Wojciech Szczesny will listen to Barcelona's offer to tempt him out of retirement as it "would be disrespectful" not to.

Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday that Szczesny is close to joining Barcelona to replace the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

The former Poland international, who only announced his retirement last month after leaving Juventus, is set to undergo a medical this week.

While Szczesny fell short of confirming an agreement is in place with Barca, he indicated he would be open to a swift return to the sport.

Speaking to Spanish outlet SPORT, the goalkeeper said: "I have a lot of respect for Barca's history; it is one of the best clubs in the world. 

"I understand the difficult situation that's arisen after Marc-Andre Ter Stegen's injury. It'd be disrespectful of me not to consider this option."

Barcelona are able to sign a free agent due to the severity of the injury sustained by first-choice goalkeeper Ter Stegen.

The German is set to miss a number of months after undergoing surgery this week on a knee injury suffered against Villarreal last weekend.

Szczesny agreed to mutually terminate his contract with Juve in August after a breakdown in negotiations over a move to Saudi club Al-Nassr.

The 34-year-old, who played twice for Poland in their group-stage exit from Euro 2024, then went on to announce his retirement from playing.

He won 11 major trophies during his career in England and Italy, while playing 84 times for Poland and featuring in seven major tournaments.

Szczesny joined Arsenal as a 16-year-old in 2006, making 181 first-team appearances and winning two FA Cups in 2014 and 2015.

After spending two seasons on loan at Roma, he then joined Juventus in 2017, winning eight major trophies, including three Serie A titles.

Between his Serie A debut in August 2015 and the start of this season, the Pole boasted the fifth-most saves among goalkeepers to play at least 50 times (481) and the fifth-best save percentage in that time (72.55%).

Only two goalkeepers in Serie A bettered Szczesny's 200 league appearances since his debut, though he conceded considerably fewer goals (179) than both Andrea Consigli (411) and Lukasz Skorupski (301) during that time. 

Should he join Barcelona, Szczesny will provide competition for Inaki Pena, who replaced Ter Stegen against Villarreal is likely to start in goal against Getafe on Wednesday. 

Enzo Maresca is glad he has a tough choice to make in terms of his team selection as Chelsea prepare to face Brighton and Hove Albion.

Chelsea have won three in a row without conceding in all competitions, most recently beating fourth-tier Barrow 5-0 in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.

Christopher Nkunku scored a hat-trick in that third-round tie to make it six goals in nine games this season, yet he has made just one Premier League start.

Nicolas Jackson has himself been in good form with six goals in 10 games - four of those goals in the league - and looks set to return upfront for the visit of Brighton on Saturday.

"They're both doing fantastic," Maresca said. "Not only because they score, but because they work off the ball. 

"The way they sacrifice for the team. This is a nice problem when you have two strikers that continue to score. 

"It's nice you can decide which one because they are in a good moment so we can use them."

Maresca suggested he would not be against fielding both players together against Brighton, who are one point behind Chelsea in the table.

Albion are unbeaten in their opening five league games under Fabian Hurzeler, drawing the past three of those ahead of visiting Stamford Bridge.

Hurzeler will not be in the dugout this weekend after being shown a red card in a fiery and eventful 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest last time out.

And Brighton coach Andrew Crofts has mixed feelings on the past couple of results heading into this latest match.

"We are frustrated [after drawing with Forest]," he said. "We felt we definitely did enough in the game and should be speaking about three points.

"We got one point. We have to learn a lot from the last two games for sure and we will. There is lots to analyse and review and to grow from.

"But there is also lots to be positive about as well."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chelsea - Nicolas Jackson

Nkunku is pushing for a start but the shirt is Jackson's to lose in the Premier League after a strong run of form stretching back into last season.

Indeed, the Senegal international has been involved in 13 goals in 13 Premier League games - one more than he managed in his first 27 games.

Brighton - Danny Welbeck

Welbeck has scored three goals and assisted another in five league games this campaign, including a first career goal directly from a free-kick.

