Expert Sports News & Commentary

Arsenal’s pursuit of Real Madrid midfielder Víctor Valdepeñas has become a three-nation tug-of-war after Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund declared their intention to sign the 20-year-old this summer, AS reports. Valdepeñas, who has made only sporadic senior appearances for Madrid this season, is expected to be made available for transfer once the current campaign closes. Arsenal have tracked the Spaniard for months, but their path to a deal has now been complicated by the Bundesliga duo, both of whom can offer the promise of more immediate first-team minutes. The Gunners boast a Spanish manager and several La Liga graduates in their dressing-room, advantages they hope will offset the uncertainty over game time in a squad stacked with established internationals. Leverkusen and Dortmund, meanwhile, can pitch a clearer route to regular Bundesliga football, a factor that could sway a player seeking the consistent exposure that has eluded him at the Santiago Bernabéu. With interest from Germany intensifying, Valdepepeñas faces a pivotal decision: remain on the fringes of Madrid’s star-studded midfield or embark on a new chapter in England or Germany. The next few weeks are likely to shape the trajectory of a career that has shown flashes of promise but is yet to ignite at senior level.

Barcelona are set to shake up their back line for Sunday’s Catalan derby at Girona, and the most eye-catching change could see Ronald Araujo parachuted straight into the starting XI alongside teenage prodigy Pau Cubarsi. The move, first reported by SPORT, comes less than a week after the Blaugrana were dismantled 3-0 by Atlético Madrid, a result that has forced Hansi Flick to prioritise defensive stability. Araujo’s potential promotion is rooted in both necessity and merit. Introduced in the 75th minute against Atlético with the contest already lost, the Uruguayan still managed to impose himself, winning aerial duels and driving into midfield with the ball at his feet. That brief cameo followed a more telling 90 minutes in the Copa del Rey against Albacete, a fixture that doubled as his first start in over two months after stepping away to address a mental-health issue. Since resuming full training, the 25-year-old has reportedly hit performance metrics that remind staff of his pre-absence peak. Flick, who has publicly highlighted Araujo’s unique blend of pace, power and one-v-one dominance, now believes the derby is an ideal platform to re-launch his captain. Pairing Araujo with the 17-year-old Cubarsi would give Barcelona a physically imposing left-side axis, while allowing Eric Garcia to slide to right-back in place of the suspended Jules Koundé. The coaching staff’s long-term plan is to re-integrate Araujo gradually, building match minutes ahead of a congested schedule that includes pivotal Liga and European fixtures. Against a Girona side that presses relentlessly and attacks in numbers, his ability to neutralise transitions and dominate set-piece duels could prove decisive. Kick-off at Montilivi is scheduled for 21:00 CET.

Santos, Brazil – Neymar’s eagerly awaited return to competitive action for Santos FC almost turned sour as the 34-year-old forward survived a heavy challenge just ten minutes after stepping onto the pitch against Velo Clube. The Brazilian star had been sidelined with a knee complaint serious enough to have prompted surgical discussion, but he elected to postpone any procedure and finish last season in a bid to help Santos avoid relegation and clinch Copa Sudamericana qualification. His perseverance paid off, and Wednesday night’s fixture marked his first appearance since that layoff. Entering the match in the second half, Neymar was immediately singled out by Velo Clube’s defence; a crunching tackle moments into his cameo left supporters holding their breath. The forward escaped serious harm, however, and responded with composure, setting up Gabigol for a goal that underlined his enduring vision and precision. Santos ran out 6-0 winners, but the score line was almost overshadowed by the physical attention paid to their headline act. Opponents repeatedly pressed, fouled and crowded Neymar, testing both his fitness and temperament. He weathered the barrage without retaliation, offering coach and teammates a reassuring sign that the playmaker’s readiness extends beyond mere medical clearance. While the victory boosts Santos’ early-season momentum, the incident serves as a reminder of the tightrope Neymar will walk this campaign: central to his club’s creative hopes yet still regaining full robustness after a prolonged rehabilitation stint. Santos supporters will hope the scare remains an isolated moment and that their No. 10 can steer clear of further setbacks as the push for continental qualification gathers pace.

Lisbon — Anatoliy Trubin’s life changed in the 98th minute of a match that refused to end. With every other Champions League group-stage fixture long since finished, Benfica still trailed the ticking clock and a single goal behind Marseille’s tally for the final playoff berth. Inside the Estádio da Luz, however, no one in red knew. José Mourinho had confiscated phones and laptops, insisting his squad focus only on the 3-2 lead over Real Madrid. Then the stands erupted. Fans waved, shouted, pleaded. President Rui Costa gesticulated wildly. Trubin, the 6ft 6in Ukrainian keeper, was milking seconds on a goal-kick, believing protection of the scoreline was enough. It wasn’t. The message finally filtered down: one more goal. Mourinho’s solution was theatrical and logical. A 40-yard free-kick, a depleted Madrid down to nine men, and a goalkeeper sent forward for the first time since childhood. Fredrik Aursnes floated the cross; Trubin rose, neck craned, and powered a header past Thibaut Courtois. Bedlam. A knee-slide across the centre circle, teammates piling on, Mourinho embracing a ballboy, and 60,000 believers suddenly aware their season remained alive. “I didn’t understand why everyone was screaming,” Trubin laughs, reliving the moment with The Athletic. “When Mister pointed for me to go up, I asked a team-mate, ‘We need one more goal?’ He said yes. After that, you don’t think. You run. My movement was like I was a striker. It was crazy.” The strike has already redefined a campaign that appeared lost. Eliminated from both domestic cups within a week and trailing the league leaders by ten points, Benfica faced the prospect of meaningless fixtures stretching to spring. Instead, they enter February’s two-legged playoff—against the same Madrid side—still chasing silverware on three fronts. Trubin, signed from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023, dedicated the goal to a homeland he has not seen since war forced his family from Donetsk a decade ago. A poster of the shuttered Donbas Arena hangs in his Lisbon apartment: “To remember Donetsk was, is and will forever be Ukraine.” Courtois sought him out after full-time. “He showed huge respect,” Trubin notes. “An example for every young player.” Mourinho offered no words. “You don’t need to say anything for such a special moment.” Next month Trubin will swap club colours for national duty, targeting World Cup qualification—Ukraine’s first since 2006—with playoff ties against Sweden and then Poland or Albania. “Because of the war, it would mean more to us than anyone else,” he admits. For now, though, every training ground detour brings selfies and smiles. “A fan stopped me: ‘Good goal,’” he grins. “That’s never happened before.” A goalkeeper transformed, if only for ten seconds, into a striker—and a season, a club and a country carried with one swing of his head.

Napoli’s on-loan striker Rasmus Hojlund failed to impose himself during Sunday’s 2-2 Serie A draw with AS Roma, extending a patchy run of form for the Manchester United-owned forward. Despite entering the contest on the back of two goals and an assist in his previous outings, the Dane was largely anonymous over the full 90 minutes at Stadio Olimpico. Hojlund managed only two attempts on goal, both of which were blocked by a resolute Roma back line. He recorded zero key passes and was unable to complete a single successful dribble, while his link-up play faltered: the 21-year-old won just two of seven ground duels and two of four aerial contests. The subdued display underlined the inconsistencies that have dogged his loan spell in southern Italy. Next up for Hojlund is a reunion with former club Atalanta on Sunday, a fixture that will offer him an immediate opportunity to atone for a performance that fell well short of the standards he set in recent weeks.

