GAFFNEY, S.C. – Tyler Matthews has joined JD Motorsports with Gary Keller to make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut this Friday at Richmond Raceway.

Matthews will drive the No. 15 Linetec Services Camaro in his Xfinity Series debut.

Matthews, who won the 2016 North Carolina NASCAR Whelen All American Series championship racing late model stock cars throughout the state, will be right at home at the three-quarter-mile short track in Richmond.

“Man, I can’t stress enough how much this opportunity means to me,” said Matthews. “Getting the chance to drive for one of the most respected team owners in the garage area in Johnny Davis is huge. I know that this will be a big step up in my career, coming from racing late model stocks and all, but I’m treating this as just another racecar. If we can stay out of trouble and keep the car within the Top 25, I think that would be a solid day for us. I know we can do it, and I’m just counting down the hours until I can get on track to practice.”

Linetec Services, an electric utility service company based out of Alexandria, La., will serve as primary sponsor for Matthews’ debut race.

Last season, Matthews made three NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series starts. This season, he plans on putting together a three-race deal with JD Motorsports, should Friday night’s race go well. Other planned races will include Iowa Speedway and one race at a 1.5 mile track that is yet to be determined.

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POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Chris Dyson has hired open-wheel dirt racing star Kevin Thomas Jr. to drive his USAC Silver Crown Champ Car Series entry at select events this year.

Thomas is slated to drive the No. 9 Thetford/ProtectAll Beast during three USAC Silver Crown Champ Car Series events. Their first race together will be this weekend at the Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track.

Thomas is also slated to compete for CD Racing at Pennsylvania’s Williams Grove Speedway on June 14 and Ohio’s Eldora Speedway on Sept. 28.

“Sean (Michael, team crew chief) and I both know Kevin and we really appreciate his talent and determination,” Dyson said in announcing that the 27-year-old Thomas would drive for CD Racing.  “Kevin’s team will have a car for him everywhere except those three races and he’s going for the USAC National Triple Crown this season. We want to make sure CD Racing has a chance to score Silver Crown team championship points even when I’m not available to drive the car, and we could not have found anyone better than KTJ to come and fill in for me. It is a win-win for all of us.”

In last year’s Silver Crown dirt races Thomas scored three second-place finishes. For the past three seasons the Alabama-born Indianapolis resident has been USAC’s winningest non-winged driver and the runner-up in the National Sprint Car point standings.

“His results say it all,” said Michael. “Kevin’s got a chance to win in just about any car he gets into. He qualified for the A-Main at the Chili Bowl when he ran for me two years ago in the Heffner car, and he’s gone really well when he’s driven sprint cars for me. I know Kevin will do a great job for us.”

“I’m really pleased that Chris and Sean have asked me to drive for them when Chris isn’t able to run the car himself,” Thomas said. “My friends at FOXCO have provided me with great cars that are capable of winning, so it was as disappointing for them as it was for me that they weren’t able to do the half-mile races this year. I’m so grateful that for those three races I’ll still be running in really top equipment. I have a terrific working relationship with Sean and have great respect for Chris, who’s done so much in the sport. I can’t wait to get to Terre Haute this weekend.”

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Bayern Munich's Colombia international, James Rodriguez, has become a Spanish citizen.

The 27-year-old winger joined Bayern on a two-year loan deal in the summer of 2017 from Real Madrid.

The news of his new dual-citizen status was reported by El Confidencial and Spanish news agency EFE.

James is tied to Real Madrid until June 2021, however, Bayern have a unilateral option to purchase his rights for a reported €42 million.

By taking citizenship of a European Union country, James becomes a more attractive option for clubs as he would join as an EU player and free up a non-EU squad place.

The Colombian-born James moved to Spain following the 2014 World Cup when Madrid paid €80m to acquire him from Monaco. Despite not being a regular starter at Madrid, James played 111 times in his three-year spell at the Bernabeu, scoring 36 goals and providing 41 assists. He won two Champions League medals, one La Liga title and two FIFA World Club Cups.

James was on the books of Argentinian side Banfield before moving to FC Porto in 2010. He signed for Monaco in May 2013. He has scored seven goals and set up seven more in 18 league appearances for the Bundesliga leaders.

MANCHESTER, England -- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has insisted Paul Pogba will still be a Manchester United player next season and urged the midfielder to show his worth against Barcelona.

Pogba, who has again been linked with a move to Real Madrid on the eve of the Champions League quarterfinal first leg at Old Trafford, was sent off against Paris Saint-Germain in February and missed the dramatic comeback in Paris.

"Paul is looking forward to it, he's a Manchester United player, one of our big performers on the big stage," Solskjaer said.

"His game against PSG was not his greatest moment. He's only focused on playing and I cannot not see him playing for Man United next season.

"Paul at his best can run a game like this and you expect him to put his stamp on it."

The turnaround in Paris in the last round was built on an impressive display from Chris Smalling, who kept Kylian Mbappe quiet during the 3-1 win.

It will be Smalling's job to look after Lionel Messi when Barcelona, who have never won at Old Trafford in four attempts, visit on Wednesday night and the centre-back was in defiant mood at the prematch news conference.

"It's something to relish," Smalling said. "This season I've been lucky enough to face [Cristiano] Ronaldo and Mbappe. They're all challenges I relish and the players relish. I say 'bring it on.'"

Solskjaer says there is "hope" Nemanja Matic will be fit to play despite missing training at Carrington on Tuesday morning while Marcus Rashford's ankle injury will be assessed on Wednesday morning after he was unable to take part in the full session.

Ander Herrera is expected to miss out after picking up an injury in training on Sunday and Alexis Sanchez will be held back for the Premier League clash against West Ham on Saturday despite returning to training after a hamstring problem.

The injury problems in midfield could mean Scott McTominay gets a chance to line up against Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic and 18-year-old midfielder James Garner has also been drafted into the squad.

Solskjaer has warned his team to be aware of "tricks" employed by Barca while also hoping for "some luck" with Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi.

"We've learnt from that PSG game," Solskjaer said. "Players have talked about it -- how we got dragged into making fouls.

"You have got to be more patient in tackles, some of these players will have some tricks up their sleeves, some wise players.

"We weren't lucky with the ref against PSG where they should have had a man sent off so we hope for some luck there as well."

Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera has cast doubt over his future after he said he and the club "are not thinking alike" -- adding that Paul Pogba would be a suitable fit at Real Madrid.

Herrera, 29, will be out of contract in the summer and sources have told ESPN FC that Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Barcelona, Juventus and Inter Milan are interested in his signature.

And, speaking ahead of the Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Barcelona, he said he and the club are no nearer reaching an agreement.

"What I want is to beat Barcelona and think about football, Herrera told Diario ABC. "It's true that I only have two months left on my contract and as it is right now Manchester and I are not thinking alike and there is no renewal agreement.

"But my duty is still to continue to listen to United. What it's clear to me is that I will continue playing for a big team. I take care of myself for that reason, I feel well and I want to continue in football for as long as my body allows me to because the day I retire I will begin to regret to have hung up my boots.

"I will listen to United, of course, but also to other clubs. I don't close any doors."

Herrera's United teammate Pogba has been linked with a move to Real Madrid -- and boss Zinedne Zidane recently said he liked the France international a lot.

Asked about whether Pogba would fit in at the Bernabeu, Herrera added: "Pogba would be a great reinforcement for Madrid and for any team in the universe, but I hope he continues at United.

"He is a midfielder who has all the qualities. He heads well, can strike with both feet. He is quick, powerful, helps at the defensive end, he can go one-on-one, he provides assists and scores."

Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford handed manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a boost by taking part in training on the eve of the Champions League clash with Barcelona but Nemanja Matic, Herrera and Eric Bailly were all absent.

Rashford missed the 2-1 defeat to Wolves with an ankle injury but was able to take part in training on Tuesday morning ahead of the Champions League quarterfinal first leg at Old Trafford.

- Graham Hunter: Barcelona's resilience should have Man Utd worried

Rashford warmed up away from the main group -- working separately with a member of Solskjaer's backroom team before joining his teammates.

