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A32 sports
Diabierna 4 December 2020

Tirana to host 1st Europa Conference League final in 2022

Teams from all 55 UEFA pa League. Third-place teams host Italy with Spain in Mi-
member countries will en- in Europa League groups lan on Oct. 6, and Belgium
ter the Europa Conference then move into a playoff against France in Turin the
League, which will have round in the Europa Confer- next day. The final and third-
qualifying rounds, a 32-team ence League with a place in place games will both be
group stage and knockout its last-16 at stake. played on Oct. 10.
rounds.
The Europa Conference The standout lineup — top-
The entry list foresees the League champion in Tirana ranked Belgium and three
sixth-place team at the end will earn a place in the next recent World Cup cham-
of this season in Europe’s season’s Europa League, pions — qualified for the
four highest-ranked leagues which will cut its group stage mini-tournament by win-
— Spain, England, Germany from 48 teams to 32 from ning groups in the Nations
(AP) — The national soc- and Italy — entering the Eu- 2021. League.
cer stadium in Albania The competition launches ropa Conference League at
was chosen Thursday to next season as the third tier the qualifying playoff stage. The final tournament of Their Nations League com-
host the first final of a new in the pyramid of European UEFA’s newest national team mitments, when the rest
European club competi- competitions, behind the The format means a team competition, the Nations of Europe will be playing
tion. Champions League and Eu- could play in all three club League, will be played at the in World Cup qualifying
ropa League. It was created to competitions in the same San Siro in Milan and Juven- groups, will affect that draw.
UEFA said the 22,500-seat help countries whose teams season. tus Stadium in Turin next Belgium, France, Italy and
Arena Kombëtare in Tirana rarely reach the group stage October. Spain must each be drawn
will stage the inaugural Eu- of the two existing competi- A team eliminated in Cham- in a qualifying group of five
ropa Conference League final tions. pions League qualifying UEFA made the semifinal teams instead of six to clear
in May 2022. could transfer into the Euro- draw on Thursday, pairing space in their schedules.

Cubs non-tender OFs Kyle Schwarber, Albert Almora Jr.

(AP) — Kyle Schwarber lin Rea ($702,500) and Dan ter via trade if the club looks the go-ahead run on Ben Zo- ons. But he set career highs
and Albert Almora Jr. be- Winkler ($900,000), avoiding to cut more payroll. brist's double in the Cubs' with 38 homers, 92 RBIs and
came free agents Wednes- arbitration with all three. 8-7 victory over the Indians. a .250 batting average in 155
day when the Chicago Schwarber quickly became a games in 2019.
Cubs declined to offer Chicago also announced it fan favorite in Chicago upon Almora was selected by Chi-
contracts to two key play- had claimed reliever Rob- arrival, flashing tape-measure cago with the No. 6 over- Almora, 26, is a solid defend-
ers from their historic ert Stock off waivers from power at the plate. He also all pick in the 2012 amateur er in center field and a .271
2016 World Series champi- the Boston Red Sox. The played in the 2016 World draft, and Schwarber went hitter in 489 career games.
onship. 31-year-old right-hander was Series after missing most of fourth overall in 2014. While But he batted just .167 in 28
designated for assignment the season with a left knee Almora has struggled at the games last season.
While Schwarber, Almora, last week. injury. The slugger served as plate, Schwarber's lefty pow-
slugger José Martínez and the designated hitter for the er bat could attract significant Winkler can earn $600,000 in
pitcher Ryan Tepera were Wednesday's non-tender games in Cleveland and hit interest on the open market bonuses for games pitched:
non-tendered, the Cubs of- deadline was the first major .412 (7 for 17) with two RBIs — especially at designated $50,000 each for 40 and 45,
fered 2021 contracts to in- look at the state of the Cubs as the Cubs won their first hitter — despite his short- $75,000 apiece for 50 and 55,
fielders Kris Bryant and since Jed Hoyer was promot- championship since 1908. comings in left field. $100,000 each for 60 and 65
Javier Báez, catchers Will- ed to president of baseball op- and $150,000 for 70.
son Contreras and Victor erations last month, replac- Almora made a key play in The 27-year-old Schwarber, a
Caratini, and outfielder Ian ing Theo Epstein. While the Game 7 against Cleveland, converted catcher, stumbled Ryan can earn $200,000 in
Happ. They agreed to one- Cubs held onto All-Star slug- running for Schwarber in the during the pandemic-short- bonuses for games pitched:
year deals with relievers Kyle gers Bryant, Báez, and Con- 10th inning and advancing to ened season, batting .188 $25,000 each for 40 and 45,
Ryan ($800,000 in majors, treras, those players could second on Bryant's fly ball to with 11 homers in 59 games and $50,000 apiece for 50, 55
$250,000 in minors), Co- still be on the move this win- center. Almora then scored for the NL Central champi- and 60

Improving Rutgers looks for 1st Big Ten win over Penn State

(AP) — Greg Schiano isn't Conference. ated something with either second straight win this week gional, because you recruit
surprised Rutgers has not Maryland or Penn State. It against a team it has beaten the same kids and you have
developed a rivalry with Looking at a map, one would just hasn't happened although in all six Big Ten Confer- great games and it grows over
another team in its five- have thought the Scarlet things might be changing. ence games. It has a 28-2 all- time.”
plus years in the Big Ten Knights might have gener- Rutgers (2-4, 2-4) is improv- time record against Rutgers Quarterback Will Levis, who
ing quickly in Schiano's sec- and has won the last 13. The ran for 108 yards and threw a
ond stint as coach and has a Scarlet Knights' last win was touchdown pass in the Nitta-
shot at beating Penn State (1- in 1988 when Schiano was a ny Lions' 27-6 win over Rut-
5, 1-5) on Saturday when the high school assistant coach at gers last year, said winning
schools meet at SHI Stadium Ramapo in New Jersey. last week helped Penn State's
for a noon start. “As far as a rival goes, look, morale.
Rutgers is coming off a win we’re not Penn State’s rival,
at Purdue after blowing leads and that’s clear,” Schiano “It’s huge,” he said. "It’s been
against Illinois and Michigan said. “And the reason is we a while since we won a game.
the previous two games. The haven’t given them a reason I forgot how good winning
Nittany Lions are struggling to make us their rival. When feels and I think everyone
in a season shortened by the when rivalries develop, it’s tasted that on Saturday for
coronavirus pandemic. They because there’s great contests the first time in a while too
got their first win last week on the field. There’s great and kind of put a little pep
against Michigan. recruiting battles. And that’s in their step and gave them a
Penn State will look for its why so many rivalries are re- little energy.”