Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa was left fuming after seeing his star forward Kylian Mbappe subjected to a late challenge during Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg clash with Bayern Munich. The Spanish coach insisted that Bayern Munich defender Jonathan Tah should have been sent off for a studs-up tackle that left the Frenchman with a visible gash on his leg. Scars of defeat: Madrid angered by unpunished Tah challenge In the aftermath of Real Madrid's 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich, Arbeloa did not hold back his frustration regarding a controversial tackle on his star forward. Tah was seen catching Mbappe with a heavy studs-up challenge, yet the defender only received a yellow card for the incident. The decision left the hosts furious, particularly given the physical evidence left on Mbappe's leg, with El Chringuito sharing an image of an apparent gash and a large rip in his sock. Arbeloa slams officiating after Mbappe injury scare Speaking to Marca after the final whistle, Arbeloa expressed his disbelief at the officiating. "I dont understand why the Bayern player [Tah] wasnt sent off for the foul he committed against Mbappe. These are decisions that are hard to understand," the Madrid boss stated. The night went from bad to worse for the Spanish giants as they not only lost the game but also saw a key midfielder ruled out of the return fixture. Aurelien Tchouameni picked up a booking during the contest, ensuring he will be suspended for the decisive second leg at the Allianz Arena next Wednesday. Arbeloa acknowledged the magnitude of the Frenchman's absence but remained optimistic about his squad depth. "Its a big loss because of the card the referee showed him, but we have faith in our substitutes," he added. Mbappe's silver lining While the tackle from Tah caused significant alarm on the Madrid bench, Mbappe was able to continue and eventually found the back of the net to reduce the deficit. Even in defeat, the Frenchman managed to reach a personal milestone, scoring his 14th goal of the current Champions League season. This strike keeps Mbappe in the hunt to break Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 17 goals in a single European campaign. The night was otherwise a difficult one for the Spanish giants. Goals from Luis Diaz and Harry Kane either side of half-time gave Vincent Kompany's side a crucial advantage to take back to the Allianz Arena. Confidence remains high for Munich comeback Real have a storied history of overturning defeats in the Champions League, and Arbeloa believes his players have the mentality required to silence the home crowd at the Allianz Arena next Wednesday. The manager is banking on the prestige and resilience of his squad to secure a semi-final spot. "If there is one team capable of winning in Munich, it is Real Madrid. We are Real Madrid, and we know how difficult it is to win there, but we will do our very best," Arbeloa concluded.

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 05: Kaleb McGary #76 of the Atlanta Falcons runs out of the tunnel prior to an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 5, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesThe Atlanta Falcons received shocking news on Wednesday, as longtime starting right tackle Kaleb McGary announced his retirement through his agent, Collin Roberts. McGary, 31, started nearly every game for the Falcons since being drafted in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He suffered a significant season-ending injury prior the 2025 NFL season, shortly after signing an extension through 2027.Congrats to Kaleb McGary on his retirement and an amazing career. pic.twitter.com/Nb9M3Fmlw0 Collin Roberts (@collinbroberts) April 8, 2026McGary was a stalwart on what had been a very good offensive line in Atlanta over the previous two seasons. His presence on the right side was dearly missed in 2025, with the Falcons forced to turn to reserve guard Elijah Wilkinson for the entirety of the season. Swing tackle Storm Norton also wound up missing the entirety of the season with an injury sustained in the summer.The Falcons were expecting Kaleb McGary back for training camp to once again bolster the right side of the offensive line. In McGarys absence, the Falcons now have a desperate need for a starting right tackle. With Wilkinson departing in free agency for the Arizona Cardinals, the job now rests in the hands of Storm Norton once again. Norton has filled in admirably when called upon, but stepping in as a full-time starter has gone poorly for him throughout his career.Offensive tackle immediately rockets to the top of Atlantas offseason needs. With free agency behind us and no first round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Falcons options for replacing McGary are extremely limited. Its likely a temporary solution will be needed for the season, and Id expect the team to look closely at available free agents and veterans on the trade market.Join us in wishing McGary well in the next stage of his career.

Cade Cunningham is expected to make his return Wednesday night for the Pistons against the Bucks following a collapsed left lung, sources told ESPN.

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EXCLUSIVE BY MIKE KEEGAN: He officiated at the FA Cup quarter-final between Chelsea and Port Vale and is down to be a linesman at Old Trafford for the Roses fixture on Monday night.

Scottie Scheffler's son Bennett turns 2 next month, and Remy was born less than two weeks ago. Neither is old enough to understand the significance of Augusta National, the Masters and the green jacket their father sometimes wears.(His wife Meredith) got this great picture of me and Bennett walking into the clubhouse with me with my green jacket and holding his hand. But, I mean, he has no idea what it means, Scheffler said. "This place signifies so much for me in my golf journey, and thats something Id love to be able to share with my kids. Well see how that goes as they age.Right now I just if Im wearing it near him, Im just hoping he doesnt ruin it or anything like that.Scheffler has two kids one for each of his Masters titles. He's the favorite in this week's tournament, as he tends to be for all majors these days, but his family life has been more exciting than his golf recently. The Scheffler who tore through the 2025 season, winning six times in a 4 1/2-month span, hasn't arrived yet this year.It was business as usual when Scheffler won his first tournament of the year at The American Express in January. He followed that up by closing strong for top-five finishes at Phoenix and Pebble Beach, but since then he's been outside the top 10 in three straight events and outside the top 20 in the last two of those.A slump by his standards? Well, it's hard to call it that because Scheffler hasn't played at all since The Players Championship in the middle of last month. He withdrew from the Houston Open because his wife was expecting their second child, and little Remy was born March 27.The word rested isn't often used by parents of newborns, but being away from the course may leave Scheffler refreshed.Im getting plenty of sleep. My wifes a trouper, Scheffler said. Remy is so young right now, they sleep a lot of the day. I think hes used to being in the womb at this point. Yeah, Ive been able to get a decent amount of sleep.It was hard to tell which of the kids was more of a hit at Wednesday's family friendly Par 3 Contest Remy being carried by Meredith in a baby wrap or Bennett knocking the ball around with a blue toy club.Bennett was born just before the PGA Championship in 2024. That major proved to be a wild experience for Scheffler at Valhalla. He was arrested before the second round for not following police instruction a felony charge and three misdemeanors were later dropped but made it back from jail in time to shoot 66 that day on his way to finishing tied for eighth.His obstacles this week are likely to be on the course. Scheffler will try to become the first player since Adam Scott in 2013 to win at Augusta National after having three weeks off.If there's been a problem for Scheffler this year, it's been his starts. In his past five tournaments, he's played the first round in a combined 3 over par while shooting 56 under the rest of the way.Of course, all that might feel like ancient history to Scheffler after he's been otherwise occupied in recent weeks. A major like the Masters doesn't offer much of a chance to ease back into competition mode, but it does have its advantages.Augusta keeps going above and beyond to make things special and easy for us as players. Especially the practice rounds, Scheffler said. The practice rounds are very peaceful. Theres no phones. Theres no people asking for selfies in the middle of the round. Its very calm out there, and people follow the rules here.Scheffler will play with Robert MacIntyre and Gary Woodland in the first two rounds. He was a 6-1 favorite per BetMGM Sportsbook on Wednesday morning. That's similar to his +550 odds before the previous major the British Open in July, which he won but not as short at the +275 price on him leading up to last year's U.S. Open.Game feels like its in a good spot, Scheffler said. I got some rest the last few weeks at home. So I feel rested and ready to go this week.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Scottie Scheffler's son Bennett turns 2 next month, and Remy was born less than two weeks ago. Neither is old enough to understand the significance of Augusta National, the Masters and the green jacket their father sometimes wears.(His wife Meredith) got this great picture of me and Bennett walking into the clubhouse with me with my green jacket and holding his hand. But, I mean, he has no idea what it means, Scheffler said. "This place signifies so much for me in my golf journey, and thats something Id love to be able to share with my kids. Well see how that goes as they age.Right now I just if Im wearing it near him, Im just hoping he doesnt ruin it or anything like that.Scheffler has two kids one for each of his Masters titles. He's the favorite in this week's tournament, as he tends to be for all majors these days, but his family life has been more exciting than his golf recently. The Scheffler who tore through the 2025 season, winning six times in a 4 1/2-month span, hasn't arrived yet this year.It was business as usual when Scheffler won his first tournament of the year at The American Express in January. He followed that up by closing strong for top-five finishes at Phoenix and Pebble Beach, but since then he's been outside the top 10 in three straight events and outside the top 20 in the last two of those.A slump by his standards? Well, it's hard to call it that because Scheffler hasn't played at all since The Players Championship in the middle of last month. He withdrew from the Houston Open because his wife was expecting their second child, and little Remy was born March 27.The word rested isn't often used by parents of newborns, but being away from the course may leave Scheffler refreshed.Im getting plenty of sleep. My wifes a trouper, Scheffler said. Remy is so young right now, they sleep a lot of the day. I think hes used to being in the womb at this point. Yeah, Ive been able to get a decent amount of sleep.It was hard to tell which of the kids was more of a hit at Wednesday's family friendly Par 3 Contest Remy being carried by Meredith in a baby wrap or Bennett knocking the ball around with a blue toy club.Bennett was born just before the PGA Championship in 2024. That major proved to be a wild experience for Scheffler at Valhalla. He was arrested before the second round for not following police instruction a felony charge and three misdemeanors were later dropped but made it back from jail in time to shoot 66 that day on his way to finishing tied for eighth.His obstacles this week are likely to be on the course. Scheffler will try to become the first player since Adam Scott in 2013 to win at Augusta National after having three weeks off.If there's been a problem for Scheffler this year, it's been his starts. In his past five tournaments, he's played the first round in a combined 3 over par while shooting 56 under the rest of the way.Of course, all that might feel like ancient history to Scheffler after he's been otherwise occupied in recent weeks. A major like the Masters doesn't offer much of a chance to ease back into competition mode, but it does have its advantages.Augusta keeps going above and beyond to make things special and easy for us as players. Especially the practice rounds, Scheffler said. The practice rounds are very peaceful. Theres no phones. Theres no people asking for selfies in the middle of the round. Its very calm out there, and people follow the rules here.Scheffler will play with Robert MacIntyre and Gary Woodland in the first two rounds. He was a 6-1 favorite per BetMGM Sportsbook on Wednesday morning. That's similar to his +550 odds before the previous major the British Open in July, which he won but not as short at the +275 price on him leading up to last year's U.S. Open.Game feels like its in a good spot, Scheffler said. I got some rest the last few weeks at home. So I feel rested and ready to go this week.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

When Kai Havertz bundled home a 91st-minute winner against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night, the headlines practically wrote themselves.Arsenal had snatched a vital 1-0 away victory in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, having lost their last two games against Southampton and Manchester City. Yet, the man most responsible for the triumph wasn't the goalscorer, but the man standing between the sticks at the other end of the Jos Alvalade Stadium: David Raya.In the aftermath, Havertz didn't hesitate to redirect the spotlight, praising his teammate for a sensational performance. TRENDINGStoriesVideosYour Say"I think he is still underestimated in the world of football," the German forward declared. "But for me, the last two seasons, the best 'keeper in the world. He's outstanding."Former England international Joe Cole echoed the sentiment on TNT Sports, going as far as to label the Spaniard as Arsenal's 'most important player.'For a squad boasting the likes of Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and William Saliba, it is a massive claim. But it's also one that is becoming increasingly difficult to argue against.Arsenal's slender victory in Portugal was built entirely on the foundation of Raya's brilliance. Before Havertz's stoppage-time heroics, it was their No 1 who kept Arsenal's hopes of reaching the last four intact. Early in the match, Raya produced a stunning save to deny a ferocious drive from Maxi Araujo, tipping the ball onto the crossbar.Then, later in the contest, when legs were tired, he pulled off a brilliant near-post stop from Geny Catamo, preserving the clean sheet that made the late victory possible.Manager Mikel Arteta simply called his goalkeeper 'extraordinary.' But Rayas journey to becoming the bedrock of Europes most resolute defence hasn't always been smooth-sailing.Born in Barcelona, he bypassed the traditional Spanish academy route, opting instead to move to England and join Blackburn Rovers as a 16-year-old.LATEST SPORTS NEWS:Jake Paul breaks silence in furious statement amid claims of split with Winter Olympics hero fianceEngland and Scotland fans face crippling debt at World Cup amid ticket resale scandalRory McIlroy makes Masters history before even hitting a shotHis real baptism of fire, however, came during a loan spell in the National League with Southport."I was getting battered a lot! Every corner, every free-kick I was getting elbows everywhere... you take yourself to training, take your clothes home to wash them, you are responsible for what you eat. I learned a lot from that spell," he's previously said.That gritty introduction to English football built a profound mental resilience.He returned to Blackburn, experiencing both the despair of relegation and the joy of promotion. But it was at Brentford where Raya truly transformed into a modern goalkeeping prototype.Under Thomas Frank, Raya refined his footwork and distribution, proving instrumental in the Bees' promotion to the Premier League.When Arsenal signed him in 2023, eyebrows were raised given Aaron Ramsdale's popularity among the fanbase.Yet, Raya's ascent to the No 1 shirt was swift. Almost immediately, Ramsdale found himself sitting on the bench.Behind the scenes at London Colney, and during intensive mid-season warm-weather camps in Dubai, Raya works intimately with Arsenal's goalkeeping coach, Inaki Cana.Their training methods are distinctly tailored to the demands of modern, possession-based football. Arsenal, in turn, have reaped the rewards.Raya trains extensively on sweeping behind a high defensive line, effectively operating as an extra centre-back in possession to give Arsenal a numerical advantage. Cana subjects the keepers to intense pressing simulations to mimick matches.Drawing from his bruising Southport days, training emphasises aggressively claiming crosses through heavy traffic.This composure and ability, without a doubt, was on full display against Sporting.While the title of the 'world's best' is always fiercely debated - with elite names like Alisson Becker, Thibaut Courtois and Gianluigi Donnarumma constantly in the mix - the statistics make a compelling case for the Spaniard.His sensational performance last night laid the foundations for Arsenal's gritty win, which will have supporters dreaming that they can go all the way.Havertz may have scored but Raya was the hero for the north London titans last night. Whether they can go all the way, and finally claim football's ultimate prize, remains to be seen. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter