Eddie Howe will send his players into battle in Barcelona having told them they have shown they can mix it with Europe’s best.

The Magpies will head for the Nou Camp next Wednesday evening knowing they would have been doing so with a precious 1-0 advantage had Lamine Yamal not denied them victory with the final kick in the first leg of their last-16 tie at St James’ Park.

A 1-1 draw was scant reward for a fine performance against one of the very biggest names in European football and head coach Howe, who described the equaliser as “soft”, is confident they can make life intensely difficult for Hansi Flick’s men on their own pitch.

He said: “In the cold light of day when we wake up tomorrow, we’ll see the positives. The tie is very much alive, we played really well.

“We showed our qualities. We’ve been really competitive. The challenge is we need more on a consistent basis. We’ve showed we can play against the very best when we’re at our best.”

Yamal’s spot-kick in the sixth minute of stoppage time denied the Magpies a deserved victory on the night and left them very much alive, but with a major task on their hands if they are to progress.

Harvey Barnes’ 14th goal of the season had given the hosts an 86th-minute lead and seemingly a priceless advantage ahead of the return, but a famous victory was snatched from their grasp at the death.

Malick Thiaw’s challenge on substitute Dani Olmo prompted Italian referee Marco Guida to point to the spot, and Yamal duly obliged to leave Barca with the advantage when the sides reconvene in Spain.

Asked if he felt his team deserved more, Howe said: “Yes, we do.

“A really good performance from the team, very, very good in all phases, really. I thought we limited them with a really good defensive performance from the team and I thought we attacked really well too.

“Although we didn’t create an abundance of clear-cut chances, I thought there were chances all through the game for us.

“It was great to see us finally score and then the last attack of the game, the last kick of the game, it’s a tough one to take.”

Hansi Flick, whose men won 2-1 at St James’ in the first fixture of the group phase back in September, showed flashes of their brilliance and eventually emerged with something to show for their efforts.

However, they were under the cosh for long periods and were happy to leave on level terms.

Flick said: “If you had asked me before the game with a 1-1, I was always happy.

“With the ball, we made not a good game. We lost too many balls, easy mistakes and this is what Newcastle only wants. When they get the ball, the transition they make is good, they have a lot of dynamic, very fast players, so it was not easy.

“But at the end, what I appreciated a lot from my team is that we defended together, the performance in defence was really good today.”

Tottenham manager Igor Tudor insists his decision to substitute Antonin Kinsky was done to “protect” the team, after the goalkeeper was replaced by Guglielmo Vicario after just 17 minutes, with Tottenham already 3-0 down to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the Champions League.

READ MORE: Atletico Madrid 5-2 Tottenham

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“I respect there’s lots of discussion around our tactical plans – when you look at the end point, look at the result and you the number of tries scored, that’s completely understandable,” said Borthwick

“I think it’s more about improving that incisiveness with our attack and getting over the try line rather than necessarily any major overhaul.

“You have an overview, a structure of ‘this is how we want to approach the different aspects of the game’, and then talk about the players bringing their points of difference.”

The day after defeat by Italy in Rome on Saturday, Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney released a statement backing Borthwick, saying he was confident that the coach and his staff would “do everything they can to deliver”.

Borthwick says that he speaks with Sweeney “at least once or twice a week” and Conor O’Shea, the RFU’s director of performance rugby, “pretty much on a daily basis”.

“Ever since I started this role back in late 2022, we have always worked very, very closely together,” Borthwick added.

“I think that I’ve always been very clear on the vision of the team, initially going very quickly into that 2023 Rugby World Cup which was just around the corner, and ever since then building through each of these competition windows since.

“We are all disappointed and frustrated.

“We came to this tournament with really high aspirations, as did the players, and we’ve been unable to meet those targets we set for ourselves.”

The Minnesota Vikings have signed one external free agent so far this cycle: cornerback James Pierre from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The club has somewhere between $20 million and $30 million to spend after player releases and contractual restructures, so the money has to go somewhere — soon. These are five free agents that Minnesota should target.

The Vikings still have room to make a few smart additions.

Most of the heavy-hitting free agents have found new teams, but Minnesota can strike on these players.

Numerous Logical Targets Remain for Minnesota in Free Agency

It’s the quietest Vikings free agency to date since 2020.

**Note: This list does not contain Kyler Murray because he’s technically not a free agent.

1. Nick Cross | S

At 24 years old, Cross is projected to command $6–8 million per season on his next contract. While Pro Football Focus gave him a grade of only 59.8 in 2025, with a 50.4 in coverage and a 72.0 against the run, his earlier performance suggests greater potential.

Cross is a popular name in IDP fantasy football due to his knack for accumulating tackles and splash plays. Although his production dipped in 2025 as he adapted to a new defensive coordinator and shared the secondary with Camryn Bynum, his previous seasons offer a more encouraging outlook.

From 2022 to 2024, Cross earned PFF grades of 56.5, 71.8, and 70.3, respectively. This upward trend indicates that the right defensive scheme could unlock his previous form. Brian Flores, known for favoring aggressive safeties who quickly attack downhill and excel with straightforward reads, could be the key to maximizing Cross’ strengths.

Flores has a track record of revitalizing similar careers, as demonstrated by Eric Wilson’s resurgence in 2025 within his system. Give Cross a whirl.

2. Christian Kirk | WR

Kirk has missed 35% off all games in the last three seasons; he is not known for durability, at least not as of late.

However, not long ago, the Arizona Cardinals employed Kirk, and he cooked with Kyler Murray, who may be the Vikings’ next quarterback. The 29-year-old logged 77 receptions for 982 yards and 5 touchdowns with Murray’s Cardinals in 2022, the springboard season and event that landed Kirk big money in Jacksonville the following season.

He won’t cost much during the next wave of free agency — probably about $5 million per year — and Minnesota should onboard him for WR3 duty to replace Jalen Nailor, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.

As a matter of fact, Murray and Kirk are best friends. See: here.

3. Rachaad White | RB

White is a pretty steady halfback — nothing too fancy, and his struggles are never long-lasting. He’s 6’0 and 215 pounds with 4.48 speed. He can catch the ball out of the backfield. White can also block against the pass, ranking as a Top 20 tailback in the trait last season.

In 2023, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, before the arrival of Bucky Irving, White produced 1,539 yards from scrimmage and 9 touchdowns. That’s not very long ago, nor is White old at age 27. Irving later took over more of the workload, but White’s recent output suggests that he would be a fine RB2 in Minnesota.

4. Ethan Pocic | C

Pocic is 30 and has an estimated market value of $8–12 million per year. PFF gave him an overall grade of 63.8 in 2025, with scores of 62.2 for pass protection and 63.2 for run blocking.

The veteran center entered the NFL as a second-round pick in 2017 — the same draft that brought Dalvin Cook to Minnesota — and played out his first contract with the Seattle Seahawks before signing with the Cleveland Browns in 2022. His durability has been a concern throughout his career, though, as he tends to miss games each season due to injuries.

If this trend continued in Minnesota, the Vikings would have sufficient depth to rely on, with players like Blake Brandel and Michael Jurgens available as replacements.

5. Trevon Diggs | CB

Diggs’s value has diminished after brief stints with the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers in recent months, making him a potential low-risk acquisition for a team seeking depth. Diggs has shown flashes of strong play since 2020, as reflected in his passer rating against.

In 2020, opposing quarterbacks had an 85.8 rating when targeting Diggs, which improved to 55.8 in 2021, before rising again to 86.1 in 2022. Injuries plagued his 2023 season, and while his rating was 85.3 in 2024, it spiked to 154.2 in 2025, albeit on only 22 targets. His PFF grades follow a similar trend: 62.7 in 2020, 58.5 in 2021, 67.6 in 2022, a 2023 season affected by injury, 56.6 in 2024, and 58.7 in the limited 2025 sample size.

Entering 2026, the Minnesota Vikings boast a respectable cornerback unit comprised of Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and newcomer James Pierre. Their collective health last season contributed to the defense’s strong performance under Flores, ranking third in EPA per play. Nevertheless, depth remains a concern, and Diggs could immediately provide valuable experience to the secondary.

Signing Diggs would also ensure that Minnesota isn’t forced to select a corner in Round 1 or 2 of April’s draft.

Former NFL running back Matt Snell has died at age 84, the New York Jets confirmed.

A cause of death was not immediately announced.

In addition to his heroics in Super Bowl III, Snell is remembered for a standout rookie season, earning AFL Rookie of the Year honors and setting the Jets single-game rushing record. In the franchise’s only Super Bowl title, Snell rushed for 121 yards and scored New York’s lone touchdown.

Snell overcame a knee injury to play a key role in the Jets’ 16-7 victory.

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New York Jets’ fullback Matt Snell watches the action from the sideline during Super Bowl III against the Baltimore Colts at the Orange Bowl Jan. 12, 1969, in Miami, Fla. (Focus on Sport via Getty Images)

In a statement, Jets Chairman Woody Johnson said Snell represented the heart of the franchise and left a lasting legacy.

“Matt Snell will forever hold a special place in the history of the New York Jets,” Johnson said. “He was the embodiment of toughness, selflessness and belief — traits that defined our organization’s proudest moments. His performance in Super Bowl III was nothing short of legendary. Against the odds, Matt set the tone with his physical running, delivering the Jets’ lone touchdown and helping secure one of the most important victories in sports history.”

NFL GREAT AND HALL OF FAME QUARTERBACK SONNY JURGENSEN DEAD AT 91

Injuries marred the end of Snell’s career, limiting him to 12 games over his final three seasons. Snell stepped away from the NFL after the 1972 season.

Shortly after he left the Jets, Snell’s relationship with the franchise appeared to quickly deteriorate. 

The 2018 book, “Beyond Broadway Joe: The Super Bowl Team That Changed Football,” later provided context behind the dispute. In the book, Snell wrote that then–Jets owner Sonny Werblin offered him a lifelong role with the franchise. 

New York Jets running back (41) Matt Snell in action during Super Bowl III against the Baltimore Colts at the Orange Bowl. Snell rushed for 121 yards and scored a touchdown Jan. 12, 1969, in Miami, Fla. (Malcolm Emmons/USA Today Sports )

Snell later said a miscommunication may have caused a lack of follow-through after Werblin’s stake was purchased.

“I don’t know if Sonny ever communicated what he had promised me to the other owners. I know there were people around the organization that were not happy that Sonny and I were friends, and some of them jumped on the opportunity to say bad things about me when Sonny was gone,” Snell recalled, according to an excerpt from the book.

New York Jets running back (41) Matt Snell follows a block of Bill Mathis against the Baltimore Colts during Super Bowl III at the Orange Bowl Jan. 12, 1969 in Miami, Fla.  (Malcolm Emmons/USA Today Sports)

Legendary Jets quarterback Joe Namath reflected on the lasting impact Snell made on the field.

“I’m really sad to hear that he passed,” Namath said, via the team’s official site. “Matt was not only a hell of a player — he was a terrific teammate, and without him, we wouldn’t have had a chance to win a championship.”

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Snell’s 4,285 career rushing yards rank fourth in Jets history. He is survived by his wife, Sharon, two children and a grandson.

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The Baltimore Ravens made headlines when they traded with the Las Vegas Raiders for defensive end Maxx Crosby. They finalized a deal for the five-time Pro Bowler in exchange for two first-round picks. He was supposed to help bolster the defense this upcoming season.

However, on Tuesday, it was reported that the Ravens decided to back out of this trade with the Raiders for Crosby. He failed to pass the physicals, resulting in the team backing out of their decision to acquire him.

The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec shared a tweet, highlighting the impact this voided deal has on the Ravens.

“Crosby has been in Baltimore for the past couple of days in anticipation of the deal becoming finalized at 4 p.m. tomorrow. Now, there will be no deal and the Ravens, who have already lostnine UFAs while signing one, are in an even bigger hole,” Zrebiec wrote.

Fans on social media criticized the Ravens and GM Eric DeCosta for their mismanagement of the Maxx Crosby trade.

“Fire EDC this is unforgivable,” one fan commented.

“Fire Eric Decosta, wtf are we doing man. This dude can’t build a f****g roster,” another fan said.

“Eric Decosta is the worst gm in football,” this fan wrote.

“ERIC DECOSTA SHOULD BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY!” another fan said.

“Fire EDC, season over,” one fan wrote.

“Lamar is going to fight Eric DeCosta in the Ravens Parking lot,” this fan commented.

“Get this dumba** MF ERIC DECOSTA THE F**K OUT OF HERE! This clown a** mf is not serious about winning… Why TF WOULD YOU DO THIS S**T…. WE CLEARLY NEEDED A F*****G EDGE RUSHER and you backed out of it… Fire him right now Biscotti!!” another fan said.

Last season, the Ravens ranked No.24 in terms of total defense, allowing an average of 354.5 yards and 42 touchdowns. They had the third-most-injured defense in the league, hampering their chances of being a Super Bowl contender.

The Ravens finished second in the AFC North with an 8-9 record, failing to qualify for the playoffs. The team decided to rebuild, firing coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons and bringing in Jesse Minter as his replacement.

On the other hand, Maxx Crosby and the Raiders finished dead last in the AFC West with a 3-14 record. The five-time Pro Bowler missed out on the last two games of the season due to a torn meniscus, finishing with 73 total tackles, 10 sacks and 28 tackles for loss.

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NFL insider shares his thoughts on the impact of the failed Maxx Crosby trade on the Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders have been rebuilding their roster and coaching staff after the disastrous 2025 campaign. They brought in Klint Kubiak to replace Pete Carroll as the coach while finalizing other player deals.

The team had moved on with the assumption that Maxx Crosby would not be playing for them in 2026. However, after the Ravens backed out of this trade, NFL insider Albert Breer noted that it could affect the team’s offseason plans.

“This puts the Raiders in an incredibly difficult situation. They lose the picks, they have a bunch of deals to be finalized tomorrow done under the assumption Maxx Crosby was gone, and now they may have to turn around and trade him again with the medical question hovering,” Breer tweeted.

Will another team decide to pick up the five-time Pro Bowler on a similar trade value?