Reuters sports schedule at 0600 GMT on Thursday:
- - - -
SOCCER
Champions League final preview package
Tradition meets modernism in German Wembley showdown
BERLIN - The all-German Champions League final on Saturday pits traditional powerhouses Bayern Munich against modernists Borussia Dortmund at London's Wembley Stadium (1845 GMT) with more at stake than Europe's premier club trophy. (SOCCER-CHAMPIONS/ (PREVIEW), moved, by Karolos Grohmann, 600 words)
We also moved pieces on the coaches, tactics, Arjen Robben, penpix, fact and figures, previous Wembley finals, routes to the final and previous final results.
- -
La Liga
Barcelona eye points record
MADRID - Champions Barcelona continue their push to match the league record of 100 points, while a Champions League place, and the relegation berths are close to being resolved in the penultimate round of La Liga matches. (SOCCER-SPAIN/(PREVIEW) expect by 1100 GMT/7 AM ET, by Mark Elkington, 500 words)
- -
Ligue 1
St Etienne still in the hunt for third spot
PARIS - Ten-times French champions St Etienne have a slim chance to leapfrog Olympique Lyon into the Champions League third qualifying spot and make their best Ligue 1 finish in 25 years if they win at fellow European hopefuls Lille.(SOCCER-FRANCE/ (PREVIEW), expect by 1100 GMT/6 AM ET, 400 words)
- -
English Championship (second tier) playoff
Watford and Palace chase Premier League jackpot
Two days after Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund fight it out for Europe's most prestigious club prize at Wembley, Watford and Crystal Palace will take to the same pitch chasing an even more financially lucrative reward. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/PLAYOFF (PREVIEW), moving at 1000 GMT/6 AM ET, by Sonia Oxley, 500 words)
- -
South American Libertadores Cup
Sant Fe take big step towards Libertadores semis
BUENOS AIRES - Colombia's Independiente Santa Fe took a big step towards their first Libertadores Cup semi-final since 1961 when they beat Real Garcilaso 3-1 in Peru. (SOCCER-LIBERTADORES/ (PIX), moved, by Rex Gowar, 400 words)
- - - -
MOTOR RACING
Monaco Formula One Grand Prix
First practice takes place in Monaco
MONACO - Drivers take to the tight and twisty streets in first practice for Sunday's showcase race, with Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg eager to show their speed after three pole positions in a row. (MOTOR RACING-PRIX/PRACTICE, (PIX), expect by 1000 GMT/6 AM ET, by Alan Baldwin, 400 words)
- - - -
NBA
James leads Heat to OT win over Pacers
MIAMI - LeBron James scored the game-winning points in the dying embers of overtime as the Miami Heat held off a determined Indiana Pacers 103-102 in a thrilling Eastern Conference Finals opener. (NBA-PLAYOFFS/HEAT, moved, by Simon Evans, 400 words)
- - - -
NHL
Penguins rout Senators, on verge of East finals
The Pittsburgh Penguins came from a goal down to thrash Ottawa 7-3 and move to the brink of the Eastern Conference finals. (NHL-PLAYOFFS/SENATORS (PIX), moved, 200 words)
- - - -
BASEBALL
Rookie Ryu wins as Dodgers find spark, beat Brewers
If Don Mattingly's comments and lineup change were aimed at shaking up his struggling Los Angeles team, he certainly got his wish as the Dodgers hammered Milwaukee 9-2. (BASEBALL-ROUNDUP/, moved, 300 words)
- - - -
GOLF
European Tour: PGA Championship, Wentworth, England (to 26)
Donald chasing hat-trick of PGA titles
VIRGINIA WATER, England - Britain's Luke Donald, the PGA Championship winner in 2011 and 2012, launches his bid for a hat-trick of titles in the first round of the European Tour's flagship event at Wentworth. (GOLF-EUROPEAN/, expect by 1300 GMT/9 AM ET, by Tony Jimenez, 500 words)
- -
PGA Tour: Crowne Plaza Invitational, Texas (to 26)
Kuchar and Schwartzel head field at Colonial
United States Ryder Cup player Matt Kuchar and former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa head the field in this week's PGA Tour event at Colonial Country Club where American Zach Johnson defends the title he clinched by one shot last year. (GOLF-PGA/, expect by 2200 GMT/6 PM ET, 400 words)
- -
The royal and ancient game of golf, renowned for its etiquette and self-imposed penalties, has undergone many changes to the rules over its 600-year history but few issues have triggered as much debate as the proposal to outlaw the anchoring of putters. (GOLF-RULES/PUTTER (ANALYSIS) moving at 0630, by Mark Lamport-Stokes, 960 words)
- - - -
CRICKET
England v New Zealand second test, Headingley
England bid to seal series win
LEEDS, England - England, fresh from a 170-run win in the first match at Lord's, bid to complete a series victory against Brendon McCullum's touring side in the second test starting on Friday. (CRICKET-ZEALAND/ (PREVIEW), moved, by Justin Palmer, 600 words)
- -
Cook and McCullum speak to media
LEEDS, England - England captain Alastair Cook and New Zealand counterpart Brendon McCullum hold news conferences ahead of the second and final test starting at Headingley on Friday. (CRICKET-ZEALAND/ expect by 1430 GMT/10:30 AM ET, by Justin Palmer, 500 words)
- - - -
CYCLING
Giro d'Italia (to 26)
Nibali set to stay in command
MORI, Italy - Italy's Vincenzo Nibali is the overall leader heading into stage 18, a 20.6 kilometre uphill time trial from Mori to Polsa. (CYCLING-GIRO/, expect by 1700 GMT/1 PM ET, by Alasdair Fotheringham, 400 words)
- - - -
TENNIS
ATP: Nice Open, France (to 26)
Duesseldorf Cup, Germany (to 26)
WTA: Brussels Open, Belgium (to 25)
Strasbourg International, France (to 25)
Copy on merit
- - - - (Asia duty editor: Peter Rutherford)
