trouble, even more so year-to-date (-23.8%) where it ranks #4 vs. #1 over the Full Year 2025. Volkswagen (+21.9%) is in great share at #4 with Ford (-10.6%) rounding out the Top 5. #1 last month thanks to re-exports, Nissan (-16.1%) is down to #7 this month. Further down, notice newcomer Chery up to a record 11th place, BYD up 195.2%, Opel up 64.4% and Citroen up 120.7% year-to-date.
Model-wise, the Skoda Octavia (+7%) takes the lead for the first time since last November and cements its YTD 2nd spot. The Nissan Qashqai (-5.2%) drops to #2 but remains by far the leader YTD. Following are the Suzuki S-Cross (+7%) and Vitara (-41.1%), the latter completely imploding. The Dacia Duster (+79.1%) is up ten spots on last month to #5 while the Hyundai Tucson (+155.4%) is up to #6.
Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan millisinin müdafiəçisi Zamiq Əliyev Albaniyanın “Eqnatiya” komandasının heyətində növbəti matçına çıxıb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, sözügedən komanda Albaniya çempionatının 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün sonuncu – 36-cı turu çərçivəsində “Teuta” ilə qarşılaşıb.
“Eqnatiya” səfərdə baş tutmuş bu oyundan məğlubiyyətlə ayrılıb – 2:3. Əliyev görüşə start heyətdə başlasa da, fasilədə əvəzlənib.
“Eqnatiya” 36 oyunda topladığı 57 xalla 10 komandanın mübarizə apardığı Albaniya çempionatının yarış cədvəlində 3-cü yeri tutub. Bürünc medal qazanmış sözügedən komanda 36 oyunda 16 qələbə qazanıb, 9 heç-heçə edib, 11 məğlubiyyətə üzülüb.
Xatırladaq ki, Zamiq Əliyev Albaniya klubuna 2024-cü ilin yayında “Araz-Naxçıvan”dan azad agent kimi keçib. Müdafiəçinin “Eqnatiya” ilə 2027-ci ilin 30 oyununadək müqaviləsi mövcuddur. 25 yaşlı futbolçu indiyə qədər bu komandanın heyətində 72 oyuna çıxıb, 2 qola imza atıb. Əliyev “Eqnatiya” ilə ötən mövsüm Albaniya çempionu olub.
Əliyev daha öncə “Qarabağ”da və “Kəpəz”də də oynayıb. Azərbaycanın U-17, U-19 və U-21 yığmalarında forma geyinmiş müdafiəçi 2024-cü ilin noyabr ayında əsas millimizdə də debüt edib və hələlik 2 oyun keçirib.
AFFA tərəfindən 13 yaşadək futbolçulardan ibarət komandalar arasında keçirilən U-13 Liqasında 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünə yekun vurulub.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, ötən ün Bayıl stadionunda üçüncü yer uğrunda oyun və final görüşü keçirilib.
Bürünc mükafat uğrunda matçda “Turan Tovuz” üzərində 1:0 hesablı qələbə qazanan “Sabah” komandası yarışı üçüncü sırada tamamlayıb.
Ardından final qarşılaşmasında “Qarabağ” və “Neftçi“ komandaları üz-üzə gəliblər. Görüşün əsas və əlavə vaxtı 2:2 hesabı ilə yekunlaşıb. Penaltilər seriyasında rəqibini 4:3 hesabı ilə məğlub edən “Neftçi” çempion olub. “Qarabağ” isə gümüş medal əldə edib.
Oyunlardan sonra “Sabah” bürünc, “Qarabağ” gümüş medalla, “Neftçi” qızıl medal və kubokla təltif olunub. Həmçinin fərdi mükafatçılar da müəyyənləşib. U-8 Liqasında “Ulduz” Futbol Akademiyasından Cəlal Quliyev, U-9 Liqasında “Qarabağ”dan Arda Babayev, U-13 Liqasında isə “Qarabağ”dan Yusif Əliyev feyr-pley mükafatçısı seçilib.
U-13 Liqasında mövsümün ən yaxşı qapıçısı “Qarabağ”ın qolkiperi Amid Şabanov, ən yaxşı futbolçusu isə “Neftçi”nin üzvü Adil Şabanov seçilib.
Mükafatları AFFA-nın baş katibinin müavini Elçin Məmmədov və Yarışların təşkili departamentinin rəhbəri Emin Cəfərov təqdim ediblər.
Fenerbahçe G.Saray'ın şampiyon olduğu 12 sezon ligi ikinci bitirdi; Bursa, Beşiktaş ve Trabzon'un şampiyon olduğu sezonlarda da zirveyi kaçırdı. 30 yıllık süreçte, Sarı-Lacivertliler adına "aynı kaderi yaşıyor" yorumları gündeme taşındı
Fenerbahçe'nin eski başkanı Ali Koç'un olağanüstü seçimli genel kurulunda başkan adayı olup olmayacağı merak konusuydu. Ali Koç bununla ilgili net ifade kullandı.
Yeni sezon öncesi orta sahaya lider bir isim arayan Beşiktaş, rotasını Joao Palhinha'ya çevirdi. Sergen Yalçın'ın olumlu rapor verdiği Portekizli yıldız için siyah-beyazlıların, Tottenham'ın satın alma kararını beklediği öğrenildi.
Bu sezon kötü sonuçlarla taraftarlarını üzen Beşiktaş'ta Başkan Serdal Adalı ve teknik direktör Sergen Yalçın Rizespor maçının ardından görüşme yapacak.
Trabzonspor maçında forma giyemeyen Felix Uduokhai, ülkesine döndü. Eşinin doğumu sebebiyle teknik heyetten izin alan Alman stoper, son maçta takımını yalnız bırakacak.
“Yunion” klubu Bundesliqanın XXXIII turunda səfərdə “Maynts”a qalib gəlib – 3:1.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Berlin təmsilçisinin çalışdırıcısı Mari-Luize Eta çempionat tarixinə düşüb. O, Avropanın TOP-5 çempionatlarında qələbə qazanan ilk qadın məşqçi olub.
Mütəxəssis ötən ay “Yunion”a baş məşqçi təyin edilib.
16 yaşadək qızlardan ibarət Azərbaycan milli komandası Bakıda təşkil olunan UEFA İnkişaf Turnirində bu gün son oyuna çıxacaq.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, millimiz Gürcüstanın müvafiq yaş qrupundan ibarət komandası ilə qarşılaşacaq. Binə stadionunda keçiriləcək görüş saat 12:00-da başlayacaq. Qarşılaşma FIFA+ TV tərəfindən canlı yayımlanacaq.
Milli bundan öncə Rumıniyaya 1:7, Litvaya isə 1:4 hesabıyla uduzub.
“Barselona” İspaniya La Liqasının XXXV turunda “Real”ı məğlub edib – 2:0.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu, Kataloniya təmsilçisinin “el klasiko”lardakı 106-cı qələbəsi olub. “Barselona” qalibiyyət sayında Madrid klubuna çatıb.
Komadnalar arasındakı 52 görüş isə heç-heçə başa çatıb.
“Real” “el klasiko”larda 444, “Barselona” isə 441 qol vurub.
Barcelona are interested in a move for Chelsea attacker Joao Pedro, who has highly impressed in his debut season for the Premier League side.
According to Sport, the Catalan giants have identified the 24-year-old Brazilian as a primary alternative to Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez.
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With Barcelona actively laying the groundwork for a transition in attack to eventually replace veteran talisman Robert Lewandowski, sporting director Deco is monitoring the Premier League market closely.
Pedro’s inclusion on Barcelona’s exclusive shortlist comes as no surprise given his exceptional individual campaign.
Arriving at Stamford Bridge from Brighton & Hove Albion last summer, the versatile attacker has been a rare beacon of brilliance amidst widespread collective inconsistency in West London.
Racking up 20 goals and nine assists across all competitions during his debut season, his sharp execution, physical intensity, and ability to operate both as a focal-point number nine and a creative presence between the lines have deeply impressed the Blaugrana hierarchy.
While Barcelona’s initial preference remains Álvarez, negotiations for the Argentine are expected to be exceptionally difficult.
Atlético Madrid are highly reluctant to sell, reportedly demanding a fee north of €120 million.
Consequently, Deco has seriously explored the parameters of a move for Pedro, which Sport estimates could cost between €80 million and €100 million.
Chelsea are in a strong position with the striker’s future
To pitch the move, Barcelona are reportedly leaning on their successful “Raphinha blueprint”, highlighting how another standout Brazilian international traded the Premier League for Camp Nou in his mid-20s to elevate his career to world-class heights.
Although Chelsea hold immense contractual leverage, having signed Pedro to a massive deal running until 2033, their inability to offer elite European competition presents a formidable obstacle in keeping their star players content.
Ultimately, Chelsea’s ongoing struggle to establish a stable, top-four project threatens to dismantle their highly expensive squad before it fully matures.
Tottenham Hotspur’s contract negotiations with star defender Micky van de Ven have abruptly hit the brakes.
Initially, club hierarchy had mapped out a clear strategy to sit down with the 25-year-old’s representatives before the season’s end to reward him with a lucrative new package.
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However, with Tottenham enduring a catastrophic domestic campaign that has left them dangling dangerously above the Premier League relegation zone, the Dutch international has understandably paused all long-term commitments, according to Football Insider.
Sensing an imminent opportunity, European heavyweights, most notably Liverpool and Barcelona, are maintaining a close interest in the situation.
The latest development involving Van de Ven would give them encouragement to make the move for him in the summer transfer window.
Widely praised for his breathtaking recovery pace and dominant physical presence, the left-footed centre-back has frequently worn the captain’s armband this season amidst widespread squad turmoil.
With the club fiercely battling to avoid a disastrous drop to the Championship, Van de Ven has prioritised top-flight survival over boardroom talks.
While the Dutchman’s existing agreement runs until the summer of 2029, giving Tottenham significant theoretical leverage, things could change quickly if Spurs are relegated from the Premier League.
Insiders indicate that an exit is highly probable if Spurs fail to secure their top-flight status, and could remain on the table even if they survive.
What makes Liverpool’s interest strong is that Arne Slot previously attempted to sign the defender twice during his managerial stints in the Eredivisie.
Securing his signature, however, will require a massive financial outlay. Emerging reports suggest Tottenham would demand a premium fee in the region of £60 million to £80 million to even consider parting ways with their prized asset.
Furthermore, suitors will need to meet hefty personal terms, as Van de Ven is reportedly seeking a wage hike to around £200,000 per week.
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have initiated contact with the representatives of Manchester City defender Joško Gvardiol, exploring the feasibility of a blockbuster transfer.
Both the clubs are reportedly ‘huge admirers’ of the 24-year-old defender.
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However, the Premier League giants have no intention of selling their prized asset.
City are planning a decisive move, moving quickly to open formal contract extension talks to secure the 24-year-old’s long-term future and firmly ward off his elite suitors, according to TEAMtalk.
Man City defender is a wanted man this summer
The intense interest from both Madrid and Bayern hardly comes as a surprise.
Both European giants are actively scouring the market for premium, left-sided defensive reinforcements, and Gvardiol’s fits the profile of the player they are looking for.
Capable of operating seamlessly as a progressive, ball-playing centre-back or as an attacking threat from left-back, the Croatian international has established himself as one of the most complete defenders in the modern game.
Yet, Gvardiol’s current campaign has been defined by off-pitch frustration rather than on-pitch action.
A severe right tibial fracture sustained during a hard-fought draw against Chelsea in early January abruptly derailed his season, forcing him into months of strenuous rehabilitation.
While City were compelled to navigate a severe defensive injury crisis in his absence, eventually recruiting Marc Guéhi in the winter window to bolster the backline, manager Pep Guardiola’s reliance on Gvardiol’s unique skill set has never wavered.
Guardiola recently made his stance clear to the media, noting that a player of Gvardiol’s caliber is incredibly rare to find and expressing his explicit desire for the defender to remain in Manchester.
With his existing agreement set to expire in the summer of 2028, Gvardiol is entering that delicate two-year window where rival clubs often attempt to apply transfer pressure.
Recognising the impending threat, Man City’s Director of Football, Hugo Viana, is moving aggressively to maintain core squad stability.
Emerging reports indicate the club is tabling an extension that would keep him at the Etihad until at least 2030, complete with an option for an additional year and a substantial pay rise reflecting his cornerstone status.
The club holds immense leverage, backed by a highly competitive sporting environment where Gvardiol is understood to be exceptionally happy.
With all eyes falling on the English capital on Monday night, Tottenham will welcome Leeds to north London for what could be a season-defining showdown. Enjoying what has become an essential resurge over the past fortnight, Spurs have dragged themselves out of the drop zone and can take another giant leap towards Premier League safety. […]
The world’s largest martial arts organization returns to Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, this Friday, May 15, and fans tuning in live in Asia primetime can expect a stacked night of martial arts action.
After The Inner Circle airs on live.onefc.com for exclusive members, ONE Friday Fights 154 features nine more bouts across Muay Thai and kickboxing, with each athlete on the card hunting a coveted US$100,000 contract and a spot on ONE’s global roster.
In the main event, surging Thai standout Samingdam NF Looksuan squares off with dangerous knockout artist Yodphupa Petkiatpet in a bantamweight Muay Thai showdown.
The 23-year-old Samingdam grew up in a household steeped in Muay Thai. Both his parents are former fighters who introduced him to the sport so he could protect himself from bullies. Now carrying a five-fight winning streak and the full backing of NF Looksuan gym in Bangkok, he heads into Friday with one goal: to make himself known to the world.
Standing across from him is the 22-year-old Yodphupa, whose journey to ONE Friday Fights is a story of pure hunger. He took his first professional fight after just one month of training because he didn’t want to keep asking his parents for money.
That same drive has carried him to a 71-14 career record, a Road to ONE: Thailand Championship, and a reputation as one of the most dangerous one-punch finishers in the division. Coming off a unanimous decision victory, Yodphupa heads into Friday ready to put on the biggest performance of his career.
In the co-main event, two-time Muay Thai World Champion Rungnarai Kiatmoo9 returns to the ring to face battle-tested veteran Den Sitnayoktaweeptaphong in a strawweight Muay Thai clash.
A former Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion at 115 pounds and Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion at 108 pounds, the 30-year-old Rungnarai is one of the most accomplished athletes to step through the doors at ONE Friday Fights. He has spent time coaching at Evolve MMA and now comes back to competition looking to add to his decorated resume.
Across from him stands Den, a 29-year-old from Buriram who carries a remarkable 196-49 professional record into this matchup. Two older brothers and a father who was a fighter himself shaped his career from an early age. He now runs his own gym while continuing to compete, and heads into Friday on the back of a decision victory at ONE Friday Fights 139.
In other action, Sanit Aekmuangnon takes on Azerbaijani newcomer Elvin Mammadov in flyweight Muay Thai. Thailand’s Dafi Sor Dechapan faces Laos-born French striker Anouwat Merlet in a strawweight Muay Thai tilt, while Saenmuangnoi PK Saenchai squares off with Malaysia’s Asura Thiagesh in flyweight Muay Thai, plus much more.
ONE Friday Fights 154 Full Card
Samingdam NF Looksuam vs. Yodphupa Petkiatpet (Muay Thai – bantamweight)
Rungnarai Kiatmoo9 vs. Den Sitnayoktaweeptaphong (Muay Thai – strawweight)
Sanit Aekmuangnon vs. Elvin Mammadov (Muay Thai – flyweight)
Dafi Sor Dechapan vs. Anouwat Merlet (Muay Thai – strawweight)
Saenmuangnoi PK Saenchai vs. Asura Thiagesh (Muay Thai – flyweight)
Mahesuan Aekmuangnon vs. Aung Tun Bo (Muay Thai – atomweight)
Wang Penghui vs. Semih Sah Cindir (kickboxing – featherweight)
Sulaiman NF Looksuan vs. Juan Martinez (Muay Thai – flyweight)
Denis Dotsenko vs. Hiroki Suzuki (kickboxing – bantamweight)
‘Plan confirmed’ — Romano says Man Utd will complete €44m deal ‘next week’ as first summer transfer set in stone
Manchester United and Napoli will complete their deal for Rasmus Hojlund ‘from next week’.
Fabrizio Romano revealed on Sunday that the ‘plan [is] confirmed’ for the Red Devils to receive the £38 million buy fee they inserted into the loan terms last summer.
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Napoli’s stance on signing Rasmus Holjund
Napoli would’ve had no choice but to shell out the sum when their Champions League qualification was confirmed.
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However, the club, along with Sporting Director Giovanni Manna, have maintained since early on in Hojlund’s spell that they planned to sign him permanently, having been impressed with his performances in a sky blue shirt.
The Italian outfit face Bologna this evening, but are currently only playing to secure second place due to Inter Milan already claiming the Scudetto last weekend.
He struggled to ever really get going as a Red, despite once overseeing a run of scoring in six successive matches.
How Hojlund fared for United
The Dane finished his maiden campaign with 10 Premier League goals to his name, which is a pretty respectable return for a young player’s first stint in England.
Yet, he followed it up by finding the back of the net only four times in 32 appearances in his sophomore term, prompting INEOS to sign a replacement upon the culmination of 2024/2025.
Hojlund’s complete record in all competitions for United
Benjamin Sesko subsequently arrived in a £73m switch from RB Leipzig, and he has shown more promising signs than his predecessor in recent months.
Budds auctioneers also sold a pair of silver boots won by Cristiano Ronaldo while he played at Old Trafford for £7,500.
Sir David Beckham was loaned out to Preston North End before he became a regular at Old Trafford [Graham Budd auctioneers]
The Nike worn football boots, with the tongue inscribed R9, were retrieved from the bin at United's Carrington training ground by cleaner Tony Heywood in 2004.
Heywood was a cleaner with the club for 46 years.
And a black No 7 shirt worn by Ronaldo when United beat 1-0 Liverpool at Anfield in 2005 sold for £14,000.
The Portuguese forward left Old Trafford to join Real Madrid in 2009 in a £80m deal.
The Beckham shirt, Ronaldo top and boots were sold at the auction in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, on 28 April.
Cristiano Ronaldo won the Champions League with United in 2008 [PA Media]
United's former manager Sir Matt Busby had given the private vendor permission to take it when it was removed from Old Trafford's famous Stretford End in 1992.
It feels ironic that the Washington Wizards became the first team with the worst record to get the No. 1 pick since the NBA switched to these new lottery odds — just in time for the league to change everything next year to "fix" tanking. Again.
The way the ping-pong balls bounced this year left some big winners and some painful losers. Let's break down who won and who lost in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery.
Winner: Shameless tanking
The Washington Wizards traded for Trae Young and Anthony Davis and barely played them to maintain their lottery odds (to be fair, AD was injured). The Utah Jazz were the face of tanking in the league, got a massive fine, traded for Jaren Jackson Jr. and mostly sat him to keep their draft position. The Memphis Grizzlies were just a couple of games out of the play-in when they traded Jackson to the Jazz and started tanking in earnest, going 5-28 the rest of the way.
All three of those teams were rewarded and have the top three picks in this draft. If you wonder why the league thinks it needs a new lottery system to fix tanking, this is the prime example.
