Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City need a rebuild after a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick sent Real Madrid through with a 6-3 aggregate win. City's early exit marks their worst Champions League campaign under Guardiola. "We've had a bad year. The better team won," he said, citing injuries and poor form. Despite spending £170 million in January, City struggled. Guardiola praised Madrid as the strongest version he has faced: "They can dominate possession, defend high, or sit back. You have to congratulate them."
Manchester City’s Champions League run ended meekly as Kylian Mbappe’s stunning hat-trick propelled Real Madrid into the last 16. Trailing 3-2 from the first leg, City’s hopes faded early when Mbappe lobbed in a fourth-minute opener. Their woes deepened as John Stones limped off, and Mbappe doubled Madrid’s lead with a brilliant solo effort before halftime. He completed his hat-trick after the hour, sealing City’s earliest UCL exit since 2012-13. Nico Gonzalez pulled one back, but it was mere consolation on a humiliating night for Pep Guardiola, who now faces a major rebuild.
India captain Rohit Sharma regretted missing a straightforward catch at slip, which could have secured Axar Patel a hat-trick during his team's Champions Trophy victory over Bangladesh. "That was a simple catch—I should have taken it," Rohit admitted during the post-match presentation. "Given the standards I've set for myself in the slips, it was disappointing. But I understand that these things happen. Still, the way our bowlers performed was what truly set up the game for us. "They were 36 [35] for 5, but then built a strong partnership, which is always a possibility in cricket. Credit to [Towhid] Hridoy and Jaker Ali—they batted exceptionally well to put together that stand. As for our batting, I thought we were very clinical."
Pakistan were fined five percent of their match fee on Thursday for maintaining a slow over-rate during their Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi. The defending champions and tournament hosts suffered a 60-run defeat to New Zealand on Wednesday. According to the ICC, Pakistan fell one over short of the required target after time allowances were factored in. The charge was brought by on-field umpires Richard Kettleborough and Sharfuddoula, along with third umpire Joel Wilson and fourth umpire Alex Wharf. Match referee Andy Pycroft enforced the penalty, deducting five percent of the players' match fees. Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan accepted the charge, eliminating the need for a formal hearing. As per Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, teams failing to complete their overs within the allotted time are fined five percent of their match fee per over.
The Red Sox have reached a three-year, $120 million agreement with free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. The team has yet to confirm the deal, which reportedly includes two opt-out clauses. Bregman is said to have declined longer offers, including a six-year deal worth over $170 million, instead choosing a shorter contract with a higher annual salary. His position in Boston’s lineup remains uncertain, as the team already has Rafael Devers at third base. This could result in Bregman shifting to second base or Devers moving to first to accommodate him. However, moving Devers to first or designated hitter would mean displacing either Triston Casas or Masataka Yoshida.
The Cubs were among the teams pursuing free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman before he reportedly agreed to a three-year, $120 million deal with the Red Sox. With Bregman off the table, how will Chicago adjust? The frontrunner to take over at third base is Matt Shaw, MLB Pipeline’s No. 19 prospect. However, the Cubs are also considering adding a veteran infielder, with Justin Turner emerging as a potential target. According to The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney and Ken Rosenthal (subscription required), the Cubs have expressed interest in the 40-year-old Turner. League sources indicate that Turner and his wife, Kourtney—who is from Indiana—are open to the idea of spending the summer in Chicago.
