Columbus Blue Jackets (39-27-12, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Buffalo Sabres (48-23-8, in the Atlantic Division)

Buffalo, New York; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Sabres -128, Blue Jackets +106; over/under is 6.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Buffalo Sabres host the Columbus Blue Jackets after Zachary Benson scored two goals in the Sabres' 5-3 win over the New York Rangers.

Buffalo has gone 25-10-4 in home games and 48-23-8 overall. The Sabres have committed 304 total penalties (3.8 per game) to rank 10th in league play.

Columbus has a 19-16-4 record in road games and a 39-27-12 record overall. The Blue Jackets are 14-6-3 in games they have fewer penalties than their opponent.

Thursday's game is the third time these teams meet this season. The Blue Jackets won 5-1 in the last meeting.

TOP PERFORMERS: Tage Thompson has scored 38 goals with 41 assists for the Sabres. Bowen Byram has one goal and six assists over the last 10 games.

Kirill Marchenko has 26 goals and 39 assists for the Blue Jackets. Adam Fantilli has two goals and three assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Sabres: 5-3-2, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.3 assists, 4.4 penalties and 11.5 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game.

Blue Jackets: 3-6-1, averaging 2.1 goals, 3.7 assists, three penalties and 6.9 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game.

INJURIES: Sabres: Jiri Kulich: out for season (ear), Sam Carrick: out (arm), Alex Lyon: day to day (undisclosed), Justin Danforth: out (lower body), Noah Ostlund: day to day (upper-body).

Blue Jackets: Brendan Smith: out (knee), Mathieu Olivier: out (upper body), Dmitri Voronkov: out (hand), Damon Severson: out for season (shoulder).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Toronto Maple Leafs (32-32-14, in the Atlantic Division) vs. New York Islanders (42-31-5, in the Metropolitan Division)

Elmont, New York; Thursday, 6:45 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Islanders -267, Maple Leafs +215; over/under is 6.5

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Islanders take on the Toronto Maple Leafs after losing four in a row.

New York has gone 21-14-2 at home and 42-31-5 overall. The Islanders have gone 30-9-3 in games they score at least three goals.

Toronto is 14-19-6 in road games and 32-32-14 overall. The Maple Leafs have a -34 scoring differential, with 241 total goals scored and 275 given up.

The matchup Thursday is the third time these teams play this season. The Islanders won 3-1 in the previous meeting.

TOP PERFORMERS: Mathew Barzal has scored 19 goals with 51 assists for the Islanders. Matthew Schaefer has two goals and seven assists over the past 10 games.

John Tavares has 30 goals and 38 assists for the Maple Leafs. Matthew Knies has scored five goals with one assist over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Islanders: 3-7-0, averaging 2.6 goals, 4.9 assists, 3.1 penalties and nine penalty minutes while giving up 3.6 goals per game.

Maple Leafs: 3-5-2, averaging 2.7 goals, four assists, 5.2 penalties and 14.9 penalty minutes while giving up 3.9 goals per game.

INJURIES: Islanders: Alexander Romanov: out (shoulder), Pierre Engvall: out for season (ankle), Tony DeAngelo: day to day (lower body), Semyon Varlamov: out for season (knee), Kyle Palmieri: out for season (knee).

Maple Leafs: Anthony Stolarz: day to day (lower body), Dakota Joshua: day to day (upper body), Brandon Carlo: day to day (lower body), Chris Tanev: out for season (abdomen), Auston Matthews: out for season (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

San Jose Sharks (37-33-7, in the Pacific Division) vs. Anaheim Ducks (41-32-5, in the Pacific Division)

Anaheim, California; Thursday, 10 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Ducks -177, Sharks +147; over/under is 6.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Anaheim Ducks will try to end a six-game slide when they play the San Jose Sharks.

Anaheim is 14-10-0 against the Pacific Division and 41-32-5 overall. The Ducks have gone 36-12-3 in games they score at least three goals.

San Jose has a 37-33-7 record overall and a 10-11-3 record in Pacific Division play. The Sharks have a 19-5-6 record in one-goal games.

The matchup Thursday is the fourth time these teams play this season. The Sharks won 4-3 in the last matchup. Macklin Celebrini led the Sharks with two goals.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cutter Gauthier has scored 38 goals with 27 assists for the Ducks. John Carlson has one goal and eight assists over the last 10 games.

Celebrini has 42 goals and 66 assists for the Sharks. Alexander Wennberg has scored five goals and added five assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Ducks: 4-5-1, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.2 assists, 3.9 penalties and 10.6 penalty minutes while giving up 3.8 goals per game.

Sharks: 5-4-1, averaging 2.9 goals, five assists, 3.7 penalties and 9.4 penalty minutes while giving up 3.2 goals per game.

INJURIES: Ducks: Petr Mrazek: out for season (lower-body), Jansen Harkins: out (upper body), Cutter Gauthier: day to day (upper body), Radko Gudas: out (lower-body), Ross Johnston: out (lower-body).

Sharks: Ryan Reaves: out (hamd).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

The controversy surrounding Pau Cubarsi’s red card in Barcelona’s 0-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid continues to gather momentum, and now one of football’s most respected voices has stepped in. 

Former Barcelona forward Thierry Henry has openly criticised the decision, adding weight to the growing debate around the officiating in the Champions League quarter-final clash, something that even Hansi Flick spoke about.

The incident, which occurred just before half-time, proved to be a defining moment in the match. 

With Barcelona reduced to ten men, the balance of the game shifted dramatically, allowing Atletico Madrid to take control of key moments. However, not everyone agrees that the decision was justified.

Henry’s verdict

Speaking during his appearance on CBS Sports (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Henry made his position clear from the outset, expressing disbelief at the referee’s call. 

“No, no, no… for me, that’s not a red card. I’m sorry. I understand the rule. Last man, denying a goal-scoring opportunity, but you have to look at the situation. 

“The ball isn’t completely under control, the angle isn’t perfect and there’s still some distance to the goal. 

Henry did not agree with the referee’s decision. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

“Are we sure he’s going to score? I’m not convinced,” he argued.

More to the story

Henry’s argument focuses on the interpretation of the rule rather than the rule itself. 

While acknowledging that Cubarsi was technically the last defender, he questioned whether the situation truly met the threshold for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity, which is a key factor in such decisions.

He then went a step further, highlighting the impact that such calls can have on matches of this magnitude. 

In his view, the referee acted too quickly without fully considering the context of the play. 

“For me, it’s a yellow card, not a red. Because as soon as you send him off, you change the whole game. 

“And in the Champions League, you have to be 100% sure. I think the referee was too quick on that one,” he concluded.

Max Verstappen’s esteemed F1 race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is set to join McLaren from Red Bull, according to reports in Dutch media.

British engineer Lambiase, who has worked with Verstappen since the driver’s Red Bull debut in 2016, is poised to link-up with McLaren in a senior role, perhaps as high as team principal. The 45-year-old was linked with moves to Aston Martin and Williams prior to the 2026 season.

Lambiase has a contract until 2027 and would not leave Red Bull – where he has combined roles as Verstappen’s engineer with the team’s ‘Head of Racing’ since 2025 – immediately. A report in Dutch outlet De Limburger suggests 2028 could be Lambiase’s start date.

The news makes Verstappen’s exit from Red Bull, if not F1, more likely and perhaps even inevitable. The four-time world champion has already mooted retiring from the sport at the end of the current season, given his dissatisfaction with the new cars and regulations, and has vocalised in the past how Lambiase is one of his three key allies in the sport, alongside father Jos and Red Bull’s former adviser Helmut Marko, who retired at the end of last season.

The Independent has approached Red Bull and McLaren for comment.

Lambiase is the latest member of Red Bull’s hierarchy to swap the Austrian drinks company for the papaya-clad outfit. Senior designer Rob Marshall and strategy guru Will Courtenay have all made the same transfer in recent years.

Long-term team principal Christian Horner was also sacked last summer, with former sporting director Jonathan Wheatley joining Audi as team principal – a position he has since left.

More to follow…

Thursday's slate brings outstanding predictability for bettors as NBA and NHL teams that already clinched playoff spots begin resting their starters in preparation for the near two-month journey toward earning a championship. The NHL's Colorado Avalanche clinched the Central Division and No. 1 seed in the Western Conference while the Carolina Hurricanes locked down the Metropolitan Division out east. Meanwhile in the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder secured the best record in the league and top seed in the Western Conference. To stay ahead of coaches' late season lineup adjustments, here are tonight's best bets brought to you by BetOnline.org. Click here to join. All new players get a 50% welcome bonus and up to $250 in free bets.

First Pick: Ducks Under 6.5 Goals

Rundown: The Anaheim Ducks (41-32-5) will aim to snap a five-game skid against the San José Sharks (37-33-7) at Honda Center.

Anaheim had a rough stretch over their last five matchups, getting outscored 29-14 by their opponents. As a result, the Ducks fell to third in the Pacific Division with 87 points, trailing Edmonton's 90 and Las Vegas's 88. Anaheim's most recent loss came at the heels of a 5-0 shutout by Nashville on Tuesday as goalie Justus Annunen's 43-save performance left the Ducks' skaters with no answer. 

However, the Ducks will hope to flip the switch against a familiar foe in the Sharks, who are below .500 on the road. When these two squads faced off last Wednesday, the Ducks coughed up a 3-1 lead in the third period as San José scored three goals with two from 19-year-old standout Macklin Celebrini and one by Will Smith.

With the Ducks having high postseason aspirations, expect them to come out swinging in tonight's game.

Second Pick: Kings Moneyline

Rundown: The Los Angeles Kings (32-26-19) will look to remain in the win column against the Vancouver Canucks (22-47-8) at Crypto.com Arena.

Los Angeles enters Thursday coming off a 3-2 shootout win over the Predators on Monday and will aim to sneak into a final wildcard spot with five games remaining. For the Kings, winning out is a must and tonight's matchup presents the optimal opportunity for them to do so. The Canucks remain at the bottom of the Pacific, scoring just 52 points in comparison to L.A.'s 83. Consequently, Vancouver is 1-2-1 against the Kings this season with an improvement seeming unlikely.

Winger Adrian Kempe banked in Monday's game-winning goal and will look to remain hot as the Kings' offensive leader. Quinton Byfield and Artemi Panarin are other key players to watch as the pair combined for three goals last week against Toronto. Goalie Anton Forsberg will also seek to contribute once again, having led Thursday's defense with 29 saves on the night. 

With no end in sight for Vancouver's struggles, bettors can confidently expect L.A. to take this one.

Mansoor Delane or Caleb Downs for the Washington Commanders?

The Team 980 afternoon host, Chris Russell, spent some time on Wednesday looking at the options if the Commanders are on the clock and must select from the two, whether they want the first corner chosen in this draft, or the first safety.

"Leader, smart, high IQ, great hitter, great communicator is what so many see in the Ohio State safety." Then Russell asked his listeners to consider a possible reality. The Ohio State Buckeyes were absolutely loaded on defense this past season. Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, and Caleb Downs, what do they have in common? Well, all could very easily be drafted in the top 10 in the 2026 NFL Draft. So, Russell asked whether the reality of this situation might be that Downs had such great people playing in front of him that he had little to worry about. "Is Downs perhaps a product of all of that great talent that was in front of him for the Buckeyes?" asked Russell.

Russell then proposed that cornerback is much more of a need for this current Commanders team than is a new safety, like Caleb Downs. "I see why everybody loves him, I just don't know if I see special (in Caleb Downs), like special at an NFL level. I just don't know if I see that." Meanwhile, while watching the film, Russell says he saw Delane playing outside corner on the left and on the right, then moved up into the slot, all in one game.

When focusing on Delane, the LSU corner, in watching film, Russell said that everything he thought he knew about Delane checked out. Russell said he thought, "well what kind of quarterback was Delane going up against in the film he was watching?" The film was from an LSU game last season against SEC rival Alabama, and Ty Simpson. Simpson is the other quarterback who could be taken in the first round in this year's draft. And the receivers at Alabama were very good competition for Delane in man-to-man coverage.

