Sports
Why Stuttgart, Celtic’s Europa League opponents, are worth watching
I recall being told as a joke in my student days by people in Northern Germany that as a Scot, I should feel very much at home in Stuttgart because of the alleged Geiz (frugality) of the residents of Schwabenland (Swabia)!
It’s an old cliche that never quite measures up to reality, and I think — I hope — that most of a fair mind would say the same of my compatriots. In fact, I’m quite confident that fans of Celtic and VfB Stuttgart will enjoy and appreciate each other’s generosity of football spirit when the pair meet in one of the most eye-catching two-legged UEFA Europa League confrontations in the next few days.
What should Celtic supporters know in advance?
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To me, VfB Stuttgart represent an underrated footballing and cultural force outside Germany and a few eyes will be opened as to their power and appeal.
It all starts with the distinctive Brustring (the red ring or hoop around the team’s white shirt). Last August, the club celebrated 100 years of the Brustring, and the accompanying organic choreography from the always passionate Cannstatter Kurve left you with that hair on the back of your neck feeling on that day against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
For some odd reason, Stuttgart is rarely mentioned as one of the bucket list places to watch a football match, but it really should be. Just under 60,000 fans pack into the MHP Arena at every home game through good times and bad, and it’s akin to a rite of passage. The team has a large catchment area in the South West and for many fans in the area, it would be simply incongruous to support anyone else.
Even as three-time Bundesliga champions and four-time Pokalsieger (German Cup winners), including last May, Stuttgart and its fans have nevertheless felt the full gamut of emotional highs and lows in recent years. They suffered the dreaded Abstieg (demotion) in 2016 and 2019, although luckily in both cases bounced back to secure the Klassenerhalt (ascending back to the top) at the first time of asking.
Still, in both 2022 and 2023, this colossal club started the 2. Bundesliga in the face again and stayed up by the skin of their teeth. In the first instance, salvation arrived only through a dramatic 92nd-minute goal on the final day against Köln from Wataru Endo. A year later, they had to navigate the always twitchy relegation playoff against Hamburger SV.
By then, the urbane Sebastian Hoeneß had taken over their reins. It’s hard to believe his appointment came less than three years ago because in a very short space of time, the nephew of Uli and son of Dieter has guided VfB — Verein für Bewegungsspiele (literally, “club for movement games”) — to one of the most fruitful periods in its history. That he has taken Stuttgart to a runners-up finish in the Bundesliga (ahead of Bayern Munich no less) in 2024 and a Pokalsieg in 2025, while saying goodbye to key players seemingly every summer, speaks to the coach’s competence and that of Sportchef Fabian Wohlgemuth in finding adequate replacements.
Just consider the list of departures. In 2023, Endo, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Borna Sosa went. In 2024, it was captain Waldemar Anton and prolific striker Serhou Guirassy, both to Dortmund, as well as Hiroki Ito to Bayern. Then last summer, it was Nick Woltemade and Enzo Millot.
But Stuttgart, in their present guise, are getting on with the job of booking a UEFA Champions League place next season and find themselves in the top four after winning five of their last seven Bundesliga games in 2026 so far. They have the demanding but desirable Dreifachbelastung (burden of competing in three competitions) and a Pokal semifinal to look forward to in late April as they try to retain the title.
Hoeneß mostly likes his team to keep the ball and it’s that rotation of attacking players, rather in the manner of a revolving door, that keeps opponents off balance. You never quite know what they’re going to throw at you. Still, arguably their best performance of the year to date came in Leverkusen when it was all about intense Gegenpressing, smothering the opponents at the source and finishing the contest before halftime.
The player who most makes them tick is the redoubtable Deniz Undav, who, while preferring a Döner kebab to their more traditional local dishes of Maultaschen (dumplings) and Spätzle (a pasta derivative), nevertheless personifies the club’s football more than anyone.
Really a forward with Spielmacher (playmaker) qualities, the 29-year-old is generally used underneath pure striker Ermedin Demirovic. The fact remains, though, that since 2023, only Harry Kane and Undav’s former teammate Guirassy have netted more goals.
Jamie Leweling is also a force to be reckoned with, and the difficulty is knowing how to stop him, whether he lines up on the right, the left, or cuts into the centre. Leweling has made huge strides since his Union Berlin and Greuther Fürth days. The heartbeat is provided by twin central midfielders, captain Atakan Karazor and ball playing left footer Angelo Stiller, a favourite of Hoeneß, also from their time together at Bayern II and TSG Hoffenheim. If Stiller scores, it’s usually with a long-range pile- driver.
The left-hand side can be a problem for adversaries with competent fullback Maximilian Mittelstädt, combining with Dribbelkönig (dribbling king) Chris Führich, who is back on song after enduring a difficult time of it last term. It would be churlish to call the right-hand side a weakness defensively, but I always feel there is Luft nach oben (room for improvement) when it comes to the two right back occupants, Josha Vagnoman and Lorenz Assignon.
Jeff Chabot is the defensive chief. Left-footed, dominating and rightly being assessed as a national team candidate for the World Cup, the former Köln man partners well with precocious and good on the ball 19-year-old Finn Jeltsch.
Between the posts, Alexander Nübel — a long-term Bayern loanee — rarely lets anyone down. I can’t imagine Hoeneß in Glasgow will attempt to press as high as Stuttgart did in Leverkusen. But it’s something to watch for, especially the positioning of Karazor.
Whatever happens in the next week in this intriguing Europa League tie, the Wertschätzung (appreciation) factor for the men wearing the Brustring and their fans is bound to grow.
INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan star forward Yaxel Lendeborg said he “absolutely” plans to play in the national title game against UConn on Monday night.
Lendeborg sprained his left MCL and left ankle in the first half against Arizona on Saturday night, and an MRI on the knee Sunday morning came back “very clear,” according to Michigan trainer Chris Williams.
Williams told ESPN on Sunday that Lendeborg’s injury is a “low-grade” MCL sprain in his knee, which also has a “small bone bruise.” The ankle sprain is also considered “low grade” and has minimal swelling.
“He’s still tender and walking around a little bit gingerly, but good,” Williams said.
On Sunday night, when availability reports for both teams were released, Lendeborg was not listed by the Wolverines.
Lendeborg played just 14 minutes on Saturday against Arizona, spending much of the first half getting treated in the locker room. Coach Dusty May said Sunday that the decision to play will be up to Lendeborg and the Michigan medical staff, which has indicated confidence that he will be available.
“I’m sure he’ll give it a go tomorrow,” May said.
Lendeborg’s knee loomed as a bigger concern than his injured ankle, and he clarified that’s what the MRI revealed. He returned to the court and played nine minutes in the second half, wearing a compression sleeve over the injured knee, but he appeared clearly limited.
“He played the second half like a 38-year-old at the YMCA,” May said. “And a really good 38-year-old at the YMCA.”
Williams told ESPN that he stayed in Lendeborg’s room until 4:30 a.m. after the Arizona game, giving him treatment on the knee. Williams said that his aim for Lendeborg’s agility for Monday is a much younger version than May’s description. “Hopefully 18,” Williams said.
Despite being hobbled, Lendeborg drained a pair of second-half 3-pointers, as he finished with 11 points on four shots.
Williams said he’s “very optimistic” about Lendeborg’s availability. Williams laid out the next 30 hours or so until tipoff: “It should be a lot of treatment still. I’m going to be in his room a lot. He’s going to be in my room a lot. So, we’ll be doing treatment around the clock and just trying to manage his pain the best we can.”
He said that the treatment will be on the knee and ankle, and he plans to use a Hivamat machine and a Class 4 laser.
Williams told ESPN on Saturday night that he’ll be spending a lot of time with Lndeborg.
“He might move into my room,” Williams said Saturday. “You’re laughing, but he might move into my room. We have two beds in there, so we might have to find another room for my wife and my son.”
College baseball brought the heat the past week and a slew of home runs to go along with it. But while there was some fiery play on the diamond, this week’s top 25 rankings don’t look a whole lot different.
UCLA faced probably its toughest test yet in USC this past weekend, but the Bruins proved why they have been the No. 1 team in the country all season long and swept their crosstown rival in Jackie Robinson Stadium.
Alabama made another big jump this week, going from No. 16 to No. 8 to be ranked in the top 10 for the first time this season after winning its series against Oklahoma, but the week’s biggest riser was UCF as the Knights jumped up 11 spots to No. 12.
LSU is back in the rankings at No. 24 after taking two on the road against Tennessee. After beating Florida twice, Ole Miss has rejoined the top 25 and the Gators have exited. Also gone from the rankings this week is Kentucky after it lost its series to Missouri.
Here are the entire top 25 rankings as of April 4, plus our favorite moments and what we’re watching in the week to come.
Top moments
A big-time rally! Kansas hit four home runs in the bottom of the ninth to walk off and beat Utah 14-12. The Jayhawks would go on to sweep the Utes, as well.
ICYMI, @SportsCenter will get you caught up 😏
4 HR in the bottom of the 9th on Thursday to walk it off‼️#RockChalk pic.twitter.com/pvp7y7lOCe
— Kansas Baseball (@KUBaseball) April 4, 2026
And this play from Texas’ Casey Borba is incredible.
Casey Borba can do it all! 😮💨#NCAABaseball x 🎥 SECN+ / @TexasBaseball pic.twitter.com/HFpqzeZkvw
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) April 4, 2026
Player to watch
Cade Arrambide, C, LSU
We’re all-in on Arrambide. Against Tennessee in Knoxville, he hit four home runs in the series finale to help seal the series win for LSU.
0:55
Watch LSU’s Cade Arrambide make SEC history with four homers
Arrambide becomes the first player in program history to hit four home runs in a game for the Tigers as he also finishes with seven RBI against the Vols.
And let’s just watch that grand slam one more time for good measure, because even though that surely would have been electric in Alex Box Stadium, there has to be something even sweeter about doing that on the road in the SEC.
0:54
Cade Arrambide’s 12th inning grand slam caps off 4-HR day
LSU’s Cade Arrambide clubs a grand slam in the 12th inning for his fourth homer of the game in the Tigers’ win against Tennessee.
LSU has had its fair share of struggles throughout this season, going from the No. 2-ranked team in the country to falling out of the rankings completely last week. But with Arrambide getting hot — he has eight total home runs on the season to go along with 23 RBIs — the defending national champions are certainly bound to keep turning things around.
Series to watch
No. 2 Texas at No. 18 Texas A&M
Game 1: 8 p.m. Friday (SEC Network+)
Game 2: 3 p.m. Saturday (ESPN2)
Game 3: 2 p.m. Sunday (SEC Network+)
Jim Schlossnagle makes his first return to College Station, and we’re sure Aggies fans will have it out for their former coach. After leading Texas A&M to the Men’s College World Series in 2024, he left to become to the Texas head coach, as if an already-charged rivalry needed any more juice. But Schlossnagle has his Longhorns ranked at No. 2 in the country, and the Aggies have seemingly found their footing this year and are ranked at No. 18. Who’s to say what will actually happen between these two squads, but we’ll be watching every minute of it.
Updated top 25
Here are D1baseball.com’s latest rankings, plus information on each team’s next game.
All times Eastern.
1. UCLA Bruins
Previous rank: 1
Record: 29-2
Next game: at Cal State Fullerton, 9 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN+)
2. Texas Longhorns
Previous rank: 2
Record: 26-5
Next game: vs. Incarnate Word, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network+)
3. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Previous rank: 3
Record: 26-5
Next game: vs. Kennesaw State, 6 p.m. Tuesday (ACC Network Extra)
4. Georgia Bulldogs
Previous rank: 5
Record: 27-6
Next game: vs. Presbyterian, 3 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network+)
5. Florida State Seminoles
Previous rank: 7
Record: 24-7
Next game: vs. Florida, 7 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN2)
6. North Carolina Tar Heels
Previous rank: 6
Record: 27-5
Next game: vs. Charlotte, 7 p.m. Tuesday (ACC Network)
7. Oregon State Beavers
Previous rank: 9
Record: 24-6
Next game: at Washington State, 7:05 p.m. Monday
8. Alabama Crimson Tide
Previous rank: 16
Record: 25-8
Next game: vs. Samford, 7 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network+)
9. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Previous rank: 4
Record: 25-7
Next game: vs. UAB, 7 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network+)
10. Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Previous rank: 8
Record: 23-9
Next game: vs. New Orleans, 7 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN+)
11. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Previous rank: 14
Record: 23-8
Next game: vs. Wake Forest, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday
12. UCF Knights
Previous rank: 23
Record: 20-9
Next game: vs. Stetson, 6 p.m. Tuesday
13. Virginia Cavaliers
Previous rank: 10
Record: 24-9
Next game: vs. James Madison, 6 p.m. Tuesday (ACC Network Extra)
14. USC Trojans
Previous rank: 12
Record: 27-6
Next game: at UC Santa Barbara, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN+)
15. Auburn Tigers
Previous rank: 18
Record: 22-9
Next game: vs. Jacksonville State, 7 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network)
16. Oklahoma Sooners
Previous rank: 11
Record: 21-10
Next game: at Dallas Baptist, 7:30 p.m. Monday (ESPN+)
17. West Virginia Mountaineers
Previous rank: 13
Record: 21-7
Next game: vs. Marshall, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN+)
18. Texas A&M Aggies
Previous rank: 20
Record: 25-6
Next game: at Texas State, 7 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN+)
19. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Previous rank: 19
Record: 26-6
Next game: vs. Kansas, 7 p.m. Tuesday
20. Arizona State Sun Devils
Previous rank: 25
Record: 23-9
Next game: at Grand Canyon, 8:05 p.m. Tuesday
21. Oregon Ducks
Previous rank: 15
Record: 24-8
Next game: at Portland, 8 p.m. Wednesday (ESPN+)
22. Arkansas Razorbacks
Previous rank: 17
Record: 20-13
Next game: vs. Little Rock, 7 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network+)
23. Boston College Eagles
Previous rank: 22
Record: 22-11
Next game: vs. UMass, 3 p.m. Tuesday (ACC Network Extra)
24. LSU Tigers
Previous rank: NR
Record: 22-11
Next game: vs. Bethune-Cookman, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network+)
25. Ole Miss Rebels
Previous rank: NR
Record: 22-11
Next game: vs. Alcorn State, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network+)
Multan Sultans have won the toss and elected to bowl first against Rawalpindiz in the 14th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Monday.
This will be the first time both Sultans and Pindiz face each other in the PSL.
Playing XIs
Multan Sultans: Steven Smith, Sahibzada Farhan, Josh Philippe (wk), Shan Masood, Ashton Turner (c), Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Nawaz, Peter Siddle, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Muhammad Ismail and Faisal Akram.
RawalPindiz: Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Yasir Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings, Abdullah Fazal, Dian Forrester, Rishad Hossain, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Amir Khan and Asif Afridi.
This is a developing story and is being updated with further details.
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