The world mourned the loss of Patrick Stewart on Thursday as the iconic actor passed at the age of 86 after a battle with Alzheimer's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. Stewart was a prolific stage actor as well as taking on massive roles in both television and film. He played Captain Jean-Luc Picard for 176 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, as well as starring as Professor X in eight X-Men movies -- including post-credit scenes and cameos -- across both the Fox and Marvel Cinematic universes (with the ninth coming this December with Avengers: Doomsday).
But one of the things that made Stewart so special and beloved was his willingness to do something goofy or funny. Such was the case in a 2024 Super Bowl commercial for Paramount+. Not only did Stewart star alongside well-known CBS and Paramount+ characters like Survivor's Jeff Probst, Knuckles from Sonic the Hedgehog, daytime host Drew Barrymore and Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa.
Knuckles appears in the new Paramount+ Super Bowl commercial. pic.twitter.com/tuD7G4GfXz
— Sonic The Wereblog (Sonic_Hedgeblog) February 1, 2024
It's a truly ridiculous commercial that features Stewart trying to convince Tagovailoa to throw Arnold of Hey Arnold! to the top of a mountain. "Not built for the moment, I see," Stewart delivers as if he's on stage in the West End.

#well

The Detroit Red Wings are moving forward without Dylan Larkin, and two of the team's biggest stars have made it clear that the remaining players aren't going to let the controversy derail their season.
Following Thursday night's emotional 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, Moritz Seider and Alex DeBrincat spoke about the challenges facing Detroit after Larkin informed the organization he would no longer play while awaiting a trade.
And while neither player dismissed what Larkin has meant to the franchise, both emphasized the importance of having players who are committed to the team.
Their comments offered an interesting glimpse into a locker room suddenly facing life without its former captain.
Oct 24, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (53) against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

#larkin #wings #seider

Borussia Dortmund are preparing for a massive top-of-the-table showdown against Bayern Munich this weekend as both sides look to break their current deadlock at the summit. Head coach Niko Kovac has acknowledged the significant threat posed by the record champions, specifically highlighting the form of their star forward.
Kovac has offered high praise for Kane as Dortmund prepare to face a Bayern side led by the newly crowned Ballon d'Or winner. The England captain has continued his devastating form in Germany, prompting the Dortmund boss to recognize the sheer scale of the task facing his defense on Saturday. Kovac noted that the striker's recent accolades speak for themselves, emphasizing that he has successfully reached a new level since moving to the Bundesliga.
"There's no need to say a word about him. The mere fact that he received this ****** le says everything about him. He was already a top player in England. To take another leap forward now is sensational," said Kovac on the club's official website
The stakes could not be higher for this edition of Der Klassiker, with both teams currently tied on 17 points after seven matchdays. While Bayern hold the top spot due to a superior goal difference, Dortmund have the opportunity to leapfrog their rivals. Kovac believes the current competitiveness at the top is a breath of fresh air for the league. However, the coach warned that excitement does not equate to an easy path to victory. He demanded absolute focus from his squad, stressing that only their best football would suffice in Munich.
"This certainly makes things a lot more exciting than in recent years. But that doesn't make it any easier, because FC Bayern Munich is undoubtedly the best of the best—not just in Germany, but also in Europe. We have to play at the very highest level. But we're Dortmund—we have our own standards, and we intend to live up to them," Kovac insisted.

#dortmund #best #germany #form

IND vs NZ 4th T20I 2026 results, highlights and scorecard as Glenn Philips' ton inflicts heavy 87-run defeat on India originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Captains: Mitchell Santner (New Zealand), Shreyas Iyer (India)
Toss result: India have won the toss and have opted to field
Live Telecast: Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV (India), Sky Sport (New Zealand)

#t20i

Smriti Mandhana has revealed that former India captain MS Dhoni personally congratulated her after the Indian women's team lifted their maiden ODI World Cup ***** le in November 2025.

