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Chennai: India’s 23-run win over Zimbabwe at the Arun Jaitley Stadium may have sealed their place in the T20 World Cup semi-finals, but the gloss was taken off the performance by a horror spell from Shivam Dube that left even the team’s most decorated former captain shaking his head. Tasked with bowling the sixth over option on a belter of a track, Dube sent down two overs that cost 46 runs, including four wides and two no-balls, and rarely found the off-side cut strip as Zimbabwe’s lower order feasted on the freebies. Speaking on his YouTube show Cheeky Cheeka, ex-India opener and 1983 World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth did not mince words. “I don’t think bowling is a concern. It was a good batting track,” Srikkanth began, before zeroing in on the all-rounder. “My only concern is the sixth bowler. Did you see where Dube was bowling? He was bowling on the sixth stump. I have not seen bowling like that.” The numbers told their own story: 12 legal deliveries, 46 runs, and a economy rate touching 23. With India already assured of progression, captain Suryakumar Yadav opted to give Dube extra overs in a bid to sharpen his rhythm ahead of the knock-outs. The move back-fired, yet Srikkanth believes the side’s 92-run cushion rendered the experiment low-risk. “They had the luxury of runs behind them so they wanted to give some bowling practice. The question of net run rate was out of the window. It was just about winning the game,” he explained. Despite the aberration, Srikkanth remains bullish on India’s title charge. “I said that even after losing to South Africa, India would win in Chennai and would be on the road to win the cup. It is a gun team. Arshdeep bowling well, Bumrah bowling well, Varun and Hardik are decent. You will not need to try six bowlers against the West Indies. If needed, we can look into it when the semifinal comes,” he concluded. For Dube, the night served as a stark reminder that at this level, even a single sloppy over can invite scathing scrutiny. India will hope the harsh review is the wake-up call he needs before the stakes rise again.

Everton have identified Norwich City’s 21-year-old defender Kellen Fisher as a prime target in a recruitment strategy that is increasingly centred on youth, mobility and long-term planning, according to a fresh report from TEAMtalk. Fisher, a versatile full-back equally at home on either flank, has been one of the Championship’s standout performers this season, prompting a queue of Premier League admirers that now includes the Toffees. TEAMtalk states that Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle, Brentford, Brighton and Fulham have all monitored the youngster closely, but Everton’s interest dates back to January, when David Moyes explored the possibility of reinforcing the right-back position. The Merseyside club’s pursuit is rooted in more than mere potential. Fisher’s breakthrough campaign at Carrow Road has been defined by consistency rather than headline-grabbing flashes, a trait that has resonated with scouts searching for reliability amid the second-tier chaos. Operating with a maturity that belies his age, the defender combines athleticism with positional intelligence and a composure on the ball that aligns with the modern demand for full-backs to build play, press high and recover quickly. Everton’s need at right-back has been acute. Nathan Patterson, signed amid high expectations, has started only three Premier League matches this term, prompting the club to weigh his future. TEAMtalk claims that had Fisher arrived in the winter window, Patterson would have been allowed to depart, with Sevilla previously interested. For the past few seasons the position has lacked stability; natural centre-back Jake O’Brien has often filled the void, underlining the desire for a specialist solution. Norwich, for their part, hold a strong negotiating stance: Fisher’s contract runs until 2028. Yet sizeable bids have a habit of shifting the landscape, and Everton know they must act decisively if they are to fend off a growing list of top-flight suitors. From a supporter’s viewpoint, the link is both tantalising and familiar. Fisher’s profile—young, tactically astute, versatile—mirrors the type of acquisition fans have urged the club to prioritise. The lingering question is whether Championship excellence can translate immediately to the Premier League’s intensity. With up to seven clubs now circling, Everton’s willingness to move swiftly could determine whether possibility converts into tangible progress at Goodison Park. SEO keywords:

Manchester United’s Carrington training ground became a mini-awards hall on Thursday as three first-team stars collected Premier League milestone medallions. Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, January signing Matheus Cunha and Cameroonian forward Bryan Mbeumo were each honoured for reaching landmark figures in the English top flight. Casemiro and Cunha both brought up 100 Premier League appearances this winter. Casemiro’s century arrived during February’s victory over Tottenham Hotspur, every one of his matches having been played in United colours. Cunha, who spent three-and-a-half seasons with Wolverhampton Wanderers, registered 82 of his 100 games for the Black Country club before completing the set in January’s meeting with Burnley. Mbeumo’s award recognised a more prolific benchmark: 50 Premier League goals. The 25-year-old reached the half-century with a strike against Arsenal at the Emirates last month, adding to the haul he had primarily accumulated during his time at Brentford. He is currently United’s leading scorer this season and joins Bruno Fernandes as the only member of the squad to have surpassed the 50-goal mark; the Portuguese captain has 68. The presentations cap a period of individual recognition at Old Trafford. October saw Mbeumo claim the league’s Player of the Month prize, largely on the strength of his decisive goal in United’s 2-1 triumph at Anfield, while former head coach Ruben Amorim collected the Manager of the Month award for the same period. Michael Carrick later earned the managerial accolade for January after guiding the side to wins over Manchester City and Arsenal in his first two league fixtures as interim boss. United’s official website confirmed the medallions were handed out after Thursday’s training session, underlining a season that has delivered both collective momentum and personal milestones.

Barcelona return to La Liga action this evening at Spotify Camp Nou with a golden opportunity to stretch their lead at the summit, and Hansi Flick is expected to spring a handful of changes in a 4-2-3-1 designed to subdue high-flying Villarreal. The Catalans edged back into first place after a commanding 3-0 defeat of Levante last weekend, while Real Madrid’s slip against Osasuna leaves the reigning champions one point clear and potentially four ahead if they prevail before Madrid travel to Getafe on Monday. Standing in their way is a Villarreal side that has captured three victories from its last four league fixtures and sits third in the table, only six points behind Barça. The December reverse fixture still lingers in local memory: a 2-0 Barcelona win after Villarreal were reduced to ten men inside the opening 45 minutes. Flick, overseeing his 100th match as Barça boss, will hope for a similarly decisive outcome. Selection headaches persist in midfield. Frenkie de Jong’s hamstring strain, suffered in training, sidelines him for at least five weeks, while Gavi continues his gradual reintegration and Andreas Christensen remains unavailable. The void left by De Jong is set to be filled by Pedri, who marked his own return from injury with a cameo against Levante and now eyes a first start in weeks. Beside him, 17-year-old academy graduate Marc Bernal has swiftly become indispensable; the teenager, who scored his second senior goal at the weekend, will anchor the double pivot. Further forward, Fermín López is poised to start as the central No. 10, with Dani Olmo primed to provide second-half impetus. Up front, Ferran Torres is tipped to replace Robert Lewandowski after the Polish striker endured a quiet outing last time out. Width will again be supplied by Lamine Yamal on the right and Raphinha on the left, a duo Flick has kept intact during the recent winning run. Defensive tweaks are also anticipated. Joan García has cemented his place between the posts during an impressive debut campaign, and Jules Koundé will continue at right-back—though one more caution would trigger a suspension. On the opposite flank, Alejandro Balde is set for recall after two matches on the bench, ousting João Cancelo despite the Portuguese’s solid display against Levante. In central defence, Pau Cubarsi is expected to return alongside Eric García, meaning Ronald Araújo drops to the bench once more. With summer target Marcus Rashford likely to be introduced late on, Barcelona’s reshaped XI carries both fresh legs and familiar firepower as they seek the three points that would crank up the pressure on their Clásico rivals. Barcelona predicted XI (4-2-3-1): García; Koundé, Cubarsi, E. García, Balde; Bernal, Pedri; Yamal, F. López, Raphinha; Torres.