So, if the Commanders find themselves on the clock and both Downs (safety) and Delane (corner) are still available, who should the Commanders select on April 23? "I am not saying Caleb Downs is not good. Caleb Downs is an outstanding football player," concluded Russell. "I like Mansoor Delane better." Russell then added. "I am not Adam Peters."

He's right, he's not Adam Peters, and neither are any of us. That is why it is so easy for us to sit and around and act like we "know" whom the Commanders should or shouldn't select at No. 7 in the first round.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Mansoor Delane or Caleb Downs?

Every year during the pre-draft process, the Tennessee Titans invite some draft prospects to the facility to work out at a local pro day, and 2026 is no different.

While the official list of participants and the event date have not been released by the organization, word is slowly trickling out about some prospects and when they will be in Nashville.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Easton Butler again reports that Tennessee State edge James Stewart was invited to the event, and goes one step further, revealing that the Titans' local pro day will take place on Friday, April 10.

Tennessee State EDGE James Stewart spoke with the #Titans at his Pro Day. He will also attend the Titans Local Pro Day on April 10th. pic.twitter.com/2wXG28n2en

— Easton Butler (@Easton__Butler) March 30, 2026

As of today, Stewart will be joining Tennessee defensive lineman Tyre West, Vanderbilt offensive tackle Bryce Henderson, and Mississippi State long snapper Ethan Myers as verified prospects scheduled to take part.

In 2025, the Titans invited seven prospects to their local pro day, but failed to reconnect with any of them during or after the draft.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans local pro day slated to take place Friday, April 10

Yorkshire off-spinner Dom Bess has extended his deal through to the end of 2028.

The 28-year-old, who would have been out of contract at the end of the season, joined the White Rose from Somerset in 2019.

He has taken 227 wickets and scored 2,663 runs for the Headingley side to date.

"Yorkshire has become my home, and I couldn't be prouder to continue my journey with the club," he told the club website.

"These next few years will be exciting ones, not just for us on the pitch, but for all the members and supporters who give us their backing each week.

"We have such a talented squad, and I'm thrilled to say I'll be a part of this as we look to push on and win some trophies."

FPL is back this week after a 19-day break and we're straight into it with a double gameweek announcement.

Six teams play twice next week, making this week key to setting up your team.

Our expert Pras will delve into chip strategies in his Friday analysis article, and he will then be live on the BBC Sport website at 15:30 BST to answer your last-minute questions.

It's not the most enticing double gameweek, especially as every team involved then blanks the following week.

And your strategy will also depend on how many chips you have left.

The double gameweek presents a good chance to bench boost, and you could use the wildcard this week to set that up.

Another popular strategy will be to free hit in 33, getting you 11 double gameweek players.

But first there is gameweek 32 and it features some enticing match-ups for the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool - teams that don't double the following week.

The team of the week is selected based on current FPL prices to fit within a £100m budget, as if you were playing a Free Hit.

How did last week's team do?

A high-powered midfield performance, led by captain Bruno Fernandes (26 points), Anthony Gordon (10) and Harry Wilson (nine), propelled the team to a pleasing 66 pointer.

BBC Sport FPL team of gameweek 32

Keeper and defence

David Raya, Arsenal, keeper, £6m - Bournemouth (h)

Raya is not a sexy keeper pick - he is expensive and is unlikely to pick up many save or bonus points.

But he's the top-scoring FPL goalkeeper for a reason.

Arsenal have back-to-back clean sheets and are the most likely to keep one again this week, according to bookies' odds.

Bournemouth failed to score on their past two away trips and that was against struggling Burnley and West Ham.

Gabriel, Arsenal, £7.2m - Bournemouth (h)

When he is fit, Gabriel has to be in your team. His 29 points in his past three starts is testament to that.

Nordi Mukiele, Sunderland, £4.5m - Tottenham (h)

Sunderland's early season form has tapered off but they still present a tough away trip, especially for a team playing as poorly as Tottenham, and have the third-best home defence in the league.

Fit-again Mukiele was an FPL bargain before getting injured in week 27.

He's the Sunderland defender most likely to get attacking returns with five assists and a goal this season.

And his three double-digit hauls this season make him even more enticing - get one of those at this stage of the season and you can really shoot up the rankings.

Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £6.3m - Fulham (h)

Liverpool have been hit or miss in general for FPL managers and have not kept a clean sheet in four games.

But two things make Van Dijk a decent pick in a week where it is hard to predict clean sheets.

Firstly, his goal threat - in the past six games he has the most big chances (4) along with Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly, and the third-highest xG among defenders.

And secondly, Fulham's away record, with only Leeds, Wolves and Burnley picking up fewer points on the road.

Diogo Dalot, Manchester United, £4.6m - Leeds (h)

Leeds are another team with a poor away record and they've only scored 15 goals in their 15 games on the road.

Dalot is United's highest-scoring defender and he's left a few points on the board too.

There are a few examples of him blasting over the bar from a good position and the statistics prove that too. His xG is 1.54 but he has only scored once, when most players overperform in that area.

His four big chances are the most among United defenders, as are his nine bonus points.

Midfield

Bruno Fernandes (captain), Manchester United, £10.3m - Leeds (h)

Like Gabriel, Fernandes is a must-have FPL player.

We'll have an interesting choice to make next week when the Portugal midfielder faces Chelsea away in the double gameweek.

But for now he is a strong captain after 13, 10, eight and 13 points in his past four games.

Antoine Semenyo, Manchester City, £8.2m - Chelsea (a)

Chelsea away looks like a tough game on paper, but City have not lost at Stamford Bridge in five Premier League trips.

Four of those were victories and the other one ended 4-4 so, if that form continues, City are a good bet to score and win.

Semenyo has five goals in his past eight league games and is easily the best City midfield pick.

Anthony Gordon, Newcastle, £7.4m - Crystal Palace (a)

Gordon is bang in form, with three goals in three games, and will still be on penalties if Bruno Guimaraes is not fit to return.

There's a chance Eddie Howe plays him out of position too, as a striker

Newcastle need a response after their derby defeat by Sunderland - if they produce a strong performance then Gordon, who has been involved in 26% of their goals, has a good chance of picking up points again.

Strikers

Igor Thiago, Brentford, £7.3m - Everton (h)

This game is a clash of two fine records. Everton have the fourth-best away statistics and Brentford's home form is eighth.

Thiago is one off 20 league goals for the season and scored a hat-trick away at Everton.

Even when he doesn't play well, Brentford seem able to find ways of getting him the points. Pick Thiago with confidence, despite Everton's away form.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m - Wolves (h)

A huge game for the Hammers and that means it is time for their talisman to produce.

Bowen is fourth in the FPL striker charts despite not really exploding this season.

He's only scored eight goals but leads almost every attacking metric for the Hammers including the most big chances [nine] and the highest goal involvement (42%).

Erling Haaland, Manchester City, £14.4m - Chelsea (a)

The big man is back in the team and not just because he scored a hat-trick in the cup.

Chelsea are in a poor patch of form, particularly defensively; demolished by Paris St-Germain, letting in three at Everton.

There's inner turmoil too, with Enzo Fernandez missing this game due to a club suspension.

If City get it right, this could be a walloping.

And Haaland has scored in three of his past four league games against Chelsea.

Subs bench

Mads Hermansen, West Ham, keeper, £4.2m - Wolves (h)

Yankuba Minteh, Brighton, midfielder, £5.5m - Burnley (a)

Elliot Anderson, Nottingham Forest, midfielder, £5.5m - Aston Villa (h)

James Tarkowski, Everton, defender, £5.7m - Brentford (a)

Team total cost: £95.7m

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Eritrea’s participation in the Africa ‌Cup of Nations preliminaries is in question after seven of their 10 local footballers disappeared following their victory in Eswatini ⁠last month.

The players went missing after Eritrea completed a 4-1 aggregate triumph over Eswatini on March 31 – a result that secured them ⁠a spot in the group-stage qualifiers for the continental showpiece.

From the 24-member squad that participated in the qualifying tie, only 10 were locally-based players, of which just three returned.

The seven players are believed to have disappeared when the national team arrived in South Africa en route from Eswatini to Eritrea via Egypt, an official of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) told the AFP news agency.

“This incident is a mystery. Eritrea beat Eswatini on March 31 in Lobamba and no one seems certain what happened thereafter,” he said.

“We believe all the players left Eswatini for South Africa. But when the travelling party landed in Cairo, seven players were missing.”

Recently appointed Eritrea coach Hesham Yakan, a defender in the Egypt 1990 World Cup squad, chose 24 players, including 14 based abroad, for the two-leg preliminary qualifier against Eswatini.

His selection included Eritreans based in Australia, Egypt, England, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines and Sweden.

Ali Suleiman from Egyptian top-flight side Ismailia Electricity Club scored three goals as Eritrea won 2-0 and 2-1 to qualify for the main qualifying phase, which will comprise 12 four-team groups.

The first leg against Eswatini was staged in the Moroccan city of Meknes because Eritrea does not have an international-standard stadium.

It was the first Cup of Nations match involving Eritrea since 2007. Subsequently, they competed in three World Cup qualifying competitions and several regional tournaments.

The seven missing players reportedly include goalkeepers Kibrom Solomon and Awet Maharena and defenders Wedeb Fessehaye, Yosief Tsegay and Nahom Awet.

Veteran midfielder Medhane Redie and striker Amanuel Benhur were the other defectors, joining dozens of Eritrean footballers who abandoned national teams when in other African states.

Those who returned to Asmara were captain Ablelom Teklezghi, fellow midfielder Nahom Tadese and striker Romel Abdu.

Victory over Eswatini proved a surprise success for the lowly-ranked Eritrea, considering they had not played an international match for six years.

It put them into the draw for the ⁠group-stage qualifiers, along with the five winners of other preliminary ties. They will join Africa’s 42 top-ranked teams, who will be divided into 12 groups of four teams each.

The group qualifiers are to be played between September and November to determine the teams that will qualify for the 2027 Cup of Nations finals in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

A history of player defections

During trips outside the country, players from Eritrean both senior and underage national teams regularly disappeared and sought asylum.

Players and other team members defected after matches or tournaments in Angola in 2007; Kenya in 2009; Tanzania in 2011; Uganda in 2012; Botswana in 2015, following a World Cup qualifier; and Uganda again in 2019.

The United Nations estimates that about 80 Eritreans involved in football, including players, coaches and officials, have defected during the past 20 years.

Indefinite military service after completing schooling is cited as the main reason for the defections from the East African country.

Eritrea has been governed by President Isaias Afwerki since gaining independence from Ethiopia in 1993, and human rights groups consistently describe his rule as “highly repressive”.

During a state visit to Kenya three years ago, Afwerki said such allegations were “fantasy”.

Eritrea did not allow teams to travel outside the country ⁠since members of its under-20 side fled to Uganda in 2019, but had a change of ⁠heart when they entered the 2027 Cup of Nations.

A further sign of Eritrea looking to emerge from its self-imposed isolation came in February, when its football federation president, Paulos Weldehaimanot Andemariam, ‌was elected to head the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations, a longstanding regional body that organises club and junior competitions.

But that could all be in the balance now after the embarrassment of the player defections.

George Ghebreslassie, an Eritrean exile who runs a nonprofit organisation supporting Eritrean refugees, said the disappearance highlighted the dire situation in the country.

“It shows the kind of situation we have in Eritrea. We thought things would change, but nothing has changed,” he told the Reuters news agency.

Michael Jordan the basketball player is success personified, the legend against whom all others are measured. Michael Jordan the sports executive, on the other hand, has spent much of the past three decades falling short of his own impossible standard.

In 1999, Jordan joined Abe Pollin’s Washington Wizards ownership group as a history-making minority partner, but neither his star power nor a brief return from retirement translated into sustained team success. Eleven years later, he took over the Charlotte Bobcats, replacing BET co-founder Robert Johnson as the league’s only Black majority owner – but poor roster moves, questionable hires and three playoff appearances in 13 years, with nary one series victory, ultimately became his legacy as the principal steward of the retro-branded Charlotte Hornets.

