Boos could be heard during a brief break in play to allow players observing Ramadan to break their fast during Saturday's Premier League game between Leeds United and Manchester City.

The 17:30 GMT kick-off at Elland Road was paused in the 13th minute as both sets of players came to the side of the pitch to take on fluids.

A message was displayed on the big screen inside the stadium stating: "As tonight's match takes place inside the holy month of Ramadan, play has been paused briefly to allow players to break their fast."

City had three Muslim players - Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush - in their starting line-up, with Abdukodir Khusanov on the bench.

BBC Sport has contacted Leeds United for comment.

Asked about the booing, Leeds assistant manager Edmund Riemer told Sky Sports: "I'm focused on the game so I don't really hear it, but disappointed with some supporters that that happened."

Manchester City went on to win the game 1-0 through Antoine Semenyo's goal in first-half stoppage time.

• How do Man City's Muslim players adapt to Ramadan?

Ramadan - during which Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn until sunset - began on the evening of 17 February and lasts for a month.

With sunset in the UK ranging from about 17:00 to 19:00 during this period, the only games that could feature a break in play are Saturday's 17:30 kick-off and Sunday's 16:30 kick-off between Arsenal and Chelsea.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said: "We took on a little bit of vitamins because [Rayan] Cherki, [Rayan] Ait-Nouri did not eat today.

"It is a modern world, right? [You see] what is happening in the world today. Respect religion, diversity, that is the point.

"The Premier League says you can have one or two minutes, you can have for the [fasting] players to do it [break their fast]. It is what it is, unfortunately."

Club captains and match officials find a natural pause in the game to allow Muslim players or match officials to break their fast.

In 2021, an agreement was put in place to allow Muslim players to break their fast during a Premier League match.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "I think it's very good for the players. We talk about the athletes and how fine-tuned they are at the moment.

"To go that long without food and drink, it is vitally important that they have that break."

The Eagles have an Alabama-to-Philadelphia pipeline, and Kadyn Proctor could be the next Crimson Tide star to join a Super Bowl hopeful. Ahead of Sunday's workouts, themassive offensive tackle says the Eagles are showing "a lot" of interest in him.  At 6-7 and 350-plus pounds, Proctor is more than just his physical size, offering enough athleticism to run pass routes. Daniel Jeremiah's No. 29 prospect in the draft, Proctor, confirmed on Saturday from Indianapolis that the Eagles are paying close attention.

"It was good," Proctor said of his meeting with the reigning NFC East champions. "I think they have shown a lot of interest in me. I really liked the vibe with them, too."

Proctor could be the perfect pick to eventually replace six-time Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson, who will turn 36 in May. The Iowa native was a three-year starter for the Crimson Tide, going back to his freshman year in 2023. Proctor earned consensus All-America honors in 2025. Proctor was a stalwart on the left side, allowing 37 total pressures in 2024 and 2025 combined and five sacks.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Kadyn Proctor on the Eagles: "I really liked the vibe with them, too"

We thought Virginia was better than that.

Whatever else we might have thought, we never thought that Duke would have a 28-point lead on a good Virginia team. And winning 77-51?

Not what we expected – not at all.

But that’s what happened as Duke wrapped up the #1 seed for the ACC Tournament. And what’s really impressive is that Duke did that despite Virginia doing a first-rate job defending Cameron Boozer.

Boozer’s stats were pretty typical for him: 18 points, 99 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal and a block.

But Virginia held him to just 3-9 from the floor, two inside and one three-pointer.

Being Boozer, he adapted. He couldn’t get easy shots inside against Johanne Grunloh, Thijs DeRidder and Ugonna Onyenso, so he got his points at the line.

Boozer hit 11-12 from the line.

The focus on Boozer left options for the others, and Isaiah Evans took full advantage, hitting three threes early.

Duke never looked back. And the big difference was the defense.

We’ve noticed this several times lately, but especially in the last three games against Syracuse, Michigan, and Notre Dame, there are times when the opponent can’t really get into a decent offensive flow and just has to chunk the ball up as the shot clock expires.

It’s not exactly Bennett Ball, because for one, Duke tends to score more. It’s kind of wild to watch, though. There was one point in the first half where the interior really seemed wide open, but for whatever reason, Virginia just couldn’t exploit it. They passed around the perimeter for 33-34 seconds and then shot a bad three.

Duke kept the pressure up, and Virginia just never adjusted.

They actually played better in the second half, but Duke’s lead kept growing wider. One interesting aspect, to us anyway, was that various disruptive situations came up for individuals, but it didn’t particularly affect the group.

Boozer got poked in the eye and had to leave the game. Duke kept rolling. Nik Khamenia picked up two quick fouls in three minutes in the first half.

Didn’t really matter.

Dame Sarr got two quick fouls right into the second half and just like that, Duke’s pressure man was in a potentially sticky spot.

Didn’t really matter.

In the end, nothing really mattered. This team is coming together beautifully. The defense is as tough as anyone’s, and the offense has matured.

Boozer is a freshman, but he’s smart enough to adjust to pretty much anything anyone throws at him. Evans has gone from being a three-point ace to being a guy who can drive and dunk or dish.

Sarr has gone from a spotty presence to a dominant defender.

And all of them, along with everyone else, are gelling at exactly the right time.

Duke plays State next and Raleigh is never an easy trip. Over the last decade or so, Duke has taken some real beatings over there. With State losing to Notre Dame Saturday, the Pack will be feisty, and we’re sure Will Wade will point out to them that a win over the #1 team in the country will be a massive resumé boost. So everybody should be ready for that.

Notes – DeRidder is a lot like Cameron Boozer…he’s thick too and agile and fundamentally sound…speaking of Boozer, he was that kid who was told the right way to do things and actually practiced his basketball fundamentals…he’s a basketball nerd…it’s hard to explain just what Duke did to Virginia on defense, how thoroughly they dominated them…the ‘Hoos just couldn’t get anything to work…you can see why Odom wanted Chance Mallory…he’s definitely on the small side, but he’s quick and smart…he’s going to be a force there before he’s through…just before tip-off, DeRidder tapped Sarr on the back in a way that made us think those guys must know each other from playing in Europe…a bit of personal respect…

• CAVALIERS CRUSHED: No. 1 Duke men’s basketball routs No. 11 Virginia 77-51 for regular-season ACC crown
• 5 observations from No. 1 Duke men’s basketball’s first half against No. 11 Virginia
• Everything From Ryan Odom After Virginia’s Frustrating Loss to Duke
• Duke clinches share of ACC regular season title with 77-51 blowout win over Virginia
• No. 11 Virginia uncompetitive in blowout loss at No. 1 Duke
• Duke sent extremely strong statement without saying a word vs. Virginia
• No. 1 Duke in a class of its own following resounding win over No. 11 Virginia
• CAVALIERS CRUSHED: No. 1 Duke men’s basketball routs No. 11 Virginia 77-51 for regular-season ACC crown

Adamu or Cvancara, or maybe even Iheanacho, why not two of the three? We need all the firepower we can muster…

Maximilian Mittelstaedt of VfB Stuttgart challenges Junior Adamu of Celtic during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between VfB Stuttgart and Celtic FC at Stuttgart Arena on February 26, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)

Whilst we face something of a shortage of options at the back for tomorrow’s vital clash at Ibrox, we have numerous choices at our disposal an attacking sense, mainly in the centre forward position.

Tomas Cvancara in action at Tynecastle. Hearts v Celtic, 25 January 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou.

Tomas Cvancara is clearly the likely candidate to start, due to his physique and all round ability to play through the middle, and more importantly Martin seems to regard him highly. Something that’s not surprising as the veteran Irishman likes to utilise a big target man in his sides, something he’s done throughout his managerial career.

26.02.2026, UEFA Europa League, VfB Stuttgart Celtic Glasgow v l Maximilian Mittelstädt VFB Stuttgart, 7 expects Kelechi Iheanacho Celtic FC, photo IMAGO.

But we also have the likes of Junior Adamu and Kelechi Iheanacho raring to go, players who would complement the ability of Czech international Cvancara, so Martin O’Neill is rather spoilt for choice in that department.

Daizen Maeda can of course also operate through the middle, but the Japanese is a cert to start on the wing given the work rate and experience he provides in this fixture.

Viljami Sinisalo and Daizen Maeda of Celtic FC reacts during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between VfB Stuttgart and Celtic FC at Stuttgart Arena on February 26, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)

Both Adamu and Iheanacho can operate anywhere across the frontline, and are no strangers to putting the ball in the net, so utilising one or the other up front with big Tam, would give us a more than potent goal threat against  theRangers defence who are far from watertight.

Creating opportunities has not been our problem of late, it’s finishing them that’s been the issue. We will create chances at Ibrox, that’s not in doubt, we just need to be clinical with any that come our way, and having players on the park who can put the ball in the net, will give us a fighting chance of getting the three points out of the game.

Tommy Gemmell statue unveiling at the Lisbon Lion’s hometown of Craigneuk. 28 February 2026. Photographs by Vagelis Georgariou

Will Martin O’Neill decide to go with one of his other more recognised front men? I suppose we’ll find out when the teams are announced tomorrow morning at around 10.45am.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order

More Stories / Latest News

Adamu, Cvancara and Iheanacho could have roles to play at Ibrox

Feb 28 2026, 20:49

Photo Special – Tommy Gemmell statue unveiling at Craigneuk

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28th February – Five Memorable Celtic Moments on This Day

Feb 28 2026, 11:45

Liverpool 5 – 2 West Ham – PL Postmortem

By Steven Smith

After a week that demanded focus and professionalism, Liverpool delivered neither perfection nor control — but they did deliver goals. Five of them. It was a performance that never truly convinced, yet it overwhelmed a fragile West Ham side and, in the context of the top-five race, may prove invaluable.

With Aston Villa slipping to defeat against Wolves on Friday, the door creaked open. Liverpool barged straight through it.

⸻

The Starting Eleven

Liverpool XI

• GK – Alisson Becker

• RB – Joe Gomez

• CB – Ibrahima Konaté

• CB – Virgil van Dijk (c)

• LB – Milos Kerkez

• CM – Alexis Mac Allister

• CM – Ryan Gravenberch

• RW – Mohamed Salah

• AM – Dominik Szoboszlai

• LW – Cody Gakpo

• CF – Hugo Ekitike

Substitutes Used

Jeremie Frimpong → Florian Wirtz (76’)

Rio Ngumoha → Joe Gomez (76’)

Trey Nyoni → Ryan Gravenberch (86’)

⸻

Goals

Liverpool 1–0 West Ham – Hugo Ekitike (Ryan Gravenberch) – 5’

Liverpool 2–0 West Ham – Virgil van Dijk (Dominik Szoboszlai) – 26’

Liverpool 3–0 West Ham – Alexis Mac Allister (Hugo Ekitike) – 43’

Liverpool 3–1 West Ham – Tomáš Souček (Malick Diouf) – 49’

Liverpool 4–1 West Ham – Cody Gakpo (Hugo Ekitike) – 70’

Liverpool 4–2 West Ham – Valentín Castellanos (Jarrod Bowen) – 75’

Liverpool 5–2 West Ham – Jeremie Frimpong (Cody Gakpo) – 83’

Photo: IMAGO

⸻

Match Statistics

• Possession – Liverpool 49% | West Ham 51%

• xG – Liverpool 1.75 | West Ham 1.84

• Total Shots – Liverpool 18 | West Ham 11

• Shots on Target – Liverpool 7 | West Ham 4

• Fouls – Liverpool 12 | West Ham 11

• Corners – Liverpool 10 | West Ham 5

First Half

The opening half was ruthless without being dominant. Liverpool did not suffocate West Ham with possession — in fact, they ceded more of the ball overall — but they were devastating from dead-ball situations.

Three first-half goals, all stemming from corners, mark a remarkable turnaround for a side that looked utterly blunt from set pieces in the opening months of the season. The delivery was aggressive, the movement coordinated, and the intent clear. Ekitike’s early strike settled nerves, Van Dijk powered home with captain’s authority, and Mac Allister’s clinical finish just before the break effectively ended the contest.

There were still moments of looseness in open play. West Ham found pockets, tested transitions, and were not overwhelmed territorially. But Liverpool’s efficiency was the difference. When chances presented themselves, they struck.

Photo: IMAGO

⸻

Second Half

The second half brought a familiar issue — complacency. Souček’s goal four minutes after the restart shifted momentum briefly, and the visitors sensed vulnerability. Castellanos’ strike later only reinforced that Liverpool’s defensive concentration dipped more than it should have.

Yet every time West Ham threatened to make it uncomfortable, Liverpool found another gear in the final third. Gakpo’s composed finish restored control, and Frimpong’s late goal, bursting forward from the bench, sealed matters emphatically.

The game felt chaotic at times. The xG suggests a contest closer than the scoreline. But Liverpool’s cutting edge was superior, even if their overall control was not.

⸻

Final Thoughts

This was a performance where efficiency masked imperfection. Liverpool weren’t great — but they were prolific. Seven shots on target produced five goals. Ten corners yielded relentless pressure and three decisive moments before half-time.

Defensively, there remains work to do. In midfield, the balance wavered. But in attack, there is growing cohesion and confidence.

With Villa stumbling, the top-five race tightens considerably. The Reds should now feel momentum shifting. If they can pair this ruthless finishing with greater control, the chase becomes very real.

Steven Smith’s Pre-Match Prediction:

Liverpool 2 – 0 West Ham

As Bayern Munich fought hard to come out of the Signal Iduna Park against a game Borussia Dortmund side with a late goal by captain Joshua Kimmich, you might have notice that although having the visiting side role, the Bayern fans section was quieter than usual. For this reason, Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala was seen approaching the Bayern fans section to ask them why they were not actively supporting the club (FCBinside via @iMiaSanMia).

Apparently the reason was that the Ultras had had a clash with the Dortmund police before the game with pepper spray and batons involved, causing some 500 Bayern fans to watch the game in the stadium’s concourse through the TVs, rather than supporting from their seats (Bild via @iMiaSanMia). On their behalf, Dortmund police announced that 29 Bayern supporters had tried to enter the game with fake tickets.

It appears that at least some fans returned to their seats during the final moments of the match, as Bayern players were seen celebrating with traveling group of fans, this time receiving the deserved support after a decisive victory.

There was a confrontation between police and some Bayern fans around 5 pm. Police used batons and pepper spray against some of the fans. As a result, 500 fans decided to watch the game in the stadium concourse and stop their support. Dortmund police said a group of 29 Bayern fans attempted to gain entry to the away section using counterfeit or unauthorized tickets.

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…

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The running backs group kicked off the third day of the NFL Combine, and like most position groups, only about half of the eligible prospects participated in measured testing or on-field drills. But some of the top prospects did take the field, and there were a handful of standout running backs that showed very well.

The Notre Dame duo of Jeremiyah Price (4.36-second 40-yard-dash) and Jadarian Price (4.5) stole the show, but because they are expected to be the first two backs selected in the draft, they likely won’t be in the Detroit Lions’ range for value and need.

Of the five prospects whom we declared “winners”, three were featured in our running backs Combine preview article, along with two other backs who weren’t in our preview for entirely opposite reasons. Here’s the top running backs the Lions were hoping paying close attention too.

Mike Washington, Arkansas (6-foot-1, 223)

Washington has been a favorite of POD this offseason, checking in as the top back to watch at the Senior Bowl, and was at the top of the list in our Combine preview. A big and powerful back, Washington would answer a lot of long-term questions the Lions have—including being a safe guard against the David Montgomery situation falling the wrong way. The buzz surrounding him of late has been that of a rising prospect, and then he ran a 4.33 40-yard-dash, jumped 39 inches vertically, and landed a 10-foot-8 broad jump, all at 233 pounds (!), which should very likely end up pushing him even higher up draft boards.

Emmett Johnson (5-foot-10, 202)

Johnson wasn’t on our Combine preview list simply because he’s been slotted as RB3 this offseason, but the rise of Washington and a few others has loosened things up a bit. Despite his 4.56 40-yard dash being the slowest in the group, that’s not a bad time for Johnson and his playing style, and his 35.5-inch vertical jump and 10-foot broad jump point to his explosive nature.

In on-field drills, Johnson exploded at the snap of every drill, jumping out of his stance, and attacked the drills with a downhill mentality. While he was a tick unbalanced when making his cuts at top speed, he was powerful in his movements, showed strong hands, and once he secured the catch, he turned and got upfield in a hurry. His playing style would be a nice match with the Lions’ scheme and playstyle, but I’m not sure he makes it to Day 3.

Desmond Claiborne, Wake Forest (5-foot-10, 188)

Claiborne has been featured in our East-West Shrine Bowl preview and Combine previews due to his speed, which he showed off in the 40-yard-dash, running in an impressive 4.37 seconds. That speed translated onto the field during drills, as he showed great recognition-and-reaction skills, exploded laterally, and maintained his speed throughout the day. Claiborne showed he is willing to press the line and trust his speed, did a nice job of selling cut routes, was crisp during cuts, and was clean out of his breaks. He confirmed his tape and is likely in contention to be a top-five back in this class.

J’Mari Taylor, Virginia (5-foot-10, 199)

Taylor is a compact and explosive runner who didn’t participate in measured testing but was skilled in on-field drills. Taylor attacked downhill, showing power in his feet and the ability to stay square and balanced when setting up his cuts. He only has average lateral agility, and he didn’t look overly comfortable in deep routes, but his underneath routes were clean, and he showed the ability to get low and power out.

Jam Miller, Alabama (5-foot-10, 209)

When scouting this draft class running backs group, Miller flashed at times, but he ended up just missing the cut. He’d immediately make me regret leaving him off my watchlist, as he showed the athleticism behind those flash plays is there. Everything Miller did was solid and repeatable, pointing to a foundation that is developable, making him a sleeper Day 3 pick with high-value upside.

Miller ran a 4.42 40-yard-dash in measured testing and attacked the on-field drills. He showed quick feet, explosive movement in his jump cuts, lateral quickness, and the ability to get low in cuts and explode out into his routes. His open-field cuts were executed at speed and without throttling down (as most backs do), then closed out with solid hands. I’d like him to sell his Texas route more before the cut—because he has the chops for it—but he was smooth in his option-angle route, effortlessly cut inside (similarly to Texas), and secured the catch at full speed.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Brandon Miller had 26 points and eight rebounds, and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Portland Trail Blazers 109-93 on Saturday for their fourth consecutive victory.

Miller made six 3-pointers and the Hornets finished 16 for 42 behind the arc after totaling 72 in the previous three victories, equaling the NBA record for most in a three-game span.

Coby White added 20 points off the bench and LaMelo Ball had 15 points and eight assists. Moussa Diabate finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and five assists as Charlotte pulled within a game of .500 at 30-31.

Jrue Holiday scored 25 points and Jerami Grant had 21 for the Trail Blazers, who played without All-Star Deni Avdija for a third straight game because of a back injury.

Portland missed all 10 3-point attempts in the first quarter and Charlotte took a 29-17 lead. Miller made four 3-pointers and scored 12 points in the second as the Hornets took a 51-43 lead to the half.

The Blazers cut it to 74-67 after three but went cold again in the fourth, missing 10 of their 12 3-point attempts. Portland finished 11 for 47 (23.4%) on 3s for the game.

Up next

Trail Blazers: Visit Atlanta on Sunday.

Hornets: Host Dallas on Tuesday.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

The Matchup: New Jersey Devils (28-29-2) @ St. Louis Blues (21-28-9)

The Time: 5:00 pm EST

The Broadcast: TV — MSG, Devils Hockey Radio

The Game Preview: Matt had it here.

The Rules: If you have been a reader here, you already know the rules. But for the rest, a reminder: please do not swear in the comment section, and keep comments relevant to the hockey game going on. Beyond that, do not attack any other commenters, and do not ask for or pass along illegal streams on this board.

LGD!

We're putting some respect on defenders today in Italy. 

Inter look to extend their lead at the top of Serie A to 13 points, and it's so far so good thanks to the efforts of one Federico Dimarco. 

With names like Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram and Nicolo Barella, you don't often think of the defender as a difference maker.

But he's done it again for Cristian Chivu's side on Saturday against Genoa!

Dimarco volleyed home from a tight angle at the half-hour mark to put the hosts in front inside a rocking San Siro. He now has 20 goal involvements this season.

To make the moment event better, he impressively also leads Serie A in goal involvements this season, ahead of Lautaro, Como starlet Nico Paz and Juventus' Kenan Yildiz.

A moment for defenders, please!

Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine went around the league and named the "perfect" free agency fit for each team. For edge rusher Odafe Oweh, he connected him to the Buccaneers.

"The Bucs have been looking for a young edge-rusher to lead the pass rush for a while. Odafe Oweh is a popular pick to re-sign with the Chargers after they traded for him during the 2025 season or follow Jesse Minter back to Baltimore. He had 7.5 sacks in 12 games while playing for Minter this season," Ballentine writes.

"However, Todd Bowles' ability to scheme pass-rushers into one-on-one situations shouldn't be taken lightly. It would be a huge get for the Bucs to convince the 27-year-old to head to Tampa.

"He would be a great fit in Bowles' aggressive defensive system and he'd fill a need they just haven't figured out."

Oweh is one of the most promising players available at his position, and thus, he should gain interest from several teams around the league. He is projected to land a three-year, $57.9 million contract, according to Spotrac.

The Chargers acquired Oweh in October via trade with the Ravens. The team sent safety Alohi Gilman and a fifth-round pick in exchange for the edge rusher. The 27-year-old had a slow start to the season, but turned a corner once he arrived in Los Angeles.

Oweh posted an 81.6 PFF pass-rush grade with 39 pressures and 7.5 sacks across 13 regular-season games with the Chargers. His performance of the season came against the Patriots in the playoffs, where he posted three sacks and a 90.1 PFF pass-rushing grade. 

If the Bolts hope to bring Oweh back to LA, it will be costly, but he is a premier player at his position.

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Odafe Oweh named 'perfect' free agency fit for NFC South team

In a victory on Senior night, Notre Dame fans got a glimpse of what its future could look like.

A strong second half led by the underclassmen for the Irish got its fourth conference win of the season. First half story was all about NC State as they made 7 of 12 3 pointers and shot over 60% from the field. Despite shooting over 50% from the field, the Irish could never close the gap in the first half and found themselves down 44-38. Then the young stars Cole Certa and Jalen Haralson took over in the second half.

Carson Towt had a chance to tie the game with just over a minute left, but the 33% free throw shooter missed both free throws, however a strong defensive effort led to an Irish rebound and Haralson’s two made free throws tied the game up with 20 seconds left. NC State’s Darrion Williams missed a wide open three to send it to overtime.

Overtime was the Cole Certa show as he started the extra session making two three pointers, the first giving Notre Dame it’s first lead of the game and the latter from well beyond NBA range. The sophomore guard had twelve of the Notre Dame 15 points in overtime and NC State went cold shooting which ultimately led the Fighting Irish to be able to pull away with the 96-90 victory.

Haralson, in his first game back since February 10th, was aggressive in the second half realizing that NC State simply had no answers when he committed to driving to the rim. After scoring just two points in the first half, had 23 in the second half and overtime finishing with 25 for the game. The highest rated recruit in Notre Dame history was a beacon of positivity for a basketball team that has had a disastrous season thus far.

The Irish are now 4-12 in conference play and 13-16 for the season. They will play Stanford on Wednesday evening and then close out the regular season with a matchup at Boston College on Saturday.

Senior Day Dub!!!#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/IG5vdtvc8r

— Notre Dame Men's Basketball (@NDmbb) February 28, 2026

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Sunny on X:@thesunnyv

This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame defeats NC State 96-90 in overtime on Senior Day

The last time Liverpool had scored five goals in a Premier League game, the sun was out as they clinched the title with a 5-1 win over Tottenham in April 2025.

The conditions were similar on Saturday when they put five past West Ham and, after a largely turbulent season so far, the reality is that the Reds are heading into March with a spring in their step.

Arne Slot's side were far from wholly convincing against a relegation-battling West Ham, but the raw numbers show a team heading in the right direction as they now sit fifth in the Premier League, just three points off third.

"I could feel the nervousness inside the stadium," Slot said, after a strange game where Liverpool were clinical if not always in control.

But they have won four of five Premier League games in a short space of time now, which is as many wins as they managed in their previous 13 (D6 L3). Things are certainly improving for a side trying to salvage their season.

Already, Slot has admitted that it would not be an acceptable season if the reigning champions did not qualify for the Champions League, and in recent weeks Liverpool have made it their business to at least move towards that minimum objective.

Earlier this campaign, failure to get there was looking a distinct possibility after a string of poor results, a falling-out with talisman Mohamed Salah and an injury to record signing Alexander Isak.

Liverpool have now restored their know-how when it comes to winning football matches - be that through late winners, gutsy displays on the road or simply improving their output from set-pieces.

The belief is returning at Anfield.

• Liverpool put five past West Ham to move fifth

Deadly at dead balls as Liverpool 'go back to normal'

Since the turn of the year, Liverpool have scored more goals from set-pieces (excluding penalties) than any other side in the league.

Seven of Liverpool's most recent nine Premier League goals have come from set-pieces (5 x corner, 1 x direct free-kick, 1 x throw-in), one more than in their first 38 goals of the season. All three of Liverpool's goals in the first half against West Ham came from corners.

"It's very pleasing because firstly that is the reason we have won," said Slot.

"Second of all, people said well played, and in my opinion we have been better when we lost and better when we conceded from set-pieces.

"The first half of the season, almost every set-piece we conceded went in. Now we start scoring from set-pieces and things start looking brighter and better than when you don't."

At the end of 2025, former set-piece coach Aaron Briggs left the club. The existing coaching staff at Anfield have absorbed his duties.

When asked what had changed about his team, Slot said: "Things went back to normal.

"We have created quite a lot of chances in the first half of the season that too many times did not go in. Maybe one or two small details have changed defensively and offensively.

"Our set-up is slightly different, but the biggest reason is that things go back to normal. There was a time when we were 23 goals behind Arsenal, including penalties, and we have closed the gap a bit."

'Step by step, we are getting better'

There is a school of thought among some fans that a good season is one where your team still has plenty to play for come April.

Liverpool will not be winning back-to-back Premier League titles, but they will head into March still in the FA Cup and the Champions League and now in a strong position to finish in the top five, which would effectively confirm Champions League football next season.

At the end of a week in which the club confirmed record revenues of over £700m for the last accounting year, with a profit after tax of £8m, the importance of that European spot cannot be underestimated.

Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who scored Liverpool's third goal, told Match of the Day: "The last four or five months is when teams show what they can do.

"That's what we want. We know how important it is to qualify for the Champions League for the club and us as a team. The goal is there and we are going to do everything to qualify and be closer to the teams on top."

Team-mate Cody Gakpo took a similar view, telling Sky Sports: "It was a good afternoon. Step by step, we're getting [to be] a better team.

"We had a difficult moment during the season, but hopefully these last few games are the start of something beautiful."

With consecutive games against Wolves in the league and FA Cup next week, before a trip to Galatasaray in the Champions League, the next 10 days or so will go a long way to shaping how their season ultimately is remembered.

Get through that unscathed and, whisper it quietly, Liverpool fans may well start to genuinely believe that they can do something beautiful indeed.

The Knicks had to have Friday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. It was the team’s last opportunity to pick up an easy win for two weeks.

The Knicks defeated the Bucks without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) in a resounding 127-98 victory to finish their three-game road trip with a 2-1 record. They now move on to a five-game slate of contenders from both conferences, beginning with a matinee meeting with Victor Wembanyama and the Western Conference’s No. 2-seeded San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

The Knicks will face the Spurs (43-16), travel to Toronto to visit the Raptors (34-25), then return to Madison Square Garden to host the NBA’s No. 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder (46-15). They will then kickoff a five-game road trip with stops in Denver (37-23), Los Angeles against both the Lakers (34-24) and Clippers (27-31), Utah (18-41) and Indiana (15-45) before hosting the Golden State Warriors back home on March 15.

After the Spurs game, six of the Knicks’ following seven games will be on the road. The stretch also includes two sets of back-to-backs, first in Toronto on Tuesday before hosting OKC on Wednesday, and next, in Los Angeles, seeing Luka Doncic and Kawhi Leonard on consecutive nights.

Head coach Mike Brown insists he doesn’t look beyond the next game on the schedule.

“You know the schedule better than me. I know we’re going to Toronto some time soon,” he told reporters in Milwaukee after Friday’s win. “That’s too many games for me to think about. I just take them one game at a time. I know we’ve got San Antonio at [1 p.m.] on Sunday and just trying to figure out how we’re gonna prepare for them.”

The first five of those opponents could be the Knicks’ toughest test of the season.

The Spurs, Raptors, Thunder, Nuggets and Lakers combine for a 194-103 record, and the Knicks are 2-5 on the season against teams with a .653 winning percentage or better. They are 5-2 against teams with a record above .600 but lower than .653, and are 3-0 against the only top-five seed from either conference with a lower winning percentage than .600: the Raptors.

