data-mm-id=”_dpdswt733″>After several lengthy months, the return of baseball is upon us. July 23 will bring the first regular-season MLB matchup since September. The Washington Nationals will kick us off against the New York Yankees in an empty Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. Nearly empty, that is. There will be one fan showing up to start the festivities: one Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has been selected as the man to throw the first pitch of the 2020 MLB season. A statement from the Washington Nationals regarding Opening Day. pic.twitter.com/iejxXeAA4V— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 20, 2020Fauci is a big Nationals fan (as can be seen by his sweet team mask in the cover photo of this story) and is probably quite excited about this opportunity. It is, in a way, strange to honor Fauci by having him launch an endeavor that he himself would probably classify as quite risky. MLB will be the first sports organization to attempt to put on a season without the benefit of a bubble environment to keep players and staff at minimum risk. It could work out and fans can enjoy the season from the comfort of their homes without worrying about their favorite players catching and/or spreading coronavirus. It could also fall apart in a disastrous manner. Either way, there's no ignoring the fact that baseball will be held in the backdrop of a global pandemic. Fauci is the face of the battle against COVID-19 in America. He's the natural choice and, circumstances aside, will do his best to enjoy this experience. He'll become the first, and probably the last, person to throw a first pitch for a game in an entirely empty stadium, devoid of all except those who will be on the field. It will be eerie, but it means baseball is back, for better or for worse.
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The Brazil international opted to join Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 after leaving Juventus following a one-year spell in Italy.
He looks back fondly at his fine spell with PSG that led to six trophies including two Ligue 1 titles.
But Alves, who won two of his three Champions League crowns under Guardiola at Barcelona, now looks back and wishes he had taken a chance to work with the Catalan coach once more.
Alves, 38, told SporTV: I regret not going to Manchester City to work with Guardiola again.
When you are with people like him [Guardiola], who always finds a way out, it adds a lot to you. My regret was not having gone to work with him again.
B…
The final elite football game of the 2019-20 season in England will take place on Friday. Not a final, but a last-16 game in the Champions League. In August. Next season will start before the month is out.
In many respects, the new normal has become just that. Only when its component parts are listed does it sound completely bizarre. Manchester City versus Real Madrid will be staged without any of the normal razzamatazz and roars expected on such an occasion.
The big moments are the ones that linger from such defining evenings but, as all match-going fans know, it is – as Pep Guardiola might put it – the small details that contribute to the magic. Unchanging routines, familiar faces and a sense of community, within which new features quickly become part of the match…
This strangest of seasons has yielded a Champions League semi-final line-up of a kind not seen since 1991.
RB Leipzig, Paris Saint-Germain, Lyon and Bayern Munich will compete for a spot in the final. Two from France, two from Germany, with the prospect of a one-nation showdown for the trophy.
This is the first time in 29 years that no teams from England, Spain or Italy have reached this stage of the competition, which at that time was still called the European Cup.
The world looked very different back then, for our four semi-finalists and beyond
Skills showcase!
We had 8 star-studded quarter-finalists no shortage of entertainment
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague)
RB LEIPZIG
They didn t exist in 1991. In fact,…
Diego Simeone hopes Antoine Griezmann will stay with Atletico Madrid on a long-term basis after the France international helped Los Colchoneros make a positive start in LaLiga.
Griezmann came off the bench to score Atletico s third goal in a dominant opening-day win at Getafe on Monday, with Joao Felix recording three assists and Alvaro Morata scoring twice in a 3-0 triumph.
The 2018 World Cup winner is 12 months into a two-year loan spell in the Spanish capital, having endured a largely unhappy period with Barcelona between 2019 and 2021.
Reports suggest Atletico have an obligation to buy Griezmann should he hit a minimum number of appearances in LaLiga this season, and Simeone is keen to keep the 31-year-old.
We talked about it in the Getafe post-game.…
Diego Simeone insisted Atletico Madrid had produced one of their best displays this season in Wednesday s goalless Champions League draw with Club Brugge.
Atleti recorded 21 shots to Brugge s five as they dominated at the Civitas Metropolitano, but their poor European form continued as they failed to make the breakthrough.
The result ensured Brugge will progress to the Champions League s knockout stages for the first time in their history, but Atletico s chances of joining them are in doubt after taking just four points from four games in Group B.
Atleti have now failed to score in five of their last six Champions League matches, including each of their last three, but Simeone refused to criticise their performance.
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Alvaro Morata wants to end Juventus long wait for Champions League glory after completing a dream return to Turin.
The Spain striker is back with Juve on an initial one-year loan deal from Atletico Madrid, with the Serie A club having an option to buy Morata for €45million or spend a further €10m to loan him for a second campaign.
Morata previously spent two years with Juventus between 2014 and 2016, scoring 27 goals in 93 appearances before returning to Real Madrid and helping them to win the 2016-17 Champions League, when they beat the Bianconeri in the final.
Achieving European success with Juventus who last won the Champions League in 1996 is one of Morata s main goals.
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Juventus and Manchester City have opened talks regarding the proposed transfer of Kalvin Phillips in January, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Juventus expressed an interest in the former Leeds United midfielder last month, and last week they were contacted by City who wanted to know if the interest stood. It apparently does, but there is some way still to go before an agreement between the two clubs is reached.
Juventus have so far offered to take Phillips on loan for the rest of the season with an option to make the deal permanent in the summer. City, however, want to make the purchase at the end of the season mandatory.
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Mikel Arteta insisted Bukayo Saka will take Arsenal s next penalty, despite the England international failing from 12 yards in last weekend s 2-2 draw with West Ham United.
Saka, who had been successful from both his previous spot-kicks this season, shot wide at the London Stadium, with his miss proving costly as the title-chasing Gunners surrendered a 2-0 lead.
It was the 21-year-old s first failed attempt from 12 yards since Italy s Gianluigi Donnarumma infamously denied him in the Euro 2020 final 21 months earlier.
Nevertheless, Arteta was full of praise for Saka, who he is confident can use the setback to his advantage during the title run-in, which resumes against bottom side Southampton on Friday.
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France will not call up a replacement for Karim Benzema after the Ballon d Or winner was ruled out of the World Cup with a thigh injury, head coach Didier Deschamps has confirmed.
Deschamps side are looking to become the first team to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962, but they have suffered several injury blows ahead of the tournament in Qatar.
Having already seen midfielders Paul Pogba and N Golo Kante ruled out, France lost Presnel Kimpembe and Christopher Nkunku after naming their 26-man squad for the competition, but the most severe blow was still to come as Benzema was forced to leave their camp after failing to complete Saturday s training session.
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Dundee’s home game against Aberdeen was called off about an hour before kick-off to become the second cinch Premiership casualty of the wet weather.
The game between Ross County and Hibernian was earlier postponed after a 10am pitch inspection with the surface at the Global Energy Stadium deemed unplayable because of a waterlogged pitch.
Dundee announced after 2pm that their game had been called off by referee David Munro.
Our game with Dundee this afternoon has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and concerns over player safety.
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC)
A short statement read: “Due to persistent heavy rain this afternoon’s match against Aberdeen has been called off. The referee deeming that the goalmouth area of the pitch is un…