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NEW DELHI — Pakistan’s T20 World Cup dream ended in a bittersweet blur at the Super Eights stage, as a commanding 11-run victory over Sri Lanka proved insufficient to keep their semifinal hopes alive. Captain Salman Ali Agha, visibly dejected during the post-match presentation, conceded that chronic batting frailties ultimately derailed the campaign and left the squad packing for home. Despite Sahibzada Farhan’s sparkling 100 and Fakhar Zaman’s 84 that powered Pakistan to 212 for 8 after being asked to bat first, the side could not wrangle the net-run-rate arithmetic needed to overhaul New Zealand. Pakistan required Sri Lanka to be held to 147 or below; instead, Dasun Shanaka’s hurricane 76 not out steered the co-hosts to 207 for 6, narrowly missing what would have been a stunning heist. “We couldn’t bat well throughout the tournament,” Agha said bluntly. “If Farhan had more support, it’d have been better. Middle order has been a problem for a few years now; we’ll have to look at that.” The skipper noted that even 160 would have been tricky to defend once dew took hold, but lamented the two overs where Sri Lanka’s death hitting trimmed Pakistan’s surge. “We batted well 18 overs, opposition did well in the other two,” he added. Senior stalwarts Babar Azam and Saim Ayub were dropped for the must-win clash after a string of low scores, underscoring a dressing-room in transition. Farhan, later named Player of the Match, admitted his personal milestone felt hollow. “I wanted Fakhar to ton up actually. The ton didn’t work for the team, that’s why I’m sad,” he said, crediting domestic cricket for honing his ability to score big at pace. Sri Lanka, already out of contention, left the field with mixed emotions. “It was a close game, I could’ve finished it,” Shanaka said, apologising to fans for falling one blow short while praising Shaheen Shah Afridi’s final-over nerve. Injuries to Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana, he stressed, had robbed the squad of crucial bite throughout the event. England had earlier sealed the group with three wins, while New Zealand joined them on net run rate, leaving Pakistan to rue what might have been. As the players trudged off, Agha’s parting words echoed the sentiment of a campaign that promised much yet delivered too little: “Couldn’t finish the way we wanted to.”

London — With the 2027 Women’s World Cup looming, England’s coaching staff are confronting a strategic headache that could decide their fate in Australia and New Zealand: who will anchor the full-back berths once the current generation moves on? Right-back has been the domain of Lucy Bronze for the best part of a decade, yet the 34-year-old’s longevity is now a live debate inside St George’s Park. On the opposite flank the uncertainty is even starker; the squad has cycled through converted centre-backs, a prolific striker and a succession of right-footed stand-ins without nailing down a natural left-back since Demi Stokes’ last cap. Interim England Under-23s head coach Lauren Smith confirmed the Football Association has been mapping succession plans for more than 18 months. “When I stepped into the under-19s role the conversation was already happening about how we could think differently for players in the pathway,” Smith said. “That work has been going on a long time. You are starting to see the fruits of it.” Manager Sarina Wiegman used three different left-backs in her final four friendlies of 2025 and twice paired Bronze with Manchester United centre-back Maya Le Tissier at right-back, signalling Le Tissier is the current heir apparent despite her club role. Esme Morgan, Jess Carter and Alex Greenwood offer positional flexibility across the back line, yet each views centre-back as their strongest suit. Greenwood, 32, started five of six matches at Euro 2025 on the left, but pace in behind remains a concern. Wiegman has therefore widened the trawl, calling up Bay FC’s Anouk Denton, convincing Arsenal’s Taylor Hinds to switch from Jamaica, and, most recently, summoning London City Lionesses’ Poppy Pattinson for March qualifiers against Ukraine and Iceland. “Pattinson plays at left-back, is very proactive and takes a lot of initiative,” Wiegman said. “She likes to go forward and can cover the whole wing.” Hinds started October and December wins over Australia and Ghana in the role, while Chelsea’s Niamh Charles—when fit—provides another right-footed option. The absence of an established left-footer is a recurring theme. “It’s preferred to have a left-footer on that side,” said winger Lauren Hemp. Former Lioness Ellen White noted England have not been “blessed with many left-footed full-backs for a while.” Pattinson, 25, accepts the audition is now. “I describe myself as having a tenacious attitude,” she said. “I like to defend and not let anyone past me but also get forward and create.” Youth production lines are buzzing. Ella Morris and Naomi Layzell earned senior nods before long-term injuries; Smith flags Manchester United loanee Jess Simpson, Chelsea’s Chloe Sarwie and Aston Villa’s Rachel Maltby as prospects being monitored for physical readiness rather than shoe-horned into unfamiliar roles. Emma Coates, now at Bay FC, believes the obsession with finding “the next Lucy Bronze” can obscure the broader brief. “Our job is to identify those players, work with them, and then it’s up to Sarina Wiegman to decide when they are ready,” she said. Whether the pipeline delivers a seamless transition in time for the 2027 World Cup remains uncertain, yet the FA insists the groundwork is laid. “The game is getting faster,” Smith added. “We won’t put square pegs in round holes, but we will open doors whenever we can.” For a squad targeting global honours, solving the full-back succession riddle could be the final piece of the jigsaw.

Liverpool’s 5-2 dismantling of West Ham at Anfield was striking for many reasons, but none resonated louder inside the dressing room than the identity of the scorers. Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister all struck from corners, a single-match haul that doubled the club’s previous season tally from dead-ball situations and, in the process, offered a pointed reminder of the benchmark Arne Slot is chasing. “We created quite a lot of chances from set-pieces in the first part of the season and almost every set-piece we conceded went in,” Slot said. “Today you could see exactly the opposite happening.” The reversal was not merely statistical. West Ham’s first genuine opening arrived via a corner that, earlier in the campaign, would have found the net. Instead, Liverpool cleared, broke and, minutes later, punished the visitors from an identical scenario at the other end. The swing in fortune, Slot argued, was less about tactical revolution than natural correction. “Things went back to normal,” he insisted. “We were a lot of times very close. Maybe one or two small details have changed defensively and offensively – we are set up slightly, slightly different – but the biggest reason is that things go back to normal.” Normal, in Slot’s definition, looks a lot like Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s side have plundered 17 league goals from set pieces this term, five more than Liverpool’s revised total of 12. At one stage the gap stretched to 23 when penalties were included; it now stands at three. The shrinking margin is no accident. Liverpool have recorded three consecutive Premier League victories for the first time since December, a run fuelled by their renewed threat when play is restarted. Slot, however, expects Arsenal to respond immediately. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they scored three from set-pieces this weekend as well,” he said, referencing the forthcoming Arsenal-Chelsea fixture. The remark carried the weight of both respect and ambition: respect for the current gold standard, ambition to overtake it. For Liverpool, the challenge is to sustain the surge. Title races are often decided in the margins – a glancing header here, a cleared corner there. Against West Ham, those margins finally tilted in red. Whether they continue to do so will determine if Slot’s emulation project ends in imitation or usurpation.

