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Arsenal, Atletico Madrid share draw after penalty drama in Champions League semi-final

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Julian Alvarez’s penalty secured Atletico Madrid a 1-1 draw against Arsenal in a nervy Champions League semi-final first leg clash on Wednesday.

Viktor Gyokeres sent the Premier League leaders ahead from the spot just before the interval after he was fouled, but Alvarez followed suit 10 minutes into the second half after Ben White’s handball.

Arsenal were upset at a late penalty decision being overturned following a VAR review when David Hancko made contact with Eberechi Eze in the area.

Atletico had the better for long periods but Arsenal’s solid defending helped them leave the Spanish capital in a good position to return to the Champions League final 20 years after their last appearance.

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“We were the team we have to be, if we play at this level we can win,” said Atletico captain Koke of his team’s second-half display on Movistar.

“From my point of view they didn’t create much danger against us… the team defended well and they just had that penalty.”

Read moreChampions League: PSG come out on top in legendary game against Bayern Munich

What the game lacked in the dizzying goal rush of Paris Saint-Germain’s 5-4 win over Bayern Munich in the other semi-final the night before, it replaced with tension and a desperation not to fall behind.

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Toilet paper rained down from the stands of the Metropolitano stadium minutes before kick-off, in a striking — if wasteful — display, which invited cynical jokes from some quarters about the calibre of the spectacle ahead.

In a tussle between arguably the continent’s two biggest teams never to lay a finger on the trophy neither wanted to blink first.

Atletico still have an outdated defensive reputation but pinned Mikel Arteta’s miserly Arsenal back in the early stages, with David Raya tipping Alvarez’s shot around the post.

The Gunners, a long way from Arteta’s eve-of-the-game demand they dominate proceedings, looked to smash and grab, with Marc Pubill blocking from Martin Odegaard on a quick breakaway.

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Noni Madueke, starting on Arsenal’s right flank with Bukayo Saka only fit for the bench, hammered just wide from distance as last year’s beaten semi-finalists sporadically emerged from their half.

The next time they did, Gyokeres won a penalty. The Swedish striker, who might not have started if Kai Havertz was fit, exchanged passes with Martin Zubimendi and Hancko clumsily shoved him in the back from behind.

Diego Simeone and Atletico veteran Antoine Griezmann begged for the decision to be reviewed but VAR saw no reason to intervene.

Gyokeres took the spot-kick himself, walloping it past Jan Oblak, who dived the right way but stood no chance of keeping it out.

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Read morePSG edge Bayern in nine-goal Champions League semi-final thriller

Atletico battle back 

Three-time runners-up Atletico, back in the semi-finals for the first time in nine years, came out guns blazing in the second half.

Raya saved Ademola Lookman’s drive with Gabriel blocking Griezmann’s follow-up.

The hosts pulled level from the penalty spot after White handled Marcos Llorente’s shot, the ball bouncing up and hitting his arm, which was away from his body.

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Alvarez took it, and having missed in Atletico’s Copa del Rey final shoot-out defeat earlier in April, this time made no mistake with an unforgiving blast rivalling Gyokeres’s first-half effort.

MLS-bound Griezmann looped a shot off the crossbar and then sent the rebound off target as Atletico turned the screw in pursuit of an advantage to take into next Tuesday’s second leg.

Nigeria international Lookman twice came close and could end up ruing his missed chances.

Arsenal thought they had won a second penalty when substitute Eze went down under a sluggish Hancko challenge but the referee changed his mind after a VAR review, deciding the Slovakian defender’s contact was minimal.

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Arsenal next take on Fulham as they continue their battle with Manchester City for the Premier Leaguetitle, while with little to play for in La Liga Simeone will rotate heavily, before this tie is decided in London.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

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The Vikings’ GM Search Points to One Answer

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A Minnesota Vikings helmet sits on the turf before a game against the Chicago Bears.
A Minnesota Vikings helmet sits on the turf before a matchup with the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium, with Nov. 27, 2023 capturing the quiet pregame setup in Minneapolis. Equipment rests near the field as players finish warmups ahead of the NFC North meeting. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

The Minnesota Vikings fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah three and a half weeks after the regular season in late January, strange timing because a would-be search for his replacement would not start until, well, now. The team’s ownership group has vowed to conduct an extensive search for Adofo-Mensah’s successor, and while that is vital, VikingsTerritory officially endorses the interim candidate, Rob Brzezinski.

Minnesota can chase a splashier name, but the internal option makes too much sense.

Other men and women might be great for the GM chair, but Brzezinski is perfect for right now.

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Brzezinski Gives the Vikings Continuity at a Critical Moment

Keep The Notorious BRZ where he’s at.

