French clubs Marseille and Lyon were spared an early clash with Italian heavyweights Juventus and AC Milan in Friday’s Europa League draw, which saw Ligue 1 rivals Rennes land a tough trip to Turin.

Olympique Lyonnais, who missed out on a place in the Champions League after losing to Fenerbahçe in the play-offs on Wednesday, will face their former manager Pierre Sage’s Crystal Palace and host Bayer Leverkusen.

Lyon will travel to Real Sociedad in Spain, Anderlecht in Belgium, Hoffenheim in Germany and Jagiellonia in Poland, and host another Belgian side, Union Saint-Gilloise, and Lillestrøm from Norway.

Marseille will host the Greek side Olympiacos, Anderlecht, Celta Vigo and Levski Sofia, and will travel to Leverkusen, Celtic Glasgow, Sturm Graz and Besiktas.

Placed in Pot 2, Rennes – who are returning to European competition after a two-year absence – were handed a tough tie against Juventus Turin and will also face Olympiacos, Dinamo Zagreb, Sparta Prague, Omonia Nicosia, Sturm Graz, OFI Crete and NEC Nijmegen.

The first round of the Europa League will take place on September 16-17, and the final will be held in Frankfurt on 26 May 2027.

Last year, Aston Villa beat German side Freiburg in the final to bring a European trophy back to Birmingham for the first time in 44 years.

English duo to face AC Milan

English newcomers Bournemouth are featuring in a continental competition for the first time after finishing sixth in last season’s Premier League, and can look forward to hosting seven-time European champions Milan on the south coast of England.

The team coached by Marco Rose will also play home games against Czech club Viktoria Plzen, Sturm Graz of Austria and Israeli champions Hapoel Be’er Sheva, and travel to Real Sociedad, Celta Vigo, Sparta Prague and last year’s Norwegian Cup winners Lillestrom.

Sunderland’s seventh-placed finish in last season’s Premier League gave them European football for the first time since 1973, and their supporters can look forward to a trip to San Siro.

They will also visit former UEFA Cup winners Anderlecht, have home games against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, Dinamo Zagreb and Levski Sofia, and play two Polish clubs in the shape of Jagiellonia Bialystok and Lech Poznan.

In addition, they will visit Torreense, the tiny second-division side who were shock winners of last season’s Portuguese Cup.

Like their fellow English sides, last season’s UEFA Conference League winners Crystal Palace were among the third pot of seeds.

Now coached by Frenchman Pierre Sage, the South London club will face Real Sociedad, Sparta Prague, Lech Poznan and German outfit Hoffenheim at home, and travel to Lyon, Salzburg, Jagiellonia and Besiktas.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has been linked with a move to Arsenal throughout the summer, and could reportedly move before the end of the window

Arsenal are said to be looking to make a late attempt to sign Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford ahead of Gabriel Martinelli’s reported departure. It’s claimed the Gunners are interested in the possibility of a loan deal with just days left in the transfer window.

Rashford had been strongly linked with an Old Trafford departure at the start of the summer but was brought back into the fold by Michael Carrick during pre-season. Arsenal’s main target appears to be Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, though they are reportedly relaxed about potentially missing out on him.

There is said to be some ‘internal surprise’ at the Gunners that Martinelli could join Al-Hilal for £50m without a replacement being secured. The Independent reports that this could lead Arsenal to submit a late loan offer for the United forward, who naturally plays on the left wing.

Rashford spent last season on loan at Barcelona, but the Catalan side decided against triggering the clause that would have allowed them to purchase the player for £26million. The 28-year-old still has two years left on his Old Trafford contract and Carrick has reiterated that he’s a United player this season.

Rashford’s return to the fold would seem to complicate any attempt to secure his signature compared to earlier in the summer. The forward may feature against Ipswich this weekend, with Carrick stating he has been ‘delighted’ with Rashford since his comeback.

Arsenal may be exploring other options as a deal for Alvarez appears challenging to complete. When asked how conversations with Alvarez had gone, Mikel Arteta retorted: “Don’t go there.”

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Therefore, doubt remains about whether the Gunners will strengthen their attacking options. football.london claims Arsenal continue to have strong interest in signing the Argentinian, but will only proceed if they receive full commitment from the player.

Alvarez, who will miss Atletico’s match this weekend after being absent from training due to illness, has been eager to move to Barcelona this summer. However, his current club declined to enter discussions with the Catalan side because of their behaviour.

The Anthony and Sam Freedman stable is aiming for a better result from Tom Kitten in this year’s Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.

It was 12 months ago that Tom Kitten was scratched at the start of the Group 1 race over 1400m after becoming fractious in the barriers.

The incident disrupted Tom Kitten’s spring campaign, with the Godolphin-owned galloper forced to play catch-up throughout the preparation.

The gelding did eventually wind it up by running third to Via Sistina on a very heavy Flemington track on the final day of Melbourne Cup week.

Tom Kitten resumed in the autumn to capture the Kevin Heffernan Stakes over 1400m first-up and returns to that trip on Saturday to begin his spring campaign.

A $19 chance in latest betting, Sam Freedman concedes that is a reflection of the quality of Saturday’s race.

Freedman said the latest weather conditions in Melbourne had not been ideal in preparing Tom Kitten for the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

He said the five horses from the Chris Waller stable – Buckaroo, Angel Capital, Birdman, Autumn Boy and Beiwacht – along with the Ciaron Maher-trained Jimmysstar all likely had the wood on his galloper at this stage of his campaign.

“I didn’t envisage it coming up quite a strong as it is,” Freedman from SEN.

“I do think the Sydney (prepared) horses will have a bit of an edge on the Melbourne horses coming into the start of the spring is my view.

“They’ve had much warmer weather, probably had good access to tracks and the horses genuinely look and feel a little better to start off the spring.

“My view is that they start to even out once they get to that Caulfield Carnival and beyond.”

While Tom Kitten has been successful three times from seven first-up appearances, Freedman is expecting Tom Kitten to need the outing on Saturday.

“He will improve with the run, but he was a fresh winner, in a much weaker race, last preparation,” Freedman said. “It wouldn’t be a shock if he’s running very well and is steaming through them late, but I feel the Sydney horses may just have the edge.”

Find the best betting markets for the race here.

Mikaela Mayer and Chantelle Cameron butted heads in their final face-off before Saturday’s light-middleweight unification bout in Birmingham.

WBA and WBC champion Mayer and Briton Cameron had been cordial during the build-up but tensions spilled over at Friday’s weigh-in.

As the pair came together to face-off at BP Pulse Arena, Cameron pushed her head into Mayer’s and the American held her ground, pushing back before they ended up side-by-side and exchanging verbal insults.

“She isn’t intimidating me,” Cameron said after security stepped in. “All that yapping and getting in my face – just watch tomorrow.”

Mayer, 36, claimed Cameron, 35, had said she would be “too slow”, something the WBO champion dismissed.

“That’s in your head, you’re deluded. Shut your mouth, you’re so deluded and you’re making things up because you don’t believe in yourself,” Cameron responded.

“You’re going to get humbled.”

After being pulled apart for a second time, Mayer added: “I didn’t know this Cameron existed, she’s going to need it.”

Frances Tiafoe and Brandon Nakashima won quarterfinal matches Friday night to set up one all-American men’s semifinal at the Cincinnati Open. Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula also advanced to make it four U.S. players in the semis.

“It’s insane, I think we’re all doing so well,” Gauff said. “Hopefully, you know, we can have a double title win. Obviously there are more matches to be played for that to happen. We definitely root for each other.” 
Tiafoe beat Italian Lorenzo Musetti, 7-6 (2), 7-5, and Nakashima beat fellow American Taylor Fritz, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, marking the first time two Americans have reached the men’s semifinals in Cincinnati since Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish in 2010.

Nakashima is the first American man to reach the semifinals in Canada and Cincinnati in the same season since Fish in 2011. Nakashima is coached by Tiafoe’s former coach, Wayne Ferreira.

“It’s a guy who knows me pretty well in Wayne,” Tiafoe said. “I expect some good serving and all the best from him. Happy where I’ve been mentally more than anything. This has been a great week.” 
Tiafoe reached the Cincinnati finals in 2024, losing to Jannik Sinner.

The other men’s semifinal Saturday features Italy’s Flavio Cobolli against Frenchman Arthur Fils.

Gauff beat Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, 6-2, 6-2. Gauff will face surprise entrant 20-year-old Czech Sara Bejlek on Saturday.

Bejlek outlasted 2019 champion Madison Keys, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) on Friday. She upset No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets in the Round of 16.

“Sara is a great player,” Gauff said. “I watched her a lot in Abu Dhabi (in February) this year when she won that title. So I think it’s going to be a tough match. I’m looking forward to it.” 
Pegula, ranked No. 3 and who beat Amanda Anisimova on Thursday, will face fifth-ranked Iga Swiatek in Saturday’s other semifinal.

The bad news keeps getting worse for Good Good. In the aftermath of a widely criticized ad for a Good Good x Callaway driver that depicted Good Good’s Garrett Clark knocking over his colleague Alexis Miestowski, the company has lost many of its most high-profile partnerships.

On Thursday evening, Good Good lost perhaps the biggest of them all, the company’s sponsorship of the PGA Tour’s 2026 Good Good Championship.

In dueling statements on social media, Good Good announced it was stepping away from sponsorship of the PGA Tour event scheduled for November in Austin, and the PGA Tour confirmed the news.

Here’s what you need to know.

The fallout from Good Good’s controversial driver ad has snowballed quickly.

Good Good apparel was removed from store shelves at Dick’s Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy and PGA TOUR Superstore. Callaway ended its relationship with Good Good, sending the co-branded driver featured in the questionable ad to the dustbin of history.

Golf Channel decided to postpone the premiere of the brand-new Big Break x Good Good television show, then cancelled the first season altogether. The winner of that show was supposed to earn a sponsor’s exemption into what was arguably Good Good’s boldest foray into the mainstream yet: the 2026 Good Good Championship.

But on Thursday night, Good Good announced its decision to step away from the upcoming PGA Tour event, writing that the company’s focus is now on “ensuring we learn from this situation,” and that it is “committed to earning back trust.”

“After thoughtful discussions with the PGA Tour and careful reflection, we have decided to step away as sponsor of the tour event in Austin this fall. We recognize that we have work to do as an organization, and our focus right now is on our team, our culture and ensuring we learn from this situation,” Good Good’s statement read. “We are grateful for our relationship with the PGA Tour and appreciate their partnership over the years. We remain committed to earning back trust, and we hope to work together again in the future.”

Earlier this week at Tour Championship, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp admitted that Good Good’s sponsorship of the Austin tournament was a “fluid situation.”

Following Good Good’s announcement, the PGA Tour released a statement of their own, writing that they “agree with [Good Good’s] decision” to back out as tournament sponsors.

“The PGA Tour has been informed of Good Good Golf’s decision to step away as sponsor of the event in Austin, Texas, this fall,” the PGA Tour’s statement read. “We agree with their decision to use this time to focus on their organization and the work ahead. The PGA Tour believes in golf’s ability to bring people together and create a welcoming environment for all.”

The Tour also noted that the Austin Tour event, scheduled for November 12-15 at Omni Barton Creek, will go on as planned, and the Tour will “provide an update on sponsorship plans at a later date.”

For now, the tournament has been renamed the “Austin Championship” on the PGA Tour’s website.

The tension cracked at the weigh-in for Moses Itauma’s fight with Filip Hrgovic, with the young Briton pushing his rival off the stage before receiving a slap in return.

Itauma, 21, will puts his unbeaten record on the line when he fights Hrgovic for the vacant IBF heavyweight belt, as the pair headline at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday.

And Itauma had been typically stoic until Friday’s weigh-in, refusing to rise to the Croatian’s taunts that he is “delusional” and just a “kid”.

But the face-off saw each man bark at the other, with Itauma insisting he will “f*** up” Hrgovic on Saturday, before he pushed the 34-year-old off the stage as Hrgovic flexed in front of the fans.

Hrgovic then took to the stage again, slapping Itauma before the heavyweights were held apart.

“I just told him what’s gonna happen; I’ll smash him,” Hrgovic told DAZN moments later. “He pushed me first, so I just give him [something] back, you know? He started [it].”

“I was ready to go,” Itauma admitted. “I don’t know, I just lost it a little bit […] I had a little itch, and I just had to scratch it.”

The Briton’s promoter Frank Warren soon added: “I’m a bit surprised myself at what happened. He’s not normally like this, Moses, but he’s up for this, as you can see.

“I think that’s what he was trying to do there: stamp his authority before he even gets into the ring. He’s showing he’s not fazed by what Filip brings.”

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Itauma will enter the fight on the back of a stoppage of Jermaine Franklin in March, when he became the first boxer to knock out the American. In his previous bout, Itauma stopped compatriot and veteran Dillian Whyte inside two minutes.

Meanwhile, Hrgovic’s last four fights have all come against British opposition. In the first of those contests, in 2024, he suffered his sole professional loss when he was stopped by Daniel Dubois after sustaining a nasty cut.

But the Croatian bounced back with points wins over David Adeleye and Joe Joyce, and a stoppage of Dave Allen in May.

Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer make light work of Pakistan’s lower order as they combine to take five wickets for just 19 runs in seven overs as England bowl Pakistan out for 110 in their first innings, giving England a 180-run lead on day two of the second Test at Lord’s.

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