Liverpool’s record-breaking January capture of Jeremy Jacquet was supposed to be the smoothest of long-term deals: the 20-year-old French centre-back would finish the campaign with boyhood club Rennes, secure European qualification for the Bretons, then arrive at Anfield in July ready to join Arne Slot’s pre-season and begin a contract that could eventually cost the Reds £62 million. Instead, a dislocated shoulder suffered in early February has pitched the player, his current employers and his future employers into a medical and moral dilemma that could shape the opening chapter of his Premier League career. Jacquet has not appeared in Ligue 1 since the injury, and with only three months of the domestic season remaining, the choice confronting him is stark: undergo surgery now and almost certainly miss the rest of Rennes’ push for Europe, or delay the operation, gamble on a quick return to help Franck Haise’s side, and risk a recurring problem that would sabotage his integration at Liverpool. Rennes manager Haise offered little clarity when pressed ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Toulouse. “I don’t know precisely yet,” he told Ouest-France. “Jérémy is receiving treatment, undergoing rehabilitation, he’s working in the gym, that’s where we are at the moment.” The shoulder, however, is not a new concern. French outlet Ouest-France reports that the joint has troubled Jacquet before and that specialists view surgery as the definitive fix. The same report underlines the catch-22: an operation now would “extremely slim” his chances of playing again in Ligue 1 this season, yet postponing it raises the spectre of repeated dislocations and a compromised pre-season on Merseyside. Liverpool’s medical and performance staff are understood to want the player fully fit for July, a timeline that would be jeopardised should Jacquet opt to defer surgery until after the Euros with the France U-21 international. Equally, the defender’s emotional attachment to Rennes—where he rose through the academy and is now a first-team regular—adds a layer of loyalty to the equation. “We also know that Jacquet was keen to help his boyhood club on the pitch, to achieve their European objective,” Ouest-France noted, adding that the player “may well be torn between the desire to play again for Rennes and the desire to do everything he can to successfully integrate into Liverpool.” With Champions League qualification on the line for Rennes and Liverpool expecting a seamless summer unveiling, the next decision Jacquet makes could resonate far beyond the treatment table.

Barcelona’s 4-1 victory over Villarreal will be remembered for one electrifying storyline: Lamine Yamal’s first senior hat-trick, a milestone that arrived at the precise moment the club needed a spark. At 18 years and 230 days, the winger became the youngest Blaugrana player ever to score three goals in a La Liga fixture, eclipsing records held by Giovani dos Santos and Lionel Messi, and becoming the first player under 19 to achieve the feat in Spain’s top flight since 1967. The opener arrived in the 29th minute. After Villarreal coughed up possession, Fermin Lopez surged forward and slipped a pass into Yamal’s path. One velvet touch with the outside of his left foot carried him into the box, and before a sliding challenge could arrive he side-footed the ball beyond goalkeeper Luiz Junior and inside the far post. Ten minutes later Yamal produced a moment worthy of a museum exhibit. Receiving Lopez’s pass wide on the touchline, he embarked on a slaloming run: Sergi Cardona was left behind with a feint, Alberto Moleiro was invited to foul yet bypassed, and Pape Gueye arrived too late as Yamal unleashed a curling left-footed strike that rocketed into the top corner. The treble was completed in the 69th minute after Pedri dissected Villarreal’s back line with a surgical through-ball. Yamal darted in behind, lifted the ball over the advancing keeper, and wheeled away in celebration, three fingers raised before tucking the gesture into an imaginary pocket. Four minutes later Hansi Flick withdrew his starlet to preserve him for next week’s Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid, allowing Camp Nou to rise in unanimous applause. Post-match, Yamal sought out his mother, Sheila Ebana, in the stands and handed her the match ball. “This is for you,” he said, promising to collect autographs before reclaiming the memento. The gesture underlined a maturity that belies his youth, yet the forward admitted the season has tested him. Groin problems since September, relentless media scrutiny over his private life, and a public dispute between club and country over injury management had dimmed his joy. “I wasn’t happy playing and I think it showed,” he told Movistar. “For the past week I’ve been feeling much better. I feel like smiling while I play.” That renewed happiness has translated into production: the hat-trick lifts Yamal to 18 goals this campaign—matching his entire tally from last season—and 13 in La Liga alone, making him Barça’s domestic top scorer. Club sources, speaking anonymously to The Athletic, insist any doubts about his professionalism are misplaced, citing daily extra treatment sessions and an exemplary training ethic. With Barcelona chasing an unlikely Copa comeback and embroiled in a tight title race, Yamal’s return to peak form arrives at the perfect juncture. As Flick noted, “When he enjoys playing football, it’s perfect for him and for us.” The teenager, still fasting for Ramadan, has given the club and its supporters exactly what they craved: a timely reminder that the future is already here.

Celtic head to Ibrox on Sunday for the 450th Old Firm derby, a fixture that could tilt the balance in a congested Scottish Premiership title race. Martin O’Neill’s side sit third, nine points behind surprise leaders Hearts and two behind second-placed Rangers, but crucial games in hand give the visitors room to climb. Momentum arrived on Thursday night when a 1-0 Europa League victory in Stuttgart, sealed by a late strike, restored belief despite a 4-2 aggregate exit. That result ended a four-match winless run on the continent and offers a timely lift ahead of the short trip across Glasgow. Selection headaches have mounted at the back. Centre-back Auston Trusty is suspended after the SFA dismissed Celtic’s appeal against his recent red card, while right-back Julian Araujo remains doubtful after missing the Stuttgart win with a knock; a late fitness test will decide his availability. Long-term casualties include Alistair Johnston, sidelined since October following hamstring surgery and not expected back until April, and Cameron Carter-Vickers, whose season is effectively over. Adam Montgomery (calf) and Callum Osmand (unspecified) are also ruled out until at least the end of March, and winger Jota is unlikely to feature again this campaign. Midfielder Arne Engels, absent for the last four matches with a thigh issue, will not return until after the March international break. With resources stretched, O’Neill is expected to keep changes minimal. Kasper Schmeichel should continue in goal behind a back four of Donovan, Arthur, Sciles and Tierney. Captain Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate are set to anchor midfield, while the front four could comprise Tounekti, Nygren, Maeda and lone striker Cvancara. Kick-off is at 12pm BST on Sunday, 1 March, with live coverage on Sky Sports Football in the UK. Celtic predicted XI: Schmeichel; Donovan, Arthur, Scales, Tierney; Hatate, McGregor; Tounekti, Nygren, Maeda; Cvancara.

Madrid, Spain – Real Madrid’s marquee summer signing Kylian Mbappé will not make his Champions League debut for the club against Manchester City next week, after the club’s medical staff confirmed on Tuesday that the French forward has been sidelined with a knee injury. The 25-year-old, who arrived in the Spanish capital amid soaring expectations, has been hampered by the complaint since last week and underwent further assessment on Monday. Sources at Cadena SER report that the decision was taken to err on the side of caution, ruling Mbappé out of the first-leg showdown at the Santiago Bernabéu on 11 March. The news lands a significant blow to Carlo Ancelotti’s preparations for the round-of-16 tie against Pep Guardiola’s side, with supporters hoping to see Mbappé spearhead Los Blancos’ attack now forced to wait. While upcoming Liga fixtures against Getafe, Celta and Elche offered a potential window for a gentler re-introduction, the club’s medical department determined that any accelerated return carried an unacceptable risk of aggravation. Mbappé’s absence leaves Madrid looking to alternative firepower to unlock a City defence that conceded only seven goals in their six-game group-stage campaign. The club has yet to place a definitive timeline on the striker’s recovery, but insiders suggest the forward will immediately enter a tailored rehabilitation programme designed to ensure full fitness for the decisive stretch of the season. For now, Madridistas must reconcile themselves to the reality that the long-anticipated Mbappé-Madrid union in Europe’s premier competition will have to wait at least another fortnight, with the return leg at the Etihad Stadium looming on 18 March.