Matic, Herrera, Bailly and Antonio Valencia were missing from the session but Alexis Sanchez and Matteo Darmian were able to take part after injuries.

United booked their place in the quarterfinals with a dramatic 3-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain after losing the first leg at Old Trafford 2-0.

Barcelona beat United in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals.

However, they have never won at Old Trafford in four previous visits -- the last of which was a 1-0 defeat in the 2008 Champions League semifinal.

Information from ESPN FC's Manchester United correspondent Rob Dawson and Spain correspondent Adriana Garcia was used in this report.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said he is still "offended" by Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola's remarks that the country is an "authoritarian state and repressive."

Guardiola was actively involved in the political campaign for Catalan independence and referred to Spain as "authoritarian and repressive" during a rally in Barcelona in June 2017.

"Yes, of course," Sanchez said when asked by Marca if Guardiola's comments still bothered him. "I'm offended because what he said in that regard is not true whatsoever.

"And what is more, according to some sporting media, that same country that he talks about offered him the chance to coach La Roja [Spain's national team] at one point."

Now in his third season in charge of City, Guardiola, who guided them to the Premier League title last season finishing with a record 100 points, expressed back in 2017 his aspirations of coaching Spain in the future.

But the 48-year-old former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach said earlier this season that, while he would like to coach a national team one day, he will never be Spain coach because "they [the country's federation] will never offer it [the job] to me."

Guardiola played 47 games for Spain and won gold at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. He also represented Spain at the 1994 World Cup and at Euro 2000.

He has received criticism in Spain for being a vocal backer of Catalonia's fight for independence from Spain, including speaking at mass rallies on the issue.

In 2017, Guardiola dedicated his team's Champions League win over Napoli to two Catalan pro-independence leaders imprisoned in Madrid for charges of sedition.

Last November, he visited jailed Catalan pro-independence leaders to show support for their cause.

"Sport is an element of national pride, it should never be politicised," Sanchez said.

The Champions League returns this Tuesday and Wednesday at the Elite Eight stage, which is where things really took off last season. We saw heavy favourites Manchester City and Barcelona upset and marveled at last-minute heroics and controversy, including the Real Madrid penalty at the Bernabeu that sent Juve keeper Gigi Buffon into a white-hot rage before the referee used a different color -- red -- to send him off.

Brace yourself: The stage is set once again. Here's everything you need to know, from the superheroes and the sidekicks who can decide the ties.

Jump to: Spurs-Man City | Man United-Barca | Ajax-Juve

Liverpool vs. Porto

WHEN: Tuesday 4/9, 3 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. GMT

THE BACKSTORY: Liverpool reached the final last year, where they lost to Real Madrid, and they have reloaded in goal with keeper Alisson and in midfield, with the likes of Fabinho and Naby Keita to give the side more defensive grit to go with their free-flowing attack. Liverpool are involved in an energy-sapping title chase with Manchester City in the Premier League, but the European Cup, a trophy they've won five times, remains special at Anfield.

Porto are also embroiled in a tight title race domestically, too, but sailed through the group stages and came from behind to knockout Roma in the Round of 16. Sergio Conceicao's team is incredibly disciplined and rarely makes mistakes. Plus, they're not lacking in motivation after being beaten 5-0 at home by Liverpool a year ago.

HOW THEY MATCH UP: Liverpool's attack is a little less high-octane in nature than it was last year but Jurgen Klopp's side has gained the kind of defensive solidity that helps in knockout competitions. It bodes well against a team that loves to punish mistakes even when they're outplayed.

LIVERPOOL'S STAR TO WATCH: Mohamed Salah. Relative to last season, it may be an off year but it's the kind of off year most players can only dream about.

PORTO'S STAR TO WATCH: Eder Militao. The much-hyped young defender has already been snapped up by Real Madrid for next season and will be kept busy by Liverpool's attack.

X FACTOR FOR LIVERPOOL: Trent Alexander-Arnold. Against packed defenses, his runs from right-back and balls into the box are critical to stretch any opponent.