The UEFA Champions League round of 16 draw has thrown up a slate of mouth-watering ties, none bigger than holders Paris Saint-Germain’s date with Chelsea in a rematch fueled by recent history and a thirst for revenge. The first legs will be played on 10-11 March, with the return fixtures on 17-18 March, setting the stage for a fortnight of high-stakes drama across Europe. PSG’s motivation is clear: Luis Enrique’s side remain stung by December’s Club World Cup final defeat to Chelsea in the United States and view the knockout tie as an immediate opportunity for redemption. Chelsea, meanwhile, arrive in Paris on 11 March before welcoming the French champions to Stamford Bridge a week later, confident they can again defy expectations after proving their pedigree on the global stage. While PSG chase retribution, Manchester City must confront an all-too-familiar obstacle in Real Madrid, the perennial European specialists who have become Pep Guardiola’s modern nemesis. A place in the quarter-finals awaits the winner, though the reward is hardly gentle: a meeting with either Bayern Munich or Atalanta in the last eight. Newcastle United’s reward for progressing from the group stage is a glamour tie against Barcelona, reprising an earlier group-stage clash. St James’ Park is expected to be at fever pitch for the first leg, with Eddie Howe’s side aiming to overturn the earlier loss to the five-time champions and keep alive dreams of an all-English semi-final; Newcastle share their half of the draw with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona. Premier League pacesetters Arsenal were handed the most inviting route, paired with a Bayer Leverkusen outfit lauded for technical ability yet currently struggling for form. Mikel Arteta will expect his free-scoring squad to advance and set up a quarter-final against either Norwegian surprise package Bodø/Glimt—who shocked 2023 finalists Inter Milan—or Sporting CP. Even so, potential landmines await in the shape of Newcastle, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid as Arsenal chase a first European crown in more than three decades. Liverpool must negotiate the cauldron of Istanbul, where they face Galatasaray in a tie dripping with narrative. The Reds fell to a Victor Osimhen penalty in Turkey earlier this season but arrive in better collective form and will back themselves over two legs. Victory would pitch Jürgen Klopp’s men into a quarter-final showdown with the winners of Chelsea versus PSG, guaranteeing at least one English side in the semi-finals. Tottenham Hotspur, meanwhile, face the wily knockout craftsmanship of Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone’s side specialise in turning ties into tactical battles, whereas Spurs prefer a high-tempo, expansive approach. Whether Tottenham can impose their rhythm or are dragged into a street fight could decide a tie balanced on a knife-edge. From Paris to Madrid, Newcastle to Naples, the round of 16 promises seismic collisions, stirring comebacks and, for one English club, a potential path all the way to the final in Budapest.

Dubai — The International Cricket Council has published the precise qualification equation that Pakistan must satisfy to edge past New Zealand and claim the final semi-final slot at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The announcement comes after Pakistan kept their campaign alive with a dramatic last-ball victory over Sri Lanka, a result that still left their knockout fate hanging on net-run-rate calculations. New Zealand, having already completed their group fixtures, occupy the last semi-final position, forcing Pakistan to chase a specific margin in their remaining group-stage outing. While the ICC did not immediately publicise the exact run-rate figure, the governing body confirmed that Pakistan’s qualification remains “stiff but straightforward”: win their last match and surpass New Zealand’s net-run-rate, the exact value of which has now been circulated to all teams and media rights holders. Heavy.com first reported the development, noting that Pakistan’s exit was effectively sealed once the Kiwis’ superior rate proved insurmountable under tournament regulations. Yahoo Sports echoed the sentiment, stating that Pakistan have been “knocked out as New Zealand reach semis,” while Al Jazeera highlighted the bittersweet nature of Pakistan’s campaign after they “edge last-ball thriller against Sri Lanka but exit T20 World Cup.” The BBC’s live coverage labelled the qualification scenario a “stiff but straightforward equation,” underscoring that only a victory of sufficient magnitude in their final group game could have kept Pakistan’s hopes alive. ESPNcricinfo summarised the situation succinctly: Pakistan needed not only to win but to do so by a margin that would overturn New Zealand’s net-run-rate advantage. With the group stage now concluded, the ICC’s release of the exact margin closes the door on any further speculation, confirming New Zealand’s place in the final four and bringing Pakistan’s 2026 T20 World Cup journey to an end.

