TGIF! Here's everything you need to know before today's near-full slate of NBA action.

It is another week in LaLiga. Once home to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the Spanish top-flight is going through a period where it has a relative scarcity of stars: it does not have Erling Haaland, it does not have Kylian Mbappe. It does, though, have Vinicius Jr, the leading light of Real Madrid and the new face of Brazilian football, an unmissable, thrilling forward with lightning feet and a ruthless edge in front of goal. Thanks to Vinicius Jr, LaLiga may be able to claim it has the best player in the world once again. He is the most important player in the division - and he is routinely a victim of vile, despicable racist abuse at away grounds. On Sunday, Vinicius Jr had enough, sent off after he was targeted with monkey chants during a 1-0 defeat at Valencia, the latest incident to bring shame on Spanish football. The 22-year-old pointed out fans to the referee who had racially abused him at the Mestalla and as tempers flared between the two teams he was shown a red card for shoving Valencia striker Hugo Duro, even though Vinicius Jr had been held back from around the neck moments before. Vinicius Jr was in tears, the pain written clearly across his face, unable to prevent what was unfolding again. Courageously, Vinicius Jr called out LaLiga, where he said racism had become “normal”. Spain, he went on, was known as a “country of racists” in Brazil after the events of this season, with abuse “encouraged” by opponents. Yet amid the widespread condemnation of the incident, Vinicius Jr was criticised by the LaLiga president, Javier Tebas, for “insulting” the organisation. The manner Tebas chose to respond was reflective of an attitude that has seeped into the roots of Spanish football, where the racist abuse Vinicius Jr receives on an almost weekly basis is somehow his fault, and is a response to how he plays the game. It is an attitude that is broadcast on TV, with Vinicius Jr accused of “provoking” opposition players and fans as the incident unfolded on Sunday night. The Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, who himself appeared to be at breaking point as he condemned the “unacceptable” scenes at the Mestalla, was made to justify how Vinicius Jr reacted, as journalists questioned the Italian on whether the abuse the Brazilian received was actually racist, despite the videos that had already been broadcast around the world. Then there was Tebas, the figure who should have been protecting Vinicius Jr from abuse, turning Vinicius Jr’s criticism of racism into a divisive issue. Political figures in Brazil, including president Lula, were aghast. There is now, at least, what promises to be stern action, after Vinicius Jr shifted the focus onto Spanish football more intensely than before. Real Madrid have filed an official complaint to the Spanish attorney general’s office for the abuse to be treated as a hate crime and LaLiga will take “appropriate legal action” if required. Valencia will issue lifetime bans to the fans they identify. But this is also the ninth instance of racist abuse against Vinicius Jr to be reported to prosecutors this season. LaLiga presented that as some sort of sign that their response to racist abuse was working, but there have yet to be convictions, let alone sanctions against clubs, and wider inaction has also led to this point. At the start of the season, it was about Vinicius Jr’s dancing - the Brazilian would mark his goals with a celebration inspired by samba, funk, and reggaeton, that traced back to Black history and Brazilian culture. Vinicius Jr was racially abused for it - his dancing “criminalised”. He was accused of “playing the monkey” on Spanish TV, a disgusting racial slur. Before Real Madrid visited rivals Atletico in the first derby of the season, the Atletico captain Koke said Vinicius would expect “trouble” if he danced in front of the home supporters. Real Madrid won 2-1 and Vinicius Jr defied Koke’s warning. He was jeered and whistled throughout, abused outside of the stadium before the match and inside while he played. No action was taken by the Madrid prosecutors after the incident was filed in court. While the monkey noises were "unpleasant and disrespectful”, the ruling said, they were “in the context of football rivalry”. The racist abuse of Vinicius Jr continued. “LaLiga continues to do nothing,” Vinicius Jr said in December. “I will continue with my head held high and celebrating my victories and those of Madrid.” In January, before Madrid played Atletico in the reverse fixture, Vinicius Jr was the target of an effigy hung from a motorway bridge in Madrid. There were strong statements on condemnation from both Atletico and LaLiga - yet the abuse became more regular over the second half of the season, at Barcelona, at Mallorca, another week, another away ground, another shameful moment. It had become routine. There now needs to be change. The head of the Spanish football federation has admitted for the first time that the country has a “serious problem” with racism. LaLiga and its president must be next to seriously look within itself, rather than criticising the victim. Fifa, too, must realise its three-step protocol for dealing with racism incidents is failing to protect players. Vinicius Jr has been left without a “defence”, he said. Ancelotti said he wanted Real Madrid to walk off the pitch, and that may need to be the next step - or else Vincius Jr is ultimately driven out of LaLiga, and the racists win. Read More Commentator sparks outrage for criticising Vinicius Jr reaction after facing racist abuse Real Madrid file ‘hate crime’ complaint after racial abuse of Vinicius Jr ‘Racism is normal in LaLiga’: Vinicius Junior sent off after facing racist abuse at Valencia