Rob Brzezinski chatting during an interview about Vikings front-office strategy and leadership. Vikings GM search
Vikings executive Rob Brzezinski sits down for an in-depth interview with Vikings.com’s Gabe Henderson, discussing team-building philosophy and leadership structure on Feb. 17, 2022, in a digital feature segment. The conversation covers front-office strategy, Kevin O’Connell’s hiring, and the long-term vision guiding Minnesota’s football operations. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.

The Case for Brzezinski: The Experience Is There

Brzezinski has worked for the Vikings since 1999. Some of you reading this might’ve been in elementary school then.

The club will inevitably interview contenders from all walks of life, and that’s fine, but no person knows the Vikings more intimately, and you’d be hard-pressed to find someone with 27 years of experience. Brzezinski has lived through the Randy Moss, Adrian Peterson, Brett Favre, Kirk Cousins, and Kevin O’Connell eras as an employee. He’s seen some things.

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Since taking over the interim role, Brzezinski has not sent up any red flags to suggest that he’s in over his head. If he were 25 years old and freshly promoted from equipment manager, that would be a different story. But Brzezinski is a war horse by now. Keep him.

The Money Part Is Down Pat

Until February, Brzezinski had run the Vikings’ budget for years. He’s the capologist, the money wizard, and the guy who makes the enterprise move when it comes to dollars and cents and sense.

In all likelihood, if Minnesota hires a different general manager, Brzezinski will slide into his previous role, and that’ll be that. However, he already has one of the difficult parts of the job down pat: organizing and managing the salary cap, and proving himself one of the best in the business at his craft. Doesn’t that deserve a promotion?

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For years, fans have applauded Brzezinski for his cap magic; it just makes sense that the guy who could handle that task could be trusted for the top job, especially when he has O’Connell and Brian Flores at his side drafting the players.

Let Kevin O’Connell Lie in His Bed

The Vikings sent a clear message when they canned Adofo-Mensah: keeping O’Connell spoke volumes. Most general managers, when they get fired, find the exit sign along with the head coach. In fact, it’s rare to retain a head coach, fire the general manager, and expect a happy ending. It hardly ever works that way, and recent NFL examples (Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers) showed little success, with the head coach getting terminated soon after, too.

Kevin O’Connell and Ziggy Wilf talking on the field during Vikings training camp. Vikings GM search
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell chats with owner Ziggy Wilf during training camp activities at TCO Stadium on Aug. 3, 2023, in Eagan, Minnesota. The moment captures a casual exchange between leadership figures as players practice nearby and preparations continue for the upcoming NFL season. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

Therefore, because O’Connell was not included in the January termination, he should be held accountable as a de facto Team CEO. Minnesota, in essence, handed him the keys to the franchise when it dropped Adofo-Mensah. Keeping Brzezinski in the general manager role fits with O’Connell as the Team CEO. The two have already coexisted for a full free agency in the current setup.

Think of it this way: if the Vikings finish 6-11 this year and need a reset, they can fire O’Connell, put Brzezinski back in the capologist role, and start fresh by hiring a new general manager and head coach. It’s a way to thread the needle.

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And if Minnesota doesn’t struggle, well, Brzezinski will look great in retrospect, and he’ll just keep the big job.

What Happens if the 2026 Draft Class Is Fantastic — and BRZ Is No Longer the GM?

There’s also a “fear” to consider. Pretend Minnesota says “no thanks” to Brzezinski. They slap him back in the “money guy” chair and move on to the next guy or gal. What if Brzezinski’s draft class and free-agent decisions absolutely cook? For example, Caleb Banks turns into an All-Pro in Year No. 1, running back Demon Claiborne produces a De’Von Achane-adjacent season, and Kyler Murray leads the Vikings to the NFC Championship or beyond?

Rob Brzezinski speaking with Paul Allen and Pete Bercich at the NFL Combine. Vikings GM search
Vikings executive Rob Brzezinski joins KFAN’s Paul Allen and analyst Pete Bercich for an on-site interview at the NFL Scouting Combine on Feb. 25, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The discussion centers on roster construction, cap strategy, and Minnesota’s offseason approach during a key evaluation period. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.

Folks would look back and wonder just why in the hell the Vikings didn’t keep Brzezinski.

With the current “triangle of authority,” it’s best to ride out the O’Connell era with a boss like Brzezinski, who can somewhat easily return to his old post in Minnesota if forced to blow it up again.

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Not for nothing, Brzezinski is probably the frontrunner to keep the top job; why else would the Vikings let him conduct a full free agency or draft if not? They could’ve had a new general manager in place by mid-February based on normal NFL hiring timelines.


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Today’s Quordle Answers and Hints for April 30, 2026

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Quordle Answers (April 30, 2026): Struggling to solve today’s Quordle? No worries. We have today’s Quordle hints and answers for you to solve it on your own!

If you’re a fan of word puzzles, you probably already know that Quordle is a more challenging version of Wordle. Instead of guessing just one word, Quordle requires you to guess four five-letter words simultaneously within nine attempts.

We’ll offer a few hints to nudge you in the right direction for solving today’s Quordle (April 30, 2026) on your own. If you’re still struggling, we’ll reveal the Quordle answers as well.

Oh, and yes, we also have today’s answers for Quordle Chill and Quordle Extreme modes. And if you still want more, we have the answers for Quordle Sequence and the Quordle Weekly Challenge.

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Ready to tackle today’s Quordle? Let’s dive in!

WARNING: Spoilers ahead! Only read on if you want to know today’s Quordle answers.

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PS: We’re revealing the Quordle answers for Thursday, April 30, 2026. If you’re looking for yesterday’s answers, find Quordle answers for Wednesday, April 29, 2026 here .

Today’s Daily Quordle Hints

Let’s start with the Daily Quordle. Here are a few hints to help you solve the puzzles:

Daily Quordle Hint 1: How many vowels are in each word?

  • The first word (top-left) has 2 vowels.
  • The second word (top-right) has 2 vowels.
  • The third word (bottom-left) has 2 vowels.
  • The fourth word (bottom-right) has 1 vowel.

Daily Quordle Hint 2: How many double letters are there in today’s words?

  • The first word (top-left) has 1 letter repeated twice
  • The second word (top-right) has 1 letter repeated twice
  • The third word (bottom-left) has no repeated letters
  • The fourth word (bottom-right) has no repeated letters

Daily Quordle Hint 3: What is the starting letter for each word?

  • The first word (top-left) starts with “L”.
  • The second word (top-right) starts with “C”.
  • The third word (bottom-left) starts with “S”.
  • The fourth word (bottom-right) starts with “L”.

If you still need help with today’s Quordle Answer, you can try our Wordle Solver. Although it was built for Wordle, it can still help you narrow down the possible answers for Quordle as well.


Today’s Daily Quordle Answers

Spoiler alert: The Daily Quordle answers for today are provided below.

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Are you ready?

Today’s Quordle answers for Thursday, April 30, 2026, are:

If you managed to crack all four, great job! If not, don’t sweat it—there’s always another chance with tomorrow’s puzzles. If you can’t wait till tomorrow, the Quordle game has many modes that you can try today. And yes, we have the answers and hints to help you out here as well.


Today’s Daily Chill Quordle Hints

The Daily: Chill mode gives you 12 tries to get the 4 words. Here are some Quordle hints to help you get started.

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Quordle Chill Hint 1: How many vowels are in each word?

  • The first word (top-left) has 1 vowel.
  • The second word (top-right) has 3 vowels.
  • The third word (bottom-left) has 2 vowels.
  • The fourth word (bottom-right) has 2 vowels.

Quordle Chill Hint 2: How many double letters are there in today’s words?

  • The first word (top-left) has 1 letter repeated twice
  • The second word (top-right) has no repeated letters
  • The third word (bottom-left) has no repeated letters
  • The fourth word (bottom-right) has no repeated letters

Quordle Chill Hint 3: What is the starting letter for each word?

  • The first word (top-left) starts with “T”.
  • The second word (top-right) starts with “C”.
  • The third word (bottom-left) starts with “U”.
  • The fourth word (bottom-right) starts with “A”.

Those are today’s Quordle hints for the Daily: Chill mode.


Today’s Daily Chill Quordle Answers

If you haven’t solved it yet, we have the Quordle answers for the Chill mode right here.

Today’s Quordle answers for the Daily Chill mode for Thursday, April 30, 2026, are:

Let’s look at the Quordle hints and answers for the Daily Extreme mode next.

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Today’s Daily Extreme Quordle Hints

Let’s look at the Quordle hints for the Extreme mode. Please note that you only have 8 tries!

Quordle Extreme Hint 1: How many vowels are in each word?

  • The first word (top-left) has 2 vowels.
  • The second word (top-right) has 3 vowels.
  • The third word (bottom-left) has 2 vowels.
  • The fourth word (bottom-right) has 2 vowels.

Quordle Extreme Hint 2: How many double letters are there in today’s words?

  • The first word (top-left) has no repeated letters
  • The second word (top-right) has 1 letter repeated twice
  • The third word (bottom-left) has 1 letter repeated twice
  • The fourth word (bottom-right) has no repeated letters

Quordle Extreme Hint 3: What is the starting letter for each word?

  • The first word (top-left) starts with “D”.
  • The second word (top-right) starts with “E”.
  • The third word (bottom-left) starts with “T”.
  • The fourth word (bottom-right) starts with “H”.

If you’re still working on it, the Quordle answers for the Extreme mode are the next thing you’ll see.


Today’s Daily Extreme Quordle Answers

If you didn’t get a single answer, I hope you have four turns remaining. You will need them to enter the Quordle Extreme answers that are shared below.

Today’s Quordle answers for the Daily Extreme mode for Thursday, April 30, 2026, are:

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Let’s try to solve the next Quordle challenge that updates daily – the Quordle Sequence.


Today’s Quordle Sequence Hints

You’ve got 10 chances to solve Sequence, but be strategic and don’t waste them all on your first guess. Check out these hints to help you:

Quordle Sequence Hint 1: How many vowels are in each word?

  • The first word (top-left) has 2 vowels.
  • The second word (top-right) has 3 vowels.
  • The third word (bottom-left) has 1 vowel.
  • The fourth word (bottom-right) has 2 vowels.

Quordle Sequence Hint 2: How many double letters are there in today’s words?

  • The first word (top-left) has 2 letters repeated twice. That surely narrows it down.
  • The second word (top-right) has no repeated letters
  • The third word (bottom-left) has no repeated letters
  • The fourth word (bottom-right) has 1 letter repeated twice

Quordle Sequence Hint 3: What is the starting letter for each word?

  • The first word (top-left) starts with “T”.
  • The second word (top-right) starts with “R”.
  • The third word (bottom-left) starts with “B”.
  • The fourth word (bottom-right) starts with “U”.

One tip to solving Quordle Sequence is to use 3 words with completely different letters. This will create a base when you try to solve the next word.


Today’s Quordle Sequence Answers

We have today’s Quordle Sequence answers for you right below.

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Today’s Quordle answers for Sequence for Thursday, April 30, 2026, are:

That wraps up all the daily Quordle answers. Let’s try solving the Weekly Challenge next (if you haven’t already).


Today’s Quordle Hints for the Weekly Challenge

The Quordle Weekly Challenge resets every Monday. So it’s likely that you would have solved it by now.

If you haven’t, then you’re at the right place!

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Note: The Weekly challenge gets activated only if you have solved today’s answer for the Daily Quordle Classic mode. If you missed it, you can always try again tomorrow.

​Let’s check out the Quordle Hints for the Weekly Challenge.

Quordle Weekly Challenge Hint 1: How many vowels are in each word?

  • The first word (top-left) has 2 vowels.
  • The second word (top-right) has 1 vowel.
  • The third word (bottom-left) has 2 vowels.
  • The fourth word (bottom-right) has 2 vowels.

Quordle Weekly Challenge Hint 2: How many double letters are there in today’s words?

  • The first word (top-left) has no repeated letters
  • The second word (top-right) has 1 letter repeated twice
  • The third word (bottom-left) has no repeated letters
  • The fourth word (bottom-right) has no repeated letters

Quordle Weekly Challenge Hint 3: What is the starting letter for each word?

  • The first word (top-left) starts with “A”.
  • The second word (top-right) starts with “P”.
  • The third word (bottom-left) starts with “F”.
  • The fourth word (bottom-right) starts with “B”.

That’s the Quordle hints for the Weekly Challenge. If you are still stuck, let’s check out the Quordle answers.


Today’s Answers for the Quordle Weekly Challenge

Today’s Quordle Weekly Challenge Answers for the week of April 27th to May 3rd, are:

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​And that’s a wrap! That’s all the Quordle answers for the day.


Previous Quordle Answers

Looking for the answers to the previous Quordle puzzles? Here is a list of answers for Quordle’s Daily: Classic mode for the last 7 days:

Quordle Answers – 29 April 2026: TRAIL, RENEW, BELLE, GREED

Quordle Answers – 28 April 2026: CLINK, BONUS, BRUSH, DRIER

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Quordle Answers – 27 April 2026: ARGUE, LUNAR, SEVER, THEIR

Quordle Answers – 26 April 2026: PITHY, BOAST, PRIED, BLIMP

Quordle Answers – 25 April 2026: RESET, DRINK, DEITY, SLACK

Quordle Answers – 24 April 2026: LOWLY, RELAX, BRASS, LUNCH

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Quordle Answers – 23 April 2026: KNEAD, PULSE, CRUST, TASTE

If your thirst for word games hasn’t been quenched yet, may I suggest Blossom? It’s available on Merriam-Webster — the same place you’re playing Quordle. If you need help in this game, you can use our Spelling Bee Solver tool. Yes, we made it for a different game but it works for Blossom.

We also have the answers for many word games you can play on NYT Games. Check out today’s Connections Helper or Crossword Answers for NYT Mini.