West Ham United have posted the worst financial result in their 129-year history, swinging from a £57.2 million pre-tax profit in 2023-24 to a £104.2 million loss in the year ending May 2025, accounts released on Friday show. The collapse is driven largely by a £161 million year-on-year deterioration in player-trading profits. The £100 million sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal in July 2023 was not repeated, while the club still spent £132.6 million on new signings, pushing overall expenditure higher across every major category. Revenue fell in all three key streams. Broadcast income dropped £34.6 million after the club missed European qualification and slid from ninth to 14th in the Premier League. Match-day receipts dipped 12 per cent to £39.3 million, reflecting the absence of Europa League fixtures at the 62,500-capacity London Stadium, where West Ham pay minimal rent yet generate only the eighth-highest gate receipts despite the league’s second-highest average attendance. Operating performance before player sales swung from a £19.1 million surplus in 2021-22 to a £104.8 million deficit. Wages rose for the sixth consecutive campaign, reaching £175.9 million and equating to 77 per cent of turnover, up from 54 per cent three years ago. The tenth-largest wage bill delivered a 14th-place finish; this season the team sit third from bottom, two points adrift of safety. Cash reserves evaporated from £33.1 million to under £0.5 million, forcing the club to take a £20 million overdraft and a £124 million five-year term loan with Rights and Media Funding Limited, the lender that previously supported Everton. An additional £12 million was secured by accelerating transfer receivables at a cost of £700,000. Total external debt now exceeds £120 million, ranking West Ham fourth in the Premier League behind Tottenham, Manchester United and Everton. Net transfer outgo across the last four seasons stands at £292 million, including £88.7 million last year alone. The club still owed £178.6 million in outstanding transfer fees at 31 May, up 41 per cent year-on-year, while day-to-day operations generated less than £1 million cash. Directors warn of a “liquidity shortfall” in summer 2026 and confirm that player sales will be required even if relegation is avoided. The January departure of Lucas Paquetá to Flamengo for £36.5 million occurred after the accounts were signed and may mitigate some pressure, though further exits—potentially involving Jarrod Bowen, Mateus Fernandes or El Hadji Malick Diouf—are anticipated if the club drop into the Championship. West Ham have not received fresh equity since Daniel Kretinský’s 1890 holdings a.s. invested £123.6 million for a 27 per cent stake in November 2021. With profitability rules allowing up to £105 million in aggregate losses over three seasons, the club remain within Premier League limits, but only after benefiting from the division’s higher loss threshold available to teams demonstrating sufficient owner funding capacity. The stark numbers underline a widening gap between spending and performance: a £481 million squad cost, comparable to Bayern Munich’s, now fights relegation. Survival, already critical on sporting grounds, has become a financial imperative.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The celebration began the moment the horn sounded, echoing through the tunnels of State Farm Center after No. 3 Michigan’s 84-70 dismantling of No. 10 Illinois clinched the program’s first outright Big Ten regular-season title since 2021. Coach Dusty May chest-bumped anyone within arm’s reach. Seven-foot-three center Aday Mara galloped toward the locker room, tapping his ring finger and demanding championship jewelry. Illinois transfer Morez Johnson, who had spent the week absorbing taunts and torrents of angry texts after his phone number leaked, hoisted the gleaming trophy and marched it straight into enemy territory. Above the din, guard Nimari Burnett kept repeating the mantra plastered on every wall inside Michigan’s practice facility: “Those who stay will be champions.” The words, immortalized by legendary football coach Bo Schembechler, have become the heartbeat of a roster that two seasons ago staggered to an 8-24 record and a 97-68 humiliation in this very building. “We have a lot of memories in that locker room; none of them good,” forward Will Tschetter said, recalling the nadir of the Juwan Howard era. “To come back, get this dub and clinch the thing outright—means the world.” When May arrived last spring, neither Tschetter nor Burnett knew whether they would be part of the rebuild. “You think, ‘Oh man, they might want to clear house,’” Tschetter admitted. Instead, May told them he needed their experience and their buy-in. Both stayed. Both sacrificed. Burnett, once the primary ball-handler, accepted a 3-and-D role and has started all 29 games. Tschetter has oscillated between seventh and ninth man without complaint, knocking down second-half triples Friday that sealed Illinois’ fate. “We kept those guys because we believed in who they are as people,” May said. “They dove in from Day One. Nimari played point on that 8-24 team; now he’s probably our fifth playmaker. Will’s been a star in the role we asked him to play.” The on-court dividends were impossible to miss. Johnson, tormented all week by Illini fans, responded with 19 points and 11 boards against his former program. Mara added 19 after halftime, rattling the rim with a succession of dunks that turned the arena into a mausoleum. Michigan outmuscled, outran and outworked Illinois on both ends, reinforcing its new identity as the bully of the Big Ten. Burnett sensed the transformation back in September, when the roster’s size and physicality first came together. “Easy to say now,” he joked, cradling the championship net. “But I stayed for days like this—believing in Coach May, believing in the plan.” The plan has delivered. From 8-24 to outright Big Ten champions, Michigan’s worst-to-first ascent was engineered by stars who arrived as role players, by transfers who absorbed venom and answered with venomous play, and by a coach who convinced a fractured locker room that staying was the first step toward history.

Barcelona, 2025/26 La Liga Matchday 26 – Hansi Flick has settled on his central-midfield pairing for tonight’s Camp Nou meeting with Villarreal, opting for the tandem of Pedri and 17-year-old Marc Bernal in the absence of the injured Frenkie de Jong, according to SPORT. De Jong’s hamstring setback, confirmed earlier today, forced the German coach to reshuffle a midfield that has lacked fluency during the Dutchman’s previous absences. The solution sees Pedri—who has not started since sustaining a hamstring problem of his own on 21 January against Slavia Prague—thrust straight back into the XI more than a month after his last opening whistle. The Canary Islander returned off the bench in the 65th minute of last weekend’s 3-1 win over Levante and instantly re-established the tempo Barça have sorely missed. Alongside him, Bernal will continue his rapid ascent. The teenage academy product has started each of the last three league fixtures and marked his growing influence with a goal against Levante. While Marc Casado remains an alternative, club sources indicate Flick views Bernal’s combination of ball-winning and progressive passing as the ideal complement to Pedri’s vision and control. A victory tonight would extend Barcelona’s cushion at the summit before rivals Real Madrid travel to Getafe on Monday. Kick-off at Spotify Camp Nou is scheduled for 21:00 CET.

Mumbai, March 4 – England’s white-ball dynasty has been built on Jos Buttler’s blade, yet the sharpest edge in the squad has suddenly gone blunt. Five consecutive single-figure scores at the T20 World Cup, culminating in a two-ball duck against New Zealand, have left the defending champions confronting an uncomfortable question 24 hours before their semi-final: what do they do with the man who is statistically the greatest T20 batter the country has produced? The raw numbers are stark. Seven innings, 62 runs, average 8.85. Forty-seven of those runs arrived in the opening week against Nepal (26) and the West Indies (21). In the five knocks since, Buttler’s sequence reads 3, 7, 3, 2, 0. On Monday night in Abu Dhabi he advanced down the wicket to Lockie Ferguson, misjudged the length and steered a simple catch behind, a dismissal that felt both shocking and inevitable. England’s brains trust, led by captain Harry Brook, has publicly closed ranks. “He has played 150-odd T20Is for England, averaging nearly 34 with a strike-rate of 177,” Brook reiterated after the New Zealand win. “People maybe need to take a step back. He is probably the best white-ball batter to have played the game.” Brook’s message is clear: no axe is being sharpened. Yet pragmatism must eventually collide with loyalty. The only specialist batter in England’s 15 is Ben Duckett, but the left-hander has not seen a T20 middle since a golden duck on February 3 and has not posted a significant short-format score since January. Dropping the skipper would be a gamble on a cold batsman against India or the West Indies in a knockout match—hardly ideal. A demotion in the order offers a middle ground. Buttler’s career T20I record at No. 3 is respectable—36.61 across 16 innings—but Brook’s scintillating 50-ball hundred against Pakistan last week has entrenched him at first-drop. Everything below that is unfamiliar territory; Buttler has batted outside the top three only twice since 2018. Promoting Sam Curran, Jacob Bethell or Tom Banton to open alongside Phil Salt and sliding Buttler to No. 5 or 6 would shield him from the new ball while preserving his finishing prowess. England’s tournament trajectory, however, argues against radical surgery. They have won four on the spin to reach the last four, and the middle order—Salt, Brook, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone—has already delivered clutch performances. Changing a winning XI, particularly when the alternative is an out-of-practice Duckett, carries its own risk. Inside the camp the mood remains defiantly supportive. Moeen Ali, Buttler’s long-time team-mate, insisted on Sky Sports that great players “turn up” when it matters most. “He definitely has the ability and he has to believe it is going to come,” Moeen said. “Somebody is not scoring runs until the last couple of games and that’s when the good players turn up.” The clock is now ticking. Thursday’s semi-final at the Wankhede—likely against an in-form India or a buoyant West Indies—offers Buttler the perfect stage to silence the doubters. England have backed their man throughout the group phase; one virtuoso innings could render the debate obsolete and propel the holders into a Sunday final. For the moment the plan is to stay the course: Buttler will open, the top three will remain unchanged, and the hope is that the sport’s most destructive white-ball batter rediscovers his timing when the stakes are highest. If he does not, England may yet pay for keeping faith with a champion who currently looks a shadow of himself.

