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Barcelona snapped their four-match winless streak in LaLiga with an emphatic 7-1 victory over Valencia on Sunday, with Fermin Lopez scoring an impressive double and adding two assists.
De Jong opened the scoring after just three minutes with a right-footed shot that found the bottom left-hand corner.
Ferran Torres doubled the lead five minutes later when he latched onto Alejandro Balde's through ball. Raphinha then capitalised on a defensive error to make it 3-0 before the 15-minute mark.
Lopez added a fourth on 24 minutes and a fifth before the break with a powerful shot from the right.
Hugo Duro grabbed a consolation for Valencia after the break with a shot from close range. But Barcelona continued to dominate and substitute Robert Lewandowski added a sixth before an unfortunate own goal from Cesar Tarrega secured Hansi Flick's side victory.
Barcelona sit third in the standings with 42 points, three behind second-placed Atletico Madrid and seven behind leaders Real Madrid.
The police have launched investigations into "threats and abuse" aimed at referee Michael Oliver and his family after Myles Lewis-Skelly controversial red card in Arsenal's 1-0 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
Oliver sent off Lewis-Skelly in the 43rd minute, with the Arsenal full-back deemed to have committed a serious foul play challenge on Matt Doherty.
The decision, which was supported by the VAR, received widespread criticism from pundits and supporters. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said he was "absolutely fuming" about Lewis-Skelly's dismissal.
Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body in charge of refereeing in English football, issued a statement on Sunday evening to reveal that Oliver had been subjected to attacks.
"We are appalled by the threats and abuse directed at Michael Oliver following the Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal fixture," PGMOL's statement read. "No official should be subject to any form of abuse, let alone the abhorrent attacks aimed at Michael and his family over the past 24 hours.
"The police are aware, and a number of investigations have commenced. We are supporting Michael, and all those affected, and are determined to tackle this unacceptable behaviour.
"Sadly, this is not the first time a match official has been forced to deal with threats in recent times. We will continue to support all investigations."
The Premier League shared a statement of their own in support of Oliver.
"The Premier League strongly condemns the threats and abuse directed at Michael Oliver," it read. "No official should be subject to any form of abuse. We will continue to support Michael, PGMOL and all investigations."
Mike Dean took a step away from refereeing for a short period in 2021 after reporting death threats to the police. It came after a controversial decision to send off West Ham United midfielder Tomás Soucek against Fulham.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said he would rather play his 63-year-old goalkeeper coach Jorge Vital in his team than Marcus Rashford unless the out-of-favor forward starts to "give the maximum every day in training and in life."
England international Rashford was left out of the team for the 11th successive game by Amorim during United's 1-0 Premier League win at Fulham on Sunday.
The 27-year-old said last month that he was ready to seek a "new challenge" away from Old Trafford after being dropped for United's 2-1 win against Manchester City at the Etihad on Dec. 15, but Rashford has so far been unable to find a new club during the January transfer window.
And despite strikers Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee scoring just one goal between them since the beginning of December, Amorim said he would not restore Rashford to the team unless he changes his attitude.
"It's the same, it's always the same reason," Amorim said when asked why he continued to overlook Rashford. "The reason is the training, the way I see what footballers should do in training, in life, it's every day, every detail.
"So if things don't change, I will not change. It's the same situation for every player. If you do the maximum, if you do the right things, we can use every player. And you can see it today on the bench, we miss a little bit of pace to go and change the game, move some pieces.
"But I prefer it like that. I will put Vital on before I put a player on that don't give the maximum every day. So I will not change in that department."
Amorim, who arrived from Portuguese champions Sporting CP in November, celebrates his 40th birthday on Monday. But after the Fulham win, he said he feels much older after his brief stint at United.
"It's not 40 ... I'm 50!" he said. "After two months at Manchester United, it's 50. It's a privilege to spend my 40th birthday here. That feeling of winning and three points is really important for us. You cannot see a great improvement in the team and that is a fact, but to win helps us to improve.
"We've had some lack of luck in some games. Today, was not the best match but we managed to win. The important thing is I have a clear idea of what I want to do. Sometimes I'm frustrated. We want to play a different style and we are going to play a different style in the future."