When he sold his stake in 2023 for $3bn, in part to focus on his nascent 23XI Nascar Cup operation (pronounced twenty-three eleven), a joint venture with Jordan Brand racing ambassador Denny Hamlin, many assumed Jordan the exec would only bring about more disappointment before fully retreating into his golf and gambling hobbies. Turns out, the 63-year-old was simply on the wrong track. “I’m cursed with this competitive gene, that anything I do is from a competitive lens,” he told CBS’s Gayle King. “In some ways, that keeps me young. It keeps me aggressively thinking positively. [It] has transcended and taken over everything that I do.”

No Nascar owner in history has opened a Cup season hotter than Jordan has in 2026. Tyler Reddick, the No 23 car driver who joined the team three years ago, won four of the Cup calendar’s first six events; he started off by grabbing the checkered flag in the Daytona 500, charging to the front on the last lap just before a crash broke out in his wake. Bubba Wallace, the No 45 car driver who helped establish 23XI Racing in 2021, has finished no worse than 11th through the first five races. Even a fraction of that success would make for a remarkable year in a sport where loss is constant – sweat, sponsors, sleep.

Throughout, Jordan has watched from the pit wall before celebrating in victory lane while seemingly making himself endlessly available for on-camera interviews. (Imagine how NBC must feel, touting Jordan as a “special contributor” to their rebooted NBA coverage, only to wind up cutting and stretching their one interview with the guy before the season.) Naturally, Jordan’s new teammates frame his firm but more forgiving leadership style in basketball terms. “He emphasizes doing what you need to do to make sure you’re performing at your highest level and taking that game-winning shot,” Dave Rogers, 23XI’s senior director of competition, explained to The Athletic. “And if you make it, great. And if you don’t, move on.”

23XI has been on a roll since Reddick hung on to claim the 2025 regular-season points title and push for the Cup series championship in the final race – after Wallace booked the team’s only win at the prestigious Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis. Heading into this Sunday’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Jordan sits atop the owner leaderboard alongside perennial powerhouses Roger Penske, Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs – who still employs Hamlin as a driver, as it happens. It’s a conflict of interest that can sometimes put Hamlin in the stressful position of having to choose between glory for the team he owns and risking one of his drivers to snatch victory for himself.

“I actually wiped out one of the 23XI cars last year [going] for a win on the final lap,” Hamlin told King.

“And he got a phone call from me,” Jordan shot back.

On the surface, 23XI’s streak is remarkable for a team in just its sixth year of operation. But what makes it truly astounding is that it all could’ve ended in court four months ago.

In October 2025, 23XI broke ranks with every Cup series team but one to file an antitrust lawsuit against Nascar. Jordan – well familiar with the cartel-style business practices of stick-and-ball leagues like the NBA, which allowed him to sell the Hornets for more than 10 times what he paid – effectively called out the France family, who have controlled Nascar since its inception. Among other grievances, he objected to the Frances taxing teams for the privilege of competing across their monopoly of racing circuits while hoarding revenue from the governing body’s multibillion-dollar media rights deals with Fox, NBC, TNT and Amazon.

The tradition of squeezing what MJ calls “the people putting on the show” predates patriarch Bill France Sr establishing Nascar in 1948. (Believe it or not, Big Bill was one of the more honest brokers – just better organized.) But when Jordan put his considerable clout on the line to challenge the Frances, Penske, Hendrick and other revered gatekeepers of the sport stayed on the sidelines, perhaps wary of picking a fight with Nascar’s leadership and facing the fallout alone.

Initially, Nascar seemed to hold the legal high ground: the top 36 Cup teams compete under a charter system that guarantees them a spot in each race and a share of the purse according to their finish, with binding terms. Even well-off teams seem to hold little to no leverage. In court testimony, Heather Gibbs, the daughter-in-law of Joe Gibbs and co-owner of the team, likened Nascar’s tight signing deadlines to “having a gun to your head”. It’s a fraught arrangement that leaves teams living hand to mouth.

By taking Nascar to court in October 2025, Jordan effectively bet the farm: a loss could have imperiled the very team he had spent six years building, jeopardizing drivers, sponsors and the future of 23XI itself. But he did so with the public on his side and years of experience defending intellectual property claims, winning in those courts more often than he lost too.

Before long, testimony from Jordan and Gibbs, coupled with a series of inflammatory text messages that surfaced showing Nascar commissioner Steve Phelps insulting prominent team owners, proved as clutch as Jordan’s 20-footer over Byron Russell in the 1998 NBA finals – swinging the tide and contributing to Phelps’s resignation in January. After a bit more back-and-forth, Nascar agreed to settle, bringing the week and a half long trial to a close.

In some ways it was inevitable Jordan would end up leaving his mark in this fast lane. He grew up in North Carolina, the stock car racing cradle founded by bootleggers outrunning the law. He has fond memories of his shade-tree mechanic father, James, carting the family to tracks across the state to watch Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough and the like trade paint. As a player, Jordan pulled up to home games in Ferraris and Porsches. After retiring, he got into motorcycle racing, launching Michael Jordan Motorsports.

Since 2011, Hamlin has worn the Jumpman logo across his racing uniform – a sponsorship deal that began with Jordan, a genuine fan, tracking him down at a Hornets game. Hamlin says he once came across an article claiming the two were looking to buy a team, and sent it along with a message: “It’s not real, but if you want to make it real, let me know.” The rest is racing history.

“Basketball is just a small part of your life,” Charles Barkley said, interrupting March Madness coverage to reflect on his former friend. “No matter how great you are, you’re gonna be done as a young person. You have to find something else to bring you joy and happiness. I’m proud of his success in Nascar.”

Jordan hasn’t hesitated to wade into the sport’s thorny racial politics either – starting by launching his team with Wallace, the Cup series’ trailblazer who notoriously advocated for a ban on the confederate flag and won. Jordan has cast himself as the figure who can break through to would-be fans long put off by the sport’s racist vestiges, chopping it up with rappers Fat Joe and Jadakiss outside of the 23XI team hauler before last month’s Cup race in Phoenix. And while it’s striking that it took Michael Jeffrey Jordan to drag Nascar into the 21st century, kicking and screaming, it can’t be said the role doesn’t suit him.

Just let the record reflect this Nascar season as a victory for Michael Jordan the executive, his Airness rising to the occasion at last. “I’m excited that I’m connected to this sport,” Jordan told King. “I feel like I watch it through the lens of my father, or with my family – and that matters to me.”

Masters Leaderboard 2026: Golf Scores, Standings, Results From Each Round originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Following a thrilling finish at last year's tournament, what can we expect from the 2026 Masters?

Some of the best golfers in the world will be at Augusta National this weekend, looking to secure the green jacket. Can Rory McIlroy, who won last year after beating Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff, repeat as champion?

Scottie Scheffler, meanwhile, will try to climb up the leaderboard after winning the tournament in 2022 and 2024. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson won't be participating, but there will be plenty of star power on the course.

Ready to follow along with all of the action at Augusta National? Here's an updated breakdown of the scores and standings from the 2026 Masters.

Masters leaderboard 2026

After the conclusion of each round, the standings will be posted here. If you're searching for a live leaderboard that will be updated following each swing, click here.

How to watch Masters 2026: TV channels, live streams

• TV channels: ESPN, CBS
• Live streams:fubo, DIRECTV, Prime Video, ESPN app, Paramount+, Masters.com

Fans can watch the Masters across multiple TV and streaming platforms, including a new partner for 2026 in Prime Video.

The tournament tees off Thursday morning with live feeds of featured groups and holes, then the main broadcast begins in the early afternoon. Live broadcasts also will be available via Masters.com and the Masters app. See the full day-by-day television and streaming schedule below.

Masters schedule 2026: Day-by-day TV, streaming coverage

Thursday, April 9

Friday, April 10

Saturday, April 11

Sunday, April 12

List of Masters winners by year

Jack Nicklaus won the tournament a record six times, with Tiger Woods right behind him at five.

Note: The Masters was canceled from 1943-45 because of World War II.

What channel is Michigan vs. Denver hockey on today? Time, TV schedule, live stream for 2026 Frozen Four game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2026 Frozen Four features the programs that have won more national championships than any others, and the two at the top of the list face off in Thursday's second semifinal. 

No. 1 seed Michigan won the first college national championship in 1948 and has nine total trophies, while Denver leads all schools with 10 national titles and is seeking its third crown in five years.

The Wolverines' legacy runs deep, but Michigan has waited nearly three decades for a championship since its most recent triumphs under the legendary Red Berenson in 1998 and 1996. The current team represents the Wolverines' best shot in years, with Hobey Baker Award finalist T.J. Hughes leading the way. The senior has 178 points (68 goals, 110 assists) in 155 career games.

The Pioneers have become the sport's most consistent program and are in the Frozen Four for the third consecutive year. Playing about an hour from their campus, they blew through the Loveland Regional and punched their ticket to Las Vegas with a 6-2 rout of reigning national champion Western Michigan. 

Though this will be the 85th meeting between the schools, they have played only twice in nearly two and a half decades. Denver prevailed in the 2022 Frozen Four, while Michigan won in a 2002 regional final matchup. 

Who will come out on top Thursday and advance to the championship game? Here's everything you need to know to watch what should be a memorable showdown. 

What channel is Michigan vs. Denver hockey on today? 

• TV channel: ESPN2
• Live stream:fubo

The Michigan vs. Denver Frozen Four game will air on ESPN2 with John Buccigross and Colby Cohen on the call. Fans can also stream the game live on fubo.

Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)

What time is Michigan vs. Denver hockey today? 

• Date: Thursday, April 9
• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET | 6:30 p.m. MT

Puck drop for the Michigan vs. Denver national semifinal is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday. 

The game will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Frozen Four schedule 2026

Thu., April 9: Semifinals

Sat., April 11: Championship

2026 NCAA hockey tournament scores, results

Thu., March 26: Regional semifinals

Fri., March 27: Regional semifinals

Sat., March 28: Regional finals

Sun., March 29: Regional finals

NCAA men's hockey champions list

Here are the champions and runners-up of the last 10 NCAA men's hockey tournaments. There was no tournament in 2020 due to COVID-19. 

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick hit out at the match officials after Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat to Atletico in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.

Flick fumed after seeing Marc Pubill escape conceding a penalty for a handball in the area and had some strong words after the final whistle.

“For me, it’s a clear red, well a second yellow and a penalty. The VAR can explain why it’s not [reviewed the play].

“I can’t believe it’s not a red card. It feels not good. It feels unfair. We have to accept it. We will fight next Tuesday.”

The Barcelona boss also wasn’t too happy with the decision to send off Pau Cubarsi, a decision which had a huge impact on the match.

“I’m not sure he touched him enough because the ball was behind him,” he added.

The two teams meet again next week for the return in the Spanish capital.

Thursday, the Carolina Hurricanes hit the road to play the Chicago Blackhawks, and will have some local reinforcements for the task.

The game is scheduled for 8:30 PM EDT.

After their overtime win against the Boston Bruins Tuesday night, the Hurricanes clinched the Metropolitan Division. However, in the contest, they lost top-pairing Jalen Chatfield to a lower-body injury. You can read all about the game here!

Wednesday, the Hurricanes recalled four players from their minor league affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, who are also playoff-bound and sit second in the AHL’s Central Division.

Those who will join the Hurricanes are the Wolves’ captain Josiah Slavin, leading goalscorer Bradley Nadeau, Skyler Brind’Amour, and Charles-Alexis Legault. They won’t have to travel far – the Wolves’ Allstate Arena and the Blackhawks’ United Center are only 17 miles apart.

In the Crease

For the Hurricanes, the likely starter would be Frederik Andersen, per the alternating tandem. Despite a bumpy season, Andersen has significantly improved since the Olympics, notching a 7-4-0 record in that time, with three of the four losses having been to teams whose desperation level overcame the Hurricanes. This season, his save percentage is .870, with a goals against average of 3.15 across a 14-14-5 record.