Winner: Toni Kukoc, Chicago Bulls
Chicago jumped up to the top four because Toni Kukoc brought the swagger.
Six years ago, when Arturas Karnisovas took over as the lead executive in Chicago, the Bulls jumped up from seventh in the lottery odds to get the No. 4 pick, which they used to select Patrick Williams. That pick (and subsequent contract) was an anchor on Karnisovas' entire tenure.
This year, Bryson Graham has taken over as the lead executive in Chicago, and the Bulls jumped from ninth in the lottery odds to get the No. 4 pick. Most likely, they will use that on North Carolina's Caleb Willson, unless Memphis falls in love with him, in which case Cameron Boozer of Duke likely falls to the Bulls. Either way, Graham needs this pick to work out.
Winner: Washington Wizards
Washington was active in "pre-agency" at the trade deadline last February, getting good deals on two former All-Stars other teams were looking to dump move on from: Trae Young and Anthony Davis. This is a team that already had some promising young players like big man Alex Sarr and last year's first-round pick Tre Johnson. This was a team that was already going to be better and in the postseason mix in the East.
Now they likely add AJ Dybantsa, the 6'9" ultra-talented, ultra-athletic wing out of BYU, who seems like a perfect fit. Suddenly, the Wizards look interesting next season.
There is a report that Washington might be open to trading down, via Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. Sure, if someone comes in with a Godfather offer they can't refuse, but that's unlikely at best. The Wizards are not giving up their first No. 1 pick since selecting John Wall in 2010, a pick that has the fan base excited, without some overwhelming talent returning.
Loser: Brooklyn Nets
The most talent-starved team in the league was let down by the basketball gods. While they will still get a quality player at No. 6 — likely a star guard like Darius Acuff Jr. or Keaton Wagler — but it's not the guy or the lottery luck they were hoping for.
Brooklyn is on track to struggle again next year, and with the coming new “3-2-1" lottery system, their chances of adding that elite talent just got longer.
Winner: Utah Jazz
The lottery gods finally smiled on the Jazz. Which is ironic because they became the face of tanking this season when the league fined them $500,000 for playing their stars 20 minutes a game, then benching them in the stretch and losing. It turns out that what the league wanted was just for the Jazz to make up an injury and bench them all game, so they did. The Jazz got all the bad press, and the basketball gods rewarded them.
This is another team already building something with guard Keyonte George and big man Walker Kessler, plus last year's No. 1 pick Ace Bailey. They already had Lauri Markkanen and then added Jaren Jackson Jr. at the deadline. Now put Kansas guard Darryn Peterson in the mix and they look like a potential playoff team starting next season.
Loser: Indiana Pacers
You know it's not good when just after the lottery the GM steps up and takes the blame.
I'm really sorry to all our fans. I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year. I thought we were due some luck. But please remember - this team deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year. We have always been resilient.
As part of the trade to bring in Ivica Zubac in February, the Pacers traded their pick this year to the Clippers, but it was top-four protected. While the Pacers finished with the league's second-worst record, that made it basically a coin toss (52% to 48%) whether they would lose their pick. They did lose it, which essentially means they traded the No. 5 pick for Zubac. Make no mistake, Zubac with a healthy Tyrese Halliburton is a good pairing — and the Pacers will be back contending for the East crown next season with him — but that is a steep price.
Winner: LA Clippers
If the Pacers are losers, then the Clippers must be winners. They get to add another high-level player to a roster that is getting retooled in the next couple of years.
They are going to be an interesting team on draft night. At No. 5, that's where a run of strong point guards starts, except the Clippers traded for Darius Garland during the season (for James Harden). LA needs to find a guard or wing who can play off ball, not just on, which might be Keaton Wagler.
Loser: Sacramento Kings
Call it an ethical tank if you want, the Kings were just bad this season. At No. 7, they are still going to get a quality player, but maybe not the star they were hoping for to anchor their rebuild. Also, like Brooklyn, the Kings may be bad again next year but with flatter lottery odds (almost certainly a part of whatever system the owners approve) it will be even harder for Sacramento to get that elite talent.
Loser: New Orleans Pelicans
We knew this would be the case when it happened last June. That's when the Pelicans traded the rights to their pick this year to jump up 10 spots and select Derik Queen. Now we know that it is the No. 8 pick. Queen showed promise this season, but that looked like a bad trade at the time and it may be worse now.
Ondrej Lingr #9 of Houston Dynamo FC gets fouled by Nkosi Tafari #91 of LAFC during an MLS match against LAFC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
A chance to earn a bounce-back victory in front of the home crowd came and went for LAFC, as the club ultimately fell 4-1 to Houston Dynamo FC on Sunday evening at BMO Stadium. The Black and Gold are now 6-3-3 and have lost consecutive matches, conceding four goals in each.
Houston secured just its second victory on the road this season, moving to 2-3-0 away from Shell Energy Stadium. Jack McGlynn led the charge, scoring his first two goals of 2026.
"It's clear that we dominated possession and were on their half the majority of the game," said head coach Marc Dos Santos. "But every time we lost the ball, it seemed like we didn't have the capacity to deal with their three players in transition. When you're at this moment in the season where we've given so much physically, there's lapses of quality and concentration that were missing."
With leading scorer Denis Bouanga (yellow card accumulation) out for the match, Nathan Ordaz provided the only tally on the evening for LAFC in the 45th minute, with the squad already trailing 2-0. He met Jacob Shaffelburg's cross towards the middle of the box and managed to ricochet it past Houston goalkeeper Jonathan Bond for his third goal across all competitions.
Ordaz acknowledged that the density of the team's schedule through the first few months of the season has taken a toll on the roster. Nevertheless, he does not want the club to use that as an excuse.
"If you're playing more games, you're going to be more tired. That's just a fact," he said. "It's true that we have played more games, but we still have to come out and compete. We might be tired, but we're not 4-1 tired."
A quiet 25 minutes from both sides began the match before McGlynn got Houston on the board with his first score, a left-footed rocket from beyond the box to stun the Los Angeles defense. Nine minutes later, Guilherme Augusto's free kick found its way to past Hugo Lloris and made it 2-0.
Lloris entered Sunday's competition having earned eight MLS clean sheets in ten tries. However, the Dynamo managed to break free from the offensive struggles that had plagued them early on in the season. Houston had scored only 13 goals (tied for third-fewest in the Western Conference) before finding the net a season-high four times against L.A.
"Our first 25 minutes were good," said Dos Santos. "We were on Houston, and then the first time they go to our goal, they just take a spectacular shot. Seasons are long, and they're made of moments like that."
Although Ordaz's score before half helped to erase an otherwise disappointing first 45 minutes, LAFC could not extend its momentum through the rest of the evening. Former LAFC midfielder Mateusz Bogusz, who played with the club for two seasons, made it 3-1 in the 51st minute after collecting the rebound from his initial try and firing it into the bottom left corner of the net.
The boos rained down from the BMO Stadium crowd as McGlynn put home his second score four minutes later, using his left foot to calmly boot another shot past Lloris. The 22-year-old had not tallied a single point across all competitions since Mar. 14 before breaking out to lead his side to a signature win.
Perhaps the only other moment to remember for LAFC besides Ordaz's goal came with Eddie Segura. The defender, who started and etched his 153rd MLS regular-season appearance with the club, passed Carlos Vela for the most in club history.
"Coming here, it's been a great step in my career," said Segura. "I'm proud to represent these colors. It fills me with joy. I wish we had a better result, but that's part of the sport. Now it's time to move on and improve."
Dos Santos hinted following the loss that defender Sergi Palencia, who started the match but exited for Ryan Raposo in the 42nd minute, sustained an injury that could keep him out for a while.
LAFC now has three games remaining before heading into the World Cup break on May 25. Up next is the first of two straight on the road, a battle against St. Louis City SC. L.A. earned a 2-0 shutout over St. Louis back on Mar. 14 and will look to finish off a season sweep.
"I hope we can get points before," Dos Santos said. "But I can tell you that the break is going to be really good for us."
Marcus Rashford: Man United loanee scores sublime free kick in El Clasico
Manchester United had one player in loan action on Sunday.
To find out where all of Manchester United’s loanees are plying their trade this season, click here.
Marcus Rashford
Rashford’s future is still very much up in the air.
He has had a successful season on loan at FC Barcelona, but the Catalans seem unprepared to commit to spending €30 million on him.
The winger has made it clear that his preferred option would be to stay at FC Barcelona next season, and it is one issue the Red Devils will need to sort this summer.
El Clasico goal
Rashford has received criticism from Barcelona fans for his wastefulness in the Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid, but he has come up big in league games.
The Manchester United academy product has scored against Espanyol, Atletico Madrid, and now Real Madrid in the last months of the season.
With Lamine Yamal injured and Raphinha on the bench, Rashford started for the Blaugrana.
He made the perfect start to the match when he curled in a sublime free kick to give Barcelona the lead in just the ninth minute of play.
In the 38th minute, he was played in behind the Real Madrid defence, but his goal-bound effort was well stopped by Thibaut Courtois.
In the match, he completed 81% of his passes, and none of his eight crosses found an intended target.
He also completed 100% of his dribbles, but only one of four ground duels in the match.
The victory meant that FC Barcelona were crowned league champions, marking the first league title of Rashford’s career.
Rashford may be in action again against Alaves on Wednesday night in the league.
Joel Embiid suffered a common playoff treatment once again as injuries continue to dampen his otherwise notable postseason career. Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers were swept by the New York Knicks in the second round of the NBA playoffs. This was Embiid's sixth second-round defeat in nine NBA postseasons.
Questions were raised in the recent press conference about his future with the 76ers. Embiid provided a grim outlook, showing uncertainty about whether he'll be in Philadelphia next season.
"VJ is going, I know, you know, I'm gonna talk to him, he's gonna be better, and he was amazing for his first year. Tyrese is gonna be better, and he's taking a step every single year. PG that we saw the last couple of weeks, you know, he still got it, and then everybody else. I don't know who's gonna be here. I don't even know if I'm gonna be here, you know, whatever happens happens, but, you know, for me I'm excited about, you know, really getting back to myself."
Joel Embiid says he doesn't know if he'll be back with the 76ers next season: "Whatever happens, happens." 😳
The 76ers have a lot of thinking to do this summer. With a lot of their money tied to Paul George and Joel Embiid's contracts, they don't have a lot of options to improve this summer. NBA executives are known to act tough when thrown into such circumstances where they feel trading their best man could solve a lot of their worries. In this case, Embiid can be that man, but it's highly unlikely, though.
Joel Embiid will play his 13th season in the NBA this fall. That's a lot for someone who is constantly asked to hustle the full length of the court for almost every possession in the game. No doubt there are concerns among fans about how healthy Embiid can remain at this stage of his career.
However, while talking to reporters, Embiid was sure the knee concerns were behind him and that he is looking forward to a good summer work.
"I hate losing, but I thought I was done," Embiid said after the sweep in Game 4. "That's the best way to put it. And then I found something and we found something as a group to figure out what we have to do to make sure I'm better positioned next year to play a lot of games."
West Ham are set to contact referees' body the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) over their late equaliser being disallowed against Arsenal.
The Hammers had appeared to have dealt a significant blow to the Gunners' title hopes - as well as boosting their own Premier League survival prospects - when Callum Wilson struck in stoppage time on Sunday.
But after a video assistant referee (VAR) review, the goal was ruled out for a foul by Pablo on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
West Ham will raise concerns and request further explanation from PGMO following the controversial decision.
BBC Sport understands they will also request the audio between referee Chris Kavanagh and VAR Darren England.
The Gunners went on to win 1-0, taking them five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League and making West Ham's future that bit more uncertain - as they sit in 18th place, with Tottenham Hotspur a point above them before the host Leeds on Monday.
Former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney believes VAR "did a really good job" in disallowing the goal.
"It's a clear foul," Rooney said on the Wayne Rooney Show.
"You're going to obviously get a lot of people saying they think it should have stood because it's controversial and probably all the [Manchester] City players, staff, fans are going to say it should have stood. And then you're going to get all the Tottenham fans, players, staff saying it shouldn't have stood and of course the Arsenal fans and stuff.
"But it's a clear foul. I think you can clearly see the arm crosses his face and it impacts him getting to the ball. So I think it's the right decision.
"It's the one time I actually think VAR has done a really good job in such an important game."
Despite being satisfied the correct decision was made, Rooney lamented the advantage goalkeepers get inside their own area.
"I think where VAR is consistent and the referees are consistent - and I hate it - is you go anywhere near the goalkeeper and it's a foul," he said.
"You go anywhere near the goalkeeper and you give a foul. Throughout my career as a player, I've had a dislike for goalkeepers because of that reason. I think because (...) they can jump with their arms and so they have got a big advantage and normally they come out with their knees and the studs down your back and stuff.
"But I think it is consistent with goalkeepers that [if] you go near them, they normally get a free-kick."
What did other pundits say?
Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann on Match of the Day: "I don't think anyone would want to trade places with Darren England. Nobody would want to be sitting in that chair. He stepped up to the plate, he made the right decision and it's the biggest VAR call in Premier League history."
Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given on Match of the Day: "The thing that grates {on] me is we have seen on numerous occasions with Arsenal this season, goalkeepers and defenders getting blocked off and the goal stands. Everyone is frustrated about the consistency of the refereeing decision. Why are some goals allowed to stand and this was disallowed? There is so much at stake at the bottom of the league and the very top.
"The other thing is Gabriel is holding, Odegaard is holding, Trossard is holding before the foul even happens on Raya. When does the referee decide that's the foul he wants to pick and not the previous foul?"
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy on Match of the Day: "The controversy and discontent around West Ham not being given the goal is because it's Arsenal. They can't be held accountable for decisions in the past.
"The VAR officials have got to say what they see and it's a clear foul. Just because it's Arsenal we shouldn't get it distorted."
Former West Ham goalkeeper Rob Green on BBC Radio 5 Live: "It is a foul. You are looking at two players fouling the goalkeeper. There have been so many of these this season, it has been such a talked-about topic, there has been such inconsistency with it so for it to come down to this is huge.
"It just feels like for VAR, for West Ham, for Arsenal in particular with their set-pieces, has been the topic of the season.
"In isolation - foul. There were five or six fouls going on at the same time in there but it's where the ball landed. Then you think consistency - there hasn't been any."
NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians captain Suryakumar Yadav’s decision to hand the last over to young Raj Angad Bawa did not go as planned, as Royal Challengers Bengaluru held their nerve in a pulsating last-ball thriller at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium on Sunday. With this win, RCB have knocked Mumbai Indians out of the tournament with a dramatic two-wicket victory.
After Jasprit Bumrah’s penultimate over, which went for just three runs and left RCB needing 15 off the final six balls, Suryakumar entrusted Bawa with the responsibility of bowling the final over. The call came despite Allah Ghazanfar still having one over left and Will Jacks with two.
Chasing 167 on a surface that had troubled batters all evening, RCB rode on Krunal Pandya’s fighting 73 and an astonishing late cameo from Bhuvneshwar Kumar to seal the contest on the final delivery.
When Suryakumar came for the post-match chat, he was asked about the decision to hand Bawa the final over.
"I think he (Raj Bawa) had been practicing that (death bowling) really well and he was a complete different all rounder this year. Almost pulled it off for us," Surya said.
"I think we were 10-15 runs short. We can say wrong timing of wickets (while batting). Naman and Tilak batted beautifully and showed character. I think these are the things you practice a lot with the fielding. The way Tilak came back and took the catch again, showed that he wanted to do something special. Part of the game," he said.
"I think we can just try and play this game because we love it. Though we are not used to being in this position often. Hard pill to swallow. Hopefully we will come back well next year. Very proud of the way he (Bosch) bowled in the powerplay and in all phases," Surya added.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru climbed to the top of the IPL 2026 points table after edging past Mumbai Indians. The two-wicket win not only boosted RCB’s playoff hopes but also strengthened their position in a tightly contested top-four race.
With the victory, RCB now have 14 points from 11 matches, having registered seven wins and four defeats so far this season. More importantly, their impressive net run rate of +1.103 is currently the best among all teams, helping them move above Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans despite all three sides being tied on 14 points.
For Mumbai Indians, the defeat officially ended their playoff hopes.
MI are ninth with just three wins and eight losses from 11 matches, managing only six points with a net run rate of -0.585.
But the offense isn’t the only thing that changed.
“I feel like our mindset shifted,” McBride told SNY. “We know we’re the better team (but) we can’t just come out there and expect to win, because they’re talented too. So I feel like our mindset just shifted totally to ‘take the game’ instead of (waiting for) them to give us the game.”
He made four three-pointers in an 81-second span to give the Knicks an early 14-point lead.
New York never looked back, building a 24-point lead at halftime and going up by as many as 44 in the second half.
They beat Philadelphia by 30 to extend their playoff win streak to seven games, winning each of those by an average of 26.4 points.
Given the circumstances, has any Knick team in the last 50 years played a better seven-game stretch?
Don’t think so.
Now New York will enter the Eastern Conference Finals as the prohibitive favorite.
“I think the more we’ve played together as a team, the more we’ve grown. And we’ve continued to get better,” Jalen Brunson said. “It’s a chemistry thing. It’s a feel thing. It’s how things get better. Things get better over time.”
Things are getting better at the right time for Brunson and the Knicks.
A SLOW BUILD
The Knicks underwhelmed for long stretches of the regular season. Fans and media questioned their legitimacy again and again. But that sentiment never effected the team, Brunson says.
“It was a rollercoaster for sure,” he said. “I think outside the Knicks organization, things looked worse than what they were. From the outside looking in. But inside the building, we were working every single day to be the best team we can be. That’s all we were focusing on.
“There were times when there were positives and negatives, ups and downs. But that’s what our goals were. And that’s still our goal. Be the best we can be. Continue to learn. Continue to get better. The journey shows you who you are.”
So far, the journey has shown that the Knicks are a resilient, talented team.
Now, they can take a short rest and get ready for the next round of the playoffs.
The conference final will start on either Sunday or Monday. Game 4 of Cavs-Pistons is Monday night.
Lutsharel Geertruida of Sunderland during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St. James's Park in Newcastle, United Kingdom, on March 22, 2026. (Photo by Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
On Match of the Day’s coverage of Sunderland’s iconic victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park, it was arguably down to sheer dumb luck (or possibly just a superb piece of TV direction), that as the Lads celebrated Brian Brobbey’s late winner with emotions running highly in front of the Leazes End, a pitchside cameraman caught a brief shot of Lutsharel Geertruida roaring with delight as he joined his teammates for their moment of glory.
It was the perfect note on which to end a day of mixed emotions for the classy Dutch defender — from being the victim of racial abuse which led to the game being paused, retaining his composure as Sunderland turned the game around and then in the elation of victory when the final whistle blew.
As we eventually came from behind and ultimately blew the bloody doors off the Saudi mass of steel on the hill, Geertruida had the last laugh and then some, and so it was with a touch of consternation that I read social media rumours on Friday which claimed that the Red Bull Leipzig loanee won’t be a Sunderland player beyond the end of the 2025/2026 campaign, with his options apparently set to be reassessed.
