MEN’S FOOTBALL: Nottingham Forest take a 1-0 lead into Thursday night’s second leg of their Europa League semi-final at Aston Villa.

Forest have won their last five games and are on a 10-match unbeaten run in all competitions while Villa have lost their last three.

Sporting Braga take a 2-1 advantage to Freiburg in the other last four clash. The Germans are currently seventh in the Bundesliga and outside the European qualification places.

ICE HOCKEY: Montreal Canadiens, the most successful team in Stanley Cup history, begin their seven match Eastern Conference semi-final play-off series against Buffalo Sabres tomorrow morning.

Carolina hold a 2-0 advantage over Philadelphia in the other Eastern last-four clash.

In the west, Vegas Golden Knights are 1-0 up on Anaheim before today’s game and Colorado, who qualified with the best record, lead Minnesota by the same score.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Leicester Riders host London Lions in the first leg of their Super League play-off semi-final on Thursday evening.

The Lions sealed their fourth consecutive domestic title after cruising to the regular season championship, finishing 12 points clear of second-placed Cheshire Phoenix with Leicester a further 10 points back in fifth.

The other last-four clash sees Manchester tip off against Cheshire on Friday night.

MEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE: The Dolphins and Canterbury Bankstown are both in the bottom half of the National Rugby League before tomorrow’s clash in Brisbane.

Canterbury reached last year’s play-off semi-finals but have only won three of their first eight matches this term and were stuffed 28-12 by North Queensland last weekend.

Defending champions the Broncos visit Manly Warringah on Saturday before table-topping Penrith are at Canberra on Sunday.