Top-seeded Andy Murray said Sunday he is back to his best ahead of the Dubai Tennis Championships after recounting his struggles with shingles following his early exit from the Australian Open last month. “I was a bit sick for 10 days, a couple of weeks, after I got back from Australia,” said Murray, who will play Malek Jaziri of Tunisia in the first round in Dubai.
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Clough: Burton Albion would have taken five points at start of busy week
Nigel Clough says Burton Albion would always have taken five points from a hectic week in the Championship – and not letting Blackburn Rovers make up any ground was the key target on Friday night. Ahead of their home clash with play-off chasing Norwich City on February 18, the Brewers sat 21st in the table after 31 games – just two points above the relegation zone.
Inter Milan v Roma – Follow Live On Twitter
Inter Milan are at the San Siro with Roma the visitors today, this will be a 7:45pm kick-off. It’s that time of the week again and Inter Milan are in action once more as the 2016-17 season continues.
Marseille v PSG – Follow Live On Twitter
Paris Saint-Germain go to the Stade Velodrome as the visitors to Marseille today, this will be an 8pm kick-off. It’s that time of the week again and Paris Saint-Germain are in action once more as the 2016-17 season continues.
Villarreal v Real Madrid – Follow Live On Twitter
Real Madrid go to the Estadio de la Ceramica as the visitors to Villarreal today, this will be a 7:45pm kick-off. It’s that time of the week again and Real are in action once more as the 2016-17 season continues.
Rate The Ref – Posh v Rochdale – Chris Sarginson
What did you think to Chris Sarginson`s refereeing performance in the Sky Bet EFL League One match between Peterborough United and Rochdale? Referee Chris Sarginson stole the headlines with three red cards in this match between Posh and Rochdale. Admittedly Sarginson was whistle happy but we do have to say he got all three decisions correct! Rochdale boss Keith Hill was critical of the official`s performance while Posh boss Grant McCann didn`t want to discuss the man in the middle! What did you think to the referees performance? To rate the referee, there are four categories to score the official on: A. Decision Making B. Consistency C. Fitness and Positioning D. Control and Authority Each category is out of 25 .
First-place Sydney FC returns to winning ways in A-League
Bobo scored twice as Sydney FC rebounded from its first loss in the A-League to beat Melbourne City 3-1 and remain well ahead in the standings. Sydney’s ambitious attempt to become the first team to end the regular season unbeaten ended last week when it was defeated by Western Sydney Wanderers in a fractious local derby, repercussions of which continued through the week.
Boxing: Pacquiao to fight Britain’s Khan in ‘super fight’
London: Multiple world champion Manny Pacquiao has agreed to fight Britain’s Olympic silver medallist Amir Khan on April 23, both boxers said on Sunday. The 38-year-old Pacquiao had said four days ago that he and Khan’s management were in discussions for the fight, despite an earlier announcement the Filipino’s next bout would be against Australia’s Jeff Horn in Brisbane.
Chaos at boardroom level, Galacticos over cantera – are Barcelona turning into Real Madrid?
With expensive signings, no midfield plan and a cold relationship between players and club chiefs, the Blaugrana have started to resemble their rivals The roles have reversed. Not so long ago it was Real Madrid who were known for their policy of signing superstars and their turmoil in the boardroom, while Barcelona bolstered their strength in depth by plucking players from their youth system.
Bayern routs Hamburg 8-0 with Lewandowski hat trick
Bayern Munich gave Hamburger SV another thrashing at home in the Bundesliga on Saturday, with Robert Lewandowski scoring a hat trick in an 8-0 rout before coach Carlo Ancelotti took pity on the visitors. After several lackluster performances in the league, Bayern stepped up a level against Hamburg, playing at pace with determination and commitment, dominating possession and forcing the game.