A shock? I didn’t think so — even if Régis Le Bris dismissed the speculation following Sunderland’s draw with Manchester United, stating that no decision has been taken yet and won’t be until the season is over.
Despite generally performing to a very high standard whenever he’s been called upon, Geertruida had seemingly dropped off the radar and out of the reckoning since that memorable day in enemy territory.
However, even when a proposed January move to Liverpool failed to materialise, he acquitted himself very well thereafter and if an agreement could be worked out — something about which I’m not giving up all hope — I’m convinced he would be a more than worthwhile addition to our squad on a permanent basis.
On the other hand, if he does eventually head for pastures new, the hope is that the popular Dutch international can sign off at the Stadium of Light on a high, possibly bringing the curtain down on his brief spell in red and white having played a part in what’s already been a hugely successful campaign, and his display at the weekend hinted at exactly that.
Named in the starting eleven to face United on Saturday, Geertruida played like a man with a point to prove; a player on a genuine mission to show everyone what he’s capable of and what he can bring to the team.
Indeed, there was one moment towards the end of his exceptional display during which he gesticulated passionately to the crowd in order to fire them up, and that really summed up his afternoon. He’s clearly developed an affinity for the club and it’s evidently mutual, as the fans have taken him to their hearts and would doubtless love him to stay.
In my view, it would be perilously close to a misstep were we to pass up the chance to sign him on a permanent deal and although the bell could be ringing and the ship may be about to leave the harbour, it’s reasonable to ask why.
In an era where genuine utility players are often given second billing, has his undoubted versatility perhaps proved too tricky to overcome? Has the form of other players that’ve cemented themselves in key positions — the so-called ‘favourites’ of Régis Le Bris — been to his detriment?
It would be a shame if so, but that’s not to downplay the influence of the likes of Trai Hume and Nordi Mukiele — two fine players in their own right — and let’s be honest, when was the last time we were possibly able to consider such a classy player as Geertruida as being surplus to requirements?
Once again, it highlights the dizzying speed at which things have progressed in the past twelve months, and may possibly continue to progress if we’re set on building on the foundations that’ve been put in place.
In many ways, Geertruida’s potential departure (possibly to a rival Premier League club for a chunky fee? I wouldn’t be surprised), wouldn’t really change a great deal in practical terms.
Everyone’s aware of the need to strengthen the squad in the summer and it was interesting to read recent quotes from Le Bris that seemed to hint at a more modest and perhaps streamlined approach being taken ahead of 2026/2027 as opposed to the spectacular recruitment drive on which we embarked last summer.
If that’s the road we go down, choosing to augment rather than rebuild the squad once again, so be it, but the need for defensive reinforcements is pressing and if Geertruida’s versatility has led to a dilemma that the club has perhaps struggled to resolve, what of any potential summer arrivals? Will they be straight upgrades on players potentially ripe for moves or rotational options to provide depth during what’ll be another gruelling campaign?
Given their stellar recent record in the transfer market, I’m hesitant to even consider critiquing the approach taken by Florent Ghisolfi and his team.
However, I’m a huge admirer of Geertruida and if there was a possibility of signing him on a permanent deal, we should do our utmost to make the most of it. He ticks an awful lot of boxes for us; he’s a true team player as well as a superb athlete and a tremendous footballer.
Let’s hope it’s not as cut and dried as it might’ve appeared a few days ago.
“We weakened” – Blueco under fire again as another manager calls out recruitment
Chelsea’s owners are under fire again as yet another manager has called out some recruitment issues from January.
It’s the last thing Blueco will want right now with the amount of pressure and noise they have coming from an entire Chelsea fan base who absolutely detest them right now. But as well as Chelsea fans, they have an entire fan base at Strasbourg who absolutely detest them as well. As if things couldn’t get any worse, now they have their manager at Strasbourg calling them out as well as a bunch of recent managers at Chelsea.
EXCLUSIVE! Xabi Alonso has ‘positive’ Chelsea talks, Dave Fallows heavy influence to bring new tactical direction? Training ground bust-up…..
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Gary O’Neill is the head coach at Strasbourg now, taking over from Liam Rosenior who moved to Chelsea in January but lasted all of about three months! And O’Neill is NOT happy…
O’Neill calls out recruitment
In quotes picked up by L’Equipe this weekend, O’Neill said:
“I need two top strikers. The owners want to give me the means to perform next season. But it is also necessary to improve the club culture, the quality of the players, the depth of the workforce. We missed each other in January, on the transfer window. We weakened instead of improving the group…”
In other news today..
Chelsea are being linked with yet another attacker ahead of an important summer for the Blues as they look to strengthen the squad for yet another new manager coming in.
Andrey Santos was blamed for his slow reactions when Chelsea conceded to Liverpool at the weekend, drawing the game 1-1 in the end.
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Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
March 1973: Footballer Ritchie Pitt, (No 6), and Sunderland FC teammate Dave Watson, (right), during a match against Fulham FC at their ground at Craven Cottage, which ended in victory for Sunderland. Fulham striker Steve Earle is on the left. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dan Ballard’s sending off against Wolves dominated discussions around Sunderland last week, with the club deciding to appeal against his VAR red card for the now much-talked about hair pull.
However, while the club waited for the FA to predictably reject their appeal, elsewhere, a far more significant – but much less publicised – decision regarding a Sunderland defender was being made.
This decision was not held in a VAR suite but in a Court of Law.
And it was a stark reminder of how the game used to be, with potential ramifications for how the sport might look in the future.
If, like me, you grew up in the 1960s and 1970s, the sight of players running out onto frozen snow-covered pitches, where the white lines had been cleared to allow the officials to see whether the ball had gone out of play or not, was anything but unusual. We even had orange match balls to make them visible against the snow!
If they weren’t frozen, pitches resembled a mud bath that wouldn’t have looked out of place in World War I, with leather balls that absorbed moisture and became heavier as the game wore on.
It was during that era that Sunderland signed a physically menacing centre forward from Rotherham.
Dave Watson was intended to be the focal point of Sunderland’s attack but, between Bob Stokoe and his temporary predecessor Billy Elliott, Watson’s potential as a dominant defender was identified. Alongside Richie Pitt, Watson was at the heart of the defence that brought FA Cup glory to Wearside in 1973, and he would go on to enjoy a stellar career with Manchester City and England.
Last week, away from the furore that surrounded Dan Ballard’s hair pull, Dave Watson won a quiet yet important victory.
Watson has been diagnosed with probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (‘CTE’) and probable Alzheimer’s dementia. He attributes these to a significant number of head traumas he suffered during his professional career. Watson was refused industrial injuries benefit by the Department for Work and Pensions because they did not accept the link between his CTE/dementia and his football injuries. He appealed to the First-Tier Tribunal, but the appeal was dismissed. He then appealed to the Upper Tribunal. The Upper Tribunal found a series of legal errors in the decision of the lower court, and gave guidance on the approach the government and tribunals should take in these cases
The judgment notes that where a person relies on having suffered ‘accidents’ at work, a wide range of things can constitute accidents, and that it is relevant to consider whether the risks (for instance, of a head injury causing permanent damage) were understood at the time. The appeal was allowed on all grounds. Watson’s case will now have to be reconsidered by a lower court.
It is easy to forget the conditions in which football was played 50 or 60 years ago – the pitches, the balls, the generous interpretation of violent conduct which allowed the likes of Norman Hunter and Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris to freely ply their uncompromising trade.
It is also easy to forget that players in that era did not receive the superstar wages that allow more recent stars to retire comfortably.
If Dave Watson is successful in his claim for industrial injuries benefit, it will be another decision that the football authorities will have to take note of. The inquest into the deaths of Leeds and Scotland stalwart Gordon McQueen found that years of heading the ball contributed to his dementia, which followed a similar finding by the Coroner at the inquest into the death of West Bromwich Albion icon Jeff Astle in 2002.
But it isn’t only an issue for players of Watson’s generation. Dean Windass attributes his diagnosis of dementia in 2024 to repeatedly heading the ball.
In 2023 the FA and PFA-commissioned FOCUS study found that players who headed the ball most in training and during games were 3.53 times more likely to be at risk of cognitive impairment, and heading the ball is already being phased out in Under 11 and below football.
As Brian Clough once said “If God had wanted us to play football in the clouds, he’d have put grass up there”.
Along with Jimmy Montgomery, Dave Watson was one of my childhood heroes – the sort of bloke that you would willingly go to war alongside. He is now fighting one of the most important and consequential battles of his life, even as he endures a condition that may have been caused by the very qualities for which he is revered.
It is one in which he deserves the support of every Sunderland fan, young and old.
And perhaps the club can find a way of recognising him, in the same manner in which others have been recognised.
Sports promoter Satadru Dutta, who organised Lionel Messi’s India tour, said he regrets hosting the event in Kolkata after the controversy at Salt Lake Stadium during the Argentine star’s visit.
The event came under criticism after Messi left the stadium within 25 minutes amid crowd-control issues and security concerns. Dutta said he never expected the situation to unfold the way it did.
“Absolutely, I regret it. I could have sold this event elsewhere and made more money. But as a Bengali from Kolkata, I wanted football fans here to experience it. I never imagined that one immature person trying to create his own mileage would destroy the entire event," Satadru Dutta said in an interview with Hindustan Times . Dutta was later arrested by police and spent 38 days in custody. He has now accused the Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress government of political interference and blackmail, claiming the event was sabotaged.
He also raised concerns over the security situation during Messi’s appearance.
"Messi had close to a billion dollars in insurance coverage. Imagine if something had happened to him on the ground, it would have become a national embarrassment. That's why Messi's team decided they could not continue because he doesn't like claustrophobic situations where people crowd around him," he said, as quoted by HT.
Dutta said all required approvals and security protocols had been completed from his side before the event.
"This event was a Z and Z-plus category event, and the Home Ministry provided the instructions for that security cover to the Bengal government. Interestingly, even after that, the Chief Minister herself was the chief guest, and she also had Z-plus security. As an event organiser, I completed every approval related to protection, licensing and permissions. We had at least 15 to 20 meetings with police officials. So from my side, all SOPs and protocols were followed. But I was never a law enforcer. I was only the organiser. If you see, this Z and Z-plus security can only be enforced by the administration and police department. So when I entered the ground with Messi, I immediately noticed many people inside who were not supposed to be there."
Dutta further claimed that several unauthorised people entered the ground and surrounded Messi.
"When I entered, I saw at least 100 to 120 unsolicited people who were not part of the show flow and didn’t even have access cards. They started surrounding Messi and taking photos. The first thing I told the CP of Bidhannagar was, ‘Sir, how are these people here? They were not given access.’ Then the sports minister entered the ground despite not being part of the show flow. The first thing he did was touch Messi’s shoulder and waist while taking photos, which was very inappropriate. Messi’s manager immediately came to me and said, ‘This guy was not part of the show flow. Why is he here? Why are so many people here?’ Dutta further said.
He said the responsibility for maintaining security rested with the administration and police.
"The police and administration are responsible for that. If there was a flaw in my management, how did Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi run smoothly with the same team? In those cities, the governments and police followed the accreditation system, and the show flowed properly."
Dutta said he repeatedly asked officials to clear the ground but no action was taken.
"I've been organising stadium events for the last 15 years, and this has never happened before. Usually, taking two or three extra pictures is normal. But here somebody turned it into a private event, calling bureaucrats, family members and others for pictures. The DG and the CP were standing there, and nobody stopped them. I kept shouting and requesting them to clear the ground, but nobody listened. There were at least a thousand police personnel inside the stadium," he added.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - MAY 09: Lutsharel Geertruida of Sunderland runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Manchester United at Stadium of Light on May 09, 2026 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A Great Performance…
There are a few bits, so best to break this up, and I’m going to start with Saturday’s performance – because the Lads deserve a lot of credit.
They came out of the blocks after kick-off with an intensity that we maybe haven’t seen for a while – potentially when we completed the double over the Visitors. This has its slight frustrations in that a performance on this level would have given the likes of Forest, Brighton, and Fulham no chance on their visit to the Stadium of Light, but the players took it up a level.
The energy was there in the press, and we hunted in packs, and this gave us the base to have freedom in attack as we had faith in winning the ball back quickly.
On the subject of attacking, there was a different feel to us. Ok, it’s going to sound strange after a game where we didn’t find the back of the net, but very rarely this season have we looked so dangerous regularly during a game.
The orchestrator behind this was quite often Enzo Le Fée. The debate on his best role in the side pretty much began the first time we saw him on the pitch in the Championship when Le Bris put him out wide, but his recent minutes in the middle are showing how effective we are when he is involved in more of the action.
But part of the reason it was so effective against United was the willing runners we had ahead of Le Fee when he was in position. A regular feature of our play this season has been to check back and build again because of the lack of options ahead of the ball, but against United, the players seemed to be under instruction to continue their run after playing the initial pass.
Combine that intensity with quality in possession and willing runners, and it might hopefully give us some clues on where we’re heading in terms of style for next season.
National Headlines…
I know, we should be used to it by now – but after you watch a game like that, it’s ridiculous when you see the national media outlets talk of “Sunderland shutting out United” and being the first side to keep a clean sheet against them in the league this season.
If you hadn’t seen the game and just looked at all those headlines, you would have thought we’d parked the bus, and it was just by pure fluke that we’d managed to not let the mighty Manchester United score a goal against us.
Our opposition preview with Carl Anka from The Athletic gave an insight into how this works, and it seems to keep the Premier League where it needs to be when the emphasis is on the clubs like Manchester United, but the fact is, we made them look pretty average and on another day, given them a bit of a hiding.
The Puzzle Of Geertruida…
We’ve been talking about him a lot over the past couple of weeks or so and whenever we’ve done a Q&A on the podcast the questions about his future have regularly come in – but after this performance, it seems even more strange.
As we talked with Nick Barnes on yesterday’s Sunday Supplement, Geertruida ticks all the boxes of the profile of a player we seem to want in those positions. He’s quick, strong, athletic, he can drive forward, he can defend, and yet he’s almost made as many appearances from the bench as he has started from the off.
He has always looked the part whenever called upon, and since he hasn’t started since that win at the Visitors, where he played very well, it might not have been surprising if his head went down, but it looked the opposite from his performance against United.
None of us know if anything has gone on behind the scenes or how he trains, and especially if there was any fallout from the potential move to Liverpool falling through, but he could be one we’re scratching our heads about in years to come. This is also true when you also consider the agreed price of ~£18-19 million seems relatively cheap in today’s market.
Club Sale Rumours…
There’s been a bit of this going around over the last week or so, and I, for one, wouldn’t be surprised if it had some truth to it, and I also wouldn’t blame them one bit.
KLD has spent most of his twenties taking Sunderland from the third tier up to the Premier League. Now, if any of you are like me, you spent most of that period drinking far too much Guinness. From a business perspective, it makes perfect sense.
He took on a distressed asset, built it back up, and the best time to get out is at a perceived peak. This is where the structure of the Premier League comes into play. Several clubs have been locked in those mid-table places for years because the next step up is just something that is out of reach without ridiculous funding.
Ok, there are always anomalies to this, but usually this is the way it works. Spending big can also go wrong if we look at West Ham and Spurs this season. So they have a choice of regularly investing large sums of money to keep the status quo or sell up.
Time will tell, but they won’t be here forever, and the first step on that path might be in the form of an investment that leads to eventual new owners. Who knows what’s around the corner, but we’ll all still be here whatever happens, and that’s the important bit.
11 May 1997: Disappointed Sunderland supporters sit in the stands after the FA Carling Premier League match against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park in London, England. Wimbledon won 1-0 and Sunderland were relegated. Mandatory Credit: Stu Forster /Allsport | Getty Images
I started last week’s OTD in a similar theme, because as a group we’ve been doing this for five or six years now, and we usually check to see what others in the group have written about before us before we pick one and get going.
At this time of the season, however, you realise that all the fun and generally happy ones got snapped up in the first few years, and there aren’t many options left other than the type that occurred on this day in 1997.
In typical Sunderland fashion, the two years leading up to this point were an absolute whirlwind.
The club had been sleepwalking from one crisis to another after relegation from the top flight under Denis Smith, which incidentally occurred on this day in 1991.
Malcolm Crosby was half-heartedly given a chance after spoiling Bob Murray’s plan by reaching the FA Cup final, then Terry Butcher was given the money to spend that probably should have gone to Smith a few years earlier, then Mick Buxton was handed the job because he was in the building when they gave Butcher the boot.
It all came to a head at Oakwell when we threw the dice on two new signings making a difference on a Friday in Barnsley. Turned out one wasn’t very good, the other wasn’t registered properly, and we lost 2-0. Buxton was out.
Because we were all sleepwalking at the time, it meant the appointment of Peter Reid as manager gave the club such a shot in the arm that we not only stayed up, but the following season we won the title with pretty much the same squad of players.
Although football didn’t start in 1992, this meant we were part of the relatively newly formed Premier League for the first time.
At the same time as all of this was happening, there was movement on a new stadium. The plans had been public for years, but the club had seemed to have put all its eggs into one basket with the Nissan site, only to see it fall through. Then, around the time Reidy started to do his thing on the pitch, the site of the old Wearmouth Colliery opened up, and things began to snowball.
In Reid’s first year on Wearside, we went from a club that was falling to the third tier in an old ground that – although we loved the place – was dropping to bits, to a club in the top flight of English football that was a year away from moving into a purpose-built stadium with over twice the capacity of Roker.
So our final season at Roker was always going to be emotional, but now we had the added pressure of trying to stay in the Premier League while building a new stadium. Which is why the BBC should be given credit for preserving the memories forever in Premier Passions.
We lost big signings in Tony Coton and Niall Quinn through injury early in the season, but at the end of January, we sat 11th in the table and seven points clear of the bottom three. Fast forward to the final game of the season – at Selhurst Park against Wimbledon on this day in 1997 – and we had just felt the emotion of the final league game at Roker, which ended in a 3-0 win over Everton.
The win meant the final day was a three-way shoot-out between ourselves, Coventry City and Boro on the final day.
The Sky Blues travelled to Spurs, which automatically meant they kicked off fifteen minutes late because they’re Coventry, and Boro – who had been deducted three points because they couldn’t be bothered to play Blackburn at the designated time during the season – went to local rivals Leeds.
We had seen the late kick-off thing before, of course, but on this occasion, even Alex Ferguson stated the fact that Coventry were once again allowed to kick off late a “disgrace”.
We could go through the details, but I won’t. The fact is, it was in our hands that if we won, we stayed up, and we were crap and lost 1-0.
The highlight of the day was a female streaker, which, due to the fact I was a teenage lad at the time, means it’s pretty much the only thing I remember from the day… along with a Sunderland fan attempting to steal a police bike and ending up hitting a wall.
We were the first side to go down with forty points, something that has only happened twice since and only bettered by West Ham United in 2003 when they went down with forty-two.
Tears were shed. But the next four years made it all worth it.
