Juventus clinched their fourth straight Serie A title after a hard-fought victory over Sampdoria secured courtesy of Arturo Vidal’s first-half header. The Turin club needed only a point at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium to win their 31st Scudetto but got all three. Chile midfielder Vidal scored the decisive goal when he met Stephan Lichtsteiner’s cross to head in. It handed Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri the title in his first season in charge of the club. Allegri, 47, was appointed Juventus coach last summer after Antonio Conte quit the club a day after his players returned for pre-season. Conte, now managing the Italian national team, said he left because it “may be more difficult to keep winning with Juventus” in the future. But ex-Milan boss Allegri has not struggled in his debut season with the Old Lady. Juve wrapped up the title, ahead of second-placed Lazio, with four games of the season remaining, having lost just three times in this campaign to date. Vidal found the net just after the half-hour mark when, unmarked at the back post, he got on the end of Lichtsteiner’s ball from the right and planted a header back across goal and into the net. Allegri, who also won the Serie A title in his first season in charge of Milan in 2010-11, will now attempt to complete a treble with Juventus in the rest of the campaign. Juve face European Cup holders Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday, and also play Lazio in the Italian Cup final.

Floyd Mayweather emerged victorious from the most lucrative fight in history, beating Manny Pacquiao via a wide unanimous decision in Las Vegas, BBC reports. American Mayweather, 38, delivered a defensive masterclass against his Philippine rival, making the necessary adjustments after only a few rounds before disappearing out of sight. Mayweather, who added the WBO welterweight title to the WBC and WBA titles he already owned, was awarded the fight 118-110, 116-112 and 116-112 by the three judges.

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Sunday 3 May 2015:

Kwara United vs Kano Pillars 4pm

Ifeanyi Uba FC vs Enyimba 4pm

Giwa vs Bayelsa United 4pm

Dolphin vs Lobi Stars 4pm

El-Kanemi Warriors vs Akwa United 4pm

Wikki Tourists vs Enugu Rangers 4pm

Heartland vs Sunshine Stars 4pm

Sharks vs Taraba 4pm

Shooting Stars vs Warri Wolves 4pm

Nasarawa United vs Abia Warriors 4pm

Some of the World Cup stadiums in Brazil are finally being completed, 10 months after the tournament. The Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo and the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba have only just been finished to their original designs. Both venues were used during the World Cup, with completion works held back. Brazil spent about $3bn (£1.98bn) on stadia for the tournament in June, with protesters demonstrating against how much money the government invested. There were clashes between protestors in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paolo and other host cities. The Brazilian government had hoped the new arenas, which are an improvement on the older stadiums, would become a legacy for the country. But the Arena da Baixada has only just added its retractable roof, after construction was delayed in the build-up to the World Cup amid safety fears. And the Arena Corinthians has only now had glass panels installed in the roofing structure. Corinthians own the $450m (£297) ground, where attendances have increased, but cannot keep any revenue because it is still being used to pay for its construction. Flamengo, Brazil’s most popular team, have been playing at the Maracana Stadium, the site of the World Cup final, and say that under the current contract with the stadium’s new owners, they keep too little money from match attendances. Meanwhile, two stadiums were virtually put up for sale this month, with Constructor OAS announcing it was selling its stakes in the Arena Fonte Nova and the Arena das Dunas.

The wife of former Manchester United and England captain Rio Ferdinand has died from cancer. The QPR defender, 36, released a statement saying his “wonderful wife and soul mate” Rebecca Ellison had “passed away peacefully” at a London hospital. Ms Ellison, 34, who married Ferdinand in 2009, had breast cancer. She leaves behind three children, Lorenz, nine, Tate, six, and four-year-old Tia. In a statement, Ferdinand said she died on Friday night. “Rebecca, my wonderful wife, passed away peacefully after a short battle with cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London,” the footballer said on QPR’s website. “She was a fantastic loving mother to our three beautiful children. She will be missed as a wife, sister, aunt, daughter and granddaughter. She will live on in our memory, as a guide and inspiration. “Myself, my parents Janice and Julian, along with Rebecca’s parents Lesley and Stephen, would like to thank our families, friends and my club colleagues who have rallied around in these desperate days, weeks and months.” Ferdinand thanked the staff who treated his wife at the south London hospital, adding: “I would also like to express my gratitude for the dedication and expertise of the staff led by Professors Johnstone and Clarke at the Royal Marsden. “Their valiant efforts to prolong Rebecca’s all-too-short life will not be forgotten.”

