MEN’S FOOTBALL: Defending champions Botafogo begin the defence of their Copa Libertadores title in Santiago on Thurday morning, with a Group A game against Universidad de Chile. 

Botafogo are one of seven Brazilian teams to reach the group stages at the South American equivalent of the Champions League, but last year’s runners-up, Athletico Mineiro, have not qualified. 

Teams from Brazil have won the last six tournaments.

MEN’S CYCLING: Tom Pidcock’s Q36.5 pro-cycling team will compete in their first Grand Tour after gaining a wildcard entry for the Giro D’Italia, which starts in Albania on May 9.

Pidcock, who joined Q36.5 this year, has not previously ridden at the Giro but has taken part in a Vuelta a Espana and three Tours de France. 

A rider from a wildcard team has not won a stage at the Giro since Damiano Cima in 2019.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Five players have been suspended for taking part in a mass brawl during Minnesota’s 123-104 win over Detroit in the NBA last Sunday. 

Detroit’s Isiah Stewart is banned for two games while his teammates Marcus Sasser and Ron Holland along with Minnesota’s Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo received one match suspensions. 

The ill-tempered game racked up 12 technical fouls, the most in an NBA fixture for 20 years.

DARTS: Luke Littler takes an eight-point Premier League lead into Thursday night’s ninth leg in Berlin after winning four of the previous rounds. 

He faces second-bottom Chris Dobey in his quarter-final match after Stephen Bunting, the only player without a win, has taken on Nathan Aspinall. 

Rob Cross plays world number one Luke Humphries, who sits second in the table, and third-placed Michael van Gerwen is up against Gerwyn Price.