Erling Haaland missed Manchester City’s 1-0 win over Leeds United on Saturday evening
Pep Guardiola does not believe Erling Haaland’s injury is serious but would not be drawn on when the talismanic striker would return to action.
Haaland missed the weekend win over Leeds United with an issue picked up in training in the week. The problem is not thought to be serious and there is a belief he could even recover in time for Wednesday’s visit of Nottingham Forest but Guardiola was coy on a timescale of return for the Norwegian.
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Speaking to the BBC after the game, the Blues boss said: “We don’t have spies in the training centre to deliver the info to our media. I think it is not a big issue. We will see.”
In Haaland’s absence, Rayan Cherki came into the side and played a decisive role in City’s winner, scored by Antoine Semenyo in first half stoppage time. The victory at Elland Road means the Blues cut the gap to leaders Arsenal to two points ahead of the Gunners’ game with Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
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Guardiola will want Haaland fit and firing with the season approaching it’s conclusion and City, along with Arsenal, competing for silverware on four fronts.
The 25-year-old has been a mainstay for the Blues this term and is the leading scorer in the top flight but he has looked fatigued at times.
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OTTAWA — Hannah Brandt scored the shootout winner, and the Boston Fleet moved into sole possession of first place in the Professional Women’s Hockey League following a 3-2 shootout win over the Ottawa Charge Saturday afternoon.
Abby Newhook and Alina Muller scored in regulation for the Fleet (8-3-2-2), and Aerin Frankel stopped 23 shots.
Rebecca Leslie scored a pair for the Charge (4-5-1-7) and Gwyneth Phillips made 21 saves.
Ottawa led 2-1 midway through the third period, but the Fleet tied it on the power play at 13:26 when Muller’s shot deflected off the skate of Ottawa’s Kathryn Reilly.
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The Charge started the third period on the power play and Leslie took a pass from Emily Clark in front and scored her ninth to tie things 1-1.
Less than two minutes later Leslie took control again, cutting across in front and firing a wrist shot a shot past Frankel to give the Charge a 2-1 lead.
With her 10th of the season Leslie moved into a five-way tie for the scoring lead with 16 points (10 goals, six assists). Ottawa’s Brianne Jenner also reached 16 points with an assist on Leslie’s first goal.
Leslie nearly had her third midway through the period, but the puck rolled off her stick as she tried to beat Frankel shortside.
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Both teams were flat in the second period. Ottawa didn’t register its first shot until the midway mark and only got one more.
The Charge came out with a solid first period, but it was the Fleet who capitalized.
With 5:08 remaining Muller found Newhook just inside the blue line. Newhook was able to get a shot through traffic to beat Phillips.
Charge: Ottawa’s power play capitalized on its first opportunity, scoring eight seconds into the third period.
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Fleet: Frankel was the difference in the first and third as Ottawa pressed.
Key stat The game featured 15 Olympians from the Milan Cortina Games.
Key moment The Fleet caught a break on the power play when Muller’s shot deflected off Reilly’s skate in front.
Charge: Ottawa hosts the Seattle Torrent, Wednesday, March 4.
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Fleet: Boston will visit the New York Sirens Thursday, March 5.
Manchester City beat Leeds 1-0 in the Premier League to show that they can challenge Arsenal even without Erling Haaland
19:46, 28 Feb 2026Updated 20:03, 28 Feb 2026
In the week that the hope of a better future defeated scaremongering in Gorton and Denton, it felt fitting that two Muslims helped Manchester City to keep up with Arsenal in the title race. Booed at Elland Road for being allowed to break their fast in the first half, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki responded in the best possible way by combining brilliantly to tee up Antoine Semenyo.
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The goal was one of the last kicks of the first half in a game that a City side without their talismanic No.9 had struggled in. Leeds hopes went up a notch when news emerged that Erling Haaland was injured, and they tore at the visitors from the first whistle.
For a while there were shades of the City of last season, desperately clinging on in what looked like it would be a losing battle. Marc Guehi and Ruben Dias scrambled at the back, while Rodri and Bernardo Silva were nearly caught trying to play their way up the pitch as Daniel Farke’s team snapped hungrily at their heels.
Just as this isn’t the all-conquering City of old though, nor is it the team that was conquered twice a week last winter. There is renewed steel and there are also new players with hunger of their own – Ait-Nouri, Cherki and Semenyo have all been signed in the last two windows and have given City something they simply didn’t have last season so perhaps sporting director Hugo Viana has found a solution.
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Add to that Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Italian giant signed from PSG this summer who effectively gazumped James Trafford on deadline day. The 27-year-old has made some spectacular saves in recent weeks to showcase his worth but here it was the ordinary that he made extraordinary.
A recent study showed that Donnarumma is the only keeper in the Premier League not to have made a mistake leading to a goal – essentially, he has saved everything that he should have saved. That rang true again in the 39th minute as Brenden Aaronson raced through following a Rodri mistake but Donnarumma stood tall and saw off the danger.
Seconds later, City were enjoying their best attacks of the half through Omar Marmoush and Nico O’Reilly, and it was seven minutes after that when Semenyo gambled at the near post and stabbed home Ait-Nouri’s cross. City struggled for large chunks at Leeds, but they were rewarded for doing the simple things right – and having quality players able to make the breakthrough even without Haaland.
City hope that they will have their Norwegian back as early as Wednesday for the home game against Forest, but this was a real test that they passed without him. Leeds were unbeaten in their last 25 evening kick-offs at Elland Road in a run spanning nearly three years, and they showed why again at the end with a huge assault on the City goal that included substitute Jaka Bijol heading just wide.
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The Blues stayed strong though to move two points behind Arsenal with 10 games to go in the Premier League. It took something special to win at Leeds and City showed that they are still capable of more in this title race.
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Twente will host Feyenoord at De Grolsch Veste on Sunday in another round of the 2025-26 Eredivisie campaign. The home side have performed well in their league assignments in recent months, although several draws in that period means they still have some way to go if they are to mount a serious challenge for a top-four finish.
Following a disappointing 1-1 draw away at Telstar a fortnight ago, Twente returned to their home patch last weekend to take on struggling Groningen. Despite conceding the opening goal in the first half, the Tukkers remained undeterred, with Daan Rots and Kristian Hlynsson capitalizing on their opponents’ defensive uncertainties to secure a 2-1 victory for John van den Brom’s side.
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After a difficult run of results between November and January, Feyenoord seem to have rediscovered their rhythm and are back in the hunt for a top-two league finish and, consequently, a UEFA Champions League spot.
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De Stadionclub were strong favorites when they welcomed newly promoted Telstar to their home patch last time out but were made to work for the points, falling behind inside 15 minutes before star winger Anis Hadj Moussa netted a first-half brace to secure a 2-1 victory for Robin van Persie’s men.
Twente vs Feyenoord Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
The two teams have met 120 times, with Twente winning 27 of those encounters while Feyenoord have claimed 53 victories.
There have been 40 draws between the two teams, including their most recent matchup which ended 1-1.
The visitors are undefeated in their last four games in this fixture.
Twente boast the best defensive record in the Dutch top flight this season, having conceded 26 goals in 24 matches.
Feyenoord are the third-highest-scoring side in the division so far, having scored 55 goals in 24 games.
Twente vs Feyenoord Prediction
The Tukkers head into the weekend clash on a brilliant 14-game unbeaten streak in the league, although nine of those matches have ended in draws. They are also undefeated in their last seven home games and will fancy their chances of a positive result on Sunday.
De club aan de Maas have won four of their last five league matches after winning just two of their previous eight. However, they have struggled on the road recently and may have to settle for a point here.
Prediction: Twente 1-1 Feyenoord
Twente vs Feyenoord Betting Tips
Tip 1 – Result: Draw
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Tip 2 – Goals – Over/under 2.5 – Under 2.5 goals
Tip 3 – Both teams to score: Yes (Both teams have found the back of the net in four of the hosts’ last five games)
Former major league pitcher Dan Serafini has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2021 shooting of his wife’s parents at their home in Lake Tahoe, according to the Associated Press. Serafini was found guilty of first-degree murder of his father-in-law, Gary Spohr, and attempted murder of his mother-in-law, Wendy Wood.
Wood survived a gunshot wound to the head but needed extensive rehabilitation. She died by suicide a year later, her daughter, Adrienne Spohr, told KCRA. Serafini is married to Erin Spohr, who testified during the trial.
“Dan Serafini executed my dad and left my mom to die,” Adrienne Spohr told reporters following Serafini’s sentencing, according to the Sacramento Bee. “My mom fought with everything she could and did not let Dan Serafini win. Dan Serafini is finally being held accountable and will spend the rest of his life behind bars.”
Prosecutors said Serafini hated his wife’s parents and offered $20,000 to whoever would carry out the killings. He broke into their home and waited for them to return before carrying out the shootings. Serafini described himself as a “broken, imperfect man that makes mistakes” during his sentencing, according to My News NBC 4.
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“The impact of this attack has extended far beyond the immediate victims, deeply affecting family members and the broader community, and highlighting the lasting harm caused by deliberate violence,” District Attorney Morgan Gire said Friday.
Serafini, 51, was convicted in July 2025. Several motions for a new trial were denied.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has criticised fans that booed the pausing of their match with Leeds to allow Muslim players to break their Ramadan fast.
And Guardiola suggested that the booing was deeply disappointing.
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“It is a modern world, right?” Guardiola said. “[You see] what is happening in the world today. Respect religion, diversity, that is the point. The Premier League says you can have one or two minutes, you can have for the [fasting] players to do it [break their fast]. It is what it is, unfortunately.
“We took on a little bit of vitamins because [Rayan] Cherki, [Rayan] Ait-Nouri did not eat today. No more than that. The question is, can they do it or not? What is the problem?”
Since the procedure was first introduced in 2021, teams with Muslim players are able to agree with the referee to find a natural pause in a match for those players to eat some food or replenish themselves with energy gels.
“They follow this religious tradition. We have good nutritionists and they adapt to what the team needs,” explained Guardiola in his pre-match briefing ahead of the Leeds game. “We cannot adapt the schedule for the Premier League [kick-off] times and I think they are used to it – they are not young and have been playing [for] many years during this period.
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“For the players I think it is not new. Both Rayans, Omar and Khusa, it is not the first time for [observing] Ramadan and they know perfectly how to handle it.”
Ramadan – during which Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn until sunset – began on the evening of 17 February and lasts for a month.
With sunset in the UK ranging from about 17:00 to 19:00 during this period, the only games that could feature a break in play are Saturday’s 17:30 kick-off and Sunday’s 16:30 kick-off between Arsenal and Chelsea.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said: “We took on a little bit of vitamins because [Rayan] Cherki, [Rayan] Ait-Nouri did not eat today.
“It is a modern world, right? [You see] what is happening in the world today. Respect religion, diversity, that is the point.
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“The Premier League says you can have one or two minutes, you can have for the [fasting] players to do it [break their fast]. It is what it is, unfortunately.”
Club captains and match officials find a natural pause in the game to allow Muslim players or match officials to break their fast.
In 2021, an agreement was put in place to allow Muslim players to break their fast during a Premier League match.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “I think it’s very good for the players. We talk about the athletes and how fine-tuned they are at the moment.
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“To go that long without food and drink, it is vitally important that they have that break.”
For pop-rock star Pat Monahan, inspiration has always come fast.
The Train frontman says the best songs arrive like lightning strikes in sudden, instinctive bursts of creativity. His band’s 2001 Grammy-winning hit, “Drops of Jupiter,” took shape in about 15 minutes. “If it’s fast, it’s good,” Monahan said. “If you have to dwell on it for weeks, you should probably move on.”
Golf, as he’s discovered, works differently.
On a recent episode of GOLF’s Subpar podcast, Monahan reflected on his experience at the 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where the 8-handicap admitted to playing some of the worst golf he’s ever produced in the event. Paired with pro Steven Fisk and grouped alongside rising Tour star Jake Knapp, Monahan found himself searching for answers. Or, at least, some promise for improvement.
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Enlightenment came in an offhand comment.
“Jake said something that really made a difference,” Monahan said. “He said, I find so much joy in practicing.”
Say what?
“I was, like, really, that sounds crazy to me because I don’t really practice,” Monahan said.
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Instead, he would just show up and play, waiting for inspiration the way he might wait for a melody to arrive. But what works in the studio wasn’t working for Monahan on the tee. Time to try something different.
Back home at Aldarra Golf Club in Sammamish, Wa., Monahan adopted a fresh approach. He headed to the range with headphones, hip-hop pumping, determined to spend time working on his game. Something unexpected happened: he enjoyed it.
“I got in the zone,” he said. “For the first time I liked practicing because someone told me I was supposed to like it.”
Extra time might not get him another billboard hit. But it should help deliver some purer strikes. You can check out the entire interview with Monahan here.
Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you become a smarter, better golfer.
Hitting iron shots that soar high in the air and land soft on the green is something that all golfers aspire to. When you watch a pro flag an iron to set up an easy birdie, it’s impossible not to dream of yourself doing the same.
Doing so, however, takes the proper technique, which most recreational golfers sorely lack. Instead of hitting down on the ball and compressing it into the turf, they scoop through impact and lose tons of spin and distance. So instead of watching the ball shoot into the air, instead they produce a low, weak ball flight.
Much of the time, this is due to not getting enough forward shaft lean at impact. If you want the pros hit iron shots, you’ll notice their hands are in front of the ball and the club is actually de-lofted. And while it seems counterintuitive, this de-lofting actually helps the ball fly high into the air, so long as you do so correctly.
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Recreational players often struggle with this concept and with executing a swing that produces forward shaft lean. However, with a little adjustment to your setup, getting more forward shaft lean can be easier than you may think.
Lots of recreational golfers have the misconception that they need to return the club to address position in order to hit solid shots, but in reality, that’s not the case. What you really want to do is get the shaft leaning a little more forward, with the handle in front of the club, so that you can strike down on the ball and compress it into the turf.
So, to help yourself a bit in that regard, you can try setting up to the ball with your hands already pressed forward just a touch.
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“If we understand that’s how our club is built, we could start that way,” Smith says. “And then we can deliver [the club] by turning through the shot, driving the hands forward. Then all of the sudden, we have more compression, better ball flight and better spin control.”
If you are someone who struggles to get forward shaft lean and proper compression of the ball, give this trick a shot. If you do, you’ll soon be hitting irons with more crispness and set yourself up for more birdie looks.
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Divot Board
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Instant Feedback for Faster LearningResearch shows that immediate feedback can accelerate learning by 50–70%. The Divot Board provides real-time feedback on your swing so you can make quick adjustments and refine your technique instantly.
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Using a Divot Board consistently will transform your practice routine. It’s the easiest way to gain awareness, develop better ball striking, and see results faster.
Oct 25, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Emmett Johnson (21) runs the ball against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Kevin O’Connell has virtually never leaned into the idea that a running game matters. He doesn’t need to go run only and act as a coach still stuck in the 90’s, but a level of balance would be more than welcome at this point.
It remains uncertain what Aaron Jones’s plan is. Last season, the Minnesota Vikings swung a trade for Jordan Mason to supplement their backfield as well. At this point, though, it’s clear they need to invest draft capital into a young asset at the position. Jeremiyah Love would be plenty of fun if the Vikings had a top ten pick.
Midwest Prospect Aligns With Vikings Draft Needs
They don’t, though, and they aren’t using the 18th overall pick to reach for a running back either. If they want to use a second-round selection on someone else, though, bringing Emmett Johnson home makes a whole lot of sense.
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Nov 8, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Emmett Johnson (21) runs the ball against the UCLA Bruins during the second half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein wrote up the Minneapolis native and Nebraska product as he showcases his skills at the Draft Combine.
Johnson is a hard-charging, gap-scheme runner. He brings a steady dose of urgency, decisiveness and fairly predictable run tracks. Johnson’s production and game-by-game consistency stand out despite average size and top-end speed. He steps on the accelerator once he touches the ball, but the run becomes segmented when he attempts to cut laterally. He struggles to create for himself when the point of entry is cloudy. Johnson can beat linebackers to the run fit but won’t usually run through them with power. He’s able to help as a pass-catcher and projects as a solid backup best suited for downhill concepts.
Last season with the Huskers, Johnson led the Big Ten in both attempts (251) and yards (1,451). He averaged 5.8 yards per carry and racked up 12 touchdowns. The hometown Gophers held him in check (63 yards), but he rushed for more than 150 yards on three different occasions.
Johnson is a dual-threat back that can also be involved in the passing game. He hauled in 46 receptions for 370 yards and scored three touchdowns through the air as well. At 5’11” and 200 pounds, he’s got a similar frame to former Minnesota running back Dalvin Cook.
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Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson (RB10) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images
It remains to be seen where teams will value Johnson. A second-round pick may be tough to stomach for the Vikings, given their plethora of needs. If he falls to the third round, though, that should be a no-brainer from both a fit and value perspective.
At some point, the Vikings need to commit to the run game. O’Connell has to give in on that front, and investing in it seems like a good place to start.
Ted Schwerzler is a Minneapolis based blogger that covers the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. Sharing thoughts constantly on Twitter, … More about Ted Schwerzler