Indianapolis — In a dazzling display of athleticism and showmanship, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards etched his name into All-Star lore by claiming MVP honors and steering the Stars to a tournament victory during Sunday night’s NBA All-Star Game. The 22-year-old electrified the crowd from tip-off, attacking the rim with abandon and knocking down timely jumpers that kept the scoreboard spinning and fans on their feet. Edwards’ relentless energy set the tone for the Stars, who pulled away in the closing minutes to seal the win and cap an evening packed with highlight-reel moments. The victory marks the latest milestone in Edwards’ rapid ascent, as the former No. 1 overall pick continues to evolve from rising star to household name on the league’s grandest stages.

Manchester United are bracing themselves for a summer scramble after transfer insider Fabrizio Romano reported that a “battle” is expected for RB Leipzig’s teenage phenomenon Yan Diomande, a player United both covet and, crucially, “can afford”. Diomande, 19, has exploded onto the Bundesliga scene since arriving at Leipzig in July 2025 for £17.4 million after the German club triggered his release clause at Spanish side Leganes. In 21 league outings he has already contributed eight goals and five assists, the latest coming in yesterday’s 2-2 draw with Wolfsburg that kept Leipzig firmly in the European conversation. The Ivorian’s impact has not been confined to club football. Already a nine-time senior international, Diomande added five more caps and a goal during the recent African Cup of Nations, lining up alongside United winger Amad Diallo for the Ivory Coast. German football expert Christian Falk confirmed on Friday that United are “well amongst the mix of suitors” tracking the forward and that Old Trafford chiefs believe they can meet whatever fee Leipzig ultimately set. That figure is expected to approach £87 million should the Bundesliga outfit be forced into a sale. United’s need for fresh firepower is acute. Marcus Rashford is poised to join Barcelona for £26 million once his loan becomes permanent, Napoli are set to secure Rasmus Hojlund for £38 million, and Jadon Sancho will depart on a free transfer when his contract expires in June. With Champions League qualification still a possibility, reinforcements are viewed as essential. Romano’s weekend update adds that Bayern Munich and a clutch of Premier League rivals will join United in what promises to be one of the window’s most hotly-contested pursuits, ensuring Leipzig are likely to field multiple offers for the 19-year-old. For now, Diomande’s focus remains on finishing the campaign strongly, but the summer spotlight is already fixed firmly on the Ivorian prodigy.

Chelsea are preparing for a reshuffle at the heart of their defence, with the club willing to listen to offers for Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile and Trevoh Chalobah once the summer transfer window opens, according to a TEAMtalk report. Although the Premier League campaign has yet to reach its conclusion, planning is already under way at Stamford Bridge. Club officials are identifying positions to strengthen and determining which squad members could be moved on to free up space and funds. Central defence is a priority area. Despite recalling Mamadou Sarr from his loan at Strasbourg in January, Chelsea remain in the market for another centre-back and have earmarked Nottingham Forest’s Murillo as a leading target. The Blues, along with Liverpool, have reportedly done the most groundwork on the Brazilian. The potential arrival of Murillo appears closely linked to the futures of Adarabioyo, Badiashile and Chalobah. The report states that Chelsea will consider bids for all three, accelerating the push for fresh reinforcements. Sarr made his domestic debut for the club on Friday night and faces a brief window to impress before decisions are finalised. With the summer window approaching, the club could also explore a move for Elliot Anderson, though any deal for the Newcastle United midfielder would require a significant fee. Chelsea, then, are bracing for a busy off-season, with defensive departures likely to fund incoming business.

DUBAI, 16 February 2026 – The race for Super Eight places tightens on Sunday as three pivotal group-stage fixtures unfold across two venues, each carrying make-or-break implications for the teams involved. Afghanistan vs UAE – 10:00 local, Group D Afghanistan’s campaign has been a study in near-misses. After falling to New Zealand in their opener, they were denied by South Africa in a contest that spilled into two Super Overs, leaving them winless and fourth in the group. Against the UAE they must convert promising passages into a first victory if they are to remain in knockout contention. The Emirates, stung by a 10-wicket loss to New Zealand, regrouped to edge Canada and will look to that renewed belief to propel them up the table. England vs Italy – 14:00 local, Group C England climbed to second after subduing Scotland, yet the relief was tempered by earlier wobbles against Nepal and a defeat to the West Indies. Consistency at the top of the order remains elusive. Italy, buoyed by a maiden World Cup triumph over Nepal, arrive with discipline in the bowling unit and confidence atop the order. While England carry the pedigree, Italy’s upward trajectory suggests an upset is not beyond imagination. Australia vs Sri Lanka – 18:00 local, Group B The day’s marquee clash doubles as a potential elimination final for the five-time champions. Australia, reeling from a shock loss to Zimbabwe and the ongoing absence of Mitchell Marsh, can ill-afford another slip; defeat would leave them needing a monumental swing in net run-rate on the final match-day. Sri Lanka, unbeaten after convincing wins over Ireland and Oman, sense a place in the Super Eights is one victory away. Kusal Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake and Dasun Shanaka have all registered half-centuries, while Kamindu Mendis adds balance to a side brimming with momentum. With qualification scenarios crystallising, February 16 promises drama that could redraw the tournament landscape.

Goodison Park, 16 February – Everton Women made it three consecutive victories for the first time since March 2022 as Honoka Hayashi’s seventh-minute goal proved enough to edge West Ham United and lift the Toffees into eighth place in the Barclays Women’s Super League. Interim manager Scott Phelan kept faith with the same starting line-up for the third match running, and the gamble paid off with a second straight clean sheet and a performance full of controlled aggression. The breakthrough arrived early: Yuka Momiki picked out Hannah Blundell on the right, the full-back’s low cross evaded the claret-and-blue shirts, and Hayashi – who committed her future to the club only days earlier – swept home her fourth goal of the campaign in front of the jubilant Gwladys Street. Everton threatened to double the advantage midway through the first half. Inma Gabarro, fresh from scoring the winner against London City Lionesses seven days ago, stung the palms of Kinga Szemik with a ferocious drive that the Polish goalkeeper repelled with an instinctive boot. West Ham emerged with greater intent after the interval, yet Courtney Brosnan remained largely untroubled thanks to a disciplined back line in which Oona Siren’s forays were repeatedly snuffed out. On 62 minutes Gabarro went close again, elegantly controlling Ornella Vignola’s lofted pass before unleashing a shot that Szemik clawed away at full stretch. Phelan turned to his bench with 22 minutes remaining, introducing Aurora Galli for Rosa van Gool and handing Slovenian midfielder Zara Kramzar a Goodison debut in place of Vignola. The fresh legs steadied the ship, allowing Everton to see out the closing stages and leapfrog Aston Villa in the table. The Toffees will now aim to extend their sparkling February form when they travel across Merseyside to face Liverpool in the FA Cup fifth round at St Helens on Sunday, 22 February.

