List of All Articles with Tag 'sport'

The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors 104-101 on Monday night in Game 4 of their best-of-seven NBA playoff series to give them a 3-1 lead.

In the main event of UFC 288 on Saturday, Aljamain Sterling made Henry Cejudo’s return to the ring an unhappy one, retaining the bantamweight title against the former champion. Sterling won a split decision against Cejudo, who was competing for the first time in three years, before facing off with rising star Sean O’Malley in the Octagon. In a welterweight co-main event, Belal Muhammad outpointed an injured Gilbert Burns, who was battling a shoulder issue, and earlier in the night, Yan Xiaonan scored a TKO win over ex-strawweight champion Jessica Andrade. Below, The Independent plays matchmaker for the protagonists of UFC 288. Aljamain Sterling vs Sean O’Malley This one takes care of itself, after Sterling and O’Malley faced off in the ring at the conclusion of UFC 288. O’Malley, who snatched a controversial decision win over former champion Petr Yan last time out, was expected to be next for Sterling anyway, and Saturday’s face-off only confirmed the UFC’s plan. The only other viable contender right now is Merab Dvalishvili (more on him shortly), but he is a teammate and good friend of Sterling, and the pair have vowed never to fight one another. Sterling’s profile does not yet match his impressive, grappling-centric skill set, but it would be boosted significantly if he were to clash with O’Malley – a slick striker and one of the fastest-rising stars in the UFC. Henry Cejudo vs Merab Dvalishvili Cejudo admitted after losing to Sterling that he did not know what would be next for him. His defeat put to bed machinations of reclaiming the bantamweight belt, which he vacated in 2020 after relinquishing the flyweight title, and moving up to featherweight to challenge for gold there. However, the Olympic gold-medalist wrestler quickly decided that he will not make a rapid return to retirement; the American took to Twitter to call out Dvalishvili, who keenly accepted the challenge. Cejudo expressed a desire to face the Georgian, who has won nine straight fights dating back to late 2018, in August, which would mark a quick turnaround. That might be just what Cejudo needs, however, to shed the little ring rust that he exhibited at UFC 288. Belal Muhammad vs Leon Edwards / Colby Covington Saturday’s bout between Muhammad and Gilbert Burns was billed as a No 1 contender’s fight at 170lbs, and the UFC should follow through with that. While champion Edwards is expected to face pantomime villain Colby Covington later this year, Muhammad should fight the winner of that contest – or even challenge Edwards in the near future, if the Covington fight is stalling. Muhammad has history with Edwards, having fought the Briton to a No Contest in 2021, when Edwards accidentally poked the Amerian in the eye. With the exception of that strange bout, Muhammad has won nine fights in a row since late 2019 and is fully deserving of a shot at gold. Most fans have not yet taken to the 34-year-old, but he has an unappreciated charisma, and he is improving quickly enough to suggest that he could find a way past Covington or put on a better showing against Edwards than he did in their first meeting. Yan Xianoan vs Zhang Weili Yan looked a step ahead of a reckless Jessica Andrade in every phase of their fight on Saturday, leading to a TKO win inside two-and-a-half minutes. It was just a second straight win for the Chinese fighter, who suffered back-to-back losses prior to her current streak, but Yan had won 13 fights in a row before that. Furthermore, her victory over former champion Andrade saw her shoot up from sixth to third in the strawweight rankings, and the fighters ahead of her are not due a title shot right now. A clash between Yan and compatriot Zhang, who holds the belt, would be huge for the UFC’s Chinese audience. Such a bout should take place next, and it should take place in China. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Aljamain Sterling retains title against returning Henry Cejudo at UFC 288 UFC's Tony Ferguson arrested following Hollywood crash UFC schedule 2023: Every major fight happening this year UFC’s Tony Ferguson arrested following Hollywood crash Aljamain Sterling retains title against returning Henry Cejudo at UFC 288 UFC 288 LIVE: Cejudo vs Sterling updates and results

Former Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld has been targeted by online hate messages including threats against his family following a Belgian league match

England fast bowler Jofra Archer could be a doubt for the upcoming Ashes series after deciding to return from the Indian Premier League with immediate effect because of ongoing problems with his right elbow