Michael Beale insists Rangers’ Champions League hopes should not be written off following the 2-2 play-off draw with PSV Eindhoven at Ibrox. Gers attacker Abdallah Sima curled in a terrific first-leg opener just before the interval but the Dutch side levelled through midfielder Ibrahim Sangare just after the hour mark. As play raced from end to end, substitute Rabbi Matondo scored his first Light Blues goal in the 76th minute before PSV captain Luuk de Jong levelled with a header four minutes later, and the match ended in a repeat of last year’s score at the same stage of the competition. The two sides drew 2-2 at Ibrox before Rangers scrambled a 1-0 win in Eindhoven and Beale remains confident of progress in the Netherlands next Wednesday night. Asked if lightning can strike twice against the Dutch side, Beale said: “I think so, yes, of course. Naturally we will go across and be extremely positive. “There were moments of tonight’s game when I thought we were very good. “I thought we scored two good goals and all night we caused them problems defensively. There were areas of the game we’d want to improve on, for sure. But everything is to play for. “We wanted to set up next week and we’ve done that. “Tonight when we were struggling, we fought for each other. We ran for each other, we problem-solved on the pitch. “This new group are learning very quickly that big nights like tonight bring us together. “I don’t want anybody to underestimate us next week because it’s in this club to go put this performance on. “We’ll have our thousands of fans travelling over there and as a team we’re going there to get this job done and we will give it everything we can. “I think the tie is evenly set. I don’t think them and their coach are travelling home thinking ‘this is a job done’. “They will know how hard physically that game was, at the end it looked like they had one or two bumps and bruises as well. It is finely poised. “I think the two penalty boxes are going to be decisive. It’s important you play well between them but the most important thing is you take your chances when they come.” PSV boss Peter Bosz was left with “mixed feelings” but is confident of finishing the tie next week. He said: “I am never afraid of anything. I always think ‘go for it’. “Even if I was there last season (when Rangers won), my mentality would be that this season we are going to make it. “I felt we would be dominating here and they would play the counter-attack real well and really fast. “That is how they scored their second goal. They had the energy of the crowd. “We have to play a lot better in the return or we will not make it through. What do we need to do? Score more goals and don’t let stupid goals go in against us.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo was ejected from Wednesday's game for taunting after he stared down Isaiah Stewart.

Arsenal secured their place in the last-16 of the Champions League with a scintillating 6-0 thrashing of Lens on a night where Manchester United’s participation in the competition hangs by a thread. United were left to rue their inability to close out a match in Europe once again after they let slip a two-goal lead twice to draw 3-3 at Galatasaray. Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes scored inside 18 minutes before Andre Onana made the first of two errors to allow Hakim Ziyech to reduce the deficit. Before Ziyech’s second, Scott McTominay found the net in the 55th minute to put Erik ten Hag’s team on course for a vital victory. Yet Onana fumbled Ziyech’s set-piece over the line with 28 minutes left in Instanbul before Kerem Akturkoglu levelled with 71 minutes on the clock. It finished all square to ensure Galatasaray still have their knock-out hopes in their own hands going into the final Group A fixture away to Copenhagen on December 12, while United must beat Bayern Munich and hope the clash in Denmark finishes as a draw. Meanwhile, Copenhagen held Bayern to a thoroughly deserved goalless draw in Munich, which ended on a controversial note. Minutes after Manuel Neuer had made an outstanding double save to deny ex-Celtic attacker Mohamed Elyounoussi, referee Stephanie Frappart awarded the hosts a penalty. Frappart pointed to the spot after a pass by Bayern substitute Frans Kratzig hit Peter Ankersen’s arm from close proximity, but VAR told the French official to review the incident using the pitchside monitor and she overturned her 92nd-minute decision to ensure it stayed 0-0. There was drama aplenty in Group B too but not at the Emirates where Arsenal produced a five-star first-half display to thrash Lens. Mikel Arteta’s side were 5-0 up at half-time after goals by Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard. Jorginho added a sixth from the penalty spot late on for Arsenal, who guaranteed top spot and progression into the knockout phase. PSV have joined them after Ricardo Pepi scored a stoppage-time winner to down nine-man Sevilla. A 3-2 victory for PSV earlier in the day, coupled with Arsenal’s result, meant the Dutch outfit are guaranteed second spot. Jude Bellingham scored again to help Real Madrid edge a six-goal thriller with Napoli in Group C. Bellingham headed home in the first-half, but Carlo Ancelotti had to rely on late goals by Nico Paz and Joselu to beat Napoli 4-2. Braga and Union Berlin played out a 1-1 draw in Portugal. Inter Milan fought back from three goals down to draw 3-3 with Benfica in Group D. Joao Mario struck a first-half hat-trick for Benfica against his old club, but last season’s runners-up staged an excellent fightback with Marko Arnautovic, Davide Frattesi and Alexis Sanchez on target. Real Sociedad remain top of Group D despite being held to a goalless draw by RB Salzburg. Read More Erik ten Hag says Manchester United ‘have to learn’ from Galatasaray draw Man Utd set to face Galatasaray in Champions League despite bad weather Judd Trump marches into UK Championship quarter-finals Luke Donald humbled by players’ support for his return as Ryder Cup captain Exeter’s Rob Baxter urges football law-makers to be careful over sin-bins trial Defender Manuel Akanji admits Man City made ‘a lot of mistakes’ against Leipzig

