Reuters Sports Schedule at 0600 GMT on Thursday, May 7

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MOTOR RACING

Spanish Formula One Grand Prix

Alonso and Rosberg in Thursday news conference

BARCELONA - Fernando Alonso is one of three Spanish drivers in the regular Thursday news conference along with Nico Rosberg, who will be looking to rein in championship-leading Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton on Sunday (MOTOR RACING-PRIX/ (PIX), expect stories from 1400 GMT/10 AM ET, by Alan Baldwin, 400 words)

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SOCCER

Holders Sevilla continue title defence against Fiorentina

MADRID - Holders Sevilla continue their bid for a fourth title in Europe's second tier club competition when they host Italian side Fiorentina, the first meeting between the pair in European competition. (SOCCER-EUROPA/SEVILLA (PIX), expect by 2100 GMT/5 PM ET, 400 words)

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Soccer-Napoli host Dnipro in Europa League semi-final

MILAN - Napoli, attempting to win their first European trophy since 1989, host Ukraine's Dnipro in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final. (SOCCER-EUROPA/NAPOLI (PIX), expect by 2100 GMT/5 PM ET, 300 words)

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Libertadores Cup round of 16 first and second leg

Copy on merit

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TENNIS

ATP/WTA: Madrid Open (to 10)

Nadal, Serena looking for serene progress

MADRID - Rafa Nadal will be hoping to get his see-saw season back on track when he faces Simone Bolelli in the third round while women's top seed Serena Williams will be hoping for an easier outing against Carla Suarez Navarro after surviving match points in her previous round. (TENNIS-MADRID/ expect throughout, 400 words)

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NHL

Johnson strikes late to put Lightning on brink of sweep

Center Tyler Johnson scored with 1.1 seconds left in regulation as the Tampa Bay Lightning edged the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 to take a 3-0 stranglehold on the Eastern Conference semi-final series. (NHL-PLAYOFFS/LIGHTNING (PIX), moved, by The Sports Xchange, 250 words)

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Burakovsky times it right to lead Caps to win over Rangers

Washington Capitals left winger Andre Burakovsky scored his first two career playoff goals in a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers. (NHL-PLAYOFFS/CAPITALS (PIX), moved, by The Sports Xchange, 250 words)

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NBA

LeBron leads Cavaliers past Bulls to tie up series

LeBron James recorded 33 points, eight rebounds and five assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Chicago Bulls 106-91 on Wednesday to knot their Eastern Conference semi-final series at 1-1. (NBA-PLAYOFFS/CAVALIERS (PIX), moved, by The Sports Xchange, 250 words)

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Rockets rally past Clippers to tie series at 1-1

Dwight Howard carried them early and James Harden took over in the fourth quarter as the Houston Rockets rallied past the Los Angeles Clippers for a 115-109 win to tie up their Western Conference semi-final series at 1-1. (NBA-PLAYOFFS/ROCKETS (PIX), moved, by The Sports Xchange, 250 words)

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Bhullar wants to emulate Yao Ming in India

NEW DELHI - Sim Bhullar knows it is going to be a tall order but the first NBA player of Indian descent believes he can trigger a basketball frenzy in the country of his origin, like Yao Ming did in China. (BASKETBALL-INDIA/BHULLAR (INTERVIEW), expect by 0800 GMT/4 AM ET, by Amlan Chakraborty, 400 words)

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BASEBALL

Cubs edge Cards 6-5 in divisional showdown

Jon Lester allowed just one earned run over seven innings, and first baseman Anthony Rizzo knocked in three runs as Chicago held off St Louis. (BASEBALL-HIGHLIGHTS/, moved, 800 words)

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NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS

Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (moved, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)

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CRICKET

Bangladesh v Pakistan, 2nd test (to 10)

Pakistan on course for big total against Bangladesh

DHAKA - Pakistan resume on 323 for three versus Bangladesh after Younus Khan and Azhar Ali struck centuries to punish the sloppy hosts going into the second day of the second and final test. (CRICKET-BANGLADESH/, 350 words)

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GOLF

Players Championship (to 10)

McIlroy, Spieth and Day in tasty grouping at TPC Sawgrass

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida - Fresh from victory at last week's WGC-Cadillac Match Play, world number one Rory McIlroy will launch his bid for an 11th PGA Tour title when he tees off in the opening round at the TPC Sawgrass in high-profile company alongside Masters champion Jordan Spieth and seventh-ranked Australian Jason Day. (GOLF-PGA/ (PIX), expect first lead by 1800 GMT/2 PM ET, by Ben Everill, 400 words)

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European Tour: Spain Open, Barcelona (to 17)

Copy on merit

- - - - (Asia desk editor: John O'Brien)