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Opinion

Alastair Grant / ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Despite the departure of Manchester City’s storied manager Pep Guardiola at the end of May, how the Sky Blues perform in Sunday’s Manchester Derby is just one of the storylines the former bench boss is impacting.

All about Pep

Jerrad Peters 4 minute read 1:30 PM CDT

He won’t be involved, but Sunday’s Manchester Derby (10:30 a.m., FuboTV) will be all about Pep Guardiola.

It was 10 years ago that the ex-Bayern Munich and Barcelona manager, hired that summer by Manchester City, oversaw his first local clash against Manchester United. Then, like now, the match came early — on Matchday Four. And then, like now, it was played on the enemy patch at Old Trafford.

United is hoping the comparisons end there, because City prevailed 2-1 back in September 2016 and Guardiola went on to win 16 derbies to the Red Devils’ nine. He also shifted the balance of power away from a club that was only three years removed from Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement and still expecting a quick return to glory.

In Guardiola’s glittering decade in English football he guided the Sky Blues to six Premier League titles and, in 2023, the league, FA Cup and Champions League treble — a feat theretofore achieved only by United.

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Baseball

JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES The Winnipeg Goldeyes return to post-season action Wednesday in a West Division battle against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.

Goldeyes open three-game playoff series in Fargo

Grace Anne Paizen 3 minute read Preview

Goldeyes open three-game playoff series in Fargo

Grace Anne Paizen 3 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 8, 2026

The Winnipeg Goldeyes return to post-season action Wednesday night since their trip to the Miles Wolff Cup Final in 2024.

First pitch in Game 1 of the West Division series is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Fargo, N.D., against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.

Here’s a breakdown of what to know as the best-of-three series begins at Newman Outdoor Field.

By the numbers

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Tuesday, Sep. 8, 2026

Soccer

NSL PHOTO Calgary Wild goalkeeper Katelin Talbert backstopped her team to the club’s first regulation win of the season last Saturday.

Around the NSL: Quarterfinal upset; Wild win; Rapid still human

Grace Anne Paizen 5 minute read Preview

Around the NSL: Quarterfinal upset; Wild win; Rapid still human

Grace Anne Paizen 5 minute read Friday, Aug. 14, 2026

Oh, the drama in the week that was.

The quarterfinals of the inaugural W Canadian Championship have been a wild ride since the Calgary Wild shut out CS Mont-Royal Outremont 4-0 on Aug. 5. The development this week? The NSL’s second-best team dropped a 1-0 decision to semi-pro Simcoe County Rovers FC on Wednesday in front of a hometown crowd at Stade Boréale.

Club backlash over the loss has been swift as the Montreal Roses promptly fired manager Robert Rositoui on Thursday. First assistant coach Maryse Bard-Martel has been placed as the interim bench boss until a new head coach is hired.

Rositoui was the club’s inaugural head coach, who led the Roses to a semifinal berth in Montreal’s inaugural season. It’s a shock that after a loss in a knockout tournament would amount to his firing — but the club claims a “new spark” is needed.

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Friday, Aug. 14, 2026

Soccer

Luca Bruno / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Real Madrid has turned to José Mourinho for a second time. The last time Mourinho coached the club was 13 years ago.

Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid a classic rebound

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Preview

Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid a classic rebound

Jerrad Peters 5 minute read Friday, Aug. 14, 2026

Not quite a month ago, nearly two million people lined the streets of Madrid to see the World Cup paraded by the Spanish national team. It might as well have been another lifetime.

By the time the Plaza de Cibeles was swept up and sprayed down, the country’s attention had shifted to the only thing — or person — it seemed anyone wanted to be talking about: José Mourinho.

And they haven’t stopped talking about him. He hasn’t let them.

On June 11, the same day the World Cup kicked off in Mexico City, Mourinho was appointed head coach of Real Madrid for a second time. In his initial stint at the sport’s biggest club, which had ended 13 years prior, he’d won the Copa del Rey his first season, La Liga in his second and nothing in his third.

