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Champions League as it happened: Bayern win, Feyenoord stun Milan
Welcome to the second day of the knockout phase playoff first legs of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League season! Europe's premier club competition has now reached the knockout stage as we now figure out which teams will make it to the round of 16.
Enjoy the play-by-play from all the games such as Bayern Munich against Celtic, AC Milan against Feyenoord and AS Monaco against Benfica.
'That's the way cricket is meant to be played' - Gambhir backs India's left-right combination
"That's the way cricket is meant to be played," Gambhir said of Axar's promotion. "I know a lot of people talk about it, but that's the way we got to play the game, and that's the way cricket should be played. It's not about the batting order, it's about who can create what impact. And it's about just if you have the option of putting a quality left-hand batter in the middle; why won't you do that?
"Why would you want to have top five as right-handers? We don't look at averages and stats and all that stuff. We look at who can deliver more at that number. And Axar has done fabulously well. Both the games [in which] he got the opportunity, he delivered for us. I know there will always be talk - there will always be people talking about it - but I think that's the way we want to go in future as well."
That Gambhir likes right-left combinations is no secret. When he came back to Kolkata Knight Riders as a mentor, their right-left partnerships went up from 58% in 2022 and 2023, to 74% in 2024. Having said that, it doesn't seem to be an unhealthy obsession. For example, it doesn't penalise Rahul, who has done his job in the middle order well, just for being a right-hand batter.
Gambhir: Wanted to see what Jaiswal can bring to the table
"He wasn't supposed to be benched throughout the series," Gambhir said. "We wanted to give Yashasvi a go in the first game and see what he can bring to the table because he was in really good form in Australia. So we wanted to see what kind of an innings can he play. I know you can't judge someone by one innings, but we always knew that Shreyas is going to be an important player for us. What he's done at No. 4, be it the World Cup or forget about even the World Cup, he's just an important player.
"So sometimes when you've only got three games, you want to try and rotate your squad as well. See, like for today, we could have easily played Shami but we wanted to give Arsh a go. We could have played Jadeja as well, but we gave Washi a go as well. So when you've got Champions Trophy around the corner, you want to try and maximise these three games and try and give everyone an opportunity. Shreyas was always in the scheme of things, and good that he played all the three games."
Ed Joyce to step down as Ireland Women head coach
Joyce, who represented both Ireland and England during his playing career, was appointed on a permanent basis in September 2019, having spent three months as interim head coach after the departure of Aaron Hamilton. Ireland have enjoyed some notable successes on Joyce's watch, including T20I series wins in Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as beating Sri Lanka 2-1 in ODIs last summer.
They followed that series triumph by winning an ODI against England for the first time since 2001, then securing a maiden T20I success to draw the series 1-1.
Joyce's time in charge was interrupted by Covid-19, during which time Ireland went 20 months without a competitive fixture; the pandemic also denied his side a chance of qualifying for the 2022 50-over World Cup. Although they reached the T20 World Cup in 2023, they missed out on last year's edition after being pipped by Scotland at the qualifier.
"It has been a privilege to lead Cricket Ireland's women's performance programme and to work with this group of dedicated cricketers and support staff," Joyce said. "The last six years have been an incredible journey - not just for me personally, but for the players, coaches and, indeed, the entire performance programme.
"When I came on board we had just announced first-ever part-time contracts for women cricketers in Ireland. Those six part-time contracts have grown over subsequent years to now 23 players under some form of contract - a number of these being full-time. This process of professionalisation alone has been rewarding yet challenging. Throw the Covid pandemic into the mix, the constant need to juggle the availability of players who are still studying - all while meeting the demands of international cricket - the role has been all-encompassing.
"Just as in my professional playing career, I recognise the natural cycle of coaching. There comes a time when a system benefits from fresh perspectives and new voices, allowing players to explore and develop their skills in diverse ways."
Cricket Ireland's director of high performance, Graeme West, said the board had wanted to keep Joyce on but that they would now work to ensure a smooth handover for the team's next head coach.
