Thursday Morning Sports Update

Keeping you up to date on soccer, rugby, tennis, golf and racing.

SOCCER

It was a good night for the Premier League clubs in Europe, with five English sides advancing straight through to the last 16 in the Champions League.

Arsenal made it eight wins from eight in the league phase with their 3-2 win over Kairat, while Liverpool finished third after a 6-nil defeat of Qarabag at Anfield.

Elsewhere, Tottenham won 2-nil at Eintracht Frankfurt, Manchester City beat Galatasaray 2-nil and Chelsea came from behind to win 3-2 away to Napoli.

Newcastle are through to the play-off round after they played out a 1-all draw with holders PSG in Paris.

Celtic will look to secure their place in the knockout phase of the Europa League tonight.

Martin O'Neill's side occupy the last play-off berth ahead of their clash with Utrecht at Parkhead.

Nottingham Forest start the night in 16th place - they host Robbie Keane's Ferencvaros at the City Ground.

Aston Villa are already guaranteed a place in the last-16 as they round off their league-phase campaign by hosting Salzburg.

All of tonight's games kick off at 8.

RUGBY

Bundee Aki has been suspended for six weeks for verbal abuse towards match officials last weekend.

The Connacht centre was cited following his side's defeat to Leinster in the URC on Saturday and appeared before a disciplinary panel yesterday.

It means Aki will miss the first three games of Ireland's Six Nations campaign.

The final two weeks of his ban have been suspended, meaning he could return before the end of the campaign.

Aki hasn't travelled as part of the Ireland squad for their pre-tournament camp in Portugal.


TENNIS
It's women's semi-finals day at the Australian Open in Melbourne.

First up from shortly after half eight Irish time, top seed Aryna Sabalenka takes on first-time semi-finalist Elina Svitolina.

That's followed by the meeting of sixth seed Jessica Pegula and former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.

GOLF

Padraig Harrington represents the Irish interest at the Bahrain Championship this morning.

He tees off inside the next hour, while Patrick Reed is also out on course later after he confirmed his departure from LIV Golf this week.

Finland's Oliver Lindell is the early leader on seven-under-par.

RACING

Thurles hosts a seven-race card this afternoon, with the first off at 1:25pm.