Summary

  • Weekend football build-up

  • Runners prepare for London Marathon

  • Get involved: after Samuels' salute, your best #sportingbanter

  • Barcelona draw Bayern Munich, Juventus v Real Madrid in Champions League semis

  • Johnson free to play for Sunderland

  1. Postpublished at 18:59 British Summer Time 24 April 2015

    For me though, that is all.

    Thanks for your company and enjoy your weekend.

    Premier League football, the London Marathon and Test Match cricket - plenty to look forward to.

  2. Tonight's sport on BBCpublished at 18:57 British Summer Time 24 April 2015

    There are a number of BBC local radio commentaries on tonight's sport.

    If you want to listen to Bath v London Irish in the Aviva Premiership you can do so on BBC Radio Bristol from 19:45 BST.

    Sticking with rugby union and the Pro12 match between Edinburgh v Zebre is on BBC Radio Alba from 19:35.

    Switching codes to rugby league and we have commentaries on each of tonight's three matches: Hull FC v Huddersfield,Leeds v Warrington and St Helens v Widnes (all 20:00 BST).

  3. Van Gerwen secures play-off spotpublished at 18:55 British Summer Time 24 April 2015

    Michael van GerwenImage source, Getty Images

    While the Premier League football season builds to its crescendo, so too does the darts version, with Michael van Gerwen becoming the first player to confirm his place in next month's play-offs by thrashing James Wade 7-0 in Cardiff.

    The Dutchman, who turns 26 on Saturday, lost his second match on Thursday evening 7-5 to reigning PDC world champion Gary Anderson but was already guaranteed a top-four spot.

    The other seven competitors can still qualify for the play-offs, with three rounds of fixtures remaining.

  4. The first of many?published at 18:52 British Summer Time 24 April 2015

    A big moment for Indian football...

    Gurpreet Singh Sandhu became the first Indian footballer to play for a top-tier European club after the goalkeeper made his debut for Stabek FC in a Norwegian Cup tie against Runar on Wednesday.

    It wasn't a bad debut either as his side thrashed Stabek 6-0.

    India, a country of 1.3 billion people, rank 147 in the FIFA rankings.

  5. Ask McNultypublished at 18:50 British Summer Time 24 April 2015

    Phil McNulty
    BBC chief football writer

    Alex Jeffs

    What's the best game of football you've ever been to?

    "The best game I have ever been to - and I'm taking in the game, the occasion, its impact and its surroundings into consideration here - is Brazil 1 Germany 7 in the World Cup semi-final in Belo Horizonte. It is a game I will remember being at for the rest of my life - a real "I was there" moment.

    "To see the expectations of a nation wiped out by five German goals in the first 29 minutes and to see supporters young and old in tears even before the end of the first half was something I never thought I would see.

    "You were in a country that regards itself as football's spiritual home and whenever Brazil's World Cup history is mentioned, that game will be in there."

    Brazil are stunned in the World Cup against GermanyImage source, Getty Images
  6. Captain Marvel backs a United title pushpublished at 18:48 British Summer Time 24 April 2015

    Bryan RobsonImage source, Getty Images

    Former Man Utd captain Bryan Robson believes Louis van Gaal needs to sign 'two or three' players if he is to win the Premier League.

    "We've proved this season that we are not far away as far as the Premier League is concerned," he said. "Yes we are a good number of points behind Chelsea," he told the Manchester Evening News., external

    "If we bring two or three real top class players into the squad it will mean the lads can go and be successful."

  7. Diving successpublished at 18:38 British Summer Time 24 April 2015

    Great Britain's Tonia Couch and Sarah Barrow secured bronze on day one of diving's World Series in Kazan, Russia.

    The pair finished with a score of 312.54 points from five dives in the 10m platform synchro women's event.

  8. Ask McNultypublished at 18:34 British Summer Time 24 April 2015

    Phil McNulty
    BBC chief football writer

    @Mark_1878 What do Everton & Roberto Martinez need to do to be in the mix for fourth on a consistent basis?

    "Perform a whole lot better than this season for a start - and that includes the manager as well as the players.

    "Martinez, first of all, has to take the lessons of this season into next season but one obvious answer is to somehow find the major investment needed so that Everton have the financial capacity to buy the players they need to be consistent challengers for the top four.

    "Chairman Bill Kenwright insists he has been looking for that investment for years now - but so far major investors have not been attracted to Everton. A big problem."

    Roberto MartinezImage source, PA
  9. Classic Hamiltonpublished at 18:29 British Summer Time 24 April 2015

    Lewis HamiltonImage source, Lewis Hamilton

    Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton on Twitter:, external Had a blast at Monza today in these classics with the great, Sir Stirling Moss!

