Darryn Peterson has been the talk of the town amid his stellar season at Kansas this season. The Jayhawks guard is projected as a candidate to go as a top pick in this year’s NBA draft.
However, according to Marc Stein, NBA teams that are in the mix to land the No. 1 pick this year are not interested in drafting Peterson.
“Says at least one top talent evaluator whose team will be in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick via the draft lottery in May: ‘I wouldn’t take (Kansas’ Darryn) Peterson with the first pick. Too many question marks.’” Stein said on his “Stein Line” show on Monday.
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Peterson’s availability has been an issue for No. 14 Kansas this season. He has dealt with a hamstring strain, sprained ankle and recurring cramps in his freshman year.
Some believe that Peterson’s injuries could have a negative impact on his draft stock.
Darryn Peterson’s Kansas will face Arizona State on Tuesday
Kansas guard Darryn Peterson – Source: Imagn
Darryn Peterson’s Kansas (21-8, 11-5 Big 12) will lock horns with Arizona State (15-14, 6-10) on Tuesday. The game will tip off at 9 p.m. ET from Desert Financial Arena in Temple, Arizona.
The Jayhawks will enter the contest on the back of an 84-61 loss to Arizona. Meanwhile, the Sun Devils beat Utah 73-60 in their last matchup.
Kansas will then close out its regular season against Kansas State on Saturday.
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Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma, or Kim Mulkey – who is NCAAW’s highest-paid coach? Find out here
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) goes through pregame warmups before facing the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on Nov. 17, 2024. Greenard stretches and prepares on the field as Minnesota gets ready for the interconference matchup on the road. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images.
Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard is due for a contract extension, and because the team is cash-strapped in 2026, a trade may be the end result.
If Greenard wants top-market money, the Vikings may decide the cleanest path is moving him before the bill comes due.
Greenard’s guaranteed money ran out in 2025; he’s seeking a long-term extension — and Minnesota must decide whether it has the funds or to pivot toward Dallas Turner as Greenard’s replacement.
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A Contract Squeeze Is Driving the Greenard Conversation
Greenard’s contract enters the offseason chat.
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) is wrapped up by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) during an NFC Wild Card playoff matchup at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Jan. 13, 2025. Greenard closes in to stop the run as Minnesota’s defense battles Los Angeles in postseason action. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Rondone-The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
Greenard Seeking a “Market Correction”
News broke of a possible trade fate for Greenard on Tuesday, and SI.com‘sAlbert Breer cleared up the mystery shortly after.
“The Vikings’ situation with OLB Jonathan Greenard is a bit complex — Greenard is seeking a market correction to his contract, per sources. He’s due $19 million and would like a raise,” Breer tweeted.
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“Minnesota is comfortable with him at his current number. The team views him as one of their best players, and won’t just let him go. But if someone comes with a big offer, a deal could be had.”
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert added, “Greenard’s contract calls for a $22.3 million cap number and a $19 million cash salary for 2026, but none of that money is fully guaranteed. If he is still on the roster on the fifth day of the new league year, $4 million of his base salary will become guaranteed. A trade would save them about $12 million in cap space.”
“The Vikings have already told two other veterans, running back Aaron Jones and defensive lineman Javon Hargrave, that they will be released or traded for cap purposes. Their departures would save $18.65 million in cap space.”
In short, Greenard wants a raise — not unlike the Danielle Hunter situation for the Vikings in years past.
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If No Luck, Then a Trade
Greenard earns the aforementioned $19 million per season. When joining the Vikings two years ago, that number was fair and aligned with market value. Now, the veteran EDGE probably deserves a bump near $27 million, give or take.
For context, Micah Parsons in Green Bay earns $46.5 million annually. Parsons is certainly a better defender than Greenard, but he’s probably not $27.5 million per season better.
The Vikings must decide if they can find a pay raise for Greenard in the budget. The budget is slim this offseason after a humongous spending spree in 2025 by former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, which featured newcomers Will Fries, Javon Hargrave, and Jonathan Allen, among others.
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The Trade Compensation
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweeted Tuesday, “Teams I’ve talked to believe Minnesota wants a Day 2 pick for Greenard.”