Barcelona limp into Montilivi tonight still haunted by the 0-4 humiliation at the hands of Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg, a result that all but ended their cup dream and drained the squad of momentum. Girona, winless in three matches and hovering uncomfortably near the drop zone, sense an opportunity to compound the Catalans’ misery. Hansi Flick’s side, mentally fragile and physically depleted, must respond immediately or risk watching their season spiral further out of control. Barça Universal identifies three decisive issues that will shape the outcome. 1. The psychological rebound The midweek debacle at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano was not merely a defeat; it was a systemic collapse. Barcelona were second to every loose ball, pressed without coordination and defended in disjointed fragments, conceding four times before the interval. Flick labelled the performance “far inferior” and admitted his players “were simply not up for the task.” The manager now demands a swift mental reset. If the squad channel the pain properly, tonight could become a statement of intent; if the hangover lingers, Girona’s hungry front line will pounce on any hesitation. 2. Raphinha’s return from the bench The Brazilian captain has been sidelined since the Copa clash with Albacete, and Barcelona have lost all but one of the matches he has missed. Flick has called Raphinha “the best player in the world for last season,” citing the winger’s pace, finishing and, above all, leadership as irreplaceable. Although not expected to start, he is cleared to feature and should appear early in the second half. His mere presence stretches defences, frees Lamine Yamal from double-teams and re-ignites the collective intensity that vanished in Riyadh. 3. Full-back flux: rotation or redemption? Atlético targeted Barcelona’s flanks ruthlessly, exposing Alejandro Balde and Jules Koundé on nearly every break. Balde’s forays left him stranded, yet the underlying issue was the lack of a natural left-wing outlet. Koundé, by contrast, has looked uneasy for months, prompting speculation that João Cancelo could be handed a start on the right. Flick may also slide Balde into an advanced role if Raphinha is held in reserve, allowing Gerard Martín to tuck in behind and provide defensive security. How the manager shuffles his wide assets will determine whether Girona’s wingers enjoy another field day or meet a re-shaped, more resilient back line. With both camps desperate for a tonic, tonight’s meeting at Montilivi is poised on a knife-edge. Barcelona’s season hangs on their ability to learn, adapt and fight back; Girona, sensing wounded prey, can ill-afford a fourth consecutive blank. The opening quarter-hour could set the tone for what follows.

The morning after the greatest day in modern Macclesfield football history feels, by local standards, almost indistinguishable from any other. Commuters cross the passenger bridge at the railway station where a ceramic timeline still insists that between the club’s birth in 1874 and the release of Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures in 1979 “nothing happened.” It is a joke Maxonians have told for decades, and one they happily repeat now that the national spotlight has briefly swung their way. Yet something did happen last week: Macclesfield FC, reborn only in 2020 after the collapse of Macclesfield Town, evicted FA Cup holders Crystal Palace from the competition, the Silkmen’s first bona-fide giant-killing since Shaun Goater’s Manchester City were made to sweat at Moss Rose in 1998. The result sent tremors through the draw and booked a fourth-round date with Premier League high-fliers Brentford on Monday night. Walk the cobbled, largely pedestrianised centre this weekend, however, and you will search in vain for bunting or booming loudspeakers. The Marks & Spencer remains shuttered; footfall is thin. Only a faded banner outside the Old Millstone pub—“We are the champions,” it proclaims—hints at footballing glory, and even that flag celebrates the 2017-18 National League title won by the defunct club that folded two seasons later. The Treacle Market, held on the final Sunday of each month, will draw bigger crowds tomorrow than football souvenir stalls ever could. Inside the Leasing.com Stadium—Moss Rose in old money—there is discreet but palpable momentum. A 4G pitch and gym facilities hum daily with locals who discovered, during the bereft 2020-21 season, that a football club can be civic glue. Co-owner Rob Smethurst has overseen a facelift: food kiosks serve what regulars call “proper footy scran,” and PA announcer Andy Worth’s baritone still rattles the new-build stands. Only the small seated main stand survives from the ground where, on 15 April 1989, supporters learned via crackling radios of the Hillsborough disaster while celebrating an FA Trophy semi-final win over Dartford. History clings to this corner of east Cheshire. Macclesfield and Brentford have met just four times, all in League Two; the Bees’ rise to the Premier League’s top half makes Monday’s mismatch as romantic as it is lopsided. Seventeen years ago the clubs shared a division; now the Silkmen sit mid-table in the sixth-tier National League North, their average home gate once the Football League’s lowest, admission cheap and facilities sparse. Those days feel distant yet familiar: most players still arrive on one-year deals, meaning a near-new squad each autumn, though the essence—dogged, community-driven, proudly Maxonian—endures. The current squad, assembled by a backroom team unnamed in the source text, will attempt to replicate the Palace upset in front of a sell-out crowd and a global television audience. From the climb towards the Peak District, the roar of Moss Rose will again be audible, a reminder that even a town content with slow change can, on a good cup run, demand the world take notice. For now, Macc remains Macc: unassuming, quietly confident, happy to let the rest of the country catch up on Monday.

Tre’ Johnson, the former Pro Bowl offensive lineman who anchored Washington’s offensive line through the late 1990s and later devoted himself to teaching history at a Maryland prep school, died Sunday while traveling with his family, his wife announced. He was 54. Irene Johnson revealed the news in a Facebook post, writing that her husband “passed away suddenly and unexpectedly … during a brief family trip.” The couple’s four children—Chloe, EJ, EZ and Eden—were with him, along with other relatives. “We are devastated and in shock,” she said. A first-round selection out of Temple, Johnson was taken 31st overall by Washington in the 1994 NFL Draft. Over eight seasons with the franchise, he started 72 of 93 career games and earned Pro Bowl honors in 1999. After a one-year stint with the Cleveland Browns in 2001, Johnson returned to Washington for his final NFL season in 2002, starting three of the 10 games he appeared in before retiring. Following his playing career, Johnson transitioned to education, becoming a history teacher at Landon School, a private campus in Bethesda, Maryland. According to his wife, he had recently taken a leave of absence because of ongoing health issues. The Washington Commanders acknowledged Johnson’s passing on their official X account: “We’re heartbroken to learn of the loss of former Washington All-Pro guard Tre’ Johnson. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.” Johnson is survived by his wife, their four children, and a wide circle of extended family and friends.

TYLER, Texas — A new class of standout seniors learned Sunday that their high-school careers will end on an all-star stage. Organizers released the 180-member roster for the 2026 Northeast Texas FCA All-Star Games during a packed announcement ceremony at First Baptist Church in downtown Tyler, capping a selection process that began with more than 320 nominations submitted by head coaches across the region. Founded in 2011, the faith-based showcase gives football, baseball, softball and cheer athletes one final opportunity to compete in their sport while sharing a sideline with rivals who usually line up on the opposite side of the scoreboard. This year’s honorees will trade school colors for unified NETX FCA uniforms when the series of games kicks off June 5 at Tyler Legacy High School with the baseball and softball contests. The weekend concludes Saturday, June 6, at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium with the football all-star clash. For the 180 seniors named Sunday, the invitation represents more than a last box score; it is a chance to celebrate both athletic talent and personal faith before heading to the next chapter of their lives.

Half-time at the Emirates during the FA Cup meeting between Arsenal and Wigan Athletic produced more drama than many managers would like, as the clubs’ mascots stole the spotlight with an impromptu penalty shoot-out. Gunnersaurus, Arsenal’s long-necked fan favourite, buried three of his spot-kicks while Wigan’s Crusty the Pie could reply only once, leaving the final tally 3-1 in favour of the Londoners. Ever the showman, Gunnersaurus capped the win by re-enacting the Mikel Merino celebration that has become a cult favourite among supporters. Earlier in the day, nature provided its own highlight in the Australian Women’s First Division, where a powerful gust forced officials to abort the opening kick-off twice before the ball could be played safely. Players and referees shared a sheepish smile as the stadium announcer joked about booking the wind for time-wasting. Across the continent, Ligue 1+ welcomed Odsonne Édouard for a studio segment and could not resist revisiting the viral moment when Nice’s commentator erupted in ecstatic disbelief after the striker netted against the Aiglons. Édouard laughed off the clip, insisting he had only done “what strikers are paid for,” but admitted the commentary added extra spice to an already sweet memory. In a brief managerial note buried among the weekend curiosities, one unnamed Premier League outfit is reportedly set to appoint a new coach for the fourth time this season, underlining the relentless churn currently gripping the English top flight.