Saturday 11th May, 1997
Premier League
Wimbledon 1-0Sunderland
[Euell 85’]
Selhurst Park
Sunderland: Perez, Hall, Howey, Ord, Gray, Williams, Bracewell (Johnston), Ball, Waddle (Russell), Stewart, Quinn (Bridges)Substitutes not used: Woods, Rae
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Kimble, Jones (Fear), McAllister, Perry, Ardley, Leonhardsen, Gayle (Ekoku), Holdsworth, Euell Substitutes not used: Heald, Reeves, Jupp
The conference semi-finals round of the playoffs is underway and we've seen a more intense, higher level of play and some surprises. There should be plenty of drama and potential upsets in this round — and it is only going to get better as we move deeper into the postseason. This is the best time of the year for NBA fans because we see the best of teams every night and it's must-watch.
Here are the playoff brackets and updated scores — plus the times and where to watch anything — starting with the first round. This story will be updated through the NBA Finals. Here's what you need to know.
When do the NBA Playoffs begin?
The first round starts on Saturday, April 18, with four games. Play in the first round will potentially continue into May (depending on whether a series goes seven games). The times and dates for the second round and the conference finals have yet to be set.
When do the NBA Finals begin?
The NBA Finals tip off on June 3, with the first game set for 8:30 ET (broadcast on ABC) at the arena of the Finals team with the better regular-season record (Oklahoma City has the best record overall in the league and would have home-court advantage against anyone in the Finals).
NBA Eastern Conference, Western Conference playoff bracket
Game 1: Pistons 111, Cavs 101 Game 2: Pistons 107, Cavs 97 Game 3: Cavs 116, Pistons 109 Game 4: Detroit at Cleveland, May 11 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock) * Game 5: Cleveland at Detroit, May 13 (TBD) * Game 6: Detroit at Cleveland, May 15* * Game 7: Cleveland at Detroit, May 17 (TBD) Detroit leads series 2-1
Game 1: Thunder 108, Lakers 90 Game 2: Thunder 125, Lakers 107 Game 3: Thunder 131, Lakers 108 Game 4: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles, May 11, (10:30 ET, Prime Video) *Game 5: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City, May 13 (TBD) *Game 6: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles, May 15, (TBD) *Game 7: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City, May 17 (TBD) Oklahoma City leads series 3-0
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 9: Curtis Jones of Liverpool competes with Marc Cucurella of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on May 9, 2026 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport via Getty Images) | CameraSport via Getty Images
1. MARC CUCURELLA (7.4)
With all actual wingers injured and unavailable, interim head coach Calum McFarlane tasked Marc Cucurella with running down the left wing and the left channel. It wasn’t a complicated assignment, but it worked a treat to expose the weak right side of Liverpool’s defense, where Curtis Jones was playing as a makeshift right back.
McFarlane praised Cucurella’s “understanding” of the role, his exemplary movement, and the timing of his runs. Just too bad that the replay-framerate gods chose to frown on him, rather than smile on him, during the video review of our second goal.
It’s not been a banner seasons for Cucu overall, especially compared to last year, but he remains one of the very few players whose commitment can never be questioned. This is his third Man of the Match of the season, all coming in the last few months.
2. LEVI COLWILL (7.3)
Colwill made his first start of the season after recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in preseason, and the level of performance he put in was quite impressive — doubly so considering the nature of ACL injuries and the often extended recovery timelines even after the initial return to action.
“He was exceptional today [and] I’m really pleased for Levi. He’s been injured for a long time. The first 90 minutes, Anfield away, when the team aren’t particularly in their best form, to go and put that level of performance in, it doesn’t only show his level of talent and quality, it shows his mentality.”
Solid performance from the Vice-captain, capped off by the goal, his 14th of the season in all competitions. That’s the most goals by a Chelsea central midfielder since Frank Lampard’s 17 in 2012-13.
vs. LIVERPOOL (PL, A, D 1-1)
EXCEPTIONAL (8.5-9.5): —
EXCELLENT (7.5-8.4): —
GOOD (6.5-7.4): Cucurella (7.4), Colwill (7.3), Enzo (7.2), João Pedro (6.9), Caicedo (6.8), Hato (6.5), James (6.5, sub)
AVERAGE (5.5-6.4): Fofana (6.4), Palmer (6.3), Jörgensen (6.1), Santos (6.0)
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates during the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9.
The Titans’ offense looks very different today from how it looked last fall. Here’s a look at how each position group stacks up after the spring of roster building, ranging from big upgrades to arguable downgrades.
Let's rank some offseason renovations, shall we?
Mike Borgonzi has had all year so far to edit the construction of this offense for Brian Daboll's first season and, more importantly, Cam Ward's second.
if you missed the defensive version of this article, check it out right here. Based on the results of my Twitter poll last week, we're comparing the May 2026 roster to the Week 1, 2025 roster.
For a Titans position group rankings based on how much they improved on paper this offseason, which way of looking at it is more interesting?
Which groups have gotten better? Are any of them worse? Let's dive in.
1. Wide Receiver
September 2025: Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett, Van Jefferson, Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, Bryce Oliver
May 2026: Carnell Tate, Wan’Dale Robinson, Calvin Ridley, Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, Bryce Oliver
There's really no question to me as to which position belongs at the top of this list. The Titans came into this off-season with a glaring needed wide receiver, and they made three significant moves to address it. The least of which was retaining Callie for one more season, whose contract was in a cuttable spot after the year, and whose future was uncertain with this team.
I certainly won't hold it against anybody who wasn't exactly excited about Ridley's return, but the way that he's going to be relied upon based on these next two moves is what makes me think his retention could be big if he stays healthy this season The Titans also added Wandel robinson in a big money, free agency deal. His proven ability in Bryan Gables offense is what makes me think that he can be the exception amongst wide receiver free agents who get big money deals.
and finally, the cherry top the cake is the fourth overall pick Carnell Tate. With Tate, robinson, and Ridley as your top three players, it allows for shimmer DK and Alec Manor to be really nice high-end depth. This room is in a much better spot right now than it was last season.
2. Quarterback
September 2025:Cam Ward, Brandon Allen
May 2026:Cam Ward, Mitch Trubisky, Will Levis
It might not seem like that big of a deal since CAM Ward is the B all and all, but if the Titans plan on being any good anytime soon, it should matter to you. The quarterback position as a hole is in a much better place right now than it was last season. I was a fan of Brandon Allan as a backup for last year's team, but it had everything to do with the fact that I thought the Titans were going to stink. I think teams that are no good should not prioritize spending on backup quarterback. But since the Titans have real aspirations this year and next, now is the time to shore up this position, Mitch Trubisky is a big upgrade here, and if Will is going to compete and potentially even stick around, I like having him in the fold too.
3. Running Back
September 2025: Tony Pollard, (Tyjae Spears), Kalel Mullings, Julius Chestnut
May 2026:Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Nick Singleton, Michael Carter, Kalel Mullings
If the Cardinals hadn't taken Jeremiah love third overall, we'd be talking about this room as the clear number one spot in these rankings. But Tony Pollard gets to breathe a deep sigh of relief, as he remains the primary Belle cow back for this team. The only real change here is adding Nick Singleton, a day three pic with some intriguing athletic upside. He was highly productive in college and should be an interesting change of pace back option. Overall, this room stays mostly the same with some interesting long-term implications from the draft.
4. Tight End
September 2025:Chig Okonkwo, Gunnar Helm, David Martin-Robinson
May 2026:Gunnar Helm, Daniel Bellinger, Kylen Granson
Quite a bit of change in the tight end room for 2026, but does the overall strengthen the room change all that much? That will largely depend in my opinion on whether or not gunner Helm takes a big second year of leap and becomes a player Chikako never became. Helm had a surprising, surprisingly minimal impact on paper last season, but the eye test showed a player capable of being an extremely reliable target in the passing game. Behind him, adding Bellinger and Greyson raises the floor of the room in a league. It is increasingly dependent on multi tight end sets. But neither of these players gets me particularly excited.
5. Offensive Line
September 2025:Dan Moore Jr, Peter Skoronski, Lloyd Cushenberry, Kevin Zeitler, JC Latham, Oli Udoh, Jackson Slater, Blake Hance
May 2026:Dan Moore Jr, Peter Skoronski, Austin Schlottmann, Cordell Volson, JC Latham, Jackson Slater, Fernando Carmona, Pat Coogan
Finally, what to do with this offensive line? I can't help but call this a downgrade based on what we know right now, which is concerning Little! I understand that going into last year we thought more highly of the potential disc group had then some of the individuals ultimately became. But really, isn't that just Lloyd Cushenberry? He didn't have the year. We'd all hoped he would. But the left side of the line was exactly what I think we expected it to be, JC Lathem settled in at his new tackle position, and Kevin Ziegler was sneaky. Good all season long, especially down the stretch. This is a group that I came out of the season feeling better about that. I have in many years. And now, there are two interior positions who we have no idea will be playing there this fall. I think there's plenty of potential from the contenders fighting for these starting jobs, but none of them are sure things. And with 2/5 of the offensive line entirely up into the air.
Locomotive’s Unbeaten Road Run Ends in Oakland with 2-1 Loss
EL PASO, TEXAS – May 9, 2026 – El Paso Locomotive FC fell to Oakland Roots SC 2-1 on Saturday night for their first road loss of the regular season.
Rubio Rubín started the scoring early for El Paso, finding the back of the net just three minutes in for his seventh goal on the season. Locomotive road the momentum from the opening goal, with Álvaro Quezada creating a scoring chance that forced a save from the Roots goalkeeper.
The game shifted in the 18th minute when El Paso’s Palermo Ortiz was shown a straight red card after making contact with an Oakland player. Locomotive went down a man and would be chasing the game for the remainder of the match.
A 10-man Locomotive team was able to hold Oakland scoreless until stoppage time of the opening half when Peter Wilson scored from inside the six-yard box to tie the match at 1-1. The second half was all Roots, who controlled 62% of the possession. Oakland’s constant pressure broke through El Paso’s defense in the 83rd minute as Tucker Leplay sent a screamer into the upper left corner to give Oakland the lead.
The Roots were able to hold off Locomotive in the final seven minutes, plus stoppage time, to hand El Paso their first regular season road loss of the year.
OAK 2, ELP 1Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum ATTENDANCE: 4076
MATCH NOTES
After being named in the starting XI, Eric Calvillo tied Aaron Gomez for most regular season appearances at 129. He has the opportunity to surpass Gomez on Saturday, May 30th when El Paso hosts Lexington SC.
With his goal in the third minute, Rubio Rubín is now tied for first in league standings with seven goals. Rubín’s goal is the second Locomotive goal this season that was scored under the 10-minute mark. Amando Moreno’s goal in the seventh minute against Las Vegas is the other.
Tonight’s 2-1 loss is El Paso’s first regular season road loss since their 5-2 loss on October 25, 2025 to San Antonio.
SCORING SUMMARY
OAK – 45+5’ Peter Wilson, 83’ Tucker Lepley
ELP – 3’ Rubio Rubín
LINEUPS
OAK – (5-3-2) Raphael Spiegel, Jesús de Vicente (Jackson Kiil 77’), Neveal Hackshaw, Michael Edwards, Keegan Tingey (Tyler Gibson 77’), Wolfgang Prentice, Tommy McCabe, Bobosi Byaruhanga (Tucker Lepley 55’), Bertin Jacquesson (Florian Valot 45’), Faysal Bettache (Daniel Trejo 65’), Peter Wilson
Subs Not Used: Kendall McIntosh, Ali Elmasnaouy, Bradley Roberson
ELP – (4-3-3) Abraham Romero, Gabi Torres (Noah Dollenmayer 67’), Tony Alfaro, Kofi Twumasi, Palermo Ortiz, Álvaro Quezada, Eric Calvillo (Daniel Gómez 76’), Robert Coronado (Carl Sainté 76’), Amando Moreno (Diego Abitia 67’), Rubio Rubein, Alex Méndez (Omar Mora 88’)
Subs Not Used: Sebastian Mora-Mora, Nicolás Cardona, Kenneth Hoban
MONTREAL (AP) — Cole Caufield scored his second goal of the playoffs and added an assist as the Montreal Canadiens beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-2 in a dominant Game 3 on Sunday night to take a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series.
Alex Newhook had two goals, including an empty-netter, and Zachary Bolduc, Juraj Slafkovsky and Kirby Dach also scored for Montreal.
Lane Hutson and Jake Evans each had two assists, and Jakub Dobes made 26 saves as the Canadiens won consecutive games for the first time in this season’s playoffs.
Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin each had a goal and an assist for Buffalo, which dropped its first road game of the postseason. Alex Lyon stopped 31 shots in his second straight loss.
The teams split the first two games in Buffalo. The Sabres handed the Canadiens a 4-2 loss in Game 1 before Montreal responded with a 5-1 victory in Game 2.
Lukas Dostal made 18 saves in a strong bounce-back effort after getting pulled from Game 3 for allowing three goals in his latest shaky first period, and his teammates provided more than enough offense to even the series.
Game 5 is Tuesday night in Las Vegas, with Game 6 back in Anaheim on Thursday night.
Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden scored for the Golden Knights, whose three-game road winning streak ended.
May 10, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Cutter Gauthier (61) skates with the puck against Vegas Golden Knights center Colton Sissons (10) during the second period in game four of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images
Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Alex Killorn and rookie Beckett Sennecke had a goal and an assist apiece, and the Anaheim Ducks beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in Game 4 on Sunday night to even their second-round series at two games apiece.
Ian Moore got his first career playoff goal, Cutter Gauthier contributed three assists and Mikael Granlund also scored for the upstart Ducks, who responded to their 6-2 blowout loss in Game 3 with a mature two-way performance in their first playoff run since 2018.
Lukas Dostal made 18 saves in a strong bounce-back effort after getting pulled from Game 3 for allowing three goals in his latest shaky first period, and his teammates provided more than enough offense to even the series.
Game 5 is Tuesday night in Las Vegas, with Game 6 back in Anaheim on Thursday night.
Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden scored for the Golden Knights, whose three-game road winning streak ended.
Carter Hart stopped 19 shots despite some shaky moments, while Mitch Marner had three assists in Game 4 following his hat trick in Game 3, giving him an NHL-leading and career-best 16 points in the postseason.
Anaheim scored two power-play goals in Game 4, ending the unit’s 0-for-11 skid and finally denting a Vegas penalty kill that allowed just one power-play goal in its first nine postseason games.
After Killorn scored a tiebreaking power-play goal late in the second period, Moore added one early in the third with his first playoff point.
Tomas Hertl scored for Vegas with 1:04 left while Hart was pulled for an extra attacker, but Anaheim held on.
Sennecke, the Ducks’ 20-year-old Calder Trophy finalist, opened the scoring with just the second power-play goal allowed by the Golden Knights in the entire postseason, ending a streak of 21 straight kills and the Ducks’ 0-for-11 start to the series on the power play.
Sennecke scored a goal in his third consecutive game, joining Sidney Crosby (2007) as the only players under 21 with a three-game postseason goal streak in the 21st century.
Howden scored his seventh goal of the postseason early in the second period off a slick setup from former Ducks draft pick William Karlsson.
But Killorn put the Ducks back ahead when his shot trickled through Hart late in the second period for his fourth goal of the postseason.
Vegas played without captain Mark Stone, who incurred an undisclosed injury in Game 3.
Anaheim shook up its lineup, inserting puck-moving defenseman Olen Zellweger for his playoff debut and his first game action since April 7. Moore and forward Mason McTavish also returned after healthy scratches.
Spencer Jones was thrown right into the fire in his Yankees debut.
The 24-year-old slugger had to face a tough Milwaukee staff headlined by ace right-hander Jacob Misiorowski over his first three games at the big-league level.
Jones looked a bit overmatched, striking out four times in his six at-bats Friday and Saturday, but he finally delivered the elusive first knock and RBI early on Sunday.
After Jose Caballero opened the top of the second with a double, he ripped the first pitch he saw from Brewers right-hander Logan Henderson right back up the middle for a single.
The liner left the bat at a whopping 106.4 mph.
Jones celebrated at first base then pointed towards his teammates and fired-up family, sitting in the front row behind the Yankees’ dugout.
“It was super exciting,” Jones said. “I’m glad that my family was here to share that with me, my teammates were rooting me on, I got a lot of congratulations, and I was excited to be able to get a run across for the guys -- just a special moment.”
He finished the day hitless across his other three at-bats.
Despite reached base just two times in his first weekend up with the club, Aaron Boone actually liked what he saw from the free-swinger at the plate.
“He had a lot of good at-bats,” the skipper said. “Was able to get the first one today which everyone was excited about, got some decent swings off, was recognizing the zone well, wasn’t chasing, but also ran into some tough matchups.”
Despite those tough matchups, the youngster feels he’s adjusting well.
“Trial by fire is the best way to do it,” Jones said. “Getting exposed to a lot of really good arms is the best way to get your feet wet -- as the days have gone I’ve settled in more, I’m starting to feel comfortable and do what I do, and moving forward I’ll be in a good spot.”
Ducks forward Alex Killorn, right, scores past Vegas goalie Carter Hart during the second period of the Ducks' 4-3 win in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals Sunday night at Honda Center. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The Ducks’ second-round playoff showdown with the Vegas Golden Knights has become a best-of-three series.
With a 4-3 victory Sunday before a raucous sold-out crowd at the Honda Center, the Ducks evened the series 2-2 as it heads back to Las Vegas for Game 5 on Tuesday. But it wasn’t easy, with the Golden Knights twice rallying from one-goal deficits, only to see the Ducks answer each time.
And the Ducks’ power play, so lethal in the team’s first-round win over Edmonton and so ineffective in the first three games of this series, finally found a spark, scoring goals in each of the first two periods.
The Ducks were fast and physical in the early going, playing with an urgency they lacked in their Game 3 loss. They also did a better job protecting the puck and that paid off with the team’s first power-play goal of the series 8:43 into the first period.
Vegas had killed 11 penalties against the Ducks and 21 in a row dating back to Game 3 in their first-round series against Utah. But after Dylan Coghlan went off for interference, Sennecke teed up a slap shot from the top of the right circle for his fourth goal of the playoffs, putting the Ducks up 1-0.
The lead didn’t last long, however, with Dorofeyev evening things with a power-play goal of his own about a minute and half later. The goal, on a tip-in, was Dorofeyev’s fifth of the postseason.
Ducks defenseman Ian Moore celebrates with teammates after scoring in the third period of a 4-3 win over the Golden Knights in Game 4 on Sunday at Honda Center. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Granlund put the Ducks back on top less than five minutes before the first intermission, taking a pass from Jeffrey Viel along the left-side boards and getting off a shot as he battled Vegas forward Cole Smith. The puck appeared to strike the blade of Smith’s stick as Viel let it go and that proved fortunate for the Ducks since the deflection fooled defenseman Noah Hanifin and goalie Carter Hart, who both let the bouncing puck tumble through them and into the goal.
That lead didn’t last long, either, with Howden tying things again for Vegas 4:04 into the second period. The goal, on the Golden Knights’ ninth shot, was Howden’s seventh of the playoffs, giving him a share of the NHL lead. Mitch Marner assisted on the first two Vegas goals, giving him a league-best 15 points in 10 postseason games.
However, Killorn scored the Ducks’ second power-play less than two minutes before the second intermission, putting the Ducks in front to stay. Moore doubled the lead 3:43 into the third, lining in a slap shot from well above the right circle.
