Here are the top sports stories and upcoming coverage plans for Reuters text service as of 6:30 p.m. GMT/2:30 p.m. ET. For a full schedule of news and events, go to our editorial calendar on Reuters Connect.

TOP STORIES

SOCCER-CHAMPIONS-ARS-RMA/

Soccer-Arsenal begin to believe as Rice makes it happen

LONDON, April 9 (Reuters) - Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta's mantra ahead of his side's Champions League quarter-final against 15-times winners Real Madrid was to "make it happen" and on Tuesday his players, roared on by a raucous north London crowd, did just that.

MOTOR-F1-BAHRAIN/

Motor racing-Norris arrives in Bahrain with Verstappen in hot pursuit

MANAMA, April 9 (Reuters) - Formula One leader Lando Norris has Max Verstappen breathing down his neck and only a point separating the pair ahead of a Bahrain Grand Prix that could trigger a change at the top on Sunday.

GOLF-MASTERS/

Golf-Augusta National not planning Masters exemption category for LIV Golf

AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 9 (Reuters) - Players who compete on the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit should not expect to see a special exemption that would give them a direct pathway into the Masters anytime soon, Augusta National Golf Club Chairman Fred Ridley said on Wednesday.

UPCOMING

BASEBALL

BASEBALL-MLB-CHC-TEX/ (PIX)

MLB - Chicago Cubs v Texas Rangers

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

9 Apr 14:20 ET / 18:20 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-OAK-SD/ (PIX)

MLB - Athletics v San Diego Padres

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento, California

9 Apr 15:35 ET / 19:35 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-ARI-BAL/ (PIX)

MLB - Arizona Diamondbacks v Baltimore Orioles

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona

9 Apr 15:40 ET / 19:40 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-SF-CIN/ (PIX)

MLB - San Francisco Giants v Cincinnati Reds

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Oracle Park, San Francisco, California

9 Apr 15:45 ET / 19:45 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-WAS-LAD/ (PIX)

MLB - Washington Nationals v Los Angeles Dodgers

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia

9 Apr 16:05 ET / 20:05 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-SEA-HOU/ (PIX)

MLB - Seattle Mariners v Houston Astros

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - T-Mobile Park, Seattle, Washington

9 Apr 16:10 ET / 20:10 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-CLE-CHW/ (PIX)

MLB - Cleveland Guardians v Chicago White Sox

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio

9 Apr 18:10 ET / 22:10 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-BOS-TOR/ (PIX)

MLB - Boston Red Sox v Toronto Blue Jays

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

9 Apr 18:45 ET / 22:45 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-TB-LAA/ (PIX)

MLB - Tampa Bay Rays v Los Angeles Angels

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, Florida

9 Apr 19:05 ET / 23:05 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-ATL-PHI/ (PIX)

MLB - Atlanta Braves v Philadelphia Phillies

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia

9 Apr 19:15 ET / 23:15 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-KC-MIN/ (PIX)

MLB - Kansas City Royals v Minnesota Twins

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

9 Apr 19:40 ET / 23:40 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-COL-MIL/ (PIX)

MLB - Colorado Rockies v Milwaukee Brewers

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Coors Field, Denver, Colorado

10 Apr 20:40 ET / 00:40 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-CLE-CHW/ (PIX)

MLB - Cleveland Guardians v Chicago White Sox

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio

10 Apr 13:10 ET / 17:10 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-TB-LAA/ (PIX)

MLB - Tampa Bay Rays v Los Angeles Angels

2025 MLB Season (Regular Season) - George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, Florida

10 Apr 13:10 ET / 17:10 GMT

SOCCER

SOCCER-CHAMPIONS-BAR-BVB/REPORT (PIX) $(TV)$

Europe - UEFA Champions League - Barcelona v Borussia Dortmund

Barcelona play Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final.

9 Apr 15:00 ET / 19:00 GMT

SOCCER-CHAMPIONS-PSG-AVL/REPORT (PIX) (TV)

Europe - UEFA Champions League - Paris St Germain v Aston Villa

Paris St Germain play Aston Villa in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final at the Parc des Princes.

