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Serie A: Inter takes another step forward to win title; Como has Champions League ambitions dented  Inter Milan took another step towards the Serie A title on Friday by comfortably beating Cagliari 3-0 and taking a provisional 12-point lead at the top of the table.Quickfire strikes shortly after half-time at the San Siro from Marcus Thuram and Nicolo Barella, and Piotr Zielinski’s rocket in stoppage time, took Inter to potentially one game from claiming its 21st league crown, with closest challenger Napoli hosting Lazio on Saturday.If Napoli does not beat Lazio, Inter could wrap up the Scudetto next weekend at Torino, although it would also need the reigning champion to not win its next fixture against relegation-struggler Cremonese.Regardless, Inter look destined to take the title back from Napoli with weeks to spare and was too much for Cagliari which, with five matches left in its season, is six points above the relegation zone and not yet safe from the drop.Thuram’s opener came six minutes after the break and was probably his simplest finish of the season, the France forward casually guiding home his fourth goal in three matches from Federico Dimarco’s perfect low cross.And Inter was effectively sure of the points two minutes later when Sardinian Barella, who came up through the Cagliari’s academy, smashed in the second and held his hands up in apology to his home-town team.Inter fans roared chants about its massive league lead and its distaste for local rival AC Milan as its team played out the rest of a match without exerting itself, with the second leg of its Italian Cup semifinal with Como coming up on Tuesday.Supporters had barely finished bellowing “we’re gonna win the league” when Zielinski met Dumfries’ knock-down with a perfect shot from the edge of the area which sailed past Elia Caprile and into the top corner.Como blowComo heads into its Cup showdown with Inter in downbeat mood after its bid for Champions League football suffered another blow with a 1-2 defeat at Sassuolo.Cristian Volpato’s brilliant lobbed finish at the end of a rapid counterattack and a M’Bala Nzola strike, goals which came within two minutes near the end of the first half, gave Sassuolo victory in Reggio Emilia.A second straight defeat leaves Como fifth, two points behind Juventus, which hosts Bologna on Sunday night and with Roma one point behind in sixth ahead of its clash with Atalanta on Saturday.AC Milan has also been given a reprieve, the seven-time European champion in third and five points ahead of Como but on a run of three defeats in its last four fixtures.Como had looked on course to secure a sensational top four placing at half-time of last week’s home match against Inter, a fixture which Cesc Fabregas’ team led by two just before half-time.But it eventually fell to a 3-4 defeat and Friday’s loss leaves the traditionally small club, backed by tobacco giant Djarum, potentially five points away from the Champions League spots come the end of the weekend.Published on Apr 18, 2026  #Serie #Inter #takes #step #win #title #Como #Champions #League #ambitions #dented

Serie A: Inter takes another step forward to win title; Como has Champions League ambitions dented

Inter Milan took another step towards the Serie A title on Friday by comfortably beating Cagliari 3-0 and taking a provisional 12-point lead at the top of the table.

Quickfire strikes shortly after half-time at the San Siro from Marcus Thuram and Nicolo Barella, and Piotr Zielinski’s rocket in stoppage time, took Inter to potentially one game from claiming its 21st league crown, with closest challenger Napoli hosting Lazio on Saturday.

If Napoli does not beat Lazio, Inter could wrap up the Scudetto next weekend at Torino, although it would also need the reigning champion to not win its next fixture against relegation-struggler Cremonese.

Regardless, Inter look destined to take the title back from Napoli with weeks to spare and was too much for Cagliari which, with five matches left in its season, is six points above the relegation zone and not yet safe from the drop.

Thuram’s opener came six minutes after the break and was probably his simplest finish of the season, the France forward casually guiding home his fourth goal in three matches from Federico Dimarco’s perfect low cross.

And Inter was effectively sure of the points two minutes later when Sardinian Barella, who came up through the Cagliari’s academy, smashed in the second and held his hands up in apology to his home-town team.

Inter fans roared chants about its massive league lead and its distaste for local rival AC Milan as its team played out the rest of a match without exerting itself, with the second leg of its Italian Cup semifinal with Como coming up on Tuesday.

Supporters had barely finished bellowing “we’re gonna win the league” when Zielinski met Dumfries’ knock-down with a perfect shot from the edge of the area which sailed past Elia Caprile and into the top corner.