Real Madrid are ready to test Manchester City’s resolve with a cut-price £44 million move for Spain midfielder Rodri, according to Radio Marca, while AC Milan have entered the race for Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson as the summer window edges closer. Rodri, whose contract at the Etihad enters its final 12 months this summer, tops Carlo Ancelotti’s wish-list as the Spanish giants look to add a Ballon d’Or winner to their engine room without breaking the bank. City have yet to respond to the speculation, but the modest valuation could force negotiations should the 27-year-old indicate a desire for a new challenge. At the opposite end of the pitch, Jackson’s future has become a hot topic. Bayern Munich are unlikely to turn the striker’s loan into a permanent deal, yet the 24-year-old Senegalese international is attracting a queue of suitors. Gazzetta dello Sport report that Milan have now joined Aston Villa in tracking Jackson, with Villa boss Unai Emery—who previously worked with the forward at Villarreal—open to a reunion at Villa Park. Milan are also weighing up Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy as they look to bolster their attacking options. Darwin Núñez’s anticipated departure from Saudi Arabia has gathered pace after a disappointing spell. The Uruguayan’s camp have sounded out Newcastle and Tottenham, while Atlético Madrid and Juventus have registered their interest. Juve view Núñez as a fallback should they fail to secure another former loanee, Randal Kolo Muani, who is their preferred replacement for Dusan Vlahovic. Tottenham, meanwhile, are expected to pass on making Kolo Muani’s move permanent. Elsewhere on the continent, Omar Marmoush’s lack of game time at City has prompted his representatives to tout the Egyptian to Barcelona, according to self-styled “Global Transfer News Expert” Ekrem Konur. The 25-year-old winger is assessing his options ahead of a potential Etihad exit. Across London, Fulham and West Ham are lining up offers for Milan and USA midfielder Yunus Musah. Both clubs are prepared to meet the Rossoneri’s asking price for the 21-year-old former Arsenal academy graduate as they seek to inject energy into their midfields. With Europe’s heavyweights already manoeuvring, the summer transfer window promises swift movement on multiple fronts.

GOLD COAST, Australia — The Asian Football Confederation has postponed continental club championship playoffs scheduled in the Middle East this week, citing the U.S. and Israel attacks on Iran as the reason for the decision. The move affects West Region fixtures in the AFC Champions League and underscores the confederation’s priority on player and staff safety amid escalating regional tensions. No new dates for the postponed matches were announced.

Anfield has spent decades romanticising swashbuckling, high-tempo football, so the notion that Liverpool might now be nicking results from a corner or a long throw feels almost sacrilegious. Yet the numbers are impossible to ignore: Arne Slot’s side have just become the first team in Premier League history to score seven consecutive non-penalty goals from set plays, a run that culminated in the 5-2 dismantling of West Ham United in which three first-half goals arrived directly from corners. Rewind to August and the scenario felt preposterous. While rivals bulked up on aerial specialists and specialist coaches, Liverpool’s summer strategy appeared to drift toward the technical and the transitional. By New Year’s Eve, when set-piece coach Aaron Briggs departed, Liverpool had scored only three league goals from dead-ball situations and leaked 12. Something had to give. Since the calendar flipped to 2026, the transformation has been startling: nine scored, three conceded, and a dressing-room belief that every corner or wide free-kick is a genuine event. The watershed moment arrived at St James’ Park on Boxing Day, Ibrahima Konaté thrashing in a late corner to seal a 4-1 win over Newcastle. Dominik Szoboszlai’s dipping free-kick against Manchester City followed, before Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister delivered 1-0 victories against Sunderland and Nottingham Forest courtesy of a corner and a throw-in respectively. West Ham merely completed the theme. Van Dijk’s towering header from an inswinging corner made it 2-1; the opener and the third showcased improvisation rather than choreography, Ryan Gravenberch twice keeping the ball alive before Hugo Ekitike teed up the first, and the Dutchman later cushioning Van Dijk’s near-post flick for Mac Allister to volley home at the far stick. Slot, once weary of fielding questions about set-piece frailty, now welcomes the topic. “Maybe one or two small details have changed defensively and offensively,” he admitted after the Hammers win. “Our setup is slightly different, but the biggest reason is that things go back to normal. We created chances earlier in the season and every one we conceded seemed to go in. Now the opposite is happening.” Purists may bristle, but pragmatism reigns. With a £125 million summer striker sidelined, a creative No 10 nursing injury and wide forwards misfiring, Liverpool have simply followed the league’s broader drift toward physicality and structured restarts. The early goal from a corner against West Ham forced the visitors to abandon their low block, freeing space for the blistering transitions that characterised the second-half surge. History reassures, too. Under Jürgen Klopp, set-piece efficiency underpinned three title tilts: 22 goals in 2018-19, 17 in 2019-20, 19 in 2021-22. The difference then was balance; Liverpool were never defined by them. Slot’s next challenge is to restore that equilibrium while open-play fluency rebuilds. For now, the numbers justify the method: six wins in seven across all competitions, Champions League progression secured via dead-ball ruthlessness, and a late-season surge that few predicted when corners were costing points rather than earning them. Liverpool arrived late to the Premier League’s set-piece party, but they are suddenly the last ones dancing.

Manchester City have been dealt an unexpected fitness scare after Erling Haaland was left out of the squad entirely for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Leeds United, raising immediate doubts about his availability for next week’s Champions League round-of-16 first leg against Real Madrid. The 23-year-old striker, who has become the focal point of Pep Guardiola’s attack this season, was neither in the starting XI nor among the substitutes at Elland Road, prompting speculation over a potential injury. Addressing the media post-match, Guardiola confirmed that Haaland had sustained a problem in the final stages of training on Friday. “Two days ago, in the final moments of training, he had some problems, a minor injury. It’s nothing serious, but he’s not ready for today,” the City manager told AS. The decision to omit Haaland altogether underlines the club’s determination not to gamble on his fitness with a European showdown looming. City remain in contention for domestic silverware, yet Guardiola prioritised caution, opting to rest his marquee forward rather than risk aggravating the issue. Club sources expect Haaland to return for Wednesday’s league encounter with Nottingham Forest, but any setback that sidelines him beyond that date would intensify anxiety inside the Etihad and hand Madrid a timely psychological boost. Carlo Ancelotti’s side travel to Manchester on the back of a strong domestic run and will monitor developments closely. Haaland’s presence has transformed City’s attacking output in Europe, and his potential absence would alter the tactical complexion of the tie. For now, the situation remains fluid, with medical staff working to ensure the Norwegian is ready for the Champions League collision. City supporters will hope the minor injury truly is as benign as Guardiola suggests; Madrid, meanwhile, will be watching every update with keen interest.

