La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid drew 0-0 away to struggling Getafe on Saturday, despite playing the latter stages of the game with an extra man, offering renewed hope to title rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Getafe's Allan Nyom was shown a red card after a VAR review for a crunching tackle on Atletico's Renan Lodi in the 70th minute but the visitors could not make their advantage count.

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Atletico did manage to put the ball in the net in the second half when Joao Felix nodded in a cross from Marcos Llorente but it did not count as the ball had gone out of play, while substitute Moussa Dembele missed two good chances to score.

Diego Simeone's side lead the standings on 63 points while Real Madrid are second on 57 and third-placed Barcelona can reduce the gap behind Atletico to four points if they beat Huesca at home on Monday.

"We have two monsters behind us who want to be where we are and it's normal that they're putting the pressure on us, we have been leaders for a long time," said Simeone.

"Madrid are winning games, Barcelona are full of hope and enthusiasm but we'll continue to take each game as it comes."

"We did a lot of things well today but if you only draw it means you have not done enough," said Atletico keeper Jan Oblak.

"Getafe play a tough brand of football, a little different from the rest and it's never been easy against them."

Getafe have now failed to score against Atletico in 19 consecutive games in all competitions since Simeone took charge in 2012 but they had several chances to take the lead, going closest when Enes Unal fired at goal from inside the box but was foiled by Oblak.

Getafe keeper David Soria was even more decisive, keeping out an early strike from Yannick Carrasco then thwarting Dembele late in the second half.

Dembele was fortunate not to concede a penalty when he appeared to foul.

Sheffield United announced on Saturday that manager Chris Wilder has left the club by mutual consent, with the team bottom of the Premier League standings on 14 points.

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The Yorkshire club announced the expected news on its website after rumours had been circulating for 24 hours that the 53-year-old would be leaving.

Sheffield United, who Wilder guided back to the Premier League in 2019, are bottom of the table, 12 points adrift of the safety zone with 10 games remaining.

"We are confident that all Blades fans around the world will join us in thanking Chris for his hard work, commitment and expertise in driving the club," a statement said.

"Now the club will turn its attention to completing the season as strongly as possible and if we are relegated, to prepare for the Championship."

Wilder marked more than 200 league games in charge for the club earlier this season, although there has been little reason for celebration in a difficult campaign.

They have won only four of their 28 games, although one of them was a 2-1 victory at Manchester United.

It is a stark contrast to last season when they impressed on their return to the top flight, punching above their weight to finish in ninth spot having challenged for a European place.

They lost their last three games of the COVID-19-hit season, though, and that form spilled over into this season, with their first league win coming in their 18th game.

Tensions between Wilder and club owner Abdullah Bin Musa'ad Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud reportedly escalated in recent weeks, following the club's failure to buy new players in January.

Wilder will be remembered fondly by the club's fans as they were in the third-tier when he took charge.

"Being manager of Sheffield United has been a special journey and one I'll never forget," Wilder said.

"I was delighted to be given the opportunity in 2016 and have been delighted with the success we have achieved, including two promotions and a highest ever Premier League finish.

"I'd like to thank everyone who has contributed to the Club's accomplishments along the way, including the players, staff and, in particular, the supporters."

Sheffield United visit third-placed Leicester City on Sunday.

LONDON -- There was time when Sergio Aguero's importance to Manchester City was a certainty and their success in the Premier League was not.

It feels decidedly different now.

City eased to a 3-0 win over relegation-threatened Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday to extend their lead over Manchester United to 17 points. United have two games in hand but, whatever Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side do, City need just five wins from their remaining eight games to secure a third league title in four seasons.

They have achieved such a dominant position largely without their all-time record goalscorer, restricted by injuries and COVID-19 to just four starts this season, with Saturday's bow just his second since Oct. 24.

- Notebook: Aguero, Messi to swap clubs?
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The 32-year-old scored his first league goal in 14 months -- a barren run mitigated by various factors, not least a global pandemic -- netting City's third from the spot after John Stones and Gabriel Jesus had struck to make the game safe.