Greenard will turn 29 this year; he won’t fetch a 1st-Rounder. Perhaps the Vikings could package their 18th overall pick in April’s draft with Greenard to move into the Top 10 of the draft order, but aside from that, Greenard alone just won’t command a 1st-Round pick.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) lines up on defense during an NFC Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Jan. 13, 2025. Greenard tracks the play as Minnesota faces Los Angeles in the opening round of the NFC playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
That leaves the mystery somewhere in Round 2 or 3 — if the Vikings trade him at all. For example, Minnesota could ship Greenard and a 5th-Rounder to an EDGE-needy team for a 2nd-Rounder.
Perhaps a high 3rd-Rounder will do the trick.
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The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis added, “What I know on Jonathan Greenard: The Vikings think the world of him as player/person in locker room. In 2024, he signed what now looks like a team-friendly deal. MIN cap crunch complicates any new contract. Interested teams will have to pony up on draft capital & new contract.”
Greenard’s Production
Greenard had a down year in 2025, per sack production. He played 12 games before succumbing to an injury, registering just 3 sacks. Spanned to 17 games, Greenard was on track for 4 sacks. That is emphatically not enough end for a starting EDGE rusher, especially one who reached the Pro Bowl in 2024.
However, even missing 5 games, Greenard finished 2025 ranked 17th in quarterback hurries and 31st in total pressures, two numbers that can’t be disregarded. There’s a reason Vikings fans joked all season that Greenard was the king of “almost sacks.” He terrorized offensive linemen, but just couldn’t close the deal with a sack more often than not.
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Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) poses for photos during NFC practice for the Pro Bowl Games at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 1, 2025. Greenard takes part in the league’s all-star festivities after earning recognition for his standout season with Minnesota. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Minnesota’s coaching staff and front office must ask themselves if Greenard will bounce back from a 3-sack season and return to his double-digit norm. If the answer is yes, pay the man fair market value. If no, trade him for a 2nd- or 3rd-Round pick and promote Turner, while scouring free agency for an OLB3 type, probably a player like Jadeveon Clowney or Joseph Ossai.
Finally, there’s the roster-building argument. For a team that must win now to secure the head coach’s long-term job security, does it really make sense to trade productive EDGE defenders? Most Super Bowl-contending teams hoard pass rushers, not find ways to offload them.
1 min read Last Updated : Mar 03 2026 | 11:12 AM IST
United States midfielder Weston McKennie had his contract at Juventus extended on Monday so that he can spend a decade with the Turin club.
The new deal expires in 2030 – 10 years after McKennie signed with Juventus.
The extension was announced by Juventus and comes three months before a home World Cup for McKennie. It also comes with a reported salary increase from 2.5 million euros ($3 million) to 4 million euros ($4.7 million) per season, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport.
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The 27-year-old McKennie has 26 goals and provided 26 assists in 220 appearances for Juventus. He has also become a favorite of new Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti, who appreciates McKennie’s versatility – even fielding him at striker recently.
McKennie has eight goals since Spalletti was hired in October – more than any other player in the squad.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The 2026 SheBelieves Cup will turn into a rivalry night on Wednesday when the U.S. women’s national team squares off against Canada. Head coach Emma Hayes and her squad get the perfect match to build on players’ tournament experience, a theme Hayes wants replicated for a large portion of the roster. There are eight players from the 2024 Olympic gold medal-winning team on the SheBelieves Cup roster, with plenty of others who are either experiencing their first or second SheBelieves Cup competition.
Following a 2-0 victory over Argentina in Sunday’s opener, the USWNT now face a Canadian side that lead the tournament table after a 4-1 win over Colombia. With a final game against Colombia on Saturday, the match against Canada sets the stage for a meeting that will likely determine this year’s champion.
Date: Wednesday, March 4 | Time: 6:45 p.m. ET Location: ScottsMiracle-Gro Field — Columbus, Ohio TV: TNT Stream: HBO Max
Long-time rivals
The rivalry between the two North American giants dates back to 1986, with the United States leading the all-time series. The USWNT holds a commanding advantage through 67 previous meetings, with 54 wins, four losses, and nine draws, and has outscored the regional rivals 189-42.
