England striker Ivan Toney is hoping his World Cup dream will not be shattered after it was revealed he is under investigation for betting on football matches.

The Sun and Daily Mail newspapers reported Brentford star Toney faces allegations of placing bets in the early stages of his career, before shooting to stardom.

The newspaper said there was no suggestion of any criminal activity or match-fixing; however, the Football Association strictly forbids all gambling on football by professional players.

The 26-year-old Toney reacted to the story by confirming he is "assisting the Football Association with their enquiries", while stressing he wants to go to Qatar 2022 with Gareth Southgate's national team.

Toney posted on Twitter: "I'm aware of a story about me in a national newspaper today.

"I have been assisting the Football Association with their enquiries and will not be making any comment until such investigation has reached its inclusion.

"I am a proud Englishman and it has always been my childhood dream to play for my country at a World Cup finals."

Brentford said in a statement: "We note the story concerning Ivan Toney and the FA investigation. The club will not be commenting."

Toney, who joined Brentford from Peterborough in 2020, was called up by Southgate for the first time in September but did not play in the Nations League games against Italy and Germany.

Barcelona eased to a 2-0 win against Almeria in Gerard Pique's final game at Camp Nou before retirement.

Goals from Ousmane Dembele and Frenkie de Jong made up for an early missed penalty from Robert Lewandowski, but it was always going to be Pique's occasion.

The 35-year-old centre-back played 82 minutes before being substituted, leaving the field to a standing ovation from every one of the 92,605 in attendance on Saturday as he tearfully hugged each of his team-mates.

Barca's win was their 11th in their last 12 league games and sent them back to the top of LaLiga before Real Madrid's trip to Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

A VAR check saw Barca rewarded a sixth-minute penalty when Ferran Torres' header hit Kaiky Fernandes' arm but Lewandowski saw his spot-kick clip the outside of the left post after a stuttered run-up.

Despite Barca's dominance, a sloppy pass from De Jong was pounced on by Largie Ramazani and Marc-Andre ter Stegen reacted quickly to close down his shot.

It took less than three minutes of the second half for the hosts to find the opener as a long ball out to the right from Sergio Busquets found Dembele, who cut inside onto his left foot and beat two defenders before calmly rolling his shot into the far corner of the net.

Their lead was doubled just after the hour as a cross from the left by Jordi Alba found Ansu Fati, whose shot was saved well by Fernando Martinez before De Jong lashed home the rebound to seal the win as the Camp Nou bid farewell to Pique with a victory.

Olivier Giroud scored a late winner and was sent off for his celebration as Milan beat Spezia 2-1 to go second in Serie A.

Theo Hernandez put the Rossoneri on course for back-to-back wins after they hammered Salzburg to qualify for the Champions League round of 16 in midweek.

Daniel Maldini, son of Milan legend Paolo, then stunned his parent club by scoring Spezia's first away goal of the season to equalise in the second half.

There was late drama at San Siro, though, as Giroud came off the bench to volley an 89th-minute winner before being shown a second yellow card for whipping off his shirt.

New Zealand benefited from a controversial penalty en route to a 24-18 defeat of Fiji after rallying to avoid a repeat of their quarter-final exit to the Bati at the previous Rugby League World Cup.

The Kiwis booked a mammoth last-four meeting with defending champions Australia but only after staring down another shock loss to Fiji in Hull.

The sole previous meeting between the sides had also come in the quarters five years ago, with New Zealand on the end of a 4-2 upset.

It quickly became clear this would not be another low-scoring affair, albeit only because Fiji raced into a 12-0 lead with a pair of superb tries from Maika Sivo and Kevin Naiqama.

Even when Ronaldo Mulitalo got the world's top-ranked side on the board, Naiqama ran in again after half-time to restore the underdogs' advantage.

But the Bati could not hold out, with Briton Nikora's response followed by a levelling try from Joseph Manu with 18 minutes to play.

Manu was involved again in the game's decisive moment as Fiji were harshly punished for a supposed strip that allowed Jordan Rapana to kick a penalty, putting New Zealand in front for the first time before the same man added a try at the death.

Indiana Pacers guard Chris Duarte will likely miss four-to-six weeks after sustaining a Grade 2 ankle sprain in Friday's 101-99 victory over the Miami Heat.