Speaking at an event featuring Dhoni, Mandhana recalled receiving a WhatsApp message from the legendary cricketer following India's historic triumph. She admitted that the gesture made her particularly happy, knowing that Dhoni is not someone who uses his phone frequently.

"He actually did send me a message after the World Cup win. I know he does not use his phone a lot. I was very happy that he used WhatsApp to congratulate all of us," Mandhana said.

Host Harsha Bhogle then asked Mandhana whether she had saved Dhoni's number.

"I did have his number," she replied.

Dhoni, meanwhile, offered an interesting explanation for choosing Mandhana as the recipient of his message. He revealed that she was the only member of the Indian women's team whose contact number he had saved.

"I did not know anyone else's (number) from the team. I wanted the message to go through. We had just shot (a commercial) before that. I thought, 'Let me send a message to Smriti' and I mentioned, 'Please wish everyone who is part of the team," Dhoni said.

India created history on November 2, 2025, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in Navi Mumbai to win their first-ever Women's ODI World Cup. The triumph ended the team's long wait for an ICC ***** le.

Batting first in the final, India posted 298/7, with Shafali Verma leading the charge with 87 runs and Deepti Sharma contributing 58. Deepti then delivered with the ball, taking five wickets as South Africa were dismissed for 246 despite a century from Laura Wolvaardt.

#message #World #number

Former Man Utd and City star Carlos Tevez has opened up about the intense animosity he felt toward Gary Neville following his controversial cross-town switch in Manchester. The Argentine forward admitted he was left fuming by public criticisms made by his former captain after he swapped Old Trafford for the Etihad Stadium.
Tevez sent shockwaves through English football in 2009 when he traded Manchester United for fierce local rivals Manchester City. At the time, City were freshly armed with Abu Dhabi investment and determined to disrupt the Premier League's established hierarchy.
Tevez had enjoyed immense success at Old Trafford, securing two league ******* les and a Champions League crown. However, a bitter contract dispute triggered his departure across the city.
The Argentine striker felt aggrieved by Sir Alex Ferguson, claiming the legendary Scottish manager broke a verbal promise to sign him permanently after his two-year loan spell concluded. This tension laid the foundation for an acrimonious exit and a lingering rivalry with former captain Neville, who accused Tevez of disrespecting the manager.
The animosity between Tevez and Neville stemmed from the full-back's public ******* ertion that the striker had mishandled his departure. Speaking on Rio Ferdinand's YouTube channel, the scale of that friction was laid bare.

#city #former #argentine #animosity

As we approach Gameweek 9 of the 2026/27 Fantasy Premier League campaign, getting your captaincy choice right is essential for driving your rank up the mini-league standings.
With key injuries shaking up forward lines, red-hot strikers in the form of their lives, and marquee fixtures dominating the schedule, fantasy managers have several intriguing routes to consider.
Below is our breakdown of the premier GW9 FPL captaincy pick options to help you make an informed decision before the deadline.
With João Pedro sidelined through injury and Cole Palmer searching for consistent rhythm, Morgan Rogers has stepped up as the central spark in Chelsea's attacking setup.
Operating with complete creative freedom, Rogers provides a dependable route to points as Chelsea travels to face a struggling Manchester United backline.

#gameweek #cole

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — India captain Shreyas Iyer won his fourth consecutive toss and chose to bowl Friday in the fourth Twenty20 cricket international against New Zealand at Eden Park.
Bowling first was a winning formula in the first three matches of the five-match series which India won by four wickets, four wickets and six wickets to take a 3-0 series lead.
Although the series is decided, Eden Park is sold out for the match and India has been encouraged by coach Gautam Gambhir to treat the remaining two matches as a separate series.
"We're going to leave no stone unturned," Iyer said. "It's important to be ruthless no matter what the results have been so far."
New Zealand will attempt to recover some pride after the mauling its bowlers suffered in the third match at Wellington on Tuesday in which India opener Abishek Sharma scored a century from 35 ****** .