Como blow

Como heads into its Cup showdown with Inter in downbeat mood after its bid for Champions League football suffered another blow with a 1-2 defeat at Sassuolo.

Cristian Volpato’s brilliant lobbed finish at the end of a rapid counterattack and a M’Bala Nzola strike, goals which came within two minutes near the end of the first half, gave Sassuolo victory in Reggio Emilia.

A second straight defeat leaves Como fifth, two points behind Juventus, which hosts Bologna on Sunday night and with Roma one point behind in sixth ahead of its clash with Atalanta on Saturday.

AC Milan has also been given a reprieve, the seven-time European champion in third and five points ahead of Como but on a run of three defeats in its last four fixtures.

Como had looked on course to secure a sensational top four placing at half-time of last week’s home match against Inter, a fixture which Cesc Fabregas’ team led by two just before half-time.

But it eventually fell to a 3-4 defeat and Friday’s loss leaves the traditionally small club, backed by tobacco giant Djarum, potentially five points away from the Champions League spots come the end of the weekend.

Published on Apr 18, 2026

#Serie #Inter #takes #step #win #title #Como #Champions #League #ambitions #dented

Inter Milan took another step towards the Serie A title on Friday by comfortably beating Cagliari 3-0 and taking a provisional 12-point lead at the top of the table.

Quickfire strikes shortly after half-time at the San Siro from Marcus Thuram and Nicolo Barella, and Piotr Zielinski’s rocket in stoppage time, took Inter to potentially one game from claiming its 21st league crown, with closest challenger Napoli hosting Lazio on Saturday.

If Napoli does not beat Lazio, Inter could wrap up the Scudetto next weekend at Torino, although it would also need the reigning champion to not win its next fixture against relegation-struggler Cremonese.

Regardless, Inter look destined to take the title back from Napoli with weeks to spare and was too much for Cagliari which, with five matches left in its season, is six points above the relegation zone and not yet safe from the drop.

Thuram’s opener came six minutes after the break and was probably his simplest finish of the season, the France forward casually guiding home his fourth goal in three matches from Federico Dimarco’s perfect low cross.

And Inter was effectively sure of the points two minutes later when Sardinian Barella, who came up through the Cagliari’s academy, smashed in the second and held his hands up in apology to his home-town team.

Inter fans roared chants about its massive league lead and its distaste for local rival AC Milan as its team played out the rest of a match without exerting itself, with the second leg of its Italian Cup semifinal with Como coming up on Tuesday.

Supporters had barely finished bellowing “we’re gonna win the league” when Zielinski met Dumfries’ knock-down with a perfect shot from the edge of the area which sailed past Elia Caprile and into the top corner.

Como blow

Como heads into its Cup showdown with Inter in downbeat mood after its bid for Champions League football suffered another blow with a 1-2 defeat at Sassuolo.

Cristian Volpato’s brilliant lobbed finish at the end of a rapid counterattack and a M’Bala Nzola strike, goals which came within two minutes near the end of the first half, gave Sassuolo victory in Reggio Emilia.

A second straight defeat leaves Como fifth, two points behind Juventus, which hosts Bologna on Sunday night and with Roma one point behind in sixth ahead of its clash with Atalanta on Saturday.

AC Milan has also been given a reprieve, the seven-time European champion in third and five points ahead of Como but on a run of three defeats in its last four fixtures.

Como had looked on course to secure a sensational top four placing at half-time of last week’s home match against Inter, a fixture which Cesc Fabregas’ team led by two just before half-time.

But it eventually fell to a 3-4 defeat and Friday’s loss leaves the traditionally small club, backed by tobacco giant Djarum, potentially five points away from the Champions League spots come the end of the weekend.

Published on Apr 18, 2026

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Deadspin | Storylines abound as Scottie Barnes, Raptors open series at Cavs <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/27673044.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/27673044.jpg" alt="NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Nov 24, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) defends against Toronto Raptors guard Scottie Barnes (4) during the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Success came quickly for Toronto Raptors power forward Scottie Barnes, who won the Rookie of the Year award and got a taste of the playoffs four years ago.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Two All-Star selections followed, but a return to the postseason proved elusive until now.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>The fifth-seeded Raptors will challenge the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in an Eastern Conference first-round series. Game 1 is Saturday in Cleveland.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>“We knew from when we talked in training camp, that was our goal,” said Barnes, the only player in the league with 600 rebounds, 400 assists and 100 blocked shots in a single season. “I think we were all confident then that we could get it done. It’s just great that we went out and did it.”</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Toronto (46-36) moved past the Atlanta Hawks on the final day of the regular season, locking it into a matchup with Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and the Cavaliers. Cleveland (52-30) is making its fourth consecutive playoff appearance.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>The Raptors went 3-0 against the Cavaliers this season with Barnes averaging 20.0 points and team-highs of 10.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.0 blocks. Brandon Ingram scored 37 points in their final meeting on Nov. 24 and averaged 22.7 points in the set.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>All three games occurred long before Cleveland acquired Harden in a trade-deadline deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Cavaliers were 19-7 with the future Hall of Famer in the lineup and won 35 of their final 49 contests.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>“We’re a lot different team now,” said reigning Defensive Player of the Year Mobley, who was chosen one spot ahead of Barnes in the 2021 draft at No. 3. “We’ll have to adjust accordingly on how they play, but it’s a good matchup. Toronto has a lot of great players like Scottie and Brandon Ingram.”</p> </section><br/><section id="section-9"> <p>Mobley and Barnes will always be linked because of their draft order and the low-key rivalry that developed with both playing the same position. Injuries limited Mobley to 65 games this season, but he still averaged 18.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and a career-high 1.7 blocks.</p> </section> <section id="section-10"> <p>Their head-to-head battle was the main talking point in Toronto going into the series, while most in Cleveland remain focused on Harden’s elusive quest for a first championship in his 17th season. He has made the playoffs every year.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>“It’s like a spin cycle, a lot of up and downs, once you get here,” Harden said. “A lot of different things happen in a game and in a series. Toronto is a really good team, but we’re prepared. We know what we need to do.”</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>Harden’s ability to execute in half-court sets gives the Cavaliers a dynamic they didn’t have in the last three postseasons. The ninth-leading scorer in NBA history also figures to attack Raptors point guard Immanuel Quickley, who is nursing a hamstring injury.</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>The shooting guard matchup pits Cleveland’s top scorer and face of the franchise, seven-time All-Star Mitchell, against RJ Barrett. Raptors center Jakob Poeltl said he will be “as physical as possible” against Cavaliers big man Jarrett Allen.</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>“You’re playing the same team over and over, so the deeper you go, the sets and plays have less value because everyone can scout,” Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic said. “It’s more about the tendencies of the players and are you playing to their strengths or your strengths.”</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>Quickley was again limited to individual workouts Friday in Toronto. Cleveland’s only question mark is backup center Thomas Bryant (left calf strain), who last played on April 5 and appears unlikely to suit up.</p> </section><section id="section-16"> <p>This is the fourth time the teams will square off in the playoffs, where the Cavaliers eliminated the Raptors in the 2016 conference finals, and the 2017 and 2018 semifinals. Toronto was swept in the latter two series and is 0-7 all-time in playoff games in Cleveland.</p> </section><section id="section-17"> <p>“This is when we earn our money,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “The flowers are blooming, it’s warm and you just feel the energy. It’s like a renewal. Truly the best time of the year.”</p> </section><br/><section id="section-18"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Storylines #abound #Scottie #Barnes #Raptors #open #series #Cavs

Deadspin | Angels hammer Padres hours after learning of Garret Anderson’s death  Apr 17, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels third baseman Yoán Moncada (10) gestures after hitting a home run during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images   Yoan Moncada and Josh Lowe each homered and Jose Soriano allowed two hits over 5 2/3 innings for his fifth win as the Los Angeles Angels, only hours after announcing the death of franchise icon Garret Anderson, snapped San Diego’s eight-game winning streak with an 8-0 victory on Friday night in Anaheim, Calif.  Soriano (5-0) walked four and struck out eight, lowering major league-leading ERA to 0.28. He has allowed just one run — a homer by Atlanta catcher Drake Baldwin — and 11 hits over 32 2/3 innings while striking out 39.  Nolan Schanuel went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored for Los Angeles, which finished with 13 hits. Adam Frazier doubled and had two hits and two runs scored, Jo Adell doubled and drove in two runs and Zach Neto and Oswald Peraza also had two hits for the Angels, who won for the third time in their last four games.  Matt Waldron (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out four.  Los Angeles jumped out to a 3-0 lead in in the second inning. Moncada led off with third home run, a 388-foot drive to right-center. Two outs later, Logan O’Hoppe was hit by a pitch and then scored on a double by Frazier. Neto followed with a single to drive in Frazier.   San Diego loaded the bases with two outs in the third on a single by Ty France and walks by Luis Campusano and Fernando Tatis Jr. But Soriano got out of the jam by getting Jackson Merrill to ground out to second.  The Angels extended the lead to 6-0 in the fourth on an RBI single by Schanuel and a two-run line-drive double by Adell into the gap in left-center off reliever David Morgan.  Lowe then broke the game open in the fifth inning with his third home run, a two-run shot down the right field line to drive in Peraza, who had been hit by a pitch.  Anderson, the all-time hits leader among other offensive categories for the Angels’ franchise, died at age 53 on Thursday. The Angels did not disclose a cause of death in announcing his passing on Friday. TMZ reported Anderson died following a medical emergency at his home in Newport Beach, Calif.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Angels #hammer #Padres #hours #learning #Garret #Andersons #deathApr 17, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels third baseman Yoán Moncada (10) gestures after hitting a home run during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images

Yoan Moncada and Josh Lowe each homered and Jose Soriano allowed two hits over 5 2/3 innings for his fifth win as the Los Angeles Angels, only hours after announcing the death of franchise icon Garret Anderson, snapped San Diego’s eight-game winning streak with an 8-0 victory on Friday night in Anaheim, Calif.

Soriano (5-0) walked four and struck out eight, lowering major league-leading ERA to 0.28. He has allowed just one run — a homer by Atlanta catcher Drake Baldwin — and 11 hits over 32 2/3 innings while striking out 39.

Nolan Schanuel went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored for Los Angeles, which finished with 13 hits. Adam Frazier doubled and had two hits and two runs scored, Jo Adell doubled and drove in two runs and Zach Neto and Oswald Peraza also had two hits for the Angels, who won for the third time in their last four games.

Matt Waldron (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out four.


Los Angeles jumped out to a 3-0 lead in in the second inning. Moncada led off with third home run, a 388-foot drive to right-center. Two outs later, Logan O’Hoppe was hit by a pitch and then scored on a double by Frazier. Neto followed with a single to drive in Frazier.

San Diego loaded the bases with two outs in the third on a single by Ty France and walks by Luis Campusano and Fernando Tatis Jr. But Soriano got out of the jam by getting Jackson Merrill to ground out to second.

The Angels extended the lead to 6-0 in the fourth on an RBI single by Schanuel and a two-run line-drive double by Adell into the gap in left-center off reliever David Morgan.

Lowe then broke the game open in the fifth inning with his third home run, a two-run shot down the right field line to drive in Peraza, who had been hit by a pitch.

Anderson, the all-time hits leader among other offensive categories for the Angels’ franchise, died at age 53 on Thursday. The Angels did not disclose a cause of death in announcing his passing on Friday. TMZ reported Anderson died following a medical emergency at his home in Newport Beach, Calif.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Angels #hammer #Padres #hours #learning #Garret #Andersons #death">Deadspin | Angels hammer Padres hours after learning of Garret Anderson’s death  Apr 17, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels third baseman Yoán Moncada (10) gestures after hitting a home run during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images   Yoan Moncada and Josh Lowe each homered and Jose Soriano allowed two hits over 5 2/3 innings for his fifth win as the Los Angeles Angels, only hours after announcing the death of franchise icon Garret Anderson, snapped San Diego’s eight-game winning streak with an 8-0 victory on Friday night in Anaheim, Calif.  Soriano (5-0) walked four and struck out eight, lowering major league-leading ERA to 0.28. He has allowed just one run — a homer by Atlanta catcher Drake Baldwin — and 11 hits over 32 2/3 innings while striking out 39.  Nolan Schanuel went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored for Los Angeles, which finished with 13 hits. Adam Frazier doubled and had two hits and two runs scored, Jo Adell doubled and drove in two runs and Zach Neto and Oswald Peraza also had two hits for the Angels, who won for the third time in their last four games.  Matt Waldron (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out four.  Los Angeles jumped out to a 3-0 lead in in the second inning. Moncada led off with third home run, a 388-foot drive to right-center. Two outs later, Logan O’Hoppe was hit by a pitch and then scored on a double by Frazier. Neto followed with a single to drive in Frazier.   San Diego loaded the bases with two outs in the third on a single by Ty France and walks by Luis Campusano and Fernando Tatis Jr. But Soriano got out of the jam by getting Jackson Merrill to ground out to second.  The Angels extended the lead to 6-0 in the fourth on an RBI single by Schanuel and a two-run line-drive double by Adell into the gap in left-center off reliever David Morgan.  Lowe then broke the game open in the fifth inning with his third home run, a two-run shot down the right field line to drive in Peraza, who had been hit by a pitch.  Anderson, the all-time hits leader among other offensive categories for the Angels’ franchise, died at age 53 on Thursday. The Angels did not disclose a cause of death in announcing his passing on Friday. TMZ reported Anderson died following a medical emergency at his home in Newport Beach, Calif.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Angels #hammer #Padres #hours #learning #Garret #Andersons #death

Sharon Lokedi will attempt to become back-to-back Boston Marathon champion on ​Monday, with the Kenyan runner insisting the ‌pressure of defending her title changes ​nothing about how she approaches ⁠the race.

The Kenyan-born runner, who shattered the women’s course record at last year’s Boston Marathon with ‌a time of 2:17:22, taking two minutes and 37 seconds off ‌the course record set in 2014 ‌by ⁠Buzunesh Deba, spoke at a brand ⁠event on Friday.

“Every time you do a marathon, you think it’s going to get easier, but ​it never really ‌does,” Lokedi said.

Asked about the pressure of defending her title, the 2022 New York Marathon winner was measured. “It’s always a ‌different race. It’s always a different ​group of women, a different type of competition. So I just ⁠treat it like it’s a new race.”

On the mental side, she said visualisation has ‌become a key tool. “I’ve trained well, I’ve done all I could, and I’m excited. It’s an open race — you never know — but I put myself there and hope for the best.”

For those ‌lining up alongside her on Monday, the 32-year-old ​runner offered straightforward counsel on race strategy: “Just start controlled, keep a controlled ⁠pace,” and as for the nerves that ⁠build in the days before the gun fires, Lokedi reframed them simply. “It’s ‌a good feeling because it tells you you’re ready.”

Published on Apr 18, 2026

#Lokedi #aims #repeat #Boston #Marathon #win #recordbreaking #run">Lokedi aims to repeat Boston Marathon win after record-breaking run  Sharon Lokedi will attempt to become back-to-back Boston Marathon champion on ​Monday, with the Kenyan runner insisting the ‌pressure of defending her title changes ​nothing about how she approaches ⁠the race.The Kenyan-born runner, who shattered the women’s course record at last year’s Boston Marathon with ‌a time of 2:17:22, taking two minutes and 37 seconds off ‌the course record set in 2014 ‌by ⁠Buzunesh Deba, spoke at a brand ⁠event on Friday.“Every time you do a marathon, you think it’s going to get easier, but ​it never really ‌does,” Lokedi said.Asked about the pressure of defending her title, the 2022 New York Marathon winner was measured. “It’s always a ‌different race. It’s always a different ​group of women, a different type of competition. So I just ⁠treat it like it’s a new race.”On the mental side, she said visualisation has ‌become a key tool. “I’ve trained well, I’ve done all I could, and I’m excited. It’s an open race — you never know — but I put myself there and hope for the best.”For those ‌lining up alongside her on Monday, the 32-year-old ​runner offered straightforward counsel on race strategy: “Just start controlled, keep a controlled ⁠pace,” and as for the nerves that ⁠build in the days before the gun fires, Lokedi reframed them simply. “It’s ‌a good feeling because it tells you you’re ready.”Published on Apr 18, 2026  #Lokedi #aims #repeat #Boston #Marathon #win #recordbreaking #run

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