Real Madrid is going through one of those periods in its history when outside noise begins to question the direction of the project.

In this context of uncertainty, Iker Casillas has surprised the Madrid fanbase with remarks that amount to a firm show of support for Xabi Alonso, who was dismissed from his position just a few months ago.

Although Álvaro Arbeloa took charge of the first team in an attempt to get things back on track, Casillas seems convinced that the right path was the one led by the coach from Tolosa.

The former Madrid captain has not hesitated to show his preference for Alonso’s style and the results he had been delivering before his final departure from Chamartín.

"I would like Xabi Alonso to stay, because he is a coach who brought success to Leverkusen," Casillas explained, recalling the strong credentials the coach had before his turbulent spell in Madrid.

Iker’s forceful stance did not stop there, as he sent a direct message to the current sporting management: "If you ask me, I would sign Xabi Alonso again."

These statements come at a delicate moment for Los Blancos, after an intense week in which internal tensions have come to the surface.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Succeeding in the NFL is far from a guarantee. Plenty of first-round picks take time to get adjusted to the NFL, and plenty never pan out at all. However, there are some rookies who just seem like perfect fits on their team and it's hard to imagine them not succeeding.

This is the case with the Washington Commanders and Sonny Styles. The Commanders grabbed Styles with the No. 7 pick, and many immediately felt like the linebacker would be perfect with Dan Quinn. Styles wasn't even expected to last until pick No. 7, with many mock drafts having the Titans grab him at No. 4.

On paper, the fit makes complete sense. The Commanders struggled over the middle last season as it became apparent that Bobby Wagner had lost a step. Now, Styles is primed to step right in and provide the defense with a jolt of energy and athleticism.

NFL.com's Tom Blair recently identified the ten rookies that are in a position to succeed immediately in the NFL. At the No. 1 spot, Blair had Styles, and offered the following rationale:

We already know Styles has the kind of athletic profile that gets folks googly-eyed. Now picture him using his superpowers to flow to the ball as the dynamic young centerpiece of Quinn's fortified defense. When Quinn says he "can't wait to coach" Styles, it might sound like boilerplate offseason hype, but in Quinn's case, I wouldn't be surprised if he was actually counting how many sleeps are left before he gets to work his prized new pupil into a defense that finished 31st in EPA per play last season, per Next Gen Stats.

As Blair mentioned, Styles' athletic profile is incredible and should work wonders in Quinn's system. The Commanders desperately needed to get younger and faster on defense, and Styles helps accomplish both of those things.

So, the fit makes sense, but there's also going to be ample playing time for Styles immediately. The Commanders brought in Leo Chenal in free agency to man one linebacker spot, but Styles should have other. Frankie Luvu is still around, but he disappointed in 2025, and there's no one else on the roster who would challenge for a starting spot.

If the Commanders are going to quickly turn things around and get back to contention, the defense has to be better. With the free agency additions, like Chenal and Odafe Oweh, and the pick of Styles, it's easy to be optimistic about the unit for 2026.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles poised for immediate success

Bath will take lessons from their Champions Cup semi-final defeat but have no regrets, says head of rugby Johann van Graan.

The defending Prem champions were beaten 38-26 by French giants Bordeaux Begles on Sunday to miss out on a place in their first final in the competition since 1998.

Bordeaux came out of the pool stage with the highest ranking and while the game was played away from their home ground it was still within in the city of Bordeaux essentially making it a home fixture.

The only points Van Graan's side dropped during the competition were in the defeat away by Toulon during the group stage in January, which led to them falling short on the highest seeding in the latter stages of the competition.

"Home ground advantage is massive in this competition and if you look at the history of the competition home teams generally get to the final," Van Graan told BBC Radio Bristol.

"Our learnings [are] we've got to make sure we pick up every single point.

"We got five against Munster, one against Toulon, we got five against Castres in France, five against Edinburgh - it's that second game in France which is always such a tough game to go to."

• Bath edged out by Toulon in nine-try battle
• French broadcaster hits back at Bath's TMO criticism

During Van Graan's tenure Bath have won the Prem title, Prem Rugby Cup and Challenge Cup but the their only win in European top tier competition remains almost 30 years ago, when it was then known as the Heineken Cup.

Bath fell short at the semi-final stage in 2006 away at Brive but Van Graan said returning and going two steps further in the coming years remains an aim.

"We as a group have gotten to love this competition now and who knows what happens next season?" he added.

"One season doesn't have anything to do with the next one, but this is the only competition that we as a group haven't won yet, it's definitely something we'd love to do in our time together."

England winger Henry Arundell, who played the full match in France, said the result had given the players "validation" that they can compete against the world's best teams.

"It's disappointing some of the opportunities we didn't take but it's also validation that we are good enough against the current champions," he said.

"For the future it means we know where we need to improve and we are capable of really competing in that competition."

Football often works in mysterious ways, and few managers embody that more than Unai Emery in the Europa League.

There is something almost impossible to explain about the connection between the Spaniard and this competition. Time and again, his teams seem to find an extra level when Thursday nights come around. Now, after guiding Aston Villa to the final, Emery is preparing for his sixth Europa League final with four different clubs.

His record in the competition is extraordinary. While spells at bigger clubs such as PSG and Arsenal never fully lived up to expectations, Emery has built a reputation as the undisputed master of the Europa League. His only league title came with PSG in 2017/18, alongside a domestic cup treble, but it is in Europe where he has truly made his name.

The signs were there early on during his time at Valencia. In his first Europa League campaign in 2008/09, Valencia were knocked out without losing a single match. The following season they suffered just one defeat in 12 games before Atlético Madrid edged them out on away goals. In 2011/12, Atlético again proved too strong in the semi-finals.

But it was at Sevilla where Emery’s legend truly grew. Between 2014 and 2016, he led the club to three consecutive Europa League titles, an achievement that cemented his place in the competition’s history.

He reached another final with Arsenal in 2019, although Chelsea comfortably beat the Gunners in Baku. Emery’s relationship with Arsenal then took another twist when, after leaving north London, he guided Villarreal past his former club en route to winning the Europa League again in 2021, beating Manchester United on penalties in the final.

Now at Aston Villa, Emery has once again worked his magic. After falling short in the Champions League over the last two seasons, Villa dropped back into the Europa League this term and immediately looked at home. Their emphatic 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals booked a showdown with Freiburg in Istanbul on 20 May.

Given Emery’s remarkable history in this competition, it is difficult to look beyond Aston Villa lifting the trophy.

St Mirren interim manager Craig McLeish has been talking to the media before Saturday's crucial Premiership match against Kilmarnock.

Here are the key points from his news conference:

• He says there is simply no getting away from the enormity of the game - a win would lift the Buddies out of the play-off spot and above Kilmarnock. "There's no downplaying it, there's no getting away from it, there's no second chances after this. Throughout the season in knockout competitions we've stepped up and we're trying to build it like that."
• St Mirren will only be trying to win: "You don't want to get to a situation where you're relying on other people and other results. The mentality is to win the game, like it has been for all of our games. The mentality will never be trying to make sure we just nick a point."
• McLeish believes performances have improved since he took interim charge, but says that doesn't matter if points don't follow. "The performances are really positive and that's great if we're talking pre-season here, but we're in an absolute dogfight - the only thing that matters right now is coming away with wins and putting points on the board."
• Despite St Mirren's precarious position, McLeish insists confidence is high in the squad. "We've had a really good week on the training pitch, the place has been really lively and there's still so much confidence within the group. They know we need our big players to step up in key moments."
• McLeish also addressed the Buddies' struggles in front of goal, having only scored 27 in 35 league matches. "I would be more worried if we weren't getting into good areas and creating chances. The work on the training pitch is focused on the final third as well, there's been a lot of finishing. That part of the pitch is about confidence more than anything, we're trying to replicate as many situations as we can, just trying to give them freedom and confidence, but that freedom and confidence hasn't really been there all season."
• Team news: Goalkeeper Shamal George and striker Dan Nlundulu are still unavailable, but "real leader" Marcus Fraser has declared himself fit. Still, McLeish is wary of rushing the defender back before he is ready. Liam Donnelly is hoping to train on Friday and could play a part, Declan John is booked in for a hernia operation next week, while Alex Gogic is suspended.

The Indianapolis Colts announced that they have made 12 undrafted free agent signings to go along with their eight draft picks.

While all UDFAs face an uphill battle when it comes to making the 53-man roster, over the last two years, we've seen Dalton Tucker and Johnathan Edwards accomplish that feat with the Colts.

So with rookie minicamp here, let's begin familiarizing ourselves with the Colts' 2026 UDFA class, with one thing to know about each player.

DT Cam Ball, Arkansas

Listed at 6-5, 323 pounds, Ball has regularly received a strong run defense grade from Pro Football Focus over each of the last four seasons.

S Austin Brown, Wisconsin

Brown was often moved around the Wisconsin secondary. He finished his career playing 545 snaps from the box, 464 at deep safety, and 472 at the nickel. Lou Anarumo covets versatility.

LB Tahj Chambers, Mississippi

Chambers has good speed and change of direction ability, running a 4.62-second 40 and a 7.00-second 3-cone.

WR Sahmir Hagans, Duke

A reliable target, Hagans has been targeted 139 times over the last two seasons and was credited with only four total drops.

WR E.J. Horton, Purdue

With 4.43 speed, teams tried to push the ball downfield to Horton. In 2023, with Marshall -- Horton missed the 2024 season due to injury -- he averaged 20.1 yards per catch. Last year at Purdue, his average depth of target was 15.2 yards downfield.

DE Mitchell Melton, Virginia

Melton was one of the more productive pass rushers in college football last season, recording 53 quarterback pressures with six sacks.

RB Lincoln Pare, Texas State

Pare had a huge 2025 season, rushing for 1,128 yards at 5.4 yards per attempt with 12 rushing touchdowns. He was active in the passing game as well, with 41 targets.

T Nolan Rucci, Penn State

Starting at right tackle the last two seasons, Ruccie allowed just two total sacks over 599 pass-blocking snaps.

WR Raylen Sharpe, Arkansas

Sharpe is an experienced player, with 256 career targets over four seasons, and he's been quite good with the ball in his hands. In 2025, he averaged 6.3 yards after the catch

C Geno VanDeMark, Alabama

Listed as a center, VanDeMark adds interior versatility to the Colts' offensive line. He played 291 snaps at left guard and 1,063 at right guard in college.

RB Jordon Vaughn, Abilene Christian

Vaughn was a big-play threat this past season, averaging a whopping 6.0 yards per rush on 113 carries. He proved to be very tough to bring down, averaging 4.42 yards after contact.

LB West Weeks, LSU

Weeks found success as a blizter, totaling 13 pressures with three sacks. He recorded 66 tackles, missing 11, and in coverage, held opponents to 9.1 yards per catch.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2026 NFL draft: One thing to know about Colts' 12 UDFA signings

Emi Buendia was not expected to still be at Aston Villa by now.

Having been loaned out to Bayer Leverkusen in the second half of last season, making just three Bundesliga starts, his Villa career looked over.

A record signing when he joined from Norwich in a deal rising to £38m in 2021, the playmaker struggled to live up to the billing and scored just four goals in 38 games in his debut season.

A serious knee injury forced him to miss the whole of 2023-24 and left him in the shadows as his team-mates qualified for the Champions League.

Villa were ready to sell last summer as they looked to comply with Profit and Sustainability rules - but ultimately decided to keep the 29-year-old.

He has been one of Emery's most dependable players this season, scoring 10 goals, and is one of the reasons Harvey Elliott's loan move from Liverpool has failed.

"I took responsibility," he told TNT of the penalty." "It was one of the most decisive penalties for the club in recent years, but I didn't feel pressure. I felt calm, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

"We showed the whole season how good we can play. The result is amazing and I think we deserve it.

"I think the prestige to win a trophy, with the history this club has - it would be amazing. The fans really want this trophy for us and we will try."

Former Villa striker Dion Dublin gave Buendia praise and feels he offers something different.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Buendia goes below the radar. He plays good passes, weight of pass is good. His finishing is good.

"He's nasty too, he doesn't mind putting a foot in. He is one of those players Villa need in their side in order to achieve things. He doesn't want the plaudits, he just wants to play and get to finals."

Vibrant and victorious - read more of Nick's reflections on Villa's achievement here

It’s been quite some time since we checked in with Detroit Lions fans regarding their opinion of general manager Brad Holmes. The last time we polled our audience was almost exactly a year ago, following the team’s 2025 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, those poll results were lost to time (and a migration to a new content management system at SB Nation).

But as you can see below, Holmes has been an extremely popular figure among Detroit sports fans for pretty much his entire career.

March 2021 (pre-free agency): 97 percent approval
May 2021 (post-draft): 98 percent
September 2021 (post-cuts): 90 percent
October 2021: 87 percent
November 2021: 79 percent
December 2021: 97 percent
January 2022: 97 percent
March 2022 (pre-free agency): 96 percent
May 2022 (post-draft): 99 percent
September 2022: 95 percent
October 2022: 82 percent
November 2022: 97 percent
January 2023: 99 percent
April 2023 (pre-draft): 98 percent
October 2023: 99 percent
February 2024: 99 percent
May 2024: 99 percent
October 2024: 99 percent
May 2025:Data lost

Although if there was a time when Holmes’ popularity took a hit, it was likely during the 2025 NFL season, when the Lions took their first clear step back since he and Dan Campbell came to town.

Since last year’s data was lost to time, this is a good opportunity to check back in with Lions fans. While Holmes certainly deserves a ton of credit for getting the Lions back to relevancy and helping them produce four consecutive seasons with winning records, there are some serious blemishes on his resumé now. The 2024 NFL Draft class has not lived up to his high standards through two seasons, some of his riskiest picks over the last few years have all failed to pay off, and last year’s roster just wasn’t good enough to withstand some injuries.

But Holmes is also coming off a very crowd-pleasing draft. Detroit addressed their two biggest needs with their first two selections, and there were no crazy head-scratching picks or expensive trade ups. Many have categorized his latest draft as “back to business as usual,” which could have some fans he lost back on his side.

However, that is all up to you. Vote on your thoughts about Holmes’ time in Detroit below, and share your extended thoughts in the comment section at the bottom of the page.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — A Brazilian bronze medalist at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics was banned for two years Friday for missing doping controls.

Maicol Siqueira was unavailable to give a no-notice sample for drug testing three times in a one-year period, said the International Testing Agency, which runs the anti-doping program for World Taekwondo.

The 33-year-old athlete is banned until Jan. 18, 2028, the ITA said in a statement.

Siqueira took bronze in the men’s 80-kilogram class at his home Olympics 10 years ago, and team gold with Brazil at the 2023 PanAmerican Games

It was unclear if he was still competing when he missed the doping controls.

The global anti-doping system requires athletes to specify a one-hour period each day where they will be available to give a sample for testing. Three so-called “whereabouts” failures in a 12-month period can be prosecuted as an anti-doping rules violation.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

And then there were four.

All four semi-finals across the men's and women's Challenge Cup finals are set to take place on a scintilating weekend for rugby league.

And what a line-up we have in store.

In the men's competition, St Helens and Wigan kick off a colossal weekend in a fierce derby battle for a place at Wembley, with a repeat of last year's final to get stuck into on Sunday as Warrington take on reigning champions Hull KR.

Both of this weekend's fixtures are set to be broadcast live on the BBC, with coverage across television, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

But what is the feeling among the respective camps as they try to book a place in the final at Wembley on 30 May?

Can Saints sink Wigan again?

Wigan are set to take on St Helens for the second time this season. The first occasion resulted in one of the greatest derby days of all time.

Saints loanee Bill Leyland scored a dramatic late pair of tries as they fought back to beat Matt Peet's side 34-24 on Good Friday.

That defeat saw Saints recover from a 14-point deficit late in the second half to win by 10 points.

"You've got to reflect on it, I mean obviously we did a little bit of reflecting out of the review process of that game," Peet told BBC Radio Manchester.

"Some of that still stands and it's something we'll talk about again this week, but it's not just the last 10 minutes, it's lessons learned from the whole game."

Since that defeat by St Helens, Wigan have lost two out of four matches in all competitions - with one of the wins in that period coming in their thrilling Challenge Cup win at Wakefield last month.

"You can probably look at the last 10 minutes of why that happened and ways of changing momentum," Wigan half-back Harry Smith told BBC Radio Manchester.

"When we don't have momentum how do we win it back quicker and be more effective in that aspect? We can definitely take some lessons from that game and the past three games as well."

For St Helens boss Paul Rowley, he is sticking to the basics and treating the semi-final like he would the rest of the season.

"We're just preparing like we would any other game and that is a fact," Rowley told BBC Sport.

"The really exciting story is that it's the Saints v Wigan derby, it's the Challenge Cup semi-final, there are lots of different ingredients that make it as big a game as you could possibly have.

"We understand what it means to the towns and to our supporters, and we're embracing it as well."

Whereas Wigan's form has been up and down in 2026, St Helens are on a five-game winning streak, starting with that dramatic derby win over the Warriors.

Not that that is a prime indicator of how they will do when they meet Wigan again, according to Jonny Lomax.

"Sometimes form is irrelevant, it's about the team on the day and that's even more so when it is a semi-final," the St Helens stand-off told BBC Sport.

"Form kind of goes out the window - you hear it a lot with the romance of the cup. It's only added to [the romance] because of the derby. It's who's up for it on the day, isn't it?"

• Final four eye Wembley Challenge Cup opportunity

Injury-hit Warrington target holders Hull KR

Will it be a case of third time's the charm for Sam Burgess' Warrington?

Under his stewardship, Warrington have reached the past two Challenge Cup finals.

But if they are to reach Wembley again they will have to get past last year's victors Hull KR.

The Wire have a number of high-profile absentees, including captain George Williams' lengthy absence with a neck injury, while full-back Cai Taylor-Wray is out for six weeks with an ankle problem.

"The past couple of times we've played each other, barring last year's final, we've been pretty decimated and we're missing some key guys," Burgess told BBC Sport.

"But we'll be ready for a good contest on Sunday and I'm looking forward to Hull KR at their best."

Warrington have lost their past five games in a row against Hull KR and Burgess suggested he might have to lean on the younger members of his squad.

"I think it's nice to have some young lads in there, sort of the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at the contest and everything that comes with it," Burgess added.

"I think that's always exciting as well, seeing the younger players go through these weeks. It's exciting for them and the build-ups are good to watch, but certainly the experienced boys need to stand up this weekend."

As for Hull KR, last season's final was the beginning of a historic run of trophies which culminated in them ending 2025 with the treble.

Tom Davies' dramatic late try at Wembley lit the touchpaper and guided them to the Challenge Cup in June before the Robins wrapped up the League Leaders' Shield and Super League Grand Final before the year was out.

They followed that up with the World Club Challenge in February, defeating NRL Premiers Brisbane Broncos, and a trip to Las Vegas where they lost to Leeds.

And Willie Peters' side come into their meeting with Warrington off the back of a six-game winning run in all competitions since a defeat by Catalans in March.

This is Peters' final Challenge Cup campaign before he departs to join newly formed NRL side Papua New Guinea Chiefs, but he said he would approach the tie like any other despite his impending exit.

"Every year I've had the same desire. The players have had the same desire and nothing's changed. We know what's in front of us," he told BBC Radio Humberside.

"It's a competition that's rich in history. It's one that we respect and to be able to play at Wembley, it's a huge honour for the players and the staff to be involved with, so we obviously want to get there."

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (20-15)

SYRACUSE 3, ROCHESTER 2 (BOX)

A.J. Ewing only had one hit on the night, but it was a big one, as he ripped a two-out single to right field to give Syracuse—playing as the Salt Potatoes for this one—a walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth. Earlier in the game, Rochester twice led by one run before Syracuse evened the score, as Ji Hwan Bae drove in a run in the fourth before Christian Arroyo drove in the team’s second run of the night in the sixth.

Salt Potatoes pitchers were mostly very good, and if you were looking for potential bullpen upgrades in Syracuse after watching the major league Mets yesterday afternoon, Ryan Lambert, Jonathan Pintaro, and Dylan Ross each threw a scoreless inning at the tail end of this game, totaling six strikeouts with zero walks and just one hit allowed by Lambert.

• CF A.J. Ewing: 1-5, RBI
• RF Nick Morabito: 1-4, R, 2 K, SB
• LF Ryan Clifford: 0-4, K
• 1B Christian Arroyo: 2-4, R, 2B, RBI
• 2B Ji Hwan Bae: 1-3, 2B, RBI, K
• DH Cristian Pache: 0-4, 2 K
• 3B Yonny Hernández: 1-4, K
• C Ben Rortvedt: 0-1, BB, K
• PR Kevin Villavicencio: 0-0, R
• SS Jackson Cluff: 0-2, BB, 2 K
• P Bryce Conley: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• P Mike Baumann: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• P Daniel Duarte: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
• P Ryan Lambert: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• P Jonathan Pintaro: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• P Dylan Ross: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (11-19)

HARTFORD 5, BINGHAMTON 3 (BOX)

Binghamton struck first with a run in the bottom of the first, but the Yard Goats tied things up with a run in the third, took the lead with a run in the fifth, and got to Rumble Ponies reliever Kevin Gowdy for three runs, two of them earned, in his one-third of an inning appearance in the top of the seventh. Binghamton scored one in the bottom of that inning and one more in the eighth, but they came up short in their comeback attempt.

• LF Chris Suero: 0-2, R, RBI, BB, K, 2 SB
• RF Jose Ramos: 0-5, 2 K
• C Kevin Parada: 0-4, K
• 3B Nick Lorusso: 2-4, 2 K
• 1B JT Schwartz: 1-4, K
• DH TT Bowens: 0-3, R, BB, K
• CF Matt Rudick: 1-3, 2B, RBI, BB, K
• SS Wyatt Young: 1-4, R, K
• 2B Diego Mosquera: 2-4, K
• P Jordan Geber: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• P Matt Turner: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• P Kevin Gowdy: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
• P Jefry Yan: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• P Felix Cepeda: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (7-21)

BOWLING GREEN 9, BROOKLYN 2 (BOX)

Jonathan Jimenez got knocked around early, giving up four of his five runs in the bottom of the first inning, and Bowling Green never really looked back from there. To their credit, the Cyclones answered that inning with a pair of runs in the top of the second, but the bats were mostly silent after that, as they failed to scored another run the rest of the way. Cyclones reliever Garrett Stratton had a rough night, too, giving up three runs in the seventh.

• SS Antonio Jimenez: 0-4, K
• 2B Mitch Voit: 1-4, 2B, K
• C Ronald Hernandez: 0-3, BB, K, E
• RF John Bay: 0-3, BB, 2 K
• DH Daiverson Gutierrez: 1-3, R, 2B, BB
• 3B Colin Houck: 1-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, K
• LF Vincent Perozo: 1-4, E
• 1B Trace Willhoite: 1-4, K
• CF Sam Biller: 1-2, BB, K, SB
• P Jonathan Jimenez: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
• P Juan Arnaud: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• P Garrett Stratton: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
• P Hunter Hodges: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (13-17)

LAKELAND 4, ST. LUCIE 1 (BOX)

St. Lucie opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first, but like their High-A counterparts, they didn’t do much at the plate after that. Reliever Elwis Mijares was the only Mets pitcher to have a rough outing in this one, but the two runs that starter Frank Camarillo allowed in the bottom of the first proved to be the difference in the game anyway.

• 2B Sam Robertson: 1-4, R, 3B, 2 K
• LF JT Benson: 0-3, BB, K
• RF Randy Guzman: 0-4, 2 K
• 1B AJ Salgado: 1-4, RBI
• DH Julio Zayas: 0-4, 2 K
• CF Simon Juan: 1-4, 2B, 3 K
• C Francisco Toledo: 2-4, K
• SS Branny De Oleo: 0-3, 2 K
• 3B Jamari Baylor: 0-2, BB, K
• P Frank Camarillo: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
• P Elwis Mijares: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• P Ernesto Mercedes: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

Rookie: FCL Mets (1-3)

FCL NATIONALS 6, FCL METS 3 (BOX)

• RF Wyatt Vincent: 1-3, R, 2B, BB, K
• 2B Jeremy Rodriguez: 0-4, K
• SS Anthony Frobose: 2-3, R, RBI, BB, 2 SB
• C Yovanny Rodriguez: 1-4, RBI, K, SB, E
• DH Josmir Reyes: 1-2, BB
• CF Bohan Adderley: 1-3, K, 2 SB
• LF Heriberto Rincon: 0-3, K, SB
• 1B Yeider Mindiola: 0-2, BB, K, E
• 3B Vladi Gomez: 1-2, R, 3B, K
• P Roberto Pena: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• P Jose Lopez: 2.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
• P Omar Victorino: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

STAR OF THE NIGHT

The Syracuse bullpen

GOAT OF THE NIGHT

Kevin Gowdy

Bayern Munich have confirmed that Alphonso Davies suffered a hamstring injury during their 6-5 aggregate defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League semi-final.

As a result, the Canadian will be sidelined for several weeks.

It’s another blow for Davies, who spent 11 months out sidelined before returning and suffering a hamstring injury, which sidelined him between February and March. Upon his return, he scored one goal and provided two assists in five Bundesliga games but will now face another spell on the sidelines.

Davies’ latest setback will see him potentially miss the remainder of the season. The 25-year-old will miss Saturday’s game against Wolfsburg, while they DFB Pokal final is scheduled for 23 May. Whether he will be fit enough for the remains to be seen.

Against PSG, the left-back replaced Josip Stanišić in the 68^th minute and would see out the game but now faces another spell out.

GGFN | Daniel Pinder

Midway through the 2021/2022 season, Japanese winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto left the J League to join KV Oostende in the Belgian Pro League. Sakamoto was following in a long line of players who had swapped Japan for Belgium, and like many that had come before him, he would prove that the Belgian Pro League is a fantastic stepping stone for players to experience European football.

Sakamoto only spent a year and a half with Oostende, who suffered relegation during his second season. The diminutive winger certainly looked to be talented, with eight assists in 44 games during his time on the Belgian coast. However, he failed to score, and it was certainly interesting when Coventry decided to sign him in the summer of 2023.

Three years later, and the decision Coventry made has certainly paid off, while Sakaomoto’s choice to leave Japan for Belgium has also proven to be incredibly fruitful. Sakaomoto scored seven goals in his first season with the Sky Blues, a great return and one that he has since built on.

Under Frank Lampard, Sakamoto has contributed seven goals and three assists in 37 games as Coventry earned themselves a return to the Premier League. The contrast between Coventry and Oostende is stark, but their stories could have been very similar. Oostende, following the departure of Sakomoto, have ceased to exist. Financially mismanaged for many  years, they are now rebuilding in the lower reaches of Belgian football. Coventry fans know the pain of having poor owners, having had to play away from their home for so long and falling down the English football pyramid.

Sakomoto is now a long way away from the lower reaches of English or Belgian football. With just one year left on his contract at Coventry, the 29-year-old will get to spend that season in the Premier League.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson

Canadiens' Lane Hutson owns mistake as Montreal tries to bounce back vs. Sabres originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Lane Hutson didn't get off to a great start in the Montreal Canadiens' playoff series with the Buffalo Sabres.

First, Hutson gave up a penalty just 30 seconds into the 4-2 loss when he tripped an on-charging Zach Benson.

Then, he was dispossessed by Benson in the lead-up to Buffalo's first goal.

Hutson tried to corral a puck near the boards in the neutral zone, but he lost his footing a bit and couldn't handle it.

Benson took it away, attacked the offensive zone, and dished to Josh Doan for a tap-in and a 1-0 Sabres lead.

Hutson admitted to reporters on Thursday that he hadn't been at his best in that moment.

"I feel like everyone came ready to play except me, honestly," Hutson said, via TSN. "S----y bounce or whatever but you gotta be able to make a better play there... I felt like I responded good enough, but definitely owe it to these guys to be better for a full 60."

MORE: Sabres 'blend in well with this city' in Game 1 win over Canadiens

At least there's some blunt honesty there from Hutson.

The reality is that his skill level from the blue line makes him one of Montreal's most important players, and he's going to have to take a step forward in Game 2 on Friday night to help the Canadiens bounce back and even the series.

Buffalo's biggest successes in Game 1 came from the intensity, speed and physicality of their bottom-six forwards. Hutson and his mates will have to find a way to slow those groups down to take some of the energy out of the KeyBank Center and stabilize things for Montreal.

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The 2026 Jaguars draft class is in the books!

10 prospects received a phone call from a 904 number this weekend, welcoming them to Jacksonville and the NFL. Some names will be familiar to us, others less so. But what is there to learn about the newest members of Duval Nation?

We bring you five things to know about each new member of the Jags’ roster, next up looking at third-round selection Albert Regis, DT, Texas A&M.

Swat team leader

Albert Regis is a rare breed for a modern day draft pick, having spent all of his college career with one school. The defensive tackle played five seasons for Texas A&M, redshirting in 2021 before going on to star in 49 games his final four years at College Station.

A stout presence on the defensive interior, Regis added a valuable element to his game as a junior, breaking up six passes at the line of scrimmage. In total, Regis swatted the ball ten times as he helped establish the Aggies as a force to be reckoned with under Mike Elko.

The AFC South is no stranger to a dominant defensive lineman, particularly one that infuriates quarterbacks by getting their hand in the way of a pass. In ten years with the Houston Texans, JJ Watt knocked down an incredible 61 times in a career that saw him earn Defensive Player of the Year honors three times. If Regis can come anywhere close to the production ‘JJ Swatt’ had in this division, the Jaguars are well set.

Two way star

Standing at 6’1” and over 300 pounds, it’s difficult to imagine Albert Regis as a dynamic athlete who could moonlight at a skill position on offense when he isn’t busy destroying pass protection or clogging run lanes. But that’s exactly what the defensive tackle did back in high school…

Starring for La Porte High School in Texas, Regis was often seen lining up as a ‘move’ tight end, able to play along the line of scrimmage or even in the backfield as a h-back or a fullback. During the 2020 season, the high school senior managed to record seven receptions as a tight end for a total of 73 yards, helping the Bulldogs to a 3-4 record in district play.

A modest output maybe, but MaxPreps’ scouting profile of Regis describe him as having ‘Described as having a high motor with lateral agility, solid ball skills, and high-pointing ability’ as a tight end. Liam Coen couldn’t, could he?

Unsung hero

As so many interior defensive linemen tend to do, Albert Regis flew somewhat under the radar at Texas A&M. Not a position that gets the most attention, his contribution to the team did not go unnoticed by his head coach Mike Elko, who appreciated the nose tackle’s ability to dictate terms in the run game:

“I’ve said this before, I do believe he’s one of the most unsung members of this defense. What he does for us, being stout in the middle, being physical at the point, he’s a challenge to block. Double teams struggle to move him. He does a really, really good job of anchoring our run defense.”

No game more epitomised Regis’ ability to control the trenches quite like his performance against Notre Dame last September, where he made seven tackles (five solo) as the Aggies shocked the Fighting Irish 41-40 in South Bend. Jaguars fans will be quite happy to see him shut down Jonathan Taylor, David Montgomery and Tony Pollard in a similar fashion in 2026.

Paternal motivation

After a breakout season in the SEC in 2024, many expected Albert Regis to declare for the draft a year early. But his commitment to his young family made him re-evaluate his immediate priorities; Albert was soon to be a father, with his daughter Akari born in June last year. With parenthood inbound, Regis decided to return to school, complete his degree and further improve his draft stock with another strong season in College Station.

Regis became the first person in his family to graduate. After his senior year was over, his focus turned to the NFL Draft, using Akari and his fiancee Kaley as motivation to push further. He credits them for giving him the ‘rejuvenation’ needed to record a sub-five second 40-yard dash time, seldom seen for a 300 pound defensive lineman.

In a twist of fate, on the morning of the draft Regis placed four cups with different NFL team logos on the floor. Akari crawled straight to the Jaguars cup, predicting the future for her father. Only hours later, James Gladstone made it official, selecting Albert with the 81st overall pick.

The chicken nugget diet

When thinking of healthy foods that will help you lose weight, your mind isn’t immediately drawn to chicken nuggets. In fact, the delicious crispy treats often found in takeaways and dunked in dirty sauce is usually one of the guilty pleasures you need to forego in order to be fighting fit.

Not so Regis, who wanted to drop 20 pounds ahead of his Pro Day in order to be at his peak when showing out for NFL scouts. He found it difficult to dip below 310; his body ‘plateauing’ in his pursuit of a more chiselled physique. But surprisingly, the humble nugget came to his rescue…

“I just couldn’t get that last bit off, so I lowered my carb intake. I mean, for dinner, I was eating these protein chicken nuggets you can air fry. I was eating a salad with that and some fruit.”

The result? Regis was one of the strongest pro day performers amongst his peers, casually racking up 27 reps on the bench press despite the weight loss. With Jacksonville his home for the next four years, should Regis head to The Bearded Pig or Jax Hot Chicken? Let us know in the comments below!

Adam Idah believes Swansea City will be better placed to push for promotion next season thanks to their experiences in 2025-26.

Swansea are taking stock after an undulating campaign in which early play-off ambitions were replaced by relegation concerns, before an upturn in form under Vitor Matos led to a mid-table finish.

The Swans ended up 11th for the second year in a row but Idah says they will aim higher now that a number of players within Matos' squad have got to know the Championship.

"There are a lot of players who were in their first season, so it's not going to be easy," the striker said.

"But I think towards the back end of the season, what I've seen is we do have the players [to compete for promotion]."

Swansea finished the season nine points behind Hull City, who claimed the final play-off place.

The Swans' total of 64 points was the club's second highest in the last five campaigns, behind the 66-point tally which delivered 10th place in 2022-23.

With the clubs who finish seventh and eighth going into the play-offs for the first time next season, it may not need much of an improvement for Swansea to send their next campaign into overtime.

Idah, a Championship promotion winner at Norwich City in 2021, says finding consistency is key.

