Atletico Madrid, featuring Slovak defender David Hancko, drew 1-1 with Arsenal in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final match. The result sets up an evenly balanced second leg, scheduled for Tuesday, May 5th in London, where Arsenal will have the advantage of playing at home while needing to overcome the away goals rule that has since been abolished in UEFA competitions.
Slovan defeated Slavia 3-2 in the fourth game of their playoff final series, evening the series at 2-2. The victory forces a decisive fifth and final game, which will be played on Saturday, May 2nd at the Gopass Arena to determine the championship winner.
Slovakia's national team suffered a 3-2 defeat to India at the World Team Championships. Wang Jang secured Slovakia's lone victory in his match, while Jakub Zelinka lost both of his encounters and Ľubomír Pištej managed one win despite losing his opening match. The result represents a setback for the Slovak team in the international competition.
Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi will miss the team's upcoming Champions League semifinal second leg away at Bayern Munich due to a right thigh injury. The Moroccan international's absence represents a significant blow to PSG's defensive options as they seek to advance to the final of Europe's premier club competition.
Tatran Prešov handball team defeated Nové Zámky in their second semifinal match of the Niké Handball Extraliga playoffs, moving within one victory of advancing to the championship final. The team now holds a 2-0 lead in the best-of-series semifinal round. Prešov needs just one more win to secure their place in the final of Slovakia's top handball league championship playoffs.
Three goaltenders have been nominated as finalists for the Vezina Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL's top goaltender. The candidates are Andrei Vasilevskiy, Ilya Sorokin, and Jeremy Swayman. Of the three nominees, only Vasilevskiy has previously won the prestigious award, capturing it in 2019. The winner is determined by votes from NHL general managers across all 32 teams.
Manchester United has extended the contract of 21-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo through 2031. The young player came through the club's academy system and has made 98 appearances for the first team, scoring seven goals. The contract extension secures the services of one of United's promising young talents for the next several years as the club continues to build around players developed through its youth system.
The Czech Republic defeated Finland 2-1 to advance to the semifinals of the U-18 Ice Hockey World Championship. The victory marks the Czech team's return to medal contention after a four-year absence from the tournament's final stages. The Czechs will now compete for a medal position in the upcoming semifinal rounds of the youth hockey championship.
Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich provided an entertaining football match in Paris, with the game coming to life after an active opening quarter-hour. Bayern Munich's Harry Kane broke the deadlock in the 17th minute, converting from the penalty spot to give the German side an early lead in what coach Luis Enrique described as an extraordinary match.
World Boxing has decided to permit Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in competitions under neutral status. The boxing federation made this decision in response to recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which had suggested the reintegration of Russian and Belarusian competitors into international sporting events. This move represents a potential shift in the sporting sanctions that have been in place against athletes from these countries following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Peter Laviolette, an NHL coach with experience leading six different teams including Nashville to the Stanley Cup Final nine years ago, has identified the current playoff series between Montreal and Tampa Bay as the strongest of this year's postseason. The veteran coach ranked the matchup even higher than the Dallas-Minnesota series, calling it "the best, and that's clearly the case." Laviolette praised the series for containing all the essential elements of quality playoff hockey, including speed, physical play, and goal-scoring. The coach's assessment comes as he observes the current NHL playoffs from his extensive coaching background that spans multiple franchises across the league.
Minnesota defeated Dallas 4-2 in Game 5 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series, taking a 3-2 series lead. The victory puts Minnesota one win away from advancing to the conference semifinals, while Dallas faces elimination in the best-of-seven playoff series.
Cadillac's Formula 1 team will compete with specially designed cars at their home race in Miami this weekend. Drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will also wear custom-designed racing suits for the event. The special livery represents a significant moment for the American luxury car brand as they compete on home soil in the Miami Grand Prix, one of three Formula 1 races held in the United States alongside Austin and Las Vegas.
The Slovak Football Association (SFZ) has lost both coach Francesco Calzona and the confidence of supporters, according to commentary suggesting the organization is reluctant to defend its own decisions. The development highlights growing tensions within Slovak football leadership and raises questions about the association's management of the national team program. The loss of both the coach and fan support represents a significant challenge for the SFZ as it navigates criticism over its handling of the football program.
Paris Saint-Germain defeated Bayern Munich 5-4 in a spectacular high-scoring match that showcased attacking football at its finest. The first half alone produced five goals and numerous additional clear-cut chances for both teams, with several promising opportunities going unconverted. The match served as an advertisement for the beautiful game, delivering end-to-end action and clinical finishing from both European football powerhouses.
Slovakia's soccer federation president is facing serious financial difficulties as a bailiff has moved to seize his apartment due to unpaid debts. The Slovak Football Association chief owed money to various creditors, including a former partner of Penta, one of Slovakia's most prominent investment groups. After media inquiries about the debts, the payments were quickly settled. The enforcement action highlights the precarious financial situation of the head of Slovak football's governing body, raising questions about his ability to effectively lead the organization while managing personal financial troubles.
A debt collector has moved to seize the apartment of Ján Kováčik, president of the Slovak Football Association, as part of enforcement proceedings against mounting debts. Kováčik, who leads Slovakia's national football governing body, owed money to a former business partner of Penta, one of the country's major financial groups. However, after media inquiries from INDEX, a Slovak investigative outlet, these particular debts were quickly settled. The development highlights the serious financial difficulties facing the head of Slovak football's governing organization.
FIFA has proposed a rule change that would allow referees to issue red cards for players covering an opponent's mouth during matches at the 2026 World Cup. The international football governing body developed the proposal following an incident between Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior and Benfica Lisbon's Gianluca Prestianini. The rule change aims to address unsporting behavior and protect player safety during high-profile international competitions.
HK Nitra defeated HC Slovan Bratislava 5-2 in their sixth playoff game, forcing a decisive seventh match in the series. The game began at a fast pace with both teams converting their first power-play opportunities. The victory keeps Nitra's playoff hopes alive as the series now moves to a winner-take-all final game.
Pardubice claimed the Czech hockey championship, avoiding a decisive seventh game to secure their fourth title since the Czech Republic's independence. The victory ended two consecutive seasons of finishing as runners-up for the team, which features Slovak players Čerešňák and Kelemen in their lineup. Červenka played a decisive role in clinching the championship for Pardubice.