Fit-again Riyan Parag to lead Assam in Ranji Trophy
Riyan Parag (capt), Denish Das (vice-capt), Mukhtar Hussain, Mrinmoy Dutta, Rahul Singh, Dipjyoti Saikia, Parvez Musaraf, Sumit Ghadigaonkar (wk), Rishav Das, Anurag Talukdar (wk), Avinav Choudhury, Sibsankar Roy, Akash Sengupta, Pradyun Saikia, Amlanjyoti Das
Ranji round-up - TN close in on knockouts; Maharashtra stun Baroda
Vidarbha complete stunning come-from-behind win
Wadkar was assisted by Yash Rathod, who made 98, and fast bowler Nachiket Bhute who made 87 from No. 10. The eighth-wicket stand between Wadkar and Bhute was worth 172. Rajasthan never got going in their target of 329; they were bowled out for 107.
Left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey picked up 5 for 51 - his fifth five-for this season. Dubey now sits on top of the wicket charts for the season - he has 42 wickets in 12 innings at an average of 14.55. Jammu & Kashmir's Auqib Nabi comes next with 38 wickets.
Sai Kishore and Ajith Ram take TN to doorstep of knockouts
Before the spin twins left their mark on the final day, Tamil Nadu were set up by Vijay Shankar's 150 that helped them set Chandigarh a target of 403. The win took TN to the top of Group D; a draw in their next game against Jharkhand should see them through to the knockouts. Chandigarh and Saurashtra are the other two teams in the running for a knockouts berth from the group.
Kerala show incredible fight to salvage draw
Kerala were set a 363 target to win, but more importantly needed to bat out at least 100 overs to secure a draw. Those hopes appeared crushed when they stumbled to 47 for 5 by lunch on the final day. But a stunning lower-order rearguard helped them script a miracle. This effort was led by Mohammad Azharuddeen and Aditya Sarwate, who made 68 and 80 respectively.
Kerala's ninth-wicket pair of B Aparajith and MD Nideesh batted out over an hour and 13.4 overs under fading light to secure a draw from the jaws of defeat. MP threw everything they had at Kerala, with Kuldeep Sen picking up 3 for 64, while left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya wheeled away for 37 overs for his three wickets.
Baroda stumble as Mukesh Choudhary picks up maiden five-for
Baroda's defeat will rankle as they couldn't bat out a little more than two sessions to secure a draw. Maharashtra batted big to extend their second innings well into the final day, when they declared on 464 for 7 to set Baroda a target of 617. Baroda lasted just 36 overs and were bowled out for 177 with left-arm seamer Mukesh Choudhary picking up 5 for 76.
Tech giants vying with IPL owners in final round of Hundred franchise sales
At least four IPL franchises, along with a consortium of global tech giants, comprising leaders of Google and Microsoft, are on the shortlist to make the final round of the ECB's sale of the eight Hundred franchises.
The ECB drew up its shortlist on December 23, after initial rounds of consultation between the host counties of the eight franchises and the investors late in 2024. This was based on a wishlist from the host counties, as well as the non-binding floor valuation price put in by investors for each of the teams they bid for. In the initial round, investors could bid for all eight franchises, but in the trimmed-down list, the ECB has mapped each investor for at least one franchise based on their wishlist.
The ECB has confirmed with the shortlisted investors that their final bid will be binding and cannot be lower than the floor valuation price, which would act as a reserve price in the final round. With the bidding process still not over, and the ECB set to announce the schedule for 2025 Hundred season this week, the new owners will only assume control from 2026 onwards.
Predictably, both London-based franchises, Oval Invincibles (hosted by Surrey) and London Spirit (hosted by MCC) have had the most suitors, but Manchester Originals (hosted by Lancashire) have proven equally popular. Those on the shortlist for the Invincibles are five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians and the consortium of tech giants, while Lancer Capital, who are run by Manchester United co-owner Avram Glazer and run Desert Vipers in the ILT20, have shown strong interest in both London teams.
Sanjeev Goenka's RPSG Group is also on the shortlist to buy Spirit. Goenka owns the most expensive IPL franchise, the Lucknow-based Super Giants, which was launched in 2022. It is believed that RPSG's floor valuation in earlier rounds for the Spirit was a nine-figure sum. RPSG is also understood to have been placed on the shortlist for the Originals, whose home base is Old Trafford, along with at least two other franchises.