The 33-year-old enjoys playing against Chelsea, too, as he has scored three goals in his past four games against them - each strike coming as a substitute.

MATCH PREDICTION - CHELSEA WIN

Brighton are one of four sides unbeaten in the Premier League and are out to go six without loss for the first time to begin a top-flight campaign.

This is a fixture Brighton have traditionally done well in, having won five in a row against Chelsea prior to last season.

That good run came to a halt in 2023-24 as Albion lost home and away against the Blues, who had a player sent off in both games.

Chelsea will be full of confidence as they have won eight of their past 10 league matches, with no team winning more points (25) in that period since early May.

And while they have failed to win their first two Premier League games at Stamford Bridge so far this term, only twice before have they failed to win any of their first three.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Chelsea - 53.6%

Brighton - 24%

Draw - 22.4% 

Carlos Alcaraz welcomed the addition of Rafael Nadal to Spain's Davis Cup team, but hopes the tournament in November is not the 22-time grand slam champion's last. 

Nadal, who last featured alongside Alcaraz in the doubles at the Paris Olympics, has hinted that his glittering career could come to an end at the conclusion of this season.

The 38-year-old Spaniard was forced to withdraw from last weekend's Laver Cup while also pulling out of the US Open, a tournament he has won on four previous occasions. 

Nadal was a surprise inclusion in Spain's Davis Cup squad, and will join Alcaraz, Roberto Bautista Agut, Pablo Carreno and Marcel Granollers for the tournament in Malaga.

"It's always great having Rafa around. I miss him. I'm not going to lie, I missed him in the Laver Cup," Alcaraz said.

"Obviously, as much time as I can spend with him, it's a privilege for me.

"I don't want to think that it's a potential last dance for him in Malaga. I just want to enjoy seeing him on court as much as I can.

"It's great support having him in the team. He can bring a lot of experience to the Davis Cup."

But for Alcaraz, his attention has now swiftly turned to the China Open, kickstarting his campaign in Beijing against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Friday. 

The Spaniard, who was stunned at the US Open in the second round against Botic van de Zandschulp, led Bjorn Borg's Team Europe to victory in Berlin last week. 

Alcaraz managed eight points for Team Europe during the 2024 edition of the Laver Cup, earning more points than any other player in a single edition of the tournament. 

And the world number three believes his latest string of performances was the perfect preparation for the China Open. 

"I played great matches in the Laver Cup, which helped me a lot to have more confidence coming to this tournament," Alcaraz told reporters in Beijing.

"I beat Ben Shelton, who was playing great, and Taylor Fritz, who came from the final in New York.

"Having those victories, it's great for my confidence and level to come here with extra energy knowing I'm ready to get a good result, knowing that I have a really tough draw."

Kylian Mbappe is likely to miss this weekend's Madrid derby after picking up an injury in Real Madrid's 3-2 win over Deportivo Alaves on Tuesday. 

Mbappe, who scored Los Blancos' second goal of the night, was replaced by Arda Guler in the 80th minute and was seen gesturing to his thigh as he left the pitch. 

The Frenchman's sensational start to life in the Spanish capital has seen him score seven goals in his first nine appearances in all competitions.

Mbappe has also produced more shots on target (19) than anyone in LaLiga so far, netting five of the 10 big chances he has been presented with. 

But head coach Carlo Ancelotti could be without his star striker against Atletico Madrid this weekend. 

"Following tests carried out today by Real Madrid's Medical Services on our player Kylian Mbappe, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg," Real said in a statement.

"His progress will be monitored."

Real's midweek victory moved them to within a point of league leaders Barcelona, who face Getafe on Wednesday. 

Lando Norris believes overhauling Max Verstappen to win the Formula One driver's championship is "definitely possible", though he knows McLaren have no room for error.

Norris produced a magnificent performance at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, leading from the front and finishing some 20 seconds clear of Verstappen.

That victory – his third of the year – lifted him to within 52 points of Verstappen at the top of the drivers' standings, while McLaren lead Red Bull by 41 points in the battle for the constructors' crown.