In the East, the Knicks went 0-3 against the Detroit Pistons, own a 2-1 record over the Boston Celtics and are 2-1 against the Cavaliers. In a season riddled with championship expectations, inconsistency has plagued a team that has gone stretches without playing competitive basketball, only to remind teams why they are title contenders via 77-point halves like the one they hung on the Bucks on Friday.

The Knicks lost to the Cavaliers by 15 before their bounce-back win in Milwaukee.

“It’s important to battle through adversity. In a playoff setting, you may lose one, you’ve got to bounce back and get the next one, and we’ve done a good job of showing we can bounce back quick,” said Karl-Anthony Towns. “It’s a good sign for us but consistency is everything. As long as we can keep building off this momentum and keep building off this mindset, we can be the best team we can be come April.”

ROOKIE RUNS WILD

Brown suggested fourth-year forward Jeremy Sochan could get a longer look at minutes over rookie Mohamed Diawara given Sochan’s experience, size and strength on a Knicks team competing for a title. But on Friday, the Knicks coach let his rookie run wild, and Diawara rewarded the confidence with 10 points on 2-of-3 shooting from 3-point range in 23 minutes off the bench.

“Those guys are the ninth and 10th guys [in the rotation], and I’ll make the call as I go along,” said Brown, “but everybody has to make sure they keep themselves ready.”

Sochan logged six minutes on Friday.

THE SCREEN GAME

Jalen Brunson scored 27 points but 22 of them came in an electrifying opening quarter. Brown said Friday was the best screen-setting game he’s seen from his team this season.

“Jalen did a great job, our whole team did, and Jalen is one of those guys — but the floor has to be spaced the right way,” he said. “Our physicality offensively was there because we set screens the right way, and then we played fast.

“So it takes all of us to do that, and when you do it–and when you have one of those guys–he’s gonna be able to break loose and that was good to see tonight.”

CAMDEN, N.J. -- The Philadelphia 76ers welcomed Cam Payne back to the roster over the All-Star break as they were looking to add more depth at the guard position. Payne was playing overseas in Serbia playing for Partizan and the Sixers brought him back to the NBA on a deal.

It has been a slow start for Payne as he's shooting only 4-for-20 from deep over his first five games, but he has been steady on the floor as a ball-handler and has been able to get everybody organized. He has given coach Nick Nurse an option to turn to and feel comfortable as a backup point guard running everything on offense.

"I think, fine," Nurse said at practice on Saturday. "I mean, I think it took him a minute here. I really like him. I really believe in what he brings. He brings some pace. He gets off the ball. He seems to create his own 3s quite a bit, and he just wasn't making any, right? It gets painful. I'm glad he hit one."

With that being said, Payne will eventually find his rhythm again. He is a player who focuses so much on the vibes being good and his ability to produce in stretches. He had to move back across the world and readjust to the Eastern standard time zone and all of the travel and such. Once hie fully adjusts, he'll be fine.

"I don't ever like I'll never get that worried about that," Nurse added. "I think it's reasonable for a guy to come into the league and need a few games to kind of settle back into the speed and size and what's going on. There's a lot coming at you. We obviously changed a lot of stuff from when he was here last. We had to kind of learn a whole bunch of new stuff on top of just getting your body right and getting the rhythm right and all that stuff."

As long as Payne is able to continue running offense and making sure everybody is on the same page and the team finds a groove with him leading the way, then the Sixers will be OK with it. The shooting will eventually come.

"I think he's ready to go," Nurse added. "I think he'll probably—he hit some big shots to keep us clicking the other night, and we'll probably get here pretty soon, one of his big games where he really gets it going."

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Nick Nurse evaluates the early play of Cam Payne in return to Sixers

No. 19 Tennessee (7-3) defeated Arizona State, 5-3, on Saturday in Day 2 of the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas

The Vols led, 4-0, after the second inning after Chris Newstrom hit a two-run double. Henry Ford and Blaine Brown each hit RBI singles in the inning.

The Sun Devils pulled to within, 4-2, in the fourth inning. Arizona Stare also scored one run in the seventh inning.

Tennessee led, 5-3, after the eighth inning after Levi Clark recorded a RBI on a sacrifice fly.

Brown went 2-for-4. He hit one double, recorded one RBI and scored one run, while Ford went 2-for-5 and totaled one RBI.

Newstrom went 1-for-4. He hit one double and recorded two RBIs, while Clark went 1-for-3. He totaled one double and one RBI.

Landon Mack (2-1) started and pitched five innings for the Vols. He allowed two runs, seven hits and one walk. Mack recorded five strikeouts and totaled 93 pitches, including 63 strikes.

Brady Frederick pitched two innings in relief for Tennessee. He allowed one unearned run, one hit and one walk. Frederick recorded one strikeout and totaled 33 pitches, including 19 strikes.

Cam Appenzeller earned his first save of the season after pitching two innings. He allowed one hit and recorded three strikeouts. Appenzeller totaled 29 pitches, including 19 strikes.

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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Tennessee baseball defeats Arizona State on Day 2 in Arlington

Leeds United 0-1 Man City: Title Nerve Holds Firm at Elland Road

Manchester City edged past Leeds United 1-0 in a tense Premier League encounter at Elland Road, a result that tightened the title race and cut Arsenal’s lead at the summit to two points. In a contest defined by resilience and nerve, City found a way, even without their injured talisman Erling Haaland.

For long stretches, Leeds United were the sharper side. Energy surged from the stands and into Daniel Farke’s players, who pressed high and attacked with purpose. Yet when the decisive moment arrived, it belonged to City.

Semenyo Strikes Before Interval

The breakthrough came just before half time. Rayan Ait Nouri fizzed a low delivery into the penalty area and Antoine Semenyo reacted first, stretching to guide the ball home. It was his sixth Premier League goal since arriving from Bournemouth in January, and it carried immense weight.

City had laboured in the early exchanges. Dominic Calvert Lewin spurned a golden opportunity inside four minutes, poking wide from eight yards after connecting with Brenden Aaronson’s cross. The former Everton forward later dragged another effort wide from a difficult angle, unable to add to his tally of ten league goals this season.

Those missed chances lingered. At this level, against a side of City’s pedigree, wastefulness is rarely forgiven.

Photo: IMAGO

Leeds United Pressure Without Reward

Leeds United played with courage and urgency. Aaronson went close again, prodding wide during a frantic first half spell, while James Justin saw an effort smothered by Gianluigi Donnarumma. The crowd sensed vulnerability in City’s ranks, particularly in the absence of Haaland, who missed out through injury.

Nico O’Reilly nearly doubled City’s advantage when he rose to meet a Matheus Nunes cross, only for Karl Darlow to produce a sharp reflex save. Moments later, play paused briefly to allow players observing Ramadan to break their fast, a stoppage met with audible frustration from sections of the home support.

Leeds continued to probe after the interval. Substitute Jaka Bijol headed wide late on as the hosts searched desperately for parity. Effort was abundant, composure less so.

Title Implications in Premier League Race

Victories of this nature often shape Premier League campaigns. Manchester City were second best for periods, yet they departed West Yorkshire with three points. Pep Guardiola’s side remain firmly in contention with ten games remaining, applying fresh pressure on Arsenal ahead of their clash with Chelsea.

The absence of Haaland posed questions, particularly with Nottingham Forest next on the horizon. Guardiola has suggested the Norwegian is not fully fit, leaving uncertainty over his immediate return. In his stead, Semenyo delivered a poacher’s finish that justified City’s investment and highlighted their squad depth.

For Leeds United, frustration mingles with pride. They have now lost six consecutive Premier League matches against Man City, a run that underlines the gulf in ruthlessness. Still, they remain six points clear of the relegation zone, a buffer that may prove decisive in the weeks ahead.

At Elland Road, Leeds United showed heart. Manchester City showed steel. In a title race decided by fine margins, the 1-0 scoreline may carry significance long after the final whistle.

Pep Guardiola says City’s tense 1-0 win away to Leeds United was ‘huge’.

Antoine Semenyo’s first-half goal was enough to give the Blues three points having withstood intense early pressure from the hosts.

And Guardiola believe the victory was massive given Leeds’ resurgence over the past three months.

“A huge victory for us,” said the boss.

“Erling is a massively important player for us, but we behaved really well.

“My idea of the game is that they started well, but we expect it here.

“Leeds are so intense. After that we did what we are good at for the last decade, a thousand million passes, and make the vibe of the crowd a little bit calmer.

“We missed a little bit more intention up front with the movements, but when they got fatigued the last 15 or 20 minutes we had more intention and to pass the ball to try to score a goal - and we found it at the end of the first half.

“We dropped in second half normally, but that didn’t happen today: we were incredibly focused.

“We didn’t create much but we didn’t concede anything.

“It was long balls where we struggled with the second balls.

“It was a little bit more uncomfortable, but we defended really well.”

There was sort of a “last day of school” feeling to today’s spring training game against the Blue Jays. The Jays sent the B-team, with split squad action facing the Yankees and Phillies, while a number of Yanks are set to leave the team and join their World Baseball Classic sides as that tournament kicks off late next week. That, plus good outings from our starters made for a brisk Grapefruit League showdown, with the Yankees winning 5-1.

Paul Blackburn is auditioning for one of the swingy bullpen roles, and his stock certainly improved today. It wasn’t exactly the Opening Day lineup for the Blue Jays, but it took Blackburn just 40 pitches to work through four scoreless innings. He leaned heavily on his sinker for five groundouts, although I think Statcast was a little clunky today and pitch movement data is hard to interpret. Still, it’s only spring but today was quite a good showing for a guy that really needs to impress after 2025.

We flew through the first half of the game, with Blackburn’s strong start bettered by José Berríos spinning four no-hit innings. It wouldn’t be until Ryan Jennings took over in the fifth that the Yankees finally broke through:

Like many on the field today, it’s likely José Caballero’s last appearance before traveling to join Panama for the World Baseball Classic, but a solid RBI double was a good way for the presumptive Opening Day starter was a good way to wrap up this phase of camp. Cabby would come around to score on a throwing error a couple batters later, making the score 2-0.

Fernando Cruz nearly gave it all back in the sixth though, allowing a double and pair of walks to load the bases. I’m sure this outing wasn’t quite what the brain trust of the WBC was hoping for, as Cruz will suit up for Puerto Rico starting this week. At least he got a double play to work his way out of danger.

After getting out of trouble, the Yankees continued to club the pitching depth of the Blue Jay system:

Austin Wells will suit up for the Dominican Republic after today, but perhaps more important is getting his offensive game more in line with his 2024 self than 2025. Lots of Yankees have gotten their A-swings off in Grapefruit League play this spring, but few lengthen the lineup as much as Wells can, so good stuff to see.

Speaking of A-swings, someone named Kenedy Corona did this in the seventh:

The Yankees were 2-for-3 on ABS challenges by my count, with the only loss being a frankly obvious ball that Cruz requested a review on. I tend to think that Cruz was simply testing the system out for himself before the games count for real, but if it was an honest challenge, maybe we don’t let him request reviews in the regular season.

The Blue Jays managed a run in the ninth on a play neither I nor play-by-play man Justin Shackil quite understood. Nicholas Torres, playing right field for New York, seemed to lose the ball in the Florida sun and missed a catch he should have made, and good hustle from Jays’ baserunner Carlos Mendoza — no, the other one — meant his club was not going to be shut out.

The Yankees hit the road tomorrow, a quick jaunt to Clearwater to take on the Phillies. Will Warren, who’s shown some flashes of a step forward so far this spring, will get the ball with a 1:05pm Eastern first pitch.

Box Score

Thoughts:

• Maybe Coach Wade is too candid to the media about this team? Are they getting discouraged?
• Monday night against Duke could get really ugly
• THANK GOODNESS WE BEAT UNC

Game Summary:

The first half started well with NC State taking an 11—2 lead, and then Notre Dame’s Cole Certa hit 3 consecutive 3PT shots to cut the score to 13-11. At that point the score stayed close, Notre Dame tied it at 25. NC State shot only 50% (3-6) from the free throw line and was out rebounded 9-15. Quadir Copeland had 6 assists in the half, Ven Lubin led all scoring with 12. The Wolfpack had 7 steals and only 2 turnovers. Sagnia appeared to have injured his leg and was taken to the locker room.

Notre Dame asserted themselves on the boards in the second half while simultaneously NC State went 2-14 from 3PT. The combination kept the Irish close. At the 2:34 mark ND cut it to 81-76 and Coach Wade called a timeout. The Wolfpack then proceeded to miss 3 3PT shots and a 2PT shot. With the score tied at 81, and 12 seconds left, Coach Wade called another timeout. Darrion Williams missed a 3PT shot at the buzzer.

NC State struggled during overtime, shooting 2-11 (18%) and only 1-8 (13%) from 3PT. Notre Dame’s Cole Certa hit 3 3PT shots and the Irish outscored the Wolfpack 15-9.

Overall Takeaways:

• NC State is collapsing in the second half of the season, losing 4 of 5.
• This is the first game where the combination of Quadir getting 7 or more assists and the team scoring at least 79 was not a winning formula.
• The Pack defense let them down, ND shot 53% / 48% / 79%. They could not get a stop when needed.
• The Wolfpack had 10 steals and only 6 turnovers

Coach Wade Post Game Comments

Individual Highlights

• Ven Lubin led scoring and rebounding with 24 points and 10 rebounds
• Quadir Copeland led assists with 9

Player Stats and Box Score

Box Score

That Jeremiyah Love ran a 40-yard dash at all at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis came as a pleasant surprise to many.

The Notre Dame running back had little incentive to do so, given that he is widely expected to be a top-10 pick in April's NFL draft. And he hardly would have been alone in abstaining, with just 10 of the 21 ball carriers who attended the combine participating in the drill.

So when Love reeled off a 4.36-second time on Saturday that ranked second among all running backs, trailing only Arkansas' Mike Washington Jr., almost no one could have called it a letdown – except Love himself.

"A little bit disappointing," Love said in an interview with NFL Network's Stacey Dales when asked about his mark. "I wanted to run like a 4.2. Didn't get there, but 4.3 is good. I'm OK with it. Wanted better, but 4.3 is just fine with me."

.@NDFootball RB Jeremiyah Love followed it up with a 4.36u on his second run.@MoveTheSticks' second overall prospect is showing off out there.

2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/jqQad1xRaD

— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2026

MORE: Who ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL combine?

Perhaps the only other person on hand not enthusiastic about how Love's run went: the running back's dad, Jason. Cameras caught him in the crowd shaking his head after Love's first attempt of 4.37 seconds, though he was more enthusiastic after the follow-up.

"He's never satisfied, just like me," Love said with a laugh. "He knows my potential."

Added Love: "I honestly believe I could have run a 4.2, but I'm like 214 (pounds) right now. I gotta drop a little bit in weight."

Love, however, won't chase that mark at Notre Dame's pro day on March 27. The ball carrier won't participate in any testing or drills in South Bend, Indiana, though he does plan to be on hand to support his fellow teammates in the draft, including backfield mate Jadarian Price.

MORE: Where could Jeremiyah Love be drafted?

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jeremiyah Love 'disappointed' by 40 time: 'Could have run a 4.2'

No. 1 Duke clinched a share of the ACC men's basketball regular season title with a dominant 77-51 win over Virginia on Saturday. 

The victory also likely clinches a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament for the 27-2 Blue Devils, who finish the regular season with matchups at NC State and No. 18 North Carolina at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke could conceivably share the ACC regular season title with Virginia if it lost those final two games. 

However, star freshman Cameron Boozer indicated that his team is not interested in a split championship, saying after the win, "We don't like to share." 

A win in either of Duke's final two games will clinch the outright championship. The Blue Devils will be the No. 1 seed in the ACC men's basketball tournament, which begins March 10.

Isaiah Evans led Duke with 19 points, shooting 5-of-9 on 3-point attempts. Boozer followed with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists as the Blue Devils won their sixth consecutive game and 16th in their past 17 contests. 

Thijs De Ridder was the only Virginia player to score in double figures with 16 points. Chance Mallory added nine points off the bench for the Cavaliers, who fell to 13-3 in the ACC (and 25-4) with the defeat. A tough Duke defense held Virginia to just 16-for-55 shooting.

The Cavaliers end their first regular season under head coach Ryan Odom with home games versus Wake Forest (5-10 ACC) and Virginia Tech (7-8).

Duke moved up to No. 1 in this week's AP Top 25 poll after a 68-63 win over previously top-ranked Michigan last Saturday on a neutral court in Washington, D.C. Prior to defeating the Wolverines, the Blue Devils were the No. 2 team among the top 16 released by the NCAA tournament selection committee. 

Joining Duke and Michigan (27-2) in the top four of those rankings were Arizona (26-2) and Iowa State (24-4). Houston (24-5) is also in position to seize a No. 1 NCAA tournament seed, though it came in at No. 6 in the committee's rankings.

Former Florida edge defender George Gumbs Jr. was one of the surprise invites to the NFL combine this year, but he put on a show that many NFL teams will remember when picking in the late rounds of the draft in April.

Gumbs' 6.14 grade ranks 20th at his position, but his measurables weren't anything to scoff at. His 41-inch vertical jump is the second-best among defensive ends and edge defenders all time, coming half an inch shy of Nolan Smith's 2023 record.

While a 4.66-second 40-yard dash isn't anything too special, he was one of only two participants in the 3-cone drill at his position. His 7-second time showed off his short-burst ability.

NFL NextGen Stats gave Gumbs a production score of 58, which ranks 32nd among defensive ends and edge defenders, but his athleticism score of 75 ranks eighth. Combining the two, his total score of 63 ranks 26th.

Although he entered the combine as a projected undrafted free agent, Gumbs may have shown enough to warrant a Day 3 pick. His ceiling is high, and he's coachable as an edge rusher. Remember, Gumbs started his college career as a walk-on wideout at Northern Illinois, so there's still plenty to learn for him to reach his full potential.

George Gumbs Jr. Combine Results

• 40-yard dash: 4.66 seconds (9th among DEs)
• 10-yard split: 1.67 seconds (T-15th)
• Vertical jump: 41 inches (1st; T-2nd all-time among DEs)
• Broad jump: 10 feet 1 inches (8th)
• 3-cone drill: 7 seconds (2nd; only two DEs participated)

Gumbs did not participate in the 20-yard shuttle or bench press.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football EDGE George Gumbs' results at 2026 NFL combine

Bayern Munich won an exhilarating fixture against Borussia Dortmund in a 3-2 win. The game was full to the brim with intensity with players not pulling any punches. Dortmund’s defender Nico Schlotterbeck fouled Bayern’s Stanišić in a sliding tackle, rattling the right back. Despite the ref adjudging the foul to be worthy of only a yellow card, the offender himself believes he could have been sent off.

Speaking post another high voltage Der Klassiker match, Dortmund’s Schlotterbeck admitted the severity of his foul on Bayern’s Josip Stanišić . “I think you could give a red card for that. I got a bit lucky,” he said (via Sky Germany as captured by @iMiaSanMia).

Very physical game

This game was charged from start to finish. Every player was sparing no opportunity to miss even a half chances. The runs and challenges were committed resulting in a very physical duel between the two sides.

Coming in the 18th minute, Schlotti did not hold back and went all in with a sliding challenge. Schlotterbeck’s foot was quite high going into the challenge as his heel made contact with the ball before his foot crashed into Stanišić‘s shin. While the defender did manage to contact the ball before crashing into Stanišić’s shin, the force of the challenge and the potential damage were important factors that would determine the nature of the foul.

Reluctant ref

The referee Sven Jablonksi was reluctant to book any player allowing the intensity to remain high for most of the game. However, both sides were vigorous into the challenges and this instance was one where it crossed the line. Luckily, Stanišić walked away with no major damage relieving Bayern from further distress due to injuries.

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…

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Liverpool have cleared the path of a sensational wonderkid by selling a winger.

Liverpool sanctioned the surprise exit of Trent Kone-Doherty this week. He’s joined Molde in Norway in a permanent deal - something that really has come out of nowhere.

The Irishman was rumoured to be signing a new contract before heading out on loan. Kone-Doherty simply didn’t look like someone that Liverpool were ready to give up on, in all truth.

While his chances of making it to Liverpool’s first-team were slim, they weren’t zero. At the very least, a loan move felt like the most-likely option as something that could dramatically increase his value before a sale.

Instead, Kone-Doherty has left in what could end up being a fantastic move for him. And one that should have positive effects at Liverpool, too.

Josh Abe is the future

The Liverpool Echo reports that one of the principal reasons for Kone-Doherty's sale was the clear a path for Josh Abe. Abe is the latest kid coming through the academy with an enormous amount of hype.

Liverpool certainly feel as though he's got all the potential to become a first-team star. Of course, that only happens if he has the chance to move up through the system and get games where he needs it.

Thus moving on someone like Kone-Doherty allows for Abe to get those games. The overall hope here is that everyone benefits - Kone-Doherty gets first-team football at a great level with Molde, whole Liverpool can focus their development on Abe.

Antoine Semenyo says the mindset at Manchester City is a different level after Saturday's 1-0 Premier League victory over Leeds United.

Picture Special

Gallery: Super Semenyo stars at Elland Road

It’s fair to say the Ghana international has enjoyed life at City, slotting in like a perfect piece to the puzzle in Pep Guardiola’s attack.

The crucial win over Leeds United saw his latest goal added to an impressive tally (15 in 41 appearances) and he says the psyche at City is at another level.

“Yeah I’ve definitely seen [a difference in mentality],” Semenyo said.

“It starts in training every day. Little habits - passing drills, possession.

“It’s the attention to detail, everyone’s focused. It’s not lacking. When you do that in training it follows into games and everyone just wants to win.

“Everyone’s just major focused, and that shift in mentality is so crazy. Little things and making sure you’re in tip-top shape.”

After scoring the only goal of the game, Semenyo pulled out an interesting celebration as he performed the air guitar and explained the reason why he chose it.

“A few friends said I should do something funny, so it’s the first thing that came up in my head,” he added.

“Nice guitar, good performance, crowd loved it and that’s it.”

The vital three points saw us close in on league leaders Arsenal, reducing the gap to two points before the Gunners face Chelsea on Sunday.

The Blues sit on 59 points with a game in hand over the Gunners. We are also now eight points clear of third placed Aston Villa.

“It means everything [to close the gap]. We just want to win all our games on our side and whatever Arsenal do we’ll have to wait and see.

“We have to control what we can control.”

Both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund fans engaged in joint protests during Saturday evening’s Bundesliga “Top-Spiel” after what they claim was excessive force applied by police officers outside the stadium. Support in the Bayern visitors block was noticeably thin during the match. Broadcast cameras confirmed that the section was not full. Moreover, vocal support for the visiting team was noticeably lacking. 

The reasons for the lack of Bayern attendees

Sky Germany reports that approximately 500 Bayern fans declined to enter the stadium in protest of police actions outside the BVB venue. Sport Bild and the Münchener Abendzeitung have received reports from FCB ultras that Dortmund police used batons and pepper spray against Bayern supporters. 

Kicker and other German media sources have been told by the police that action was taken against 30 Bayern fans attempting to enter the grounds with suspicious tickets that appeared to be forged. Dortmund police told the Deutsche Presse-Agentur that no violent action was taken against the fans.

Dortmund and Bayern Ultras show solidarity

Bayern fans in the visitors block unveiled a banner reading “Freedom for all football fans” at one point in the match. This earned a round of applause from the BVB Kurve. Dortmund Ultras then unveiled their own “Freedom for all visiting fans in Dortmund”, which in turn elicited applause from the FCB block.

GGFN | Peter Weis

Governing body addresses growing security concerns

Could Iran’s World Cup 2026 place be at risk? FIFA respond

FIFA said Iran’s World Cup 2026 status is under review as security concerns grow while the focus remains on safe tournament for all teams.

FIFA responds to Iran concerns

The FIFA confirmed that the situation surrounding Iran will remain under close monitoring ahead of FIFA World Cup.

Uncertainty has increased following the ongoing conflict involving Iran raising questions about the team’s participation in the tournament which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico in the summer of 2026.

FIFA: “Everyone will be Safe”

Speaking during FIFA’s annual general assembly in Wales, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom addressed the issue.

In comments reported by ESPN, Grafstrom said FIFA is aware of the latest developments but stressed that it is too early to make detailed statements.

He confirmed that meetings have already taken place and that FIFA is following global events closely.

Grafstrom added that the World Cup draw was held in Washington with all qualified teams included and that FIFA’s main priority is to deliver safe World Cup with all teams present.

He also said FIFA will continue its regular communication with the three host governments to ensure security for everyone involved.

No decision yet, but alternatives possible

So far, there has been no official announcement about Iran withdrawing or being excluded from the tournament. However with the World Cup set to begin in around three months, FIFA is expected to prepare contingency plans in case the situation changes.

According to FIFA regulations, if a team withdraws before the start of the World Cup, it can be replaced.

The replacement is usually chosen based on qualification rankings and in most cases, FIFA looks first to teams from the same confederation although the final decision rests with FIFA.

Group and match schedule

Iran were drawn in Group G, alongside Egypt, Belgium and New Zealand.

Under the current schedule, Iran are set to open their campaign against New Zealand, then face Belgium before closing the group stage against Egypt in second half of June 2026.

Two of Iran’s matches are planned to be played in Los Angeles while the game against Egypt is scheduled for 26 June in Seattle.

Bayern Munich travelled to the Signal Iduna Park to play Borussia Dortmund and didn’t expect the home side to actually give them a game. A fierce battle followed which was won by Bayern with a 3-2 win thanks to two goals from Harry Kane and a late winner from Joshua Kimmich.

Speaking after the game, Kimmich confirms the 11-point gap to Dortmund and declares that the Bavarians will not give it up anymore (Sky Sports as captured by X account @iMiaSanMia). The Rekordmeister has a relatively safe run of league fixtures until the end of the season so wrapping up the title should be more doable.

The Bundesliga isn’t the only thing Bayern wants this season. The club is still in the DFB-Pokal (against Bayer Leverkusen, which is basically the German version of Real Madrid-Manchester City) and got drawn against Atalanta (who knocked out Dortmund in the playoff rounds for the Champions League round of 16).

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mark Mitchell scored 17 points and Shawn Phillips Jr. scored 16 points and Missouri walloped Mississippi State 88-64 on Saturday.

Reserve Anthony Robinson II scored 13 points, Trent Pierce scored 10 and Jayden Stone grabbed 10 rebounds for the Tigers (20-9, 10-6 SEC).

Missouri led 54-23 at halftime on the strength of 61.3% (19 for 31) shooting. The Tigers finished shooting 51% (30 for 59).

Josh Hubbard scored 16 points and Quincy Ballard scored 12 points for Mississippi State (13-16, 5-11).

Missouri started with a 9-0 lead and never looked back. Trent Burns' 3-pointer with 13:49 remaining before halftime and they led by double digits for the remainder.

Mitchell's layup with 9:14 before the break made it 30-10. T.O Barrett made two foul shots with 2:07 left in the half and the lead was 50-19.

Missouri has won three of its last four which included wins over then 19th-ranked Vanderbilt and 22nd-ranked Tennessee.

Up Next

Missouri: Will try to end its three-game losing streak at Oklahoma on Tuesday.

Mississippi State: Travels to face seventh-ranked Florida on Tuesday.

___

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For much of the first half of this season, it almost became a running joke about asking Pep Guardiola on the fitness of Rodri.

The Manchester City midfielder was being nursed back from a hamstring injury between October and December after he missed most of the previous campaign due to an anterior cruciate ligament tear.

Given his importance to this City side, it was obviously a burning issue as to why one of their best players was not ready to return having initially recovered from the more serious knee problem.

Depending on his mood, Guardiola would either give a brief response of “not yet” when asked when the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner was ready. On occasion, he would open up on the necessity to ensure he was fully ready for the intensity of Premier League football on a weekly basis with European action in between.

There was a sense that the City manager wanted to make sure Rodri was primed for this part of the season in particular. This is the time when the title race really starts and the knockout stages of the Champions League come around.

So while there was surprise at the omission of Erling Haaland for City for this trip to Leeds and Elland Road where the City striker’s father once played, it was also an evening to remind us that the Norwegian front man is far from the only key figure in this team.

Obviously given it was a victory by the narrowest of margins, City won’t want the league top scorer’s “knock in training” to be anything serious.

However, the fact it was his replacement in Rayan Cherki who played the pass which unpicked the lock on the resolute Leeds defence in the lead up to January signing Antoine Semenyo’s match-winning goal shows Guardiola his attacking players can step up in different ways to fill the void.

Can anyone really replace Rodri? This was another performance from the defensive midfielder which suggests it would be more difficult to step in his shoes than Haaland’s.

At the final whistle here, Rodri dropped to the floor in exhaustion after his efforts against an energetic Leeds team battling to avoid relegation. He turned onto his back, looked up the sky and gave a small celebration.

There was chaos all around him at that point. Guardiola had offered the Leeds fans a sarcastic wave as he walked onto the pitch after enduring an evening of being called – in his words - a “w****er" during the game while Bernardo Silva and Jayden Bogle clashed as tempers threatened to boil over. Leeds manager Daniel Farke was also shown a red card for his anger at the officials at the end.