#India #park

Following his historic Ballon d'Or triumph, the conversation around Harry Kane's achievements has reached another level, with the UK Prime Minister's office being asked whether the England captain could receive one of the country's highest honors.
Per The Independent (via iMiaSanMia), a spokesperson responded with the following:
"On your question about a knighthood, I think everyone would agree, Harry Kane has given an enormous amount to English football, and this is a very special moment for him in the country, but as ever, I'm not going to pre-empt the honors process."
While there is no confirmation just yet, the response certainly recognizes the significance of Kane's achievements for English football.
From captaining England to a major international final to becoming one of the most prolific strikers of his generation, Kane has built a remarkable legacy. Now, after reaching the summit of individual football honors, could a knighthood be the next chapter?

#Football #english #ballon

Azmatullah Omarzai produced a stunning rescue act with the bat, smashing a record-breaking century to help Afghanistan recover from a disastrous start and post 221/7 against Zimbabwe in the second T20I at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Walking in with Afghanistan reeling at 5/4, Omarzai launched a counter-attack that completely changed the course of the innings. He hammered 116 off just 50 **** , striking five fours and 12 sixes at an astonishing strike rate of 232.

With the effort, Omarzai registered the highest individual score by a batter coming in at No. 6 or lower in T20Is involving Full Member nations. He went past the previous record of 89, scored by former Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi against Ireland in 2017.

The record-breaking knock also put Omarzai ahead of Sam Billings (87 against West Indies in 2019), Cameron White (85 not out against Sri Lanka in 2010) and David Miller (85 not out against Pakistan in 2021) on the list.

Afghanistan's innings had been in complete disarray after Zimbabwe's bowlers reduced them to 5/4. Several top-order batters departed cheaply, while Sediqullah Atal managed just 17 off 21 deliveries before falling in the ninth over.

Omarzai found an ideal partner in Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, and the duo launched a remarkable recovery. They added 142 runs off only 59 **** for the sixth wicket, with Ijaz contributing a blistering 52 off 27 deliveries, including five fours and three sixes.

The partnership was finally broken when Ijaz fell with the score at 180. Omarzai continued his **** ault before being dismissed in the 19th over, having already produced one of the finest rescue acts in Afghanistan's T20I history.

Captain Rashid Khan provided a spectacular finish, smashing an unbeaten 25 off just six **** , including four sixes. Mujeeb Ur Rahman remained not out on two as Afghanistan closed their innings at 221/7, scoring at 11.05 runs per over.

Rashid also achieved a major milestone during the match, becoming the first bowler to claim 200 wickets in T20Is.

Zimbabwe fall short despite Sikandar Raza's century

Zimbabwe were unable to overcome the imposing target despite a determined effort from captain Sikandar Raza, who scored his second T20I century.

Raza fought till the end, but the visitors ultimately fell short, with Afghanistan's early batting collapse proving to be a distant memory after Omarzai's extraordinary intervention.

Tafadzwa Tsiga offered valuable support on his debut, while the dismissal of Ryan Burl dealt another blow to Zimbabwe's hopes.

The victory also extended Afghanistan's remarkable dominance in the rivalry, marking their eighth consecutive T20I series win against Zimbabwe. The visitors are yet to win a T20I series against Afghanistan.