"There are games where you might not be playing your best but you've just got to get through them - that is the Championship for you," he added.

"You're playing Saturday, Tuesday, every week. It is very demanding but if you do want to try to get back to the Premier League, that's what you have to do.

"You've got to be very determined to do it and you've got to be consistent the whole way throughout the season."

Oklahoma City defeated the Lakers, 125-107, in Game 2 of a best-of-seven series in the NBA Western Conference playoffs semifinals on Thursday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The Thunder also won Game 1, 108-90.

In Game 2, former Vol Dalton Knecht played two minutes for Los Angeles. He totaled two points and one rebound. Knecht converted his only field goal attempt.

Austin Reaves led the Lakers in scoring with 31 points, while LeBron James scored 23 points.

Game 3 between the Lakers and Thunder is scheduled for Saturday at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Tipoff is slated for 8:30 p.m. EDT (ABC).

Knecht was selected in the first round of the 2024 NBA draft (No. 17) by the Lakers.

He transferred to Tennessee from Northern Colorado and played for the Vols during the 2023-24 season under head coach Rick Barnes.

During his one season at Tennessee, Knecht averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He led the Vols to a SEC regular-season championship and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight for a second time in school history.

More: Dalton Knecht plays for Lakers in Game 1 at Oklahoma City

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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Dalton Knecht appears in Game 2 for Lakers at Thunder

Alphonso Davies has played his last game for Bayern Munich this season.

Bayern Munich confirmed on Friday that examinations revealed the left-back suffered a muscle injury in the back of his left thigh during Wednesday’s Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain.

The injury will keep the Canada international out of action for “several weeks”, the German champions added.

As a result, the 25-year-old will miss the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign, including Bayern’s DFB-Pokal final against Stuttgart on May 23.

Davies will now aim to be fully fit in time to feature for Canada at this summer’s World Cup.

Pablo Vegetti hasn’t lost his eye for goal at Cerro Porteño. This Thursday, the former Vasco striker scored a stunner that sealed the Paraguayan side’s victory over Junior in the Copa Libertadores.

After a clearance by a Junior defender, the pirate hit it first-time, without letting the ball touch the ground, and lofted it over the opposing goalkeeper.

Besides its beauty, the goal was important for Cerro. With the away win, the Paraguayan team moved to seven points, sitting second in Group F, the same group as Palmeiras.

The Brazilian side leads with eight points. Sporting Cristal has six points. And Junior, already eliminated, still has no points. 

Could this be the best goal of this Libertadores edition so far? Leave a comment!

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Filo Tiatia hopes Dragons' upturn in form will lead to more of their players making the step up to Test level with Wales.

The Rodney Parade club host Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday (19:45 BST) and then finish their season at Scarlets.

The trip to Llanelli comes after Monday's announcement of the Wales squad for summer fixtures against Barbarians, Fiji, Argentina and South Africa by head coach Steve Tandy.

Just two Dragons played in the Six Nations – lock Ben Carter and number eight Aaron Wainwright – but the club have been in strong form since then and made it to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup.

"They are pushing," said head coach Tiatia about his players' Test hopes.

"When you are winning games you get elevated and more people notice they are playing well."

• How Wainwright became Dragons great before Parade goodbye
• Lydiate to leave Dragons for full-time Wales role

Wing Rio Dyer won his 24th cap against South Africa in the autumn and has been back to his best in recent months, with a remarkable try-saving tackle against Montpellier last weekend.

He gets another chance to stake a claim against Edinburgh this weekend along with uncapped Angus O'Brien.

The big-kicking full-back was called up by Wales attack coach Matt Sherratt after he missed out on the Six Nations, with Tiatia believing the 31-year-old is "probably the best 15 in the country and should be looked at".

Blind-side flanker Ryan Woodman, fit-again Elliot Dee and fellow hooker Brodie Coghlan, centre Aneurin Owen and tight-head Chris Coleman have all performed strongly in recent weeks.

"There are a lot of players to talk about," said the Dragons head coach.

"They need to keep on top of their form for the Wales coaches to keep viewing them."

Dragons were edged out 18-12 by Montpellier in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup on Sunday and have a six-day turnaround to the fixture against Edinburgh.

Tiatia makes five changes to the starting line-up with wing Jared Rosser, scrum-half Rhodri Williams, tight-head prop Dillon Lewis, lock Seb Davies and blind-side flanker Harri Keddie starting.

Wainwright makes his final Rodney Parade appearance before his summer move to Leicester as 14th-placed Dragons attempt to finish above Welsh rivals Scarlets.

Edinburgh, who are fresh from URC wins against Zebre and Sharks, host Connacht after their Newport trip and could finish from 10th to 14th.

Sean Everitt's side have won just once on their travels this season - a 15-14 success at Benetton in round nine - but have a four-game winning streak against Dragons.

Edinburgh are boosted by the return of Lions wing Duhan van der Merwe, who has not played since January because of an ankle injury.

Loose-head prop Pierre Schoeman makes his 150th appearance for the club with back-row forward Magnus Bradbury set to reach the same milestone from the bench.

How they line up

Dragons: O'Brien (co-capt); Dyer, Inisi, Owen, J Rosser; de Beer, R Williams; Martinez, Coghlan, Lewis, S Davies, Carter (co-capt), Keddie, Young, Wainwright.

Replacements: Dee, R Jones, Coleman, Screech, Woodman, Armstrong, Ackerman, Anderson.

Edinburgh: Paterson; Graham, Tuipulotu, Thomson, van der Merwe; Thompson, Patterson; Schoeman, Ashman, Blyth-Lafferty, Hunter-Hill, Gilchrist (capt), Young, Douglas, Currie.

Replacements: Richardson, Venter, Hill, Sykes, McConnell, Bradbury, Shield, O'Conor.

Referee: Filippo Russo (Italy)

Assistants: Marcus Candle & Lucas Yendle (Wales)

TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)

Last month, we wrote about the possibility of NCAA Tournament expansion and what that would mean for USC men’s and women’s basketball. Well, based on a decision by the NCAA Thursday, that possibility appears to be happening.

“On Thursday, the Division I men's and women's basketball committees unanimously voted in favor of NCAA tournament expansion beginning in 2027, according to CBS Sports' Matt Norlander,” Tyler Nettuno of College Sports Wire wrote. “The move still needs to be approved by several other committees, however.

“The men's and women's oversight committees scheduled an emergency meeting for Thursday, and expansion will also need to be approved by the Division I cabinet when they meet on May 22. After that, it will go to the NCAA board of governors for approval.

“At this point, though, that is likely all a formality. Thursday's move signifies that the NCAA is indeed moving toward an expanded field, which will create eight new at-large bids beginning next season.”

Based on the online reaction to the news, the nearly unanimous opinion among college basketball fans is that tournament expansion is a negative thing for the sport. However, it is a positive thing for the NCAA making more money, which unfortunately, tends to be the deciding factor with decisions like these far more often than not.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: NCAA Tournament set to expand to 76 teams in 2026-2027

Eddie Howe has said he is not involved in rumoured talks surrounding Anthony Gordon's future at Newcastle United.

Gordon is understood to be keen to explore his options this summer withBayern Munich preparing to table an offer. Arsenal and Liverpool have also been linked with the England international, who is open to a transfer.

Newcastle are willing to listen to offers, with the Magpies requiring the sale of at least one leading asset.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Howe refused to comment on speculation surrounding Gordon, but insisted the 25-year-old is 100% committed.

"No, none. That's not something I'm involved in," he said at his pre-match press conference.

Howe has previously said that he will not play players who he doesn't feel are 100% committed to the club. However, he said those comments were not directed at Gordon and reiterated his belief that the winger is focused on Newcastle for thePremier League run-in.

"I always do what's right for the team and best for the football club.

"Those comments weren't related to Anthony Gordon, they were general and I like to think I've been consistent with that in my time as manager here and that's not going to change now.

"He wouldn't be in the squad if that was [not] the case, and as I said many times, I don't judge that on communications elsewhere, I do that with my relationship with the player and how I see them train."

Newcastle endured an unsettled summer in 2025, with Alexander Isak's desire for an exit dominating their pre-season campaign. Isak was eventually sold to Liverpool on deadline day and Howe was asked whether he would prefer early sales this time around.

"I think it's difficult for me to comment too much on individual players and timescales and all that stuff because that's going into an area that isn't really my forte, so I'll leave that to other people.

"I think all I'm looking to do is try and finish the season with the squad in a really strong way and for the players be committed to what they're doing right here, right now. There's no point looking too far ahead into the future.

"The summer transfer window is difficult to predict, it's difficult to see what's going to happen on any level at this moment in time. So we've got three big games to play and we need to focus on them."

Manchester United are assured of Champions League football next season but will want to finish strongly in their last three games in the Premier League. A third-place finish will earn the Red Devils around £5 million in extra prize money, but more importantly, it will make Michael Carrick’s case for the permanent manager role very hard to ignore.

For those reasons, we expect the boss to field a full-strength side and for there to be little rotation of fringe players into the starting XI.

Defence

Senne Lammens will be in goal. Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw are likely to continue in the full-back positions, but Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu are also available if Carrick does decide to rotate.

Lisandro Martinez is back from his three-match ban and could go straight back into the starting line-up. However, we expect the manager to stick with Ayden Heaven, who has been performing superbly alongside Harry Maguire.

Martinez has only seen 56 minutes of action since early February, so is not fully match fit and could be given 20–30 minutes off the bench.

Leny Yoro is another option at centre-back.

Midfield and Attack

The stand-out pair under Carrick’s reign, Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo, will start again in central midfield with Bruno Fernandes, who is hunting down the Premier League assist record, ahead of them in the number 10 role.

Benjamin Sesko is a doubt for the game, having aggravated a previous injury last time out, but he is afforded a 75% chance of passing a late fitness test, according to premierinjuries.com. If fit enough, he should play, as his aerial presence could cause havoc against a depleted Sunderland back line lacking height.

Sesko will be flanked by Matheus Cunha and probably Bryan Mbeumo, with Amad, Mason Mount and Josh Zirkzee on standby should a change be needed.

Final Thoughts

• Carrick to field strong XI
• Heaven to keep his place despite Martinez return
• Sesko late fitness test

Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Why Lakers met with refs in middle of court after Game 2 loss to Thunder originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Lakers didn't immediately leave the floor after their Game 2 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night.

First, they met with the officials in the middle of the court. Austin Reaves led a discussion with the refs.

It's not something you see every day.

Austin Reaves and the Lakers just had a meeting with the refs after the game to share their frustration with them. pic.twitter.com/exHIVkrese

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 8, 2026

The Thunder had just rolled to a 125-107 win to take a 2-0 series lead, and the Lakers clearly weren't happy.

MORE: Cavs' James Harden gamble made sense but has busted again

Why did the Lakers meet with the refs after Game 2?

Clearly, the Lakers weren't pleased with the calls that the Thunder got relative to them.

On paper, the free throw disparity was relatively even: 26 for OKC, 21 for L.A.

But after the game, Lakers coach JJ Redick was saying things like, "LeBron has the worst whistle of any star player I've ever seen," and, "They have a few guys that foul on every possession... they're hard enough to play. You gotta be able to just call it if they foul and they do foul."

The Thunder's superstar, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has often been called a "foul merchant" for his ability to earn whistles. While drawing fouls is a skill, it can certainly be frustrating for the defensive team.

OKC has a tough, physical defense that toes the line of fouling versus just being physical. Their other offensive players have also learned a few lessons from SGA, it seems.

It's not that the Thunder are inherently doing anything wrong, but the Lakers clearly are frustrated.

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It’s funny how momentum in football can work, how swiftly the feeling at clubs can change. You only have to look at Arsenal. There’s been that shift in mood over the remarkable last few weeks, but also a shift in focus over the last few days.

On Tuesday, on the day of a Champions League semi-final, most people - including in the dressing room - were barely talking about it. They were almost exclusively discussing Manchester City’s 3-3 slip at Everton and especially what it meant.

By Wednesday, after that victory over Atletico Madrid, there was none of that. It was all about the giddiness of qualifying for the Champions League final.

Mikel Arteta has obviously been conscious of that, so is aware he has to let his players enjoy the moment and feel what it means… but that they also need to be fully focused for Sunday.

It’s all that West Ham have been thinking about, after all. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have had no distractions like the Champions League. Everything builds up to this. And in so many ways.

Arsenal’s visit to West Ham on Sunday has the potential to be the most decisive Premier League game of the season, and maybe in the competition’s history, as regards the direct consequences. It could go some way to deciding the title, but also relegation.

Consider the cascading stakes. If Arsenal win, they would be able to see the trophy. It would leave fixtures against a relegated Burnley and a Crystal Palace preparing for a Europa Conference final three days later. There’s also the possibility of City being affected by the sense of the title drifting away.

On the other side, a West Ham defeat would mathematically secure Leeds United’s survival, the day before Daniel Farke’s side have an away game at Tottenham Hotspur. It’s impossible not to think Leeds' intensity would be affected, and Spurs could secure another crucial win. That could be fatal for West Ham. It only ratchets up that pressure.

Conversely, if Arsenal fail to win, the immediate consequences aren’t as pronounced but there is the potential of that doom and gloom returning to the club as West Ham enjoy a new life. There'd be yet another swing; a twist.

One of the most remarkable things about all of this, given the richness of Premier League history, is how rarely there's been a fixture like it. The comparable examples are few.

In 1994-95, a badly stuttering Blackburn Rovers beat Crystal Palace 2-1 four games from an end which saw Rovers win the title by a point and Palace go down by three. In 1998-99, Blackburn were on the other end of that as a 0-0 draw at Ewood Park relegated them but was also just enough for Manchester United to win the title by a point. In 2002-03, Bolton Wanderers’ shock 2-2 comeback against Arsenal gave them a point crucial to staying up over West Ham United, while just affording Manchester United crucial distance to Arsenal with three games left.

In 2011-12 – in maybe the closest parallel to this Sunday but with more games to – Wigan Athletic beat United 2-0 to recharge their own survival surge while starting a stunning fall by Sir Alex Ferguson’s side. There was similar in 2013-14 when Sunderland surprisingly beat Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge to turn the tide at both ends.

Important as these and a handful of other games were, none of them involved direct consequences that are quite as acute as what Sunday might allow. The stakes may even have an overt effect on the very game state.

In normal circumstances, you would think that West Ham’s best possibility of a result would be to sit tight and to frustrate Arsenal. It’s worked well for Nuno so many times this season. It’s been proven to work well in some key games against Arsenal.

And that would be fine if West Ham had enough fixtures left for a draw to feel really valuable. But they don’t. They need wins, especially with Spurs resurgent.

At some point, West Ham have to go for it.

And that’s against an Arsenal who look more willing to go for it than at any point over the past four months. How couldn’t they when you consider the boosts that Arteta's side have enjoyed over the past week alone? There was first the revitalising nature of the sweeping 3-0 win over Fulham. There was then City’s draw at Everton. And then there was qualification for the greatest game in club football, and all the euphoria from that.

That is a lot of good feeling in the space of five days, after weeks of angst. Arsenal will surely be on a wave.

It helps that Myles Lewis-Skelly has restored a badly-needed positive energy, in what might be an inspired return. The teenager only adds to Arsenal’s multiple options, with so many injured players returning. There’s even the psychological security of how they incredibly have club football’s greatest prize – the Champions League – as a “bonus”.

It all looks so good for them. But that can also be precisely the moment when it goes bad, where teams get too settled.

That wave can break. If West Ham do dig in, can the old frustration quickly return? Can Nuno exploit that? Can the very meaning of the title take over again?

There’s so much at play here, because there’s so much on the line. Even the Premier League has seen little like it.

Every NFL offseason produces a handful of undrafted free agents who refuse to accept the label attached to them on draft weekend. While first-round picks dominate headlines and jersey sales, some of the league’s most valuable contributors arrive through the back door of roster building — overlooked prospects fighting for one opportunity to prove they belong. Training camp and preseason football often become the ultimate equalizer, where effort, versatility, and consistency can matter more than draft pedigree.

This year’s crop of undrafted free agents is loaded with intriguing talent across multiple positions. Several quarterbacks landed in situations where depth charts are unsettled, while defensive standouts joined teams searching for rotational impact and special teams help. Others bring elite athletic traits, college production, or positional versatility that could quickly earn the trust of coaching staffs. In many cases, these players signed with franchises that specifically value developmental upside, giving them a legitimate pathway to sticking around beyond August.

RELATED: Notable former NFL players’ sons that were drafted or signed as UDFA

Sports Illustrated’s list highlights players who are more than camp bodies — they are prospects with realistic chances to survive roster cuts and carve out meaningful NFL roles. Whether it’s a productive SEC defender, a reliable special teams weapon, or a quarterback with intriguing upside, each player enters camp with something to prove and a legitimate opportunity ahead of them. History says a few of these names will eventually become fan favorites, and perhaps even long-term contributors, despite never hearing their names called during the draft.

Diego Pavia — Baltimore Ravens, Quarterback

Pavia built a reputation in college football as a fearless competitor capable of extending plays and thriving under pressure. His mobility and toughness make him an intriguing developmental fit behind Baltimore’s quarterback room, especially in an offense that values creativity and movement skills. Coaches will likely appreciate his leadership qualities and ability to keep plays alive when protection breaks down. If he performs well in preseason action and shows command of the offense, he could force the Ravens to keep him as a developmental backup or practice squad priority.

Luke Altmyer — Detroit Lions, Quarterback

Altmyer arrives in Detroit with experience, arm talent, and a calm presence in the pocket that gives him a realistic chance to compete for a reserve role. He showed flashes at Illinois of being able to operate efficiently within structure while also delivering accurate throws on intermediate routes. The Lions value smart decision-makers who can execute their offensive system without unnecessary mistakes. If Altmyer adapts quickly to NFL timing and protections, he could emerge as one of the more surprising quarterback success stories from the UDFA class.

Jeff Caldwell — Kansas City Chiefs, Wide Receiver

Caldwell enters an ideal environment for an undrafted receiver looking to develop. Kansas City’s offense rewards route precision, speed, and reliability, and Caldwell’s collegiate production showcased strong hands and an ability to create separation in traffic. He may initially earn attention through special teams contributions while refining his role as a pass catcher. With the Chiefs constantly searching for affordable depth around their superstar core, Caldwell has a legitimate opportunity to stick around if he shines during camp.

Kyle Dixon — New England Patriots, Wide Receiver

Small-school prospects often face steep climbs to the NFL, but Dixon’s athletic profile and competitiveness make him an intriguing sleeper in New England. The Patriots have historically valued players who can adapt to multiple roles, and Dixon’s versatility could work in his favor. His path to the roster likely starts on special teams, where effort and discipline are heavily rewarded. If he proves he can handle the jump in competition, he could become one of camp’s unexpected breakout performers.

RELATED: Best college football quarterbacks since 2000

Thaddeus Dixon — New York Giants, Cornerback

Dixon brings physicality, length, and SEC-level athleticism to a Giants secondary that is still searching for consistent depth. He flashed strong ball skills and competitive instincts in college, traits that often help young defensive backs stand out during preseason games. New York’s coaching staff will likely test his versatility by moving him around the secondary and evaluating his special teams value. If he handles those responsibilities effectively, Dixon could secure one of the final roster spots on defense.

Logan Fano — Cleveland Browns, Edge Rusher

Fano joins a Browns defense that already features elite pass-rushing talent, but that could actually benefit his development. His motor, physicality, and ability to disrupt plays off the edge make him an appealing rotational prospect. Cleveland values defensive linemen who play aggressively and contribute on special teams, giving Fano multiple avenues to impress coaches. Strong preseason production could quickly elevate him from overlooked signing to legitimate roster contender.

Will Ferrin — New York Jets, Kicker

Ferrin enters the NFL with a reputation for consistency and mental toughness, two qualities that are essential for kickers trying to survive training camp battles. His powerful leg and accuracy at BYU helped him become one of the more reliable specialists in college football. Special teams competitions are often wide open in camp, and one impressive preseason performance can completely shift the depth chart. If Ferrin proves dependable under pressure, he has a very real chance to earn a permanent NFL role.

Zxavian Harris — New Orleans Saints, Defensive Tackle

Harris possesses the size and strength NFL teams covet in rotational interior linemen. At Ole Miss, he showed flashes of being able to clog running lanes while also generating interior push against opposing quarterbacks. The Saints are always looking for physical defensive depth capable of contributing in multiple fronts. Harris’s ability to anchor against the run could make him especially valuable during roster evaluations.

Deontae Lawson — Philadelphia Eagles, Linebacker

Lawson may end up being one of the biggest steals among undrafted defenders because of his football intelligence and SEC experience. Alabama’s defensive system demanded versatility, leadership, and communication, all qualities that translate well to the professional level. Philadelphia values linebackers who can play downhill while remaining disciplined in coverage responsibilities. If Lawson quickly adapts to NFL speed, he could become a dependable depth piece with long-term upside.

RELATED: College Football National Champions over the last five seasons

West Weeks — Indianapolis Colts, Linebacker

Weeks built his reputation on toughness, relentless effort, and instinctive play at LSU. His aggressive style fits naturally with the physical identity Indianapolis wants from its defense and special teams units. Coaches often prioritize linebackers who can contribute immediately in kick coverage and situational packages, areas where Weeks could thrive early. With strong camp performances and reliable tackling, he has a legitimate path toward making the Colts’ final roster.

Isaiah World — Los Angeles Chargers, Offensive Tackle

World enters the NFL with the kind of size, reach, and raw physical tools that offensive line coaches love to develop. At Oregon, he showed flashes of dominant pass protection ability while using his athleticism effectively in both run blocking and edge containment. The Chargers are still working to strengthen depth along the offensive line, which gives World a realistic opportunity to compete for a backup tackle role during training camp. If he can improve his consistency and adjust quickly to NFL-level speed and technique, he has the upside to become one of the more valuable undrafted offensive linemen in this class.

Conclusion

Every NFL season introduces a new wave of undrafted players who outperform expectations and earn meaningful roles through determination and preparation. This year’s UDFA class features several prospects with the talent, mindset, and opportunity needed to survive one of the toughest roster battles in professional sports. While not all of them will make the final 53-man roster, a few could soon become the latest examples of why draft status never fully defines an NFL career.

Celtic and Rangers clash this Sunday at the Celtic Park for round 36 of the Scottish Premiership. The match will be broadcast live at 12:00 on Sky Sports Main Event.

Celtic have picked up 73 points and currently lie in 2nd position. In their last fixture, Martin O´Neill's team won 1-2 against Hibernian (Scottish Premiership Championship Group 2025/26).

Rangers have 69 points to their name this season and occupy 3rd position in the table. In their last game, Danny Röhl's team lost 2-1 against Hearts (Scottish Premiership Championship Group 2025/26).

The last meeting between the two teams ended in a 0-0 draw.

Unavailable

Celtic

• Kasper Schmeichel - Shoulder Injury
• Cameron Carter-Vickers - Achilles tendon problems
• Julián Araujo - Hamstring Injury
• Tomás Cvancara - Groin Injury

Rangers

Last starting XIs

Celtic ( vs Hibernian 2026-05-03): Viljami Sinisalo, Alistair Johnston, Liam Scales, Auston Trusty, Kieran Tierney, Arne Engels, Callum McGregor, Yang Hyun-jun, Benjamin Nygren, Sebastian Tounekti, Daizen Maeda

Rangers ( vs Hearts 2026-05-04): Jack Butland, James Tavernier, Nasser Djiga, Emmanuel Fernandez, Dujon Sterling, Tochi Chukwuani, Nicolas Raskin, Skov Olsen, Mohammed Diomandé, Mikey Moore, Youssef Chermiti

Arsenal need a win to stay ahead of Manchester City in the title race, while West Ham are fighting to stay clear of Spurs near the bottom.

Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Jarred Bowen has praised Declan Rice as “one of the best midfielders in the world” before West Ham host Arsenal on Sunday in a fixture carrying serious consequences at both ends of the Premier League table.

Arsenal travel to the London Stadium knowing victory would keep them ahead of Manchester City with just two games remaining as they chase a first league title in 22 years.

West Ham, meanwhile, are trying to stay ahead of Spurs in the fight to avoid the final relegation place, giving the meeting an edge far beyond just London rivalry.

Bowen, speaking to West Ham’s official site, made clear that they know the stakes inside the home dressing room. “It’s always a good fixture,” our No20 confirmed.

“We’ve had some really difficult results against them, but then also had some really positive ones in the same breath as well.

“We’re fighting to stay in the league and they’re fighting for a title, so two teams that are fighting in different ways, but a game that’s set up to be a really good game. We’ve been good at home and we have to continue that form.

“There’s going to be pressure on both sides for different reasons but, like I said, certainly since the international break, we have performed well.

“You always have to keep pushing for more, keep pushing for that one extra per cent, and that’s all we know in the situation that we’re in and that’s what is going to be demanded in the game. It’s a big game.

“Like I said, we’ve had some good games over the years, and it’s going to be set up for another good game.”

Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

Bowen’s comments on Rice were particularly effusive. The pair played together 142 times for West Ham, including the 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League final win in Prague, and have also appeared together 14 times for England.

Their friendship remains close, but Bowen said it will be parked for 90 minutes.

“We had a great time,” Bowen said. “Dec’s a great teammate but, off the pitch, more importantly, he’s a really good friend.

“Everyone was sad to see him go. No-one wants anyone to leave their football club when we achieved so much, but he’s gone on and gone to show his quality and to be spoken about as one of the best midfielders in the world, which I know a lot of West Ham fans were saying about him at the time here and no-one ever believed them.

“But I think, as he’s gone on, people have started to open their eyes and realise how good a player that he is with what he’s gone on to do, scoring big goals and having big games for Arsenal. He’s gone on and stepped up another level again, which says a lot about him as well. He’s always demanding more of himself and is a brilliant, brilliant player.

“He was captain when we lifted a trophy and he’s going to get a good reception because people respect him as a player and as a person, but obviously we don’t wish him well for when we play him because we want to win!”

Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Ahead of the game, recent history of this fixture favours Arsenal.

West Ham have lost 38 Premier League games against the Gunners, more than against any side apart from Liverpool, who have beaten them 39 times.

Arsenal have only beaten Everton more often in the competition, with 40 wins.

Arsenal have also won their last two away league matches against West Ham, scoring six in 2023-24 and five last season. A third consecutive away league game with five or more goals against the same opponent would put them alongside West Brom, the only English league side to achieve that feat, against Birmingham between 1957 and 1960.

Arsenal won the reverse fixture 2-0 in October and have completed the Premier League double over West Ham 12 times previously.

Only Manchester United have done so more often against a single opponent, with 16 doubles against Aston Villa and 14 against Everton.

West Ham do bring home form into the game, having gone unbeaten in their last six home Premier League matches, winning three and drawing three.

Their last longer unbeaten home run came between September 2015 and April 2016 in their final season at Upton Park, but Arsenal arrive with the greater prize in sight and with Rice central to their attempt to finish the job.

Juventus came close to selling Fabio Miretti during the summer transfer window after Napoli pushed strongly to add the midfielder to their squad, but an injury disrupted the negotiations.

The midfielder ultimately remained at the Allianz Stadium, where he has continued to play an important role whenever called upon. Although he has not always been a guaranteed starter, Miretti has remained a trusted member of the squad and has contributed positively whenever he has featured for the Bianconeri this season.

Despite his importance within the group, Juventus are now believed to be open to allowing the midfielder to leave at the end of the campaign. Luciano Spalletti is understood to be comfortable fielding a side without the former Next Gen player in the starting line-up, which has increased the possibility of a summer departure.

Miretti Considering Future

Several clubs are expected to show interest in signing Miretti as the transfer window approaches, particularly because of his technical ability and experience at a high level despite his young age. The midfielder is also believed to be considering his options carefully as he searches for a club where he could receive a more prominent role.

The Italian has spent years developing within the Juventus system and remains highly regarded because of his intelligence on the ball and versatility in midfield. However, limited opportunities to establish himself as a regular starter may encourage him to seek a fresh challenge elsewhere.

Juventus Set Asking Price

If a club makes a serious approach for the midfielder during the summer, Juventus is reportedly prepared to negotiate his departure for the right price. The Bianconeri are expected to evaluate any offers carefully as they continue shaping their squad for next season.

If a team becomes serious about completing a deal, Juventus will reportedly demand 20 million euros for his transfer, with Football Italia claiming that the club believe the fee would be sufficient to sanction his departure. Miretti is also thought to be open to leaving because he wants to join a club where he would be viewed as a more central figure than he currently is at Juventus.

Liverpool have faced a lot of problems head on this season.

Injuries, poor tactics and a lack of cohesion have all contributed towards the poor performances of the Anfield outfit this term with fans feeling like their team have lost their identity.

That's why so many players have been linked with an Anfield switch this summer and why many changes are on their way to L4.

However, a move for one of the players who they've recently been linked with could now be off the table.

FC Porto do not want to sell Victor Froholdt this summer

Over the last couple of days, reports linking Liverpool with FC Porto's Victor Froholdt emerged.

The Anfield outfit are clearly on the lookout for some new midfielders this summer with the futures of Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister both having question marks hanging over them.

Froholdt is almost certainly a player that most Liverpool fans will have heard of which is hardly surprising, especially since he's only 20 years old.

However, he's a hard-working midfielder who has played in the vast majority of Porto's games this term with former Rangers attacker Mikkel Beckmann even comparing him to the "Duracell bunny."

Despite the Reds' interested only recently being mentioned, his Liverpool move could be off the table if the latest news from Portuguese outlet A Bola is to be believed.

"On the other hand, our newspaper understands that no official approach has been made to FC Porto 's SAD (Sporting Limited Company) regarding Froholdt," they wrote.

"At this time, as we mentioned, the player's agent has been receiving all the contacts, and it is natural that the scenario will change after the end of the club season, with the market gaining momentum.

"However, abandoning the Nordic engine is not in the plans.

"The leadership, headed by André Villas-Boas, intends to maintain a core group of players outside the turmoil of the transfer window, ensuring a team worthy of FC Porto 's ambition and the demands expected of Francesco Farioli's team in the new season.

"Alongside the goal of retaining the title is the desire to leave a good impression in the UEFA Champions League , a competition the blue and whites will return to after a two-year absence.

"Froholdt, due to his alignment with the Italian coach's playing style, is considered one of the key players for 2026/27."

Liverpool must revamp their midfield ranks before it's too late

Danny Rohl has been speaking to the media before Rangers visit rivals Celtic in the Premiership on Sunday.

Here are the key points:

• The title now seems beyond Rangers, who lie seven points behind leaders Hearts with three games to go, leading to questions over Rohl's future - but the German is "100% convinced" he will still be at the club next season.
• He adds: "We want the titles and for this, we have to change things. A process without a winning of titles is not enough for our club and in this direction we move forward. I'm really motivated and really ambitious for the new season."
• When asked if he feels he has the backing of Rangers' owners he says: "Fully, fully committed. I feel it every day, the support. We spoke so much about what we want to change for the summer and I feel that I'm in the right place with the right people, with a lot of motivation, positive energy to bring this club, not just to a one-hit wonder, back to consistently a club who can win titles in a row."
• On links to a return to manage in Germany he adds: "There's a lot of rumours. I think I look back last year with how many clubs I was linked. I could get maybe 20 jobs there in the newspaper but generally, my full focus is on Rangers.
• On the damaging post-split losses to Motherwell and Hearts he says: "We knew that these two defeats hurts really after maybe a hopeless season in October where nobody thought we can win something and then you come so close. I think everyone was totally convinced we have a big, big chance [of winning the league]. This is also a part now why the disappointment is so hard and so tough to accept."
• Rohl was clear the motivation to potentially stop Celtic's title challenge is not in Rangers' minds and says: "For this game you don't need motivation."
• On criticism that he and his squad failed to adapt to Hearts' change in tactics after half-time in the 2-1 loss at Tynecastle, the German suggests his players weren't active enough: "If you don't move an opponent who is man-marking, you will still not find the right solutions. I think this is a part what we have to do better to understand. If we stop to move, we can change four shapes. It will not influence the outcome."
• He responded to questions about a lack of Scottish players against Hearts by saying: "I think for me not about Scottish players or not. I think it's about to have the right players."

As basketball fans approach the 2026 NBA draft lottery in Chicago, there are plenty of reasons to get excited about the prospects in this class.

Only 71 players, the fewest in more than 20 years, submitted their official applications as early entry candidates to declare for the 2026 NBA Draft by the April 24 deadline.

Many of those players, as well as top seniors automatically eligible, will participate during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine beginning May 10 in Chicago. Some of the players not included and who could go back to school after the combine include Amari Allen, Meleek Thomas, Milan Momcilovic, Rueben Chinyelu, Flory Bidunga, Billy Richmond III and Malachi Moreno.

The deadline for early entry candidates to withdraw from the pre-draft process while maintaining collegiate eligibility is May 27.

Others who are on the fringe who will also earn first-round consideration include Isaiah Evans, Tounde Yessoufou, Zuby Ejiofor, Alex Karaban, Sergio De Larrea, Ryan Conwell and Braden Smith.

Note that picks 15-60 are currently set, but fans won't know the official order of the 2026 NBA Draft until the lottery on May 10. The first 14 picks are based on lottery odds, including a tiebreaker process.

The NBA Draft begins on June 23 at Barclays Center in New York.

1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa

• TEAM: BYU
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Massachusetts
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Wizards finished with the worst record in the NBA and would benefit tremendously from a lottery win. They had the second-worst offense in the league and could instantly inject life into their offense by selecting AJ Dybantsa, the NCAA scoring champion and Julius Erving Award winner. He emphasized that point during his one game for BYU in March Madness, putting up 35 points and 10 rebounds. The Big 12 Rookie of the Year led the nation in unassisted points scored (680) by a wide margin this season, per CBB Analytics. The emerging star also had 40 points against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament on March 10 and averaged a stellar 28.8 points per game over his final 17 appearances. He would be a fascinating fit next to Trae Young and Anthony Davis.