It was fitting Rodri was not really involved in all the kerfuffle as he had been the calming influence throughout the 90 minutes which proceeded it.

He was superb on the ball with only 10 of his 119 passes were misplaced. More than half of them were in the opposition half as he tried to help break through the white wall of Leeds players. Guardiola said the passing was crucial to moving the home side around and helping to tire them.

“What a player Rodri is,” said Guardiola. “We missed him a lot. Step by step he’s coming back.”

When City came under pressure, and there were too many times for Guardiola and the travelling support to be comfortable with, it was often an interception from Rodri or a pass out from the Spain international which relieved the visitors.

In stoppage time, it was his sneakiness which saw him deflate Leeds’ hope of a late equaliser. He stepped in front of Gabriel Gudmundsson in his own area and drew the foul. Soft? You bet it was but it is such shrewdness of a serial trophy winner which is crucial in tight games like these when chasing big honours.

City have lost just one league game since Rodri’s full return at the turn of the year. That was a dismal display against rivals United at Old Trafford but they’ve now won five of their last six without defeat.

That has helped move them two points behind leaders Arsenal and Rodri is a big reason for such form as he continues to get back up to the pace.

Obviously spending a healthy sum - £62.5m - on Semenyo last month also helped. The former Bournemouth attacker got his fourth goal in seven league appearances for his new club.

It came in the second minute of first-half stoppage time when Rayan Ait-Nouri crossed, but it was all about Cherki’s clever pass which put the City full-back in space inside the Leeds area.

Of course, if Dominic Calvert-Lewin had taken an early chance or if Jaka Bijol’s late header did not just creep wide, it could have been a different outcome.

But City came through a tough evening amid a hostile atmosphere created by the Leeds fans, some of whom disgraced themselves by booing and jeering in the first half when the game was momentarily stopped for Muslim players to break their Ramadan fast.

“It’s the modern world, right?” added Guardiola. “You know what happened in the world again today? Respect religion, respect diversity. That is the point. The Premier League said you can have one or two minutes. It is what it is, unfortunately.”

Guardiola’s words hit the right tone at a time of turbulence in the world. Rodri’s performance - in the less important sporting sphere - was also spot on.

The importance of Der Klassiker cannot be understated. The Clash of the Titans, if you may, of German football happens to be the face-off between the two most decorated teams of the Bundesliga. Every year the title race is decided by whether Bayern Munich manage to win against Borussia Dortmund and the game becomes even more special if it is away at the Signal Iduna Park. Away games at Dortmund are always difficult and every win there hence becomes a well-deserved one.

No one understands this better than Jonathan Tah, who strongly emphasizes that the win was deserved. In an interview following Bayern’s 3-2 win, Tah praised the game’s intensity. “We obviously knew it was a very important game. It was an intense match, with both teams giving their all on the pitch,” the former Leverkusen man said, per @iMiaSanMia.

“In the end, it all came down to mentality and team spirit. We showed that team spirit on the pitch today, and we kept pushing until the end,” he added, citing the role team spirit played against Dortmund. It is particularly noteworthy that both Tah and his companion Dayot Upamecano had a very solid game and held the defense together for the most part. It is perhaps fitting that he spoke on team spirit — for he exemplified it.

“I think it (the win) was deserved,” he declared.

What do you think of Tah’s performance from tonight? Let us know in the comments!

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DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Harry Kane is targeting Robert Lewandowski’s Bundesliga record of 41 goals in a season after notching another two in Bayern Munich’s 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.

It was the fourth straight game he scored two goals or more and it took his league tally to 30 from 24 rounds so far.

“For sure,” the England star replied when asked if he was going for Lewandowski’s record from 2020-21. “I’ve got to keep doing what I’m doing.”

Kane scored another penalty on Saturday to make it 10 successful spot kicks in the league. Across all competitions this season, the 32-year-old Kane has 45 goals in 37 appearances for Bayern.

“There’s still a lot of games to play,” Kane said of attacking the record in the remaining 10 rounds. “I need to try and be consistent over that period. We’ll see from late April, start of May, if it’s possible. But of course, right now it’s just there and I just got to do what I do.”

Kane recently celebrated 500 goals for club and country.

Lewandowski, who was also playing for Bayern, broke Gerd Müller's record from the 1971-72 season by scoring in the last minute of the last game in May 2021.

Kane said he didn’t think the Bundesliga title race was over with Bayern 11 points clear of Dortmund at the top.

“We had an 11-point lead a few weeks ago and we saw how quickly it can change within two results," he said. "So we have to stay focused."

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

In 2025, the ACC Jacobs Blocking Trophy went to Francis Mauigoa, the University of Miami's Consensus All-American, who also claimed a First-Team All-ACC mention after being named to the 2024 All-ACC Second Team. The Ravens have a massive need at the offensive guard position, and the team prefers to retool in the NFL draft, bypassing free agency unless a big swing occurs. Baltimore has needs at the edge rusher, wide receiver, and offensive guard spots, and one of the best players in the draft could fall into Eric DeCosta's lap.

During the NFL combine, Mauigoa interviewed with prospective teams and made it clear that he's open to a position switch in the NFL.

"They have all talked to me about, like, how do I feel if I move to guard? And it's the same thing (each meeting)," Mauigoa said.

"Like I told the guys, there are five positions. I'll make sure I take one of them," he said. "I mean, I play right tackle. It would be cool if I stay at tackle, but if guard is the way I get into the game, I'm gonna give it my all."

Mauigoa started 42 games at offensive tackle for the Hurricanes, but any questions about his athletic ability could allow one of the best players in America to fill a huge void for Baltimore head coach Jesse Minter. Looking to put his best foot forward last spring, Mauigoa asked Miami offensive line coach Alex Mirabal to give him some reps at guard in practice last season as a way to prepare for a potential move at the next level.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: NFL Draft: Francis Mauigoa says he's open to playing offensive guard

Taylen Green combine results: Arkansas QB wows by breaking pair of positional records originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The top tier of the 2026 NFL Draft quarterbacks is already largely known. Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson are largely expected to be the top passers off the board in April, with Mendoza as the likely No. 1 overall pick and Simpson as a late-first or early-second rounder.

However, beyond those two, there has been some potential room for a quarterback to move up draft boards. Garrett Nussmeier, Carson Beck, Cade Klubnik and Drew Allar are expected to be mid-round options — but with his performance at the NFL Combine, Taylen Green could also be building a case to be selected above his initial late-round projection.

Green, coming out of Arkansas, set two new quarterback records at the combine with his massive jumps, then put up a blazing-fast 40 time for a passer. He showcased some elite athleticism while already being considered one of the better dual-threat options in the class. 

Here's a look at Green's historic combine performance. 

NFL COMBINE HQ:Live results | SN's 2-round mock draft | Top 140 big board

Taylen Green 40-yard dash time

The former Razorbacks quarterback had an outstanding performance in the 40-yard dash, one of the fastest times ever recorded by a player at his position at the NFL Combine.

Green posted an unofficial 4.37 on his first run — which would be the third-fastest combine time ever by a quarterback.

WOW. @RazorbackFB QB Taylen Green with a 4.37u.

2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/60dbFCVSAx

— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2026

Green was seen beaming on the bench afterward, certainly satisfied with his time.

.@RazorbackFB QB Taylen Green is very happy with that 4.37u

2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/va4zGZKDFj

— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2026

MORE: Diego Pavia's results from 2026 NFL Combine

Best QB 40-yard dash times at NFL Combine ever

Green didn't quite make quarterback history at the combine, but he came pretty close. Counting only quarterbacks who ran the 40 at the NFL Combine and not a pro day — which removes Lamar Jackson's 4.34 at his Louisville Pro Day, among others — Green's time was the third-fastest ever recorded by a passer.

Vick had a 4.33 at the combine coming out of Virginia Tech in 2001, while Reggie Neal posted a 4.35 in 2006. Vick's 4.33 isn't included in the NFL's official combine record book, which is only fully reliable going back to 2005, so the league now has Green as the second-fastest quarterback time ever behind Neal.

Here's a look at the NFL Combine's fastest quarterback 40-yard dashes:

MORE:Fastest 40 times ever at the NFL Combine

Taylen Green broad jump

Before he ran in the 40, Green was already making a name for himself. In the broad jump, he set a new NFL Combine quarterback record with a 11'2'', which surpassed Anthony Richardson's mark of 10'9'' in 2023.

and then he followed it up with another QB record, an 11'2" broad jump @taylengreen17 | @RazorbackFBhttps://t.co/vUOTvgExWBpic.twitter.com/DNoocWFa2L

— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2026

Taylen Green vertical jump

Green wasn't done making combine history. He also posted a new quarterback record in the vertical jump, recording a 43.5''. 

That also surpassed Richardson's 2023 record of 40.5''.

.@RazorbackFB QB Taylen Green just shattered the QB vertical jump record.

A 43.5" vertical at 6'6", 227 pounds. 🫢

2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/ty5ihbZ0I4

— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2026

Green's unreal performance for a quarterback left NFL Network without many physical comps among former passers — so it resorted to one of the largest wide receivers ever in the league, the Pittsburgh Steelers' D.K. Metcalf.

Green is a bit taller and lighter than Metcalf was at the combine, and Metcalf was slightly faster, but the two had fairly comparable numbers.

QB Taylen Green being compared to WR DK Metcalf 😳 pic.twitter.com/zOpFwLhxQY

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) February 28, 2026

MORE:Jeremiyah Love impresses at NFL Combine as top RB prospect

Taylen Green height, weight

Green was officially recorded at 6-foot-6 and 227 pounds at the 2026 NFL Combine.

The average NFL quarterback is typically around 6-foot-2, so Green is already trending to become one of the larger passers in the league.

Taylen Green NFL Draft projection

One thing's for sure — Green participating in the combine will only help his draft stock.

NFL Mock Draft Database, which complies average rankings from media outlets everywhere, has Green currently as the No. 193 overall player and No. 8 quarterback in the draft, which puts him in range to be a sixth-round pick.

In his NFL.com prospect profile, Green was given a grade of 6.15, which is in the "good backup with the potential to develop into starter" range. It's unlikely he skyrockets into the first or second round due to his combine performance, but it is certainly possible a team takes a shot on Green in one of the middle rounds, aiming to develop him into a strong dual-threat passer.

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein wrote that Green is a "long, rangy, dual-threat quarterback with upside" but "his ceiling will only track with his growth as a passer." While his size and athleticism are considered rare at quarterback, it's Green's pocket-passing, processing and other key quarterback areas that likely need improvement to become an NFL starter.

Regardless, Green had a historic combine — the kind that hasn't been seen by a quarterback since Richardson in 2023.

Taylen Green has broken TWO quarterback records at the NFL Combine 🤯

43.5" Vertical Jump
11'2" Broad Jump pic.twitter.com/xwby5Bkwee

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) February 28, 2026

MORE: How tight end Kenyon Sadiq dominated the 2026 NFL Combine

In what was an extremely scrappy but thrilling fixture, Bayern Munich barely edged past an in-form Borussia Dortmund to win 3-2 in Signal Iduna Park. The game was set to be a thriller from the very start, with Bayern pouncing on balls, threatening Gregor Kobel and keeping Dortmund on their toes.

However, in the instances that their visitors faltered, Dortmund were lethal and sure to remind the opposition of their capacity and their home strength. The two goals from Dortmund, though fantastic, were not enough to hold off Bayern and their talisman Harry Kane, who scored a brace to bring Bayern closer to the win. A final goal from Joshua Kimmich sealed the deal for Bayern and they now hold a 11-point margin over Dortmund in the title race.

Following the victory, Kane spoke on the importance of this win and expressed his delight in the game.

“It’s a huge win for us in this title race,” the striker said, per @iMiaSanMia.

“We managed to come back from behind, we played our game and knew they would be tired after playing midweek,” he said, referring to Dortmund’s midweek game against Atalanta.

“We never gave up. It’s really special to come and win here. We can be proud of this win,” he declared.

The game truly was a testament of Bayern’s resilience and even if not one of their more picturesque wins, is certainly one to remember. This was not only crucial for the title race, but also to cement the team’s confidence, especially in the midst of an injury crisis.

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…

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Watch as Federico Dimarco turns on the style with a spectacular volley from the tightest of angles to give Inter the lead against Genoa.

You can follow all the action as it happens from this Serie A game on the Liveblog.

The left wing-back has been on exceptional form so far this season, with a series of goals and assists, but this was still a highlight.

Dimarco delights San Siro with perfect volley

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Federico Dimarco of FC Internazionale scores their team’s first goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Genoa CFC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

He started the move down the left, and ran into the area ready to meet the Henrikh Mkhitaryan dinked return pass.

Despite the angle being so tight, the Italian still managed to thread his left-foot volley through the eye of a needle between Justin Bijlow and the far post.

This means the 28-year-old currently has seven goals and 15 assists in 35 competitive appearances for Inter this term.

“He doesn’t score ugly goals” 😂 Federico Dimarco with an absolute stunner to FIRE Inter in front 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Y30Umefciu

Former Manchester City and Spain winger Nolito has claimed that there were “huge egos” in the Premier League side’s dressing room and that his spell at the club was a time to forget. 

Nolito, 39, was one of the first signings Pep Guardiola made when he joined the club in 2016. A tally of six goals and five assists made for a semi-successful time in the north-west before he departed the following summer.

His time at the Etihad Stadium can be described as one of two halves and although he enjoyed a remarkable start on the wing for the Premier League side, it was not enough to keep him under Guardiola’s wing given he struggled to adapt to life in England.

Following his departure, he joined La Liga side Sevilla before spells at Celta Vigo and UD Ibiza preceded his retirement in 2023. From the end of his playing days, the former forward has been open about his time in Manchester and admitted that there were many problems inside the dressing room.

Speaking on the El After de Post United podcast, Nolito said: “Some players had huge egos. We’d all take a shower and then everyone would leave immediately. It wasn’t a very close-knit locker room,” as relayed by Sport Witness.

“But anyway, I was always with the Spanish guys, with (David) Silva or (Jesus) Navas – and we shared a lot in the locker room.

“There were so many good players that I noticed there were a lot of egos. I saw a lot of things but I prefer not to say anything. I think ego is a societal problem today.”

Nolito failed to win a trophy under Guardiola and earned 16 caps for Spain during the entirety of his career, which spanned over 500 games across nine clubs – but the opportunity was there for him to experience at least some of the success that the club have achieved over the past decade.

High-level competition meant that playing time was hard to come by for Nolito, especially because Guardiola has always held extremely high standards since he joined the club in 2016.

The winger’s bid for minutes slipped further from his grip when Gabriel Jesus joined the club at the end of 2016 and impressed instantly to become one of the most prolific wonderkids in Premier League history. 

“At the beginning, I played a lot, then less,” Nolito added. “Ultimately, these are top-level teams and the competition was tough. I didn’t adapt well because I don’t play. Perhaps the Premier League is a bit faster, you get more playing time, there are fewer fouls. But I still prefer La Liga, without a doubt.”

City’s hunger for success has only increased since the day Guardiola’s joined the club and although ego can be viewed as arrogance and conceit, perhaps that is why the club’s stature has become that of one of the best teams of the modern era. 

The LSU Tigers have become the talk of college football and other athletics with their notable alumni, but Livvy Dunne continues to dominate even after she graduated from the Baton Rouge powerhouse.

The former gymnastics star may be off on her own now as a social media icon, but she’s still finding ways to come back to LSU and keep the athletic program in the spotlight. That includes a recent viral video with LSU football head coach Lane Kiffin.

Livvy Dunne and Kiffin were spotted at a recent LSU gymnastics meet together. However, then came a popular TikTok video that featured both prominent Tigers figures as Kiffin gears up for his first season coaching the SEC team.

MORE: College football legend attacks Lane Kiffin for insane CFP stance

Lane Kiffin & Livvy Dunne making TikToks together in the offseason…

At a gymnastics meet (@livvydunne) pic.twitter.com/BMWQkHMd98

— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) February 28, 2026

Kiffin has certainly been a contentious figure in SEC circles since abruptly leaving Ole Miss to take the LSU job. However, one easy way to amplify his image in Louisiana is surely to be seen hanging around Dunne.

The 23 year old has become a fan favorite for her own sporting accolades, as well as her relationship with MLB star Paul Skenes. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace also went to LSU, where the dynamic duo ended up meeting.

MORE: Livvy Dunne shows off impressive swing after meeting Tiger Woods

Kiffin has been spotted at many LSU sporting events since being hired as the next football coach. However, he’ll need to succeed on the field in order to win over Tigers fans after a brutal 2025 season that saw Brian Kelly get fired.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

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The post Livvy Dunne teams up with LSU coach Lane Kiffin for unlikely TikTok video appeared first on The Big Lead.

Leeds vs. Man City score, talking points, highlights as Semenyo gives Guardiola's men battling win originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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• Leeds vs. Man City score
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ELLAND ROAD, LEEDS — Manchester City battled to a dogged 1-0 win against Leeds United thanks to Antoine Semenyo's goal deep into first-half stoppage time. 

The win moves City to within two points of Arsenal at the Premier League summit with 10 games to play. Mikel Arteta's side host Chelsea on Sunday.

Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri combined beautifully down the left channel in the game's decisive moment, and the latter crossed for Semenyo to net his sixth goal in 11 appearances since joining City from Bournemouth in January. It was the 26-year-old's 14th Premier League goal of the season.

The goal came during a stoppage time period that was, in part, contributed to by play being stopped for practising Muslims Cherki, Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush to break their Ramadan fast. Regrettably, this was booed by a significant section of the Leeds supporters, although the booing seemed to lessen when a message appeared on the stadium screen to explain the stoppage.

MORE:Premier League Ramadan fasts, explained: Why matches will stop to allow players to break their fast

Semenyo picking up some of the goalscoring slack was welcome for Pep Guardiola, who was without Erling Haaland due to a minor knee injury and City were second best without their attacking talisman for the opening half hour.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin spurned a glorious opportunity in the fourth minute, although he would have had to come through a VAR review for a push on Marc Guehi if he'd scored. Guehi then made a vital last-ditch challenge on Brenden Aaronson before the United States international was denied in a one-on-one by the ever-imposing Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The second half was one of few chances, with Guehi coming close for City before dropping back into a fine defensive effort, although unmarked substitute Kaka Bijol should have equalised with his first touch two minutes from time.

Frustrations boiled over at the final whistle, with Leeds manager Daniel Farke sent off after he approached the match officials, while Guardiola and City captain Bernardo Silva were the subject of local ire. We're getting towards the "any means necessary" stage of the title race and this City victory certainly fell into that category.

MORE:Erling Haaland out of Leeds vs. Man City

Leeds vs. Man City final score

Location: Elland Road (Leeds, UK)
Referee: Peter Bankes

Keep track of every game and every goal via SN's live Premier League scoreboard.

Starting lineups:

Leeds (5-4-1 right to left): 26. Karl Darlow — 2. Jayden Bogle (7. Daniel James), 24. James Justin, 6. Joe Rodon (15. Kaka Bijol), 5. Pascal Struijk, 3. Gabriel Gudmundsson; 18. Anton Stach, 4. Ethan Ampadu, 44. Ilia Gruev (29. Wilfried Gnonto), 11. Brenden Aaronson (14. Lukas Nmecha) — 9. Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Man City (4-2-2-2 right to left): 25. Gianluigi Donnarumma — 27. Matheus Nunes, 3. Ruben Dias, 15. Marc Guehi, 21. Rayan Ait-Nouri — 20. Bernardo Silva, 16. Rodri — 10. Rayan Cherki (6. Nathan Ake), 33. Nico O'Reilly (4. Tijjani Reijnders) — 42. Antoine Semenyo, 7. Omar Marmoush (26. Savinho)

Leeds vs Man City stats

Leeds vs. Man City talking points, analysis

Semenyo makes up for the Haaland shortfall

When news broke that Erling Haaland would not be playing in the City of his birth, it was easy to forget that the visitors have two of the top three goalscorers in the Premier League this season on their books. 

Yes, 10 of Antoine Semenyo's goals in England's top flight in 2025/26 came before his £62.5m move from Bournemouth in January. Indeed, they were a big reason for it. But he has four in seven top-flight appearances for his new employers now and he was a vital point of difference in a game shy in terms of natural goalscorers.

Aside from the resurgent Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Leeds do not really have anyone who thinks "goal first" and, for all the creative talents at his disposal, Guardiola would previously have been without such a character in Haaland's absence without this astute piece of mid-season business from sporting director Hugo Viana. 

Semenyo still has some rough edges to smooth off as he adapts to Guardiola's demands, but he is keeping his confidence and numbers high while doing so, which is not always a given for new attackers at City. 

As Leeds made the first half an hour a torrid one for City, it was Semenyo who ripped the away side's first attempt high and wide. Not his best, but a much-needed show of intent that felt like a team coming up for air. For the breakthrough goal, he managed his movement in a way Haaland would have been proud to call his own.

The Ghana international also took on Haaland's new detail of getting his head on opposition corners and long throws when required. His hold-up play could have been better, but it's very hard to imagine how City might have dragged themselves to this win without Semenyo.

Bernardo Silva is Man City's everywhere man

There was a point as City's campaign collapsed during the middle of last season, when it looked like Bernardo Silva might end up being among the collateral. His old treble comrades Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne have all left the stage, but Silva – Pep Guardiola's favourite, his brain on the field – remains. 

The Portugal midfielder is into the final four months of his contract in Manchester. A fond farewell this summer had been anticipated but, right now, it's impossible to imagine this City team in a state of exciting flux and transition without its beating heart.

Silva was everywhere at Elland Road, dropping into the six-yard box with Rodri to take short goal kicks from Gianluigi Donnarumma and beat the Leeds press, backing up his own attackers as they harried the opposition and occasionally dropping into pockets on the right to supply teasing balls into the box.

The muck and nettles stuff of English football is something this Lisbon playmaker who came to prominence in Monaco also loves, hoofing a few clearances towards the sky and cupping his ear at the heart of the post-match nonsense. Guardiola has asked Silva to go to the well for him countless times; City would be nowhere this season without him doing it on a week-by-week basis.

Leeds vs. Man City key moments

88 mins: Almost a Leeds equaliser! Jaka Bijol, who has just come on for this right-wing corner. gets up highest as Donnarumma stays at home but heads wide of the far post.

72 mins: Excellent save from Darlow! Rodri helps on a left-wing corner and Guehi nods towards the far post. That would have nestled in the side netting but Darlow claws it ways.

49 mins: Calvert-Lewin pulls away to the far post but Nunes gets over to make a vital block tackle.

45+4 mins: SEMENYO GIVES CITY THE LEAD IN FIRST-HALF STOPPAGE TIME!!!

City save their best move of the half until right at the end. Leeds have just started to look a little leggy in the past few minutes. Cherki and Ait-Nouri pick them apart down the left and the latter's cross gives Semenyo a simple close-range finish.

Available in the UK

Manchester City draw first blood on the stroke of half-time thanks to Antoine Semenyo! 💥 pic.twitter.com/8j1O3zRcCK

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 28, 2026

Available in the US

MASSIVE moment for Man City. In the final seconds of the first half, Antoine Semenyo slides in to put the Citizens on top against Leeds! pic.twitter.com/a4BcHeR13X

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 28, 2026

40 mins: Nico O'Reilly with City's best chance of the game! Bernardo digs out a lovely cross on the right and O'Reilly arrives to meet it with header. Darlow saves superbly but shouldn't really have had a chance. 

4 mins: Glorious chance for Calvert-Lewin! Leeds are all over City in these opening exchanges and really should be ahead. Their top scorer was unmarked - largely because of a shove on Guehi which would have been looked at by VAR - at the far post but slid wide. You were waiting for the net to bulge.

Available in the UK

Dominic Calvert-Lewin misses a GOLDEN opportunity to put Leeds ahead! 🤏 pic.twitter.com/0CrZ41OtWF

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 28, 2026

Leeds vs. Man City reaction

Pep Guardiola

Leeds vs. Man City team news

Leeds team news

• Daniel Farke stuck with the same XI that drew at Aston Villa last weekend

Man City team news

• Erling Haaland missed out on a Premier League matchday squad for the first time this season.
• Rayan Cherki came into the starting XI, with Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush sharing duties up front in Haaland's absence.
• Jeremy Doku was on the bench following a month out with a calf injury.

Leeds vs. Man City upcoming schedules

Leeds upcoming fixtures

Man City upcoming fixtures

‘He Threw Down’

Scott McLaughlin, in the No. 3 DEX Chevrolet, gave Team Penske an encouraging first day of its 60th-anniversary season Friday on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, with a best lap of 106.052 mph as the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series calendar got under way with opening practice.

But teammate Josef Newgarden was one of three to make contact with the walls in separate incidents as 25 drivers geared up for Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. No one was injured, but each of the crashes brought out the red flag.

Scott Dixon said earlier in the day that it’s hard to gauge how his quest for a seventh series might go: “Ultimately you don’t really know until you hit the first practice, especially here in St. Pete. You get a real good understanding the first five races in.”

The driver of Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 9 PNC Honda got a rude welcome back to his 26th year of competition less than an hour into Day 1 with the hardest hit of the day. His car slid across Turn 9 and made head-first contact with the concrete barrier, causing significant damage to the front end.

“Kind of a frustrating one,” Dixon said. “I got loose on entry and tried to save it and then kind of got into an overcorrection. Luckily it slid off a lot of the speed before it hit the wall. Sometimes you can tub a car and destroy them. Hopefully this isn’t too bad.”

Louis Foster, the most recent rookie of the year, also literally had some hard luck in the No. 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing entry Friday. He was hoping to turn around his fortunes at St. Petersburg in this second visit to the Gulf Coast city after being swept up in an accident on the first lap here last year.

Meanwhile, 2025 event winner McLaughlin, knowing the schedule is a marathon and not a sprint, wasn’t making too much of his leading performance in the lone Chevy among the top seven.

“Decent first day. Obviously, being P1 is a great start. The DEX Chevy was straightaway fast, and felt good and comfortable,” he said. “It’s good for us. It’s the start of a long season, and it was nice to have a smooth session to start. We’ll keep pressing on and see how we go.”

Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist, rocking a tribute livery honoring the late Gainesville, Florida, native Tom Petty during the 50th anniversary of his legendary band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, was second-fastest Friday at 105.941 mph in the No. 60 Sirius XM Honda.

Andretti Global had two top-five racers Friday. Kyle Kirkwood, of Jupiter, was third at in the No. 27 JM Bullion/Gold.com Honda, and Marcus Ericsson was fifth in the No. 28 Delaware Life Honda. Kyffin Simpson put his No. 8 Sunoco Chip Ganassi Racing Honda in fourth place in the order.

Saturday’s activity will begin with practice at 9:30 a.m. ET, with NTT P1 Award qualifying following at 4:30 p.m. Practice will be televised on FS1, with qualifying on FS2. FOX One, the FOX Sports app, and INDYCAR Radio will air both sessions live. The Warmup Show with Final Practice will air at 9 a.m. ET Sunday on FS1.

The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is the first of three consecutive races to start the season, with a record four events taking place in March.

The end of the NFL's 2025 league year is bustling with activity. The 2026 NFL Combine is in full swing. The franchise tag deadline is just three days away. Free agency is set to start in less than two weeks, which marks the start of the 2026 league year. The legal tampering period begins two days prior, on March 9. Trade activity can be finalized with the start of free agency on March 11.

The Tennessee Titans and New York Jets already marked the first trade of the year when they sent T'Vondre Sweat to the New York Jets in return for Jermaine Johnson. Head coach Robert Saleh originally drafted Johnson in 2022 when he was head coach of the Jets, and Sweat's nose-tackle position is nonexistent in Saleh's defensive scheme, so the trade made sense for both teams.

Still, the Titans didn't have much of a presence on the edge in 2025. Arden Key and Jihad Ward are both free agents, so it's not overly surprising that ESPN's Aaron Schatz would suggest the Titans target linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson during free agency.

Tennessee would have been the perfect landing spot for George Pickens, as it desperately needs a No. 1 option for quarterback Cam Ward. But since Pickens is expected to be franchise-tagged by the Cowboys, let's further strengthen the Titans' pass rush with Chaisson.

Tennessee was ranked a surprising 15th in pass rush win rate (37.3%) last season, but Arden Key and Jihad Ward are both free agents. Chaisson blossomed over the past two seasons with the Raiders and then the Patriots. In 2025, he had 7.5 sacks, 32 pressures and an above-average pass rush win rate of 12.9%. The Titans could put him on the strong side across from Oluwafemi Oladejo.

Chaisson is a has six years of NFL experience under his belt, and he's coming off of his best season yet. Last year, he recorded 31 tackles (18 solo), 7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two pass deflections, and six stuffs. But it's his 32 pressures and above-average pass rush win rate that are more intriguing.

With Saleh running the show in Nashville now, the Titans' defense is about to look a whole lot different. The scheme he uses is different than what Dennard Wilson was doing, and that means there will be plenty of player movement this offseason.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans named 'ideal landing spot' for LB K'Lavon Chaisson

Romelu Lukaku scored with the last kick of the game to give Napoli a dramatic 2-1 victory away to rock bottom Hellas Verona, after Rasmus Hojlund netted at both ends.