Manchester United will welcome Crystal Palace to Old Trafford on Sunday with European qualification firmly in their sights, and viewers in the United States can catch every minute of the Premier League encounter live on NBCSN or via streaming on Peacock. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. local time in Manchester, placing the match squarely in the thick of the weekend’s top-flight schedule. The Red Devils enter the contest in fourth place, three points clear of both Chelsea and Liverpool and within striking distance of Aston Villa in third after a gritty 1-0 victory at Everton on Monday. Interim boss Michael Carrick has overseen a resurgence that includes five goals in as many substitute appearances from Benjamin Sesko, whose winner at Goodison Park kept United’s Champions League hopes on track. Palace, by contrast, arrive in 13th position and have recorded only two victories in their past 16 outings across all competitions, leaving manager Oliver Glasner searching for consistency as the season enters its final third. For U.S.-based supporters, NBCSN will carry the television broadcast, while Peacock offers comprehensive streaming access. The platform’s sports portfolio also features live NFL Sunday Night Football, NBA action, Olympic and Paralympic coverage, Big Ten football and basketball, Notre Dame football, Big East and Big 12 basketball, Premier League soccer, golf, and more. Sunday’s fixture is part of a busy matchday that also includes Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Aston Villa at 3 p.m. ET and Brighton and Hove Albion vs. Nottingham Forest at 9 a.m. ET.

LAS VEGAS — For one electric Saturday afternoon inside the Thomas & Mack Center, UNLV basketball looked like the program Josh Pastner envisioned when he stepped away from the television lights and back into the fire of the sideline. The Runnin’ Rebels needed every second—plus five bonus minutes—to subdue Nevada 85-83 in overtime, but the result offered a glimpse of what consistency can produce even in an otherwise uneven season. Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, pressed into point-guard duties after the preseason loss of Myles Che to a broken foot, delivered the performance of his life: a career-high 42 points that carried the Rebels to their third overtime victory in as many tries this year and lifted the team to 15-14 overall, 9-9 in Mountain West play. “What a win,” Pastner said afterward. “Defensively, our guys executed the game plan. We got it done. Our defense allowed us to get our offense going.” The script was familiar for anyone who has watched UNLV this season: bursts of energy followed by lulls that have left the Rebels near the bottom of the league in scoring defense (78.8 points per game), defensive rebounding (34.8) and free-throw percentage (69 percent). Yet against Nevada, the home team avoided the sleepwalking stretches that have plagued them. UNLV led 54-47 midway through the second half, absorbed a 12-0 Wolf Pack counterpunch, then clawed back to a 67-65 edge in the final three minutes of regulation. In the extra period Gibbs-Lawhorn fouled out with 14 seconds left, but senior guard Tyrin Jones provided the dagger, driving for the go-ahead layup. Nevada’s Tyler Rolison had a last-second three to win it; the shot rimmed out, sending 7,760 fans—the largest crowd of the year—into a roar that has rarely echoed through the arena this season. “We fought,” Gibbs-Lawhorn said. “We had a complete focus and held each other accountable.” The victory does not change the math: UNLV still must win four games in four days at next week’s Mountain West tournament to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013. It does, however, reinforce Pastner’s belief that the pieces—when engaged—can compete with anyone. Whether the Rebels can replicate Saturday’s urgency on a nightly basis remains the central question of Pastner’s first season back. For one day, the answer was yes, and the Thomas & Mack responded in kind.

Turf Moor has staged relegation scraps and stirring comebacks down the decades, but nothing in recent memory matched the bedlam that unfolded on a grey Lancashire afternoon as Brentford edged Burnley 4-3 in a contest that felt like several matches stitched into 103 breathless minutes. 1. Seven-second scare Igor Thiago’s kick-off was mishit straight to Zian Flemming, who raced clear and dragged wide. The tone was set: mistakes would be punished, and quickly. 2. The set-piece sucker-punch A 10th-minute Dango Ouattara corner found Mikkel Damsgaard unmarked six yards out; the Dane’s header left Martin Dubravka rooted and the away end in raptures. 3. Thiago’s torment Brentford’s front four overloaded Burnley’s back five, and Thiago’s clever movement teased Joe Worrall out of position. On 25 minutes Damsgaard slipped Thiago through for a cool finish and 2-0. 4. The gift that kept giving Lucas Pires’ desperate clearance from a Michael Kayode long throw ricocheted to Kevin Schade, who prodded in the third. Turf Moor booed; the Bees smelled blood. 5. Kayode’s accidental lifeline Deep in first-half stoppage-time Jaidon Anthony’s shot was heading wide until Kayode’s clumsy feet diverted it past his own keeper. 3-1 at the break, but belief stirred. 6. The comeback ignites Within a minute of the restart Hannibal forced a flying save; seconds later his cross deflected off Ethan Ajer and Anthony slammed home via another Kayode touch. 3-2. 7. The roof comes off On the hour Hannibal, again, arced a cross to the back post where Flemming rose above Sepp van den Berg. 3-3, and Burnley had flipped the script. 8. VAR drama, twice In the 78th minute Flemming volleyed in what looked a winner, only for a three-minute VAR review to disallow for Anthony’s offside arm. Then, 10 minutes into added time, Damsgaard tapped in what proved the winner after Barnes was adjudged to have handled in the build-up. Cue a benches-clearing melee, two yellow cards, and jeers that rang round the ground long after Sam Barrott’s whistle ended it at 103:41. From 3-0 down to 4-3 up, Brentford left with the points; Burnley left with only grievances and a reminder that chaos, once invited, is hard to contain.

London—The England and Wales Cricket Board has cancelled Tuesday’s England Lions 50-over fixture against Pakistan Shaheens and postponed the senior women’s training camp in Abu Dhabi after a sharp escalation in military activity across West Asia, the governing body confirmed on Monday. The Lions, a 25-player squad led by coach Andrew Flintoff, remain in the United Arab Emirates after the country’s airspace was closed following a missile strike on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah resort, part of retaliatory exchanges between the United States and Iran. The second of five scheduled matches between the Lions and Pakistan Shaheens, due to be played in Abu Dhabi, will not take place. An ECB spokesperson said the board had taken the decision after consulting UK government officials and regional security experts. “The safety and security of our teams and staff is our top priority,” the spokesperson said. “Tomorrow’s second 50-over game between England Men’s Lions and Pakistan Shaheens in Abu Dhabi will no longer go ahead, and we are delaying the departure of England Women for their proposed trip to Abu Dhabi next week. We will continue to monitor and assess the situation and official advice in relation to the future of these trips.” The England Women’s training camp, pencilled in to begin next week at the same venue, has been put on hold while the situation is reviewed. No new dates have been announced for either the Lions match or the women’s camp. The developments do not affect England’s senior men’s T20 side, who have been cleared to fly to Mumbai ahead of Thursday’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final. The International Cricket Council stated it is “actively monitoring the evolving situation in the region and maintaining contact with member boards.” The ECB reiterated that all future travel and fixture decisions will be guided by continuing security assessments and official UK government advice.