Oxford, United Kingdom – A swirling wind, a patchy pitch and the evergreen promise of an FA Cup upset framed the third-round tie at the Kassam Stadium, yet it was Sunderland who emerged unruffled and into Monday evening’s draw after a textbook away performance sealed by a solitary first-half penalty. With both clubs mindful of deteriorating conditions underfoot, the visitors wasted little time imposing order. Head coach Régis Le Bris, true to the method that has underpinned his early months on Wearside, selected a side that balanced rotation with intent; this was no shadow XI but a carefully calibrated lineup designed to keep momentum alive across competitions. The decisive moment arrived on 38 minutes when left-back Dennis Cirkin surged on to a rare spell of first-half cohesion down Sunderland’s flank. His progress was halted illegally inside the box and, after a moment’s deliberation, summer signing Habib Diarra – the club’s record acquisition – stepped forward. The winger’s finish was clipped low to the goalkeeper’s right, an understated conversion that doubled both his personal tally for the campaign and the Black Cats’ lead on the afternoon. From there the League Championship side managed the contest with the poise of a group now accustomed to expectation. Goalkeeper Robin Roefs epitomised the composure, chesting away crosses and calmly recycling possession; at the opposite end Oxford’s efforts remained largely theoretical, their best openings snuffed out by a back line in which Cirkin and Luke O’Nien operated with the assurance of veterans restored to familiar surroundings. Oxford, managed on the day by interim boss Mike Dodds, matched their opponents for endeavour but not incision. The U’s pressed gamely after the restart yet found Sunderland equally comfortable in the physical exchanges, timing fouls, slowing tempo and selectively breaking in search of a killer second that very nearly arrived through substitute Jocelin Ta Bi, introduced alongside a smattering of academy graduates to broaden the club’s options ahead of a congested winter schedule. The result underlines the widening gap between the clubs: where recent seasons saw them duel at the summit of League One, Sunderland’s upward trajectory now contrasts with Oxford’s struggle to rediscover that level. Le Bris’ outfit, unbeaten in cup competition this term, will await the fourth-round draw with confidence bolstered by depth and an evident team ethic. Before kick-off a minute’s applause honoured former Oxford favourite Joey Beauchamp, whose death after battles with addiction and depression was acknowledged by both sets of supporters. The gesture served as a reminder that beyond the scoreline, football’s community remains a vital space for conversation around mental health. Sunderland move on; Oxford, for all their endeavour, are left to rue the fine margins that so often define FA Cup afternoons.

Birmingham — For years the Women’s Super League has sold itself on open turnstiles, cheap tickets and smiling players signing autographs for children. That formula once felt radical; today, Aston Villa managing director Maggie Murphy argues, it risks becoming a straitjacket. “One cliché I hear more than any is: ‘Why don’t you go to schools, or do kids for a quid?’” Murphy tells The Athletic. “But that undermines the product — which is elite competition.” Her frustration crystallises a debate now coursing through boardrooms from Villa Park to Kingsmeadow. The league’s historic £65 million broadcast deal with Sky Sports and the BBC was meant to usher in a new era of professionalism. Instead, early-season viewing figures have been accompanied by stagnating crowds: across the first six rounds of fixtures, WST data shows the average gate has slipped one per cent to 6,500, while Villa themselves drew just 2,500 for a recent Sunday noon meeting with Tottenham inside a 42,640-seat stadium. The easy answer — more giveaways, more face-painting — no longer satisfies anyone. “Family-friendly” may signal safety and inclusivity, yet Murphy believes the phrase has become “a byword for diluted sport, something too terrified to alienate anyone that it risks forfeiting its ability to meaningfully connect with anyone.” Arsenal have already proved an alternative path exists. By marrying on-pitch success with curated fan culture, the Gunners regularly sell out the Emirates and own every domestic attendance record worth having. For clubs without that heritage, the task is to manufacture identity from scratch. Inside Villa Park’s Holte End on match-day, that process looks like local comedians on a pop-up stage, pints flowing before midday, former Lionesses Karen Carney and Jill Scott preparing to record a near-capacity live podcast, and children scrimmaging on a mini-pitch beside an arcade basketball machine. Murphy’s “12-player challenge”, meanwhile, invites supporters to pitch growth ideas; the winning entry will fund a fan-docuseries and official song sheets. Yet even the most inventive pre-match carnival cannot escape the structural handcuffs of a television schedule that locks the vast majority of fixtures into 11:55 a.m. or 12 p.m. Sunday kick-offs. “We’re asking talent to perform at 10:30 in the morning, kids are at their own games, students aren’t leaving campus, and mates who fancy a beer aren’t doing it at that hour,” Murphy says. “We know women’s fans like to make a day of it and spend more per head than men’s fans, but we’re almost cutting off our hands.” She stops short of blaming the league or its broadcast partners — “the money is transformational” — yet the tension between exposure and experiential quality crackles through every conversation about growth. Villa’s identity workshops are therefore anchored to a deeper question: “Who are Aston Villa women? What do we stand for?” Answers range from an entry point for first-time football consumers to an extension of family loyalty to the club crest. None are wrong, but none are distinctive enough to persuade a neutral driving past the M6 to pull off and pay for parking. Sarah Breslin, co-founder of supporter group Villa Bellas, puts it bluntly: “We should be bigger than we are. It’s about capturing that.” The club’s first-ever women’s fans’ forum in August, she adds, already shifted the culture from after-thought to agenda item. Still, identity ultimately rests on what happens between the white lines. Villa’s side, promoted to the WSL only in 2020, sits fifth in their best-ever season but have lost four of their last five matches. Murphy knows no amount of peripheral razzmatazz can disguise poor results. “I want people to have a great day regardless of what happens on the pitch, but that only works for the people who already come. The ones who haven’t come yet aren’t going to come just because we’ve got a live podcast.” Hence her North Star: make Villa Park the geographical and emotional heart of the WSL, a venue no traveller can logically bypass. “We don’t want people driving past the motorway and not coming. They need to be here because they want to be here, because they’re having a great time.” Whether the league’s other clubs can craft similarly compelling answers will determine if women’s football steps beyond the safety of “family-friendly” into a future where elite sport, not discounted tickets, is the primary draw.