9 Apr 15:00 ET / 19:00 GMT

SOCCER-SPAIN/PREVIEW

Spain - LaLiga weekend preview

A preview of the weekend's action in LaLiga.

10 Apr 06:00 ET / 10:00 GMT

SOCCER-ITALY/PREVIEW

Italy - Serie A weekend preview

A preview of the weekend's action in Serie A

10 Apr 08:00 ET / 12:00 GMT

SOCCER-EUROPA-BOD-LAZ/REPORT (PIX)

Europe - UEFA Europa League - Bodo/Glimt v Lazio

Bodo/Glimt play Lazio in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final.

10 Apr 12:45 ET / 16:45 GMT

SOCCER-FRANCE-PSG/MBAPPE (PIX) (TV)

Mbappe's lawyers press conference

Kylian Mbappe's lawyers hold a press conference in Paris regarding the wage dispute against his former team Paris St Germain.

10 Apr 09:00 ET / 13:00 GMT

BOXING

BOXING-SUPERLIGHTWEIGHT-TAYLOR-SERRANO/ (TV)

Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano

Boxers Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano hold presser ahead of Super-Lightweight title bout

9 Apr 18:00 ET / 22:00 GMT

BASKETBALL

BASKETBALL-NBA-WAS-PHI/ (PIX)

NBA - Washington Wizards v Philadelphia 76ers

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Capital One Arena, Washington, District of Columbia

9 Apr 19:00 ET / 23:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-ORL-BOS/ (PIX)

NBA - Orlando Magic v Boston Celtics

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Kia Center, Orlando, Florida

9 Apr 19:00 ET / 23:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-DAL-LAL/ (PIX)

NBA - Dallas Mavericks v Los Angeles Lakers

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas

9 Apr 19:30 ET / 23:30 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-TOR-CHA/ (PIX)

NBA - Toronto Raptors v Charlotte Hornets

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario

9 Apr 19:30 ET / 23:30 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-CHI-MIA/ (PIX)

NBA - Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - United Center, Chicago, Illinois

10 Apr 20:00 ET / 00:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-UTA-POR/ (PIX)

NBA - Utah Jazz v Portland Trail Blazers

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

10 Apr 21:00 ET / 01:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-PHX-OKC/ (PIX)

NBA - Phoenix Suns v Oklahoma City Thunder

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - PHX Arena, Phoenix, Arizona

10 Apr 22:00 ET / 02:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-GSW-SAS/ (PIX)

NBA - Golden State Warriors v San Antonio Spurs

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Chase Center, San Francisco, California

10 Apr 22:00 ET / 02:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-SAC-DEN/ (PIX)

NBA - Sacramento Kings v Denver Nuggets

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California

10 Apr 22:00 ET / 02:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-LAC-HOU/ (PIX)

NBA - Los Angeles Clippers v Houston Rockets

2024-25 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California

10 Apr 22:30 ET / 02:30 GMT

ICE HOCKEY

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-TBL-TOR/ (PIX)

NHL - Tampa Bay Lightning v Toronto Maple Leafs

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida

9 Apr 19:00 ET / 23:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-NYR-PHI/ (PIX)

NHL - New York Rangers v Philadelphia Flyers

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

9 Apr 19:30 ET / 23:30 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-MIN-SJS/ (PIX)

NHL - Minnesota Wild v San Jose Sharks

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minnesota

10 Apr 20:00 ET / 00:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-ANA-CGY/ (PIX)

NHL - Anaheim Ducks v Calgary Flames

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Honda Center, Anaheim, California

10 Apr 22:00 ET / 02:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-EDM-STL/ (PIX)

NHL - Edmonton Oilers v St. Louis Blues

2024-25 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta

10 Apr 22:00 ET / 02:00 GMT

GOLF

GOLF-MASTERS/ (PIX) (TV)

The Masters

The first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club - the first major tournament of the season.

10 Apr 08:00 ET / 12:00 GMT