Hunt Valley, Md. — Sinclair Broadcast Group closed the books on 2025 with momentum across both its traditional broadcast and emerging digital assets, telling investors Thursday that fourth-quarter results landed above the midpoint of every guidance range it had issued and that a long-awaited balance-sheet repair is now firmly under way. The company generated total revenue of $836 million in the final three months of the year, bringing full-year sales to $3.2 billion, while adjusted EBITDA reached $168 million in the quarter and $483 million for the year. Both top- and bottom-line figures exceeded management’s internal targets, a streak CFO Narinder Sahai said extended to “every reporting segment.” Core advertising, a closely watched barometer for local-station health, rose 14 percent year-over-year in the quarter, paced by NFL and college-football inventory and broad category strength that followed Sinclair’s late-year acquisition of ad-tech firm Digital Remedy. Distribution revenue held steady at $438 million, as moderating subscriber losses among key MVPD partners produced what executives described as “early signs of churn stabilization.” The Local Media division, home to Sinclair’s 190-plus network affiliates, posted Q4 revenue of $734 million and segment EBITDA of $153 million, benefiting from the same cost controls that have underpinned the company’s deleveraging campaign. The smaller but fast-growing Tennis division beat its own high-end guidance with $62 million in revenue and $21 million in EBITDA, lifted by 20 percent core-ad growth, 10 percent distribution gains, and a 25 percent surge in direct-to-consumer subscriptions. Year-over-year comparisons were distorted by the absence of political advertising that had inflated 2024 results. Sinclair booked only $14 million in political revenue during Q4 2025 versus $203 million a year earlier, a gap that explains the drop in total quarterly revenue from last year’s $1.0 billion and the slide in EBITDA from $330 million to $168 million. Management used the call to reiterate that debt reduction remains the “top priority.” The company retired the final $89 million of its 2027 notes in October, closed a $375 million accounts-receivable facility in November, and wrapped a comprehensive refinancing in February 2025. The nearest material maturity is now December 2029. Total debt stands at $4.4 billion against $866 million in consolidated cash and $1.5 billion in total liquidity. CEO Chris Ripley said Sinclair’s Ventures portfolio, which ended the year with $465 million in cash, distributed $104 million to the parent in 2025, including $86 million in the fourth quarter. The unit is shifting from passive private-equity stakes to majority-controlled operating companies, a move executives believe will improve earnings visibility as they explore a formal separation of the Ventures business. Looking ahead, Sinclair guided to 2026 revenue of $3.4–$3.54 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $700–$740 million, assumptions that bake in a sports-heavy broadcast calendar, typical political crowd-out, and what CFO Sahai called “cautious optimism” on macro-sensitive categories. The company expects the 2026 mid-term cycle to be a record political year, followed by another potential windfall in 2028. Ripley signaled that Sinclair is open to “transformational” M&A on the broadcast side, noting that leverage has not been an obstacle in early discussions. He added that station divestitures that could emerge from a hypothetical Nexstar-Tegna tie-up would be of interest, particularly where duopolies can be created, and that Ventures cash could be deployed to facilitate a strategic transaction. The FCC’s pending actions on ATSC 3.0, Top-Four ownership rules, and a newly opened inquiry into sports-media access are being monitored as potential catalysts for sector consolidation. With balance-sheet risk pushed out four years and advertising trends firming, Sinclair executives left little doubt they believe the company is positioned to play offense after years of playing defense.

Craven Cottage is bracing for a tantalising London derby on Sunday, 1 March 2026, as Fulham welcome Tottenham Hotspur with the tantalising prospect of a historic Premier League double firmly in their sights. Kick-off is at 14:00 GMT, with Sky Sports Premier League providing live coverage from 13:30 GMT. Marco Silva’s side climbed back into the top half of the table after a swaggering 3-1 defeat of Sunderland last weekend, a result that restored belief in their attacking prowess. That victory was tempered by a significant setback: forward Kevin suffered a metatarsal injury on Wearside and faces surgery plus several weeks on the sidelines. In his absence, Oscar Bobb is poised to deputise in the final third. The blow is cushioned by defensive reinforcements. Antonee Robinson has returned to team training and is pressing for a start at left-back, while Bernd Leno is set to continue in goal behind a likely back four of Kenny Tete, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey and, if Robinson is not risked from the outset, Ryan Sessegnon. Midfield balance will rest with Sander Berge and Alex Iwobi, whose ball-winning and distribution have underpinned Fulham’s recent surge. Creative duties are expected to fall to Harry Wilson and Emile Smith Rowe, tasked with supplying Raúl Jiménez. The Mexican striker, fresh from a brace against Sunderland, has opened the scoring in over half of his Premier League appearances in which he has found the net. Fulham’s recent record against Spurs adds spice: three wins in the last four league meetings, including a victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this campaign. A second triumph on Sunday would secure only the second league double over their north-London neighbours in the club’s history. Silva’s men have developed a habit of finishing strongly—12 of their last 14 league goals have arrived after half-time—so the visitors have been warned. Fulham Predicted XI: Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon; Berge, Iwobi; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Bobb; Jiménez.

Durham, N.C. — Cooper Evans and Cameron Boozer combined to power top-ranked Duke to a decisive 77-51 victory over No. 11 Virginia on Saturday night, locking up the No. 1 seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament. The Blue Devils controlled the contest from the outset, using a balanced offensive attack and stifling defense to pull away from the Cavaliers. Evans and Boozer set the tone, providing the energy and efficiency that has come to define Duke’s play this season. With the win, Duke (source text does not specify current record) cements its place atop the conference standings and heads into postseason play as the team to beat in the ACC. The double-digit margin over Virginia underscores the Blue Devils’ dominance and sends a clear message to the rest of the league as tournament seedings are finalized. Virginia, meanwhile, will look to regroup after the lopsided defeat and prepare for its next ACC Tournament matchup. The victory caps a strong regular-season run for Duke and positions the Blue Devils for a potential championship run in the conference tournament.

