For those who want to know the identities of the 16 Stanley Cup playoff teams, this was quite a productive weekend. As the games begin Monday, 14 of 16 clubs have punched their tickets, though a variety of seeds remain in contention.

With the end of the regular season approaching on Thursday, here's what's at stake in the six games taking place Monday:

Chicago Blackhawks at Montreal Canadiens
7 p.m. (ESPN+)

The Columbus Blue Jackets' win on Sunday kept them in the playoff race for at least one more day; a win by the Canadiens in this one will clinch a berth (and eliminate the Blue Jackets). On the other side, the Blackhawks are locked in to the No. 2 spot in the draft lottery order.

Dallas Stars at Detroit Red Wings
7 p.m. (NHL Network)

The Stars can no longer catch the Jets or be caught by the Avalanche, so they will begin their first-round playoff series against the Avs at home. The Red Wings enter the evening 11th in the draft lottery order, tied in points with the Rangers, three points behind the Ducks (and the Penguins, but they have only one game left) and one point ahead of the Islanders.

New York Rangers at Florida Panthers
7 p.m. (ESPN+)

As noted above, the Rangers are right in the mix for a top-10 draft pick, but they could finish as low in the order as 13th if they win out. On the other side, the Panthers cannot catch the Maple Leafs for first in the Atlantic Division, but they can potentially move ahead of the Lightning into second in the final week. They are four points ahead of the Senators, but hold a three-regulation win advantage with just two games left for both clubs, so Ottawa cannot catch them.

Utah Hockey Club at Nashville Predators
8 p.m. (ESPN+)

These two teams enter the evening 14th and 3rd, respectively, in the draft lottery order. Nashville is locked in at No. 3, but the Hockey Club (with 87 points) can potentially move up a spot to No. 13 (currently the Blue Jackets, 85 points), or down to No. 15 (currently the Canucks, 88 points).

Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers
10 p.m. (ESPN+, NHL Network)

Here's your No. 2 vs. No. 3 series in the Pacific Division, but it remains to be seen which team gets home-ice advantage. The Kings enter the evening in the second spot, with 101 points and 41 regulation wins (and a game in hand). The Oilers have 99 points and 35 RW, so this is essentially a must-win for them (and in regulation, too).

San Jose Sharks at Vancouver Canucks
10 p.m. (ESPN+)

In the nightcap, it's two lottery-bound teams, though at the two ends of the table. The Sharks have clinched the No. 1 spot in the lottery, while the Canucks are 15th heading into this matchup. The Canucks can potentially switch spots with the Hockey Club at No. 14, and could also flip with the Calgary Flames at No. 16.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today's schedule
Yesterday's scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 St. Louis Blues
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Monday's games

Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

Chicago Blackhawks at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Dallas Stars at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m. (NHL Network)
New York Rangers at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m.
Utah Hockey Club at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m.
San Jose Sharks at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.

Sunday's scoreboard

Ottawa Senators 4, Philadelphia Flyers 3 (OT)
New York Islanders 1, New Jersey Devils 0
Boston Bruins 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 1
Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Carolina Hurricanes 1
Tampa Bay Lightning 7, Buffalo Sabres 4
Columbus Blue Jackets 4, Washington Capitals 1
Edmonton Oilers 4, Winnipeg Jets 1
Calgary Flames 5, San Jose Sharks 2
Colorado Avalanche 4, Anaheim Ducks 2

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

x - Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 104
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 106.6
Next game: @ BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 102.5
Next game: vs. FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Florida Panthers

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 2
Points pace: 100.5
Next game: vs. NYR (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Ottawa Senators

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 96.4
Next game: vs. CHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 90.2
Next game: vs. CHI (Monday)
Playoff chances: 94.4%
Tragic number: N/A

e - Detroit Red Wings

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 84.1
Next game: vs. DAL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Buffalo Sabres

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 78.9
Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Boston Bruins

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 75.9
Next game: vs. NJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Metro Division

z - Washington Capitals

Points: 109
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 111.7
Next game: @ NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 99
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 101.5
Next game: @ MTL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - New Jersey Devils

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 2
Points pace: 91.2
Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 87.1
Next game: @ PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 5.6%
Tragic number: 2

e - New York Islanders

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 84.1
Next game: vs. WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - New York Rangers

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 83.0
Next game: @ FLA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 79.0
Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 77.9
Next game: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Central Division

p - Winnipeg Jets

Points: 114
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 115.4
Next game: vs. ANA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Dallas Stars

Points: 106
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 108.7
Next game: @ DET (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Colorado Avalanche

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 0
Points pace: 102
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 95
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 96.2
Next game: vs. ANA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 98.3%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 95.2
Next game: vs. UTA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 90.6%
Tragic number: N/A

e - Utah Hockey Club

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 89.2
Next game: @ NSH (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Nashville Predators

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 67.7
Next game: vs. UTA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 58.4
Next game: @ MTL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

y - Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 107
Regulation wins: 45
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 109.7
Next game: @ CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Los Angeles Kings

Points: 101
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 3
Points pace: 104.8
Next game: @ EDM (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Edmonton Oilers

Points: 99
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 101.5
Next game: vs. LA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 94.3
Next game: s. VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 11.1%
Tragic number: 3

e - Vancouver Canucks

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 90.2
Next game: vs. SJ (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 80.0
Next game: @ MIN (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Seattle Kraken

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 76.9
Next game: vs. LA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 52.3
Next game: @ VAN (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Note: A "p" means that the team has clinched the Presidents' Trophy as the top team in the regular season. A "z" means that the team has clinched the top record in the conference. A "y" means that the team has clinched the division title. An "x" means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An "e" means that the team has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the No. 1 pick. More details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL's Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.