2. Indiana Pacers: Cameron Boozer

• TEAM: Duke
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Florida
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 18

Duke freshman Cameron Boozer was dominant during his first NCAA season, earning national collegiate player of the year honors. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, rival teams believe Boozer would be the "preferred selection" for the Pacers because of his "potential fit" alongside Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac. The ACC Player of the Year isn’t a human highlight reel, but he offers consistency and a diverse, impactful skill set. More importantly, he can bring a culture of winning after multiple championships in high school and an elite Duke team that made it to the Sweet 16 before a heartbreaking last-second loss.

3. Brooklyn Nets: Caleb Wilson

• TEAM: North Carolina
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Georgia
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• DRAFT AGE: 19

One general manager also told Jake Fischer that “every team” is going to have North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson over either one of Dybantsa, Boozer, or Darryn Peterson. His injury, which caused him to miss the NCAA Tournament with a broken thumb, did not hurt his draft stock at all. Wilson, who also suffered a hand fracture earlier in the season, did more than enough to earn this placement. According to Bart Torvik, before the injury, the All-ACC big man led the nation with 67 dunks recorded. He was also the only player under 20 years old to reach specific thresholds for both block, steal and defensive rebound percentage.

4. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson

• TEAM: Kansas
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor reported that some front office executives view Wilson with “similarly high upside” as Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson with “dramatically lower downsides” than the guard. While he is certainly no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators still feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, he has received “largely positive” feedback. The Jazz are building a much stronger core after trading for Jaren Jackson Jr. and drafting Ace Bailey, and this would only add to it. It is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season. 

5. Sacramento Kings: Kingston Flemings

• TEAM: Houston
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Texas
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Kings need the best player available regardless of fit and if they are on the clock at No. 5 overall, that pick is probably Houston freshman Kingston Flemings. The All-Big 12 guard has several games when he has recorded at least three steals, notching eight against Arizona State earlier this season. He scored 42 points against No. 11 Texas Tech on Jan. 24. Flemings helped lead Houston to the Sweet 16, and with highs as high as his were this season, it will not take long for him to hear his name called on draft night. His true height measurements are one of the bigger questions lingering over the 2026 NBA Draft Combine.   

6. Memphis Grizzlies: Keaton Wagler

• TEAM: Illinois
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Kansas
• HEIGHT: 6-6
• DRAFT AGE: 19

During this rebuilding chapter, the Grizzlies would love to add a player like Illinois standout Keaton Wagler. The 19-year-old guard played a crucial role in helping the Fighting Illini earn a spot in the Final Four, where he recorded 20 points and 8 rebounds against UConn in the national semifinals. The freshman also dropped 25 points in the Elite Eight. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, shooting 39.7 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman, while connecting on as many as nine 3-pointers in a game. The Big Ten Rookie of the Year has athletic limitations but is a cerebral basketball player who averaged 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season. 

7. Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans): Darius Acuff Jr.

• TEAM: Arkansas
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Michigan
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Hawks need a guard like Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. after trading away Trae Young, using a first-round pick they received from the Pelicans. En route to the Sweet 16, the SEC Player of the Year proved he is one of the most enticing offensive prospects in recent memory. Acuff Jr. led the nation for points created (1,394) either by himself or through an assist, per CBB Analytics. He led freshmen for field goals made in transition (72) and field goals made from both the left and right side of the court. He was among the freshmen leaders in alley-oop assists (17) as well. He has significant defensive deficiencies but playing alongside Dyson Daniels would help cover that problem.

8. Dallas Mavericks: Yaxel Lendeborg

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: New Jersey
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 23

The Mavericks had the worst offensive rating in the Western Conference and after hiring Masai Ujiri, they could benefit from a player as productive as Yaxel Lendeborg. He showed on his way to winning the national championship that he is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. The Big Ten Player of the Year offers a bit of everything on both sides of the ball and has silenced skeptics who were unsure how his game would scale after transferring from mid-major UAB to high-major Michigan. While he is older than other players projected in the first round, his impact in college basketball was undeniable.

9. Chicago Bulls: Brayden Burries 

• TEAM: Arizona
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: California
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Arizona freshman Brayden Burries was an exciting prospect to watch during the Big Dance, making it all the way to the Final Four and dropping 23 points against Arkansas. He had two breakout games in January, which helped solidify his draft stock. But the All-Big 12 guard continued to display his tantalizing talent, scoring 31 points with seven rebounds and five steals against Colorado on March 7 and 20 points with 12 rebounds and five assists during a victory against No. 14 Kansas on Feb. 28. He has proven productivity, and he is able to defend, relocate, move the ball and make 3-pointers off the dribble. Burries would make a great pick for Bryson Graham as he takes over the front office for the Bulls.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Mikel Brown Jr. 

• TEAM: Louisville
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Florida
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Milwaukee Bucks, potentially heading toward an ugly Giannis Antetokounmpo divorce, must simply draft the best player available with whatever pick they have and will likely keep Louisville floor general Mikel Brown Jr. highlighted on their big board. The All-ACC guard has deep shooting range and was among the freshmen leaders in 3-pointers made from beyond 25 feet (27) this year, per CBB Analytics. Brown was averaging 29.2 points per game over his last five appearances, including 45 points against NC State on Feb. 9, while hitting 10 shots from beyond the arc, before an injury on Feb. 28 forced him to miss March Madness. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, some scouts feel Brown has the highest “upside” of the guards in this range.

11. Golden State Warriors: Karim López

• TEAM: International (Australia)
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Mexico
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Karim López had a low usage rate and played few minutes than other players in this range while playing against pros but was still very productive for the NBL Next Stars program in Australia. The Mexican-born forward is physically gifted, athletic, and universally seen as the top prospect from this class currently playing overseas. He exploded for 32 points (11-of-13 FG) with eight rebounds, two blocks and one steal against Melbourne on Jan. 30. Despite his age, he played a huge role for his team defensively for a team that won the NBL Ignite Cup.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers): Aday Mara

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Spain
• HEIGHT: 7-3
• DRAFT AGE: 21

After winning the 2025 NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder could add even more lottery-caliber talent, like Michigan center Aday Mara, in the 2026 NBA Draft. While leading his team to win the NCAA championship, Mara became one of the prospects who helped himself the most during March Madness. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents only attempted 20.4 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near the lowest among all NCAA players. He can also pass well, finding some awesome outlet looks in transition and at the rim.

13. Miami Heat: Koa Peat 

• TEAM: Arizona
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Arizona
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• DRAFT AGE: 19

The Miami Heat have drafted several prospects known for their athleticism, which means a player like Arizona forward Koa Peat will probably have some appeal to the organization. Peat is an ideal match for this franchise given his versatility as a playmaking forward. Arizona played at a significantly faster pace (3.9 extra possessions) when Peat was on the floor relative to when he was not, per CBB Analytics, which would fit very well with Miami’s fastest-paced offense in the NBA. The All-Big 12 forward just needs a jumper to carve out regular minutes as a high-impact pro.  

14. Charlotte Hornets: Labaron Philon 

• TEAM: Alabama
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Alabama
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Hornets could find a fairly compelling player in Alabama sophomore Labaron Philon. Even though the All-SEC guard was not playing at 100 percent during March Madness due to injury issues, he played well in the tournament, recording 35 points during a loss against Michigan. He also notched 29 points in his first-round game and 12 assists in his second. The guard averaged 22.0 points per game this season, and he improved his 3-point shooting from 31.5 percent as a freshman to 39.9 percent as a sophomore, while also managing 5.0 assists per game in the process.

15. Chicago Bulls (via Trail Blazers): Hannes Steinbach

• TEAM: Washington
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Germany
• HEIGHT: 6-11
• DRAFT AGE: 20

The Chicago Bulls received this additional pick because the Portland Trail Blazers advanced past the play-in tournament. This is about the range of German big man Hannes Steinbach, who reportedly turned down NIL opportunities “worth up to $10 million” rather than return to college. While his Washington team missed the tournament, the All-Big Ten post is an instinctive rebounder with great hands, including an absurd 24 rebounds against USC on March 4. Additionally, the center is one of the more prolific pick-and-roll finishers in college basketball. He shined during the FIBA U19 World Cup, too, and scouts love that he is a smart basketball player who can make great reads. 

16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Suns): Joshua Jefferson 

• TEAM: Iowa State
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Nevada
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 22

The Grizzlies will have another first-round pick thanks to the Desmond Bane trade. A few years ago, research indicated that the Grizzlies tend to value a few statistical similarities in their draftees: Efficient shot selection, added value beyond scoring and defensive playmaking. For the second year in a row, the Iowa State forward was an impactful dribble-pass-shoot forward who met many of the qualifications that led Memphis to find players who spent many years on their roster. The All-Big 12 forward got injured during the first round of the tournament, but Iowa State still earned a spot in the Sweet 16. The Grizzlies are not afraid to draft away from consensus and have shown a willingness to pick older, more experienced players in the past.

17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers): Nate Ament

• TEAM: Tennessee
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Virginia
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• DRAFT AGE: 19

While the Thunder may not actually use this pick because they have such an abundance of talent on its roster already, this is a fair range for Tennessee freshman Nate Ament. The forward reportedly considered returning to college to aim for the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft. His decision to declare for this class, instead, suggests he is likely comfortable with the feedback he has received so far. The freshman averaged 21.6 points per game, while shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers, during a 13-game stretch before an injury against Alabama on Feb. 28. The All-SEC forward then had 27 points (4-of-6 on 3-pointers) with eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal against Auburn on March 12. He was not as efficient during March Madness, but it will only take one team to fall in love with Ament, and that team is likely picking near the lottery.

18. Charlotte Hornets (via Magic): Jayden Quaintance

• TEAM: Kentucky
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 18

Jayden Quaintance recorded just one start during his sophomore campaign as he recovered from a torn ACL, meniscus and fractured knee. The big man is still one of the youngest players in this class, but he has shown flashes during his time at Arizona State and Kentucky. When healthy, he is arguably the most talented defender in this draft class and could help a team that desperately needs frontcourt help, like the Hornets. But health may cause some concern for evaluators. During his freshman year when he was just 17 years old, per CBB Analytics, he led all D-I players in blocks per 40 minutes (0.7) on 3-pointers.

19. Toronto Raptors: Bennett Stirtz

• TEAM: Iowa
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Missouri
• HEIGHT: 6-4
• DRAFT AGE: 22

The Raptors need another guard and should have Bennett Stirtz on their priority list. After transferring from Division II to a mid-major and then to a high-major program, he is at the top of the class in creating his own shot off the dribble in isolation or the pick-and-roll. The All-Big Ten guard can also finish plays from dribble handoffs. His play during March Madness, which included 24 points against Illinois and 20 points against Nebraska, earned a spot in the Elite Eight. The Raptors play at a slow pace, which would translate well for Stirtz, who did the same at Iowa. 

20. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks): Dailyn Swain 

• TEAM: Texas
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Ohio
• HEIGHT: 6-8
• DRAFT AGE: 20

After transferring from Xavier to Texas during the offseason and then leading his team to the Sweet 16, Dailyn Swain became one of the more intriguing breakout players in college basketball. The All-SEC forward is versatile and contributed a little bit of everything for the Longhorns on both sides of the ball, scoring well both in the paint and on fastbreaks. Another element that is notably compelling is that Swain is efficient one-on-one in isolation against his defenders. He is quick, bouncy, a solid rebounder and his 81.5 percent free-throw percentage indicates he has good shooting form. While he has three years of college experience, at 20 years old, he is the same age as a few NCAA freshmen.

21. Detroit Pistons (via Timberwolves): Christian Anderson 

• TEAM: Texas Tech
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Georgia
• HEIGHT: 6-3
• DRAFT AGE: 20

While they are one of the best teams in the league this season, the Pistons are still struggling from the perimeter and will want more talented 3-point shooters on their roster. A simple fix would be drafting Texas Tech sophomore Christian Anderson, who had the most unassisted 3-pointers (61) among high-major players, per CBB Analytics. After moving from the two-guard to point guard, the All-Big 12 Most Improved Player recorded more than twice as many assists per 100 possessions as a sophomore compared to when he was a freshman. 

22. Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets): Ebuka Okorie

• TEAM: Stanford
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: New Hampshire
• HEIGHT: 6-2
• DRAFT AGE: 19

Stanford freshman Ebuka Okorie is an interesting early entry candidate in the 2026 NBA Draft. The first-team All-ACC guard was a day-one starter in the NCAA who is potentially capable of earning rotation minutes for a team like the 76ers. He averaged 23.2 points per game, recording 40 points against conference rival Virginia Tech and seven other games with at least 30 points. Okorie has earned serious first-round buzz but could withdraw as an early entry candidate, per Jonathan Givony, though he would only return to Stanford.  

23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers): Chris Cenac Jr. 

• TEAM: Houston
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Louisiana
• HEIGHT: 6-11
• DRAFT AGE: 19

It was an up-and-down season for former five-star recruit and McDonald's All-American Chris Cenac Jr. at Houston. He did, however, get hot at the perfect time. During his first game in the Big Dance, the big man recorded a season-high 18 rebounds, while also knocking down a 3-pointer and grabbing a steal. Then in the Round of 32, he showed off more scoring with some impressive cuts to the basket, dropping 17 points against Texas A&M. He was quieter in the Sweet 16 but still managed 10 rebounds. Cenac told reporters he is “fully committed” to the NBA Draft.

24. New York Knicks: Allen Graves 

• TEAM: Santa Clara
• POSITION: Forward
• BORN: Louisiana
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 20

One of the most under-the-radar prospects in all of college basketball this season was Santa Clara freshman Allen Graves, who was nearly a March Madness hero. It was hard not to notice the WCC Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year after he scored 30 points with 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals Feb. 7 against Washington State. The only players under 21 years old who held a higher box plus-minus, via Bart Torvik, were Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. He declared early entry for the 2026 NBA Draft but also entered his name in the transfer portal and could return to school.

25. Los Angeles Lakers: Morez Johnson Jr.

• TEAM: Michigan
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Illinois
• HEIGHT: 6-9
• DRAFT AGE: 20

Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best two-way players in the NCAA. He was a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season, leading his team to win the NCAA championship game, and has thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois. Johnson's shooting form at the free-throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should carve out minutes at the next level. Johnson is also a candidate to return to college and withdraw as an early entry candidate but is reportedly “very likely” to stay in. 

26. Denver Nuggets: Cameron Carr

• TEAM: Baylor
• POSITION: Wing
• BORN: Minnesota
• HEIGHT: 6-5
• DRAFT AGE: 21

One of the players who improved his draft stock the most this season was Baylor junior Cameron Carr. The All-Big 12 wing brings athleticism and shooting and, per Bart Torvik, he was the only player to make at least 40 field goals that were dunks and more than 60 field goals that were 3-pointers this season. Baylor outscored opponents by an additional 28.5 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor relative to when he was not, via CBB Analytics, which ranked as the fourth-most of any high-major player in the NCAA. 

27. Boston Celtics: Henri Veesaar

• TEAM: North Carolina 
• POSITION: Forward 
• BORN: Estonia 
• HEIGHT: 7-0 
• DRAFT AGE: 22

We have seen a remarkable improvement from Henri Veesaar after transferring from Arizona to North Carolina. The 7-foot big man from Estonia has an excellent shot diet on offense. The All-ACC big man is scoring efficiently at the rim (especially when cutting or rolling) and on 3-pointers, while also holding his own as a rebounder and passer. Any team looking for a big man who can provide NBA minutes on an expedited timeline, like the Celtics, will have him high on their priority list. He presumably feels comfortable with his draft range, considering he was reportedly offered “at least $6 million” in the transfer portal, per CBS Sports.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons): Tyler Tanner 

• TEAM: Vanderbilt
• POSITION: Guard
• BORN: Tennessee
• HEIGHT: 6-0
• DRAFT AGE: 20

It is unusual to find a 6-foot sophomore projected in the first round of a mock draft, but if there were ever a player who has earned that kind of praise should he decide to turn pro after this season, it's Tyler Tanner. Despite his size, the All-SEC guard found meaningful ways to contribute on both sides of the floor. He can score efficiently, dunk, block shots, steal the ball, and he is more than serviceable as a floor general capable of earning rotation minutes for a team like the Timberwolves. Tanner could also return to school but will receive first-round buzz if he stays in the draft. 

29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs): Luigi Suigo

• TEAM: International (Serbia)
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Italy
• HEIGHT: 7-4
• DRAFT AGE: 19

One of the most notable prospects currently playing overseas is Italian big man Luigi Suigo. While playing a smaller role for KK Mega Basket in Serbia, he averaged 16.9 points with 10.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per 36 minutes. He would also occasionally shoot from beyond the arc, which is valuable for someone his size. As a starter on Feb. 21, he had 23 points (10-of-10 FG, 3-of-3 3PM) with 8 rebounds. If he does not get feedback that he is projected as a first-round pick, expect him to consider several big schools in the NCAA as well.

30. Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder): Tarris Reed Jr. 

• TEAM: Connecticut
• POSITION: Big
• BORN: Missouri
• HEIGHT: 6-10
• DRAFT AGE: 23

UConn senior Tarris Reed Jr. helped himself quite a bit during the NCAA tournament en route to an appearance in the national championship game. He recorded four double-doubles during March Madness, notching 31 points and 27 rebounds against Furman. Reed also had 26 points with 9 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals during a win over Duke. Expect him to come into the league and find a role sooner, especially considering his paint dominance, rather than later.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NBA mock draft ahead of lottery: First round picks, projections

The Atlanta Falcons signed four players from their 2026 NFL Draft class on Thursday night, including wide receiver Zachariah Branch out of Georgia and linebacker Kendal Daniels out of Oklahoma.

The team also signed former LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. and former Ohio State offensive lineman Ethan Onianwa. That leaves second-round pick Avieon Terrell and sixth-round pick Anterio Thompson as the last two unsigned members of Atlanta's 2026 draft class.

The Falcons finally announced their undrafted free agent class on Thursday as well, signing a total of 14 additional players from the 2026 NFL Draft. Check out each rookie signing and the full list of undrafted free agents below.

Falcons sign WR Zachariah Branch

Atlanta selected Branch with the 79th overall pick in the draft. The former Georgia speedster can provide depth at wide receiver this season and has a chance to start in the slot. Branch is effective on screens, which have traditionally been a big part of Kevin Stefanki's offenses.

ZB is home in GA ✍️https://t.co/ZUhWbgakh9pic.twitter.com/51amPsJJSi

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) May 8, 2026

Falcons sign LB Kendal Daniels

Daniels, a defensive back-turned-linebacker, should at least compete for the other starting spot next to Divine Deablo. Even if he doesn't start, Daniels will play a role on special teams. The athletic linebacker has a unique skill set, which Falcons defensive coordinator will attempt to utilize.

.@KendalDaniels__ is officially an Atlanta Falcon ✍️https://t.co/c6S4kmJXv5pic.twitter.com/fQMn9SxyQd

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) May 8, 2026

Falcons sign LB Harold Perkins Jr.

Perkins also signed his rookie contract on Thursday night. The former LSU standout has a similar skill set to Daniels and can potentially carve out a role in sub-packages. At the very least, Perkins can help on special teams.

Signed to The A! 🥶 @HP113khttps://t.co/DkgJxS5brkpic.twitter.com/UefFlUPbmO

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) May 8, 2026

Falcons sign OL Ethan Onianwa

The last Falcons rookie to sign his contract was Ohio State offensive lineman Ethan Onianwa. After playing offensive tackle, the former Buckeye switched to guard, which is where he is expected to play in the NFL.

Made it official, @EthanOnianwa ✍️https://t.co/ad9aK9Zd85pic.twitter.com/y6U47PyOhF

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) May 8, 2026

Falcons UDFA class: 14 players added to roster

• QB Jack Strand
• RB Cash Jones
• WR Vinny Anthony II
• WR Le’Meke Brockington
• WR Keelan Marion
• OL Riley Mahlman
• OL James Brockermeyer
• OL Kam Dewberry
• TE Jack Velling
• TE Brandon Frazier
• DL CJ Nunnally IV
• DT Carlos Allen Jr.
• CB Malcolm DeWalt
• LS Philip Florenzo.

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons sign 4 members of 2026 NFL Draft class

Is the New York Giants’ biggest remaining question on their roster the center position?

The Giants have quality depth at most positions, though they could still use another wide receiver. The same can be said of the center position on an offensive line that has shown clear improvement over the last couple of seasons.

ESPN’s Aaron Schatz believes New York would benefit from adding another center to provide depth behind John Michael Schmitz.

Now that the Giants have signed Shelby Harris and DJ Reader to fill holes along the defensive front, they don't have any glaring holes in the starting lineup. However, they do have weaknesses, and one of them is John Michael Schmitz Jr., who has never quite lived up to his second-round draft potential in the center of the offensive line.

Last year, Schmitz ranked 23rd among starting centers with a 94.1% pass block win rate and 27th with a 65.1% run block win rate. The Giants brought in veteran Lucas Patrick to back up Schmitz, but Patrick played in only six games for the Bengals last season, partly due to a calf injury, and will be 33 years old this season.

Schmitz allowed one sack and 14 total pressures in 2025. He played a role in the Giants surrendering the seventh-most sacks in the NFL in each of the last two seasons (48), though those totals marked a significant improvement from the league-worst 85 sacks they allowed in 2023. Even so, New York would still benefit from adding quality depth behind him.

Veteran free agents the Giants could consider include Graham Glasgow and Sam Mustipher.

Glasgow helped the Lions reach the playoffs in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons, including a trip to the NFC Championship game in the latter. Mustipher earned a 74.3 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus in the 2025 season.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Should New York Giants address center position before training camp?

Florida State is working diligently to fill out its roster defensively for the 2026 season. JUCO defensive lineman Malachi Brown, out of Monterey Peninsula College, is one of their top targets, and he visited with the Seminoles on Thursday after arriving on Wednesday night.

The 6-foot-2, 315-pounder wants to make a decision before he graduates on May 22, and he wants to do so at least one week before the ceremony. Brown has narrowed his choices down to FSU, the Kansas Jayhawks, and the Colorado Buffaloes.

Brown was extended an offer from the Seminoles while he was on campus. It was a special moment for him, as well as a very important member of his family who accompanied him on the trip.

"It was amazing. My mom cried a little bit. But it was good," Brown told Noles247. "It felt like it's been a lifelong dream to even be able to say I could play college football. So to say I played at Florida State is even crazier. Yeah. So to be in Florida is even crazy. My first time ever flying on an airplane was down here to Florida."

Florida State sees Brown as an interior defensive lineman in their 3-3-5 scheme. If he commits, Terrance Knighton would be his position coach, and he spoke highly of him once his trip ended.

"Coach T-Knght is amazing," Brown said. "I, like, for my JUCO, I'm not gonna hate on my JUCO or nothing like that. I love my junior college, but I didn't really have a D-line coach. So to even have a D-line coach is just amazing. So he's amazing, definitely. I can definitely pick his brain."

Brown was supposed to visit the West Virginia Mountaineers, but after taking his trip to Florida State, that's no longer the case. The Seminoles are hoping they did enough as the finish line approaches, and they can land Brown.

Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Matthew on X @StarConscience

This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU Football: Malachi Brown names Florida State in top three

Kansas Jayhawks News

Kansas basketball brought in a new player from the portal yesterday. 247 discusses the new addition

Christian Braun blames himself for Denver’s first round exit

Does Frank Mason deserve some credit for KU’s new transfer?

Through the Phog goes over a brutal preview for this year’s football team

Links!

The NCAA officially unveiled their new March Madness format

A new report shows the number of banned non-fiction books doubled last year

What are the fastest growing jobs for new college graduates?

Stephen Colbert is hosting a slew of other late night hosts as his show comes to an end

This NYT opinion piece dives into America’s declining birth rates

Tennessee republicans wasted no time gerrymandering the hell out of the state following last week’s SCOTUS ruling

After dancing on the razor’s edge of an embarrassing 1st round exit, the Pistons have a commanding 2-0 lead over Cleveland in the 2nd round

Question of the Day

Name a sound or noise that drives you crazy

The Round 2 series between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks shifts south to the City of Brotherly Love for Game 3 on Friday, and if you're wondering how you can watch all the action live, you've come to the right place. The Sixers will look to get on the board in this series as they look to rally from an early 0-2 deficit.

The Sixers were right there in Game 2 on Wednesday as they did hold a lead in the fourth, but then went cold the rest of the way as Philadelphia couldn't buy a bucket. The Sixers will look for a little home cooking at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, where they are 1-2 in these playoffs, but that one win came in a Game 6 against the Boston Celtics in order to continue their rally from down 3-1 in Round 1. It will be up to Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and VJ Edgecombe to lead this group.

Here's when and where you should tune in to see the matchup:

How to watch

• Date: Friday, May 8
• Time: 7 p.m. EDT
• Location: Xfinity Mobile Arena Philadelphia, PA
• Channel: Amazon Prime Video

Notable injuries

Sixers: QUESTIONABLE: Joel Embiid (right ankle sprain, right hip soreness)

Knicks: QUESTIONABLE: OG Anunoby (right hamstring strain), Josh Hart (left thumb sprain) PROBABLE: Mitchell Robinson (illness)

Uniform assignments

Sixers: Association Edition (White)

Knicks: Icon Edition (Blue)

Probable starting lineups

Philadelphia 76ers

• Guard - Tyrese Maxey
• Guard - VJ Edgecombe
• Forward - Paul George
• Forward - Kelly Oubre Jr.
• Center - Andre Drummond

New York Knicks

• Guard - Jalen Brunson
• Guard - Mikal Bridges
• Forward - Josh Hart
• Forward - OG Anunoby
• Center - Karl-Anthony Towns

Complete series schedule

• Game 1: Knicks 137 Sixers 98
• Game 2: Knicks 108 Sixers 102
• Game 3: @ PHI May 8
• Game 4: @ PHI May 10
• Game 5: @ NYK May 12 - if necessary
• Game 6: @ PHI May 14 - if necessary
• Game 7: @ NYK May 17 - if necessary

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 76ers vs. Knicks Game 3 preview: How to watch, lineups, broadcast info

Texas A&M's 2026 roster is nearly complete, barring any last-minute additions, as third-year coach Mike Elko and his staff are coming off the program's final spring scrimmage during the Maroon & White Game, and will enter the summer with a better understanding of where the Aggies need to improve once preseason practice begins in early August.

In the backfield, it was revealed on Thursday that the Aggies landed a commitment from transfer running back DD Murray, who is the brother of current freshman defensive tackle DJ Sanders. A former three-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, Murray was not highly sought after and ended up committing to Arkansas State, but he did not see the field during his freshman season.

However, Murray's high school production can't be understated: 3,935 yards and 65 touchdowns in 29 career games, averaging 9.2 yards per carry and 100.9 yards per game, make him one of the more intriguing options in the running back room, which requires some depth.

After not seeding the field in 2025, Murray enters College Station with four seasons of eligibility and will make his way to campus with an eye on bulking up and enhancing his skillset, which shouldn't be tough now that he'll be playing with his brother for the first time since their high school days at Bellville.

How will Murray fit into an already somewhat established rotation? Led by senior Rueben Owens and ascending sophomore Jamarion Morrow, redshirt freshman Tiger Riden and freshmen KJ Edwards and Carsyn Baker serve as backup options.

Could Murray work his way into the lineup? That remains to be seen, but his high school production shows a versatile athlete who also recorded 17 passes for 447 yards and eight touchdowns during his prep career, and could see the field during the season opener vs. Missouri State if the game gets out of hand late.

Either way, the running back depth has been an issue the last two seasons, and Murray's additions at least provide new OC Holmon Wiggins a solid floor during his first year as the playcaller.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Assessing Texas A&M's running back room after landing RB DD Murray

Bayern Munich are reportedly showing interest in Atalanta midfielder Charles De Ketelaere.

According to Belgian transfer journalist Sacha Tavolieri, the German champions are “pushing” to sign the 25-year-old and have already made their “concrete interest” known.

Personal terms are not expected to be an issue, with De Ketelaere understood to be open to a move to Bayern.

Atalanta and Bayern have yet to hold talks about the attacking midfielder, with talks scheduled for the coming weeks, as per the report.

De Ketelaere is under contract until 2028 and has registered five goals and seven assists in 39 appearances across all competitions this season.

New England Patriots tight end Eli Raridon possesses many desirable traits as an incoming rookie in the NFL. 

Raridon's biggest strengths are his dexterity as a pass-catcher, as well as his foot speed. The Iowa native went for 482 receiving yards on 15.1 yards per reception in 2025 at Notre Dame. 

The Patriots have many mouths to feed on offense in 2026, and another may be on the way in the event that New England successfully trades for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown.

However, Austin Hooper, the Patriots' backup tight end from last season, departed in free agency, creating an opening for Raridon to step into behind Hunter Henry from the onset of his career. Strikingly enough, Hooper is a fitting comparison to the type of player Raridon is projected to be for New England.

Raridon has the potential to be the Patriots' fifth-leading receiver next season. Romeo Doubs, Henry, and Mack Hollins will all have larger roles in the offense. Kayshon Boutte's name has been in trade talks this offseason, but he will also be ahead of Raridon in the pecking order next season, in the event that he remains in New England.

DeMario Douglas is also in line for an increased role in New England's offense in 2026. Raridon projects to go for 200 receiving yards and one touchdown as a rookie in 2026.

Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: What is Patriots rookie TE Eli Raridon's projected production in 2026?

LONDON (AP) — Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and former men's No. 1 Daniil Medvedev will continue to play under neutral status after the International Tennis Federation announced Friday that it will “not change its existing position” over suspensions for Belarus and Russia.

In a political shift Thursday, the International Olympic Committee said athletes from Belarus should once again compete with their full national identity and not be vetted for neutral status, even as the war in Ukraine continues.

“The International Tennis Federation confirms that the IOC’s announcement does not change its existing position regarding the Belarus and Russian Tennis Federations’ suspensions, which remain in place,” the ITF said.

“The membership status of the Belarus Tennis Federation will be considered at the ITF Annual General Meeting in October by the ITF’s voting member nations,” the international federation added.

Sabalenka, who is from Belarus, is a four-time Grand Slam winner. Medvedev, who is from Russia, won the U.S. Open in 2021 and is now ranked No. 9.

Since the war began, tennis players from Belarus and Russia have had to play with their countries unnamed and without flags next to their names. Both countries have also been banned from the Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup and other ITF team competitions; and tennis events in the countries were canceled.

___

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

Evan Mobley stats sum up continued problem for Cleveland Cavaliers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Evan Mobley was supposed to develop into a team-leading star for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

At this point, it's questionable whether he should even be on the floor at the end of games in the playoff series against the Detroit Pistons.

The Cavs are down 0-2, and it's far from just Mobley's fault, but it's really not been good from the talented big fella.

For example, on Thursday night, Mobley finished with 1 rebound in 36 minutes.

MORE: Cavs' James Harden gamble made sense but has busted again

His teammates defended him afterward, saying his box outs freed rebounds for others, and there were indeed a few occasions where that was true.

There were also a number of times he went up for the ball and simply didn't come down with it.

The Pistons' centers, Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, are both much more muscular than Mobley, and it showed.

Mobley also finished with just 9 points on 4-for-10 shooting. He had four assists, two turnovers, three steals and three blocks.

The defensive impact was clearly a Mobley-esque performance. But in some ways, so was the lack of impact at the other end.

He's never quite put all the pieces together to dominate when he's supposed to. Teams switch relatively freely against Mobley because he doesn't always punish those smaller defenders anyway.

And the thing about Mobley is this -- he's supposed to be on the rise. Sure, the Cavs hoped James Harden would help rather than hurt, and that hasn't happened, but Harden is in the twilight of his career. Mobley is supposed to be approaching his prime.

Right now, Mobley's performances have certainly left doubt about just how good his prime might end up being.

More NBA news:

• Bronny James just did something Michael Jordan never did
• NBA playoffs block record gets confusion from Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell
• NFL legend tells Joel Embiid to 'stop being a' bad word
• The tricky part of the Toronto Raptors' future has arrived
• Jaylen Brown blames the 'media' for a problem he created himself

Don't tell new Denver Broncos linebacker Red Murdock he's irrelevant. Despite being the 257th and final pick in the 2026 NFL draft, earning the title of "Mr. Irrelevant," Murdock has the pedigree and stats of someone who is slated to become very relevant.

As a member of the Buffalo Bulls, Murdock set an FBS record for forced fumbles with 17, breaking the old record of former Bulls all-star Khalil Mack.

In 2023, Murdock tied for the third-most forced fumbles in college football with three. In 2024, his production soared, leading the NCAA with seven forced fumbles, and he was named first-team All-MAC. In 2025, Murdock took another step forward, forcing six fumbles and racking up 142 tackles through the year, on his way to being named an AP second-team All-American and first-team All-MAC for the second time.

Murdock spoke about the emotions he had when he got the call he was going to be a part of the Broncos. “It was an emotional moment trying to hold it all together in front of the family and everything," Murdock said after the NFL draft ended. "I’m just really excited to get the opportunity. The main thing now is just being able to help the team be able to win. I’m excited to play for the Broncos. That’s a great team that I wanted to play for before the draft.”

Murdock has the opportunity to immediately come in behind starting linebackers Justin Strnad and Alex Singleton, helping the defense generate even more turnovers than the 2025 version of the Denver defense.

You can view Murdock's impressive highlights below.

Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.

This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: Red Murdock's a fumble-forcing machine (watch his highlights)

The Eagles entered the 2026 NFL draft with one of the NFL's most complete rosters, but that didn't stop Howie Roseman from aggressively targeting premium talent, athletic upside, and long-term value. Fresh off another deep postseason run, Philadelphia focused on replenishing depth in the trenches, adding explosive playmakers, and building competition across the roster.

