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Hansi Flick happy Raphinha is back for Barcelona with La Liga 2025-26 title in sight  Barcelona coach Hansi Flick celebrated the return of winger Raphinha from injury on Friday as the Catalans close in on the La Liga 2025-26 title.Flick’s team is 11 points clear of second-place Real Madrid and can win a second successive league title this weekend if it beats Osasuna on Saturday and Los Blancos drop points at out-of-form Espanyol the following day.Raphinha suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Brazil in March, which left him sidelined as Barcelona was knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals.Barca faces Real Madrid on May 10 in a Clasico which could seal its title defence if it does not clinch it this weekend, and is still in with a chance of matching the all-time record of 100 points in a Spanish league campaign.“Rapha is a player who always gives us 100 percent, when he’s on the pitch or in training,” Flick told reporters.“His mentality, his attitude, is always 100 percent and that helps us a lot. This season, he has had to suffer (from injury), so for us it’s important to have him back. He will also travel with us, and we’ll see what happens tomorrow… I think also for the team it’s great to have him back, because he’s one of our captains, he’s positive and can give us these things that we need,” he added.ALSO READ | Salah ‘deserves big send-off’, says Liverpool boss SlotBarca is without injured teenage star Lamine Yamal, with Flick saying the 18-year-old is recovering well from the hamstring problem, which will keep him out until the end of the season.“He’s doing good, so the evolution is good. I think we will see him in the World Cup. He has time, more time, to recover, to come back. And this is what he wants,” said Flick.If Barca wins its remaining five league matches, it will reach the 100-point record first set by Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in 2012 and then matched by Tito Vilanova’s Barcelona side in 2013.“We are only focused on the next match, (but) of course we want to win every game between now and the end of the season,” said Flick.“For me, it would be perfect when we can win every game, but also have tough opponents. Our job is, in every match, to play on our best level, to learn from the game for the next game and for our training. So this is our philosophy, our attitude, our mentality,” he added.Published on May 01, 2026  #Hansi #Flick #happy #Raphinha #Barcelona #Liga #title #sight

Hansi Flick happy Raphinha is back for Barcelona with La Liga 2025-26 title in sight

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick celebrated the return of winger Raphinha from injury on Friday as the Catalans close in on the La Liga 2025-26 title.

Flick’s team is 11 points clear of second-place Real Madrid and can win a second successive league title this weekend if it beats Osasuna on Saturday and Los Blancos drop points at out-of-form Espanyol the following day.

Raphinha suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Brazil in March, which left him sidelined as Barcelona was knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals.

Barca faces Real Madrid on May 10 in a Clasico which could seal its title defence if it does not clinch it this weekend, and is still in with a chance of matching the all-time record of 100 points in a Spanish league campaign.

“Rapha is a player who always gives us 100 percent, when he’s on the pitch or in training,” Flick told reporters.

“His mentality, his attitude, is always 100 percent and that helps us a lot. This season, he has had to suffer (from injury), so for us it’s important to have him back. He will also travel with us, and we’ll see what happens tomorrow… I think also for the team it’s great to have him back, because he’s one of our captains, he’s positive and can give us these things that we need,” he added.

ALSO READ | Salah ‘deserves big send-off’, says Liverpool boss Slot

Barca is without injured teenage star Lamine Yamal, with Flick saying the 18-year-old is recovering well from the hamstring problem, which will keep him out until the end of the season.

“He’s doing good, so the evolution is good. I think we will see him in the World Cup. He has time, more time, to recover, to come back. And this is what he wants,” said Flick.

If Barca wins its remaining five league matches, it will reach the 100-point record first set by Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in 2012 and then matched by Tito Vilanova’s Barcelona side in 2013.

“We are only focused on the next match, (but) of course we want to win every game between now and the end of the season,” said Flick.

“For me, it would be perfect when we can win every game, but also have tough opponents. Our job is, in every match, to play on our best level, to learn from the game for the next game and for our training. So this is our philosophy, our attitude, our mentality,” he added.

