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Français (Afrique)Adell Stuns Mariners with Three HR Robberies, Angels Win 1-0
Adell robbed three home runs to keep the Angels ahead in a 1‑0 win over the Mariners at Angel Stadium.
Defensive star Torii Hunter praised the play, saying 'It was probably the greatest defensive game I've ever seen'. Adell's performance marked a turning point from his earlier defensive struggles.
Yaxel Lendeborg is best player out there. Toughest, too.
INDIANAPOLIS — Yaxel Lendeborg kept it together, barely, as he limped away from the court in the first half.
He'd worked so hard. Come so far. And now he feared it was all over, his hopes for a national championship ruined by an injured left knee and once-again throbbing ankle.
"As soon as I got in the tent, I started crying," Lendeborg said, his left knee heavily wrapped. "... I definitely felt like I did all this for nothing in the moment. I definitely had to calm down for a little bit, speak with myself, get out of my thoughts.
"The training staff, they were being very nice to me, just being genuine, assuring me that I'm going to be OK."
OK? If Lendeborg isn't the best player in the country, he is for sure the toughest.
As his Michigan teammates got up a couple last shots before halftime ended, Lendeborg returned to the court with a trainer. He walked on his tip toes. He ran the width of the court. He hopped on both feet. And when the second half began, Lendeborg was on the floor with the rest of Michigan's starters.
Despite spraining his left MCL and aggravating the ankle injury he suffered in the Big Ten tournament, Lendeborg would play nine minutes in the second half. He made two 3-pointers in an 80-second span and grabbed two rebounds as Michigan routed fellow No.1 seed Arizona, 91-73.
At one point, Lendeborg had more points (11) than minutes played (10).
"We know what type of guy Yaxel is. If he can play, he's going to play," Elliott Cadeau said. "He told us when he got on the court, he was going to give it his all."
As for the national title game on Monday, April 6, Lendeborg laughed when asked if he would play. So long as he can walk, he said, he's playing.
"(The trainers) say they've got my back," he said. "They're going to make me feel good and we're going to spend a lot of time together tomorrow and Monday before the game."
Michigan has scary depth — of the eight players in its main rotation, all but two had nine or more points against Arizona — but Lendeborg is what transforms the Wolverines from a good team into a great one. He was the Big Ten player of the year and a first-team All-American. He also was on the Big Ten's all-defensive team.
A 6-foot-9 guard, Lendeborg is the basketball equivalent of a Swiss Army knife. He can score around the basket and make 3s from the logo. He can get rebounds and run the offense. He can shut down guards and big men.
He's unselfish, too. If Michigan needs him to score, he'll do it. If one of his teammates is on a heater, he's happy to help make their spotlight.
"Yax is about winning. And from day one, he's always just been one of the guys," Michigan coach Dusty May said. "When you have a first-team All-American potential player of the year that just wants to be one of the dudes, it helps everyone else fall in line and just accept their role."
So, too, when they see Lendeborg playing through the pain to make sure Michigan extended its season for one more game. The game that's been their goal since last summer.
Lendeborg had to take a seat after picking up two fouls in the first 90 seconds of the game. He came back in after sitting for about almost six minutes and quickly made a 3-pointer. But with 8:51 left in the first half, Lendeborg and Motiejus Krivas collided and Lendeborg stepped on Krivas' foot.
The pain, and the fear, was immediate.
"I tried my best to get up as quickly as possible to try to not dwell with the pain, try to walk it off," Lendeborg said. "It didn't get walked off."
Lendeborg made his free throws and then headed back to the locker room. When he returned to the Michigan bench six minutes later, he had a towel on his head and looked downcast. He didn't stay on the bench for long, returning to the locker room to get more treatment.
Though Michigan had things under control without Lendeborg, thanks in large part to Aday Mara's career night, Lendeborg knew he wanted to play in the second half. He owed it to his teammates.
More importantly, he wanted to prove to himself he could play before the title game.
"I told them I was going to stay to the 3-point line and not go into paint," he said, smiling. "I want to get a feel for the rim and try as best as I can because I want to play Monday. So those two shots going in were big-time for me and my confidence."
Lendeborg wasn't at 100% in the second half. Nowhere close. He won't be Monday, either. But nothing is going to stop him from playing.
Not when there's only 40 minutes standing between him and a national title.
"Watching the game back here in the locker room, it's like, man, we can really do this," Lendeborg said. "This is what we talked about all year, and we're really one step away from getting that goal."
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yaxel Lendeborg didn't come this far to miss national title game
Joshua Kimmich fully expects Harry Kane to play Tuesday against Real Madrid
At the 80-minute mark of Bayern Munich’s road match against Freiburg, Vincent Kompany was staring down the barrel of Bayern’s first scoreless performance of the season. Thanks to the late heroics of Tom Bischof and Lennart Karl, Bayern clawed back three unanswered goals to snatch a 3-2 victory from the jaws of defeat. For the second time this season, Freiburg squandered a 2-0 lead against the Rekordmeister.
Obviously, Bayern was caught looking ahead to the upcoming two-leg Champions League quarterfinal draw against Real Madrid. Real Madrid has played the bogeyman role in eliminating Bayern in the last four meetings (2014, 2017, 2018, and 2024). The 2017 defeat held a particular sting because Robert Lewandowski picked up a shoulder injury, missing the first leg and failing to have an impact on the second leg.
Will Harry Kane’s recent injury suffer a similar fate?
“I think [Kane would] play even in a wheelchair,” said Joshua Kimmich (via @iMiaSanMia). “Even if he’s still in a bit of pain, he’ll drag himself onto the pitch.”
At the very least, both teams will be limping into the highly anticipated quarterfinal matchup. Bayern is taking it slow with Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies, while Real Madrid will likely be missing Thibaut Courtois, Ferland Mendy, and Rodrygo.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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Chelsea set to sign 21-year-old versatile midfielder this summer
Chelsea Transfer Talks Signal Midfield Shift Under Rosenior
Chelsea’s evolving identity under Liam Rosenior appears to be taking another intriguing turn, with fresh talks over Valentin Barco hinting at both continuity and quiet upheaval behind the scenes. Credit to talkSPORT for breaking the story, which carries implications far beyond a simple squad addition.
Reunion With Purpose
Valentin Barco is not an unknown quantity to Rosenior. Their shared time at Strasbourg offered a glimpse into a player capable of blending technical composure with tactical discipline. That familiarity matters. Managers rarely seek comfort in chaos, and Rosenior’s interest feels like a deliberate move to anchor his midfield with someone who understands his methods.
Barco’s journey has been measured rather than meteoric. Seven appearances at Brighton barely scratched the surface, yet his 38 games under Rosenior in France suggest trust and development. This is not a speculative signing, it is a calculated one.
Midfield Congestion Growing
Chelsea’s midfield already resembles a crowded corridor. Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, Andrey Santos and Darrio Essugo form a group rich in potential but uneven in cohesion. Adding Barco raises questions about balance rather than depth.
Competition can sharpen performance, yet it can also blur roles. Chelsea have, at times, looked like a collection of individuals rather than a unified unit. Barco’s arrival could either streamline Rosenior’s vision or further complicate selection dilemmas.
Fernandez Situation Adds Tension
The backdrop to this potential transfer is impossible to ignore. Enzo Fernandez’s recent comments have introduced a strain that Chelsea did not need.
@ChelseaFC on X
“I spoke with Enzo an hour ago,” Rosenior said in his press conference.
“As a football club, with me as part of that process, we’ve made a decision. He won’t be available for tomorrow’s games, and he won’t be available for Manchester City next Sunday.
“I think for Enzo, It’s disappointing to speak in that way. What I will say about Enzo is, in terms of him as a character, as a person, I’ve got no bad words to say about him.
“But I think a line was crossed, in terms of our culture and what we want to build. So, we had to make a sanction, and that was a decision we’ve made.”
Those words carry weight. Discipline and culture are pillars of any successful side, and Rosenior has made it clear that reputation alone does not grant immunity.
Strategic Shift Taking Shape
If Fernandez edges towards the exit, Barco’s arrival begins to look less like depth and more like succession planning. Chelsea’s 8-2 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain exposed structural weaknesses, and the response appears to be both internal and external.
This is how modern clubs operate, swiftly, sometimes ruthlessly, always with an eye on the next phase. Barco may not command headlines, but he could quietly become a cornerstone of Rosenior’s rebuild.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
From a Chelsea supporter’s perspective, this report feels both encouraging and slightly unsettling. There is logic in targeting Valentin Barco, especially given his relationship with Rosenior. Fans often call for cohesion and identity, and this move suggests the manager is shaping the squad in his own image.
At the same time, the Enzo Fernandez situation raises deeper concerns. His comments about the club and openness to Real Madrid hint at a disconnect that supporters will find frustrating. A player of his calibre should be central to Chelsea’s project, not drifting towards uncertainty.
There is also the broader issue of squad construction. Chelsea have invested heavily in midfield talent, yet performances have not always reflected that quality. Bringing in another option could either fix the puzzle or add another loose piece.
Barco, in theory, offers tactical intelligence and familiarity with the manager’s system. That alone could give him an advantage over others who are still adapting. If he becomes a stabilising presence, supporters may quickly warm to the idea.
Ultimately, this feels like a test of Rosenior’s authority. Sanctioning Fernandez while pursuing Barco sends a message about standards and direction. Chelsea fans will appreciate that clarity, but they will also expect results to follow quickly.