Meanwhile, the Blackhawks will likely return to Spencer Knight, who played in their previous game against the San Jose Sharks. He has taken the brunt of the starts throughout Chicago’s 78 games, with 52 to Arvid Soderblom’s 23. This season, his save percentage is .907, with a goals against average of 2.72 across an 18-23-11 record.

Expected Carolina Hurricanes Lines

Andrei Svechnikov – Sebastian Aho – Seth Jarvis

Taylor Hall – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake

Nikolaj Ehlers – Jordan Staal – Jordan Martinook

William Carrier – Mark Jankowski – Nicolas Deslauriers

Defense

Jaccob Slavin – Shayne Gostisbehere

K’Andre Miller – Sean Walker

Mike Reilly – Alexander Nikishin

Goaltenders

Frederik Andersen / Brandon Bussi

Expected Chicago Blackhawks Lines

Teuvo Teravainen – Connor Bedard – Nick Lardis

Tyler Bertuzzi – Anton Frondell – Ilya Mikheyev

Andre Burakovsky – Frank Nazar – Ryan Donato

Andrew Mangiapane – Ryan Greene – Landon Slaggert

Defense

Alex Vlasic – Louis Crevier

Wyatt Kaiser – Sam Rinzel

Kevin Korchinski – Ethan Del Mastro

Goaltenders

Spencer Knight / Arvid Soderblom

Special Teams

Carolina Hurricanes power play: 24.7% (5th)
Carolina Hurricanes penalty kill: 80.3% (12th)

Chicago Blackhawks power play: 18.0% (25th)
Chicago Blackhawks penalty kill: 83.9% (2nd)

Hurricanes Game Notes

With the recall of three forwards and one defenseman from the Wolves, it is all but certain that the Hurricanes will rest players in the upcoming game. However, it is unclear who will be rested, and how the lines will change due to that. As such, the line projection merely reflects those of the last game, with Mike Reilly drawing in due to Jalen Chatfield’s injury.

In the previous game against the Bruins, Eric Robinson was scratched, with Nicolas Deslauriers drawing in. No brawls ensued at the hands of the Hurricanes’ bruiser, but there was certainly chirping after Seth Jarvis sustained a heavy hit from Nikita Zadorov.

Wednesday, the Carolina chapter of the PHWA honored Brandon Bussi with the team MVP award for his dynamic contributions in his debut season, and Taylor Hall with the Josef Vasicek Award (also known as the Good Guy Award) for his outstanding cooperation with the local media. Additionally, Hall was also named as the Hurricanes’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

How To Watch

TV: FanDuel Sports Network South
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 99.9 The Fan

Also Read:: Hurricanes’ Taylor Hall Nominated for Bill Masterton Trophy, Wins Local Award

Related Headlines

• Hurricanes’ Taylor Hall Nominated for Bill Masterton Trophy, Wins Local Award
• Carolina Hurricanes Lose Jalen Chatfield to Injury: Everything We Know
• Metropolitan Division Clinched! Hurricanes Overcome Bruins (and Referees) in OT Thriller

Gabriel Martinelli has remained a key player for Arsenal, delivering a match-winning assist in their game against Sporting Club last night, demonstrating just how influential he can be for the Gunners.

The attacker continues to be one of Mikel Arteta’s most important stars, consistently producing fine performances whenever he features. His impact on the team has been significant, and he remains a player capable of turning games in Arsenal’s favour.

Role and Recent Contributions

In recent times, Martinelli has mostly come off the bench to make a decisive impact, as he has struggled to maintain his influence when starting matches. Speculation has grown that this could be his final season at Arsenal, with the club reportedly considering changes to their squad during the summer transfer window. Despite this, the Brazilian remains one of their brightest talents and a crucial figure in Arteta’s plans.

Football Insider reports that Arsenal remains open to the possibility of selling Martinelli once the season concludes, although the club is cautious and reluctant to part with him lightly. Only teams that are serious about adding him to their squad and willing to meet a substantial fee are likely to be considered.

Strategic Plans and Future Prospects

Arsenal’s approach reflects their strategy to strengthen the squad while maintaining key performers. The sale of Martinelli would provide the club with significant funds to reinvest in new talent, allowing them to bolster the team and aim for a stronger, more competitive squad.

While his departure would be a notable loss, the club appears determined to balance the retention of top players with the need to evolve and improve. Fans will be watching closely to see how Arteta and the management handle Martinelli’s future, and whether he will remain a pivotal figure for the remainder of the campaign.

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After the 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, under-fire Liverpool FC head coach Arne Slot was asked about Liverpool’s chances to progress to the semi-finals:

“Probably I have to refer to last season, what gives me the best feeling and I have to refer to the history of this club, how much impact Anfield can make for a performance.”

“We were outplayed here last season, which led to a 1-0 win from us which was unbelievable. Paris Saint-Germain was by far the better team today, could have scored more than two goals.”

“But the good thing was that the players of Liverpool showed fighting spirit, kept going.”

“Almost every time they had a shot, we had a lot of players behind the ball or protecting our box, which was necessary because if you don’t run back, these players, like the ones from City, are able to hurt you a lot.”

“Last season at Anfield we played a completely different game and after 10 minutes could have been 2-0 up.”

“But we need to have a better performance and we definitely need our fans to help us to create an atmosphere where we can rise to a better level than we did so today.”

“We were in survival mode for large parts of the game – maybe also in the period of the season we are in.”

“We are in survival mode, to find ways where we can try to make sure that their qualities are not seen that much.”

“But that’s really, really hard against this team because last year over here we were in survival mode as well.”

“But, as I said, Paris Saint-Germain was the better team, but we didn’t give up and that is why we still have a chance now because they kept us alive by not scoring a few open chances.”

I can’t really see how Anfield is going to be a factor when the atmosphere has been dreadful but survial mode is right. The team has been flailing in the wind like a tube man at a car dealership all season, and choosing to deploy a back five in this fixture is probably as close as you’re going to get to an admission from Slot that he’s out of ideas. It’s time.

It hasn’t been the season Juventus would have wanted, but there’s still a big chance to achieve their main objective of qualifying for the Champions League, and the upcoming fixtures give them the perfect opportunity to do so.

Juventus are currently fifth in Serie A and have been knocked out of all cup competitions. If they fail to qualify for the Champions League, then it will be a very poor season for them.

There’s still hope that they can finish in the top four as they are one point from Como, who are one position above them. 

This weekend will be pivotal for The Old Lady. They take on an Atalanta side who are in seventh and just four points behind them. Atalanta have made their stadium a very tough place to visit this season, winning nine of their 16 games at home, losing just twice. Juventus have been slightly inconsistent away from home in Serie A this campaign, but recent form, which sees them undefeated in their last five games, sees them slim favourites.

Wins are always crucial, but it feels monumental for Juventus this weekend due to the fact that they can beat a team just below them, whilst one of their direct rivals faces the toughest fixture of the weekend.

Fourth-placed Como face league leaders Inter. With Inter favourites to dispatch Como, a win for Juventus wouldn’t just secure three vital points and create a crucial gap between themselves and the chasing pack below them, it would also see them move above Como and sit in the Champions League spots.

The Serie A club were in Europe’s biggest competition this season, but only made it to the knockout play-offs, where they lost to Galatasaray, which did not go down well with the fan base.

They want to make sure they are battling with the elite, and missing out on Champions League football would be a massive blow for a club of Juve’s size, both financially and for their reputation. 

Playing in the Europa League next season is something everyone at the club will be desperate to avoid. While their recent five-game unbeaten run shows they are making progress, they now need to turn those steady performances into regular wins to ensure they secure a top-four finish.

According to new betting sites, the odds for Juventus to finish in the top four of Serie A are currently 6/4, giving them a 40% chance of qualifying for the Champions League. If rivals like Como were to drop points while Juventus won this weekend, no doubt that probability would increase significantly.

After this weekend, there are only six games left, and Juventus only have to play one team above them in this run, whilst some of their rivals will be facing each other.

If they can head into this favourable run with a win, it would give them a huge mentality and morale boost, and add plenty of pressure on the rivals above them.

Said El Mala has been linked with a move to England, but 1. FC Köln sporting managing director Thomas Kessler says no serious offer has been made for the 19-year-old so far.

According to reports, El Mala’s family has given the green light for a potential move to Brighton & Hove Albion, but the Seagulls’ offer of €35 million plus add-ons falls short of Köln’s valuation.

“We are in very reliable and close communication with Said and his family. As of now, we have not received an offer from another club that we would need to consider seriously. So far, the player himself has also expressed no desire to enter talks with other clubs,” Kessler told the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger.

“The initiative lies with 1. FC Köln – Said is still under contract with us until 2030,” Kessler said.

Kessler also denied reports that Köln have set a €50 million asking price for El Mala, stating that the club “has not defined a pain threshold” nor a fixed deadline for the player’s future to be clarified.

“There is no specific date or range. Of course, it is clear that at the right time we will address the topic."

For now, avoiding relegation remains the top priority for both El Mala and Köln.

“We have been closely supporting Said since the start of the season. He has made it absolutely clear that his full focus is currently on his development at the FC and the end-of-season push. He has clear goals with the club. He also has the full backing and support of his family,” Kessler explained.

Chelsea have also been mentioned as suitors, while it was recently reported that the player’s family rejected an approach from Newcastle United.

Colorado Rockies (6-6, third in the NL West) vs. San Diego Padres (6-6, fourth in the NL West)

San Diego; Thursday, 9:40 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Rockies: TBD; Padres: Randy Vasquez (1-0, 0.75 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 11 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Padres -198, Rockies +164; over/under is 8 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The San Diego Padres open a four-game series at home against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

San Diego has a 6-6 record overall and a 2-4 record at home. The Padres have gone 1-0 in games when they hit at least two home runs.

Colorado has gone 2-4 on the road and 6-6 overall. Rockies pitchers have a collective 3.68 ERA, which ranks eighth in the NL.

Thursday's game is the first meeting between these teams this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jackson Merrill has two doubles, two home runs and seven RBIs for the Padres. Ramon Laureano is 10 for 41 with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs over the past 10 games.

Mickey Moniak has three home runs and five RBIs for the Rockies. Troy Johnston is 12 for 35 with three doubles and two home runs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Padres: 6-4, .217 batting average, 3.38 ERA, outscored opponents by seven runs

Rockies: 6-4, .255 batting average, 3.73 ERA, outscored opponents by 12 runs

INJURIES: Padres: Bryan Hoeing: 15-Day IL (elbow), Jason Adam: 15-Day IL (quadricep), Yuki Matsui: 15-Day IL (groin), Matt Waldron: 15-Day IL (lower body), Joe Musgrove: 15-Day IL (elbow), Griffin Canning: 15-Day IL (achilles), Will Wagner: 10-Day IL (oblique), Sung-Mun Song: 10-Day IL (oblique), Jhony Brito: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Rockies: RJ Petit: 60-Day IL (elbow), McCade Brown: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jose Quintana: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Pierson Ohl: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kris Bryant: 60-Day IL (back), Jeff Criswell: 60-Day IL (elbow)

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Detroit Tigers (4-8, fifth in the AL Central) vs. Minnesota Twins (6-6, second in the AL Central)

Minneapolis; Thursday, 1:40 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Tigers: Jack Flaherty (0-1, 7.56 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, eight strikeouts); Twins: Mick Abel (0-2, 11.05 ERA, 2.86 WHIP, seven strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Tigers -136, Twins +114; over/under is 8 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Twins, on a three-game home winning streak, host the Detroit Tigers.

Minnesota is 6-6 overall and 4-2 at home. Twins pitchers have a collective 4.11 ERA, which ranks seventh in the AL.

Detroit is 4-8 overall and 2-7 in road games. The Tigers are 0-1 in games decided by one run.

The teams meet Thursday for the fourth time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Josh Bell has four doubles and two home runs while hitting .270 for the Twins. Matt Wallner is 11 for 44 with two doubles and three home runs over the last 10 games.