  10. Bronze's Man City debut 'a big relief'published at 18:23 British Summer Time 24 April 2015

    Lucy BronzeImage source, The FA

    Lucy Bronze says it was a "big relief" to make her first start for Women's Super League One club Manchester City after recovering from a knee injury.

    The 23-year-old England defender played her first 90 minutes in Sunday's WSL 1 defeat by Arsenal, after making a cameo appearance against Birmingham City in the FA Cup the week before.

    Bronze, who joined City from Liverpool in November, told BBC Sport: "To not be there for the first game was a let down, probably for the fans and for myself.

    "I kind of crawled off the pitch at the end, but in terms of my actual knee and the injury, everything's gone to plan."

  11. Get involvedpublished at 18:20 British Summer Time 24 April 2015

    Joe FaintImage source, Joe Faint

    Joe Faint: Running for @Hambofoundation picked up my number and met Muntai don't think I will catch him.

    We want to know your marathon stories, past or present. Tell us about your costumes, your experiences, your reasons for running & where you will be watching it. Tweet #bbcsportsday or text 81111. Please send in any of your pictures if any of your are there this evening picking up your numbers?

  12. Gossippublished at 18:13 British Summer Time 24 April 2015

    Niall O'BrienImage source, Niall O'Brien

    A bit of gossip for Leicester fans from Ireland and Leicestershire cricketer Niall John O'Brien. He reckons Esteban Cambiasso will become head coach, with Nigel Pearson moving to director of football.

    No idea if it is true.

  13. Focus not on Spireites future - Cookpublished at 18:07 British Summer Time 24 April 2015

    Chesterfield boss Paul Cook wants their focus to be on the pursuit of a play-off place rather than a rejected approach for him by Portsmouth.

    The Spireites, in sixth, occupy the final play-off spot in League One which they will cement with a win over Champions Bristol City on Saturday.

    Mangerless Pompey made their enquiry for Cook's services on Thursday.

    "It's not about Paul Cook and any club that would be interested in him," Cook, 48, told BBC Radio Sheffield.

  14. Ask McNultypublished at 17:59 British Summer Time 24 April 2015

    Phil McNulty
    BBC chief football writer

    Steve Nicholls

    Should football take a leaf out of rugby league regarding the surrounding and attitude towards referees? Players surrounding referees in modern football is akin to school playground stuff.

    "Steve, I would be absolutely delighted if football took a leaf out of rugby's book with only the captain allowed to converse with the referee and free-kicks moved 10 yards forward for dissent. Whether that will ever happen is another matter entirely."

    Manchester United players remonstrate with the refereeImage source, Getty Images
  15. Gerrard to be honouredpublished at 17:49 British Summer Time 24 April 2015

    Steven GerrardImage source, EPA

    Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will be presented with a special merit award by the PFA on Sunday evening in recognition of his 17-year Anfield career.

    The midfielder has scored 183 goals in 705 appearances for the Reds and lifted the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup as the club's captain.

  16. Navratilova leaves Radwanskapublished at 17:42 British Summer Time 24 April 2015

    Some breaking tennis news.

    Martina Navratilova has decided to end her part time role as the coach of Agnieszka Radwanska.

    The nine time Wimbledon champion says she "underestimated the time" needed to do the job justice, and that it became impossible alongside her family and business commitments.

    Radwanska is currently ninth in the world, but hasn't enjoyed the best of starts to the season.

  17. Dynamo in troublepublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 24 April 2015

    Dynamo Moscow face UEFA sanctions for overspending within Financial Fair Play rules.

    Uefa says Dynamo's case of failing to break even on football trading has gone to the judging chamber of its panel which monitors club finances.

  18. Champions League draw reactionpublished at 17:32 British Summer Time 24 April 2015

    PepImage source, Getty Images

    "Never mind the talents of sizzling superstars Lionel Messi, Arjen Robben, Neymar, Thomas Muller, Luis Suarez and Franck Ribery: only one man will dominate the build-up to Barcelona's Champions League semi-final tie with Bayern Munich."

    Find out who BBC Sport's Spanish football expert Andy West is talking about here.

  19. Leading the London Marathon?published at 17:27 British Summer Time 24 April 2015

    Anyone fancy doing this in Sunday's London Marathon?

    A 31-year-old former triathlete overtook the elite field to lead Monday's Boston Marathon - just so his daughters could see him on television.

    Starting in the first wave behind the front-runners, Derek Yorek ran the first mile in four minutes 38 seconds, passing eventual winner Lelisa Desisa.

    He faded soon after, finishing in 3:04:57, 55 minutes after Desisa.