X FACTOR FOR PORTO: Iker Casillas. The Spanish keeper has plenty of Champions League experience and the ability to remain unfazed even at Anfield. If he can muster the old magic and return unscathed, Porto have a shot.

LIVERPOOL NEED TO ... be patient and not get caught out on the counter. The away win at Bayern, their first away from Anfield after five straight European defeats, suggests they don't need to nail this straight away.

PORTO NEED TO ... ignore the Anfield European night cauldron and focus on keeping it tight and picking their spots.

FIRST LEG PREDICTION: Liverpool, 2-0. An early goal will send Liverpool to a straightforward first leg victory.

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester City

WHEN: Tuesday 4/9, 3 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. GMT

THE BACKSTORY: Tottenham threatened to make the Premier League a three-horse title race for much of the season, grinding out results even during a rash of injuries. Yet they've dropped off in the past month. This is a team micromanaged by Mauricio Pochettino and built in his image. Both Real Madrid and Manchester United were heavily linked with the manager, but he's going nowhere: he has unfinished business at Tottenham.

Pep Guardiola has already won the European Cup twice at Barcelona, but has been knocked out in the semifinals on all four occasions he's reached that stage (once with Barca, three times with Bayern) since winning the trophy in 2010-11. On paper, City are the most formidable side in the competition, and this is the one trophy that's missing since the Abu Dhabi takeover in 2009.

HOW THEY MATCH UP: The fact that Spurs will be playing at their brand-new stadium means we're in uncharted territory: will the crowd still be getting comfortable or is this their chance to turn their ground into a fortress? City, meanwhile, can either out-possess you or go for the jugular with blisteringly quick runs from out wide and rapid build-up through the middle. Choose your poison, but Pochettino's press has given City problems in the past.

TOTTENHAM'S STAR TO WATCH, TOTTENHAM: Harry Kane. Perpetually linked to a move elsewhere, the center-forward -- voted the world's No. 1 striker in the FC 100 -- Kane is that rarest of rarities: a fan who happens to play for the club he supported as a kid.

MAN CITY'S STAR TO WATCH: Raheem Sterling. He's come into own this season in terms of both scoring and assists.

X FACTOR, TOTTENHAM: Christian Eriksen. He has struggled of late, but his free kicks make him a continuous threat, as does his ability to create out of nothing.

X FACTOR, MANCHESTER CITY: Bernardo Silva. He's arguably City's most dependable central midfielder.

TOTTENHAM NEED TO ... stay narrow against City's pacy wingers Sterling and Leroy Sane, exploit set pieces and disrupt City's midfield.

MANCHESTER CITY NEED TO ... play their game, unleash the speedy wingers to stretch the pitch horizontally and avoid lapses in concentration at the back.

FIRST LEG PREDICTION: 2-2. The new stadium effect, coupled with Pochettino's willingness to go for broke, will lead to goals.

Manchester United vs. Barcelona

WHEN: Wednesday 4/10, 3 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. GMT

THE BACKSTORY: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who replaced Jose Mourinho as manager in December, was meant to be an interim boss who would buy Manchester United enough time to find a viable long-term replacement. Except the Norwegian has lifted the team to the point that he became the long-term replacement, getting appointed on a permanent basis in late March. Top of his to-do list is getting United back in the Champions League next year -- put simply, that will require a top-four finish in the Premier League or winning this year's competition -- and ready for the inevitable rebuild, so this tie is a case of playing with house money.

Barcelona are on track for a Treble, but in many ways it feels like an understated season. There is more solidity to this side, but relative to previous campaigns, there's more of a dependence on Lionel Messi than ever as coach Ernesto Valverde is struggling to wean the team off its best player.

HOW THEY MATCH UP: Manchester United have plenty of pace up front and Barcelona have to be careful not to get caught out. On the flipside, except for Paul Pogba, United don't have much in the way of creativity in midfield. And there is the perennial problem of dealing with Messi, which United's back four don't appear well equipped to do.

MAN UNITED'S STAR TO WATCH: Pogba. He was signed to be a difference-maker in precisely these sort of game. Will he step up?

BARCELONA'S STAR TO WATCH: Lionel Messi. A bit of a no-brainer here. Goal scorers are supposed to decline in their 30s, but he's once again averaging more than a goal a game.

X FACTOR, MANCHESTER UNITED: David De Gea. The keeper's reputation is higher in England than in his native Spain, where he has made some high-profile errors for the national team. A shutdown performance would prove some detractors wrong.

X FACTOR, BARCELONA: Jordi Alba. Back to his very best this season, the left-back can be a devastating attacking option down the oppositions' right flank, where United often look vulnerable.

MANCHESTER UNITED NEED TO ... shut down Messi as best they can, exploit the space when Barcelona attack and capitalise on their edge on set pieces.

BARCELONA NEED TO ... stay alert defensively and exploit their technical edge, because if it turns into an athletic contest, United will have the advantage.

FIRST LEG PREDICTION: 1-1. Under Valverde, Barca are content with taking their time to finish United off in the second leg.

Ajax vs. Juventus

WHEN: Wednesday 4/10, 3 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. GMT

THE BACKSTORY: After losing the final twice in the past four years, Juventus went all-in over the summer, signing Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid for a package that will cost them nearly $400 million in fees and salary over four years, but the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is a doubt for the first leg.

Ajax have a glorious past -- they've been European champions four times -- but haven't advanced this far in the competition since 2002-03. With a heady mix of youth and experience, they're the romantic choice, having already knocked out defending champion Real Madrid in the last round.

HOW THEY MATCH UP: Juventus are shape-shifters who can either take the game to the opposition or grind it out and hit you on the counter. Expect the latter in this game against Ajax's tidy pass-and-move approach.

AJAX'S STAR TO WATCH: Frenkie de Jong. The 21-year-old all-arounder has already pledged his future to Barcelona and offers plenty of drive, creativity and charisma in the middle of the park.

JUVE'S STAR TO WATCH: Blaise Matuidi. With Ronaldo a doubt, the French World Cup winner packs a physical punch and is critical in maintaining balance between defence and attack.

X FACTOR, AJAX: Donny van de Beek. Difficult to track when he ghosts into the front line, he's best placed to catch Juve off-guard.

X FACTOR, JUVENTUS: Federico Bernardeschi. When Juve need a spark, he's increasingly been the one to provide it and is unafraid to take risks.

AJAX NEEDS TO ... Exploit the space behind the full-backs, not be wasteful in midfield and, above all, play with no fear.

JUVENTUS NEEDS TO ... Remember it's a two-legged game, but not dig themselves a hole like they did against Atletico Madrid, either. Attack can be a form of defence too.

PREDICTION: 1-1. Juve's experience and firepower should be enough to see them through.

Mitchell Starc is taking legal action against an insurance company in an attempt to recoup A$ 1.53 million of his IPL contract with Kolkata Knight Riders, which he was unable to take up last year due to injury.

Fairfax Media reported that paperwork has been lodged with the Victorian County Court against a syndicate of Lloyds of London, after Starc took a specialist insurance for his IPL deal, which was worth A$ 1.8 million, but was then told he was not eligible for a payout after missing the 2018 edition of the tournament.

Starc was injured during the Test series against South Africa, which preceded the IPL - and became best-remembered for the ball-tampering scandal - after picking up a stress fracture in his right leg which began in Port Elizabeth before worsening in Cape Town. He was ruled out of the final Test in Johannesburg.

"The parties have exchanged correspondence about the plaintiff's claim which culminated in a final response from the defendant's representative in the form of an email sent on 22 November 2018," the writ said. "That email confirmed the defendant's contention that the plaintiff is not entitled to the total disablement benefit."

Chennai might miss out on hosting the IPL 2019 final if the long-standing issue over the three closed stands at MA Chidambaram Stadium remains unresolved. In case the stands remain locked, then the BCCI has kept Hyderabad (home to last season's losing finalists Sunrisers) and Bengaluru as back-ups to host the four play-off matches - Hyderabad will then most likely host Qualifier 1 and the final, with Qualifier 2 and the Eliminator taking place in Bengaluru.

