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The Europa League quarterfinals begin Thursday with four finely poised first-leg ties, each shaped by contrasting domestic fortunes, tactical identities and mounting pressure as the road to Istanbul narrows. At Estadio do Dragao, Porto return to a familiar position of strength, blending domestic control with European consistency. Francesco Farioli’s side have built their season on structure and balance, opening a five-point lead atop Liga Portugal while advancing deep in both cup and continental competitions. Their response to adversity has been particularly telling. Since a narrow cup defeat to Sporting, Porto have tightened defensively and rediscovered rhythm, going six matches unbeaten with a blend of control and efficiency. Their home form remains a cornerstone. The Drago...

Getty Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors had a lot to say about the NBA tanking problem. When it comes to paying fines and dealing with league discipline for stepping too far outside the rules, few are better versed in today’s NBA–maybe in the history of the NBA–than Golden State Warriors star big man Draymond Green. According to the tally at Spotrac, Green has been fined 244 times for more than $1 million, and he has been suspended six times at a cost of $3.2 million.The league is consistent and even aggressive at times when it comes to fining players who run afoul of the rules. But after beating the Kings on Tuesday–a team that has gone 8-29 since mid-January and is clearly seeking a good draft pick–Green wa...

It is a key match in Real Betis Balompié’s season. And their fans have not wanted to let them down. Nearly 2,000 Betis supporters have traveled to Braga to back the Seville side on their European trip.The Portuguese city has seen how thousands of Betis fans are already turning the streets green and white just a few hours before the ball starts rolling at Braga Municipal Stadium.AdvertisementLittle by little, the match is starting to be played. Betis want to dream and go far in this Europa League.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. Source link

PHOENIX — Emotions were already high Tuesday, as Kevin Durant played his first game in Phoenix and Jalen Green played his first game against his former team since last summer’s blockbuster trade that linked the Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns. But the physicality and animosity between the two teams still exceeded what anyone could’ve expected coming into the night.By the end of the first half, there were more altercations than a reality show reunion. It felt like the referees were breaking up a potential fight just about every five minutes.But after falling behind by 21 points in the first quarter, the Rockets didn’t allow those emotions to overcome them. They didn’t allow some of their early mistakes to divide them. They didn’t allow Dillon Brooks and his antics to distract them from the...

Nottingham Forest will be looking to extend an unwanted 15-year streak held by Porto in their Europa League quarter-final.Vitor Pereira takes the Premier League outfit to face his former club in the first leg of their last-eight tie on Thursday evening.Forest are back in action for the first time since they cruised to a 3-0 victory at Tottenham Hotspur on March 21. Although surviving in the Premier League is the priority, Forest have the opportunity to qualify for next season's Champions League.Ahead of the game in Portugal, there will be confidence that they can extend a recent unfavourable run held by their opponents.© Iconsport / Mark Fletcher What Porto streak do Nottingham Forest want to extend?While Porto will be participating in their 18th European quarter-final, they have lost th...

NBA fans were dismayed when they learned that popular TNT show “Inside the NBA” was no longer going to air on the network.But those fans were seemingly given a lifeline when it was reported that ESPN had reached an agreement to air the popular NBA post-game show, which is hosted by NBA legends Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, NBA champion Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson and used to air every Tuesday and Thursday.However, in the first year of that agreement, fans have been woefully disappointed as the show has only aired 19 times this season with one more regular-season program planned before the playoffs.But some good news for the future of the show seems to be on the horizon as O’Neal recently revealed fans will be seeing more of “Inside the NBA” once the postseason starts.More News: A...

Aston Villa will be attempting to extend a 32-year streak when they face Bologna in the Europa League quarter-finals.After a break in competitive action since March 21, Villa make the trip to Italy for the first leg against the Serie A outfit on Thursday evening.Unai Emery's side are currently on a two-match winning streak after victories over Lille and West Ham United respectively. However, despite Premier League clubs being provided with a huge boost with regards to European qualification, Villa remain under pressure to deliver on both the domestic and continental front.When Villa take on familiar foes in Bologna over the coming week, they will be hoping to extend a run that has lasted since 1994.© Imago / Every Second Media What streak can Aston Villa extend against Bologna?Thursday's...

SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has an idea as to how fix the tanking epidemic that has engulfed the NBA this season.Over the course of a postgame conversation that started when Green was asked about his feelings on the Warriors’ upcoming Play-In game appearance, the subject turned to the tanking problem that has engulfed the league for months. Green, one of the most outspoken player voices in the NBA, was asked if he thought there was any solution to the problem.The 36-year-old thought about the question for a few moments and then answered.“I think I get fined when I do wrong,” Green said after a 110-105 win over the Sacramento Kings. “Just fine the hell out of people. We love taking money from players, keep fining the teams. I’ve seen two fines. And we all kn...

Roberto de Zerbi will face the glare of the cameras at Sunderland on Sunday - the third man in Tottenham's dugout this season with the task of reviving the Europa League holders as they stare down the unthinkable prospect of relegation from the Premier League.De Zerbi has - in some quarters - already been questioned by virtue of his methods requiring time before players adjust. Time is one thing Tottenham do not have.AdvertisementSo where might there be quick wins for Spurs and their new leader? Such are the fine margins between success and failure at the bottom of the table, a few subtle tweaks may be all that is needed to at least fall over the safety line and create room for a wider overhaul during the summer.Stop making mistakesTottenham are ranked joint-bottom for errors leading to go...

WASHINGTON — They did it.The Washington Wizards have accomplished one of their primary goals for the 2025-26 season. In an NBA season tainted by a widespread tanking epidemic, Washington has lost enough games to ensure it will keep its protected first-round pick in June’s draft.The Wizards would have conveyed their first-round pick to the New York Knicks if the pick fell to ninth or worse in the draft order. But with their 129-98 loss Tuesday night to the Chicago Bulls, the Wizards dropped to 17-62, continuing their hold on the league’s worst record. If Washington remains in sole possession of last place, its worst possible result in next month’s draft lottery would be to receive the fifth pick. Even wins its final three games would drop it to no worse than the seventh.The numbers paint an...