‘Nobody will want to face Man City in the Champions League’

1. Guardiola’s trophy hunters ease into UCL last eight

Football

Manchester City remain on course for a historic quadruple after securing their place in Friday’s Uefa Champions League quarter-final draw. Goals from Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan saw the Sky Blues beat Borussia Monchengladbach 2-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate.

City are 14 points clear at the top of the Premier League and through to the final of the League Cup and quarter-finals of the FA Cup. But despite huge investment in the squad in the past few years, winning the Champions League remains the “big one” for Pep Guardiola and his side, the BBC reports.

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“As much as they have impressed domestically, City have underachieved in the Champions League,” says the Manchester Evening News. While there are probably teams they would rather avoid in Friday’s draw, “nobody will want to face them”.

2. ‘I am so grateful’: Tiger Woods returns home

Golf

Tiger Woods has left hospital and returned home to continue his recovery three weeks after his serious car crash in California.

The 15-time major winner had to have surgery for multiple fractures to his right tibia and fibula with additional screws and pins inserted into bones in his foot and ankle.

Confirming his release from hospital, the 45-year-old issued a statement to thank the “incredible surgeons, doctors, nurses and staff” at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for taking “such great care of me”.

Now focusing on “getting stronger everyday”, the golf icon said he was “so grateful for the outpouring of support and encouragement” received over the past few weeks.

3. Female ref and TMO to officiate PRO14 fixture

Rugby Union

Rugby union history will be made on Friday with a female referee and female television match official (TMO) taking charge of the PRO14 clash between Munster and Benetton.

With Hollie Davidson named as referee and Joy Neville serving as TMO it will be the “first men’s professional match where both roles are filled by female officials”, says Sky Sports.

Greg Garner, the PRO14’s elite referee manager, said it was “very rewarding” to see Davidson earn the right to make her debut while Neville’s appointment was “ground-breaking for the sport”.

4. Morgan joins the T20 elite after 100th cap for England

Cricket

England have taken a 2-1 lead in the five-match Twenty20 international (T20I) series against India. The eight-wicket victory in Ahmedabad was a memorable one for England captain Eoin Morgan who was making his 100th appearance in the format.

Morgan admits he was “close to tears” after vice-captain Jos Buttler presented him with a special cap to mark his 100th T20I, the BBC reports. The skipper said it was a “really proud moment” after becoming the first England player to reach 100 caps.

England’s “hallmark display” was “befitting the night” as Morgan joined the T20 elite, says The Times’s Michael Atherton. Morgan’s team can secure the series with a win in the fourth T20I on Thursday.

5. Liverpool owners FSG add LeBron James as partner

Sports business

NBA star LeBron James has become a minor partner in Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the owners of Premier League champions Liverpool and Major League Baseball franchise the Boston Red Sox.

LA Lakers small forward James has been a part-owner of Liverpool since 2011 after buying a 2% stake in the Anfield club. He and business partner Maverick Carter will become the first two black men to be a part of the FSG ownership group.

“I think it’s pretty damn cool,” said the 36-year-old. “It gives me and people that look like me, hope and inspiration that they can be in a position like that as well.”