"For Sergio it is important [to score]," City boss Pep Guardiola told BeIN after the match. "A long time injured, a tough game with tough opponents. Of course, he is still in the process but it was good to finish 90 minutes in good rhythm and to score a goal for all strikers is important."

Aguero had to start somewhere, of course, but this will need to be the beginning of a strong upturn in form with meaningful games running out to prove he can remain at the vanguard of what is shaping up to be a new dynasty under Guardiola.

It is yet another testament to the City manager's coaching prowess that he has re-established their domestic pre-eminence by methods aside from transfer market power: Ilkay Gundogan's deployment in a more advanced position, Joao Cancelo's reinvention as a full-back/midfielder, the use of a false nine to assert midfield dominance against certain opponents.

That latter tweak was in part informed by Aguero's unavailability. Jesus has struggled with his fitness this season, too; this was the first time the Brazilian and Aguero have started together since February 2020.

They now have 24 goals from 13 league starts together, a sign of their past potency and a record Aguero will be looking to extend in the weeks ahead.

Aguero is a City legend whatever happens, his 257th goal of an illustrious career the apotheosis of which will probably always be that stoppage-time winner against Queens Park Rangers in May 2012 to seal their first league title in 44 years.

"Sergio is maybe the legend," Guardiola said. "Sometimes when I review the goal that won the Premier League for [Roberto] Mancini [in 2012], it is something special. He is a lovely person and what he has done ... we are going to decide the best for both sides."

Consequently, he should not be written off lightly despite turning 33 in June, and with a contract expiring this summer. There are murmurings that Aguero has become frustrated at a bit-part status of late having been fit to start well before Saturday's game. He is probably not alone in wanting more game time: Guardiola has now made 94 changes to his starting lineup this season, more than any other manager in the division.

City are likely to enter the scramble for Borussia Dortmund forward Erling Haaland should he become available this summer, a move which will likely hasten Aguero's departure.

But Aguero insisted in a Twitch interview this week that talk of a move to Barcelona was premature while Guardiola claimed he "will think about" a new contract "when the international break starts and I have more time."

The Argentine striker needs to seize every opportunity. He was undoubtedly a little ring-rusty here and not helped by City lacking their usual fluency in the first-half.

Aguero dropped deep at times to help link the play with Guardiola opting for a three-man defence supported by wing-backs Cancelo and Benjamin Mendy also aiming to provide attacking width.

With Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne on the bench, City were a little disjointed and Aguero found himself on the periphery. He ended the half with just 16 touches, the same number as City goalkeeper Ederson and the fewest on the pitch bar Fulham winger Ademola Lookman.

City were struggling to move the ball with sufficient speed or incision to unsettle Fulham and so it will infuriate Cottagers boss Scott Parker no end that their resistance was broken from a set-piece just after half-time, triggering a blitz of three goals in 13 minutes.

Cancelo swung over a free kick and Stones poked the ball into the net. If the opening goal was maddening, the second was comical. Joachim Andersen tried to clear the ball but only succeeded in hitting Ivan Cavaleiro, ricocheting straight into Jesus' path. He rounded Fulham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola before smashing the ball into the net.

Jesus was then fouled in the box by Tosin Adarabioyo -- a City academy graduate -- giving Aguero the chance to get on the scoresheet, ending his barren run. He completed 90 minutes for the first time in 13 months with 37 touches, the fewest of any City starter.

Guardiola's side remain in with a chance of a remarkable quadruple trophy haul this season. They seem almost certain to be celebrating on at least one front. Whether it proves to be Aguero's swansong or the start of another chapter remains unknown.

BOSTON -- Chris Kreider scored his team-leading 14th goal, Artemi Panarin had an assist in his first game back since leaving the team, and the New York Rangers beat the Boston Bruins 4-0 Saturday to halt a three-game losing streak.