Published on May 01, 2026

#Hansi #Flick #happy #Raphinha #Barcelona #Liga #title #sight

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick celebrated the return of winger Raphinha from injury on Friday as the Catalans close in on the La Liga 2025-26 title.

Flick’s team is 11 points clear of second-place Real Madrid and can win a second successive league title this weekend if it beats Osasuna on Saturday and Los Blancos drop points at out-of-form Espanyol the following day.

Raphinha suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Brazil in March, which left him sidelined as Barcelona was knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals.

Barca faces Real Madrid on May 10 in a Clasico which could seal its title defence if it does not clinch it this weekend, and is still in with a chance of matching the all-time record of 100 points in a Spanish league campaign.

“Rapha is a player who always gives us 100 percent, when he’s on the pitch or in training,” Flick told reporters.

“His mentality, his attitude, is always 100 percent and that helps us a lot. This season, he has had to suffer (from injury), so for us it’s important to have him back. He will also travel with us, and we’ll see what happens tomorrow… I think also for the team it’s great to have him back, because he’s one of our captains, he’s positive and can give us these things that we need,” he added.

ALSO READ | Salah ‘deserves big send-off’, says Liverpool boss Slot

Barca is without injured teenage star Lamine Yamal, with Flick saying the 18-year-old is recovering well from the hamstring problem, which will keep him out until the end of the season.

“He’s doing good, so the evolution is good. I think we will see him in the World Cup. He has time, more time, to recover, to come back. And this is what he wants,” said Flick.

If Barca wins its remaining five league matches, it will reach the 100-point record first set by Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in 2012 and then matched by Tito Vilanova’s Barcelona side in 2013.

“We are only focused on the next match, (but) of course we want to win every game between now and the end of the season,” said Flick.

“For me, it would be perfect when we can win every game, but also have tough opponents. Our job is, in every match, to play on our best level, to learn from the game for the next game and for our training. So this is our philosophy, our attitude, our mentality,” he added.

Published on May 01, 2026

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Deadspin | Sabres bring road success into Game 6, try to finish off Bruins <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-900/28835115.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28835115.jpg" alt="NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 28, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Boston Bruins center Casey Mittelstadt (11) tries to block a shot by Buffalo Sabres center Peyton Krebs (19) during overtime in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>The Boston Bruins have life.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>After winning in Buffalo for the second time in three tries in their Eastern Conference first-round series, the Bruins look to bottle up their solid road play as the scene shifts back to Boston for the final time.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>At the same time, Game 6 on Friday marks a second opportunity for the Sabres — who cruised to back-to-back wins in Boston, including a decisive 6-1 contest last Sunday — to close out the best-of-seven series and advance in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2007.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>“It was an embarrassing effort in Game 4. That’s not what our fans paid money for, to come and see us play that way,” Boston defenseman Nikita Zadorov said. “We’re glad we got that win (Tuesday) and have a chance to redeem ourselves.”</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>The Bruins extended the series with a 2-1 overtime win in Game 5, as Hampus Lindholm’s long feed sent David Pastrnak in on a breakaway for the game-ending goal.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>It was only Pastrnak’s second goal of the series, but it could not have come at a more crucial time. With the tally, he became the first-ever Bruin to score multiple overtime goals while the team faced elimination.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>“There’s only a few players I think who can do that. What I mean by that is not just the finish, but the way he doesn’t go offside,” Bruins coach Marco Sturm said. “… I’m just very happy because (Pastrnak) puts a lot of pressure on himself and he wants to be the difference. And (Tuesday) he was.”</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>Similarly, goaltender Jeremy Swayman’s sharpest performance of the series (25 saves on 26 shots) helped set the stage for Pastrnak’s heroics.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-9"> <p>Prior to Game 5, Buffalo’s veteran players like former Stanley Cup-winning defenseman Bowen Byram discussed the difficulty of banking a fourth win to close out a playoff series.</p> </section> <section id="section-10"> <p>With 11 playoff newcomers dotting the Sabres roster, the team’s lack of experience in such big-game situations could have had an impact on the latest result.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>“I just sensed a little bit of nerves with our guys,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “Our puck play wasn’t as good as in Boston, so just get them to relax, play our game and be ready to go.”</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>Strangely, having another chance on road ice could be just what Ruff’s team needs, as it won the first two games in Boston by a combined 9-2 score.</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>Playing a simple game on the road is a coach’s cliche, but the Sabres have done just that so far in Boston. Their 24-13-4 record away from home was among the best in the NHL.</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>“It’s part of the playoffs,” Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon said. “It’s one of the hardest things in the world, so we have to embrace that and we have to be on a mission when we go into Boston.”</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>On the injury front, Boston’s Viktor Arvidsson (upper body) and Buffalo’s Noah Ostlund (lower body) are expected to be out of their teams’ respective lineups for at least Game 6. Defenseman Logan Stanley could also be missing for Buffalo after an illness kept him out of Thursday’s practice.</p> </section><section id="section-16"> <p>However, the Sabres should have Josh Norris back after the centerman missed the past three games with a minor injury. He is likely to skate between Zach Benson and Josh Doan.</p> </section><section id="section-17"> <p>“For a period of time, that line was really good for us,” Ruff said. “It’s an opportunity where a guy like Norrie can just step up, and he could be a big difference maker for us.”</p> </section><br/><section id="section-18"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Sabres #bring #road #success #Game #finish #Bruins