The Partenopei were sliding down the standings after a 2-2 draw with Roma and controversial defeat to Atalanta. Scott McTominay, Frank Anguissa, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, David Neres and Kevin De Bruyne were still out of action, so Alisson Santos completed the attack, with Giovane on the bench against his former club. Hellas were rock bottom alongside Pisa, so while Gift Orban and Moatasem Al-Musrati were suspended, Rafik Belghali, Pol Lirola, Antoine Bernede, Sandi Lovric and Suat Serdar missed out.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

VERONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Paolo Sammarco head coach of Hellas Verona embraces Antonio Conte head coach of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on February 28, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

It was a perfect start for Antonio Conte’s men, who took the lead within 100 seconds. Matteo Politano’s cross from the right was flicked on by Andrias Edmundsson, but turned into an accidental assist for the Hojlund looping header, which he steered into the far top corner from 12 yards, off the inside of the post.

VERONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on February 28, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Leonardo Spinazzola curled just over the bar, while Lorenzo Montipò palmed an Eljif Elmas scorcher out of the bottom corner.

Edmundsson got back for almost a goal-line clearance after Hojlund had dinked a finish past the on-rushing Montipò, and Antonio Vergara blasted just over from an Alisson Santos assist.

Verona equalised amid more controversy, as Napoli felt there was a foul before the corner, but that set play was then flicked on by Hojlund, who was also in the way to deflect the Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro half-volley past Alex Meret.

VERONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro of Hellas Verona scores the 1-1 goal during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on February 28, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Hellas threatened to score another on the counter-attack moments later, but Daniel Mosquera’s first touch let him down when about to go clear.

Tomas Suslov was booked for a sliding tackle on Miguel Gutierrez, as although contact was high, he pulled out at the last second.

Eljif Elmas stung Montipò’s gloves after a well-worked move between substitutes Billy Gilmour and Romelu Lukaku.

VERONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Stanislav Lobotka of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on February 28, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Verona nearly won it in stoppages when Kieron Bowie couldn’t keep the volley on target after Meret flapped aimlessly at a cross.

Just as it seemed to be over, Napoli took a short corner and Giovane’s cross from the left went past an acrobatic Juan Jesus attempt, but Lukaku was ready to sweep in first-time from six yards. It was his first goal of the season and the last kick of the game after so many months out with a serious tendon injury.

Verona 1-2 Napoli

Hojlund 2 (N), Akpa Akpro 64 (V), Lukaku 96 (N)

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Serie A official line-ups: Inter vs. Genoa

Chelsea Urged to Sign Darwin as Desailly Makes Bergkamp Comparison

Chelsea have been encouraged to consider a move for Darwin, with a familiar voice from Stamford Bridge insisting the forward could flourish in the right surroundings. Marcel Desailly believes the former Liverpool striker has the qualities to thrive in the Premier League once again, drawing a pointed comparison with Dennis Bergkamp’s early struggles before his transformation at Arsenal.

Darwin’s journey has rarely been straightforward. A Premier League title winner with Liverpool in 2024-25, he later moved to Al Hilal after scoring 40 goals in 143 appearances for the Reds. For all the silverware and flashes of brilliance, consistency often eluded him. Now, talk of a return to European football has placed Chelsea firmly in the conversation.

Darwin’s Liverpool Record and Fresh Start

At Liverpool, Darwin’s raw numbers told part of the story. The £64 million arrival from Benfica offered pace, unpredictability and an instinct for space. Yet confidence proved fragile. When chances were missed, scrutiny intensified. When rhythm deserted him, the mood shifted.

Desailly believes that narrative masked the underlying talent. He told FootItalia: “I would actually recommend Nunez for Chelsea. He’s a very good player, a smart player – he just needs the right environment to perform. When Liverpool identified his potential they knew what they had statistically.

Photo: IMAGO

“But when you start on a bad note, the confidence disappears and the consideration from those around you follows. It’s like Dennis Bergkamp going to Inter Milan – things went completely wrong. Or Roberto Carlos in his early days, shooting the ball into the stands. The confidence wasn’t there. That’s what happened to Nunez at Liverpool. But the quality is still there. He’s at Al-Hilal now and has scored around six goals in 16 matches – not bad at all.”

For Chelsea, the attraction would lie in harnessing that untapped consistency, in turning moments into momentum.

Role of Cole Palmer in Chelsea Attack

A reunion with the Premier League could also mean service from creative players capable of acting on instinct. Desailly emphasised the importance of timing and trust.

“I’m pleased to see him wanting to come back to European football – it shows money isn’t everything. A club like Chelsea, or the new Manchester United, would be best for him. He needs to be surrounded by established, confident players who know they’re going to play every weekend and who will give him the ball on the first intention. That’s the small detail – when he makes a run, he needs to get the ball immediately. Otherwise he loses confidence quickly.

“We had something similar with Frank Lampard – magnificent player, but sometimes he would look for another option instead of playing the ball first-time to the striker. You could see the strikers losing their rhythm. Nunez needs that immediate ball. But he’s a quality player and he’s still young enough.”

Cole Palmer could be central to that dynamic, though his own future has prompted debate. Desailly added: “Chelsea will qualify for the Champions League. But even if not – fans are educated differently now. It’s about the club, not any one player. Chelsea have the potential to perform without Palmer. He has a long contract, so if he were to leave, significant money would come in that you could reinvest in players who fit the manager’s philosophy.

“I’m sure he’s giving his best to get Chelsea into the top four. But if his heart is telling him to go – well, I had to choose between Monaco and Marseille once, and I followed my heart. I went to Marseille because I was a fan. Players come and go in modern football, but the club is the priority in the hearts of supporters.”

For Chelsea, the message is clear. Darwin remains a striker of promise. In the right environment, confidence restored, his story could yet take on a different hue.

Arsenal were among the clubs interested in signing Oskar Pietuszewski from Jagiellonia Białystok after the youngster broke into the first team. His emergence quickly attracted attention from across Europe, with several leading sides monitoring his development closely.

However, he ultimately chose to join FC Porto, believing that a move to Portugal would provide him with consistent playing time, a crucial factor in his long term progression. Regular minutes at a competitive level were seen as essential for refining his talent and accelerating his growth.

Development Paying Dividends in Portugal

Like many top European clubs, Arsenal have maintained an interest in his progress and remains attentive to his performances. They will be encouraged by how effectively he has adapted to life at Porto, where he is gaining valuable experience in a demanding environment.

The decision to move to Portugal appears to have been the correct one. Pietuszewski is receiving meaningful opportunities and could finish the season as a league champion at just 17. The manager has demonstrated faith in him by allocating minutes at a higher and more competitive level, which will only strengthen his credentials should a future move materialise.

His rapid rise has led to comparisons with Lamine Yamal, underlining the excitement surrounding his potential. Such praise reflects both his technical ability and his composure in high-pressure situations.

Record-Breaking Moment Highlights Talent

According to Talk Sport, it took the teenager just 14 seconds to score in Porto’s most recent match, making him the fastest player to find the net at the Estádio do Dragão in the stadium’s history during the 3-1 victory over Arouca.

Moments like this reinforce why he is regarded as one of the most promising young players in Europe. Performances of such impact will inevitably sustain interest from clubs like Arsenal, who could decide to accelerate their pursuit if his upward trajectory continues.

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Lazio forward Daniel Maldini has joined the list of absentees for the trip to Torino after picking up an ankle knock.

Daniel Maldini Will Miss Torino vs Lazio Clash

The 24-year-old has been a regular starter for Maurizio Sarri, who has been fielding him in an unusual role as a centre-forward since joining the club in January on loan from Atalanta. The versatile attacker has yet to open his account for the Biancocelesti, but the manager has been impressed with his work rate and technical skills, albeit he’s been urging him to make more runs to the box.

Daniel Maldini (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

However, Maldini won’t take part in the action on Sunday. Lazio released the squad that travelled to Turin on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s Serie A contest, and the Atalanta loanee wasn’t on the list. The club’s other absentees are Samuel Gigot, Mario Gila, Elseid Hysaj, Toma Basic, as well as Nicolo Rovella, who underwent surgery on Monday. The good news is that Manuel Lazzarri is available again.

Maldini Picked up an Ankle Injury

According to La Lazio Siamo Noi, Maldini sustained a slight ankle problem, so the technical staff opted to leave him behind at Formello, but they hope to recover the player’s services for Wednesday’s all-important clash against Atalanta in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final. The same goes for Basic and Gila, who trained separately this week.

With Maldini ruled out of action, Petar Ratkov is now the favorite to lead the line against Torino, supported by Mattia Zaccagni and Gustav Isaksen.

Lazio Squad vs Torino

Goalkeepers: Furlanetto, Motta, Provedel;

Defenders: Lazzari, Marusic, Nuno Tavares, Patric, Pellegrini, Provstgaard, Romagnoli;

Midfielders: Belahyane, Cataldi, Dele-Bashiru, Farcomeni, Przyborek, Taylor;

Forwards: Cancellieri, Dia, Isaksen, Noslin, Ratkov, Zaccagni.

This was the sort of scoreline Liverpool might have envisaged posting rather more often when they spent nine-figure sums on the attacking talents of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz. Except that, as they scored five times in a league game for the first time since clinching the title by demolishing Tottenham, the two £100m men were absent, both injured.

They didn’t need the German’s creativity to be prolific, or the Swede’s speed. Rather, they may have underlined one of Arne Slot’s mantras. During their autumnal slump, the Liverpool head coach said that unlocking a defence often involved a moment of magic or a set-piece. Well as Hugo Ekitike and Dominik Szoboszlai played, Liverpool were not magical. But the team who were statistically the worst in the division at set-pieces in the first half of the season may now be officially the best. Directly or indirectly, they scored from three before the break.

A bad afternoon for Nuno Espirito Santo was perhaps a worse one for Aaron Briggs. When Liverpool fired their set-piece coach at the end of December, it was a response to a regular shortcoming. Now Slot need not bemoan their “set-piece balance”, to borrow his phrase, with such regularity. “There was a time when we were 23 goals behind Arsenal, including penalties, and we have closed the gap a bit,” smiled Slot.

He could savour the set-pieces that beat West Ham United. “It is very pleasing,” he added. “The first half of the season, almost every set piece we conceded went in. We start scoring from set pieces and things start looking brighter and better than when you don’t.”

They have turned a corner when it comes to corners. Perhaps in a way that leaves Briggs – who was not hired as a set-piece specialist anyway – looking luckless, given that the first and third goals stemmed from second-phase situations. Maybe the luck is evening itself out over the season for Liverpool, who also benefited from an own goal; just not for Briggs. “Things went back to normal,” reflected Slot. “Maybe one or two small details have changed defensively and offensively.” Not much, he argued, though there is a difference in the personnel in the dugout.

Liverpool’s set-piece record is not perfect without Briggs; they conceded to a West Ham corner, headed in by the unmarked Taty Castellanos. Yet as Liverpool went fifth, returning to the probable Champions League spots for the first time in a month, they now top another table: for most set-piece goals in 2026, with nine. They became just the second team in Premier League history to score three goals from corners in a first half.

Their second may have come straight from the training ground, if not from the most intricate of routines. Szoboszlai simply aimed his corner at Virgil van Dijk, who headed it in. West Ham had their chances to clear the corners for the first and third. The deadlock was broken when, after a bout of head tennis, Ryan Gravenberch picked out Ekitike, who hooked in a low half-volley, though it took a deflection.

The Frenchman ended with two assists to accompany his goal and teed up Alexis Mac Allister to volley in their third and his second in a week. There should have been a fourth set-piece goal, Cody Gakpo slicing a shot horribly wide after West Ham contrived to miss Joe Gomez’s long throw. Instead, the Dutchman ended his goal drought via a touch off Aaron Wan-Bissaka, getting his first in eight games. Slot has resisted the clamour to start Rio Ngumoha and was rewarded by Gakpo’s return to the scoresheet.

Their fifth goal came five minutes into Jeremie Frimpong’s comeback after a month out. His low cross was turned into his own net by Axel Disasi. It may have been a familiar feeling for West Ham, who have conceded five goals in three games against Liverpool in Slot’s relatively brief reign, who have only won once at Anfield since 1963 and who may not return here next season.

They, too, can testify to the significance of corners. “We really made mistakes from set-pieces,” said Nuno. “It is frustrating as a coaching staff. It is something we have been putting a lot of effort and time to put it right.” Instead, they got it wrong. No side has conceded from more this season, and it threatens to be their undoing.

None have fewer clean sheets and they were behind inside five minutes. Thereafter, Liverpool lacked control, but scorelines shape impressions. Slot had received congratulations for Liverpool’s display against West Ham but said: “In my opinion we have played have better when we lost and better when we conceded from set pieces.”

And Nuno recognised how his argument looked illogical. “Maybe it is absurd to say it is a good performance when you lose 5-2,” said the West Ham manager. “But there were a lot of positives.” His side had an attacking threat. Liverpool conceded for the first time in four games, Tomas Soucek sliding in to convert the low cross El-Hadji Diouf drilled. Alisson saved well from Crysencio Summerville and Castellanos headed in Jarrod Bowen’s resulting corner. West Ham finished with the higher expected goals score. In the set-piece league, it mattered little.

Day 3 of the NFL Combine brings out the pretty boys, quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs. The Los Angeles Rams have some needs in those first two categories, so it’s a good chance for fans to see the prospects up close without pads. The overall speed shown at the Combine so far, have been exciting, now the playmakers get their turns.

Here are a few of my favorites, tell TST who you’re looking out for.

Wide receiver

With eight receivers under contract, the Rams won’t need many bodies to be fully stocked for camp, but the unit feels bottom heavy with unproven players. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams return to lead, but after that things get a bit iffy. Jordan Whittington enters Year 3 averaging 20 catches, while Konata Mumpfield had 10 as a rookie. At the depths of the unit, only Tyler Scott has NFL play time and catches as a pro. Harold Presley, Mario Williams, and Tru Edwards are likely camp bodies. What the Rams do need is a WR#2, to allow Adams plenty of plays off without dropping off too steeply. Will L.A. go receiver at #13? If not, here a some prospects at #29.

Chris Brazzell -Tennessee

Three-star prospect turns 23 in September. Began his career with two seasons (1 redshirt) at Tulane. Named an Honorable Mention Freshman All-American. Transferred to Tennessee and started 21 0f 25 games over two years. He totaled 136 catches for 2072 yards, an average of 15.2 per, and tallied 16 touchdowns.

At 6’5”, Brazzell is not the typical Rams receiver prospect. Two things really standout watching his film, one is that his wingspan and body control create an amazing catch radius and two, Tennessee used him a lot on short, quick passes. One would think, seeing his long frame and high yards per catch numbers that he was constantly stretching vertical, but the Vols used a lot screens and short passes to quickly get the ball in his hands. Actually has nifty feet for big man,  decent open-field running skills, and although not a power player, he was hard to bring down without falling forward. His long strides do favor deep routes, and he shows nice deceleration on digs. Good hands and snatches the ball away from his body. Good transition from catch to run.

Solid high floor/high ceiling prospect that has a polished toolbox full moves to release and keep corners off. Versatility to play outside or in the slot. Would fit right into Rams play-action offense. I grade him late in Round 2, but if he tests well, he’s going higher.

Germie Bernard – Alabama

Initially signed with the Washington Huskies, but flipped to Michigan State. Went back to Washington after one season before finally settling down in Alabama for his last two years. The four-star recruit recently turned 22. Over 53 games with 35 starts, Bernard charted 155 receptions for 2103 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also had 36 rushes for 184 yards and five more scores. That’s not all, he went 3 of 3 passing, returned 16 kickoffs for 352 yards and three punts for 43 yards.

Toughness and reliability are the keys to his game. Precise route runner with strong hands, willing to work over the middle and holds on through contact, Only four drops in his career. Sneakily athletic runner in the open-field, not a jitterbug, but shows good contact balance, toughness and moves his feet well. Competitive blocker. Good football IQ, reads and diagnoses defense, understanding and attacking soft areas.

Bernard’s versatility and route-running prowess makes him a fit for the Sean McVay offense. The Rams put a premium on positional flexibility and he lined everywhere at ‘Bama, outside, slot, wing, and in the backfield. In college, he did it all on offense, receiving, rushing, returning kicks and even completed three passes. I grade him as an early Round 3 prospect. His floor is high because of solid technique and football IQ, he needs to show off his athleticism to earn a  professional high ceiling label. 

Quarterback

The Rams could have re-signed Jimmy Garappolo already to lock up QB#2, but haven’t. Could be that both sides want to look around and see what’s out there. If JimmyG is gone, does that make Stetson Bennett the backup? If so, the Rams may be interested in a developmental prospect in the draft.

Drew Allar – Penn State

Four-star recruit, turns 22 in week. Took over starting job as a true sophomore and had 35 straight starts before an ankle injury cut his final year short. Allar threw for 7402 yards and 61 touchdowns at a 65% completion clip.

Has the frame and arm for the NFL. Nice tight throwing motion and the ball jumps easily out his hand. Makes the long outs from the far hash look easy. Doesn’t fire every throw, understands how to take a little off. Where he has ran into problems is game-to-game consistency. It’s not every single drop back, but e does have some technical issues, getting his feet, hips and shoulders aligned. His base is not solid and he can’t rotate through and the ball can go awry. These seem like repairable problems with some proper coaching and repetition. Navigates the pocket and can make off-platform throws. Appears to work through full field reads/progressions.

There are a lot of pluses to Drew Allar’s game. Size, relative athleticism, strong arm, ball security, and a pro style offense with full-field reads. There is the footwork inconsistency to deal with, but we’re not talking about a Top 10 investment (although eighty months ago there was). I grade Allar to Round 3, a Top 100 player and there he becomes a low risk/high reward prospect. I might very well give him a positive bump if, at the Combine, he shows progress on his footwork.

Joe Fagnano – Connecticut

Older prospect at 24 with seven college seasons. Walked on at Maine and was offered a scholarship after camp. Dealt with a redshirt, the COVID19 season, and year-ending shoulder injury during his college career. In 50 games, Fagnano threw for 10,000+ yards with 91 touchdowns and added another 700+ on the ground.

An under-the-radar prospect, Fagnano has the traits for the NFL in his toolbox. Good size at 6’3” 225 lb. above average arm talent, he took command of two different college offenses putting wins on the board, solid footwork with quick, tight release, and he can make throws on the move. Not an elite runner, but navigates the pocket and is not afraid to break the pocket and run. Not afraid of tight windows and shows good accuracy, with good ball security. Like’s his first read, bur appears to go through progressions and reads the full field.

If you’re willing to overlook the age and lower-level of competition, Joe Fagnano has not only the basic skillset for an NFL quarterback, but many of the extra’s that improve a basic model. The Rams have proven that age is not a big determinant in their draft review/process. I like Fagnano more than most, if not all pundits, and grade him as a late Round 3/early Round 4 prospect. Needless to say, his Combine performance will have a lot to say about his future.

Running back

Stocked full for 2026 with Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Jarquez Hunter, and Jordan Waters. Williams and Corum have proven to be a strong one-two punch. Hunter has potential and should get the ball in his hands more often in Year 2. Waters played well in preseason last year, but is a long shot. So what’s left for this unit? With Ronnie Rivers gone, at least for now, that leaves the RB#4 role. It consists of a lot of special teams work and occasional work on offense. The kind of jack-of-all-trade job late round or undrafted players can vie for.

Jam Miller – Alabama

Four-star recruit turns 22 next month. Originally committed to Texas, but flipped to “Bama. Always part of a deep rotation and nagged by minor injuries for most of 2025. Nonetheless, over four seasons he had 349 carries for 1596 yards and 13 touchdowns. Through air, 40 grabs for 336 yards.

At 5’10” 221 lb., he’s has a blocky build with thick, powerful legs. Runs behind low pads and shows good contact balance. When running between the tackles, Miller presses the line with patience and picks his gap. He’s explosive through the gaps, gets north/south and up to speed quickly. Has loose hips and ankles which allow for sharp cuts, let’s him break runs outside, and turn sharp corners. Not really a big piece of the passing game, primarily check downs, but it looks like more could be there. He tracks the ball well on the few wheels routes on film and freely catches the ball. Reports are that he had drops, but in the film I watched, his hands looked reliable.

While Jam Miller never broke through at Alabama, he has the traits to be a pro. His ticket will be his physicality, motor, and willingness on special teams. He could also offer some short yardage power and some fullback work. Testing well would force pundits re-examine his game. I grade him late in Round 6. Good testing would enhance his stock, but he could easily fall through the cracks and go undrafted.

Adam Randall – Clemson

Grew up attending Clemson youth football camps and signed with the Tigers as a four-star wide receiver recruit. Played wide receiver for three years, tansitiing to running back before his final season. Tore an ACL in 2022 spring drills. He started 20 of 50 games at Clemson with 172 rushing attempts for 858 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also chipped in 84 catches for 787 yards and five score in the pass game.

Nice package of size and athleticism.Turns his linear speed to power and is fairly patient behind blocks. A bit stiff and needs a bit of a runway to get going, but he plows through arm tackles and half-hearted tackle attempts. Can’t be called shifty, but his speed can lead to big plays. North/south runner that gets behind his pads. Obviously a pretty solid receiver who understands how to find space, but still has drop problems, the bane that moved him to running back. Overall. A small sample of running back reps to try and project his future.

Interesting prospect that can wear a lot of hats. Has special teams experience, including some kick returns. Reportedly ran 10.94 in 100m. I make him as a priority free agent, but do find him very versatile developmental project with marketable skills.

Finding Rams

There are a number of solid candidates for wide receiver at #29, or at #61, for that matter. Chris Brazzell has a playmaker ceiling while Germie Bernard seems a “Rams type” of prospect. I believe that Sean McVay probably wants an experienced QB#2 and I’m not sure Stetson Bennett is that guy. The last thing anybody wants is a repeat of 2022, when Matthew Stafford went down and cupboard was bare. I liked Drew Allar as a pro prospect before his rough 2025, so I’m not coming off that. Joe Fagnano is a sleeper, not much of a ceiling, but could be a solid backup with a little grooming. L.A. doesn’t need much in the running back room and while I would prefer a a slippery fast guy, both Jam Miller and Adam Randall fit the special teams hammer role.

Who do you like on Day 3 of the NFL Combine?

Mike Washington Jr. had to let it all out.

On Saturday, the Arkansas running back set the bar for his position group at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis by running an official 4.33-second 40-yard dash. That tied for the sixth-best time among all ball carriers at the annual event since 2003.

Not bad for a back who measured in at 6-1 and 223 pounds.

After the run, cameras showed Washington in tears. He again became emotional when talking to NFL Network's Stacey Dales, telling her, "I'm so emotional, man. I've worked my whole life for this."

.@RazorbackFB RB Mike Washington Jr. got emotional after running an incredible 4.33u. 🥲

These guys work so hard for this moment. @StaceyDales

2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/aF5KlGmL9L

— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2026

Washington took a somewhat circuitous route to the combine, playing three years at Buffalo and one at New Mexico State before transferring to Arkansas for the 2025 season. He rushed for 1,070 yards per carry and eight touchdowns for the Razorbacks, earning second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors.

The Utica, New York, native also fared well in other testing at the combine, finishing second among all backs with a 10-8 broad jump and 39-inch vertical leap.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Washington Jr. 40-yard dash run leaves Arkansas RB in tears

The Oklahoma City Thunder came away with a 127-121 overtime win over the Denver Nuggets. While all regular-season games count the same, some have more sentimental meaning than others. Count this one in that bucket.

No secret that there's zero love lost between the two sides. They had arguably the most consequential playoff series last year as OKC bested Denver in seven games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic once again headline the MVP race in the third part of their epic trilogy.

From the jump, Jokic had beef with the Thunder. First, he butted heads with Gilgeous-Alexander. Then Aaron Wiggins. Eventually, he worked his way around the roster until things culminated with Lu Dort.

In the fourth quarter of a close game, Dort kicked his leg out from behind to trip Jokic on a mundane inbound pass. That enraged the three-time MVP winner. He immediately confronted him with red anger in his eyes. Jaylin Williams stepped up to the plate to defend his teammate.

Soon, both teams circled each other. After the confrontation cooled off, Dort was ejected with a flagrant foul two. Jokic and Williams received a double technical foul. The heated moment took over social media.

Here's what the Thunder had to say about what happened:

Mark Daigneault

"If you were watching the game, I think you could see very clearly that it was a chippy game. These are two teams that played each other in a seven-game series. We're in the same division. We play each other 100 times. They know our playbook. We know their playbook. It's just what it is. It's going to be an imperfect game. Things, they escalate like that sometimes. I know Lu, I know Jokic, I know J-Will. I don't think anybody's trying to hurt anybody. They're just great competitors. That's what I thought. They just boiled over. I think it was nothing more than that. I will say this — if J-Will is running up the floor and gets tripped, we expect a flagrant two from this point forward. That's the precedent. If that becomes a malicious play, and flagrant two is the line in the sand on that, we would expect that."

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

"It was great. The physicality. Two teams wanting to win really badly. And were going at it. They're obviously a high-level team. We're a high-level team. Seen each other a lot in the past couple of years. So might be a little bit more into the game since we know the opponent. But it was fun. It was good out there. End-of-season basketball is like that. It's that chippy and physical. It was good to get that in the regular season. As far as the scrimmage, that's how it usually goes. Something happens, team roars and the other team roars. Lu got thrown out. Lu's not that type of guy. He's trying to go out there and win."

Chet Holmgren

"I'd say anytime two good teams clash. Two teams that really want to win. Two teams that have seen each other in the regular season, in the postseason, it's going to be physical. It's going to be a battle. I'm not a ref, so I can't sit here and say, 'This is how I would've called it.' And this and that. The one thing I'd say is that's a tough game to ref. It's a physical game. A lot is going on. I just credit our guys for not letting that become a distraction."

Jared McCain

"I've never been in a playoff game, but that seemed like it was a playoff game. Just the physicality and how the game was going. But I love it. It was really fun to be part of. As a kid, it's all you want to be a part of. Those big moments, big games and a dream of taking that last shot and taking big shots like there in the second half. I was prepared for it, but definitely didn't know the level that it was going to be. But it was super fun."

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: OKC Thunder react to Lu Dort's ejection over fight with Nikola Jokic

The Cincinnati Bengals appear to have an obvious layup they can’t miss in free agency this offseason. 

But Duke Tobin’s comments about Dalton Risner at the NFL combine turned some heads and earned some negative reactions in the process. 

The good news? For now, at least, there’s no reason to panic about the situation. 

Appearing on “The Growler,” The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. said that he thinks the Bengals and Risner are simply going through a normal negotiating process. 

“It’s going to go up to the wire,” Dehner said. “If it crosses into the open of free agency, maybe then you start to get a little more nervous in terms of getting Risner back. But I do think it seems to be in a decent place.”

Risner is an obvious must-have re-signing for the Bengals. He joined up late in the process before last season and, when healthy, stabilized the best line of the Joe Burrow era to date. 

But as Dehner and standard free-agent negotiations tell onlookers, it takes two. 

For all outsiders know, the Bengals are offering a very good deal. Risner might not be in a rush to sign. He’s 31 and looking at his likely last chance at a multi-year deal. Testing the open market, just in case, might be on the table pretty much no matter what the Bengals do. 

Still, the knee-jerk reaction for fans is to wonder why this sort of thing needs to run up to a deadline like this. And given the performance of the front office in Cincinnati in the past, it’s a pretty reasonable one. 

For better or worse, though, all Bengals fans can do is wait and see how it plays out. 

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals free-agent talks with Dalton Risner not worth panic...yet

With the Los Angeles Lakers on a three-game losing streak, the atmosphere surrounding the team is starting to darken a bit. While virtually everyone knew coming into this season that the Lakers weren't a championship-caliber team, the negativity and criticisms are starting to get heavier.

Many people have pointed out the team's lack of defense, both on the perimeter and near the rim, lack of speed and athleticism, inability to consistently hit 3-pointers and lack of a stellar supporting cast around Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James. There is also an increasing feeling that the three-star setup of Doncic, Reaves and James simply won't work.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe, who is a huge fan of James, said on his "Nightcap" podcast that the Lakers are simply "a bad basketball team," and that it doesn't matter whether James, who is in the final year of his contract, is on the team or not.

“They’re a BAD basketball team. … They’re not a championship-contending team with LeBron. They're not. They're not gonna be a championship-contending team without LeBron.”

There is an increasing amount of criticism being directed at Luka Doncic for the flaws he has displayed. Sharpe joined that growing chorus by pointing out the superstar's lackluster defense and tendency to argue with referees.

“… A lot of times Luka's numbers doesn’t correlate to winning. When a guy has 41-8-8…but he just can't play defense. He just can't…that's who he is…He said, 'Well i need to stop arguing with officials,' you can't that's who you are.”

Doncic put up those 41 points, eight rebounds and eight assists Sharpe referenced in Thursday's game against the Phoenix Suns. But while Los Angeles built a 13-point lead in the third quarter, they fell behind by 12 points in the fourth period, and its late Doncic-led rally fell short.