Barcelona Atletic’s injury crisis has deepened after teenage winger Toni Fernandez was diagnosed with a syndesmosis injury to his left ankle, sidelining him for approximately four weeks. The setback was confirmed by the club on Thursday following scans after Wednesday’s match in Castelló. Fernandez becomes the latest addition to an ever-growing casualty list that already includes Jofre Torrents, who faces 10–12 weeks out with a similar ankle complaint. Coach Juliano Belletti is now without at least seven first-team players, with Sama Nomoko, Oscar Gistau, Dani Rodriguez, Ibrahim Diarra and Landry Farre also unavailable. Despite the depleted squad, Barça Atlètic remain in the promotion play-off positions and trail third-placed Baleares by just three points ahead of Saturday’s league visit to Valencia.

Anfield, Saturday 28 February 2026, 15:00 GMT – West Ham United arrive on Merseyside searching for only their second league victory at Liverpool since 1963 and hoping to extend a revival that has seen them collect as many points in the last six fixtures as in the previous 18. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo, who last season registered his sole career win over the Reds while in charge of Nottingham Forest, must reshuffle after a goalless draw with Bournemouth left his side still hovering above the drop zone. Selection issues are pressing. January acquisition Pablo Felipe is still troubled by a calf complaint, while combative midfielder Freddie Potts begins the second game of a three-match suspension. That paves the way for Frenchman Soungoutou Magassa to retain his spot at the base of midfield, shielding a likely back five. Denmark international Mads Hermansen will continue in goal, shielded by a trio of centre-backs: Jean-Clair Todibo, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Axel Disasi. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf are expected to provide width from wing-back positions, allowing Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville to push on in support of Valentin Castellanos. The American recently opened his Premier League account away from home and will spearhead a side that has scored 59% of its goals before half-time this term – the top-flight’s most prolific first-half return. West Ham’s historical record against reigning champions on the road is sobering: 26 defeats in 29 such trips. Yet confidence is building, and Nuno will remind his squad that he has already engineered one shock on this ground. Predicted West Ham XI (5-3-2): Hermansen; Todibo, Mavropanos, Disasi; Wan-Bissaka, Fernandes, Magassa, Diouf; Bowen, Summerville; Castellanos. UK viewers will not be able to watch the contest live owing to the 3 p.m. blackout, with extended highlights airing on Match of the Day.

While the global spotlight usually falls on the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1 and Serie A, a cluster of elite performers are quietly thriving beyond those borders. From the Saudi Pro League to the Portuguese Primeira Liga and Turkey’s Super Lig, these five names are proving that top-tier talent is no longer confined to Europe’s traditional powerhouses. Ivan Toney has taken the Saudi Pro League by storm since swapping west London for the Middle East. In 22 league matches the former Brentford striker has fired 23 goals and laid on five assists, propelling Al-Ahli to second place in the standings—above heavyweights Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad. Toney’s ruthless form has reignited debate over whether the 28-year-old is operating below his true ceiling, especially after earlier career stops at Northampton Town, Peterborough United and Newcastle United. Brazilian playmaker Lucas Paquetá, meanwhile, returned home in January after citing homesickness and securing a transfer from West Ham United. The 26-year-old is back at boyhood club Flamengo, where his versatility—attacking midfielder, winger or even emergency striker—has already added a fresh dimension to the Rio giants. Paquetá previously sampled Europe’s upper tier with AC Milan in Serie A and Lyon in Ligue 1, but his immediate future now lies in the Brasileirão. Sporting CP winger Francisco Trincão is another Primeira Liga headline act. Once deemed surplus to requirements at Barcelona, the 24-year-old has rediscovered his swagger in Lisbon, registering five goals and 11 assists domestically while adding four goals in seven Champions League outings. Sporting’s surge into the top eight of Europe’s premier competition owes much to Trincao’s direct running and end product, and a place in Portugal’s star-studded 2026 World Cup squad is no longer out of reach. Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis has been every bit as prolific. The Greek international has struck 20 goals in 23 league fixtures, dragging a third-placed Eagles side that has otherwise underwhelmed. Add two Champions League goals in 2025/26 and Pavlidis, 27, is fast emerging as one of the most attractive striking prospects for Europe’s heavyweight clubs heading into the summer window. Finally, Victor Osimhen continues to defy expectations in Turkey. The Nigerian’s loan switch to Galatasaray raised eyebrows when Europe’s elite came calling, yet the 25-year-old has responded with nine goals in 16 Super Lig games and seven in eight Champions League appearances. The Turkish league may lack the cachet of the traditional top five, but Osimhen’s predatory instincts remain undimmed. Together, these five players are a timely reminder that world-class quality can surface anywhere—and that the next global superstar may already be starring beyond the familiar confines of Europe’s grandest stages.

Manchester United are ready to test Newcastle United’s resolve by making a move for in-form centre-back Malick Thiaw, who has emerged as one of the Premier League’s standout defenders this season, according to Sport Bild journalist Christian Falk. United’s defensive ranks have been stretched by simultaneous injuries to Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martínez, prompting recruitment staff to explore reinforcements ahead of the summer window. Thiaw, 24, has rocketed to the top of their shortlist after a string of commanding displays at St James’ Park. The German international’s journey to England was far from straightforward. Discarded by AC Milan after being earmarked for greatness by club legend Paolo Maldini, Thiaw has reignited his career on Tyneside alongside veteran partner Fabian Schar. His combination of athleticism, technical composure and fearless tackling has drawn admiring glances from Old Trafford, where United already possess a wealth of central-defensive talent in Leny Yoro, Martínez and De Ligt. Yet sources indicate United view Thiaw’s current form as too impressive to ignore, with the defender completing 90 percent of his passes and excelling in one-on-one duels. Newcastle’s stance remains unclear, but United are prepared to act decisively if a deal becomes feasible. While the club hope to retain Martínez and negotiate a reduced salary for Harry Maguire, the opportunity to secure Thiaw—just entering his prime—could prove irresistible.