With OTAs, mandatory minicamp, and training camp fast approaching, several members of the Eagles' draft class are already poised to contribute in the 2026 season. Some rookies could push for starting roles immediately, while others may emerge as key rotational contributors on a roster loaded with veteran talent.

Philadelphia added explosive talent and trench depth during the 2026 NFL draft. Here’s an early ranking of the Eagles' rookies most likely to make an impact this season.

1. Makai Lemon, WRPhiladelphia traded up aggressively to land the explosive USC wide receiver, signaling how highly the organization views his long-term upside. Lemon brings elite speed, route-running polish, and versatility to an offense already featuring Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith. While he won't immediately become the focal point of the passing attack, Lemon's ability to stretch defenses vertically and create explosive plays after the catch could earn him meaningful snaps quickly.

2. Eli Stowers, TE

In his first season at Vanderbilt, he recorded 638 yards and five touchdowns, earning first-team All-SEC honors. In 2025, Stowers had a standout season with 62 receptions for 769 yards and four touchdowns, once again receiving first-team All-SEC honors for the second consecutive year. Additionally, he was named a unanimous All-American, won the Mackey Award, and received the Campbell Trophy. Stowers will be the Eagles' second tight end and one of Hurts' favorite targets.

3. Cole Wisniewski, S

Wisniewski became a key player on the Red Raider defense, playing safety and starting all 14 games in his only season at Texas Tech. He enters a safety competition in which Andrew Mukuba is the only guaranteed starter.

4. Micah Morris, G

 Morris played in and started all 14 games during the season, contributing to an offense that averaged 32.1 points, 182.1 rushing yards, and 220.3 passing yards per game. He was also part of a Georgia offense that ranked third in the NCAA for first downs with 316 and was first nationally in fourth-down conversions at 76.5% during the regular season. With Landon Dickerson battling injuries in 2025, Morris could see early action in 2026.

5. Markel Bell, T

Fred Johnson is the Eagles' swing tackle, but it's Bell who could get the call if Lane Johnson or Jordan Mailata suffers injuries. At Miami, Bell showed flashes of strong pass-protection ability and physicality in the run game, traits that align with what the Eagles prioritize at the offensive line. While he may not be expected to start immediately, his addition provides valuable depth and competition behind the starters.

6. Cole Payton, QB

From Carson Wentz to Trey Lance, North Dakota State produces solid prospects. A 2025 Walter Payton Award finalist (3rd), Payton led the Bison to a 12-1 record, including an 8-0 record in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in his first year as a starter. Payton Set NDSU single-season records for pass efficiency. After missing the final eight games of the 2024 season with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder, he bounced back in 2025, finishing with 3,188 passing yards, 29 total TDs (16 passing, 13 rushing), and four interceptions. Payton could definitely see early action in select gadget plays.

7. Keyshawn James-Newby, Edge

The Philadelphia Eagles select New Mexico outside linebacker Keyshawn James-Newby in Round 7 of the 2026 NFL Draft with the No. 252 overall pick (via a trade with the Los Angeles Rams). An undersized edge rusher, James-Newby, 6-foot-2, 245 pounds, started his college career at Montana Tech Junior College in Butte, Montana, where he had 4.0 sacks as a freshman and 9.0 in his second year. He transferred to Idaho after the 2022 season, then had 5 sacks in 2023 and 10.5 in 2024 before finishing one season in Albuquerque.

So in five seasons at three colleges at three different levels, he had 37 ½ sacks.

8. Uar Bernard, DT, Nigeria

The Philadelphia Eagles used another pick in the 2026 NFL Draft with one of the most intriguing selections of the weekend, taking defensive tackle Uar Bernard with the No. 251 overall pick through the International Pathway Program. Bernard, a native of Nigeria, brings a rare blend of size and athleticism, measuring in at 6-foot-4½ and 306 pounds with 36-inch arms, 11-inch hands, a 39-inch vertical, and a reported 4.63 40-yard dash. Bernard has never played a down of organized football, and it's hard to see him seeing playing time as a rookie.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles draft picks ranked by immediate impact in 2026

Multiple sources in Italy claim that Inter might decide against signing Guglielmo Vicario from Tottenham this summer and instead rely on their current second-choice goalkeeper, Josep Martinez, in 2026-27.

Vicario might not be joining Inter over the summer despite having already reached an agreement with the fresh Serie A winners.

Inter might drop Vicario despite agreement with Tottenham goalkeeper

Multiple sources over the last few weeks reported that the Nerazzurri had reached a principle of agreement with the Italy international, although they still had to receive the green light from Tottenham, who value Vicario at €20m.

According to Corriere dello Sport, the Nerazzurri might ultimately decide against signing Vicario and instead use their transfer budget to strengthen other areas.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 19: Josep Martinez Rieira goalkeeper of FC Internazionale kicks the ball during the Supercoppa Italiana semifinal match between Bologna FC 1909 and FC Internazionale at King Saud University Stadium on December 19, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)

Gazzetta dello Sport reported earlier this week that the Nerazzurri will have a budget of €40-50m for new signings in the summer, which could be boosted with some sales.

Yann Sommer is expected to leave at the end of his contract in June, so the second-choice keeper Martinez would be deployed as a regular starter in goal next season if Inter decide against welcoming Vicario.

The Italian goalkeeper remains on Inter’s radar, but transfer expert Matteo Moretto has also reported that the Nerazzurri are now unsure about whether to continue talks with Tottenham, given that Martinez could become their first option for the new campaign.

If Inter don’t sign Vicario, they’d still have to get a high-level second-choice keeper who would potentially compete with Martinez for a starting spot in goal next season, Moretto said.

Martinez, 27, will start the next two matches against Lazio, first in Serie A and then in the Coppa Italia Final.

He has only made eight appearances across all competitions this season, going through a tough time off the pitch after being involved in a car accident that killed an 81-year-old man in an electric wheelchair in October 2025.

Martinez is in his second season at the Stadio Meazza, having joined Inter from Genoa for €14m in the 2024 summer transfer window.

Training ground bust-ups, allegations of fights in the dressing room, and a player in hospital requiring stitches for a cut to the head.

It’s never quiet at Real Madrid, but even by their standards the Spanish giants and their multitude of stars are in a full-blown crisis just days before the Clasico.

A growing sense of inharmony exploded into chaos on Thursday night, following reports of a fight between team-mates Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde.

Real Madrid confirmed the nature of Valverde’s head injury, before the club said disciplinary proceedings have been opened against both players.

An emergency meeting with president Florentino Perez was called at the club’s training ground. And now the eyes of the football world wait to see what comes next.

What happened between Valverde and Tchouameni?

On Wednesday, reports emerged from Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training round of a dispute between Tchouameni, the France midfielder, and Valverde, the Uruguay international and Madrid vice-captain. It was said to have carried on into the dressing room.

The following day, Valverde reportedly approached Tchouameni and accused him of leaking the argument to the press. Tchouameni denied it, but they refused to shake hands, according to AS. With tensions high, there were heavy challenges between Valverde and Tchouameni during training.

The report from AS claims Valverde continued to accuse Tchouameni of leaking the story. Tchouameni is then said to have hit Valverde, causing him to fall and hit his head. He was then taken to hospital for treatment on a cut that required stitches.

What did Valverde say afterwards?

In a lengthy post on Instagram, Valverde confirmed that he had been involved in a disagreement with a team-mate but denied “coming to blows”. He said he “accidentally hit a table, causing a small cut on my forehead that required a routine visit to the hospital”.

"At no point did my team-mate hit me, nor did I hit him, although I understand it may be easier for people to believe that we got into a fist-fight or that it was intentional, but that did not happen,” Valvarde said, adding that the “fatigue of competition and frustration make everything seem bigger than it is”.

But what had Real Madrid said?

The club confirmed that it had opened “disciplinary proceedings” against Valverde and Tchouameni following the incidents in training on Thursday morning. “The club will announce the outcomes of both cases in due course, once the relevant internal procedures have been completed,” Madrid added.

It also issued an update confirming Valverde’s injury and ruling him out of Sunday’s Clasico against Barcelona. They said he had been diagnosed with "cranioencephalic trauma”, or a head trauma. “Valverde is at home and in good condition; he will need to rest for between 10 and 14 days, in line with medical protocols for this diagnosis.”

What else is happening at Real Madrid?

This was not the first time reports have surfaced on training ground tensions in recent weeks. Antonio Rudiger and team-mate Alvaro Carreras were said to have been involved in a heated argument in training, with Rudiger apologising and Carreras confirming on social media that a "a one-off incident of no significance” had been “resolved”.

The Athleticreported that star striker Kylian Mbappe also clashed with a member of head coach Alvaro Arbeloa’s coaching staff during training before the 1-1 draw at Real Betis last month, with Mbappe reacting angrily to being called offside by the coach, who was acting as an assistant referee during an exercise.

Further tensions over Kylian Mbappe

Mbappe has been sidelined since injuring his hamstring in the 1-1 draw at Real Betis and the France forward sparked controversy after going on holiday to Sardinia with his girlfriend during his recovery period, with photos of Mbappe on a yaught surfacing last weekend while Real Madrid were playing against Espanyol.

Meanwhile, an online “Mbappe Out” petition was started by this week, and it has received millions of signatures already. Some Real Madrid fans are angry by suggestions that Mbappe is protecting himself for this summer’s World Cup, although there is a chance he returns to Sunday’s Clasico at Barcelona.

In the wake of the criticism, Mbappe’s representatives released a statement this week insisting he remains fully committed to his recovery. The statement said the criticism did not reflect “the reality of Kylian’s commitment and the work he puts in every day for the team”.

The story of Real Madrid’s season

Real Madrid are heading for their second trophyless season in a row. Barcelona are 11 points clear of them in LaLiga and will be crowned champions with a draw against Real Madrid in the Clasico on Sunday. And, in the 97 years of LaLiga, the title has never been won in this fixture.

This has been a troubled season for Madrid, who sacked former midfielder Xabi Alonso in January after just a few months in charge amid reports that Madrid’s star players did not want to engage with Alonso’s strict tactical instructions. Not for the first time, club president Florentino Perez sided with the dressing room.

Meanwhile, Madrid have still not found a way to successfully accommodate Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham in the same team, leading to further reports of tension between the team’s three biggest stars.

Alvaro Arbeloa was instilled as interim head coach until the end of the season, but the environment around Madrid means they will head in another direction at the end of the season. Jose Mourinho is adored by Perez, and has been linked with a sensational Bernabeu return.

Sunday marks Martin O'Neill's first Old Firm derby at Celtic Park since a 2-0 defeat to Rangers in February 2005.

He can ill afford anything other than victory this time as Celtic, with just three games left and a three-point deficit, pursue long-time leaders Hearts, who visit Motherwell on Saturday night.

Rangers travel across the city with their title hopes hanging by a thread after a damaging defeat at Tynecastle on Monday. Even if they can't take the crown themselves, the Ibrox side would revel in dealing a fatal blow to their fierce rivals' glory bid.

So there's plenty at stake as the Old Firm collide for the final time this season. In the three previous league meetings, Celtic had a different manager at the helm in each, while Russell Martin managed one derby for Rangers before being jettisoned.

Watch below for a recap of what has happened so far in this season's Premiership Old Firm showdowns.

The first meeting of the sides this season was dreadfully dull, with many suggesting it was one of the lowest-quality Old Firm games ever.

Home defender John Souttar did have the ball in the net in the first half - but it was ruled out for offside as then coaches Martin and Brendan Rodgers settled for a point.

In what was Wilfried Nancy's final game in charge of Celtic, Rangers drew level with Celtic in second place in the Premiership as Youssef Chermiti's second-half double and Mikey Moore's clincher gave Danny Rohl's side an incredible comeback win.

Nancy's men were 1-0 up at the interval through Yang Hyun-Jun's thumping finish but failed to make their dominance count as Rangers roared back, ending Nancy's eight-game tenure in 45 ruthless minutes.

In March at Ibrox it was Celtic's turn to mount a stirring comeback, rallying from two down to rescue a dramatic point thanks to Reo Hatate's injury-time equaliser.

Chermiti's first-half double - including a world-class overhead kick - put Rangers in the driving seat, only for O'Neill's men to hit back through Kieran Tierney and substitute Hatate.

The result left Hearts six points clear at the top - what will be the title race state of play when the dust settles on this weekend?

Recent reports have claimed that 16-year-old Tornike Kvaratskhelia, the younger brother of Paris Saint-Germain’s Paris Saint-Germain star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, has recently been training in Munich at the FC Bayern Campus.

FC Bayern sporting director Chrostoph Freund was asked about the 16-year-old at a press conference on Friday and confirmed that he has been involved with the club’s youth setup.

“Yes, his brother has been training with us at the Campus, he's a talent. It's far too early to say whether he's as good as his brother, but he's a talented player and we'll see how it goes," Freund said.

A winger like his older brother, Tornike Kvaratskhelia featured in a trial match for Bayern’s U17 side on Tuesday, where he impressed with his technical ability and scored a goal, according to Bild.

Tornike Kvaratskhelia currently plays for Dinamo Tbilisi in his home country, Georgia.

Because Georgia is not part of the EU, he would only be eligible to officially join Bayern once he turns 18. 

In the meantime, a loan move could be considered, potentially through one of the clubs connected to Bayern’s Red&Gold Football development network.

What’s one more signing for the Cincinnati Bengals? 

The Bengals only have about $7.4 million in free cap space right now, but inevitable-feeling things like a Joe Burrow contract restructuring could be on the way. 

And cornerback Kenny Moore is now a free agent. 

The Indianapolis Colts cut Moore this week after being unable to find a trade partner. He’s a 30-year-old veteran slot cornerback who would make for an interesting addition, if not outright starter for the Bengals. 

Slot cornerback happens to be the biggest remaining need for the Bengals. Dax Hill wants to stay outside on the boundary, as he should, leaving Jalen Davis almost unopposed for the starting gig. The Bengals added Ja'Sir Taylor in free agency, but history says he might not push Davis all that much. 

Moore, at least, is a former Pro Bowler who has excelled in Gus Bradley-like defenses. He could easily be similar to years ago when the Bengals initially signed Mike Hilton, a guy they have repeatedly failed to replace properly since.

Given this offseason has seen the Bengals go all-in and trade for Dexter Lawrence, among other things, this is very much a never-say-never idea. 

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals get another free agency upgrade chance thanks to Colts' cut

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Dolphins owner Steve Ross has an image problem, and it can’t be solved by words or actions. Ross’ problem can only be solved by winning.

There’s a perception by a large number of Dolphins fans that Ross prioritizes the Miami Grand Prix (Formula 1 race) and the Miami Open (tennis), two thriving international sporting events, over the Miami Dolphins.

Make no mistake, Ross, the franchise’s principal owner since 2009, wants to win badly with the Dolphins. He’s demonstrated that with both actions and words.

But the negative perception of Ross is reinforced when there’s news such as the Dolphins recently saying they’re currently out of the Super Bowl rotation because the NFL told them that they no longer have space to host Super Bowl hospitality events because of F1 and tennis structures on the Hard Rock Stadium campus.

On the surface, being out of the running for Super Bowls is crushing news.

In truth, I’m not worried about the Super Bowls one bit.

They’ll return.

The NFL wants Super Bowls here, and South Florida wants them here. They’ll find a way. Guaranteed. Dolphins executive Daniel Sillman expressed a similar opinion.

In the meantime, however, Ross’ image takes another big hit with this Super Bowl news.

Here’s the reality, if Ross doesn’t win with the Dolphins, and soon, he’ll never be able to convince fans that the Dolphins are a priority in his growing sports empire. As a result, the Dolphins will continue losing the younger generation, the fans in their 20s and 30s who have never seen this franchise win a playoff game.

You can see how that could be problematic, especially at a time when the Dolphins have gained a measure of momentum.

It’d be nice if Dolphins management (Ross, Sillman, president Tom Garfinkel, advisor Troy Aikman) spoke directly to the fans and offered reassurance that the NFL/Dolphins are a top priority to Ross.

And by the “fans,” I guess I mean speaking to the media and fielding questions from the media. It’d be ideal if management fielded unscreened questions from fans via Zoom, but back to reality ...

I’m not sure what Dolphins management could say to soothe/reassure fans.

But paying direct attention to the situation might help.

Yes, Ross wants to win with the Dolphins.

He demonstrated that with words.

One of the first things he said at the introductory press conference for general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley in January expressed that he’s not happy with the Dolphins’ losing ways.

The third sentence out of his mouth, after introducing himself and saying he’s excited about the future was, “I know many of you are all frustrated over the last few years with the performance of the team, but I’ve got to tell you, I am equally frustrated.”

He’s also demonstrated that he wants to win by his actions.

Ross has made big, sweeping changes, starting with listening to “new” management voices such as Sillman and Aikman, which led to hiring Sullivan and Hafley, who brought in quarterback Malik Willis.

Fans must realize that the ability to host a Super Bowl at Hard Rock has absolutely nothing to do with Ross’ commitment to building a Super Bowl champion with the Dolphins.

The Super Bowl is South Florida’s link to America’s biggest sporting event.

South Florida has hosted 11 Super Bowls, tied with New Orleans for the most ever. South Florida hasn’t hosted a Super Bowl since 2020, and, now, none appears imminent.

Again, that problem will be solved.

South Florida was hosting Super Bowls before Ross, it has hosted Super Bowls with Ross, and it’ll host them after Ross.

The Super Bowl is a fixture in South Florida. It’s been a fixture at Hard Rock Stadium after its run at the Orange Bowl.

The new kids on the Hard Rock block are F1 and tennis, which are big-time money makers.

As my colleague, Dave Hyde, once framed the discussion, “Would you rather have F1 and tennis every year, or a Super Bowl every, say, seven years?”

I think it’s fair to say that more South Florida residents are Super Bowl/football fans than F1 and tennis fans — combined.

That’s why if Ross doesn’t win with the Dolphins soon, there’ll be little anyone can say or do to combat that image problem.

English clubs have progressed to the final of European football’s three major competitions in the same season for the first time.

After Arsenal reached the Champions League final with a win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night, both Aston Villa and Crystal Palace reached European deciders on Thursday.

Villa thrashed Nottingham Forest 4-0 at Villa Park to seal a second leg comeback, as Unai Emery targets a record-extending fifth Europa League as a coach. Villa are aiming to end a 30-year wait for a major trophy this season and will face Freiburg later this month.

Crystal Palace have also reached the Europa Conference League final, after a comfortable win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the semi-finals. The Eagles are playing in Europe for the first time this season and have reached the competition’s decider.

It’s the first time that all three finals have featured Premier League teams in the same season, since the Conference League was introduced five years ago. The tournament added a third UEFA club competition, which had not been an event since the Cup Winners’ Cup ended in 1999.

Since the Conference League was formed, only one other country has achieved that feat. Italy had representation in all three finals in 2023, with Inter Milan (Champions League), AS Roma (Europa League) and Fiorentina (Conference League) all making the deciders. The English clubs will hope for better fortunes, after the Serie A sides lost all three finals.

Champions League final

Paris Saint-Germain vs Arsenal, May 30th 2026

Europa League final

SC Freiburg vs Aston Villa, May 20th 2026

Europa Conference League final

Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano, May 27th 2026

Read – The English players with the goal contributions in Champions League knockout ties

See more – The four English players to have scored in multiple Champions League semi-finals

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Arsenal are ‘very keen’ on a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola this summer.

Barcola is an option to leave PSG this summer despite his role in the club’s run to a second straight Champions League final.

The France international has 12 goals and five assists this season, but competition from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia mean minutes have been shared.

Several top teams are prepared to test PSG’s resolve in the summer. Sky Sports are reporting that Arsenal are among the teams to have spoken with Barcola’s representatives to gauge potential interest in a transfer. The Gunners are said to be ‘very keen’ on a deal, though could face competition from Barcelona and Liverpool.

Barcelona have earmarked Barcola as a potential replacement for loanee Marcus Rashford, though the finances of a deal make things difficult. Liverpool are searching for a versatile forward as Mohamed Salah prepares to leave, and Hugo Ekitike sidelined until 2027.

PSG have received no concrete offers yet, and talks are in their early stages. However, a deal is plausible this summer.

Arsenal view Barcola as a potential upgrade on Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, who have both been linked with exits. The North Londoners are expected to make significant sales to help fund their summer business.

Read – English clubs achieve historic European final feat

See more – Champions League Awards: Kvaradona kills Bayern dream

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The Real Madrid dressing room is broken and divided in what has been a disastrous season that will end without major trophies.

The recent brawl between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni has brought to light the great extent of the division that exists in the locker room currently.

The dressing room has had enough

According to AS, sources within the Real Madrid locker room insist that they are fed up and have had enough of everything that has gone down this season.

The prevalent sentiment inside the dressing room is: “It’s been very sad, we hope this ends as soon as possible.”

As per the report, it also happened last season, but on that occasion the campaign ended in a much cleaner way, managed well by Carlo Ancelotti’s famous man-management.

However, Ancelotti left, Xabi Alonso arrived, was then dismissed, and Arbeloa took over. None of this has worked in restoring Real Madrid to the path of success.

The results are deteriorating, the football as well, and on top of that the dressing room has become a powder keg: with a series of small clashes culminating in what happened this Thursday.

The dressing room currently lacks unity. Some players supported what Alonso tried to implement at the start of the season, while others rejected it and placed more trust in Arbeloa’s approach.

The dressing room is broken. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

That entire process has created bad blood within the squad, which is now surfacing and causing concern among several members of the team.

‘There is more’

Over the past few weeks, several incidents that took place inside the locker room have come to light beyond the two confrontations involving Valverde and Tchouameni.

Antonio Rudiger slapping Alvaro Carreras, Kylian Mbappe confronting a member of Arbeloa’s staff, Raul Asencio reacting badly to being benched and then being punished by the coach, the broken relationship between Dani Carvajal and the manager – the list goes on.

There are many examples and, even so, members of the dressing room admit there is more: “This is extremely serious, but there are also other things that have happened and are not known.”

Without doubt, however, what happened between Tchouameni and Valverde was the final straw. A serious incident, and one that many expected: “He really went for it… We saw something like this coming.”

And inside the dressing room, they are already anticipating a strong reaction from fans: “The Bernabeu is going to make us pay for all of this.”

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been thinking about his future all season. The veteran had to weigh whether or not he was going to retire or attempt to play one more campaign with the Bavarians.

Rumors had been swirling of late that Neuer had decided to give it one more shot with a slightly reduced role that would allow him more rest, while also give Jonas Urbig more game time to develop.

According to Kicker journalist Frank Linkesch (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), the final decision has been made and Bayern Munich could announce a new deal with its captain as early as next week:

Manuel Neuer is on the verge of extending his contract at FC Bayern until 2027, with an announcement expected as early as next week.

If true, that solidifies Neuer’s future and likely gives the final timeline for his career. Now, will be change his mind and come back to play for Germany at the World Cup this summer?

Some rumors are swirling that it might now happen.

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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BALTIMORE — The purists and the traditionalists are right. The sanctity of the Triple Crown is a credit to its unparalleled difficulty.

Many have tried and failed. Still, racing the second leg was, historically, a rite of passage for the Kentucky Derby winner. Only 13 horses have swept the three major races in the past 107 years. And only eight trainers have chosen to forgo Preakness — four of them since 2021.

Consider this: The Triple Crown shouldn’t be so tough that nobody dares to even try.

The reason our collective consciousness gets wrapped up in the pageantry of the racing season is, like any worthwhile sports story, the cocktail of hope and mystery. We’re enamored by the chase.

It starts at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., where just last week a 3-year-old colt ran what trainer Cherie DeVaux aptly described as “the race of a lifetime.” DeVaux’s boots were still muddy when the Maryland Jockey Club invited her and Golden Tempo to run in the Preakness.

The chase ended before it really began — for a third time in the past five years.

Kentucky Derby-winning trainers, fairly and with the backing of modern medicine, are becoming more cautious in running their prized colts on a two-week turnaround. Who can blame someone like DeVaux, the first female trainer to win the Derby, for arguing that her “top priority” is Golden Tempo’s health and long-term future?

Same story last year, when Sovereignty trainer Bill Mott explained, “We want to do what’s best for the horse.”

Because of the sport’s previous unwillingness to shuffle the calendar, the Triple Crown is on life support.

Back-to-back healthy scratches underscore that truth.

“We are incredibly appreciative of the excitement and support surrounding the possibility of the Triple Crown run,” DeVaux wrote in a statement on social media Wednesday. “We believe the best decision for [Golden Tempo] moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort.”

Instead of chasing history, Golden Tempo is pointed toward running the Belmont Stakes in June.

It’s not just the Derby winner. Of the 18 horses that ran in Louisville, only one might arrive at the starting gates in Maryland after two weeks of rest.

“It’s not enough [time], no,” trainer Brad Cox said last month. “A lot of the trainers that have the success at the top level with these 3-year-olds would tell you that (they) would like more than three weeks as well.”

The Preakness is already the Triple Crown outlier. Some liken it to the forgotten middle child. Baltimore offers a unique vibe compared with the other two legs. Economist Anirban Basu called it “the most democratic” of the three, for the way it brings together patrons of all different backgrounds on one horse-racing weekend. But Preakness attendance has nosedived this decade, and it doesn’t help when the main draw is a no-show.

Mike Rogers, executive vice president of 1/ST Racing, which is running the Preakness in partnership with the Maryland Jockey Club through 2026, is a proponent of spacing out the calendar. Hearing Golden Tempo opt out is another thorn in the Preakness’ side.

“It was definitely disappointing,” Rogers wrote in a statement to The Baltimore Sun. “But at the end of the day, you can’t criticize Cherie or [owner] Daisy [Phipps Pulito] for putting the welfare of their horse first. We’re still going to have a strong, full field, and we’re looking forward to an outstanding Preakness 151.”

Horsemen have long debated the merits of the Triple Crown calendar.

Before 1969, the racing series experimented with intervals ranging from 28 to 42 days between the first and third races. The modern format, snug within a 35-day window (two weeks before the Preakness, three weeks before the Belmont), didn’t quiet the discourse.

The first year under the current model, Majestic Prince won the Kentucky Derby, then the Preakness two weeks later. Hall of Fame trainer Johnny Longden didn’t think it was in the horse’s best interest to race at Belmont. The horse’s owner, Frank McMahon, pulled rank; Majestic Prince finished second and never raced again — every trainer’s and owner’s worst fear for pushing a horse past its limits.

According to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, race-related fatalities have steadily declined year over year since 2018 but rose from 2024 (0.90 per 1,000 starts) to 2025 (1.05). Locally, there were 27 racehorse deaths at Maryland tracks in 2025, according to the nonprofit Horseracing Wrongs.

Horse deaths, put simply, haunt the spirit of the Triple Crown.

Spreading out the calendar ensures greater participation in a safer playing field. For those arguing that it would make the Triple Crown an easier achievement, the series becomes much tougher in a stacked field of well-rested, elite colts.

The debate over the calendar’s merits became embedded in horse racing tradition.

In 2023, 1/ST Racing president Aidan Butler proposed a change and “did not win that battle.” Near consensus among horse racing enthusiasts says one race per month from May to July would make the most sense. This time last year, Mike Repole, a prominent owner in the sport, shared a lengthy post on social media advocating to move the Belmont up one week, then sliding the Preakness back four weeks.

“The Triple Crown is hard to win for a reason,” DeVaux told reporters on Sunday. “I appreciate the history of it. Horses are definitely different. They’re not built the same. They’re not trained the same as back then. But current times have shown that it can be done with the right horse.”

American Pharaoh broke a 37-year drought by winning the Triple Crown in 2015. Then in 2018, Justify made Bob Baffert the only trainer to win the Triple Crown twice. Two horses reached the mountaintop in a four-year span, but with each passing year since, detractors of the current calendar have grown louder.

If it’s going to happen, this year should be the one to tip the scales.

NBC Sports is in the final year of its contract broadcasting the Preakness. A new partner is likely to be decided later this month, which opens the door to legitimate change.

Maryland Jockey Club president and general manager Bill Knauf told The Sun that the organization would be “open to all possibilities.” If the New York Racing Association is willing to play ball, to save the Triple Crown, then maybe the purists and traditionalists will buy in, too.

Conor McGregor has not fought inside the UFC Octagon since suffering a broken leg against Dustin Poirier during their trilogy fight back in 2021.

Since then, constant speculation surrounded the former two-weight champion, with rumours repeatedly emerging regarding possible comeback plans before eventually fading away again.

However, 2026 increasingly appears to be the year McGregor finally returns to action after Dana White delivered a strong update regarding the Irishman’s future last Thursday.

Dana White is clear: Conor McGregor will fight this summer

Speaking during an appearance on Jim Rome’s show, White sounded extremely optimistic about finally securing McGregor’s long-awaited UFC comeback later this year.

“We’re in a great place with Conor. I’m extremely confident that Conor will fight this year. I’m extremely confident we’ll get him tied and ready to roll,” the 56-year-old businessman explained.

“He’s training, there’s footage out there. He’ll fight this summer. I thought it would happen last year, but I’m extremely confident it will happen this summer,” the UFC president continued.

White also stressed that positive discussions behind the scenes increased his confidence about ‘The Notorious’ finally ending his long absence from mixed martial arts competition.

He added: “He seems motivated, he’s training and there are a lot of great things going on behind the scenes that make me very confident that he will fight this summer.”

Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira linked to Conor McGregor’s return

Several major names are already being discussed as potential opponents for McGregor’s expected return later this year inside the UFC.

A rematch against Max Holloway currently appears among the strongest possibilities as the former featherweight champion still has no fight scheduled for the second half of the year.

The pair originally fought in 2013 before both stars transformed into global UFC icons across different weight divisions during the following decade.

Charles Oliveira also remains another realistic option after publicly pushing for a lightweight title opportunity while refusing to completely dismiss a lucrative showdown against “The Notorious”.

Read more:

Wayne Rooney has called for Trent Alexander-Arnold to be recalled to the England squad this summer.

The Real Madrid right-back was a headline omission from March’s camp, as Thomas Tuchel ran the rule over other options. Despite the absence of Reece James through injury, Tuchel selected Arsenal’s Ben White, Newcastle’s Tino Livramento, and Tottenham’s Djed Spence ahead of Alexander-Arnold.

Rooney has admitted he was left baffled by that decision and has urged Tuchel into a re-think.

“No disrespect to Ben White – I think he’s a fantastic player – but for him to be in the squad and playing ahead of Trent is mind-boggling,” Rooney said on the Wayne Rooney Podcast.

Former England defender Phil Jagielka expressed his belief that Alexander-Arnold could still be selected for the World Cup. He said the 27-year-old should be on the plane if he can find some form, but admitted he would start Chelsea captain James as his first-choice.

“I think he probably still makes it,” Jagielka said.

“You need your best players. If [Alexander-Arnold] proves he can play half as well as he played for most of his time at Liverpool, he’s definitely worth taking on the plane. If Reece James is fit, you put him in [at right-back].”

Read – The English players with the goal contributions in Champions League knockout ties

See more – The four English players to have scored in multiple Champions League semi-finals

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Manchester United are accelerating their summer transfer plans after a return to Champions League football was confirmed last weekend.

Strength in Depth

The Red Devils secured a guaranteed top-five finish with the pulsating 3-2 win over bitter rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday.

This was the brief INEOS handed interim boss Michael Carrick when he took the reins from Ruben Amorim in January. The 44-year-old coach has delivered it with ease, guiding his side to third place with the best run of form in the Premier League during his tenure.

Along the way, United have put every member of England’s ‘big six’ to the sword, with victories over Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. A well-placed source reveals they would be “astounded” if the former midfielder was not given the job on a permanent basis once the season has run its course.

But movements are already underway to strengthen the squad, irrespective of who is in the dugout, though Carrick and his coaching staff are understood to have been consulted over potential incomings and outgoings. One key consideration is depth, given the limited schedule of no European football and early cup exits this season has allowed players like Luke Shaw and Casemiro to virtually play every league game.

With the workload set to increase next season, alternatives—or in the case of the Brazilian midfielder, a replacement—will be needed to avoid burnout on the pitch.

Touchline Terror

While many had predicted United would target a left-winger this summer to provide a complement to Matheus Cunha, the emergence of Patrick Dorgu as a rampaging wideman has seen attention fall further back. The 21-year-old Dane would have served as an understudy to Shaw, but instead, a new left-back has become a top priority to allow him to remain higher up the pitch.

Football Insider reveals West Ham breakout star El Hadji Malick Diouf is seen as the “perfect profile” by Old Trafford executives. The 21-year-old flying full-back “ticks a lot of boxes” due to his “attacking prowess”, with the club “keen to add an athletic, exciting player” on that side of the pitch.

“The 21-year-old is seen as a player who is only going to get better as he builds his career in the Premier League, and sources say that is another major reason behind United’s interest.” The Senegal international, who thrived for his country at the Africa Cup of Nations, has registered five assists in an impressive debut season at the London Stadium, putting a number of top clubs on red alert.

His crosses into the box are already as good as any other full-back in the league and offer a tantalising prospect for Benjamin Sesko.

The Hammers paid £19 million to secure the 6’0 juggernaut last summer from Czech champions Slavia Prague, where he played a pivotal role in their title win. It would require a much higher fee to prise him away from east London.

However, West Ham are currently embroiled in a dogfight for relegation with local rivals Tottenham Hotspur, one they look set to lose. If Nuno Espirito Santo’s men are unable to avoid the drop, their negotiating position for their best players will crumble.

United are also understood to have held talks to sign midfield maestro Mateus Fernandes, setting up the prospect of a blockbuster double raid for the two teammates were West Ham to be relegated.

Final Thoughts

Diouf is undoubtedly an exciting prospect, with a potent pairing of speed, size and strength that makes him perfectly suited to Premier League football. The fact that he combines these physical qualities with a wicked delivery only adds to his intrigue.