The two-goal lead matched the largest of the series for the Ducks. Hertl cut that in half with 64 seconds to play after Vegas pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. But the Golden Knights got no closer.
Both teams have split their two games at home. The Golden Knights will have the home-ice advantage — if there is one — over the last three games since two are scheduled in Las Vegas.
Sunday’s win marked the sixth consecutive time the Ducks evened a playoff series it trailed 2-1 after three games.
Vegas played without winger Mark Stone, whose 28 goals were second-most on the team during the regular season. Stone, who had a goal and an assist in the first three games against the Ducks, is the team’s all-time playoff scoring leader with 79 points (39 goals, 40 assists) in 94 games. He sustained an undisclosed injury in the first period of Game 3 and his status for the rest of the series is unclear.
Mason McCoy hit a game-ending single in the bottom of the the 10th inning Sunday afternoon to give the El Paso Chihuahuas a 7-6 win over the Tacoma Rainiers. It was El Paso’s second walk-off win of the series and their fourth of the season.
El Paso’s Jase Bowen went 1-for-5 with a triple in the first inning. It was his fourth triple this year, which is tied for the most in the Pacific Coast League. Infielder Pablo Reyes went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk and has reached base in 27 consecutive games. Left fielder Samad Taylor went 2-for-4 with a walk and has reached base seven times in the past two games. Designated hitter Nick Solak had four hits, including the game-tying single in the bottom of the 10th.
Chihuahuas reliever Logan Gillaspie didn’t allow any baserunners in 2.1 innings. El Paso’s Marcos Castañon overturned a strike to a ball in the bottom of the second inning on El Paso’s first check-swing challenge appeal of the season. El Paso is now 4-4 in extra inning games. The Chihuahuas took four of the six games against the Rainiers and have won each of their last two home series.
Next Game: Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. Mountain Time at The Ballpark at America First Square. El Paso TBA vs. Salt Lake TBA. The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. –NM State pushed Missouri State to the final out Sunday morning at Meador Park, but a late rally came up just short as the Aggies fell 7-6 in the finale of their final Conference USA road series of the season. With the loss, NM State drops to 19-31 overall and 8-19 in league play.
The Bears struck first with two runs in the second, but NM State answered with a three‑run fifth inning to grab a brief lead. In the fifth, Tommy Meluskey drove in a run with a groundout, Camden Kaufman followed with an RBI double, and Steve Solorzano added an RBI groundout to put the Aggies in front 3-2
Missouri State responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to reclaim the lead. NM State showed late fight and pulled even in the eighth. Jonatan Clough was hit by a pitch and later came in to score before Solorzano crossed home on an RBI single up the middle from Easton Rulli.
However, the Bears immediately produced two runs in the bottom of the eighth to move in front 7-6. The Aggies brought the tying run to the plate in the final frame but could not push across the equalizer.
Taclas finished with three hits and two RBIs, while Kaufman and Solorzano each drove in a run as NM State totaled 10 hits.
NOTABLES
Steve Solorzano pushed his hit streak to 12 games, marking the longest active streak by any Aggie.
Aidan Taclas logged his 14th multi-hit game and fourth outing with at least three hits. Currently, only Steve Solorzano has more multi-hit games this season.
Easton Rulli produced his eighth multi-hit performance, while Camden Kaufman has now tallied multiple hits in 11 contests.
With two doubles, Taclas joined Steve Solorzano and Jonatan Clough as the only Aggies to record multiple doubles in a single game this season.
As a team, the Aggies recorded 10 hits to mark their 23rd game with double-digit hits this season.
With a hit-by-pitch in the eighth inning, Boston Vest has now been hit 21 times this season. This matches a program record set by Tristan Carranza in both 2018 and 2019.
JT Price logged the longest outing of his freshman campaign, tossing 5.0 innings, while allowing no earned runs.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Gasperini: “Dybala? I’d be happy to have him next year.”
Paulo Dybala’s future at Roma continues to dominate the spotlight.
After the win against Parma, the Argentine striker revealed that the derby against Lazio could be his last match at the Olimpico in a Giallorossi jersey, leaving fans with a major question mark.
Dybala’s contract is expiring, and despite his positive performance in today’s match, his permanence in the capital is still uncertain.
Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini commented on Dybala’s comments both to Sky Sport and in a press conference.
Responding to Paulo’s possible departure, Gasperini said: “Did he say that? Who knows, but I don’t know. There’s still a week to go and the derby will arrive. Paulo was also excellent today, returning after a long time away, and he definitely gave us quality. It’s a shame we didn’t have him for so long this season.”
In a press conference, Gasperini added: “Dybala said something specific: he said it could be his last game. This is something between the owners and the player. I’d be happy to have him back next year. I saw him well, but unfortunately he was out for three months with an injury. Dybala doesn’t just have technique, he has unique muscle fiber. At the end of the game he was still fresh and making quality plays.”
Gasperini’s statements reflect a desire to confirm Dybala’s permanence, but as always in these cases, the final decision will rest with the club and its negotiations with the player. Meanwhile, Roma is preparing for the derby with hopes of securing a Champions League spot, but with Dybala’s future still shrouded in uncertainty.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Alex Killorn and rookie Beckett Sennecke had a goal and an assist apiece, and the Anaheim Ducks beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in Game 4 on Sunday night to even their second-round series at two games apiece.
Ian Moore got his first career playoff goal, Cutter Gauthier contributed three assists and Mikael Granlund also scored for the upstart Ducks, who responded to their 6-2 blowout loss in Game 3 with a mature two-way performance in their first playoff run since 2018.
Lukas Dostal made 18 saves in a strong bounce-back effort after getting pulled from Game 3 for allowing three goals in his latest shaky first period, and his teammates provided more than enough offense to even the series.
Game 5 is Tuesday night in Las Vegas, with Game 6 back in Anaheim on Thursday night.
Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden scored for the Golden Knights, whose three-game road winning streak ended.
Carter Hart stopped 19 shots despite some shaky moments, while Mitch Marner had three assists in Game 4 following his hat trick in Game 3, giving him an NHL-leading and career-best 16 points in the postseason.
Anaheim scored two power-play goals in Game 4, ending the unit’s 0-for-11 skid and finally denting a Vegas penalty kill that allowed just one power-play goal in its first nine postseason games.
After Killorn scored a tiebreaking power-play goal late in the second period, Moore added one early in the third with his first playoff point.
Tomas Hertl scored for Vegas with 1:04 left while Hart was pulled for an extra attacker, but Anaheim held on.
Sennecke, the Ducks’ 20-year-old Calder Trophy finalist, opened the scoring with just the second power-play goal allowed by the Golden Knights in the entire postseason, ending a streak of 21 straight kills and the Ducks’ 0-for-11 start to the series on the power play.
Sennecke scored a goal in his third consecutive game, joining Sidney Crosby (2007) as the only players under 21 with a three-game postseason goal streak in the 21st century.
Howden scored his seventh goal of the postseason early in the second period off a slick setup from former Ducks draft pick William Karlsson.
But Killorn put the Ducks back ahead when his shot trickled through Hart late in the second period for his fourth goal of the postseason.
Vegas played without captain Mark Stone, who incurred an undisclosed injury in Game 3.
Anaheim shook up its lineup, inserting puck-moving defenseman Olen Zellweger for his playoff debut and his first game action since April 7. Moore and forward Mason McTavish also returned after healthy scratches.
Punjab Kings will begin their Dharamshala leg of IPL 2026 games when they face off against Delhi Capitals on Monday.
Winning three of their four home games in New Chandigargh, PBKS eventually lost their way and suffered three straight losses, the last of which was a 33-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad last week.
However, PBKS playoff hopes have not taken a major hit owing to their six-match winning start.
DC, meanwhile, are in a slightly precarious situation as they look to return to winning ways after back-to-back defeats against Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings.
In this article, The Sporting News takes you through all the details related to how and where to watch the IPL 2026 match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals.
Where to watch PBKS vs DC: Live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch the Punjab Kings vs. Delhi Capitals 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.
The top order of Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer has been consistent with rare exceptions such as of the SRH defeat, where Cooper Connolly bagged a century.
Arshdeep Singh leads the bowling attack, where Marcus Stoinis and Marco Jansen can provide balance in the department, apart from Yuzvendra Chahal as an Impact Player.
Punjab Kings predicted XI: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Marcus Stoinis, Suryansh Shedge, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh.
DC should continue to stick to their senior players despite the recent slumps. KL Rahul is still their best batter in this season, and Mitchell Starc and Kuldeep Yadav form the crux of their bowling lineup. DC may keep Pathum Nissanka as an opener along with Rahul.
Victor Wembanyama’s uncharacteristic ejection in the first half changed everything. The San Antonio Spurs lost the most influential player of the series with a chance to go up 3-1. Wemby’s elbow showcased inexperience, a player who is playing in the playoffs for the first time. There wasn’t a consideration for the consequences, which have now landed the Spurs in a tricky position after four games.
However, Mitch Johnson sympathized with the 22-year-old. “I just think that the amount of physicality that people play with him, at some level, you have to protect yourself. Every single play on every single part of the floor, people are trying to impose their physicality on him,” said the Spurs head coach.
Last game, Rudy Gobert held Wembanyama’s hand to prevent a block. Anthony Edwards followed it up with an identical action that referees overlooked. Other times, it’s been Julius Randle pinning the Spurs center using his strength. Even today, Wemby battled Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels and still couldn’t get a clean rebound.
So, Mitch Johnson didn’t look at it as an immature reaction from Wembanyama. The Spurs head coach blamed officials for pushing the reigning DPOY to reach the end of his patience, leaving him with no other choice.
“I’m glad he took matters into his own hands… [Wemby’s] going to have to protect himself if [the refs] are not. The amount of physicality that people play with, with him, at some level, you have to protect yourself,” said Mitch Johnson.
To clarify, the Spurs head coach didn’t want Naz Reid to get with an elbow. Johnson was glad to see the Timberwolves center wasn’t seriously injured. Johnson used the moment to direct the officials’ attention towards Wembanyama. Standing at 7’4”, most of the human ways of upsetting a player’s rhythm don’t work on Wemby. The Timberwolves also thrive when playing with physicality, no matter the risk-reward ratio.
In this case, Johnson feels there needs to be more balance. But would that also mean paying greater attention to some of Wembanyama’s defensive actions? Chris Finch was very vocal in calling out the goaltends during his historic 12-block performance. So maybe this goes both ways. The referees need to be better, looks like that’s the takeaway from Johnson’s postgame rant.
Mitch Johnson proud of the Spurs’ reaction
Even after Victor Wembanyama found out he was ejected, there wasn’t an upset expression on his face. Instead, the Spurs’ cornerstone went to everyone in the Spurs contingent. He shook their hands, never losing confidence in the team’s ability to win games without his imposing impact. And it nearly paid off.
The Spurs began the second half with vigor, holding Minnesota to just 20 points in the third. They turned the game over.
“Had a chance to win, things we could have been better at. Didn’t close it out the way we wanted to, but I thought the reaction was obviously phenomenal. We were leading there till the end, then they made some shots. We didn’t finish the possession with the rebounds, got some tough whistles,” Johnson said about the team’s second-half performance.
Even without Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs have shown they can pull results throughout the season. They are 12-6 in games without him. Tonight, when ejected with just four points in 12 minutes, the Spurs’ backcourt depth showed out. Each of Dylan Harper, De’Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle scored at least 20 points.
However, in spite of some commendable performances, the Spurs needed Wembanyama. The Timberwolves scored 14 of their 34 fourth-quarter points in the paint. Luke Kornet couldn’t provide the rim protection that Victor Wembanyama does. The Wolves took complete advantage of his ejection, tying the series at 2-2 after four games.
It’s all to play for in San Antonio, where Victor Wembanyama will arguably show greater emotional resolve considering the weight of the matchup.
The Los Angeles Lakers' season is coming down to Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday. They trail the best-of-seven series three games to none after losing Game 3 131-108 on Saturday, and at the very least, they want to avoid getting swept in front of their home fans.
Their injury report is almost the same as it was for Game 3, with one difference. While Luka Doncic remains out due to his hamstring strain, forward Jarred Vanderbilt, who didn't play in the last two games due to a dislocated finger, is off the injured list for Monday's contest.
For Oklahoma City, wing Jalen Williams and big man Thomas Sorber will be out of action again.
If the Lakers happen to somehow get a victory in Game 4, Game 5 will take place back in Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Game 6, if necessary, would be back in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 16, but the likelihood of Game 6 actually taking place seems about as small as an asteroid hitting Southern California.
He broke down on air while speaking about Kieron Pollard and his MI years.
The win pushed RCB to the top of the table and ended Mumbai's IPL 2026 campaign.
Krunal Pandya's gets emotional voice breaks on air after hurting MI in Raipur
A match-winning innings against his former franchise left Royal Challengers Bengaluru star Krunal Pandya visibly emotional as he spoke about Kieron Pollard and six unforgettable years with Mumbai Indians.
RCB were chasing 167 and found themselves in a hole during the powerplay with Virat Kohli gone for another duck, and Rajat Patidar and Devdutt Padikkal departing soon after.
Krunal was promoted to number five, walked in and took control. He finished with 73 off 47 balls on a tricky wicket and helped RCB scrape home in a two-wicket thriller sealed off the final delivery. The victory pushed his side to the summit of the IPL 2026 table and confirmed the end of MIs' campaign.
Krunal spent six seasons, 2016-2021 at MI and won three IPL titles during that period.
Alongside his brother Hardik and the towering presence of Kieron Pollard, Krunal formed part of what he described as MI's engine room.
“Polly (Kieron Pollard) is my big brother. I have spent my best six years at Mumbai Indians. I remember Kieron Pollard and the Pandya brothers being the engine room there,” Krunal Pandya said on the broadcast.
"We won a lot of games with bat, ball and fielding. I still remember in 2021 when we were playing our last game, we held three of us, we held each other's hands, and we felt like, okay, this is the last time we'll be able to play together, and yeah, it was obviously an emotional moment again, but I love Kieron Pollard. (Krunal's voice cracks as he gets emotional) I mean, he's a terrific human being, GOAT of this format, won so many trophies, so many games. And yeah, as they say, you're right, Polly always used to tell me that you can't keep a good man down."
Bishop noticed that Krunal got emotional and chose to respond with quiet grace.
“I hear your voice cracking. So, I apologise for that. I will let you go now,” Bishop said.
The Cricket News Opinion: Krunal was at his absolute best against MI
Krunal's relationship with Mumbai Indians was not simply about cricket. It was where he grew as a player, where he won the biggest prizes the IPL offers, and where he built some of his deepest friendships in the game.
Playing a decisive role in eliminating MI from the IPL weighed heavily on him. Statistics will record that Krunal scored 73 and helped RCB win a tight IPL match.
What the statistics will never capture is the look on his face as he spoke about Pollard, or the crack in his voice when the words got heavier than he expected. He performed under pressure and then struggled to contain what that performance actually means to him.
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The Preakness Stakes will have a different look in 2026, but one aspect will remain the same: The Kentucky Derby champion will not run the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Golden Tempo will not compete in Maryland on the heels of his remarkable come-from-behind victory at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May, opting instead to rest up for the Belmont Stakes.
It's the sixth time in eight years the Derby winner will sit out the Preakness, ensuring Justify in 2018 will remain the most recent Triple Crown winner for at least one more year.
So who are the horses to watch this year as the Preakness shifts to Laurel Park with its 150-year home at Pimlico undergoing renovations? Don't look for any of the Derby also-rans; none of the 18 starters at Churchill Downs will run next weekend.
The early and heavy betting favorite is Bob Baffert's Cruel Velocity (4-1), with Iron Honor (19-1) and Taj Mahal (20-1) a distant second and third.
Expect all of the odds to move after Monday's post position draw, however. Here's everything you need to know to watch.
When is the Preakness Stakes post position draw?
Date: Monday, May 11
Time: 4 p.m. ET
The venue may be different, but the draw time remains the same. Find out which gate the horses will start from beginning Monday at 4 p.m. ET.
Where to watch Preakness Stakes post position draw 2026
The 151st Preakness Stakes will be run in its traditional slot on the third Saturday in May with an approximate post time of 6:50 p.m. ET. This year's race will be held at Laurel Park with Pimlico undergoing renovations.
Dallas Cowboys fans can now firmly hope for some fireworks from wide receiver George Pickens, since he has signed the franchise tag. His decision had the team waiting for over a month to hear from him. But every time fans think of another good season from the WR, they will be reminded that the $27.3 million tag will only be keeping him for this year. What comes next is still left to be seen.
If Pickens is as good as he was last season, he could easily command a contract worth $35-40 million annually next year. But would Cowboys owner Jerry Jones want to commit to that kind of deal? According to Blogging The Boys’ Brian Martin, Dallas might be looking at a cheaper backup plan.
“If the Cowboys are still wary about signing Pickens to a long-term contract in the ballpark of $35-40 million a year, using the franchise tag on him in back-to-back seasons is a logical option, and maybe a cheaper one,” Martin wrote on May 10. “According to overthecap.com, the projected WR franchise tag in 2027 is $31.5 million. That’s a significant bump in the $27.3 million Pickens will earn under the tag this year, but still less than he could make annually on a long-term deal. Dallas has the leverage here unless Pickens decides not to sign the tag and sit out the 2027 season.”
A lot of this is incumbent on how Pickens performs this year. He came to Dallas after having recorded a disappointing 59.4% catch rate he posted in Pittsburgh. Nobody had any idea that the same George Pickens would be third in the league in receiving yards in the 2025 season. He went from being a question mark to one of the best offseason moves Dallas made in recent times. But that rise in potential allows him to ask for a better price.
CHARLOTTE, NC – OCTOBER 12: Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens 3 during an NFL, American Football Herren, USA football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Dallas Cowboys on October 12, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire NFL: OCT 12 Cowboys at Panthers EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon251012106
Seattle Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the highest-paid receiver in the league. He will earn $36.5 million this year. If that is the best rate, Pickens might want a figure close to this range if he maintains this consistency or outperforms it. But a contract would also mean bumping up the salaries of fellow WRs in the room, particularly CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys already have him on a $136 million contract. This is where the franchise tag would help Jones out, while also retaining a great talent.
“There’s zero interest in a trade for George Pickens. Zero interest,” Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones said during an interview on Mad Dog Radio last week.
On the flip side, another franchise tag allows Dallas to let him walk if his caliber drops. After all, he is yet to convince the masses he can deliver consistently, having thrown for under 1,000 yards twice in his career. With Pickens out, the Cowboys can also collect a compensatory draft pick.
But will that be a risk that Dallas really wants to take? At best, they’d likely receive a third-round pick, and even that depends on how free agency unfolds and whether Pickens signs a massive deal elsewhere. That’s why Martin’s suggestion makes sense.
Moreover, the Cowboys have also pulled this move many times in the past.
Cowboys won’t negotiate an extension with George Pickens before the deadline
In March, the Cowboys showed little urgency to negotiate a long-term extension after placing the franchise tag on George Pickens. Jones did say that they planned to keep the WR for the long haul, but did not explicitly mention a contract. But in April, the Cowboys officially confirmed that they shut down talks with Pickens before the July 15 deadline for franchise-tagged players.