Norris has now won from pole in two of the last four races (Singapore and the Netherlands), becoming the 49th driver to achieve that feat on at least two occasions in F1.

In the last 30 grands prix in which Norris has scored points, he has averaged 15.3 points (460 in total), having only averaged 6.8 across his previous 66 (452 in total).

With Verstappen now winless in eight races, Norris does not see ending his three-year reign as an impossible objective, if McLaren can maintain their pace.

"This is what I've got to do, this is what I need, this is what we need to do as a team," Norris told Sky Sports F1.

"We've executed things perfectly as a team, especially to get Oscar [Piastri] into P3, but we need to do it at every race until the end of the year if I want to have a chance to get Max.

"We're working hard and if I keep doing what I've done this weekend, then it's definitely possible."

Verstappen won 19 of 22 races in the 2023 season – the most dominant campaign ever witnessed in F1 – but Norris hopes he can take this year's title battle to the final race, set for Abu Dhabi on December 8.

"I hope so. I still have a lot of points I've got to catch up and it's not going to be easy to do it," Norris added.

"It's against Red Bull and it's against Max, the most dominant pairing you've ever seen in Formula One, from last year.

"That's not necessarily changed in terms of… It's the same team and it's the same driver. So, I have some of the toughest competition that Formula One has ever seen.

"I'm working my heart out, I'm working my butt off, to try and make sure that happens. He's trying to make sure it doesn't happen. So we'll have to wait and find out."

Manchester City have confirmed Rodri has suffered a ligament injury in his right knee, with the midfielder undergoing further tests to ascertain the extent of the problem.

Rodri exited Sunday's 2-2 draw with Arsenal with a serious-looking knee injury midway through the first half, having turned awkwardly while tussling with Thomas Partey before a corner was taken.

Reports subsequently claimed the Spain star could miss the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and he was spotted visiting a specialist in Barcelona.

After Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Watford in the EFL Cup, Pep Guardiola said Rodri will be out "for a long time", describing him as "irreplaceable".

On Wednesday, City confirmed Rodri had sustained ligament damage but said tests were ongoing to determine the expected prognosis.

 

City said: "The midfielder travelled to Spain to seek specialist consultation this week, following initial tests in Manchester.

"Assessment remains ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the injury and expected prognosis.

"Everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery and we will bring you regular updates regarding his rehabilitation."

City only lost one of the 50 matches in which Rodri appeared across all competitions last season, May's FA Cup final versus Manchester United.

In the nine they played without him, their win percentage dropped from 76% to 55.6%, and they lost three of the four Premier League matches he missed.

Naomi Osaka beat Lucia Bronzetti 6-3 6-2 in the first round of the China Open on Wednesday, in her first match under Serena Williams' former coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

Osaka was returning to the Beijing event for the first time since triumphing there in 2019, and she rallied after going a break down in the first set, ultimately winning comfortably.

The four-time major champion smashed 30 winners to Bronzetti's seven in the one-hour, 23-minute contest, teeing up a second-round clash with Yulia Putintseva.

Speaking after her win, she admitted she had harboured doubts over Mouratoglou initially but was now convinced she has found the right coach.

"I think the fact he was Serena's coach made me want to avoid him," she said. This isn't rude because I found out it's not true, but I didn't know if he was a good coach or he just coached Serena!

"Then I met him, talked to him, worked with him on the court. He absolutely is a really good coach. I'm really glad that he's taking this project on, as well." 

Data Debrief: Osaka's hard-court success

Osaka's victory means she now holds a 72.3% win percentage on hard courts at WTA 1000 events and grand slams (102 wins, 39 defeats).

Only three active players have a better such win ratio; Iga Swiatek (78.3%), Victoria Azarenka (75.5%) and Aryna Sabalenka (73.8%).

Ben Stokes would not hesitate to accept a call-up to England's limited-overs teams under Brendon McCullum, who he has backed to be a success in his new role.

