José Mourinho's first home match in charge of Tottenham was one to remember, as Spurs came from behind to beat Olympiakos 4-2 and progress to the last-16 of the Champions League last night. The Greek visitors were 2-0 up in north London after just 19 minutes, Youssef El-Arabi and Ruben Semedo on target. However a resurgent Dele Alli handed Spurs a lifeline on the stroke of half-time, before a Harry Kane brace either side of a fine Serge Aurier goal gave Mourinho's side a resounding win. Afterwards, the Portuguese praised a quick-thinking ball boy, who returned the ball to Aurier with enough speed to allow the fullback to release Lucas Moura who provided Kane's equaliser. Elsewhere Manchester City are also through to the last-16 as group winners despite a 1-1 draw at home to Shakhtar Donetsk, while late goals from Kylian Mbappe and Pablo Sarabia saw Paris-Saint Germain snatch a 2-2 draw away to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. Tonight Chelsea face a crunch test as they travel to Valencia, with manager Frank Lampard admitting qualification for the knockouts will be difficult if his young side are beaten at the Mestalla. Elsewhere Liverpool welcome Napoli to Anfield and Borussia Dortmund travel to Barcelona.
Elsewhere in his column this morning Gordon D'Arcy has responded to this week's report by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) - commissioned by the Irish Rugby Football Union - entitled: "Rugby in Ireland: a statistical analysis of participation." And he has suggested that the way to build and strengthen Irish rugby in the long term is to shift focus back towards the once thriving club scene, which he believes no longer plays the vital role it used to in providing players for the provinces and then the national side. He writes: "Kids from places like New Ross or Ballina are just as desperate to play for Leinster or Connacht as boys in private schools. Tadhg Furlong and Seánie O'Brien will back me up. There is a moral obligation to give these children a clear route into the professional game that does not leave them feeling helpless when the big noise from Clongowes or St Michael's arrives at trials. . . The clubs hold the key. They always have."
Meanwhile the GAA have released its master fixture list for 2020, which includes an extended club window, dates for the new Tier 2 football championship as well as the penultimate step towards a calendar-year All-Ireland club championship. The club semi-finals will be played on the weekend of December 12th-13th, with the finals to be played in January 2021. And in his column this morning, Seán Moran has suggested the next step - moving the finals to be played in December - would free club players of a huge burden. He writes: "But the desirable expedient of moving the whole championship to a December finish would bring great, atmospheric occasions under Croke Park lights and allow the winners to celebrate Christmas in a manner that can't happen under current schedules - and those who didn't win would still get to have a Christmas."
Elsewhere Russia will still be able to compete in next summer's European Championships, even if they are hit with the four-year ban which was recommended by a Wada panel on Monday. Russia have qualified for Euro 2020 and St Petersburg is one of the tournament's host cities, but their participation won't be affected, with Uefa not recognised as a 'Major Event Organisation.'
And Apple's Jade will face a maximum of eight rivals as she bids to make history with a fourth victory in the Hatton's Grade Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday. Bacardys, Benie Des Dieux, Killultagh Vic and the 2018 Stayers' Hurdle winner Penhill are all potential opponents for Gordon Elliot's star mare.