The summer of 2025 is shaping up to be a crossroads moment for European super-clubs, and the ripple effects are already being felt from Manchester to Madrid, from London to Lisbon. England’s decision to extend Thomas Tuchel’s contract through Euro 2028 has removed one of the market’s most coveted names at precisely the moment Real Madrid and Manchester United are bracing for seismic change on their own benches. In the process, it has exposed a deeper shift: international football is no longer the career after-party for elite coaches—it is becoming the destination. Tuchel’s choice was revealing. The German has only been in the England job for a year, yet the FA’s announcement that he will bypass a return to club football after the 2026 World Cup underlines how the international calendar now offers something the domestic grind cannot: time, autonomy and a shot at immortality. “He’s really enjoying the job,” chief executive Mark Bullingham said, while quietly confirming a break clause exists should the lure of a Champions League dugout become irresistible. For now, that door is closed to Madrid and United. The same gravitational pull has kept Carlo Ancelotti in charge of Brazil until 2030, despite the 66-year-old Italian being the consensus choice inside the Bernabéu boardroom. Ancelotti’s continued presence in yellow and green means Real Madrid face the prospect of entering a new cycle without the coach who delivered two more European Cups in his second spell. It also leaves Florentino Pérez scanning a market that is suddenly short on sure things. Pep Guardiola’s decade at Manchester City could end this summer; if it does, expect a sabbatical or a national-team adventure rather than a snap move to another club. Zinedine Zidane has spent six years waiting for the France job to open, and will finally succeed Didier Deschamps after the World Cup. Jürgen Klopp opted for the Red Bull global soccer role rather than the Germany post, and told Servus TV that Madrid’s recent dismissal of Xabi Alonso “triggered nothing in me”. The implication is clear: the biggest names are either unavailable or uninterested. That forces clubs to gamble. Alonso, the former Leverkusen coach, is still linked with Liverpool despite the Anfield seat remaining occupied, while Spain could pivot to him if Luis de la Fuente underperforms in North America. Roberto Mancini flirted with West Ham and Nottingham Forest before accepting Qatar’s Al Sadd. Roberto De Zerbi showed Manchester United’s offer to Marseille’s squad as a motivational tool, then chose the Mediterranean over Old Trafford. Spurs, having sacked Ange Postecoglou’s predecessor, turned to Igor Tudor until the end of the season rather than wait for a marquee appointment. The hesitation is understandable. Modern club managers are increasingly confined to tactics boards and match-day microphones; recruitment, contracts and even travel schedules are handled elsewhere. International coaches, by contrast, can scout, experiment and build dynasties without fretting about profit-and-sustainability spreadsheets. A World Cup win, as Julian Nagelsmann noted by staying with Germany, echoes far longer than a domestic double. Yet the vacuum at club level is real. Who replaces Guardiola, Klopp, Ancelotti or Mourinho as the next transcendent figure? Mikel Arteta has transformed Arsenal but still lacks a Premier League crown. Enzo Maresca was jettisoned by Chelsea six months after lifting the Conference League and Club World Cup. Xavi has been idle since leaving Barcelona; Mauricio Pochettino’s stock never fully rebounded after the 2019 Champions League final; Erik ten Hag is technical director at Twente; Andre Villas-Boas is president of Porto. The conveyor belt that produced Guardiola, Klopp and Mourinho a decade ago is creaking. Clubs are also pickier. They want a defined style, but not necessarily the abrasive personalities that come with it. Antonio Conte, a serial title-winner in Italy and England, is dismissed as too combustible. Cesc Fabregas, who holds equity in Como, is part of a generation that expects input beyond the touchline. De Zerbi travels with his own data scout. Owners, wary of ceding control, prefer coaches who stay in their lane. The result is a shallow pool of candidates who check every box. Even success stories are context-dependent. Brentford sit seventh under rookie boss Keith Andrews, prompting fresh debate over how much of their rise was down to Thomas Frank. Brighton remain mid-table despite turnover that claimed Hughton, Potter, De Zerbi and Hurzeler, suggesting the Seagulls’ analytics infrastructure is the constant. Sevilla’s Europa League pedigree under Emery, Ramos and Mendilibar has rarely travelled beyond Andalusia. Kompany’s Bundesliga crown at Bayern is viewed warily because the Bavarians have won 12 of the last 13 titles; Allegri and Inzaghi reached Champions League finals with thinner Italian squads yet attract less buzz. United, Madrid, Tottenham and others must decide whether to bet on potential—Andoni Iraola, Oliver Glasner, Ruben Amorim—or recycle proven winners written off as yesterday’s men. Break clauses complicate everything: Mourinho can leave Benfica 10 days after their final match, potentially freeing him for Madrid or Portugal. Alonso’s name will swirl as long as the Liverpool job remains occupied. Motta, Thiago, Chivu and Kompany are reminders that first steps at super-clubs can be perilous. For now the English FA can relax. Tuchel has ruled out a club return for two and a half years, Bullingham can plan for Euro 2028, and the FA can avoid the awkward dance of succession. Elsewhere, presidents and sporting directors will spend the summer asking the same question: in a landscape where the best coaches are either entrenched internationally or scarred by the club meat-grinder, who is the right man to lead the next era—and what happens if they get it wrong?

Milano, Italy – The roar inside the Milano Ice Skating Arena had already peaked when Ilia Malinin, the 21-year-old American hailed as the “Quad God,” glided to his starting pose for the final free skate of the Olympic men’s competition. Six nights earlier he had sealed team gold for the United States with a fearless performance; now, with individual gold on the line, the stakes felt heavier, the lights harsher, the ice colder. “All of the ups and downs of my life were suddenly replaying in my head,” Malinin admitted afterward. “It was loud. Overwhelming.” He opened with a textbook quad flip, but the next element—a planned quad axel—deteriorated into a single. Two uncharacteristic falls followed, the second sending a fine spray of ice into the air like a sudden exclamation mark on a shattered dream. When the music stopped, Malinin buried his face in his hands; Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov would claim the title. “I blew it,” Malinin said quietly. “That’s honestly the first thing that came to mind.” For figure skaters, no platform dwarfs the Olympic stage, and Malinin’s crash from heavy favorite to stunned fourth place is a stark reminder of how unforgiving that stage can be. “The pressure of the Olympics really gets you,” he reflected. “It’s unreal. It’s really not easy.” He is hardly alone. Across sports, athletes who arrive at global championships carrying the weight of expectation often leave carrying something heavier: the memory of a single, defining miscue. The aftermath can echo for days, years, even decades. Snowboard cross pioneer Lindsey Jacobellis knows the echo intimately. At the 2006 Turin Games she streaked to a 50-yard lead in the inaugural women’s final, victory all but secured. On the second-to-last jump she attempted a stylish Method grab—an instinctive celebration, she later said, of “sharing with the crowd my enthusiasm.” She landed off-balance, crashed, and watched Switzerland’s Tanja Frieden flash past for gold. Jacobellis picked herself up for silver, but headlines branded her a show-off who had thrown away victory. Hate mail arrived at her home; sponsors withheld bonus payments. “I was reminded of my mistake on a daily basis—on some days, on an hourly basis,” she wrote in her 2023 memoir, Unforgiving: Lessons from the Fall. It would take 16 years, and a refusal to bow to outside narratives, before Jacobellis finally stood atop an Olympic podium, winning gold in Beijing at age 36. Soccer legend Steven Gerrard’s scar tissue is similarly permanent. In April 2014, Liverpool entered the final weeks of the Premier League season on a 16-match unbeaten run and top of the table. Against Chelsea at Anfield, Gerrard miscontrolled a routine pass, slipped on the turf, and saw Demba Ba race clear to score. Chelsea won 2-0; Manchester City pipped Liverpool to the title by two points. “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about what if that didn’t happen,” Gerrard later told BT Sport. “Inside it kills me and it will do for a long time.” Cricketer Simon Kerrigan’s wound was inflicted even more swiftly. Selected for his only Test in the 2013 Ashes finale at The Oval, the left-arm spinner was thrashed for 53 runs in eight overs by Shane Watson and never bowled again in the match. He was not picked for England again, and when a squad recall for a 2014 Test at Lord’s was announced during a county game, the accompanying media glare triggered such anxiety that he withdrew. “Since that day, bowling has never been the same,” Kerrigan admitted upon retiring in 2023. “A little part of me feels I wish they could” take the cap away, he said, despite well-meaning assurances that “they can’t take it away from you.” Yet the ledger of public failure is not exclusively a tale of lifelong regret. German golf great Bernhard Langer missed a six-foot par putt on the final hole of the 1991 Ryder Cup that would have retained the trophy for Europe; the Americans celebrated their first triumph since 1983. One week later Langer faced a 15-foot putt merely to reach a playoff at the German Masters. “My first thought was, ‘You just missed a six-footer a week ago,’” he recalled. “So I walked around for a moment and said to myself, ‘Don’t go there.’” He holed the putt and won the playoff, evidence that rapid redemption is possible. Amanda Anisimova supplied a more recent example. Thrashed 6-0, 6-0 by Iga Świątek in the 2025 Wimbledon final, the American returned 53 days later to defeat the same opponent in the U.S. Open quarter-finals. “At the end of the day, to me it was just tennis,” she said of the Wimbledon debacle, crediting her ability to separate result from identity for the turnaround. Performance psychologist Sarah Murray, who spent nine years inside a Premier League club, argues that such separation is essential. “Perceived failure on the world stage is public and permanent and it can feel identity-threatening,” she explains. “The really important thing in order to come back is the separation of that sense of personal failure from personal worth.” Whether redemption arrives within days, as it did for Langer and Anisimova, or requires the slow grind Jacobellis endured, the path inevitably begins with the same stark admission Malinin delivered in Milan: “I blew it.” What follows—lifetime scar or springboard—depends on how completely an athlete can reframe the story. For Malinin, the next chapter is unwritten; for others, the lesson is already clear: the biggest stage giveth, and the biggest stage taketh away, but it rarely allows its protagonists to forget.