L.A. ended up losing by three points when, on the Suns' last possession, it broke down defensively and gave up an open 3-pointer by Royce O'Neale. Reaves missed what would've been the game-tying trey just before the final horn, and the Lakers lost, 113-110.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Shannon Sharpe: Lakers are 'a bad basketball team'

Kevin Borjas and Imanol Rodriguez meet on the UFC Fight Night 268 main card Saturday at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.

• Last event's results: 2-4
• UFC main cards, 2026: 13-9

Kevin Borjas vs. Imanol Rodriguez UFC Fight Night 268 preview

Borjas (10-4 MMA, 1-3 UFC) will look to build some momentum after a tough start to his UFC tenure. The 28-year-old Peruvian is 1-3 in the promotion, and coming off a unanimous decision loss to Su Mudaerji last August. Prior to that was his only victory under the UFC banner, a unanimous nod over Ronaldo Rodriguez last March.

Rodriguez (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has his UFC debut set after earning a contract with the promotion on Dana White's Contender Series in October. A contestant on Season 33 of "The Ultimate Fighter" as well, Rodriguez made his way to the show by knocking out Roque Conceicao in the first round of his DWCS appearance.

Kevin Borjas vs. Imanol Rodriguez UFC Fight Night 268 expert pick, prediction

Filling out the main card is an intriguing flyweight affair between Imanol Rodriguez and Kevin Borjas.

A hot prospect coming out of both The Ultimate Fighter and Dana White's Contender Series, Rodriguez has proven to be a rookie worth watching.

Despite coming from a judo and sambo background, Rodriguez appears to have a penchant for firefights on the feet and flurries off the breaks, which is in a very similar spirit to how Chepe Mariscal fights.

Rodriguez, who trains under the wing of Daniel Cormier, looks to have some solid grappling chops that could come in handy for this fight. That said, Borjas is an incredibly scrappy fighter in all phases and shouldn't be slept on in this spot.

The Peruvian isn't exactly finish-proof, but Borjas is an incredibly durable fighter whose Thai boxing regularly stuns foes in both victory and defeat. Should Rodriguez chase and follow too hard, his propensity to keep his head on the centerline could cost him dearly in the form of counter crosses and hooks.

It's an absolute dog or pass spot from a betting perspective, but I'll officially pick the prospect I've had my eye on in Rodriguez to edge out a competitive decision win on the scorecards.

Kevin Borjas vs. Imanol Rodriguez UFC Fight Night 268 odds

The oddsmakers and the public heavily favor the undefeated fighter, listing Rodriguez -470 and Borjas +340 via FanDuel.

Kevin Borjas vs. Imanol Rodriguez UFC Fight Night 268 start time, how to watch

Borjas and Rodriguez are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 8:40 p.m. ET. The fight streams live on Paramount+.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Mexico City: Kevin Borjas vs. Imanol Rodriguez prediction, time

Time: 5:45 PM Saturday, February 28th, 2026

Location: Winston-Salem, NC | LJVM Coliseum

TV: CW

Streaming: Broadcast only

Radio: Wake Forest Learfield Sports Network, Demon Deacons App (IOS | Android)

Live Stats: Stat Broadcast

Twitter: @WakeMBB | @BloggerSoDear | @EssexThayer7 | @Les_Johns | @ConorONeill_DI

Instagram: @WakeBasketball

Spread: Wake -4.5

Over/Under: 151.5

Wake’s Rating: KenPom: 79 | NET: 68

Opponent’s Rating: KenPom: 76 | NET: 78

Quad: 3

Kenpom Prediction: Wake wins 778-74

Opponent’s Best Win: Tennessee (19)

Opponent’s Worst Loss: Boston College (160)

Previous Matchup: Wake 81—Syracuse 71

Head-to-Head All Time: 5-11

ESPN Matchup Predictor: 67% chance to win

We are in the home stretch now, and the Deacs are already playing their penultimate home game of the 2025-26 season. Wake Forest and Syracuse are very similar teams in that they are pretty evenly matched and both underperformed this season. With the Orange just 1 win ahead of Wake in the conference standings, this game could have some important seeding implications for the ACC Tournament. Despite that, a 5:45 game on the CW between two bottom tier ACC teams with 2 potentially lame duck coaches is probably not going to generate a ton of excitement.

Go Deacs!

No. 14 Maryland women’s basketball wraps up its regular season in Ann Arbor taking on No. 8 Michigan, in a game with potentially major Big Ten and NCAA Tournament seeding ramifications. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET.

This is your space for thoughts, observations or whatever you would like to share, but please be respectful.

Jeremiyah Love, RB

School: Notre Dame | Conference: Independent

College Experience: Junior | Age: 20.7 (DOB: 05/31/2005

Height / Weight: 6’0” / 212 lbs

Projected Draft Status: 1st Round (Top 15)

College Statistics

Jiri Prochazka will be fighting for another UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 327 this coming April when he squares off with streaking contender Carlos Ulberg for the vacant 205-pound strap.

UFC CEO Dana White revealed the news Friday night, which confirms current UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has vacated his title after winning it back last October at UFC 320.

Prochazka, who won the UFC light heavyweight title back in 2022, has only lost to Pereira since joining the UFC roster nearly six years ago. “BJP” would have liked the chance to face Pereira in a trilogy fight, but at least he’ll get another opportunity to hoist UFC gold. After all, Prochazka does deserve another title shot after coming off back-to-back knockout wins over Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr.

On Saturday, Prochazka took to Instagram to send a message to fight fans after UFC 327’s main event title fight was made official. As always, Prochazka looks completely dialed in and ready to go to war against Ulberg in less than two months.

Check it out below:

“Here we are. The moment I’ve been praying for, fighting for,” said Prochazka. “More than ever. Let’s go for it. For the whole Czech Republic, let’s go for it. Thank you for your support.

“Let’s go for the title. Let’s go for the hunt. Let’s go hunt Ulberg.”

Stick with Mania for more UFC 327 fight card news and coverage.

Newcastle United are expected to prioritize offensive reinforcements this summer as the club evaluates its forward options following an inconsistent stretch in front of goal, even after bringing two such player to Tyneside less than a year ago.

With uncertainty surrounding Nick Woltemade’s long-term role and an Yoane Wissa’s subpar form, attention has shifted toward potential alternatives with Premier League experience, as is Eddie Howe’s known preference.

According to Football Insider, Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has emerged as a player of interest. Newcastle are reportedly keeping tabs on the France international’s availability ahead of the transfer window.

Mateta, 28, scored 10 goals in 34 appearances for Palace this season despite a recent knee issue that has sidelined him. He was oh-so-close to a move to AC Milan during the winter window but failed a medical, leaving him at Selhurst Park and clearly showing both his and Palace’s willingness to move on.

Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Mateta fits Newcastle’s recruitment profile, and that the saga is one worth keeping an eye on.

“Mateta is definitely on their radar at Newcastle,” Brown said. “It looks like he’s going to be available, Palace are willing to let him go, and there are a lot of clubs who are going to be sitting up and taking notice.

“He’s shown at Palace for a couple of years now that he can perform and score goals in the Premier League, his track record proves how good he’s been.

“He’s a France international as well, so where are they going to go to get a striker of that ilk? Especially one who is available and knows the league.

“That’s always something Newcastle look at, Eddie Howe likes to sign players who are proven in the Premier League to reduce the time it takes for them to adapt.

“Newcastle want to sign a new striker, a goalscorer, because the options they’ve got at the moment haven’t been consistent enough and have struggled.

“I don’t think Mateta is a perfect forward, there are a few concerns I have around him, but the scouting team at Newcastle will weigh up the pros and cons.”

For now, Mateta remains part of manager Oliver Glasner’s plans at Crystal Palace and has been included in their Conference League squad for the second half of the season.

Editor’s note: Alex Alvarado is a former contributor and editor-in-chief at Hustle Belt. It was sent to our email and lightly edited for formatting clarity.

He can be followed on Bluesky @aralvarado13.bsky.social.

I believe that sports should exist to make you feel hopeful. 

I wish I could say that the leaders of our favorite sports want the same, but alas. Media leaders want money, and they want to prove just how much of it they can squeeze out of people who fell in love with their teams.

Which is really counter-intuitive to the whole experience! Because let’s say the other easy thing: falling in love with your team should be free! The cost of admission should be you! Just you! You want to feel inspired! You want to be moved! 

We’ve gotta live long enough to see the moments that we’ve never seen before! Do you have a favorite sports memory? What’s the craziest play you’ve ever seen? What’s the best game you’ve ever watched? 

Who’s your favorite player? Who’s the most underrated? 

What the hell does any of that have to do with anybody getting filthy rich?

Friends, let me say something else to you: Me and you: we are college sports. 

Obviously, the players, the coaches, the athletic directors, the hot dog vendors, the security guards, the media, the NCAA, the Supreme Court, Disney, Fox, CBS, and of course, private equity firms are all big parts of what make college sports today.

But there are a lot of characters that make up college sports. We, the Hustle Belt dot com, founded by Matt Sussman in August of 2010, have always been a legitimate member of college sports. 

Always.

These games need participation from everybody, that means everybody from the field or court (or wherever) to the ones on the sidelines. 

And that means you, too. 

Have you ever played these games yourself? Don’t care, doesn’t matter. Because you still showed up. Never left your house? Also doesn’t matter, because we probably saw each other in the comments section or on Twitter. Or maybe you were reading one of the hundreds of other fantastic and beautiful team blogs across SB Nation and our niche focus stopped you in your tracks for a second to make you think to yourself.

Really, a whole-ass blog about the MAC? 

Or better yet: REALLY!!? THEY GOT A WHOLE-ASS BLOG ABOUT THE MAC!?!?!!!

After sneaking-in some MAC football and basketball references into his blog posts across the internet in the 2000’s, Sussman launched Hustle Belt with this mission in mind:

“It’s always been a scattershot attempt on my part to cover the conference, but in the spirit of the hustle-based Great Lakes region economy, we’ll churn out some of the finest homemade MAC blogging known to hominids.”

None of this exists without you. All of this ever happened because of you. 

I hope we remember what matters most when we choose what the future of these games should look and feel like, because they’re really important to us.

Thank you for reading.

Hustle Belt forever!

Today’s Cactus League game features the Mariners facing off against their Peoria sister squad Padres for the second time this Spring. The headline is that Kade Anderson, the third overall pick of the 2025 Draft, starts for Seattle. These will be his first pitches in game action since joining the organization. Anderson throws from the left side and features a delightfuly traditional fastball-slider-curveball-changeup arsenal. He was sitting 94-95 for LSU last year during their championship run, and the Mariners have reportedly focused on bulking him up, so I’ll be watching the velo especially closely today. Anderson will be followed by Emerson Hancock, Randy Dobnak, Jhonathan Díaz, and Blas Castaño.

In the lineup, while some guys have taken off for the WBC already, we’ll see Cal Raleigh and birthday boy Randy Arozarena in what’ll probably be their last games with the Mariners for a few weeks. Colt Emerson also gets another start.

San Diego’s lineup features another entry on the Nick Castellanos Redemption Tour and will start JP Sears, who I’ll always think of as what the Mariners gave up for Nick Rumbelow in one of the most baffling trades of the Dipoto Era. He’ll be followed by Jeremiah Estrada, Alek Jacob, Bradgley Rodriguez, old friend Ty Adcock, Kyle Hart, and—don’t tune out as the minor league subs come in—Mason Miller.

Injury Update

Game Info

Game time: 12:10 PT

Watch: Mariners.TV, Mariners.com

Listen: Seattle Sports 710 AM

Stoke City head coach Mark Robins spoke to BBC Radio Stoke following their 2-1 defeat at Championship leaders Coventry City.

"We didn't deserve anything because we were really poor," he said.

"We didn't get going in the first half, I thought we didn't get close enough to them, we didn't get any real contact on them and we gave them the freedom of the park to be fair.

"Tommy made some really good saves in the first half that kept us in it.

"We got a goal back and got back into the game. In the second half we were much better. And when it gets to the stage that it did, you just have to see the game out.

"Tommy has to learn to come out and clear the whole lot out. If he does that, we draw the game potentially, but also you have to have the help, support and communication around you."

• Listen to Stoke City content on BBC Sounds

As the Unrivaled playoffs begin Saturday at Sephora Arena in Miami, the women's 3-on-3 professional basketball league announced its postseason awards.

Breeze BC guard Paige Bueckers, Rose BC guard Chelsea Gray and Phantom BC guard Kelsey Plum were named to first-team All-Unrivaled. Phantom BC forward Aliyah Boston, Mist BC guard Allisha Gray and Laces BC wing Brittney Sykes were named second team. Phantom BC's Roneeka Hodges was named Coach of the Year.

Bueckers averaged 22.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists while shooting 51.5% from the field and 38% from 3-point range in her rookie season. She led Breeze BC to the No. 5 seed in the playoffs.

Chelsea Gray led Unrivaled in total points (339), assists (85), 3-point field goals (49) and assists per game (6.1). She became the first player in league history to surpass 600 career points, 200 career field goals, and 100 career assists. Her Rose team opens the postseason against Breeze on Saturday (9:45 p.m. ET, truTV).

Kelsey Plum, who led Phantom BC to the No. 1 seed, averaged 22.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists. The Phantom have a bye for the first round of the playoffs and will face the lowest-seeded team to advance in the semifinals Monday at the Barclays Center in New York. The Unrivaled championship for Season 2 will take place on Wednesday in Miami.

All players and head coaches received a postseason award vote along with 21 media members. The voting was weighed as such: 35% to players, 35% to coaches and 30% to media.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Unrivaled's Paige Bueckers, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum to first team

Bo Naylor's 2025 season resembled that of many hit TV shows — it ended with some positive momentum, a cliff-hanger and several months of a break before anyone will see if it actually all paid off.

For the Guardians catcher, most of last year was a struggle at the plate, like a "Game of Thrones" season that spends several episodes slowly setting up a few battles. The season finale, though — in Naylor's case, the final 20-ish games in September — were worth the wait for the Guardians, who needed his bat to help capture a division crown and a playoff spot down the stretch.

Naylor posted a 75 wRC+ in the first half of last season, meaning he was 25 percent below average as a hitter. And considering his rough start to the year, it looked like he'd be lucky to even get to that figure.

In the second half, though, he posted a 98 wRC+. It still wasn't where he wants to be, but he was certainly a more productive member of the lineup. In September, Naylor finally caught fire with a 136 wRC+ and an .872 OPS over his last 19 games as the Guardians caught and passed the Detroit Tigers in the standings.

Bo Naylor stats

He had a hard-hit percentage of 25.7 in the first half of the year. That rose to 36.4 percent in the second half, and it rose further to 38.5 percent specifically in September.

"I think the best way to know yourself is to go through a major league season and face major league pitching for a full six months, and that'll tell you more about yourself than anything else," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. "In Bo's case, him getting more simple [with his swing] was absolutely something that needed to happen.

"I mean, we don't get to the playoffs without Bo Naylor at the plate last year."

The attribution for his character arc at the plate throughout 2025 was the adjustment from a leg kick to a toe tap, which acts as a timing mechanism with his swing. The larger leg kick was also adding unwanted movement. Once the toe tap really took hold, everything else fell into place.

"[It got rid of] any wasted movements, anything that isn't going to serve my swing," Naylor said. "[It was] making sure everything is quiet and only going to help serve the purpose. .. Mentality-wise, everything was solid, it was just a matter of having what my body was trying to do be on the same page."

Bo Naylor 2026 outlook

With the Guardians hoping that positive momentum can survive the winter and make it to Opening Day, Naylor represents a potentially major piece as the 2026 lineups searches for more production. Cleveland's 2025 lineup finished 28th in runs. Teams don't often finish last in their own league in scoring and win their division.

Naylor is one of three Guardians catchers on the roster, along with David Fry and Austin Hedges. Fry will often be in the lineup against left-handed pitchers, either at catcher or at first base, though the recent signing of Rhys Hoskins could drastically cut into all of that. Barring another slow stretch from Naylor and/or Fry, Hedges could also see his at-bats sliced significantly, potentially pushing him even more into a late-inning defensive option.

It had been years since Cleveland catchers have held their own at the plate, though that all changed once the calendar turned to September. It leaves Naylor as one of the most notable Guardians players to watch in 2026 after the team's quiet offseason left much of the needed improvement to internal options.

Naylor spent the winter further cleaning up his swing, simplifying his bat path through the strike zone. Once Opening Day rolls around, the Guardians will see if the September gains bloom in the spring.

"I think Bo's just scratching the surface of the hitter he can be," Vogt said. "Everybody develops at a different clip. … Now that he's simplified both his lower and upper half, I think he's putting himself in a position to have a breakout year." 


This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians' Bo Naylor could have 'breakout' 2026 MLB season for cleveland

First Academy (Florida) cornerback Kamauri Whitfield is strongly considering the University of Florida after decommitting from the Tennessee Volunteers earlier this month, according to Swamp247.

The Gators hosted him on its Jan. 10 Junior Day, and Whitfield backed off his pledge to the Volunteers a little over a month later on Feb. 13. The decision came after changes to Tennessee's coaching staff and a strong junior season that raised his profile, resulting in increased interest among Power Four programs. Mississippi State, Oregon, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech are among the schools that offered him, and Florida reaffirmed its offer extended in January.

With the Orange and Blue making him a priority target, Whitfield has grown fond of the program. Gainesville will be his first stop of the summer when he takes an official visit from May 28-30. Trips to Oregon, Nebraska and Virginia Tech are to follow. Whitefield says one of those three programs is likely alongside Florida in his top two, right now.

"Florida, they stand pretty high in my recruitment right now," Whitfield said to Swamp247. "They'll be, like, top two right now, like top one, top two."

The Ducks and Hokies are expected to host him in spring, as are the national champion Indiana Hoosiers. Florida is working to get him on campus during the spring, too.

Florida nickelbacks coach Dae'one Wilkins is leading the charge in this recruitment. The Gators plan to use Whitfield at multiple positions, but his primary spot would be at the nickel. Wilkins is young and relates well to Whitfield. Being an in-state option is also a plus for the Gators.

Kamauri Whitfield's Recruiting Summary

Whitfield is a consensus three-star recruit across all three major recruiting services — 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals. 247Sports has him ranked No. 559 nationally and No. 52 among cornerbacks on its class of 2027 composite list, while Rivals has him a bit lower at Nos. 563 and 55, respectively.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.StoryBlock

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football recruiting CB Kamauri Whitfield calls UF a top school

The England Lions squad are "following official advice" in the United Arab Emirates after Iran launched attacks throughout the Middle East in response to American and Israeli strikes across its territory.

English cricket's governing body said in a statement it was in contact with "security experts and the government" and that the safety and security of its teams was the "top priority".

The Lions - England's development team, led by Andrew Flintoff - are in the UAE for matches against Pakistan Shaheens.

They were due to play the second of those matches in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, but that has now been cancelled.

The touring party - including 25 players and coaches - travelled to Abu Dhabi but are now unable to leave as the UAE's airspace is closed, with a number of airlines cancelling flights in the region.

The UK Foreign Office has urged British nationals in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE to immediately shelter in place following reports of explosions.

England women were scheduled to fly to Abu Dhabi for a training camp on Wednesday but that trip has been postponed.

The England men's T20 World Cup team will fly from Sri Lanka to Mumbai on Sunday as planned.

After the US and Israel launched their large-scale attack on Saturday, Iran began retaliatory strikes targeting Israel and other sites in the Middle East.

A spokesperson for the England and Wales Cricket Board said: "The safety and security of our teams and staff is our top priority.

"We are in contact with security experts and the government in relation to current events in the Middle East, and are following official advice.

"We will continue to monitor and assess the situation and official advice in relation to the future of these trips."

• What we know so far: Supreme Leader's compound hit and Iran's retaliatory strikes
• US and Israeli strikes on Iran in maps
• How the world has reacted to US and Israeli strikes on Iran

The International Cricket Council said earlier on Saturday it had "activated contingency plans" to "safeguard the travel, logistics and well-being of all stakeholders" at the T20 World Cup.

The tournament is being held in India and Sri Lanka but teams, including England, are scheduled to fly through the Middle East at the end of the competition.

West Indies are scheduled to fly through Dubai's airport on Monday, should they be eliminated on Sunday.

Elsewhere, football's world governing body said it would "monitor developments" in the Middle East.

The US are co-hosts of this summer's World Cup, which Iran have qualified for.

"We had a meeting today and it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world," said Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom on Saturday.

Formula 1 also said it was "closely monitoring" the situation, with races scheduled in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in April.

The 2026 season begins next weekend in Melbourne, with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia scheduled to host the fourth and fifth rounds of the new campaign on 12 April and 19 April respectively.

The family of the late Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau said it was "overwhelmed" that the USA men's hockey team celebrated those players after winning the gold medal.

Players carried Johnny Gaudreau's jersey on the ice and brought out his children, Noa and Johnny, for a team photo. Gaudreau, a seven-time NHL All-Star, frequently suited up for the USA in international tournaments before he and his brother died on Aug. 29, 2024, when hit by a driver while they were bicycling in New Jersey.

The Gaudreau family members said in a statement on Saturday, Feb. 28, that they initially turned down an invitation to go to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan because it would have been hard on them.

"But we kept thinking about what John and Matty would say if they knew we turned it down. We knew the answer," the family said.
"John loved representing his country. From the time he was little, he dreamed of competing at the Olympics. In that final summer, he was working harder than ever, pushing himself with everything he had to earn a spot on that roster. He was going to be there."

The family members - parents Guy and Jane, plus Johnny's widow Meredith, went to Milan - said they were comforted by the fact that so many people cared about the brothers.

"Every person we encountered took the time to ask about the boys — who they were, what they meant to us, the kind of people they were away from the ice," the family said.
"What struck us most was realizing that John and Matty's impact reaches so much further than we sometimes see in our own grief.

They are carried by so many people — in locker rooms, in conversations, in quiet moments we will never even know about. That means everything to us."

Team USA, which displayed Gaudreau's jersey in the locker room for the 4 Nations Face-Off and the world championships, did the same at the Olympics. The Americans beat Canada 2-1 in overtime for the country's first men's hockey team Olympic gold medal since 1980.

“When we were first invited to Milan for the Olympics, we said no. It felt like more than we could handle. But we kept thinking about what John and Matty would say if they knew we turned it down. We knew the answer.⁰⁰John loved representing his country. From the time he was… pic.twitter.com/tIAuww5Qnm

— Gaudreau Family 5K (@Gaudreau5K) February 28, 2026

"When Zach (Werenski), Auston (Matthews) and Matthew (Tkachuk) carried John's jersey around that ice, we were overwhelmed — they made sure he was there," the family said. "And then to see Noa and Johnny — on Johnny's second birthday — carried out onto the ice to be part of that gold medal photo — there are no words for what that felt like.

"John and Matty should have been there, and in that moment, they were.

Thank you to every member of that team for loving John & Matty - and for making sure they were part of something historic. And thank you to everyone at @NBCOlympics and @usahockey for your kindness, your generosity, and for bringing our family to Milan to witness it.

You gave us a gift we didn't know we needed."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gaudreau family thanks USA hockey team for Olympic commemoration

Cristian Chivu has named his Inter Milan side to face Genoa at San Siro tonight, with Marcus Thuram and Ange-Yoan Bonny leading the attack as the Nerazzurri look to extend their Serie A lead to thirteen points without the injured Lautaro Martinez.

The official starting lineups between Inter Milan vs Genoa has been made official. Tonight’s game is due to kick off at 20:45 local time.

Inter look to bounce back from their Champions League elimination at the hands of Bodo/Glimt last night.

Initial reports claimed Ange-Yoan Bonny might start today and they were confirmed when Chivu decided to place him alongside Thuram in attack.

Inter Milan Vs Genoa – Carlos Augusto Starts In Back Three

MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 03: Carlos Augusto of FC Internazionale in action during the Coppa Italia match between FC Internazionale and Venezia FC at San Siro Stadium on December 03, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

With Alessandro Bastoni serving a one-match suspension, Carlos Augusto steps into the back three alongside De Vrij and Akanji.

The Brazilian provides reliable cover on the left side of defence, slotting seamlessly into Chivu’s system.

Francesco Acerbi and Bisseck sit on the bench today, as Chivu rotates his squad.

Inter Milan Vs Genoa – Zielinski Starts As Calhanoglu Returns To Bench

BERGAMO, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Piotr Zielinski of FC Internazionale in action during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and FC Internazionale at New Balance Arena on December 28, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The welcome news is Hakan Calhanoglu‘s return to the squad after injury.

However, the Turkish international starts on the bench. With Piotr Zielinski continuing in the deep-lying playmaker role he has made his own in recent weeks.

Nicolo Barella and Henrikh Mkhitaryan complete the midfield three, with Sucic, Frattesi and Diouf among the options from the bench.

Inter Milan Vs Genoa – Official Starting Lineups – Bonny & Thuram Start

MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 03: Ange-Yoan Bonny of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates scoring his team’s fifth goal during the Coppa Italia match between FC Internazionale and Venezia FC at San Siro Stadium on December 03, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Sommer; 25 Akanji, 6 De Vrij, 30 Carlos Augusto; 11 Luis Henrique, 23 Barella, 7 Zielinski, 22 Mkhitaryan, 32 Dimarco; 9 Thuram, 14 Bonny.Bench: 12 Di Gennaro, 13 J. Martinez, 2 Dumfries, 8 Sucic, 15 Acerbi, 16 Frattesi, 17 Diouf, 20 Calhanoglu, 31 Bisseck, 36 Darmian, 53 Lavelli, 94 Esposito.Coach: Chivu.Suspended: Bastoni.Unavailable: Lautaro.

On Monday night, Real Madrid take on Getafe at the Santiago Bernabeu, hoping to stay in touch with league leaders FC Barcelona.

However, leading up to the game against Jose Bordalas’ side, manager Alvaro Arbeloa has some fitness issues to deal with, especially in the centre-back department.

Five defenders unavailable

Indeed, as reported by MARCA, Real Madrid have five defenders unavailable, three from the first team and two from Castilla. It has left the head coach stretching resources to the limit in a bid to regain top spot in La Liga.

Eder Militao has been out for two months, Dean Huijsen is dealing with calf discomfort that has lasted longer than expected, and Raul Asencio joined the list this week after an accidental collision with Eduardo Camavinga against Benfica left him with a cervical sprain.

Even though Huijsen did part of the training with the group today, his availability to face Getafe is ruled out as things stand.

The only fit centre-backs for Real Madrid. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)

If the first team are depleted, the academy does not offer the expected safety net. Two of the most natural options from Castilla to cover the position are also sidelined.

Victor Valdepeas, who has already made his La Liga debut, is suffering from a grade two knee sprain that will keep him out for around five weeks, while Joan Martinez has a small psoas tear with an estimated absence of three weeks.

What remains are Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba. On paper, it is a partnership with pedigree, but in practice they have not started together since 1 March last year, when Real Madrid lost to Real Betis.

The most reliable alternative at this stage will be deploying Aurelien Tchouameni at centre-back, although his performances in midfield have been crucial in recent weeks.

If Arbeloa moves the Frenchman into central defence, a gap opens in midfield that could be filled by Thiago Pitarch, one of the academy players who has impressed in his limited opportunities with the first team, and is pushing for a start.

Coventry City head coach Frank Lampard spoke to BBC CWR following their 94th-minute victory over Stoke City.

"Not every day is like this and you have to enjoy the moment when it comes," he said.

"I enjoyed it today because I loved our performance – it was so, so good throughout the game that if we hadn't have got what we deserved it would have been a travesty.

"From minute one and how we played the first half, we should been two or three goals up. There was real quality in our play, good pressure from us off the ball and we gave them nothing, other than the goal. Apart from that, throughout the game they didn't have another shot on target or any real threat.

"So when you have that feeling of 'oh, it's going to be one of those days', but it flips because of the character of the boys, it makes it a special day."

• Listen to Coventry City content on BBC Sounds

Given that Hearts are proving so impossibly stubborn at the top of the Scottish Premiership, refusing, it seems, to do what is expected of them by the old order and kindly going away, the pressure returns to Rangers and Celtic in Sunday's must-win to end all must-wins.

Martin O'Neill turns 74 on the day. What better way to spend it than in the furnace of the Old Firm. Candles on the cake won't concern him. Points on the board will be the only thing on his mind. A draw is of little use to either club now.

This game demands a winner and if there is a winner there has to be a loser. Heaven help them. The wrath will descend, especially if it's Celtic, you suspect. It's not like Rangers folk will shrug in defeat - it's not exactly their style - but Celtic fans are an angrier and more frustrated crew right now.

They have more targets to aim at than Rangers have - and more fury. Andrew Cavenagh, the Rangers owner, got rid of a manager, a chief executive and a sporting director, as the fans hoped he would, and then spent tens of millions on players in the January window on top of the millions he spent in the summer.

They have a popular manager in Danny Rohl and what looks like ambition in the boardroom. In the grand scheme of things, Rangers fans don't have a huge amount to complain about.

Their Celtic counterparts are in a different place. Most are apoplectic with their board and split on the way to voice that anger.