However, the Dakar native is poor defensively, often switching off and allowing opposition forwards to run inside or behind him. Despite his size, he is not particularly strong in the air, nor is his positioning near the level needed at the Theatre of Dreams.

United would be better served redeploying Dorgu as a flying full-back while targeting a more natural winger on the left, as the two 21-year-olds possess strikingly similar profiles.

Featured image Warren Little via Getty Images

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World Cup ticket prices could see a significant reduction in the lead-up to the tournament, as resale tickets are currently cheaper than those offered directly by FIFA. The pricing is similar across numerous fixtures, including the United States’ opening match against Paraguay.

Following the opening of a new sales window by FIFA on Thursday, a Category 1 ticket for the co-hosts’ inaugural game in Los Angeles was listed at 2,735 US dollars (£2,013) on Friday morning. In stark contrast, Category 1 tickets on FIFA’s official resale platform were available from 1,300 USD (£957) – less than half the price of a first-hand purchase.

When questioned by the New York Post about the four-figure sums for the opening match, Donald Trump remarked: "I wouldn’t pay that either."

FIFA has implemented a controversial dynamic pricing strategy for its primary ticket sales. Should resale prices continue to undercut direct sales, it could exert downward pressure on the cost of those primary tickets.

As of Friday morning, tickets for ten matches were unavailable on the primary ticketing site. These include the final, the group stage clash between Portugal and Colombia, a potential last-32 fixture involving Lionel Messi’s Argentina in Miami, and a possible last-16 encounter between England and Mexico in Mexico City.

FIFA did not confirm on Friday morning whether that meant all tickets for those matches were now sold out or whether more might still be made available.

The cheapest Category 4 resale ticket available for the final on Friday morning was listed at 9,373 USD (£6,892), with the most expensive Category 1 tickets priced at 345,000 USD – over £250,000.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino told his organisation’s Congress last week there had been 500 million ticket requests.

“We sold 100 per cent of the inventory that we put on the market, which is more or less 90 per cent of the global inventory so far,” he added.

“And, of course, we are always putting tickets on the market. There are expensive tickets, yes, but there are also affordable tickets.”

He went further in defending the prices at a conference in Beverly Hills earlier this week, claiming they compared favourably even with tickets to attend US college sports events.

Despite President Trump’s comments on pricing, the head of his World Cup task force, Andrew Giuliani, told the Financial Times: “We don’t really believe in price controls.”

He added that sales were on a “pretty good pathway” with over five million tickets sold.

We asked for your views after Crystal Palace beat Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 and 5-2 on aggregate to advance to the Conference League final.

Here are some of your comments:

Rich: Great game, great atmosphere and great win. Palace, especially in the second half, showed great character and ability to take a stranglehold of the game. Result could've been more emphatic. So many impressive performances especially from Mitchell, Kamada and Wharton. The stadium was rocking. Roll on the final.

Al: What an incredible achievement by this group of players. Glasner deserves credit despite that mid-season tantrum. One game away from another historical landmark. So proud of the team and club I've supported for 59 years.

Dean: I've watched Palace for over 50 years, these last two under Glasner are beyond my dreams, my dad's dreams and could be the start of something special for my grandchildren.

Des: An amazing night, just cannot believe we are in a European Final.

Paul: Shakhtar huffed and puffed but couldn't blow the Selhurst Park house down! We could have scored a hatful and we looked so dangerous on the break. Onwards to Leipzig and well done to Glasner and all the players. Starting to get used to a cheeky May-time cup final!

Paul G: A fantastic performance from the team and an electric atmosphere generated by the fans. Glasner is Palace's greatest ever manager and it is such a shame he has decided to leave.

Andy: Selhurst was rocking. What a great game and solid performance. It was a clinical finish for the equaliser, but you always felt like we would score again. Hats off to Glastner, he has made this team believe what's possible. Now the club needs to reward the players and improve contracts before it's too late again

Phillies' Andrew Painter showed guts in blowout loss to Athletics originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Philadelphia Phillies four-game winning streak came to a close Thursday night after the Athletics thwarted the sweep, winning by a score of 12-1. The Phillies' bats went cold after scoring 23 runs during their winning streak -- the offense went 6-for-31 at the dish with nine strikeouts.

To go with a poor offensive performance, the Phillies received an even worse performance from starting pitcher, right-hander Andrew Painter. Painter didn't have his stuff from pitch one, allowing eight earned runs on seven hits, walking three, and giving up three two-run home runs in 3.2 innings. 

Thursday night's start was the worst performance of Painter's young career so far, but he showed some guts to eat innings, as it was his call to try to pitch a fourth inning. 

Andrew Painter showed guts to try to help save the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen

According to Phillies beat writer Jeff Kerr for 97.3 ESPN, interim manager Don Mattingly gave Painter the option to end his night after throwing three innings, but Painter opted to come out and try to pitch the fourth inning. 

"You have to learn how to deal with that stuff," Painter told Kerr. "Stuff wasn't going my way, but as a competitor you wanna go out there and just compete until you can't anymore."

More News:Brandon Marsh helped show why the Phillies are better than they've been

Painter added that he'll need to focus on some "delivery stuff" when working with Phillies pitching coach Caleb Cotham, so he throws less "predictable pitches."

“I think we'll go, and we'll look back on tomorrow on probably about some delivery stuff, and where the misses are coming from, specifically, but I think it's just you know being able to move the fastball around, I think I've thrown pretty predictable pitches, obviously seeing it well,” Painter said postgame.

In six starts (seven games), Painter is 1-4 with a 6.89 ERA and has allowed six home runs in 32.2 innings. Painter has time to work on bettering his fastball command and reshaping his delivery, as his next expected start should be against the Boston Red Sox on May 13. 

More News:

• MLB expert lists the American League Central as not 'chaotic'
• Phillies Bryce Harper makes his feelings on Bryson Stott clear
• Braves lead the most 'chaotic' division in MLB
• National League Central labeled most 'chaotic' by MLB expert
• Marlins make expected decision on veteran right-hander

Pirates' surprise success has them favored to make the postseason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

At 21-17, the Pittsburgh Pirates sit third in the National League Central standings, which is surprising. Sitting five games behind the Chicago Cubs (26-12) for the lead in the division, the Pirates are showing that they might be able to make the playoffs as a wild-card team. 

The Pittsburgh Pirates' surprise success has them positioned to make the playoffs for the first time in over a decade

The Pirates have not made the postseason since 2015, when they lost in the Wild Card round (1-0) to the Cubs. However, that appears to be changing, as MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan ranked the Pirates second, behind the Tampa Bay Rays, as the biggest surprise team with a chance to make the playoffs. 

"The Pirates (20-17) may be in fourth place in the surprising National League Central right now, but they’ve outscored their opponents by 23 runs and are mere percentage points behind the Brewers (19-16) in the race for the third NL Wild Card spot," wrote Harrigan. "Pittsburgh’s revamped offense is legit, especially with rookie phenom Konnor Griffin starting to find his form, and its rotation has MLB’s lowest FIP (3.30). Reigning NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes had a rough Opening Day start against the Mets, but he’s looked like his typical self over his past seven starts (1.31 ERA), and the Bucs have also gotten strong performances from Mitch Keller (2.85 ERA) and Braxton Ashcraft (3.02 ERA).

The Pirates actually have a strong case to be No. 1 on this list, but it looks like it’s going to be tougher to make the playoffs in the NL than the AL this season, so we’ll slot them behind the Rays."

More News:Brandon Marsh helped show why the Phillies are better than they've been

The Pirates have one of the better starting staffs in Major League Baseball (fifth in ERA, 3.51) and have received great performances from the top three in the rotation: right-handers Paul Skenes (2.36 ERA), Mitch Keller (2.87 ERA), and Braxton Ashcraft (3.02 ERA).

The Pirates also have the 10th-best offense in baseball (.719 OPS and .246 batting average). These successes are, and should help, the Pirates maintain relevance in the Central, but adding at the trade deadline will show whether the Pirates are for real. 

More News:

• MLB expert lists the American League Central as not 'chaotic'
• Phillies Bryce Harper makes his feelings on Bryson Stott clear
• Braves lead the most 'chaotic' division in MLB
• National League Central labeled most 'chaotic' by MLB expert
• Marlins make expected decision on veteran right-hander

Reds' struggles aren't hindering their odds of making the playoffs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cincinnati Reds have hit a major rough patch this season, as they have lost seven straight games. To make matters worse for the Reds, they have lost two arms on their pitching staff to injury, with right-handers Emilio Pagan and Rhett Lowder leaving their outings early. 

Pagan left with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain while pitching against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, while Lowder left his start on Thursday after three innings with a shoulder injury. Despite their struggles as of late and the injuries mounting, the Reds still are over .500 (20-18) and still have a great chance to make the postseason. 

The Cincinnati Reds have a great chance to make the playoffs despite their recent struggles

The Reds snuck into the playoffs last season after the New York Mets collapsed down the stretch (28-37) post All-Star break, but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Wild Card round (2-0). According to MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan, the Reds ranked fifth as one of the biggest surprise teams that have a chance to make the postseason. 

"The Reds actually made the playoffs last season, so it's hard calling them a surprise contender," wrote Harrigan. "But still, this is a team that has reached the postseason in consecutive years just once (2012-13) since they won back-to-back World Series titles in 1975-76. They also didn’t clinch a playoff berth last year until the final day of the regular season and entered 2026 with the fifth-longest playoffs odds (per FanGraphs) of any NL team. So it was definitely surprising to see them start out 20-11 in 2026." 

More News:Brandon Marsh helped show why the Phillies are better than they've been

The Reds' offense has seen great performances from shortstop Elly De La Cruz, who is looking like a possible MVP candidate, and rookie infielder Sal Stewart, who has been a bright spot after showing promise last season. In 38 games, De La Cruz is hitting .265 with a .847 OPS and 10 home runs, while Stewart is hitting .245 with a .830 OPS and 10 home runs. 

The Reds will have to rely on the offense to hold things over until the pitching staff gets healthy. Ace Hunter Greene (right elbow surgery) should return around July, which will give a boost to the starting rotation. Pagan, meanwhile, is listed to return sometime in June or July. 

More News:

• MLB expert lists the American League Central as not 'chaotic'
• Phillies Bryce Harper makes his feelings on Bryson Stott clear
• Braves lead the most 'chaotic' division in MLB
• National League Central labeled most 'chaotic' by MLB expert
• Marlins make expected decision on veteran right-hander

Rays' recent success adds to their chances of making the playoffs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Tampa Bay Rays are one of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball, as they are winners of seven straight games. During their winning streak, the Rays have outscored their opponents 30-10.

At 25-12, the Rays sit a half-game behind the New York Yankees for the lead in the American League East, while maintaining the fourth-best record in baseball. After not making the playoffs for the last three seasons -- the Rays lost to the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers in the Wild Card round (2-0) in 2023 -- the Rays have a great chance to turn that around. 

The Tampa Bay Rays ranked as the biggest surprise team to make the postseason 

According to MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan, the Rays were ranked as the biggest surprise team to make the postseason after getting off to their hot start.

"With 12 wins in their past 13 games, the Rays have the best record (24-12) of any team on this list -- and the fourth-best record in MLB this season," wrote Harrigan. "Tampa Bay is the one of two AL teams, along with the Yankees, to have three qualifiers ranked among the league’s top 25 hitters in wRC+, with Yandy Díaz (12th at 145), Jonathan Aranda (tied for 16th at 135) and Junior Caminero (tied for 24th at 125) all off to strong starts. The Rays also have MLB’s fourth-best ERA at 3.58, and they’ve started to play better defense lately after struggling in that department early on."

More News:Brandon Marsh helped show why the Phillies are better than they've been

However, the Rays may struggle to maintain this success down the stretch as their starting pitching is a question mark. Right-hander Ryan Pepiot, who started the season on the injured list with right hip inflammation, will miss the entire season after undergoing surgery. Left-hander Steven Matz (left elbow inflammation) and right-hander Joe Boyle (right elbow inflammation) have possible return dates of late May, but that is not set in stone. 

Left-hander Shane McClanahan has pitched like his All-Star self (4-2 with a 2.60 ERA), but he can't be fully relied on to lead things, as he missed the past two seasons due to injuries. So, given these factors, the Rays may be a team to watch to buy in the starting pitching market at the trade deadline (Aug. 3). 

More News:

• MLB expert lists the American League Central as not 'chaotic'
• Phillies Bryce Harper makes his feelings on Bryson Stott clear
• Braves lead the most 'chaotic' division in MLB
• National League Central labeled most 'chaotic' by MLB expert
• Marlins make expected decision on veteran right-hander

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Wolves at American Express Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Mats Wieffer is a doubt because of a "small ankle issue", while Diego Gomez will be assessed to see if he can be available.
• On Gomez, who Hurzeler expected to have back for this game: "I'm hoping, but it's important we understand we can't risk his health and we have a responsibility for the players."
• Solly March and James Milner return and "will definitely be an option".
• He said Lewis Dunk did not feature against Newcastle "because he wasn't fully training", but he has this week and there's "always an opportunity for my captain to come back in and play".
• On opponents Wolves: "When you only look at the results it's one perspective, but they have a really good coach, structure and plan. We expect a team that's very disciplined and defend in a low block. They can still sting you."
• Hurzeler said their "biggest challenge is to bounce back" from the Newcastle defeat by overcoming "small margins" and eradicating "small easy mistakes" they made.
• On signing a new long-term deal: "I feel the trust. I feel the connection. I'm here to achieve something together with the players and staff. I always felt we were building something. I am really excited at what's ahead of us because I see a bright future for the club. I'm looking forward to being part of it."
• He said one of his aims is "to build a high-performance culture" because that long-term puts them in a better position to win silverware.

Got a question about Brighton? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

In Kenyan influencer Nana Owiti's wardrobe, dozens of Arsenal jerseys tell the story of her passion for the club. 

It's an unbreakable bond that goes back 20 years to the days when the London team's largely black squad made them hugely popular in Africa. 

"(Thierry) Henry actually made me fall in love with Arsenal first off because he was a cutie," said Owiti, who has millions of social media followers for her Gunners-obsessed social media feeds.

Her first and most treasured jersey was Henry's number 14. 

"And then I look again and I see Sol Campbell -- his massive body," she added with a giggle. "And all of a sudden, Kolo Toure... so many players of African descent." 

In September 2002, Arsenal became the first club to name nine black players in a Premier League starting XI as they beat Leeds 4-1.

"(They) looked like me... that was why I chose Arsenal," said Owiti.

"Arsenal is responsible for most of my happiness and sadness."

It's mostly happiness these days, with the club on the verge of winning the Premier League and securing a place in the Champions League final this week. 

There were ecstatic scenes at a bar in Nairobi on Wednesday when Arsenal beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 to reach the Champions League final for only the second time.

Dozens of gleeful Kenyans blasted vuvuzelas when tearful Spanish fans appeared on screen, and one fan even lit a flare inside the bar, adding a Gunner-red hue to the jubilation. 

Zimbabwean Leslie, who only gave his first name, shared a similar story to Owiti. 

"I was 12 years old. Arsenal sometimes had nine black players out of 11. I could identify with them," he said, reeling off the club's all-time best XI with the likes of Henry, Campbell, Ashley Cole, and Patrick Vieira. 

But he was also in awe of the club's long-time manager Arsene Wenger, who was in charge from 1996 to 2018. "He was a revolutionary, a visionary!" 

- 'Made them great' -

Wenger was a key factor in Arsenal's appeal, agreed Emeka Cyriacus Onyenuforo, founder and president of the Arsenal supporters club in Nigeria, which grew significantly after local star Nwkankwo Kanu joined the Gunners.

Wenger made it "a unified football club, by not looking at the skin of the player, going beyond that to get... fantastic players that he got from nowhere and made them great," Onyenuforo told AFP.

In Ethiopia, too, there was a feeling that Wenger gave "priority to African players," said Akalework Amde, head of the country's supporters club. 

It didn't hurt that Arsenal were racking up victories in that period: three Premier League titles (1998, 2002, 2004) and a 49-match unbeaten run in 2003-2004 that earned their players the nickname "The Invincibles". 

It was a time when the Premier League was transforming into an international brand, and beaming into African homes via the South African satellite channel Supersport. 

"If you go way back to the 80s, every Kenyan would watch football made in Germany, because that's all that used to appear," said Carol Radull, who runs hugely popular social media feeds devoted to Arsenal. 

The subsequent decades of drought, without any major titles, has not dampened the enthusiasm. 

Raila Odinga, a dominant political leader in Kenya for decades up to his death last year, was a passionate Arsenal fan. 

Rwandan President Paul Kagame, whose country sponsors Arsenal through the "Visit Rwanda" campaign, posts about the club on X. 

While Africa initially developed a passion for the Gunners because of their black players, "now people love the team for the team," said Robbie Lyle, founder of Arsenal Fan TV, who has travelled to all five continents to meet the club's supporters. 

"The following has been insane," he said. "In Africa, everywhere you go, you see an Arsenal shirt."

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Real Madrid is going through one of its most tense moments at an institutional level following the serious incidents that recently took place at Real Madrid City involving Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni.

As reported by Alberto Pereiro on Onda Cero, the club is considering a range of sanctions that reflects the magnitude of what happened in what is already being described as the most serious episode in the history of Valdebebas. In short, an exemplary punishment.

The sporting consequences for Fede Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni could be immediate. The club is weighing a suspension of between 3 and 10 matches for both players.

This measure would leave Álvaro Arbeloa's setup without these two players in the final stretch of the league campaign, underlining that internal discipline takes precedence over on-field needs.

Unprecedented financial fine

On the financial side, the board does not intend to hold back. An unprecedented fine is being considered that could reach 5% of the players' gross salary .

In real terms, this would mean a payment of close to 500,000 euros per head, a "brutal" figure aimed at setting an absolute precedent in the club's disciplinary code.

They will not be let go in the summer

Despite the severity of the punishment and the fact that Valverde is being pointed to as one of the main parties responsible, Real Madrid does not plan to part ways with them in the summer transfer window.

The club is opting for an exemplary sanction, but maintains its sporting trust in two players who, until now, were considered the future of Madrid's midfield.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Federico Gatti continues to attract interest from Premier League clubs ahead of the summer transfer window, with at least three English sides reportedly monitoring his situation closely.

The defender remains an important figure within the dressing room at the Allianz Stadium despite not being a regular starter in Juventus’ recent matches. Gatti is highly respected by his teammates and coaching staff because of his professionalism, commitment and willingness to deliver strong performances whenever he is selected for the team.

Although he still holds value within the squad, Juventus are believed to be open to considering offers for the defender at the end of the season if an attractive proposal arrives. The Bianconeri are continuing to evaluate players who could help generate funds as they prepare for another important summer of squad rebuilding.

Premier League Clubs Interested

A move to the Premier League now appears a realistic possibility for Gatti as English clubs continue to search for experienced defenders capable of strengthening their squads. The Italian international is viewed as a reliable and competitive centre back with the experience required to adapt successfully to English football.

Juventus have also developed a recent history of doing business with Premier League teams. Players such as Nicolo Savona and Federico Chiesa have already completed moves to England, and the Bianconeri may once again look towards the Premier League market during the upcoming transfer window.

Race for Gatti Intensifies

Several English clubs are now believed to be preparing for a potential battle to secure the defender’s signature. Everton, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are all reportedly interested in adding Gatti to their squads before the start of next season.

As reported by Football Italia, the three Premier League clubs view Gatti as one of the most experienced defenders available on the market and believe he could strengthen their teams significantly. Interest in the Juventus defender is expected to continue growing as clubs finalise their transfer plans and assess defensive reinforcements ahead of the new campaign.

Former Australia international prop Jermaine Ainsley's move to Saracens is off and he will return to the Southern Hemisphere for "personal reasons" after the termination of his Lyon contract.

The 30-year-old had been due to link up with the north London club in preparation for the 2026-27 season but Sarries have confirmed in a statement he will no longer be signing.

Ainsley, who was born in New Zealand but earned three caps for the Wallabies, has represented Perth Spirit, Force, Rebels and Melbourne Rising in Australia, as well as Otago and Highlanders in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Sarries prop Harvey Beaton has signed a new deal with the Prem club.

The 25-year-old has made 23 appearances, including six this season.

"I feel privileged to re-sign with my boyhood club," he told the club website.

"I've learned a lot during my time here and I'm excited to keep developing, playing a part in the team's success going forward, and continuing to work with a great group in north London."

Alphonso Davies will miss Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga away match against VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday, head coach Vincent Kompany confirmed at a press conference on Friday.

“Alphonso Davies is out tomorrow. We'll see how long he's out for based on the scans. It's a muscular issue,” Kompany said.

Except for Davies and Serge Gnabry, Kompany is expected to have a all senior players available for the trip.

Following Bayern’s Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, the Belgian coach also addressed potential squad rotations for the final two league matches against Wolfsburg and 1. FC Köln.

“Looking ahead a week, I can tell you that my focus for the match against Köln will be on maintaining our momentum heading into the cup final (against Stuttgart, May 23),” Kompany said.

“If we make substitutions, they’ll be purely precautionary. If the players are fit, we’ll go on the attack and try to maintain our level of play. We’ve had little time to recover since Wednesday, and then we fly to Wolfsburg, so freshness is also a factor there. The guys gave it their all against Paris. We’ll see who looks fresh, so I haven’t decided yet who will play.

“I do have the strategy in mind, but I still want to observe the individual players in training. If someone is happy and gives me the feeling that he’s ready to run through the forest at 100 percent, with no second thoughts, then we’ll go with that.”

Everything (or almost everything) in 90 minutes: Serie B is getting ready to deliver its verdicts on Matchday 38, with only Venezia already promoted to Serie A.

Watch the entire Serie BKT live on OneFootball for just €9.99 per month. Click here to buy the LaB Channel Monthly Pass with no automatic renewal.

All the Matchday 38 Serie B games, scheduled for Friday 8 May at 8:30 pm, along with the playoffs that will decide the third team promoted to Serie A, will be available on OneFootball by clicking the link above and following the instructions. An incredible spectacle, with celebrations and meltdowns ready to erupt. 

🔥 BATTLE FOR SERIE A: FROSINONE DREAMS, MONZA HOPES

After a sensational and historic duel, Frosinone go into the final matchday three points ahead of Monza. Until the previous round, the two sides were level, but then an incredible penultimate matchday saw Paolo Bianco’s Brianzoli fall to Mantova with a goal in the 94th minute, while the Ciociari won away at Castellammare di Stabia.

Monza hold the head-to-head advantage and have one chance in nine of going up to Serie A: beat Empoli at home and hope that Mantova, after beating them, also defeat Massimiliano Alvini’s Ciociari. 

As for the playoffs, the final spot is still up for grabs. One of Frosinone and Monza is guaranteed a place, along with Palermo, Catanzaro, Modena and Juve Stabia. Right now Avellino are eighth, level on points with Cesena and Mantova, while Carrarese and Sampdoria are also still in the race, albeit with very slim chances. 

💥 RELEGATION ZONE: BARI ON THE BRINK, 3 HEADING TOWARDS SERIE C

At the bottom of the table, incredibly, there is still no verdict with 90 minutes left, though the situation is almost completely defined. Reggiana, Spezia and Pescara are level on 34 points and, as things stand, would be in Serie C. Bari, who will play away at Catanzaro, are the key factor for the three sides mentioned above: if the Biancorossi get one point, all three would be relegated to Serie C, with Bari going into the playouts. 

But keep an eye on the rules. If Bari lose at Catanzaro and Entella beat Carrarese, the playouts would not take place, since the gap between the fourth-bottom and fifth-bottom teams would be five points, sending the bottom four directly down to Serie C. 

Sudtirol and Empoli are also involved, just one point above the playout zone and at risk of being dragged into the final showdown. 

THE SCHEDULE

In short, a crazy matchday with countless possible scenarios, and the simultaneous kick-offs will add even more drama, as already happened in the previous round. Here is the schedule 

Avellino-Modena

Catanzaro-Bari

Cesena-Padova

Frosinone-Mantova

Monza-Empoli

Pescara-Spezia

Reggiana-Sampdoria

Sudtirol-Juve Stabia

Venezia-Palermo

Virtus Entella-Carrarese

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

Hundreds of South Koreans will cheer for a North Korean women's football team when it makes a rare trip across the border for a continental semi-final this month, civic groups told AFP on Friday.

North Korea's Naegohyang Women's FC will play the South's Suwon FC Women on May 20 in the Asian Champions League.

It will be the first time that a North Korean sports team has played in the South since 2018.

The countries technically remain at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

South Korean civic organisations are rallying groups of volunteers to roar on Naegohyang, with one predicting that more than 1,000 may end up backing the North Koreans at the match in Suwon city.

The groups support reconciliation between North and South Korea and often organise activities to promote their cause. 

There will be no away fans because North Koreans cannot enter the South.

The Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation (KCRC) told AFP that it had already enlisted about 300 people.

"At a time when inter-Korean relations are severe, news of Naegohyang's visit brings us hope that it will serve as an opportunity to rekindle the fading flame of peace," the KCRC said.

The Korean Sharing Movement said it recruited 100 within an hour of posting an announcement on Wednesday, while the Hankyoreh Foundation for Reunification and Culture claimed around 60.

However, South Korean laws and political sensitivities make it uncertain how exactly the fans should hail their adopted heroes.

Under South Korean national security laws, it is illegal to own or brandish the North Korean flag or play its national anthem in public spaces.

The use of the Korean unification flag -- a blue outline of the entire peninsula on a white background -- may also be restricted under Asian Football Confederation rules banning political expression in stadiums.

An official at South Korea's unification ministry told reporters this month that club flags, not national ones, would be displayed during the match, and national anthems would not be played.

The winner of the semi-final will advance to the final of Asia's top women's club competition in Suwon on May 23, against either Australia's Melbourne City or Japan's Tokyo Verdy Beleza.

sjh/mjw/pst

Coming into tonight’s match up, the Firebirds were in a do-or-die situation.  The series sat at 2-1 in favor of Ontario, and another loss would mean the end of Coachella Valley’s playoff run.  The Firebirds were not ready to call it a season.

Jack Hughes (not THAT Jack Hughes) opened the scoring for the Reign 14 minutes into the first period.  The Firebirds battled, but it took a powerplay to get them on the board.  Hughes took two minutes for tripping at 17:28, and buy 17:34, JR Avon had tied it up for Coachella Valley. Six seconds of 5-on-4 action was all it took.  Despite the first period ending 1-1, the Firebirds outshot the Reign 15 to 5.  

The second period was all Firebirds.  Mitchell Stephens posted his second goal of the post-season and rookie defenseman Kaden Hammell notched his first AHL playoff goal.  In the third, he would ago on to add an assist, and the goal would turn out to be the game-winner.

The scoring onslaught continued in the third: Lleyton Roed, Jagger Firkus, and Oscar Fisker Mølgaard all putting their stamps on the scoreboard.  The Reign had several opportunities—they outshot the ‘Birds 15 to 9 in the final twenty—but Nikke Kokko said “no no.”  The only Reign goal that made it through in the final period came with less than five minutes remaining.

When the dust settled, the Firebirds had won 6-2 and lived to fight another day. 

Game Five will be held Saturday at 6pm in Ontario.

Related:

Prospect Roundup: Ryden Evers Joins Coachella Valley For Their Playoff RunThe 6’5” playmaker brings his point-per-game production to the Firebirds as they make their way through the AHL post season.

The Premier League could boast six clubs in the Champions League for a second season running if all the right pieces fall into place.

It is the second consecutive year that the Premier League has earned an additional spot, with the English top flight at the top of the European Performance Standings (EPS) after its clubs reached the final of all three European competitions.

Last term saw an unprecedented six English clubs qualify for the Champions League; five by their league position, and with Tottenham earning their place in the league phase after winning the Europa League.

The same could happen again this term, with the Premier League appearing as one of the more prominent beneficiaries to the competition’s expansion to 36 teams that came into effect at the beginning of 2024/25.

Here’s what needs to happen

Why six Premier League teams could qualify for the Champions League

As with every season, the top four clubs in the Premier League table are guaranteed a spot in the 2026/27 edition – but like last year, England have earned an additional place.

But the winner of the Europa League is also awarded a place in the Champions League - and Aston Villa are through to the final to play Freiberg in Istanbul on Wednesday 20 May.

Villa are currently fifth in the Premier League, six points ahead of sixth-placed Bournemouth. As it stands, they are looking on course to qualify for the Champions League anyway.

Villa could yet finish fourth, as they are level on points with Liverpool. If Villa win the Europa League and finish in the top four, the Premier League will stay with five teams in the Champions League.

But if Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth the additional place in the Champions League awarded by the EPS will drop down to the team that finishes sixthin the Premier League.

This is of interest to several Premier League teams, with the race for sixth extremely competitive this season. There are just four points separating sixth-placed Brighton to Fulham, in 11th.

The race for sixth place in the Premier League...

5th) Aston Villa | Pts: 58, GD: +4

--------------------------------------------

6th) Bournemouth | Pts: 52, GD: +3

7th) Brentford | Pts: 51, GD: +6

8th) Brighton | Pts: 50, GD: +7

9th) Chelsea | Pts: 48, GD: +6

10th) Everton | Pts: 48, GD: 0

11th) Fulham | Pts: 48, GD: -5

Remaining fixtures

Bournemouth: Fulham (a), Man City (h), Nottingham Forest (a)

Brentford: Man City (a), Crystal Palace (h), Liverpool (a)

Brighton: Wolves (h), Leeds (a), Manchester United (h)

Chelsea: Liverpool (a), Tottenham (h), Sunderland (a)

Everton: Crystal Palace (a), Sunderland (h), Tottenham (a)

Fulham: Bournemouth (h), Wolves (a), Newcastle (h)

Why Brentford might need to lose on the final day

If Brentford went into their final-day trip to Liverpool in 6th, they could be in a position where they need to lose to qualify for Champions League.

The team who finishes the season in 6th would only qualify for Champions League if Aston Villa won the Europa League and finished 5th.

Liverpool, who are 4th, would therefore need to finish above Aston Villa, and Brentford could ensure that happens by losing at Anfield.

It’s highly unlikely it plays out this way, but Brentford beating Liverpool on the final day could result in Aston Villa finishing above the Reds.

Aston Villa have confirmed that Ebony Salmon, Gabi Nunes and Sabrina D'Angelo will leave the club upon the expiration of their contracts in June.

England forward Salmon made her senior debut for the club aged 16 in 2017 but left to gain regular football before returning six years later.

The 25-year-old has made 73 appearances in her second spell at the club and started Monday's 2-0 defeat by West Ham in the Women's Super League.

Brazil international Nunes joined in 2024 from Spanish side Levante and made 22 appearances in her first season before a back injury disrupted this campaign.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper D'Angelo leaves due to a desire to be closer to her family having featured heavily for Villa.

She played every game in her debut season in 2024-25 and has made 15 appearances this year, facing competition from England goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck.

The 32-year-old has made 45 WSL appearances in total after joining the league from Sweden four years ago.

Aston Villa’s current generation of players were fearing a reputation as the “nearly men”, but could now become legends by winning the club’s first trophy in 30 years.

In front of the Prince of Wales, the heir to the throne, Europa League king Unai Emery reached another show-piece event to allow Villa to dream of writing some history.

It has been more than 10,000 days since they last lifted silverware with their League Cup triumph of 1996, but they will face Freiburg in the final later this month with Emery targeting his fifth trophy in the competition.

Prince William wildly celebrated in the directors’ box and then the dressing room after the match as Villa swatted Nottingham Forest aside with ruthless efficiency.

Prince William behind-the-scenes with Matty Cash and Lucas Digne 🤝 pic.twitter.com/Ta7NPLvxTS

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026

Villa had lost two previous semi-finals under Emery in successive years, in the Conference League and FA Cup, but a hat-trick never appeared remotely possible.

Emery’s team were rampant in the final stages, with inspirational captain John McGinn putting the gloss on a fine evening with two late goals.

McGinn has spoken openly about those painful semi-final defeats but could lift the trophy if Villa can defeat their Bundesliga opponents in Istanbul on May 20.

With Emery in charge, few would bet against them as they prepare for a first European final since 1982.

Ollie Watkins, the scorer of the first goal, said: “There’s no better manager than him to get us prepared for this game and take us into the final. His track record speaks for itself.

“We’re in a great position but we need to go and win it now. After the performance against Tottenham, everyone’s mind was on this game.”

Ollie Watkins fires Aston Villa into the lead 💥

What a run that was from Buendia 💫

📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/bPKsvSmqth

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026

What a night this was for Emery, who was subjected to rare criticism from supporters just five days ago.

The Spaniard has not endured many negative moments since his appointment over three-and-a-half years ago.

There have been a few surprise results and mini-stumbles in form, but the anger which accompanied Sunday’s home defeat by Tottenham was unprecedented.

That defeat only increased the pressure on this game, though it was as if it had never happened. Villa could also virtually guarantee a place in next season’s Champions League if they beat Burnley on Sunday.

Emery said: “In my first press conference here I was talking about trophies and Europe.

“We have reached it through hard work and this is the standard we want to achieve. The players got to their best today and were so motivated.

“The final is a 50-50 opportunity for both teams and we have weeks to prepare the process. We can win or lose the final, but we have to be ready.”

Forest will fondly remember their first European excursions in three decades and are close to securing Premier League survival under Vitor Pereira.

This defeat ended a run of 11 matches unbeaten but they were disappointing and managed only two shots on target all evening.

Morgan Gibbs-White was not risked from the bench after sustaining a gruesome head injury in the win at Chelsea on Monday.

Forest were also without the injured Ola Aina and Callum Hudson-Odoi, while there were doubts over the fitness of substitutes Murillo, Ibrahim Sangaré and Dan Ndoye.

With Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis in attendance, reaching a European semi-final is further evidence of the club’s progress.

Forest can take a step closer towards safety by beating Newcastle at home on Sunday.

