Reuters Sports Schedule at 1400 GMT on Wednesday, April 9
Reuters sports schedule at 1400 GMT on Wednesday: - - - - SOCCER Champions League quarter-finals second legs (1845) Atletico Madrid v Barcelona (1-1) Bayern Munich v Manchester United (1-1) United aim to knock Bayern off their perch Holders Bayern Munich's poor recent home record against English opposition has given Manchester United hope of reaching the semi-finals as they look to build on the 1-1 draw from the first leg. (SOCCER-CHAMPIONS/BAYERN (PIX), expect by 2030 GMT/4:30 PM ET, 600 words) - - Atletico looking to upset La Liga rivals Barca Atletico Madrid have the slight advantage of an away goal from last week's first leg when they host La Liga rivals Barcelona, who are chasing a seventh consecutive appearance in the last four. (SOCCER-CHAMPIONS/ATLETICO (PIX, TV), expect by 2030 GMT/4:30 PM ET, by Iain Rogers, 600 words) - - - - GOLF Masters looming as most wide open in decades AUGUSTA, Georgia - The 78th edition of the Masters, starting at Augusta National on Thursday, is looming as one of the most open in decades in the absence of world number one Tiger Woods, leaving holder Adam Scott and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy vying to be the favourite. (GOLF-MASTERS/PREVIEW (PIX, TV), expect by 2000 GMT/4 PM ET, by Mark Lamport-Stokes, 600 words) - - Augusta chairman talks to media on eve of Masters AUGUSTA, Georgia - Billy Payne, the chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club, addresses the media on the eve of the tournament. (GOLF-MASTERS/PAYNE (PIX, TV), expect by 2000 GMT/4 PM ET, by Julian Linden, 400 words) - - Absent Woods still making news at Augusta AUGUSTA, Georgia - Even though Tiger Woods is not playing this year while he recovers from back surgery, the American is still on everyone's minds as the world's best golfers prepare for the Masters without him. (GOLF-MASTERS/WOODS (PIX, TV), expect by 2000 GMT/4 PM ET, by Larry Fine, 600 words) - - Players set to contend for Masters Par-3 tourney AUGUSTA, Georgia - The traditional Par-3 tournament takes place on the eve of the Masters. The short-course challenge has become a jinx with no winners having gone on to claim the main event that same week. (GOLF-MASTERS/PAR3 (PIX, TV), expect by 2000 GMT/4 PM ET, by Tony Jimenez, 400 words) - - - - NBA Suns hope to inch closer to playoff berth The Phoenix Suns, clinging to the final Western Conference playoff seeding with five games to play, visit the New Orleans Pelicans in one of 12 games on the NBA schedule. (NBA-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 975 words) - - - - NHL Ducks look to wrap up division crown The Anaheim Ducks can lock up the Pacific Division crown and a more favourable first-round playoff opponent with a win over the visiting San Jose Sharks in one of five games on the schedule. (NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 550 words) - - - - BASEBALL Yanks' Tanaka makes home debut Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka makes his home debut for the New York Yankees versus the Baltimore Orioles in one of 16 games on the Major League Baseball games on the 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) - - - - TENNIS ATP: Casablanca Grand Prix, Morocco (to 13) Men's Clay Court Championship, Houston, U.S. (to 13) Merit only WTA: Katowice Open, Poland (to 13) Bogota Cup, Colombia (to 13) - - - - CYCLING Tour of the Basque Country (to 12) Copy on merit - - - - (London Duty editor: Ken Ferris)