Below are some boxing legends predictions as compiled by sky sports:

Lennox Lewis: “Manny has got to start fast. His work-rate has to go up because Floyd’s got an unblemished record and he knows what to do. He moves so well around the ring. He’s a counter-puncher as well. Manny has to look out for all those weapons. I don’t think Mayweather is going to be the aggressor – I think he’ll keep it simple. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. “Manny is going to have to come after him. Floyd will sit back. It has to be controlled aggression on Manny’s part. If he goes in crazy, he’s going to get caught. Floyd has no losses right now – he’s the bigger man, no-one has figured him out yet. So my money has to be on Floyd Mayweather.”

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Arsene Wenger has confirmed it has been agreed with Chile that Sanchez will not join up with La Roja’s squad for the Copa America until after the Wembley final later this month. That competition runs from June 11 to July 4 and FIFA regulations state that clubs have to release players for international tournaments 14 days prior to the start date, a ruling which could impact on players involved in the Champions League final, which takes place on June 6. While Arsenal appear to have brokered an agreement with the Chile Football Federation to delay Sanchez’s departure to his homeland, Wenger accepts should La Roja progress through the championships which culminate at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, then there would be little option but to give one of their star men some extra recovery time ahead of the new domestic campaign which kicks off on August 8. “They (Chile) could call him up. We got an agreement they won’t call him. Anyway I am sure he would not go (before the FA Cup final),” said Wenger. Arsenal allowed World Cup winners Lukas Podolski, Per Mertesacker and Mesut Ozil an extended break following Germany’s success in Brazil last summer. Other players such as defender Laurent Koscielny and goalkeeper David Ospina returned from the World Cup carrying injuries which limited their availability for the first few weeks, during which Arsenal struggled to produce consistent results. Asked what would happen should Chile progress through to the latter stages of the 2015 Copa America, Wenger replied: “That is not good news (for Arsenal) because they (Chile) finish very late and if they go very far, he will miss the start of the season.”

Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier has made his loan stay at French side Paris St-Germain a permanent move by signing a four-year deal. The 22-year-old, who joined from Ligue 1 rivals Toulouse in July 2014, is believed to have cost the club about 10m euros (£7.2m, $11m). “PSG is happy to announce it has triggered the option to buy clause for Serge Aurier,” said a club statement. “The Ivory Coast international has signed a contract until June 2019.” Aurier has made a total of 14 appearances for PSG this season, scoring one goal. He did not feature as Laurent Blanc’s side beat Metz 3-1 on Tuesday to move three points clear of Lyon at the top of Ligue 1 with three games remaining. The right-back, who shone at last year’s World Cup in Brazil and helped the Ivorians win the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, began his career with Lens and then spent two-and-a-half years at Toulouse before being loaned to the Parc des Princes club.

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao weighed in as 11,500 fans watched on ahead of the most lucrative fight in history in Las Vegas on Saturday. Entry to the weigh-in at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday was $10 (£6.60), although tickets were changing hands on the resale market for $800 (£530). The fight is set to generate an estimated $400m (£265m). American Mayweather scaled 146lb – one pound under the welterweight limit – and Pacquiao of the Philippines 145lb. The pair will fight for the WBC, WBA and WBO welterweight titles. “I believe that with my skills, I’m going to be victorious,” said the 38-year-old Mayweather, who is unbeaten in 47 professional fights. “I don’t take anything away from Manny Pacquiao, he’s a solid fighter and it will be an intriguing match-up. “But after Saturday, I’ll still be ‘TBE’ [The Best Ever].” Pacquiao, who has 57 wins and five defeats from 64 pro fights, said: “It’s a great responsibility for me to give enjoyment to the fans. The fans deserve to have a good fight, whether they are a fan of Mayweather or Pacquiao. “The Lord will always be with me and strengthen me and deliver him into my hands.” Asked about the difference in size – Mayweather is 5ft 8ins and Pacquiao 5ft 6½ins with a reach difference of five inches in favour of the American – the Filipino southpaw added: “I’ve been fighting bigger guys – Oscar De La Hoya, Antonio Margarito… it doesn’t matter to me.” The MGM Grand was abuzz the day before the fight, with people queuing to get into the Garden Arena hours before Mayweather and Pacquiao, 36, stepped on the scales. It was the first time tickets had been sold for a weigh-in, with proceeds going to charity, and those that bought them were given a two-hour show. Mayweather and Pacquiao have won world titles in five and six different weight divisions respectively. Whoever wins this weekend will be able to claim they are the best fighter of their era.

Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak has apologised to former team-mate Robert Lewandowski after their goal-mouth collision left the Bayern Munich striker with a fractured cheekbone, nose and concussion. Ex-Dortmund forward Lewandowski, who has scored 23 goals in his first season with Bayern, spent Tuesday night in a Munich hospital following the collision with Langerak in extra time during Dortmund’s German Cup semi-final win. “Robert and I are friends and of course I am sorry for what happened,” said Langerak. “I hope he can play as soon as possible. Anyone who knows me knows it wasn’t intentional and that I wanted to clear the ball.”

John Terry’s goal in Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Leicester on Wednesday was his 38th in the league drew him level with David Unsworth as the highest scoring defender in Premier League history.

Borussia Dortmund have confirmed that midfielder Ilkay Gundogan will not renew his contract, which expires in 2016. The obvious implication is that he will be leaving this summer, with Manchester United among the clubs linked with the combative Germany international.

Belgian footballer Gregory Mertens has died of heart failure, three days after collapsing during a match. The 24-year-old Lokeren defender was treated on the pitch during the first half of Monday’s reserve-team game with Genk but did not recover after time in hospital on a life-support machine. A club statement said: “The medical staff have done everything to save Gregory, but they finally had to acknowledge their impotence. “Gregory passed away at around 16:30.” The former Belgium Under-21 international’s condition had worsened since he was taken to hospital in Genk, with doctors giving him little chance of survival. On Thursday his family agreed his life support should be switched off. Lokeren say that the exact nature of Mertens’s heart condition has yet to be established. But he passed all pre-season health tests required by Europe’s football governing body UEFA, and was judged to be one of the fittest players at his club. He joined Lokeren in January 2014 from Cercle Brugge and played 15 league games this season, as well as featuring against Hull City in the Europa League in August. The club statement continued: “Gregory was only one-and-a-half years at the club, but in that short time his quiet modesty made him an indispensable person. “Now we will have to learn to live with the loss.”

Qatar have sacked Algerian coach Djamel Belmadi just over a month before the start of their joint 2018 World Cup and Asian Cup qualifying campaign. The Qatar Football Association said: “We’re currently on the look-out for a new coach. We thank Mr Belmadi for his services and co-operation. “We got some very good results in his stint as coach. He was one of our finest coaches. “He lifted the spirit of the players and carried out his tasks well.” Belmadi, who was appointed in March 2014 after a spell with the B side, seemed to have Qatar on the right path by winning the Gulf Cup of Nations in November but they endured a miserable Asian Cup campaign in January. The 2022 World Cup hosts lost all three matches in Australia to finish bottom of Group C. Qatar have been drawn with China, Bhutan, Maldives and Hong Kong in 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup qualifying and begin their campaign on 11 June.

Parma have been relegated from Serie A after a turbulent season in which they were declared bankrupt and docked seven points for financial irregularities. Defeat at Lazio and Atalanta’s 2-2 draw at Cesena leaves Roberto Donadoni’s side bottom of the table and 16 points from safety with five games to play. Parma were declared bankrupt in March with debts estimated at £54m. Their players have not been paid this campaign and have had to do their own laundry and drive the team bus. Second-placed Lazio scored three in six minutes through Marco Parolo, Miroslav Klose and Antonio Candreva before Balde Keita added a fourth in a one-sided encounter at the Stadio Olimpico. Parma, who have changed ownership twice this season, were Serie A runners-up in 1997, won the UEFA Cup in 1995 and 1999, and the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1993. The club had in the past featured great players like Hernan Crespo, Faustino Aspirilla, Gianfranco Zola, Dino Baggio, Fabio Cannavaro, Gianluigi Buffon and Lilian Thuram.