#record #innings

The Los Angeles Kings found a way to win a game they shouldn't have needed to find a way to win on Thursday night. They might have a change in coaching strategy to thank for that.
After blowing a 5-1 third-period lead, the Kings defeated the Ottawa Senators 6-5 in overtime behind Quinton Byfield's game-winner. But almost as interesting as the wild swings of the game was something Drew Doughty revealed after it ended.
"It's the first year in my whole career that we've ever actually worked on three-on-three," the Kings' captain said. "A lot of credit to the coaches in that area. We worked on it in camp. We worked on it before the season started, and they had a bit of a game plan, which we didn't really have before either. So a lot of credit to them for making us work on it."
If the Kings ever had an offseason where they needed to improve that aspect of their game, it was this past one. They lost an NHL-record 20 overtime and shootout games in 2025-26, a huge part of the reason they finished with the Western Conference's second wild-card spot and were swept out of the playoffs in the first round. First-year head coach Peter Laviolette came in and wanted to make sure the Kings didn't post those numbers again.
"There's definitely a method to the madness, and there's got to be a buy-in to that, and I think the players bought in," Laviolette said. "There's a lot of review that went through it, and there's things that we talk about prior to games and then after games — the overtime games — and reviewing that. And I think the players have done a really good job of executing them."

#first #laviolette #wild

Hong Kong Sixes 2026 schedule: Start date, time and squads listed originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 22nd Hong Kong Sixes runs from October 30 to November 1 at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Kowloon.
Twelve teams are split into four groups of three, with Pakistan, India and UAE in Group C.
Defending champions Pakistan are led by Abbas Afridi, while India have named Bhuvneshwar ****** ar as captain.
Hong Kong's six-a-side tournament returns this month for its 22nd edition, and Pakistan arrive as the team to beat. They won last year's ****** le by beating Kuwait in the final, a record sixth Sixes championship. India, meanwhile, finished 12th out of 12 teams.

#hong #sixes #kong #teams

IND vs NZ 4th T20I 2026 live scorecard, toss winner, winning probability, result and highlights from Eden Park, Auckland originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Captains: Mitchell Santner (New Zealand), Shreyas Iyer (India)
Toss result: TBD
Live Telecast: Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV (India), Sky Sport (New Zealand)

#park #result

DETROIT — There was a lot going on Thursday in Detroit.
Let's start where it ended: The Chicago Blackhawks lost to the Red Wings 4-1 at Little Caesars Arena in their ugliest performance of the season.
The Hawks fell to 0-5 on the road and 4-9-0 overall and cap their two-game trip against the 9-4-1 Boston Bruins on Saturday in a Halloween matinee. It was their fifth straight game scoring two goals or fewer.
But the chaos of the day started hours earlier when Red Wings coach Todd McLellan announced that center Dylan Larkin would not play.
Larkin had told the Red Wings he no longer wanted to play for the organization and reiterated his trade demand. The team suspended him without pay Thursday, costing him $41,000 per day in salary and drawing ire from Red Wings fans who already were upset with the former captain.

#detroit #thursday #play

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has revealed that a pre-planned rest rather than excessive celebrations kept him on the bench during Wednesday night's emphatic 6-1 DFB-Pokal victory over Magdeburg. Having lifted the Ballon d'Or in London on Monday evening, the 33-year-old England captain watched on as an unused substitute in midweek.
Kane confirmed that Bayern coaching staff had already scheduled his midweek breather prior to Monday's ceremony, where he beat Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal to become England's first winner since Michael Owen in 2001. Although ready to feature if required, the veteran marksman was spared as Michael Olise netted a brace. Consequently, the forward was able to recover from a few exhausting days.
Speaking as quoted by TNT Sports, Kane explained the decision behind his omission: "I didn't party too hard! I could have played, but to be honest, Danksy [Bayern **** istant Aaron Danks] spoke to me and said they were thinking of trying to give me a break in this game, even before the Ballon d'Or, because I've played a lot of games in the last six weeks or so.
"It just worked well, the guys who started did really well. There was a moment in the game where he was thinking of bringing me on and we scored the fourth goal and killed the game off. All in all, I think it was important to get a rest. It's been a big emotional load, going through the big high on Monday.
"Big game on Saturday now as well [against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga], so I'll train tomorrow and be ready for that."

