Barcelona beat Aston Villa 3-0 in the Champions League, ending Villa’s perfect start in the competition. Lamine Yamal scored in the first half and Raphinha added two goals after halftime as Barcelona recorded their first Champions League clean sheet in 19 matches.
Key Facts
Yamal opened the scoring in the seventh minute after Villa gave the ball away near their own goal.
Raphinha scored twice in the second half, bringing his season total across all competitions to 19 goals.
Barcelona had lost to Paris Saint-Germain in their previous European match and remained in contention for a top-eight league-phase place.
The Champions League anthem was not played before the match in tribute to Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, who died after an on-pitch collision the previous day.
Bayern Munich beat Atletico Madrid with second-half goals from Lennart Karl and Konrad Laimer.
Paris Saint-Germain defeated Villarreal 6-0 and set a record for the fastest four goals scored in a Champions League match.
Manchester United came back from two goals down to beat AS Roma 3-2, with Matheus Cunha scoring twice after halftime.
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Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old first-time marathon runner from Pennsylvania, collapsed in Central Park about two miles from the finish of the New York City Marathon on Sunday and died that night. Her father said she died from rhabdomyolysis, a condition in which muscle breakdown can release harmful substances into the blood; the city medical examiner is still investigating her cause of death.
Key Facts
Apa was running with the Parkinson's Foundation Champions to raise money and honor her grandfather.
She had trained for months and was an athlete who played field hockey at Bucknell University.
A bystander performed CPR after she collapsed near mile marker 24, before race medical staff arrived.
The New York Police Department said she was taken to hospital in critical condition.
Apa graduated from Bucknell in 2024 with a business degree and later worked as a product manager at an industrial technology company.
More than 61,000 people took part in this year's New York City Marathon.
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Haas says Esteban Ocon will not race for the team again in the 2026 season. Brazilian rookie Rafael Camara will replace him at this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix, while Haas has not named the driver for the remaining races.
Key Facts
Haas said Ocon would no longer compete for the team in the 2026 world championship.
Rafael Camara, whom Haas has signed for 2027, will drive for the team at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Haas previously replaced Ocon with reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa during the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend.
The Mexico City change followed a reported dispute about tyre choice during practice.
Ocon said there had been a difference of viewpoints but denied reports that physical violence was involved.
Haas has not explained what led to Ocon’s removal or named his replacement for the later races.
Ocon has raced in 198 grands prix since his 2016 debut and has one victory.
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Jodie Burrage received death threats and abusive messages on social media after losing her first WTA Tour singles match in 16 months. She lost to India’s Vaishnavi Adkar in the first round of the Chennai Open, while fellow player Eva Lys called on the WTA to act against online abuse.
Key Facts
Burrage, 27, is ranked 474th in the world and previously reached a career-high ranking of 85th in September 2023.
Adkar came from a set down to beat Burrage 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Burrage shared a video of abusive direct messages on Instagram and wrote that the messages reminded her why she had left the tour.
Burrage’s previous WTA Tour main-draw singles match was at Wimbledon in July 2025.
A report said female tennis players received more than 12,000 abusive social media posts and messages in 2025.
The report said gamblers were responsible for 42% of verified abuse and 59% of serious abuse cases in 2025.
Eva Lys publicly supported Burrage and asked the WTA when it would take action.
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Scottish-born coach Clark Laidlaw led the Hurricanes to the 2026 Super Rugby title in his third season in charge. Now a New Zealand passport holder, he says he hopes Scotland can beat the All Blacks when they meet at Murrayfield, while also supporting New Zealand in its other matches.
Key Facts
The Hurricanes finished top of the regular-season table and won the 2026 Super Rugby championship.
The Hurricanes beat the Brumbies 66-12, the Blues 57-21 and the Chiefs 60-5 in the playoffs.
Laidlaw has spent 18 years in New Zealand, on and off, and now holds a New Zealand passport.
He left Scotland at age 30 to work as a skills coach for Taranaki.
Before coaching the Hurricanes, Laidlaw coached New Zealand sevens teams to Commonwealth Games and World Cup Sevens gold medals and an Olympic silver medal in Tokyo.
Eight Hurricanes players were named in Dave Rennie's All Blacks touring squad.
