Reuters Sports Schedule at 0600 GMT on Wednesday, Aug 20
Reuters sports schedule at 0600 GMT on Wednesday: - - - - SOCCER Champions League playoffs, 1st leg (all 1845) Porto visit Lille in Champions League playoff BERNE - Champions League regulars and former winners Porto are away to French side Lille in one of five first leg ties in the playoff round. (SOCCER-CHAMPIONS/, expect by 2100 GMT/5 PM ET, by Brian Homewood, 600 words) - - Europa League playoff round first legs (to 21) Results plus copy on merit - - LA LIGA SEASON PREVIEW The La Liga season starts on Saturday and we bring you an overall preview plus a look at four of the main title contenders and a factbox on the major transfers. - - Atletico to give Real and Barca a run for their money BARCELONA - While Real Madrid and Barcelona have again spent vast sums to win back the La Liga crown, they are set to face dogged competition once again from champions Atletico Madrid who have a side built on a fraction of the cost. (SOCCER-SPAIN/ (PREVIEW), moved, by Tim Hanlon, 600 words) - - Real Madrid eye six trophies in a season Real Madrid's lavishly assembled squad, including World Cup sensation James Rodriguez in attack, aim to be the first team to win all six trophies available this season with the European Super Cup already under their belt. (SOCCER-SPAIN/REAL (PREVIEW), moved, by Tim Hanlon, 550 words) - - Suarez adds bite but Barca hopes hinge on defence BARCELONA - Barcelona have added Luis Suarez to their star-studded forward line but it could be their defensive reinforcements that make the difference as they look to win back the La Liga title. (SOCCER-SPAIN/BARCELONA (PREVIEW), moved, by Tim Hanlon, 600 words) - - New-look Atletico in contention to retain La Liga title Champions Atletico Madrid have been predictably shorn of several key players, including talisman Diego Costa, for the new La Liga campaign but they have reinvested well and can again upstage the top two in Spain. (SOCCER-SPAIN/ATLETICO (PREVIEW), moved, by Tim Hanlon, 550 words) - - Lim takeover could revive Valencia glory days Valencia coach Nuno Espirito Santo believes an expected takeover by Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim can bring the glory days back to the club after years of financial problems. (SOCCER-SPAIN/VALENCIA (PREVIEW), moved, by Tim Hanlon, 600 words) - - BUNDESLIGA SEASON PREVIEW The Bundesliga season starts on Friday and we bring you an overall preview plus a look at the league's finances and a factbox on the major transfers. - - Bayern race to get fit as Dortmund prepare title tilt BERLIN - Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich and arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund look set to slug it out once again for the German league title when the season starts on Friday. (SOCCER-GERMANY/PREVIEW, moved, by Karolos Grohmann, 750 words) - - Booming Bundesliga to ride World Cup wave into 2014/15 BERLIN - The booming Bundesliga can expect another bumper season in 2014/15 with the world's attention focussed firmly on Germany following their World Cup victory in Brazil. (SOCCER-GERMANY/BUNDESLIGA-FINANCE, moved, by Karolos Grohmann, 650 words) - - Also see SOCCER-GERMANY/TRANSFERS (FACTBOX) - - - - GOLF McIlroy looks to make more magic in FedExCup series PARAMUS, New Jersey - World number one Rory McIlroy, winner of three tournaments in a row including the British Open and the PGA Championship, aims to keep his streak alive at this week's The Barclays, the opener of the four-event FedExCup playoffs. (PGA-FEDEXCUP/, expect by 2100 GMT/5 PM ET, by Larry Fine, 500 words) - - - - MOTOR RACING Belgian Formula One Grand Prix preview Hamilton and Rosberg renew their rivalry at Spa SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium - Lewis Hamilton has compared his title duel with Mercedes team mate and championship leader Nico Rosberg to a game of poker but the pair may not hold all the aces in Belgium this weekend. (MOTOR RACING-PRIX/PREVIEW (PIX), expect by 1400 GMT/10 AM ET, by Alan Baldwin, 600 words) We will also move a drivers' form sheet and statistics for Sunday's race. - - - - YOUTH OLYMPICS (to 28) Olympic champion Meilutyte in action at Youth Games Lithuania's Ruta Meilutyte, who won 100 metres breaststroke gold at the 2012 London Games, headlines the action at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing on Day 4 of competition. Meilutyte won the 50m breaststroke on Monday and is the overwhelming favourite to add the 100m title on Wednesday. (OLYMPICS-YOUTH/DAY4 (PIX) expect by 1800 GMT/2 PM ET, 500 words) - - - - ASIAN GAMES North Korea on major sports drive, says Pyongyang official SEOUL - North Korea hopes to harness the power of sport to raise its image on the world stage through international competitions such as the Olympic Games, and to bolster labour output and national defence by improving its citizens' well-being, the head of a North Korean sports delegation said. (SPORT-NORTHKOREA, (TV), moved, by Peter Rutherford, 550 words) - - - - BASEBALL Brewers down Blue Jays to stretch winning streak Mike Fiers struck out six and the Milwaukee Brewers got two doubles each from first baseman Jonathan Lucroy and third baseman Aramis Ramirez in a 6-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. (BASEBALL-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), moved, 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: Winston-Salem Open (to 24) WTA: New Haven Open, Connecticut (to 24) Results only - - - - CRICKET West Indies v Bangladesh, St George's, first ODI Copy on merit (Asia duty editor: John O'Brien)