#ballon #Monday #rest #midweek

Chicago Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill did not hide his frustration after Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. He called the performance a major step backward, criticizing his players' effort, skating and attention to detail.
The Blackhawks entered the game looking to build consistency. Instead, they struggled defensively and allowed Detroit to control the game, despite captain Connor Bedard's early goal.
"We had just way too many guys that wasn't close, not enough good," Blashill told NHL reporters.
MORE: Blackhawks coach reveals why Connor Bedard stays on ice in big moments
Final: Detroit 4, Chicago 1

#Chicago

DETROIT (AP) — Viktor Arvidsson scored his sixth career hat trick and added an ***** ist as the Detroit Red Wings overcame the suspension of former captain Dylan Larkin with a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday.
The third four-point game of Arvidsson's career gave Detroit a 5-1-1 record over its last seven games. Lucas Raymond added a power-play goal and Alex DeBrincat had two ***** ists. John Gibson made 18 saves, including one on Frank Nazar's second-period penalty shot.
Connor Bedard scored for the Blackhawks, who are 0-5 on the road this season. Spencer Knight stopped 25 shots.
The Red Wings suspended Larkin without pay prior to the game. Larkin, who requested a trade during the offseason, through his agent said would no longer play for the organization. Larkin has two goals and six ***** ists in 10 games this season, including the tying goal during a shootout victory at Edmonton on Monday.
Bedard scored at 5:59 of the first period, backhanding a rebound of Wyatt Kaiser's shot. After the Red Wings wasted three power plays, they scored at even strength to tie it. Arvidsson deflected William Wallinder's shot from the point past Knight at 7:31 of the second period.

#shot #arvidsson #bedard

IND vs PAK Hong Kong Sixes 2026 live streaming: Start time and where to watch in India, Pakistan and other countries originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
India and Pakistan face each other in a Group C match at the Hong Kong Sixes 2026 on Friday, October 30.
The match is scheduled to begin at 11:45 a.m. IST (2:15 p.m. local time in Hong Kong).
India are led by Krunal Pandya, while Pakistan are captained by Abbas Afridi.
India and Pakistan are set to renew their rivalry at the Hong Kong Sixes 2026, with the two sides meeting in a Group C fixture on Friday, October 30.

#kong #Pakistan

England signed off their campaign in the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series with a 55-run victory over Sri Lanka, riding on Ben Duckett's magnificent 167 before Liam Dawson's four-wicket haul derailed the chase at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday.

Asked to bat first after Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field, England piled up 386/5 in 50 overs, registering the highest ODI total at the Lahore venue. Duckett led the charge with a commanding 132-ball knock, while Tom Banton and captain Harry Brook made valuable contributions to keep the scoreboard moving.

Sri Lanka put up a spirited fight in reply, with Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake scoring half-centuries. However, Dawson's spell of 4/49 broke the backbone of their middle order as the visitors were bowled out for 331 in 45.1 overs.
Duckett provided the foundation for England's imposing total with an innings of 167 off 132 deliveries. The left-hander combined patience with attacking strokeplay, setting the tone for a commanding batting performance.

He shared an opening partnership of 163 runs with Banton, who contributed 74 off 75 ****** . The stand gave England early control before Duckett continued to accelerate through the middle overs.

Captain Brook then joined the charge, helping England add another 107 runs in a brisk partnership with Duckett. The substantial contributions at the top ensured England maintained momentum throughout the innings and finished with 386/5.

The total surpassed Pakistan's 375/3 against Zimbabwe in 2015 to become the highest ODI score recorded at Gaddafi Stadium.
Sri Lanka needed a strong start to chase down the daunting target and found contributions from Fernando, Mendis and Rathnayake, who all registered half-centuries. Their efforts kept the chase alive, but England continued to find breakthroughs at crucial moments.

Dawson proved particularly effective in the middle overs, finishing with figures of 4/49 from his 10 overs. His spell disrupted Sri Lanka's progress and left the lower order with too much to do.