When Omar Berrada slipped quietly into the Old Trafford boardroom last July, he carried no fanfare, no grand unveiling and, most strikingly, no panic. Colleagues who spent 13 years with him at Manchester City say they never once saw him raise his voice or betray the slightest twitch of anxiety. In the febrile world of Premier League politics, that equanimity is already being tested to its limit. United’s new chief executive, now 47, was parachuted in by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to do what the club has failed to manage since Sir Alex Ferguson retired: build a modern, winning machine. The early report card is mixed. Within 18 months Berrada has overseen the sackings of Erik ten Hag and, in January 2025, Ruben Amorim, while also parting company with sporting director Dan Ashworth after only five months. The combined bill for hiring and firing that trio stands at an estimated £37 million, excluding wages. Yet those who know Berrada best insist the calm exterior masks a relentlessly demanding operator. Born in Paris to an economics professor and a UN worker, he spent his childhood in Rabat, Washington, Brussels and Barcelona. Polyglot and politically astute, he joined Barcelona in 2004 as head of sponsorships, overlapping with Pep Guardiola, before City lured him to London in 2011. Within four years he was commercial director, credited with transforming City’s revenue streams and, crucially, negotiating the Nissan deal that secured a 20 per cent stake in Yokohama F. Marinos. When the agreement appeared dead, Berrada flew to Japan and returned with a signed contract. That forensic attention to detail, allied with an almost militaristic work ethic, is now being applied to United’s bloated structure. Insiders describe a man who sends lengthy voice notes at weekends, sets stretch targets and shows underperformers the door. “Everything was urgent,” one former City colleague recalls. “Under-performance was not tolerated.” The challenge at United is exponentially larger. Ratcliffe tasked him with trimming costs after 250 redundancies in the spring of 2024. Berrada duly warned staff more pain could follow. He has since been forced to manage upwards through a labyrinth of overlapping hierarchies, balancing INEOS executives against United’s traditional power bases. Where City operated like a Silicon Valley start-up – “challenge the status quo” was office gospel – United are portrayed as entrenched, still living off commercial models built under the Glazers two decades ago. Berrada’s sporting credentials rest heavily on his City Football Group tenure. As chief football operations officer from 2020 he centralised negotiations across a network that stretches from New York to Mumbai, working hand-in-glove with sporting director Txiki Begiristain. He handled the delicate courting of Erling Haaland’s camp, even inviting agent Rafaela Pimenta to work from City’s training complex for a week to close the 2022 deal. He also held the line on Harry Maguire in 2019, refusing to match United’s eventual £80 million valuation. Whether that transfer acumen translates to rebuilding United remains the billion-pound question. Last summer’s arrivals – Senne Lammens, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko – are being hailed internally as evidence of sharper processes under revamped data and scouting teams. Yet the decision to sack Amorim after 14 months, following a swift U-turn on ten Hag, has renewed scrutiny of Berrada’s football judgment. Privately, City executives always assumed Berrada would succeed Ferran Soriano as CEO; instead he jumped ship to the neighbour they spent a decade trying to dethrone. The move stunned the Etihad corridors, though few blame him. “Few would turn down the chance to transform one of the biggest clubs in the world,” one former colleague shrugs. For now, Berrada has the backing of Ratcliffe, who was introduced to him via an intermediary and emerged from a marathon first meeting convinced he had found the right man. Whether the softly-spoken executive, labelled “lab-grown corporate” by detractors, can morph into the visionary United crave will define the next chapter of English football’s most storied rivalry. The flapping, for the moment, remains strictly underwater.

On this day in 1959, Fidel Castro formally assumed the role of premier of Cuba, sealing a revolutionary turn that had begun six weeks earlier when strongman Fulgencio Batista was toppled and sent into exile. The brief but intense insurrection that drove Batista from power reached its institutional climax in the capital as Castro, the 32-year-old guerrilla commander who had led rebel columns out of the Sierra Maestra, took the oath of office before a nation eager for change. The ceremony, held in Havana, signaled more than a routine transfer of authority; it opened an era that would see Cuba reorient its economy, its foreign alliances, and ultimately its entire political identity toward socialism and a close alliance with the Soviet bloc. Within months, sweeping agrarian reforms and mass nationalizations began reshaping the Caribbean island, setting the stage for Cold War confrontations that would reverberate throughout the Western Hemisphere. While Castro’s inauguration drew throngs of supporters who saw him as a symbol of national sovereignty, it also triggered alarm in Washington and among Cuban business elites. Diplomatic cables of the period captured U.S. officials’ growing concern that the charismatic leader’s rhetoric against “Yankee imperialism” presaged a wholesale break with traditional capitalist structures. Those fears proved prescient: within two years Cuba had declared itself a socialist state, and Castro would remain at the helm for nearly five decades. The events of Feb. 16, 1959, thus stand as a pivotal moment not only for Cuba but for Cold War geopolitics, marking the formal start of a government that would challenge U.S. influence in Latin America and become a focal point of East-West tensions just 90 miles from Florida’s shores.

Every dressing room needs an enforcer, and the Premier League era has produced some of the most feared competitors ever to lace a boot. From Nottingham Forest to Real Madrid, these six men turned intimidation into an art form, altering matches before a ball was even kicked. Stuart Pearce’s nickname said it all. christened “Psycho” by supporters and peers alike, the former England left-back’s wild-eyed stare was matched only by the ferocity of his tackles. Wingers routinely requested a change of flank rather than duel with the Forest icon, and even Roy Keane concedes he approached Pearce with caution. His pain threshold became legend at West Ham when he completed ten minutes of a match on a fractured tibia before finally accepting a stretcher. Danish midfielder Thomas Gravesen carried an air of volatility that unnerved teammates and adversaries alike. Fabio Capello labelled him “a bit peculiar,” while national coach Bo Johansson questioned his psychological stability. Yet Gravesen’s talent earned him a 2005 transfer to Real Madrid, where his single La Liga campaign proved he could mix it with Europe’s elite. Off the pitch, his eccentricity continues: he now counts Nicolas Cage as a neighbour. Few symbols of menace are more recognisable than Vinnie Jones. Whether crunching opponents or later crunching skulls on screen, the Welshman’s scowl and agricultural challenges became hallmarks of Wimbledon’s “Crazy Gang.” Jones swapped studs for scripts after retirement, starring in Mean Machine, Snatch and X-Men: The Last Stand, but defenders still shudder at the memory of his bone-rattling tackles. Centre-forwards are usually the hunters, yet Duncan Ferguson made defenders the prey. The Scot’s elbows and forearms were weapons as potent as any finish, and opponents quickly learned that challenging him aerially carried a physical price. Over a 16-year career at Everton, Rangers, Newcastle and Dundee United, “Big Dunc” cultivated a reputation that forced centre-backs to think twice before committing. Roy Keane patrolled midfield like a guard dog protecting territory. Manchester United’s captain demanded the same relentless intensity from teammates and exacted painful retribution from foes. Underrated technically, Keane could glide past markers or dissect a back line, yet his signature trait was ball-winning laced with retribution. Alf-Inge Haaland can attest to the Irishman’s long memory. Completing the list is the sport’s ultimate genius-cum-warrior, Diego Maradona. Diminutive in stature but gigantic in courage, the Argentine proved he could look after himself when provoked. Months after Athletic Bilbao’s Andoni Goikoetxea—nicknamed “the Butcher of Bilbao”—shattered his ankle in a tackle described as one of Spanish football’s most brutal, Maradona exacted swift physical revenge in a subsequent meeting against the Basques, demonstrating that even artists can fight when cornered. Together these six carved out a unique niche: players whose very presence tilted the psychological balance, proving that hardness, when channelled, can be as decisive as any goal.