England defender Leah Williamson has told BBC reporter Kelly Somers that every member of the Lionesses squad recognised the magnitude of last summer’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 triumph, saying everybody involved understood the wider significance of the tournament success. Speaking on The Football Interview, the Arsenal centre-back reflected on the shared sense of purpose that underpinned England’s run to the trophy, which was clinched with a 2-1 victory over Germany in front of a record crowd at Wembley. Williamson, who captained the side throughout the competition, emphasised that the awareness stretched beyond the pitch. “Everybody knew what they were part of,” she said, highlighting how the collective mindset contributed to both the on-field performances and the off-field impact on women’s football in the United Kingdom. The interview, conducted by Somers for the BBC’s dedicated football discussion programme, offered a rare insight into the squad’s mentality during a landmark month for the sport. Williamson’s comments underline the deliberate effort by players and staff to harness the momentum of home advantage and convert it into a legacy that would extend well beyond the final whistle. While the conversation covered the tactical and emotional demands of leading a host nation to its first major women’s title, the defender repeatedly returned to the theme of unity, crediting the cohesion inside the camp for enabling the players to thrive under intense scrutiny. The full discussion is available on The Football Interview, providing fans with further context on how the Lionesses navigated pressure, expectations and history to secure England’s first senior European Championship.

Barcelona return to the newly renovated Camp Nou on Saturday hoping to extend their slender lead at the top of the La Liga table when they welcome Villarreal for a 4:15 p.m. local kick-off. The Blaugrana reclaimed first place last weekend after a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Levante, capitalizing on Real Madrid’s recent stumble. That result offset the damage done by Barça’s earlier defeat to Girona and sets the stage for another high-stakes encounter in the 2025/26 title race. Injury concerns have clouded the build-up, however, with midfielder Frenkie de Jong ruled out for the next month after sustaining a hamstring problem. United States viewers can catch the match live on ESPN Deportes (Spanish-language telecast) or stream it through the ESPN app and Fubo. English-language coverage is available exclusively via the ESPN Select app, which carries every La Liga fixture this season. Kick-off times across U.S. time zones: - Eastern: 10:15 a.m. - Central: 9:15 a.m. - Mountain: 8:15 a.m. - Pacific: 7:15 a.m. Saturday’s clash represents more than three points for Barcelona, who know any slip could reopen the door for Madrid with the season entering its decisive stretch.

Tuscaloosa—The volume outside the program has never been higher. In the first blush of the Kalen DeBoer era, skeptics are crowing, headlines are skeptical, and timelines are ablaze with declarations that Alabama’s reign has finally softened. Inside the football complex, the directive has not changed: ignore the noise and trust the process that brought DeBoer to the Capstone in the first place. The résumé is impossible to ignore. DeBoer did not stumble into one of college football’s most scrutinized jobs; he earned it by winning—consistently, decisively, and frequently in programs far less stable than the one he now inherits. His track record for constructing sound rosters, developing overlooked talent, and engineering offenses that stress defenses to the breaking point traveled with him to Alabama. Still, Alabama is not merely another destination. It is the standard against which every modern dynasty is measured, and the standard is unforgiving. Dominance is the baseline, so any moment that falls short feels like regression rather than transition. The result is a chorus of outside commentary—some from analysts who have waited years to pronounce the Tide finished, much of it from social media voices calibrated for outrage rather than nuance. DeBoer’s response has been quiet but pointed: championships are not captured in February headlines; they are forged in the months when cameras are absent, when culture is reinforced, when recruiting pipelines are maintained, when players mature within a system that demands relentless detail. He understands that sustainable success is built on layered foundations, not quick fixes. History inside Bryant-Denny Stadium supports patience. Every championship surge under previous regimes featured junctures when outsiders predicted decline. What distinguished Alabama was an internal belief shared from locker room to grandstand. The stadium’s reputation as one of the sport’s most intimidating venues was earned through decades of fans arriving early, staying late, and sustaining energy through imperfect moments. That collective faith has long functioned as an extra gear for the team on the field. DeBoer is not asking for blind loyalty; he is asking for the reasonable window every proven builder deserves. Constant second-guessing from corners hoping for failure only complicates construction already underway. The Tide has thrived for decades on proving doubters wrong, and those inside the program believe the current climate will ultimately fuel another surge. When the wins begin stacking up—and players, coaches, and recruits insist they will—the same voices forecasting decline will fall silent. By then, the work that created the success will have been long complete, fashioned in the quiet months when only the faithful were paying attention.

Turin, Italy – Juventus have opened talks with Leon Goretzka’s representatives, positioning themselves at the front of the queue for the Bayern Munich midfielder whose contract is set to expire this summer, sources confirmed to La Gazzetta dello Sport. The Serie A club’s initial approach was made during negotiations for Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi, who shares the same agency as the 31-year-old German international. Juventus directors used the parallel discussions to sound out Goretzka’s camp on the possibility of a free-transfer move at season’s end. Goretzka, valued for his physicality and vast Champions League experience, is seen by Juventus as an ideal low-cost reinforcement for Luciano Spalletti’s engine room. The Bianconeri are eager to inject both world-class pedigree and steel into a midfield that has lacked consistent dominance this campaign. Yet Juventus do not have a clear path to the player. AC Milan have also placed Goretzka at the top of their summer wish-list, setting up a direct tug-of-war between Italy’s two northern powerhouses. With no transfer fee required, the coming weeks are expected to bring an intense bidding duel focused on wages, length of contract, and the midfielder’s role within each club’s tactical setup. Observers have noted a slight dip in Goretzka’s trademark aggression this season, but suitors remain convinced that a change of scenery could re-ignite the ball-winning dynamo who has been a mainstay in Bayern’s midfield for the past seven years. For Goretzka, the next deal will likely represent the most lucrative and pivotal contract of his career. Juventus’ sporting hierarchy believe his combination of Bundesliga, Champions League and international experience would accelerate Spalletti’s rebuild, while Milan view the German as the final piece in their quest to reclaim domestic supremacy. As the saga unfolds, Bayern Munich have yet to signal any willingness to offer an extension, leaving Goretzka free to listen to offers. With Milan and Juventus both pressing, the race for the coveted free agent is poised to dominate headlines well into the summer window.