“There won’t be negotiations on a long-term deal,” Stephen Jones said during the Cowboys’ pre-draft press conference. “But that’s certainly not a first for this organization and certainly won’t be a first for the league in terms of this decision as we move forward.”
The Cowboys have followed this blueprint before. During the last decade, Dak Prescott, tight end Dalton Schultz, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, and running back Tony Pollard all played under the franchise tag in Dallas. Schultz and Pollard eventually left in free agency, but Dallas signed Prescott and Lawrence to long-term deals after tagging them a second time. Prescott’s $60 million-per-year extension remains the highest annual salary in NFL history since he signed it before the 2024 season opener.
Any team would hesitate to leave a player as talented as George Pickens on franchise tag. But the Cowboys clearly want more proof before handing him elite money. So, Pickens has the opportunity next season to prove that he deserves an extension deal in Dallas.
The Miami Dolphins are in an interesting spot. The team is rebuilding from scratch, with a new general manager, new head coach, and a new quarterback.
However, it would be hard to argue that, on paper, that this isn't one of the worst rosters in the league. Sure, the team did invest heavily in new passer Malik Willis, but there's not much to get excited about elsewhere. The Dolphins saw a heavy exodus of talent this offseason, including Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Bradley Chubb, among others.
Therefore, many expect it to be a long season for the Dolphins. That will be tough for fans in 2026, but the silver lining is that 2027 is expected to be a loaded draft class, especially at quarterback.
Despite giving Willis a hefty contract just two months ago, it's entirely possible the Dolphins draft his replacement next April. Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports recently published a 2027 mock, and he has the Dolphins taking Oregon quarterback Dante Moore with the No. 1 pick.
Regarding this pick, Wilson offered the following:
Moore would have been the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft had he not decided to return to Oregon. He plays with high-end pocket composure, handles pressure well -- and once the play breaks down, is elite out of structure. He showed up in big moments throughout the '25 season (until they ran into the Hoosiers in the CFP) and he's my QB1 because he outplayed Arch Manning -- and every other QB -- in the '26 class.
As Wilson mentioned, Moore would have been the No. 2 pick in 2026, but he opted for another year in college. And, so far, Moore has been a more productive college quarterback than Arch Manning, who many have expected to go first overall for years now.
In 2025, Moore threw for 3,565 yards with 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The quarterback helped lead the Oregon Ducks to the College Football Playoff, and demonstrated the big arm and elite composure that NFL teams love.
Miami desperately needs an identify and stars to build around. Moore can definitely be that, and if the Dolphins are picking first overall, you can probably assume Willis didn't have a great season.
Because Miami already has a massive amount of dead cap on their books, Willis probably wouldn't get cut if Moore or another quarterback was drafted. Instead, Willis would likely just be a highly-paid backup, or could start for the first part of 2027 until the rookie is ready.
Of course, Dolphins fans would love to be competitive in 2026, but that would likely mean missing out on an elite franchise quarterback. Willis could be a serviceable quarterback, but can he ever be truly elite? It's possible, but not likely, especially with the lack of offensive talent currently on the roster.
Andrej Stojakovic (#2) of the Illinois Fighting Illini shoots against the Connecticut Huskies during the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, IN. | (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
In this episode of ‘Oskee Talk’ I recap last week’s results from Illini tennis, track & field, and men’s & women’s golf (2:58) as well as the dismissal of Illinois softball coach Tyra Perry (15:39). I also discuss fresh starts for a pair of former Illini hoopers (21:36), Illinois’ next rematch with UConn (31:09), the looming decision of Andrej Stojakovic (34:04), and the latest from the NBA Draft Combine & lottery (36:27).
Finally, I examine NCAA Tournament expansion (43:07), share the latest football scheduling updates (51:00), and reveal the 2026 Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame inductees (59:31).
San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson had to field questions about his superstar center after his first career ejection in Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on May 10.
Victor Wembanyama was ejected in the second quarter after pulling in a rebound and delivering an intentional elbow to the throat of Naz Reid after being swarmed by him and Jaden McDaniels.
Johnson, after the game didn't condone the act, but was in defense of the Spurs' MVP candidate and 2026 Defensive Player of the Year.
“In general, I do think it’s getting to a point that the people that are in charge of controlling the game and protecting the physicality of the game don’t do that, then at some point he’s going to have to protect himself,” Johnson told reporters after the game. “We’ve been asking him to do that for a while. Naz Reid was okay and that call was warranted, but in terms of the game plan of every single team we face since that young man has been in the league and the physicality that people try to impose on him and the lack of protection is really disappointing."
Minnesota and San Antonio had been a physical series leading up to the Wemby's bow. On the particular play, as Wembanyama came down with the rebound, he was smacked in the head by McDaniels, who then held Wembanyama's arm afterward.
As he swung away from McDaniels, his elbow made contact with Reid, catching him in the throat.
The game's officials reviewed it and determined that the contact was an unnecessary, non-basketball play with wind up, contact and follow through, resulting in the Spurs center's first-career ejection – regular season or postseason.
“At some level, it’s starting to get actually disgusting, just in terms of when he tries to fight through things and be professional and mature and deal with some of that stuff," Johnson said. "I’m glad he took matters into his own hands — not at all in terms of hitting Naz Reid, I want to be very clear about that, I’m glad Naz Reid was okay. I didn’t want him to elbow him. But he’s going to have to protect himself if they’re not. And I think it’s disgusting.”
The Spurs went on to lose the game without Wemby, 114-109.
Social media reactions to Spurs-Wolves physicality
Social media also has noticed the physicality with Wembanyama in the Wolves-Spurs series so far. Here's how X users, some clearly Spurs fans, have reacted to how the series has been played. It's social media, please be advised of explicit language.
1) McD slaps Wemby in the head/face (NO CALL)
2) McD holds Wemby’s arm after Wemby gets the rebound (NO CALL)
3) Wemby sings his arm with the ball in away from McDaniel’s & inadvertently hits Naz
Just four months ago, a heartbroken Lorenzo Musetti walked off Rod Laver Arena in tears, withdrawing from his AO quarter-final against Novak Djokovic while leading 6-4, 6-3, 1-3; a moment that crushed both fans and the Italian star himself. However, redemption has arrived at the Foro Italico at last, where Musetti battled through pain against Francisco Cerundolo. Overwhelmed with emotion, he broke down in tears after an epic triumph, proving resilience can rewrite destiny.
“Suffering from the beginning. I was expecting a tough match. And it was a really tough match with a friend,” Musetti said when asked about the key to winning. For the Argentine, Cerundolo, his Italian Open run ended on Sunday, falling to home favorite Lorenzo Musetti 7-6(7), 6-4 in the third round.
The match posed a sharp test for Cerundolo, the No. 25 seed, who came into the day after a dominant second-round victory over Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo. Against Musetti, however, the margins were much narrower. The opening set became the decisive passage, with the Italian holding his nerve in a tense tiebreak before closing out the second set to reach the fourth round.
“He can play really, really well on this surface. Of course, I had the crowd as an advantage, and I think I dealt with that pretty well,” Musetti added. “I managed to finish with some… not really 100% condition… but already thinking about resting and playing the next match.”
When asked whether his “not 100% condition” referred to health or something else, the Italian clarified, “No, no. I was talking about the physical condition. I started cramping. It wasn’t easy for me to find a way to deal with that, but in the end, I think I managed to stay there and to fight. That was the only key of today.”
Musetti has a history of recurring physical challenges, which have led to high-profile retirements in long, high-stakes matches. Last year, he retired against Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 French Open due to a left leg injury.
Earlier this year at the Australian Open, he survived a five-set thriller against Tomáš Macháč and then dispatched Taylor Fritz to reach the quarter-finals, only to be forced to withdraw afterward.
Reflecting on his physical struggles after the Rome win on Tennis Channel, the 24-year-old shared, “I think there was a lot of up and down throughout the match. In general, I think we both played some games really well, and others maybe had a little too many unfortunate errors. But I managed to go through the pain and the suffering, and at the end, also some cramps.”
Musetti also noted that having his family in the player’s box made the victory even sweeter. “The kids and my parents and some close friends… they’re always screaming from the stands, and I can recognize the voices of themselves.”
Advancing to the R16, Musetti now faces Casper Ruud, a formidable opponent on clay. And perhaps, his physical limitations before the Italian Open were clear, as he himself disclosed before the tournament’s start.
Lorenzo Musetti reveals ongoing injury struggles at Italian Open
The 24-year-old Italian has been recovering from an injury that complicated the start of his season, and it took time for results to arrive, causing him to drop in the rankings.
After the Australian Open, he withdrew from the South American swing before returning for the Sunshine Double. At Indian Wells, he suffered a second-round defeat, and in Miami, an arm injury forced him to withdraw from the tournament.
His clay-court swing started at the Monte Carlo Masters with a disastrous R32 loss, followed by a quarterfinal in Barcelona and an R16 exit at the Madrid Open. This week at the Italian Open, he must reach the semifinals to avoid falling out of the top 10.
Internazionali BNL D Italia 2026 – Day Six Lorenzo Musetti of Italy celebrates his victory against Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina during the Internazionali BNL d Italia Day Six at Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, on May 10, 2026. Rome Italy Italy PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xDomenicoxCippitellix originalFilename:cippitelli-itainter260510_npkRL.jpg
“I’m trying to understand how much it is psychological and how much it is physical pain,” Musetti said regarding his performance on Sunday at the Foro Italico. “I think there are some things, some dynamics that need to stay in the team. What I said before about my physical condition, I didn’t hide anything. I just said that I’m not at 100% yet.”
He also shared more about the pain he is enduring: “I had some problems in the days before the start of the game. So I had to slow down a bit, both in terms of training and in terms of the game. I had to play with a bandage to prevent certain things.”
The eighth seed has a 6-3 record on clay this year, showing glimpses of his top form despite the ongoing physical challenges. He is aiming to become the first Italian champion in Rome since Adriano Panatta in 1976, a feat that would mark a historic moment for his home crowd.
Before he can lift the trophy at his home tournament, however, the question remains: will he be able to overcome Casper Ruud while managing his physical vulnerabilities?
April 17, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama batter Brooke Wells comes home with a home run at Rhoads Stadium as Alabama hosted Kentucky in the first game of the weekend series. | Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
[Sorry for the late post. I had a Mother’s Day thing. Thanks to Josh for filling in.]
NATIONAL
Okay, so the NCAA decided to get stupid and follow the NCAA Basketball model of awarding four number ones, four number twos, etc. But we know what this really means and we are going to follow the old method of 1-16. [Gawd, I hate the NCAA so much.]
Alabama – RAT POISON
Texas – Wisconsin and Baylor will not be pushovers.
Oklahoma – cakewalk Regional: Binghamton, Kansas , Michigan; Must be nice.
Nebraska – Louisville and Grand Canyon
Arkansas – The second seed in this bracket is Washington. Is Alexis DeBoer tired of losing already?? Mama’s callin’.
Florida – Easy path with Texas State, Georgia Tech and FAMU
Tennessee – Virginia could be tough.
UCLA – I don’t envy the Bruins with South Carolina in their Regional.
Florida State – Center Florida could be a problem.
Georgia – Clemson
Texas Tech – Ole Miss could pull the upset.
Duke – Arizona is the biggest threat.
Oklahoma State – Really? How did this happen? I would not be surprised if Stanford upset the Cowgirls.
Oregon – Can Mississippi State make things difficult for the Dux?
Texas A&M – Their biggest threat is B12 Tourney Champ Arizona State.
LSU – Has a tough Va Tech in their Regional. Win that and they likely play Alabama in the Supers.
SEC
Nine SEC teams are seeded in the Tournament — six of the top seven. 12 total teams from the conference made the Tournament.
1. Alabama 2. Texas 3. Oklahoma 5. Arkansas 6. Florida 7. Tennessee 10. Georgia 15. Texas A&M 16. LSU Unseeded: Mississippi State, South Carolina, Ole Miss
Not in the field – Missouri (second straight season of no post-season), Kentucky (first miss since 2008), Auburn (first miss since 2013).
COUSINS
Jacksonville State – The Gamecocks are going dancing after winning their first C-USA Softball Championship. JSU won both the Tournament and the regular season crowns. They are in a tough Tallahassee Regional with FSU and Center Florida.
South Alabama – The Jags earn an auto-bid after winning the Sun Belt Tournament as the 5-seed. USA heads to the Baton Rouge Regional against LSU and Virginia Tech. I’d rather be here than in Tallahassee.
DIVISION I SOFTBALL COMMITTEE
Committee Chair: Kurt McGuffin, Tennessee-Martin
Kristi Bredbenner, Wichita State
Tara Brooks, Tennessee (Sr. Assoc. AD)
Natalie Gonzalez Honnen, Clemson
Heather Hunter, Cal-Davis
Jessica Leger, Louisiana-Lafayette
Lori Perez, Sacramento State
Keanah Smith, Western Michigan
Holly VanVlymen, South Dakota State
Jane Wagner, Northwestern
ALABAMA
Tuscaloosa Regional
May 15
Game 1: noon/1 p.m. | Alabama vs. USC Upstate | SECN
Game 2: 2:30/3:30 p.m. | Southeastern Louisiana vs. Belmont | ESPN+
May 16
Game 3: 1pm/2 p.m.| Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
Game 4: 3:30/4:30 p.m. | Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 Game 5: 6pm/7 p.m. | Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3
May 17
Game 6: noon/1 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5
Game 7 (if necessary): 2:30/3:30 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 5
Ten Cents
If Alabama loses a single game in this Regional, we are storming Rhoads Stadium at dawn and forming an Oligarchy for Life government.
SIOUX CITY, IA (KCAU) – It was just another great week in Siouxland sports. So let’s kick it off at number five!
5. Number five over at SBL, it’s Warriors soccer taking a shot at Spirit Lake goalie Jerron Stoever who makes the initial save but loses it and dives on it before it rolls into the goal escaping the near blunder to keep the indians in the game!
4. Number four, it’s Wayne State baseball. In the NSIC Tournament, fielder Easton Mains is hustling and laying out for the grab to save some runs and end the inning on a high!
3. Onto number three we go! It’s yesterday’s Bandits game. Marzion Crosby diving below the receiver’s reach for the tough interception! That would be his first of two in quarter number one.
2. Number two, Heelan soccer! North with the lazer to the top shelf, but goallie Aaron Garcia elevates for the save! All part of a 13-save shutout from him!
1. And now our top play of the week is from the Yotes in round one of the Summit League softball tournament. Bottom of the 7th with two outs, Delaney White singles it, bringing in not only the game-tying RBI, but the walk-off winning RBI as the Yotes advance to round two!
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Joel Embiid wore a dejected look on his face while seeing the New York Knicks sweep his Philadelphia 76ers inside Xfinity Mobile Arena. He now faces a summer after another reminder that his team isn't just good enough to win a championship.
Under Embiid, this was Philadelphia's sixth second-round exit in nine playoffs. The 2023 NBA MVP returned in Game 4 of the first-round series against the Boston Celtics after an emergency appendectomy three weeks before. He spearheaded three back-to-back wins to set up the Knicks' date in the second round. But, as it turned out, they were ambushed by the Jalen Brunson & Co.
After another playoff disappointment, Embiid had a clear reason to say the following:
"Ownership, front office, players, coaches. Everybody has just got to get better."
While Embiid may have said this, the 76ers might not have a lot of options this summer to turn around for the better.
Joel Embiid and Paul George's contracts leave the 76ers short-handed
Joel Embiid will enter his 13th year in the NBA next season, and his battle-hardened body may no longer be able to withstand the toll of 65+ regular-season games and deep playoff stretches. Apart from one, injuries have remained a constant point of concern for Embiid and the 76ers every year.
Even if the 76ers still want to build a championship-contending roster, they have no option but to rely on their big assets to see them through. A lot of their money is tied to Embiid and Paul George, who are set to make over $200 million dent in the franchise's books over the next two seasons.
Now, as we look back on the president of basketball operations Daryl Morey's decision to sign Embiid to an extension and bring ageing George aboard two offseasons ago, the franchise has no other option but to face the test of time.
Everyone is sprinting. Tears stream. Knees kneel in grassy altars as history collides with the present.
Brighton & Hove Albion’s first ticket to Wembley Stadium has been punched, substitute Nadim Noordam’s last-gasp stoppage-time winner sealing a breathless 3-2 comeback victory against Liverpool in the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals. The prerogative of those in blue and white is that of joyful abandon; the unpolished celebrations of players, staff and fans unfamiliar with these moments.
It’s at this point Dario Vidosic becomes noticeable. The Brighton head coach is shaking hands with the Liverpool staff, watching the celebrations from an angle. He momentarily points up to the sky, a gesture to his father, Rado, once the club’s head of coaching for women and girls, who died of cancer in January, before striding calmly towards the embrace of the maelstrom.
As far as visual motifs go, this one was pretty on the nose. In the two years since the former Australia international’s appointment in July 2024, Vidosic has been Brighton’s bastion, the calm constant in an ambitious club project that is continuing to go from strength to strength.
And it is worth taking a moment to appreciate the stability instilled by Vidosic. Brighton are not a project that could ever be accused of lacking ambition or investment, but in the years since their arrival into the Women’s Super League (WSL) in 2018, clear direction and identity were often wanting.
The last time Brighton reached the FA Cup semi-finals, they suffered a 3-2 defeat by Manchester United in 2023, succumbing to an 89th-minute Rachel Williams winner. On the touchline stood Melissa Phillips, Brighton’s fourth manager of the season, having already sacked Hope Powell in October after five years and Jens Scheuer after three months (Amy Merricks served as interim manager).
The result was a sense of instability and drift. When Arsenal and Canada winger Olivia Smith was considering a move to the WSL, the frenetic managerial merry-go-round and lack of clear identity on and off the pitch led her to choose Liverpool, then led by the late manager Matt Beard.
Fran Kirby arrived at Brighton from Chelsea a month before the unveiling of Vidosic as manager in 2024. Since then, Brighton have invested shrewdly, signing players to fit the high-octane, fluid style of football that Vidosic has espoused.
In his first season, Vidosic led Brighton to a fifth-placed finish on 28 points, the team’s highest tally in the WSL. But the past few weeks have showcased the bigger fruits being sowed under Vidosic and the club’s backing of him.
To reach the FA Cup semi-finals, Brighton first had to dispose of Arsenal. They followed that result up with a 3-2 league victory over Manchester City, sending the title race into a frenzy. Draws with Arsenal and Manchester United followed, ultimately tipping the WSL title back into City’s hands and European qualification out of United’s.
The style of Brighton’s displays have made the results more impressive. This is a team fearlessly going toe to toe with their opponents in both boxes.
Which is why Sunday’s first-half display felt so peculiar, Brighton being overrun and overawed by Liverpool, who deservedly went 2-0 up inside 23 minutes and seemingly had their ticket to Wembley in hand.
A minute later, Manuela Vanegas cut Brighton’s deficit in half, making the most of shoddy six-yard-box defending from Liverpool following a corner. The goal was testament to the belief and composure that has come to define Brighton lately. Against City, Brighton went a goal down, only to muster a 3-2 victory.