James Ward-Prowse knows how bleak Southampton’s plight is after a 4-3 defeat at Nottingham Forest left them staring Premier League relegation in the face. Saints were on the wrong end of a seven-goal thriller at the City Ground which means they will lose their top-flight status if they fail to beat Fulham on Saturday or results elsewhere go against them. They were always in the game against Forest and looked dangerous in attack, but were let down by sloppy defending. “It hurts everybody,” the captain told the club’s official website. “It’s not just me, it’s everybody’s careers, it’s everybody’s opportunity to do something special for this club and it’s not just me, it hurts everybody, it hurts all the fans and everybody associated with the club. “It’s clear we have to win all of our games and that’s the position we find ourselves in. Like I said, every game has increased importance and the challenge hasn’t changed, we have to win our games and obviously hope everything goes our way and we have to focus on the next one now. “Games are won and lost at both ends of the pitch and when you give two goals away in the way that we did, and we scored three goals but it’s still not enough and I think that says a lot about where we are as a team at the minute. “It’s been too easy. Right from the first game against Spurs until now we’ve not really learned anything, not really progressed, we’ve just taken these results as they are and that’s the most disappointing thing. “When you keep doing the same thing and keep getting the same results, we’ve not learnt from it and that’s the frustrating thing.” Forest’s picture is much brighter after a second win in three games lifted them out of the bottom three. It was another impressive atmosphere at the City Ground, where Forest have now taken 27 of their 33 points this season. And boss Steve Cooper hailed the fans’ support. “We’re so lucky to play in front of these supporters as well,” Cooper said. “They don’t half drag us over the line when we need them. I’m just so glad they leave happy with the three points.” Forest looked scintillating in attack at times with Taiwo Awoniyi, Brennan Johnson, Morgan Gibbs-White and Danilo all combining with effect. Cooper added: “We showed great quality with the goals we scored. The first goal, in particular, was some of our technical, attacking, athletic players playing at their very best on that fast attack. “I’m really pleased with some of the attacking play and the goals. We didn’t cover ourselves in glory with the goals we conceded.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Chelsea could use Christian Pulisic ‘to lure’ Victor Osimhen On this day in 2013: David Moyes named as Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man Utd successor Jordan Spieth withdraws from Byron Nelson Classic ahead of PGA Championship

Scotland has ended any uncertainty over the future of head coach Gregor Townsend heading into the Rugby World Cup by handing him a new contract until April 2026

UFC fighter Tony Ferguson was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after his truck hit other vehicles and rolling over in Hollywood, California, on Sunday morning, the Los Angeles Police Department told CNN.

West Virginia's men's basketball head coach Bob Huggins apologized for "insensitive" and "abhorrent" comments he made while appearing on the 700 WLW's Bill Cunningham Show on Monday.

Retail data released overnight provides a great insight into how consumers are reacting to higher prices: in short,

Manchester City are still on the hunt for a potential treble as they travel to face Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. A third Premier League title in a row is looking ever more likely, but Pep Guardiola’s side are also major contenders for a first continental crown. To get to the Istanbul final, though, they will have to get past the defending champions, with Carlo Ancelotti’s serial winners back in the last four and likely to provide a stern test. With their league hopes over, Real Madrid can focus fully on this two-legged affair as they look to set up a final against either Inter or AC Milan. Here’s everything you need to know. When is Real Madrid vs Manchester City? Real Madrid vs Manchester City is due to kick off at 8pm BST on Tuesday 9 May at the Bernabeu in Madrid. How can I watch it? Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the first leg live on BT Sport 1, with coverage on the channel from 7pm BST. Subscribers can stream the game via the BT Sport app or online player. Team news Real Madrid are dealing with a couple of defensive issues, with Eder Militao suspended for this fixture and Ferland Mendy still battling a calf injury. Luka Modric should, however, be fit to start after overcoming his hamstring issue to feature in the Copa del Rey win on Sunday. Kevin De Bruyne returned to the starting Manchester City side against Leeds in a timely boost for Pep Guardiola, though Nathan Ake’s second half substitution during that encounter is cause for concern. The Dutch defender’s hamstring injury could rule him out. Predicted line-ups Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Camavinga; Valverde, Modric, Kroos; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Jr. Manchester City XI: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji; Stones, Rodri; Silva, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Grealish; Haaland. Odds Real Madrid win 9/4 Draw 47/17 Manchester City win 5/4 Prediction A draw leaves things intriguingly poised ahead of the second leg. Real Madrid 2-2 Manchester City Read More Why Man City vs Real Madrid is the ‘real’ Champions League final The six types of Pep Guardiola full-back, and what each says about Man City’s evolution Pep Guardiola ready to stare down his managerial nemesis once again

Real Madrid host the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Manchester City as they continue to chase another European trophy. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have already progressed beyond two English clubs in the knockout rounds, showing all of their competition-winning acumen in beating Liverpool and Chelsea. But the Spanish capital club know they will face a significantly stronger side with the Premier League leaders in town. Manchester City are in outstanding form and desperately covet the continental crown that has so far eluded them. Here’s everything you need to know. When is Real Madrid vs Manchester City? Real Madrid vs Manchester City is due to kick off at 8pm BST on Tuesday 9 May at the Bernabeu in Madrid. How can I watch it? Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the first leg live on BT Sport 1, with coverage on the channel from 7pm BST. Subscribers can stream the game via the BT Sport app or online player. Team news Real Madrid are dealing with a couple of defensive issues, with Eder Militao suspended for this fixture and Ferland Mendy still battling a calf injury. Luka Modric should, however, be fit to start after overcoming his hamstring issue to feature in the Copa del Rey win on Sunday. Kevin De Bruyne returned to the starting Manchester City side against Leeds in a timely boost for Pep Guardiola, though Nathan Ake’s second half substitution during that encounter is cause for concern. The Dutch defender’s hamstring injury could rule him out. Predicted line-ups Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Camavinga; Valverde, Modric, Kroos; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Jr. Manchester City XI: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji; Stones, Rodri; Silva, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Grealish; Haaland. Odds Real Madrid win 9/4 Draw 47/17 Manchester City win 5/4 Prediction A draw leaves things intriguingly poised ahead of the second leg. Real Madrid 2-2 Manchester City Read More Why Man City vs Real Madrid is the ‘real’ Champions League final The six types of Pep Guardiola full-back, and what each says about Man City’s evolution Pep Guardiola ready to stare down his managerial nemesis once again