The Washington Commanders are mourning the sudden death of Tre’ Johnson, the former Pro Bowl offensive guard who anchored the team’s offensive line for most of the 1990s. Johnson, 54, died unexpectedly on Sunday, February 15, 2026, while on a brief family trip, his wife Irene announced via social media. Irene Johnson’s statement described a man whose life revolved around family, football, and the classroom. “It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that my husband, Tre’ Johnson, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly,” she wrote, adding that the couple’s four children—Chloe, EJ, EZ, and Eden—were “devastated and in shock.” She recalled how Johnson never missed one of his children’s practices or games, and how he shared a passion for French bulldogs and motorcycle rides with close friends. On the field, Johnson’s eight-year tenure in Washington (1994-2001) was defined by durability and power. A second-round selection out of Temple in the 1994 NFL Draft, he started every game at guard for the 1999 squad that earned him a Pro Bowl nod. That season helped propel Washington to the divisional round of the playoffs, where the club fell to the eventual NFC champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Johnson finished his career with a single-season stop in Cleveland before retiring after the 2001 campaign. Following football, Johnson discovered a second calling in education. He taught history at the Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland, earning admiration from students and faculty alike for his mentorship and classroom presence. Recent health challenges had forced him to take a leave of absence, but colleagues say his impact on the school community remains indelible. Johnson is survived by his wife Irene and their four children. The organization he represented for the bulk of his NFL career expressed its sorrow in a brief statement: “We’re heartbroken to learn of the loss of former Washington All-Pro guard Tre’ Johnson. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”

By the time the NFL’s competition committee convenes for its annual winter meeting, the list of grievances from players will already be stacked higher than a goal-post pad. From the tush-push scrums that have become the Philadelphia Eagles’ short-yardage trademark to the league’s latest kickoff experiment, every tweak to the rulebook lands under an oversized microscope. USA Today Sports recently handed that microscope to the athletes themselves, asking a cross-section of current and former stars which regulations deserve a red pen in 2026. The answers, not surprisingly, spanned everything from alignment minutiae to the gray frontiers of pass-interference enforcement. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy fired first, zeroing in on offensive offsides—a call he believes has become hypersensitive. “There’s some times where guys are not lined up on the ball, and there’s a flag that gets thrown for it where we’re all like, ‘Really?’” Purdy said, noting that the ticky-tack enforcement stalls drives without improving player safety or competitive fairness. Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, never shy about mixing humor with critique, took aim at the league’s pass-interference standard. “It’s kind of getting ridiculous,” Gronkowski said, half-rolling his eyes while suggesting that both offensive and defensive pass-interference have become too subjective. Fans from New Orleans to Denver, he argued, have seen games tilt on calls that feel arbitrary in real time and no clearer on replay. Ex-Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick echoed a familiar refrain about roughing-the-passer rulings. “That stuff is so inconsistent, man,” Vick said, pointing to the wide variance in how officials interpret the same quarterback hit. Despite the player pushback, none of the three grievances appear on the docket for immediate revision. According to ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio, the league will instead continue its cautious expansion of reviewable plays and revisit a proposal that would replace the onside kick with a fourth-and-13 conversion attempt. One head coach already told Florio bluntly, “I hate both of them,” a sentiment many traditionalists are likely to share. Whether any of these ideas reach the ownership-vote stage remains uncertain, but the message from players is clear: before the NFL adds another layer to its labyrinthine rulebook, it might be time to clean up the clutter already inside.

Scottsdale, Ariz. – When Colorado’s spring-training complex opened its gates this week, 19 non-roster invitees reported alongside the 40-man roster, each carrying the same modest goal: force the front office to make room on the charter flight north at the end of March. President of baseball operations Paul DePodesta has already laid out the template. Position players must flash athleticism and positional versatility; pitchers must show a fully developed arsenal rather than a one-pitch showcase. With those directives in place, the Rockies’ coaching staff will spend the next six weeks deciding whether any of the 19 can crack an Opening-Day roster that currently lists no obvious vacancies. The invitation list, released earlier this week, represents the organization’s deepest non-roster class in recent seasons. While the club has not tipped its hand on favorites, DePodesta’s public emphasis on multi-positional athletes and mature pitching repertoires provides a clear lens through which evaluations will unfold. Every ground-ball rep, bullpen session and Cactus League inning will be weighed against that stated criteria. For the Purple Row night owls monitoring each workout, the question is straightforward yet compelling: which of the 19 non-roster invitees—if any—will still be wearing Rockies purple when camp breaks? The answer will begin to crystallize over the coming weeks as split-squad games and late-inning opportunities separate the statistically intriguing from the genuinely actionable. Until then, the 19 hopefuls share equal odds: impress the evaluators, fit the philosophical mold, and leave the decision makers no choice but to adjust the roster accordingly.

Barcelona’s wounded stars have no time to lick their bruises. Just four days after a chastening Copa del Rey quarter-final first-leg loss at Atlético Madrid, Hansi Flick’s side must regroup for a Catalan derby at Montilivi on Monday night (21:00 CET) that could decide the complexion of the title race. Real Madrid’s Saturday victory over Real Sociedad temporarily shunted Barça from top spot and cranked the pressure up another notch. Anything short of three points against a Girona outfit hovering one place above the relegation zone will invite fresh scrutiny of Flick’s high-line system, though the German coach can point to four trophies in 18 months and the club’s deepest Champions League run since 2020 as evidence of broader progress. The visitors will be without Gavi, Pedri, new loan signing Marcus Rashford and defender Andreas Christensen, while goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen remains a long-term absentee. Girona, meanwhile, are still missing captain Juan Carlos, midfield loanee Donny van de Beek and winger Portu, with left-back Álex Moreno sidelined and Morocco international Azzedine Ounahi rated doubtful. Míchel’s side have shed their early-season fragility. Since the turn of the year Girona have taken 11 points from a possible 18, the only defeat a narrow loss at Athletic Club. Their defensive recalibration has transformed a side that conceded 14 goals in a three-game league stretch last autumn, and the Catalans will draw confidence from their opening-day visit to Montjuïc when only a 93rd-minute Ronald Araújo strike denied them a famous draw. Barcelona’s projected XI sees Flick stick with the 4-2-3-1 that has carried them to the summit: Joan in goal; Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsí, Eric García and Alejandro Balde across the back; Frenkie de Jong and Marc Bernal anchoring midfield; Lamine Yamal, Fermín López and Ferran Torres supporting Robert Lewandowski. Girona are expected to line up in the same shape: Paulo Gazzaniga between the posts; Yan Couto (Rincón), David Reis, Daley Blind and Arnau Martínez in defence; Iván Martín and Yangel Herrera (Beltrán) screening; Viktor Tsygankov, Thomas Lemar and Savinho (Gil) supplying striker Artem Vanat. A Monday-night kick-off is a rarity for Barcelona, but the quick turnaround may prove beneficial as they seek an immediate riposte to the Atlético setback. With the second leg of that cup tie looming next week, a convincing league win would reassert momentum and rekindle belief that the high line can survive a pressure-cooker environment. For Girona, the equation is equally stark: three points would lift them five clear of the drop zone and inflict further psychological damage on their illustrious neighbours. Expect Míchel to mirror Diego Simeone’s aggressive template, pressing Barça’s makeshift back line and testing whether lessons have truly been learned in the capital. Television audiences can catch the derby on ESPN2 in the United States, Premier Sports 1 in the UK, SuperSport across Nigeria and on DAZN in Spain, while streaming options include ESPN+, Premier Sports Player and FanCode. Prediction: Barcelona’s wounded pride meets Girona’s resurgent resolve, but the visitors possess enough firepower to edge a tight contest. 3-1 to the Blaugrana.