1. San Jose Sharks

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 14

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20

3. Nashville Predators

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23

4. Boston Bruins

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26

5. Seattle Kraken

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28

6. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 21

7. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28

8. Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 23

9. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 24

10. New York Rangers

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33

11. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29

12. New York Islanders

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28

13. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 28

14. Utah Hockey Club

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29

15. Vancouver Canucks

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 28

16. Calgary Flames

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 30

Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers has insisted the Premier League side have "massive belief" they can upset Paris Saint-Germain and advance to the Champions League semifinals at Villa Park on Tuesday.

Villa took the lead in the quarterfinal first leg through Rogers but PSG hit back through Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Mendes to win 3-1.

"There's massive belief in the dressing room," Rogers said. "I know most people wrote us off before this tie. But in the first leg, we gave a good account of ourselves.

"Of course, there are things that we needed to improve on but we know [PSG] now. There is a task on our hands.

"Under the lights at home in the quarterfinals of this competition, there's not many better places to be.

"If anyone is going to turn it around, it is going to be us. It's down to us and we are excited for that challenge.

"It's going to be difficult and I am not saying that we are going to do it, but we will definitely give it a shot and go out there to win."

Villa boss Unai Emery said his side must make home advantage count and draw energy from their supporters.

"PSG have a lot of experience playing in away matches. They are playing in France and Europe and we have experience as well," Emery stated.

"But we will be connecting with our supporters and transmitting the energy ... If we do, tactically and individually, good things on the field, the supporters are going to up our energy and help us a lot.

"They are going to transmit that energy always for our players."

Emery said Villa would stick to their gameplan, adding: "Our expectation is to get a good result of the second leg. Of course the fact that they won 3-1 is changing something. But a lot? No. Why? Because we have to win.

"We had to win with 2-1 and with 3-1 now. But now, we have to win with one more goal ... We played how we wanted to in Paris but the result obviously wasn't what we hoped for. If we are winning, we can be close.

"Our objective is to play with one strong plan in our tactical way tomorrow and try to be consistent and try to understand how the match is going in 90 minutes."

The Spaniard said striker Ollie Watkins, who has started one of Villa's last five matches due to a knee issue, was in fine form despite his lack of minutes, pointing to his goal off the bench in a 3-0 Premier League win at Southampton on Saturday.

"He showed us he is feeling fantastic. He is scoring goals. He played 30 minutes performing really well (against Southampton)," Emery added.

"This is the variety we have with our players. We have to try to use their quality to help the team -- be it 30 minutes, 10 minutes or five minutes. That is the mentality we need."

Information from Reuters was used in this report.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has hinted it will be a "big summer" for the club as they look to build on a hugely successful debut season under head coach Arne Slot.

Van Dijk scored a late winner for Liverpool against West Ham United on Sunday to move them 13 points clear of second-place Arsenal at the top of the table. Slot's side now require a maximum of six points from their final six games to guarantee the club's 20th league title, and Van Dijk is confident the Liverpool hierarchy are willing to dip into the transfer market to further bolster the squad this summer.

"I think Liverpool should be able to challenge for titles in the upcoming years," he said after the game.

"Whatever happens in terms of players going out, players coming in, I think it should be a big summer. I think they're planning to make it a big summer, so we all have to trust the board, as a Liverpool connected fan, to do the right job."

Van Dijk is set to be out of contract at the end of the season however sources have told ESPN he is expected to commit to a two-year extension at Anfield, after teammate Mohamed Salah penned a new deal until 2027 on Friday.

"Let's see how this week goes," Van Dijk said when asked for an update on his future. "I think first, all the focus should be going to the Hillsborough anniversary. I mentioned it already in interviews, I think that's the main thing and then we'll see. The focus will still be on Leicester [who Liverpool are playing next week], but maybe there's some news. I don't know. I know, but I don't know."

Reflecting on what Liverpool means to him, Van Dijk added: "I joined the club in 2017 for many reasons. Reasons like how much it means to all the Scousers, to all the fans around the whole world to be connected to Liverpool. Being successful with Liverpool; the culture of the club, everything that embodies Liverpool that is just part of me.

"That's why I'm always proud when I wear that shirt, go out there and try to be the best version of myself in terms of the football player that I am. We are two wins, six points away from glory.

"I know what it means to the club and I know what it will bring us if it happens. Most of the players don't so when it happens, it will be beautiful but we still have a job to do."

Roy Keane accused Manchester United players of being "bluffers" after their latest harrowing Premier League defeat on Sunday, while fellow club legend Gary Neville admitted the club are in a "desperate situation."