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Friday, Aug. 14, 2026

Soccer

NSL PHOTO Halifax Tides forward Jordyn Rhodes (left) and AFC Toronto’s Kaylee Hunter earned braces to cap off Week 15 of game action in the Northern Super League.

Around the NSL: A brace of braces; Rapid rule; Jostling in the standings

Grace Anne Paizen 4 minute read Preview

Around the NSL: A brace of braces; Rapid rule; Jostling in the standings

Grace Anne Paizen 4 minute read Friday, Aug. 7, 2026

WHAT a long weekend in the Northern Super League. If fans thought the eight goal tally between the first two games of Week 15 was wild, how about the final two games this past weekend?

A total of 11 goals were scored by AFC Toronto, the Halifax Tides and the Ottawa Rapid — that’s a whopping 19 in just one week of footy.

How did we get here? Let’s dive into the storylines.

Braces of the week

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Friday, Aug. 7, 2026

Soccer

NSL PHOTO The Ottawa Rapid came away with a 2-1 win over the Halifax Tides in Week 13. Halifax gets its chance to avenge the loss at home on Monday.

Around the NSL: Roaring Rapid; Mighty Maroons motoring; Wild still looking for first win

Grace Anne Paizen 4 minute read Preview

Around the NSL: Roaring Rapid; Mighty Maroons motoring; Wild still looking for first win

Grace Anne Paizen 4 minute read Friday, Jul. 31, 2026

WELCOME back to the View from Row Z!

What a fortnight of footy in the Northern Super League. With two Week 15 games already in the books, this edition of the View will look a little different, capping off all the action from Week 13 and 14.

Let’s start with questions going into the two games left in Week 15.

Can the Rapid be stopped?

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Friday, Jul. 31, 2026

Baseball

CASSIDY DANKOCHIK / THE CARILLON Carillon Sultans right fielder Joe Plett is mobbed by teammates after driving home the championship-winning run in the MJBL final against the Elmwood Giants in Steinbach on Tuesday night.

Sultans cement dynasty

Cassidy Dankochik 4 minute read Preview

Sultans cement dynasty

Cassidy Dankochik 4 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 29, 2026

For the third consecutive season, the Carillon Sultans have lifted the Darryl Steen Trophy as champions of the Manitoba Junior Baseball League.

The Sultans dominated the Elmwood Giants in the final, winning all three games in abbreviated fashion with mercy rule victories to claim the best-of-five series, including the 12-2 series clincher in Steinbach at A.D. Penner Park on July 28.

All nine Carillon players in the line-up recorded at least one hit, with lead-off hitter Joe Plett knocking in a two-run single to give the Sultans a 10-run advantage in the bottom of the sixth inning.

“We wanted to make sure we finish tonight and everyone came through and did what they had to do,” head coach Don Meilleur said.

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Wednesday, Jul. 29, 2026

Soccer

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS NSL Winnipeg co-founders Rob Gale and Desiree Scott announced the league’s first expansion franchise at the Forks on Tuesday.

Around the NSL: Welcome to footypeg; Rapid on top; Canadian Champ to be crowned

Grace Anne Paizen 4 minute read Preview

Around the NSL: Welcome to footypeg; Rapid on top; Canadian Champ to be crowned

Grace Anne Paizen 4 minute read Friday, Jul. 17, 2026

Welcome to footypeg, Northern Super League superfans! It will soon no longer be a view from Row Z.

It was a long — too long — time coming, but Winnipeg will finally have its very own professional women’s league team. And what better sport than the beautiful game.

Decorated Olympian and hometown hero Desiree Scott made the announcement of the league’s expansion into the Prairies on Tuesday. The Winnipegger nicknamed the Destroyer during her playing days co-founded the seventh franchise in Canada’s women’s pro footy league with renowned former coach Rob Gale. She will serve as vice-president of community and player experience and Gale will serve as chief sporting officer.

The club’s first season will kick off in 2027 and the league has announced it hopes to expand again in 2028.

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Friday, Jul. 17, 2026

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