Bugaluu :: Sports

Top-ranked Gonzaga and No. 2 Baylor will play in Indianapolis on Saturday for the ninth meeting between the top two teams in AP Top 25 since 2005. Gonzaga blew through its first two opponents, beating No. 7 Kansas and Auburn by a combined 35 points. The Zags faced a much stiffer test against No. 11 West Virginia Wednesday night in Indianapolis.

The Tigers (8-1, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) can lock up a berth in the conference championship game – and a rematch with unbeaten No. 2 Notre Dame – with a victory. The Hokies are coming off a bye week that coach Justin Fuente said allowed him to give many of his veteran players a much-needed break. The teams last met in 2017, a 31-17 Clemson victory, and Virginia Tech (4-5, 4-4) comes into the game having lost three in a row.

The Crimson Tide (8-0 SEC, overall) hasn’t missed a beat this season and tops the playoff rankings. The Tigers (3-4) have struggled mightily after a mass exodus of talent from the national championship team. Alabama is 17-2 in rematches after losing under Saban, though LSU won back to back games in 2010 and 2011.

Trent Alexander-Arnold believes having fans back in stadiums will have a huge influence on games for the rest of the season. The Liverpool full-back has described the atmosphere of a packed Anfield as “spiritual” and is relishing the return of supporters after football closed its doors for the coronavirus pandemic in March. Jurgen Klopp’s team won the Premier League title behind closed doors but can have 2,000 fans back after the Government sanctioned a return for spectators under the tier system. “It’s difficult because you don’t realise how much fans influence game plans, like with momentum and the sounds you can hear… I miss the fans so much. It feels empty without them,” said Alexander-Arnold in an interview for Red Bull with Ian Wright. “Even though you know they’re watching at home and they’re all over the world tuning in, it’s not the same without them. Football’s not the same. Obviously times are hard and stuff like that but it’s the world we live in right now. “I miss the route into the stadium, all the fans there, tens of thousands waiting to greet us every single game. No matter what, there’s at least ten thousand fans just waiting to watch the bus come into the stadium, it’s crazy.” Alexander-Arnold, 22, started going to Anfield as a fan before playing for his hometown club on famous European nights like Champions League wins over Barcelona and Manchester City. “I’m telling you there’s something in the stadium, like spiritual,” said Alexander-Arnold. “It’s just something in the atmosphere, you can feel the history, you can feel [the force], yeah. “The Barca game was obviously amazing but that City game [Champions League in 2018], I’ve never felt like that. “The only negative about those nights is you can’t speak to your centre-back as you can’t even hear them. You’re screaming at the top of your lungs, and they can’t hear you! You’re trying to tell the, ‘Your shoulder, watch your shoulder’, but they can’t hear you. That’s the only negative, but it’s a positive really.” To watch ‘Can’t Wait to See You’ in full head to: redbull.co.uk/cantwait

In a few short days, Elfyn Evans could become Britain’s first World Rally champion in almost two decades and join elite company that includes Richard Burns, Colin McRae and Louise Aitken-Walker. She tells NICK GARTON what he needs to do at Monza

BMW is in discussions to continue to supply the Andretti team with powertrains after the manufacturer’s exit from Formula E at the end of the 2020-21 season

The club’s training headquarters remain closed.