United were thrashed 4-1 by Newcastle United on Sunday -- a 14th league defeat that leaves them 14th in the table -- and as well as pointing the finger at manager Ruben Amorim after the game, Keane took exception with Bruno Fernandes' post-match interview.

"We lack being more fearless, being more brave," club captain Fernandes told Sky Sports. "Today was not the case because we ended up conceding goals by trying to be brave.

"My teammates -- I only get frustrated with them because I know how good they can be. I know how tough it is to represent this club."

Keane, a former United captain himself who made 480 appearances for the club, said Fernandes was surrounded by "bluffers" as teammates.

"To be fair to Bruno Fernandes he fronts up, but to me it's just soundbites now," Keane, now a pundit on Sky, said.

"He was talking about his teammates and belief, but what about his right-back [Diogo] Dalot, who didn't put a leg out to tackle? I hope he is pulling him in the dressing room because he keeps talking about having belief in his teammates, but real good teammates put demands on each other.

"It must be tough playing in that midfield when the expectation is on him because that's unfair on him. But when he's doing his chats about supporters and this, to me it's just soundbites. There is no meaning to it. I'm not sure this United group are an honest group.

"The best players I played with put demands on me and wouldn't tolerate me cutting corners. That's what really good teammates do. These aren't teammates, they are bluffers."

United face a crucial quarterfinal second leg against Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday, with Europe still offering Amorim's side a potential route into the Champions League next season.

But Neville, who spent his entire playing career at United, said the latest defeat was still "worrying."

"I don't think there's a lack of effort," Neville told NBC. "They're giving it their all. But they're so below the standard and quality you need at that football club all over the pitch.

"Other than Bruno [Fernandes] and Amad Diallo maybe, I can't think of any of them I would hang my hat on.

"It's a really desperate situation. The squad is so poor on quality. They have old players, they have young players who are nowhere near it, they have a group in the middle ... It's a worrying situation."

Another weekend, another defeat for Tottenham Hotspur. How much longer will Ange Postecoglou remain in charge of the north London club?

The title race in LaLiga isn't quite over yet, as Real Madrid showcased some grit to eke out a narrow win on Sunday.

And in the Bundesliga, Saturday marked the 137th league edition of Der Klassiker, but it wasn't an occasion that either Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund will remember particularly fondly.

All that and more in this edition of Weekend Review as Julien Laurens, Alex Kirkland and Constantin Eckner look across Europe for the big takeaways and highlights from the weekend.

Premier League

Top takeaway: Europa League hope keeping Ange in Spurs job

Of course, there is still the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal second leg at Eintracht Frankfurt to come on, but Postecoglou's second season in charge of Tottenham is turning into an absolute nightmare. He and his players embarrassed themselves and humiliated the club and their fans in their 17th league defeat of the season, falling 4-2 at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday. It was a pathetic display marred by individual mistakes, clueless management and unacceptable attitudes.

Since April 13, 2024, Spurs have lost 22 Premier League games, more than anyone else among the teams present over the two seasons.

While there's no doubt that the north London club endured an injury crisis earlier in the campaign, Postecoglou can't even blame his side's malaise on that anymore as all his players are now fit. He's continually messing up his teams and his substitutions, getting his game plans wrong. The players have lost faith in him, the fans too, and the club is already looking for who will come next.

Only the Europa League is keeping him in the job, but that could change as soon as Thursday.

Best match: Man City 5-2 Crystal Palace

Manchester City are not what they used to be and neither is Kevin De Bruyne, but there is still a bit of life and genius in the old Premier League champions and in their soon-to-be-former playmaker. From 2-0 down at home, City rallied to a superb 5-2 victory featuring five different goal scorers, with De Bruyne at the heart of everything. It was just like the good ol' days.

Best goal: Jadon Sancho vs. Ipswich Town

Despite an encouraging start to his loan spell at Chelsea, Sancho is not having a good season. Before Sunday, the last time he scored was Dec. 8 -- a drought that lasted 21 games. His wonderful curler into the top corner was worth the wait, salvaging a draw and a vital point for Chelsea in their desperate and precarious quest to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League.

MVP (and LVP) of the weekend: Joao Pedro, Brighton & Hove Albion (Marco Asensio, Aston Villa)

For this week, and this week only, let's adjust this category slightly and name our MVP and our LVP (least valuable player) as they are linked. Pedro scored two penalties in Brighton's 2-2 draw with Leicester City, one to his right and one to his left, while Asensio missed two in Villa's 3-0 win over Southampton, hitting them both to his right and into the clutches of Aaron Ramsdale. -- Laurens

LaLiga

Top takeaway: Madrid overcome Mbappé red to stay in title race

Kylian Mbappé's red card against Alavés was inexplicable. The forward's challenge on midfielder Antonio Blanco was wild, reckless -- jumping into the tackle, studs first, and connecting well up Blanco's shin -- and was only ever going to result in a sending off. Blanco was lucky to avoid serious injury. Coach Davide Ancelotti, standing in for his suspended father Carlo, blamed "all the little fouls" Mbappé had suffered until that 38th-minute dismissal, but there was no excusing the unforgivable.