Laidlaw says he wants Scotland to beat New Zealand but also wants the All Blacks to win their other matches.
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Scotland manager Sebastien Pocognoli says he wants to make targeted improvements rather than overhaul the team after a mixed first camp. Scotland face North Macedonia and Switzerland in their final Nations League matches before beginning preparations for Euro 2028 qualifying.
Key Facts
Pocognoli’s Scotland won one of his first four matches in charge.
Scotland lost 3-0 to Switzerland after Jack Hendry was sent off early, then lost at home to Slovenia.
Captain Andy Robertson said Scotland were outfought and not good enough in the defeat to Slovenia.
Scott McTominay, Che Adams and Kieran Tierney return to the squad for the upcoming matches.
James Penrice received his first Scotland call-up after strong form with Rangers.
Scotland sit third in Nations League Group B1 and need at least four points to have a chance of reaching the promotion play-offs.
The Euro 2028 qualifying draw is scheduled for 6 December in Belfast, with group matches starting in March next year.
Scotland is co-hosting Euro 2028 with England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
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Hundreds of people attended the funeral of Irish Olympian Ciara Mageean in Portaferry, County Down, on Tuesday. Mageean, a former European champion who competed at two Olympic Games, died on Sunday after being diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer.
Key Facts
A tribute read at the funeral described Mageean as a talented and inspirational person.
The funeral took place at St Patrick's Church in Portaferry.
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill and fellow Olympian Rhys McClenaghan attended.
Mageean married her long-term partner, Thomas Moran, less than three weeks before her death.
She represented Ireland at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games.
Mageean won the 1,500-metre title at the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome.
She won silver for Northern Ireland at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
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The 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been postponed by almost a year amid concerns about missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement. Conflict-related security concerns have also disrupted football and Formula 1 events in the region, while several upcoming races remain uncertain.
Key Facts
The Asian Cup was moved from 7 January–5 February 2027 to 23 December 2027–21 January 2028.
The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Formula 1 race weekends were canceled in April because of the US-Iran conflict.
The Qatar and Abu Dhabi Formula 1 races scheduled for late 2026 could be canceled if the regional situation worsens.
Formula 1 is considering replacing the Abu Dhabi weekend with a single race in Imola if the Middle East races are called off.
Some Saudi Pro League matches were postponed, though the league cited rest periods and logistical requirements rather than the conflict.
The Saudi Pro League called off this weekend’s full round of matches after the Asian Cup postponement, saying it would revise the calendar.
Al-Nassr and Al-Wasl did not travel for scheduled AFC Champions League matches, which will be rearranged.
The 2027 Formula 1 season is scheduled to begin in Bahrain, followed by a race in Saudi Arabia.
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The article examines how athletes’ remarks and gestures can trigger pressure from sponsors, clubs, leagues and governments. It contrasts Kylian Mbappe’s joke about an image of Mao Zedong with deliberate protests by Colin Kaepernick and Lamine Yamal, and argues that commercial ties can restrict athletes’ public speech.
Key Facts
The article says Chinese sponsors withdrew support after Mbappe made a remark about an image that apparently placed his face on Mao Zedong’s.
Chinese state television suspended broadcasts of La Liga, and Mbappe and Real Madrid apologized.
Colin Kaepernick knelt during the U.S. national anthem to protest systemic racism and police killings of Black people; the article says he was effectively frozen out of the NFL.
After Lamine Yamal waved a Palestinian flag during Barcelona’s title celebrations, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz accused him of inciting hatred and called for the club to distance itself from the gesture.
The article cites ancient Greek writer Pausanias’s account that Croton residents tore down a statue of runner Astylus and turned his house into a prison after he identified himself as a Syracusan at the Olympics.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said athletes may be better off staying silent because comments can be dangerous.
The article argues that commercial relationships can give sponsors, clubs and leagues leverage over athletes’ speech.
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England will face France, Austria and Portugal in Group A2 of the 2027 Women's Nations League. The campaign will run across international windows in February-March, April and June, with teams playing home and away.
Key Facts
The draw took place in Nyon, Switzerland.
The Nations League group stage is scheduled for three international windows in February-March, April and June 2027.
The competition helps determine qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games and Euro 2029.
The four League A group winners will reach the semi-finals in October 2027.
The Nations League final will decide the competition's champion.
Scotland will play Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.
The Republic of Ireland will face Spain, Norway and Switzerland.
Wales will play Denmark, Italy and Iceland, while Northern Ireland will face Poland, Finland and Belarus.
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Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland say their national teams will not play Russia in international ice hockey while the war in Ukraine continues. Their statements follow a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that Russia must be admitted to the 2027 World Championship; the IIHF has opposed the ruling.
Key Facts
Norway said it would refuse to play Russia at the 2027 World Championship but would play its other group matches.
Denmark's federation said it could not see its team playing Russia under the current circumstances.
Sweden said its national teams would not play Russian teams while the war in Ukraine continues.
Finland said it would use all possible means to prevent Russia from returning to the championships.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled on October 30 that Russia must be admitted to the world championships after an appeal by the Russian Ice Hockey Federation.
The 2027 World Championship is scheduled to take place in Germany in May, and its draw and schedule were made without Russia.
The IIHF opposed the court ruling and said it would create significant practical implications.
Turku, Finland, said it would withdraw from hosting the 2027–2028 junior world championships if Russia is allowed to take part.
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William Saliba has returned to full training after missing Arsenal’s campaign so far with a back injury. His recovery gives Mikel Arteta another option in central defence, where summer signing Ezri Konsa has formed a strong partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes.
Key Facts
Saliba had been managing a back problem and began a lengthy rehabilitation after consulting a specialist.
Arsenal said Saliba would return cautiously; the club had not set a return date.
Konsa joined Arsenal from Aston Villa for £55 million shortly before the season began.
Konsa has started seven of Arsenal’s nine Premier League matches this season.
Arsenal have conceded five goals in nine league games, the fewest in the league, according to the article.
Saliba and Gabriel helped Arsenal concede 27 league goals last season, when the club won the Premier League title.
Saliba was named to the PFA Team of the Year for the fourth consecutive time.
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England scrum-half Alex Mitchell will miss the entire Nations Championship after suffering his fourth hamstring injury of 2026. England also reported that fly-half Fin Smith is recovering from a calf problem, while Jack van Poortvliet is likely to start at scrum-half against Australia.
Key Facts
Mitchell was injured during Northampton's 28-14 win over Gloucester last Saturday.
England said Mitchell will miss matches against Australia, Japan and New Zealand this month.
Mitchell, 29, has now suffered four hamstring injuries in 2026.
Bath's Ben Spencer and Bristol Bears' Harry Randall were called into England's squad as scrum-half options.
Fin Smith took part in limited training while recovering from a calf injury.
Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie and flanker Tom Curry joined modified training and are expected to be available for selection.
England head coach Steve Borthwick is due to name the team to face Australia on Friday.
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Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel, 30, died after suffering cardiac arrest following a collision with Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during a Spanish second-division match. Spanish police opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter, and the match was abandoned.
Key Facts
The collision occurred during added time on Monday, Nov. 2, when Owono challenged De Miguel for a ball near midfield.
Owono received a straight red card after the collision.
De Miguel was taken to a hospital, where he later died, according to his club.
Police said they opened an investigation on Tuesday, and prosecutors will also be involved.
The match was tied 2-2 when officials abandoned it.
Tenerife and Andorra, along with Spanish soccer organizations and clubs, expressed condolences.
The Spanish soccer federation postponed two Copa del Rey matches and one Copa de la Reina match scheduled for Tuesday.
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Rugby Football League chief executive Ian Nolan has backed former England player Jon Wilkin’s request for £30 million in government funding over five years for a Northern Rugby League social impact partnership. The proposal would bring together the RFL, clubs, community groups, local authorities and government departments to support disadvantaged communities in northern England.
Key Facts
Wilkin appealed to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to support the funding plan.
Nolan took up his role as RFL chief executive on 1 October.
Wilkin pointed to Australia’s A$250 million, 10-year commitment to the Pacific Rugby League Partnership as a comparison.
The Australian program aims to support sporting, educational and employment opportunities in Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji.
Nolan said established rugby league clubs could help reach communities because local families already use them.
England’s men’s and women’s teams both exited the Rugby League World Cup at the group stage, the first time neither reached the final four.