Pereira said: “To compete in a semi-final and against a team like Villa we need everyone in the conditions to compete.

“If you look before the game on the bench we had three players, because the other ones were injured.

“I’m disappointed for the club and the supporters because we didn’t have the solutions. It is a sad day but we need to look to the future and don’t have time to complain.”

Villa Park bounced with noise all night. There were fireworks and early evidence of Villa’s mindset with goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez taking huge exception to the Forest team’s pre-match huddle in front of the away fans.

It was predictably nervy, with Forest’s gameplan clearly to frustrate Villa by flooding midfield and pinching a goal on the counter-attack.

Omari Hutchinson, Forest’s record £37.5m signing, was close to finding the top corner after a quick break, which included a sublime crossfield pass from James McAtee.

Yet Villa were always more dangerous in attacking areas and the opening goal had a whiff of inevitability about it.

Watkins was bandaged up after a collision with Morato but was celebrating nine minutes before the break.

Forest failed to clear their lines twice and the ball bounced to Emiliano Buendía who cleverly beat two players to cross and find Watkins, who diverted the ball past Ortega at the near post.

The momentum was with Villa and the pivotal moment came in the 56th minute when Nikola Milenkovic was adjudged to have pulled the shirt of Pau Torres in the penalty area.

Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg reviewed the incident on his television monitor and whenever that happens you usually know what comes next.

Up stepped Buendía and he directed the spot-kick into the bottom left hand corner to put Villa ahead on aggregate.

He made the first and now he's scored the second 🔥

Emi Buendia gives Aston Villa the lead from the spot 🎯

📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/HLMGoQTkL6

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026

The camera panned to Prince William, who was jumping around and hugging Damian Vidagany, Villa’s director of football operations. Villa Park was sensing a famous victory.

The hosts remained in control and McGinn, their talismanic ball of energy, converted twice with a pair of almost identical finishes from just inside the area.

INCREDIBLE 💥

John McGinn scores an almost identical goal minutes after his last and Aston Villa have four 😅

📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/yNwyv9oXO7

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026

It is his team who emerge from this all-English affair with the chance to write some history of their own.

Onto the final

6 - Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has reached his sixth major European final – all in the UEFA Europa League from 2014 to 2026. Only Giovanni Trapattoni has managed more major finals in European competition (7). Specialist. pic.twitter.com/riotlXQrGF

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 7, 2026

Vitor Pereira speaking to TNT Sports

"We did not have the level to compete today"

Vitor Pereira reflects on Nottingham Forest's defeat to Aston Villa...

🎙️ @OliviaBuzaglo

📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/gd5s7qSA5Q

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026

Post-match thoughts of Villa captain John McGinn

"I'm normally quite calm before games but the pressure today was intense"

John McGinn reflects on Aston Villa's impressive Europa League semi-final performance against Nottingham Forest...

🎙️ @lynseyhipgrave1

📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/FJYpNGDKNJ

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026

Attention back to domestic matters

With their European journey now at an end, Nottingham Forest will now return to Premier League matters and guaranteeing their safety. Here are their three remaining league games:

May 10: Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle
May 17: Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest
May 24: Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth

Vitor Pereira’s side are six points above the relegation zone with three games left.

Aston Villa’s remaining games this season

May 10: Burnley vs Aston Villa (Premier League)
May 15: Aston Villa vs Liverpool (Premier League)*
May 20: Freiburg vs Aston Villa (Europa League final)
May 24: Manchester City vs Aston Villa (Premier League)

*That game was supposed to be played on Sunday May 17 but will be moved to Friday 15 due to Villa making the Europa League final.

End of the European road for Forest

Celebrating reach the final

View from two of Villa’s goalscorers

"We've been looking forward to this for weeks" 🙌

Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendia react to reaching the Europa League final with Aston Villa...

🎙️ @Becky_Ives_

📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/2e4kFrxEfU

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026

Prince William delirious

FT stats

Possession: Aston Villa 51%-49% Nottingham Forest
Shots: 18-7
Shots on target: 10-2
Corners: 6-3
Touches in opposition box: 23-8

Aston Villa dominated the numbers and the scoreline. One-way traffic at Villa Park tonight.

English representation

In all three of the major European finals to come in the next few weeks there will be an English club. Arsenal will play PSG in the Champions League final, Aston Villa will take on Freiburg in the Europa League final and Crystal Palace will face Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final.

Full time

The final whistle is blown and Aston Villa book their place in the Europa League final. They have utterly destroyed Nottingham Forest tonight, winning 4-0 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate. It has been a very one-sided second leg and the Villa fans can look forward to the final in Istanbul later this month, where they will play German side Freiburg.

Aston Villa will play their first European final in 44 years 🔥

The Villans will meet Freiburg in the Europa League final 🤝

📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/KncGFahJ50

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026

90+2 mins: Aston Villa 4 Nottingham Forest 0 (4-1)

The Aston Villa fans start singing about Istanbul, with their side heading to the Turkish city in a couple of weeks for the final. It has been the perfect night for Unai Emery’s men.

90 mins: Aston Villa 4 Nottingham Forest 0 (4-1)

Four added minutes but the tie is well and truly over.

89 mins: Aston Villa 4 Nottingham Forest 0 (4-1)

A triple change for the hosts as Bailey, Luiz and Mings come on.

87 mins: Aston Villa 4 Nottingham Forest 0 (4-1)

So this is strange. Murillo has struggled with injury in the last few weeks and this game has gone yet is going to come on. What is the point of that when Forest have three crucial league games coming up to preserve their Premier League safety? Sinclair is also on for Forest. Hutchinson and Cunha come off.

85 mins: Aston Villa 4 Nottingham Forest 0 (4-1)

Unai Emery is making his second change of the game as Buendia is replaced by Sancho. Buendia laid on the assist for Watkins and scored the penalty; he has played a crucial role tonight for the home side.

82 mins: Aston Villa 4 Nottingham Forest 0 (4-1)

The Forest fans have started to leave. Villa Park is absolutely deafening. Is there a bigger talisman in the Premier League than McGinn? Villa are just a completely different team when he plays. 

GOAL! McGinn goes bang bang

If there was any doubt about this tie five minutes ago, there is not anymore. Rogers lays it across the face of the box to McGinn and again the Villa captain strikes it first time. This time, the Scotland midfielder goes for the near post and gets his second goal in a matter of minutes. That is definitively game, set and match and Aston Villa are on their way to Istanbul.

INCREDIBLE 💥

John McGinn scores an almost identical goal minutes after his last and Aston Villa have four 😅

📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/yNwyv9oXO7

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026

GOAL! McGinn pushes Villa closer to the final

Is that the goal that has sent Aston Villa to Istanbul? A long ball forward is headed down by Rogers into the path of Watkins, who lays it off to McGinn in space on the edge of the box. McGinn opens up his body and curls his effort into the far corner with aplomb. It is a good team goal by Villa but woeful defending from Forest, who look down and out to be honest. Villa have completely outplayed Forest tonight.

John McGinn gets Aston Villa's third 🔥

The captain surely puts the nail in the coffin 💥

📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/xJFcdktUxf

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026

75 mins: Aston Villa 2 Nottingham Forest 0 (2-1)

Emery has just screamed at Rogers for needlessly giving the ball away. Among all the excellent performances from the Villa players, Rogers has struggled to make a big impact on the game so far.

73 mins: Aston Villa 2 Nottingham Forest 0 (2-1)

Unai Emery is going to make his first change of the night as Lindelof is replaced by Bogarde. Lindelof was deployed in the centre of midfield for the hosts tonight and is given a standing ovation by the home fans.

71 mins: Aston Villa 2 Nottingham Forest 0 (2-1)

Double change for Forest as Lucca and Bakwa replace Wood and Morato. Lucca, who arrived on loan from Napoli in January, and Bakwa, who signed from Strasbourg last summer, have both struggled since arriving at Forest.

69 mins: Aston Villa 2 Nottingham Forest 0 (2-1)

Wood has a massive opportunity to bring Forest level on aggregate but the offside flag eventually goes up. Wood is played in one-on-one but is denied by Martinez. Then the flag goes up. It would have been a tight call but Wood was probably just offside.

66 mins: Aston Villa 2 Nottingham Forest 0 (2-1)

Rogers skips his way past a few Forest defenders before getting his shot away from just outside the box but Ortega gets down to his right to make the save. Villa are all over Forest, as they have been throughout the game, and may feel they could have scored more than twice tonight. Right now, the only silver lining for Forest is they just the one goal behind on goal difference.

62 mins: Aston Villa 2 Nottingham Forest 0 (2-1)

McGinn has a glorious opportunity to put Aston Villa two goals ahead on aggregate but his shot from the penalty spot it straight at Ortega. The Villa captain will be frustrated he did not score there.

Gibbs-White has just returned to the Forest dugout and has his boots in his hands. We wondered how much he could actually play tonight and maybe Vitor Pereira’s hand will be forced by the scoreline.

60 mins: Aston Villa 2 Nottingham Forest 0 (2-1)

Watkins puts the ball into the Forest net but the offside flag immediately goes up. Rogers’ sublime first-time flicks falls into the path of Watkins, who finishes past Ortega. However, Watkins was quite far offside.

GOAL! Buendia puts Villa in front in the tie

Buendia makes no mistake from the spot and puts it into the bottom left corner. Ortega guessed the right way but could not stop it. Prince William is delirious in the stands like all the other Villa fans inside Villa Park as Unai Emery’s side are ahead in the tie for the first time.

'Arise Sir Emi' 😅

Prince William thoroughly enjoyed Buendia's goal 🙌

📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/cX1DAvpmoC

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026

Villa’s record from the penalty spot has been absolutely awful. But Buendia kept his cool to beat Ortega. Forest will have to come out and try to score now. How long does Gibbs-White stay on the bench?

He made the first and now he's scored the second 🔥

Emi Buendia gives Aston Villa the lead from the spot 🎯

📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/HLMGoQTkL6

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026

PENALTY ASTON VILLA!

The referee only needs to take a few looks before pointing to the spot. It is so silly and unnecessary from Milenkovic. Aston Villa now have the chance to hit the front in the tie for the first time from the spot...

55 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)

Should Villa have been given a penalty? Buendia cuts the ball across the six-yard box and Torres attempts a flick, which is blocked. Torres then goes to ground as Milenkovic has a hold of Torres’ shirt. The appeals are initially waved away but VAR is taking a look. The referee is then sent to the screen and we all know what comes next...

53 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)

Tempers have been boiling in the dugouts as much as they have on the pitch. One of the members of Vitor Pereira’s coaching staff has just been booked as he felt Digne deserved a yellow card for a foul on Hutchinson. I suspect we have not seen the end of tensions simmering tonight.

The atmosphere in Villa Park is still good, but you can now sense the tension among both sets of fans and players. Everybody’s terrified of making a mistake.

51 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)

Yates has only been on the pitch a few minutes and has already committed a few fouls, which has riled up the Villa players. Yates is showing some aggression that was mostly lacking from Forest in the first half but he needs to tread the line carefully.

48 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)

Murillo, Gibbs-White and Sangare are all on the Forest bench tonight, with doubts over the fitness of all three. They are all key starting cops in this Forest side but how many minutes are they actually available for this evening?

McGinn clips in a good ball from the right into a dangerous area but it runs through everyone.

Second half

After being dominated in that first half, will Vitor Pereira make any changes to his Forest side at the break? The answer is yes as their club captain Yates replaces McAtee. Our very own John Percy made a point before the game about the rare starting chance for McAtee and he did not really take it, not that he was Forest’s only problem in that first half.

We are back under way at Villa Park.

Tie finely poised

Villa will be delighted with that first-half, but the tie is still on a knife-edge. Buendia has been everywhere for the home side and Watkins looks like a man on a mission. Vitor Pereira will be pleased to get his team in for half-time, so he can tweak things tactically. The Forest manager spent most of the first half sitting on a drinks bucket and scribbling notes. He’s got some big guns on the bench if he feels he needs them.

HT stats

Possession: Aston Villa 54%-46% Nottingham Forest
Shots: 11-2
Shots on target: 5-0
Corners: 5-0
Touches in opposition box: 14-5

Half-time

The first half is brought to an end and Villa lead 1-0 on the night, with the tie level at 1-1 on aggregate. Villa have been all over Forest in that first half and their only regret may be that they only scored the one goal in those opening 45 minutes.

45+3 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)

Cunha is the second Forest player into the book in this first half and that is a nasty challenge on Buendia. I would be surprised if VAR was not taking a look at that as he got none of the ball and his studs caught Buendia. Cunha is shaking his head and I have no idea why; if he saw the replays, he would know why he was booked and it coule have been more.

45+1 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)

McGinn is lucky there. He catches McAtee late and there was no genuine attempt for the ball so the Villa captain is fortunate not to be booked for that challenge.

45 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)

There will be four added minutes at the end of this first half.

44 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)

With the way the game is going at the moment, Vitor Pereira might be relieved to hear the half-time whistle as soon as possible and regroup. The tie is level at 1-1 but Villa have all the momentum right now and could move ahead in the tie if Forest are not careful. There will be plenty of added time due to that head clash between Watkins and Morato.

41 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)

There has been one goal tonight in this semi-final and there have been two in the other semi-final. Freiburg started the night 2-1 down against Braga but now lead 2-0 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate. 

38 mins: Aston Villa 1 Nottingham Forest 0 (1-1)

It is all Villa at the moment and Watkins eyes up his second goal of the night as he shoots from the edge of the penalty area but it is a fairly routine save for Ortega.

GOAL! Watkins brings Villa level in the tie

You have to say that goal has been coming. Villa take the lead on the night and draw level on aggregate. It stems from sublime work by Buendia, who displays great footwork on the left side of the box to go in between Cunha and Anderson before squaring for Watkins inside the six-yard box. Watkins could not miss and he lifts it into the roof of the net.

The roof has just come off Villa Park. The home side had been knocking on the door and it was Watkins, in his bandage, who was in the right place at the right time. Will that alter Forest’s approach? Game on.

Ollie Watkins fires Aston Villa into the lead 💥

What a run that was from Buendia 💫

📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/bPKsvSmqth

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026

34 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)

Tielemans shoots from range but he drags his effort wide. The space had opened up for the Belgian to shoot from around 25 yards out but the contact was not the purest. He was right to take the shot on though.

30 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)

It has been quite a lengthy delay as Watkins was the one to come off worse from that incident. He has got some bandages around his head, Terry Butcher style, but is back to his feet and will continue, at least for now. Morato is also fine.

We are back under way.

29 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)

The TNT crew have been debating whether that should have been a penalty. Watkins won the header and Morato accidentally then makes contact but does make contact with Watkins, even if it was accidental. Would that have been a foul anywhere else on the pitch?

26 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)

Villa are on top at the moment and Forest are just holding on a touch. The visitors probably expected a fast and energetic start from the hosts and will need to just weather this storm.

Play is halted due to a clash of heads between Watkins and Morato. Watkins’ header from inside the box is easily saved by Ortega and simultaneously Watkins and Morato clashed heads. No foul there from Morato but both have felt the force of that contact.

24 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)

In the other semi-final, Freiburg are now 1-0 up in the second leg against Braga, which means that tie is level at 2-2 on aggregate. Both semi-finals are finely poised.

22 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)

Buendia is the man to take and the Forest wall does its job as Milenkovic got his head on it.

The ball goes behind for a corner, which is met at the far post by Tielemans but the Belgian’s header goes wide.

20 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)

Buendia is brought down by Dominguez just outside the Forest box and the hosts will have a great shooting opportunity. Dominguez protested his innocence but the referee was right there looking at it and saw a clear foul.

Digne and Buendia are standing over it...

18 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)

This game has been threatening to boil over with tensions simmering and the first booking of the night comes for the visitors. Morato slides in on Rogers and is shown a yellow card.

16 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)

Is Morgan Gibbs-White fit enough to be involved for Forest at some point tonight, if needed?

15 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest (0-1)

Villa fans are getting annoyed with the time Forest are taking over set plays. They’re trying to put the referee under pressure, but he’s not buckled so far.

12 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)

Watkins wins Villa a corner out on the left in front of The Holte End. Cash sends in an inswinger, which Torres meets. His flicked header is tipped over the bar by Ortega for another Villa corner. The hosts then win themselves a third corner in succession. Ortega punches away McGinn’s delivery before both Buendia and Watkins have shots blocked.

9 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)

That could have been a huge moment in this tie. McAtee finds Hutchinson in space out on the right and the latter cuts inside onto his preferred left foot. His shot from the edge of the box looks like it might find the far corner but goes narrowly wide. Martinez had no chance of getting across to make the save had it been on target.

7 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1)

In theory, Villa could have lined up as a back three with three centre-backs named in the starting XI but Lindelof, as predicted, is in the centre of their midfield alongside Tielemans. It is a big call by Unai Emery and one that will be heavily scrutinised. Live and die by the sword I suppose.

4 mins: Aston Villa 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (0-1 agg)

McGinn swings a free-kick into the Forest box and puts it into a dangerous area at the back post. Both Konsa and Cunha are jostling to get on the end of it but the former cannot get a touch, with the ball running through for a goal kick. Konsa probably only needed a small touch and it could have been a goal. A dangerous moment for Forest.

Kick-off

We are under way at Villa Park. Forest bring a one-goal advantage into this second leg but who will book their place in the Europa League final in Istanbul later this month? Villa or Forest?

Emi Martinez is already at it. The Forest players huddled in front of their own fans in the Villa half and Martinez went over to try and move them on. The Villa fans have given their erudite thoughts on it…

Nearly ready for action

It is loud inside Villa Park as both sides emerge from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick-off. A tifo is unveiled at The Holte End just before the players emerged. Here is a reminder of how the two sides line up this evening:

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Tielemans, Lindelof, McGinn, Rogers, Buendia, Watkins.
Substitutes: Bizot, Wright, Mings, Elliott, Garcia, Abraham, Sancho, Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey.

Nottingham Forest: Ortega, Jair Cunha, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams, Dominguez, Anderson, McAtee, Jesus, Hutchinson, Wood.
Substitutes: Sels, Willows, Murillo, Sangare, Gibbs-White, Ndoye, Lucca, Yates, Bakwa, Whitehall, Sinclair, Hanks.

The Villa fans have certainly cranked up the noise. It’s like Sunday against Tottenham never happened. The Forest fans are also out in force and will get behind their team. Callum Hudson-Odoi is here on crutches to support his team-mates.

Kick-off fast approaching

pic.twitter.com/MIiGapZhit

— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) May 7, 2026

Rare starting chance for McAtee

Not the first time this has been said this season, but a big night for James McAtee.

Signed from Manchester City for £25m in the summer, McAtee has endured a difficult first season at Forest.

His best performance was actually in the Europa League with an impressive display in the 4-0 win over Ferencvaros. He performed well in the 3-1 win over Chelsea on Monday, too.

It’s understood that McAtee has been outstanding in training, but has struggled to transfer that into matches. Let’s see how he gets on tonight.

Will Gibbs-White even come on?

Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White is out warming up in a seriously big mask. He just backed out of the way when a team-mate passed the ball towards him at head height. Could it be that he’s just on the bench in case of a penalty shoot-out?

Unai Emery speaking to TNT Sports

"Lindelof is not a goalkeeper" 😅

Unai Emery is raring to go for Aston Villa's semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest...

🎙️ @Becky_Ives_

📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/rcEE5tVbpv

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026

Forest owner in attendance

Evangelos Marinakis is in the house.

Contrasting recent form

Aston Villa:

Aston Villa 1 Tottenham 2 (Premier League)
Nottingham Forest 1 Aston Villa 0 (Europa League)
Fulham 1 Aston Villa 0 (Premier League)
Aston Villa 4 Sunderland 3 (Premier League)
Aston Villa 4 Bologna 0 (Europa League)

Nottingham Forest:

Chelsea 1 Nottingham Forest 3 (Premier League)
Nottingham Forest 1 Aston Villa 0 (Europa League)
Sunderland 0 Nottingham Forest 5 (Premier League)
Nottingham Forest 4 Burnley 1 (Premier League)
Nottingham Forest 1 Porto 0 (Europa League)

Highlights from the first leg

Pre-match thoughts of Vitor Pereira

"To be at our best level we need this kind of atmosphere"

Vitor Pereira previews Nottingham Forest's visit to Villa Park in the Europa League semi-final... 👀

🎙️ @Becky_Ives_

📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/rXIcvRCCos

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2026

A rollercoaster season for Pereira

Seven months ago Vitor Pereira was sacked by Wolves after an utterly awful start to the season.

He has been held up as one of the key reasons as to why Wolves have been relegated to the Championship.

Yet now he finds himself potentially 90 minutes away from a European final and, almost, Premier League survival. 

Football is officially bonkers, isn’t it?

Emery can show Villa how to shed ‘nearly men’ tag

The date is November 4, 2022, and Unai Emery is sitting in the ornate hall of Villa Park’s directors club. It is the official unveiling of Aston Villa’s new head coach, after £5.2m was paid in compensation to Villarreal, and the message is clear. “My dream is to win a trophy with Aston Villa. It’s my personal challenge,” he said.

Now, more than 3½ years later, he has yet another chance to fulfil that ambition.

Thursday night’s reunion with Nottingham Forest in the Europa League is Villa’s third semi-final in as many years and a defining moment in Emery’s tenure. Damian Vidagany, the club’s director of football operations, has already called it the “match of our lives”. With so much at stake, it is arguably the club’s biggest game in decades.

The welcome the hosts received upon their arrival

What a welcome 👏 #UELpic.twitter.com/vIOq4wh5mE

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 7, 2026

Teams in full

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Tielemans, Lindelof, McGinn, Rogers, Buendia, Watkins.
Substitutes: Bizot, Wright, Mings, Elliott, Garcia, Abraham, Sancho, Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey.

Nottingham Forest: Ortega, Jair Cunha, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams, Dominguez, Anderson, McAtee, Jesus, Hutchinson, Wood.
Substitutes: Sels, Willows, Murillo, Sangare, Gibbs-White, Ndoye, Lucca, Yates, Bakwa, Whitehall, Sinclair, Hanks.

Focus on the owners

Villa’s co-owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens are both here at Villa Park.

The big question is whether Evangelos Marinakis, the Forest owner, will be joining them.

Marinakis always leaves it late before turning up but enjoyed his last visit here with Olympiacos. His Greek club won 4-2 here two years ago and Marinakis was in front of the away fans celebrating after the final whistle.

The two sides arriving

Let's go, boys 👊 pic.twitter.com/42kLvmFVqI

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 7, 2026

Forest in the building. 👔 pic.twitter.com/r5BzFNTHRq

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) May 7, 2026

Lindelof in the centre of the park

Unai Emery has sprung a surprise in his Villa team, picking Victor Lindelof in midfield. The Swede started his career as a midfielder and has played there before for Benfica and Manchester United, but this is the first time he has started in the position for Emery. 

Gibbs-White on the bench

Some breaking team news from Villa Park and Morgan Gibbs-White is IN Nottingham Forest’s squad.

Gibbs-White starts on the bench despite picking up a head injury in the 3-1 win over Chelsea on Monday.

Big boost for Vitor Pereira.

“Defining moment”

This feels like a huge occasion, as two former European Cup winners collide at Villa Park. Villa are facing a defining moment under Unai Emery as they desperately bid to avoid losing a third semi-final under their Basque head coach. 

Emery has won four Europa League trophies before but comes into this game under scrutiny after THAT dire defeat by Tottenham on Sunday. Forest hold a slender advantage after a 1-0 win last week in Nottingham and are unbeaten in ten games. 

The winners tonight will face either Braga or Freiburg in the final later this month in Istanbul.

Nottingham Forest team

Team news! 🗞️ pic.twitter.com/9nPoDfaaDM

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) May 7, 2026

Aston Villa team

Your #UEL semi-final Villa XI this evening ✊ pic.twitter.com/QRXFvJgwKF

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 7, 2026

Atmosphere building

Villa’s players have just arrived to a noisy welcome. It wasn’t easy to spot them through the claret and blue smoke but, trust me, they’re there somewhere.

Big night… pic.twitter.com/5s22NONabx

— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) May 7, 2026

Which English club will make the Europa League final?

Nottingham Forest take a one-goal advantage into the second leg of the all-English Europa League semi-final with Aston Villa at Villa Park. Chris Wood’s penalty following Lucas Digne’s handball gives Forest the lead coming into tonight’s second leg.

In between the two legs of this semi-final, Aston Villa lost 2-1 at home to Tottenham on Sunday to remain fifth in the Premier League. Unai Emery has won the Europa League as a manager on four occasions, the most of any manager, but is still looking to win his first trophy in charge at Aston Villa as he approaches four years in charge at the club.

“Each momentum is different, and as well in different competitions,” Emery said. “But every different experience we have should help us for days like tomorrow [tonight]. But today is our first one [semi-final] here playing one match. We played Conference League semi-final two years ago, but first leg at home, second leg away. Last year in the Champions League quarter-final it was the second leg at home but it was a quarter-final. Tomorrow [tonight], this match is special. It is different. We are playing in Villa Park. They have the advantage. For this reason for me they are the favourites. Tomorrow [tonight] we have a huge opportunity to enjoy momentum, to enjoy competing.”

Emery has confirmed that midfielder Amadou Onana will miss tonight’s game but John McGinn is set to be available.

Nottingham Forest took another big step to Premier League safety in between these two legs as they beat Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Bank Holiday Monday to move six points clear of the relegation zone with three games remaining. Vitor Pereira’s side come into this fixture in good form as they are currently on a 10-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

“Tomorrow [tonight] is a day to enjoy and to compete,” Pereira said. “We need to prove ourselves again. This is something to be grateful for, because we will be in a semi-final to try and reach a final, and we are there. It is a moment to show our mentality, that we are resilient and that we can compete from the first minute until the last minute in a fantastic atmosphere. I just want to be proud of my players, supporters and myself.

“The most difficult moments of my personal life were the moments that I became stronger. When we suffer, we remember the pain. When we remember the pain, we do everything to not feel that again. This is fire within us and, sometimes in life, this is powerful, when we want to prove ourselves. This is a moment for my players, because they have had tough moments this season, to not feel the pressure to win this competition, but to try and be the best version of themselves.”

Morgan Gibbs-White is a major doubt having been involved in a heavy collision with Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez on Monday, which required plenty of stitches. Gibbs-White is one of a number of doubts for Forest coming into this game, including Ibrahim Sangare, Ola Aina, Murillo and Dan Ndoye.

The winner of this tie will face either Freiburg or Braga in the final. Team news to follow shortly.

In addition to Hansi Flick’s renewal, another of the matters that brought Pini Zahavi to Barcelona is clarifying the future of Robert Lewandowski.

The veteran superstar’s contract expires on June 30, and so far, there has been no clear indication of what his next move will be.

Lewandowski’s future dependent on Flick

Now, according to Mundo Deportivo, Lewandowski’s future at Barcelona depends on Flick and the role he has for the veteran forward in his plans for next season.

Indeed, the Barcelona manager must explain the role he has in mind for the Poland captain next season and, depending on that, the striker will decide whether or not to accept the one-year contract extension offered by Barça.

Zahavi arrived in Barcelona from Milan after collecting proposals from Juventus and AC Milan for the 37-year-old. Those offers are added to the ones he already had from Saudi Arabia, as well as from Chicago Fire in MLS.

Flick holds the key to Lewandowski future. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Barça president-elect Joan Laporta, as he explained during the election campaign, would like Lewandowski to remain at the club for one more year, despite the fact that he will turn 38 next summer.

Laporta is very grateful to the veteran forward for the sacrifice he made at the time for Barça, rejecting a higher offer from Bayern Munich and also accepting a huge challenge with a team that was still under construction.

Until now, Lewandowski had always shown his preference to continue at the club and in the city of Barcelona, where his family is also very happy.

However, the final decision on whether he remains at the club next season will depend on Flick’s opinion and on the role the manager has in mind for the Polish striker.

Once he knows the intentions of the German coach, Lewandowski will then assess all the offers currently on the table before making a final decision on whether to stay for one more year at Barça or move elsewhere.

In any case, the outcome regarding the striker’s future is expected very soon.

Manchester City and Arsenal regularly compete for the signatures of top players, and both clubs continue to monitor several targets ahead of the next transfer window as they prepare to strengthen their squads.

Arsenal have increasingly matched City in the transfer market in recent seasons, spending heavily on elite talent while also challenging more consistently for major honours. The rivalry between the two clubs has intensified both on and off the pitch as they continue battling for domestic success and long-term dominance.

The Gunners are no longer hesitant to invest significant money in high-profile players, and their latest reported target could require another major financial commitment during the summer. Arsenal are believed to be determined to continue improving the quality of their midfield options ahead of next season.

Arsenal Interested in Fernandez

Enzo Fernandez has emerged as the latest Chelsea player linked with a move to the Emirates as Arsenal reportedly monitors his situation closely. The Argentine midfielder remains one of the most highly regarded players in his position and has consistently attracted interest from elite clubs across Europe.

Fernandez has impressed with his performances over recent seasons and is viewed as a player capable of significantly strengthening any midfield. His technical quality, passing ability and composure under pressure have made him one of the standout performers in the Premier League despite Chelsea’s inconsistent form at times.

Manchester City Enter the Race

As reported by Team Talk, Man City have now joined Arsenal in the race to sign Fernandez and are also interested in bringing the midfielder to the Etihad Stadium. The report claims both clubs are monitoring his contract situation closely as negotiations over a new deal with Chelsea continue to stall.

Fernandez is reportedly struggling to reach an agreement over fresh terms with Chelsea, increasing speculation surrounding his future at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal could still receive a boost in their pursuit if the midfielder decides he wants to remain in London, a factor that may potentially work in the Gunners’ favour ahead of Manchester City.

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After being snubbed by Martin Zubimendi back in the summer of 2024, Liverpool were offered the chance to sign Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain, according to The Athletic.

They rebuffed the proposal, and the midfielder subsequently went on to join Manchester United in the aftermath of Scott McTominay’s departure for £42 million (£8m in add-ons).

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How Manuel Ugarte’s United transfer came about

At the time, Ugarte’s value was considerably higher than it is right now, although PSG were still keen to facilitate his exit and sign young starlet Joao Neves instead.

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United, navigating their first summer window under INEOS, decided to pursue a deal, eventually adding the Uruguayan to their ranks and having him pen a five-year contract.

Now, however, it looks nailed on that Ugarte’s terms will be torn up after only 48 months, as he is expected to be on the move once again this summer.

Why United are adamant about shifting Ugarte on

A seemingly never-ending string of lacklustre performances from the 25-year-old have led INEOS chiefs to the conclusion that it simply hasn’t worked out.

They would rather part ways now, when they can still recuperate a respectable fee for his services (it’s thought they value Ugarte at £25m), than wait and risk having no suitors in the mix next year.

Following a particularly shoddy showing in the defeat to Leeds United last month, it was reported that Sir Jim Ratcliffe had personally green-lit Ugarte’s sale when on a visit to Carrington.

Ugarte’s record under Michael Carrick

Where might Ugarte end up before 2026/2027?

He is poised to have his pick of a handful of clubs, though.

Galatasaray held talks with Ugarte back in January before an agreement failed to materialise, but they retain their interest in the lead-up to the window reopening.

Ajax have also considered a move in recent months, while teams in Serie A would be willing to take a punt on the out-of-favour Red.

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Roma and Juventus will be bitter rivals in the UEFA Champions League in the last three Serie A rounds, but they could meet at the negotiating table after the end of the season to discuss a swap between Teun Koopmeiners and Evan N’Dicka, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs.

The Bianconeri are looking for a left-footed defender to pair up with Gleison Bremer. The Ivorian international has been highly reliable in the last couple of seasons. Still, the capital club needs to cash in one of their stars by the end of June, and he’s one of the main candidates.

Ndicka would have to transfer for about €40M to significantly help Roma comply with their settlement agreement, and the inclusion of Koopmeiners in the deal would help Juventus reach that threshold. In addition, the Bianconeri would avoid a big loss. It’d be hard for them to recoup their previous investment in a straight sale.

The Dutchman rarely fared well during his spell in Turin. He has fallen out of favor again in recent months after an okay start as a center-back with Luciano Spalletti at the helm. He had his best campaigns under Gian Piero Gasperini at Atalanta. Both would be happy to reunite.

Our Take on Juventus, Roma, Koopmeiners, and N’Dicka

The Old Lady has already done this sort of thing with Aston Villa last year, with quite disastrous results for both teams. While the Dutchman will likely benefit from a change of scenery and the Giallorossi could use a versatile midfielder, depending on their other moves, it’d be a tremendously one-sided deal. Even if La Lupa decides the center-back should be the one to go, a lucrative sale abroad makes a lot more sense.

David Alaba is available on a free transfer, and according to Corriere dello Sport, the Real Madrid defender has been offered to Juventus and Milan in Serie A.

Austria international Alaba has been offered to Serie A giants Juventus and Milan by his agent Pini Zahavi, according to Corriere dello Sport.

Real Madrid’s Alaba offered to Juventus and Milan in Serie A

Alaba’s contract at the Bernabeu expires at the end of the season, and the experienced defender is looking for a fresh start after struggling with injuries this season.

The 33-year-old has only collected 14 appearances across all competitions this term and wants to find a new club for the 2026-27 campaign.

MADRID, SPAIN – MARCH 02: David Alaba of Real Madrid in action during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and Getafe CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 02, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

His agent has offered him to several European clubs, including Milan and Juventus.

According to the report, Alaba has attracted interest from other leagues as well, especially the MLS and the Saudi Pro League.

There’s also interest from RB Salzburg, which is considering bringing Alaba back to Austria to contribute to the young players’ development within the Red Bull Group.

Chelsea travel to Anfield on Saturday lunchtime to take on Liverpool in a huge game and Paul Merson has given his prediction.

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The Blues are languishing in ninth with just three games remaining, and facing the prospect of missing out on European football all together.