Fortunately for Mbappé, Madrid were already 1-0 up, thanks to a gorgeous long-range strike from Eduardo Camavinga. Then, midway through the second half, Alavés' Manu Sánchez was sent off to level the playing field. Madrid got the 1-0 win, ensuring they remain four points behind leaders Barcelona, who had beaten Leganés by the same scoreline on Saturday. The only question now is how many games Mbappé will miss through suspension.

The referee's report stated that his challenge came "while disputing the ball." That means a ban of between one and three games, according to RFEF regulations. The punishment would only apply to competitions other than LaLiga -- for example, Madrid's Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on April 26 -- if it extended to four matches or more, so Mbappé's involvement in the cup final shouldn't be in doubt.

Nonetheless, it's a blow to Madrid's title aspirations to be without their star forward for upcoming league games against two awkward opponents, Athletic Club and Getafe.

Best match: Betis 1-2 Villarreal

Real Betis vs. Villarreal pitted two teams battling for fifth place against each other and, with a fifth-placed finish now almost guaranteed to mean Champions League qualification, that made for high stakes. Visitors Villarreal came out on top, thanks to a stunning winner from Ayoze Pérez, a Betis player until last season. Villarreal signed him for just 4 million, and his goals -- now 13 in LaLiga -- look likely to fire them into Europe's top competition.

Best goal: Oli McBurnie at Getafe

All three of Las Palmas' goals in their 3-1 win at Getafe were special -- either of Fábio Silva's strikes could have been a goal-of-the-weekend contender -- but McBurnie's third, in the 61st minute, was pick of the bunch, the 28-year-old former Scotland international applying the finishing touch to a flowing, passing move.

MVP of the weekend: Javi Guerra, Valencia

Friday night's Valencia vs. Sevilla fixture was a clash of two great clubs, fallen on hard times. Valencia's 1-0 win took them one step closer to survival -- they're now eight points above the relegation zone -- and confirmed the fate of Sevilla coach Francisco Javier Garcia Pimienta, who was later fired. The key man for Valencia: all-action midfielder Guerra, who starred throughout, and scored the game's only goal with a cool, difficult finish seconds before half-time. -- Kirkland

Bundesliga

Top takeaway: Klassiker eases Champions League heartache

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund met for the 137th time on Saturday, and even though the two powerhouses of German football are worlds apart in the standings, the game still created plenty of excitement.

Fans wanted to see how both would bounce back from their respective losses in the Champions League quarterfinals a few days earlier, and it was initially Bayern who looked motivated by the midweek defeat as Dortmund settled in a defensive role just as they did at Barcelona on Wednesday. This time, though, they seemed willing to be the reactive side.

For a while it looked like Bayern could dispose of their arch-rivals quite easily, but Vincent Kompany's side was wasteful with their chances and thus invited Dortmund to strike first shortly after the interval. Raphaël Guerreiro and Serge Gnabry turned the scoreline with two goals, yet Bayern were not able to avoid another setback, as Waldemar Anton scored following a corner kick and an artistic move by Serhou Guirassy.

After Bayer Leverkusen could only manage a draw with Union Berlin earlier on Saturday, Bayern had the chance to pull away in the standings and essentially seal their 34th German championship win. After the Klassiker ended in a 2-2 draw, the gap between the top two teams in the Bundesliga remains six points, which leaves the door a tad open for Leverkusen to keep the title race alive until the end of the season.

As for Dortmund, they have to look at the result as a small success, yet their chances of qualifying for next year's Champions League become slimmer and slimmer. It's not unusual that they have one of their better showings of a season against Bayern, but the fact that this Klassiker was not part of a championship battle between the two teams is particularly damning for BVB.

Best match: VfL Wolfsburg 2-3 RB Leipzig

These two opened the matchday on Friday, with Leipzig's attack running roughshod over Wolfsburg in the first 50 or so minutes. It looked like a comfortable win for interim manager Zsolt Lőw, only for Wolfsburg to get back into the game with two goals, but eventually the Volkswagen-backed club suffered their fourth consecutive loss.

Best goal: Waldemar Anton at Bayern Munich

Yes, Anton scored the goal, but what made it so spectacular was Guirassy's ability to defend the ball from Eric Dier following a corner kick. He shielded the ball with his back to Dier and the goal, before then launching a shot that goalkeeper Jonas Urbig managed to repel, only for Anton to sweep in the rebound.

MVP of the weekend: Xavi Simons, RB Leipzig

Not only did the Netherlands midfielder score twice against Wolfsburg, but he also creaated a lot of chances for his team. "He has taken a huge step; his performance was absolutely perfect today," Lőw said. The only thing Simons should have avoided was getting booked for complaining, which means he is suspended for Leipzig's next game. -- Eckner

What else you missed this weekend

Championship promotion races takes another unexpected turn

Only a week ago, it looked like Leeds United would lose out on the two top spots that grant automatic promotion to the Premier League, as they were held to their third consecutive draw. With two wins over Middlesbrough and Preston North End in the span of five days, though, Leeds are suddenly back on top of the Championship. They beat Preston 2-1 at home on Saturday in a one-sided game in which all three goals were scored within the opening quarter of an hour. It has helped Leeds that manager Daniel Farke recently decided to replace error-prone goalkeeper Illan Meslier with Wales international Karl Darlow.

