More than 5,000 runners have registered for the 78th edition of the Devín-Bratislava race, one of Slovakia's most traditional running events. The race is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 19. The Devín-Bratislava race is an annual long-distance running event that connects the historic Devín Castle area with Slovakia's capital, making it one of the country's oldest and most popular athletic competitions.
Slovakia's national football team was eliminated from World Cup qualification after losing 4-3 to Kosovo in the playoff semi-final. The defeat exposed deeper problems within the Slovak squad, which despite having undeniable quality, lacks stability, mental resilience and the ability to handle crucial moments. The loss represents more than just an unfortunate match result, serving as a concentrated reflection of the team's current state and highlighting ongoing challenges in Slovak football during a critical period for the sport in the country.
Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky showcased his developing skills with two remarkable assists in his team's 4-1 victory over Tampa Bay Lightning, extending Montreal's winning streak to six games. The Slovak player's performance drew praise from Canadian commentators, who noted how he deceived multiple defenders with his passing ability. Goalkeeper Jakub Dobes also stood out for Montreal, making 36 saves to help secure the victory. The game highlighted Slafkovsky's continued improvement in the NHL, with his statistical performance backing up what was evident on the ice during key plays.
Slovak forward Juraj Slafkovský demonstrated his development during Montreal Canadiens' 4-1 victory over Tampa Bay Lightning, extending their winning streak to six games. The improvement of the young Slovak player has been evident not just in statistics but in individual plays during the match. Goalkeeper Jakub Dobeš delivered another outstanding performance for Montreal, stopping 36 of 37 shots faced. The victory continues Montreal's strong recent form as Slafkovský, who was selected first overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, continues to establish himself as a key contributor to the team's success.
Congo secured qualification with a 1-0 victory over Jamaica in extra time. Defender Axel Tuanzebe scored the decisive goal from a corner kick to become the hero for his team. Tuanzebe plays alongside Slovak national goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka at English club FC Burnley.
Slovak forward Juraj Slafkovsky contributed a goal and an assist to help his team defeat Tampa Bay Lightning on the road. Slafkovsky opened the scoring with a power-play goal in the 13th minute, finding the net with a quick shot without preparation.
HK Nitra defeated HK Dukla Michalovce 5-1 in the decisive seventh game of their playoff quarterfinal series. Michalovce, who finished 10th in the regular season standings, attempted to pull off an upset against the regular season champions but fell short in the elimination game. Last year, Zvolen accomplished a similar feat by defeating higher-seeded Spišská Nová Ves in the playoffs despite finishing lower in the regular season standings.
Slovakia defeated Romania 2-0 in a friendly football match between the two national teams. The encounter was classified as a preparation match after both teams failed to advance through the semifinals of the World Cup 2026 qualification playoffs, missing their chance to compete in the upcoming tournament in North America.
Nitra defeated Michalovce 5-1 in the decisive seventh game of their playoff series to advance to the semifinals of Slovakia's top hockey league. Michalovce, who finished 10th in the regular season standings, had been attempting to eliminate the regular season champions in a major upset. Last year, a similar underdog story unfolded when Zvolen knocked out Spišská Nová Ves despite finishing lower in the standings.
Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill has signed a two-year contract extension with the NHL team. The 67-year-old executive has served in the role since 2013 and has received the Jim Gregory Award in each of the past three seasons, recognizing excellence in NHL general management.
Karlovy Vary secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Liberec in Czech ice hockey league action. The match nearly saw dramatic late drama when Slovak forward Servác Petrovský appeared to score for Liberec with just one minute remaining in regulation time. However, the goal was disallowed following a coach's challenge that determined Petrovský was offside when he put the puck in the net, preserving Karlovy Vary's victory.
England captain Harry Kane suffered an injury during training and was forced to miss his team's friendly match against Japan. The Bayern Munich striker has been in exceptional form this season, scoring 48 goals in 40 matches across all competitions for the German club. The injury comes at a crucial time as England prepares for upcoming international fixtures, though the severity and expected recovery time for Kane's injury have not been disclosed.
Latvia and Luxembourg successfully defended their positions in UEFA Nations League Division C after winning their relegation playoffs. Luxembourg will be placed in Group 4 alongside Iceland, Bulgaria, and Estonia for the next competition cycle. Latvia will join Group 2, competing against Montenegro, Armenia, and Cyprus. Both teams avoided relegation to Division D by securing victories in their second-leg matches.
Slovakia's national team suffered a 2-4 defeat to Hungary in their final match of the tournament. The team, coached by Juraj Ančic, failed to earn any points throughout the competition. Only the winners of each of the seven four-team groups secured qualification spots for the championship.
Banská Bystrica successfully defended their title in Slovakia's junior ice hockey extraliga, the country's top youth hockey competition. Nitra finished second to claim the silver medal in the championship. In the bronze medal series, which was played as a best-of-three format, Trenčín's Dukla team defeated Zvolen with victories of 6-3 and 3-2 in a shootout, both games played on Zvolen's home ice, to secure third place.
Slovakia's under-18 national hockey team began its final preparations without forward Stankoven, who failed to attend the team gathering. The 18-year-old attacker violated the values that guide players and team members across all Slovak hockey national teams, according to hockey officials. The team is proceeding with its preparations despite the absence of the player, who was apparently expected to be part of the squad for upcoming competitions.
Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi is reportedly set to become the new manager of Tottenham Hotspur, according to English media reports. The Premier League club has been searching for a permanent manager since dismissing their previous coach in February. De Zerbi, who previously managed Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League, would take over a Tottenham side that has struggled for consistency in recent seasons and is looking to rebuild under new leadership.
Both football clubs involved in a match in Košice have been fined following destructive behavior by Prešov supporters that damaged stadium facilities. The vandalism included destruction of toilets at the venue, with the clubs now facing financial penalties as a consequence of their fans' actions. The incident highlights ongoing issues with football hooliganism in Slovak sports, where clubs are held responsible for their supporters' conduct during matches.
Formula One rookie Kimi Antonelli continued his impressive start to the season, outperforming his more experienced Mercedes teammate George Russell despite Russell suffering multiple technical problems during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend. Antonelli benefited from a safety car deployment that helped secure his strong result, creating an intriguing dynamic within the Mercedes team as the Italian driver appears to be adapting faster than expected to Formula One machinery. The weekend at Suzuka Circuit also saw significant improvements from McLaren, though their progress was overshadowed by a safety car period that altered the race outcome. A crash involving Ollie Bearman reinforced ongoing safety concerns among drivers about circuit conditions and racing incidents.
San Jose Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini reached the 100-point milestone in his team's 5-4 victory over the St. Louis Blues. The 19-year-old forward achieved the feat with two points in the first period, capping off his century mark with a power-play goal in the 14th minute during a penalty to Dvorsky. Celebrini's achievement marks a significant accomplishment for the young player in what appears to be his first NHL season.