Reuters Sports Schedule at 1400 GMT on Thursday, April 17
Reuters sports schedule at 1400 GMT on Thursday: - - - - SOCCER Premier League Suarez primed to torment Norwich again LONDON - It would be a brave gambler who wagered against Luis Suarez becoming the first Liverpool player to score 30 goals in a Premier League season when the leaders head to struggling Norwich City on Sunday. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/ (PREVIEW), moved, 600 words) - - Battered Barca in La Liga last-chance saloon MADRID - Barcelona's defeat in the King's Cup final means La Liga is their only chance of major silverware and anything other than a home win against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday would almost certainly end their dwindling title hopes. (SOCCER-SPAIN/ (PREVIEW), moved, by Iain Rogers, 500 words) - - Juventus count down to title and securing Conte ROME - On the verge of winning a third straight Serie A title, Juventus have two further objectives - winning their first major European trophy in nearly two decades and keeping hold of coach Antonio Conte. (SOCCER-ITALY/ (PREVIEW), moved, by Terry Daley, 500 words) - - Bundesliga Eintracht Frankfurt v Hanover 96 (1830) Copy on merit - - - - MOTOR RACING Chinese Formula One Grand Prix (to 20) Hamilton, Alonso speak to media in Shanghai SHANGHAI - Lewis Hamilton meets the media ahead of a weekend that could bring the Mercedes driver a third win in a row. (MOTOR RACING-PRIX/,(PIX), expect by 1700 GMT/1 PM ET, by Abhishek Takle) - - Rosberg keen to deny team mate Hamilton three in a row SHANGHAI - Championship leader Nico Rosberg, returning to the track where he took his first F1 win, can turn the tables on Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton this weekend and deny the Briton a third victory in a row. (MOTOR RACING-PRIX/PREVIEW(PIX), moved, by Abhishek Takle, 500 words) We have also moved a drivers' form sheet and statistics for Sunday's race. - - - - TENNIS ATP: Monte Carlo Masters, Monaco (to 20) Nadal thrashes Seppi in Monte Carlo round three World number one Rafael Nadal enjoyed another easy win at the Monte Carlo Masters, while Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are also in third-round action (TENNIS-MEN/MASTERS (PIX), moved with updates to follow, 400 words) - - WTA: Malaysian Open (to 20) Copy on merit - - - - NHL Blackhawks open playoff push versus Blues The defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks open their playoff campaign against the visiting St. Louis Blues while the New York Rangers host the rival Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden in two of four NHL playoff games on the schedule. (NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 475 words) - - - - NBA Teams get set to make push for playoff glory We look ahead to the National Basketball Association playoffs with a four-part package consisting of an overall preview, profiles on the Eastern Conference teams, Western Conference teams and a schedule of first-round games. (NBA-PLAYOFFS/ (PREVIEW), expect 1930 GMT/3:30 PM ET, by Frank Pingue, 750 words) ALSO SEE: (NBA-PLAYOFFS/EASTERN-PENPIX, expect by 1930 GMT/3:30 PM ET, 400 words) (NBA-PLAYOFFS/WESTERN-PENPIX, expect by 1930 GMT/3:30 PM ET, 400 words) (NBA-PLAYOFFS/SCHEDULE, expect by 1930 GMT/3:30 PM ET, 300 words) - - - - BASEBALL Yankees and Rays turn to aces The New York Yankees send CC Sabathia to the mound while the Tampa Bay Rays counter with David Price in a matchup of both team's aces to open a four-game set, one of 12 games on the Major League Baseball schedule. (BASEBALL-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 975 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0001 GMT/8:01 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - (Duty editor: Pritha Sarkar)