Duarte was coming off a career-high, 30-point performance in Monday's 116-109 road loss to the Brooklyn Nets before stepping on the foot of Heat guard Kyle Lowry in the first quarter on Friday.

Duarte was a second-team All-Rookie selection last season after the 13th overall pick in 2021 averaged 13.1 points per game, sixth-most among all first-year players in the NBA.

He has averaged 8.9 points in nine games, including five starts, this season for an Indiana team that has won three of four following a 1-4 start.

Massimiliano Allegri is set to make a number of late calls on his Juventus XI for Sunday's Derby d'Italia, with Dusan Vlahovic still not fully fit.

Vlahovic has not featured for the Bianconeri since their costly Champions League defeat to Benfica in the middle of last week.

And the Serbia striker may not return in time to take on Inter this weekend, as Allegri revealed an ongoing groin issue at his pre-match news conference on Saturday.

The coach could at least offer a more positive update on Angel Di Maria and Bremer, who are both back in the fold, although he would not confirm the role of either player at Allianz Stadium.

"[Di Maria and Bremer] are recovered – the only doubt is Vlahovic, because he is not well and tomorrow I have to evaluate," Allegri said.

"On Bremer and Di Maria, I have to decide whether to let both play or just one, but I have to evaluate."

Pressed further on Vlahovic, he replied: "We don't know if he's okay, because he's missed sessions.

"If he is well and tells me he is available, he will be on the bench; otherwise, it is useless to bring a player who cannot play."

Allegri added he would also "evaluate and decide" whether Di Maria and Bremer may be able to start on Sunday.

"The important thing is to have everyone available," he said.

Should they line up on the bench, they would likely join Federico Chiesa, whose successful return to action following an ACL tear has given his coach "a pleasant surprise".

"Now, I just have to increase his minutes," Allegri said. "Tomorrow he will definitely be part of the game."

As Inter coach Simone Inzaghi had earlier in the day, Allegri played down the importance of this match in the context of the season.

But Allegri acknowledged the need for Juve to get a result in this fixture, having taken only a single point against the Nerazzurri last term.

"It would be important [to move above Inter], but the season is long," he said. "Last year we never beat them, and we will have to do everything we can to reverse the trend."

An impressive second-half performance from Ireland yielded a 19-16 victory against world champions South Africa at Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Ireland made it 10 consecutive home wins for only the second time in their history, having won 12 in a row between November 2016 and November 2018.

Johnny Sexton and Damian Willemse exchanged early penalties before Cheslin Kolbe was shown a yellow card for a tip tackle on Mack Hansen, but the hosts could not take advantage as a tight first half ended 6-6. 

The contest burst into life after that though as two well-worked tries early in the second half down the left from Josh van der Flier and Hansen gave Ireland a 10-point lead as they looked to overwhelm the visitors.

South Africa responded with 14 minutes remaining as Franco Mostert was able to force the ball over for a try after some sustained pressure, though another Sexton penalty looked to have sealed things for Andy Farrell's side.

Kurt-Lee Arendse nipped in down the South Africa left for their second try with four minutes remaining to cut the deficit to three points and test the nerves in Dublin, but Ireland were able to hold on to make it a perfect 10 on home soil.

Pep Guardiola has revealed Kalvin Phillips could be back in Manchester City action before England fly out to the World Cup.

The City manager disclosed midfielder Phillips will be a substitute for City's EFL Cup game against Chelsea on Wednesday.

Although he has not promised Phillips will come off the bench, the former Leeds United star is now at the stage of his recovery from a shoulder injury where first-team duty is a possibility once more.

The news will be cautiously welcomed by England boss Gareth Southgate, for whom Phillips has been a key figure when fit.

Guardiola said Phillips took part in a full training session on Friday and "felt good".

“Against Chelsea he will be on the bench, whether to play or not I don't know, but he will be on the bench. Kalvin is much better," Guardiola said.

Kyle Walker, who underwent groin surgery four weeks ago, is another City player looking to prove his fitness ahead of England's Qatar 2022 trip.

"I spoke with Kyle and he feels good too, but his surgery was later than Kalvin, that's why I don’t know," Guardiola said.

Southgate would ideally want both Phillips and Walker on the plane, but only if they are in shape to make a full contribution, and doubts remain over both players for now.

Guardiola is making no promises, saying: "I don't know. I spoke with Gareth Southgate 10 or 12 days ago.

"We had a chat, a coffee, him and his assistant, and we talked about them, he spoke with them and the doctors.

"He asked [about Kalvin and Kyle] and I said, 'I don't know, I'm not a doctor'."

Guardiola savoured his team's win against Fulham on Saturday, when substitute Erling Haaland's stoppage-time penalty secured a 2-1 home success.

City had played from 10 men from the 26th minute onwards after Joao Cancelo was red-carded for bundling over Harry Wilson to give away a spot-kick, which Andreas Pereira converted to cancel out Julian Alvarez's early opener.

Guardiola said his remaining players were "exceptional" and made him "so, so proud".

He reserved special praise for man of the match Kevin De Bruyne, saying the Belgian playmaker "put the team on his shoulders".

According to Guardiola, Cancelo should not have felt the need to clatter into Wilson and should have put his trust in goalkeeper Ederson.

"He deserved the red," Guardiola said, according to City's official website. "I say many times to all the players, outside the box after 85 minutes make a foul. But [at that stage of the game], let them score. Okay 1-1, penalty 1-1, but 10 v 11 is too much.

"Hopefully we can learn, not Joao, all of us. It happens in football - if you lose the duel with the striker, it can happen, rely on Eddie, he can save it."

Dominic Calvert-Lewin's slim hopes of making England's World Cup squad may be at an end after he went down injured for Everton on Saturday.

Calvert-Lewin went to Euro 2020 as Harry Kane's back-up, having scored a career-high 16 Premier League goals in the prior season.

But the Everton forward appeared for a mere combined 17 minutes across two substitute appearances at the finals and has scarcely been fit since.

Calvert-Lewin was restricted to 15 league starts last season, scoring five goals, while Saturday's match against Leicester City saw him included in the XI for only the fourth time this term.

A sole goal against Crystal Palace meant Calvert-Lewin always faced an uphill struggle to reclaim his place in the England set-up.

His last international cap came at the Euros, since when Tammy Abraham and Ivan Toney have been included in Three Lions squads, while Callum Wilson – another oft-injured striker – is fit and in form.

Another Calvert-Lewin setback on Saturday may represent the final straw, with the striker going down in the second half at Goodison Park and quickly being replaced by Neal Maupay.

Gareth Southgate is set to name his final 26-man England squad for the World Cup next week, having kept his provisional 55-man group private.

It is reported Wilson – seemingly the favourite to serve as Kane's understudy – was included in that initial selection.

Novak Djokovic overcame Stefanos Tsitsipas in a dramatic final-set tie-break to reach the Paris Masters final on Saturday, teeing up a meeting with Holger Rune. 

Djokovic's 12-match winning run looked likely to be halted when Tsitsipas found a mini-break in the decider, with the Greek having fought his way into contention after losing the opening set.

However, the 21-time grand slam champion stepped up when it mattered, winning the final four points of the match to seal a 6-2 3-6 7-6 (7-4) victory.

The Serbian, who will now take part in his record 56th Masters 1000 final on Sunday, opted to praise Tsitsipas for his role in a thrilling encounter following the win. 

"It's very sweet, obviously, when you win matches like this against one of the best players in the world," Djokovic said.

"I thought I started the match very well, again, great hitting, like yesterday in the quarters. I had chances early on in the second, I didn't break his serve. The momentum shifted, the crowd got into it. I think he elevated his level of tennis.

"We went into an even battle all the way until the last point, until the last shot. Some incredible points towards the end. I'm just really glad to overcome this challenge."

In Saturday's other match, Rune clinched his first Masters 1000 final appearance by posting a straight-sets victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The in-form Dane seized control of the contest after breaking in the third game of the opener, and did not give up a single break point en route to a comprehensive 6-4 6-2 win.

In doing so, Rune exacted revenge for last week's defeat to Auger-Aliassime in the Swiss Indoors final in Basel, halting the Canadian's 16-match winning run.

Rune has now won eight career matches against top-10 opponents, and half of those victories (four) have come during his strong run in Paris this week.

Erling Haaland described his stoppage-time penalty against Fulham as "one of the most nervous moments of my life" as he fired home to send Manchester City top of the Premier League.

The Norwegian's successful spot-kick gave City a 2-1 home victory on Saturday after they played over 64 minutes with 10 men due to Joao Cancelo's red card.

Haaland, who began on the bench after missing two games with a foot injury, replaced Julian Alvarez in the 64th minute and had a goal disallowed for a tight offside before holding his nerve from 12 yards at the death.

Alvarez had given City the lead with a thumping finish, but when Cancelo knocked Harry Wilson to the floor in the 26th minute to give Fulham a penalty and earn himself a red card, the game changed.

Andreas Pereira levelled from the spot, and City were not as freewheeling in their attacking after that.

However, having Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne gave them hope, and although a Haaland header from De Bruyne's cross was chalked off, it was that combination that brought about the winner.

De Bruyne was tripped, and Haaland stepped up, just about beating Bernd Leno as his powerful strike to the bottom-left corner was almost kept out by the Fulham goalkeeper.

Haaland's reaction spoke volumes, as he said: "Fantastic. I was nervous. It was one of the most nervous moments of my life, but fantastic.

"A penalty in the last minute, of course I would be nervous. But it was an amazing feeling. I don't care how it went in, it is about it going in. I love it. I have been injured for a week, and it is really important to win."

The former Borussia Dortmund marksman, quoted on City's official website, said Pep Guardiola's team showed their true colours by battling to the end to snatch the points.

Heading into Sunday's games, it meant City held a one-point cushion over Arsenal, who faced a tricky trip to Chelsea.

Haaland said: "When you go 10 v 11 for 70 minutes, it is difficult; I don't think any team would do it as good as we did it today."

He has scored 16 goals in his last 10 Premier League appearances, matching the most goals by any player in a 10-game period in the competition, previously achieved in 2013 by Liverpool's Luis Suarez.

The 22-year-old Haaland added: "I am so tired, but so happy. You have no idea."

Francesco Bagnaia quipped that he "won't pay anyone" to help him dethrone Fabio Quartararo and claim a first MotoGP title at the Valencia Grand Prix on Sunday.

The odds are stacked against reigning champion Quartararo, who needs to win at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo and hope Bagnaia finishes 15th or lower in the final race of the season in order to retain his crown.

Monster Energy Yamaha rider Quartararo will start in fourth place, with Bagnaia only able to take eighth spot on the grid.

Jorge Martin sealed a third successive pole position, with Marc Marquez second and Bagnaia's Ducati team-mate Jack Miller set to start the decisive race in third.

Italian Bagnaia is not expecting any favours as he stands within touching distance of the biggest moment of his career.

"I won't pay anyone! Anyone can be my team-mate for this race," said the 25-year-old.

"It is difficult to do a strategy because it is impossible to predict what will happen. Maybe in the first two or three laps I have to take risks so I can then manage.

"I just say [to the team] that if Fabio is close to me, or behind me, then [the team should let him know] and then I will decide what to do."

He added: "My thing tomorrow is not to win - just be calm, understand. I will take risks at the start to get a gap. But then just be smart."

Alphonso Davies is suspected to have suffered a hamstring strain and now faces an anxious wait to learn whether he will be fit to feature for Canada at the World Cup.

Davies was forced off in the 64th minute of Bayern Munich's thrilling 3-2 win at Hertha Berlin on Saturday, a result which – at least temporarily – moved them ahead of Union Berlin at the Bundesliga summit.

The left-back, who plays in attack for Canada, was seen clutching his right hamstring as he walked gingerly from the field, causing concern for his country ahead of their World Cup opener against Belgium on November 23.

Speaking after Bayern's fourth league win in a row, concerned coach Julian Nagelsmann said: "In terms of that injury, we have to wait until tomorrow. The doctor says there is at least one fibre tear.

"Wait and see what comes out tomorrow."

After Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's brace allowed Bayern to build on Jamal Musiala's opener, Hertha fought their way back into the match at the end of a remarkable first half, and Nagelsmann was under no illusions as to the importance of the win.

"It wasn't an easy game. We had a couple of good moments in the first half; it was a wild game," he said.

"We led 3-0, but we didn't have any clear actions. The lead was generally a bit too much. Then we got into a phase in which we didn't manage much.

"It got exciting again. In the end, we threw everything in; it was a game that you have to win."