Panarin left Feb. 22 after a Russian tabloid printed allegations from a former coach that he attacked a woman in Latvia almost a decade ago, which Panarin denies. His return clearly provided a lift for New York.

"You put him in the lineup and then it looks like we have more swagger," Rangers coach David Quinn said.

The Rangers went 4-5 while he was gone. Consistency has been a struggle for the Rangers this season, with and without Panarin, And even with him back in the lineup, the playoffs could be a reach. Boston now owns the fourth spot in the East, with 32 points, and has a game in hand on the Rangers, who are seven points away.

But they looked sharp on Saturday. Keith Kinkaid stopped 18 shots for his first shutout since 2018. Ryan Strome, Pavel Buchnevich and K'Andre Miller each had a goal for New York, which lost 4-0 in Boston on Thursday. Mika Zibanejad added two assists and Kreider had one.

"It was definitely a huge boost getting him back," Zibanejad said about Panarin. "Not only for the game but for the locker room."

Jaroslav Halak made 29 saves for the Bruins, who have dropped eight of their past 12 games.

"You see a game like that and it's, 'Are we tired or are we out of shape?'" Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said. "At the end of it, I think there's a number of things. But it's unacceptable -- the effort has to be there every day. That's the most disappointing thing about today was the effort."

The Rangers called the story about Panarin fabricated and that it was designed to intimidate him for his political views against Russian President Vladimir Putin. His former coach in the Kontinental Hockey League, Andrei Nazarov, said he was motivated to speak about the alleged incident because he disagreed with Panarin's criticism of the Russian government.

Playing in just his fourth game this season, the 31-year-old Kinkaid was hardly tested as the Rangers got to most of the loose pucks, limited the Bruins' break-ins and ability to control the puck in the offensive zone.

At the end, a Rangers player could be heard yelling: "That a boy, Keith!"

Recalled from the taxi squad on March 6 when Igor Shesterkin was injured, Kinkaid played in relief Thursday, stopping all 13 shots. On Saturday, he saw just 11 on goal in the first two periods.

"I'm just happy to be able to get some NHL games again to prove myself," he said, smiling.

Boston forward Jake DeBrusk, who had a goal Thursday after being benched and called out for his play this season by Cassidy, missed the game because he was in the COVID-19 protocol.

Coming off a lackluster effort when they were decidedly outplayed on Thursday, the Rangers were ready from the start, hitting the Bruins early, and controlled most of the first two periods.

"We've got to find a way to string a couple of these games together," Zibanejad said.

Miller's wrister from the right point ricocheted into the net off the far post, making it 1-0 just 3 minutes, 6 seconds into the game.

"I think right away we couldn't sustain our game," Boston forward Nick Ritchie said. "We couldn't tilt the ice. It made for a long game."

Kreider's goal made it 2-0 in the second period when he one-timed Zibanejad's pass from the right corner after the puck slid through the slot just past the stick of Jarred Tinordi's diving attempt to block it.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kentucky Wildcats freshman Cam'Ron Fletcher has entered the basketball transfer portal, the school announced Saturday.

Fletcher, a former ESPN 100 prospect from St. Louis, played just nine games for the Wildcats this season and was asked to step away from the team for a week back in December.

"Although this season did not go the way any of us wanted to, being a part of the Kentucky men's basketball program has been a great experience," Fletcher said in the statement. "I would like to thank all of my coaches and teammates and especially the Big Blue Nation for making my time here so special. I grew so much this season, not only on the court but as a man and I'll be forever thankful for this opportunity."

The 6-foot-6 small forward was visibly upset toward the end of Kentucky's loss to North Carolina in December, and two days later John Calipari announced that he had "asked Cam Fletcher to take some time and step away from the team."

"He needs to reflect and do some soul searching to get his priorities in order," Calipari said in a tweet at the time. "Any attitude or actions that are detrimental to this team will not be tolerated -- and that goes for everyone on the team."