With the required rate climbing and wickets falling, Sri Lanka eventually folded for 331 in 45.1 overs. Sam Curran claimed the final wicket, dismissing Malinga to complete England's victory.
The 55-run victory gave England a positive finish to their campaign in Pakistan, ending their winless run in the country. However, the result did not alter the tournament's final lineup, with Sri Lanka and Pakistan having already secured qualification for the tri-series final.

#duckett

American Olympic gold medalist and PWHL star Kendall Coyne Schofield has announced that she is pregnant with her second child.
The 34-year-old, who married former NFL offensive lineman and Super Bowl champion Michael Schofield in 2018, shared the news on social media.
The announcement sheds light on Coyne Schofield's absence from the ice on Wednesday night, when Team USA faced off against Team Canada in Windsor, Ont. While named to the national team's fall training camp rosters, Coyne Schofield, a staple of the U.S. program since 2011, did not dress for the game.
A four-time Olympian, Coyne Schofield won her second gold medal at the Milan Cortina Winter Games in February. She has won seven IIHF Women's World Championships and established herself as one of the foundational figures in women's professional hockey and a key player in the creation of the PWHL.
Coyne Schofield gave birth to her first child, son Drew, in July 2023. Six months later, she was back on the ice for the PWHL's inaugural season in January 2024 as captain of the league's Minnesota franchise. The team won the first Walter Cup championship, and then another in 2025. Individually, Coyne Schofield has been one of the very best players in the PWHL over the last three seasons. Only Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin and teammate Taylor Fox (née Heise) have scored more career points than Coyne Schofield's 63 career points in 77 games, all scored with the Minnesota Frost since the PWHL's inaugural season in 2024.

#coyne #schofield #games #Gold

NEW YORK (AP) — When Jake Bauers gloved the final out of the Milwaukee Brewers' first World Series triumph, it might have ended the last Major League Baseball game for a long time.
While just 148 days remain until the scheduled start of the 2027 season on March 24, owners have proposed a salary cap for the first time since their 1994 plan led to a 7 1/2-month strike and the first cancellation of the World Series in 90 years.
"Obviously, you'd love to see the game be in a good spot and continue to be played," Milwaukee captain Christian Yelich said Wednesday a few hours before his team finished a five-game victory over Tampa Bay. "I think the game's in a great spot right now with a lot of people tuned in, a lot of popularity, a lot of great players out there. It would obviously be a shame if we miss time, but we'll have plenty of time this offseason to talk about it."
Baseball's five-year labor contract, agreed to in March 2022 on the 99th day of a management lockout, expires on Dec. 1. MLB is likely to lock out players again as soon as the deal expires.
That could create another free-agent frenzy ahead of the expiration. On Dec. 1, 2021, clubs committed to $1.4 billion in salaries that included nine-figure contracts for Javier Báez, Byron Buxton, Kevin Gausman, Max Scherzer, Corey Seager and Marcus Semien.

#time #series #obviously

Round two of the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 began on Sunday with two Elite Group B sides in early trouble, and each was pulled back into its match by a batter who stayed at the crease.
Karnataka were struggling against Saurashtra at the Alur ground in Bengaluru, while Punjab were reduced to 69 for 3 against Chhattisgarh in New Chandigarh. Manvanth ******* ar delivered the bigger surprise.
The 22-year-old left-hander was playing only his second first-class match, yet he walked in with Karnataka eight down and hit 135 from number nine. Uday Saharan, the Punjab captain, was steadier but just as important, as he finished the first day unbeaten on 106.
Both matches are scheduled to run until Tuesday, October 21, and both innings have already changed the shape of the games. Karnataka were bowled out for 342 on the second day, while Punjab ended the first day on 269 for 4, a long way from where they stood early on.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

#first #early #match

The Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026 brings together the hosts, England and Sri Lanka for a 50-over tournament that runs from October 18 to October 31.
All seven matches will be played at two venues, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with six league fixtures leading into a final between the top two sides.
The competition starts in Rawalpindi on October 18, when Pakistan take on Sri Lanka.
Pakistan's 16-member squad began its preparation at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi led the group through a three-hour session from 4 pm to 7 pm, held under head coach Mike Hesson and a support staff that includes batting coach Mike Smith, bowling coach Shaun Tait and fielding coach Mansoor Amjad.