Monday’s defeat to Nottingham Forest was the sixth in a row in the league, and Chelsea haven’t won a league game since the 4-1 win against Aston Villa in March.

Paul Merson makes Liverpool vs Chelsea prediction

To make matters worse, the Blues are facing something of an injury crisis ahead of the game, with Jesse Derry set to miss the rest of the season.

Calum McFarlane confirmed Robert Sanchez would also miss the game, whilst Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho are unlikely to feature.

That leaves Chelsea with no fit senior wingers, and having to field what will likely be an experimental line-up against the champions.

Chelsea have been the worst team in the league form wise since February, and face a tough task getting anything at Anfield, and Merson has now given his prediction.

“Chelsea are completely out of the equation for Champions League qualification in my opinion,” he told Sportskeeda.

“I was there at Stamford Bridge when they lost 3-1 to Nottingham Forest on Monday.

“They got absolutely destroyed and have now lost six straight games in the Premier League! Unbelievable run of poor form.

“I also don’t understand why they were playing Cole Palmer as a right-winger. He’s a number ten just play him there!

“I know Palmer has not impressed this season. But it also down to how Chelsea have set themselves up.

“Joao Pedro has been excellent but he is not a proper number nine, he likes to drop deep and that leaves little space for Palmer.

I’m backing the hosts to get a crucial win at Anfield.

“Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea.”

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Delap joined last summer for £30m, but has managed just two goals in 38 appearances this season, with only one of those in the league.

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Manchester United have ruled out a move for Cole Palmer this summer with the club deciding he isn’t one of their priorities according to reports.

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Palmer has really struggled this season, and missed a penalty in Monday’s 3-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge.

The 24-year-old has struggled with a groin injury, but by his own admission it’s not an issue anymore, which makes his form more concerning.

Man United rule out summer move for Cole Palmer

Palmer has shown some moments of quality this season, and he’s scored nine league goals, but his form has really deserted him.

He’s not the only player struggling right now, with their a collective loss of form across the the squad, with the Blues on a run of six league defeats in a row.

Palmer is under contract until 2033, although there have been persistent rumours surrounding his future and a possible exit.

Manchester United are reportedly interested, whilst Palmer has said leaving Chelsea isn’t something he’s thinking about.

In good news for Chelsea, The Mirror have reported United have ruled out a move for Palmer this summer, with attempting to sign the England international not one of their priorities.

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Chelsea are facing an injury crisis ahead of Saturday’s game against Liverpool with Jesse Derry ruled out for the remainder of the season.

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Calum McFarlane confirmed Robert Sanchez would also miss the game, whilst it’s unlikely Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho will feature.

That leaves Chelsea with no fit senior wingers and what could be a makeshift lineup for an important visit to Anfield.

Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:

Journalist Matt Law believes Chelsea would “love” to sell Wesley Fofana, but are going to face a tough summer of sales.

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Chelsea are expected to once again be busy this summer, having had a quiet January, and both incomings and outgoings are going to be vital.

The Blues have a number of players they need to move on, whilst they need to add reinforcements in several key areas of the squad.

Matt Law believes Chelsea would “love” to sell Wesley Fofana

Chelsea are likely to undergo a major revamp in the centre back department, with the Blues needing at least one starting quality centre back.

There are question marks over the future of Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile, whilst Axel Disasi will almost certainly leave the club.

Fofana is another name facing an uncertain future, and things haven’t really worked out following his big money move from Leicester in 2022.

The Frenchman has seen injuries limit him to 68 appearances, and Barcelona have reportedly shown interest in Fofana.

It’s been reported Fofana has no intention of leaving Chelsea this summer, but Law believes the Blues would love to sell him.

“I’m sure they’d love to sell Fofana,” he told The London Is Blue Podcast. 

“He’s been linked with Barcelona, but again with his fitness and everything else what do you get for Fofana?

“I think it’s a tough summer of sales.”

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Delap joined last summer for £30m, but has managed just two goals in 38 appearances this season, with only one of those in the league.

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Bayern are not looking at Kai Havertz as a potential transfer target this summer.

The Bavarians do wish to explore adding to their attack, which is why they’re engaged in active talks over signing Anthony Gordon.

However, the current expectation is that the Arsenal forward will continue next season with Mikel Arteta’s men.

Havertz’s current terms are set to expire in the summer of 2028.

Kai Havertz won’t be returning to the Bundesliga

While Havertz will be more than familiar with Bundesliga fans, owing to his successful spell with Bayer Leverkusen, it’s currently unlikely that he’ll be returning to his native Germany this summer.

“It is not true that Bayern have added Kai Havertz to their shortlist ahead of the summer,” Christian Falk exclusively informed CF Bayern Insider.

“I heard the rumours a few weeks ago and checked up on it. There were no talks, no negotiations. Havertz is already thinking about next season with Arsenal.

“I think he would like to play for Bayern Munich in the future, but at the moment, his name wasn’t discussed by the supervisory board. He’s not, at present, on Bayern’s summer shortlist.”

Whether this is a potential attraction to life in Munich is speculation, but FC Bayern will undoubtedly be focusing on options who haven’t recently recovered from a serious injury.

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The 26-year-old unfortunately missed 32 games for club and country in 2025/26 owing to a knee injury. And subsequent rest periods, either side of muscle injuries sustained in the same campaign, have seen him miss a further nine games this term.

Havertz’s injury record should be considered problematic

While we admire Havertz’s positional versatility, it’s not a signing that would make any particular sense for Vincent Kompany’s men.

The Germany international would reinforce Harry Kane and Michael Olise in addition to the attacking midfield position.

But Bayern have made it clear that they want to prioritise the left wing, or, at the very least, a forward who could play across the forward line, as Anthony Gordon can.

In that case, Kai Havertz simply doesn’t suit the profile of targets FC Bayern have their eye on.

Champions League final tickets are sure to be in demand this year as Arsenal take on Paris Saint-Germain, so read on for our guide on how to buy Champions League final tickets.

Fans of both Arsenal and PSG will be making the trip to Budapest at the end of this month, with this year’s final kicking off on Saturday 30th May at 5pm BST.

This will be Arsenal’s second-ever appearance in the Champions League final, and their first for 20 years, so die-hard Gooners won’t want to miss out on this experience.

How to buy Arsenal tickets

The official Arsenal ticket page can be found via the link here, but these are sure to sell out rapidly, and as usual it’ll be season ticket holders and club members at the front of the queue.

We’d highly recommend our alternative here, which offers you an easy-to-use and reliable service without the extra cost and hassle of club membership fees, plus the security of a 150% money back guarantee.

LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 28: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal in action during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Arsenal FC and FC Kairat Almaty at Arsenal Stadium on January 28, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

How to buy PSG tickets

Meanwhile, PSG fans will likely be familiar with their official ticket page here, though it could also see them run into similar problems.

Again, make sure to have a backup plan, with our alternative here proving popular as another way to make sure you make it to the games that matter to you.

How Arsenal could line up vs PSG

Arsenal have been plagued by injuries for so much of this season, so that will surely be a question mark in the weeks ahead, though there have been some positive updates recently.

Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard are now back in action again, while Riccardo Calafiori also returned to the starting line up for games against Fulham and Atletico Madrid.

Jurrien Timber’s fitness seems to be a concern, though, while it’s also unclear what kind of shape Mikel Merino will be in by the end of this month.

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 20: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, walks to the dugout prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Arsenal FC at Stadio San Siro on January 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta also has some selection headaches – Viktor Gyokeres or Kai Havertz up front? Martin Zubimendi or Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield?

Here’s a look at one possible lineup we could see from the Gunners…

Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Calafiori, Saliba, Gabriel; Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard; Eze, Saka, Gyokeres.

How PSG could line up vs Arsenal

One slight doubt for this final is the injured Achraf Hakimi, but apart from that PSG should be in strong shape to take on Arsenal.

Luis Enrique also has the luxury of being able to rest key players in domestic matches, with important members of the team like Marquinhos often being rested in the league and saved for Europe.

With everyone available, this PSG team more or less picks itself, so expect to see something like this against Arsenal…

PSG XI: Safonov; Hakimi, Mendes, Marquinhos, Pacho; Vitinha, Zaire-Emery, Neves; Kvaratskhelia, Doue, Dembélé.

Arsenal vs PSG head-to-head record

Arsenal and PSG are set to meet on the biggest stage of all, but it’s not actually a fixture that’s happened that many times.

The north London giants and the Parisian outfit first locked horns in the Cup Winners’ Cup back in 1994, and they’ve played a total of seven games now.

PSG have won the most recent two as they beat Arsenal home and away in last season’s semi-final, but Arsenal also have two wins to their name, and the other three have been draws.

Arteta’s side notably got the better of Enrique’s men in the 2024/25 league phase as they won 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium, so if they can find a way to repeat the success of that game, they could finally get their hands on the European Cup.

Adrien Thomasson (32) has had a late bloom to become one of Ligue 1’s standout midfielders this season. The RC Lens man tops the assists charts in the league, having set up his teammates ten times this season. 

His performances have helped Lens maintain their place in the title race and put them on the cusp of their first major domestic silverware since the 90s, with a final berth in the Coupe de France. Lens are keen to avoid this season becoming a swan song for Thomasson, with his contract expiring in June. 

According to a report from Foot Mercato, Thomasson has yet to sign a new deal with Les Sang et Or and has been taking his time over the decision. His hesitancy has attracted interest from Paris FC and Stade Rennais, who would be keen to pounce on his free agency and could offer him more lucrative financial rewards. However, they’re not alone; his performances have also caught the attention of clubs in Europe and Saudi Arabia. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Chelsea will look to cut their losses and sell Liam Delap this summer according to former Arsenal striker Alan Smith.

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The Blues fought off interest from a number of Premier League clubs to sign Delap for £30m from Ipswich last summer.

However, it’s been a really tough season for Delap, and he’s managed just two goals in 38 appearances in all competitions, with one of those coming in the league.

Alan Smith tips Chelsea to sell Liam Delap this summer

Delap last scored in a 2-1 defeat against Fulham in January, a run stretching over 20 matches, whilst his other goal came against Barcelona in November.

The 23-year-old has provided little in the way of competition for Joao Pedro, and with Emmanuel Emegha arriving from Strasbourg in the summer he faces more competition next season.

Injuries haven’t helped, but when he’s played he’s simply been nowhere near the standard expected or required.

Newcastle are reportedly willing to explore a move for Delap, and Smith has tipped Chelsea to cut their losses this summer.

“Well, it’s certainly not worked for him at Chelsea, it’s not been easy circumstances at all,” he said as quoted by Metro.

“The club has been in turmoil, really. He doesn’t look like a Chelsea player. He’s got some rough edges there.

“Whether they could be knocked off, I don’t know. But he suited Ipswich a bit better. I still think he could join a mid to maybe a European challenging team.

“But I think sometimes he gets too involved in the physical side of things, and he’s a little bit mouthy as well. He got booked again the other day for dissent.

“Maybe that’s a bit of frustration showing, but he would regard it as a failure, I’m sure, to go back to Ipswich. But who knows?

“I think Chelsea might think they can get him out and get somebody else in.”

If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.

In other news…

Chelsea are facing an injury crisis ahead of Saturday’s game against Liverpool with Jesse Derry ruled out for the remainder of the season.

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Calum McFarlane confirmed Robert Sanchez would also miss the game, whilst it’s unlikely Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho will feature.

That leaves Chelsea with no fit senior wingers and what could be a makeshift lineup for an important visit to Anfield.

Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:

Arsenal and PSG have a date on May 30 in the UEFA Champions League final. The Parisians will be looking to win back-to-back trophies while the Gunners are eyeing their first. Moreover, it will feature a clash of two different styles.

PSG showed in their semifinal tie against Bayern Munich that they can get into a high-scoring run-and-gun game, as seen in the first leg in Paris. However, in the second leg, the capital club showed they can play sound defensive football to protect an advantage.

Meanwhile, Arsenal were in a tightly defensive and low-scoring tie with Atletico Madrid. As a result, the Premier League club will be looking to bring PSG into this style of game for the final.

Arsenal Cannot Match the Parisians’ Attacking Power

Alex Grimm/Getty Images

Moreover, the Gunners being sound defensively and keeping the contest low-scoring is the only way they’ll have a chance of defeating the reigning Champions League winners, says former French footballer Bixente Lizarazu.

“PSG are the favorites even though Arsenal have the best defense in the Champions League,” Lizarazu told L’Equipe (h/t Le10Sport). “Arsenal defend well and are solid, but they do not have the same attacking firepower as Paris. The advantage goes to PSG. It will not be easy over one match, but PSG are superior, especially in attack.”

If the English side gets into a run-and-gun game that mirrors what PSG did in the first leg against Bayern Munich or in last year’s Champions League final against Inter Milan, it could spell bad news for manager Mikel Arteta.

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Contract Standoff Raises Stakes in Madrid

There are football stories that drift quietly through a transfer window and then there are those that arrive carrying thunderclouds. Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid may now be edging towards the latter.

According to the original source at TEAMtalk, Manchester City are among the clubs closely monitoring the Brazilian’s increasingly delicate contract situation at the Bernabeu. What once appeared unthinkable now carries genuine weight. Real Madrid have reportedly issued a firm contract ultimatum to one of their biggest stars.

Vinicius Junior has just over a year remaining on his current deal and discussions over an extension have failed to reach a breakthrough. Talks stalled last year before both sides agreed to revisit matters this summer. Yet the sense emerging from Spain is that several major issues remain unresolved.

The original source states that Real Madrid informed Vinicius Junior last year that if no agreement was reached this summer, the club would consider selling him rather than risking a free transfer further down the line. Importantly, that position is said to remain unchanged.

For a club built on authority and image, Real Madrid rarely allow uncertainty to linger around elite assets. Vinicius Junior is not simply another forward. He is a symbol of Madrid’s modern era, explosive in transition, devastating one-on-one and capable of deciding the biggest matches in world football.

Yet even institutions as powerful as Madrid eventually reach moments where pragmatism overtakes sentiment.

Man City Ready to Strike if Door Opens

Manchester City’s interest feels entirely logical. Opportunities to sign players operating at Vinicius Junior’s level almost never arrive on the market.

Pep Guardiola’s side are believed to view the situation as a rare strategic opening rather than a routine transfer chase. TEAMtalk reports that City are serious contenders should negotiations between player and club deteriorate further.

City’s admiration is rooted not only in talent but in timing. Questions surrounding the long-term future of Jeremy Doku have created uncertainty around the left-sided attacking role. Even after strengthening in recent windows, the Premier League champions are understood to believe Vinicius Junior represents a level above almost every available alternative.

There is also the financial reality. Very few clubs possess the resources required to complete a deal of this magnitude. Manchester City belong in that bracket alongside Paris Saint-Germain and a small collection of Europe’s financial heavyweights.

Arsenal and Chelsea are also said to be watching developments closely. Liverpool and Manchester United have reportedly been alerted too, although any move would demand extraordinary financial commitment.

Still, there is a difference between monitoring a situation and genuinely being capable of completing the transfer. Man City operate in a world where blockbuster deals are not fantasy. They are business decisions.

Vinicius Junior Still Focused on Madrid Future

Despite the noise, there remains a strong possibility that Vinicius Junior stays exactly where he is.

The winger is understood to want reassurance that Real Madrid’s long-term sporting project aligns with his own ambitions. Money alone is not believed to be the defining factor in negotiations. The club reportedly feel their financial offer is already competitive.

On the pitch, Vinicius Junior continues to perform at elite level. He has scored four goals in his last three league appearances and sits on 21 goals for the season overall, only three short of his personal best for Los Blancos.

There is, however, another layer to this story. The Brazilian has repeatedly faced racist abuse during his time in Spain, a disgraceful pattern that has stained sections of La Liga in recent years. While the original source indicates this is not expected to determine his future directly, it remains an exhausting backdrop for one of football’s brightest stars.

A player can love a club and still grow weary of the environment surrounding it.

Summer Window Could Define European Landscape

If Vinicius Junior genuinely becomes available, the consequences would ripple across Europe.

Players of this calibre do not simply alter squads. They reshape title races, commercial strategies and tactical identities. Manchester City understand that. Real Madrid understand it even more.

The coming weeks are likely to revolve around one central question. Will compromise be found before the contract ultimatum reaches breaking point?

For now, Madrid remain confident a resolution can still be achieved. Yet confidence and certainty are very different things in modern football.

And when clubs like Man City begin positioning themselves nearby, uncertainty quickly becomes dangerous.

Chelsea concerns grow before Liverpool test

Chelsea travel to Liverpool this weekend carrying more than poor form into one of the toughest fixtures in the Premier League calendar. Injuries, fitness doubts and fading confidence have combined to leave Calum McFarlane facing difficult decisions before the meeting at Anfield.

The London club have slipped alarmingly after six consecutive league defeats, a sequence which has damaged hopes of securing European football next season. With Liverpool chasing a crucial result of their own, the match arrives with pressure mounting on both sides.

Speaking in his pre-match briefing, McFarlane attempted to strike a balance between caution and optimism as he addressed the growing injury list. His update offered encouragement in some areas but concern in others.

“We’ve got a few lads returning, so Levi’s trained another full week again, Reece as well, so yeah, looking promising,” the Chelsea interim head coach explained.

“We’ve still got another session, they both trained fully today, so we’re hopeful.”

Those words will be welcomed by Chelsea supporters desperate for defensive stability. Levi Colwill and Reece James have both endured frustrating fitness problems this season and their possible return could transform the shape and composure of the side against Liverpool.

Photo: IMAGO

Liverpool wait on key fitness calls

Liverpool are wrestling with injury uncertainty of their own before the weekend showdown. Training sessions at Kirkby have been watched closely after several high-profile absences raised concerns among supporters.

Reports from the original source indicated that Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker and Alexander Isak all missed Wednesday’s training session, while Ibrahima Konate and Florian Wirtz trained separately from the main group.

That leaves Arne Slot with important decisions to make before facing Chelsea. Liverpool’s intensity and attacking fluency have occasionally suffered when key names are unavailable, particularly in matches where rhythm and pressing become decisive.

Despite Chelsea’s poor recent form, Liverpool know there is little margin for complacency. Fixtures between these clubs rarely follow expectations and the tension surrounding Champions League qualification only increases the stakes.

The atmosphere at Anfield is likely to be fierce, particularly with Liverpool supporters sensing the importance of the occasion. Chelsea, meanwhile, arrive wounded but dangerous, aware that one strong performance could shift momentum dramatically.

Fresh doubts hit Chelsea attack

While McFarlane sounded upbeat regarding Colwill and James, the news elsewhere was less encouraging.

“[Pedro] Neto and [Alejandro] Garnacho are carrying knocks, so it’s looking unlikely that they’re going to be available,” he confirmed.

“Rob is also not going to be available after the injury that he sustained.”

The absence of Robert Sanchez creates another selection issue for Chelsea, while doubts over Neto and Garnacho significantly weaken the visitors in attacking areas. Both players possess the direct pace capable of unsettling Liverpool’s defensive line, particularly during transitions.

There was also concern surrounding Jesse Derry after the youngster suffered a serious head injury during the recent defeat to Nottingham Forest. McFarlane confirmed he will not feature at Anfield, while Jamie Gittens and Estevao remain sidelined.

Chelsea’s squad depth has been tested heavily throughout the campaign and this latest injury update only intensifies scrutiny on recruitment and conditioning. The club’s inability to maintain consistency has become one of the defining stories of their season.

Yet football has a habit of rewarding resilience when expectations fall away. Chelsea may arrive as outsiders but the potential return of senior defenders could alter the dynamic considerably.

Pressure builds around crucial Premier League fixture

Matches between Chelsea and Liverpool have long carried a sense of edge and unpredictability. Even during uneven seasons, the rivalry often produces tactical battles and emotionally charged moments.

For Liverpool, this fixture represents another step in the pursuit of Champions League qualification and a chance to restore momentum. Slot’s side cannot afford hesitation, especially with injuries threatening to disrupt continuity at a vital stage of the campaign.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are fighting for relevance after a bruising run of results. McFarlane’s comments reflected a manager attempting to steady an uncertain dressing room while keeping belief alive.

The likely return of Colwill and James offers genuine encouragement, particularly against a Liverpool side that thrives on attacking pressure from wide areas. However, the probable absence of Neto and Garnacho reduces Chelsea’s threat on the counter-attack.

Everything points towards a contest shaped as much by endurance and mentality as technical quality. Injuries may dominate the headlines before kick-off, but once the match begins, composure and conviction could define the outcome.

Original source information was provided through comments made by Calum McFarlane during his pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Liverpool.

TSG Hoffenheim loanee Haris Tabakovic will leave Borussia Mönchengladbach, at least for the time being, based on reports.

Sky Germany is aware that the striker was informed of this in a personal meeting with the Rhineland club's hierarchy.

However, Gladbach reportedly want to keep their options open to potentially rejoin the transfer negotiations at a later date.

The 31-year-old marksman himself is said to be open to a permanent move to Gladbach, for whom he has scored 12 goals this season. 

However, there is a sticking point. Hoffenheim's €5million price tag is currently too high for Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Consequently, Tabakovic will initially return to Hoffenheim, where he is not part of their plans for the upcoming 2026-27 campaign. 

ESPN analyst predicts Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes- type year for Caleb Williams originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

All Chicago Bears fans are hopeful that the team will eventually reach the top of the football world. Bears fans have been dying for success over the past few years and got their first taste of that last year. The Bears ended up making the playoffs, and quarterback Caleb Williams was a big reason why. 

There's absolutely no debate at this point that if Chicago is going to be the team they want to be in the future, it is absolutely going to be because of what Williams does under center. 

There's reason to believe that he's one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL and has a long future in this league if things go as planned.

Some believe there will be even more success for the young man after an impressive second year in the league, with Danny Parkins going as far as saying that he can even be the league MVP next year.

"And then on the other side, yeah, but it's Caleb [Williams] in year two with Ben Johnson, and throughout league history, special quarterbacks in year two in a system, that is special stuff. Those guys win MVP. Like, that's what happened to Patrick Mahomes.

"That's what happened to Lamar Jackson. So if we think that Caleb is of that talent, which I do, and we think Ben Johnson is of that caliber of offensive coach, which I do, the argument that the Bears will be better is simply they're going to have a top-five offense, and they're going to have a quarterback who is in the MVP conversation come December."

I never want to put MVP chatter on any guy in the NFL, as that's very difficult to do if you've never done it. 

However, Williams is definitely the type of guy who can get to that point. As long as everything continues to go as planned and he stays healthy, there's a lot of reason to believe that he can be this guy in the long term and as soon as this year.

More NFL news:

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Fans of South Shields are gearing up for the National League North play-off final on Saturday, hoping one last push can propel them to glory.

The Mariners are on the cusp of promotion to the National League but need to find a way to beat Kidderminster Harriers who won both encounters earlier this season.

Long-term fan Mark Brun told BBC Radio Newcastle: "Kidderminster are a very good side, but we're a very good side as well. We have home advantage, passionate support, I do feel that we'll seize the opportunity and get promoted."

Tickets for the match sold out in minutes and some home fans will move to other parts of the stadium to accommodate larger numbers of away supporters.

Turnstile operator Alan Reed said: "This is big. We're expecting a full house, people that haven't been all season are coming down thanks to the success of the club."

Jim Taroni, who has been attending matches for almost 70 years, said: "I used to support them as a boy, and now I've retired I'm back to my hometown and supporting Shields.

"My first match was around 1957, they used to play in red and green strips and I can remember most of the players by name.

"I'm feeling very apprehensive. There's a lot of excitement, even the worms are getting out of the woodwork to get to this match."

Rob Reed, a comedy magician who sometimes performs at the club, thinks despite South Shields losing both games between the clubs this season the Mariners will triumph.

He told the BBC: "People always ask if I can work my magic on the pitch.

"The lads don't need any magic, they're magic enough.

"I'm quietly confident on Saturday we'll get the job done.

"Kidderminster done the double over us in the league, but it's our turn to get revenge.

"We've lost the battles but the war's still there for the taking."

Kerry works at a bar near the stadium and is expecting a busy Saturday.

"It's always a good atmosphere, we'll have queues out the door.

"I think it's great, the people are all amazing and it's nice to see a local team doing so well."

Her colleague Candice said: "I think it's amazing, and it's really good for us at the bar too!"

'Tremendous feeling'

Geordie Pearce , who runs a fan group on social media, said: "It's nerves and excitement.

"I've seen playoffs here before and we've come off second. It'll be great to see this ground full again.

"It's a tremendous feeling for the fans to be part of a club like this.

"We get a lot of younger fans coming now and on a matchday you can hear them with their drums and their chanting.

"Even away fans look at the stadium and the fans and think 'why aren't you in the Football League?'."

Meanwhile, Mark Burns is looking forward and hoping for a turnaround in recent fortunes.

"We haven't beat Kidderminster at all this season and it's about time we do.

"It's sold out. It's gonna be electric."

Saturday's playoff will kick off at the 1st Cloud Arena at 12:30 BST.

Coverage with BBC Radio Newcastle's Colin White and Paul Dickson begins from 12:00 BST on BBC Sounds.

Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.

More on this story

• Mariners into final with 'really special' support

Related internet links

• South Shields

Bears’ Caleb Williams given ridiculous spot in latest quarterback rankings originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

If I had to pick a young quarterback to build my team around, I'd go with Caleb Williams. 

I was very impressed with what the Chicago Bears quarterback did a year ago and believe he has an opportunity to be just as good as everybody expected him to be coming out of USC. 

There were some lofty expectations placed on Williams, and in year two, his first with new head coach Ben Johnson, he was excellent, throwing for 3,942 yards, 27 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

However, that hasn't stopped others from saying that he's not as good as some might think. In fact, there are people out there who believe that he's not even the best quarterback in his draft class, even though it seemed rather obvious a year ago.

"Caleb Williams has the goods, but the dip in completion percentage is slightly concerning. We'll see if year two with Ben Johnson can fix things there, but it's clear that Williams has this off-schedule, clutch ability that only a few others in the league have, and that's going to be a quality that allows the Chicago Bears to win a ton of games,” Lou Scataglia, who ranked Williams behind Bo Nix and Drake Maye, wrote.

The only one who should really have any conversation with Williams, to me, is Maye. 

I don't think Maye is nearly as good as Williams, but that's just my opinion. Regardless, Williams is going to have to go out and show that he will be the guy in the long term.

More NFL news:

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Former Bears QB bust meeting with Super Bowl contender this weekend originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Chicago Bears have had some very interesting quarterbacks on their roster in the past, which, honestly, isn't the best thing. 

Not only have the Bears attempted to find an answer with multiple veteran quarterbacks and failed to do so, but they've had a slew of guys who are either not in the league any longer or are still looking for jobs, showing how bad things really were at one point in time.

One of those guys was Nathan Peterman, a 32-year-old who was selected in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. 

Peterman played in Buffalo for two seasons before joining the Las Vegas Raiders and then the Bears.

According to the latest report, the veteran is eyeing another team, as he'll visit the Denver Broncos for a rookie minicamp tryout this weekend.

“Per source, the #Broncos are giving veteran QB Nathan Peterman a rookie minicamp tryout this weekend,” Mike Klis posted on X. “Last with Saints, Raiders, Falcons in 2024, Peterman turned 32 on Monday.”

Peterman has been on practice squads over the past few years and hasn't appeared in a game since 2023. His last completion came during the 2022 season with the Bears, when he threw for 139 yards and completed 56% of his passes.

He's probably nothing more than a practice squad guy at this stage of his career, but he'll have a chance to prove that he's more than that this weekend.

Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander takes major shot at Lakers over officiating complaints originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Lakers were fed up with the officials in Game 2 of their series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers now find themselves down two games in the series.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick was quick to voice his frustrations following the contest. Redick feels as if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander receives a helping hand on some foul calls.

However, Redick was not the only Laker with issues regarding the officiating in the game. At the end of the contest, Austin Reaves gathered with the referees at midcourt alongside the rest of his teammates.

“The Lakers were furious with the officiating during their Game 2 loss to the Thunder on Thursday night, and they let them hear about it. After L.A. lost 125-107 to fall behind 2-0 in their Western Conference semifinal series, guard Austin Reaves got in the faces of the officials and gave them a long lecture. The rest of his teammates were gathered around, and LeBron James could be seen nodding along with his teammate,” SI’s Ryan Phillips wrote.

The Thunder do not feel they receive any sort of favoritism when it comes to foul calls. Gilgeous-Alexander was in good spirits after the game and was heard making a comment about the Lakers meeting with officials at midcourt.

“Do we get to meet (too)?” Gilgeous-Alexander could be heard joking nearby.

Of course, Gilgeous-Alexander was simply poking the bear, but in a sense, he was also calling out the Lakers for something that is not typically seen. The Thunder got the job done in controlling the series at home, heading to Los Angeles without a loss.

Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder believe they have rattled the Lakers with their focus on officiating. There is no sense of pressure from Oklahoma City right now, which is why Gilgeous-Alexander has no issue taking subtle jabs at Los Angeles.

More NBA news:

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Former Aston Villa forward Dion Dublin says Unai Emery's side "gave blood, sweat and tears" as they "blew Nottingham Forest apart" to reach the Europa League final.

Villa are a game away from their first major silverware for three decades and a first European trophy in 44 years as they look to try to stand with the club's European champions of 1982.

"The players in claret and blue put a proper shift in," said Dublin on BBC Radio 5 Live. "They did everything correct to a man and gave blood, sweat and tears.

"When you're in a position like this, you look in the mirror and say 'I need to do a job' and those Villa players did their job.

"You have to trust the manager because even though they all have individual bits of skill, you have to take into consideration it's a team game and as a team they could be a juggernaut.

"I've not seen Villa play like that for a long time. So convincing.

"Anyone coming into Villa Park with the noise [from the fans] and atmosphere would have found it hard to handle.

"It's a night I don't think any of us will forget. It's not happened in a while.

"It wasn't a given Villa would reach the final just because they're a big football club, but they worked incredibly hard and they showed what they can do.

"They blew Forest apart and pushed them aside because they want to be in the final. They said 'this is our house and you're getting nothing from us'."

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MLB insider sends harsh warning to Yankees’ Anthony Volpe, but it’s fair originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Yankees made the decision they did with Anthony Volpe, and there isn't a whole lot more to say about it in terms of that. However, there's a lot to think about for the future of both him and this organization, and I'd be a bit surprised if that includes him being on the big league roster long-term. 

The Yankees will have to decide whether moving on from him via trade would make sense or keeping him down in the minor leagues until they figure something out.

Regardless, it definitely sounds like Volpe has gotten a warning about his future in Major League Baseball, at least with the Yankees, and MLB insider Jon Morosi had some thoughts about that.

“If we’re in July and Volpe is still in the minor leagues and the Yankees are still winning games and there’s a player out there that they need, and I’m another team that doesn’t have a long-term shortstop, I would like to see how Volpe looks as a potential long-term shortstop somewhere else,” Morosi said on MLB Network, H/T Heavy. 

“Because if Caballero is the guy, for now and maybe even the next several months, potentially into next year, what about George Lombard Jr. coming along?”

As Morosi mentioned here, there are many factors that could eventually come into play. Not only is Jose Caballero playing very well right now, but Volpe also has to worry about youngster George Lombard Jr. coming up and eventually taking his job.

I don't think Volpe is going to play a whole lot in New York moving forward, though that isn't something I thought just a few days ago.

More MLB news:

• Cubs being mentioned as landing spot for Phillies flame-thrower who will probably be traded
• Dodgers and Yankees will need to keep watching NL team and hoping they lose to land award winner
• Who will be traded at MLB trade deadline?
• Phillies get reality check on Mike Trout trade due to one factor no one is talking about
• Dodgers need to trade for this veteran after another Tyler Glasnow injury
• Mets have no choice but to move on from former Yankees All-Star in move that makes too much sense

Highest-paid WNBA players in 2026: A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Mitchell headline list originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After a new CBA was struck this past offseason, WNBA contracts already look a whole lot different.

Plenty of players got new deals in the aftermath of the new CBA, which allowed for 2026 salary ranges from a minimum of $270,000 to $1.4 million as each team's cap skyrocketed to $7 million.

That led to the first group of million-dollar WNBA players — and there are now plenty of stars making seven figures.

Here's a look at the highest-paid players for the 2026 WNBA season.

SN's WNBA HQ: Live WNBA scores | Updated WNBA standings | Full WNBA schedule

Highest-paid WNBA players 2026

After a busy offseason, there are now three players tied as the highest-paid star in the WNBA.

Minnesota's Napheesa Collier, Indiana's Kelsey Mitchell and Las Vegas' A'ja Wilson are all set to make the maximum of $1.4 million in 2026.

All three players have proved critical for their respective franchise. Collier, a former DPOY and 5-time All-Star, finished second in MVP voting for the second-straight season in 2025; Mitchell had a career year last season in Caitlin Clark's absence, earning her second All-Star nod; and Wilson's unreal resume continued growing, bringing Las Vegas another title while winning her fourth MVP award.

Plenty more stars cleared the $1 million mark with the new CBA, however, from Brittney Griner to Breanna Stewart.

Here's a look at the full list of highest-paid players for 2026, per Spotrac:

Richest contracts in the WNBA

It wasn't just the 2026 salaries that grew after the new CBA this offseason. Some players also landed more lucrative deals than others, multi-year agreements that set new league records for total value.

The current title of "largest WNBA deal ever" wound up going to Indiana's Aliyah Boston, who inked a four-year, $6.3 million extension with the Fever at 24 years old. While she will earn $1 million in 2026, Boston's average annual value over the deal is $1.57 million.

Wilson also secured a significant contract at $5 million over three years. Her AAV of $1.67 million is the highest in the WNBA, exceeding Boston's. 

Here's a look at the largest total contract value across the WNBA heading into 2026:

MORE: Ranking every 2026 WNBA starting five 

Liverpool are now edging closer to a dream transfer.

The Reds' attack has become far too predictable.

For all the control and structure they have in possession, there is a glaring lack of players who can consistently beat defenders in one vs one situations.

In modern football, especially against deep defensive blocks, individual dribbling quality is often the difference between domination and stagnation. Right now, Liverpool simply do not have enough of that profile in the squad.

For years, Luis Diaz gave Liverpool chaos in the best possible way. He could receive the ball wide, isolate a full-back, and create danger without needing perfect patterns around him.

Even when the system struggled, Diaz could manufacture moments through aggression, acceleration, and unpredictability. That quality forced defenders to panic and opened space for everyone else. Liverpool are missing that badly now.

The only player in the squad who naturally looks like a genuine one vs one specialist is Rio Ngumoha, but expecting a teenager to carry that responsibility would be unrealistic.

The senior forwards are effective in different ways, but none consistently destabilise defences through pure dribbling ability.

That is why Liverpool’s dream signing should be a winger who thrives in isolation situations. Someone fearless, explosive, and capable of creating separation against set defences. Not just a runner in transition, but a player who can unlock games when opponents sit compactly around the box.

Liverpool’s attack needs unpredictability again. They need a forward who can turn structure into chaos, force defenders backwards, and restore the sense that something dangerous can happen every time they receive the ball wide.

And who better to sign in that position right now than Yan Diomande?

He is Liverpool's dream transfer right now. He's dad is a Liverpool fan. He's been excellent for RB Leipzig this season and he just brings that speed and one vs one ability that Liverpool are so desperately lacking right now.

On paper there's no one like Diomande on the market, who can play as comfortably on both flanks and be as effective as he is in both roles.

Liverpool are trying to wrap up his signature and RB Leipzig are reluctant to lose him, or at least they have been.

However, it looks like they are now accelerating a move to bring in his replacement which has Liverpool moving one step closer to getting their man.

According to Sportsbladet in Sweden, RB Leipzig are flying out to watch Zadok Yohanna in action for AIK this weekend as they look to accelerate a move for the Nigerian right-winger.

Yohanna has eight goal contributions in 11 games, and it's understood that Leipzig view him as their replacement for Diomande.

The report goes on to claim that Leipzig are not just there to watch him, the club's officials will also hold talks about signing the youngster.

Given the speed at which Leipzig are seemingly moving for Yohanna, it looks like they are now seriously preparing for life without Diomande and that can only mean one thing - Liverpool are edging closer and closer to getting their man.

According to journalist Alberto Pereiro, Real Madrid are finalising preparations for a grand farewell tribute to club captain Dani Carvajal during the final home match of the season against Athletic Club on 24 May.

The veteran right-back is set to leave the club upon the expiration of his contract this June, with no renewal being offered to the 34-year-old.

His departure stems from a difficult final campaign marred by persistent injuries and a significant reduction in playing time following the arrival of new defensive reinforcements in Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Santiago Bernabeu says goodbye to a legend

A recent foot fracture has sidelined him, casting doubt on whether he can physically participate in the final league fixtures.

Regardless of his fitness, the Bernabeu tribute will celebrate a legendary career that began as a ten-year-old in the club’s academy.

An icon says goodbye. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Since his first-team debut in 2013, Carvajal has amassed over 430 appearances and won a joint-record 27 major trophies, including six Champions League titles and four La Liga crowns.

His legacy as one of the club’s greatest-ever defenders remains untouchable, even amidst a tense final few months for the squad defined by internal friction with manager Alvaro Arbeloa and some of his staff members.

The tribute on the final matchday against Athletic Club is expected to be a highly emotional affair, marking the departure of the last active member of the squad that secured the historic “La Decima” in 2014.

Fans attending the Santiago Bernabeu will have the opportunity to show their appreciation for a player who set an example for every young prospect coming through the Real Madrid youth academy.

As the summer transfer window approaches, FC Barcelona have emerged as one of several European heavyweights closely monitoring the situation of Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, reports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

The 23-year-old French international has become a sought-after profile across the continent due to his explosive pace and technical ability on the left flank.

Barcelona, who are actively seeking a top-tier talent to bolster their attacking options for the 2026/27 campaign, have identified Barcola as a potential target alongside Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon.

Competition expected

However, as per the report, the Catalan giants face significant competition from the Premier League.

Arsenal have already gathered extensive information on Barcola and are monitoring his development closely. Liverpool are also credited with a strong interest, as they look to rejuvenate their wide attacking options this summer.

On Barcelona’s radar. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)

Barcola’s future in Paris appears increasingly uncertain, with a move away from the Parc des Princes a distinct possibility during the upcoming window, as he has lost some prominence in the team.

Despite PSG’s desire to retain their brightest young talents, the lure of a leading role at another of Europe’s elite clubs may prove decisive.

For Barcelona, the pursuit of Barcola fits into their strategy of bolstering the frontline with more dynamism. The 23-year-old can play anywhere across the frontline and has contributed 12 goals and seven assists this season.

With Marcus Rashford expected to be released after his loan spell, the Blaugrana remain on the lookout for a left-winger, and the PSG ace has emerged as an option, along with the aforementioned Gordon.

While the club’s financial situation remains a factor in any high-profile pursuit, the opportunity to secure one of Europe’s most promising speedsters has placed them in the race for his signature.

*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication.

Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus praised Cristiano Ronaldo for his hunger after the Portugal superstar scored his 100th goal in the Saudi Pro League and moved closer to his target of 1,000 career goals.

Al-Nassr beat Al-Shabab 4-2 on Thursday, with the 41-year-old converting a pass from former Bayern Munich and Liverpool player Sadio Mané to make it 3-1 with 15 minutes remaining.

The other three goals were scored by Portugal's Joao Felix.

It was Ronaldo's 26th league goal of the season and the 971st of his career.

"Ronaldo is always dangerous, we saw that today," Jesus told reporters.

His team lead the table by five points ahead of Al-Hilal, who have played one match fewer and are the next opponents for Ronaldo's side on Tuesday.

The former world footballer has been playing in Saudi Arabia since December 2022 and is still waiting for a major title there.

Cubs being mentioned as landing spot for Phillies flame-thrower who will probably be traded originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

With the Philadelphia Phillies somewhat struggling to start the year, though playing better recently, some people are starting to believe that there could be some moves from Dave Dombrowski and the rest of the front office.

The Phillies will have to decide who they want to move on from, but right-handed closer Jhoan Duran is currently being viewed as a prime trade candidate. When searching for potential landing spots for the flamethrower closer, the Chicago Cubs continue to jump off the page.

“I don’t think any team in MLB has a bullpen more beat up than the Chicago Cubs. They have nine pitchers on the injured list, yet they’ve found a way to stay afloat. Now obviously getting healthy will be the most important thing for them. But in the interim, Duran can help patch their bullpen together,” Wynston Wilcox of FanSided wrote.

I'd be really interested to see what the Cubs look like in the 2026 campaign if they were healthy, though that isn't going to be the reality we see throughout the year. 

The Cubs have been among the most banged-up teams in baseball, as their pitching staff has just been absolutely derailed by all of these injuries. That's something that's going to need to change, and Duran can help with that.

However, I never expect Jed Hoyer to go out and make a blockbuster deal, so I want to see it before I believe it.

More MLB news:

• Dodgers and Yankees will need to keep watching NL team and hoping they lose to land award winner
• Who will be traded at MLB trade deadline?
• Phillies get reality check on Mike Trout trade due to one factor no one is talking about
• Dodgers need to trade for this veteran after another Tyler Glasnow injury
• Mets have no choice but to move on from former Yankees All-Star in move that makes too much sense
• Giants get expected return update for starter who will definitely be traded

Crystal Palace "powered their way into their first ever European final" with a convincing two-leg victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, says BBC Radio 5 Live commentator Mark Scott.

At Selhurst Park on Thursday, the atmosphere reached fever pitch.

"The Palace fans were singing 'we're on our way to Leipzig' before kick-off and still belting it out at full-time," said Scott. "The supporters were revelling in the moment.

"It's quite the turnaround given the relationship between Oliver Glasner and the fans looked like it was on the rocks a few months ago, but now they sing his name loud again.

"Crystal Palace's final game of the season and Glasner's final game as Crystal Palace boss will be their first ever European final.

"Can he finish in an unbelievable flourish? "

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Dodgers and Yankees will need to keep watching NL team and hoping they lose to land award winner originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers will be watching closely over the next few months, hoping that multiple teams put themselves in a position to become sellers. 

If the Yankees and Dodgers have their choice of players, there will be some interesting names to watch, including right-hander Sandy Alcantara. There's reason to believe, due to some injuries, that both teams could be in the market for starting pitching. 

If that ends up being the case, it sounds like Alcantara could be one of the guys who eventually becomes available.

“If the Marlins are in the playoff hunt, they’ll probably hold onto him, but if they drop out, I expect them to trade him with only a year remaining of team control (club option) after this season,” Jim Bowden of The Athletic wrote.

The Miami Marlins, at least right now, haven't put themselves in a position to make the playoffs. 

That doesn't mean things can't change, considering we're only in the beginning of May, but it's something to watch out for and could lead to a potential bidding war between the two best teams in each league, perhaps changing the outcome of the World Series.

More MLB news:

• Who will be traded at MLB trade deadline?
• Phillies get reality check on Mike Trout trade due to one factor no one is talking about
• Dodgers need to trade for this veteran after another Tyler Glasnow injury
• Mets have no choice but to move on from former Yankees All-Star in move that makes too much sense
• Giants get expected return update for starter who will definitely be traded
• Phillies have an obvious trade answer if they continue winning, and his name is Fernando Tatis

The Sunderland fans remember 13 May 2012, judging by the song they sang at Old Trafford during their 2-0 defeat by United in October.

"You thought it was yours, you thought it was yours, we heard you singing, then Sergio scored."

It is the kind of harmless banter commonplace at football grounds across the country and is bound to be given a few renditions on Saturday, for what is only United's sixth Premier League visit since that famous day.

What makes this trip stand out is that Michael Carrick was one of those to suffer, along with Jonny Evans, who is now part of his coaching team.

The pair are part of the video footage of the aftermath, both applauding the away support, Carrick in discussion with Ashley Young, trying to dissect what had happened.

Time heals of course. Carrick was part of the side that won at Sunderland the following year on the way to a historic 20th title.

But come Saturday, one suspects the gnawing memory would make winning there again just that little bit more satisfying.

"Obviously, it was a one-off kind of feeling," said Carrick. "It wasn't during the game, it wasn't until after.

"I didn't really know exactly where the land was lying at that point. It wasn't until we walked towards the edge of the pitch and had to deal with what was thrown out.

"It's in the past, but, yeah, it definitely sticks in the memory."

• Read about the Sunderland rivalry

• Cherki admits he was thinking more about his celebration than the goal itself vs Arsenal in April
• France international says he was “just enjoying the moment” in front of the Arsenal fans
• Playmaker’s stunning opener set City on their way to a 2-1 win that kept the title race alive

Rayan Cherki has revealed he was thinking more about his celebration than the goal itself as he curled home a stunning opener in Manchester City’s 2-1 Premier League win over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in April.

The 22-year-old’s effort – a swerving, instinctive finish that cut inside from the left and flew into the far corner – was widely regarded as one of the goals of the Premier League season and set City on their way to a victory that kept the title race alive heading into the final month of the campaign.

Speaking to Men in Blazer ahead of Saturday’s must-win game against Brentford, Cherki was characteristically unbothered when reflecting on a moment that had the Etihad Stadium on its feet, insisting it felt entirely routine in the moment.

“I don’t feel the pressure” – Rayan Cherki reacts to five-star performance in Manchester City win over Chelsea

Cherki: I was thinking about my celebration

Asked about the moment itself, Cherki’s answer was as disarming as the finish. “For me it was something normal,” the France international said.

“I was thinking more about my celebration than what I’d just done in the box. I was just enjoying the moment. Enjoying the celebration in front of the Arsenal fans.”

The response will surprise nobody who has followed Cherki’s debut season at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola has spoken at length about the playmaker’s natural confidence, describing the talent behind moments like the Arsenal goal as something “that cannot be taught, cannot be guided”.

Manchester City legend Sergio Agueroadded his own endorsement in recent weeks, insisting Cherki has made City “a much better team”, with his son among those already driving him “crazy” asking for his shirt.

The fact that Cherki’s first thought after one of the goals of the season was his celebration, rather than the technique or the occasion, says everything about the mentality that has made him such an instant hit in Manchester.

For a player who describes football as “like art, like music”, the moment was simply another brushstroke: to be enjoyed, savoured and then moved on from.

“I just want two things” – Rayan Cherki opens up on love for football ahead of Arsenal clash

What has Cherki’s season looked like at City?

Cherki’s goal against Arsenal was the defining image of his debut season in English football, but it was far from an isolated moment.

The former Lyon man arrived at the Etihad Stadium last summer for £34 million and has since accumulated 24 goal contributions in 47 appearances in all competitions, producing a series of performances that have made him one of the most talked-about players in the Premier League.

His two assists in the 3-0 win at Chelsea in early April were central to reigniting City’s title charge at its most uncertain moment, while his role in the 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final dismantling of Liverpool underlined the consistency of his contribution across multiple competitions.

talkSPORT presenter Adrian Durham has already declared Cherki the only credible contender for Footballer of the Year – regardless of who wins the Premier League title.

Guardiola’s only public note of caution has been a desire for more of those moments on a consistent basis, telling reporters he wants “five of those actions” per game rather than one.

It is the kind of demand that only gets made of players a manager truly believes can meet it. With an FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley and four Premier League games still to play, Cherki will have plenty more opportunities to answer that call before the season is out.

In the aftermath of the 2011 London riots, when groups of young men looted shops and set fire to cars and buildings around the capital, two aspiring football coaches were jolted into action by the sight of smoke billowing into the night sky.

Home secretary Theresa May called the offenders “thugs” and justice secretary Ken Clarke blamed a “feral underclass”. Much of the media rhetoric urged authorities to lock them up and throw away the key. But to James Fotheringham and Harry Hudson – who is now a familiar sight in the Chelsea dugout – the fires burning on their doorstep in Croydon were a community’s distress signal.

Hudson had studied sport’s role in social inclusion at university in Southampton, and when he returned to London that summer to witness the riots unfold, he and Fotheringham decided to set up their own outreach programme, putting on free coaching for young people who couldn’t afford to pay. The sessions were deliberately timed in the early evening during the most common hours for anti-social behaviour.

What started as a local scheme has grown into one of the most impactful sporting charities in the country. Approaching its 15th anniversary, Kinetic Academy now has 400 boys and girls enrolled across the city, aged 16-18, and each place at Kinetic comes with a spot at a local school to continue their studies. It is a unique blend of football academy, youth charity and education programme.

“It started at a time with a group of kids that were being labelled in the media as ‘bad kids’, but the truth was that they didn’t have the opportunity, the equipment, the facilities to express themselves,” says Fotheringham. “Smashing shops up and thefts and everything that was in the media, it just wasn’t the true narrative of the kids that were out on the street. But what it did do was point a lens at what we can do as a society to give these kids more of an opportunity.”

Among Kinetic’s first group of 23 young people, three signed contracts with professional football teams, a ludicrously high bar which the academy strives to reach each year. Scouts from around the country visit Kinetic’s talent showcases and see them play against club academies. So far, 83 Kinetic graduates have progressed into professional football, including Leicester midfielder Joe Aribo and Watford winger Kwadwo Baah.

The Independent visits on a day when Kinetic’s Tottenham team are playing a London Cup semi-final. Their slight right winger, 18-year-old Tito Somuyiwa, possesses bags of skill and pace. He joined Kinetic after being released by Watford at 15, having already experienced a painful rejection by Tottenham at 13.

“It was tough because it was the second time,” he says. “After I got released, my confidence was really low. I saw all the clubs [Kinetic] played against, so I thought that would be good to keep at the same level I was before, without actually being at a club. It’s literally the same [environment as a professional academy].

“When I played a lot of games, my confidence obviously got better. The coaches are always pushing you to try and develop your game, to work my hardest to reach my dream.”

Beyond the on-field talent, what has caught the eye among some football fans in recent months is just how many coaches progress into the professional ranks. Hudson, co-founder alongside Fotheringham, is now head coach of Chelsea Under-21s, and he is currently helping with the senior team after Chelsea sacked manager Liam Rosenior. Interim manager Calum McFarlane also coached at Kinetic, as did Chelsea’s Under-18s head coach Dan Hogan.

Their relationships with each other and Chelsea’s head of recruitment Joe Shields have sparked scrutiny on social media and accusations of nepotism, especially since some interim promotions. Perhaps it says something about Chelsea and the state of football more widely that who you know and who you trust counts for a lot – there are even more Brighton alumni at the club.

But the idea that the charity is somehow involved in a conspiracy to feed inexperienced coaches into Chelsea’s academy appears far-fetched. McFarlane already had a career in the professional game before a brief spell at Kinetic, which came about when he returned home from his job at Norwegian club Tromso due to a family health issue. Hudson had his own experience, from non-league to Wycombe, Crystal Palace and Brentford. Far more Kinetic coaches have not joined Chelsea, like Jake Littlejohn, who moved to Norwich City and the Bermuda national team, which sounds like the best gig of all.

That has not stopped a small but vociferous section of Chelsea fans hurling abuse at Kinetic online, with calls for the charity to shut down among the more polite messages.

Fotheringham thinks Kinetic didn’t so much help Hudson as hold him back from a professional career. “To be honest, I was the one probably stopping him and it meant that he didn’t go into that world sooner. We built something pretty cool at Kinetic that he wanted to stay a part of. But he always said to me he would never be able to lie on his deathbed and say, ‘I never gave it a shot’.

“I think the truth is that the hard yards that have gone into it through a variety of different experiences are what mould them as coaches and individuals to succeed. We’re super proud. I truly believe that they’re there on merit and hard work, and the truth is that they have put a lot of hours and been on some horrendous journeys to get to where they are now.”

The coaches who’ve risen to the professional game act as inspiration for Kinetic’s current crop of coaches, many of whom came through the academy as players. Adam Flemming is Kinetic’s head coach of the north London area, and he is managing Somuyiwa’s Tottenham team.

“My dream is to get all the badges and coach as high as possible,” Flemming says, in between little flurries of instruction and encouragement. “We have access to a very, very good calibre of player, first of all. And when we go and play against pro sides, we compete. There's nothing they do in a pro club that we don’t necessarily do ourselves, bar small bits like having a strength and conditioning coach. We’ve obviously got to prioritise education as well.”

And this points the foundation’s raison d’etre, to encourage social mobility by opening avenues to football and beyond. The majority of the young people who enrol are from marginalised ethnic backgrounds, and in the school holidays, Kinetic hosts coaching for children from low-income households. The foundation has links in the corporate world so students can earn mentoring and internships; a group recently visited Adidas headquarters for a workshop on entrepreneurship.

Because for all Kinetic’s success stories in football, the reality is that most don’t make it. Like a lot of talented footballers his age, Somuyiwa has come to the realisation that good fortune plays a part and a professional contract may never come. Through Kinetic’s partnership with Harris Academy schools, and his own hard work, Somuyiwa now has offers lined up at universities in Exeter and Leicester. “If it doesn’t work out, then I want to go into property and real estate,” he says.

This is ultimately the goal of the Kinetic Foundation, to send their young people into professional football, a job, training or higher education – they don’t really mind which, so long as their graduates have a brighter future when they leave than when they arrived.

This is the stage of the season where players are sometimes accused of being 'on the beach' after a poor performance, which is something no manager wants to hear said about his side.

But, being completely honest, a lack of motivation can be difficult to deal with if you are in charge of a team that find themselves in the middle of the table with, in their minds, nothing to play for.

Clubs generally pay players bonus money for staying up, yet I have been at places where reaching 40 points has guaranteed us safety and, having received the extra payments, results have dropped off afterwards.

It's never like that for a manager, though. The Premier League has always had positional prize money with a difference of several million between, say, eighth and 12th.

So the club itself is always motivated to finish as high as possible, even if you know that is going to be in mid-table. It could add a couple of million to your transfer budget for the following season but, even if you don't get to spend it yourself, you know it will pay a bill somewhere.

The players don't think like that though, and as a manager it is really tough to maintain that relentless focus you have demanded from the group for the previous nine months - but now without the cutting edge you only get from having a target to reach.

Giving them a financial incentive is probably the only way to solve the issue. Premier League players are paid enormous basic wages, but at times like this you'd prefer to cut that figure and replace it with winning, appearance and league-position bonuses that run right up to the last game of every season.

Getting your priorities right

Another bone of contention at the moment, especially for fans of teams who are desperate for other results to go their way, is seeing managers prioritise certain games over others.

By making seven changes for his side's Premier League game against Tottenham, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery was accused of focusing on his side's Europa League tie with Nottingham Forest, rather than selecting his strongest side against Spurs.

Whatever Emery was thinking, this kind of thing has always happened. Look at Manchester United and Tottenham last season, for example, when they were both focused on trying to win the Europa League and had nothing to play for domestically.

I definitely prioritised some games myself, for different reasons, with Stoke in our early Premier League years when I put our top-flight status ahead of cup games.

It certainly wasn't popular with a certain section of our crowd, but as the seasons went by in our journey to establish ourselves, the more confident I became in all-out risk taking when it came to my team selections.

One example was when we played Valencia in the Europa League knockout stages and I got heavily criticised for the team I selected in the away leg, having made a lot of changes from the home leg which we'd lost 1-0.

We lost 1-0 in Spain too and I hold my hands up to making a massive mistake there - I should have picked that team for the home game, because they certainly played a lot better!

In the past, Blackpool and Wolves were both fined by the Premier League for making multiple changes to their teams when Ian Holloway and Mick McCarthy were in charge, bringing in several squad players for games that affected other teams.

That rule has changed now though - since 2010 you have been able to pick any player in your nominated 25-man squad without reprisals.

So, Villa and Emery won't get any comeback from the Premier League this time - I am not sure that the same will apply to all the unhappy West Ham fans though!

Planning for next season already

This time of year is never quiet for a manager. Even if your team has nothing to play for right now, you already have to think about what happens next.

During the latter stages of every campaign, I would plan my next pre-season. That usually involved Austria, a fantastic country for the altitude work I wanted, and then two weeks on the east coast of the United States, where we would play two games in unbelievable humidity.

Of course, as you reach the end of a season you can reflect on your own performance as a manager, as well as the team's.

But, for me, that took just a weekend. I always thought the work you do over the summer months determines how the next season will go and, as we still see now, recruitment is almost everything.

I would not wait until the end of the season to start putting those plans in place and, right now, I would be working my socks off to ensure I got the best signings my club could afford.

Most of those deals would be agreed before the end of the season, whether outgoing or incoming, but they could still fall down so easily with all your competitors chasing the same players.

It's a process that never really stops, either. Come the end of pre-season, another list of players would enter the market, those whose demands were far in front of what they were worth, but had hung on for that golden egg!

Soon, with most clubs having done their transfer business, you knew those demands would decrease and become more reasonable.

I know of a manager who would allow his coaching staff to run pre-season and would not get back to work until a week before the season started. He called the transfer market up to that point the 'phoney war' - but for me it began in about April.

Delivering bad news was always difficult

At the end of every campaign, you know you also have the job of releasing players - young and old. Delivering the bad news was always difficult, but it was a situation I approached head on.

Please remember I worked lower down the leagues for many years and not always in the Premier League. Those lads have never been on the enormous wages I mentioned earlier and they can and do suffer from financial hardship, just as much as anyone else who is out of work.

For the young lads you are letting go, you know their aspirations take an enormous hit, while with the senior players who have families to provide for, you know they could end up on benefit payments if nothing comes up.

Whenever I released young players, I always wanted to do it face to face. It would take me back to my first days as an apprentice at Bristol Rovers, and the time when I got my first professional contract.

Don Megson was Rovers manager at the time and the club had just been promoted to what is now the Championship.

I've talked about how much I loved my life as an apprentice in previous columns and how different it was to what young players face now.

One thing that hasn't changed is how some teams have nothing to play for at this stage of the season. If, with a few games left, you could not get promoted or relegated then clubs would use the opportunity to play some younger players.

Rovers were brilliant at bringing youngsters through and used these games to blood many of their promising young talent - which at one time included me.

From a Sunday League semi-final to Molineux

When I'd just turned 18, although I was about to join the professional ranks, I'd still always go back to Wales and spend time with the lads I grew up with.

At this time, I had just started dating Deb, who is now my wife, so my nights out at the weekends were changing anyway.

My mum and dad were much happier if I was spending time with Deb, because it would be better for my career. I still managed to get out with the lads from time to time, though. This was one of those occasions.

One particular Easter, Rovers had played a home game on the Saturday and I wasn't involved. I travelled back to Wales and took Deb out for dinner but, on the way out, I met up with the gang from Pill, the area I was born in, in Newport.

After a few drinks they convinced me to play with them the next morning, in a semi-final of a Sunday League cup competition. I was told I was not breaking any rules because I wasn't a fully fledged professional. I was always desperate to play whenever I could anyway and as far as I knew that was the only game I'd play that weekend. I was wrong!

The next day, at the crack of dawn on a very wet Sunday morning, Deb drove me up the valleys to where the game was taking place, and we won on a pitch that I will always remember being full of puddles and on the side of a hill.

I went home because I had to catch a train back to Bristol. The distance from Temple Meads to Eastville Stadium was a good distance and on that particular day, myself and the other Welsh lads ran back because the first team were travelling to Wolves for an evening kick-off on the Easter Monday.

Our usual jobs were to clean boots and help pack the kit, but when I got there I was pulled in by the manager and told to get back to my digs to get a suit, because I was travelling with the team to Molineux.

It wasn't unusual for a young lad to travel with the senior squad, to help with the kit and gain some experience, but when we arrived at our hotel I was told I would be starting the game, alongside vastly experienced defender Stuart Taylor in the back four.

Molineux was packed that night and the atmosphere was incredible. It took an unbelievable strike from Steve Daley to beat us 1-0.

My preparation for the game was pretty unique with that game on the sloping pitch up in the valleys the previous morning, but I still did OK.

It taught me an important lesson about how unpredictable a life in football can be - and how unpredictable life is in general.

Tony Pulis was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

Who will be traded at MLB trade deadline? Yankees, Phillies players among top-five likeliest players traded during MLB’s trade deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

We're still a few months away from Major League Baseball's trade deadline at the beginning of August, though there seem to be a few obvious names regarding potential trade candidates. 

There are some players who need to be moved because their teams aren't in a position to win anytime in the near future, and others because they don't make much sense on their current roster.

Below, I'm looking at the five most likely players to be traded at the Major League Baseball trade deadline.

Joe Ryan

To start things off, there isn't a player in the game who I'd be less surprised to see traded than Joe Ryan. 

Ryan, who has dealt with an injury to start the year, has been rather decent when he's on the mound. He's posted a 3.72 ERA, so I'm interested to see what he looks like after this elbow scare.

If the Minnesota Twins are any bit serious about changing the future of this organization, it's going to start on the prospect side of things. They absolutely have to move on from Ryan.

Sandy Alcantara

This is one of the more interesting situations around Major League Baseball at the moment, as Sandy Alcantara has been very good. When Alcantara is at his best, there's a big argument to be made that he's one of the top starters in Major League Baseball.

However, the Marlins are in one of those strange positions where they could look to move on from guys while also trying to win. The reason for thinking Alcantara is going to be traded is that he's 30 years old, and he doesn't necessarily fit the timeline of what Miami has.

Jarren Duran

Jarren Duran is one of the more interesting players in Major League Baseball, and as a whole, he's definitely decent. The problem with Duran and the Boston Red Sox is the fact that he's in a crowded outfield. 

Duran still plays nearly every single day, currently with the fourth-most at-bats on the Red Sox roster, but he just feels like a guy who is going to be traded. At 29 years old and having multiple years of service time, not hitting free agency until 2029, there's really no reason for the Red Sox to hold on to him. It also doesn't help that he's hitting .190 with a .581 OPS.

Alec Bohm

I feel like Bohm is one of those classic guys who probably just needs a new change of scenery. Like some other teams in Major League Baseball, I expect the Philadelphia Phillies to buy and sell some.

The Phillies have played very well over the past week or so, putting them back in a position where they can probably contend for a playoff spot if everything goes well throughout the year. 

Bohm, however, hasn't been too big of a help with that. Phillies fans have been calling for him to be traded for a while now, and it would just make sense if it happens, as he's currently hitting .159 with one home run in 126 at-bats.

Jasson Dominguez

This injury could change things for the New York Yankees, and I'm a bit worried about that. However, Jasson Dominguez just isn't what the Yankees were expecting him to be, and at some point, they need to recognize that. 

If Spencer Jones comes up and can find a way to limit his strikeouts, I just don't see a realistic path to Dominguez being on this roster long-term.

More MLB news:

• Phillies get reality check on Mike Trout trade due to one factor no one is talking about
• Dodgers need to trade for this veteran after another Tyler Glasnow injury
• Mets have no choice but to move on from former Yankees All-Star in move that makes too much sense
• Giants get expected return update for starter who will definitely be traded
• Phillies have an obvious trade answer if they continue winning, and his name is Fernando Tatis
• Padres fans would stop watching baseball if this Fernando Tatis Jr. trade happened

A takeover of Exeter Chiefs by the owners of Premier League AFC Bournemouth has been approved by the Prem rugby club.

Members and shareholders voted in favour of a bid by Cannae Holdings' Black Knight Sports and Entertainment at a special general meeting on Thursday night.

If the takeover goes through, the American investors will purchase all shares in the Devon club.

Black Knight is currently carrying out a due diligence process which will not be completed before the end of May.

The group also have stakes in French club FC Lorient as well as owning Auckland FC.

"This does not represent a firm offer," Exeter chairman and chief executive Tony Rowe said in a statement.

"It is just a non-binding expression of interest at this stage but, hopefully, an offer will follow and we can begin negotiating the terms of the sale."

• New investment could boost Exeter squad - Baxter
• Bournemouth owners close to Exeter Chiefs takeover
• Rowe targets new investment as Exeter post £10.3m loss

Should the deal be completed, it would be the first time foreign football owners have invested in an English top-flight rugby team.

They are the latest new investors in the domestic game after Newcastle were bought up by energy drink giant Red Bull in August, while billionaire industrialist Sir James Dyson became co-owner of Bath in March after sinking significant new capital into the champions.

It is the second lot of American investment in the sport in as many days after Exeter's South West neighbours Cornish Pirates - who play in the second-tier Champ - announced new funding from the United States.

It comes as the Prem does away with promotion and relegation in favour of a franchise-type model with the league aiming to expand back to 12 teams.

A completed takeover would end Rowe's decades-long stint at the helm of the two-time Premiership and 2020 European champions.

Under his guidance, the Chiefs have progressed from the fourth tier of English club rugby to the top flight and moved to their current Sandy Park home in 2006.

The stadium has since undergone a number of developments with plans to expand it to a capacity beyond 20,000 also in the pipeline.

Rowe, who made his fortune in telecommunications, sponsored much of the club's rise and development as he incorporated conferencing and events into the club's business portfolio at Sandy Park.

The club reached six consecutive Premiership finals from 2016 as well as winning a maiden European crown as the club attracted internationals such as Geoff Parling and Nic White to a side that also had homegrown stars including Jack Nowell, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Henry Slade.

But since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Exeter have struggled financially. Rowe bought a hotel on the Sandy Park site in December 2022 to help pay off some of the Chiefs' pandemic-related debts while the club saw much of their international talent leave between 2022 and 2024 as they cut the wage bill.

Last season the club finished ninth in the 10-team Prem, but after a number of coaching changes and investment in players such as Len Ikitau, Tom Hooper, Andrea Zambonin and Stephen Varney, are challenging for a play-off place this season.

Exeter members and fans will hope the new investment can help re-establish the club as one of English rugby's major domestic forces.

What channel is Padres vs. Cardinals on? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch MLB Friday Night Baseball game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Two teams off to strong starts continue their four-game weekend series as the San Diego Padres host the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. 

While it's no surprise to see the Padres jostling with the Dodgers atop the NL West, the Cardinals are in the midst of a bounceback season on the heels of a fourth-place finish in 2025. 

Jordan Walker (.956 OPS, 10 home runs) has led the St. Louis offense so far, and Friday's starter Michael McGreevy leads the pitching staff. The 25-year-old right-hander got the win with six shutout innings against the Dodgers last time out and will look to keep rolling against a solid San Diego lineup led by Xander Bogaerts. 

The Padres seem to have rebounded after losing back-to-back home series to the Cubs and White Sox. They will send Griffin Canning to the hill Friday in his second start since he suffered a season-ending Achilles tear last June with the Mets. The veteran had an impressive debut last time out against the White Sox, striking out seven and allowing three hits and a run in five innings. 

Who will prevail Friday as two postseason hopefuls clash at Petco Park? Here's when and where to tune in and watch all the action. 

What channel is Padres vs. Cardinals on today?

• TV channel: None
• Live stream: Apple TV

Padres vs. Cardinals will not air on traditional television Friday. The game will stream live as part of Apple TV's "Friday Night Baseball" package. 

New subscribers get their first week of Apple TV for free. After that, they can subscribe for just $12.99/month. 

Subscribers can watch "Friday Night Baseball" with the Apple TV app, which is available on select smart TVs, Roku devices, Amazon Fire TV, and gaming consoles. 

Padres vs. Cardinals start time

• Date: Friday, May 8
• Time: 9:45 p.m. ET | 8:45 p.m. CT | 6:45 p.m. PT

First pitch of Padres vs. Cardinals on Friday is set for 9:45 p.m. ET. The game will be played at Petco Park in San Diego.

Apple TV 'Friday Night Baseball' schedule 2026

Apple and MLB have announced the "Friday Night Baseball" schedule through the end of June. See every upcoming game below. 

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