The RFL has launched a consultation with English rugby league figures under an initiative called One Game, One England.
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Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel, 30, died in hospital after suffering cardiac arrest following a collision with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a La Liga 2 match on November 2, 2026. Owono received a straight red card, and local police were reported to have opened an investigation; the article does not establish whether he will face further punishment.
Key Facts
Owono is 25 and was born in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, before moving to Spain’s Basque Country as a child.
He joined Alaves in 2017 and made his first-team debut in January 2022.
Owono joined Andorra permanently in August after spending the previous season there on loan.
He has represented Equatorial Guinea 46 times since making his debut in March 2019.
The collision occurred in stoppage time, and the referee showed Owono a straight red card.
The article says Owono returned to the scene after walking toward the touchline and stayed until club officials led him away.
The article reports online abuse and calls for a life ban or criminal charges, but does not report a decision on any further punishment.
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Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel, 30, died after a collision with Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during a Spanish second-division match on Monday. Spanish police opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter, and prosecutors will also be involved.
Key Facts
De Miguel suffered cardiac arrest after the collision, and his club later said his neurological condition had worsened.
The collision happened near midfield in added time as Owono challenged De Miguel for a long ball.
Owono received a straight red card after the incident.
Medical staff took De Miguel to a hospital, and the 2-2 match was abandoned.
De Miguel made his professional debut with Leganés B in 2015 and joined Tenerife last year.
The Spanish soccer federation postponed two Copa del Rey matches and one Copa de la Reina match scheduled for Tuesday.
Clubs and soccer organizations in Spain and abroad offered condolences.
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The Saudi Pro League postponed matches scheduled for the coming week while it reviews its 2026–27 fixture calendar. The move followed the rescheduling of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, which will now run from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028, after attacks in Saudi Arabia.
Key Facts
The Saudi Pro League announced the postponement two days before the affected match week was due to begin.
The league said it would announce new dates for matchweek 13 after completing its schedule review.
The 24-team Asian Cup had been scheduled for January 7 to February 5, 2027.
The Asian Football Confederation said it decided on the new dates after discussions with Saudi Arabia’s tournament organizers and football federation.
The article reports that an attack on Riyadh’s international airport last month killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 300.
Yemen’s Houthis claimed responsibility for that attack, according to the article.
Further attacks on the airport within a week killed at least five more people.
A Riyadh match between Al-Nassr and Al Wasl in the AFC Champions League Elite was postponed last month amid a missile threat.
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Luka Dončić scored 42 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat 138-117 on Monday. Giannis Antetokounmpo said Dončić could be the best scorer in NBA history, while Dončić added 13 assists and seven rebounds.
Key Facts
The Lakers defeated the Heat 138-117.
Dončić scored 42 points in the game.
Dončić averaged 38.3 points per game for the season, the highest mark in the NBA at the time of the article.
Antetokounmpo said Dončić was among the best scorers ever and could be the best.
Dončić averaged 43.4 points over his previous five games.
The Lakers had a 6-2 record to start the season.
Dončić's career scoring average was 29.32 points per game, behind Michael Jordan's 30.12 and Wilt Chamberlain's 30.07.
Dončić also recorded 13 assists and seven rebounds against the Heat.
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Jon Rahm said he left LIV Golf because he objected to its plans for “LIV 2.0,” which he said moved away from team golf. He said he might consider returning to the PGA Tour even if he faced penalties, but he does not know whether he would receive the same terms as Brooks Koepka.
Key Facts
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund withdrew its backing of LIV Golf in April after investing more than $5 billion, according to the article.
LIV Golf filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States in September.
LIV Golf has secured possible financing of $300 million as it seeks to continue as “LIV 2.0.”
Rahm reached an agreement to leave LIV Golf in October.
Rahm joined LIV Golf in December 2023 after leaving the PGA Tour; his deal was reported to be worth $300 million.
Rahm said LIV’s plans for “LIV 2.0” had too many unknowns and seemed to move away from team golf.
The PGA Tour allows LIV golfers to return after a one-year ban; the DP World Tour also offers a route to PGA Tour membership for its leading players.
Rahm said he would probably accept penalties like those imposed on Brooks Koepka if offered the same terms.
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