SPORTS

The most eagerly anticipated World Series showdown in decades gets under way here Friday as the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the New York Yankees in what promises to be a baseball blockbuster for the ages.

In 2011 Japan won the competition but they have since been overtaken, with women's football booming in Europe in recent years.

The champions are two points behind league leaders Napoli before what is traditionally the biggest league match of their season, a red-hot rivalry which easily tops the Milan derby for pure hatred.

Real Madrid came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund 5-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday with Vinicius Junior scoring a hat-trick, as Aston Villa maintained their 100 percent record to go top of the table.

The future of the 2026 edition was thrown into doubt when the Australian state of Victoria, the original hosts, withdrew last year citing rising costs.

Borussia Dortmund travel to Real Madrid Tuesday in a rematch of last season's Champions League final amid worrying form and criticism of coach Nuri Sahin.

An outstanding all-round performance by Amelia Kerr led the country to their historic first Women's T20 World Cup crown as they beat South Africa by 32 runs in Dubai.

The 38-year-old Nadal, who announced last week he would retire from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month, lost 6-3, 6-3 to 21-year-old Alcaraz in the semi-finals of the "Six Kings Slam" event in Saudi Arabia.

Liverpool are top of the table after six wins from their first seven games, but the schedule is about to get far more demanding for a team chasing their first Premier League title since 2020.

Pogba's contract with the Italian giants expires in June 2026 and is currently worth eight million euros ($8.684 million) a year.

On Monday, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the body running the top two leagues in France, the National Rugby League (LNR), voiced their concern with the idea.

After Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported that an alleged rape had been reported to police but did not say who was accused, Expressen newspaper said 25-year-old Mbappe was the suspect.

Jamie Leweling of Stuttgart scored on his debut to give Germany victory over the Netherlands in Munich and guarantee them one of the top two spots in Group 3 of League A.

Jack Grealish put England ahead in the first half, then Trent Alexander-Arnold curled in a superb free-kick and Declan Rice sealed the win inside the final 20 minutes, before Arttu Hoskonen netted a late consolation for the hosts.

Messi, who missed Argentina's last round of fixtures in September due to injury, looked to have put the world champions on course for victory after his free-kick helped set up Nicolas Otamendi's 13th-minute opener in the Venezuelan city of Maturin.

Slovene superstar Pogacar wrote himself into the history books last month when he was crowned world champion for the first time.

The 38-year-old Spaniard is set to end his two decades as a professional with 92 titles and prize money alone of $135 million.

Both teams hit the woodwork in a lively start to the Group D clash at a sold-out Joie Stadium in Manchester, with City grabbing the lead when defender Naomi Layzell bravely scrambled home.

The stadium began hosting concerts again earlier this year after it completed a years-long revamp that included an undulating metal roof, new lighting, shops, VIP areas and a retractable pitch.

The playmaker called time on a sensational career on Tuesday aged 40, most of which he spent pulling the midfield strings for Barcelona's most decorated side.

The duo appeared together at the start of the second quarter in the Lakers' 118-114 preseason defeat to the Phoenix Suns in Palm Desert, east of Los Angeles.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) was called on to decide a long-running dispute between former French footballer Lassana Diarra and FIFA, over what happens when players unilaterally terminate their contract.

Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City will all be confident of three points heading into the international break, with last season's top three setting the pace once more.

The court of justice of the European Union (CJEU) will decide whether a player can unilaterally terminate his contract, sparked by a dispute between Diarra and his former club Lokomotiv Moscow a decade ago.

The record 20-time English champions are off to their joint-worst start in the Premier League era, collecting just seven points from six games and scoring a mere five goals.

The Blues have endured a torrid period on and off the pitch since winning the Champions League for the second time in their history in 2021.

Unai Emery has warned Aston Villa that fatigue will be no excuse as his side aim to emulate the most memorable night in the club's history against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

She says around 50 people came to try out the sport during two separate beginners' sessions organized this month, meaning she expects to end up with around 30 percent more duelists compared with last year.

Mikel Arteta's side have emerged as Europe's preeminent force at corners and free-kicks thanks to their set-piece guru Nicolas Jover.