Dillon Dingler has a double, two home runs and eight RBIs for the Tigers. Kerry Carpenter is 7 for 29 with two home runs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Twins: 5-5, .233 batting average, 4.60 ERA, outscored opponents by one run

Tigers: 2-8, .235 batting average, 5.15 ERA, outscored by 10 runs

INJURIES: Twins: David Festa: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Travis Adams: 15-Day IL (tricep), Pablo Lopez: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Tigers: Justin Verlander: 15-Day IL (hip inflammation), Trey Sweeney: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Bailey Horn: 15-Day IL (elbow), Reese Olson: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jackson Jobe: 60-Day IL (elbow), Troy Melton: 60-Day IL (elbow), Beau Brieske: 60-Day IL (groin)

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Arizona Diamondbacks (6-6, second in the NL West) vs. New York Mets (7-5, third in the NL East)

New York; Thursday, 7:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Eduardo Rodriguez (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, eight strikeouts); Mets: Nolan McLean (1-0, 2.61 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 12 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Mets -161, Diamondbacks +135; over/under is 7 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks meet on Thursday with the three-game series tied 1-1.

New York has a 3-2 record in home games and a 7-5 record overall. Mets hitters have a collective .324 on-base percentage, the seventh-ranked percentage in the NL.

Arizona is 6-6 overall and 1-4 on the road. The Diamondbacks have a 5-1 record in games when they did not allow a home run.

The matchup Thursday is the third time these teams match up this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Francisco Alvarez has a double, three home runs and three RBIs while hitting .300 for the Mets. Juan Soto is 11 for 31 with two doubles and a home run over the past 10 games.

Corbin Carroll has two home runs, six walks and 11 RBIs while hitting .333 for the Diamondbacks. Ildemaro Vargas is 10 for 20 with a double, a triple, a home run and four RBIs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Mets: 5-5, .248 batting average, 2.86 ERA, outscored opponents by seven runs

Diamondbacks: 6-4, .224 batting average, 3.30 ERA, outscored by six runs

INJURIES: Mets: Juan Soto: 10-Day IL (calf), Justin Hagenman: 60-Day IL (rib), A.J. Minter: 15-Day IL (lat), Reed Garrett: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tylor Megill: 60-Day IL (elbow), Dedniel Nunez: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Diamondbacks: Carlos Santana: 10-Day IL (groin), Jordan Lawlar: 60-Day IL (wrist), Pavin Smith: 10-Day IL (elbow), Tyler Locklear: 10-Day IL (elbow), Cristian Mena: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Lourdes Gurriel Jr.: 10-Day IL (knee), Blake Walston: 60-Day IL (elbow), A.J. Puk: 60-Day IL (elbow), Merrill Kelly: 15-Day IL (back), Andrew Saalfrank: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Corbin Burnes: 60-Day IL (elbow), Justin Martinez: 60-Day IL (elbow)

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Athletics (4-7, fourth in the AL West) vs. New York Yankees (8-3, first in the AL East)

New York; Thursday, 1:35 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Athletics: Jeffrey Springs (1-0, 2.38 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, nine strikeouts); Yankees: Ryan Weathers (0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, 11 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Yankees -217, Athletics +178; over/under is 8 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Yankees and Athletics meet on Thursday with the three-game series tied 1-1.

New York is 8-3 overall and 3-2 at home. The Yankees have a 5-0 record in games when they out-hit their opponents.

The Athletics are 4-7 overall and 2-6 in road games. The Athletics have gone 3-1 in games when they scored at least five runs.

The teams play Thursday for the third time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Aaron Judge has a double, three home runs and seven RBIs for the Yankees. Ben Rice is 11 for 33 with four doubles and three home runs over the past 10 games.

Shea Langeliers leads the Athletics with five home runs while slugging .644. Max Muncy is 13 for 40 with three doubles, two home runs and five RBIs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Yankees: 7-3, .211 batting average, 2.73 ERA, outscored opponents by 19 runs

Athletics: 4-6, .237 batting average, 5.41 ERA, outscored by 12 runs

INJURIES: Yankees: Gerrit Cole: 15-Day IL (elbow), Carlos Rodon: 15-Day IL (elbow), Clarke Schmidt: 60-Day IL (elbow), Anthony Volpe: 10-Day IL (shoulder)

Athletics: Gunnar Hoglund: 60-Day IL (knee)

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Cincinnati Reds (8-4, first in the NL Central) vs. Miami Marlins (7-5, second in the NL East)

Miami; Thursday, 12:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Rhett Lowder (1-0, 1.64 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, nine strikeouts); Marlins: Max Meyer (0-0, 4.66 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 11 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Marlins -129, Reds +109; over/under is 8 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Cincinnati Reds play the Miami Marlins leading the series 2-1.

Miami is 6-3 at home and 7-5 overall. The Marlins have a 6-2 record in games when they record at least eight hits.

Cincinnati has gone 5-1 in road games and 8-4 overall. The Reds are 5-0 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.

The teams meet Thursday for the fourth time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Otto Lopez has a double, a triple and a home run for the Marlins. Liam Hicks is 9 for 29 with a double and two home runs over the past 10 games.

Sal Stewart has four doubles, three home runs and eight RBIs for the Reds. Elly De La Cruz is 9 for 39 with a double, two home runs and five RBIs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Marlins: 5-5, .258 batting average, 4.25 ERA, outscored opponents by four runs

Reds: 7-3, .213 batting average, 3.00 ERA, even run differential

INJURIES: Marlins: Otto Lopez: day-to-day (undisclosed), Christopher Morel: 10-Day IL (oblique), Esteury Ruiz: 10-Day IL (oblique), Kyle Stowers: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Adam Mazur: 60-Day IL (elbow), Max Acosta: 10-Day IL (oblique), Ronny Henriquez: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Reds: Jose Trevino: 10-Day IL (back), Caleb Ferguson: 15-Day IL (oblique), Hunter Greene: 60-Day IL (elbow), Nick Lodolo: 15-Day IL (finger)

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Chicago White Sox (4-8, fourth in the AL Central) vs. Kansas City Royals (5-7, third in the AL Central)

Kansas City, Missouri; Thursday, 7:40 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: White Sox: Anthony Kay (0-0, 4.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, five strikeouts); Royals: Seth Lugo (1-0, 1.59 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 10 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Royals -186, White Sox +155; over/under is 9 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago White Sox come into the matchup against the Kansas City Royals as losers of three games in a row.

Kansas City has a 3-3 record at home and a 5-7 record overall. The Royals have gone 0-1 in games decided by one run.

Chicago has a 1-5 record in road games and a 4-8 record overall. The White Sox have a 4-0 record in games when they out-hit their opponents.

The teams meet Thursday for the first time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Carter Jensen leads the Royals with three home runs while slugging .548. Maikel Garcia is 13 for 40 with four doubles, a home run and seven RBIs over the past 10 games.

Munetaka Murakami leads the White Sox with four home runs while slugging .513. Chase Meidroth is 9 for 39 with three doubles and an RBI over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 5-5, .246 batting average, 4.29 ERA, outscored by two runs

White Sox: 4-6, .213 batting average, 4.60 ERA, outscored by 12 runs

INJURIES: Royals: Cole Ragans: day-to-day (thumb), Bailey Falter: 15-Day IL (elbow), Carlos Estevez: 15-Day IL (foot), Stephen Kolek: 15-Day IL (oblique), James McArthur: 15-Day IL (elbow), Alec Marsh: 60-Day IL (shoulder)

White Sox: Brooks Baldwin: 60-Day IL (elbow), Austin Hays: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Mike Vasil: 60-Day IL (elbow), Everson Pereira: 10-Day IL (ankle), Kyle Teel: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Drew Thorpe: 15-Day IL (elbow), Prelander Berroa: 15-Day IL (elbow), Ky Bush: 60-Day IL (elbow)

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

What a game in store on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 BST) as Ipswich head to Norwich for one of the biggest East Anglian Derbies in recent memory.

The Tractor Boys are unbeaten in eight games, earning 18 points, which took them into the automatic promotion places on goal difference, with games in hand on the sides around them, ahead of Millwall's Friday night game at West Brom.

The Lions were beaten 2-1 at home by Norwich on Monday, which left the Canaries on the fringe of the play-off race in ninth, though Southampton's thumping win at Wrexham on Tuesday night left Philippe Clement's men effectively nine points adrift of the top six with five games to play.

Kieran McKenna's side enjoyed a 3-1 win in the reverse fixture at Portman Road in early October and another at Carrow Road would not only be their first in more than 20 years and ensure local bragging rights, it would likely end their rivals' promotion hopes and give their own chances a massive boost.

• Norwich are unbeaten in their past nine home league games against Ipswich (W5 D4), since a 2-1 loss in February 2006.
• Following their 3-1 win in October, Ipswich are looking to complete the league double over Norwich for the first time since 1992-93.
• Since the turn of the year, Norwich City have won the most points of any Championship side (37), winning two more games (12) in that time than any other team. At the end of 2025, the Canaries were 23rd in the Championship, with only Sheffield Wednesday losing more games (14) than they had (13).
• Ipswich Town have had the most shots following a high turnover in the Championship this season (59), and have scored the most goals after a high turnover (11).
• In his first 25 Championship appearances this season, Norwich's Pelle Mattsson had 22 shots without finding the net. In his last three, he's had six attempts and scored a goal in all three games.

Liverpool are among the clubs showing strong interest in signing Hoffenheim winger Bazoumana Toure during the summer transfer window.

The Reds are expected to strengthen their attacking options after a hugely frustrating 2025-26 campaign.

Mohamed Salah is set to leave at the end of the season following the expiry of his contract, while Federico Chiesa and Cody Gakpo also face uncertain futures.

Do Liverpool have advantage in the race?

According to a report from Bild, the Reds have identified Toure as a potential candidate to replace Salah this summer.

The 20-time Premier League champions have already been linked with several high-quality players, including Yan Diomande, but Toure has now emerged as another viable option.

The report claims that Liverpool are likely to face competition from Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich for the Ivorian winger.

Christian Falk has told CFBayern that while Bayern do admire the young attacker, he is not currently a top priority for them.

The Bavarian giants could still look to sign a new winger to provide competition for Luis Diaz on the left flank, although they appear to be exploring multiple options.

Bild also reports that Liverpool scouts were present during Ivory Coast’s 1-0 win over Scotland, indicating that their interest in Toure is genuine.

Bazoumana Toure would be perfect for Bayern and Liverpool

Toure joined Hoffenheim in the January window of 2025 from Hammarby for €10m and has since enjoyed a breakthrough campaign.

He has made 24 Bundesliga appearances, starting 23 of them, and has contributed two goals and eight assists.

Toure is a versatile winger capable of operating on either flank, though he is most effective on the left.

The Ivorian possesses blistering pace and can glide past defenders with ease. While he has a sharp eye for a pass, there is still room for further development in his game.

Hoffenheim are expected to demand a fee in the region of £35m if top clubs move to secure his signature.

Toure also boasts the best dribble success rate (69%) among players attempting at least 4.5 dribbles per 90 minutes, making him a potentially smart acquisition for both Bayern and Liverpool.

Barcelona fans smashed a window of Atletico Madrid’s team bus before Wednesday’s Champions League encounter. 

The Blaugrana supporters outside the Camp Nou threw bottles and other missiles at the bus carrying Atletico players to the stadium. 

Fortunately no player on board was hurt, but a window on the team bus was smashed. 

A similar incident happened outside the Camp Nou last month before their Copa del Rey semi-final second leg. 

Barcelona won the game 3-0 but Atletico made it to the final after thrashing their rivals 4-0 in the home leg in Madrid. 

Despite a heavy police presence outside the stadium, Barca supporters managed to cause damage by throwing bottles at the rival team’s bus. 

Atletico in command after first leg

Diego Simeone’s side took a big step towards the Champions League semi-finals as they outclassed Barcelona 2-0 on Wednesday. 

The hosts dominated possession for much of the opening half, but lack of quality in the final third meant they couldn’t score. 

The match turned massively in Atletico’s favour just before half-time when Pau Cubarsi was shown a red card after a foul on Giuliano Simeone. 

Julian Alvarez stepped up to send the resulting free-kick into the back of the net. 

Alexander Sørloth doubled the visitors’ advantage with a great finish in the 71st minute, as they claimed their first victory at Camp Nou in 20 years.

The result leaves Barcelona with a monumental task to overturn the deficit in the second leg next Tuesday. 

There is an increasingly loud debate surrounding Real Madrid’s direction this season, and at the centre of it lies a key question – are Los Blancos actually better under Alvaro Arbeloa, or did they let go of something more stable under Xabi Alonso too soon?

On the surface, there are reasons for optimism. 

Even after the 1-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, the tie remains very much alive. 

A one-goal deficit is far from decisive, and there is a growing belief within the club that a comeback in Munich is achievable.

However, scratch beneath that optimism, and the picture becomes far more complex.

Real Madrid’s record under Arbeloa and Alonso

While Arbeloa has brought fresh ideas and a different energy to the team, results have not always followed consistently. 

In fact, under Alonso, Real Madrid suffered five defeats across 28 matches, which was a relatively controlled record for a team competing on multiple fronts. 

Under Arbeloa, though, that figure has already been surpassed, with six losses coming in just 19 games.

That contrast naturally raises questions about stability and direction.

Real Madrid have lost more games under Arbeloa than under Alonso. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Even when looking at win percentage, the difference is marginal but telling, as Alonso operated at 73.7%, while Arbeloa’s current rate stands at 72.2%. 

It is not a dramatic drop, but in a club like Real Madrid, it is enough to fuel debate.

Evident differences

Of course, numbers alone do not tell the whole story. 

Alonso’s tenure ended amid internal disagreements and dressing room tensions, which ultimately cut short what many believed was a promising project. 

In that sense, Arbeloa inherited a situation that required immediate management both on and off the pitch.

The Champions League offers Arbeloa a chance to finish his tenure on a high note, as a strong performance in Munich could instantly change perceptions and inject belief into the project. 

Progress in Europe has always carried significant weight at Real Madrid, and it may once again prove decisive in judging the current regime.

Domestically, however, the situation is less forgiving. With a seven-point gap to Barcelona in La Liga, the margin for error is minimal, and there is much reliance on the Blaugrana’s results rather than their own victories.

Former PGMOL chief executive Keith Hackett felt that Liverpool got away with one big refereeing decision in their 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night.

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Ibrahima Konate was involved in two penalty incidents in the second half, the first of which saw a spot kick initially given against him in the 70th minute for a challenge on Warren Zaire-Emery, before the decision was rightly overtuned following a VAR review as he won the ball.

Then, in stoppage time, the Reds defender appeared to nudge Nuno Mendes inside the box as the PSG left-back bore down on goal, but referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez didn’t see any reason to blow for a foul.

What did Hackett say about the two penalty decisions?

Hackett praised the VAR intervention on the first incident but felt that the Liverpool centre-back was fortunate not to have had a penalty given against him over the latter instance.

The former top-flight official told Football Insider: “This was a push by Konate [on Mendes] that should have resulted in the award of a penalty kick.

“The subtle push impacted on the forward [sic], who lost balance and went to ground. VAR should have intervened to enable the referee to have a second [view of the] incident.”

On the early penalty which was overturned, Hackett said: “[This was] a very good intervention by VAR to see that the referee, in awarding a penalty kick, had made a clear and obvious error. The decision was reviewed and correctly overturned.”

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Liverpool may have had other grievances despite dodging potential penalty

The overturning of the initial penalty award in the 70th minute was the correct call, with replays showing that Konate won the ball cleanly from Zaire-Emery with what Ally McCoist called a ‘brilliant challenge’, and that’s one instance which shows how VAR can work well when implemented properly.

As for the apparent push on Mendes in added time, we’d admit that the Liverpool defender took an unnecessary risk in that instance and could easily have had a spot kick given against him, so perhaps the Reds did get away with that one.

However, Arne Slot may well have legitimate gripes with Sanchez for penalising Joe Gomez with a yellow card despite making a brilliantly-timed tackle on Desire Doue, a decision which looked even worse after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had earlier escaped sanction for a blatant shirt pull on Konate.

Both teams may have grievances over some of the refereeing last night, but what nobody could dispute is that PSG were by far the better team and could easily have won by a much greater margin, were it not for some poor finishing on their part and some excellent saves by Giorgi Mamardashvili.

In the end, Liverpool can be grateful to come away with a 2-0 defeat, which McCoist believes still gives them a chance of pulling off another famous European comeback at Anfield next week.

Defender Pascal Struijk says boss Daniel Farke has given him "a lot of confidence" and has "done great things" so far at the club.

Struijk told BBC Radio Leeds: "For me he has been really great ever since he came in. He came in and gave me a lot of confidence.

"He trusts me to play and he trusts me to be the vice-captain of the team.

"I'm very happy with everything he has done for me so far and with the team he has done great things - promotion and now a season in the Premier League which hopefully we can finish on a high."

The defender, who has been at the club for eight years, says he is still hungry to help Leeds push on: "I want to be the best version I can here and then take that hunger and desire with everyone within the club.

"I'm very much an optimist. I always go into games thinking that we can win, thinking we should play better, do everything better.

"I hope to bring all of this with me into the end of the season and hopefully we can do all the things on a high."

Listen in full below or on BBC Sounds

Jamie Carragher says the gulf between Liverpool and Paris St.Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final was "absolutely startling".

The Reds, who failed to register a shot on target at Parc des Princes, have a two-goal deficit to overturn in next week's second leg.

"In some ways it's actually a great result for Liverpool because it should have been five or six in that game. The gulf between the two teams was absolutely startling," the former Liverpool defender told CBS Sports.

"When you consider last season, yes Liverpool got battered at PSG and they won 1-0, we know that but the second leg at Anfield was a really close game - two top teams.

"Liverpool then go and spend £450m, probably a lot more than PSG spent in the summer and to see the gulf there is worrying, you think how has it got to that, how has it got that bad?"

Reds boss Arne Slot switched to a back five and Carragher says it is the most "uncomfortable" he has seen Virgil van Dijk in a Liverpool shirt.

"At 34 years of age he was having to run in there, run across, he couldn't do it," Carragher added.

"People have criticised Van Dijk this season about his performances and I think it has been harsh because he plays every game, the fella next to him has just been awful all season, he was poor again [against PSG] Ibrahima Konate, he makes a mistake every game so that's not easy to play alongside.

"I still think Van Dijk has been one of Liverpool's better players but in that back three I have never seen him so uncomfortable in a Liverpool shirt in my life and I think he'll be pleading with Arne Slot to never play that system ever again because he found it so tough.

"It's not just the system of Liverpool and getting it wrong tactically, PSG were absolutely out of this world and the biggest compliment I can give them, it was like watching Pep Guardiola's Barcelona."

Did you know?

• Liverpool have lost four consecutive away games in all competitions for the first time since between February and April 2012.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson says Arne Slot sent out the "wrong signal" by playing a back five in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg in Paris.

The only other time Liverpool had previously fielded a back five this season was in their Carabao Cup fourth-round defeat by Crystal Palace in October.

In their 2-0 win on Wednesday, PSG had 74% of the ball and 18 shots to the Reds' three.

"That was the English champions against the French Champions and ours weren't anywhere near theirs," Robinson told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"Liverpool came to the Parc des Princes not in a good run of form, with their confidence very very low, as a team that are creaking.

"That's the reason Slot played a back five but as soon as you play a back five it sends the wrong signals out. That's not playing to Liverpool's strengths, it's defending their weaknesses and defending against what attacking problems that the opposition are going to give you.

"In [Achraf] Hakimi, [Nuno] Mendes, [Kvicha] Kvaratskhelia, [Desire] Doue, Arne Slot knew the problems his team would have in wide areas and they were so submissive just by playing that formation.

"Throughout the whole game you look at the possession stats. From a Liverpool point of view, if they had done a smash and grab and got away with a 0-0 or a 1-0 victory or 1-0 defeat it'd be 'OK, they've come here and done a job'.

"But, there was nothing good about that performance from Liverpool. By the way they have set-up and then played tonight, they have sent out the wrong signal."

Did you know?

• Liverpool failed to have a shot on target in a UEFA Champions League match for the first time since November 2020 against Atalanta.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

The Ohio House has two opposing Republican bills dealing with name, image, and likeness deals at the high school level. 

Ohio House Bill 661 would ban high school and middle school athletes from making NIL deals while Ohio House Bill 745would create guardrails for high school athletes to earn compensation from NIL deals.

Ohio is one of 45 states that allows high school athletes to have NIL deals. 

“If someone’s able to make money off their athletic talent, I think they should be able to do so,” said state Rep. Tex Fischer, R-Boardman. 

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He recently introduced Ohio H.B. 745 with state Rep. Phil Plummer, R-Dayton. 

Their bill would allow a high school athlete to earn compensation from NIL if they enter into a written contract that aligns with the fair market value. The contract would also require the written consent of a student-athlete’s parent if they are younger than 18. 

The bill has not had any hearings yet and the Ohio House will reconvene in May. 

H.B. 745 outlines several situations that would not be allowed in a NIL contract including: 

• Compensation based on the student-athlete’s specific athletic performance or achievement.
• Persuading a student-athlete to attend a certain high school.
• It directly impacts someone other than the student-athlete. 
• It provides money, merchandise, services of value, or any other benefit directly to the student-athlete’s high school or school sports team. 
• It interferes with a student-athlete’s required academic instruction time. 
• It conflicts with the educational mission or code of conduct of the student-athlete’s high school.
• Anyone affiliated to the school is a party to the contract. 
• The student-athlete would not promote alcohol, tobacco or nicotine products, marijuana, a controlled substance, gambling, adult entertainment, or a firearm. 

Of the 350,000 Ohio High School Athletic Association student-athletes, only 32 NIL deals have been reported. Many of those deals are for less than $1,000, according to the OHSAA.

“For the vast majority of cases here, we’re not talking about a significant amount of money,” Fischer said. “We’re talking about a kid who gets $150 for having a donut named after him at the donut shop. …  Or the football team goes down and takes a group photo to be on the pizza shop flyer and they get free pizza.”

Ohio House Bill 661 

Ohio House Bill 661 would ban high school and middle school athletes from making NIL deals. State Reps. Adam Bird, R-New Richmond, and Mike Odioso, R-Green Twp., introduced the bill at the end of January and it has had six hearings in the Ohio House Education Committee.  

​​Supporters of the bill said it would give Ohio the chance to come up with the proper guardrails for NIL at the middle and high school levels. 

“Rather than reacting to momentum, our state can thoughtfully shape a model that protects student-athletes, preserves educational priorities, and sets a responsible example nationally,” Mason City Schools Superintendent Jonathan Cooper said in his testimony.  

Opponents argue NIL at the high school level is not like NIL at the college level and that other high school students can earn money by working a part-time job.

“If you have somebody in the band, the band person can make money on the side,” said Eugene Miller, former state rep. who is running as a Democratic candidate for Ohio House District 20. “Why should we punish athletes based on their likability by eliminating NIL opportunities?” 

Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman, R-Lima, said NIL is a problem. 

“I don’t think we should have it (at the high school levels), but I don’t know what the boundaries should be,” he recently told reporters. 

Ohio High School Athletic Association 

A Franklin County judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the OHSAA from enforcing its ban against high school athletes benefiting from NIL in October. 

Jasmine Brown had filed the lawsuit on behalf of her son Jamier Brown, an Ohio State Buckeyes football commit from the Dayton area.

He is a top-ranked wide receiver from Wayne High School in Huber Heights who is transferring to Big Walnut High School in Sunbury for his senior year.

Brown, a member of the class of 2027, has missed out on more than $100,000 in potential deals, according to the lawsuit. 

High school athletic association member schools passed an emergency referendum allowing NIL in November. In that referendum, 447 schools voted in favor of athletes receiving NIL deals, 121 schools voted against it, and 247 schools abstained. 

Fischer was initially working on a bill that would allow NIL deals at the high school level before the Brown lawsuit.  