LONDON – When Chelsea invested a combined £88.5 million to bring Jamie Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho to Stamford Bridge last summer, the expectation was that the two 21-year-olds would electrify the left flank for years to come. Instead, as the season enters its final third, the pair have contributed only seven goals and eight assists between them and are currently watching a right-sided winger and a central midfielder occupy their preferred territory. Since Liam Rosenior took the reins on 6 January, Pedro Neto has started on the left and even Enzo Fernández has been deployed there, leaving Garnacho and Gittens scrambling for relevance. Gittens’ cause has not been helped by a hamstring injury suffered after just seven matches under the new head coach, while Garnacho, fully fit, has started only five of Rosenior’s 12 games, with the bulk of his minutes arriving in domestic cups. Rosenior, speaking ahead of this weekend’s fixtures, refused to lay the blame at the youngsters’ feet. “Jamie showed really promising signs,” he said. “Garna scored twice against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi and was very good. There are tactical things; it’s not just on them. I have many solutions because I have such a good squad.” Those tactical demands offer a clue to their struggles. Rosenior wants his wide players to drop into midfield pockets, combine in tight spaces and facilitate central progression rather than hug the touchline. Neto and Fernández, comfortable in congestion, have thrived: Neto is posting the best goal return of his Chelsea career, while Fernández has rotated seamlessly between the left wing and the No 10 role. Garnacho, by contrast, has the lowest forward-pass percentage (5.9%) of any Premier League player with 500+ minutes this season, often opting to shoot or dribble into traffic. Gittens’ issues are more nuanced. Sources close to the former Borussia Dortmund winger say he had no direct contact with previous head coach Enzo Maresca before his £48.5 million move, leaving him unsure of his exact remit. A delayed transfer meant he appeared only briefly for Dortmund at the revamped Club World Cup, rendering him cup-tied for Chelsea’s triumphant campaign and disrupting his pre-season integration. The club insist Maresca was aligned on the signing and remain convinced Gittens will come good, yet the lost reps have clearly dented his confidence. In recent outings he has preferred safe, lateral passes to the daring take-ons that defined his Bundesliga game. Both players remain on seven-year contracts, a reminder that the project is long-term. Neto and Fernández have eased the immediate pressure by deputising capably across multiple roles, allowing Chelsea to protect their investment while the youngsters adapt. With price-tags north of £40 million apiece, patience inside the stands may wear thin, but the clock is still very much on Gittens and Garnacho’s side.

London — Ten years ago this week, Tottenham Hotspur were the talk of English football. A dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Swansea City on 28 February 2016 lifted Mauricio Pochettino’s vibrant side to within two points of shock leaders Leicester City and, crucially, three clear of arch-rivals Arsenal. Bookmakers for the first time installed Spurs as favourites to lift the Premier League trophy. The swagger around White Hart Lane felt justified: young, ferocious pressing, a British core and a manager who had captured imaginations. Fast-forward a decade and the same club spent last weekend digesting a sobering north-London derby defeat to Arsenal, a result that left them mired in the relegation zone. One prominent firm now quotes Tottenham at 9-2 to drop into the Championship — the same firm that priced them at 7-2 to win the title on that heady late-winter afternoon in 2016. How did a model organisation praised for punching above its financial weight fall so far, so fast? A forensic examination of the past decade points to a cascade of strategic mis-steps that turned promise into paralysis. The first fracture came in the transfer market. Pochettino had built a thrilling team on a comparatively modest budget, but by 2017 the squad’s internal chemistry was fraying. Staff inside the training ground likened the atmosphere to a swimming pool that desperately needed fresh water. Only Kyle Walker was cashed in, joining Manchester City for £50 million. Offers for Danny Rose, Dele Alli and Toby Alderweireld were entertained yet never completed; chairman Daniel Levy resisted selling core assets for fear of signalling a “selling club” mentality. Christian Eriksen eventually departed for Inter Milan in January 2020 for a cut-price fee with six months left on his deal. The refusal to cycle personnel, sources say, allowed staleness to seep through the dressing room and simultaneously starved the recruitment department of liquidity to regenerate the squad. The 18-month transfer hiatus that followed Lucas Moura’s arrival in January 2018 crystallised the stagnation. Spurs chased Jack Grealish that summer, yet Levy’s opening gambit of £3 million plus Josh Onomah for the Aston Villa prodigy was dismissed as derisory; by the time Tottenham raised their offer, new Villa owners had closed the door. No senior signings were completed for a full year, and when reinforcements finally appeared in summer 2019, the momentum of Pochettino’s project had already ebbed. November 2019 brought the brutal coda to the Argentine’s reign. A Champions League final defeat to Liverpool four months earlier had sapped morale; three wins from the first 12 league fixtures proved the tipping point. Levy turned to José Mourinho, a serial trophy-winner but an ideological antidote to the high-octane blueprint that had revived the club. The appointment prioritised global brand recognition over coherent football identity, a trend that intensified when Fabio Paratici arrived from Juventus in 2021 with unprecedented personnel power. Though Paratici mined his contact book for Cristian Romero and Dejan Kulusevski, Tottenham also accumulated expensive, mid-tier Premier League talent: Richarlison (£50 m), Brennan Johnson (£47.5 m), Dominic Solanke (£55 m) and Mohammed Kudus (£55 m) have produced respectable, not transformational, returns. Throughout the revolving-door era, the club’s wage bill flat-lined. UEFA’s latest benchmarking report shows Arsenal out-spent Spurs by €95 million on salaries last season; Liverpool’s outlay exceeded Tottenham’s by €191 million. A 42 per cent wages-to-revenue ratio, once hailed as prudence, now reads as parsimony when Aston Villa and Newcastle United have leap-frogged the club both on wages and in the table. The exit of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich in 2023 and Son Heung-min’s departure to LAFC two years later severed the final links to a lineage of world-class attackers that stretched back through Gareth Bale and Luka Modric. No succession plan was enacted; instead, Spurs scrambled for quick-fix goal-scorers at premium British-market prices. Identity, meanwhile, became a moveable feast. Nuno Espírito Santo’s brief tenure contradicted Levy’s public proclamation of “free-flowing, attacking and entertaining” DNA; Antonio Conte’s demand for experienced winners was only half-met; Ange Postecoglou’s high-possition style morphed into Thomas Frank’s set-piece maximalism after last season’s Europa League triumph. Each philosophical pivot required a different squad profile; none were seen through. The consequence is a club that enters March 2026 second-bottom of the Premier League, five points from safety, with a squad lacking peak-age stars and a support base fearing the unthinkable. Ten years ago, Tottenham were favourites for the crown; today, they are odds-on candidates for the drop. The plummet is not bad luck but the cumulative effect of missed windows, muddled strategy and an identity auctioned to the highest concept. Unless the next board, manager and recruitment team address structural flaws at pace, the memories of 2016 may recede into an era that feels more mirage than milestone. SEO keywords:

By Oliver Kay There is a moment in every cycle of football history when yesterday’s innovators become today’s cautionary tale. Chelsea, once the club that punished Arsenal’s youthful naivety with the brute force of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, now find themselves cast in the very role they used to ridicule. As they travel to Emirates Stadium 16 points behind leaders Arsenal, the parallels with Arsène Wenger’s doomed academy class of 2008-2012 have become impossible to ignore. Between 2008-09 and 2011-12, Wenger’s Arsenal fielded the Premier League’s youngest sides, averaging between 24 years and one month and 25 years and 280 days. Cesc Fàbregas, still only 21, captained a team of prodigies—Alex Song, Abou Diaby, Samir Nasri, Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere—who were told they would “dominate Europe and the league in England” within five years. Instead, they dominated only highlight reels. Season after season they buckled against physically and mentally superior opponents, most memorably against a Chelsea side that personified the opposite philosophy. Wenger eventually admitted error. By late 2016 he was preaching that “the core of the team has to be from 23 to 30,” warning that “you can’t win anything with kids” unless those kids are buttressed by hardened winners. The lesson came too late; the trophy window had closed. Within four summers, Fàbregas, Song, Nasri, Adebayor and Van Persie had all departed, their collective promise scattered across Europe. Chelsea’s new ownership, led by Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, have spent more than £1 billion since January 2023, yet appear determined to relive that same failed experiment at industrial scale. Of the 42 signings completed in that period, 23 arrived aged 18-20 and a further nine were 21-22. Only four players currently in the first-team squad were signed between 23 and 26. The average age of their Premier League starting XI has hovered around 24 since the summer of 2023, making them not merely the youngest in England but among the youngest across Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues. Strasbourg—owned by the same BlueCo consortium—are the only senior side younger. The strategy has produced isolated highs: a 3-0 Champions League win over Barcelona, last season’s Conference League and Club World Cup trophies, Cole Palmer’s emergence as one of Europe’s most productive attackers. Yet the lows follow a weary pattern. Chelsea have dropped 19 points from winning positions in 27 league matches this season, a figure exceeded only by relegation-threatened West Ham. Individual errors have cost victories against Brentford, Brighton, Sunderland, Leeds and Burnley; red cards have arrived with metronomic regularity. Interim coaches have identified the same flaw. Frank Lampard, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and now Liam Rosenior have all lamented a deficit of “experience, resilience and know-how.” Rosenior remains unbeaten in his first six league games, but the squad’s mental fragility still surfaces in stoppage time: Alejandro Garnacho losing Fabio Carvalho, Trevoh Chalobah’s dismissal, Tosin Adarabioyo’s passivity, Wesley Fofana’s red and Andrey Santos’s missed assignment on Zian Flemming. Even the older heads are infected. Chalobah (24), Tosin (26) and Fofana (23) have each featured in costly mistakes, while Robert Sánchez’s early red at Old Traffroid underlined that age alone is no antidote. The issue is structural: a dressing room saturated with players learning on the job, asked simultaneously to set standards they have never encountered. Wenger’s Arsenal at least had the excuse of financial handcuffs after building the Emirates Stadium. Chelsea have no such restraint, yet last season posted English football’s highest-ever pre-tax loss (£342 million). The parallel is further sharpened by the identity of the team now benefiting from maturity: Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, average age 26 years and eight months, sit top of the table, having fortified a deep squad with proven, hardened performers. They have beaten Chelsea in 14 of the last 15 meetings since January 2020. Sunday’s derby offers Rosenior’s side another chance to “come of age,” a phrase repeated so often it has become a plea rather than a prediction. The schedule ahead—Arsenal away, Aston Villa away, Wrexham away, Paris Saint-Germain home and away, Newcastle at home, Everton away—will test whether lessons have truly been learned or whether, like Wenger’s protégés, they are condemned to remain football’s eternal promise rather than its present reality. Chelsea once mocked Arsenal for dreaming too long. Today, they are the ones waking to the same nightmare.

Sioux Falls, S.D. — Dale Weber, the man affectionately dubbed “Mr. Amateur Baseball” across South Dakota, died unexpectedly Friday at his Sioux Falls home, according to Kinzley Funeral Home in Salem. He was 86. A 2019 inductee into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame, Weber spent nearly five decades shaping the state’s sports landscape. After graduating from Delmont High School in 1957 and Yankton College in 1961, he starred in multiple sports before embarking on a 20-year amateur-baseball career with Delmont, Colton, Mount Vernon and Stickney from 1955-75. Weber’s influence extended well beyond the batter’s box. He taught, coached and served as an administrator in Colton, Mount Vernon and Salem, while also officiating more than 2,000 high-school basketball games—34 of them state tournaments—over 30 seasons. On the gridiron, he whistled 44 seasons of football, including five state-title contests. Yet it was the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association that defined his legacy. Weber served as SDABA president for 37 seasons and as an officer for 47, capping his tenure at the organization’s annual meeting on Feb. 15. Visitation begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Salem, followed by a 7 p.m. prayer service. A funeral mass is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 5, at the same church.

Peoria, Ariz. — Night baseball returned to the desert on a postcard-perfect Friday evening as the Arizona Diamondbacks edged the Seattle Mariners 3-1 in their first spring-training game under the lights. A three-run, second-inning homer by outfield prospect AJ Vukovich provided all the offense the D-backs would need, while a dominant pitching performance carried them the rest of the way. Vukovich, 24, turned on a full-count sinker from Seattle ace Luis Castillo and launched it to right-center for a three-run shot that left the yard despite a launch angle of 36 degrees—an indication that the desert breeze may have lent a hand. The blast, his second of the spring, capped the scoring for Arizona and showcased the power that resurfaced last season in Reno, where he hit 22 home runs and posted an .853 OPS. Over his final 30 games with the Aces, Vukovich batted .354 with five homers, putting him firmly in the conversation for a fourth-outfielder role should Lourdes Gurriel Jr. open the year on the injured list. The rest of the D-backs’ offense was quiet—Vukovich’s swing accounted for every RBI—but a pair of hitters continued encouraging springs. Third-base hopeful Ivan Groover collected two hits, steadying concerns about his glove work at the hot corner, while shortstop Ildemaro Vargas added two more knocks to solidify his case for an Opening-Day roster spot. On the mound, Arizona was in control from the outset. Right-hander Ryne Nelson struck out three over two crisp innings, repeatedly touching 97 mph with a four-seam fastball that averaged 19 inches of induced vertical break. His cutter generated whiffs on 60 percent of swings, and every offering graded above-average via Pitch Profiler’s stuff model. The performance offered a dose of optimism for a rotation suddenly in flux after recent injury news created an opening-day vacancy. The bullpen followed Nelson’s lead and never relented. Veteran Taylor Clarke, 2021 first-rounder Landon Sims, and fast-rising righty Daniel Eagan each tossed scoreless frames. Eagan, whose rookie campaign last summer drew rave reviews, punched out five over two innings, pairing a 95-mph heater with 19 inches of IVB and a sharp curveball that kept Mariners hitters off balance. His cutter registered a 110 stuff-plus rating, boosting his overall mark to 104, according to TJ Stats. By the final out, the combination of Vukovich’s lone swing and a string of zeros on the scoreboard delivered Arizona a 3-1 victory—and reminded everyone that night baseball is officially back. SEO keywords:

Barcelona, 12 October 2025 — Hansi Flick has finalised his 21-man selection for Saturday’s La Liga showdown against Villarreal at Camp Nou, a fixture the Blaugrana view as pivotal in their domestic campaign. The German coach will be without midfield anchor Frenkie de Jong, who suffered a hamstring strain in training and is expected to miss five to six weeks. Full-back Gerard Martín is also absent, serving a one-match suspension, while Gavi continues to work his way back from a long-term knee issue and awaits medical clearance. Andreas Christensen remains in the treatment room with an extended knee complaint. In De Jong’s absence, the midfield will be marshalled by Pedri and teenage prodigy Marc Bernal, with Dani Olmo, Fermín López and Marc Casadó providing further creative options. Academy graduate Tommy Marqués, wearing 43, rounds out the engine room. Between the posts, Wojciech Szczesny is poised to continue as first choice, backed up by Joan Garcia and 17-year-old Eder Aller. The defensive corps is bolstered by the return of Ronald Araújo, who lines up alongside Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsí, Eric Garcia and the ever-dangerous wing-backs João Cancelo and Alejandro Balde. In attack, Robert Lewandowski leads a star-studded forward line that includes Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Ferran Torres, deadline-day arrival Marcus Rashford and young Swedish winger Roony Bardghji. Kick-off is scheduled for 4.15 pm CET at Camp Nou, where Barça will look to consolidate early-season momentum against a Villarreal side that has historically posed a stern test.