A former Premier League footballer has been jailed for two-and-a-half years after being convicted of match fixing allegations. Delroy Facey, of Woodhouse Hill, Huddersfield, was found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court of conspiring to bribe non-league players. Judge Mary Stacey said Facey’s offences struck “at the very heart of football”. Facey, who played for Bolton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion and Hull City, had denied any wrongdoing. Former non-league player Moses Swaibu, 25, of Tooley Street, London, was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit bribery. He was jailed for 16 months for his part in the conspiracy. The two were arrested as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into match fixing. The trial heard Facey urged a footballer at a struggling non-league club to make some “easy money” by fixing the result of a match. He also told a contact some Football Conference teams would “do” a game in return for payment, the jury heard.

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Chelsea stand one win away from the Premier League title after mounting an impressive comeback to beat Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. Jose Mourinho’s side needed to call on all their reserves of quality and resilience to overcome Leicester City’s fiercely determined challenge which earned them a deserved first-half lead through Marc Albrighton. As expectations of another victory on the road to Premier League safety rose in a thunderous atmosphere, Chelsea responded in the style of champions-elect to earn the victory that means they will be crowned champions for the first time in five years if they beat Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Didier Drogba restored equality early in the second half and further goals from captain John Terry and Ramires wrapped up a win that was testimony to the qualities that have put Chelsea on the brink of glory.

Sporting Lokeren and Belgium defender Gregory Mertens collapsed on the pitch with a heart-related illness. He is in a critical condition after being given CPR in the first half of Monday’s reserve-team game with Genk. The 24-year-old is in an induced coma in a Genk hospital on a life support machine. “Sporting Lokeren sympathises with the family and hopes for a positive outcome,” read a club statement. The Jupiler Pro League club say that the exact nature of Mertens’ heart condition has yet to be established. They added that Mertens passed all the pre-season health tests required by Europe’s football governing body Uefa and was judged to be one of the fittest players at the club. A former Belgium Under-21 international, Mertens joined Lokeren in the summer from Cercle Brugge, and has played in 15 league games this term, as well as against Hull City in the Europa League in August. Monday’s game was postponed while Mertens was being treated. Nigeria’s Peter Rufai once played for Lokeren, his first port of call in Europe.

Ethiopia have appointed Yohannes Sahle as the new national team coach. Sahle replaces Portuguese Mariano Barreto, who paid the price for failing to qualify the team for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. “I played for Ethiopia from the youth team to the national team. Now I am very happy to be the coach of the team I played for,” Sahle told BBC Sport. “I’m delighted and really grateful to be given this role. I will serve with dignity and my full potential.” The 49-year-old’s first task is to prepare the team for the 2017 Nations Cup qualifiers, starting in June. Sahle is an Ethiopia-born US citizen who had a successful playing career in the mid 1980s with the top Ethiopian teams before leaving for America. He returned to Ethiopia in 2010 to take the technical director role at Ethiopian Football Federation. Later he managed the U-17 national team and his last role was as coach of Dedebit, one of the top teams in the Ethiopian Premier League.

Watford returned to the Premier League after an absence of eight years, beating Brighton in a lunchtime kick-off and then watching Middlesbrough and Norwich, their close rivals for promotion, slip up unexpectedly while they were aboard the team coach going home. The new Premier League side were made to work for their victory, their seventh in the last nine away, only making sure with a last-minute goal from Matej Vydra but the real drama came on the M25 as they headed back from the Amex Stadium. Middlesbrough slipped to a 4-3 defeat at Fulham and Norwich, reduced to ten men by the sending-off of Lewis Grabban, were held at 1-1 at Rotherham. Watford will be confirmed as champions if they beat Sheffield Wednesday in their last fixture at Vicarage Road on the final day.