Earlier this month, it was announced McCullum would add coaching England's T20I and ODI sides to his remit as head coach of the Test team – a position he has held since 2022.

Ben Stokes assumed the red-ball captaincy at the same time, and the duo have overseen a transformation in the team's fortunes. 

England have won 19 of their 29 Tests under McCullum after only winning one of their previous 17, also scoring 4.57 runs per over on average since the New Zealander took charge, compared to 3.09 in their previous 29 Tests beforehand.

Stokes did represent England as they struggled at the 50-over World Cup last year but sat out the T20 equivalent in June to concentrate on the Test summer.   

However, Stokes – who has since been sidelined by a hamstring injury – says he would be willing to return to limited-overs cricket following the change in leadership.

"I've played a lot of white-ball cricket for England and I'm very happy and content with what I've achieved in that form of the game," Stokes told Sky Sports Cricket.

"If I am part of the white-ball teams' plans going forward in any way, shape or form then great, but also I'm fine if I'm not because that would mean that someone else is coming through and doing really well.

"If I get the call to come and play, then obviously it's definitely going to be a yes. But I'm not going to be too disappointed if I don't, it means that I can just sit back and watch everyone else go out and smack it.

"Me and Baz have not spoken about anything like that whatsoever. He's just letting me concentrate on what I need to with the Test team and when that time and conversation comes, then we'll see."

McCullum, who will officially begin his new role in January, consulted Stokes before accepting the new responsibilities, and Stokes did not take issue with the change.

"I'm a cricket fan, an England cricket fan and I want all the teams to do as well as each other," Stokes said.

"If there was any selfishness about me, I would have said 'nah, you need to be with us', but I think it's an amazing opportunity for the white-ball team to experience what Baz has brought to the Test team.

"I'm really looking forward to the white-ball team being able to have McCullum in the dressing room and it's nice to have all three teams with the same messaging and same philosophies towards playing cricket."

Steve Cooper is desperate to prove himself to Leicester City's supporters after being the target of dissenting chants during their EFL Cup tie at Walsall on Tuesday.

Leicester scraped through to the fourth round of the EFL Cup by winning 3-0 in a penalty shoot-out at the Bescot Stadium, having seen a much-changed team held to a 0-0 draw.

Goalkeeper Danny Ward saved all three spot-kicks he faced, but Leicester's performance drew criticism from the away end as the Foxes only managed two shots on target – and none in the first half.

Amid chants of "this is embarrassing", one supporter even encroached on the playing area to vent his frustrations at Cooper before being removed by stewards.

Leicester are also one of six teams yet to win a Premier League game this term, and Cooper's links to their rivals Nottingham Forest meant his appointment was not universally welcomed.

He knows he must build a positive relationship with fans as quickly as possible, saying: "I have no problem with it. It's an experience that I will try to make the best of.

"What an opportunity to show how good I am and how good we are. That will be my approach to it.

"I'll never have a bad opinion about any view. I have a lot of respect for supporters. I know I have got to build credit with supporters. 

 

"It's nights like this where you can look back and really build strong relationships. That's my objective.

"I really, really want to do well for this football club. I've really bought into what it stands for and the people who work here. 

"Everyone is so good-willed and good-natured and wants the club to do well and I take that responsibility seriously. It's important to talk about it. I see it as a great opportunity."

Leicester face a tough assignment at Arsenal on Saturday, having lost their last five league matches against the Gunners, also winning just one of their last 26 away league games against them (four draws, 21 losses).

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti was not unduly worried after his side were made to survive a late rally in their 3-2 victory over Alaves in LaLiga on Tuesday.

Goals from Lucas Vazquez, Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo had Madrid cruising at the Santiago Bernabeu, only for Alaves to threaten a comeback with two goals in as many minutes late on.

Los Blancos held on for victory in what was Ancelotti's 300th game in charge, making him just the second coach to reach that milestone with the club after Miguel Munoz (605 matches).