Barcelona have confirmed the travelling party that will face Villarreal in Sunday evening’s La Liga contest. The official list, released through club channels and reported by Barca Blaugranes, gives manager Hansi Flick the full complement of available first-team players after a fortnight of injury concerns. Preview coverage from Al Jazeera notes that the Catalan side enter the fixture looking to extend an unbeaten run at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, while CBS Sports highlights how Flick has adjusted squad rules to accelerate the integration of academy graduates into the senior setup. Sports Illustrated projects at least one change in midfield from the XI that began last weekend, with rotational decisions expected to keep key legs fresh for the decisive phase of the season. Kick-off is scheduled for 21:00 local time. International viewers can follow the match through regional broadcast partners or the free streaming options listed by PennLive.com.

BELLFLOWER — The top-ranked Braves wasted no time reminding everyone why they sit atop the Southern Section Division 1 throne, opening the 2024 campaign with an emphatic 8-0 blanking of La Serna on Friday afternoon at St. John Bosco. Making his first varsity appearance since an arm injury sidelined him for the entire 2023 season, senior right-hander Julian Garcia looked every bit the ace, firing four no-hit innings with five strikeouts and zero walks. Closer Jack Champlin polished off the Lancers in tidy fashion, recording the final two outs—one via strikeout—to preserve the shutout. Offensively, the Braves pounced early and never relented. Noah Everly set the table with three hits, while James Clark supplied the thunder, driving in two runs on a pair of base knocks. The victory extends St. John Bosco’s winning streak dating back to last season’s championship run and sends an early message to the rest of Division 1: the Braves have no intention of relinquishing their crown.

Milan, Italy – Inter Milan are weighing a summer-2026 swoop for Liverpool’s 19-year-old Italian centre-back Giovanni Leoni, according to a report in Corriere dello Sport, potentially setting up a tug-of-war for a player the Reds rate as a future cornerstone. Leoni arrived at Anfield only last summer in a £26 million deal from Parma and quickly displaced the out-of-form Ibrahima Konaté, only for a torn ACL suffered on his debut against Southampton in the League Cup to cut his breakthrough campaign brutally short. Despite the setback, Liverpool supporters and staff alike remain convinced the teenager is a generational talent. Inter’s interest is born of necessity. Veteran defender Francesco Acerbi turns 37 next season, while fellow centre-back Yan Bisseck is attracting admiring glances across Europe. With Alessandro Bastoni—widely regarded as the world’s premier left-footed stopper—showing no desire to leave San Siro and Inter equally unwilling to sell, sporting directors at the Nerazzurri have identified Leoni as a high-upside gamble who could anchor their back line for the next decade. Liverpool, however, have no intention of cashing in. The Merseyside club still harbour long-term admiration for Bastoni and have even floated the idea of including Leoni in any future negotiations, though Inter’s reluctance to part with their defensive lynchpin makes such a swap improbable for now. For the time being, Leoni remains rehabilitating and dreaming of a Premier League return, while Inter keep a watchful eye on his recovery and Liverpool brace themselves for what could become a high-stakes transfer battle. SEO keywords:

Lucas Oil Stadium has seen its share of combine fireworks, but few moments have reverberated through draft rooms as quickly as Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq’s 4.40-second 40-yard dash. At 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds, the Idaho native became the fastest tight end to sprint down the Indianapolis turf since Vernon Davis blazed a 4.38 in 2006, instantly transforming an under-the-radar junior into a potential first-round commodity. Until the stopwatches clicked, Sadiq was largely an unknown outside Pac-12 scouting circles. Raised by a single mother in McCammon, Idaho, he began playing football in fourth grade as a running back before settling at tight end at Marsh Valley High. By his junior season he had posted 79 receptions for 1,166 yards and 19 touchdowns, emerging as a four-star recruit and the top prospect in the state. Oregon beat out Iowa State, Washington and Michigan for his signature, and after a five-catch freshman cameo Sadiq averaged 446 receiving yards, 40 receptions and five touchdowns over his final two collegiate seasons, adding a handful of rushing attempts to underscore his versatility. The combine performance crystallized that athleticism. NFL.com now assigns Sadiq a 6.42 prospect grade—translation: “will become a good starter within two years”—while NFL Next Gen Stats tags him with a 93 overall score, labeling him “elite.” The numbers place him alongside Davis and Dorin Dickerson as the only tight ends to break 4.40 since the league began publishing official times. Scouts are suddenly projecting the 20-year-old into the opening night of the 2026 NFL Draft, a meteoric rise for a player who entered the week hoping simply to secure a draftable grade. After a lifetime spent far from the national spotlight, Kenyon Sadiq made the league’s most-watched drill his personal stage—and in 4.40 seconds, ensured everyone now knows his name.

The opening round of the MIAA Division 1 boys basketball tournament produced a flurry of decisive victories and one overtime thriller on Friday night, setting the stage for a competitive path to the state title. Rivers opened the evening with a commanding 72-52 win over Thayer in a preliminary contest, then gave way to a slate of first-round games that saw several higher seeds advance. Barnstable rode a strong second half to a 68-59 victory against Shrewsbury, while Andover methodically pulled away from Belmont for a 65-52 decision. Attleboro’s up-tempo attack overwhelmed Methuen 90-58, and Bishop Feehan poured in 85 points to outlast Acton-Boxboro 85-67. Defensive pressure paved the way for BC High, which limited Lowell to 57 points in a 70-57 win, and Central Catholic used a balanced offense to top Natick 77-68. Malden Catholic never trailed in a 74-54 rout of Algonquin, and Winchester edged Lexington 65-59 in a back-and-forth contest. The night’s most dramatic finish came at Marshfield, where the Rams outlasted Cambridge 66-63 in overtime to secure their place in the next round. With the preliminary and first-round games complete, the tournament field narrows as teams prepare for sectional quarter-final matchups early next week.

STRASBURG — Basketball is known for being a game of runs. That was on full display on Friday night as the Rams secured a Class 2 state tournament berth with a dramatic victory over the Panthers. The back-and-forth contest showcased the ebb and flow typical of postseason play, with momentum swinging wildly until the final buzzer. The win caps a hard-fought regional campaign for the Rams and sends them into the state bracket with confidence riding high.