“Before the game, we spoke about moments,” Vidosic said post-match. “Irrespective of a good or a bad moment, we have to always focus on the next one because it’s easier to get caught up, go 2-0 down and think it’s over. But we know this team has it in us.”
The second half brought a more familiar vintage of Brighton: high energy, greater physicality and slick, easy interplay. Madison Haley seized an equaliser in the 54th minute with a header at the back post but, even at their sharpest, Brighton lacked a cutting edge, setting up a tense final 10 minutes in which goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was called into three big saves as chances were spurned at the other end.
Yet, in the dugout, Vidosic cut a figure of tranquility. Questions about extra-time and mitigation plans were waved away.
“I just had that feeling, the momentum was with us,” Vidosic said. “We kept going, we stayed brave when it’s easier to say, OK, 90th minute, it’s 2-2, let’s just see it out. But we continued.
“So on the free kick, as I went to sit down, I said, it’s coming here. It’s coming.”
The winner was emblematic of both Brighton and Liverpool’s season. A free kick in a dangerous area gifted by a moment of naivety from Liverpool’s Mia Enderby and taken advantage of by Brighton.
For Liverpool, one year into their project under new manager Gareth Taylor, Brighton serve as evidence of what can happen if a project and philosophy are not only invested in financially but with time and faith.
For Brighton, Wembley is the latest step in their ongoing journey to the top, on and off the pitch. Last month, the club announced plans for Europe’s first purpose-built women’s football stadium, to be unveiled in the 2030-31 season. Victory over Tottenham Hotspur this coming weekend could see Brighton eclipse last season’s points tally, another moment of history secured. Victory at Wembley, which would be the club’s first major trophy, is more than plausible.
And while Brighton will need to reckon with the novelty and splendour of occasion in real time, perhaps there shouldn’t be much surprise if, in the end, Brighton emerge triumphant, the latest laurel of a team that feels like it is finally stepping into itself, feeling the comfortable swagger of its movements, the stability of its foundations.
“Since I’ve come in, we’ve always spoken about history,” Vidosic said. “We want to be historic. Last season’s team was able to write their name in history. Now this team’s starting to write its own. We’ve got two very important games where we could really put our names there forever.”
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — Season Pass episode 34 is underway with a huge playoff episode coming at you. High school softball and baseball are down to the final five teams. While Angelo State officially sees all teams enter post-season play for their spring sports. And we wrap todays local sports as well with four college signings totaling over a half dozen players.
This week’s episode includes: – High school softball and baseball playoff action for 3A-2A – Other local sports stories | gymnastics, Wall softball news, four high schools with college signings – Angelo State Athletics spring sports update, including our ASU weekly recap | ASU Baseball | ASU Softball | ASU Tennis | ASU track & field | Post-season play – National sports story including a bat dog named Omaha
Week 34 | Local Softball & Baseball | Class 3A:
Week 34 | Local Softball & Baseball | Class 2A | More local stories:
Week 34 | More local stories:
Week 34 | Angelo State Athletics w/ Griff McClellan:
Week 34 | National sports stories: Omaha the bat dog | Five Star Sports Podcast:
Season Pass airs every Sunday night following the 10pm news. Next Sunday is the final Season Pass until August.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Oct 5, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson walks on the field prior to a game against the Detroit Lions at Paycor Stadium. Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
The story surrounding Mike Vrabel’s affair with Dianna Russini has left many in the public stunned. For former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad “Ochocino” Johnson, it’s nothing new.
Mike Vrabel‘s exposed affair with former NFL reporter Dianna Russini has sent shockwaves around the media landscape. To some around the league like former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson, it’s not that shocking.
In a recent conversation with “Nightcap” co-host Shannon Sharpe and former NBA Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell, Johnson offered a different kind of perspective about the scandal and its publicity.
“We’ve been in a lifestyle so much where we’ve seen so many, so many situations, so many cases,” Johnson said. “Even some that weren’t made public, or we know about it behind closed doors, but we’ve seen situations like this so much, like, so often over the years. It’s like to others, the regular folk was like, ‘Oh my God, look what’s going on.’ But I’m thinking back, to myself, I’m like, It’s normal.”
Chad Johnson isn’t phased by Mike Vrabel’s affair with Dianna Russini
Johnson has found a new career covering the NFL and sports after his 11-year career in which he played 10 seasons in Cincinnati. He’s been out of the league for longer than he was in it.
Situations such as what Vrabel and Russini partook in aren’t always brought to light. Johnson says he’s no longer phased to the similar happenings that don’t become public.
“Like, in that world, like, y’all going crazy and I’m like, to me, I have to reset, and I have to think, like, okay, you know what? They’re not used to this. They’re not used to seeing this. And they use the words, you know, morals and integrity. I’m like, oh my goodness, I just wish you were part of this world for just a year, you know? And I mean, it’s different. And I think it’s hard for people on the outside that aren’t in that life, that don’t live in that world, to where it’s like, I’m almost numb to it, because I see it all the time. All the time.”
Cedric Maxwell asking Shannon Sharpe and chad ochocinco what's going to happen with mike vrabel with the New England patriots since this story with dianna russini isn't going away pic.twitter.com/mHuNwlzArH
— joebuddenclips/fanpage (@Thechat101) May 7, 2026
It’s a unique perspective from Johnson, though Russini is not a former reporter for no reason, much like Vrabel is finding himself in hot water from the public. The NFL’s hands may be forced if more and more evidence becomes published and investigate the 50-year old for potentially tampering.
A lot can happen now that this supposedly “normal” affair between a head coach and league insider is public knowledge. Johnson, however, won’t be one to judge.
San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama’s initial reaction moments before his ejection was pure confusion. The 22-year-old was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul in Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
At the 8:39 mark in the second quarter, Wembanyama positioned for a rebound. He was swarmed by Naz Reid. The Frenchman threw an elbow that connected square on Reid’s jaw.
Officials reviewed the play and deemed the contact excessive, ruling it a follow-through above the neck of an opponent. The call warranted an automatic ejection.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama | Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Cameras caught Wembanyama seated on the bench as referees delivered their verdict. He did not appear to understand the ruling after officials confirmed the Flagrant 2. The two-time All-Star had to clarify with veteran teammate Harrison Barnes before heading to the locker room.
The Timberwolves’ physicality may be starting to get to Wembanyama. The ejection was uncharacteristic for the Spurs star, who is typically calm and collected on the floor.
Without their best player, Minnesota pounced. The Timberwolves tied the series 2-2 with a 114-109 win at Target Center. Anthony Edwards led all scorers with 36 points, six rebounds and two assists. De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper each stepped up for San Antonio with 24 points apiece.
Wembanyama has averaged 23.0 points, 15.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists through the first three games of the series. The NBA will further review the incident for possible supplemental discipline.
A suspension for Game 5 would be a massive blow for the Spurs.
Barcelona were turfed out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid (Josep LAGO)
As the dust settles on Barcelona's title celebrations, the cava bottles are sent for recycling and the open-top bus heads back to the garage, work for next season will already be underway.
Hansi Flick's back-to-back La Liga triumphs have helped bring welcome calm to the club after just one league trophy in the previous, tumultuous five years, but the ultimate objective remains unfulfilled.
Domestic dominance is not enough.
Winning the Champions League for the first time since 2015 is Barcelona's chief ambition, and the proof that they are at the head of Europe's top table for the first time since all-time great Lionel Messi departed.
Although impressive, this season's La Liga conquest is a slight downgrade on what Flick's team achieved last season, claiming a domestic treble and reaching the Champions League semi-finals.
With Lamine Yamal and Pedri Gonzalez shining, Barca believed this would be the year they won their sixth European Cup.
However, the Catalans came up short against domestic rivals Atletico Madrid, eliminated 3-2 in aggregate in the quarter-finals. Flick confirmed last week that winning the Champions League is his main objective.
"There are two things I want in life. Firstly, that we win the Champions League," said the German coach.
"We have a good team for the next years, but we must make the right decisions in the transfer periods -- they have to be perfect."
"The second thing is I want to be coach (at Camp Nou) when it's fully finished."
Improving Barcelona's squad is the first, but not the only, step to matching the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
The problem for the Catalans, as Flick hinted, is that their financial position does not allow them to make mistakes. Every euro counts, there is little margin for error.
This season, Barca's lack of depth hurt them, missing high-calibre players in key areas, as well as stretching the squad to its limit, resulting in frequent injury problems.
Barca did not replace Inigo Martinez, who went to Saudi Arabia. Left back Gerard Martin filled in as a converted central defender.
Although both he and Eric Garcia performed beyond anyone's expectations, it is an area where they trail the continent's elite.
Up front, where 37-year-old Robert Lewandowski and the erratic Ferran Torres managed to bag enough goals between them to help the team win La Liga, but fall short of Bayern's Harry Kane or former winger Ousmane Dembele, reinvented as a Ballon d'Or-winning striker with PSG.
- Maturing talent -
With a left winger and at least one full-back also on the wish list, the Catalans must lean on their superb La Masia youth academy and trust the talent coming through.
Flick's predecessor Xavi Hernandez brought through Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi among others, but the German has been more cautious.
That was reflected in 18-year-old midfielder Dro Fernandez's departure to PSG, while Xavi Espart and Tommy Marques, among others, remain on the fringes.
Flick was also slow to trust Marc Bernal again after the holding midfielder recovered from injury.
Perhaps Flick is wary of too much inexperience, given that Barcelona's European exits have implied a certain naivety.
They finished both legs against Atletico with 10 men after red cards for Cubarsi and Eric Garcia, part of a wider pattern of vulnerability, indiscipline -- and Barca would argue, bad luck.
The coach also said after last season's thrilling 7-6 aggregate semi-final defeat by Inter Milan that he would focus on improving Barca's defence.
Despite those words, they failed to keep a single clean sheet in the Champions League this season.
That said, the recent PSG clash with Bayern will give Flick encouragement.
While many said his team could not succeed with their risk-taking, high defensive line, the battle between France and Germany's best indicated that it is possible.
"The game has such fine margins, you either go fully into the battles, or retreat fully. The in-between doesn't work against that level of player," said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany.
It seems highly unlikely Flick will abandon his approach, so Barca hope that with the right additions and another year of growth for their young squad, they can finally end their wait for European glory.
AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D continues to be one of the finest gaming CPUs of this generation, and Amazon is making life much easier for gamers wanting to set up their high-end rigs at a lower price. With the DRAM crisis showing no signs of slowing down, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to own semi-decent hardware at incredible discounts, but this combo is a great start. You now get a premium ASUS TUF motherboard, and with the two parts combined, you get $136 in savings with the $622.98 price. You couldn’t have asked for a better motherboard pairing, as the ASUS TUF Gaming X870-PLUS […]
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Genelde köpeklere takılan ve neredeyse onlar için şart olan tasma, kediler içinde kullanılan bir alettir. Kediler genelde uysal hayvanlar olarak bilinse de tasma takılması, en başta onların sahipli olduğunun bir belirtisidir. Bilindiği üzere sokak kedisinde tasma takılmaz, tasma ev kedisinde bulunur.
Fenerbahçe'nin Trendyol Süper Lig'de 2025/26 sezonunu 2. bitirmesinin kesinleşmesi sonrası artık 6-7 Haziran'da yapılacak başkanlık seçimleri beklenmeye başladı. Sarı-lacivertlilerde başkan adayları Aziz...Devamı için tıklayınız
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“Neftçi” Misli Premyer Liqasında növbəti qələbəsini qazandı. Yuri Vernidubun yetirmələri XXXI turda “Şamaxı”nı məğlub etməklə beşinci pillədəki “Zirə” ilə xal fərqini üçə yüksəltdi. “Ağ-qaralar” bu nəticə ilə dördüncü sıra uğrunda mübarizədə böyük üstünlük yaxaladı.
Erkən qolla rəqibin planlarını pozan “Neftçi” birinci hissədə daha bir neçə real fürsət yaxalamasına baxmayaraq, fərqi artıra bilmədi. Fasilədən sonra üstünlüyünü iki topa çatdıran “ağ-qaralar” matçın qalan hissəsini rahat keçirdi və rəqibinə ciddi qol imkanı vermədi.
Əsas rəqibi “Zirə”nin xal itirməsindən yararlanan “Neftçi”nin avrokuboklara vəsiqə şansı artıq demək olar, “Sabah”dan asılıdır. Komanda liqadakı yerini qoruyur və fərqi artırıb. Bundan sonrası isə “bayquşlar”ın kuboku qazanıb-qazanmamasından asılıdır. Hər bir halda, Vernidubun gəlişindən sonra sərgilənən oyun və əldə olunan nəticələr “Neftçi” adına ümid verir.
“Şamaxı” isə liqadakı yerini təmin edib və komandada motivasiya əskikliyi hiss olunur. Son iki matçda altı qol buraxan “şirlər” rəqib qapılarına yol tapa bilməyib. Hücumda effektivlik azalıb və iddianın qalmaması da məğlubiyyətlərə əsas səbəbdir.
Head coach P.J. Fleck and co. have gone south of the border for their last commitment, with Iowa City linebacker Tate Wallace the latest high school prospect to grab an oar and commit to the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Get to know Tate Wallace
Height: 6’2” Weight: 226
Power 4 Scholarship Offers: Arizona, Arizona State, Kansas State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Purdue, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin
Wallace was a playmaker on both sides of the ball last season in Iowa City. As a linebacker, he racked up 49.5 total tackles, 18 tacklers for loss, 8.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. On offense, he hauled in 40 receptions for 611 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a tight end. Wallace is likely to end up as an outside linebacker with the potential to be more of an edge rusher. He is a powerful, hard-charging force off the edge, with the ability to take on blocks and create pressure with his effort. Wallace may not have the size of Jack Gibbens or Matt Kingsbury, but he has the motor and physicality that his position coach, Mariano Sori-Marin, excelled with as a player. He has an intriguing profile that could make him a versatile defender in Danny Collins’ defense.
The Hawaii baseball team lost a game and a three-game series but not any ground in its quest for a berth in the Big West Tournament.
UC Davis shortstop Elijah McNeal doubled home a run to break a 1-all tie in the sixth inning and catcher Ryan Lee added an RBI single for insurance in the Aggies’ 3-1 victory at the Dobbins Stadium on the UCD campus.
The Aggies won the final two games of the series to remain alive in the chase for a berth in the five-team league tournament. It also was the Aggies’ final home baseball game as a Big West member. The UCD and UH baseball programs move to the Mountain West on July 1.
UH and Cal State Fullerton entered Sunday tied for fourth in the Big West. After the Titans fell to Cal Poly on Sunday, both teams held that spot at 14-13. Both teams are two games ahead of 12-15 UC Irvine, which lost to UC Riverside on Sunday. The Rainbow Warriors need to win one of three games against Cal State Northridge in this week’s final series of the regular season to clinch a tournament berth. The ’Bows hold the tiebreaker over Fullerton and Irvine.
Tate Shimao singled home Noah Rodriguez to stake the ’Bows to a 1-0 lead in the third inning. But they could not take advantage of several scoring opportunities. They hit into double plays in the sixth and seventh innings. In the fifth, a pitch bounced off Lee’s catcher’s mitt. Lee retrieved the ball, and fired to pitcher Braydon Wooldridge, who tagged out Rodriguez at the plate.
As Victor Wembanyama sat patiently on the Spurs bench, awaiting a verdict while the officials — who had taken on the role of jury — deliberated over a vicious elbow to Timberwolves forward Naz Reid’s throat, a wave of innocence softly washed over the Frenchman.
A few moments earlier, the 22-year-old had participated in the group huddle like he normally would during a timeout, clapped his hands following head coach Mitch Johnson’s message to the team and stood up, preparing to check back into the game. Even when the final call echoed through the walls of an emotionally charged Target Center, issuing Wembanyama the first Flagrant 2 foul and subsequent ejection of his career, he motioned to Harrison Barnes to quickly disseminate the message.
What just happened?
The playoffs are lauded for the uptick in aggression and urgency, but on Sunday evening, Wembanyama crossed a line. Perhaps his momentarily lapse of judgment was a snowball effect of physicality that was weighing on his broad shoulders — he had scored just four points on 2-for-5 shooting at the time of the offense — but in a series of runs and momentum, Wembanyama’s actions cost his team a chance at taking a commanding 3-1 series lead.
“I just think the amount of physicality that people play with him, at some level you have to protect yourself,” head coach Mitch Johnson said following San Antonio’s 114-109 loss that evened the West semis at 2-2. “Every single play on every single part of the floor, people are trying to impose their physicality on him. We don’t complain because we’re just gonna play, we don’t really give a s***. But at some stage, he should be protected, and if not, he’ll have to protect himself and unfortunately stuff like that happens.”
Such is the duality of basketball in the spring; the postseason giveth and taketh away. Less than 48 hours ago, Wembanyama put on one of the greatest displays in NBA history — 39 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks on the road on 13-for-18 shooting. The juxtaposition of a monstrous historic performance and poor decision-making — in the biggest game of this San Antonio core’s life — is jarring, even for a first-time offender. But Wembanyama’s absence reinforced a number of series principles while also shedding light on how the remainder of the series could go.
The fact that San Antonio was within striking distance in the fourth quarter — much less even holding a lead with less than six minutes remaining — is a testament to Johnson and his staff, having seen and solved the Wemby-less problem before; treading water during the regular season and breaking the dam open in the playoffs, outscoring opponents by 27 points in nearly 350 possessions. But by the same token, Minnesota’s willingness to attack the paint on a constant loop was a clear byproduct of the absence of the very large man. The Wolves scored 14 points in the paint in the final 12 minutes and finished with 50 in total, a sizable uptick from Games 2 and 3, where they finished with 36 and 38 points in the paint, respectively. Wembanyama’s absence was so stark that Minnesota’s 39% rim rate — 80th percentile of playoff games thus far — was 10% more frequent than how often it had wandered into the restricted area in this series, higher than its rim frequency against Denver and higher than its season-long output. That the Wolves also won the rebounding battle with Rudy Gobert (13) finishing with more than double of any Spurs starter was another indication of the lack of fear.
“It’s largely the same,” Wolves head coach Chris Finch said of their approach once Wembanyama was sent off. “Keep trying to go downhill, keep trying to make the defense react and make the right play. Not a lot changed there. Reid did a really good job screening, I thought he was outstanding and freed up a lot of good offense.”
The issue for the Spurs, although this still remains a best-of-3 series with home-court advantage, is that they failed to take full advantage of a wounded opponent. The Wolves were already without key guard Donte DiVincenzo, and superstar Anthony Edwards, dealing with multiple knee ailments, was clearly hobbled throughout Game 4. But Edwards’ huge final act, a tidy 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting in the fourth quarter, unveiled a potential issue for San Antonio. The veteran wing could be heard on multiple occasions via the broadcast working through the Spurs’ attempts to take him off the ball by trapping or doubling, opening up opportunities for others to create offense and manipulate the aggressive defense. When Edwards saw weaknesses, he alerted the coaching staff and urged his teammates to remain in attack mode. Edwards, who had been playing his way into a rhythm, finished the evening with a game-high 36 points on 22 shots and displayed the necessary poise, leadership and confidence for the hope of an upset.
