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Kyle Walker has opened up on why he hugged Vinicius Junior after their gruelling battles in last week's Champions League semi-final first leg between Real Madrid and Man City.

Kyle Walker feels Manchester City owe it to club owner Sheikh Mansour to win the Champions League. City are eyeing up European club football’s top prize once again after years of near misses in their quest to land the trophy for the first time. Losing to Chelsea in the final two years ago is the closest they have come, but Wednesday brings another opportunity to reach the showpiece fixture as they host Real Madrid in the second leg of their semi-final. The tie is delicately poised after a 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital last week. City have won the Premier League six times since the sheikh bought the club in 2008 – and are on the brink of a seventh domestic title – but the Champions League has long been viewed as their ‘holy grail’. Right-back Walker said: “The club is missing that one and, (with) the owners and the amount of money they have pumped into this club and the investment they have done, we owe that to them. “To get to the Champions League final against Chelsea and not perform as well as we can, we owe that to ourselves and get some revenge for ourselves because we know that was below par on that day. “But we have a tough opponent to get past to get to the Champions League final. It’s a ‘final’, anything can happen. The first thing is getting past Real Madrid and then let’s see about the final.” City dominated the first leg at the Bernabeu in terms of possession, but Real were incisive on the counter-attack and created more clear-cut opportunities. Walker was involved in a tough battle with the pacey Vinicius Junior, who scored Real’s goal, and the City defender is relishing another encounter with the Brazilian. The pair embraced in a sign of respect after last week’s meeting, but Walker has revealed there was also extra significance in the gesture. He said: “I went to hug him because he tried to rainbow flick me, so it was kind of like, ‘Please don’t try that again – I don’t want to be a meme’. “But boxers fight, have a good battle, and then they shake hands after, and that is the level of respect I do have for him. I will give him the respect he deserves (after the final whistle), but before then it is dog eat dog Kyle Walker on Vinicius Junior “It’s the same with any other player, when it is a good game, you go and give them that level of respect because they deserve it. “I will give him the respect he deserves (after the final whistle), but before then it is dog eat dog. “It is a personal battle where you are coming up against one of the best players in the world. “I have faced many over the years who have been just as good as him, but I think he is in the best form of his life, so whoever is picked to play in that position to defend against him it is going to be a great battle.” It could be a memorable week for City, who will also retain the Premier League title if they beat Chelsea on Sunday. Walker said: “I think it is big to everyone in that dressing room. We know the goals at the end of it – it is a massive week for the club.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun’s switch from England to USA approved by FIFA Forest fined over pitch invasion after 2022 play-off semi against Sheff Utd England agonised over dropping Ben Foakes for Jonny Bairstow – Rob Key

This season's NBA free-agent class is loaded with talent, especially at the point guard position. Here are the five best floor generals available.The NBA offseason is slowly beginning. On Tuesday, the NBA Draft Combine will begin. At night, the draft lottery will be held, as well.Twenty...

The Lakers didn’t turn itself into contenders until the trade deadline, but the Denver Nuggets have been the best team in the West all season long. These feel like the right two teams to end up in the Western Conference Finals and that’s because they have the best two bigs in the game, N...

Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun has switched allegiance from England to the United States, FIFA has confirmed. The New York-born 21-year-old, who is currently on loan at French club Reims, has represented England at Under-21s level but has opted to play his senior international football for the country of his birth. A FIFA spokesperson told the PA news agency said: “The change of association of the player Folarin Jolaoluwa Balogun from England to the USA has been approved.” The news comes just weeks before England are due to launch their European Under-21 Championship finals campaign in Georgia and Romania. Balogun has made 13 appearances for Lee Carsley’s side, but withdrew from the squad in March due to injury. Having been born in America, Balogun moved to England when he was two years old and also qualifies for Nigeria through his parents. Qualifying players are allowed to switch associations before they have played a competitive match for a nation’s senior team. Balogun has made 10 first-team appearances and scored two goals for the Gunners, and spent the second half of the 2021-22 season on loan at Sky Bet Championship Middlesbrough. However, he has made a name for himself in Ligue 1 this season with 19 goals in 34 appearances to date. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Marco Asensio has matched the La Liga scoring tally of Zinedine Zidane. Here's how their Real Madrid scoring charts compare.

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Ndamukong Suh plans to take his sweet time in figuring out where he will play this NFL season.At this point of Ndamukong Suh's illustrious NFL career, he has earned every right to pick and choose where he wants to go.The best thing to happen to Nebraska football since Tommie Frazier is ...

Former Dallas Cowboys kicker Brett Maher remains available, and his return is on the table.Brett Maher infamously got the yips during a postseason, missing four-of-five extra point during the Cowboys Wild Card game win, and then missing another in their Divisional Round defeat, though he did mak...

The Atlanta Braves need to keep their options open. With Max Fried and Kyle Wright out long-term, could a recent signee be the answer?The Braves transferred Kyle Wright to the 60-day injured list, and with it added a new pitcher to the starting rotation mix. However, rather than calling up Mike ...

Nottingham Forest have been fined over the pitch invasion at the end of their Championship play-off semi-final against Sheffield United almost a year ago. A Forest fan was jailed after headbutting Blades striker Billy Sharp during the incident at the end of the second leg at the City Ground on May 17 last year, while Sheffield United’s Oli McBurnie was cleared last December of stamping on another pitch-invading Forest fan. The Football Association had charged Forest with failing to ensure their supporters conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and refrained from using threatening or violent behaviour while encroaching onto the pitch following the final whistle. The charge was partially admitted by Forest, and a £50,000 fine was imposed by an independent regulatory commission. The FA said half of the fine had been suspended by the panel until the end of next season, provided there were no further breaches of FA rule E20. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live