The issue was discussed by the BCCI's Committee of Administrators (CoA) and the IPL management on Monday, and it was decided to allow Chennai Super Kings a few more days to try and find a solution to the problem.

Super Kings, as defending champions, have the right to host the final at their home base, and are expected to revert by end of this week after which a final call will be taken on the playoff venues.

The stadium has hosted the IPL 2019 opener between Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore as well as two more games since then with the stands closed. However, the IPL Governing Council has been concerned about the bad optics the vacant stands present, especially on TV, for the marquee matches.

"There are three stands that are locked. If they can't clear the issue, we can't have the finals there," Vinod Rai, the CoA chairman, told ESPNcricinfo. "Otherwise the fallback options are Hyderabad and Bangalore."

The Chennai corporation had closed the three stands - I, J and K, adding up to roughly 12,000 seats - in 2012 as there were discrepancies when the stadium was refurbished before the World Cup in 2011. Only once since then have they been opened to the public, after Tamil Nadu Cricket Association got special permission to do so for an India v Pakistan ODI in December 2012.

Rai also said that the league phase of the women's IPL exhibition matches would be played in Visakhapatnam, and the one-off play-off is likely to take place in Bengaluru. A final schedule would be released by the BCCI shortly.

As Australia's selectors prepare to name their preliminary squad for this year's World Cup, Jason Gillespie has warned that his fellow countrymen cannot be written off after a recent resurgence in form.

Having lost their previous four ODI series since the start of last year, twice to England and once each to South Africa and India, Australia came back from 2-0 down to win their five-match series in India last month.

Australia then won 5-0 against an under-strength Pakistan, who opted to rest six front-line players ahead of the World Cup, putting them on an eight-match winning streak going into the opening match of their title defence against Afghanistan in Bristol on June 1.

"Every other team in this World Cup knows that Australia know how to win World Cups," Gillespie told ESPNcricinfo. "That is something that will be in every other country's mind, that Australia - while they might not be seen as favourites - they know how to win World Cups.

"So for me, I think Australia are very much a dark horse and I wouldn't write them off, that's for sure."

Australia, whose selectors convened on Tuesday, are now No.5 on the ICC world ODI team rankings, behind No.1 and favourites England, India, New Zealand and South Africa.

However, Gillespie - the former Australian fast bowler, now Sussex coach - believes five-time champions Australia are "peaking at the right time".

"They'll take a lot of confidence going into this World Cup," Gillespie said. "Of course I want to see Australia do well. They've copped a lot of stick in recent times but in the last couple of series in India and Pakistan, they've shown some real promise and they've played some really, really good cricket."

Australia have unveiled their kit for the World Cup, a predominantly yellow outfit with lime-green trim, and are set to name their 15-man squad on April 15, although they can make changes up until May 23.

Having made wholesale changes - several times - during the past year, the Australian line-up is by no means clear-cut.

One key question mark hangs over who will make way for David Warner and Steve Smith, who are both expected to return, having served their ball-tampering bans. Usman Khawaja, who averaged 76.60 in India and 54.40 against Pakistan last month, may need to drop to No.3 to allow Warner to open with Aaron Finch.

Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb are arguably battling for one place while Ashton Turner is expected to miss out, despite being highly rated by some on the selection panel.

Another conundrum is presented by the race for fitness of injured fast-bowling trio Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Jhye Richardson.

Meanwhile, apart from their two series victories against Australia, England have, since January 2018, suffered a shock six-run defeat at the hands of Scotland in a stand-alone match, defeated India 2-1 at home and Sri Lanka 3-1 away before drawing their most recent series against West Indies in the Caribbean 2-2 with one match washed out.

Gillespie, who played just four group matches before returning home injured from Australia's successful 2003 World Cup campaign, believes England, the hosts, are rightful favourites this year.

"There's been a lot of talk of England being favourites and playing at home and I certainly think they deserve that tag," he said. "They've played some wonderful 50-over cricket. They've been really innovative and shown a lot of aggression with bat and ball, they've been really dynamic in the field.

"I think it will just be managing the expectations in England. Personally, selfishly, I'd love to see an England - Australia final at Lord's. I think it would be an amazing spectacle."