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Reeling Napoli face Juventus | The Express Tribune
Scott McTominay will try to help pick up Napoli against Juventus after defeat at FC Copenhagen. Photo: AFP/File
MILAN:
Napoli are reeling ahead of Sunday’s clash with fierce rivals Juventus after more European disappointment left the Serie A title holders on the brink of being eliminated from the Champions League.
Trailing leaders Inter Milan by six points ahead of their trip to Turin, Napoli have to pick themselves up after a poor 1-1 draw at 10-man FC Copenhagen.
Scott McTominay’s goal, which came shortly after Thomas Delaney was sent off for Copenhagen towards the end of the first half, looked to have sent Napoli on the way to a key win for their hopes of securing a play-off berth.
Instead Napoli were pegged back and as a result dropped into the elimination places with one match remaining, a horrible result for both Napoli and Italy’s dwindling reputation on the continental stage.
“We should have won that game, it’s unacceptable,” McTominay told Sky.
“We should have scored the second and third goals to close out the game… It’s really disappointing that we didn’t.”
Standing in the way of a Champions League play-off spot are Chelsea, Napoli’s opponents after what is always an emotionally heightened fixture with a Juve team heading in the right direction under Luciano Spalletti.
“We have to look at the mistakes and try to improve. Chelsea are an excellent team,” said McTominay.
“We have to try and give everything to improve in the Champions League as well. We have to be at our best.”
Napoli could well begin Sunday’s match nine points behind Inter who will look to shake off their sobering 3-1 defeat against Premier League leaders Arsenal with the simpler task of taking on Pisa.
Antonio Conte’s side will have their work cut out against fifth-placed Juve, who have started to resemble a true Spalletti team in recent weeks and unlike Napoli secured a Champions League play-off spot by beating Benfica.
Spalletti also has significantly fewer injury problems than Conte who has had a rotating cast of stars on the treatment table.
Starting centre-back Amir Rrahmani and winger Matteo Politano have both joined a list of key players out of action which already included Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Andre-Frank Anguissa.
Last weekend’s undeserved loss at Cagliari aside, Juve have been tighter at the back and more flamboyant going forward with Kenan Yildiz continuing to develop under Spalletti.
Juve are three points away from the last Champions League positions currently held by Roma, who have a chance to pull themselves back into the Scudetto discussion with the visit of second-placed AC Milan.
Roma are seven points behind Inter but a win at Stadio Olimpico in Sunday’s late fixture would put Gian Piero Gasperini’s team just one behind Milan and help keep Juve at bay.
Player to watch: Paulo Dybala
Dybala’s future in Rome has been in question after the Argentina international’s difficult first season under Gasperini, which has been marked by familiar injury problems and the rise of countryman Matias Soule.
But the 32-year-old looked back to his best in last weekend’s convincing win at Torino with a goal and assist for new boy Donyell Malen, with whom he clearly had an on-pitch understanding.
Assuming he is not injured in Thursday’s Europa League showdown with Stuttgart, Dybala will start on Sunday as Gasperini has repeatedly said there is no other player like him in the squad. AFP
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The Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever’s opening game is only days away from tipping off and the superstar WNBA player received a message from LeBron James.
The Lakers star hyped up Clark after she posted a message on Instagram, “Year 3!!! See you all soon.”
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark stands on the court before the game against the Dallas Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on April 30, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
“LFG!!!!!!!!” James in the comments section of the post.
James appeared to be a big fan of Clark as he posted about the Fever sharpshooter before the beginning of her second season in the WNBA.
“Good luck and DO YOU per usual this season!!!”
Year 2 didn’t exactly work out for Clark. She started off the season hot, finishing in double figures in scoring in eight straight games before she was held to just six points in 31 minutes against the Seattle Storm.
Clark reached at least 12 points in the final three games she appeared in. On July 15, Clark suffered a hamstring injury before the All-Star break and she wouldn’t return to the floor for the rest of the year.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers compete during an inbounds play in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on April 30, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
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She said last month she was “100% healthy” going into the 2026 season.
“I’m a person that doesn’t want to sit out a single rep, like I want to be in there every single time,” Clark told reporters in April. “But I think just being a little bit smarter with my body…whether that’s recovery, whether that’s pre-court treatment, whatever it is.”
She proved it as much so far during the preseason.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark shoots the ball in the second half against the Dallas Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on April 30, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
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The Fever will begin the season on Saturday against the Dallas Wings.
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The most likely NBA Finals matchup this season? The defending champs and a team that hasn’t seen the Finals in nearly three decades.
Let’s check out the odds for which squads will advance to the NBA Finals as of May 5 at DraftKings Sportsbook.
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.
NBA Eastern Conference winner
Knicks: +110 (bet $10 to win $21 total)
Pistons: +270 (bet $10 to win $37 total)
Cavaliers: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)
76ers: +950 (bet $10 to win $105 total)
NBA Western Conference winner
Thunder: -260 (bet $10 to win $14.35 total)
Spurs: +350 (bet $10 to win $45 total)
Wolves: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Lakers: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)
Here’s what to know about this oddsboard:
Finals Favorites: The Thunder won it all last season, and the season before that, the Celtics reached the top of the mountain. So, entering the postseason, the two squads were favored to meet in a seven-game series with the title on the line, meaning one of the two franchises could have been approaching dynasty territory if the odds had rung true. However, the Celtics suffered a shocking first-round defeat at the hands of the Sixers, despite leading the series 3-1. Now, Boston is at home, while the Thunder will face the Lakers after sweeping the Suns in Round 1. The new favorite to come out the East? The New York Knicks, who haven’t been to the Finals since falling 4-1 to San Antonio at the conclusion of the 1998-99 season. N.Y. beat Atlanta in six games in the first round and is up 1-0 on Philly in the second round.
The Challengers: The Spurs are next in the mix from the West. Keep in mind, San Antonio and OKC faced off five times this season, and the Spurs won four of those matchups, including the first three. In terms of the East, after New York, things are up in the air, with the Pistons, Cavs and Sixers all in the mix. Detroit, after being one of three teams to win 60 games in the regular season and the only East team to accomplish the feat, has not been getting much respect on the oddsboards, including this one. However, it could have something to do with the Pistons trailing 3-1 to Orlando in the first round, and having to overcome a 60-38 halftime deficit in Game 6 in order to force a Game 7, which they ultimately won.
KARACHI:
Clear your dues or face termination of contracts” the Pakistan Cricket Board has launched a recovery campaign against defaulters. Notices have been issued to all concerned parties, directing them to make payments within the stipulated deadline.
According to details, the 11th edition of the PSL has now concluded, and the PCB had already begun its recovery drive during the tournament. Sources revealed that billions of rupees are currently outstanding from various stakeholders. After repeated reminders failed, officials adopted a stricter stance.
Recently, notices were sent to several entities, including early PSL franchises, clearly stating that contracts would be terminated if payments were not made by April 29. Following this, several franchises cleared their full dues.
When officials were questioned about the unpaid PKR 400 million owed to each franchise, they responded that payment of franchise fees is mandatory under the agreement. They added:
“How can we pay you until we receive payments from other stakeholders?”
In the past, the practice was that after partial payment of fees, the remaining amount would be adjusted from the central revenue pool. However, a different approach has been adopted this time.
For the 10th PSL edition, each franchise was supposed to receive PKR 975 million (97.5 crore) as its share. However, a key stakeholder owes the PCB PKR 4.7 billion, a major portion of which is related to the PSL. This stakeholder has been avoiding payment, citing financial losses, preventing the finalization of accounts.
Due to this issue, the PCB did not allow two TV channels to participate in bidding for the current edition’s media rights. However, surprisingly, the new company that acquired the broadcasting rights permitted those same channels to air the matches.
Learning from past experience, the PCB has now secured a bank guarantee from the new media rights holder, which can be cashed in case of non-payment.
Meanwhile, sources stated that both new teams and the new owner of Multan Sultans had already paid their full franchise fees in advance. Since this is their first year, they are not entitled to any share from previous central revenue pools.
Owners who purchased teams at high prices had already been assured a minimum of PKR 850 million (85 crore) annually from the central pool for the first five years. However, the final amount will only be determined once the accounts are fully settled.
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