Phoenix, Arizona — Nebraska’s arms turned the desert into a no-hit haven once again, blanking Grand Canyon to secure a third-straight victory on the program’s season-opening road swing. The Huskers have now surrendered just a single run across three games, extending a streak that began with back-to-forth wins earlier in the weekend. Sunday’s result marked the first time since the Huskers’ last College-World-Series campaign that the program has opened a season with three consecutive wins. The team’s previous 3-0 start came during that landmark postseason run, and the current squad has matched that momentum with a dominant pitching performance. Details of the final score and individual statistics were not disclosed in the post-game summary, but the emphasis on mound command was clear: Grand Canyon’s lineup was held scoreless for the duration of·the·contest, underscased by a collective effort from Nebraska’s pitching staff. The·Huskers will look to·continue their·early-season·roll·as·they·remain·in·Arizona·for·the·next·stages·of·their·road·trip.

Milano Cortina 2026 roared to life on Sunday, February 15, as a tapestry of technical perfection, emotional redemption and last-second drama unfurled across snow and ice. The day’s program delivered everything the Olympic rings promise: veterans protecting legacies, newcomers seizing the moment, and host-nation Italy igniting arenas with deafening support. Alpine Skiing – Women’s Giant Slalom Federica Brignone etched her name deeper into the sport’s pantheon with a wire-to-wire victory that ended Italy’s 28-year wait for gold in the discipline. The 32-year-old’s two-run masterclass was notable for its metronomic rhythm and ice-cool composure; she finished with a combined margin comfortable enough to wave the Italian flag before the final intermediate. The triumph gave Brignone her second title of these Games and confirmed her as the face of the home team. Cross-Country Skiing – Men’s 4×7.5 km Relay Italy snapped a two-decade podium drought as Francesco De Fabiani, Francesco Pellegrino, Davide Graz and anchor Federico Pellegrino claimed bronze in a pulsating team race. Pellegrino’s final-leg surge past two rivals on the last climb electrified the Tuscan crowd and sealed the medal. Norway, anchored by Johannes Høsflot Klaebo, successfully defended its Olympic relay crown; Klaebo’s explosive kick in the last kilometre underlined why he is already being hailed as the most decorated male cross-country sprinter of the era. Snowboard Cross – Mixed Team Italy’s double Olympic champion Michela Moioli and teammate Omar Visintin overcame a shaky quarter-final to storm back for silver. Moioli’s daring inside pass in the medal round flipped the script and kept Italy in contention throughout a frantic final. Biathlon – Women’s 10 km Pursuit Lisa Vittozzi shot a perfect 20-for-20 to climb from fifth at the start to the top of the podium. The 29-year-old’s calm final standing series, under gusting wind, proved the difference in a contest decided by seconds. The gold is Vittozzi’s first individual Olympic title and Italy’s second biathlon victory of the week. Skeleton – Mixed Team Great Britain’s Matt Weston and Amelia Stoecker combined for a textbook performance on the Cesana Pariol track, posting the fastest time in both heats to secure Britain’s maiden mixed-team gold. Weston’s victory doubled his personal tally after last week’s men’s skeleton triumph, making him the first British slider to win two golds at a single Games. Freestyle Skiing – Men’s Moguls Canadian legend Mikaël Kingsbury signed off his Olympic career in storybook fashion, capturing gold with a final-run score that neither rival could match. Kingsbury’s trademark back-full and seamless carves down the steep pitch were delivered with veteran authority, capping a journey that began with silver in Sochi 2014 and ends with three Olympic medals. With the Games approaching their midpoint, Sunday’s haul of memories reinforced Milano Cortina 2026’s emerging identity: a stage where history is both respected and rewritten, often in the same breath.

HENDERSON, Nev. – The Las Vegas Raiders have appointed Andrew Janocko as their new offensive coordinator, the club announced Sunday. Janocko, pronounced juh-NO-co, arrives in Las Vegas after spending the 2024 season as quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks. In that role he guided quarterback Sam Darnold to a second consecutive Pro Bowl selection and helped propel the Seahawks to victory in Super Bowl LX earlier this month. The move marks a swift ascent for Janocko, whose work with Darnold and Seattle’s passing attack has now earned him play-calling duties with the Raiders. Las Vegas hopes his recent championship pedigree will inject fresh momentum into an offense looking to build on its existing talent base. Team officials offered no additional comment beyond the announcement, but the timing—coming less than two weeks after Seattle’s title triumph—underscores the Raiders’ urgency in solidifying their coaching staff ahead of offseason preparations. Janocko’s exact vision for the Raiders offense remains to be seen, yet his track record with Darnold suggests a focus on maximizing quarterback efficiency and pushing the ball downfield. Las Vegas will now turn its attention to roster evaluation and scheme implementation as Janocko settles into his new role leading the team’s offensive unit.

MADRID, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) — Rayo Vallecano delivered a statement victory on Sunday, thumping Atletico Madrid 3-0 in a match that will be remembered as much for the scoreline as for the circumstances surrounding it. The rout came only three days after Diego Simeone’s side produced an eye-catching first-leg triumph over FC Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semifinals, highlighting the stark contrast between Atletico’s mid-week flair and their weekend frailty away from home. With the Vallecas pitch ruled unplayable, the contest was relocated, yet the change of venue did nothing to disrupt Rayo’s intensity. Simeone opted for heavy rotation, but the lineup remained laden with recognizable talent, making the eventual margin of defeat all the more galling for the visitors. From the opening whistle Rayo seized the initiative, pressing high and converting chances with clinical precision to build an insurmountable lead. Atletico’s rearguard, reshuffled yet experienced, had no answer as Rayo’s forwards sliced through the defense time and again. Each goal further deflated the Rojiblancos, who rarely threatened a response and never looked capable of overturning the momentum. By the final whistle the 3-0 scoreline felt both deserved and ominous for Simeone, whose side now must regroup quickly if they hope to keep pace at the top of La Liga. Elsewhere on Sunday, Real Betis compounded Mallorca’s misery, dealing the islanders a defeat that shoved them into the relegation zone. The result leaves Mallorca in the bottom three, intensifying the pressure on the squad and coaching staff with the season’s decisive stretch approaching. For Rayo, the victory represents more than three points; it is a declaration that they can compete with the league’s heavyweights. For Atletico, it is a sobering reminder that progress in cup competitions offers little insulation against league-day lapses. With the title race tightening and relegation battles intensifying, every matchday now carries heightened stakes across the Spanish top flight.