In the days before Manchester City’s most important match of the season, Pep Guardiola has been trying to strike a difficult balance. Surprisingly, his focus is not on how to play against Vinicius Junior, despite the way the forward scorched the Catalan’s side last season. Instead, Guardiola wants to make sure his players do not dwell on how last season’s semi-final ended, for fear of it inhibiting their performance, but he also doesn’t want to suppress their desire for revenge either. With the Premier League champions in unprecedented form, some within the team want to subject Real Madrid to the heartbreak that City endured last May. Madrid, meanwhile, are intent on reasserting why they are the greatest. Carlo Ancelotti has been seeking to nurture their talent in that understated way of his. It’s just about the only thing with this Champions League semi-final rematch that’s understated. All around the Bernabeu, there is the sense of the game building up to the be-all and end-all of the season. It is little wonder it is being described as the “real final”. After all, this is by far the more difficult side of the draw, with arguably the two best sides in Europe. It has the high stakes that lend it the grandeur of previous “real finals”: Internazionale-Barcelona 2010, Barcelona-Bayern Munich 2015, Liverpool-Barcelona 2019 and perhaps Bayern Munich-Madrid 2001. It’s also what many think, and psychology is a key part of this. Those within Madrid firmly believe City are the best team in Europe – other than them – and overtures are already being made to try and bring Erling Haaland to the Bernabeu at some point in the future. Some of the Real hierarchy have been left gobsmacked by Haaland. Ancelotti has been discussing with his staff how to limit the striker’s impact. But Haaland still doesn’t dominate their mindset as much as state-owned clubs like City influence the thinking of Florentino Perez. The driving force for the Madrid president in the last half-decade has been ensuring his club can compete with such political projects. On the flip side, Madrid are the kind of grand football institution City feel they must overcome. To win the Champions League by beating three of the competition’s most historically successful clubs – Bayern Munich, Madrid and AC Milan – would be a highly symbolic moment. But there is still something deeper to the Spanish giants, though. Madrid were Guardiola’s great rivals at Barcelona. They so often won the top European competition that eluded the Catalans, and are the club that subjected Guardiola to some of his worst evenings. What happened last season between City and Real Madrid was, for Guardiola, an extension of his history at the Camp Nou. In addition, there was the semi-final in 2014 when Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale eviscerated Pep’s Bayern. All of this is firing up everyone involved. And yet it is that very shared history which means we are long past the point where we can cast this as the football establishment against new money, a grand old institution against a modern state project. Both, after all, came together for the Super League project two years ago. There’s a familiarity on a few levels. This is the third time City and Madrid have met in four seasons. Two have been in the semi-finals. It’s what happens when the pool of teams at the continent’s top end shrinks, as both of these clubs have played their part in ensuring. It is another reason this is seen as “the real final”. This season has made it feel like the only potential champions are English sides, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain (at a stretch) and Madrid. As these names have fallen, it has looked more and more like it will be City’s year. Such is their strength in depth that they are always in contention – this year, last year, next year – in a way rarely seen in football history. Haaland’s goals epitomise this. They also point to how some new elements will decide a tie with increasingly familiar themes – or, at least, new spins on familiar themes. In seeking to maximise the force of Haaland, while marrying the player’s singular goalscoring brilliance with his own obsession with collective control, Guardiola has gone back to his roots. He has reconfigured Johan Cruyff’s “box” from Barcelona’s 1992 season, which also happened to be the first Champions League the club had ever won. It has at once released Haaland while keeping him a key part of a coherent collective. That is going to be very hard for Madrid to undo in the way they managed last season, although Bayern showed one vulnerability is pace on the flanks that Ancelotti has in abundance. This is where Vinicius is so dangerous, and would require more compromises within Guardiola’s system. City may have to double up on the Brazilian. Vinicius has gone up another level after winning last season’s Champions League. Many within the game believe he is the most effective footballer in Europe right now. Others, of course, believe it is Haaland. And Madrid certainly can’t afford to forget about him. It wasn’t like City struggled to create chances against Madrid last season, they just didn’t have anyone to finish them. It let Madrid back in, for the mother of all of those comebacks. There is little surer than Haaland, though. There is little surer than the idea these are the two best teams in Europe right now. It is why this is being cast as the true final. Since both are so much better than the Milan clubs, the showpiece will feel a fait accompli. That is often the danger with such games, though. You forget what is to come, and put so much into the grand showdown before. This semi-final is after all built on countless recent memories, that could play a part in deciding it. Read More Pep Guardiola ready to stare down his managerial nemesis once again Is Real Madrid vs Manchester City on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch Champions League semi-final Ex-England boss Fabio Capello labels Manchester City ‘the best team in world’ Man City not motivated by revenge against Real Madrid says Guardiola The sporting weekend in pictures