Madrid have already dropped points twice this season to trail Barcelona in LaLiga, but Ancelotti preferred to focus on the positives after Tuesday's game.

"This is football and when you think the game is over, you get distracted and allow your rival to score, you give them a confidence boost while your own confidence is shaken," he said. 

"It's something that happens all the time in football and it won't stop happening. Sure, we don't want that to happen to us, nobody does, but we need to highlight that for over 80 minutes our team played really, really well and that is what gives us confidence moving forward.

"For over an hour the team played very well, looking for opportunities in different ways, in transition, filtering passes through the opponent's lines... 

"The team is improving, it's good for us because the schedule is very demanding. Sunday's game [against Atletico Madrid] will also be very demanding."

 

Ancelotti added he was delighted with Mbappe's progress since his move from Paris Saint-Germain, praising his combination with Jude Bellingham for the second goal. 

"Mbappe is playing great, we are doing really well in attack," Ancelotti said.

"Bellingham is growing, he gave the assist to Mbappe and played a very complete game. He needs to get used to playing a bit more inside the box, like he did last year.

"It's more complicated against a team with a low block like Alaves. What I ask Bellingham is to do that kind of work, not to score goals. With the players we have, we can score at any moment." 

Madrid's opening goalscorer Vazquez, meanwhile, told Los Blancos to sharpen up after their late scare.

"It's a shame that with the performance that we were putting throughout the match, it had to finish the way that it did," Vazquez told Real Madrid TV.

"We played a great game until the 88th minute, when two lapses in concentration led to two goals and we had to suffer a bit more than we should have.

"We didn't deserve this ending, with the game we had played, but let's look on the bright side, we did a lot of things right."

Iliman Ndiaye is determined to shine for Everton, as he aims to give the club’s fans something back for the love they have shown him since he signed.

Ndiaye was brought in from Marseille in the summer, and has made a bright start to life at Everton.

He scored his first Premier League goal on Saturday, putting Everton 1-0 up against Leicester City, though Sean Dyche’s team – for the fourth game running in all competitions – gave up their lead.

Everton managed to hold on to claim their first point of the season, and there was good news for the club on Monday, as it was confirmed The Friedkin Group, which also owns Serie A club Roma, had struck a deal to buy Farhad Moshiri’s majority stake.

While the formalities of that deal are completed, Everton will be looking for an immediate improvement on the pitch, starting against Crystal Palace on Saturday, and in-form Ndiaye is hoping to kick-start that.

Speaking to evertontv, he said: "I’m happy, but I’m still not as I want to be. I want to be on more goals. I want to be on more assists and help the team to win games – make the difference.

"Obviously, it’s a team game. I can’t do everything by myself, so we’re helping each other out. But yes, I’m happy with how it’s going so far for me, personally.

"We’re creating chances, but now it’s about winning games. I’ve said before that we have a great team and great players. It’s what you want to do in a game – you want to create yourself chances, which we’re doing.

"I haven’t been told if I’m a fans’ favourite yet or not, but I see the love from the fans already.

"I just try to give them back what they’re giving to me. They want to see us win and that’s what they deserve. We should have more points right now, but we’ll just take it step by step from today – and hopefully, the future is bright."

Palace and Everton are two of six teams yet to win a Premier League game this season, which is the first instance of as many sides being without a victory five matches into a campaign.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Everton – Dwight McNeil

McNeil, who has been playing centrally as of late as Dyche has looked to accommodate Ndiaye on the left wing, has created more chances (20) and more big chances (six) than any other player in the Premier League so far this season.

Crystal Palace – Eberechi Eze

No player has been involved in more of their team’s shots this season than Eze (30 – 10 chances created + 20 shots).

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Opta’s win probability is struggling to decide between these teams, so do not be surprised if it finishes all square at Goodison Park.

Everton have lost both of their Premier League home games so far this season. Only four times in their history have they ever lost their first three at home in a single league campaign, though one of these was last term (also 1958-59, 2005-06 and 2008-09).

Palace’s last three games, meanwhile, have ended in draws. They have not drawn four consecutive league games since October 2021 under Patrick Vieira.

Everton are winless in their last six Premier League games (D1 L5), despite taking the lead in four of those matches (D1 L3). Indeed, the Toffees have dropped more points from winning positions than any other side in the Premier League this season (eight).

After winning four of their first six Premier League away games against Everton (L2), Palace are winless in their last nine visits to Goodison Park in the competition (D4 L5).

Everton have lost just one of their last 19 Premier League meetings with Crystal Palace (W9 D9), a 3-1 loss at Selhurst Park in December 2021.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Everton – 37%

Crystal Palace – 36.7%

Draw – 26.3%

Emile Smith Rowe already feels at home at Fulham, as the former Arsenal man looks to continue his positive start to the season at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Smith Rowe left Arsenal after 14 years at the club to join Marco Silva's team in a deal reportedly worth up to £35million last month, and he has wasted no time in making an impact.

He has contributed to goals in each of his first three home games with Fulham (two goals, one assist), scoring their second goal in Saturday's 3-1 victory over Newcastle United.

Ahead of this week's trip to the City Ground to face Forest, who are one point better off than Fulham and still unbeaten, Smith Rowe said he was delighted with his start. 

"I couldn't be happier, we just had another really good performance and now it's onto the next one," Smith Rowe told the club's website.

"I think it's all been about getting my confidence back and getting back on the pitch. Everyone knows it's been a difficult couple of years for me.

"I'm feeling really happy out on the pitch and the gaffer is giving me so much confidence. I'm really happy here and it feels like home already, so it's good."

 

Forest, meanwhile, played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with Brighton last time out, going 1-0 up through Chris Wood's opener before falling behind, only for Ramon Sosa to score a second-half equaliser.

Speaking after that game, New Zealand striker Wood said: "It is always good to get something out of the game when coming away from home in the Premier League. Brighton is a tough place to come, they are a good side.

"We got into the lead well and they weren't causing us too many problems until the goal went in. Then we went on a down spell and they had a good spell. They are a good side, and that's how it goes.

"Unfortunately, we couldn't capitalise on it but we have strong character in the group, fought back and scored a lovely goal to equalise."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Nottingham Forest – Chris Wood

Since Nuno Espirito Santo's first game in charge of Forest on December 23 last year, only five players have scored more Premier League goals than Wood (14 in 21 games).

Wood has converted 29% of his shots in that time (14/48), while he also netted in a 3-1 victory for Forest when they last hosted Fulham on April 2.

Fulham – Andreas Pereira 

In the Premier League in 2024, only Kevin De Bruyne (74) has created more chances than Fulham's Pereira (66), with 41 of those coming via set-plays, the most of any player. 

It is the most Premier League chances created by a Fulham player in a calendar year since 2011 (Danny Murphy, 74).

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

Fulham have won more league games against Nottingham Forest than they have versus any other opponent in their league history (42). They have won eight of their last 11 against the Tricky Trees, losing three.

However, Forest's 3-1 victory in this exact fixture last term ended a run of four straight home league defeats to Fulham. They last beat them in back-to-back home league matches in 2014-15.

Nuno's side should enter the match in high spirits as one of just four sides who remain unbeaten in the Premier League this season, alongside Manchester City, Arsenal and Brighton.

Forest last avoided defeat in their opening six matches of a league campaign in 2014-15 in the Championship (first 11). 

Fulham, however, have also performed well, with only City (36), Spurs (35) and Liverpool (34) bettering their 28 shots on target in the Premier League this season. Their current average of 5.6 shots on target per game is their best in any Premier League campaign. An entertaining draw could be on the cards.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY 

Nottingham Forest – 39%

Fulham – 34.4% 

Draw – 26.5%

Three more teams secured play-off berths on Tuesday, with the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros and San Diego Padres booking trips to the post-season.

The Orioles got home runs from Anthony Santander, Colton Cowser and Ramon Urias to beat the New York Yankees 5-3 and deny their division rivals the AL East crown for at least one more night.

The Yankees, who saw Aaron Judge hit his 56th homer of the season, lead the Orioles in the East by five games with five to play, although Baltimore would have the tiebreaker if they go 5-0 down the stretch and New York finishes 0-5.

The Orioles will play in consecutive post-seasons for the first time since 1996-97.

For the fourth consecutive year, the AL West crown was claimed by the Astros, who beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3. Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman and Jason Heyward each hit home runs for Houston, with Heyward’s two-run shot in the fifth putting the Astros ahead for good.

In the NL West, the Padres turned a triple play to close out their 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers and ensure them at least a wild-card spot.

Jake Cronenworth hit a two-run homer in the second and added an RBI double in the fourth to pace the Padres, who trail the Dodgers by two games in the West.

 

Braves take crucial series opener from Mets

Michael Harris had a home run and an RBI double, Spencer Schwellenbach was strong through seven innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets 5-1 as both teams continued their fight for play-off position.

Harris finished 3 for 4 with seven total bases, and Marcell Ozuna hit his 39th homer of the season, a solo shot in the fifth off Ryne Stanek.

Schwellenbach carried a shutout into the seventh, when he surrendered a solo shot to Mark Vientos. Schwellenbach allowed three hits and one walk over seven innings.

The win, Atlanta’s third in a row, moved the Braves (86-71) half a game back of the Arizona Diamondbacks (87-71) for the NL’s final wild-card spot. Arizona was routed 11-0 by the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.

With the loss, the Mets (87-70) were left clinging to a wild-card position by the narrowest of margins. They face the Braves two more times before heading to Milwaukee for a three-game set against the NL Central champion Brewers.

 

Guardians secure first-round bye

Kyle Manzardo and Lane Thomas hit home runs to back a strong outing from Tanner Bibee, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-1.

With the win, the AL Central champion Guardians clinched a top-two finish in the American League and a first-round play-off bye.

Manzardo and Thomas both went deep in the first inning off Carson Spiers for the early lead, and Josh Naylor drove in a pair of insurance runs as Cleveland improved to 91-67.

Bibee, who had been 1-4 in his previous five decisions, cruised to his 12th win, allowing four hits and one run in seven innings with seven strikeouts.

The Guardians trail the Yankees by 1 ½ games for the best record in the AL.

Enzo Maresca believes his young Chelsea side sent out a message with their 5-0 thrashing of Barrow in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.

Christopher Nkunku scored a hat-trick, netting twice in the first half before claiming the match ball with his 75th-minute effort.

Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman turned into his own net just before the half-hour mark, with Pedro Neto getting Chelsea's fourth three minutes after the break.

It was just Chelsea's second win at Stamford Bridge under Maresca, after their victory over Servette in August, with the Italian making 11 changes to his line-up as he continues to rotate his squad.

His much-changed team dominated throughout though, having 20 shots, with half of those on target, as they limited their League Two opponents to just five efforts and only one on target.

Maresca was particularly impressed with how Chelsea rose to the challenge he set them prior to kick-off.

"Before the game, I asked the players that even if they are the youngest team in the Premier League, to show how serious we are to me, but also to send a message that, yes, we are young, but we are serious and want to compete," Maresca said, as reported by BBC Sport.

Maresca made another notable change at the break, with Ben Chilwell coming on to replace Malo Gusto, who has recently returned from injury.

Chilwell was one of the players training away from the main squad at the start of Maresca's tenure, but he was unable to secure a move away from the club in the transfer window.

The left-back struggled with injuries last season and was limited to just 21 appearances under Mauricio Pochettino. 

Having reintegrated Chilwell back into the squad and handing him his first minutes since their FA Cup semi-final in April, Maresca was happy with what he saw from the England international.

"Very good. It was not easy for Chilly. He didn't get any minutes this season, but he has shown he is there, he is ready and working well," Maresca said.

"There is not any problem. If we have a chance, we will give him some more minutes."  

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