BVB ahead of clash with Atalanta: maintain momentum, compensate for absences
The scenarioSix Bundesliga wins in a row, but no win in three for BVB in the UEFA Champions League (a draw against Bodø, defeats against Tottenham and Inter). “We want to take the momentum we have in the Bundesliga at the moment into this match,” Niko Kovac makes clear. “We want our fans to help us carry this momentum. In the knockout stages, it's all about progressing to the next round, but we can't do that by talking a lot now; we have to work hard on the pitch. That gives us hope and also the belief that we can be successful in these two games against Atalanta.” Borussia Dortmund are aiming to reach the last 16 of Europe's premier club competition via the play-offs.
Personnel matters “We currently have four injured centre-backs,” says BVB coach Niko Kovac. Captain Emre Can and Filippo Mane have already been sidelined for a few weeks. Niklas Süle was substituted at half-time on Friday evening against Mainz due to a thigh strain, while Nico Schlotterbeck has muscular problems. “We won't take any risks, so he's not an option for the game.”
After Süle was substituted against Mainz, youngster Luca Reggiani replaced him in central defence for the second 45 minutes. Kovac is keeping his options open as to who will be on the pitch on Tuesday and mentions further alternatives: “It's always the coach's job to find solutions and be creative. Julian Ryerson played in central defence against Juventus. We can also pull Salih Özcan back or change the system. I trust everyone who can play in this position. By 21:00 CET tomorrow, we will have found a player to fill the position.”
The opponentAtalanta finished the league phase in 15th place, two places ahead of BVB. The Italians have already visited Germany this season in the Champions League, winning 3-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt. Overall, head coach Raffaele Palladino's team finished the league phase with four wins (2-1 against Bruges, 1-0 in Marseille, 3-0 in Frankfurt, 2-1 against Chelsea), one draw (0-0 against Prague) and three defeats (0-4 in Paris, 2-3 against Bilbao, 0-1 at Saint-Gilloise). In Serie A, the team from northern Italy won 2-0 at Lazio at the weekend and are currently in sixth place.
“Atalanta have a really great team that has grown over the years. They won the Europa League two years ago and are very high up in Italy,” says Niko Kovac. “It will be man-to-man all over the pitch. It's going to be very intense. I currently see the tie as being firmly balanced. Hopefully we can travel to Italy with a good result.”
The man of the momentFour assists in one game – Julian Ryerson had never achieved that before Friday's match against FSV Mainz 05. Three corner kicks and one cross from open play were converted into goals by his teammates. “I always try to improve,” says the assist provider modestly. His coach's words are much more complimentary: “The data also shows that Julian has constantly improved here at BVB in recent years. Every coach and every club loves having someone who puts the ball where it needs to be. I would certainly like to see him score a goal at some point, but if he continues to work so hard and keeps doing what he's doing, then we will all benefit.” Ryerson currently has one assist in the current Champions League season. It would be a good time to improve on that statistic against Atalanta.
Christina Reinke
Las Vegas Raiders hire Travis Smith as defensive line coach
New Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has been busy filling out his coaching staff over the last several days, including hiring Travis Smith as the Raiders’ defensive line coach on Monday, according to ESPN’s Ryan McFadden.
Smith was the Tennessee Titans’ defensive run game coordinator last season. Tennessee’s run defense ranked 15th in total yards allowed. He also helped defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons make his fourth Pro Bowl and first First-Team All-Pro selection. The coach was listed as a senior defensive assistant/pass rush specialist on new Titans’ head coach Robert Saleh’s staff, according to the Titans’ website, before receiving this opportunity in Las Vegas
Prior to Tennessee, Smith was the Chicago Bears’ defensive line coach from 2022 to 2024, helping defensive end Montez Sweat make the one and only Pro Bowl appearance of his career after the team traded for him midseason in 2023. Sweat had six sacks and four TFLs in nine games with the Bears that season.
This will be Smith’s second stint with the Raiders. He spent 10 seasons with the club, from 2012 to 2021, working his way up from defensive assistant coach to assistant defensive line coach before leaving for Chicago. He was hired by Dennis Allen in Oakland, who Kubiak worked under with the New Orleans Saints. This also means Kubiak will be the sixth head coach Smith has worked for with the Silver and Black — Allen, Tony Sparano, Jack Del Rio and Rich Bisaccia.
Heading into the 2026 season, Smith inherits a defensive line that was coached by now defensive coordinator Rob Leonard and has a lot of question marks, including whether Maxx Crosby is staying in Las Vegas. Beyond Crosby’s situation, the Raiders have several young defensive linemen who need to be developed: Jonah Laulu, Thomas Booker (restricted free agent), Tyree Wilson, Tonka Hemingway and JJ Pegueus, to name a few.
Opelika (Ala.) reveals 2026 football schedule - Yahoo Sports Canada
Santa Cruz native from prominent surfing family found murdered in Costa Rica, authorities say
U.S. surfer Kurt Van Dyke has been found murdered in Costa Rica, according to local authorities.
Police responded to a call about an armed break-in around 10:50 a.m. Saturday at an apartment in Cahuita Limon, a coastal province about 100 miles east of the capital of San Jose, according to the Costa Rican National Police.
Van Dyke was found strangled and stabbed multiple times, police said. His body was found under a bed with a sheet over his face, they noted.
A woman who was also in the apartment survived the attack and was taken to the hospital, police told ABC News. Her injuries are not life-threatening, according to authorities.
Two suspects are believed to have broken into the apartment, police said. They stole Van Dyke's car, a Hyundai Elantra, in their getaway, according to officials.
No arrests have been made. Police are looking at CCTV cameras as part of their investigation.
Van Dyke was 66 years old and a longtime resident of Costa Rica, according to Surfer.com. He was originally from Santa Cruz, California, and is considered a pioneer of surfing in Northern California, according to the site.
He was well known to local surfers in the community, police said.
Additional details on the circumstances surrounding Van Dyke's death were not immediately available.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Revealed: Tom Brady wanted a head coach exactly like him amid the Raiders' hiring of Klint Kubiak
Legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady reportedly had precise criteria for what he was looking for in the Las Vegas Raiders' new head coach: Someone just like him.