#october #Pakistan #lanka #england

Atlético de Madrid have officially announced Diego Pablo Simeone's squad for the trip to Germany. The Rojiblancos face VfB Stuttgart in a decisive match on the third matchday of the UEFA Champions League league phase, with the Argentine coach taking a squad offering a range of tactical options.
The main news in Atlético's travelling squad is the return of Johnny Cardoso. The midfielder is back after missing the last league fixture against Espanyol through injury, providing a key defensive option to strengthen the midfield against the German side.
As for absentees, alongside captain Koke Resurrección, Cuti Romero will also be unavailable, joining Atlético's injury list for this Champions League clash. The defender has a muscle problem and will not be available to Simeone.
In goal, Jan Oblak heads a list of goalkeepers that also includes Juan Musso and academy product Salvador Esquivel. Meanwhile, the defensive options include Dávid Hancko, Marc Pubill, Robin Le Normand and Alejandro Grimaldo, who will underpin the structure set out by the coaching staff.
The squad is rounded out by creative talents such as Álex Baena, Lee Kang-in and Morten Hjulmand, alongside an attacking line led by Julián Álvarez, Alexander Sørloth and Giuliano Simeone. With this squad, Atlético will look to secure three vital points at the Neckarstadion.

#league #tico #injury #alongside

The official Serie A YouTube channel uploaded the highlights from Sunday's big showdown between Juventus and Lazio.
The first half didn't have too many major scoring opportunities, but the Biancocelesti came close at the half-hour mark through Gustav Isaksen, who tried to find the far corner with a sailing header but couldn't hit the target.
A few minutes later, Lazio got the breakthrough courtesy of an unlikely source, as Oliver Provstgaard headed home his first goal for the club after getting on the end of a glorious cross from his captain Mattia Zaccagni. Nuno Tavares almost scored from a deflected strike, but the ball ricocheted off the woodwork.
After the break, Randal Kolo Muani skipped past Josip Sutlo to present Nick Woltemade with an inviting opportunity to net the equaliser, but the Juventus substitute couldn't hit the target. At the other end of the pitch, Nuno Tavares found Isaksen with a wonderful cross-field pass, and the Danish winger cut past Zeki Celik and put the ball past Guglielmo Vicario to double Lazio's lead.
Player Ratings: Juventus 0-3 Lazio – Oliver the Conqueror

#oliver

AUS vs SA 2nd Test Day 2 2026 live scorecard, toss winner, winning probability, result and highlights from Gqeberha originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Venue: St George's Park, Gqeberha
Captains: Temba Bavuma (South Africa), Pat **** mins (Australia)
Toss result: Australia won the toss and chose to field first.
Live Telecast: SuperSport Cricket and SABC 3 (South Africa), Fox Sports and Kayo Sports (Australia), Fancode (India)

#australia #test

Bengaluru: For Tilak Varma, the number next to his name on the team sheet matters far less than the one on the scoreboard at the end of the match.

The India T20I vice-captain has seen his role evolve considerably in recent months, moving from the top order to the finisher's role as the team continues to fine-tune its combinations. While adapting to different batting positions is rarely straightforward, the 23-year-old has embraced the challenge and put the team's needs ahead of personal preference.

Having begun his T20I career near the top of the order, Tilak now often finds himself walking in at No. 5 or 6. With Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma opening, Ishan Kishan firmly established at No. 3 and skipper Shreyas Iyer occupying the next slot, opportunities higher up the order have become limited.

Rather than viewing it as a setback, Tilak sees it as another responsibility to master.