In the underworld of social media they are now arguing among themselves. Accusatory language is flying. Toxicity is pervasive; draining and self-defeating, but almost unavoidable. With emotion can come suspicion, bitterness and rancour. The Celtic Way is all of those things at the moment.

Both of these clubs have been soap operas all season. Rangers have an awful lot of work to do, but they are at least pointing in the right direction. With a manager to find and with the same unpopular people who appointed Nancy in charge of finding him, Celtic look directionless.

What plan can they have in the badly-needed rebuilding of a team when there is no manager there to rebuild it?

Old Firm playing catch up while being hounded by Motherwell

These clubs have experienced existential crises and that, on its own, is compelling to witness. Rangers had a "£20m net spend" in the summer and went again in January in a major way. They're still behind Derek McInnes' Hearts.

When the Old Firm look over their shoulder they can also see the coming force that is Motherwell; winning and entertaining and almost incapable of conceding a goal in the league under the brilliant management of Jens Berthel Askou.

In the past decade in Europe Celtic have made an estimated £195m in prize money and television rights. They have sold three different players for £25m apiece, another five for between £10-£20m and a bunch of others in the £5m-£10m bracket. Significant profit has been made. They have £67m in cash reserves.

Rangers have made close to £100m from European football in those 10 years. Hearts have earned about a tenth of that and Motherwell have made about a tenth of what Hearts have made. And yet the way of things at the top is under massive threat - and it's intoxicating.

It's always tense when the Glasgow giants meet, but this one will have a slightly different vibe. There's jeopardy for both of them, not just from each other but from Hearts and Motherwell, too. The Old Firm are playing catch-up while being hounded from below. It's unique in the lifetime of many, many people who are watching.

And there's been some verbal jousting in the preamble to Sunday. Luke McCowan, buoyed by a goal and a win against Stuttgart on Thursday night, gave it the big one about Celtic being the best team in the country, despite significant evidence suggesting they are not.

"We know that if we're at it, no team in the league touches us," said McCowan the other night. He backs his team. Fair enough, but…

Celtic, as if anybody doesn't already know, are currently sitting third in the Premiership. If it wasn't for their ability to score late winners - 87th and 90th minute in two games against St Mirren, 90th minute and 90th minute in two against Kilmarnock, 90th minute against Motherwell - then their title hopes would have already turned to dust.

Credit to them for having the bottle to win those games, but they were all desperate grinds. As were others they scraped home in. O'Neill has dragged them forward by the scruff of the neck, but it has all looked very tired, very stressful, very on the edge of blowing up.

He is still without some mainstays in defence - Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston. Auston Trusty is suspended.

They've dropped points in 10 of their 27 games. The majority can be pinned on the ludicrously ill-judged appointment of Wilfried Nancy, but under Brendan Rodgers they lost to Dundee and Hearts and under O'Neill lost to Hibs and drew with Hearts. A controversial red card in both of those games, of course, but the performances were still a mile off what Celtic used to be.

Compared to this point last season they've won five fewer games in the league and have lost five more games, they're -28 on goals scored and +9 on goals conceded.

They're 15 points worse off. A year ago they were sitting pretty at the top, 13 points clear. They'd just taken Bayern Munich to the wire in the Champions League. Life was good.

Rohl's words set the tone for derby like no other

Rangers are down three in terms of points and wins, but have lost three fewer games, have nine more goals with one more conceded this season than at this stage last season. With such a hideous start to the campaign, getting back in the hunt must feel like the second chance they thought they'd never have.

McCowan's words sparked something - and it was good knockabout stuff. Rohl reminded people on Friday that Celtic have lost seven games to Rangers' two.

He also riffed on why Celtic didn't push for more goals against Stuttgart on Thursday and speculated on who O'Neill might pick in goal on Sunday - Viljami Sinisalo, who did well in Germany, or the increasingly error-prone veteran, Kasper Schmeichel.

When talking about another manager's players, Rohl knew what he was doing - and O'Neill didn't like it.

"It's quite extraordinary, an extraordinary comment to make, really," said O'Neill of Rohl's view on Celtic supposedly not going for it against Stuttgart."

He also called Rohl "a very young man" which was tantamount to telling him to "sit down, you know nothing of this fixture".

He said Rohl was behaving like a fan. "I'm glad he's really interested in the make-up of my team, you know. He hasn't been in Glasgow that long, has he?"

Long enough to know what's at stake. And, possibly, long enough to know how to get under the skin of an old master.

Talk is cheap, though. Talk wins you nothing. And how both of these clubs need a win at Ibrox. It's an Old Firm derby, but not as we've known it for an awfully long time.

Burnley manager Scott Parker to BBC Match of the Day: "I don't think I can remotely even contemplate speaking about the negatives really. The positives in terms of our reaction, three goals down, the fight, the spirit to get back into the game, two goals disallowed by the finest of margins were defining for us.

"I'm probably more sad than disappointed. I'm sad for the group. It takes a certain type to be in that arena at half-time, at times your own supporters being hugely critical of you, and to come out and show the spirit and stand up to the challenge we faced today, not just from Brentford but from the whole atmosphere, I'm hugely proud of this team."

On the atmosphere at half-time: "There was a mixed tone really, there were some harsh words. In the first half we played soft. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb. We changed things tactically and it worked very well in the second half. At that moment the balance of the atmosphere from a young squad that were probably hurting at that moment from the general reaction, which of course we understand. Our reaction was superb really.

"It was [hard to go through]. I think I've been around since VAR came in and I've had strong views about VAR. In the modern day we want perfection. Of course there's elements of it is what it is. I've not seen it back but offside is offside and if it's handball it's handball.

"It was heartbreaking for us really because we deserved that. Second half we were incredible. To score five goals in 60 minutes it's full credit to us really.

"VAR and the fine margins of technology to the inch of a sleeve calling something offside is the game of football we live in now. So we accept that. That's the way it is."

Did you know?

• Burnley lost a Premier League game having scored three or more goals for just the second time, also doing so in November 2009 with a 5-3 defeat by West Ham.

Indiana women’s basketball is set to host a high profile prospect for today’s matchup against Penn State at Assembly Hall, the regular season finale.

Khloe Nicholson, a small forward in the class of 2028, will be in attendance for the Hoosiers’ matchup against the Nittany Lions, per Dushawn London of 247Sports. Indiana previously hosted Nicholson last summer and extended a scholarship offer at the time of said visit.

Nicholson attends Quincy High School in Quincy, Illinois, and is a priority recruiting target for Big Ten rivals Iowa and in-state Illinois. She ranks in as the second highest-rated small forward and 10th highest rated prospect overall in On3’s Rivals Industry Rankings.

Indiana has surged in recruiting as of late with a top class on the way in 2026. That surge has coincided with the hiring of Colsten Thompson as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator last offseason as the program looks to build back after a down 2025-26 season.

Eddie Howe admits his side’s Premier League performance this season has been nowhere near good enough after losing to Everton.

Newcastle were beaten 3-2 at home to leave them in the bottom half of the table with ten games to play.

And Howe admits their Champions League run has taken a toll on his players when it comes to the Premier League.

“Certainly in relation to the Premier League, our form for a while has not been strong enough,” he said.

“It’s not been good enough. We know that. We take responsibility for that. It’s been really frustrating for us and that is the perils of Europe, I’m afraid, where we’ve tried to be laser-focused on every game and give attention to every game with the same importance.

“But with the deluge of games, your focus can be swayed. Our Premier League return in recent weeks has been nowhere near the level it has been historically. Our home form has been so reliable for us but it’s tailed off.

“We’ve got to try and grab that back as quickly as possible. We love playing here. We want this to be our place where we pick up the most points, where the players feel free to play and through our own performances, that hasn’t been the case.”

Newcastle twice found a way back into the game, equalising to make it 1-1 before conceding moments later to go behind, and did so again after making it 2-2 via Jacob Murphy, with Thierno Barry winning it late on.

“I don’t see the players not trying,” Howe insisted. “I see sometimes maybe the other way, where players are over-trying.

“I felt attacking-wise, we could still do loads better today. But we had enough ball around their box. We had enough crossing opportunities. half-chances, Sandro’s hit his volley at the end.

“It could have been a very different result again. But we’re just making too many individual errors. It’s costing us goals at the other end. We can’t do that at this level.

“If you put a list of our goals, watched a lot of our goals we’re conceding, in the Premier League especially, and put them together, it’s not good showing for us. So we need to focus on that.”

Kylian Mbappé (27) is expected to miss the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 between Real Madrid and Manchester City, according to information from Cadena Ser.

The French forward, who suffered a knee injury, is likely to be sidelined for the next three weeks. Already absent from the second leg of the play-off against SL Benfica (2-1 win), Mbappé will probably not feature in the clash against the Cityzens. A forced rest that should also prevent him from playing in the La Liga matches scheduled against Getafe, Celta Vigo and Elche.

If everything goes according to plan, Real Madrid’s number 10 could make his return in the second leg against Manchester City.

A key player for Real Madrid since his arrival at the club a year and a half ago, Mbappé has already scored 38 goals and provided six assists in 33 appearances in all competitions this season.

GFFN | Léo Aschi

Blaugrana icon backs Víctor Font

Barça election: Xavi picks his side

The FC Barcelona presidential race is taking a political turn. Xavi Hernández, a legendary figure at the club, has thrown his support behind Víctor Font, the main challenger to the current president.

Joan Laporta, who has been in charge for nearly five years, is seeking another term. His tenure, marked by sporting and financial revival, makes him the election favorite. But Xavi’s public endorsement of Font could sway a portion of the socios. The former midfielder, who played 767 matches for Barça and won 25 trophies, still commands immense respect among supporters.

Former club coach from 2021 to 2024, Xavi led the team for 143 matches and claimed two trophies. His involvement in the campaign shows that this election goes beyond mere administration: it also represents competing visions for Barça’s future. The battle between Laporta and Font promises to be intense in the coming weeks.

“Bold” predictions in sports media are designed to be outlandish, dreaming big and shooting for the stars, and often not grounded in total realism. Consider the following prognostications precisely those for Minnesota Vikings free agency.

Minnesota won’t have endless cash, so the predictions lean on cap gymnastics, value, and one big bet.

The club doesn’t have much money to spend in 2026, especially compared to 2025, but let’s get some juicy stuff on record.

Five Bold Purple Predictions for Free Agency

The gaudy theories about one week out.

1. Fans Leave the Free Agent Process Thinking “Boring”

In 2025, the Vikings had about $70 million spent in free agency, using that cash on high-profile veterans like guard Will Fries, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, and defensive tackle Javon Hagrave, among others. This time isn’t like that — not by a long shot.

Minnesota still has to clear cap space, needing to overcome a $43 million cap hurdle to sign any players.

Therefore, if you’re expecting Minnesota to hunt big fish like Tyler Linderbaum and George Pickens, you’re probably mistaken. The Vikings will announce their quarterback verdict, which may cause shock waves, but generally speaking, fans will wrap up a few waves of free agency and say, “That’s it?”

2. The Vikings Sign DT Christian Wilkins

Wilkins didn’t play in 2025 after the Las Vegas Raiders dropped him. The reasons for his release were speculated wildly, but after a year off, the 30-year-old Wilkins needs another shot.

When everything is humming for Wilkins — without controversy — he’s a fantastic defensive tackle. In fact, the Vikings allegedly poked around his free agency in 2023, even when his was ultra-expensive.

The Raiders said last summer when releasing Wilkins: “We have decided that it is in the best interests of the organization to move on from Christian Wilkins and he has been informed of his release from the team. This franchise has a commitment of excellence on and off the field.”

“With no clear path or plan for future return to play from Christian, this transaction is necessary for the entire organization to move forward and prepare for a new season.”

Minnesota will sign Wilkins to a one-year prove-it deal. Why? Well, Wilkins was Brian Flores’s very first draft pick in Miami seven years ago. There’s a connection. There’s no better team to give Wilkins a shot at career redemption than Flores’s Vikings.

3. It’s Noah Igbinoghene at CB3 or CB4

Remember the Jeff Okudah signing last year? The one where most fans groaned but by midsummer had warmed up to the idea that he’d somehow have a breakout season with the Vikings?

This year’s version of that will be Igbinoghene, another alumnus from Flores’s days in Miami. Folks shouldn’t expect Igbinoghene to arrive in Minneapolis and ball out, but as a CB3 or CB4, he could latch on for a season or two.

We’ll just say it: Igbinoghene isn’t very good. Yet, he’s produced a passer-rating-against between 85.0 and 90.0 in the last two seasons with the Washington Commanders. As a CB3 or CB4, that’s servicable.

4. Minnesota Adds LB Devin Bush

It’s unclear if Ivan Pace Jr. will re-sign in Minnesota — probably not — while most expect the club to re-up with Eric Wilson, who was phenomenal in 2025.

Still, if Flores opts for Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson as his primary inside linebackers in 2026, he’ll embark on a campaign with two defenders over the age of 30, and with Cashman, he usually misses at least four games per year.

Insert Devin Bush.

Flores crossed paths with Bush in 2022 when Flores coached the Pittsburgh Steelers’ linebackers. Coming full circle, Minnesota will sign Bush to a two-year, $18 million contract. Bush is 27, making him two years younger than Cashman and four years younger than Wilson.

He tabulated 125 tackles and 3 interceptions for the Cleveland Browns last season.

5. It’s Kyler Murray at QB

Signing Kirk Cousins for cheap is the safe play as a prediction, but this article isn’t about safe plays. The bold prediction is this: the Cardinals, with the NFL’s worst-ranked ownership, per the recent NFLPA survey, will release Murray, setting off a sprint to his agent’s phone. It’s not every day that a quarterback with first-overall draft stock, who has better career efficiency than Trevor Lawrence and Baker Mayfield, gets dropped into the open market.

Murray grew up as a Vikings fan, and recognizing that Minnesota has the defensive coordinator, WR weaponry, and quarterback-whispering head coach, he signs a one- or two-year deal with the Vikings.

Given his recent injury history, Minnesota keeps McCarthy close as the QB2.

The Murray Era in Minnesota begins and could end up wonderfully if Kevin O’Connell tailors his offense to Murray’s strengths.

Relegation-threatened Bundesliga outfit Mainz 05 got rocked with unfortunate injury news this week when leading goalscorer and talisman Nadiem Amiri had to break off training due to a heel injury. Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone following Saturday afternoon’s 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen, Mainz sporting director Niko Bungert confirmed that Amiri is set to miss several weeks. There is still some good news to report with respect to Mainz attacker Paul Nebel

Nadiem Amiri’s injury comes at a critical time for Mainz

Despite a marked revival under head coach Urs Fischer, Mainz are far from safe. The Rheinhessen occupy 14th place in the Bundesliga table on 23 points. The total places them only one solitary point above the promotion-relegation playoff place. Over the course of the next ten matchdays, Fischer’s team must still find a way of picking up 12 points in order to officially clinch safety. 

Amiri – the squad’s main penalty taker and set-piece wizard – has scored a team-high 10 league goals this season. Amiri was also a very important factor in Mainz’s Conference League campaign, netting four goals in six UECL appearances. In addition to his goals, Amiri’s intangible leadership qualities will be sorely missed. No other Mainz professional has contributed more than two league goals this season.

Paul Nebel ready to pick up some of the slack?

The once celebrated Germany U21 international has had a highly disappointing season in which – prior to today – he only managed to get his name on the scoresheet once in 20 Bundesliga appearances. That changed against Leverkusen when the 23-year-old supplied a fine assist on Sheraldo Becker’s goal. Overall, Nebel turned in a very strong performance and earned GGFN Man-of-the-Match honors.

“Paul has struggled in recent weeks, but he’s dealt with it superbly,” Bungert told reporters. “We conceded very little today against a team with very strong individual players and defended superbly. I’m very proud of that and think we’re on the right track.“

GGFN | Peter Weis

Once upon a time, in the 2021 NFL Draft, to be exact, the Philadelphia Eagles used fifth-round draft capital to select Kenneth Gainwell. He was mentioned as a possible steal, and all things considered, the decision worked out pretty well for the Birds. He's moved on now, but with the emergence of Memphis Tigers tackle Travis Burke, one has to ask how good Gainwell would have been had this young man been blocking for him.

Burke started 11 games for the Tigers in 2025 at right tackle. He also has experience starting on the left side. He has informed the media present in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine that he has met with the Philadelphia Eagles.

#Memphis OT Travis Burke says he met informally with the #Eagles and says he talked with new OL coach Chris Kuper during the meeting.

He’s 6-9 and plays through the whistle, drives defenders through the ground, and his arm length/size makes it difficult to get past in pass pro. pic.twitter.com/Cs4ybT7A8o

— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) February 28, 2026

He isn't quite who we'd consider to be a sufficient Lane Johnson succession plan, but at this stage of their careers, who is?

That's why teams employ position coaches. This would give new Eagles O-line coach Chris Kuper some insurance, though, and a possible legitimate replacement for current backup Fred Johnson if he were to move on during the free agency frenzy.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: NFL Combine: Eagles met with Travis Burke

Shams Charania: Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos has signed a three-year, $15 million contract extension with the franchise, sources tell ESPN. The deal includes a player option in 2028-29.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Warriors sign Gui Santos to three-year extension

Anthony Slater: Gui Santos has scored double digits in 11 of past 12 games. Averaging 31 minutes per game this month. Warriors lock up a rotation wing for three years before he hits restricted free agency.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Warriors lock up a rotation wing for three years …

Warriors PR: Warriors sign Gui Santos to multi-year extension:

Twitter

Warriors sign Gui Santos to multi-year extension: pic.twitter.com/rnblt0uj4F

— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) February 28, 2026

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Warriors sign Gui Santos to multi-year extension:

Nothing stings more than when a WWE star is injured ahead of "The Super Bowl of Professional Wrestling," WrestleMania 42. Sadly, this past Monday, that was "Big" Bronson Reed's fate, after he tore his bicep during the final Men's Elimination Chamber Qualifying match. Originally chosen to win the three-way match against "Main Event" Jey Uso and the Original El Grande Americano, you could read and see the devastation on his face when he had to be escorted to the back by the medical staff.

Days later, it was confirmed that Reed headed down to Birmingham, Alabama to get immediate surgery. Following this fast transition, Reed underwent successful surgery, promising that his journey back to the ring starts now. In his Instagram message, which was posted this past Friday, the former NXT Men's North American Champion wrote, "Surgery done. Tomorrow is DAY ONE. The road back. #BRONSONREED."

View this post on Instagram

While most saw The Vision's peripherals diminishing beyond repair, luck struck the trio, as Uso, who won the three-way contest this past Monday, was taken by ambulance during the opener of this week's "WWE SmackDown," allowing Logan Paul to replace Uso in tonight's Elimination Chamber PLE in Chicago. This makes it the "Maverick's" third consecutive appearance in the Men's Elimination Chamber match. He now joins future Hall of Famer Randy Orton, LA Knight, Cody Rhodes, Je'Von Evans, and Trick Williams, who will all fight for their spot facing Drew McIntyre for his Undisputed WWE Championship on either April 18 or 19 in Las Vegas.

Reed is the second member of the Vision to be out of WrestleMania contention, as his partner Bron Breakker is currently recovering from hernia surgery. If that's not bad enough, both of these men's injuries have created heavy rewrites for "The Showcase of the Immortals." As of this report, veteran journalist Dave Meltzer predicts that Reed could be out of action for six to seven months.

Read more: WWE Botches That Left Wrestlers Seriously Injured

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Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter made the media rounds at the NFL Combine, including an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. McAfee asked about owner Steve Bisciotti, what the interview process was like, and why Bisciotti ultimately chose Minter to lead the franchise and quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Minter didn't hesitate when asked about Bisciotti's role in the process, offering strong praise for the Ravens' owner and the culture he has built in Baltimore.

"Yeah, I mean, number one, I think he's the best owner in sports. Um, he creates an environment where you're always going to be, you know, doing what's needed to be successful. So there's there's not any amount of money he's not willing to spend. Any type of thing you need that you think might help you be better, uh he's providing. So, um, and then through the interview process, I think there was a little bit of, you know, this guy understands the foundation that's been built here, but he's also now been out on his own and has some different ideas of how to um, you know, bring bring a few new things while also understanding and respecting the history, how it's been built, why it's been built a certain way. Uh, and so we certainly want to lean into that. We want to lean into what's been really good there. But I also think u just having a younger, newer, fresher thing sometimes, you know, people embrace change."

McAfee then shifted the conversation to Jackson, pointing out how rare it is to take over a team that already has a franchise quarterback in place. Minter's tone made it clear he understands exactly what that means.

“It's pretty amazing to be the head coach of a team with Lamar Jackson.”

When asked how coaching Jackson motivates and inspires him, Minter expanded on what having a player of that caliber demands from the entire organization.

"I would say it's certainly motivating um to number one build a team that allows him to to have success at the level that he's chasing. He there's nothing more that he would rather do than to bring a championship to Baltimore. Um, and so when you know that he's your quarterback, you always have a chance. Motivating to build a great defense, motivating to hire a great offensive staff, motivating to build a great special teams, uh, so that the team around him is is, you know, up to his level."

"It's pretty amazing to be the head coach of a team with Lamar Jackson..

He wants to bring a Super Bowl to Baltimore and we always have a chance with him at quarterback"@Coach_Minter#PMSLivepic.twitter.com/8dkqXhJTvC

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 25, 2026

Minter's message was clear: the foundation in Baltimore isn't changing, but the energy around it is. With Steve Bisciotti's backing and Lamar Jackson under center, the expectations remain championship-level. For Minter, it's about respecting what's been built while pushing it forward. And if his words at the Combine were any indication, he understands exactly what the job demands — and the opportunity in front of him.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Jesse Minter embraces coaching Lamar Jackson

The top two teams in each of the four groups at the T20 World Cup have now been decided with the tournament now at the Super 8s stage.

But which players are topping the run-scoring and wicket-taking charts?

BBC Sport digs out all of the latest numbers.

Super 8 tables

Men's T20 World Cup 2026: Batting stats

Most runs

1. Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan) - 383

2. Brian Bennett (Zimbabwe) - 277

3. Aiden Markram (South Africa) - 264

4. Harry Brook (England) - 228

5. Shimron Hetmyer (West Indies) - 221

Highest individual score

1. Yuvraj Samra (Canada v New Zealand) - 110

=2. Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka v Australia) & Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan v Namibia) - 100*

4. Harry Brook (England v Pakistan) & Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan v Sri Lanka) - 100

Average

1. Brian Bennett (Zimbabwe) - 277

2. David Miller (South Africa) - 146

3. Mitchell Marsh (Australia) - 118

4. Tristan Stubbs (South Africa) - 85

5. Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies) - 84.5

Strike-rate

Minimum 20 balls faced

=1. Sanju Samson (India) & Brad Evans (Zimbabwe) - 200

3. Mitchell Marsh (Australia) - 196.66

4. George Dockrell (Ireland) 188.88

5. Fakhar Zaman(Pakistan) - 187.93

Men's T20 World Cup 2026: Bowling stats

Most wickets

1. Shadley van Schalkwyk (USA) - 13

2. Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe) - 12

=3. Marco Jansen (South Africa), Maheesh Theekshana (Sri Lanka), Lungi Ngidi (South Africa), Varun Chakravarthy (India), Adil Rashid (England), Maheesh Theekshana (Sri Lanka) - 11

Economy

Minimum 24 balls

1. Josh Little (Ireland) - 4.00

2. Paul van Meekeren (Netherlands) - 5.00

3. Jasprit Bumrah (India) - 5.62

=4. Mohammad Mohsin (USA) & George Dockrell (Ireland) - 6.00

Best figures

1. Romario Shepherd (West Indies v Scotland) - 5-20

2. Junaid Siddique (UAE v Canada) - 5-35

3. Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan v Canada) - 4-7

4. Nathan Ellis (Australia v Ireland) - 4-12

5. Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan v UAE) - 4-15

Average

1. Josh Little (Ireland) - 5.33

2. Shadley van Schalkwyk (USA) - 7.76

3. Romario Shepherd (West Indies) - 8.16

4. Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) - 8.33

5. Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan) - 9.00

• Men's T20 World Cup 2026 - fixtures & results
• Get cricket news sent straight to your phone

The whistle has just blown for the 139th classic match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Munich. Many Bundesliga observers consider today's already prestigious game as the last chance to keep the title race exciting - for that, Dortmund needs a victory. With the three points, the Black and Yellows would close the gap to the league leaders from Munich to five points. 

Before kickoff at their home Signal Iduna Park, the Borussia Dortmund supporters showed that they indeed have both faith and hope that their team can surpass themselves on the green pitch today and defeat the overpowering Bayern. 

📸 INA FASSBENDER - AFP or licensors

The corresponding choreography stretched in yellow and black across the entire south stand, with "Heja BVB" written in yellow on the black, and yellow pyro elements accentuated the colorful and lively attempt to cheer on their team. 

The fans have done their part, now the Kovac team needs to follow up on the field. After a few minutes, the score is still 0:0. 

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

Let's pretend for a second that you had minimal knowledge of the Philadelphia Eagles' roster needs. Let's say you had no previous knowledge of Kadyn Proctor. If that were the case, even if you saw the young man walk into a room, you'd probably say something like the following.

The Eagles could certainly use that guy on the offensive line.

There are several reasons for that. One, he stands at six-foot-seven. Second, he tips the scales at a massive 360 pounds. He, in short, looks like what you'd expect an NFL lineman to look like.

Fortunately, for him and his financial future, the former Alabama Crimson Tide standout also plays like an NFL O-lineman.

The Eagles host Kadyn Proctor at the NFL Combine.

The 'big uglies' have taken center stage at the NFL Combine, and Proctor is one of the stars of the show. Some view him as the draft's best prospect at offensive tackle. Others give the nod to Utah Utes star Spencer Fano.

You can't go wrong with either guy. The Eagles have reportedly met with Proctor in Indianapolis. He's a 2025 First-Team All-SEC member. He earned the SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy. He was also named a Consensus All-American after a phenomenal final season in the NCAA.

#Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor says he’s met with with the #Eagles and that they “have expressed a lot of interest in me.”

Says he’s told teams his ideal playing weight has been 355 or less and wants to play tackle but is open to moving inside if teams need him to. pic.twitter.com/nwGlL6K5qu

— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) February 28, 2026

There are only two questions. First, there's no way he's going to be available for the Eagles unless they trade up, right? Second, with his size and physique, would it make more sense to move him from tackle to guard?

Imagine this guy taking over at right guard (sorry, Tyler Steen). Can you imagine slotting him between Lane Johnson and Cam Jurgens?

That's enough to make the mouth water. Having an O-line with that level of talent and a healthy Jordan Mailata and Landon Dickerson on the other side would mean the excuses are already over for new Eagles O-line coach Chris Kuper. He would have to be successful immediately.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: NFL combine: Eagles met with Kadyn Proctor

Substitute Thierno Barry broke Geordie hearts as Newcastle conceded yet another late goal at St. James’ Park to lose at home and miss a chance to climb into the top half of the table.

Newcastle’s Champions League success was quickly forgotten with their return to the Premier League an all too different story.

With an opening period devoid of quality in the final third, the deadlock being broken in the 19th minute was nothing short of a surprise.

The breakthrough arrived as a result of a set-piece situation. James Garner’s corner delivery was met by the arriving Jarrad Branthwaite who, marked by the smaller Tonali, sent a glancing header goalward to make good on his side’s strong start and give Everton the lead.

But it took just 15 minutes for the Newcastle faithful to the be cheering the England defender, albeit ironically. Newcastle’s equaliser may go down in the books courtesy of Jacob Ramsey, but not without the help of the Everton number 32.

As he received the ball in midfield, Ramsey seemed to have no other idea on his mind than to fire one goalwards. Though the 24-year-old’s strike may not have originally been destined for the back of the net, Branthwaite’s welcome deflection saw Ramsey’s effort loop over Pickford, who had no choice but to stand and watch as the ball nestled in his goal to restore parity.

Rarely can such jubilation from an equaliser turn sour so soon, though Nick Pope’s blunder two minutes after Newcastle’s goal ensured such a moment occurred at St. James’ Park.

Following an impressive stop from McNeil’s outside the box strike, Pope’s ensuing spill proved fatal; with Beto the quickest off the mark to meet the rebound and restore Everton’s lead with the luxury of a tap-in.

Three personnel changes within the opening ten minutes of the second half signalled Eddie Howe’s desire for the energy levels on the pitch to match the level of that in the stands. Although the changes struggled to make the instant impact Howe would have wanted, Jacob Murphy finally made good on the hosts’ second half dominance with less than ten minutes to play.

Everton had, understandably, been content to sit back and soak up the pressure in the hopes of holding on to the three points and leaving Tyneside with all the spoils. But Murphy’s swerving volley in the 82nd minute, which worked its way through an array of blue shirts and past Pickford, restored parity once more and sent St. James’ Park into raptures.

But Newcastle’s earlier failure to build on their equaliser repeated itself again. As Dewsbury-Hall worked his way into the Newcastle penalty area and fired a ball across goal, the collective Geordie heartbeat skipped a beat.

To concede yet another late goal at home to sacrifice all the spoils would have been the final thing Howe wanted. But Dewsbury-Hall’s cross made its way through the black-and-white shirts and to Thierno Barry, as the substitute bundled the ball into Pope’s net to win the game and deliver a devastating blow to Newcastle’s league hopes.

We’re in spring training proper now, with less than a week to go before the World Baseball Classic opens, and players on both of the teams squaring off today will represent their countries. Both the Yankees and the Blue Jays will send multiple participants to the WBC, but in the meantime the two AL East hopefuls will face off at Steinbrenner Field.

Paul Blackburn gets the ball in his second spring appearance, hoping to prove himself in a bullpen role with the MLB club. He didn’t have a great, albeit brief, stint with the club last year after coming over from Queens, but Matt Blake has worked some success with sinker-cutter combos before, and that’s Blackburn’s primary offering.

Meanwhile, José Berríos has had a rocky few months. He was on the IL for the Blue Jays’ World Series run and actually abandoned the club, returning home to Puerto Rico. This caused much discourse about the veteran’s commitment to the team, and in the midst of his apologies, Berríos was informed he was one of several Puerto Rican players who wasn’t able to be insured for the WBC, and he’ll miss the tournament. As he’s still rehabbing his right bicep, the time in camp might end up the best for him personally, but Puerto Rico is a proud baseball machine and missing what is likely his last Classic must be weighing on Berríos.

We get a pretty representative lineup today, with only Spencer Jones, who’s batting ninth, expected to not be on the Opening Day roster. Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. form a very powerful top three. Note that utilityman Amed Rosario was originally in the starting nine at third base but was scratched about an hour before first pitch, with NRI Jonathan Ornelas taking his place. This reportedly would’ve been Rosario’s last start before heading off to join Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, so an injury could be in play.

How to watch

Location: George M Steinbrenner Field — Tampa, FL

First pitch: 1:05 pm ET

TV broadcast: YES

Online stream: Gotham Sports App

For updates, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Liverpool 5-2 West Ham: Clinical Edge Defines Premier League Contest

Liverpool produced a ruthless 5-2 victory over West Ham in the Premier League, surging level on points with fourth placed Manchester United and strengthening their push for European qualification. It was not a flawless display, yet it was one marked by efficiency, authority from set pieces and a growing sense of belief under Arne Slot.

By half time, Anfield had witnessed three decisive blows. Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister all struck before the interval, placing Liverpool firmly in control and leaving West Ham chasing the game.

Set Piece Authority Shapes First Half

Liverpool’s opening goal arrived inside five minutes. Ryan Gravenberch slipped a precise pass into Ekitike, who finished confidently at the near post beyond Mads Hermansen for his 16th goal of the season. It was sharp, purposeful football, and it set the tone.

West Ham attempted to respond and created moments of pressure, yet Liverpool doubled their lead against the run of play. Dominik Szoboszlai delivered a corner with pace and Van Dijk rose highest to head home with conviction. The captain’s presence in both penalty areas remains invaluable.

Just before the break, Mac Allister struck a superb volley that took a deflection and nestled in the net. That was the cue for sections of the travelling support to head for the exits. All three first half goals came from set plays, and in 2026 Liverpool now lead the Premier League for goals from set pieces, excluding penalties. That statistic alone speaks to coaching detail and execution.

Photo: IMAGO

West Ham Rally Tests Control

Liverpool should have closed the contest comfortably, yet the second half brought a different rhythm. Tomas Soucek capitalised early after the restart, meeting a fine delivery from El Hadji Malick Diouf to give West Ham hope.

Careless possession and brief lapses allowed West Ham to grow in confidence. Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jarrod Bowen and Soucek had earlier squandered opportunities when the scoreline was tighter, and those missed chances loomed large.

Cody Gakpo restored order in the 70th minute. Having earlier missed a clear chance, he cut inside and saw his effort deflect beyond Hermansen, easing nerves around Anfield. Taty Castellanos responded with a second for West Ham, yet Liverpool had the final word. Jeremie Frimpong’s cross was diverted into his own net by Axel Disasi, sealing Liverpool’s first five goal league haul of the season.

Clinical Progress Under Slot

Liverpool were far from dominant throughout, yet they were clinical. For the first time this season, they scored three first half goals in a Premier League match. Before this fixture, supporters had to look back to mid December for the last early league goal at Anfield.

Four of the five goals carried deflections, though they count all the same. What matters is momentum. Liverpool climb above Chelsea into fifth place, while West Ham remain 18th, two points behind Nottingham Forest.

Slot will draw encouragement from Joe Gomez’s start at right back and Frimpong’s return from injury. Set piece productivity has transformed since the turn of the year, with eight such goals in 2026 after a barren opening half of the campaign. Improvement is tangible.

There remain areas to sharpen. Mohamed Salah is without a league goal in his last ten matches, a rare dry spell for a forward of his calibre. Yet the collective output against West Ham demonstrated resilience and depth.

In a Premier League season shaped by narrow margins, Liverpool’s 5-2 victory over West Ham could prove significant. Clinical finishing, set piece authority and timely responses ensured the points stayed at Anfield.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), represented by Bruno Costa, head of the organization’s international office, was present at the first edition of “Kick Off! Brasil em Miami 2026.” The event, which brought together important leaders from the Brazilian community, aimed to foster extensive networking among business, sports, and cultural leaders and organizations.

Bruno Costa spoke about the importance of such gatherings in a World Cup year in the United States.

“A fundamental meeting, as it connects the CBF. We want to be closer and show that we are open to new ideas, new opportunities. This is the approach of the organization’s new management. Communication with the business sector has been helping to create market opportunities, which is why it’s important for us to be part of these events,” he said.

Also present at the event, organized by WDNA radio’s General Director, Gene de Souza, were leaders Ericson dos Reis, from the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce of Florida, Inc. (BACCF), Valeria Sorrentino, from the Centro Cultural Brasil USA da Flórida (CCBU), and Carolina Lara and Conrado Navarro from BR Nation.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Indiana women’s basketball (16-13, 5-12 Big Ten) is set to take on Penn State (11-17, 4-13 Big Ten) at home on Sunday for the regular season finale.

The Hoosiers are coming off of two consecutive Big Ten wins, beating Oregon at home and Rutgers on the road. Shay Ciezki has remained as fantastic as ever while the rest of the Hoosiers seem to have come together as the season has gone on.

The Nittany Lions are riding a three game winning streak into Assembly Hall, having beaten Northwestern and Rutgers before pulling off the upset at home over USC. Indiana’s going to need to be up for the challenge against another Big Ten team gaining some late season momentum.

Here’s what to know about the game:

Penn State Nittany Lions at Indiana Hoosiers

• Game Time/Date: 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 28
• Game Location: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana
• TV Channel: Streaming only
• Streaming:B1G+
• Radio:B97

Cornerback feels like one of those positions you can't afford to "hope" your way through. If anyone knows that, it has to be the Philadelphia Eagles after the roller-coaster ride that they endured last season.

The Birds have invested heavily in youth and athleticism on the back end (Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell), but the margin for error in today's NFL is razor-thin. Teams face competent-to-elite quarterbacks weekly. If you don't have length, speed, and recovery ability on the boundary, your team gets exposed, and quickly.

That's why outside projections tying Philadelphia to a long, proven cover man carry some weight. The Eagles could stand to add another long-term answer opposite Mitchell on the other side of Vic Fangio's defensive formation.

A recent free-agency projection pairs the Eagles with Riq Woolen.

Christian D'Andrea of USA Today's For The Win recently tried his hand at predicting where 32 of the NFL's top free agents will sign in 2026. His forecast sends Riq Woolen from the Seattle Seahawks across the country to sign in Philadelphia.

That pairs the Eagles with a former Pro Bowler and member of the 2022 Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team. D'Andrea lists cornerback, offensive tackle, edge rusher, defensive line, and tight end as Philadelphia's primary needs. That's why the logic behind Woolen's mention makes a ton of sense.

He brings elite length and verified speed, both of which are traits the Eagles have long coveted. Adoree' Jackson may have offered a short-term patch. Woolen represents something more substantial, a long-term boundary solution.

The numbers back the idea up. Woolen did not allow a passer rating above 80.0 over a full season in four years with Seattle. That's consistency. That's reliability, and at his age (he turns 27 on May 2), that's upside still intact.

Of course, projections are just that. They're projections. One can never tell, but it's possible that Woolen won't come cheap. The Eagles must weigh cost against other roster priorities, but stylistically, the fit is clean. He aligns with the organization's preference for long, athletic defensive backs who can press, run, and challenge vertically.

If Philadelphia is serious about fortifying its secondary with proven talent rather than patchwork depth, this is a nice place to start. This is the type of swing that makes sense. One nest to another. This could solve one major problem in the Eagles' roster construction dilemma.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: NFL Free Agency: Eagles again predicted to land Riq Woolen

Mikkel Damsgaard scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Brentford defeated Burnley 4-3 in a seven-goal Premier League thriller at Turf Moor.

Damsgaard, Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago had given the Bees a three-goal lead in a contest packed with momentum swings and VAR drama. The Clarets fought back to level at 3-3, but the Dane had the final say, converting Rico Henry’s cross to earn the west Londoners a sixth away victory of the season.

Head coach Keith Andrews made five changes to the side beaten 2-0 by Brighton and Hove Albion the previous weekend.

Michael Kayode replaced Aaron Hickey at right-back, while goalkeeper Hákon Valdimarsson came in for the absent Caoimhín Kelleher.

Further changes saw Damsgaard, Yehor Yarmoliuk and Schade replace Jordan Henderson, Vitaly Janelt and Keane Lewis-Potter.

Burnley registered the first effort inside seven seconds. Zian Flemming seized possession following Thiago’s kick off, strode forward and dragged wide from distance.

On nine minutes, Mathias Jensen’s corner was punched away by Martin Dúbravka. The ball dropped kindly for Dango Ouattara, and the forward’s first-time effort was blocked by Josh Laurent.

Brentford took the lead from the resulting corner. Unmarked at the back post, Damsgaard met Ouattara’s in-swinging delivery with a thumping header that nestled into the bottom corner of the net.

Andrews’ side then went in search of a second. Thiago got the better of Joe Worrall and attempted to squeeze the ball past Dúbravka at his near post, but the keeper got down quickly to deny him.

Jaidon Anthony had two efforts at the other end: the first, a curling strike from the edge of the box, cleared the crossbar; the second, a powerful attempt, was gathered by Valdimarsson.

Brentford had a big chance to double their lead midway through the half. Thiago released Ouattara down the right and the winger’s low cross was turned wide by Schade.

In total control of the contest, the Bees were not to be denied a second goal at Turf Moor.

Yarmoliuk won a 50-50 in midfield and unloaded the ball to Damsgaard, who split Burnley’s backline with a perfectly weighted through ball. Thiago did the rest, racing on to the Dane’s pass and rolling into the far corner with his left foot.

The west Londoners extended their advantage less than 10 minutes later.

Kayode hurled the ball in from the touchline and Sepp van den Berg made first contact at the front post. Lucas Pires cleared the defender’s header off the line but only as far as Schade, who lashed home from close range.

In stoppage time, Thiago outmuscled Pires inside the box and got a shot away, which was blocked by Worrall.

Burnley pulled a goal back in the final seconds before the break. Anthony, a bright spark for the home side, shot hard and low across the face of goal and Kayode inadvertently turned the ball into his own net at full stretch.

The hosts struck again within two minutes of the restart.

Moments after firing over the crossbar, Hannibal darted down the right flank and delivered the ball into the box. His cross bounced through to Anthony, who finished first time beyond Valdimarsson via Kayode’s outstretched leg.

With momentum now firmly on their side, Burnley completed the turnaround on the hour mark.

Having drifted across to the left, Hannibal arrowed a cross to the back post. Flemming ghosted in and headed down into the bottom corner to make it 3-3.

Fed by Pires, Lesley Ugochukwu directed an attempt towards goal, but Yarmoliuk made a crucial intervention and the ball struck the side netting.

Burnley had the ball in the back of the net for a fourth time on 78 minutes.

Anthony’s driven cross from the left was flicked up by Kristoffer Ajer and then bundled in by Flemming, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR check as Anthony's shoulder was ahead of the last defender.

There was to be late, late drama at Turf Moor. In the third minute of stoppage time, Henry burst down the left and delivered into a dangerous area. Damsgaard brought the cross down before guiding the ball into the far corner to give Brentford the lead in Lancashire.

Five minutes later, substitute Barnes thought he had snatched a point for the Clarets. Worrall headed a cross down and the striker thumped the ball into the far corner, but a lengthy VAR check overturned the goal for handball and Brentford's three points remained intact.

Burnley (5-2-3): Dúbravka; Pires, Laurent (Ugochukwu HT), Worrall, Estève, Humphreys; Ward-Prowse (Florentino 75), Hannibal (Tchaouna 83); Bruun Larsen (Foster HT), Flemming (Barnes 90+1), Anthony

Subs: Weiss, Walker, Hartman, Ekdal

Brentford (4-3-3): Valdimarsson; Kayode, Ajer, van den Berg, Henry; Damsgaard, Yarmoliuk (Henderson 72), Jensen; Ouattara (Donovan 72), Thiago, Schade (Lewis-Potter 72)

Subs: Balcombe, Pinnock, Collins, Furo, Bentt, Shield

For fans of the Boston Celtics who enjoyed the play of now-Brooklyn Nets forward Josh Minott, and missed his frenetic energy on the court, seeing the Florida native playing well for the Nets in Boston's 148-111 demolition of Brooklyn was bittersweet. Looking like himself again after a long injury that likely played a factor in his eventual trade to the Nets, the visual reminder of the Lawnmower's motor was evident.

Minott spoke to the media about his ankle and trade to Brooklyn after the game, saying his ankle sprain was "getting better in every aspect," and that he was "just putting the finishing touches on my ankle."

"Getting better defensively, just getting back into rhythm, and it’s really just getting one percent better every day," he added.

"I’d say it was probably like my first real taste of adversity since I got drafted," related Minott of the serious ankle sprain. "Thank God I’ve been healthy for the majority of my career. That was definitely a mental test for sure."

"Boston staff really helped with my recovery process. Brooklyn has as well, since I’ve been here it’s more fine tuning now, but it’s different when one day you’re doing crazy dunks, the next day, you can’t walk, you know?"

Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:

Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp

iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47

YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Josh Minott opens up on injury that effectively ended Celtics tenure

67’ — Fabio Silva comes off for Serhou Guirassy.

61’ — Jamal Musiala replaces Serge Gnabry.

56’ — Ramy Bensebaini blindly passes the ball to Michael Olise, whose shot goes well wide.

54’ — TOR! Harry Kane finally scores to draw Bayern level!

52’ — The ball is laid on a silver platter for Dayot Upamecano but he misses the ball completely. Story of Bayern’s match.

45’ — One more half to set things right.

Halftime Observations

• Bayern looked so uninspiring in that first half. The team that threw away a last 16 berth is playing better than you? Well by playing better, I mean completely flopping all over the pitch fishing for lousy fouls. Bottom line is Bayern is nowhere near the level they should be at.
• The referee needs to restore order before someone gets stretchered off. Giving out the wrong cards and not giving them when they should be given is such an amazing skill (not).
• What else is there to say? Forty-five minutes to get something from this match.

45+8’ — Halftime in one of the most scrappiest games ever from a Bayern perspective.

45+4’ — Dortmund fakes one more injury before making a sub. Cool.

45’ — Six minutes added on.

34’ — This referee can’t tell a legitimate foul from a dive. Not only that, he’s letting Dortmund get away with disgusting fouls.

27’ — The ref calls a nothing foul and the home side score, and it’s the guy who should’ve been sent off.

24’ — Joshua Kimmich shoots from distance but it’s saved by Gregor Kobel.

18-20’ — Nico Schlotterbeck slides in for the ball but catches Josip Stanisic’s leg, and only gets a yellow for that? Sure.

17’ — Bayern mostly in control so far. Some shots here and there but it’s still 0-0.

13’ — Bayern with some sloppy defending but Dortmund can’t finish the move off.

10’ — Both teams still feeling their way into the match.

Kickoff! — LET’S GOOOOOOOOOO

Lineups are here! Vincent Kompany has unsurprisingly gone for a no-nonsense lineup for this huge match.

Bayern Munich is looking good for the business end of the season, getting enough rest whilst keeping title “challengers” Borussia Dortmund at bay. Die Schwarzgelben ended their Champions League campaign in horrific fashion by squandering a first leg lead to go out on aggregate against Atalanta, coincidentally Bayern’s round of 16 opponents.

While Dortmund appears to be formidable in the league, cracks are starting to show in the team and the fact that Dortmund coach Niko Kovać played most of his starters is a telling sign. His players are bound to be gassed by this fixture, so the odds aren’t in their favor.

The Bavarians are somewhat banged up, but it still has a mostly healthy squad. Fitness is paramount at this point in the season.

Match Info

Location: Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Date: Saturday, 28 February 2026

Time: 6:30 PM Local time | 12:30 PM EST | 9:30 AM PST

TV/streaming: ESPN+, Find Your Country

Prediction

Bayern wins 3-0 with goals from Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Jonathan Tah.

It’s Bayern time

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CAMDEN, N.J. -- The Philadelphia 76ers convened for practice on Saturday afternoon to prepare for a matchup with the Boston Celtics on the road on Sunday. The Sixers will be looking to build off Thursday's win over the Miami Heat, but they may have to do it without Joel Embiid.

The big fella reported some soreness in his right side after the win over the Heat and did not participate in practice on Saturday. The Sixers did say that an update on his status for the contest against the Celtics will be given later when the injury report is released for the game.

Joel Embiid reported some soreness in his right side after Thursday’s game. He didn’t participate in practice today. He’s meeting with the medical staff and his status for tomorrow will be updated later today. #Sixers

— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) February 28, 2026

Embiid did make a big shot late to seal the win over the Heat despite clearly grabbing at his right side the entire game. Rookie VJ Edgecombe had a message for those who criticize Embiid after the win as he praised him for battling through the issues.

The Sixers and the Celtics will tip off at 8 p.m. EST from the TD Garden on Sunday.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers injury news: Latest on Joel Embiid before matchup vs. Celtics

Sandro Munari, the driver synonymous with Lancia’s rise to prominence in world rallying, has died aged 85.

The Italian driver will be remembered as one of the most iconic and successful drivers of his generation, lighting up the rally stages during the 1970s. Munari lifted the FIA Cup for Rally Drivers, the forerunner to today’s FIA World Rally Championship drivers’ title, in 1977.

Born in Cavarzere, Italy, in 1940, Munari was simply known as “Il Drago” [The Dragon] but became a hugely instrumental figure in putting Lancia on the map in world rallying, behind the wheel of the iconic Fulvia and Stratos machines.

Munari began his rally career 1965, lifting Italian Rally Championship crowns in 1967 and 1969.

But he is perhaps best known for his contribution to the birth of the Lancia legend. After two seasons driving a Lancia Fulvia, Munari guided the car to a famous victory at the 1972 Monte Carlo Rally, with the car and driver partnership combining to win the 1973 European Rally Championship.

Munari made a lasting impact on the Monte Carlo Rally, with the impressive Italian and Lancia appearing unbeatable on the notoriously challenging Alpine asphalt rounds over a three-year period. He drove the famed Stratos to victory every year from 1975-1977.

Prior to those Monte Carlo triumphs, Munari also piloted the Stratos to Lancia’s maiden WRC win at Rally Sanremo in 1974, helping the Italian brand to its first manufacturer crown.

Sandro Munari, Silvio Maiga Lancia Stratos

This was a feat that former Lancia boss Cesare Fiorio recalled in an interview with Autosport in 2024.

“I remember at the RAC I had only one car that was competitive with Sandro Munari," said Fiorio. "He could have won that event, but all the time I was saying you must go slowly because if you finish within the first three, we shall be in a position to win the championship. I said don’t try to win as he had the possibility of winning also. He finished third because I slowed him down all the time.”

With Munari's help, Lancia went on to retain the crown in 1975 and claim the championship again in 1976 as it asserted its dominance in top level rallying.

Munari made his final WRC outing at the 1984 Safari Rally, but over an illustrious career he claimed seven rally wins – his last arriving in 1977 in Monte Carlo. All of his WRC triumphs came behind the wheel of the Stratos.

Outside of mainstream rallying, Enzo Ferrari once called on him to race the 1972 Targa Florio with the 312 PB, which he won alongside co-driver Arturo Merzario.

"He was very good," Merzario recalls, "because he wasn't used to the power of a sports car. We spent a month in Sicily driving a Dino after a series of tests at Fiorano. And he had given me the car at the driver changeover, and it was perfect..."

In Italy, Munari became rallying’s first mainstream star, elevating the sport’s profile during a golden era of manufacturer competition. Following his retirement from top-level competition, Munari remained closely connected to the sport, regularly appearing at historic rallies and anniversary celebrations – particularly those honouring the Stratos.

Motorsport.com extends its condolences to the Munari family.

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Men's T20 World Cup, Super 8s Group 2, Pallekele

Pakistan 212-8 (20 overs): Farhan 100 (60) Fakhar 84 (42); Madushanka 4-33

Sri Lanka 207-6 (20 overs): Shanaka 76* (31); Ahmed 3-23

Pakistan won by five runs

Scorecard. Tables

Sahibzada Farhan made a superb century as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by five runs in the T20 World Cup Super 8s but missed out on a semi-final spot on net run-rate.

Farhan's 100 off 60 balls featured nine fours and five sixes as Pakistan posted 212-8 - their highest-ever total at a T20 World Cup.

Pakistan needed to restrict Sri Lanka to 147 runs or fewer in their reply to ensure their net run-rate was better than New Zealand's in Group 2.

However, Sri Lanka managed to scrape past the figure in 15.5 overs for the loss of five wickets which saw the Black Caps progress to the knockout phase.

It ensured New Zealand finished with a net run-rate of +1.390 as they claimed second spot ahead of Pakistan (-0.123).

Sri Lanka came up just short of pulling off the second-highest chase in World Cup history after some late big hitting from captain Dasun Shanaka as Pakistan's players went through the motions.

With 28 needed off the final over Shanaka, who made an unbeaten 76 off 31 balls, crashed a four and three sixes.

But with six required for a Sri Lanka victory, Shaheen Afridi switched back on and bowled two dots with wide yorkers.

Earlier, a 176-run stand between Farhan and Fakhar Zaman had given Pakistan hope of pulling off what had seemed a big ask on paper.

Fakhar, restored to open after batting in the middle order against England, played his part with some crisp ball striking en route to 84 off 42 balls.

In what was just his second innings at this World Cup, Fakhar clubbed nine fours and four sixes as Sri Lanka's bowlers were flayed to all parts.

But after his dismissal Pakistan struggled to maintain the momentum - as Dilshan Madushanka claimed 3-33 - with 14 runs off the final two overs not quite enough.

Farhan fantastic as Pakistan fall short

In what has largely been a trying World Cup for Pakistan, Farhan has stood as a beacon of hope at the top of the order.

The 29-year-old produced a stellar knock at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium to take his tally at the tournament to 383 runs in six innings at an average of 76.60.

Nobody has scored more runs at a T20 World Cup as he eclipsed Virat Kohli's total of 319 at the 2014 event.

Farhan also now tops the six-hitting charts with 18 - one more than West Indies' Shimron Hetmyer.

This innings combined the best of his aggression and elegant strokeplay as he became the first batter to make two centuries at a World Cup following his unbeaten 100 off 58 balls against Namibia.

The only blot on Farhan's copybook - and it may feel hypercritical to highlight it - was an apparent lack of match awareness when he reached three figures off 59 balls.

Off the first ball of 19th over - and with a new batter at the non-striker's end - he bunted Shanaka down the ground for a single to bring up his century.

From the non-striker's end he watched two wickets, failed to get on strike, then drilled the first ball of Madushanka's final over into the hands of cover.

Had Farhan turned down the single, kept the strike, and looked to hit more boundaries off the final 11 balls then Pakistan potentially could have got some valuable extra runs that might have made a difference.

Ifs, buts and maybes. A neat precis of Pakistan's World Cup campaign, overall.

• Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport

Ladies and gentlemen of TOC Nation, March is nearly upon us. As the calendar flips to the month of madness, Michigan State basketball will continue their two-game campaign on the road in the Hoosier State. Just this past Thursday night, Tom Izzo’s Spartans picked up a monumental road win against Purdue, good for MSU’s first win at Mackey Arena since 2014. With this newfound momentum, our Spartans will head about two hours south, from West Lafayette to Bloomington, where a hungry Indiana (17-11) team will await them. The Sunday showdown will take place at 3:45pm on CBS. 

The Hoosiers, coached by first year head man Darian DeVries, will head into this March 1st matchup with an 8-9 conference record, and are in the midst of a three-game losing streak. This Tuesday, Indiana suffered one of its most toughest losses of the season, falling 72-68 at home to a sub-par Northwestern team. Despite a 14-point first-half performance from Lamar Wilkerson (more on him later) that helped IU to a big lead at the break, the Hoosiers crumbled in the second half, which has been a theme for DeVries’ team in recent games. Offensive stagnation outside of Wilkerson, and several defensive lapses allowed the Wildcats to secure their sixth (!!!) straight win over IU. With this loss coming on the heels of a blowout 93-64 loss at Purdue and a 71-51 rout at Illinois, Indiana’s tournament hopes are hanging in the balance. Now at 17-11 overall, Indiana is on the chopping block, and would love nothing more than a signature win over MSU to stop the bleeding and cement their position on the right side of the bubble. 

The two teams did meet on January 13 in East Lansing, where Michigan State rolled to an 81-60 victory on the backs of a late 19-0 run to shut the door on the Hoosiers. Thinking back to the first matchup, the past showdown between the two squads was a tale of two halves. While the first period featured some back-and-forth play, MSU got it rolling in the last twenty minutes of play. Jeremy Fears Jr. scored 19 of his 23 points in the 2H, and totaled ten assists on the night. State also got big time contributions from their bench, with Jordan Scott and Kur Teng each chipping in 11 points, along with Cam Ward putting up five and three boards in only 14 minutes of run. Jaxon Kohler added a double-double to the effort, and Carson Cooper had seven and seven. 

Now, more than a month later, the Spartans will look to get similar performances out of guards Teng and Scott, both of whom stepped up across the stat sheet against Purdue, but have yet to show the consistency that MSU will need heading into March. 

On the Indiana side of things, it was the Lamar Wilkerson show. The graduate student and transfer from Sam Houston State accounted for 19 points on five three pointers, and essentially kept IU afloat and fighting until the 11-minute mark of the second half where MSU would finally put their foot on the gas. 

Hoosier Rotation 

IU’s transfer-laden lineup has changed a bit since the last matchup, mostly due to a nagging ankle injury to guard Tayton Conerway. 

#3, Guard – Lamar Wilkerson, 6-6, Senior (Transfer)

#4, Forward – Sam Alexis, 6-9, Senior (Transfer)

#12, Forward – Tucker DeVries, 6-7, Senior (Transfer)

#5, G – Connor Enright, 6-1, Senior (Transfer)

#7, Guard – Nick Dorn, 6-7, Junior (Transfer) 

These five Hoosiers have made up the starting lineup as of late, with Nick Dorn sliding into that top five. Conerway has fought through the lingering injury and played rather well as of late, scoring 12 points against Purdue in 25 minutes of play, and 14 against Northwestern on 6-6 shooting. The rest of the rotation is made up of a couple of bigs who will play key minutes off the bench for Coach DeVries. 

#1, Forward – Reed Bailey, 6-10, Senior (Transfer)

#11, Forward – Trent Sisley, 6-8, Freshman

Just like Mike brought up in the last Indiana preview, the Hoosiers are not a particularly big team, and there should be opportunities aplenty inside for Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper, the latter of which has been playing the best basketball of his career. Coop has scored a whopping 47 points across his last three games, along with 24 rebounds to boot. The size advantage also should be favorable for the Kohler Bear, a player who has fallen on a bit of a rough patch, at least in terms of offensive production. Tom Izzo and the rest of the Spartan coaching staff would love nothing more than a return to early-season form for Jax as we head down the stretch of this 2025-26 campaign. 

In the backcourt, Lamar Wilkerson has continued to be the lifeblood of this Hoosier team and their tournament hopes. The sharpshooter is averaging 25 over his last five outings, headlined by a 41-point explosion against Oregon in IU’s last win back on February 9th. The question at hand for Indiana remains- who can step up to give Wilkerson help offensively? Coach’s son Tucker DeVries has seen his production fall off a cliff, possibly due to extended usage. The forward has played upwards of 37 minutes in five of the last seven games, and has been performing like you would expect a fatigued shooter to, putting all the more pressure on Lamar Wilkerson to be perfect. 

Can DeVries return to early season, or better yet, last season at Drake form? Or will it be Conerway continuing his upward trajectory and feeling healthy enough to be Wilkerson’s running mate? It will likely have to be one of these two pieces for Indiana if they want to pick up the huge home win. 