Fletcher apologized for his actions at the end of the Carolina game.

Fletcher returned to the team a week later, but he played in just two games the rest of the season. He played one minute against Missouri in February, and then saw about six minutes in the regular-season finale against South Carolina.

He averaged 1.7 points and 1.7 rebounds in nine games this season.

"Cam came so far as a teammate and as a player this season," Calipari said in the statement. "He improved in all areas and I wish he would have had more opportunities to show everything he worked on. He matured as a person this season and I know he will have great success in whatever path he chooses. I support his decision and I will do anything to help him with his career."

Running back Emmanuel Henderson announced his commitment to Alabama on Saturday, choosing the Crimson Tide over offers from some of the biggest programs in the country, including Auburn, Georgia, Clemson and others.

Henderson, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound back out of Geneva County High School in Hartford, Alabama, is the No. 12-ranked recruit overall in the ESPN Junior 300.

He's the top-ranked running back in the class and continues a string of successful recruiting at the position for the Crimson Tide, who have signed five running backs ranked in the top 10 of the position over the past three classes. If Henderson signs with Alabama in December or February, he would make six in four classes.

He's Alabama's third ESPN 300 commitment in the 2022 class, joining Tennessee quarterback Ty Simpson, the No. 27 recruit overall, and linebacker Robert Woodyard, the No. 88 prospect overall.

Alabama is currently behind Ohio State, Penn State, LSU, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, Oregon, Texas A&M and Notre Dame in ESPN 300 commitments in this class. However, the Crimson Tide have had quite a bit of staff turnover this offseason with Steve Sarkisian, Jeff Banks and Kyle Flood going to Texas and Charles Huff taking the head-coaching job at Marshall.

Given those staff changes and the dead period due to COVID-19, it's not unusual for Alabama's recruiting to be behind where it historically is at this point.

One day shy of the one-year anniversary of Iona hiring Rick Pitino, the Hall of Fame coach has led the Gaels to the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

Iona defeated Fairfield 60-51 in the MAAC title game on Saturday. The Gaels never trailed and finished the first half on a 10-0 run, giving them a 12-point lead they wouldn't come close to relinquishing. They extended the lead to as many as 16 points in the second half, led by the senior backcourt of Asante Gist (18 points) and Isaiah Ross (13 points).

It's the program's fifth NCAA tournament appearance in the past six seasons.

Pitino becomes the third coach in the history of college basketball to lead five different teams to the NCAA tournament, according to ESPN Stats & Information research, joining Lon Kruger and Tubby Smith. He also led Louisville, Kentucky, Providence and Boston University to the NCAA tournament.

Iona received a 9-seed in the MAAC tournament, although the Gaels finished third in the conference standings. But the league opted to use wins instead of winning percentage to seed the conference tournament, meaning Iona -- which had multiple COVID-19-related pauses throughout the season -- was relegated to the 9-seed after finishing 6-3 in conference play.

Iona struggled last season after former head coach Tim Cluess took a leave of absence because of health issues. The Gaels finished 12-17 overall and 9-11 in the league a year ago. Pitino had Ross and Gist returning to New Rochelle, but he knew he needed to add reinforcements to get the team back in title contention immediately. So he hit the transfer market for starting wing Berrick JeanLouis and also added a couple of high school recruits who were still available last spring, most notably starting forward Nelly Junior Joseph.

The Gaels started out 5-3 over the first month of the season, then didn't play a single game between Dec. 23 and Feb. 12 because of COVID-19 issues. After five games back, the program had to go on another COVID-19 pause in late February and announced it was sitting out until the MAAC tournament.

Despite dropping down to the 9-seed, Iona won four games in five days -- including an upset of 1-seed and regular-season champion Siena in the quarterfinals -- to earn the league's automatic bid.

