As Marcus Rashford’s loan spell at Barcelona continues to tick down, one Champions League pundit has pointed out a huge change within the Manchester United academy graduate

Former Premier League star Stephen Warnock believes Marcus Rashford’s personality and character has changed for the better at Barcelona. In his final 18 months at Manchester United, Rashford’s time at Old Trafford was marred by off the field situations and a falling out with former boss Ruben Amorim.

When his opportunities were blocked by the Portuguese boss, Rashford secured a dream move to the Camp Nou and has impressed during his time with the Catalans. While his side were beaten 2-0 at home in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Atletico Madrid, Rashford was impressive, finding the net only to be marginally ruled offside.

He was Hansi Flick’s side’s most dangerous player, recording four shots on target, more than any other player on the pitch. But the biggest change Warnock spotted was the fact he was willing to take on his opposition full-back and beat him at will, which may go some way to convincing the club to sign him from United permanently.

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Warnock, speaking on the BBC Champions League highlights show, said: “He’s just a brilliant player isn’t he? I think what he’s done since he’s gone to Barcelona is, he’s found his form.

“I think he’s found a happy place where he’s enjoying his football. I actually think he should do better in this position when it comes to him, with that acceleration.

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“His touch just gets caught under him ever so slightly. The strike isn’t quite as clean but his movement is brilliant at the moment. What you want from a winger, on the opposing side, is to get in the box and get opportunities.

“Maybe he can take that down, but he’s so confident in himself that he wants to take that shot on first time. Again, arriving at the back post, great goal,[later ruled out] and that’s exactly what you’re after. Hansi Flick will be delighted with that.

“When you’re a full-back, and you’re playing against someone who has pace, who can time his runs well and know he can use that pace, he’s so dangerous in behind. Maybe he could show a little bit more composure, but that confidence he’s got in himself, he’s taking everything on.

“He’s playing alongside (Lamine) Yamal, and you’re thinking, he’s the one over free-kicks, he’s the one trying to be in the ascendancy, on the front foot, taking people on. I think you can see a huge change in character, in personality, in confidence from an outstanding footballer.

“I think from Thomas Tuchel’s point of view, I think it’s the best thing that’s happened for him this year. It gives him another option in forward positions going into the World Cup.”

Considering his display in Catalunya, Rashford will be one of his side’s biggest hopes, when it comes to overturning the two-goal deficit.

It also remains to be seen whether Barcelona decide to take up their option to sign him permanently from United at the end of the campaign.

They have until June 15 to activate a release clause in his deal which would enable them to sign him for around £26m from United.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

Indian chess sensation Divya Deshmukh pulled off a superb turnaround converting what looked like a certain draw into victory to climb into joint lead, while compatriot R Praggnanandhaa saw his title hopes take a major hit after a loss against Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri in the eighth round, leaving him almost out of contention for a top finish in the Candidates tournament here.

In the women’s section World Cup winner Deshmukh turned the tables on overnight leader Anna Muzychuk to jump into joint lead with four others including the Ukrainian on 4.5 points from what had seemed a difficult position to defend.

Deshmukh did well to fight on and equalise and then capitalised on an unforced error by her opponent in the queen-and-pawns endgame to score a vital victory.

The other Indian, R. Vaishali drew with Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan to join Deshmukh, Kateryna Lagno of Ukraine, China’s Zhu Jiner and Muzychuk in the lead on 4.5 points after eight games.

The event is wide open now with Jiner giving a knockout blow to the hopes of her Chinese compatriot Tan Zhongyi to move to 4.5 points while Kateryna defeated fellow Russian Aleksandra Goryachkina.

On a day when Uzbek Javokhir Sindarov just decided to consolidate his lead and drew with tail-ender Andrey Esipenko of Russia in the ‘Open’ section, Praggnanandhaa, who had scored his sole victory over Giri in the first round, fell prey to some simple tactics from a seemingly equal position and lost his second game in the tournament.

Sindarov took his tally to 6.5 out of a possible eight and looks headed for victory as his lead now stands at a massive two points with six rounds remaining in the USD 700,000 prize money tournament that will also select the next challenger for reigning world champion D. Gukesh in the world championship match slated later this year.

Sindarov is followed by Giri and Fabiano Caruana of the United States, who both are two points behind and need a miracle to catch up with the leader.

Praggnanandhaa, Wei Yi of China Matthias Bluebaum of Germany and Hikaru Nakamura share the fourth spot on 3.5 points each, a full point clear of last-placed Esipenko.

It was a hard day at work for Praggnanandhaa who started off with the Vienna variation with the black pieces. After initial opening discussions, Giri enjoy a small advantage that the Indian was able to neutralise as the game progressed.

However, it was on the 35th move that Praggnanandhaa made an error allowing Giri to unleash a sequence of moves that proved dangerous. Another mistake three moves later and it was curtains for the Indian.

In another game, Bluebaum played out a draw with Wei of China and the result inched them both up to 3.5 points apiece.

In the big game of the day, Nakamura finally proved his mettle and scored a huge victory over American compatriot Caruana.

Results (Round 8): Anish Giri (Ned, 4.5) beat R Praggnanandhaa (Ind, 3.5); Hikaru Nakamura (USA, 3.5) beat Fabiano Caruana (USA, 4.5); Andrey Esipenko (Rus, 2.5) drew with Javokhir Sindarov (Uzb, 6.5); Wei Yi (Chn, 3.5) drew with Matthias Bluebaum (Ger, 3.5).

Women: Anna Muzychuk (Ukr, 4.5) lost to Divya Deshmukh (4.5); Kateryna Lagno (Rus, 4.5) beat Aleksandra Goryachkina (Rus, 3.5); Bibisara Assuabayeva (Kaz, 3.5) drew with R Vaishali (Ind, 4.5); Tan Zhongyi (Chn, 2.5) lost to Zhu Jiner (Chn, 4.5).

First Published: Apr 08 2026 | 12:45 PM IST

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have confirmed they will return to London later this year to defend their Unity Cup title, setting the stage for another exciting outing for the team and their supporters.

The announcement came through the team’s official social media page, where they made their intention clear with a confident message about coming back to protect their crown.

The 2026 edition of the Unity Cup will take place from May 26 to May 30 at The Valley Stadium in Charlton. Four nations will compete in the invitational tournament, with Nigeria joined by India, Jamaica and Zimbabwe.

Nigeria go into the competition as defending champions after their dramatic triumph in 2025. In that final, the Super Eagles played out a thrilling 2-2 draw against Jamaica before holding their nerve to win 5-4 on penalties, sealing the title in front of a lively crowd.

This time, their journey will begin against Zimbabwe in the first semi-final on May 26. The match offers both sides another opportunity to test themselves after meeting in the World Cup qualifiers earlier this year.

A day later, Jamaica will face India in the second semi-final, a fixture expected to bring plenty of energy from fans of both nations living in the United Kingdom.

The tournament will reach its climax on May 30, when the third-place match and the final will be played on the same day. Beyond the football, organisers have also planned entertainment activities, including live music, international food and performances to create a festival atmosphere.

Nigeria have built a strong reputation in the Unity Cup over the years, winning several editions and establishing themselves as one of the most dominant teams in the competition.

For head coach Éric Chelle, the tournament will also serve as an important part of the team’s preparations for upcoming international matches in June, where the Super Eagles are expected to face strong European opposition.

With confidence high and memories of last year’s victory still fresh, Nigeria will head to London determined to prove once again why they are the team to beat.

Rishabh Pant and Ajinkya Rahane (Pic credit: IPL)

Out of form and short on ideas, Kolkata Knight Riders are set to consider sweeping changes as they hunt for their first win of the IPL 2026 season against a confident Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens on Thursday.Much of the spotlight will be on Mohammed Shami, who is coming off a brilliant 2/9 spell against Sunrisers Hyderabad, dismissing Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head — the same pair that had troubled KKR earlier. With helpful conditions expected, Shami’s seam movement could once again expose KKR’s fragile top order.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!KKR were rattled early in their previous outing as well, slipping to 16/2 before rain forced a washout against Punjab Kings. Weather could remain a factor, though the late start is likely to limit disruption.Beyond Shami, LSG’s bowling depth — including Prince Yadav and mystery spinner Digvesh Rathi — adds to the challenge. Their powerplay dominance has already been evident, reducing opponents to 26/4 on two occasions this season.KKR’s batting remains a concern, with the Ajinkya Rahane–Finn Allen opening pair yet to click consistently. A reshuffle could be on the cards, while the form of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy with the ball is another worry.LSG, meanwhile, will draw confidence from Rishabh Pant’s composed unbeaten 68 in the last game, supported by the experience of Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram at the top.

KKR vs LSG Head-to-Head

KKR vs LSG: Pitch Report

The match is likely to be played on the same surface used for the PBKS-KKR clash. In recent times, tracks at Eden Gardens have largely favoured batters, and that trend is unlikely to change. However, weather could once again play a role.Conditions were overcast on the eve of the game, with rain forecast around sunset on matchday. The meteorological department has issued an orange alert for both Wednesday and Thursday, indicating a strong possibility of rain interruptions.

KKR vs LSG: Predicted XIs

Kolkata Knight Riders predicted XI: Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane (capt), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Navdeep Saini, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik TyagiImpact Sub: Blessing MuzarabaniLucknow Super Giants predicted XI: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (wk, capt), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, M Siddharth, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami, Digvesh RathiImpact Sub: Prince Yadav

KKR vs LSG: Kolkata Weather Update

There is a yellow alert for thunderstorms in the morning, with periods of rain expected early in the day and considerable cloud cover throughout. The maximum temperature is likely to be around 33°C. The good news is that skies are expected to clear by night, with the temperature dropping to around 23°C.Rain is forecast until around noon, with the chance of precipitation decreasing from 49% at 12 PM to 0% by the time of the toss at 7 PM. As of now, there is no rain expected during match hours tonight.

KKR vs LSG: Live Streaming details

The KKR vs LSG clash will be held at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, with the match set to begin at 7:30 PM IST. The game will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on JioHotstar.

KKR vs LSG squads

Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Umran Malik, Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Matheesha Pathirana, Tejasvi Singh, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, Blessing Muzarabani, Saurabh Dubey and Navdeep Saini.Lucknow Super Giants: Rhabh Pant (c), Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke, Mukul Choudhary, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahamad, Arshin Kulkarni, Ayush Badoni, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, M. Siddharth, Digvesh Singh, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, Arjun Tendulkar, Anrich Nortje, Naman Tiwari, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan.

A second straight Champions League semifinal is in sight for Arsenal. Kai Havertz scored in stoppage time on Tuesday to seal a 1-0 win over Sporting Lisbon at Estadio Jose Alvalade to put Mikel Arteta’s team in control of the quarterfinal tie.

The substitute fired past goalkeeper Rui Silva from close range to give Arsenal the advantage ahead of next week’s second leg at the Emirates.

In Tuesday’s other quarterfinal, Bayern Munich beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Bernabeu.

Havertz settled a tight game in Portugal by combining with fellow substitute Gabriel Martinelli in the first minute of added time. With one touch the German controlled Martinelli’s defense-splitting pass in the box and then converted with a side-footed finish.

“To score a late goal is always nice,” Havertz told Amazon Prime. “We will take that result. There is still a lot of work to do next week.” 
Victory saw Arsenal bounce back from successive defeats which cut its quadruple trophy hunt in half in recent weeks. Losses in the League Cup final and FA Cup quarterfinals had shaken the Premier League leader going into Tuesday’s match.

And it had to withstand an early charge from Sporting in front of a raucous crowd, with player-of-the-match David Raya producing an outstanding save to tip Maximiliano Araujo’s sixth-minute shot onto the bar.

“It could have changed the tie,” Arteta said.

Arsenal also hit the bar in the first half direct from Noni Madueke’s corner, but both teams struggled to create openings.

Martin Zubimendi thought he’d found the breakthrough in the second half with a curling effort from range only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

Late on, Raya produced a string of saves. First he pushed away a goal-bound header from Geny Catamo and then pulled off a double stop to deny Catamo again and Luis Suarez.

“For me, the last two seasons, he’s the best keeper in the world. He has saved us so many times,” Havertz said.

But it was Havertz who delivered the goal that pushed Arsenal a step closer to another semifinal, having lost to eventual champion Paris Saint-Germain at that stage last year.

The forward scored the winner for Chelsea in the Champions League final in 2021 and this was another decisive moment for him in this competition.

“He loves the big occasion and the big games,” Arteta said. “And that’s what we need – the big players to turn up when we need them.” 
Defeat was Sporting’s first at home since August. The Portuguese team has never advanced beyond the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

“A small lapse in concentration cost us dearly, and it’s frustrating because it happened in the 90th minute, but we have to lift our heads and move on,” coach Rui Borges told Sport TV.

The scenes of celebration for Arsenal’s players were in stark contrast to the dejection that followed the League Cup final loss to Manchester City and the shock of being beaten by second-division Southampton in the FA Cup on Saturday.

“We had to reveal ourselves today and I talked about identity and other things that we are as a team and that I definitely saw,” Arteta said. “It’s halftime. We are a step closer, now we need to finish the tie at home in front of our people, and if we do that, we’re going to start to dream.

Harry Kane delivered for Bayern Munich on his return from injury, scoring a goal and helping set up another in his team’s 2-1 win at Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Kylian Mbappe scored Madrid’s goal after the visitors had taken a two-goal lead at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

Kane had been listed as a gameday decision after missing the team’s Bundesliga match last weekend because of an ankle injury.

The result left Bayern with an edge ahead of the second leg in Germany next week as it tries to reach the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2023-24, when it was eliminated by eventual champion Madrid.

“We are still alive, clearly,” Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said. “We are one goal away. We have shown that we can win anywhere. We showed it with the scoring chances that we had against an opponent that we knew was going to make it difficult for us.” 
Arsenal won 1-0 at Sporting Lisbon in the other quarterfinal on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Barcelona will host Spanish rival Atletico Madrid, and Liverpool will visit defending champion Paris Saint-Germain.

Madrid and Bayern are playing their sixth knockout-stage meeting in 14 seasons, with the Spanish powerhouse having won four of their five two-leg matchups since the 2011-12 season.

Kane participated in the build up of Bayern’s first goal in the 41st minute, exchanging passes with Serge Gnabry who ultimately fed a through ball for Luis Diaz inside the area. The Colombia forward calmly sent a low shot past Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.

Kane scored himself in the 46th with a nice one-timer from the top of the area, firmly finding the corner with a low strike. It was his 11th Champions League goal, equaling his best scoring season in the European tournament. He finished with 11 goals in 2024-25.

Kane has scored 22 Champions League goals since the start of the 2024-25 season, the most of anybody.

Mbappe scored his 20th Champions League goal since the start of the 2024-25 season in the 74th, finding the net from close range after a pinpoint low cross by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Mbappe leads the scoring this season with 14 goals, which is double the forward’s total last season. He is three goals shy of the most goals in a single Champions League campaign achieved by Cristiano Ronaldo with Madrid in 2013-14.

Vinicius Junior had one of Madrid’s best chances in a one-on-one situation with Manuel Neuer in the 61st, but the Brazil forward couldn’t get past the Bayern goalkeeper and his attempt hit the outside of the net. A few minutes later, Neuer – who had nine saves in total and was named the man of the match – dived to his right to make a nice stop on a shot by Mbappe.

Neuer had already made two tough saves to keep Madrid from finding the net in the first half on other attempts by Mbappe and Vinicius.

Madrid defender Alvaro Carreras made a goal-line clearance on a shot by Dayot Upamecano in the first-half.

The German champion lost to Inter Milan in the quarterfinals last season. Record 15-time European champion Madrid was eliminated by Arsenal in the last eight last year.

Bayern is unbeaten in its last 14 games in all competitions, with 12 wins. Madrid was coming off a 2-1 loss at Mallorca on Saturday that hurt its La Liga title hopes.

Barcelona are set to host Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou on Wednesday night in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash. The two sides recently met in La Liga, where Barcelona secured a late 2-1 victory thanks to Robert Lewandowski, extending their lead at the top of the table.

Historically, Barcelona have struggled against Atletico in this competition, having been eliminated by them in the quarter-finals on two previous occasions. Despite that, they have enjoyed better results in recent domestic meetings, winning five of their last six encounters, including their latest league triumph. Currently sitting comfortably ahead of their closest rivals in La Liga, Barcelona head into this tie as favourites, although manager Hansi Flick will be cautious of Atletico’s threat.

Barcelona’s route to the quarter-finals was emphatic, highlighted by a dominant aggregate win over Newcastle United, showcasing their attacking firepower. The team has also been in excellent form, remaining unbeaten across all competitions for nearly two months, with young star Lamine Yamal continuing to impress.

On the other hand, Atletico Madrid arrive after a difficult spell, having suffered three consecutive defeats, including the recent loss to Barcelona. Managed by Diego Simeone, they are currently fourth in La Liga and appear to be prioritizing cup competitions, including this European tie and an upcoming Copa del Rey final.

Although Atletico have had an inconsistent Champions League campaign, progressing despite multiple defeats, their past success against Barcelona in Europe could give them confidence heading into this crucial encounter.

Barcelona Team News

Barcelona will be without several key players for Wednesday’s clash, as Andreas Christensen (knee), Raphinha (hamstring), Frenkie de Jong (hamstring) and Marc Bernal (ankle) are all ruled out through injury. However, there is a boost with Ronald Araujo declared fit after his recent knock against Atletico.

Jules Kounde has also returned to action, coming off the bench in the last league match, and is expected to slot straight back into the starting lineup.

In attack, Robert Lewandowski is likely to lead the line once again, while Marcus Rashford could retain his place on the left flank after an impressive showing, making a strong case to start despite competition for spots.

Atletico Team News

For Atletico Madrid, there is some positive news on the fitness front as Jan Oblak, Marc Pubill and Rodrigo Mendoza have resumed training and could be available for selection against Barcelona.

However, Pablo Barrios is still unavailable due to a thigh injury, while both Jose Gimenez and Johnny Cardoso remain doubtful with fitness concerns.

Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid probable starting eleven:

Barcelona starting 11: J Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martin, Cancelo; E Garcia, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin, Rashford; Lewandowski

Atletico starting 11: Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri; Koke, Baena; Simeone, Griezmann, Lookman; Alvarez

UEFA Champions League: Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid Live Telecast and Streaming Details

When will the UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid be played?

The UEFA Champions League clash between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid will take place on April 9 (according to IST).

What time will the UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid begin on April 9?

The match is scheduled to kick off at 12:30 AM IST.

What will be the venue for the UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid?

Camp Nou Stadium will host the UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid.

Where will the live telecast of the UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid be available in India?

The live telecast of the match will be available on Sony LIV in India.

Where will the live streaming of the UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid be available in India?

Fans in India can stream the Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid UEFA Champions League match live on Sony LIV.