Keys to the Game

Stay composed. Much like Mackey Arena, Assembly Hall is no easy place to play. The Hoosier faithful will be out in full force Sunday afternoon, in dire need of a signature win to assert their place on the right side of the bubble. For MSU, coming off of a season-defining road win at Purdue, it will be paramount to remain focused on the game at hand and not get caught looking forward to tournament play, or the season finale vs u-m. State needs to play with composure, take care of the basketball, and take the IU crowd out of the game as soon as possible. 

Get out and run. As we discussed, Indiana’s rotation is only about eight-deep, and many of their key pieces have played extended minutes throughout the month of February. Getting off to a hot start would be helped drastically by getting out in transition early, and hopefully generating a similar performance to last game against IU, where the Spartans led 25-12 in terms of fast break points. 

Let the big dogs eat. The red hot Carson Cooper should be licking his lips coming into this one, and not just to continue his tear of double digit scoring. Rebounding is a major concern for IU, as they rank 299th in the nation with only 32.9 boards per game. If Michigan State is able to continue being a strong offensive rebounding team and generate a plethora of second chance points, this will be an incredibly tough game for Indiana to keep within reach. Look for Jaxon Kohler and Cam Ward to get into the mix on the offensive glass as well. 

Shut down Wilkerson. Between Jeremy Fears and Jordan Scott, the Spartan backcourt has done a phenomenal job as of late defending some of the best guards in the conference. From Keaton Wagler of Illinois to Braden Smith of Purdue, State has shown the ability to lock up some serious star power at the guard position. However, we have also seen players like Bruce Thornton of Ohio State explode for 32 points against the Spartan defense. Wilkerson has that same explosive ability, and cutting him off with tight defense will be key for MSU to limit IU’s offensive attack in its entirety. 

For college basketball fans, the best time of the year is nearly upon us. The Spartans, feeling high and mighty after a win versus Purdue, will head to another storied venue for a late season matchup with the Hoosiers. Can MSU stay locked in throughout this late season stretch and set themselves up with the best possible seeding come NCAA Tournament time? Will State secure a top-four spot and triple bye in the B1G Tournament? These questions will begin to be answered Sunday in Assembly Hall. 

What other questions remain for this Spartan team? What would you like to see in this one? Leave a score prediction in the comments below, and Go Green!!!

After a tie with the Astros last night, the Nats are back in action this afternoon against the Mets. They are headed to Fort St. Lucie to face a stacked Mets lineup. It will be a good test for this young Nats team who has shown some sloppiness in the last couple games this spring.

The Nats who did not play last night will be in action this afternoon. That means we will see the likes of James Wood, Daylen Lile, Brady House and Harry Ford, among others. Wood and Lile have had slow starts to the spring, so it would be nice to see them make a statement. Jake Irvin will be on the mound, facing a very strong Mets lineup.

As we have mentioned a couple times now, the Mets are rolling out a lineup that should be pretty similar to their Opening Day lineup. New additions Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette are in the lineup. Juan Soto will be hitting between them in the two hole. Long time Mets like Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty and Mark Vientos will also be in the lineup. Tobias Myers was part of the Freddie Peralta trade, and he will be on the mound for the Mets.

Game Info:

Stadium: Clover Park

Time: 1:10 PM EST

TV: SNY/MLB TV

Radio: N/A

This should be a good test for the Nats. Jake Irvin will have to work his way through a big league lineup and Tobias Myers is no scrub on the mound either. There have been some slow starters for the Nats this spring, so hopefully they can wake up. Follow along down below and let’s go Nats!

Liverpool 5 – 2 West Ham PL Man of the Match

Hugo Ekitike

Liverpool FC

Relentless Growth, Ruthless Edge

Liverpool’s 5–2 victory over West Ham carried plenty of standout moments, but the clearest thread running through the performance was the continued rise of Hugo Ekitike. In a game that demanded authority and attacking precision, the French forward delivered both — scoring once and assisting twice in a display that underlined why his trajectory mirrors the elite ambitions of Liverpool Football Club.

His opening contribution set the tone. The finish was clinical, struck with conviction and clarity of thought, the kind of effort that separates promising forwards from reliable scorers. But it was the completeness of his game that truly stood out. His assist for the third goal was weighted to perfection, a subtle yet intelligent pass that demonstrated awareness beyond his years. Later, he added another assist, again combining timing and vision to devastating effect.

Movement, pace, power and creativity are now blending into one cohesive package. Ekitike is no longer simply a forward who thrives on space — he is becoming a centre forward capable of dictating it. His off-ball runs disrupted West Ham’s defensive line all afternoon, creating channels for others to exploit. When dropping deeper, he linked play intelligently, showing composure under pressure and maturity in decision-making.

There is a growing sense that Liverpool is watching a prodigy evolve into something far more complete. The raw potential is being refined into efficiency. In a Premier League packed with high-calibre strikers, Ekitike’s all-round game is beginning to place him firmly in the conversation as one of the most well-rounded centre forwards in the division.

Strong Foundations Behind the Firepower

While Ekitike rightfully claims the Man of the Match honours, the collective platform around him deserves recognition. Virgil van Dijk was commanding in defence, leading with authority and composure. His presence ensured Liverpool controlled long stretches of the match, and his goal from a set piece added further emphasis to his influence.

In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister delivered one of his most controlled performances of the season. The Argentine dictated tempo with intelligence, screened the back line effectively, and capped his display with a stunning first-half strike that effectively broke West Ham’s resistance. His calm authority allowed Liverpool’s attackers to flourish, and his balance between discipline and ambition was key to maintaining momentum.

Steven Smith predicted a 2–0 win before kick-off. Liverpool instead struck five. The clean sheet may have eluded them, but the statement remained emphatic — and at the centre of it stood Hugo Ekitike, evolving in real time into the forward Liverpool need him to become.

Steven Smith’s Pre-match Prediction;

Liverpool 2 – 0 West Ham

Women’s Basketball vs Rutgers (Senior Day) – 1:00 CST

Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, 1 p.m. (CT)
Lincoln, Nebraska (Pinnacle Bank Arena)
Live Video: B1G+ (subscription only)
Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (12:30 p.m.) Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst) Lincoln (107.3 FM), Omaha (1490 AM/97.3 FM/97.7 HD3), Huskers.com, Huskers App
Live Stats: Huskers.com (statbroadcast – public)

Jill’s thoughts and prediction: The last time I looked at the women’s bracketology Nebraska (17-11; 6-11) was the last team in. Eeek. The ladies need a big win today and to make some noise in the Big Ten Tournament if they want to dance. Rutgers (9-19; 1-16) is not a good team. They have struggled, averaging just 58.3 points per game, and allowed 68.6 points, including 76.5 in league contests. The Scarlet Knights are hitting 27.9 percent of their threes and 35.6 percent of its overall field goal attempts. They are outrebounded 40-32 in league play and carry a minus-3.1 turnover margin.

Prediction: Nebraska 78 Rutgers 64

Softball vs Oklahoma State – 2:00 CST

After the heartbreaker Friday, the softball team looks for some redemption against the Cowgirls. First pitch is at 2:00 pm (central) and you can watch on ESPN+

Baseball vs Auburn – 2:00 CST

If you didn’t watch last night’s extra-innings nailbiter, you missed out! What looked like an insurmountable Nebraska lead in the 10th inning came down to a one-run victory in which Auburn had the tying run on third base and winning run on second. Methinks the Tigers will be spitting nails and ready to reset the tone at their home park today.

You can watch on SECN+. I found the game last night by searching for Nebraska Auburn on Youtube. It was annoying that the intrusive ads popped up every few minutes during game action, but I kept my remote nearby and was good at the ‘skip’ button by the end of the four hour marathon.

Men’s Basketball vs USC – 3:10 CST

Date: Saturday, February 28th, 2026
Tipoff: 3:10 p.m. (central)
Location: Galen Center (Los Angeles, California)

TV/Online:

Saturday’s game will be broadcast on BTN with Guy Haberman and Don MacLean on the call. It will also be available online on the FOX Sports and FOX Sports 1 apps.

Radio:

Saturday’s game will be carried on the Huskers Radio Network with Kent Pavelka and Jeff Smith on the call, including KLIN (1400 AM) in Lincoln, KCRO (660 AM) and KIBM (1490 AM) in Omaha and KRVN (880 AM) in Lexington. The pregame show begins an hour before tipoff and will also be available on Huskers.com and the Huskers app. 

Jarek’s Pre-tipoff thoughts:

The Huskers have certainly come out sluggish the past few games. Multiple bad 1st halves in a row have certainly put extra pressure on them. What has ultimately spared them is strong defensive performances. The other part is the second half usually means the offense wakes up and they share the ball way better. I feel like they play a little too isolated in the first half.

The Huskers last three games are all Quad 1 opportunities, so if they take care of business, they can possibly fight for a 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The smaller, yet more urgent fight is for a top 4 seed in the B1G Tournament. The Huskers currently sit as the 2 seed there and will guarantee themselves that if they win out. So, take care of what you can control, and it will be all right. Score Prediction: Nebraska 74 USC 70

Seth Rollins has won some of the biggest matches in WWE history since the beginning of his main roster career, such as "The Heist of the Century" at WrestleMania 31, or defeating John Cena at SummerSlam to become a double-champion, but his all-time favorite match on his resume is one that he lost.

Speaking with "GQ" alongside his wife and WWE star Becky Lynch, Rollins claimed that he's always been fond of the day that all three Shield members held the WWE Championship in one night at Money In The Bank 2016.

"I don't know if I have a favorite match that I've ever won. I have a favorite match that I've lost. The night [Dean] Ambrose cashed in his Money In The Bank to win the title on me at Money In The Bank. And the title went from Roman [Reigns] to me, to Jon, all in the span of like 10 minutes. Very nice to give someone you love a moment like that."

Rollins also stated that his loss to Cesaro, also known as AEW's Claudio Castagnoli, at WrestleMania 37 is one of his favorites, and despite the match eventually leading the Swiss star to challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal Title, his singles push ended shortly afterwards. Although "The Visionary" views his title win at WrestleMania 31 as his greatest career achievement, most of his favorites are matches where he didn't emerge victorious.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit "GQ" with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Read more: Every Paul Heyman Guy, Ranked By Accomplishments

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It’s another road game but this time, the lineup for our Atlanta Braves figures to be a little better than the last one that they sent out for a road game against the Yankees in Tampa. That’s probably because it’s a quicker trip from North Port to Sarasota instead of Tampa but either way, this’ll probably be less of the Braves serving as live practice partners for the Orioles like they did over at Steinbrenner Field earlier this week.

It also helps that the Braves are going to be sending one of their expected starting pitchers to the mound today as well. Spencer Strider is getting the ball and I’d say that there’s plenty of anticipation for his spring training debut. There’s been a lot of speculation about Strider’s velocity early on here in spring training so we’ll see exactly what he’s got in the tank with what he can deliver against a pretty solid Orioles lineup today.

Here are the lineups, starting with the Braves:

Here’s how the Orioles are looking for today’s contest:

If you live in the Orioles TV market then you can catch this game on MASN. That’s the only way you’ll be able to catch the game on TV, as the Braves will only be broadcasting this game via the radio on 680 The Fan/93.7 FM. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET.

Northwestern basketball hasn’t been very enthralling this season. While there are impressive individual seasons for both men’s and women’s teams, those seasons are courtesy of seniors who will almost certainly be gone next season. Despite this, the men’s team still has the Big Ten Conference Tournament, and there is always the lens of looking to the future. With that being said, here are some reasons to be optimistic about Northwestern basketball.

Men’s Basketball

The men’s team has been on a roll as of late. After a five-game losing streak, the ‘Cats have won consecutive Big Ten games for the first time all season. With just three games to go in the regular season, followed by the Big Ten Tournament, Northwestern is playing its best basketball of the season. This is in part due to Nick Martinelli playing better as of late, but also credit should be given elsewhere.

Northwestern has found its point guard

Jake West has been a revelation for the ‘Cats as of late. The first-year went from playing the first 16 games of the season off the bench, cracking 20 or more minutes just three times, to now starting the last 12 games and logging over 30 minutes in his last five, which includes two double-digit scoring performances. Coach Chris Collins gave him his shot to show what he can do with a larger sample size, and he’s made the most of that.

“I want [West] to get a sample size of what this entails in this league,” Collins said about him meeting with West during the season. “I’ve noticed a big growth in him over the last month.”

West has become a leader on this Northwestern squad as well. His minutes increase is no mistake; he’s been playing like a Big Ten point guard. West isn’t just someone who can score a few buckets either: he’s a good and willing passer and has been strong defensively. He was averaging 2.5 assists per game and 0.4 steals per game in his first 23 games. In the last five, he’s at 4.2 assists per game and 1.8 steals per game. West’s whole game is improving — he has been key to Northwestern’s success lately and seemingly will be a huge factor in the future.

The best basketball of the season

As I said earlier, Northwestern is playing at its best right now. Rattling off back-to-back Big Ten wins for the first time this season is a sign of hope, especially considering how strong the Big Ten is in basketball. While it may seem bleak, there is the off chance that the Wildcats flat-out win the Big Ten if everything goes well at the Big Ten Tournament. While still a long shot, the product Northwestern has been putting out on the floor is at its best quality all season, regardless. With Oregon also on a hot streak with recent wins over USC and Wisconsin, Saturday’s matchup against the Ducks is going to be a battle of momentum.

“They’re on a roll right now, and they’re definitely playing their best basketball,” Martinelli said of the Ducks. “I feel like we’re playing our best basketball, so I think tomorrow is going to be a great game.”

Martinelli is back to his normal self after a tough stretch, notching back-to-back 20-plus point performances on over 50% shooting after five consecutive games of shooting below that clip. West has been evolving into the second option that the Wildcats have been lacking all season. March is the right time to get hot for any team, and that’s the case for Northwestern right now.

Women’s Basketball

Northwestern is set to miss the Big Ten Tournament for the second consecutive season. With that comes obvious questions about the team’s future and what it will look like next season. With key players like Caroline Lau and Grace Sullivan set to graduate, the ‘Cats lose some surefire veteran leadership. In addition, Joe McKeown is retiring at the end of this season, so the team could look very different in the 2026-27 season. That leads me to my first point of optimism for Northwestern women’s basketball.

New Coach

Under coach McKeown, Northwestern has had four-straight losing seasons, including this year, recording fewer than 10 wins in all those seasons. Also in these four seasons, Northwestern has won a total of 10 conference games (would be 11 if the ‘Cats beat Purdue on Sunday, March 1). As great as McKeown has been for the Wildcats program overall, it’s time to turn to someone new.

Whether it’s hiring within the organization or from somewhere else, having a fresh mind in the lab working with the roster the ‘Cats put together for 2026-27 is something all fans should be open-minded about. Players are extremely important, but coaching can be just as vital. Take the Indiana Hoosiers in football. They’d almost certainly be bottom feeders still if not for Curt Cignetti. The right hire can completely change a team. While the impact of a new coaching hire may never reach the same levels as Indiana hiring Cignetti for the next century, it can still make a team better. That’s the hope for Northwestern here.

The emergence of the sophomore class

The group that saw the biggest jump this season for NU women’s basketball was the sophomore class. Since she played almost the entire second half against USC, Kat Righeimer has logged double-digit minutes off the bench in every game since. She has provided a spark for Northwestern in various situations across these last six games, including a 22-point shooting clinic against Penn State and bringing down six rebounds against USC. Righeimer has proven that she can play in the Big Ten, and with a little more polishing of her game, can be a key rotational piece (and even primary option) for the ‘Cats going forward.

Sophomores Tayla Thomas and Xamiya Walton also had breakout seasons for the Wildcats as first-year starters and will surely be key players on future teams. Thomas ranks third on the team in scoring with 9.9 points per game, while her 7.3 rebounds per game are top 10 in the conference. Meanwhile, Walton leads the team in three-point percentage (39.6) and has provided sparks from beyond the arc. Her younger sister, Xyanna, is a four-star guard recruit coming to Evanston next season and another player that Cats fans can look forward to watching.

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The No. 2-ranked Arizona Wildcats are set to host the No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks this afternoon.

This game features a slew of talented freshmen, and my Kansas vs. Arizona predictions are backing one of them to contribute on the glass.

Here are my best free college basketball picks for this Big 12 clash on Saturday, February 28.

Kansas vs Arizona prediction

Kansas vs Arizona best bet: Ivan Kharchenkov Over 5.5 rebounds (-135)

Plenty of freshmen have been balling out across the country, which has allowed Arizona Wildcats forward Ivan Kharchenkov (10.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg) to fly under the radar.

He may not score at the same clip as some of the other freshman stars, but the 6-foot-7 forward is a strong defender, rebounder, and passer. Kharchenkov has hauled in 6+ boards in five of his last six games — including the previous matchup with the Kansas Jayhawks.

Kansas has struggled on the glass, ranking 248th nationally in offensive rebounding rate and sitting outside the Top 150 in defensive rebounding rate.

Kansas vs Arizona same-game parlay

Koa Peat returns to Arizona’s lineup for the first time since suffering an injury on February 14. Before going down, Peat had dished out at least two assists in 11 of his previous 13 contests.

Meanwhile, freshman guard Brayden Burries is averaging 17.3 points per game over his last 20 contests, including a 25-point effort on 9-of-18 shooting in Arizona’s loss at the Phog on February 9.

That defeat in Lawrence sets up a revenge spot for Arizona, while this could also be a letdown situation for Kansas after its upset win over Houston.

I’m hesitant to lay 10 points with the Wildcats, but I’ll confidently back them in the first half and on the full-game moneyline.

Kansas vs Arizona SGP

• Ivan Kharchenkov Over 5.5 rebounds
• Koa Peat Over 1.5 assists
• Brayden Burries Over 16.5 points
• Arizona 1H moneyline
• Arizona moneyline

Our beyond the arc SGP: Freshmen Feast

Kharchenkov, Peat, and Burries aren't even the best freshman in this game with Kansas led by projected first pick overall Darryn Peterson. The high-scoring guard averages 19.5 points in just 27.4 minutes per game. 

Peterson was heavily criticized for missing the previous clash against Arizona due to an illness and he'll be eager to make an impact after logging 30+ minutes in his last two contests. 

Kansas vs Arizona SGP

• Ivan Kharchenkov Over 5.5 rebounds
• Koa Peat Over 1.5 assists
• Brayden Burries Over 16.5 points
• Darryn Peterson Over 17.5 points

Kansas vs Arizona odds

• Spread: Kansas +10 (-110) | Arizona -10 (-110)
• Moneyline: Kansas +400 | Arizona -550
• Over/Under: Over 150 (-110) | Under 150 (-110)

Kansas vs Arizona betting trend to know

The Under has cashed in Arizona's last five games at home. Find more college basketball betting trends for Kansas vs. Arizona.

How to watch Kansas vs Arizona

Kansas vs Arizona key injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Cornish Pirates kept up their Champ play-off hopes after a 49-21 win at winless bottom side Cambridge.

The victory was Pirates' fourth successive win and a fifth in six games as they moved up to sixth place in the second tier.

"Cambridge are a proud team and they've shown that," joint-head coach Gavin Cattle told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"I know the league position would suggest otherwise, but they're a spirited, nuggety sort of side, so we knew we had to be on it today emotionally.

"It was ugly at times but there was some really good stuff within it as well, so really pleased, five points which keeps us in touch with that top six."

Dan Eckersley gave Cambridge a fifth-minute lead, but it was cancelled out three minutes later when Alex Everett crossed for Pirates.

The forward got a second five minutes later while tries for Arthur Relton and Chester Ribbons ensured a bonus point before the interval as Pirates led 28-14 at half time.

The result was made safe with three tries in a 13-minute spell as first Angus Mawson scored in the 53rd minute before Tomi Agbongbon and Morgan Nelson completed the win either side of a Jasper Sorrell try for the hosts.

"I'm really pleased with some of the execution, I think we left a few out there as well which is always good that you're creating," added Cattle.

"We got lucky once or twice as well, but I think we were the dominant team today and the pleasing thing for us is that we stuck the task, got the emotion right and came away with the points."

Related internet links

• Cornish Pirates

In their first season with Unrivaled, Paige Bueckers and Kelsey Plum were named to the 3-on-3 league's first team, announced on Saturday. 

Chelsea Gray is the other member of the first team, earning the honor for the second consecutive season. Playing for Rose, Gray was Unrivaled's second-leading scorer, averaging 24.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game. She also led the league shooting 48% on 3-pointers. Last season, Gray was named Finals MVP, leading Rose to the Unrivaled championship. 

Plum had the third-highest scoring average at 22.6 points per game, adding 4.9 rebounds and 5 assists per game while shooting 40% on 3s for Phantom. This was her first season in Unrivaled after opting out of last year's inaugural campaign, and she helped Phantom to the best record in the league.

Also playing her first season in Unrivaled was Bueckers, the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year and No. 1 overall draft pick. Prior to the WNBA Draft, the UConn star signed a three-year contract with Unrivaled reportedly paying her more than her WNBA deal. Bueckers averaged 22.1 points per game for Breeze, the fourth-highest in the league, with 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists. 

The All-Unrivaled second team featured Laces' Brittney Sykes, Phantom's Aliyah Boston and Mist's Allisha Gray. Boston was the league's fourth-leading rebounder, averaging 9.7 per game and 18.9 points. Sykes scored 20.3 points per game, shooting 40% on 3s, while Gray averaged 21.8 points. 

Marina Mabrey, who led Unrivaled in scoring at 25.3 points per game for Lunar Owls, was not named to the first or second teams. Nor was Mist's Breanna Stewart, who averaged 21.4 points and 9.1 rebounds.

All six of the players making up the first and second teams are on clubs that made the Unrivaled playoffs, which begin on Saturday in Miami. Six of the league's eight teams qualify for the postseason. 

Last season, Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Gray and Kayla McBride made up the All-Unrivaled first team. Collier also won the league MVP award playing for Lunar Owls. McBride played for Laces, but did not play in Unrivaled this season, opting instead to play for Fenerbahçe S.K. in the Turkish women's basketball league. 

Collier also didn't play in Unrivaled this season after undergoing surgery on both of her ankles. That could sideline her for the beginning of the 2026 WNBA season as well, unless that tip-off is delayed by a work stoppage as a new collective bargaining agreement is negotiated.

Unrivaled's first and second teams were voted upon by players, coaches and media. Player balloting constituted 40% of the vote, followed by coaches at 35% and media making up 25%. 

The Unrivaled playoffs begin Saturday with first-round games in Miami. Vinyl will match up versus Laces at 8:30 p.m. ET, while Breeze faces Rose at 9:45 p.m. ET. Phantom and Mist get first-round byes as the top two regular-season seeds. 

Semifinal matchups will be played in Brooklyn on Monday, followed by the championship game in Miami on Wednesday.

Super 8s

All start times GMT

21 February

New Zealand v Pakistan (Colombo RPS)

Match abandoned

Report; Scorecard

22 February

England v Sri Lanka (Pallekele)

England won by 51 runs

Report; Scorecard

India v South Africa (Ahmedabad)

South Africa won by 76 runs

Report; Scorecard

23 February

Zimbabwe v West Indies (Mumbai)

West Indies won by 107 runs

Report; Scorecard

24 February

England v Pakistan (Pallekele)

England won by two wickets

Report; Scorecard

25 February

New Zealand v Sri Lanka (Colombo RPS)

New Zealand won by 61 runs

Report; Scorecard

26 February

West Indies v South Africa (Ahmedabad)

South Africa won by nine wickets

Report; Scorecard

India v Zimbabwe (Chennai)

India won by 72 runs

Report; Scorecard

27 February

England v New Zealand (Colombo RPS)

England won by four wickets

Report; Scorecard

28 February: Pakistan v Sri Lanka (Pallekele)

Pakistan won by five runs

Report; Scorecard

1 March: Zimbabwe v South Africa (Delhi, 9:30), India v West Indies (Kolkata, 13:30)

Semi-finals and final

4 March: Semi-final 1 (Kolkata or Colombo,13:30)

5 March: Semi-final 2 (Mumbai, 13:30)

8 March: Final (Ahmedabad or Colombo,13:30)

NBFixtures and start times are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made

Group stage results

7 February

Pakistan v Netherlands (Colombo SSC)

Pakistan won by three wickets

Report; Scorecard

West Indies v Scotland (Kolkata)

West Indies win by 35 runs

Report; Scorecard

India v USA (Mumbai)

India won by 29 runs

Report; Scorecard

8 February

New Zealand v Afghanistan (Chennai)

New Zealand won by five wickets

Report; Scorecard

England v Nepal (Mumbai)

England won by four runs

Report; Scorecard

Sri Lanka v Ireland (Colombo RPS)

Sri Lanka won by 20 runs

Report; Scorecard

9 February

Scotland v Italy (Kolkata)

Scotland won by 73 runs

Report; Scorecard

Zimbabwe v Oman (Colombo SSC)

Zimbabwe won by eight wickets

Report; Scorecard

South Africa v Canada (Ahmedabad)

South Africa won by 57 runs

Report; Scorecard

10 February

Netherlands v Namibia (Delhi)

Netherlands won by seven wickets

Report; Scorecard

New Zealand v UAE (Chennai)

New Zealand won by 10 wickets

Report; Scorecard

Pakistan v USA (Colombo SSC)

Pakistan won by 32 runs

Report; Scorecard

11 February

South Africa v Afghanistan (Ahmedabad)

South Africa won after second super over

Report; Scorecard

Australia v Ireland (Colombo RPS)

Australia won by 67 runs

Report; Scorecard

England v West Indies (Mumbai)

West Indies won by 30 runs

Report; Scorecard

12 February

Sri Lanka v Oman (Pallekele)

Sri Lanka won by 105 runs

Report; Scorecard

Nepal v Italy (Mumbai)

Italy won by 10 wickets

Report; Scorecard

India v Namibia (Delhi)

India won by 93 runs

Report; Scorecard

13 February

Australia v Zimbabwe (Colombo RPS)

Zimbabwe won by 23 runs

Report; Scorecard

Canada v UAE (Delhi)

UAE won by five wickets

Report; Scorecard

USA v Netherlands (Chennai)

USA won by 93 runs

Report; Scorecard

14 February

Ireland v Oman (Colombo SSC)

Ireland won by 93 runs

Report; Scorecard

England v Scotland (Kolkata)

England won by five wickets

Report; Scorecard

New Zealand v South Africa (Ahmedabad)

South Africa won by seven wickets

Report; Scorecard

15 February:

West Indies v Nepal (Mumbai)

West Indies won by nine wickets

Report; Scorecard

USA v Namibia (Chennai)

USA won by 31 runs

Report; Scorecard

India v Pakistan (Colombo RPS)

India won by 61 runs

Report; Scorecard

16 February

Afghanistan v UAE (Delhi)

Afghanistan won by five wickets

Report; Scorecard

England v Italy (Kolkata)

England won by 24 runs

Report; Scorecard

Australia v Sri Lanka (Pallekele)

Sri Lanka won by eight wickets

Report; Scorecard

17 February

New Zealand v Canada (Chennai)

New Zealand won by eight wickets

Report; Scorecard

Ireland v Zimbabwe (Pallekele)

Match abandoned

Report; Scorecard

Scotland v Nepal (Mumbai)

Nepal won by seven wickets

Report; Scorecard

18 February

South Africa v UAE (Delhi)

South Africa won by six wickets

Report; Scorecard

Pakistan v Namibia (Colombo SSC)

Pakistan won by 102 runs

Report; Scorecard

India v Netherlands (Ahmedabad)

India won by 17 runs

Report; Scorecard

19 February

West Indies v Italy (Kolkata)

West Indies won by 42 runs

Report; Scorecard

Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe (Colombo RPS)

Zimbabwe won by six wickets

Report; Scorecard

Afghanistan v Canada (Chennai)

Afghanistan won by 82 runs

Report; Scorecard

20 February

Australia v Oman (Pallekele)

Australia won by nine wickets

Report; Scorecard

• Men's T20 World Cup tables, top run-scorers & wicket-takers

We've already come to terms with the likelihood that Nakobe Dean's time with the Philadelphia Eagles may be ending. We've already heard the drumbeat getting louder. Despite a record-setting salary cap number, there are simply too many great players to pay and not enough cash to go around.

Philadelphia has its conundrum, balancing present-day needs with thoughts of saving a few coins for the future. It will soon be time to pay all of that young talent on defense, and rest assured. Guys are going to cash in when their number comes up.

Then, there's the Jeff McLane angle. When he makes statements like 'Nakobe Dean is as good as gone,' it's usually rooted in more than casual speculation. He understands the cap math. He understands the depth chart. He understands the way the front office prioritizes certain positions.

One can never tell, but the signs seem to point toward Dean's exit. That's disappointing, but also manageable. On the surface, it's understandable. Philadelphia has invested in youth. They have options waiting in the wings: Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., and Smael Mondon. Plus, the linebacker position hasn't traditionally been one where the Eagles overspend to retain talent.

What isn't as easy to stomach is where Nakobe Dean might land if he were allowed to seek other opportunities. According to Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News, there's a scenario where Dean could wind up with the Dallas Cowboys. Yes... — the Dallas Cowboys. Keep something in mind. Former Eagles defensive backs coach Christian Parker is now Dallas's defensive coordinator.

Let that settle in for a second.