Perth, Australia – When Clare Wheeler steps onto the Perth Stadium pitch for Sunday night’s Asian Cup opener against the Philippines, she will occupy a very different space from the one she held three years ago. In 2022 the midfielder watched Australia’s World Cup surge from an Everton couch; this time she is expected to anchor the midfield as the Matildas chase a second continental crown and, more importantly, a fresh springboard for the women’s game in Australia. The 2023 Women’s World Cup co-hosted with New Zealand produced the country’s largest-ever TV sports audience—11.15 million viewers for the quarter-final penalty shoot-out win over France—and a 16 per cent spike in female participation. Yet the glow has dimmed at club level. A-League Women attendances fell 26 per cent last season, two-thirds of players juggle second jobs, and the average wage sits at just over 30,000 Australian dollars, the lowest among Australia’s major women’s leagues. Hosting the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, which kicks off today, is Football Australia’s attempt to reignite momentum. Twelve nations will contest 18 days of football across four cities, with more than 150,000 tickets already sold and organisers targeting a full house of 79,500 at Sydney’s Stadium Australia for the final. The winners pocket 1.8 million dollars—the same purse as 2022 and the smallest of any continental championship—but the real prize is broader: semi-finalists qualify directly for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, while quarter-final losers enter a play-off route. Sam Kerr, 32, scorer of her first international goal in Australia’s 2010 Asian Cup triumph, is the lone survivor from that squad. Defender Ellie Carpenter, 25, believes the current generation has “one more shot” at silverware before transition takes hold. “It’s time for some silverware for this team,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald. Australia, ranked 15th, begin against a Philippines side they thrashed 8-0 in Olympic qualifying two years ago, but Japan (No. 8) arrive as favourites. The Matildas have not lifted the trophy since 2010 and have never done so on home soil; the last time they hosted, in 2006, only 5,000 fans watched China beat them in the Adelaide final. Off the field, the Professional Footballers Australia union has released back-to-back reports demanding urgent professionalisation: higher minimum salaries, independent governance, and infrastructure equal to the booming women’s leagues in Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. “We had that massive opportunity with the World Cup and we saw a little bit of growth, but there wasn’t any hard platform laid down,” said PFA co-president Tameka Yallop. Wheeler, who balanced Year-12 exams, a Kmart job, and junior national camps for 500 dollars a season, hopes the next cohort avoids similar choices. “We’re only going to be a better national team if we can progress the domestic league and keep players in it,” she said. For the next three weeks the spotlight swings back to the green and gold. A tournament win would book a World Cup place and, players insist, finally cash the promissory note written during last summer’s feel-good frenzy. Whether the surge trickles down to the A-League Women will determine if this Asian Cup becomes a turning point—or another missed opportunity.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Two seasons into the Mara Allen era, UCF rowing has already rewritten its record book. Now, as the Knights launch their 2026 campaign ranked No. 15 in the CRCA preseason poll, the program that stunned the Big 12 last spring is aiming even higher. Allen, who collected eight Big 12 titles and two NCAA crowns as an assistant at Texas under her former college coach Dave O’Neil, guided UCF to its first conference championship in 2025—the first Big 12 postseason title in any sport for the university. The Knights backed that breakthrough with a program-best 15th-place finish at the NCAA Championship, a benchmark they will try to improve upon when the national regatta returns this spring. “We’re starting where we left off,” Allen said at the team’s 2026 Media Day. “The standard is no longer just making the NCAAs—it’s contending once we’re there.” The roster is anchored by a trio of all-conference performers. Senior Hannah Lovejoy, the program’s first All-American since Julie Poulsen in 2019, headlines the group after earning CRCA All-America honorable mention and Big 12 Rower of the Year honors last season. She is joined by fellow seniors Brigitz Kappler and Luna Kuiper, both All-Big 12 selections in 2025 and key engines in the varsity eight. Depth arrived via the transfer portal in Schultz, a former Mercyhurst rower who bolsters the Knights’ middle lineup. The squad’s global footprint expanded again with newcomers from Denmark, Australia, Chile, South Africa, Canada, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Serbia, Hungary and Finland, continuing UCF’s tradition of mining international talent. That pipeline has produced a litany of decorated alumni: a 2024 Olympic bronze medalist in Lithuanian single sculls, a Danish women’s four Olympian, three-time CRCA All-Americans and multiple AAC Boats of the Year spanning 2015-2017. The Knights made five consecutive NCAA appearances from 2015-2019 and now seek their third straight trip to the national stage after last year’s return. With the Big 12 Championship set for May and the NCAA Championship following in June, UCF will spend the spring measuring itself against a schedule that includes perennial powers Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. The bar, Allen insists, is no longer a surprise title run—it is sustaining the momentum that has already made 2026 feel like the next chapter of a rapidly ascending legacy.

Manchester City’s summer business already looked shrewd: Antoine Semenyo’s directness on the wing and Marc Guehi’s composure in the penalty area added Premier League-proven quality to a squad chasing a fresh title. Yet the move that has turned an excellent back line into an indefensible one was completed 12 months ago, and it is beginning to reshape European knockout football before our eyes. Abdukodir Khusnov arrived at the Etihad in 2024 as a 21-year-old who had just spent the first half of the season at Lens terrorising Ligue 1 forwards. While English audiences were still learning to pronounce his name, City’s analysts had long since filed their report: the Uzbekistani centre-back was the outstanding defender in world football during that stretch, a perfect marriage of old-school aggression and new-world speed. Eleven months on, Khusnov is not yet a week-to-week starter behind Ruben Dias, Guehi and Josko Gvardiol, but he has already become the tactical trump card Pep Guardiola refuses to leave home without. The reason is as uncomplicated as it is devastating: Khusnov is the literal fastest central defender in the Premier League, a sprinter in size-12 boots who can erase a counter-attack faster than most wingers can shift it into a fourth stride. That singular gift has transformed City’s defensive identity. Dias and Guehi remain the gold standard for organisation, leadership and ball progression; Gvardiol offers hybrid width and left-sided craft. None of them, however, can live with the turbo-charged bursts of Kylian Mbappé or Vinícius Júnior over 30 metres. Khusnov can. In training data logged by the club’s sports science team, the 22-year-old clocks acceleration numbers normally reserved for elite wide players, allowing Guardiola to hold a higher line without fear of the space behind. The knock-on effect is a defence that can now match any attacking profile on the continent. Facing a bruising No 9? Dias and Guehi relish the physical duel. Up against a blur of Brazilian pace? Khusnov becomes the human handbrake. That flexibility has made City the only club in Europe able to tailor a back four to the opponent while sacrificing nothing in terms of chemistry or cohesion. Opposition scouts have noticed. In last month’s Champions League last-16 first leg, Real Madrid attempted only two balls over the top to Vinícius in the opening 45 minutes, down from seven in the corresponding fixture two seasons ago. The knowledge that Khusnov patrols the channel has already altered elite attacking schemes. As the tournament enters the quarter-final stage, Guardiola’s selection dilemma is a welcome one. Start Khusnov and you blunt the continent’s quickest forwards; start Dias or Guehi and you marshal everything else. The luxury of that choice is why City now possess, pound for pound, the most complete defensive unit in world football. One player, one attribute, one simple upgrade—and suddenly the holders look even harder to catch. SEO keywords:

Uherske Hradiste, Czech Republic – When Wales kick off their latest Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign here on Tuesday evening, the scene will feel both familiar and strikingly new. Familiar, because the objective remains what it has always been: reach a first World Cup finals. New, because the nation’s most decorated player will be watching from the technical area rather than dictating play in the middle of the park. Jess Fishlock, 38, retired from international duty last October after 150 caps and a record 44 goals. This week she returns in the novel role of technical assistant to head coach Rhian Wilkinson, trading boots for a clipboard as Wales attempt to prove they can prosper without the heartbeat of their team for more than a decade. Fishlock’s absence is compounded by the retirement of fellow stalwart Kayleigh Barton, leaving Wilkinson with twin voids to fill in experience and creativity. The squad that has assembled in the Czech Republic is therefore the youngest Wales has taken into a competitive window for years, and the manager is unapologetic about prioritising development. “Euro 2025 may be the more realistic target for this group,” Wilkinson admitted, “but that doesn’t change the demand for progress. We want to build a side capable of pushing the top countries in the world, and that process starts now.” Wales have been placed in League B1 of the revamped qualifying format, alongside the Czech Republic, Montenegro and Albania. After a chastening 2025 that featured Nations League relegation and three straight defeats at the European Championship, the drop in calibre is noticeable: FIFA ranks the Czechs 31st, Wales 32nd, while Montenegro sit 84th and Albania 71st. Tuesday’s opener represents the stiffest test on paper, and Wilkinson has warned against complacency. “Experimentation is one thing; getting the job done is another,” she said. “We need to see what the younger players can deliver, but the work on the pitch comes first.” The manager’s call for pragmatism is grounded in recent history. During the last League B campaign, en route to Euro 2025, Wales went unbeaten against Croatia, Ukraine and Kosovo. Replicating that form would leave them well placed for a play-off berth, even if a World Cup place in 2027 remains a longer shot. Wilkinson’s squad features a handful of uncapped players and several with fewer than five international appearances. The hope is that the fresh blood can replicate the fearlessness shown in December’s 3-2 win over Switzerland, a result that ended a 12-match winless sequence stretching back to the play-off triumph over the Republic of Ireland that sealed Wales’ maiden major-tournament ticket. “That burden was really hard,” Wilkinson reflected. “But the adversity of 2025 – where our average opponent was ranked 11th in the world – taught us more than a 6-0 cruise ever could. We now need to see who steps up when the pressure is on.” For Wilkinson, the next three months amount to an audition cycle. With Fishlock offering analysis and insight from the dugout, the onus falls on a new generation to ensure the most successful era in Welsh women’s football does not fade for want of a successor. Tuesday evening under the Moravian floodlights will offer the first clue as to whether that succession plan is already under way.

Manchester City’s 1-0 win over Leeds United on Saturday will not leap off the page as a statement result, yet inside the Etihad it felt like a pivotal afternoon: Rodri, the 2023/24 Ballon d’Or winner, finally looked like the player who dominated Europe before an ACL tear stalled his ascent. The scoreline was tight against lower-table opposition, but champions are forged in precisely these attritional victories. City, still trailing Arsenal in the table, now exude the same ominous momentum that has carried them to previous titles, and the catalyst was the Spaniard’s authoritative display at the base of midfield. Operating in his familiar holding role, Rodri attempted a commanding 124 passes, completed 10 of 15 long balls, drew four fouls and helped keep a clean sheet. More telling than the raw numbers was the snap back into focus of his signature traits: technical precision, panoramic vision, composure under pressure and the athletic burst to drive forward when space appeared. This was not yet the full, award-winning version that swept all before him two seasons ago; rather, it was a clear stride in that direction after a season of quietly solid, if unspectacular, performances. Leeds offered limited resistance, yet the manner in which Rodri dictated tempo and snuffed out danger provided a glimpse of the inevitable—an unequivocal return to status as the world’s premier No. 6. If the trajectory continues, Declan Rice and an Arsenal side that have set the early pace may soon find themselves looking over their shoulders at a familiar, relentless pursuer.

Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal has announced that the match ball from his first career hat-trick will be presented to the person who inspired him most—his mother. The 16-year-old forward etched his name into the spotlight during Sunday’s 4-1 triumph over Villarreal, sealing the milestone with a clinical third strike that sent the Camp Nou into raptures. Moments after the final whistle, Yamal cradled the commemorative ball and declared it a keepsake for the woman he credits with supporting every step of his rapid ascent. The teenager’s treble showcased the fearless dribbling and razor-sharp finishing that have already marked him as one of European football’s most exciting talents. Each goal drew louder cheers, but the loudest roar arrived when he wheeled away in celebration after completing the hat-trick, pointing skyward before being mobbed by teammates. Speaking to club media shortly afterward, Yamal said simply, “This ball is for my mom—she deserves everything.” Barcelona’s victory keeps the Catalans firmly in the hunt for crucial league points, yet the night belonged to their youngest star, whose gift ensures the memory will rest in the hands of the person who first believed in him.

Old Trafford becomes the stage for a potential managerial audition on Sunday when Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace visit Manchester United in the Premier League. The Red Devils arrive buoyant after Monday’s 1-0 victory over Everton, a result that extended their remarkable run to 16 points from the last 18 on offer and kept them as the only side yet to lose a league fixture since Boxing Day. Michael Carrick, overseeing a three-match home winning streak that has included multi-goal triumphs over Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Fulham, now faces a visitor whose own credentials could put him in the frame for the permanent post. Palace, fresh from securing progression to the last 16 of the Conference League, will look to disrupt United’s momentum. The Eagles’ defensive task may be eased slightly by United’s lengthening injury list: Lisandro Martínez (calf) remains out, Mason Mount edges closer but is unavailable, and there is no clear return date for Patrick Dorgu (thigh) or Matthijs de Ligt (back). Bryan Mbeumo limped off late at Goodison Park, yet the Cameroonian is expected to recover in time to keep his place on the right flank. Selection intrigue lies up front, where in-form Benjamin Sesko—level with five non-penalty goals, the most by any Premier League player in 2026—could displace Amad Diallo and partner Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha in attack. Kickoff is scheduled for the traditional UK afternoon slot, translating to a 9 a.m. ET start for viewers on the U.S. East Coast. British audiences can follow the action live on Sky Sports Premier League, while American viewers have the choice of NBC Sports Network or Peacock. Spanish-language coverage is available on Telemundo, and Canadian supporters can stream the contest via DAZN and Fubo. Global audiences should consult LiveSoccerTV for local broadcast details. Manchester United possible XI: Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko.

Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal has issued a defiant rallying cry to supporters after his first senior hat-trick for the club, insisting the tie against Atlético Madrid is not over despite a daunting 4-0 first-leg deficit. The 16-year-old struck three times in Sunday’s league victory over Villarreal and immediately turned his attention to the midweek Copa del Rey semi-final second leg at Camp Nou. Posting on social media moments after the final whistle, Yamal wrote: “1% chance, 99% faith,” a succinct message that captured both the scale of the challenge and his refusal to concede. Speaking to reporters, he urged fans to create a cauldron of noise for Tuesday’s encounter. “It was time to react and push. We are doing it. Now let me tell our fans… come to the stadium against Atlético, the magic can happen.” Team-mate Eric García lauded the teenager’s impact, saying: “We are lucky that he plays for our team. Lamine’s performance has been incredible; he could even have saved one or two goals for Tuesday.” The centre-back’s light-hearted remark underlined the squad’s belief that Yamal’s current form could yet produce something extraordinary against Diego Simeone’s side. Manager Hansi Flick, who celebrated a landmark day of his own with the weekend win, has summoned 21 players for the cup clash, leaving the door open for further surprises from a squad buoyed by Yamal’s explosive display. With the tie hanging in the balance, Barcelona will need every ounce of the winger’s new-found momentum if they are to overturn the four-goal margin and keep their domestic cup dream alive.

Surprise, Ariz.—The Texas Rangers enter camp without a single pitcher who reached double-digit saves in 2025, a statistical void that underscores the front office’s winter-long search for a reliable ninth-inning arm. Only the White Sox joined Texas in that dubious club last season, while even the 43-win Rockies boasted multiple relievers who locked down 10 or more games. Luke Jackson, Shawn Armstrong, and Robert Garcia shared the team lead with nine saves apiece, but Jackson and Armstrong have since signed elsewhere. Phil Maton, who added three saves, also departed, leaving Garcia, left-hander Tyler Alexander, and 40-year-old Chris Martin as the only holdovers with any recent save experience. With new manager Skip Schumaker now steering the dugout, the Rangers are weighing a mix of experience, upside, and spring intrigue as they sort out the final outs. Garcia, acquired from Washington for Nathaniel Lowe two winters ago, is the early sentimental favorite. The 29-year-old lefty posted a sub-3.00 ERA and more than a strikeout per inning in 2025, piling up 15 holds to go with his nine saves. Yet the organization’s thin crop of left-handed relievers complicates his candidacy. Alexander, who arrives after four consecutive seasons of 4.50-plus ERAs, is the only other healthy southpaw on the 40-man roster slated for relief duty. If Jacob Latz loses the battle for the No. 5 rotation spot, he could shift to a multi-inning bullpen role, but he would not solve the late-inning lefty shortage. Martin’s resilience remains a storyline. The veteran right-hander announced last October that he was “95 percent sure” 2025 would be his final season, then underwent three separate injuries and a thoracic-outlet-syndrome diagnosis. Still, the Rangers re-signed him to a one-year deal. After appearing in each of the club’s first three games last April, Martin is unlikely to be used that aggressively again, but his track record and guile keep him in the late-inning conversation. The most electric name in the mix is right-hander Alexis Diaz. Once a dominant closer for Cincinnati—65 saves from 2023-24—Diaz opened last year on the injured list with a hamstring strain and never recovered, yielding eight earned runs in six big-league innings. He was traded to the Dodgers, scuffled in Oklahoma City, and finished the summer with Atlanta’s Triple-A affiliate. If Diaz can rediscover the fastball velocity that fueled a 32.5 percent strikeout rate as a rookie in 2022, he could leapfrog the field and reclaim ninth-inning duties. Cole Winn offers a different profile. The 2018 first-round pick transitioned from starter to reliever last season and posted a sparkling 1.51 ERA across 41 2/3 innings, albeit with underlying metrics that hint at regression—.194 BABIP, 90.5 percent strand rate, and xERA/xFIP both north of 4.00. Still, Winn’s arsenal plays up in short bursts: a 96-plus mph four-seamer, a slider that generated 34 percent whiffs, and a splitter that topped 43 percent. He picked up four holds in middle relief but has never been entrusted with a save. Rule 5 selection Trystan Baumler has opened eyes in Cactus League play, touching the upper 90s with a power slider and a knee-buckling curve. Schumaker told reporters the 23-year-old possesses “stuff that we don’t really have in the mix of the potential bullpen construction.” Baumler has never pitched above Double-A, so expectations remain tempered, yet three strikeouts over two scoreless spring innings have accelerated his bid to stick on the Opening-Day roster. Barring a late addition, the Rangers will break camp with a closer-by-committee or an unproven ninth-inning heir apparent. Garcia’s experience gives him pole position, Diaz’s ceiling offers the highest upside, Winn’s stuff demands higher-leverage looks, and Baumler’s Rule 5 status guarantees at least a short runway. How Schumaker pieces together the final outs could determine whether Texas escapes the American League’s save cellar in 2026.

DURHAM, N.C. — Isaiah Evans buried five triples and finished with 19 points, and star freshman Cameron Boozer added 18 as top-ranked Duke overwhelmed No. 11 Virginia 77-51 on Saturday night, locking up the No. 1 seed for next week’s ACC Tournament. Evans struck early, drilling three of his 3-pointers in the opening minutes to set the tone, while Boozer did the bulk of his damage at the foul line to help the Blue Devils (27-3, 18-1 ACC) build a 41-26 halftime cushion they never relinquished. Virginia (22-9, 13-6), riding a nine-game winning streak, dropped to 0-17 all-time against AP No. 1-ranked Duke teams. Thijs De Ridder led the Cavaliers with 16 points. Duke will open ACC Tournament play in Washington, D.C., as the top seed, while Virginia’s seeding will be determined by Sunday’s final league games.

Hobart, 2 March — Australia completed a commanding 3-0 sweep of the women’s one-day international series against India with a 190-run victory in the third match, underlining their dominance in the format ahead of next week’s historic Test at the WACA. Alyssa Healy, playing her final ODI before shifting focus to the longer format, produced a farewell innings for the ages. The wicket-keeper-batter struck 158 off 98 balls, walking through a guard of honour provided by India and batting until the 37th over. Her innings featured 27 fours and two sixes, a blur of cuts, carves and leg-side smites that carried Australia to 5 for 409 after 50 overs. Beth Mooney, Healy’s heir apparent with the gloves, chimed in with a century of her own, while Georgia Voll’s half-century and Nicola Carey’s late 22 from the penultimate over ensured Australia became the first women’s side to post back-to-back 400-plus totals in ODIs. India’s chase never gained traction. Smriti Mandhana fell early and, despite brief flourishes from Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues, the required rate ballooned beyond reach once Harmanpreet Kaur and Yastika Bhatia were suffocated by Australia’s spinners. Alana King finished with career-best figures of 4 for 33 from her 10 overs, while Georgia Wareham snared 2 for 3 as India folded for 224 in 45.3 overs. The defeat leaves India unable to claim the multi-format trophy; they had won the preceding T20 series 2-1, but Australia’s ODI sweep guarantees the hosts retain the silverware regardless of the forthcoming four-day Test beginning 6 March in Perth.

Liverpool’s surge toward next season’s Champions League gathered pace with a vibrant 5-2 dismissal of West Ham at Anfield, yet the triumph was tinged with concern over the continued absence of Florian Wirtz. The 20-year-old German, who had become the focal point of Arne Slot’s attack in recent weeks, was again left out of the matchday squad after a setback in his recovery from an unspecified injury. Post-match, Slot delivered a sobering update on the playmaker’s status ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Wolves. “I think Tuesday will be too early,” the manager admitted. “I said last week I didn’t expect him not to be available for today, so sometimes with an injury things can develop in a positive way or in a negative way. Now we are thinking it doesn’t have to take too long, but Tuesday will probably be too early. The week after will be tight as things stand now.” The remarks quashed any lingering hope of a swift return for Wirtz, whose creativity has been sorely missed during a stretch that has nevertheless seen Liverpool claim three consecutive league victories. Slot had initially anticipated the midfielder would feature against West Ham; instead, the Reds must again plan without their chief architect as they attempt to consolidate fourth place. With the second leg of the Champions League round-of-16 tie against Galatasaray looming, the club’s medical staff will intensify efforts to have Wirtz ready for European duty. Until then, Liverpool will rely on the same makeshift forward unit that shredded West Ham, knowing that every point dropped in the league race could prove costly. For now, the sight of Wirtz weaving through midfield remains on hold, and Slot’s cautious timeline suggests supporters may need to wait until continental competition resumes before welcoming back the youngster upon whom so much of the club’s long-term ambition rests.