Meanwhile, Sheffield United, previously top of the table, have lost three in a row, including a 2-1 loss at Plymouth Argyle, the last-placed team, on Saturday. Only a few weeks ago, Chris Wilder's team seemed a safe bet for one of the two promotion spots, but after all, it might actually be Leeds and Burnley getting directly promoted and Sheffield, who were deducted two points due to defaulted payments to other clubs two years ago, having to play the promotion playoffs. -- Eckner

Another European soccer weekend is in the books, and we have lots to talk about. Real Madrid gritted out a win ahead of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal, second leg, vs. Arsenal, though Kylian Mbappé's reckless challenge (and deserved red card) shows that all is not well with Los Blancos. In the Premier League, Manchester United were thumped 4-1 at Newcastle in a result that shows how lost they are, while Liverpool rallied to beat West Ham and remain on course for the title.

Elsewhere, Bayern Munich and Vincent Kompany learned a lot in an entertaining Der Klassiker draw with Dortmund, and we have plenty to unpack from Barcelona's narrow win at Leganes, Arsenal's draw with Brentford, the Rome derby and much more. Here are some musings and reactions to the most memorable moments of the weekend.

Mbappe loses it and Real Madrid are stretched, but survive

This is when you're tempted to put on your amateur psychologist hat and offer some thoughts on Mbappe.

On Tuesday, he (along with his Real Madrid teammates) was humiliated by Arsenal at the Emirates losing their Champions League quarterfinal first leg 3-0. On Thursday, his lawyers filed a raft of lawsuits against his old club, Paris Saint-Germain, in an effort to recover the 55 million ($60m) in unpaid wages and bonuses he believes he's owed. And on Sunday, probably frustrated at the way his game was going, he earned himself a straight red with a horrendous tackle that even his coach -- Carlo Ancelotti's son, Davide, in this case since dad was suspended -- said was "a clear sending off."

Elite athletes often operate in a finely tuned equilibrium of ego and confidence, and that's a lot for anyone to take on. How he responds to this week will have a huge impact on the rest of Real Madrid's season not just in whether they bounce back against Arsenal on Wednesday, but also in their run at another LaLiga title and the Copa del Rey. It's a run that sees them keep pace with Barcelona following the 1-0 victory at Alaves on Sunday, which leaves them four points back.

Truth be told, things don't look great and not just because Mbappe will now be suspended for two games. Sunday was their first clean sheet in nine games, and their past five wins have all come by a single goal. It was the usual mixed bag of individuals doing something special (Eduardo Camavinga's goal, the customary Thibaut Courtois saves) and individuals contributing very little -- Arda Güler (to be fair, Mbappe's red card forced him to play more a striker, which is clearly not his jam) and Rodrygo (who is really having a rocky time of late) spring to mind.

Positives? Vinicius Jr. looked sharp when he came on and played a big part in the Alaves sending off that made it 10 vs. 10 for the final 20 minutes, and Dani Ceballos is back from injury (though probably not ready to start on Wednesday).

It's pretty wild to think that Ceballos' return could be so critical at this stage of Madrid's season. But given the ham-fisted, unbalanced way this team was put together, that's where we are.

Motivation looms large in Newcastle's drubbing of Manchester United

Newcastle United didn't just defeat Manchester United 4-1 because they have something to play for -- finishing high enough in the table to qualify for the Champions League -- whereas United's only meaningful games (in terms of results, anyway) the rest of the way will come in the Europa League (and, depending how things turn out Thursday night vs. Lyon, it might be just one more game). On the day, Newcastle had a better goalkeeper, better central defenders, better wing backs, better midfielders and a better center forward, so yeah, there was that too.

But you can't strip enthusiasm and purpose out of the football equation. I argued several months ago that Man United should focus on cup competitions because the league was entirely irrelevant to them as anything other than a classroom to learn Ruben Amorim's football. That, plus professional pride, should be motivating enough. But -- and it's only human -- it's hard to test a machine when key elements in that machine aren't going to be around.

Altay Bayindir probably won't be United's first-choice keeper, regardless of what happens to André Onana ahead of him in the depth chart. Victor Lindelöf and Christian Eriksen are out of contract and will be gone. Odds are that Alejandro Garnacho will be on his way too, because he can bring in some transfer funds. Joshua Zirkzee's future at this club -- if he has one -- likely won't be at center forward.

So when you have a system so built on chemistry and coordination, how are you even refining it when you know key parts aren't going to be there? And what are you actually going to learn from games like this?

Roll on the Europa League.

Der Klassiker points the way forward for Vincent Kompany and Bayern Munich

Saturday's affair ended 2-2 and if you're a Debbie Downer type, you might conclude that it wasn't a great weekend for Bayern since they ended up dropping points and failed to beat a midtable Borussia Dortmund still smarting from the midweek hiding at the hands of Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League. Take a step back, though, and this was pretty good all-around for Kompany given the circumstances.

Sure, if Pascal Gross' late chip had been a little more precise, they could have actually lost the game, but on the run of play they were probably the better side. And while it's true that Dortmund were coming off a big defeat in the Champions League, psychologically losing at home to Inter when you top the Bundesliga is as tough a blow (if not tougher). Yes, it would have been nice to win this and get the chance to wrap up the title next weekend, but in truth Bayer Leverkusen's 0-0 draw at home to Union Berlin means Bayern are one step closer to the inevitable.