"Ishan is batting brilliantly at No. 3. So, for me, there is no option but to bat at 5 and 6 and do the job for the team. I am mentally prepared for that role and in the last few games, I have won matches from there. So, I am pretty confident," Tilak said after the rain-hit series decider against the West Indies in Bengaluru on Saturday.

The left-hander admitted that the transition from a top-order batter to a finisher has not been without its challenges.

"It's not easy to change from No. 3 to No. 5 or 6. It is slightly challenging. But I have been working on how I can finish games, and I love finishing games for the country," he said.

The demands of batting in the lower middle order are vastly different from those of a top-order role. There is little time to settle in, and the emphasis is on making an immediate impact rather than constructing an innings. Tilak said he has consciously altered his preparation to meet those demands.

"I have been working on it in the nets. Otherwise, it becomes tough. When you go in as a finisher and a slower ball comes into your arc, you need to be ready to hit it for six. In T20 cricket, if you bat at No. 5 or 6, you generally get only five or six overs, so I have had to change my approach."

Fortunately for Tilak, batting down the order is not entirely new territory.

"I batted lower down the order in my childhood as well. I have shots all around the ground and I am confident in my ability to adapt. Whether it is No. 3 or No. 5, I believe I have the technique to fit into any role for the team if I prepare well," he said.

#tilak #t20i

Getafe president Angel Torres has confirmed that the club could pursue a deal for Sergio Ramos after holding talks with the defender's representatives.
However, a move for the former Real Madrid captain is not currently a priority.
The Spanish side recently signed Dani Carvajal, and they are keeping the door open to another reunion involving a former Real Madrid star.
Speaking to Radio Nacional de Espana's Tablero Deportivo programme on Sunday, Torres revealed that he had spoken to Rene Ramos, Sergio's brother and agent.
They discussed the possibility of bringing the experienced former Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain centre-back to Getafe.

#ramos

Daniel Farke wasn't having it that Leeds United were the favourites for this game but there was nothing he could do about the level of expectation around his club going into it.
Last season Leeds drew this fixture 1-1 and then in April claimed their first league win at Old Trafford since 1981. Being truly competitive in the Premier League in both the post-promotion campaign and so far this term allowed supporters not only to dream of Elland Road glory on Sunday afternoon but perhaps even to expect it. Throw in the narrative surrounding the visitors given all that has transpired there of late and at the very least it felt like a big chance.
Yet if reality was to meet expectation, the first half did not make it immediately obvious. A frenetic first few minutes was as anticipated. Ethan Ampadu, leading the team out for the 100th time as captain, was at the heart of an aggressive start. He set the tone by levelling Carlos Baleba to concede one free-kick, then caught Bryan Mbeumo on the ankle to concede another, somehow without seeing yellow.
Neither Bruno Fernandes nor Gabriel Gudmundsson got away with their early transgressions, however. So it was tetchy and fractious, but the play that was punctuated by fouls was largely in the home side's favour. Leeds saw plenty of the ball, some of it in the opposition territory, and though there were dangerous-looking deliveries into the box, only Nico Elvedi's header - saved by Senne Lammens - threatened to open the scoring.
At the other end Mbeumo arrived completely unmarked to head Youri Tielemans' scooped cross past James Trafford's left-hand post. It was a let-off as much as a warning but there was very little between the teams in a first half full of huffing and puffing and largely devoid of magic.

#expectation #post #largely

Manchester United secured a 1-1 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road.
The away side took the lead and silenced the home crowd when a neat move was finished off by Bryan Mbeumo, who scored his fourth goal of the season.
Nonetheless, United have had an issue keeping clean sheets all season, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin muscled his way into the box in the second half to give the home side a share of the points.
The Red Devils have now drawn four, won one, and lost two of their Premier League matches this season, and sit in 13th place in the league.
Commenting on the result while working for Sky Sports, the former United captain stated, "there's a depressed standard and a low expectation right now. But it'll feel like a stepping stone for Michael Carrick, and it'll feel like the first step on the ladder in the Premier League."

#season #premier #home