Tsonga beats Kyrgios to reach Open 13 final in Marseille
Second-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated defending champion Nick Kyrgios 7-6 , 2-6, 6-4 Saturday at the Open 13, guaranteeing an all-French final at the indoor tournament. The first ever matchup between the pair was a hard-fought contest as Tsonga weathered 16 aces from the third-seeded Australian and broke early in the decider to prevail.
Sevilla rises to top of La Liga with comeback at Betis
His team trailing against its fiercest rival, coach Jorge Sampaoli orchestrated a 2-1 comeback at Real Betis that lifted Sevilla to the top of the Spanish league on Saturday. Substitute Vicente Iborra got the winning goal in the 75th minute to silence the Benito Villamarin Stadium following Gabriel Mercado’s equalizer.
West Brom sends Bournemouth sliding toward relegation zone
West Bromwich Albion is exceeding expectations and remains a surprise contender for European qualification after sending Bournemouth sliding toward the Premier League relegation zone with a 2-1 victory over the south-coast team on Saturday. Bournemouth took an early lead through Josh King’s penalty but goals from defenders Craig Dawson and Gareth McAuley turned the game at the Hawthorns on its head before halftime as West Brom won at home for the seventh time in the last eight outings.
Daily Bread Mailbag: Pacquiao-Khan, Broner, Ward, Spence-Brook
The Daily Bread Mailbag returns with Stephen “Breadman” Edwards discusses Adrien Broner, Manny Pacquiao vs. Amir Khan, Lamont Peterson, Tony Harrison vs. Hurd, the subject of chins, Errol Spence vs. Kell Brook, and more. What do you think of the fights this weekend? Do you think Broner will ever reach his potential? Can Peterson be a player at 147 and what do you think of Marcus Browne’s chances vs Adonis Stevenson? Bread’s Response: First off I want to say I feel really bad for Adrian Granados.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes keen to avoid another Tottenham drubbing
But the Potters boss is confident his side are in much better shape now than the last time the teams met in terms of their chances of securing a positive result against Mauricio Pochettino’s men. Stoke have been thrashed 4-0 at home by Spurs in each of the last two meetings between the clubs.
Real Madrid crazy pay same Dele Alli they did Gareth Bale
Real Madrid would be ‘crazy’ to pay same money for Dele Alli as they did for Gareth Bale, insists Michel Salgado Former Real Madrid defender Michel Salgado believes that the Spanish giants would be ‘crazy’ to spend the same amount of money on Dele Alli as they did on winger Gareth Bale. Alli has been in great form for Tottenham since making his debut against Manchester United in August 2015 and he has attracted plenty of interest from some of Europe’s top clubs, including the La Liga leaders.
North Korea wins first medal at Asian Winter Games
North Korea won its first medal at the Asian Winter Games on Saturday as Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju Sik won the bronze medal in the figure skating pairs event. The North Korean pair, third after the short program, received 112.18 points in Saturday’s free skating for a total of 177.40 points.
SPEED-SKATING: Rising star Tash Nemeth-Knight is aiming high after GB call-up
Tash Nemeth-Knight, 17, won a highly competitive place on the GB Short Track Speed Skating Academy Picture: John Rowley OXFORD’S Tash Nemeth-Knight cannot hide her excitement at being selected for Great Britain’s Short Track Speed Skating Academy. Nemeth-Knight, who learnt to skate at Oxford Ice Rink under the guidance of coach Tammy Sear, was previously a figure-skater, competing in national championships.
Real Sociedad moves closer to Champions League spot in Spain
Real Sociedad moved closer to a Champions League spot by defeating Las Palmas 1-0 after a blunder by the home side’s goalkeeper in the Spanish league on Friday. Veteran midfielder Xabi Prieto scored the 74th-minute winner from just outside the area after Las Palmas goalie Geronimo Rulli made a mistake and passed the ball right to Prieto’s feet when under pressure from another Real Sociedad player inside the box.
PGA golfer chased by a goose
… timing’s right. So poor Luke Donald trying to play his ball at the Honda Classic’s sixth hole? Look, that USA TODAY Sports Images photo from Friday is one of our favorite sports photos of 2017 without any context. But there’s a fun twist to it: …
Martin Caceres set to make Southampton debut in EFL Cup final
The 29-year-old defender was signed as a free agent two weeks ago, having been without a club since leaving Italian champions Juventus at the end of last season. Saints manager Claude Puel moved for Caceres after losing Virgil van Dijk to a long-term ankle injury and captain Jose Fonte, who transferred to West Ham last month.
Dele Alli says sorry to Tottenham and Gent’s Dejaegere for horror challenge
Dele Alli apologised to team-mates and Gent midfielder Brecht Dejaegere for his reckless tackle as 10-man Tottenham crashed out of the Europa League. Spurs needed to win by two after Gent’s 1-0 victory in Belgium last week but Alli’s 39th-minute lunge on Dejaegere, and subsequent sending off, made the task all the more difficult at Wembley.
Zulpikar Miamiatiali refuses to fight Vijender Singh on April 11 hour ago
New Delhi, Feb 24: WBO Oriental super middleweight champion Zulpikar Miamiatiali, who was set to fight WBO Asia Pacific Super middleweight champion Vijender Singh in Mumbai on April 1, has backed out of the bout, the promoters IOS Boxing announced on Friday. According to IOS Boxing Promotions, the talks with the Chinese promoters have fallen flat, but the fight will take place as scheduled with another boxer, who will be announced soon.
Bengaluru FC to take on table toppers East Bengal in I-League25 min ago
Bengaluru, Feb 24: Reigning champions Bengaluru FC are set to take on table-toppers East Bengal in the I-League match at the Shree Kanterava Stadium here on Saturday. Though Bengaluru have defeated East Bengal at home convincingly in the past two seasons, they have tasted a 1-2 defeat in their away game this season.
Callum Paterson: Hearts need to man up after mauling by Hibs
CALLUM PATERSON has leapt to the defence of “incredible” Hearts head coach Ian Cathro – and has told his team-mates to “man up” following their Easter Road mauling. The Jambos crashed out of the Scottish Cup with a meek surrender against their city rivals on Wednesday, succumbing to a 3-1 defeat.
Rod Stewart tickets on sale today for County Durham Cricket Club concert
He will be at Emirates Riverside, the home of Durham County Cricket Club, on Friday, June 9 and will also play at Shrewsbury Town Football Club on Wednesday, June 7 – his only two UK mainland shows for 2017. The announcement Rod is to play the two gigs comes after it was announced he will be headlining at the Isle of Wight Festival on June 11. Rod delighted fans across the UK in 2016 with two sold-out tours – The UK Hits Stadium Tour and the arena tour From Gasoline Alley to Another Country Hits.
Rod Stewart tickets on sale today for County Durham Cricket Club concert
He will be at Emirates Riverside, the home of Durham County Cricket Club, on Friday, June 9 and will also play at Shrewsbury Town Football Club on Wednesday, June 7 – his only two UK mainland shows for 2017. The announcement Rod is to play the two gigs comes after it was announced he will be headlining at the Isle of Wight Festival on June 11. Rod delighted fans across the UK in 2016 with two sold-out tours – The UK Hits Stadium Tour and the arena tour From Gasoline Alley to Another Country Hits.
Arsenal transfer news and rumours: ‘Hector Bellerin open to…
… criticise a guy like that, it is impossible. Arsenal was a big club but he made it even bigger,” Nasri told Sky Sports News. “People need to be fair. It is not because Arsenal don’t have success in the league that it’s his fault, that is the players …
Arsenal transfer news and rumours: ‘Hector Bellerin open to…
… criticise a guy like that, it is impossible. Arsenal was a big club but he made it even bigger,” Nasri told Sky Sports News. “People need to be fair. It is not because Arsenal don’t have success in the league that it’s his fault, that is the players …
Europa League round-up: Lyon put seven past AZ Alkmaar as Athletic Bilbao crash out
Mauricio Pochettino’s side, trailing 1-0 after their first-leg defeat in Belgium, made a positive start when Christian Eriksen fired them into an early lead, but were up against it from the 40th minute when Alli was shown a straight red card for a reckless tackle. Eriksen fired through goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic’s legs to level the aggregate score in the 10th minute, but 10 minutes later Harry Kane headed into his own net following a corner.
Europa League round-up: Lyon put seven past AZ Alkmaar as Athletic Bilbao crash out
Mauricio Pochettino’s side, trailing 1-0 after their first-leg defeat in Belgium, made a positive start when Christian Eriksen fired them into an early lead, but were up against it from the 40th minute when Alli was shown a straight red card for a reckless tackle. Eriksen fired through goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic’s legs to level the aggregate score in the 10th minute, but 10 minutes later Harry Kane headed into his own net following a corner.
Newcastle United news LIVE: Rafa Benitez press conference – the big issues to tackle
Live updates on all the latest NUFC news, views and gossip as Rafa Benitez prepares to address the media before Bristol City clash United take on out-of-form Bristol City at St James’ Park this weekend and looking to reassert themselves in the battle for promotion – as Huddersfield take on Barnsley and Brighton play Reading in an important few days. Rafa Benitez is due to address the press today with questions about how United cope with the absence of Dwight Gayle likely to be on the agenda.
Newcastle United news LIVE: Rafa Benitez press conference – the big issues to tackle
Live updates on all the latest NUFC news, views and gossip as Rafa Benitez prepares to address the media before Bristol City clash United take on out-of-form Bristol City at St James’ Park this weekend and looking to reassert themselves in the battle for promotion – as Huddersfield take on Barnsley and Brighton play Reading in an important few days. Rafa Benitez is due to address the press today with questions about how United cope with the absence of Dwight Gayle likely to be on the agenda.
5 reasons why Leicester have struggled this season
Leicester have announced manager Claudio Ranieri has left the club just nine months after he guided them to the Premier League title. Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has previously called Leicester’s season “embarrassing” and, as they battle relegation, we look at five reasons why they have struggled so far this campaign.
Europa League 2017: Scores, Qualified Teams After Thursday’s Round-of-32 Results
Roma knocked out Villarreal from the 2017 UEFA Europa League despite falling to a 1-0 defeat to the Spaniards in the Italian capital on Thursday. There was a shock as Athletic Bilbao were beaten 2-0 by Apoel Nicosia, losing 4-3 on aggregate in Cyprus.
Top seed Monfils and No. 2 Tsonga into Open 13 quarterfinals
MARSEILLE, France – Top-seeded Gael Monfils and No. 2 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals of the Open 13 on Thursday.
LaLiga tips
Our Spanish football expert Tim Clement provides his latest LaLiga tips and is backing both Real Madrid and Barcelona to drop points this weekend. Barcelona visit Atletico Madrid before Real Madrid head to Villarreal in a crucial weekend in the LaLiga title race, with the top two both looking vulnerable.
Sevilla turns focus to another key game _ the Betis derby
After its 2-1 win over Leicester on Wednesday put the club in a strong position to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the first time in nearly 60 years, Sevilla started preparing for Saturday’s derby against crosstown rival Real Betis. Victory will give fans bragging rights, and keep Sevilla alive in the race for the Spanish league title, which would be the team’s first in more than 70 years.
Anderson Silva, Roy Jones Jr. start campaign again for boxing match
Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather is far from being a done deal, but two fighters are already campaigning to face each other in the co-main event of a possible event. Former boxing world champion Roy Jones Jr. suggested on his social media on Wednesday that adding a bout with former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva to the event would make it the “biggest event” in history.
Amir Khan and Manny Pacquiao in talks over welterweight showdown
However Press Association Sport understands each fighter is continuing to explore other options, and that negotiations are far from at an advanced stage. Khan, 30, wrote on Twitter: “Currently negotiating with Manny.