“The older you get, the more mature you get, but I don’t think it’s just about me,” Edwards said. “It’s the people around me. They’re not just yes men or willing to do anything you say. These people really wanna see me succeed and don’t let me take a day off. They stay on me. I appreciate everyone in my circle but that’s enough about me. Ask about my team.”
Wembanyama will hopefully avoid a league suspension and return in Game 5 to a roaring, loving home crowd with the aim of regaining control of the series, presumably with a better understanding of how to navigate the physicality matrix. But the glass-half-full mentality still implies the presence of doubt, no matter how insignificant it appears on surface level. This series is just getting started.
“We're gonna keep our head high,” Spurs rookie guard Dylan Harper said. “There’s nothing to be down about — it’s the first to four. The series wasn’t going to be easy, we all knew that, but keeping that mentality of attacking, going with the gameplan and just being us.”
Carlos Rodon spent most of last season pitching with a bone spur in his left elbow.
After a lengthy recovery following offseason surgery, the left-hander was eager to make his way back into the Yankees’ rotation fully healthy once again.
Rodon showed some positives signs, but was ultimately hurt by struggles with command, as he allowed three runs on two hits and five walks over 4.1 innings of work.
He issued a free pass to the leadoff man in all but two of those innings.
“That was the bugaboo,” Aaron Boone said. “Overall his stuff was good -- fastball ticked up being here, I thought he had a really good changeup and some solid sliders to get swing-and-misses, but the three leadoff walks hurt.”
Rodon was able to dance his way around it in both the first and second innings, but Milwaukee finally made him pay in the bottom of the fourth.
After two walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, the Brewers got on the board with a sacrifice fly then took the lead with their first hit of the day, a two-out two-run single.
“He just lost the zone there,” Boone said. “It’s a really good job getting out of the first two innings, walking the leadoff batter usually isn’t a recipe for success -- a couple more they come back to haunt him a bit.”
The skipper pointed towards rust as a potential source of some of the left-hander's struggles finding the zone, but Rodon didn't have any sort of explanation himself.
Rodon was trying to adjust on the fly over the course of the outing, but simply could not get himself into a groove.
He'll look to turn thing around in his next outing, opening this year's Subway Series.
“It’s frustrating,” Rodon said. “Obviously I need to be better in that aspect of just attacking the zone and getting ahead in the count quick, just some stuff to work on for the next time out.”
Mert Lawwill, 1969 AMA Champion, Has DiedAMA Archive
Mert Lawwill, 1969 AMA Grand National champion and star of the classic Bruce Brown motorcycle documentary On Any Sunday, passed away last week at 85.
Lawwill was already an accomplished racer on dirt tracks across America when filmmaker Bruce Brown asked him to star in what would become the iconic motorcycle movie, On Any Sunday. He took the role, riding with Steve McQueen and fellow motorcycle great Malcolm Smith. The movie changed public perception about motorcycles and those who rode them, going from the criminal elements of The Wild One to the more wholesome and serious riders like Lawwill.
The son of a housepainter and a schoolteacher, Lawwill was one of seven children, his son, Joe Lawwill, wrote in a press release quoted in his hometown paper, The Idaho Statesman. A restless youth, Lawwill found his outlet when his brother Roy put him on the back of a motorcycle. Despite apprehension from his parents, who thought all motorcyclists were Hell’s Angels, Lawwill began racing at the local TT track in Boise before expanding his racing efforts throughout the Northwest region, including in cross country events called hare scrambles.
His success caught the attention of famed Harley-Davidson dealer Dudley Perkins, and Lawwill moved to California to begin his professional racing career in 1963, ultimately signing a factory contract with Harley in 1964. He would remain with the motorcycle manufacturer for the rest of his racing career.
Steve McQueen, Mert Lawwill, and Malcolm Smith in the iconic film On Any Sunday.Bruce Brown Films
Lawwill earned his first AMA Grand National victory at the Sacramento Mile in 1965, AMA noted, after registering a collection of podium finishes across his first two seasons of professional competition.
Four years later, Lawwill raced his way to the 1969 AMA Grand National championship and was voted AMA “Most Popular Rider of the Year” for his efforts that season.
Two years after his championship-winning season, Lawwill appeared in Bruce Brown’s legendary moto-documentary On Any Sunday, where his AMA Grand National title defense during the 1970 campaign was put on display for a national audience.
Over his racing career he broke his right collarbone, left shoulder, left wrist, left hand, and sprained and otherwise twisted his left foot, the one that went down on the track as he slid sideways at 120 mph, 30 times. Among other injuries.
In 1977, an inner-ear disorder that affected his balance caused Lawwill to retire from racing. Across his iconic racing career, he captured 15 AMA Grand National victories and amassed 161 AMA Grand National finishes. In this time, Lawwill completed the prestigious dirt track grand slam, winning at least one race in all four disciplines of dirt track racing—including the Mile, TT, Half-Mile, and Short Track.
mertlawwill7 on Instagram
Following his racing career, Lawwill shifted his attention to designing and building frames for motorcycle race bikes. In 1997, he was inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, largely thanks to his work with Yeti Cycles. During this time, Lawwill also began production on his famed Mert Lawwill Street Tracker motorcycles, which were street-legal versions of the factory Harley-Davidson XR-750 flat track racers that he excelled on.
Inspired by his former teammate Chris Draayer, who lost his arm in a racing accident, Lawwill also used his engineering talents on the production of human prosthetics, developing a system that would help amputees ride motorcycles and bicycles again. Dubbed “Mert’s Hands,” this device was built around a ball-and-socket attachment that snapped onto the rider’s handlebar to allow them to steer easily.
For all his contributions to the motorcycling community, Lawwill was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2012, Lawwill was granted AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend status, which is reserved for those whose accomplishments transcend their induction category in impactful ways throughout the motorcycle community.
Mert Lawwill, Malcolm Smith, filmmaker Bruce Brown, and owner of Troy Lee Designs Troy Lee attend the Troy Lee Designs Boutique and Design Center flagship store opening on November 3, 2011, in Laguna Beach, California.Allen Berezovsky - Getty ImagesBruce Brown FilmsHe appeared at many motorcycle events later in life, including at The Quail, A Motorcycle Gathering where in 2015 he was a featured “Legend of the Sport” and in 2019, where he participated in a panel discussion with Malcolm Smith. He also served on the judging committee in 2012 and 2013.
Mert Lawwill was preceded in death by his wife, June Lawwill. He is survived by his son, Joe Lawwill; his daughter, Marcella Lawwill; his stepsons, Rick, Mike and Tim Suchomel; three grandchildren; and extended family and friends, according to Cloverdale Funeral Home in Boise.
A celebration of life will be held later this summer in Southern California, near historic Ascot Raceway, which had such an impact on Mert in his early racing days, according to the Instagram site mertlawwill7.
😱 Semi-finals set! The teams still in the Liga MX title race
The quarterfinals have ended in Liga MX, and the top four teams from the regular season are still in the fight for the championship.
Pumas had to suffer more than expected in a thrilling match against América. Las Águilas never gave up and were just one penalty away from pulling off the feat in Ciudad Universitaria. Juárez’s side will now face Tuzos, who got past Toluca with relative ease.
On the other side of the bracket, we’ll have a high-caliber showdown between Chivas and Cruz Azul. The red-and-whites came from behind against Tigres, while La Máquina advanced comfortably against Atlas’ Rojinegros.
Minnesota Timberwolves star Naz Reid took a brutal elbow from San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals. The incident happened with 8:39 to play in the second quarter.
While battling for a rebound, Wembanyama swung his elbow near Reid's chin and throat area. The official checked out the play and assessed the Spurs star with a Flagrant 2 foul, leading to his automatic ejection.
Despite the hard contact, Reid stayed in the game and finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes. The Timberwolves star sounded tough while talking about Wemby's elbow in the post game conference.
At the time of ejection, Wembanyama had played 12 minutes for four points on 2-5 shooting, along with four rebounds and one assist. The ejection may have changed the game's trajectory as the Timberwolves went on to win the game 114-109.
Spurs HC wants officials to protect Victor Wembanyama
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson has a note for the referees officiating their games. Johnson wants them to learn that Wembanyama has been battling a lot of physicality and therefore, it is their duty to protect the star player from such hostility.
“The physicality people try to impose on him and the lack of protection is really disappointing,” Johnson said. “At some level, it’s starting to get actually disgusting, just in terms of when he tries to fight through things and be professional and mature and deal with some of that stuff.”
Johnson also said that in the lack of protection, it's understandable if the Spurs star takes matter into his own hands.
“I do think it’s getting to a point that if the people who are in charge of controlling the game and protecting the physicality of the game don’t do that, at some point he’s going to have to protect himself,” Johnson said. “We’ve been asking him to do that for a while.”
Meanwhile, Wembanyama had a simple outlook towards the physicality he faces, saying it's commonplace in NBA playoffs.
The team has a new head coach in Klint Kubiak and a new quarterback in Fernando Mendoza. Also, star edge rusher Maxx Crosby is still on the team after being involved in trade rumors for months.
As a result, there are definitely some things to be optimistic about. However, the wide receiver room is definitely not one of those things. In fact, the Raiders might actually have the worst receiver group in the league.
If the season started tomorrow, Tre Tucker, Jack Bech, and Jalen Nailor would be the top receivers. That's not exactly exciting, and if Mendoza is going to reach his full potential, he's going to need better weapons.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently suggested that the Raiders should trade for Joshua Palmer of the Buffalo Bills to help out the room. Palmer signed a three-year deal with the Bills ahead of the 2025 season, but his debut with the team didn't go as planned.
Palmer suffered multiple injuries and only played in 12 games, catching 22 passes for 303 yards and no touchdowns. As a result, the Bills could be willing to move on from the veteran, and the Raiders could assume Palmer would regain his prior form in a different setting.
Regarding this suggestion, Knox offered the following:
Palmer had a few bright moments in the Bills' offense last season, but he wasn't the dependable complementary receiver he had previously been for the Los Angeles Chargers. He produced a career-low 303 receiving yards, though it's worth noting that he was also limited to 12 games.
The 26-year-old battled an ankle injury for much of the season and was eventually placed on injured reserve.
A.J. Brown and Brandon Aiyuk may both have to be dealt before Palmer draws considerable interest, but he'll be a solid option for receiver-needy teams once the dust settles.
As Knox mentioned, Palmer had a few bright spots, but likely wasn't the Bills expected. The Bills also added veteran D.J. Moore to the room this offseason, so the writing could be on the wall for Palmer.
A.J. Brown and Brandon Aiyuk are definitely the more popular receiver targets, but Palmer would likely be cheaper and would definitely come with less baggage.
While 2025 was a down year, Palmer has been solid in the past. In 2022, with the Los Angeles Chargers, Palmer caught a career-high 72 passes for 769 yards and three touchdowns. The receiver then had at least 580 yards in both 2023 and 2024, so he's been consistent outside of 2025.
In Vegas, Palmer could legitimately be the No. 1 receiving option. It would be his best chance to prove he can be a top option in this league and would give Mendoza another reliable veteran.
Head coach P.J. Fleck and co. welcome a sixth in-state commitment into the boat, with Lakeville South offensive tackle Joseph Hamer committing to play for the home state Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Hamer is a high-ceiling offensive tackle prospect. Even at 6’7” and weighing in at 315 lbs., he looks lean for his size and could easily add 30 lbs. at the next level without losing athleticism and flexibility. Hamer is more of a road grader at the high school level and will need to continue to develop his pass protection technique to be a starting Big Ten offensive tackle. He seems a bit raw at this stage of his development, but all the physical tools are there for offensive line coach Brian Callahan to mold him over the next few years.
Sungjae Im had a wind Saturday at Quail HollowPGA TOUR
Golf, like life, is full of ups and downs. Some days, you hit every fairway, the ball bends to your will and the hole looks twice its normal size standing over a putt. Other days, it can be a cruel, unforgiving game and you find yourself in situations much like the ones Sungjae Im experienced during the third round of the Truist Championship.
It began at the 14th hole at Quail Hollow. Like much of the field this week, Im decided to attack the drivable 328-yard par 4. His 312-yard tee shot finished pin-high in the left rough, but one unfortunate bounce left the ball resting inches from the water.
Im technically had a shot, but not much of a stance. So he did what he had to do and removed his right shoe to take an uneven stance with his rear foot completely submerged in the pond. After knocking his chip close, Im converted the 9-foot birdie putt to save what looked to be a disastrous hole.
Then things got even stranger.
At the par-5 15th, Im’s approach settled in the greenside bunker just below the green. Im stood over his third shot and took a few extra looks before pulling the trigger — and the result was a bladed wedge straight out of every golfer’s worst nightmare.
His shot rocketed over the green and slammed into the grandstands behind it. Then, an unlucky bounce caused the ball to ricochet backward off the stands, sending it flying toward the green.
It landed with speed, rolled past the hole and trickled all the way back into the same bunker he was already standing in — forcing him to replay the exact same shot after the worst-case scenario had already unfolded.
The most impressive part is that Sungjae Im managed to come through the two-hole stretch at even par. A nice reminder that resilience is just as important as shot-making.
Jack McGlynn #8 of Houston Dynamo FC celebrates after scoring a goal during an MLS match against LAFC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Houston Dynamo FC defeated LAFC, 4-1, during an MLS match on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Sporting Tribune's Steven Park was there to capture the following TST Images.
Son Heung-Min #7 of LAFC reacts after a missed goal during an MLS match against Houston Dynamo FC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Steven Park - The Sporting Tribune
Son Heung-Min #7 of LAFC reacts after a missed goal during an MLS match against Houston Dynamo FC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
David Martínez #30 of LAFC attacks with the ball during an MLS match against Houston Dynamo FC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Steven Park - The Sporting Tribune
David Martínez #30 of LAFC attacks with the ball during an MLS match against Houston Dynamo FC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Ryan Porteous #5 of LAFC shoots the ball during an MLS match against Houston Dynamo FC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Steven Park - The Sporting Tribune
Ryan Porteous #5 of LAFC shoots the ball during an MLS match against Houston Dynamo FC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
David Martínez #30 of LAFC passes the ball during an MLS match against Houston Dynamo FC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Steven Park - The Sporting Tribune
David Martínez #30 of LAFC passes the ball during an MLS match against Houston Dynamo FC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Jacob Shaffelburg #18 of LAFC receives a pass during an MLS match against Houston Dynamo FC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Steven Park - The Sporting Tribune
Jacob Shaffelburg #18 of LAFC receives a pass during an MLS match against Houston Dynamo FC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Actor and singer-songwriter Eric Nam before an MLS LAFC against Houston Dynamo FC match on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Steven Park - The Sporting Tribune
Actor and singer-songwriter Eric Nam before an MLS LAFC against Houston Dynamo FC match on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Antônio Carlos #3 of Houston Dynamo FC celebrates a victory after an MLS match against LAFC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Steven Park - The Sporting Tribune
Antônio Carlos #3 of Houston Dynamo FC celebrates a victory after an MLS match against LAFC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Ondrej Lingr #9 of Houston Dynamo FC gets fouled by Nkosi Tafari #91 of LAFC during an MLS match against LAFC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Steven Park - The Sporting Tribune
Ondrej Lingr #9 of Houston Dynamo FC gets fouled by Nkosi Tafari #91 of LAFC during an MLS match against LAFC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Guilherme Augusto #20 of Houston Dynamo FC gets helped up by Mateusz Bogusz #19 during an MLS match against LAFC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Steven Park - The Sporting Tribune
Guilherme Augusto #20 of Houston Dynamo FC gets helped up by Mateusz Bogusz #19 during an MLS match against LAFC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Jack McGlynn #8 of Houston Dynamo FC celebrates after scoring a goal during an MLS match against LAFC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Steven Park - The Sporting Tribune
Jack McGlynn #8 of Houston Dynamo FC celebrates after scoring a goal during an MLS match against LAFC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Mateusz Bogusz #19 of Houston Dynamo FC celebrates with Jack McGlynn #8 after scoring a goal during an MLS match against LAFC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Steven Park - The Sporting Tribune
Mateusz Bogusz #19 of Houston Dynamo FC celebrates with Jack McGlynn #8 after scoring a goal during an MLS match against LAFC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Stephen Eustáquio #46 of LAFC does a corner kick during an MLS match against Houston Dynamo FC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Steven Park - The Sporting Tribune
Stephen Eustáquio #46 of LAFC does a corner kick during an MLS match against Houston Dynamo FC on May 10, 2026 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
The San Antonio Spurs were the favorites to take control of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Unfortunately, the game changed after Victor Wembanyama's ejection following his elbow to Naz Reid's head.
It was a tough result for the Spurs, but it looks like they are not dwelling on the loss. Stephon Castle is already locked in for their return to San Antonio for Game 5, which is a great mindset for the Spurs.
Stephon Castle and the Spurs are confident ahead of Game 5
Game 4 was a winnable game for the Spurs, as they were fighting until the final buzzer. It would have been a much different game had Wembanyama stayed in the game. Unfortunately, his elbow led to him only playing 12 minutes.
Moving forward, the Spurs are coming back home to San Antonio for Game 5 of the series. It will be a pivotal game for the series because whoever wins will only be one game away from the Western Conference Finals.
This is where experience will factor in, especially with the Spurs' inexperience, and the Timberwolves' familiarity with the WCF after two consecutive appearances. Despite the pressure, it seems Castle and the Spurs are staying level-headed.
"Protect home court. We have nothing but confidence ahead of every game. Being on our home floor boosts that a little bit. Sense of urgency is the highest it's been in the Playoffs. 2-2, just gotta protect home court," Castle said after the Game 4 loss to Minnesota.
As the Spurs continue to play in high-stakes games in the Playoffs, they are learning how to remain steady. Wembanyama made a big mistake in this game, so he will most likely rectify that as soon as he can.
Following being selected by the Chargers in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Jake Slaughter is making it clear that his primary goal is to contribute, regardless of where he lines up. As the Bolts kicked off rookie minicamp this past week, the conversation quickly shifted to Slaughter’s potential move to guard.
"My thing is I’m going to go out and compete and do everything I can to be the best version of myself," Slaughter said.
While he became a standout at center for the Gators, Slaughter is no stranger to the guard position. He saw significant snaps there early in his college career. Slaughter also said that he had been getting in work at guard during the pre-draft process and his workload at the position has ramped up since arriving in Los Angeles.
Making the transition from center to guard requires tactical changes in terms of pass protection and space management.
"For me, it's always the difference in space," Slaughter said. "Spacing differences, footwork differences here and there. So it's a fun challenge."
Touted for his athleticism, Slaughter's lateral mobility should allow him to excel at pulling and leading in space, while his high-level agility should enable him to mirror quicker interior pass rushers and efficiently engage second-level defenders.
This skillset lines up with what offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said he wants in his guards.
“We want to play a certain style of ball that is convicted, that dictates the terms, so there is a level of quickness,” McDaniel said. “We’re looking for guys that can block people in space, where a lot of the big plays and the things that change games and scoring opportunities, where those occur.”
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