"While it's a sad day to see such a respected figure step down, Ed's impact on the senior women's programme will be felt for years to come," West said. "He has been instrumental in transforming the senior women's set-up during his tenure, instilling in the players a sense that they belong at the sport's top table.
"While we tried to convince Ed to extend his time in the role, he felt that this was an appropriate time to refresh the leadership. He'll lead the team one last time at the qualifier in Pakistan this April, then handover what is a strong foundation for the next head coach to build upon. We're immensely grateful for Ed's contributions in this latest incarnation of his wonderful service to Irish cricket - and as he says, we hope to see him back in some capacity in the future. It's also important to send our thanks to Ed's family - Fran, Georgiou and Sebastian - for their unwavering support over the last six years."
GMR agree deal for Southern Brave to conclude Hundred sell-off
GMR Group have, as expected, secured a stake in Southern Brave to conclude the ECB's process of selling equity in the Hundred. GMR, co-owners of IPL team Delhi Capitals, were already the majority shareholders of host county Hampshire, having bought out former owner Rod Bransgrove last year.
GMR Group, an Indian infrastructure conglomerate, owns teams in a number of T20 leagues around the world, including Delhi Capitals in the IPL and WPL, Dubai Capitals in the ILT20, Pretoria Capitals in the SA20, as well as being principal investors in MLC side Seattle Orcas.
It brings the number of Hundred teams bought into by IPL owners to four, after Northern Superchargers (Sun Group), Manchester Originals (RPSG Group) and Oval Invincibles (Reliance). The ECB's hopes for a spread of investment from around the world had already been realised by deals for Birmingham Phoenix (Knighthead Capital), Welsh Fire (Sanjay Govil), London Spirit (Silicon Valley consortium) and Trent Rockets (Cain International).
GMR had become the first overseas owners of an English county when they agreed a deal for Bransgrove's majority shareholding last September. The acquisition did not guarantee a stake in Southern Brave, however, with a mechanism requiring GMR to pay fair market value for 49% of Brave before the ECB would sanction the remaining 51% being transferred to Hampshire.
Brave won the inaugural men's Hundred in 2021, as well as finishing as runners-up last year. In the women's competition, they were twice runners-up, in 2021 and 2022, before lifting the trophy the following season.
Glamorgan to sell Govil extra 1%
Glamorgan have confirmed that they have entered into an exclusivity agreement with Sanjay Govil, the owner of MLC franchise Washington Freedom, at the start of talks to finalise Govil's investment in Welsh Fire. Glamorgan are planning to sell 1% of the 51% transferred by the ECB as Welsh Fire's host county, to "create an equal ownership split" with Govil.
Glamorgan chair, Mark Rhydderch-Roberts, said: "It was vitally important for us that any investment partner shared our values, our strategic and commercial aims and our ambition to grow as an international brand. Washington Freedom ticked all of the boxes and has been our preferred bidder for some time so we are delighted that they have chosen to partner with us.
"They share our belief that both Glamorgan and Welsh Fire have huge potential and that Welsh Fire, in particular, can become a global brand, opening commercial opportunities on a different scale across the whole spectrum of Welsh cricket.
"The growth of the global game and the role of the Hundred in engaging new audiences, transforming the Women's game and showcasing the best global talent means that we are really excited by the endless opportunities that this partnership will present to both parties."
He said: "I'm thrilled for this next step forward in renewing and expanding cricket for the next generation of fans. I'm looking forward to the benefits our partnership will have not only for recreational cricket in the United Kingdom, but for strengthening the cross-border relationship between international teams, franchises, and fans for years to come."
WR Toney arrested, allegedly strangled woman
Wide receiver Kadarius Toney was arrested last week in Georgia on two counts, according to online records.
Toney was booked in a Douglas County (Georgia) facility on Feb. 6 on counts of aggravated assault -- strangulation and obstructing/harassing 911 calls. A judge set a bail of $25,000 on each count.
Records show Toney was not in custody on Feb. 7.
TMZ Sports, citing police documents, reported that on Jan. 14, Toney allegedly put his hand around a woman's throat and squeezed "with enough force to cause her to be unable to [breathe]." Red marks were spotted on the woman's neck, and petechial hemorrhaging was noticed in her eyes.
Toney also allegedly took the woman's phone to prevent her from calling authorities.
Toney, 26, appeared in three games for the Cleveland Browns last season before he was released in December following a taunting penalty and a muffed punt in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A 2021 first-round pick by the New York Giants, he was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in the middle of the 2022 season. He had a key punt return in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVII that helped deliver the Chiefs a 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chiefs hoped he could become their No. 1 wide receiver in 2023, but that never developed, and he was inactive for all four playoff games that season as Kansas City won back-to-back championships.
Barkley backs Swift, doesn't get fans' 'hate' at SB
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley said he doesn't understand why fans booed pop superstar Taylor Swift when she was shown on the videoboards at the Caesars Superdome during Super Bowl LIX.
"I remember that they showed her on the jumbotron, and she got booed. I don't get it. I don't get why she was getting hate there," Barkley said Wednesday during an appearance on "The Howard Stern Show" on SiriusXM.
Barkley's response came after he was asked if he thought Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, would get engaged. He didn't have an opinion on that question but, unprompted, came to the defense of Swift.
"We're trying to expand the game, and her being a part of it is only helping it. I don't get the dislike she's getting." Saquon Barkley, on Taylor Swift
He credited Swift with helping to grow the popularity of the NFL.
"She was there supporting her significant other, and she's made the game bigger," Barkley said. "In football we're all about, 'How can we expand the game and make it more [international]?' We're traveling to Brazil, we're traveling to Mexico. Apparently, we're traveling to Australia soon. We're trying to expand the game, and her being a part of it is only helping it. I don't get the dislike she's getting."
Swift, who grew up near Philadelphia but now roots for the Chiefs and Kelce, was booed when shown alongside rapper Ice Spice during the first quarter Sunday night. She appeared to mouth "What's going on" in response to the booing.
Many of the boos Sunday night likely came from Eagles fans. Barkley, however, has been embraced by the team's supporters after leaving the New York Giants to sign in Philadelphia last offseason and enjoying a historic season in which he rushed for 2,476 yards, the most in a single season, including playoffs.
"They just shower you with love," Barkley said of the team's fans. "And it's been pretty cool for me and my family 'cause kind of how things ended in New York. There was always love and support there, but things didn't end off on a great note, I guess you could say. And to be able to come here and just the way how they've taken me in and my family in, and my daughter is the star here. They love my little daughter. So it's been pretty cool."
UNLV football player found dead in apartment
LAS VEGAS -- UNLV senior offensive lineman Ben Christman, who transferred after last season from Kentucky, has died, the university announced. He was 21.
Christman was found dead in an off-campus apartment Tuesday morning. The university said it didn't have other details and that a cause of death would be determined by the Clark County Coroner's Office.
UNLV said Christman's family and the team have been informed and that counseling services would be provided.
"Our team's heart is broken to hear of Ben's passing," UNLV coach Dan Mullen said in a statement. "Since the day Ben set foot on our campus a month ago, he made the Rebels a better program.
"Ben was an easy choice for our leadership committee as he had earned the immediate respect, admiration and friendship of all his teammates. Our prayers go out to his family and all who knew him. Ben made the world a better place and he will be missed."
Christman began his college career at Ohio State as a highly ranked prospect in the 2021 recruiting class. He redshirted that season and played in one game in 2022 before transferring to Kentucky. Christman did not play in 2023 because of a knee injury, but he appeared in all 12 games last season on special teams before transferring to UNLV.
"There is little that can be said to lessen the pain of suddenly losing a member of our university family at such a young age, and my heart breaks for all who knew and loved him," UNLV president Keith Whitfield said in a statement.
Sources: Ex-NFL coach Patricia to be OSU's DC
Ohio State is finalizing a deal to make veteran NFL coach Matt Patricia the school's new defensive coordinator, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.
The move to bring in Patricia comes with the corresponding internal promotion of secondary coach Tim Walton to the co-defensive coordinator role, sources said. Ohio State will also be promoting safeties coach Matt Guerrieri to pass-game coordinator, per sources.
Patricia comes to Ohio State to replace Jim Knowles, who left for Penn State's defensive coordinator job in the wake of the Buckeyes' 2024 national title.
In Patricia, the Buckeyes get a veteran defensive playcaller who worked as the New England Patriots' defensive coordinator for six seasons from 2012 to 2017. He began calling defensive plays without the official title in 2010, which was a device Bill Belichick used to break in new coordinators and keep pressure off them.
He was the defensive coordinator for two of New England's Super Bowl wins and was on staff as an offensive assistant for the Patriots' 2004 Super Bowl title.
Patricia spent three seasons as the head coach of the Detroit Lions from 2018 to 2020, getting fired with a 13-29-1 record in his third season there.
Walton's promotion comes after coming to Ohio State in 2022 from the NFL, where he coached for four teams from 2009 to 2021. That included a job as the Rams' defensive coordinator in 2013.
His new title is a nod to the strong secondary play at Ohio State under his watch, as the Buckeyes finished No. 3 in the country in passing yards allowed in 2024 and No. 1 in that category in 2023.
Guerrieri is a former co-defensive coordinator at Duke from 2018 to 2021 and was the co-defensive coordinator at Indiana in 2023.
They will all be charged with taking over an Ohio State defense that returns just three starters from a unit that finished No. 1 nationally in total defense and scoring defense. The eight departing starters, including the entire defensive line, project to get picked in the NFL draft this spring.
Ohio State does return high-end talent, including safety Caleb Downs, who projects as one of the top players in college football next year. Junior linebacker Sonny Styles will be another top prospect, and senior cornerback Davison Igbinosun earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.
Blazers' Ayton injures calf, out at least 4 weeks
Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton will miss at least four weeks with a left calf strain, the team said Wednesday.
Ayton, who is averaging 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds in 40 starts this season, had an MRI after suffering the injury during Monday's loss to the Denver Nuggets. He was replaced by Donovan Clingan, who scored a career-high 21 points in 21 minutes.
Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson will miss Wednesday's rematch against the Nuggets with an ankle sprain. He is averaging 12.4 points and 5.3 assists in 47 games this season.
Field Level Media contributed to this report.
Doncic's Lakers debut a ratings smash for ESPN
Luka Doncic's debut with the Los Angeles Lakers scored massive ratings for ESPN despite coming in a game that started at 10:30 p.m. ET and whose result was never in doubt.
The network's audience for Monday night's game, a 132-113 Lakers victory over the Utah Jazz, peaked at 2.55 million viewers. To put that into context, it was up 42 percent compared with last year's average NBA game on ESPN.
The game averaged 2.01 million viewers, according to Nielsen, and was the most-watched game of the day among the coveted demographics of males 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 years old.
That's despite Doncic playing only 24 minutes and scoring 14 points in a game Los Angeles led by 12 points after the first quarter and 25 points at halftime. The Lakers led by as many as 34 points, and Doncic sat out the fourth quarter.
The 25-year-old was acquired from Dallas in a shocking blockbuster trade earlier this month, and Monday night marked his first action since suffering a left calf strain on Christmas Day.
Doncic is listed as questionable but expected to play in Wednesday night's game at Utah, when the Lakers will attempt to extend their winning streak to seven in their final game before the All-Star-Break.
It will give James and Doncic another chance to build chemistry after some have questioned whether two players who are accustomed to being the No. 1 option can be successful together in the long term.
"They're two of the best thinkers, problem solvers that we've ever seen," Jazz coach Will Hardy said. "I don't see any world where those two playing together isn't a good thing. Like I said, their processing speed, mentally, is incredible. And so, I'm sure they'll figure it out."
The Lakers are next scheduled to play on national television on Feb. 22 against Denver, which will air on ABC. Doncic will then pay his first return visit to Dallas three days later
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