“I wanted to make sure that my colleagues and other legislators can see that this is not an all or nothing approach,” he said. “You don’t have to choose between the Wild West that I don’t think anybody’s comfortable with or a complete shutdown of these potential contracts.”

Huffman wished the OHSAA had been clearer in their ruling. 

“We can put our restrictions on it,” he said. “We can do all of those kinds of things, but I think that this is a very difficult question. … I don’t think it’s an easy thing to resolve.”

The OHSAA said the organization is aware of both bills, but did not provide further comment.

Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on X or on Bluesky.

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Atletico Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final first leg was influenced by several key moments, but few were as decisive as the early incident involving Giuliano Simeone. 

The Argentine forward played a crucial role in turning the game in his side’s favour, winning the foul that ultimately led to Pau Cubarsi’s red card.

That moment shifted the entire momentum of the contest and contributed to the Blaugrana’s defeat.

With Barcelona reduced to ten men before half-time, Atletico were able to take control of key phases, and that advantage proved crucial. 

Giuliano Simeone takes the stage

After the match, Giuliano reflected on the importance of the result, while also acknowledging that the job is far from finished.

Speaking about the first-leg outcome, he made it clear that facing Barcelona always requires caution, regardless of the scoreline. 

“Against Barcelona, few results are decisive. They are a great team. They have some outstanding players. We put in a huge effort to try and get this result. 

“We have to keep working and focus on our own game. Keep improving things; I believe that as a team we can do it. Get to where we want to be.”

The numerical advantage

Cubarsi was sent off against Atletico Madrid. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

Despite having a numerical advantage for a significant portion of the match, Giuliano insisted that Atletico’s approach did not fundamentally change. 

According to him, Barcelona’s identity remains consistent regardless of circumstances, which meant his team had to stay disciplined and adaptable throughout.

“Whether they’re a man down or a man up, they play the same way. So the approach is the same. Try to play, press, and defend. 

“Adapt to what the game demands in different situations, and adapt to that. That’s what makes us a better team. We have to keep correcting things and focus on ourselves.”

Cubarsi’s red card

Naturally, the conversation also turned to the controversial red card incident involving Cubarsi, a decision that Barcelona have strongly questioned since the final whistle. 

Giuliano offered his perspective on the moment, describing how the play unfolded from his point of view.

“Julian kicked the ball at my back. I knew he was the last man. I haven’t watched the incident back, but I got in his way and went through on goal, and I felt the contact. 

“The referee initially showed a yellow card, but then, after consulting VAR, he showed a red,” he concluded.

Source: Mundo Deportivo

PSG 2 – 0 Liverpool – Champions League Man of the Match

For a team that once again fell short on the biggest stage, there was at least one performer who emerged with real credit. Giorgi Mamardashvili stood tall in Paris, producing a display that not only kept Liverpool in the tie, but also hinted at what the future between the posts could look like.

In a game where Paris Saint-Germain controlled large periods and asked constant questions of Liverpool’s fragile structure, the Georgian stopper was repeatedly called into action. His handling was assured, his positioning intelligent, and his reactions sharp when it mattered most.

The opening goal, a looping effort that crept beyond his reach, was unfortunate rather than preventable. Despite his full extension and towering frame, the trajectory took it beyond him. For the second, he was completely exposed. As PSG cut through midfield and defence with ease, there was little any goalkeeper could do in isolation.

Beyond those moments, however, Mamardashvili was exceptional. A series of key saves prevented the scoreline from becoming something far more damaging. In truth, without him, this tie could already be over.

A Glimpse of the Future Between the Posts

It is impossible to watch a Liverpool goalkeeper without thinking of Alisson Becker. The Brazilian has set the standard so high that any comparison feels unfair. He is, arguably, the finest goalkeeper in world football.

But this performance was not about comparison. It was about confirmation.

Mamardashvili showed composure under pressure, resilience in adversity, and the kind of presence that Liverpool will need moving forward. At a time when the team around him looks uncertain, disjointed, and lacking confidence, he offered clarity and reliability.

There is still development required. There are still moments that will define whether he can truly step into Alisson’s shadow long-term. But nights like this matter. Nights where the team struggles, where the system fails, and where the goalkeeper is left exposed—yet still delivers.

This was one of those nights.

As Liverpool looks ahead to the second leg, there remains a faint possibility of recovery. The tie is not completely beyond reach, and performances like this at least give something to build upon.

But regardless of what follows, one thing is clear.

Giorgi Mamardashvili was Liverpool’s standout performer. The man of the match. And perhaps, quietly, a sign of what comes next.

Steven Smith’s Pre-Match Prediction:

PSG 3 – 1 Liverpool

Betis’ coach said the result earned in Braga is good, but by no means definitive.

Betis would be making a mistake if they thought the draw against Sporting de Braga means they are closer to the semifinals. Pellegrini is clear that yesterday’s result is not definitive, and they will have to fight for it at home.

A match in which the team managed to overcome the Portuguese side’s early goal and ended up deserving the draw, and perhaps even more.

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

One down, six more to go.

That’s how Karim Benzema framed Al Hilal’s approach to their closing run of matches in this captivating Roshn Saudi League title race, moments after starring in his team's huge 6-0 victory against Al Kholood on Wednesday night.

Benzema chipped in with a hat-trick - his second since his high-profile winter transfer from Al Ittihad and third overall this term - and an assist as Simone Inzaghi's side ran riot at Kingdom Arena.

It was a night the 2023-24 RSL champions reminded everyone that they’re very much in contention for a second trophy in three seasons. After stomping to their biggest margin of victory this campaign, second-placed Al Hilal cut the gap on leaders Al Nassr to two points, even if they’ve now played a game more.

Afterwards, with another match ball and another Man of the Match award secured, Benzema laid out the path to that championship crown. Loud and clear.

"There were seven finals; now there are six finals left,” said the Frenchman, who supplied the lead role in Al Ittihad march to last season’s RSL trophy. “Each game is very important, but it's better to look at what we do rather than at other teams.

“Many things can happen in football, and we will fight until the end.”

With Benzema back leading the line, Al Hilal appear to be doing just that. The Real Madrid great was brought in February, in part, to help fire the capital club to the title. It's proving a shrewd decision: the treble lifted Benzema to eight goals and two assists in only six league appearances.

In all through 2025-26, he has 16 goals in 20 RSL matches.

“I feel good,” Benzema said. “I'm always ready to help my teammates if I can score goals. But the work of the whole team today was important. And, so, we are well above [Al Kholood] in every respect.

“We were focused on the championship. The game is over; now we rest well because another game is coming.”

While Al Hilal drew closer to Al Nassr, Al Ahli missed their opportunity to do so as well. Matthias Jaissle's men, who began the round in third but locked on 65 points with Al Hilal, drew 1-1 at Al Fayha on Wednesday night.

Ivan Toney opened the scoring in Al Majma'ah for his 27th RSL goal of the season to take him one clear of Julian Quinones in the race of the golden boot. However, Al Fayha equalised early in the second half through Jason as Al Ahli dropped points for the second time in three league games.

Bologna have become a familiar face for the Aston Villa faithful in recent times.

Not only did the sides play eachother in the group stage of the Europa League earlier this season, but they also met in last season's Champions League campaign.

Unai Emery's side came out on top on both occaisions, but Villa defender Matty Cash is not expecting an easy ride.

"They are a really good team," Cash told the media. "Man to man, all over the pitch. They are really strong. I know their goalkeeper, [Lukasz] Skorupski, I've spoken to him about Bologna at [Poland] training camps. I've seen their fixtures since we last played them and they haven't really lost in Europe. We know how good they are.

"Two legs, a 180 minute game - a lot can happen, especially coming away to a place like this is going to be difficult. But we are going to try and do what we can to put ourselves in a good position for next week."

Aarón Anselmino’s season has gone from bad to worse, with the youngster suffering another hamstring injury, this time to his other leg! The Chelsea loanee had just returned from several weeks on the sidelines, but is now set to be ruled out again for who knows how long. RC Strasbourg head coach Gary O’Neil confirmed the news ahead of the first leg of their UEFA Conference League quarterfinal against Mainz tonight.

“It’s the other hamstring this time. He needs to undergo tests to determine the severity of the injury.”

-Gary O’Neil; source: L’Equipe via Google Translate

Anselmino was sent on loan to Strasbourg to replace Mamadou Sarr, but just like Sarr at Chelsea, he’s hardly played. But at least in Anselmino’s case, the reason is fairly obvious: the 20-year-old has been dealing with a hamstring problem. In fact, he’s made just three appearances since joining, for a grand total of 15 minutes.

Injuries have been a constant problem this season for Anselmino, though he still managed to impress in his limited action at Borussia Dortmund in the first half of the campaign. They really wanted to keep him, but we saw fit — no pun intended — to recall him in the winter, and farm him out to RCSA instead. That’s not worked out for anyone involved.

Crystal Palace's Brennan Johnson says returning to the club after missing out on qualification for this summer's World Cup with Wales over the international break has "felt like a bit of fresh air".

The 24-year-old missed his penalty as Craig Bellamy's side lost a shoot-out to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off semi-finals.

"Of course everyone on the team was really upset," said Johnson.

"But coming back here, I had numerous messages from the fellas straight after the game and also the staff."

Palace return to action for the first time since 19 March when they host Fiorentina in the first leg of their Conference League quarter-final on Thursday.

"It's felt like a bit of fresh air," Johnson added in the pre-match news conference.

"We've got some massive games to look forward to, so I think that's really helped in focusing on something else, and it's one we're all really excited for."

When asked about Palace being favourites to win the Conference League, Johnson, who signed from Europa League winners Tottenham in January, said: "Personally, I feel like I use that as confidence.

"When you get to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and you're up against amazing teams, use it as confidence as much as we can, but at the same time know these teams provide real quality as well."

Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konaté (26) has called on the Premier League to emulate Ligue 1’s policy of postponing league games in favour of the clubs featuring in the Champions League. The France international was on the losing side on Wednesday as the Reds succumbed to a 2-0 away defeat to PSG in the Champions League quarter-finals first leg.

Luis Enrique’s Les Parisiens have a week to prepare for the return leg at Anfield on Tuesday as the LFP – Ligue 1’s governing body – agreed to postpone their Ligue 1 game to RC Lens. Meanwhile, Liverpool will host Fulham on Saturday.

Speaking to Australian broadcasters Stan Sport in the Parc des Princes’ mixed zone, Konaté was asked about Ligue 1’s policy of postponing games. “Last season, it was the same. I wish we had the same thing in the Premier League, but it’s completely different.“

Konaté added that he was happy for PSG to receive help from Ligue 1 in their goal to go far in the Champions League, but the Liverpool centre-back reiterated his stance regarding what the Premier League should do. “I’m hoping the Premier League are doing to do the same in the future or, why not, this season for the teams who play in the Champions League as well.“

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

Borussia Dortmund director Lars Ricken has confirmed the club are considering another move for Jadon Sancho.

Any potential deal would see the forward embark on his third stint with Dortmund.

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Jadon Sancho: The state of play

The German outfit have established themselves firmly among the mix for Sancho’s signature this summer, presumably only because they can get him for nothing. 

It would come five years after Dortmund received £73 million to facilitate his switch to Manchester United, which has been nothing short of disastrous.

Sancho only represented United for two seasons before notoriously falling out with ex-manager Erik ten Hag in a public spat, spelling the end of his time as an active player in M16.

(Sancho’s full record at United across all competitions)

However, given he signed a five-year deal upon his arrival in 2021 and no clubs have been willing to pay up for him, the 26-year-old has been sent on three loan spells while seeing out the final years of his deal, one of which was with Dortmund for the second half of 2023/2024.

He subsequently spent 2024/2025 with Chelsea, who, at the end of the campaign, opted to pay a £5m penalty instead of activating Sancho’s £25m buy obligation.

Currently, he is plying his trade under Unai Emery at Aston Villa. There is no buy clause included in the terms, so he will return to United in June before departing as a free agent, despite the Reds having a 12-month option.

Could Sancho be headed for Dortmund once again?

Now, it looks as though a return to the Westfalenstadion is on the cards for Sancho.

Although he enjoyed the highlights of his career and form with Dortmund, there’s no doubt that the prospective transfer marks yet another low in his career, based on the fact that he has simply failed to prove himself in the English top flight.

(Sancho’s record in the Premier League, courtesy of Transfermarkt)

The former Manchester City academy star was once considered one of the hottest prospects in world football when he broke onto the scene and really found his feet in Germany, but United haven’t been able to find any club willing to shell out a fee for him for love nor money over the last three years.

The latest on Sancho’s summer options

Nonetheless, Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg has revealed that Sancho has ‘multiple offers’ to mull over ahead of his contract expiring, though he would have to accept a pay-cut if he were to accept any proposals.

Ricken said of Dortmund’s stance: “We’re currently looking at a lot of players and analysing them closely. We check whether they can make us better. We’re doing that with Jadon as well.”

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Our F1 correspondent Andrew Benson is again doing a weekly Q&A in 2026.

Send in your questions below and we'll put the best to Andrew next week.

• F1: Chequered Flag

Jake Knapp Ducks sponsorship, explained: How California roots led to golfer's partnership with NHL team originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

A lot of hockey players are great golfers due to similar rotations of the body and contact with the puck/ball with a stick or club. One lifelong Anaheim Ducks fan has made it all the way to the PGA Tour and is playing at the Masters this week.

Jake Knapp is a lifelong Ducks fan from Costa Mesa, Calif. After a few years participating on the Korn Ferry Tour, he turned professional in 2023. Prior to turning pro, once he made the Korn Ferry Tour, Knapp got the opportunity of a lifetime: a sponsorship with his favorite NHL team.

While playing at his local Costa Mesa Country Club, Knapp got paired with both the then-GM and president of his favorite franchise. After speaking with the two men and getting to know them more over the years, he finally inked his sponsorship deal in 2020.

Here's the unlikely story of how Knapp became sponsored by the Ducks, along with the gear he will be repping during Masters week.

MORE: Full Masters TV and streaming schedule

Jake Knapp-Ducks sponsorship

Knapp first became sponsored by the Ducks after playing a round with the team’s former GM, Bob Murray, and team president Tim Ryan at his local country club in Costa Mesa.

Despite being a lifelong Ducks fan, Knapp said he didn’t know the two men in his group held two of the highest positions in Anaheim’s front office, but he got to know them over time. In 2020, he reached the Korn Ferry Tour, the developmental tour for the PGA Tour, and has had the sponsorship deal with the Ducks ever since.

Here is Knapp discussing how the sponsorship came about.

Jake Knapp’s Anaheim Ducks sponsorship is a one of one. pic.twitter.com/AJsmlHoQ7T

— Fore Play (@ForePlayPod) April 10, 2024

MORE: Best bets and odds ahead of 2026 Masters

Jake Knapp Ducks gear

Ahead of his participation at the Masters, Knapp will be donning the Ducks' logo on his shirt collar, along with on his golf bag. Here is a photo of the gear.

Jake Knapp and the @AnaheimDucks are doing @TheMasters Week right.

Instead of hockey sticks, the logo on @knapptime_LTD's @johnnieO shirt and @pxg bag will feature golf clubs. pic.twitter.com/ZXaGII399Z

— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) April 8, 2026

The Ducks are also hosting a giveaway for one lucky fan to receive Knapp's signed bag. Fans can enter by texting "GOLF" to 81883.

There's so much to love about this iconic logo reimagined for an iconic tournament.

Green background, WW on the grips, crossed irons

Want to win Jake Knapp's Azalea golf bag, signed by the man himself? Text GOLF to 81883 to enter.#FlyTogether | @knapptime_LTDpic.twitter.com/s5ZYPAyrJ2

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) April 7, 2026

MORE: Who will be competing in this year's Masters?

Where is Jake Knapp from?

Knapp is from Costa Mesa, Calif. He was born there on May 31, 1994, and grew up playing at the local Costa Mesa Country Club.

He attended Estancia High School in Costa Mesa, and later played college golf at UCLA before turning professional in 2016.

Costa Mesa lies just over 13 miles away from Honda Center, where the Anaheim Ducks play, explaining his fandom.

Avatr 12 launches from 42,600 USD - tri-motor version hits 100 km/h in 2.71 seconds.

The post New Avatr 12 launches: 0-100 km/h in 2.71 seconds, starting from 42,600 USD appeared first on CarNewsChina.com.

Tokenly provides token infrastructure for developers to gift and redeem tokens across registered applications. It lets you reward users, run cross-app incentives, and power referral programs with a single REST API. Register your app to get credentials, send and receive tokens with real value, and track balances and transactions in real time from an intuitive dashboard.

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A passenger aboard the Celebrity Beyond has been arrested and charged with video voyeurism after crew members discovered a hidden camera in a public bathroom aboard the ship during a Caribbean sailing.

Robert Qi Peng, of Charlotte, North Carolina, is accused of concealing a pen fitted with a tiny video camera in a unisex bathroom.

Staff discovered the device hidden beneath discarded hand towels while cleaning the restroom, and the ship’s chief security officer then notified the FBI.

After docking at Crown Bay, St. Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands on April 1, FBI and Port Authority agents reviewed the pen camera’s memory card. The footage allegedly showed Peng positioning the device to record the toilet area.

Footage captured multiple passengers, including a child

The approximately 90-minute recording reportedly captured nine passengers using the bathroom.

When questioned by the FBI, Peng allegedly admitted to placing the camera and told investigators he had begun secretly recording as the ship left Miami.

Video found on his laptop showed multiple guests using the toilet, including at least one child. He also reportedly told investigators he possessed several other micro cameras.

Peng was removed from the ship, which continued the voyage without him. He appeared in U.S. District Court on April 2, where U.S. Magistrate Judge G. Alan Teague released him on a $1,000 bond.

As conditions of his release, Peng was ordered not to use any hidden recording devices and to continue seeking employment.

He faces one count of unlawful video voyeurism. If found guilty, he could face up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

According to CruiseMapper, the Celebrity Beyond‘s week-long itinerary included stops in the Dominican Republic, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and St. Kitts before returning to PortMiami on Easter Sunday.

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“In our view, the equitable balance here cuts in favor of the government,” said a panel of judges from the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

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Some officials cautiously eyed a year-end rate cut, but others warned that upward adjustments might be needed if inflation remains above target levels.  

Visa is rolling out a platform that helps merchants make their product inventories discoverable and purchasable by AI agents.

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Galaxy S26 Ultra is selling beyond expectations, with Samsung reportedly increasing April 2026 production. The news comes out from a Korean outlet, which also indicates that the May forecast has been reduced.

According to ZDNet, Samsung is ramping up the production of Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra to keep selling at scale in April 2026.

Information pulled from supply chain sources suggests that the South Korean tech giant is aiming for an output of 3 million units this month. The revised production plan is up by 600,000 units, as compared to the initial target.

April 2026 expected output:

• Galaxy S26 – 1.3 million (+500,000)
• Galaxy S26+ – 200,000 (-100,000)
• Galaxy S26 Ultra – 1.5 million (+200,000)

All focus is on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which is set alone for a total production of the base and Plus versions. Galaxy S26 Plus, in comparison, has a very small target of just 200,000 units, which isn’t new if you’re a seasoned Samsung reader.

Last but not least, the report mentions that the company may have reduced its production target for May 2026. Samsung decides output based on demand from analysis and future scope, and May could see a cut in production.

What’s notable this year is that the Ultra model accounts for over 60–70 percent of total S26 sales.  Even in the past, the Galaxy S Ultra made up about half of S-series sales, but this year its share is especially high.

Privacy Display is the biggest feature pushing the sales of the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The chip choice, Snapdragon-exclusivity, is another reason encouraging buyers to consider the Ultra flagship in countries where Exynos exists.

The post Galaxy S26 Ultra selling beyond expectations, forcing major production shift appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Samsung is preparing something bigger than a routine launch. Word from the Korean supply chain suggests Samsung plans to launch the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Wide Fold, and Flip 8 on July 22, 2026, in London, UK.

If accurate, it will be the first time Samsung unpacks its strategic devices in the city of London. This is not just about a new venue; it is positioning, via WowTV Korea.

Europe is where the premium market is tightening, and where Apple is quietly gaining ground. Samsung still leads with roughly 35 percent share, but Apple sits close behind at 27 percent.

The spotlight will fall on three devices: Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Flip 8, and a new entrant insiders are calling the “Wide Fold.” Samsung is said to be moving toward a 4:3 aspect ratio, a noticeable shift from the taller, narrower foldables.

It closely mirrors what’s expected from Apple’s foldable iPhone. The device is tipped to come in about 0.5mm thinner than Apple’s rumored foldable. If these confirmation points hold steady, Samsung is not waiting to react; it is preempting.

S Pen is making a return

Samsung had quietly stepped back from stylus support in the Galaxy Z Fold 7 due to thickness and weight constraints. The report indicates that Samsung might reintroduce stylus support on the foldable phone, probably the Wide Fold.

Bringing back S Pen support on a thinner chassis tells you a lot about how far the engineering has come. It also reopens a key differentiation point that Apple still does not match in the foldable space.

If this Unpacked plays out as expected, July 22 could set the tone for the next phase of the foldable race.

The post BREAKING: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Wide Fold and Flip 8’s launch date and venue leaks appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Google Chrome on desktop is getting two long-awaited features. These included vertical tabs as well as a new immersive reading mode. Both of these features have been available on other browsers for a while now so Chrome is late to the party as usual, but better late than never. The vertical tabs feature is exactly what it sounds like. Instead of having all tabs appear in a row at the top of the browser, they appear in a vertical stack on the side. This allows you to see a lot more tabs at once than what can fit in a horizontal row, and the column can be collapsed to take less...

The Edge 70 Pro is one of three Edge 70 devices still left to be launched according to a recent rumor, and today a couple of purported marketing images showing it have been outed by a tipster over on X. As you can see, the tagline for the device is going to be "seize the night", which makes us think Motorola will heavily market its camera abilities, especially for nighttime photography. The handset will be offered in three colorways, depicted in the image above, though these don't match up with what was recently leaked, so as always don't forget to take any rumor (including this...

The Citroen C3 is the most popular vehicle in Portugal in March.

Solid month for new car sales in Portugal at +8.6% year-on-year in March to 26,680 units. The Q1 volume is up by an even better +9.4% to 64,060. In the brands ranking, Mercedes (+6.2%) reclaims the top spot for the first time since last August. In 2nd place, Dacia rallies up 18.6% to 7% share vs. 5.2% so far this year (-25.2%) where it still ranks at a low #7 vs. #3 over the Full Year 2025. Peugeot (-29.4%) craters and falls to third position but remains largely in the lead year-to-date with 10.8% share. Citroen (+29.5%) lodges the biggest gain in the Top 10 at #4, a ranking it also holds YTD vs. #9 over the Full Year 2025. Nissan (+15.6%) also impresses at #5. Below, MG (+148.7%), Volvo (+64.3%), Seat (+47.3%), Hyundai (+46.9%) and BYD (+44.4%) stand out.

The models ranking is completely reshuffled. The Citroen C3 (+9.4%) is up six spots on February to land in pole position. This is the third time the C3 is the most popular vehicle in Portugal after April 2022 and June 2024. It now ranks #3 year-to-date. Dacia completes the podium with the Duster (+1.8%) up 37 ranks to #2 and the Sandero (+37.2%) up 17 to #3. Two Nissans follow: the Juke (-11.2%) at #4 and the Qashqai (+59.5%) at #5. Tesla places the Model Y (+126%) at #7 and the Model 3 (-38.3%) at #8. The Seat Ibiza (+137.1%) also impresses.

Previous month: Portugal February 2026: Peugeot 2008 and Tesla Model Y on top

One year ago: Portugal March 2025: Renault Clio #1, Fiat 600 breaks into Top 10

Full March 2026 Top 56 All brands and Top 333 All models below.

Portugal March 2026 – brands:

Portugal March 2026 – models: