Lampard’s Coventry extend Championship lead

Coventry City strengthened their grip on top spot in the Championship with a 2-1 win at Portsmouth on Tuesday, thanks to a Brandon Thomas-Asante brace. Frank Lampard’s side have now won five straight matches, moving four points clear of Middlesbrough. Thomas-Asante struck his seventh and eighth goals of the season as Coventry continued their push to return to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years. Elsewhere, Millwall kept up their surprise promotion charge, beating Stoke City 2-0 through goals from Femi Azeez and Tristan Crama, earning a third consecutive victory to climb to third place. It was another tough night for the clubs relegated from the Premier League last season. Southampton fell 3-1 at Bristol City, Leicester City lost 2-1 at Hull. Now, Norwich City slipped into the bottom three after a 1-0 defeat at Derby. Charlton rose to fifth with a 3-0 win at Ipswich, while Sheffield United moved out of the relegation zone by beating Blackburn 3-1. Birmingham also climbed to 12th with a 1-0 victory over Preston. They are  just three points off the play-offs.

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football prediction today: villarreal vs barcelona

La Liga cancels plan to host Villarreal vs Barcelona match in Miami

La Liga proposal to stage Villarreal’s home match against Barcelona in Miami this December has been scrapped. This is due to “uncertainty” surrounding the event, the league confirmed on Tuesday. The game, set for December 20, would have been the first-ever European league fixture played outside its home continent. La Liga said the promoter decided to withdraw because of “uncertainty generated in Spain in recent weeks.” The league expressed regret over the cancellation. They called it a “historic and unparalleled opportunity” to showcase Spanish football internationally. Tickets for the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami were due to go on sale Tuesday, but the presale was delayed before the plan was officially dropped. The fixture will now be played as originally scheduled at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica.

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bayern coach kompany posts burnley farwell

Kompany signs fresh Bayern Munich contract extension until 2029

Vincent Kompany has extended his contract as coach of Bayern Munich by two years until 2029. The Bundesliga champions announced the great news on Tuesday. Kompany was not Bayern‘s first choice when he was appointed in the summer of 2024. However, the Belgian reclaimed the German title for the Bavarians in his debut season at the club. “It feels like I’ve been here a lot longer and that I know the club well,” former Manchester City captain Kompany said in a statement. “It’s been a great experience so far. We’ve started on a wonderful journey. Let’s keep working hard and celebrate much more success!” The 39-year-old has Bayern flying with 11 wins in 11 games this season, sitting atop the Champions League and Bundesliga tables.

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Kane continues scoring streak at Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich claimed a 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in the 113th Bundesliga Klassiker. They matched Dortmund’s own German record of 11 straight victories to start a season. Harry Kane opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, rising to glance in Joshua Kimmich’s corner for his 12th league goal of the campaign. Bayern dominated the first half, forcing several saves from Gregor Kobel, while Dortmund struggled to create clear chances. The hosts improved after the break, with Felix Nmecha heading narrowly wide and Karim Adeyemi missing a golden opportunity from close range after slipping in the box. Despite the late pressure, Bayern held firm to continue their perfect start to the season.

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Leverkusen chief admits club went ‘wrong direction’ under Ten Hag

Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has admitted the club quickly realised things were going the “wrong direction” under former coach Erik ten Hag. The ex-Manchester United manager was sacked after just two Bundesliga games — the shortest stint before a dismissal in league history. Speaking to reporters, Rolfes said the decision, while tough, was necessary. “If you have the feeling that you’re going in the wrong direction, you shouldn’t wait until you get there,” he said. “If it’s not a good fit, it’s better to split.”

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Warriors ready for Kuminga return after new deal

The Golden State Warriors are set to welcome Jonathan Kuminga back after the forward agreed to a two-year contract worth up to $46.5 million. Kuminga was due in the Bay Area on Wednesday and expected at Chase Center on Thursday for a physical and his first practice. Coach Steve Kerr said his first step will be a sit-down with the 23-year-old. “At the heart of any good team culture is communication. We have to have a really good sit down,” Kerr said. Kerr stressed the offense will still run through Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler III, urging Kuminga to focus on defence and running the floor to earn more minutes. “Everybody progresses at a different rate,” Kerr added. “There will be times we’ll get him the ball and run the offense through him.” The Warriors also signed veteran centre Al Horford, 39, on Wednesday.

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haliburton misses game 4 vs celtics

Haliburton feels rehab will let him ‘see the game in a different way’

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton addressed reporters for the first time. Since he ruptured his Achilles in the Game 7 of the NBA Finals during Pacers media day on Monday. “It’s coming along. I feel like I’m right on cue, right where I’m supposed to be at this point,” Haliburton said. “Just taking it one day at a time. It’s a monotonous thing of everyday it feels like you’re doing the same thing over and over.” Haliburton, 25, was key in the Pacers’ historic playoff run, hitting multiple circus shots while leading Indiana to its first Finals in 25 years. Haliburton described his summer as “a drag.” “He’s right on pace where he needs to be,” Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan told reporters during Pacers front office media availability last Thursday. “He’s going through the typical rehab procedure with an Achilles, which can be kind of monotonous and tedious, but it’s part of the long-term growth of getting yourself back healthy.”

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Rockets’ Finney-Smith set to miss season opener after ankle surgery

Houston Rockets forward Dorian Finney-Smith is unlikely to feature in the team’s NBA opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Oct. 21, coach Ime Udoka confirmed Wednesday. “No, probably not,” Udoka said when asked if Finney-Smith would be ready. The 31-year-old is still recovering from off-season surgery on his left ankle and has not been cleared for contact drills, though he has been active in shooting sessions and receiving treatment during practice. Finney-Smith signed a four-year, $53 million deal with Houston in the summer after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers. He averaged 7.9 points and 3.6 rebounds last season and holds career averages of 8.3 points and 4.5 rebounds from stints with Dallas and Brooklyn.

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Davis to wear protective goggles after offseason eye surgery

Dallas Mavericks big man Anthony Davis revealed Monday that he had off-season surgery to repair a detached retina in his right eye and will need to wear protective eyewear for the rest of his NBA career. “You guys will see me in the Horace Grants,” Davis joked, referencing the former NBA star known for his goggles. “It won’t be like that, but I will have some protective eyewear for sure.” The injury dated back to April 2, when teammate Daniel Gafford’s accidental elbow struck Davis during a game against Atlanta. Davis received stitches that night and returned to play but only learned during a summer check-up that surgery was required. The 31-year-old spent much of the summer recovering and resumed 5-on-5 play in late September. He is expected to be a full participant when training camp opens Tuesday in Vancouver. Acquired from the Lakers in February as part of the Luka Dončić trade, Davis appeared in only nine games for Dallas last season due to a left adductor strain. “I think the biggest thing with our team is our health,” Davis said. “I’m happy to be here. I want to win here.”

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Johnson comeback sparks Hawks’ hopes for breakout season

The Atlanta Hawks believe a healthy Jalen Johnson could be the missing piece to push them up the Eastern Conference ladder this season. The 6-foot-9 forward is back after torn labrum surgery on his left shoulder ended his season last January. Despite playing just 36 games last year, Johnson posted career highs in points (18.9), rebounds (10.0), steals (1.6), blocks (1.0), and minutes (35.7). “It’s been a long time since January,” Johnson said Thursday. “I’m excited to get on the court… preseason, training camp. I’m full go and fully healthy going into the season.” Johnson trained with LeBron James this summer and focused on improving his shooting. The Hawks also added Kristaps Porziņģis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard to bolster the roster. Coach Quin Snyder believes Johnson’s skill set will elevate the team: “Other guys benefit from Jalen because of his play-making ability. He’s such a good and willing passer… with the new lineup he’ll get spacing to just catch and shoot. We trust him to let it fly.”

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