ATM SPORT

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

STARTING LINE-UP

MADRID VS ROMA

Real Madrid: Navas, Danilo, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Casemiro, Modric, Kroos, James, Bale, Ronaldo.

Roma: Szczesny, Florenzi, Manolas, Zukanovic, Digne, Pjanic, Keita, Salah, Perotti, El Shaarawy, Dzeko.

GENT VS WOLFSBURG
Gent : Sels; Rafinha, Nielsen, Gershon, Asare; Dejaegere, Neto, K**s, Matton; Simon, Milicevic.

Wolfsburg: Casteels, Träsch, Knoche, Dante, Rodriguez, Gustavo, Guilavogui, Schürrle, Arnold, Draxler, Kruse.

WHISTLE

Wenger's finally run out of excuses. He has nobody left to blame. It's over. He knows.... Arsene knows.

The who should win debate of the FIFA Balloon d'Or is arguably the most controversial debate in football.
Later tonight, three of the finest footballers who lighted the scene last year would be at the Kongresshaus in Zurich.

One of The Whistle News Bulletin's finest writers, Michael Adekoya explains why Lionel Messi should win this year's award

Lionel Messi will make a triumphant return to the stage at the Fifa Ballon d'Or ceremony in Zurich on Monday. He will probably take home the Puskas Award for best goal too.

Statistically, he had an awesome year, scoring 52 goals and collecting 26 assists in 61 games for club and country. Those numbers would have been much higher if not for an injury that sidelined him for most of the fall.

More important than that, the Argentine played a pivotal role in Barcelona winning five major trophies during 2015—foremost among them being the Champions League—and securing its second treble.

Besides, he provided us with so many moments
of brilliance, such as this highlight reel goal against
Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final which is in contention for the Pukas Award and so many more.

FOOTBALL UPDATE:

Africa U23 Nations Cup
7:00PM - Nigeria vs Egypt

English Capital One Cup [Quarter Finals]:
8:45PM - Southampton vs Liverpool

COPA DEL REY
8pm Barcelona - Villanovense
9pm Almeria - Celta Vigo
9pm Barakaldo - Valencia
9pm Betis - Gijon
9pm Llagostera - Dep. La Coruna
9pm Rayo Vallecano - Getafe
9pm UD Logrones - Sevilla
10pm Cadiz - Real Madrid

FOOTBALL NEWS:

Nigeria's Odion Ighalo has been shortlisted alongside Andre Ayew of Ghana, Cote d'ivoire's Arouna Kona and Yannick Bolaise from DR Congo for the November African Players awards in the English Premier League.

The Watford striker won last month's award and for the first time in the short span of the awards, the preceding month's winner has appeared on the list for the current month. The winner will be announced later this month.

FOOTBALL UPDATE:

Africa U23 Nations Cup [Group A]:
4:00PM - South Africa vs Zambia
7:00PM - Tunisia vs Senegal

English Capital One Cup [Quarter Finals]:
7:45PM - Manchester City vs Hull City
7:45PM - Middlesbrough vs Everton
7:45PM - Stoke City vs Shieffield Wednesday

Nigeria Professional Football League - Week 23 Results
Abia Warriors 1-0 Elkanemi Warriors
Bayelsa United 1-1 Enyimba Int'l FC
Nasarawa United 2-0 Heartland FC
Kwara United 0-1 Wikki Tourists
Akwa United 3-1 Sharks FC
Kano Pillars 4-1 Shooting Stars
Sunshine Stars 4-0 Giwa
Enugu Rangers 2-3 FC Ifeanyi Uba
Lobi Stars 2-1 FC Taraba
Warri Wolves 1-0 Dolphins

ATM SPORT NEWS

NAIJA
'Nigeria must be wary of Djibouti'- Mutiu Adepoju
Echiejile seeks loan move from Monaco

