Reuters Sports Schedule at 0600 GMT on Thursday
Reuters sports schedule at 0600 GMT on Thursday:
SOCCER
Europa League
AC Milan face Arsenal
Seven-times European champions AC Milan host struggling Arsenal in the pick of the last-16 first legs. Atletico Madrid, second in La Liga, entertain Lokomotiv Moscow among the other highlights. (SOCCER-EUROPA/, expect by 2200 GMT/5:PM ET, 400 words)
Funeral of former Fiorentina captain Astori
FLORENCE, Italy - Thousands of mourners are expected to gather in Florence for the funeral of Fiorentina captain Davide Astori. The former Italy international died of a sudden illness at the age of 31 on Sunday leaving Italian football in a state of shock. (SOCCER-ITALY/ASTORI-FUNERAL, expect by 1400 GMT/9:AM ET, by Brian Homewood, 400 words)
Premier League
Fight for second adds edge to United v Liverpool derby
MANCHESTER, England - There is never any shortage of spice to the North West derby between Manchester United and Liverpool but if any were needed the battle for second place in the Premier League surely provides it. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/ (PREVIEW), moved, by Simon Evans, 400 words)
We continue the build-up to all the weekend matches. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/, expect throughout)
MOTOR RACING
Formula One
BARCELONA - Teams continue testing at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, with the first race of the season in Australia looming on March 25. (MOTOR-F1-TESTING/, expect throughout, 400 words)
RUGBY
Six Nations
England name team to play France
LONDON - England coach Eddie Jones names his team to play France in Paris as the defending champions bid to bounce back from their shock defeat in Scotland. (RUGBY-UNION-NATIONS-ENG/, expect by 1000 GMT/5 AM ET, by Mitch Phillips, 400 words)
ATHLETICS
Gatlin runs 150 metres race in Pretoria
PRETORIA - World 100 metres champion Justin Gatlin will compete for the first time in 2018 when he takes part in a rarely run 150-metre sprint at the Athletix Grand Prix Series meeting. (ATHLETICS-GATLIN/, expect by 1930 GMT/12:30 ET, 400 words)
GOLF
European Tour
Indian Open (to 10)
In-form Sharma headlines Indian Open at home
NEW DELHI - Shubhankar Sharma, who last week made a top-10 finish in his PGA Tour debut at the WGC-Mexico Championship and earned an invite to next month's U.S. Masters, will be back on home soil at the Indian Open, co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours. Europe's current Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn and his predecessor and major champion Darren Clarke will also be in action. (GOLF-EUROPEAN/, expect by 1100 GMT/6 AM ET, 300 words)
PGA Tour: Valspar Championship, Palm Harbor (to 11)
Woods resumes comeback at Valspar
Tiger Woods takes the next step in his comeback when he tees off in the opening round at the Innisbrook Resorts Copperhead course alongside Jordan Spieth and Swede Henrik Stenson. Four-times major winner Rory McIlroy, defending champion Adam Hadwin and Masters champion Sergio Garcia are also among those in the impressive field. (GOLF-VALSPAR/, expect by 0130 GMT/8:30 PM ET, 400 words)
CRICKET
Triangular Twenty20 series
Bangladesh v India
India play their second match of the tournament against neighbours Bangladesh. (CRICKET-T20-TRI/, expect by 2230 GMT/5:30 PM ET, 300 words)
TENNIS
ATP/WTA: BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells (to 18)
Serena ready for WTA return at Indian Wells
Unseeded former champion Serena Williams, who has not played competitively at singles since winning the Australian Open in 2017, opens her Indian Wells campaign with a first-round clash against Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan to kick off the night session followed by Victoria Azarenkas first match since Wimbledon. (TENNIS-INDIANWELLS/WOMEN, expect by 0430 GMT/11:30 PM ET, 400 words)
Donaldson, Shapovalov in first-round action
American Jared Donaldson, fresh off his run to the semi-finals at the Mexican Open, and Canadian Denis Shapovalov are among those in first-round action at Indian Wells. (TENNIS-INDIANWELLS/MEN, expect by 0430 GMT/11:30 PM ET, 400 words)
NBA
Streaking Warriors face Spurs, Celtics battle T-Wolves
The reigning champion Golden State Warriors try to make it seven consecutive wins when they host the San Antonio Spurs while the Boston Celtics try to close in on the Eastern Conference-leading Toronto Raptors when they battle the Minnesota Timberwolves in two of the five games on the National Basketball Associations schedule. (BASKETBALL-NBA/HIGHLIGHTS, expect by 0430 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by Field Level Media, 300 words)
NHL
Red-hot Preds face Ducks, Bruins host Flyers
The Nashville Predators try to extend the leagues longest active win streak to 10 games when they host the Anaheim Ducks while the Boston Bruins put their four-game win streak on the line when they host the Philadelphia Flyers in two of the 12 games on the National Hockey League schedule. (ICEHOCKEY-NHL/HIGHLIGHTS, expect by 0430 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by Field Level Media, 300 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 Field Level Media, 500 words) (Asia Desk Editor: Greg Stutchbury)