Mumbai are also on the shortlist for Manchester Originals. It is understood that the investors' interest in the city is because it is synonymous with two of the most famous Premier League football clubs - Manchester United and Manchester City. As a University town, it also has a significant youth population, which is another appealing factor.
The Sun Group, which owns Sunrisers franchises in IPL and SA20, are understood to be shortlisted for three Hundred teams: Nottingham-based Trent Rockets, Leeds-based Northern Superchargers and Cardiff-based Welsh Fire. Global fund manager CVC Capital Partners, which bought Gujarat Titans franchise in IPL in 2021, are undestood to be on the shortlist for Birmingham Phoenix.
Originally several other IPL team owners had expressed interest in buying stake in the Hundred franchises, including Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings. However, it is understood that neither Royals nor Punjab are on the shortlist at the moment. It could not be confirmed whether the Super Kings and Knight Riders, who have teams in overseas T20 leagues outside India, have been shortlisted. It is understood that Sanjay Govil, the US-based entrepreneur who owns Washington Freedom, is interested in three franchises, all of them based outside of London.
Additional reporting by Matt Roller.
Nagraj Gollapudi is news editor at ESPNcricinfo
Sources: QB Smigiel pulls FSU commit for '26
Four-star quarterback Brady Smigiel, ESPN's No. 36 overall recruit in the class of 2026, has decommitted from Florida State, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Sunday.
The 6-foot-5 Smigiel, ESPN's fourth-ranked pocket passer in the 2026 recruiting cycle, initially committed to Florida State in June, picking the Seminoles over Ohio State, Oregon and Washington. He now stands as the No. 2 uncommitted quarterback in the upcoming cycle, trailing only five-star quarterback and former Georgia pledge Jared Curtis (No. 4 overall).
Smigiel's decommitment comes one day after he received an in-home visit from Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly on Saturday. Michigan, South Carolina, Washington, UCLA and Michigan State also stand among the programs that are expected to be involved in Smigiel's recruitment moving forward.
A three-year starter at Newbury Park (California) High School, Smigiel led the program to a 14-1 record and a division title this past fall while throwing for 3,521 yards and 49 touchdowns in his junior season. Equipped with a strong arm, standout downfield accuracy and an ability to move within the pocket, Smigiel totaled 7,701 passing yards and 98 touchdowns across his first two high school campaigns in 2022 and 2023.
His exit from coach Mike Norvell's 2026 class stands as a significant loss for the Seminoles, who lost a total of 10 commitments in the final months of the 2025 cycle, including eight from the ESPN 300. Without Smigiel, Florida State now holds five commitments in the 2026 class, led by ESPN 300 athletes Efrem White (No. 112 overall) and Darryon Williams (No. 244).
Only eight of the 18 quarterbacks ranked in the 2026 ESPN 300 remain uncommitted more than 10 months out from the early signing period.
Sources: Penn St. finalizing deal for DC Knowles
Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is finalizing a deal to become the new defensive coordinator at Penn State, sources told ESPN on Sunday.
Knowles is expected to agree to a three-year deal that will average $3.1 million per season, which will make him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football. He is believed to be the first coordinator in college football to make a base salary of at least $3 million.
Knowles made a base salary of $2.2 million last season, and his compensation got close to $3 million with bonuses in the wake of Ohio State's national title run. The Buckeyes extended an offer to Knowles, sources told ESPN, that would have made him the highest-paid coordinator in the country, ahead of Michigan's Wink Martindale and LSU's Blake Baker, who are both set to earn $2.5 million next season.
Knowles also received interest from Notre Dame and Oklahoma, sources told ESPN.
He led Ohio State to the No. 1 defense in the country this past season, finishing first in total defense and scoring defense at just 12.9 points per game. The Buckeyes were No. 3 in run defense and No. 3 in passing yards allowed.
The move marks a significant maneuver within the Big Ten, as Penn State returns a sizable core of its College Football Playoff team from 2024 and should be considered among the favorites for the national title next season.