EUROPE
*'If I were Messi, I'd have quit Argentina'- MARTINO
*'I'm very happy to join PSG' - Di Maria
*Pep & De Jong in furious tunnel row
*Milan in pole position for Ibra - Galliani
*Bale: I want to play up front
*Brazil to meet Costa Rica
*Nobody leaving Real Madrid - Rafa
*Gotze: My future depends on Pep talk
*Pep: Schweini not fit for two years
*Mertesacker defends Ozil
*Bale ideal for United - Robson
*Mangala admits summer 'alarm bells'
*Benzema blow for Real Madrid
*Barca players vote Iniesta new captain
*UCL round-up: Ajax crash out and monaco cruise through
*Ibra to miss Lille clash with injury

TRANSFER NEWS
*Roma agree Dzeko fee
*Lindegaard set for Man Utd exit
*Newcastle to step up Lingard interest
*'Rahman has agreed Chelsea move'
*Chelsea ready £30m Stones bid
*Villa line up Diamanti swoop
*Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal forced Paris St-Germain to pay an extra £3m for forward Angel Di Maria after the 27-year-old posted a picture of himself with the French club's owner in Qatar.
*Van Gaal offered Pedro a role alongside Wayne Rooney and Memphis Depay in a new-look front three in order to convince him to move to Old Trafford.
*Wolfsburg are ready to sell 24-year-old midfielder Kevin De Bruyne - a Manchester City target - but only for £50m.
*West Ham are ready to return to Manchester United
with an improved offer for Mexico forward Javier
Hernandez of about £12m.
*Liverpool have been cleared to complete the signing of Alexandre Lacazette, 24, after Lyon reportedly told the striker he can leave.
*Southampton are set to open contract talks to keep
midfielder Victor Wanyama, 24, despite him having two years left on his current deal.
*Chelsea and Juventus have held talks with Cagliari over the signing of 19-year-old Ghanaian midfielder Godfred Donsah.

BOXING
Mayweather to face Berto in September

OLYMPICS
World Rowing wants Rio waters tested

BASKETBALL (NBA)
*Kobe: Lakers 'absolutely' can make playoffs
*Drake unveils new Raptors uniforms in concert
*Sources: Knicks, Seraphin agree to 1-year deal
*Spurs: Marjanovic (ankle) sidelined for Serbia
*Jazz PG Exum injures knee playing for Australia

TENNIS
*Racket Response: Nadal building confidence for summer swing
*Hewitt beats qualifier in first round of Citi Open
*Kohlschreiber advances at Generali Open
*Sixth-seeded Kerber cruises at Bank of the West

NIJA
*Falcons crash out of Rio 2016 Olympics
*Nigeria qualify for African U23 Champs

EUROPE
*Messi blasted for 'partying with oppressors'
*Wenger turns tables on Mourinho
*I don't give a f*** about Fifa - Ronaldo
*Barcelona lose third game in a row
*Terry: Defeat means nothing in PL race
*Mourinho throws away losers medal
*Juve will never sign Isco or Oscar'
*Cahill unconvinced by Arsenal threat
*Barca not good when not at 100%'- Luis Enrique
*Rooney enjoyed 'weird' Everton return
*Wenger snubbed handshake - Mourinho
*Wenger: We abandoned nothing
*'Arsenal overcame Chelsea complex’ -Wenger
*Bernardeschi basks in Barca beating
*Lewy eager to reach 100 BuLi goals
*Ronaldo: I never thought I'd be a pro

TRANSFER NEWS
*Man Utd agree £44.5m Di Maria sale
*'Stones won't be sold to Chelsea'
*Van Gaal reveals Pedro admiration
*Taechaubol seals Milan deal
*Juventus ponder Mascherano move
*Spurs to lose out on Soldado
*Arsenal beat United to Portuguese wonderkid
*Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has dismissed reports linking Real Madrid's 27-year-old striker Karim Benzema with a move to the club.
*Liverpool are looking to make a £14.9m bid for Real
Madrid's 24-year-old winger Denis Cheryshev.
*Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew says he hopes the club can finalise a deal for Sunderland's 22-year-old striker Connor Wickham.
*Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat hopes to sign Rubin
Kazan midfielder Yann M'Vila, 25, and take QPR's 25-
year-old midfielder Leroy Fer on a season-long loan.
*United's Brazilian defender Rafael Da Silva, 25, is
set to finalise a £2.1m move to Lyon. (Times -
subscription

TENNIS
Nadal wins Hamburg Open, closer to clay record
Thiem wins Swiss Open for second straight title
Hingis helps Washington Kastles win WTT title
Gasparyan wins Baku Cup for 1st WTA title

ATM SPORT NEWS

NAIJA
*Coach Odeh unsure of Falcons' chances
*Golden Eaglets pound Team Nigeria UK 9-0 in friendly
*Dolphins take home games to Adokiye Amiesimaka
Stadium
*Enugu Rangers assured of supports to end trophy
drought

EUROPE
*Ibra helps PSG down Man Utd
*Van Gaal on De Gea: 'Maybe he wants to go'
*LVG: 'I don't know where Di Maria is'
*'Messi is worshipped & sacrificed' -Jorge Valdano
*Kaka & Villa see off Spurs
*Ramos signs new deal
*'Mou did Arsenal a favour by selling Cech' - Flamini
*Beto: Sevilla don't fear Barca
*Mong-joon up for Fifa president
*'I don't know where Di Maria is!'-van gaal
*Van Gaal downbeat on De Gea saga
*Van Gaal must sign a centre-back
*Allegri: I was angry with Morata
*Zidane: Di Maria perfect for PSG
*Mourinho launches attack on Benitez
*Schneiderlin: I'll learn from Utd duo
*Filipe Luis: Chelsea spell was no failure
*Nuno says sorry for Franco t-shirt
* Messi and Neymar available for start of season
*Benitez cools Mourinho war of words
*Herrera apologises for alleged punch
*Drogba mobbed by Impact fans
Champions League
*CL qualifiers: Ajax spurn two-goal lead

TRANSFER NEWS
*Chelsea's second Stones bid rejected
*Roma loan Szczesny
*Man City join Stones chase
*Tottenham in for Lambert
*Swansea set £25m Williams fee
*Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli, 24, is a target for newly promoted Serie A side Bologna after the club confirmed they are mulling over a permanent transfer for the striker.
*Ashley Young is close to signing a new deal at
Manchester United, dashing Tottenham's hopes of
signing the 30-year-old, who has one year left on his
contract
*West Ham manager Slaven Bilic says the Hammers
have not given up on completing a permanent deal for
Barcelona midfielder Alex Song.
*Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is planning to make a move for Barcelona's 27-year-old midfielder Sergio Busquets.

TENNIS
*Federer pulls out of US Open tuneup in Montreal
*Hodgkinson: How Lendl could help Dimitrov
*Bodo: Hamburg could be an uphill battle for Nadal
*Pospisil brushes off heat, Lu in Atlanta Open

ATM SPORT NEWS
Pinnick unperturbed by Keshi’s lawsuit
Victor Moses’ reprieve at Chelsea

EUROPE
*Mourinho launches stinging Benitez attack
*Chelsea beat Barca after shoot-out
*Mourinho: Falcao will be feared
*Fabregas: I'll always love Arsenal
*Vidal: I can win the UCL with Bayern
*Porto chief mocks Mou's Casillas rant
*Jovetic arrival delights Mancini
*Arsenal form a boost - Wenger
*Van Gaal: It's Shaw's year to shine
*Mourinho launches attack on Benitez
*Mexico coach Herrera sacked
*Rivaldo: I'd dominate current era
*Vidal pens farewell message to Juventus
*Wenger: Hazard not at Messi's level yet
*Mourinho: Hazard better than Ronaldo
*Cesc: MSN best attack of last 25 years

TRANSFER NEWS
*Cillessen not going to Man Utd - De Boer
*Marseille reveal Diaby agreement
*Vidal signs for Bayern
*Filipe Luis rejoins Atletico
*Tottenham to open McCarthy talks
*PSG lodge Di Maria bid
*Villa line up Berbatov
*Chelsea are targeting Galatasaray's 22-year-old Brazilian defender Alex Telles as a replacement for Filipe Luis, 29, who has left to re-join Atletico Madrid
*Tottenham will try to sign Manchester United winger
Ashley Young, 30, after being put off by Crystal Palace's £25m asking price for DR Congo midfielder Yannick Bolasie.
*Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero thinks Liverpool's £7.1m valuation of striker Mario Balotelli is too high and wants it lowered if the Italian club are to sign the 24-year-old.
*Crystal Palace have shown late interest in signing Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor from Spurs but the 31-year-old will instead join Aston Villa on a season-long loan deal.
*Chelsea's Egypt midfielder Mohamed Salah, 23, is set to complete a loan move to Italian side Roma
*Inter Milan and FC Porto are both interested in signing Spurs' 23-year-old forward Erik Lamela, with a season- long loan deal possible for the Argentina international.

FORMULA 1
Hamilton's 'out-of-body experience'- David Coulthard
TENNIS
*Nadal overcomes slow start in Hamburg opener
*Bodo: Hamburg could be an uphill battle for Nadal
*Hodgkinson: Why Nadal decided to play in Hamburg
*Retiring Fish loses first match of Atlanta Open

ATM SPORT NEWS

NAIJA
*Keshi demands $5m compensation
*Okon: I didnt snub Ellis' handshake
*Haruna scores first goal for Anzhi

EUROPE
*'We're tidying up Mourinho's mess!'
*Di Maria deal close, says Blanc
*Blatter deserves a Nobel prize - Putin
*Mourinho: Wenger needs a calculator!
*City put EIGHT past Vietnam
*Pienaar to miss start of season
*Mourinho: Hazard better than Ronaldo
*Pedro part of Barca's history - Bartomeu
*Van Gaal warns De Gea over Romero
*'Man Utd won't sign Ronaldo' - Van Gaal
*'Ramos optimistic over Madrid stay'- Benitez
*Pellegrini: Jovetic had to go
*Terry: Sterling a great deal for Man City
*Juve face early Roma showdown
*Mancini: Inter will challenge for title
*Robben returns to Bayern training
*Pirlo overwhelmed by NYC debut
*Ronaldo: WC qualifying tough for Brazil
*Brazil must learn from defeats – Dunga
*Blatter deserves Nobel Prize - Putin

TRANSFER NEWS
*Montreal Impact sign Drogba
*Schalke reject Juve bid for Draxler
*Stoke sign Afellay
*Shaun Wright-Phillips joins NYRB
*Vangioni on Marseille's list
*Bolasie wants Spurs move
*Chelsea on brink of Telles signing
*Manchester United's hopes of signing Real Madrid
centre-back Sergio Ramos appear to be over with the
29-year-old set to agree a new contract with the
Bernabeu club.
*Barcelona forward Pedro, 27, wants to leave for more first-team football and could join Manchester United for 30m euros (£21.4m) but Barca manager Luis Enrique is against the move
*Tottenham will make a £15m bid for West Brom striker Saido Berahino, 21, this week and are also targeting 26-year-old Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie.
*De Bruyne, though, has said he is keen to join Manchester City and admits he is unsure where his
future lies.
*Newcastle do not want to pay QPR's £15m asking price for striker Charlie Austin but will bid £13.25m for the 26-year-old.
*Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has tweeted a warning to manager Louis van Gaal not to let winger Angel Di Maria leave without lining up an adequate replacement.

OLYMPIC
US ends Boston 2024 Olympic bid

BASKETBALL (NBA)
*Patient Celtics hoping they're another step closer
*Dellavedova agrees to return to Cavs
*Celtics acquire Z. Dragic, save Heat millions
*A. Davis happy with Pelicans' offseason, Gentry
*G. Dragic won't play for Slovenia at EuroBasket

TENNIS
*Roddick back to play doubles with Fish in Atlanta
*Zeballos tops Russian teen Rublev at Swiss Open
*Tomic grabs second straight Claro Open title