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Deadspin | Fernando Alonso unsure of F1 future, but won’t stop racing <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-900/28846699.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28846699.jpg" alt="Formula One: Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix 2026" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 30, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Aston Martin Racing driver Fernando Alonso (14) speaks to reporters at Miami International Autodrome. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>In the midst of a disappointing season as an Aston Martin driver, Fernando Alonso isn’t in a hurry to make a decision on his Formula 1 future.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>The two-time F1 series champion (2005-06), racing in his 23rd season at the top level of competition, remains up in the air about the future of his Aston Martin contract, which expires at the end of this season.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>“I’m not sure,” Alonso said Thursday ahead of this weekend’s race in Miami when asked about his future.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>“I’m open to everything. I think until probably after the summer break I will not really sit down with the team and make the decision. We need to see also how the car improves and how we see things into next year. I’m very relaxed.”</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Alonso, 44, finished fourth in his first season with Aston Martin in 2023 followed by ninth and 10th the last two seasons. Car troubles have prevented him from finishing two of the first three Grand Prix of this season, hurtling him down to 21st in the driver standings.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>“We have a tough start to the season but we are all embracing this challenge,” Alonso said. “We are together on this, Aston Martin and Honda. Hopefully we can see some results and start having fun on the weekends.”</p> </section><br/><section id="section-7"> <p>He’s won 32 career F1 races, but none since 2013.</p> </section> <section id="section-8"> <p>While Alonso sounded uncertain about his future racing in F1, he made it clear that exit wouldn’t mean he’s done driving competitively.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>“I will continue racing. If it’s not F1, I will do Dakar (Rally),” Alonso said. “I said many times it’s a challenge that I want to take, winning endurance racing, F1 and rally. That will probably be unprecedented for any racing driver in the past, so it’s something that is very appealing.”</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Alonso previously didn’t race in F1 during 2019 and 2020. He twice won the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2018, 2019) and also won a World Endurance championship.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Regardless of whether he returns to drive for Aston Martin in F1 in 2027, Alonso also said he plans to be around the team.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>“I will keep active even if I stop F1. I’m also linked with this team, with this project,” Alonso said. “I want to succeed here, behind the wheel or not behind the wheel, you will see me in the paddock even if I stop racing.”</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Fernando #Alonso #unsure #future #wont #stop #racing

“Hammond, Indiana. Okay. If you’ve been to Soldier Field and you’ve been on the lakefront and you are somebody that is a romantic like myself, that’s where football should be played, on the lakefront right in front of those giant skyscrapers, right next to that big, beautiful park with the best coach in football, with one of the best young quarterback. But that ain’t happening. Grow up, Peter Pan. I’m talking to myself. Grow up, Peter Pan.”

“That ain’t happening. Okay. Arlington Heights. One of the most state-of-the-art beautiful property in the north suburbs. Arlington Heights. I don’t know if you’ve ever been there, but they have a racetrack that they demolished there that I said, ‘Oh, it’s a no-brainer. They would never knock down something of such historical significance to Chicago.‘ Well, it didn’t work. Hammond, Indiana is happening. Okay, now let’s let’s not play doom and gloom. Let’s do a little mental health check in and say, what are the positives here? The positives are it’s closer to downtown. It’s closer to downtown than Arlington Heights would be. It’s in fact 30 minutes closer to downtown than where the Bears training facility is on the north side in Lake Forest where I lived. You get the unique opportunity. It’s almost like I’m going to use the phrase, I don’t fully understand it, but I’m going to use the phrase manifest destiny. Okay? Remember when people were just moving west and they’re like, I’m going to put a flag down here.”

“This looks like a nice little hill. This is my hill. I’m going to call it Johnny’s Hill. You know, like I think about all the it’s the American dream. Well, you know what? It didn’t work out in Chicago. So, just follow that coast south down to Hammond, Indiana. And I can promise you this, if they do it the right way, like a number of these teams have done, you get the opportunity to have a state-of-the-art venue for anything that you want. You get the opportunity to own your stadium and the land around it outright. You get to make it exactly how you want to make it. And I’ve heard a lot of things about Hammond, Indiana. More often than not, not good things. But I can guarantee you this. There are people, there are kids, there are generations of Bears fans that are down there that are so excited to welcome you and show you that area with open arms and you get to make it yours.”

“Now, I know that’s a slap in the face to a lot of people, including myself, but it’s time to get to the next level. And they can do that there. Winning to me, what does success look like to me? It looks like a quarterback that’s on schedule in first and second down and continues to do what he does on third down and in the fourth quarter. I think building a defense that can stop the run and rush the passer on third down and got to have it rush downs. That would be great. I think everything is moving in the right direction and I think this Hammond, Indiana thing is a unique opportunity for the Bears to really take the next step.”

“I remember when St. Louis moved to LA, and granted, it was a lot more miles for that move. They become a serious contender overnight and the Bears already are a serious contender. So imagine what happens if you pump some caffeine into that.”

#Kyle #Long #optimistic #Bears #moving #Hammond #Indiana">Kyle Long is trying to be optimistic about the Bears maybe moving to Hammond, Indiana  “Hammond, Indiana. Okay. If you’ve been to Soldier Field and you’ve been on the lakefront and you are somebody that is a romantic like myself, that’s where football should be played, on the lakefront right in front of those giant skyscrapers, right next to that big, beautiful park with the best coach in football, with one of the best young quarterback. But that ain’t happening. Grow up, Peter Pan. I’m talking to myself. Grow up, Peter Pan.”“That ain’t happening. Okay. Arlington Heights. One of the most state-of-the-art beautiful property in the north suburbs. Arlington Heights. I don’t know if you’ve ever been there, but they have a racetrack that they demolished there that I said, ‘Oh, it’s a no-brainer. They would never knock down something of such historical significance to Chicago.‘ Well, it didn’t work. Hammond, Indiana is happening. Okay, now let’s let’s not play doom and gloom. Let’s do a little mental health check in and say, what are the positives here? The positives are it’s closer to downtown. It’s closer to downtown than Arlington Heights would be. It’s in fact 30 minutes closer to downtown than where the Bears training facility is on the north side in Lake Forest where I lived. You get the unique opportunity. It’s almost like I’m going to use the phrase, I don’t fully understand it, but I’m going to use the phrase manifest destiny. Okay? Remember when people were just moving west and they’re like, I’m going to put a flag down here.”“This looks like a nice little hill. This is my hill. I’m going to call it Johnny’s Hill. You know, like I think about all the it’s the American dream. Well, you know what? It didn’t work out in Chicago. So, just follow that coast south down to Hammond, Indiana. And I can promise you this, if they do it the right way, like a number of these teams have done, you get the opportunity to have a state-of-the-art venue for anything that you want. You get the opportunity to own your stadium and the land around it outright. You get to make it exactly how you want to make it. And I’ve heard a lot of things about Hammond, Indiana. More often than not, not good things. But I can guarantee you this. There are people, there are kids, there are generations of Bears fans that are down there that are so excited to welcome you and show you that area with open arms and you get to make it yours.”“Now, I know that’s a slap in the face to a lot of people, including myself, but it’s time to get to the next level. And they can do that there. Winning to me, what does success look like to me? It looks like a quarterback that’s on schedule in first and second down and continues to do what he does on third down and in the fourth quarter. I think building a defense that can stop the run and rush the passer on third down and got to have it rush downs. That would be great. I think everything is moving in the right direction and I think this Hammond, Indiana thing is a unique opportunity for the Bears to really take the next step.”“I remember when St. Louis moved to LA, and granted, it was a lot more miles for that move. They become a serious contender overnight and the Bears already are a serious contender. So imagine what happens if you pump some caffeine into that.”  #Kyle #Long #optimistic #Bears #moving #Hammond #Indiana

Lionel Messi found the net with his third touch in the FIFA World Cup 2026 warm-up match between Argentina and Iceland in Alabama, USA on Tuesday.

Messi marked his return from a muscle strain by scoring from the penalty spot in the 71st minute, just seconds after coming off the bench. The Argentine sent fans into raptures with an emphatic finish from 12 yards.

It was Messi’s 911th career goal for club and country and 117th goal for Argentina and made him the oldest scorer in the country’s football history.

Messi did not play in Argentina’s friendly win over Honduras on Saturday.

Published on Jun 10, 2026

#WATCH #Lionel #Messi #scores #Argentina #Iceland #FIFA #World #Cup #warmup #match">WATCH: Lionel Messi scores in Argentina vs Iceland FIFA World Cup 2026 warm-up match  Lionel Messi found the net with his third touch in the FIFA World Cup 2026 warm-up match between Argentina and Iceland in Alabama, USA on Tuesday.Messi marked his return from a muscle strain by scoring from the penalty spot in the 71st minute, just seconds after coming off the bench. The Argentine sent fans into raptures with an emphatic finish from 12 yards.pic.twitter.com/Y5URIeyx53— Messi World (@MessiWorld101) June 10, 2026It was Messi’s 911th career goal for club and country and 117th goal for Argentina and made him the oldest scorer in the country’s football history.Messi did not play in Argentina’s friendly win over Honduras on Saturday.Published on Jun 10, 2026  #WATCH #Lionel #Messi #scores #Argentina #Iceland #FIFA #World #Cup #warmup #match

It was Messi’s 911th career goal for club and country and 117th goal for Argentina and made him the oldest scorer in the country’s football history.

Messi did not play in Argentina’s friendly win over Honduras on Saturday.

Published on Jun 10, 2026

#WATCH #Lionel #Messi #scores #Argentina #Iceland #FIFA #World #Cup #warmup #match">WATCH: Lionel Messi scores in Argentina vs Iceland FIFA World Cup 2026 warm-up match

Lionel Messi found the net with his third touch in the FIFA World Cup 2026 warm-up match between Argentina and Iceland in Alabama, USA on Tuesday.

Messi marked his return from a muscle strain by scoring from the penalty spot in the 71st minute, just seconds after coming off the bench. The Argentine sent fans into raptures with an emphatic finish from 12 yards.

It was Messi’s 911th career goal for club and country and 117th goal for Argentina and made him the oldest scorer in the country’s football history.

Messi did not play in Argentina’s friendly win over Honduras on Saturday.

Published on Jun 10, 2026

#WATCH #Lionel #Messi #scores #Argentina #Iceland #FIFA #World #Cup #warmup #match

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