Despite the lopsided record, recent versions of the rivalry have taken dramatic turns, often in tournament settings, with the sides getting the better of each other. From penalty shootouts in the 2024 Gold Cup and 2024 SheBelieves Cup to Olympic semifinal showdowns, the two nations are no strangers to high-stakes moments against each other.
In 2012, the USWNT’s come-from-behind extra-time semifinal win over Canada in London paved the way for a fourth gold medal, and Canada’s 1-0 semifinal win in the 2020 Tokyo Games secured their first-ever gold medal. The 2020 Summer Games remain the most recent win against the USWNT to date.
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Scouting Canada
Canada head coach Casey Stoney is officially in year two of her tenure with the program, and the squad is eager to turn the page on a lackluster 2025 that featured plenty of growing pains.
Canada are 10th in the official FIFA rankings, their lowest since 2018, when they held fourth place. Despite the positive headlines Canada Soccer received upon hiring Stoney, following a drone scandal that led to the dismissal of Bev Priestman, the Canadians picked up a Pinatar Cup win and managed respectable wins in a string of friendlies. However, they closed out the year on a terrible skid, with losses to Japan, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States.
Stoney named a 24-player roster for the SheBelieves Cup, raising eyebrows with key players missing. Veteran players Adriana Leon, Shelina Zadorsky, Ashley Lawrence, and Sabrina D’Angelo were omitted, along with Jayde Riviere. Rising star attacker Olivia Smith had to withdraw following a concussion, and defender Megan Reid was called in. There are 13 players who play for NWSL clubs, six from European clubs, and four players represent the emerging Canadian league, NSL.
The group is looking ahead after a big 4-1 against Colombia to open the competition, with goals by Vanessa Gilles, Janine Sonis, Sydney Collins, and Nichelle Prince.
The 2026 SheBelieves Cup is stepping into its next decade. The tournament is marking its 11th year and doing so with an added twist. In a change from previous editions, all 2026 matches tied after regulation will go directly to penalty kicks rather than two overtime periods. Teams that win the penalty shootout will earn an extra point.
The competition is still a round-robin style tournament, with teams getting three points for a win, one point for a tie after regulation, and an extra point for winning the penalty shootout. If teams are tied on points following the final matchday, the first tie-breaker will be goal difference, then most goals scored, then head-to-head result — regardless of who wins the penalty kick shootout. The final tiebreaker is based on fair play rules if needed.
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With Canada and the United States having key games decided by penalties in recent years, it’s not hard to imagine SheBelieves’ new tournament point system could come into play.
NEW DELHI: India’s women’s cricket team has achieved another historic milestone as they have been nominated for the 2026 Laureus World Team of the Year Award after winning their first-ever World Cup title.The nomination, confirmed by Laureus Sport, makes them the first women’s cricket team to receive this honour. Their journey to the title included a record-breaking moment in the semi-final against Australia, where they completed the highest successful run chase in women’s ODI history — 339 runs — before going on to defeat South Africa in the final.
Hardik Pandya reaches Wankhede in a sports car for Team India nets
Laureus Sport said in a press release: “In their Cricket World Cup semi-final against Australia, the India Women’s Cricket Team pulled off the highest successful run chase in women’s ODI history (339) – before winning their first title against South Africa and are the first women’s cricket team to be nominated for this Award.”Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian team now finds itself in elite company. They have been nominated alongside global heavyweights such as the England Women’s football team, the European Ryder Cup squad, Paris Saint-Germain, and the McLaren Formula 1 team.Their World Cup victory sparked celebrations across India, with the BCCI announcing a cash reward of Rs 51 crore for the squad.The team also joins a small list of Indian sportspersons previously nominated in major Laureus categories, including Vinesh Phogat, Neeraj Chopra, and Rishabh Pant.The winners will be chosen by the Laureus World Sports Academy jury and announced at a grand ceremony at the Cibeles Palace in Madrid on April 20, marking the third straight year the Spanish capital will host the event.
Bruce Pearl said President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have his full unconditional support in their war against Iran.
“They do have my support and my prayers, and I’m grateful for their courage,” the legendary former Auburn men’s basketball coach and Chair of the U.S. Israel Education Association told Fox News Digital.
As the U.S. and Israeli continue to carry out a joint military operation against Iran after eliminating the ayatollah, Pearl admits he does have anxiety about what comes next, especially as it relates to potential American and Israeli causalities.
Former Auburn Tigers men’s basketball head coach Bruce Pearl walks on the field before a game Between Auburn and the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field.(Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)
Pearl has multiple friends and family members in Israel as Iran carries out its counter-attack, and six American service members have already been confirmed killed since the violence started.
Pearl placed blame on former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden for agreeing to deals that resulted in finances going to Iran over the last decade plus.
“I think President Obama was well-intentioned, but his decision was costly and wrong,” Pearl said. “He funded the terrorists who rebuilt Hezbollah, who rebuilt Hamas, who rebuilt the Houthis. The United States government is responsible in part for funding Iran’s war and terror.
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“President Trump doesn’t want war, but he’s also not going to look the other way and let Iran terrorize the Middle East, which they did. And, so, then what does President Biden do? He comes in and he reverses all the policies that President Trump enacted, and he goes back to refunding Iran and treating them like a normal country. And all they did was refund the terrorist, rebuild their weapons.”
The Obama administration transferred $1.7 billion in cash to Iran in 2016 to settle a 1979 arms dispute, while the Biden administration released $10 billion to $16 billion in frozen Iranian oil funds as part of a 2023 prisoner swap and humanitarian trade. The funds were Iranian assets frozen abroad but not known to be U.S. taxpayer funds.
Pearl told Fox News Digital he is angered by the Iranian aggression against America in recent decades.
“Iran is the greatest enemy to the world since Adolf Hitler. They have been this country’s No. 1 enemy since 1979. They have killed more Americans than any other country in the world. So, what I would say to America, we didn’t start this war. Iran has declared war on us for a long, long time, and they’ve been killing our citizens,” Pearl said.
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“They sponsored, funded and gave the green light to Hamas to commit the atrocities of Oct. 7. And 46 Americans died. Innocent Americans died that way at the hands of Hamas, who was part of Iran’s proxies. That angers me. That angers me as an American. And I’m glad that this president is doing something about it.”
Pearl, the chairman of the U.S. Israel Education Association, recalled having to witness the deaths of people he was close to due to violence in the Middle East.
“I know hostage families who have lost their lives. I know Israeli friends who have lost sons and daughters. I’ve known Americans who’ve lost family members in Lebanon in 1982, in the barracks, and also in fighting the wars in Iraq,” he said.
Since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, Pearl said, he has encountered anti-Israel protesters in America.
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The pro-Palestine movement in the United States has evolved into one of the country’s largest and most sustained protest waves sparked by a foreign event in modern history.
Within just two weeks of the initial Oct. 7 attack, the movement rapidly expanded from early vigils to 420 rallies across 46 states, according to the Harvard University Ash Center. By November of that year, the burst of activity had solidified into a sustained national wave broader than any previous pro-Palestine movement in U.S. history, particularly on college campuses.
Now, as America and Israel wage war on Iran, which could potentially fan the flames of the pro-Palestinian movement in the U.S., Pearl has a message for those protesters.
“If you want to protest, have an understanding what you’re protesting for. I ask you the question. Are women free in Israel or are they free inside of Gaza? Do they in Israel, do they get to go to education, college, school, live a normal, incredible life like any other human being, or are they subject to Sharia law? How can you protest for that? You want to protest? Protest for the Iranian people who are fighting for their freedom,” Pearl said.
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“How is it possible that on Oct. 8, 9 or 10, just days after 46 Americans were murdered and 1,200 people were killed and 250 were held hostage, how is it possible that college students were protesting to free Palestine from the river to the sea and supporting Hamas? The free Palestine from the river to the sea is to free Palestine of the Jews from the river to the sea. That means either kill us or remove us.”
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made several controversial cost-cutting decisions at Old Trafford in recent times
Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s decision to withdraw Manchester United’s annual £40,000 donation to the Association of Former Manchester United Players (AFMUP) has reportedly put the charity’s future in doubt.
The AFMUP, established in 1985, utilised this funding to organise dinners and golf days that raised over £2million for former players, families, and charities. And the iPaper claim that the withdrawal has placed the association’s future in jeopardy, citing the cancellation of two events last year due to venue and catering expenses.
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John Aston, 78, a pivotal figure in the 1968 European Cup triumph, recently suffered a stroke and remains hospitalised. Former players reportedly collected £5,000 for a wheelchair, which the club matched, but the AFMUP lacks resources for additional assistance.
Aston’s wife says the family is ineligible for government support and must cover nurse visits at £80 each, four times daily, to bring him home. She is said to remain uncertain over how they will meet these costs.
The reports come after a huge cost-cutting exercise at M16 under Ratcliffe’s Ineos. The Reds co-owner has overseen a sweeping series of cost-cutting initiatives at United since investing £1billion to secure a 27.7% stake in the club in February 2024.
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Speaking last year to defend his cost-cutting decisions, he said: “The costs were just too high. There are some fantastic people at Manchester United, but there was also a level of mediocrity and it had become bloated. I got a lot of flak for the free lunches, but no-one’s ever given me a free lunch.”
The INEOS owner has implemented measures, including eliminating up to 450 positions at United following his minority investment, and scrapping complimentary meals for staff. Ratcliffe, who also drew supporters’ ire by increasing matchday ticket prices to £66 per fixture, with no reductions for children or pensioners, argued that strengthening the club’s financial position was essential to achieving long-term on-field success.
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The 73-year-old said: “There are two halves to a football team. There’s the business side and the sports side. The biggest correlation, like it or not, between results and any external factor – is profitability.
“The more cash you’ve got, the better squad you can build. It’s like a Formula One car – the better car you can build, the quicker you go. The better your squad, the better your football should be. So a lot of what we’ve done in the first year is spend an awful lot of time putting the club on a sustainable, healthy footing.
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“If you look at our results for last year, we have the highest revenues ever. Profitability, the second highest ever. We’re not seeing all the benefits of the restructuring that we’ve done in this set of results, and we weren’t in the Champions League.
“Those numbers will get better. Manchester United will become the most profitable football club in the world, in my view, and from that will stem, I hope, a long-term, sustainable, high-level of football.”
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
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Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.
Lakshya Sen showed grit and stamina to beat China’s Shi Yu Qi in a thrilling three-game battle on Tuesday, winning 23-21, 19-21, 21-17 at the All England Open Badminton Championships. It was his first victory over the former world No. 1 in a BWF World Tour event, and it didn’t come easy.The match was intense from start to finish, with long rallies and both players pushing each other to the limit. Lakshya started strongly, taking control of the first game with sharp smashes and quick net play. Although he nearly let it slip after leading comfortably, he held his nerve in a tense finish to take the opener.Coach Vimal praised his performance, saying, “Lakshya was very calm and composed today. Right from the start, he made Shi work hard for every single point, and eventually the Chinese player began to tire.”Even when Shi fought back to win the second game, Lakshya didn’t lose focus.“At one stage in the second game, I felt Lakshya was getting a bit fatigued, but he recovered well and raised his level. His attacking play was excellent too,” he added. “Overall, it was a very confidence boosting win.”The deciding game was again tight, but Lakshya’s speed, defence and smart shot selection made the difference. He stayed aggressive, forced errors from Shi, and closed out the match when the Chinese player hit long on match point.In other matches, Malvika Bansod lost to China’s Chen Yu Fei in straight games. However, the mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto secured a straight-game win over Malaysia’s Hoo Pang Ron and Cheng Su Yin.
“I changed to a different model because the greens were firm, so I think that helped a lot with the control of coming into the green,” he said. “I went from the XV to the diamond, which is a little softer and spinnier.”
As it turns out, this was a change Echavarria has been mulling for a little while now. He signed with Srixon last offseason and originally tested both of the company’s primary Tour balls, the Z-Star XV and the Z-Star Diamond. Before joining the Srixon team, Echavarria played the firmer, but spinnier Pro V1x.
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That decision was driven by his goals with his swing last year, Srixon Director of Tour Operations Michael Jolly told GOLF.
“At times last season, he was much steeper and generating a lot of spin,” Jolly said. “With both balls, he’s seeing less curve and more stability in the wind, which ultimately were the key factors in his decision to make the switch to Srixon overall.”
With the extra spin he was generating, that made the XV the more optimal fit at the time.
He tested at different points last season, but never seriously considered making the move to the Diamond until this offseason, when he started testing with Srixon’s team again.
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To start the season, he still leaned on the XV for every start except the WM Phoenix Open, where in the dry and firm conditions, he decided to give the Diamond a first trial run. Playing the Diamond in Phoenix was also crucial because the ball doesn’t spin as much there. So having a spinnier ball can be ideal.
But that’s also why testing golf balls for the early part of the season can be challenging, Jolly said.
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“We know spin numbers at Phoenix are typically low, San Diego can be a bit unpredictable, and the different grasses from week to week often produce varying launch and spin profiles,” he said. “All that makes it challenging for a player to not only switch golf balls, but to fully trust the data they’re seeing.
“That’s why Cognizant felt like such a great test. It gave him a chance to put the ball in play during competition, in weather and course conditions where he trusted what he was seeing and validate the decision under real pressure.”
Between the two balls, Echavarria’s numbers off the tee don’t change very much, but where the two separate is with the irons, and he sees about 300 RPMs of additional spin.
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“The biggest difference has really been with his irons throughout the bag, added stopping power combined with the ability to hit more shots in different windows,” Jolly said. “As he told us today, ‘I’ve just realized I can really play when I have more spin.’”
He said he also preferred the slightly softer feel around the greens.
After his win, where he finished fourth in the field in SG: Approach, Echavarria told the Srixon team he will be sticking with the Diamond for good.
A lot of times, it’s actually more surprising for a player to win in their first week with a new ball than it is with new clubs. Remarkably, it’s the second time it’s happened this year already with Collin Morikawa switching to TaylorMade’s new TP5x before his win at Pebble Beach.
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What probably gave Echavarria some confidence was having played the ball last month in Phoenix. He didn’t play well at the WM — he missed the cut — but it was a first test of what the ball can do.
Once he and the Srixon team got to more normal conditions in Florida last week, then they could finally pull the trigger and make the switch. It was a long awaited move, but one that clearly worked out in the end.
Ademola Lookman played his part as Atlético Madrid survived a fierce fightback from FC Barcelona to seal a place in the Copa del Rey final with a 4-3 aggregate victory.
Heading into the second leg with a commanding 4-0 advantage from the first meeting, Diego Simeone’s men were pushed to the limit in Barcelona. The hosts came out aggressively and dominated large spells of the contest, scoring three times to ignite hopes of an extraordinary turnaround.
Despite the pressure, Lookman remained a lively outlet for Atleti on the counterattack. The Nigerian forward had a decent opportunity during the first half but dragged his effort wide as the visitors looked to relieve the mounting tension.
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Barcelona reduced the deficit with two goals from Marc Bernal and a Raphinha penalty, throwing everything forward in the closing stages. However, Atlético stood firm under intense late pressure to protect their aggregate lead and crush the holders’ hopes of defending their crown.
Lookman and his teammates will now turn their attention to the final, where they will face the winner of the other semi-final clash between Real Sociedad and Athletic Club.
Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas has tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug and faces an 80-game suspension, according to the New York Post. Rojas is appealing the suspension, but if it’s held up he faces a suspension that’ll cost him around a half-season of salary.
Rojas, 25, hit. 224/.280/.289 (57 OPS+) with 12 stolen bases in 172 plate appearances across 71 games last season. He had a promising start to his career, slashing .302/.342/.430 with 2.4 WAR in just 59 games in 2023, but has been disappointing since.
The expected plan entering the season for the Phillies was to have Rojas either backup or platoon with rookie Justin Crawford in center field. Adolis García is set to take over in right field while Brandon Marsh and Otto Kemp play left field. Marsh can swing over to center if need be while Edmundo Sosa can get some reps in left field. In other words, the Phillies have options to deal with the loss of Rojas.
It’s also possible this suspension would open the door for someone like Bryan De La Cruz, Pedro León or Gabriel Rincones Jr. to make the Opening Day roster, too.
The Phillies have made the playoffs in four straight seasons, as well as having secured back-to-back NL East titles. They won 96 games last season, their best regular-season total since 2011.
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Players suspended for PED use are ineligible for the playoffs, even if their suspension has ended by then, so Rojas will not be available if the Phillies make the postseason.