More important, I think, is this game showed Kompany what mistakes not to repeat in the return leg against Inter, where they will have to overturn a 2-1 deficit at San Siro. For one, Thomas Müller is in great form and with Jamal Musiala unavailable, it's a no-brainer that he gets more than the 15 minutes he got in the first leg. So too is Serge Gnabry, whose 28-minute cameo saw him bag a goal, an assist and plenty of highlight reel material. Raphaël Guerreiro is far more effective as an attacking fullback than he is in the hole, and Aleksandar Pavlovic came through nearly half an hour unscathed, which means he too can give you an option on Tuesday night.

(On the flip side, Harry Kane is having a rough time right now. But it's not as if he's going to be dropped partly because he can turn it on at any time, partly because there's literally nobody else.)

If you're Dortmund, you take the point and note that you're eighth in the table, while you were 11th less than a month ago. The first half was pretty turgid, but the direction of travel is evident and upward. The main question, with five games to go, is whether they'll get where they want to be (top 4) before they run out of Bundesliga games.

Liverpool running on fumes, but makes no difference to imminent title celebrations

Smart PR people know how to space out good news.

Late last week, we had the announcement that free agent-to-be Mohamed Salah had extended his deal through 2027. I imagine we'll get club captain Virgil Van Dijk, also out of contract in June, to make a similar announcement this week. (The way, when asked whether he knew anything about it, he smiled and said "he didn't, but he did" is a dead giveaway.) And then, the following week, after Tottenham Hotspur at home on April 27, roll on the title celebrations.

Jurgen Klopp's crown, in 2019-20, was historic because it was the first since 1990, but that one was in the COVID-19 era. This one will feel different if only because the fans will be a huge part of it.

Following Sunday's 2-1 win over West Ham, Liverpool are 13 points clear. Like a lot of their recent outings, it was far from flawless. They started well, took the lead and then fell away, going through a rough patch and eventually conceding a freak (but deserved) equalizer. Then it was Van Dijk, fittingly, who headed home the winner.

Liverpool's form over the past few months will no doubt have played a part in the club's decision over Salah's new deal. With Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes calling the shots, it was never going to be a case of "pay him what he wants." The bump in salary (around 10%) and the fact it's a two-year contract (not three) suggest they didn't get carried away and, if anything, they understand the need to address the squad in the summer, given the spring dip.

Salah's gem of an assist for Luis Díaz's goal reaffirms the fact that he can do things with the ball few others can. But if they get things right in the summer, he'll be the cherry on top, and not as central to the club's fortunes as he was this year.

Quick hits

10. Man City's comeback only makes you want Kevin De Bruyne to stick around: The Belgium international scored a goal, delivered an assist, hit the woodwork and generally showed how a quick mind and gifted feet can wreak havoc with any opponent, even at age 33. Manchester City went two goals down at home to Crystal Palace and you wondered if the wheels were, once again, going to come off for Pep Guardiola against one of the better counterattacking sides in the league. It didn't work out that way, largely because of De Bruyne's contribution, as they went on to win 5-2 and stay on track for a Champions League spot. De Bruyne knows his body better than anyone, but it's curious how he was an unused sub -- fit enough to be on the bench, but evidently not fit enough to come on even with five subs -- on five occasions this season. Despite this, he has already played more league minutes than last season and, more tellingly, he has more goal contributions than every single Manchester City player except for Erling Haaland. Are we sure he doesn't have another season or two in him at the highest level?

9. Barcelona get the kind of win some say wins you titles: You know, those days when things get ugly, you're not playing well, you get out of jail but you still gut it out? That's what Barca's trip to face Leganes -- who had already beaten them at Montjuic this season -- was like. LaLiga's second-from-bottom club only lost thanks to Jorge Saenz's own goal, which only came about because Óscar Rodríguez attempted a needless backheel in the middle of the park, giving the ball away to Gerard Martín. Beyond that, Wojciech Szczesny had to make some big saves and Iñigo Martínez made a huge tackle. Hansi Flick did give some starters (Frenkie de Jong, Pau Cubarsí, Gavi) a rest and Barca also had (some) chances, but the game ought to have been a reminder that when their intensity and focus drop just a little, they become vulnerable.

8. Dusan Vlahovic? Fixed (minus the goals). Kenan Yildiz? Fixed. Teun Koopmeiners? Almost. Juventus made the right choice: It doesn't mean that Igor Tudor is a great manager or even a particularly good one, just that Juve made the right decision in getting rid of Thiago Motta. Maybe Motta really was a genius with an outside-the-box, hyper-sophisticated brand of football. The problem is, history is littered with misunderstood geniuses and when, on top of nobody having the foggiest notion of what is being asked of them, they're also disliked by their players and they don't get results, there's only one outcome. Tudor's football -- as we saw in the 2-1 win against Lecce -- is simpler, but it has the great merit of being absorbed and understood by his players, especially the big guns. Vlahovic, who didn't score but delivered two assists, is productive again (and playing). Yildiz was man of the match -- meaning the Alessandro Del Piero comparisons don't seem that fanciful -- and Koopmeiners actually scored, looking as good as he has since he arrived at the club. What Tudor is doing isn't rocket science, but it's exactly what Juve needed.

7. Oihan Sancet delivers when it matters as Athletic Club break their streak: Three straight scoreless draws, including the first leg of their Europa League clash with Rangers on Thursday, suggested things might be going south for Ernesto Valverde's crew, especially with tricky away ties against Real Madrid and Real Sociedad to come. But it was Sancet who came through big time and cued the 3-1 comeback win against Rayo Vallecano that give them breathing room in La Liga. (They are six points clear of fifth place.) Sancet has had his critics at times, but the numbers speak for themselves. He is the fourth-leading scorer in LaLiga despite not being an outright center forward and despite starting just 17 league games.

6. Rome derby ends in draw, but Lazio have the upper hand: There are two big takeaways here. One is that Lazio are a better team. Maybe not a more talented one, but more of a team, a group put together to play a certain way under coach Marco Baroni. And that matters. That probably explains why they're sixth, three points out of the top four and while they're still alive in Europe despite their defeat away to Bodo Glimt in their Europa League quarterfinal, first leg. As for Roma, they look like what they are: a haphazardly assembled group of individuals who rely on moments of brilliance, like Matìas Soulè's equalizer. That said, let's remember Roma were 15th in early December, just two points from relegation and now they're seventh. A lot of the credit has to go to Claudio Ranieri who became Roma's third manager this season and who, if he retires in June (as he says he will), will ride off into the sunset undefeated in the Rome derby. For a guy who is Rome born and bred, that's some achievement.

5. Monaco crush Marseille as Roberto De Zerbi's project hangs in the balance: I was excited to see what De Zerbi could achieve in Marseille given the highs he reached with Brighton. Second place behind Paris Saint-Germain seemed like a minimum hurdle -- given they have the second-highest wage bill in the league -- but as much as results, you were looking for growth. De Zerbi's football isn't easy to metabolize, but with no European games, you figured they'd get stronger as the season wore on. Instead, they've now lost five of their past seven games and the 3-0 defeat at Monaco could have been worse if not for some big saves from Gerónimo Rulli. De Zerbi (and Marseille) have some thinking to do.

4. Mikel Arteta may deny it, but Arsenal are focused on Real Madrid, as they should be: No manager is going to say they're giving up on the league, but actions speak louder than words and when you saw Arsenal's lineup -- Kieran Tierney at left back, Jorginho and Oleksandr Zinchenko in midfield and, most importantly, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka on the bench -- it was obvious what was going on, and it was the right call too. Never mind the 3-0 advantage they hold from their first leg vs. Real Madrid: ninety minutes (plus stoppage time) can be an eternity at the Bernabeu. And, if anything, the second-stringers who came in were highly motivated; Arsenal could easily have won this game rather than settling for a 1-1 draw. Brentford aren't Real Madrid and Yoane Wissa isn't Mbappe, but the fact that they limited them to three shots and an xG of 0.24 bodes well.

3. Simone Inzaghi rotates his team, Marko Arnautovic devastates and Inter Milan stay top in Serie A: The first bit isn't a surprise: making five changes from the midweek win over Bayern is the sort of thing Inzaghi has been doing all season long. The second part is a nice bonus, though, as Arnautovic opened the scoring, thundering through the area before smacking it into the roof of the net and his no-look around-the-corner assist for Lautaro Martínez was a gem too, as Inter won 3-1 against Cagliari. Arnautovic is now 35 and anyone who has followed his career knows that you rely on him at your peril, because he can be maddeningly inconsistent. But his skill set (size, strength and creativity) is a nice complement to Inzaghi's other options -- Mehdi Taremi's workrate and whatever it is Joaquín Correa offers -- off the bench.

2. Chelsea come back to snatch a point at home vs. Ipswich, but dependency on Cole Palmer is still a big issue: At halftime, 2-0 down, they were booed off the pitch. In the end, it finished 2-2 and Chelsea might have won if not for two huge Alex Palmer saves. (But then, so could Ipswich if Liam Delap's finishing had been better.) The draw leaves Chelsea sixth, one spot outside Champions League qualification. They can still turn it around, but it's striking how much this team looks for Cole Palmer at every turn. The back four (at least the one that played on Sunday) aren't much of an attacking threat, so he's the one who has to drop deep to collect the ball. The wingers (other than Jadon Sancho who scored a stunning equalizer after coming on) tend to slow things down, and their crosses disappear into a throng of bodies in the Ipswich box. Nico Jackson, probably still not fully fit, struggled against two big central defenders, which meant Palmer had to end up taking more shots on goal than anyone. We can blame youth all we like, but this remains a poorly constructed squad (relative to the resources spent) and one that will get better only when it weans itself off of Palmer. Productive as he is, he's only 22 and he can be much more effective if the parts around him are working as they should.

1. Tottenham's problems are leaks at the back, not to the media: Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou set himself up for it when he complained about injury information and the like finding its way into media reports and vowing "to deal with the mole." Sure, dressing room trust is a thing and when it's violated things can get very bad, very quickly. But that's not what appears to have happened here and, believe it or not, news of Wilson Odobert's calf pain is not hugely relevant in the grand scheme of things. The more pressing concern is Tottenham's defending, which was all over the place in a 4-2 defeat to Wolves. Postecoglou rightly mixed things up with a view toward the Europa League return leg against Eintracht Frankfurt this week, but some of the worst culprits on the day -- like Cristian Romero and Guglielmo Vicario -- are likely to start in Europe, so you can't even blame that.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and reigning champion Boston Celtics are the consensus favorites to win this season's title, showing +180 and +190 odds, respectively, at ESPN BET as the NBA postseason is set to begin.

However, the Los Angeles Lakers, arguably the league's buzziest team since their stunning trade for Luka Doncic in February, lurk just below and are easily the betting public's favorite squad.

The Lakers are +1300 to win the 2025 NBA Finals, fourth on ESPN BET's odds board, but have attracted a leading 16.7% of bets and 19.5% of handle at the sportsbook. Other sportsbooks report similar metrics, with FanDuel reporting a whopping 27% of money backing LeBron James and company, while BetMGM names them as its second largest liability.

"In terms of liability, it's the Lakers and then everyone else," ESPN BET director of North American sports trading Adrian Horton said over email. "They were attracting interest over the first half of the season, but it's really kicked into high gear since the Luka trade. As the team continues to perform and the betting public continues to back them, we'll be pulling against the Lakers in just about every playoff scenario."

The book further reports that L.A. has taken a leading 23.9% of bets and 27.6% of handle since acquiring Doncic on Feb. 1.

The Celtics, the favorites to begin the 2024-25 campaign after going wire-to-wire as favorites last season, are still garnering their fair share of action, with DraftKings reporting more wagers (34%) and handle (24%) backing them than anyone else.

Oklahoma City, who locked up the NBA's best record during the regular season, were second fiddle to Boston in the odds all season before narrowly pulling ahead on the eve of the playoffs. Action is mixed on the Thunder across the sportsbook marketplace.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will enter the postseason with the third-best odds to win it all, showing +575 at ESPN. Despite ending the regular season with the Eastern Conference's best record, the Cavs couldn't overtake the Celts for favorite status because they began the campaign with such low expectations, entering the season at +4000 to win it all. That said, Cleveland is a top-three team to capture the title by bet-share at most sportsbooks.

Other big movers from the beginning of the season include the Houston Rockets, the West's No. 2 seed, (100-1 to 80-1) and the Detroit Pistons (1,000-1 to 250-1), who are BetMGM's third largest liability.

Two other recent champions, the Golden State Warriors (+1500) and the Denver Nuggets (+3000) are also in the running, ranking fifth and sixth on ESPN BET's odds board, respectively, and they are also among the top bet and handle attractors across the sportsbook marketplace.

CINCINNATI -- Tommy Helms, the slick-fielding infielder for the Cincinnati Reds who was the 1966 National League Rookie of the Year and had two short stints as the team's manager, has died. He was 83.

The Reds Hall of Fame and Museum said Helms' wife, Cathy, told the organization that her husband died Sunday in Cincinnati. The cause of death was not provided.

Helms was known more for his glove than his bat in 1,435 games over 14 seasons. He was an All-Star in 1967-68 and won Gold Gloves as the NL's top-fielding second baseman in 1970-71, years in which he and shortstop Dave Concepcion formed the best double-play combination in the game.

When the Reds signed Helms out of Charlotte, North Carolina, as an amateur free agent in 1959, he was thought to be the team's shortstop of the future. But while Helms was moving through the minor leagues, Leo Cárdenas was establishing himself as one of the major leagues' best shortstops.

When Helms earned a roster spot to start 1966, the Reds had him replace Pete Rose at second base and had Rose move to third. Rose couldn't get comfortable at third, so Helms moved to the hot corner after just 20 games and became the NL's second-leading fielding third baseman. He also had one of his best offensive years. He batted .284, and his nine homers and 72 runs were career highs.

Helms split time between short and second base in 1967 and was the full-time second baseman in 1968. He had been a fixture in the Reds' lineup for six seasons before becoming part of the blockbuster trade with Houston that brought Joe Morgan, César Gerónimo and Jack Billingham to the Reds. Those three became key pieces to the Big Red Machine teams that won back-to-back World Series titles in 1975 and 1976.

Helms played 417 games at second base for the Astros from 1972-74 and then had limited roles with the Astros, Pirates and Red Sox the next three seasons.

His only postseason appearance was on the 1970 Reds team that swept the Pirates in the NLCS and lost in five games to Baltimore in the World Series.

Helms became a Reds coach in 1983, first under manager Russ Nixon and then under Vern Rapp and Rose. Helms managed 27 games in 1988 while Rose was serving a 30-day suspension for making physical contact with an umpire. He managed 37 more in 1989 after commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti banned Rose for life for gambling on baseball.

Helms was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1979. He was preceded in death by sons Tommy Jr. and Ryan. Both played in the minor leagues in the early 1990s, Tommy Jr. in the Chicago Cubs organization and Ryan in the Chicago White Sox organization.