It was an early reminder of what Manchester United could have had. Or, more pertinently, who they could have had. For years, there was a certain irresistible logic to Harry Kane joining United. Instead, as Thomas Tuchel outlined: “We took the skipper of England out of England, out of the Premier League, so it is a huge deal.” Because when Kane left Tottenham for one of the European aristocracy, it was for Bayern Munich, for a club with 10 league titles since United won their last. The vagaries of the Champions League draw may rub it in for United: Kane’s European debut for Bayern is against them. And if the serial German champions opted to send a message by putting Kane on media duties the day before the game, it was understandable. It allowed England’s record scorer to confirm that Bayern was his first choice and, if he was never going to say anything else, that probably served a purpose for his employers anyway. “Over the summer, I know there were some talks between a few clubs in the background but Bayern was a team I was really interested by and really excited by,” Kane said. “There weren’t too many other discussions once they came in.” Which underlined the reality that United had bowed out of the race at a relatively early stage. Perhaps they had assumed Daniel Levy would refuse to sell to anyone and thus Kane could be available on a free transfer in 2024. Certainly, however, they could not afford Kane and the other signings they wanted as well; but while he cost £86m, a date in the Allianz Arena provides a chance to evaluate if the £72m striker Rasmus Hojlund, the man they bought instead, the £55m midfielder Mason Mount, who is not fit to feature yet, and the £43m goalkeeper Andre Onana, who has conceded 10 goals in his last four games, are overpriced or integral. For Hojlund, a comparison with Kane may be unavoidable. Tuchel did not mention the young Dane by name but, surveying the summer transfer market, nonetheless concluded that Kane was the outstanding striker. “Everybody in Europe who is looking for a number nine would have been very happy to have Harry because he makes your team better and gives you what you expect from a number nine: personality, goals, quality,” the 2021 Champions League winner said. “He can drop deep on a number 10 position, turn and use the speed of the players around, he can arrive in the box with the right timing, he is excellent [at] finishing, he is a good penalty-taker so everybody wanted to have him.” That appraisal of Kane’s abilities may brook little dissent at Old Trafford. Kane was, along with Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, one of three dream signings the former executive vice president Ed Woodward wanted for years; he only secured one and the reunion with Ronaldo did not go as planned. Each of the four permanent managers from Louis van Gaal onwards has admired Kane. His appeal is obvious. In each of the last nine seasons, Kane outscored United’s leading marksmen in the respective campaigns, accumulating 275 of his record 280 Tottenham goals in that time. That average – slightly above 30 – is the kind of guarantee United could do with. Marcus Rashford got exactly 30 last season, but no one has topped it since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. Kane reached 20 in six Premier League campaigns; no one has for United since Robin van Persie. And now it is Harry Kane for Bayern, kein Harry for United. Thus far, he has four goals for Bayern. Hojlund, whose United debut was delayed by injury, is yet to get off the mark for his new club. “Whenever there is a big transfer there is more pressure and expectation to see how you start,” said Kane. “I am really pleased to score the four goals and I think I can play better.” A greater understanding with his new teammates will help, he feels: Tuchel expects him to be a catalyst for them. “He will always be a difference maker in any game; not only in goals,” the manager said. “In time he will make our players around him better, he will learn how to make them shine, he will assist and not only score.” There is a different sort of expectation, not directly connected to his goal tally or his price tag. Erling Haaland was deemed the final piece in the jigsaw for Manchester City as they won the Champions League. Kane is yet to win a trophy in his career but noted: “There is a reason that Bayern Munich brought me to the club: they were eager to get back to winning the Champions League. They feel I can be a big help.” And it feels a difference with his long-term suitors. Bayern begin as one of a handful of the most serious candidates to win the Champions League; 13th in the Premier League, United do not. “I don’t know about the perfect time [to face them],” Kane said. “United they have been going through a bit of a tough spell but that can be dangerous.” Or an opportunity for Bayern in a fixture where they may still want revenge for 1999, for a Champions League final turned by a striking signing from Tottenham, in Teddy Sheringham, who got a goal and an assist in injury time. It is the kind of impact United may have envisioned Kane having. He still might, just not in a United shirt. Read More Harry Kane finally gets his move — but it’s not the one he wanted Manchester United are a mess — and it could be about to get even worse Champions League 2023/24: Schedule, groups, fixtures and match dates

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