Reuters Sports Schedule at 1400 GMT on Thursday, Feb 23
Reuters sports schedule at 1400 GMT on Thursday: SOCCER Europa League Spurs out to overturn deficit against Gent LONDON - Tottenham Hotspur will have to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit at home to Belgian outfit Gent if they are to reach the last 16, while AS Roma and Olympique Lyonnais will look to consolidate large aggregate leads. (SOCCER-EUROPA/, expect by 2000 GMT/3 PM ET, by Toby Davis, 600 words) Premier League Swansea's Clement keen to give former club Chelsea the blues LONDON - Having helped Chelsea to win the Premier League as assistant to Carlo Ancelotti, Paul Clement will be looking to put a dent in their title hopes this season when he takes his resurgent Swansea City side to Stamford Bridge on Saturday. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/ (PREVIEW), moved, by Toby Davis, 400 words) We continue the build-up to the weekend matches in the Premier League. (SOCCER-ENGLAND-TEAM/, expect throughout) Italian Serie A Fresh faces, new troubles for Juventus ROME - Serie A leaders Juventus return to domestic action when they host Empoli on Saturday having seen off Porto in their Champions League last 16 first leg, with Massimiliano Allegri’s side enjoying the emergence of new faces but having to contend with tension from within. (SOCCER-ITALY/ (PREVIEW, PIX), expect by 1430 GMT/9.30 AM ET, by Ed Dove, 400 words) GOLF European Tour: Jo’burg Open, Johannesburg (to 26) Expansive field over two courses JOHANNESBURG – A total of 210 golfers tee off across two courses at the start of the Jo’burg Open as the European Tour returns to South Africa at the Royal Johannesburg and the Kensington Golf clubs. (GOLF-EUROPEAN/, expect by 1630 GMT/ 11:30 AM ET, 250 words) PGA Tour: Honda Classic, Palm Beach Gardens (to 26) Scott, Garcia head strong field at Palm Beach Gardens Defending champion Adam Scott and runner-up Sergio Garcia return to PGA National where a strong field featuring some of the best players from overseas will tee off in the opening round at Palm Beach Gardens. (GOLF-PGA/, expect by end-of-day lead by 2330 GMT/6:30 PM ET, 400 words) NBA Cavs host Knicks, Clippers battle Warriors LeBron James and the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers host the New York Knicks while the NBA-leading Golden State Warriors host the Los Angeles Clippers in two of the six games on the National Basketball Association schedule. (NBA-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 2230 GMT/5:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 600 words) NHL Lundqvist’s Rangers visit Maple Leafs Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers visit rookie standout Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs for a clash of Original Six franchises while the Chicago Blackhawks host the Arizona Coyotes in two of the six games on the National Hockey League schedule. (ICEHOCKEY-NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 0630 GMT/1:30 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (Expect by 0100 GMT/8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 500 words) ASIAN WINTER GAMES Asian Winter Games, Sapporo (to 26) The eighth edition of the Asiad for winter sports involves some 1,200 athletes from 32 countries competing in five sports, 11 disciplines and 64 events at 12 competition venues mostly in Sapporo on Japan's northerly Hokkaido island. (GAMES-ASIA/ (PIX), copy on merit) (Asia desk editor: Peter Rutherford)