Considered one of the best coaches in college basketball history, Pitino has now won 13 conference tournament championships -- to go with eight regular-season titles, seven Final Four appearances and national championships with both Kentucky and Louisville, with the latter title vacated because of NCAA issues.

Pitino was hired on March 14 last year, his first college coaching job since October 2017, when Louisville fired him following the FBI investigation into college basketball. The Cardinals were linked to the investigation through allegations of Adidas payments to the family of five-star prospect Brian Bowen. Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich were placed on unpaid administrative leave and ultimately fired for cause.

Pitino went overseas for a couple of seasons to coach the Greek club team Panathinaikos but was frequently linked to open college jobs. When Cluess officially stepped down for health reasons, the opportunity for Pitino to return home to New York and coach the Gaels became available.

"There was so many things outside of the lines that were [more] important than between the lines," Pitino told ESPN the day he was hired. "I'm so passionate about the game that I went halfway around the world to coach in Greece. I missed my family; no one was there. If I was going to coach in college basketball, it was going to fulfill my needs away from the lines.

"I knew it was the right fit. It's 30 minutes from my apartment in New York City, it's 10 minutes from my son in Harrison, New York. It's 10 minutes from a golf club I've belonged to, Winged Foot. It has a great tradition, the coach before me did an unbelievable job. So many small Catholic schools [have had success]. Gonzaga, Dayton. Iona has a chance to build on what Tim Cluess has done."

While other schools passed on bringing Pitino back to college, Iona president Seamus Carey and athletic director Matt Glovaski took a chance -- and it has paid off.

"For us, it's about focusing on great research," Glovaski told ESPN at the time. "Focusing on making sure we were on the same team, we were building moving forward. Rick's values aligned with the goals and values for the college. He was the right leader at the right time in his life for this job."

Franchy Cordero is a proud member of the Big Papi generation, growing up in the Dominican Republic and watching Dominican stars such as David Ortiz lead the Boston Red Sox to the 2004 World Series title.

"Those are the games that were always on: Boston Red Sox games," Cordero told reporters in a video call from spring training Saturday. "I grew up a big David Ortiz fan. Manny Ramirez, Pedro Martinez, even J.D. Drew -- those are guys I really liked watching when I was a kid. It was always fun to be able to see all the championships that were won in my youth."

So when Cordero was traded to Boston this winter, any disappointment he might have had about relocating were erased by the thrill of joining his favorite team.

"I'm really excited about the opportunity that I have here," said Cordero, who was in a deal that sent Andrew Benintendi to the Kansas City Royals. "Actually being able to put on this uniform and being able to play on that field is a dream come true."

A 6-foot-3, 220-pound outfielder who says he modeled his game after Ortiz, Cordero spent three years with the San Diego Padres before he was traded to the Royals in advance of the pandemic-delayed 2020 season. In all, he has a .236 average with 12 homers and 36 RBIs in 95 games, spending more time on the injury list with problems in his right elbow, forearm, wrist and hand than he has on an active major league roster.

"I haven't been on the field long enough. I haven't been able to put a full season together," Cordero said. "God willing, people will see the real Franchy Cordero this year."

But that goal hit a setback when Cordero tested positive for COVID-19 before boarding a plane to spring training. Although he said he still hoped to be ready for Opening Day, manager Alex Cora sounded less optimistic.

"There's always a chance," Cora said. "But we've got to be very careful with how we push him because his health is more important than making the opening-day roster."

Cordero said he never had any COVID-19 symptoms, but the time in isolation set back his preparations. After reporting to the team's complex in Fort Myers, Florida, this week, he has been working on his mobility and keeping his muscles loose.

"All the protocols we have in place when it comes to returning, it's all about safety," Cordero said. "It's frustrating, but I am glad to be here now."

Cora said Cordero is behind on his cardio work but otherwise looks good.

"Honestly, from my end, I thought he was going to be more behind, but that wasn't the case," the manager said. "Seems like he didn't lose too much physically. ... He's that good of an athlete. Wait till you seen him: It's impressive."

Hunter Renfroe homered, and Martín Pérez struck out five in four scoreless innings for the Red Sox on Saturday when they beat the Atlanta Braves 7-2. Michael Gettys hit a grand slam, and Xander Bogaerts had an RBI double for his first hit of the spring.

Bogaerts was in the lineup as the designated hitter as the team eases him back from a sore shoulder. To make space in the lineup for recovering players who aren't ready to play the field, regular DH J.D. Martinez will play the outfield Sunday.

Cordero, who batted in a simulated game Saturday, could get into a regular spring training game as DH next week.

"We've got to make sure, defensively, we take care of him," Cora said. "Running the bases, the same way."

Bath took full advantage of weakened Newcastle's injury woes as they eased to a six-try victory at Kingston Park.

Hooker Tom Dunn went over twice, while prop Henry Thomas, number eight Zach Mercer and replacement hooker Jack Walker also crossed the whitewash.

Falcons, who ended with a late penalty try, scored first-half tries via prop Trevor Davison and centre Tom Penny.

But their poor run of just one league win in two months always looked set to continue when they were forced to make three late changes.

Fly-half Joel Hodgson, scrum-half Michael Young and bench replacement Logovi'i Mulipola all had to withdraw, meaning recalls for Brett Connon and Sam Stuart.

Bath also had a late withdrawal when they lost Wales international fly-half Rhys Priestland in the warm-up after aggravating an existing shoulder injury - and his replacement Tian Schoeman went off before the break, forcing Josh Matavesi to move from inside centre to 10.

But the visitors made light of it for a first win at Kingston Park in six seasons - and a fourth win in five games to rise two places to eighth in the Premiership, level on points with seventh-placed Newcastle.

Underhill was making only his second Bath appearance after being ruled out of England's Six Nations campaign with a hip injury.

Newcastle have another home game next Friday night against Wasps (19:45 GMT), while Bath are back in action the following day at home to bottom club Worcester.

Newcastle director of rugby Dean Richards:

"We could sit here and make all the excuses about not having been able to train much since Christmas, and it is a factor. But we can't use it as an excuse this week because we've had a full training schedule,

"We've just not produced on the day. We weren't at the races, and Bath are a good team. Against a side with a near-international back line and a good pack we've just got to be better than that.

"It was the most error-strewn game we've played this season. The needless penalties just kept on mounting. That put us under a lot of pressure, and we didn't defend particularly well."

Bath boss Stuart Hooper told BBC Radio Bristol:

"The tries were scored by the forwards from the position that the backs put us in. We just came here with a plan and executed."

Bath hooker Tom Dunn told BBC Radio Bristol:

"It's always pleasing to score tries but it's not what I build my game on. It's a case of trusting each other and staying in the system. And, if you get everything right, all the little things add up.

"I'm just very pleased to have the opportunity to be playing right now. This is just the result you need ahead of a seven-hour journey home."

Newcastle: Penny; Tait, Wacokecoke, Burrell, Carreras; Connon, Stuart; Davison, McGuigan, Tampin, Peterson, Barry, Graham, van der Walt, Chick.

Replacements: Maddison, Cooper, Daniels, Robinson, Hardie, Schreuder, Vuna, Joel Matavesi.

Bath: De Glanville; Cokanasiga, Joseph, Josh Matavesi, McConnochie; T Schoeman, Spencer; J Schoeman, Dunn, Thomas, McNally (capt), Stooke, Reid, Underhill, Mercer.

Replacements: Walker, Cordwell, Judge, Ellis, Staddon, Fox, Clark, Rokoduguni.

Referee: Ian Tempest.

Watch highlights of Wales' 48-7 victory over Italy in Rome, including tries from George North and Louis Rees-Zammit, as they remain on course for the Grand Slam in the 2021 Six Nations.

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MATCH REPOERT: Wales hammer Italy to set up Grand Slam finale against France