Knowles will have some key players to work with. Defensive linemen Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant will be linchpins, along with cornerback A.J. Harris and linebacker Tony Rojas.
The return of quarterback Drew Allar and tailbacks Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, along with a strong offensive line, will be the root of Penn State's preseason optimism for 2025.
Knowles, who will replace new Clemson defensive coordinator Tom Allen, is a veteran coordinator who worked at Duke from 2010 to 2017 and Oklahoma State from 2018 to 2021. Knowles has been at Ohio State since 2022, with this past season's unit representing his best work. Ohio State is expected to have eight players from that 2024 defense drafted, including the entire starting line.
The Philadelphia native has had an unusual path through the sport, as he played at Cornell and began his coaching career at the Ivy League school in the late 1980s. He worked as Cornell's head coach from 2004 to 2009, going 26-34, before becoming the defensive coordinator at Duke.
He is coming off strong back-to-back seasons at Ohio State, as the Buckeyes finished No. 2 nationally in scoring defense in 2023.
Ohio State will be on the hunt for a new coordinator. The Buckeyes will return three starters from their national title defense, with all three set to be decorated in the preseason.
Safety Caleb Downs earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and will be among the top prospects for the 2026 NFL draft. Linebacker Sonny Styles is set to emerge as a top prospect after winning second-team all-conference honors, and cornerback Davison Igbinosun is a two-time honorable mention All-Big Ten performer who is returning with the goal of becoming a first-round pick.
Follow live: Barkley scampers for third TD as Eagles close in on Super Bowl bid
The Washington Commanders versus the Philadelphia Eagles: Two NFC East teams battling to go to the Super Bowl. It's an outcome few could have predicted just a few months ago.
After all, weren't there rumblings about the job security of Eagles coach Nick Sirianni after a 2-2 start? That's before quarterback Jalen Hurts, running back Saquon Barkley and a stout defense powered the Eagles to 12 wins in their next 13 games.
The lone loss? To the Commanders in Week 16, of course.
Which brings us to Washington, where the second year under the Josh Harris ownership group has proved fruitful after sweeping changes following their initial 4-13 season. With first-time general manager Adam Peters, second-time head coach Dan Quinn and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Commanders appeared poised for a feel-good turnaround season -- who could forget that Week 8 win off a Hail Mary -- but they've since proved they belong among the NFL's best after a 12-5 campaign followed by a divisional round upset of the top-seeded Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
Daniels, the second overall pick last April, can become the first rookie quarterback to ever start in a Super Bowl, while Hurts is attempting to earn a second trip to the big game, where the Eagles fell short to the Kansas City Chiefs two seasons ago.
Follow along for live updates and key insights from the NFC Championship Game below.
Sources: Cubs finalizing trade for reliever Pressly
CHICAGO -- The Cubs are finalizing a trade to acquire closer Ryan Pressly from the Houston Astros, pending medical review, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Sunday.
Pressly will waive his no-trade clause to facilitate the move, and Houston will send money to help cover his $14 million salary, the sources said.
The Astros will receive a low-level prospect from the Cubs who is not on Chicago's 40-man roster, a source told ESPN.
Pressly, 36, is likely to become the Cubs' closer, a role he held with Houston from 2021 to 2023 before it signed Josh Hader to a long-term contract. The veteran righty has 112 saves with a 3.27 ERA compiled over his 12-year career, which includes six seasons in Minnesota.
Pressly will join a bullpen that blew 26 saves last season, as the Cubs are looking to make a playoff push in 2025. Chicago hasn't been to the postseason since 2020, working without an established closer over the past few years.
Righty Adbert Alzolay was ineffective last season and then got injured, eventually needing Tommy John surgery. Porter Hodge, 23, finished the season in the closer's role, but the team wanted more experience and depth in the back end of the bullpen.
The Cubs pursued lefty Tanner Scott before he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers last weekend, according to league sources, but Chicago was less interested in the other free agent closers, instead settling for Pressly, who has one year left on a three-year, $42 million contract signed before the 2023 season.
Pressly will join newcomers Eli Morgan, Cody Poteet, Matt Festa, Caleb Thielbar and Rob Zastryzny in the Cubs' bullpen.
The trade likely will conclude the bulk of the team's winter moves.
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